Dog Stories: Dogs I Have Known, Dogs I Have Met and Other Dog Stories

By Stanley Yokell

Dog Stories tells about dogs the author has known, dogs he has met and other dog stories. It begins with the story of his babyhood companion, Beauty, a beautiful white Spitz that was his constant companion. Beauty slept where her companion slept and ate where her companion ate.

His stories tell of dogs he has known named, Whitey, Pat, Tough Shep, Wookie, Shep, Pug, Wags, Scraps, Pinky, Harrigan, Paschka, Marvel, Jed and Windy.

Dog Stories include stories titled, "A Courtroom Dog Story," "Dogs Turned Loose," "A Dangerous Dog," "Jake," "The Dog that Wasn't," "Trains, Buses, Restaurants and Dogs," and "My Dog Doesn't Bark."

These delightful stories should appeal to anyone who has ever had a canine friend.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462814688

Book preview

On the Bobolink Trail

Our town, Boulder, Colorado, has a wonderful system of open space on which there are many hiking trails. Our favorite walk is on the Bobolink Trail that runs along Boulder Creek. It is our favorite because, in addition to the natural Beauty of the prairie on one side and the tree-lined river on the other, it is the place that dog lovers and dogs run free and where every spring young parents bring their children and baby sisters and brothers. We love the dogs and we love the children.

We are not alone. Go Boulder/City of Boulder recently published a map of and rules for a three-month long free bus service called the Hop. Here is the Ruff Guide for dogs on the Hop:

•   Dogs are not guaranteed boarding. Drivers will maintain discretion to guarantee passenger safety.

•   Human passengers take precedence over dogs. If a passenger expresses fear of or has an allergy to dogs, you will not be allowed aboard.

•   All dogs must be on a leash and non-service dogs must wear a muzzle that straps behind the head.

•   If two dogs do not get along, neither will be allowed aboard—service dogs excepted.

•   Dogs are not allowed to sit in a seat. They need to sit on the floor or on your lap.

•   You are responsible for maintaining control and cleanliness of your dog(s) in order to board and remain on board.

•   If more than one dog is on board, you are encouraged to sit in different areas of the bus.

•   You may not board with more than three dogs.

These rules bring to mind my many visits to the Netherlands and France where dogs on public transportation were a common sight. Even more interesting was their presence in virtually every restaurant that I patronized.

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks website does not refer to dog owners; it calls people with dogs their Guardians and lists dog parks where dogs may be free of leashes, tells dog lovers when their friends must be leashed and the voice and sight control rules for when they need not be leashed.

The dogs have a wonderful time, sniffing here and there, frisking in the creek, carrying sticks. Once we met a dog carrying a stone in his mouth that he guarded like a precious possession. The surest way to have friendly conversations is to admire someone’s canine companion or baby.

I never put my hand out to a dog I don’t know, and always ask the dog’s companion if it is alright for me to pet one. But almost every dog I ever met has come up to me and licked my hand and often my face. Young ones frequently jump up on me in excitement. I know why I am attracted to dogs—I hardly ever meet one that I would not like to have as a friend. I don’t know why dogs like me. Perhaps it is how I smell or they like my voice. Whatever the reason, it gives me pleasure that dogs respond to my greeting and rarely object to my scritching their bellies or patting their heads. It may be anthropomorphism, but I truly believe that dogs smile at me as I smile at them.

On our last walk on the Bobolink Trail, my wife Edie and I enjoyed meeting a little dog with short legs, a big shaggy dog, two retired greyhounds, a Spitz, a chow, some German shepherds and dogs with and without pedigrees all loved by their companions, and many soaking wet from splashing in the creek.

It was a warm, sunny day and dry as only Boulder can be. Edie and I sat on a flat rock for a rest and a drink. Both of us were ready to doze off. In my reverie I thought of all the dogs that have known me from earliest childhood to old age and of random encounters with some along the way. These are some of their stories.

Beauty

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Beauty, a pure white Spitz was the first dog who loved me. I had been weaned from Mother’s breast and remember walking around with a bottle of milk and often sharing with Beauty licks of the rubber nipple on the bottle. My sister and two older brothers were in school so Beauty and I had each other to ourselves.

Our kitchen stove had gracefully curved legs that set the range and oven a couple of feet above the floor on a tiled rectangle bounded by wooden molding. The tiles were small white hexagons carefully fitted to each other. The space under the stove was an ideal place for a little boy and a dog to nap. Mother would wake us both to make sure we got out doors. There never was a time when she didn’t send us out with, Go out doors and play. I’ll call you for lunch (supper). Don’t talk to strangers. Both of you stay out of the mud and come when I call you.

Mother loved to cook and bake. All the while she worked in the house she sang in a sweet and melodious voice—songs that I can sing to this day. She always cooked special treats for Beauty, who she loved dearly. In fact I often thought that Mother loved Beauty more than she loved me.

Beauty guarded me. She wagged her tail at friendly neighbors, always keeping a respectful distance. But when a stranger, who might be a hobo or a collector of old clothes came near, Beauty stood between us, her tail high but no longer wagging. If she thought a stranger came too close, there would be a quiet throaty growl of warning.

Mother told me that once I took a hair curling iron