Before 1 August 2012, I saw and met dogs everywhere. Whether I poked around Shadyside shops or went to farmers' markets in Pennsylvania's Amish enclaves, dogs pranced, napped, yipped, barked, and wagged. Before 1 August 2012, my life was awash with pooches; it was a walkers and cookies and smooches all the time. And, because I saw so dang-many dogs, I thought: "I will start a dog blog. And I will chronicle all of these dogs. And people will read it and like it, and that will be nice."
And you know what else I did? I bought little calling cards, with this blog address printed on them, along with pertinent contact information and doggie little graphics. I thought: "This will give my project a sense of distinction, and it will make me seem less crazy--a cute, non-threatening type of crazy, if anything--when I approach strangers and ask them for a pooch interview and picture taking session."
What a fool I was. Because other than the 2 dogs profiled this far--and one of them is my dog, so it's almost like she doesn't count, as if she is a tiny shill or a very small paid participant (in bacon-cheese cookies)--I haven't seen one other damn dog. I'm sorry to swear; I'm bitter. I've only given out 1 card. It is now the 21st of August. I have 249 more of those things. Whatever.
In my very first post, I mentioned the movie The Big Year as a point of inspiration. Though I would like to be the Owen Wilson character, who sees all the birds (in his case), I am instead the Jack Black character, the one who sees no birds at the beginning of the movie, and then sees a bunch of birds at the end of the movie (again, that movie was about birds; this blog is about dogs; I'm on a lot of antibiotics, it's 2 AM, and my I have tonsillitis. Join me on this derailed train of thought!). Also, the Jack Black character gets to be boyfriend and girlfriend with the Rashida Jones character, so there's that. Also, I like Tenacious D a whole bunch, so I guess I'm okay being Jack Black in this metaphor, but pretty and also a girl, and me.
The point is that I have no dogs to share because the universe conspired (perhaps with one or all members of the Baha Men--this is my current theory) to reverse the effects of 25 July 2000 and pull the dogs back in. Admittedly, they have been out for 12 years, no one's ever been able to determine who let them out, and some of them were likely malnourished and turning feral.
I have gone out of my way to find dogs in these past 20+ days. I have little cards (to seem less crazy), and I am okay with being a me-version of Jack Black (with good hair and a kind word for all and excellent taste in accessories). I just want to see some dogs, share some stories, and learn about people and pooches. Is that too much to ask, universe? Don't you want me to meet all the dogs? Or just some of the dogs? Or more dogs than the nice one I saw at the gas station and the one I own?
So, that's where I am. Maybe I have to rethink my strategy on this one. But, I just hope that the next time I enter a post, it's full of pooch profiles and not whiny late-night, antibiotic-crazed rumblings.
Rachael.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2012
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Friday, August 10, 2012
Pooch Profile: Macey
Name: Macey Madison
Age: around 6
Breed: a terrier mix, with a big pinch of Jack Russell Terrier
How did you meet?
Macey's spokes-human, Vicky, recalled meeting at the pound. She brought her daughter to pick out a dog, and out of all the puppies, Macey walked up to Vicky. She knew that Macey was the dog for her family. After all, Macey chose her family.
Why that name?
Vicky originally planned to name her "Madison," but when Vicky's Aunt Beverly suggested "Macey," Vicky compromised and made "Madison" the pooch's middle name.
How long have you been together?
Vicky can remember the exact day--May 20th--that she met Macey, six years ago.
What would readers not know about Macey, just by looking at her picture?
Macey seems to have a number of conversational skills. She "talks" to her family members when prompted. Ask Macey how she is or what she's doing, and you'll get a full report (albeit in dog). She's also not shy about expressing her wants--food, potty, etc.--in the same chatty fashion. Personally, it sounds like a very cute way to receive orders from someone!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Monday Walkies: The Cairn Terrier
It's time for Monday Walkies, links from the web relating to profiled pooches! Last week, the first Pooch Profile featured my Cairn terrier, Ophelia. I know a lot about cairns; Ophelia required that I engage in "Cairn Learning and Appreciation" on a bi-weekly basis. The result? A Monday Walkies devoted to the Cairn Terrier.
Entertainment
I, Toto: Ophelia bought me this autobiography of Terry, the dog who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz, for Christmas one year. Where did she get the money? I didn't ask; I trust it came from legitimate sources. Anyway, the book chronicles Terry's career as one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. Aside from that iconic role, she (Terry was a little girl, not a little boy!) starred in 14 other films, including one with Shirley Temple.
The Buccaneers: While we're on the subject of Terry the dog, you can stream this movie from Netflix. It features Terry, and it's directed by Cecil B. DeMille!
...and finally, let's all re-watch "Africa" by Toto, because it's just a really good song.
Social Networking
Instagram: Whether you use it on iPhone or Android, do yourself a favor and look up the #heresmycairn hashtag. Feel free to post your thanks in the comments section of this blog entry.
