Bear with me here. I have a bit of a shaggy dog story to tell. But I have a bit of a shaggy dog — one whose designated birthday is today. Some background… My UPS Angel I’ve ranted against UPS and their canine insulin delivery before, and I don’t have much nice to say about…
What Your Choice of Dog Breed Says About You
I found the studies in this sponsored post, written on behalf of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance, very interesting. Although the conclusions don’t apply to mixed breeds, I was nevertheless happy to read what was said about the personality and brainpower of owners of small dogs. Who knew that Sir Isaac Newton had a Pomeranian? However, I…
The Dogs of War: Sergeant Stubby
In the “Devil Dog” sidebar of my post about BSL last week, I alluded to the fact that Sergeant Stubby, a pit bull mix, was the most decorated dog in military history. This being Memorial Day, it seemed fitting to devote a post to him. I’d read a little about Stubby before, but until I…
Happy Pet Mother’s Day, Recognition of Pet-Human Bond Day, Or Whatever You Want to Call It
I wasn’t going to go there, “there” being what I’ve come to think of as the Pet Mommy Wars. I don’t like the term “pet mom,” and never refer to myself that way. And that’s not even to get into the whole cutting-back-on pet-blogging issue. If I thought blogging regularly was hard, not blogging may…
Flooki the Dog, My Mother & Freud
In looking into my family history in pre-World War II Vienna, I’ve been digging around for pictures. I found some I didn’t know I had — and don’t ever remember seeing. Like this one. I always thought my mother disliked dogs and all other creatures great and small. Yet there she is, standing next to…
Happy whatever holiday you celebrate — or ignore!
It’s nice when Easter and Passover fall out at the same time of year. It reminds people that the Last Supper was a seder. And I can be irreverent about two major religions in one fell swoop. In case you’re wondering why Frankie is paying homage to a holiday I don’t observe: This is a…
In the Company of Animals (except Frankie): Report from New York
Ah, New York. I had a wonderful visit earlier this month, seeing old friends, going to museums and restaurants, and walking, walking, walking. I was in my element in my hometown, negotiating crowded streets, dodging people and cars. It’s in my DNA. But Manhattan is no place for small, fearful dogs from Arizona. When I…
Freud & Dogs: The Family Heritage
After my recent, rather gloomy post about Sigmund Freud and his last dogs, I promised something more cheery. I’m delivering with an exploration of the prominent role that dogs played in the lives of two of Freud’s grandsons, Clement and Lucian, brothers who didn’t speak to each other for at least 50 — some say…
If a dog barks in the blogosphere….
If a dog barks in the blogosphere and no one hears him, did he make a sound? Not writing regularly about Frankie feels odd, especially since I’ve been having continuing problems with his insulin and I’ve been crazy worried. But without real solutions except tweaking the dose continually — it needs to be low enough…
Psychoanalysis & Dogs, Part 3: Freud’s Last Dog
I hesitated to tell this final chapter of the Freud-and-dogs story because of its difficult ending, but the truth isn’t always uplifting. As an antidote, I promise to continue this series with more cheering segments. In Part 1, I discussed Freud’s late life arrival at puppy love, including how my great uncle’s butcher shop provided…