This week I had the pleasure of yapping with Lulu Root, a gentle, long-leggedy, 110-pound Great Dane. Just as I was getting my stuff out of the car, Lulu and her Mom, Betsy, and human sister, Megan, came out to greet us. Although Lulu didn’t do the Wag portion of the Wag-and-Sniff, she politely introduced us all ‘round, and added, “Dad’s at work. His name’s Rick. Come’on, let’s go inside.”
As we got settled she said, “Since Great Danes’ tails are so strong and swooshy, we can accidentally wag little dogs right across the yard, so we sorta modify the Wag-and-Sniff.”
“Very thoughtful!” I told her.
Lulu’s black, with a beautiful, aristocratic head (startin’ to go gray around the face, which I tactfully avoided mentioning). She has those Really Big Great Dane Paws (white, with chic black nails) and natural, unclipped, floppy ears.
“So, Miss Lulu, tell me how you and your Forever Family found each other,” I suggested.
“About three years ago, Mom was visiting my sister at college up in South Carolina, and there was this neighbor lady who had a Great Dane. Well, Mom and Dad had had a Dalmatian, which they loved, but he’d gone to Dog Heaven and they decided No More Dogs. But Mom really, really, really liked that Great Dane. And she found out that even though we’re, like, BIG, we’re good house and apartment dogs ‘cuz we’re laid back and great at just hangin’ out.
“Anyway, Mom went to South Florida Great Dane Rescue and found ME. I was around 5 then. I hadn’t been abused or anything, it’s just that my other family was moving to a place that didn’t allow dogs.”
“Was it hard getting used to your new home?” I wondered.
“Ackshully, no. My Mom and Dad and Sis are So Nice! It did take a while to learn The Routine and The Rules. Like, one time, Dad brought a bag of Goldfish home from the office and it was right there on the kitchen counter, at Nose Level. So – I ate ‘um. But I left the bag neatly on the counter. An another time, Dad had this basket in the garage where he puts stuff to take to work. WELL, I didn’t KNOW that at first. I spotted a pile of Mini Moos – you know, those little creamer thingys that humans put in their coffee. I mean, there they were – A GIFT! So I verrry carefully bit a teeny hole in the top of each and every one and slurped the yummy cream out. And put all the little pots right back where they were. So now there’s a Don’t-Put-Food-in-the-Basket rule.”
I laughed. “Whaddya do for fun around here? Any pooch pals?”
“I get two long walks every day. Akshully, strolls, cuz I stop and smell Everything. I even have a lighted collar for at night. And an overcoat for when it’s cold and a yellow slicker for rainy days, which I don’t like cuz rain scares me. Thunder, too. I bark to scare it away, but it doesn’t work. I’m allowed to be off leash (just around here) because everybody likes me. All our neighbors stop and give me pats. They don’t even have to bend over, so it’s easy on the back, Mom says. When our friends are walking by, I look at Mom to be sure it’s OK, then I go out to greet them. I even get invited into our neighbors’ houses sometimes. I’m VERY popular.
“My Best Pal is Dennis. He runs out to say hi when me and Mom are on our walk. He’s pretty short, so he runs right under me, and we play.”
“What kinda pooch is he?” I inquired, thinking one of those cute little Mop Dogs, probably.
“Oh, he’s not a pooch. He’s a cat.”
“Say, whaaat?”
“Yup. I love cats! There’s a stray cat who comes to visit (we call her Cinnamon cuz of her color), and me and Mom and her relax in the back yard together.”
“Whatever fluffs your blanket,” I thought to myself. I also thought – and said, “That is SO cool. Very post-species.”
“My favorite toy is my hedgehog, see?”
The hedgehog was a bit battered, mended with big black stitches, definitely well-loved.
“I’m on my second hedgehog,” Lulu said. “My first one lost its squeak. So, I’m not as fast as I once was, cuz I’m getting a bit of arthritis in my caboose, but I do still enjoy a good gallop on occasion. And, I gotta admit, I’m a Mom’s Girl. Where she goes, I wanna go, too. I love riding in our Subaru. I have a specially made platform – takes up the whole back seat. And Mom doesn’t start the car till I’m properly seated. You know that commercial where the dog is driving?”
“Yep. I love that commercial!”
“Well, I wanna learn to drive, too. They have a car just like ours. It doesn’t look that hard. Whaddya think?”
“Good luck with that,” I replied.
“Yeah, I guess it’s a long shot,” she admitted. “Anyway, get this, cuz we’re so big, sometimes little kids try to ride us. So, before we get a new owner, they have to sign a waiver saying they won’t let anyone ride us.”
“No, Woof?” I said.
“No Woof!”
“But my Very Favorite Things to Do are: No. 1 – Leaning on People So They’ll Pat Me, and, No. 2 – Laying Out in the Sun to Work on My Tan (so maybe my gray places will turn dark again).”
I’d noticed that Lulu had been leaning on my assistant.
Heading home, I was thinking about easy-going Lulu and how she gets along with everyone – pooches people, cats – even hedgehogs. I like to think I’m like that, too. And I wondered whether we had any Goldfish at home.
Till next time,
The Bonz
