Snow on the Mountain

Mount Diablo often has a dusting of snow, but not to such low elevations as during last night's storm. Roman loved greeting all the people (especially the kids) who had the same idea we did: take a photo from the Dinosaur Park overlook off Taylor Boulevard.

We parked in the bike lane with everyone else and scurried up the hill while there was still some sunlight on the mountain. The array of camera equipment represented a pretty good cross section of photographers, from amateur to professional. Tripods and light meters abounded, but we just did some quick "point and shoots" to capture the moment. A nice gentleman took our photo, but couldn't get the horizon level, so I rotated the photo above.

During Christmas, we plan to document Roman's first encounter with snow...the climate he was bred for.

The Dog

When I come home, Roman is always happy to see me. His tail wags enthusiastically as if we have been apart months instead of hours. Sometimes his entire body bends in the middle as if to emphasize his silent greeting. No matter my mood, no matter how good or tough the day has been, the Dog is steadfast in his acceptance of our pack, and in his joy at my return. Writers with much better vocabulary have penned some thoughtful reflections which I wish to share.

The dog is the only animal that is capable of disinterested affection. He is the only creature that regards the human being in his compassion, and follows him as his friend; the only one that seems to possess a natural desire to be useful to him, or from a spontaneous impulse attaches himself to man. We take the bridle from the mouth of the horse, and turn him free into the pasture, and he testifies his joy in his partially recovered liberty. We exact from the dog the service that is required of him, and still he follows us. He solicits to be continued as our companion and our friend. Many an expressive action tells us how much he is pleased and thankful. He shares in our abundance, and he is content with the scantiest and most humble fare. He loves us while living, and has been known to pine away on the grave of his master.

- William Youatt, from The Dog, 1845


Calm though not mean, courageous without rage,
Serious not dull, and without thinking sage;
Pleas’d at the lot that Nature has assign’d.
Snarl as I list, and freely bark my mind;
As churchman wrangle not with jarring spite,
Nor statesman-like caressing whom I bite;
View all the canine kind with equal eyes,
I dread no mastiff, and no cur despise;
True from the first, and faithful to the end.
My days and nights one equal tenour keep.
Fast but to eat, and only wake to sleep;
Thus stealing along life I live incog,
A very plain and downright honest dog.

- William Hamilton, 18th century from On a Dog

Pug with a Chicken Wing

Ground raw chicken, bones and all, defrosted and ready to eat!

Camp Four Paws http://campfourpaws.com/ is a wonderful place for dogs and their human companions. The facility provides a safe, supervised setting for dogs to have play and stimulating activities under the amazing care of the owner, Troy, and her dedicated staff. They screen dogs based on behavior to ensure that everyone gets along. Roman loves going there when we cannot take him with us on trips, and judging by how tired he is when we pick him up, he plays to his heart's delight.

I asked Troy about the merits of feeding dogs raw chicken, having learned recently that the bones and other non-flesh bits provide needed nutrients which may not be in commercial dog food. Apparently, there is a range of opinions on this topic; however, I trust Troy completely and she assured me that the occasional treat of raw chicken is not only healthy, but allows the dog to be, well, a dog! I think what she said to me was, "You haven't lived until you see a Pug with a chicken wing!" That mental image has stuck with me, perhaps longer than necessary.

The merits of raw chicken were reinforced by various people at the dog parks who had painstakingly researched the nutritional and health benefits before offering up a raw chicken back to their pets. I was not surprised to learn from our local butcher shop at Lunardi's that one can purchase frozen blocks of ground up chicken backs and wings for only 99 cents a pound. To serve, merely defrost in the microwave, place before hungry dog, stand back and watch.

Because the bones aren't cooked, they don't become sharp or brittle which could risk internal puncture or other health problem. Judging by the satisfied nap (coma, really) Roman takes after a meal of raw chicken, I'd say that the benefits go beyond taste and any ancient need to eat raw meat. He is now sound asleep, dreaming doggie dreams which make his feet, legs and body twitch as he plays in his own imaginary world where squirrels are slow and clumsy.

Tails of Thanksgiving

Roman didn't know how to play when he joined our pack. We attempted to interest him in various doggie devices, balls, squeaky things and tug toys. Unless food was involved, toys evoked very little response.

