I’ll take dogs over people anytime

Wallace is a little nuisance sometimes (or a LOT of the times), but he never tries to hide who he is. It’s all out there in the open to see, both good and bad: This is me. I love outside. I love sitting on laps and cuddling. I sprinkle fine white hair on your clothes. I pee where I want to. Got a treat? This explicit straightforwardness is the biggest reason why I find dog behavior much MUCH more logical (and trustworthy) than that of humans. Dogs don’t break promises. Dogs don’t claim to support one set of ideas and then act in support of another set. Dogs don’t talk out of both sides of their mouths. Dogs don’t give you false information with the hope that you choose them instead of the other guy. Dogs are pretty transparent. 

Speaking of transparent dogs, I’ve solved the winter visibility problem for my snow-colored little dude (Chewy comes through once again!): a bright blue puffer and leash.  Wallace and my other dachshund Otto typically wear fleece vests once temperatures drop below 70 degrees; even then, the senior one grumbles about going outdoors. Every time. Otto sticks his nose out to gauge the weather and then looks up at me: You have GOT to be kidding, lady. Are you INSANE? I get it–short-haired dachshunds are one of a handful of breeds that are not blessed with fur but…hair (obviously). Since they don’t have a nice undercoat of the fluffy insulation that their buddies do, they have to either wear sweaters or shiver constantly and be uncomfortable. Since his coloring is brown with a touch of black (and now, a lot of grey), Otto is styling in red fleece in the winter months, and ONLY inside (those puppy pads are a permanent thing at our house).  Creamy Wallace looks pretty dapper in his bright blue one. But since fleece gets wet (and therefore cold) in the snow…the nylon puffer!   

I am not someone who enjoys dressing up their dogs in pajamas and costumes and formalwear, but all of my dogs do have cold weather apparel, for practical reasons. Since A) heat rises, B) humidifiers and air filters spew cold air as they run, and C) my dogs are all knee-high or lower to the ground, then D) they live in an environment even chillier than mine. I’m not a crazy old dog lady who dresses up her pets (my brother asked me over Christmas if I was turning into one) but I know how to take care of them so they stay healthy and happy, as they deserve. And Wallace exuberantly dashing through the snow in a bright blue puffer vest is a sight to see. 

For the record, there is no such breed as a “wiener dog.” Just like there are no other dogs named for distinguishing physical characteristics they happen to have, like toothy, bitey dogs, slobbery dogs, or ornery dogs (I’m looking at YOU, chihuahuas). Check with the American Kennel Club. There are only ten breeds in the W section on their website and wiener dog is not one of them (so just stop with that). Imagine what would happen if we started calling people by their distinguishing physical characteristics. I’m pretty sure a couple of new ones would pop up, and a lot of folks would rapidly develop them: either black eyes or bruised shins. However, it might be refreshing if people would take a few lessons from their canine companions and be truly real. That’s A LOT to live up to, to be on equal footing in that department but that would be a wonderful distinguishing characteristic to have.