In case you hadn't noticed, I've been absent from Good Nonsense Land the last week or so because I was a) visiting the berlin niebuhr mansion for a few days, and b) attending my high school reunion. Oh baby. Anyway, upon visiting the niebuhr mansion, we found a surprise waiting for us. Berlin and Mrs. N had determined a winner of the 8-part Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog series.
In 8th place: PBGV
In 7th place: Bulldog
In 6th place: Bichon Frise
In 5th place: Golden Retriever
In 4th place: Chihuahua
In 3rd place: Papillon
In 2nd place: Maltese
And the winner is...
...the corgi!
From now on, your Good Nonsense name will be...berlin niebuhr's dog.
Showing posts with label Dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dogs. Show all posts
Monday, June 25, 2007
Berlin Niebuhr Found a Dog!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog (Part Eight)!
I think we've found a good one this time. Not as good as the Maltese, mind you, but a good one. Mrs. N asked us to look into a Papillon, and I must say, I was quite resistant. I'm not a fan of the yappy dog...especially after owning a yappy dog for the last 11+ years. I love Kayle to death, but...it wears you out after a while. However...after looking into them, this might actually be a pretty good dog for berlin and Mrs. N.
Good* It's name is the French word for 'butterfly'. It's named after me!
* It both loves to be cuddled AND loves to romp outdoors! The perfect dog for both berlin and Mrs. N!
* My dog book says Papillons are "resilient"...which could be important when it's repeatedly spurned in its attempts to win over berlin niebuhr.
* It adapts to extremes in climates, which is good considering berlin and Mrs. N seem to move to a different state every couple of years.
* They're small, but Wikipedia says they don't do that whole "small dog quaking" thing. That's good.
* Also according to Wikipedia: "Highly recommended for first-time dog owners." Granted, this wouldn't be berlin & Mrs. N's first dog...but it would definitely be their first in a while.
* Genetic structure is sound...a very healthy dog overall.
* They love exercise, but they can do without for days at a time. Could be good in case, well, berlin is in charge of the walking.
* They're very smart, ranking in the top ten of all breeds in intelligence.
* It's a star in the sport of dog agility! A very energetic dog! Hmm...uhh...
Bad
* It's a star in the sport of dog agility. A very energetic dog. Not all pottery in the house might survive. But hey...their knocking stuff over would just break the house in for any future grandchild.
* Well, if our neighbor's papillon is any indication, it's definitely a yappy dog. However, www.dogbreedinfo.com says it's not a yapper. Some conflicting information here.
* Tends to be pretty possessive of its owner...just like Kayle. It's not one of Kayle's prettier qualities.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog (Part Seven)!
Mrs. N has been complaining that we haven't been doing enough of these, so I guess it's time for another...but we're going to do one that I like...the Maltese!
Before Kayle, there was Jenny. Like Kayle, Jenny was playful and caring and cute...but unlike Kayle, she was quiet.
Positives
* They're playful and caring and cute and quiet!
* Little to no shedding.
* They're not very big, meaning they won't knock over Mrs. N, and Mrs. N could pick them up. And they're not as small as a chihuahua, so berlin niebuhr wouldn't have to feel quite as embarassed if he had to take it for a walk.
* From the "temperament" section of the Wikipedia summary: "These intelligent dogs learn quickly, and pick up new tricks and behaviours easily." From DogBreedInfo: "Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Highly intelligent." What's wrong with that?
* They're one of those dogs that get super-hyper and start running laps around the room for no apparent reason. Is there anything in the world better than that?
* My Pet Medicine says they make good watchdogs.
Negatives
* The dog show version of Maltese has that long, prissy hair and looks like Yorkies and other high-maintenance dogs. HOWEVER...we always gave Jenny a puppy cut. Super cute and super low maintenance.
* From DogBreedInfo: "Do not over-pamper or overprotect these little dogs, for some become unstable, and some may become jealous of visitors." Of course, I don't see berlin niebuhr as much of an over-pamperer, so this probably isn't a problem either. (Me, on the other hand? Different story. Hmm...maybe this is what happened to Kayle...unstable? Check. Jealous? CHECK.)
* They sunburn. Seriously.
* From wikipedia: "Because of their size, Maltese dogs are not a good choice for families with small children because they can be easily injured." I find that strange, though. Big dogs can injure the kids, small dogs can be injured. I was little when we got Jenny, and she didn't get hurt. I think this just depends on the parents teaching the kid to be respectful of the dog.
* They get tearstains. Not a big deal, but their eyes do need to be maintained.
* Crate-training didn't really work for Jenny (she just cried until she got to come to bed)...but she always peed where she was supposed to.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
And in the ongoing effort...
...to find berlin niebuhr a dog, I should probably bring this to someone's attention...let's just say this is two points for the golden retriever.
Dog saves owner with modified HeimlichLet's just say, I don't see a toy rat terrier doing that one. Or a chihuahua.
Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman's chest. The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.
Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told the Cecil Whig newspaper she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved.