Our neighbor, David, generously gave Roman an octopus-like toy made of tough fire hose with two squeezy spheres for a body. Something Dennis did with his hands animated the toy and Roman became very interested in chasing it, even throwing it in the air and catching it by himself. A surefire pleaser is the "shake-your-head-and-break-its-neck" motion that is instinctive for most predators. Judging by the wagging tail, Roman really enjoyed this romp.

On Thanksgiving Day while the Diestel Turkey (Henrietta) was in the oven, we played outside in the autumn leaves. This video is Roman's Thanksgiving Tail.

Scotchguarding for Dogs

What are you looking at?

Roman basking in the winter sun after a bath

One day in the dog park I met Joey, a magnificent Newfoundland with fur that felt unlike any dog I had ever handled. Joey's human told me about "Show Sheen", a spray-on coat conditioner used for horses but safe for dogs. Joey's human went on to explain that he had shown dogs for years and the conditioner kept dogs cleaner longer because it was a sort of Teflon coating for the individual fur fibers. So apparently dirt just falls off. When he ran, Joey's coat flowed as if animated, glistening in the sun and rippling in the breeze.

Roman likes to lie down in wet grass, leaves, dirt, the driveway...nearly anywhere that affords him a view of what is going on. So keeping him clean longer between baths is a great objective. In the photo above, he chose to dry out after a bath in the truck bed where he could view the comings and goings of all three households on the driveway. As he dried, I lightly squirted the Show Sheen on him, then brushed and brushed, and brushed some more. The loose fur and undercoat could have filled a paper grocery bag. In the Spring, I've see Robins and other birds with beaks full of his fur to line their nests. If any birds are in the area this winter, they will have the cleanest, dirt-resistant abodes in nature's aviary.

It's tough to get a photo of Roman's eyes. One is brown, and the other is "marbled": half blue and half brown. After I explained the marbled eye to one little girl who inquired about the color, she asked me, "Is his eye made of glass?" Maybe I have poor diction, or perhaps the concept was a stretch for her, but I assured her that his eye is a real eye and he can see out of it. It just looks like a marble.

So the Scotchguarding really works. Compare Roman's coat in the photos above to the condition he was in the day we adopted him in March. The video below captures Roman's first meal with us, and judging by his appetite, he knew what it was to go without. Dinnertime is a time of great joy!

(turn your speakers on to really get the sense of his meal)

Blessing of the Animals

Roman Excelling at Relaxing

Sunrise At the Overlook, Paso Nogal Dog Park

On October 5, we attended our first Blessing of the Animals and commemoration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I have enjoyed being in the company of dogs all my life, but I had never participated in a blessing ceremony before even though I know dogs are creatures of Spirit. So Roman, Dennis and I drove over to the beautiful garden chapel at noon. While any "pet" or animal is welcome, it turned out that only dogs and their human companions showed up.

A delightful variety of dogs attended: Trudi, an elderly Rottweiler with a sweet disposition, a beagle who could only follow his nose, a beautiful chocolate lab just full of energy, a King Charles Spaniel who was very affectionate, and other breeds with no two alike. While I was greeting the other dogs, Roman who is very fond of children managed to herd them into a small cluster in the center of the clearing. They giggled and laughed as he wagged his tail, circling them to keep the pack together.

When the priests began the service, the humans and dogs all sat in a circle. Roman tends to be very casual and comfortable among people, so he chose to lie on his back with one paw extended to the blue sky above him. Normally this invokes a belly rub; however, in this case, he was content just to be peaceful between Dennis and me. All the other dogs sat obediently, awaiting their gentle sprinkle of blessed water delivered with a branch. The Lab was the only dog who wanted seconds on the water.

The blessing which we all read aloud had some profoundly beautiful language:

O Supreme Spirit of Creation

from your sacred breath came forth

birds and beasts, fish and fowl,

creatures of such variety and beauty

that we are continually amazed at Your divine imagination.

These children of yours

have been blessed by You, their Creator

with simplicity, beauty, and a cosmic purpose.

...May we now bless these animals

by taking delight in their beauty and naturalness.

May we bless these animals with a Noah-like protection

from all that might harm them.

May we, like Adam and Eve,

speak to these creatures of Yours

with kindness and affection,

reverencing their lives and purpose

in our communal creation.

May we never treat them as dumb animals,

but rather let us seek to learn their secret language

and to be students of all the secrets that they know.

May your abundant blessing rest upon these creatures

who are our companion in the journey of life. Amen.