There are certain breeds of canine that are known for their ability to be trained to follow precise orders and execute commands with striking accuracy. I’m thinking of police dogs and working cattle dogs… even hunting dogs. Police dogs are often Belgian Malinois, very similar to the German Shepherd in looks and temperament. The working cattle dogs you often see in sheep herding competitions are either Heelers, Border Collies or Australian Shepherds, although I’m sure there are more that have a knack for such work. Great Pyrenees are also famed shepherds, although not known for their energetic approach to the job. Hunting dogs are often Retrievers, Setters, German Shorthairs, and the like. They dutifully wait for a signal to flush out pheasant and then wait for another signal to fetch the downed birds with a soft mouth that does no damage to the carcass. Others jump out of boats to do the same. Dogs that can do this type of work with precise accuracy are in a class of their own.
“Suddenly, the dog captured a branch in its teeth and swooped out of the truck, swung wildly in the air and then back and forth like a pendulum… ”
Way on the other side of the scale are the lovable goofs—the quirky, silly dogs that delight their owners in unpredictable ways. These dogs are pets and nothing more. Well, they are family members, so quite a bit more, but not expected to respond to any call of duty. They are often pampered and loved beyond reason. And because of these cushy conditions, they blossom. They blossom by embracing their silly side and cultivating their personality, quirks and all. Dog owners have been sharing their dog stories with me for decades, and my favorite stories by far have been about dogs demonstrating their unique personalities. Of course, our family has had our own share of quirky pups, so it’s no wonder I have a soft spot for them.
Years ago, we happened to spend time with a spunky Jack Russell Terrier, who had a predilection for snapping at branches as they passed by the open window of his off-road vehicle. We were off-road ourselves at a club event, snaking up the trail like ants in a line, and he was in the vehicle directly in front of us. Suddenly, the dog captured a branch in its teeth and swooped out of the truck, swung wildly in the air and then back and forth like a pendulum until finally he settled somewhere in the middle, where he bobbed comically at the end of a branch, his stout little body wriggling energetically. His owner slammed on the brakes a few yards ahead, stepped out of the car, marched up to the tree, and plucked his pup from the branch as if he were ripe fruit. It took a bit of pulling too because the pup did not want to let go. Stunned and doubled over in laughter, we immediately hailed his owner on the CB radio, where it was explained that it wasn’t the first time this type of thing occurred, and he doubted it would be the last. He saw the branches brushing against the vehicle as a threat, so he growled and snapped at them until he caught one. Quirky, I tell you.
I was told another story about the same breed by an elderly woman with a twinkle in her eye. Her Jack Russell Terrier loved to play fetch and his favorite toy was a blue rubber ball. The household in the summertime was a busy one filled with children and constant activity, a situation that allowed for ample opportunities to play fetch. Once, when everyone was tucked away safely in their beds and the house finally quiet, the woman heard a strange sound. She lay against her pillows in the dark room, listening, trying to discern what it could possibly be. It first started as a small thud and then another, sometimes more, followed by a scrambling sound. It would briefly stop and then start up again. It was rhythmic and yet not. Listening, she couldn’t place it. She waited a few minutes, but when the mysterious sounds didn’t cease on their own, she got up to investigate. Following the sound, she pinpointed it to be coming from the hall bathroom, its door open. Ever so quietly in her nightgown, she tiptoed closer on bare feet and peered into the room. There, she saw her pup gamely playing fetch with himself and having a grand time of it. Oblivious to her presence, she watched as he played. He managed to find a way to toss the ball into the bathtub (the first thud) where it bounced erratically against the surfaces of the enclosure (subsequent thuds) and then he’d scurry about getting hold of it (the scrambling sound), and then he’d jump out and begin again. She was very amused at his ingenuity and energetic approach to keeping the game going, but since it was the middle of the night, she did feel the need to confiscate the ball until morning. Apparently, for some dogs, there can never be enough fetch.
I once illustrated a few books for a lovely Scottish woman who rescued Dobermans. At the time, she had three cinnamon-colored ‘babies’ as she called them. So pampered and coddled, they had come to expect a multi-tiered bedtime routine or, she explained, they would have a tough time settling down for sleep. She didn’t elaborate what restless Dobies fighting sleep entailed, but she did share the nightly rituals with me one day in a phone conversation. First, each were given a treat from a biscuit jar set aside specifically for bedtime. Then, they each got a playful belly rub and petting. They pandered for this by rolling onto their backs, paws in the air, their stubby tails wiggling against the floor. Then, as she covered each with their own blanket, she sang to them. Aside from being a children’s book author, she was also a celebrated singer of Scottish ballads, so I’d imagine the singing was quite lovely. Not until all three large dogs got the full tucking-in routine would she turn out the light and close the gate to their shared space, a room set aside just for the three of them. Not only were those dogs rescued, they landed very well indeed. Wouldn’t we all like to be tucked in so lovingly?
Although it’s hard not to admire the discipline and skill of working dogs, it’s the lovable, goofy dogs in full blossom that capture my heart completely. And so I say, long live the quirky canine companion!