"The next think I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders," she recalled. "He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest."
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog (Part Six)!
After the thought of cleaning poop off of a puppy's butt scared berlin niebuhr and Mrs. N away from the bichon frise, we thought we could go ahead and move on to the next dog...we were a week behind, anyway...
Tonight's dog is the corgi. As always, we'll look to Wikipedia for some background information. There are two main types of Welsh Corgis: the Pembroke and the Cardigan. From what I can tell, it looks like the main differences between the two types are the size of the ears and the position of the tails. Nothing major.
Good
* They're great companion dogs!
* As a whole, Corgis live pretty long lives, averaging between about 11-14 years.
* They're a herding dog, and like most herding dogs, they're very smart.
* They get overweight easily...which means you don't have to spend a lot of money on treats!
* From k9web: "Outlook bold, but kindly. Expression intelligent and interested. Never shy or vicious." Sounds good to me.
* Like most short, stumpy dogs, they can get some joint problems or arthritis. This is also good because Mr. and Mrs. N should be very well acquainted with arthritis by that time in their own lives...they'll know just what to do!
* They're fast runners despite being short and stumpy...and let's face it...what's funnier than watching a short, stumpy dog run really fast (other than watching Mr. or Mrs. N chasing a short, stumpy dog, that is)?
Bad
* They need a minimum of an hour's exercise daily. That seems like a lot.
* Like other smart dogs, they're not necessarily subserviant. In other words, if they find something more interesting than you, they'll probably pay attention to that instead.
* They do indeed get overweight easily, and apparently they have quite an appetite. Not a good combination.
* Like other herding dogs, they will herd people if you let them.
* From reading the forum at corgis.com (yes, there's a corgis.com), it seems like they can get overly excited sometimes while playing and can be quite stubborn (and at least one dog on the forum rolls in his own poo...it doesn't sound like that's a normal thing, though). And let's face it--Mr. and Mrs. N raised an only child, so they probably know what stubborn is like.
I think we have a winner.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog (Part Five)!
We're back after a two-week absence! This week's dog is the Bichon Frise (which literally means "curly lap dog" in French), the choice of Mrs. berlin niebuhr...not us. We'll see how it shapes up.
Good
* Well, for starters, Wikipedia says they're "very intelligent and generally have happy dispositions." Unlike berlin niebuhr's daughter-in-law.
* They also "love to jump into a comfy lap and settle in for their daily snooze." I can just picture berlin niebuhr stretching out for his afternoon nap with a nice little white furball by his side!
* They're prone to allergies. Just like berlin niebuhr's son and daughter-in-law! I say this is a positive since they're well-acquainted with this one.
* They're easily house-broken, and they don't shed!
Bad
* They are "happiest when they are the complete center of attention." I don't think Mr. and Mrs. N would think of that as a good trait. I think they would prefer something that just blends into the room.
* They require a great amount of human attention and long walks. Again, probably not a good thing. Hmm, maybe they should just get a gerbil or a goldfish.
* A wikipedia care tip that will have berlin niebuhr running away from his keyboard (and maybe Mrs. N too): "Owners must take care to clean their dog's hind (anal) area with a damp cloth after each bowel movement, as the breed's curly hair will tangle in dried excrement." Heh heh heh.
* According to doggiewoggie, "the Bichon Frise exhibits a trait called the 'Bichon Buzz' - suddenly the Bichon will put its ears back, start growling and run feverishly around in obstacle-course fashion for a few moments." While I think that would be hilarious, there's no telling what it would knock over buzzing around the niebuhr house.
* Needless to say, white dogs are hard to keep clean.
But they're definitely cute...and that counts for something...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog (Part Four)!
As I try to type with Stan on my lap, this week we're going to talk about a dog The Boy and I discovered by watching the Westminster Dog Show (in HD!) last week: the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, or PBGV. Not as much is written about this breed as others, but there is enough to make a decent impression.
Positives
-- The American Kennel Club says PBGV's are "confident, happy, extroverted, independent yet willing to please, never timid nor aggressive." Nothing wrong with that, right?
-- They're shaggy little furballs!
-- They're not purse-sized like a chihuahua, but they only grow to about 45 pounds...so they likely won't knock Mrs. N over.
-- They're good therapy dogs.
-- They have their own store!
Negatives
-- While they are cute dogs, they don't take hilarious pictures like the bulldog or chihuahua.
-- According to wikipedia, they "can be rather vocal." Uh oh. That means they're a really good guard dog...and it also means they're sometimes just plain loud.
-- Also, they "tend to do what they want to do unless there is a reward for them." Berlin niebuhr is not what you would call a giver.
