Daphne #21

Translated By Rickie Rubenstein (Daphne’s Mom)

Holiday greetings to everyone! What a beautiful time of year! I’ve so enjoyed the colorful lights on my walks—especially the Marsh Creek “Nights of Lights” —and the opportunity to visit with so many of my dog and human friends! (Dad does wonder, sometimes, about the length of time Mom and I are gone. But it takes time to visit…giving and receiving treats and rubbies!) I hope everyone in our community has been having wonderful celebrations! Please know that I love meeting your visiting pooches (as long as they’re ok with it).

WOOF!! WOOF!! WAG!! WAG!! WAG!!

Paislee Flies High!

Dear Daphne, I sure miss seeing your mom and you in the park on our morning walks. My mom (Sharon Mirzai) gets me out terribly early because we go to class every day. We have really become dog sport lovers!

Did you know that we canines can enjoy many sporting events? There are the usual ones, like obedience (blah, boring), but then there’s scent work, tricks, agility, fast cat, barn work, and…flyball! Google ‘em and see for yourselves the fun to be had!

My favorite sports are agility and flyball because I can run and jump really fast!! Flyball is a team sport, consisting of 4 dogs and 4 handlers. It’s the “drag racing” of dog sports! There are teams all around the world and competitions in every state and country. Flyball takes at least a year for a team to learn the sport, with lots of fun training. It’s becoming very popular, so much so that ESPN carries it on occasion. It’s wild…and a great way for dogs to burn off energy!

Mom and I have been training with our team since November 2020, and are heading to our first tournament in February 2022! We often travel to St. Petersburg to observe tournaments and then we get to practice in a “real-life” situation. We are called “green dogs”; don’t ask me why as I am apricot, not green (no offense, Elphaba).

So that, my friend, is why we hardly see each other any more. Maybe some day you can catch me on ESPN!!

Your friend, Paislee

Dear Paislee,

So that’s why we haven’t seen much of you, my flying friend! I’m so glad you’re having such fun! And thanks for sharing your adventures! Please let me know how you fare in your inaugural tournament. I’ll be looking out for you on ESPN!

Letter from a Western Cousin

Dear Daphne, My folks (your cousins, Leslie Mogul & Bill Kasper) took me shopping on Black Friday at Pet Smart in Laguna, CA. Wow, did I score! Everything was half off, so I was free to get whatever I wanted! I needed some new toys, so picked out the best squeakies—a Dreidel and Menorah! Since I’ve gained a few pounds and outgrew last year’s fashions (due to Covid shut-in), my new picks included a cozy, turtleneck, collegian pink, cable neck sweater and a plush, pink & blue velcro-snapped jacket (so easy to get on and off). Perfect for this short-haired pup, who easily gets cold! And both items cover my tush!

I had so much fun, sharing thoughts (loudly, I must add) on the best items with lots of other dogs. So much better than shopping online!

Love, Cousin Winnie

Dear Winnie, You lucky dog….livin’ the life in CA (though we all know that East Coast paradise is living in Marsh Creek)! I hope the next time your folks come east, they can sneak you onto the plane and we can meet! Meanwhile, stay warm and give my love to your mom and dad.

My “Squirrelly” Friend, Journey

My buddy and fellow Standard Poodle, Journey (Jo Hendrickson & Jim Seifert), is nuts about squirrels! I just had to share this pic of Journey from a recent walk. He doesn’t catch ‘em, but never gives up! Are we Standards known to be stubborn? Persistent? And, of course, smart, loving, etc., etc.

A Really Big Dog!

I finally got to meet Archie (Helen & Scott Borisoff), the Bernese mountain dog! He’s sooo big, but so sweet and cuddly! He certainly lives up to his breed’s reputation for being affectionate and good-natured. We had a friendly sniff (don’t need to say where) while the folks chatted. Maybe some playtime next year!

Free Book on Taking Care of Us!

Finally, a bonus for my devoted readers: Mom just ordered a FREE book from the American Kennel Club (akc.org)–“Tips for Responsible Dog Owners”. Spread the word! It’s mostly for new dog owners, but there’s useful info for us old-timers, too. And, as you probably know, the AKC offers a wide range of excellent dog owning and training advice.

That’s it for 2021! Til next time, have great walks, enjoy new sniffs, and wag often! (And make sure your parents and walkers pick up and PROPERLY dispose of your poop!)

One more thing:

Mom, Dad, and I wish everyone (dogs, humans, and assorted other pets) a wonderful holiday and a happy, healthy, and wag-filled New Year!!

Bring it on, 2022!!