My Dog

All dog owners feel that they possess the world’s best dog and I am no exception. “Twinkie” is Lapsa Alpso and Shih Tzu, half and half, with fluffy gray fur and a shaggy chrysanthemum face with beady black eyes that barely show. Her button nose protrudes hardly at all and she wears ruffled cream colored pantaloons.

This little witch has cast a spell over me. I never dreamed I’d be so charmed when she struts around holding her tail over her back, acting as though she owns the place.

When she wakes in the morning, her little disheveled head appears over the side of the bed at eye level. A grown rises in her throat. She groans until she gets me up to put her out. Sometimes I groan too! Even so, our little girl has a sweet voice that has a throaty quality that makes you want to hear it again and never annoys.

One of the best things about “Twinkie” is her cheerful disposition. She is the same through sickness or bumps and being stepped on, rarely even crying out, even though she often gets to going too fast to make the corners. Racing with Krista Beth, she’s an eight pound fuzz ball flying though the air at great speed.

She is not always rambunctious though she’s yet a puppy. She can be very restful. It’s relaxing to watch her lay on her back holding a sock in her mouth playing with the ends with her paws for long periods of time. Playing another quiet game, she walks slowly from room to room and back again with the socks in her mouth. I’d like to know what she things she’s doing. She reminds me of a little girl with her mother’s pocket-book making believe shop.

Of course she isn’t perfect and has several very doggy habits I’d just as soon she’d loose. Of course I’m sure I have habits that drive her crazy, too. Even so, I’m amazed how well we get along. She appears to think that I’m great and I admire her sense of humor and her irrepressible optimism.

I can leave “Twinkie” alone and be sure that she is entertaining herself as she is quite self-sufficient and does not become distraught when her mistress disappears down the driveway. On returning, I sometimes feel that this independent little home-keeper has had a better time than I did.