By Rickie Rubenstein

WOOF!  WAG!  WOOF!  WAG! 

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last column!  I’m so glad you’re as happy as I am to be back!!  Now, I need your help!  Write me!!  It can be a question to challenge my oh-so-smart poodle brain, or your thoughts about anything (tho remember this is a family publication).  And when you do write, please send a picture!  Now, on to some letters:

“Dear Daphne, As you know, I adopted a rather elderly pair of humans (Linda and Vic Yerrill).  As expected, we had a difficult beginning, but gradually I have gotten them better trained and things are now going quite smoothly.  My problem is how to break their habit of playing “fetch”.  They want to throw a tennis ball and have me bring it back to them.  But I like to “catch and bury” – like with my stash of toys and bones in my favorite flower bed in the patio.  We do this “fetch” exercise half a dozen times, after which they retrieve the balls and want to do it again.  Why do they get such a thrill from this silly game?  I don’t, and want to cure them of it.  Should I write Dear Abby?  Your friend, Dusty” 

Dear Dusty, No, no……you don’t need to write Dear Abby!  She’s advises humans…..I’m the dog advisor!  Dudley Hutson had a similar problem (see my column #5).  His dad loves playing fetch, so Dudley (smart Golden Retriever that he is) indulges him in this “tedious” activity.  Since you’re a thoroughly original beagle (and an adorable one, at that), you have a different outlook on life.  Yet, I know you and your adoptive parents want to make each other happy.  So, how about a compromise:  you indulge their silly game and then have them do something you enjoy….special rubbies, yummy treats, even letting you stash those balls and toys until you’re ready to retrieve them (oops, is “retrieve” a bad word for a beagle?).  Let me know how this works for all of you.  Good luck!

“Dear Daphne, I understand our moms are buddies, and you want to be buddies, too.   No offense, but if we met, I’d probably just bark at you and pretend I’m vicious…..even though I’m really a scardy-cat (no offense to any cats who might be reading this)!  Mom says it’s because she got me as an adult; I was found as a youngster, roaming the streets of Dallas, TX, foraging for food.  I was taken to an …. EEKS …KILL shelter, where I was put on death row!  Some good people up north then took me to a NO-kill adoption shelter, where Mom found me. Because of some pretty bad interactions with people and other dogs during my formative years. I never learned doggie play skills. I don’t even trust people when I’m on my leash, so Mom has to keep me at a distance from other dogs like you. But, if, say, my mom invites your mom into my house, I’ll know that she must be A-ok, and I will jump right into her lap.  I’m so glad Mom saw my potential, despite my “endearing” quirks and rough beginning, and allowed me to rescue her!.  I wish more people would consider rescuing dogs!  We may have behaviors that need to be worked out, but we have lots of love to give too.  Just ask my mom and dad (Irene and Frank Merenda)!”

Dear Max, What a great story!  I’m sorry that we can’t be friends, but I’m so glad you were able to rescue your human parents.  We 4-legged creatures all have endearing quirks; that’s what makes us special! 

So, my friends, time to go for a walk.  Please know that this column depends on you!  I want to hear from you!  ’Til next time, have great walks, enjoy new sniffs, and wag often!  (And make sure your parents and walkers pick up and dispose of your poop properly!) 

Woof!

Daphne

daphne4legs@gmail.com