His Fateful Swim

As Jake breezes through the water, the pool becomes an unrecognizable fantasy ocean. The tides come in quickly as Jake fights to stay upright. The waves thrash about and water swells into his mouth, now his breathing is a gruesome task. The fight has become more difficult but he must prevail. He must not let the ocean take him, he must swim harder and faster. He must use his paws as a dolphin would use her fins.

Jake is scared the fight is getting harder and he notices beasts among the sea. Below is a kingdom of demons lurking underneath waiting for the moment to take him but he must not let his anxiety consume his thoughts. The beasts may take him one day, but "not today" he says. He must remember his cause...his master is waiting. He need not swim like an Olympian, but rather a hero with a cause.

With every thrashing stroke he takes he must remember she too is fighting for her life. He cannot stop now, he has come too far, too much is riding on this swim. He will not let her down. He has prepared his entire life for this moment.

Usually his swim is leisurely, moving with ease and beauty like a bird soaring through the sky on a summers day. Today, his moves are like clockwork, with tactical planning. Like an army commander, he moves with purpose. this is what he was designed for, this is what thousands of years of evolution and careful breeding has created. He swims with his ancestors. He swims with the wolves. He swims with the ones who gave him his abilities.

He will prevail. He will get to his master and with each breath he swims harder. He laughs to himself as he hears his breathing, it sounds like a wheel that needs oiling or a basement door that needs fixing. CREAK. Creak. Creak. He must keep moving. He is in sight of his master's home, he is reassured that he will make this swim, he is almost home. He is so close to her he can smell her scent, he can smell that she needs him. He is so close...

And as the tide comes in Jake suddenly hears his owners voice as she screams for him to get out of the pool and the fantasy world he was engulfed in comes crashing down like a piano in the sky. Back to his life he goes, remembering it's much less stressful but he swears to himself that he will train harder and wait for the day where his services may need rendering. He is prepared and he will make it to his master.

Another post starring a Zoey

Today we have an interview from a border collie mix. We would have interviewed Zoey directly but she has a very busy schedule and wasn't up for the interview. Instead she put us in touch with her head of PR who is also Zoey's human sister, Joanie.

Here's what Joanie had to say about her client:

Here's the 411 on "The Other Zoey"

Nicknames: Zozo, Zo, Gow-Gow (meaning little dog in Chinese)
Birthday: April 16, 2009
Breed: Half Border Collie, San Miguel Cattle Dog
Weight: 57 pounds
Build: Athletic
Lanuages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Hobbies: Spending time with dad, terrorizing neighborhood Pomeranians, chasing after skateboarders, playing fetch, eating cheese and crackers, howling after fire engines, tackling and knocking down other dogs, wiping her constantly-wet Gingerbread chew toy all over someone's pants

Select Zoey stories:
- One day I took Zoey to the backyard to do her business and she ran up the stairs into the kitchen before me, as usual. When I got to the kitchen, the cookies I left on the (very high) kitchen counter were gone. I looked at Zoey, and she looked back at me innocently. I turn my head ahead away and immediately hear chewing "chump chump chump." I look back at Zoey again -- silence. I look to the counter -- "chump chump chump." Back at Zoey -- silence. Sneaky little dog!
- When Zoey was a puppy her favorite thing to do was chew on shoe strings. One day my mom found a pair of her non-lace Sketchers (there are taut elastic bands instead of shoe laces) with all the elastic bands pulled loose. Her shoes will never be tight again.
- Zoey is part cattle dog so her natural instinct is to herd. One morning when she was still a young puppy, we took her for a walk. My mom walked ahead of us and Zoey kept running up to her and nipping her feels. "She thinks you're cattle," laughs my dad hysterically. Another moment where Mama Lam is not pleased.
- Zoey is my dad's best friend. One time when my sister asked my dad whether he thought his little nieces were cute, he replied, "I don't need any other kids. I've got my baby right here." He says this while patting Zoey's head as she sits dutifully by his side.

Meet Zoey!

Zoey is an adorable 8 year old Dachshund.

Here is what the AKC websie says about this breed:

"The Dachshund, meaning "badger dog" in German, is a lively breed with a friendly personality and keen sense of smell. Known for their long and low bodies, they are eager hunters that excel in both above- and below-ground work. One of the most popular breeds according to AKC® Registration Statistics, they come in three different coat varieties (Smooth, Wirehaired or Longhaired) and can be miniature or standard size.

Dachshunds are lovable, playful companions, and an ideal pet for many homes, including those with children with appropriate supervision. They require moderate exercise, and can adapt to most living environments. Depending on their coat type, Dachshunds may need regular grooming."

These little hotdogs range from 16-32 pounds, while Miniatures weigh 11 pounds and under. Zoey weighs a "whopping" 7 pounds! But don't worry though these guys may be little they have HUGE and loving personalities and even though they are small they are good watch dogs. If you are looking for a quiet, easy to train puppy this dog is not for you. Though the dachshund is smart they are extremely difficult to train and because these guys are hounds they are quite loud.

Here are some cute quotes about them:

"Some day, if I ever get a chance, I shall write a book, or warning, on the character and temperament of the dachshund and why he can't be trained and shouldn't be. I would rather train a striped zebra to balance an Indian club than induce a dachshund to heed my slightest command." -E.B. White


"You say my nose, sir, reminds you of a dachshund? That is the first flattering remark anyone has made of it." -Cyrano de Bergerac


“Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other.” -Robert Benchley quotes