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January 13, 2003

i want a dog

Iíve been really jonesing for a dog a lot lately. I canít resist going up to a total stranger and their dog and asking for doggie kisses. Even better are puppy kisses. The other day I got pug puppy kisses. As I ride by the doggie park on 17th street I yearn to see my niece Agnes, the Bulldog of Joy. I havenít been bulldozed by Agnes in quite some time, and my ear isnít as clean as it should to be (I think she thinks my ear is another bulldog face, and kisses it heartily).

Iíve been thinking about Max a lot lately too. He was the dog we had in my last relationship. I ended up walking Max a lot, and grew to like him. He was a big, ferocious-looking Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix, easily over one-hundred pounds. But when you got to know him, you realized he was permanently a puppy. I especially liked the games ěGonna Git Cha!î and ěIíve Got The Kongî, which Max enjoyed too.

Alas, Iím at a funky point in my life and my rational self says I canít get a dog. Iím never home enough and I can afford to save the money otherwise spent on vet bills and dog food. Oh yeah, and my job requires me to travel a lotÖI donít want to be leaving Dog at home with the roommate all the time.

But we can still dream. If someone were to give me a dog, the optimum dog for Jimbo would be:

  • Mellow. Fitz: Pronto is fun and all, but I'm far less patient than Will. No border collies, Australian shepherding dogs, or Jack Russells.
  • Part or full lab, or at least have webbed feet. My doggie and I must swim together.
  • Medium-sized, like between 10-60 lbs. While Max was a whole lotta love, he shit a whole lotta shit, and tugged my arm outta the sockets when I walked him.
  • He must like playing fetch. Kong, tennis ball, stick whatever. Fetch in the water even better.
  • Doggie must not be yappy. I hate yappy dogs.

    I gave some thought to adopting a greyhound. They are quiet, mellow, and look kinda cool. However, they don't like to swim, and seem less animated than dogs who have not spent much of their lives in small kennels. I just can't envision me and my pet greyhound Slimdawg Slim backpacking together in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area.

    Posted by jimbo at January 13, 2003 5:05 PM

    Comments

    Funny I used to make exactly those same excuses for not having a dog for years. Yet somehow when the Pronto arrived as a gift, the obstacles weren't as bad as I had thought. And pets sure are good for a little mood stabilization...

    Posted by: Fitz at January 13, 2003 5:10 PM

    Gotta say the same thing about Pongo. Best influence on my mood and attitude ever.

    Posted by: Chuck at January 13, 2003 5:15 PM

    you should get a poodle, a pretty white teacup poodle so you can dress it up and put bows in it's hair

    Posted by: donald at January 13, 2003 6:09 PM

    GET A WEINER DOG!!!!

    Posted by: tardo at January 13, 2003 6:16 PM

    so it's official, with 4 comments (now 5) people love talking about dogs, but not about your meds, depression or sex life...:)

    Posted by: mike s. at January 13, 2003 6:42 PM

    Spanish Water Dog!!!

    They are rad - they swim - and fish - and are used by some Italian's as water rescue dogs, like they drop em outta helicopters to save people that are drowing.

    http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/discoverdogs/gundog/spanishwaterdog.htm

    Posted by: jimbo at January 13, 2003 6:57 PM

    Just get a party of bois to follow you around. If you put some tina in your ear, they'll be sure to lick it clean.

    Oh wait, mellow and non-yappy. Never mind.

    Posted by: Chrisafer at January 13, 2003 7:38 PM

    Sorry, weiner dogs are evil. I got bit by a vicious one once. And no wooly coat that requires constant maintenance either. Regular brushing, yes, but no dreadlocks or curls.

    Posted by: jimbo at January 13, 2003 8:24 PM

    Hmm...maybe I should think twice about Spanish Water Dogs:

    "Temperament: Faithful, obedient, brave, good tempered and gay. "

    Posted by: jimbo at January 13, 2003 8:25 PM

    Jimbo - I've had dogs my whole life, but my current dog, Rowan, is a Welsh Terrier, and he is beyond doubt the best dog I've ever had.
    A sturdy 25 lbs, but light enough to pick up & love when you want, intelligent, the breed likes to swim, no shedding but regular brushing required to remove dead hair, not yappy (the males are less vocal than the bitches - go figure), loving, attentive, obediant, but headstrong, good sense of fun & mischief so he's not a total pushover - and the reason I rush home after work, he and my partner are the lights of my life.
    Get a dog as soon as you think you can, but I agree w/ you - if you're going to be travelling a lot, it's best to wait.

    Posted by: Rob at January 14, 2003 3:24 PM