The Rip Van Wrinkler,
Volume XIV, Issue 1, February 2010

NOTEABLE QUOTABLES Page 1 > next page

Karen P. Christensen

Having a basenji is like having a two-year-old who can:

·  run like an Olympic sprinter,

·  leap like a high jumper,

·  dig like an anteater,

·  chew like a car crusher (hide your remote controls and cordless phones, not to mention underwear, shoes, etc),

·  think like a MENSA member, and

·  scream like, well, a two-year-old!

For the first few years they have two speeds, FASTER THAN YOU, and OFF.

Their pacifier? A sunny spot will do it any time! Followed by lights out and a blanket with a human under it -- unlike your current breeds, these guys are chilly most of the time. Plan to buy coats. Plural, because it will eat the first one. Finding a way to channel all that energy can be a challenge but if you have other dogs that will help, the basenji can wear them out one by one! All of us will tell you it's worthwhile!

Cheryl Silver

My beloved Katie Ruth, now gone for 6+ months, was fastidious in all her ways. However she loved, loved, loved rolling in dead fish. One of her favorite hiking trails was along a creek running right through town. When it would flood, thousands of tiny fish would be stranded along the trail as the water receded. I could hardly walk with her on those days, as she seemed to feel it was her duty to roll on each and every fish carcass. I miss her terribly - she was an angel whose barooing made everyday bright.

Just in case you wondered, Hank is doing great!

The other day I was talking with a potential Airedale adopter, a really neat woman; lots of Airedale experience; smart, too!   She had expressed an interest in adopting a 'dale who is about 5 or 6 years old, not interested in a puppy. Throughout the conversation Hank was pulling out all the stops, being totally silly.  Some of his tricks included walking around the front of the house flipping small area rugs over J and trying to pull things off the dining room table. (Yes, he had a great walk today before the call.)   The woman kept hearing me re-direct Hank. At one point she said, "You can see why I am interested in adopting an older dog."   My response, "I sure understand, but Hank will be 12 in January."  I heard her gasp and then laugh. I explained that most days I tell him, "Hank, you are supposed to be old," but he seems oblivious.  Anyway, we had a good laugh.

Lisa Voss

Nicky trying to open the Vittles Vault

Susan Kamen Marsicano

Wizard of Oz was on TV during the holiday. I sing (honest) for Fernie. She likes a song, she told me. One of her songs is, “Somewhere Over the Fernbow,” & so, when I sung along with the film, all dogs, sans Trill, who is hearing challenged, ran over, in a happy comfort zone.  How about that for a recall cue!

LIVING ROOM SING-A-LONG

Tamara E. Allen

Do you know that Andiamo is calmed and lulled to sleep if we sing to her, only off key? Must be off key. Then her eyes half close, head bobs, she sleeps. Her favorite is "go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep dear Aaaaaaaaaaawndi-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahmoooooooooooooooooo" - yes, her name sung sounds like a cat caught under the tire of a car, but nonetheless, she loves it.

And she is being trained now to jump on the piano bench when I do my lessons trying to learn to play piano.

Marj Baker

Our Gumbo since he was 6 months old has been sleeping with us.  He gets too warm under the covers so he works his way out and to the top of the covers and then later back under.  We raise the covers for him when he wants back in sometimes several times a night.  It is so funny how we accommodate these guys.  Sanji sleeps under the covers at my feet all night and rarely moves except to lick my feet, which I hate.  J

Gumbo just chewed a hole in my bedspread.  He is two years old and should know better but he is a chewer and I think it is like a child who sucks his thumb.  It also seems that when he is bored he will chew something.  Nothing really valuable just a tea towel or a bath towel or a blanket, something that has "real substance" ya know.  He has lots of toys but he likes to zero in on "our stuff".  I'm sure this isn't just a Gumbo syndrome but probably a many Basenji syndrome.  He and Sanji our other boy are left loose in the house when we go somewhere and they have never touched a thing of ours while we are gone.  It is when we are home that Gumbo goes for it.  And he doesn't take "no" seriously.  He just smiles and wanders off.

Rhoda Johnson-Bryne

You asked if Nemo ever "Plucked the duck" ... hee hee. Violet does - there's a hole on top of its head where she's pulled out tufts of stuffing. Nemo just loves on it. It's so adorable to watch him as he starts to doze off with it in his mouth, and he gently, rhythmically bites as if he's pushing a squeaky - which it does not have.


Nemo's a sweet boy.

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