Usually, “Bah humbug!” and devoid of holiday cheer… this video erased my usual this-time-of-year annoyance!
Okay, so I’m a sucker for Poodles. Sue me!
You might be, too, if you meet Rocky, my parti poodle. He appears occasionally in my writing — sometimes as teacher, sometimes as terror. Except that the darker grey patches on his puppy face have since faded, he is a lot like the smallest, twirling dog in this holiday special.
No one taught Rocky to spin. He came home from a rescue event in October of 2019, already twirling at 11 weeks old. My oldest grandson soon discovered that if he spun around, Rocky would copy.
Dogs spin for a variety of reasons. Rocky twirls when he’s hungry, happy, excited, anxious, or about to lie down or poop. A shameless beggar who hopes strangers will reward his adorability with a treat, he breaks into a spin whenever he suspects a human is “carrying” (treats).
Pre-dinner twirl, in slo-mo, Author’s GIF
Unfortunately, Rocky’s guardian (me) — an aging Boomer short on patience but long on love for that now-9-pound bundle of energy — never shaped his natural gift into a routine like the video above. But believe me, he’s capable.
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Happy holidays!
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The piece above was published first on Medium. Here are other stories you might have missed:
- Pardon Me, While I Complain – short read; humor
- Have You Unintentionally Internalized Ageism – a piece inspired by responses to “When I’m an Old Lady…“
- Crypto, Schmypto – exactly what it sounds like!
- Rejected by Copify – continuing adventures in online publishing
- 7 Questions Medium Writers Should Ask Themselves – all writers, actually
- Parents, You’ve Got It All Wrong – the wisdom of getting children out of the spotlight
Remember: You can, for only $50/yr, become a member of Medium by using this link. That gives you unlimited access to Medium and puts a whopping $2.36 a month in my pocket. It’s a small price to pay to support a favorite writer and for unlimited access to a world of great reading (non-members can access only 3 articles a month).
I get that especially this time of year, everyone comes to you with an outstretched palm. No hard feelings if you can’t afford or don’t want to join Medium. You can also subscribe to my Medium articles — so you’ll at least get an email when I publish.