My cousin has a dog she adopted that she thinks is a labradoodle. (He's got labbish qualities and a very amusing top knot.) I think he looks like a giant, leggier Border Terrier. If he is a labradoodle: obviously being a "designer" dog didn't save him from being given up.

And I see that the NYT has an article about dog trainers who do house calls.

I wonder if this more caninish NYT is part of the lead up to Westminster?

Surely, the "Heinz 57 Variety" mix of everything dog is an entity in and of itself, but these days, there are lots of mixes where one does know what goes into a specific pooch.

And, it just might be me, but I'm thinking the Basset Hounds really do get around. There are loads of Basse-mixes in this 'hood.

eta: Oh, I heard recently that there is a dna test one can take now that will distinguish the breeds in your pooches heritage. Wonder how much that costs?

I use mutt to refer to any sort of mix, whether it is identifiable or not. It's a nice vague catch-all. I mean, my childhood dog was clearly a golden retriever sawed off above the knees, but ....still a mutt.

there are lots of mixes where one does know what goes into a specific pooch.

Yes--I was just saying that to me those weren't mutts.

Bear is a mutt in that she is vaguely a number of breeds with nothing strongly reminiscient of one.

Kuma is identifiably one breed. He is most likely a purebreed Jindo, but he is non-characteristic, in terms of behavior, to his breed.

Well, I am back from running errands. The only good thing about this weather is that I can ice my finger just by going outside.

NOTHING IS GETTING COMPLETED!

t not really here

Good afternoon!

Happy birthday to Victor and Adian! -I think that's all the enthusiasm I can muster today.

Going home next weekend for Mardi Gras.

Many of the breed descriptions I read these days are talking about dogs that live in closer quarters with people than I'm used to, so there are things I'm not sure our Dobie ever had a chance to react to. I'm sure there's a fancy pants purebreed market in Jamaica--I'm just as sure it's not large. Oh, they're animals all right.

Okay. Off to teach.

Ha. In the Fresh Air interview, they just talked about Shar Pei/Bassets = Sharp-assets.

I have no shame in the degree to which I love my dog. He represents the one thing I have loved most in my entire life. Sad or not, that is the case.

But I think I actually love him better (meaning being a more effective caretaker) because I acknowledge and respect the fact that he is an animal.

Pretending otherwise seems a disservice to us both.