Have you ever seen the movie, “The Ugly Dachshund” Well, I’m watching
a greyhound and three mini dachshunds. I’m pet sitting for a week and
that is a challenge in itself.
Pearl is a greyhound, mostly white, with a splash of brindle behind one eye
and encompassing her ear on the same side. A gentle, sweet dog. Sometimes
she’ll stand in front of me while I’m sitting on the couch, face to face. We
seem to breath the same air. She’s not one for giving kisses, but she will
put her head in my lap to be stroked.
There are three mini dachshunds: mother “Ashes”, father “ Snoopy”, and the
one year old baby, “ Brook.” These are the real characters here.
Snoopy, at six years old, seems the fatherly type, whatever this means in
dachshund, especially when Brook harasses him by nipping at his legs.
Sometimes they’ll wrestle. Snoopy, in turn, will try to roll over on Brook
or he’ll sit on her. Fair play.
These small dogs have little whip tails. They hurt if they’re thumping on
your ear or the back of your head (courtesy of Brook). When the dogs are
awake, their tails are in perpetual motion, which sends the rest of their
bodies swaying.
Brook is one long, brown, sleek bundle of pure energy. She has two speeds:
“fast” and “exhausted” (sleep). There is no slow button installed. One of
her favorite things is to climb all over me while I sit on the couch, trying
to lick my face.
All three little dogs like “tummy tickles.” They fall over onto their backs,
tails thumping wildly, and I rub their bellies. Such ecstasy.
Pearl, the greyhound, has her own mobile spa treatment. Mama dachshund
cleans inside Pearl’s mouth, lips and teeth. Brook’s specialty is cleaning
the inside of Pearl’s ears. Pearl seems to thoroughly enjoy this. Who
wouldn’t? The two dachshunds don’t realize they could charge big bucks
for their services. Yesterday after Ashes had cleaned Pearl’s mouth, I
looked over to see mama dachshund sitting on the greyhound’s nose.
At times I’ll have the two female dachshunds on my lap, which apparently
is a signal for Pearl to come over and stand in front of me for her share of
attention. Soon I need to stand up for fresh air, especially if the spa begins
inches from my face.
Once in awhile Pearl will pass gas. Oxygen! Somebody open a window!
Has our government ever considered using this as a deadly weapon?
Pearl sometimes wants to play with the smaller dogs. Too big. She likes
to run in the fenced in back yard. Safe for her, not necessarily for anything
smaller that gets in her way as she flies around the yard. Ashes got bowled
over (she’s fine). Maybe it was payback for the nose sitting thing. I’ve
heard Brook squeal after getting “played on” by Pearl. (she’s fine too)
I appreciate nap time more now. Not mine, theirs.
Read more articles by Sunny Loomis or search for articles on the same topic or others.
You definately painted a picture that is very real of the dogs. Their antics made me smile. Pets, what a blessing they are for the laughter, companionship and affection they give to us.
14 Jul 2008
Very descriptive! I think I'll stick to my low-energy, but loving corgy-terrier cross, Corky. He would never be able to keep up with Pearl, or your little dogs...Great story, and well told...Helen
Breathing the same air as the face-to-face Pearl, the swishing tails that make the dogs sway, the licks and the gas (gross)--all are great, authentic details! The sarcasm is an extra nice touch because it's twinged with love. Enjoyed this!
It's not often I tell an author that their writing has gone to the dogs. Memorable experiences, I would think. The tempo in your piece seems to have an "up and down" pace to it and this is one time it works. I don't know if this was intentional, but with one dog being "up" and three being "down", well, it just fit. I liked it.
