Flatout — I love dogs. Always have. My latest canine companion is nicknamed Nut Bag, to reflect some of his behaviors and mannerisms.
He’s a Shih Tzu mix, the smallest dog I’ve ever had, and the first male. My last pooch was a 90-pound female, and the smartest dog to walk the earth.
I always thought — Big Guy, Big Dog, or you look funny walking it.
But my condo has weight restrictions on dogs. When I first moved in, the weight limit was 15 pounds. I told the condo council my cat — a horrible mistake and another story — was 20 pounds.
The weight limit on dogs was too strict, I said.
They said, OK, form a committee and come back with recommendations.
So I rounded up a bunch of — what else? — dog lovers and we agreed 50 pounds was a much more realistic maximum weight for dogs. Truth to tell, size is a bad gauge of performance.
A nasty little Cocker Spaniel can be much more of a problem than a large, laid back lab. But that gets you iinto speciesism, which is akin to racism, and a place you don’t want to go.
I prefer to live in a pet-friendly building, even when I don’t have one myself. They’re great ice-breakers for one thing, and create a comfort level for people who are afraid of dogs.
Birds, cats, gerbils, snakes, all allowed in my building, but not fish aquariums.
Why not?
Fear of damaging neighbors’ property, if the fish tank falls over and causes a flood.
But water beds are allowed.
Go figure.
Anyway, dogs need to be walked, and when both Half-Pint and I were working, we needed a midday walker. Over a period of a few years we had several, starting with Peter Jambazian, a very interesting character.
He is known as Peter Jam, and was born in Lebanon to Armenian parents who were trapped in Beirut during a nasty civil war. As a child he had known only war. He was musically gifted, so he became an ambassador for peace.
In one of life’s little oddities, he had to do time in Lebanon’s military before he could get a visa to get to the U.S., and sing for peace.
Mostly he was self-taught musically and formed a classic rock cover band. He was such a good student, he wound up giving lessons to aspiring musicians.
He has become a permanent resident of the U.S. with the valued Artist with Extraordinary Abilities status.
As you might know, it’s difficult to make a living off music. In addition to paid gigs and teaching, he also supports himself as a professional dog walker. That’s how I first met him, about six years ago.
Because of his great affection for dogs, he became an accredited canine instructor, a pet psychologist, and began writing a book on dog training.
That book — “Magic Starts With You: Doggy Education for All” — has now been finished.
The $8.99 book is backed by MagicDogs.net which was founded on fundamentally changing the way folks approach pet training. The last chapter is named “The Approach.” Rather than demanding ‘Obedience” using force or treats, it’s focused on two-way trust in a relationship. (Never use force.)
So, meet Peter Jam and I wish you a good dog day.
Thank you for the information Stu. I think I will look into gettinh the book. BTW…I once had a dog I nicknamed “Nut Bucket”.
How are you feeling thins morning? I hope things are progressing quickly.
Progressing slowly.
Great story. As I may have commented before, I saw my dad cry was twice in his life, once when he was sewing his dog Honey’s shroud. After more than 12 years of love, Honey died at home, curled up in a sunny patch in Dad’s kitchen. The other time Dad cried was when the Army finally awarded him his POW medal from WWII at the age of 95 or so.
Dogs have given rise to great jokes and cartoons. A few of my favorites…
“If you pick up a starving dog and feed him, he won’t bite you. That’s the principal difference between a dog and a man.” — Mark Twain
“I don’t have a dog. I just have someone come to my house once a month and put hair on the furniture and shit in my yard.” — Dead comedian whose name escapes me
Skier trapped in a snowbank from an avalanche, upon spotting a St. Bernard approaching with a keg of whiskey around its neck: “Ah! Here comes man’s best friend! And a dog!”
Stu, your doggie will help you heal all the faster. No one knows why, but dogs (and other pets) help in the healing process. When I am ailing, I love a visit from part of a steer, medium-rare, with a side of fries.
It is an accepted that that humans and dogs release pheromones that have the same effect on each — a sense of calm, and well being.
Thanks for the old jokes and the old attachment to animal fat that may kill you 😁
HAPPY TUESDAY !!!
pallie,
Glad to read your off your meds. All of the words are coherent and spelled corpectily.
Isn’t it amazing how a little creature can give so much love and ask for little in return ? I forget how many critters we had out here when you came by. All rescues. Two pitts and a German Sheppard that Pam swore was part wolf. The one pitt only had three legs. Pam called her “my BMW”. Reason being, Penn Vet hospital was not and still not cheap.
I had a female Alaskan Malamute many years ago. The bigger the dog, the bigger the baby, the say’n’ goes. One day, I fell asleep, on the couch, while sitting up. The wife took a picture of ‘Tina’ sitting on my lay, with her head resting on my shoulder. She completeky covered me with her body.
We’re all talking about our fur babies. What about Peter Jam ? I’m sure he can give some first hand horror stories that EVERYONE should hear. A reality check from someone who actually ‘been there and done that’ puts things in a better perspective.
ALRIGHT, BREAKS OVER. GET UP AND WALK !
Tony
I am still very much on my meds, Tony.
It took several years for me to bond with But Bag. I was still grieving for Cheech.
Dear Stu,
As a fellow dog-lover, I think you need this!
https://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy00.aspx?ID=210,488&T1=D221006+S
anybody been to that new zoo they built in Camden?Dont bother-its pretty lame.Thus far they only have one animal-a dog.Its a shit zoo.(your welcome)
I might as well join in:
Walking past a veterinary clinic, a woman noticed a small boy and his dog waiting outside. ‘Are you here to see Dr Meyer?’ she asked. ‘Yes,’ the boy said. ‘I’m having my dog put in neutral.
A three-legged dog walks into a bar and says, ‘I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.
A dog walks into a job center. ‘Wow, a talking dog,’ says the clerk. ‘With your talent I’m sure we can find you a gig in the circus.’ ‘The circus?’ says the dog. ‘What does a circus want with a plumber?
Or the dog that plays poker, but his tell is he always wags his tail when he gets a good hand.
Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of the dog, it’s too dark to read.
Thanks, Stu.
My son did four tours in Afghanistan (Navy). Many dogs wander outside the base. One found its way in. Once my son came home he made arraignments to get that dog here. After months of fundraising from friends Charlie Girl arrived in the US now living happily.
Sorry to get political but I wish our government would have tried as hard to get those who worked side by side with our military out of that God forsaken country.
Happy ending. The government has an atrocious record on its treatment of war dogs.