Grandfather says the dog days are a’ settin’ in …
Have you ever been kissed by a dog taller than you are?
Or owned a dog that could levitate?
We tried to name him Sammy Davis Jr., but the American Kennel Club doesn’t have the classy sense of humor that Sammy Davis had. So we had to name him Sammy D. Phydeaux Jr.
Ever trim a poodle? Sammy D. lives on in memory. I use his Oster electric trimmer on my beard.
Some dogs will even talk to you, if you dress like they do and start the conversation:
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
Dogs add a lot to a person’s life. We had a governor here in Maine, who, when asked why he adopted a dog, said something along the lines of, “When you’re the governor and you want someone to love you, you have to get a dog.”
Right on, Jason.
Dogs had always been this independent cuss’s best friend, but now, it has to be cats. They are less likely to knock me down …
Besides the governors’, dogs have been featured from time to time in connection with presidents.
FDR complained that newspapers “even attack my little dog Falla” and LBJ got himself in a heap of trouble when he picked up a beagle by the ears.
What a nice surprise Grandfather. I thought this was going to be about the hot summer, but it was about my favorite animal – dogs! What were the names of your Dane and (it looks like) Shepherd?
Hi Cara,
Sorry to delay my response so long – Tatjana is getting ready for a public showing of her art in a week and I’m busy with support work.
Pictured is the first of over a dozen Great Danes (counting puppies) that lived with our family for awhile. Her name was “Heidi”.
The Shepherd was “Jamby”. He was imported from somewhere East of Germany and West of Russia (I think Czechoslovakia – I’m not sure I remember) by the Denver Police Department and trained for patrol work. Unfortunately (for them – fortunately for me) his pads and nails were formed such that he coudn’t get a grip on floors and could not be used in some interiors, so he was sold to a breeder (who was also a dog handler for the Phoenix Police Department), who sold him to me.
He was very intelligent, beautifully trained and a real blessing to us.
But he would not tolerate any other animal in his territory (aside: professional police dog trainers say a dog’s temperament cannot be reliably “trained” away. They cull their unsuitable dogs as soon as an unsuitable trait is established during training).
Too many “bleeding hearts” keep dangerous individuals, sure that they can change their basic temperament with love. So, people continue to get hurt, even killed, by dog attacks.
Anyway, my wife-to be had cats and Jamby, quite old by then, would not have tolerated them, so he was given to a little boy who longed for a German Shepherd. We followed up, of course and Jamby and the boy were happy together, the last I heard.
Heidi lived to a ripe old age for a Dane, 10. She went outside one morning and did not come back in. I had seen her headed for the barn so I looked there and found her dying. I Held her and said her name – she wagged her tail and was gone.