Man, there’s no way I’ll ever get bored in this job. Like, this week, I interviewed a Siberian husky pupster whose mom and dad (not his humans) were both in law enforcement!
Loki McNally lives with his human Mom, Leah, over on the beach, and his human Dad, Jared, up in Melbourne, some of the time, too.
Through the screen door, I could see him bouncing around and he kept bouncing when his Mom let me in, and after I sat down and she sat down.
Boing. Boing. Boing. (Forget the usual wag-and-sniff.) But he sat as soon as she told him to, in a very Alpha voice.
“Hi, Mr. Bonzo!” he said. “I’m Loki! I’m still growing cuz I’m only 6 months old and I just have so much energy! I don’t know if you read up on us Huskies but we have to run and play a lot! Like all the time! I’m so stoked that you’re doing a story about me!”
“Me, too!” I said. And I was ready!
“Actually, I did read up. I found out you guys came from the Chukchi tribe in Siberia and pulled dogsleds in 400-mile-long races and served in the Army Arctic Search/Rescue Unit in World War II! Impressive!”
“I know. My dog mom and dad are retired now, but they were both K-9 officers in Melbourne. Isn’t that so cool?”
“Wa-ay cool,” I agreed. “So do you think you’ll go into the family business when you grow up?”
“I’ve thought about it. It sounds so exciting. And I’m really fast. I know I could catch lots of bad guys, no problemo. But my humans say I’m gonna be a laid-back beach dog. We go to the beach a lot. Mom and Dad are what’s called ‘surfers.’ That means they get these big flat things called surfboards and go way out in the ocean when it’s really rough. Then they stand up on the surfboards and stick their arms out to the sides and go zooming back to the shore.”
“Woof!” I said. “What do you like to do?”
“Run and play! All the time! If I don’t, I get grumpy. I run on the beach a lot. And I just love hangin’ with my buds at the dog park. Mom says us Huskies are the only breed that still has strong pack instincts. And, two times every day, I pull Dad on his skateboard, I’m really good at that! It’s my Dog Sled Genes! I bet I could pull him 400 miles! But my favorite thing in the Whole Wide World is tug-of-war. I always win.”
“How did your humans find you?” I asked.
“My first humans were K-9 officers. Then my Dad’s friend got me, but he couldn’t keep me when he moved, and my Dad had always wanted a dog. My Mom, not so much. In fact, not at all.” Behind his paw, he whispered, “She’s a Cat Person.”
“Oops!” I said.
“Yep, it did take some convincing. But she finally learned how to speak ‘Dog.’ And she’s really helping me learn how to do the right dog stuff. Even when I don’t want to. That’s not easy, you know?”
“Sure do,” I nodded.
“Mom told me I’m named for the Norse God of Mischief, and she says it fits me. We’re going to Puppy Classes now, and the teacher thinks I’m doing good. Mom and Dad are s’posed to ‘Establish Dominance.’ Like, when I bark, and bark, and bark, even when they say to be quiet, or when I nibble on their hands instead of my chew toys or bone, I go into my crate for a Time Out. To tell the truth, it’s sort of cozy, but still, I don’t think I should have to. Man, I mean, when I first came to live with Mom and Dad, I was in and out of that crate, like, 50 times a day.”
I remembered that, after all, he was still a typical teenage pupster – smart, stubborn and easily bored – so I changed the subject.
“I know everybody wonders this, but, you’re from, like, the coldest place on the planet and you have that thick coat and here you are in Florida. How’s that working out for you?”
“Yup, everybody does ask that. I don’t actually like the heat, but it’s not too bad. I get brushed a lot. And I stay inside in the A/C when I’m not out playing.”
“What do you eat?”
“Mom says I’m still growing into my feet, so she cooks special food for me – lots of protein, mostly chicken, with rice or pasta and veggies. And I always have a bone close by. If I’m not playing or sleeping, I’m chewing my bone.”
“Any special pals?”
“Well, don’t tell anybody but,” he lowered his voice, “I have a girlfriend I see when I’m visiting Dad. Iris. She’s a Husky, too. She’s really pretty. We have play dates.”
“Nice!” I said.