This is Zepp, short for the mega rock group Led Zeppelin. He’s trying to figure out what these other little creatures are that moved into his house. He was really gentle with the chick though, a big lug indeed.

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Posted on Tracey’s Best Shot Monday.

I’ve been waiting for the Pet Parade! I’m playing along with my good friend Gayle (who I just love) and the talented ELK over at Shutter Sisters. It’s a family affair!

My doggie of choice is Sheba, our neighbor for the last 7 years. Seven years for a dog is a long time and Sheba was a young pup back then. Now she’s an old dame. Gray, slow, and calm.

She watches over the kids. A much younger and more energetic dog has moved into her house…poor her. But she’s taking it well.

What a good old dog…

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Who is it?

Landshark.

You’re not a Landshark! You’re Gigi! Come on in!

Those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about are either too young or too intellectual to have watched such banality.

But the rest of us thought it was funny.

Anyway, this post is about the Saturday Night skit. It’s about Gigi, the half-breed who lives down the street. She really not a half-breed per se…she’s a thoroughbred Labra-Doodle. And so lies the weirdness of nature as God designed it.

Maybe we shouldn’t have let her inside.

For you see, dogs can be bred for specific characteristic and behavorial traits. If you want a breed to specifically snif out bombs at an airport, you can breed one in less than four generations. If you want a dog with an acute sense of hearing, you can breed on the same way. All dogs are descendants of the wolf but generations of breeding domesticity into them have completely removed the independent wolf instinct.

Labra-Doodles are a cross between Labradors and Poodles. They are bred to have the easy going, loyal, and disposition of Labradors but have the intelligence and the non-sheddability of Poodles. It means they supposedly don’t shed. I know it’s not a word.

How do I know? I saw it on the National Geographic Channel while on vacation to New Orleans a couple of years ago.

Really.

So my weird mind asks this question. What about other breeds? Cats? Rabbits?….People? Gulp.

Told you my mind works in weird ways.

She’s so cute.

As it turns out, this phenomenon of breeding is confined to just dogs, as far as we know. They’ve tried it with cats to no avail. No one has actually tried on humans, as far as we know.

Sorry to get all Dr. Frankenstein on you…but I know that you’ve thought about it too.

Maybe not.

One thing for sure. Gigi the Labra-Doodle who lives down the street can beat my own sweet dog in a beauty contest any day. Somebody neglected to breed our dog for the “pretty” gene. But she IS ours and we love her shed-like-crazy-bald-headed-stout-big-boned self.

Thank goodness it’s not all about beauty.

Time to go home Gigi. We have enough animals running around here.

Posted on Wordful Wednesday.

Hey you, lets ride.

but first we have to saddle up.

don’t make me put my fingers in your mouth.

take the bit…

take it I say…

Mom, put the camera away, you’re not helping.

Well, alrighty now, someone’s focused.

Sorry I’m late, where do I go?

Who’s the boss now huh?