Current Events
Kansas' Official Dog Debacle: Though some sources say otherwise, the Cairn is NOT Kansas' State Dog. As this article from Slate clearly articulates, pooches and politics make interesting bedfellows, and the ramifications of official state selections could mean poor conditions for dogs or a meteoric rise in public demand.
Walkies are Over! Go Shopping!
Dingo Brand: I'm not saying that I live with someone who's addicted to these things. I'm just saying that, when we start to run low, there's a frenzy of human activity to procure more. Ophelia's a very active chewer. The result is clean teeth and fresh breath (it smells like dog food; it is not unpleasant). The Dingo Brand rawhide snacks contain some sort of red inner layer that is more delicious than the white outside. Look: I don't understand it. All I know is that Ophelia's eyes go googly with delight when one's handed to her from the bag. Make your dog's eyes go all googly too.
Folkmanis Puppets: When Ophelia was a baby, I bought her a crocodile puppet at a toy store. Though that brave soldier did not survive (his disemboweling was imminent, from the first moment she saw him), I learned that my dog really liked hand puppets. After purchasing some other cheaply-made puppets, I discovered Folkmanis. I don't know how these stand up to human play, but a 16 pound Cairn terrier (all muscle and barking and fangs) hasn't been able to destroy hers in over 4 years of hard play. Also, Folkmanis makes some really awesome puppets. I recommend buying whichever you think will be the most hilarious, for playtime with your dog. Ophelia has a wine colored velociraptor and a panda; both of them are bigger than she is, and both of them are (therefore) hilarious to me. I will also say that Folkmanis puppets--because they are made for HUMAN PLAY--include plastic button eyes and some small parts sewn on. These toys are not for solo play; they are really for interaction between you and your dog. With proper supervision, they're delightful.
Entertainment
I, Toto: Ophelia bought me this autobiography of Terry, the dog who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz, for Christmas one year. Where did she get the money? I didn't ask; I trust it came from legitimate sources. Anyway, the book chronicles Terry's career as one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. Aside from that iconic role, she (Terry was a little girl, not a little boy!) starred in 14 other films, including one with Shirley Temple.
The Buccaneers: While we're on the subject of Terry the dog, you can stream this movie from Netflix. It features Terry, and it's directed by Cecil B. DeMille!
...and finally, let's all re-watch "Africa" by Toto, because it's just a really good song.
Social Networking
Instagram: Whether you use it on iPhone or Android, do yourself a favor and look up the #heresmycairn hashtag. Feel free to post your thanks in the comments section of this blog entry.
Current Events
Kansas' Official Dog Debacle: Though some sources say otherwise, the Cairn is NOT Kansas' State Dog. As this article from Slate clearly articulates, pooches and politics make interesting bedfellows, and the ramifications of official state selections could mean poor conditions for dogs or a meteoric rise in public demand.
Walkies are Over! Go Shopping!
Dingo Brand: I'm not saying that I live with someone who's addicted to these things. I'm just saying that, when we start to run low, there's a frenzy of human activity to procure more. Ophelia's a very active chewer. The result is clean teeth and fresh breath (it smells like dog food; it is not unpleasant). The Dingo Brand rawhide snacks contain some sort of red inner layer that is more delicious than the white outside. Look: I don't understand it. All I know is that Ophelia's eyes go googly with delight when one's handed to her from the bag. Make your dog's eyes go all googly too.
Folkmanis Puppets: When Ophelia was a baby, I bought her a crocodile puppet at a toy store. Though that brave soldier did not survive (his disemboweling was imminent, from the first moment she saw him), I learned that my dog really liked hand puppets. After purchasing some other cheaply-made puppets, I discovered Folkmanis. I don't know how these stand up to human play, but a 16 pound Cairn terrier (all muscle and barking and fangs) hasn't been able to destroy hers in over 4 years of hard play. Also, Folkmanis makes some really awesome puppets. I recommend buying whichever you think will be the most hilarious, for playtime with your dog. Ophelia has a wine colored velociraptor and a panda; both of them are bigger than she is, and both of them are (therefore) hilarious to me. I will also say that Folkmanis puppets--because they are made for HUMAN PLAY--include plastic button eyes and some small parts sewn on. These toys are not for solo play; they are really for interaction between you and your dog. With proper supervision, they're delightful.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Pooch Profile: Ophelia
And, since this is my little dog, I can ask anyone reading this: What do you think I should add to my future interviews? I'd love to have feedback.
Name: Principessa Ophelia Alysrose (full AKC name)
Age: 11
Breed: Cairn Terrier, from Italian and American champion lines
How did you meet?
