Indulge Me
I don’t have grandkiddos, so please indulge my sentimental ramblings about my pets. I now have three animals under my roof―two dogs and a cat―and all three are tri-colored.
My sweet Beagle is 8 now. I got her as a puppy when I first moved to Portland. She's my second Beagle and my heart swells whenever I see any Beagle. The breeder sent Sadie with a torn ear, but that only makes her more special to me. She is needy, possessive, demanding, stubborn and not always well-behaved―but we are soulmates.
Interesting Beagle facts:
- There are two standard sizes of beagles: 13-inch and 15-inch (Sadie's 13").
- Beagles have three distinct vocalizations: a bark, a yodel-like sound called a ‘bay’ for hunting, and their famous howl.
- Beagles are scent hounds. They have around 220 million scent receptors (44 times more than humans). The only dog breed to rival a Beagle’s sense of smell is the Bloodhound. Beagles can pick up 50 distinct odors within each sniff and are able to remember and differentiate them for the future. The DHS uses the “Beagle Brigade” to root out agricultural products in airports. Beagles can also sniff out contraband, illegal substances, and explosives. Beagles are much better at ground-scenting than air-scenting and have been excluded from mountain rescue teams for that reason.
- The white-tipped tail was selectively bred into Beagles to ensure they’re visible when they’re in a pack with noses to the ground.
- Beagles can reach speeds of up to 20 mph.
- Sadly, because they’re innately docile and submissive, Beagles are one of the most common dogs used for animal testing.
- Snoopy is the most famous Beagle.
BARCLAY
Barksy (Barks) a Shetland Sheepdog joined our family a couple years ago. He’s 7 now. His early career earned his ‘Best in Breed’ at the Tualatin Kennel Club dog show. However, during his show days, he wasn’t socialized or shown affection as he should have been. Those owners also cut his vocal cords, so his bark is more of a squeak―but incessant! (He did have another owner between showing and me.) Consequently he has a few quirks and is extremely skittish and wary of people. But we have made progress! Unfortunately, he only has a couple years before he’ll be completely blind. But Barksy is the sweetest and most beautiful boy. And he is my shadow, following me everywhere.
Interesting Sheltie facts:
- Shelties are the sixth smartest dog breed in the world.
- Shelties have the widest range of personalities in the canine world.
- Shelties were bred for herding and they take their jobs seriously. (Barks will herd the moving lawn mower!) They’re some of the best sheep herders in the world and they’re versatile in their methods: nipping at heels, kicking sheep on the rear, and jumping and bumping their shoulders to turn them.
- Shelties are used as medical alert, service and therapy dogs.
- Shelties rank among the top canine competitors in the world.
- Shelties were originally called “Toonie” dogs. “Toon” was the Scottish slang for “farm.”
- Though Lassie had the same markings and looked like a bigger Sheltie, Collies are a completely different breed.
TULIP
In January I acquired a stray cat without any solid information on her age or background. The only thing I know is that she is spayed―due to her clipped ear―a sign that strays have been fixed. She’s a very healthy and pretty long-haired calico and the girl who caught her called her Tulip. Tulip spend a month in a bathroom, another in the bathroom and bedroom, then graduated to wandering the house. She pretty much steers clear of me and the dogs during the day. However, we’ve had a breakthrough! Tulip now waits eagerly for me on the stairs when I'm heading to bed, she sleeps on my bed every night, and we have some intense petting and rubbing sessions that we both enjoy! We have a ways-to-go, but it’s only a matter of time before she’s on my lap...
Interesting Calico facts:
- Calico cats are not a breed in themselves, but the tricolor ‘calico’ coat pattern occurs incidentally in many cat breeds (except solid-color breeds).
- Calico cats have black, orange and white coats. Without the white they're Tortoiseshell, not Calico.
- Calicos are 99% female due to their genetic makeup linked to the X chromosome.
- Male calicos are rare, can have health problems, and are sterile. Thus calicos cannot be bred.
- Because of their rarity, in the folklore of many cultures calico cats are considered symbols of good luck. In the 1870s, calicos were declared the official symbol of good fortune in Japan.
- Japanese sailors and fishermen have long kept a calico on board their vessels as a talisman ‘ship’s cat' to protect against misfortune at sea and ensure a bountiful catch.
- Maneki Neko (Japanese beckoning cat) figures are predominately calico cats with a raised ‘beckoning’ paw.
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