Our critters. . .present and past. . .The Diamondhope Pets

When I was in my teens, my father brought an African lion home in the back of the family stationwagon. The lion was one of many strange and not as strange animals I have dealt with over the years. This page will deal mostly with our 2 dogs, a rottweiler and a great dane, but will also share the stories of other animals, whether they came into our lives or touched someone else's lives.

ROCKET SCIENTIST VS... WELL, NOT! Breed information is important in choosing a dog, but don't expect every dog to meet the criteria. Before we got Oli, I studied everything I could find on rottweilers. As a mother and as a teacher, whose students live near by and drop in on occasion, the rottweiler reputation--gleaned, unfortunately, as so many reputations are, from news stories of attacks and Hollywood movies--worried me.

As I read breed specific books, and talked online to rottie owners, I became convinced that if handled properly, a rottweiler would fit into our family very well. One of the things I appreciate in any animal is intelligence, and some of the rottweiler books I read downplay the breed's "smarts." Oli is without question the second smartest dog I have ever known, although rottweilers don't top any canine IQ lists. (The most intelligent dog I know is my sister's collie/shepherd cross.)

One of Oli's endearing habits (now that he's learned not to push us human types apart when we kiss or hug each other) is that he enjoys talking on the telephone. Since my family is scattered, I often "put him on" to say "hi" to my sisters or my mom. He converses for several minutes in his ferocious sounding growl, which we know is his regular talking voice. Needless to say, it's priceless to see him "talk" to the family members he's hardly ever known.

Another funny "Oli story" took place when we visited my mother and brothers in Florida. We were staying in my brother-in-law's house while he was out of town, and woke up one morning to find him there unexpectedly. We gave Oli his usual instruction when he meets a stranger who approaches any of us, "Friend, Oli, no kill." The brother-in-law took a couple of steps backward and said, "Now that's something I could have lived without hearing!" (We didn't explain that to Oli, "no kill" means "don't bark.")

Rottweilers don't top the I. Q. list, but even farther down the list of canine "brains" are the beautiful but sometimes dense great danes.

I've had experience with danes all my life, and have only known one truly smart dane. She was mine, a beautiful black dane named Luck of Edenhall. Other than Eden, though, our family danes have been...well, danes.

Before you dane fanatics think that our danes were out-in-the-yard dogs,never given a chance to shine, I should point out that they were hand-raised, live on-the-front-room furniture types. Not one of them has been as intelligent as the average common mutt, which we often had, or any of the other smart dogs I've seen over the years. No matter how much or how little gray matter these guys have, though, if you like huge--you cannot find sweeter, better-meaning goofs than danes.

Thor is the most recent of about fifteen danes I've known well, and he's the sweetest yet. The goofiest and most talkative, too, for that matter. Danes can be very annoying when they converse in whines, as he does. (I almost prefer Oli's "I'll kill you" tone of voice, since I know he doesn't mean it!) Thor stands by me for an hour at a time when I work on stories, his muzzle on my shoulder, giving me his view on world events. He might just want to play, I suppose, but I prefer to think he's working on the old intellect.

One thing I had forgotten over the years is how active danes can be. So don't go for these guys if you don't have enough time and space. I think we should have named Thor "Grasshopper"--not for the Kung Fu character, but for his ability to leap, bound, and bounce.

We've tried to let Thor say "hi" to doting family members, especially my mom, who's been in ill-health and away from her ten year-old dane. Unfortunately, Thor doesn't get it. (Thor doesn't get a lot!) He washes the phone thoroughly, and looks around the room for the voice. By the time he finishes with the phone, hanging on is a distinct problem! Oh, well. Not every dog can converse on the phone, intelligently or otherwise!

Seriously, when you decide on a dog--talk to breed owners before you settle on one. Read the books, but realize that not every dog will have the personality described. Hands on experience is better. (If you lose the hands gaining the experience, I'd go with a milder-tempered breed!) Too many ill-chosen dogs end up at the pound, just because they couldn't help being who they were.

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Where does time go? Twenty-five years have passed since Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown, although I didn't realize it until I saw this year's Derby. I never gave Slew the respect he deserved--thought him rather unattractive, in spite of his enormous success. I guess none of the horses I've seen since Secretariat have measured up. I mean, I dreamed twice about Secretariat--once I got to kiss him on the nose. Anyway, War Emblem now has this year's chance to be a hero. Nice-looking colt, but he wasn't any of the horses I picked to win. (I actually used to be fairly good at picking them, but my record recently is pretty awful!) There's some irony involved here--a horse with "War" in the name, running in the first Derby after 9/11, owned by a Saudi prince. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, it's just slightly ironic. I like him in the Preakness, probably not the Belmont. Whatever you do, though, don't bet War Emblem because of anything I say. (Now that the Preakness is history--maybe you should have listened!) Will War Emblem win the Belmont? I'm not sure. I'm not even sure if I want him to, or not to. Votes, anyone?

*****What do basset hounds and white Arabians have in common? Absolutely nothing. Trick question! Or is it? For the definitive answer, check out Love's Lasting Song today!

Thor Angelo of Laredo. . .
ThorAngelo of Laredo is an AKC great dane. He's fawn, which seems to be an increasingly difficult color to find. This is one of his baby pictures, taken when he was 8 weeks old. His "adolescent" pictures are coming soon!

Danes are usually sweeter than they are smart. But Thor has already learned that all important word "biscuit." What he hasn't learned is that when he runs and brakes, he'll skid for yards on the tile. There's something a little frightening about a great dane becoming a canine bowling ball!

Obedience training is ongoing, for everyone's sake. And if you love danes, have you read Steven Kellogg's Pinkerton books? Kids and dane people will enjoy them!

Now available--Thor's own "Is the coffee ready yet?" mug! Check the Catalog page for details!

We got Thor, in part, to keep Oli company. Oli had played occasionally with other dogs like a friend's pug, and we thought he'd like company. It's taken him months to adjust, though, and he still mopes sometimes, even though we try to give him as much attention as ever. When introducing a new "kid" to an only (dog)child, do think seriously about whether or not the older dog needs non-human company! In Oli's case, we think now that we made a mistake, because he just hasn't been as happy since Thor came hom. We, of course, are not at all sorry to have our "big guy," but we didn't succeed in making Oli's golden years better for him.

Children and rottweilers. . .talk about your dangerous combinations! Seriously, children love the Carl books, and so will you. The artwork is magnificent--even if rotties are not your breed, you owe it to yourself to have at least one of Day's books! (That probably sounds better than saying that you'll drool over the illustrations, right?)