-- One more: according to dogbreedinfo.com, PBGV's are smart enough to have their own agenda. Scary. However, we have two cats working together to pursue their own agendas...and it can't be nearly as scary as that!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog! (Part Three)
Okay, I realize this one might be a smidge unrealistic, but strangely I think we have found the perfect dog for berlin niebuhr and Mrs. N. I have a book called Owning the Right Dog, which goes through the plusses and minuses of all types of dogs, plus a lot about feeding and grooming. The bulldog has plenty of plusses and minuses. They are courageous, intelligent, good tempered, easy to groom (duh), and they love children. However...there are minuses too, of course. They snore, for one. But I hear that berlin niebuhr sleeps with ear plugs, anyway, so that's not a problem! Here's the other minus: "not built for strenuous exercise." That's a minus??? That's perfect! So...with that said...let's go to our own plus-minus list...
Positives
-- Not built for strenuous exercise!
-- You can't look at them without laughing.
-- The mascot of the alma mater of berlin niebuhr (and Mrs. N) was a bulldog...it's fate!
-- Their son really likes them...though he still can't really explain why.
-- They are kind and courageous. That counts for something, right?
-- You can dress them up in Star Wars gear, and their expression doesn't change!
(Courtesy of this Costume Dogs collection. I cannot tell you how hard we laughed at this series of photos.)Negatives
Yeah, there are one or two.
-- Their funny nose actually can cause some respiratory problems.
-- They require daily care (brushing their teeth and cleaning the wrinkles in their face to avoid infections). Can't imagine that would go over well in the niebuhr household.
-- Snoring and sleep apnea. Seriously, they're just like an overweight human.
-- They don't do strenuous exercise, but an unexercised bulldog "will exhibit destructive behaviour even as an adult," according to Wikipedia. So you do have to let them run around a little bit.
And through our in-depth viewing of the Westminster Dog Show this week (it was on HDTV, and we have proven that we will watch absolutely anything on HD), we discovered what is actually a more realistic and palatable version of the bulldog: the French Bulldog. All the plusses of the bulldog, except without the snoring and the largeness (you do have to occasionally put petroleum jelly in its facial creases, but that's not as bad as brushing its teeth daily).
Come on...you know you want me...
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog! (Part Two)
This time, we go in a different direction...small! When Mrs. berlin niebuhr was growing up, she had a chihuahua, and she has made her preferences known. So let's see what they have to offer...
Positives
-- They tend to focus their devotion and loyalty on just one person. So this is a positive for Mrs. berlin niebuhr...not so much for Mr. berlin niebuhr. Take our dog Kayle, make her even more loyal and protective, and give her a harsher-sounding bark. Hmm...I guess this should have been in the "Negatives" list.
-- According to Wikipedia, while they're "stereotyped as high-strung ... it has been shown that correct training and socialization can result in an outstanding companion animal."
-- Also from Wikipedia: "Their curious nature and small size make them easily adaptable to a variety of environments, including the city and small apartments." Since Mr. and Mrs. berlin have had the tendency of moving about once a year lately, this could come in handy!
-- You can fit them on an airplane! That's gotta come in handy, right?
-- They don't shed much.
-- It doesn't cost much to feed them.
-- They don't require much exercise (no matter how much fun it is imagining berlin niebuhr taking a little chihuahua with a cute pink sweater out for a walk--I'd pay good money to see that! Maybe a rhinestone collar...but I digress).
Negatives
-- Also according to Wikipedia, "[c]hihuahuas are not well-suited as small children's pets because of their size, temperament and tendency to bite when frightened." Not that this is a problem now, but uhh...eventually it could become one.
-- Come on, they look like rats!
-- While they may be cheap to feed, you actually have to clothe them sometimes...else they shake.
-- They need a great deal of attention. That can be a positive occasionally, but...yeah...could get old.
-- They don't tend to get along well with other dogs.
-- They can be difficult to train. Like berlin niebuhr.
-- Here's a slight problem:
-- And here's another:
Don't know if you can overcome that.
I've gotta say...I think we're voting no on this one. But we're just here to provide the information. It is, after all up to Mr. and Mrs. berlin niebuhr to decide. Oh who are we kidding...it's only up to Mrs. berlin niebuhr.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Find Berlin Niebuhr a Dog! (Part One)
The Boy and I think it is time that berlin niebuhr and his wife finally get back into the world of pet ownership. The Boy says berlin hasn't quite recovered from having to put his last dog to sleep, but um...that was over 15 years ago. Time to get back on the horse! So...let's start the search!
Candidate #1: Golden Retriever
Advantages
- Affection for people
- Tolerance for children (which might come in handy years from now, if we ever get around to giving them grandchildren!).
- They're so cute as puppies!
- They don't yap like my dog (Kayle).
- According to wikipedia, they're "great therapy dogs to use in ... retirement homes." And well...let's just say that berlin is closer to retirement than college.
- They're very obedient.
- They get along well with other dogs...important because berlin and Mrs. berlin's best friends have two of them.
- They have their own weekly magazine!
- According to wikipedia, they're "unruly" as puppies...which wouldn't be good considering Mrs. berlin loves antiques.
- You do have to clean up after them...or just watch where you step...especially when mowing.
- They can get pretty big...and Mrs. berlin is pretty small.
- They do eventually die.
Stay tuned for another candidate...but in the meantime...
...how can you say no to this face?
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