Pablo’s Secret Fear

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Wordless Wednesday a Day Late

photo from Design Crush

 

Animals in the Bed

You might think after reading yesterday’s post that Pablo actually sleeps in his dog bed full time. Not so. The dog bed is where he parks his butt during the daytime hours. At night either K or I pick him up and bring him upstairs (Pablo does not climb stairs) and deposit him on the bed. He makes a beeline for the biggest, softest pillow and curls up until one of us dislodges him from his throne. Then he heads to the foot of the bed, plops down with a disgruntled sigh, and is soon asleep.

Sleeping with one’s pet is not unique, even though a recent CDC study warns of the dangers it could bring. Cat scratch fever, meningitis, and even bubonic plague are all possibilities. The two California doctors who conducted the study admit that the risks are rare. Still they advise against allowing pets in the bedroom.

Here’s my two cents. I believe in adhering to the many reasonable safety precautions that exist– such as buckling my seatbelt every time I’m in the car. But I’m willing to risk the extremely rare chance I might get bubonic plague in favor of cuddling with my dog.

Plenty of people apparently feel the same. In an article in The New York Times pet owners confess to the comfort of sleeping with their dogs and cats. When my partner of twenty years died suddenly eight years ago, Pablo’s warm furry body next to mine helped me make it through many a long, lonely night.

One woman from Woodstock does seem to take it a bit far. She sleeps with two cats, three dogs, and a potbellied pig. Hey, whatever floats your boat, I say. The NYT article points out that the woman finds it hard to get a date. I wonder why.

Look Who’s Sleeping in My Bed!

Poor Baby Bear pug! Yesterday Pablo went to take a snooze and found Goldilocks–er, make that OC–snuggled up in his bed. Although clearly miffed, Pablo graciously allowed the intruder to stay.

Later on, he reclaimed his sleeping quarters.

The Saddest Words: It Might Have Been

Oscar De La Hoya, photograph by Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald

Coming in at number three in the Toy Group at the Westminster Dog Show, Oscar De La Hoya will forever hear those four little words echoing in his pug ears. Just who is this champion who reached for the stars? A three-year-old pug, Oscar hails from Lodi, CA. He’s won two dozen best-in-show competitions, and last year’s American and Canadian nationals. Congrats, Oscar!

Dinner Fit for a King

Hickory facing the crowds, Copyright Mike Segar/Reuters

 

A day after winning Westminster’s Best in Show, Hickory, the Scottish deerhound, was feted during a whirlwind tour of the city. After meeting with members of the press yesterday, he was treated to a meal at Sardi’s–filet mignon cut up into tiny pieces and served on a silver platter. Except Hickory wasn’t having any. The star of the moment turned up his regal nose at the traditional feast of past winners. Although Hickory has a good appetite, steak is not a part of the dog’s normal diet. His handler explained that sight hounds are a sensitive breed. “Little things affect them,” Angela Lloyd said. “You’ve got to do what’s best for the dog.” Amen to that.

Still, one thing I know for sure. If a pug had won Best in Show, that platter would have been licked clean in a New York minute!

Got Milk?

We Wuz Robbed!

Okay, first a pug loses top honors in the Toy Group to a Peke. I could live with that because the Peke was an outstanding loaf of fur. I had my heart set on him taking home the Best in Show cup at Westminster, but it was not to be. Malachy the Peke lost to Hickory, a Scottish Deerhound.

So be it. The Deerhound was an appealing dog and seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the hoopla after he won. According to an article in the New York Times, he soon tired of all the attention and walked off stage. It was the first time in Westminster history that a Scottish Deerhound won.

Has a pug ever aced Best in Show at Westminster?  Yes, but only once and that was thirty years ago! In 1981, a male fawn pug named Dhandy’s Favorite Woodchuck, aka Chucky, scooped up the prize, beating out 2,909 other champions. I’d say we’re long overdue for another win. As they say in baseball, there’s always next year!

Rooting for Malachy the Peke

 

Malachy the Peke, copyright Reuters

The first day of the Westminster Dog Show has ended, and the results are in. First group up–the Hounds. The winner was a sight hound, a Scottish Deerhound. Next were the Toys, always a large group. It took forever, but at last the pug, Oscar, made his showing. He was definitely a good-looking pug, but to these eyes he seemed not as “on” as some of the other dogs. Still, he placed a respectable third. The winner was Malachy, a great-looking Peke with plenty of charm to spare under all that fluff.

After the toy group exited, so did Pablo, jumping off the armchair we were sharing. He plopped down in his dog bed and remained there until it was time to go upstairs. Clearly, he had not been impressed by any of the dogs he had seen so far.

On to the next group. The Non-sporting group is such a grab bag of dogs of all shapes and sizes. They are basically the leftovers after the working group and herders splintered off to form their own groups. The wrinkly Shar-pei took first. Last were the herders. My very first dog, Duke, was a German Shepherd and so I’ve always had a special fondness for this group. The German Shepherd didn’t even make the first cut, though, and the win went to a Bearded Collie. By that time, it was eleven, and Pablo and I went yawning up to bed.

Tonight, it’s the Sporting dogs, the Working dogs, and the ever-numerous Terriers. Then Best in Show! Me, I’m rooting for the Peke!

Here’s another trailer from Christopher Guest’s brilliant Best in Show, featuring Harlan Pepper expounding on nuts. This one never fails to crack me up (pardon the pun!).

Tonight’s the Night

The pugs are coming!!!

No, not for romance. Forget Valentine’s Day; it’s the opening of the Westminster Dog Show. For many, many years I used to go and wander around the back area where the dogs were being groomed or relaxing after being shown. I’d also watch the breeds being shown, pugs of course, and certain other ones as well. Sometimes I’d hang around for the group judgings at night. Usually, though, I’d head for home and watch them on TV, Pablo at my side, just like we plan to do tonight.

Another tradition is to watch Best in Show, Christopher Guest’s superb mockumentary. I have many favorite scenes–Harlan Pepper going on about nuts, the lost busy bee, and–priceless–the hostage negotiator who yells at his son to come down off the roof–but to get everyone in the mood, here’s a scene with Fred Willard as the clueless announcer Buck Laughlin.