I love Daphne. She doesn’t get as much blogspace around here as the others because all the attention is a bit frightening what with terms like ‘page hits’ and ‘links.’ She doesn’t want to get linked and then hit. That’s understandable. She is, though, one of the sweetest, most affectionate dogs I’ve ever met. She’s also not that bright. She just goes bob-bob-bobbin’ along through life, unable to discern the difference between ‘good girl’ and ‘no’ or ‘ach!’ We’ve never taken her to dog school because she’s very well behaved and, quite frankly, it would scare the hell out of her.

On a lark, I decided to try a little homeschooling to see if Phoebe’s lessons could be picked up by this hound who will eternally be waiting for the short bus. Shockingly, Daphne figured out, ‘watch me,’ ‘leave it’ and is even on the way to ’sit.’ She’s learning it faster than Phoebe did. Perhaps we have been wrong about Big Daph. Perhaps there is a bit of brain rattling around in that happy little head of hers.

As I’m sitting here relating this tale of canine education, I realize that Daphne actually has had some formal schooling. More so than the average hound. Three years ago, after having a growth removed, she came with me to school so that I could keep an eye on her to make sure she didn’t remove her stitches. She spent a week behind my desk studying The Great Gatsby, which she enjoyed, though she still often wonders what happened to that little dog Tom bought for Myrtle. After Myrtle’s death, Tom tells Nick about crying when he found the leash, but Fitzgerald never resolves the issue of the dog’s fate, something that Daphne sees as a major gap in the story. I told her that most likely Tom found the dog a good home, but I don’t know if she believes me.

And here’s a picture of Frosty Phoebe, The Polar Hound out braving last weekend’s Arctic blast when the temperatures dropped all the way down into the upper thirties.

Don’t forget to visit Friday Ark #75 and The Carnival of the Dogs.

***

Want to make a fast friend by saving a greyhound in Central Texas? Check these pups out. Or go here to find a greyhound near you. You can also go here to find out why greyhounds are running for their lives.

If you have dogs who need proven leadership, go here to find a cat.