This story starts out sadly but ends happily. In 2001, my childhood dog (a Westie named Seymour) passed away at 13. A dear family friend urged my mother to get the family another dog, reasoning that those who love dogs do so unconditionally, with space enough to love a new dog separate from other dogs. After some puppy hunting (that resulted in no puppy), my mom saw a tiny ad in a Cleveland newspaper advertising "Cairn terrier puppies from Italian lines". I called the listed number and learned that new owners claimed all the puppies except one, the runt of the litter, a female who was the first to open her eyes. Two weeks later, I met the puppy. I refused to even touch any of the other dogs. She was perfect, fearless and incredibly small. I decided to name her "Ophelia."
Why that name?
Some assume I named her after Shakespeare's Ophelia. This makes sense--I hold a BA and an MA in literature. It's not true. I named her after Natalie Merchant's song which says: "Ophelia knows your every woe/and every pain you've ever had/she'll sympathize, dry your eyes/help you to forget and help you to forgive."
How long have you been together?
Eleven chewie-filled years. I raised her from a pup. I weighed her in a food scale with cup markings on the side. She was 2 cups of dog. She's 16 pounds of pure muscle and barking.
What would we never know about your dog, just by looking at her?
She is loud--painfully, shatteringly loud. Cairn terriers used to dig into cairns (rock walls/constructions) in Scotland. They would rout vermin, then bark so humans could find them and the quarry. The bark penetrates stone. It is, by some accounts, the loudest bark of all the dogs. I do not argue with these accounts.
I also think that, by looking at her, someone may not realize how smart she is. Of all the terriers, the Cairn is the brightest. Her smarts make her quite neat and careful. She doesn't destroy things; she knows what is hers and what is not. It also makes her quite empathic. She does sympathize, and she has dried my eyes on more than one occasion.
Dog Day 2 of 365
Pooch Count: 1
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The Start of a Doggone Good Year
I watched a movie not too long ago called The Big Year. Loosely based upon a book of the same name, it tells the story of three birdwatchers (also referred to as "birders") participating in a voluntary contest of honor and interest: to see (in the wilds of North America) as many species of birds as possible. Birders can identify birds by sight or by call; birders record the sightings, but don't need photographic evidence of each bird spotted. The concept fascinated me. In order to spot birds, those participating in a Big Year trek thousands of miles, to urban centers and far-flung rural outposts. And, birders do this all for the love of wild birds.
I don't really love wild birds. I love dogs. And, today, I'm beginning my Doggone Good Year (on the first ofAugust Dogust)--kind of like a Big Year, but with dogs, and with a few basic rules:
1.) I will encounter dogs and their people in public places, during my regular, every-day life.
2.) I will ask dog owners to participate in my project. That participation will include a chat about the dog--some basic facts and interesting stories--and a picture of the dog.
3.) I will chronicle the meeting on this blog, with special attention paid to the relationship forged between dog and person.
4.) I will not approach children/minors with dogs for stories, unless accompanied by an adult.
The basic rules frame this project, but the larger idea is to capture as many stories of relationships--of bonds between dogs and their people--as possible. Talking to a dog owner, about a dog, is rarely about the daily needs of a pet (feeding, walking, grooming). Instead, stories flow naturally, the same as talking about a beloved friend, a partner, a child. Talking to a dog owner, about a dog, is a matter of uncovering a loving relationship. That's what I'm interested in: How did they meet? How long have they been together? What do they like to do together?
I hope that this year will lead me to many beautiful stories, and maybe to lots of breeds, too. Just like birders, hoping to see rare birds in the wild, I'm hoping that a focus on dogs with owners, in everyday life, will lead me to meet as many dog breeds as possible. I also hope that, if you're reading this right now, you'll continue to check back in to see which pooches I recently encountered.
Dog Day 1 of 365.
Rachael.
I don't really love wild birds. I love dogs. And, today, I'm beginning my Doggone Good Year (on the first of
1.) I will encounter dogs and their people in public places, during my regular, every-day life.
2.) I will ask dog owners to participate in my project. That participation will include a chat about the dog--some basic facts and interesting stories--and a picture of the dog.
3.) I will chronicle the meeting on this blog, with special attention paid to the relationship forged between dog and person.
4.) I will not approach children/minors with dogs for stories, unless accompanied by an adult.
The basic rules frame this project, but the larger idea is to capture as many stories of relationships--of bonds between dogs and their people--as possible. Talking to a dog owner, about a dog, is rarely about the daily needs of a pet (feeding, walking, grooming). Instead, stories flow naturally, the same as talking about a beloved friend, a partner, a child. Talking to a dog owner, about a dog, is a matter of uncovering a loving relationship. That's what I'm interested in: How did they meet? How long have they been together? What do they like to do together?
I hope that this year will lead me to many beautiful stories, and maybe to lots of breeds, too. Just like birders, hoping to see rare birds in the wild, I'm hoping that a focus on dogs with owners, in everyday life, will lead me to meet as many dog breeds as possible. I also hope that, if you're reading this right now, you'll continue to check back in to see which pooches I recently encountered.
Dog Day 1 of 365.
Rachael.
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