Dogs are always on the lookout for other animals that possess the qualities that we dogs place the highest value on.  We feel a natural kinship with these creatures. My fellow canine citizens  are considered to be some of the most empathetic creatures on earth; we are attuned to our owners emotions, and seek to comfort those afflicted souls we encounter.  As a highly evolved dog, I seek out those humans who exhibit the highest degree of wisdom and compassion; in order  to enlighten my own mind, and also to share their learning with my fellow dogs, who might gain from the example of their spiritual progress.  Hello Dalai, Lama.  

     The Dalai Lama of Tibet is a human who has displayed and promoted the best aspects of human nature, in the opinion of learned dogs.  His assertion that an organism's happiness, and the avoidance of suffering, is the purpose of its life, is shared by all of the other animals that I have been in contact with.  For many of us "lower" animals, this is a truth that is known on a purely instinctual level.  For humans, and certain highly evolved dogs, the need to meld the ego's drive towards its own happiness, with the realities of other humans desires, often leads to conflict.  The Dalai Lama describes an approach of love, compassion and tolerance;  in a system that allows for the happiness of the "other" while it seeks to alleviate the suffering of the afflicted.  We dogs see this displayed in our families everyday, as parents act for the benefit and well being of their offspring, and often for their pets.  It's too bad that it's such a stretch to consider all beings to be part of one's extended family and worthy of love and compassion.  The Dalai Lama, and certain highly evolved dogs, are trying to promote the attainment and practice of this type of enlightenment.  

     The Dalai Lama is thought to be a reincarnation of the Bodisattva of Compassion.  The Bodisattva are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana to serve humanity.  The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.  I wonder if dogs can sign up for such service?  We dogs are engaged in our own ministry dedicated to love and compassion.  Like you, we have trouble extending the umbrella of our love over all of Nature's other creatures.  We often lack the wisdom or the will to see the benefit of it.
If we attempt to follow through on such a calling we might be called silly or naive.  Still, maybe I'll try snuggling up to that Golden Retriever tomorrow instead of barking at him as I usually do.  Who knows what might happen?

Buffy
Not Your Standard Poodle

     

    

     We poodles don't want to claim credit for all of the good things that happen in life, but we try.  The poodle skirt is an example of the power that the poodle brand  can assert as it subtly influences fashion, music and art. Our goal is to translate our sense of fashion, frolic and fun into human cultural achievements.  The results we are aiming for are laughter and smiles, for us dogs and for our human best friends.  We offer the poodle skirt as evidence of our benificence. We don't claim to be Disney or Coca Cola, we have no corporate mission statement.  We dogs are innocence "anthropomorphized".  Is that a word? We sometimes wish that dogs and humans could return to the innocent times of the 50's; to the birth of rock and roll and the 57 Chevy.  Poodles, in the guise of poodle skirts, were with you all the way.

     Put on your socks and hop to the beat of Bill Haley and the Comets.  The poodle skirt embodied the freedom of those postwar days.  The most recognizable fashion of the fifties danced the night away at many a sock hop, and found its way into the back seat of Edsels and Bel-Airs, Corvettes and Thunderbirds. The pervasive influence of the poodle skirt is easy to underestimate, but that's how we poodles like it.  We're subtle that way.

     Whenever you hear an oldie from the fifties, or rev your engine at a stop light, remember your favorite poodle, and smile.  Give thanks that kindly creatures exist, who want nothing but your happiness, and reciprocal love and affection.  We don't demand that you put an applique of a poodle on all of your skirts, or that you replace that polo horse on your shirt with a poodle insignia.  We always thought that they should be called poodle shirts, not polo shirts, and carry a poodle insignia, but that's alright.  We won't hold it against you, we're patient.  If you think a horse will give you the love and affection that we dogs do, and you are willing to put up with the feeding, care and cleanup of these horses, go on and keep your silly horse shirts.  We won't be angry if you don't recognize the potential product placement possibilities of poodle polos. Talks of a pet strike are premature.  As usual, your favorite poodle only wants your happiness. ( and a small concession on your choice of shirts, please.)

Buffy
Fashion Editor, Doggie Vogue
Patent Holder- "Poodle Shirt" Brand Polos.  
See Buffy in new Showtime Series- Mad Dogs- Coming Soon



    

 

    Dogs often wonder what humans think about as they go about their days, and do what it is that humans do.  It's hard for the average dog to appreciate the complexity that has arisen in the brains of animals like homo sapiens.  Language, symbolism and culture enriches the developing human brain in such a way that abstract information causes the formation of new concepts, which in turn feed back and cause the formation of additional new concepts.  If you're feeling a little loopy in might be due to all of those neurons talking to each other; exchanging data, firing and resting, storing and dispensing memories, while all of the while "you" are blissfully ignorant of all of the background noise and cellular machinations.  We dogs experience this ourselves, at a simpler level.  Our lack of scientific training (myself excluded, of course), allows most of us to live life at an earthy level.  We don't seek explanations for where our "I" comes from. We're loopy in our own way, as when we're chasing our tails. (We do this only because it always draws your interest to us, and makes you laugh).  To us dogs, you humans are the strange loops, with your notion that you possess some nonmaterial essence that separates you from the rest of us animals. It's okay, we know we can't really appreciate what goes on in your minds, but to your best friends, you just look like another type of  loopy animal, albeit a more complicated one.

     As I've become more humanlike in my thinking, I've started to wonder where my "I" came from.  Was I born with a certain ethereal dog soul, destined to be named Buffy, a wise mind in the body of a kindly Standard Poodle?  Or did my "I" ness develop from the blank slate I was at birth into the highly conscious dog I am today; as a result of physical processes which allowed the formation of abstractions, which eventually formed the mythical, yet obviously very physical, "me", Buffy!  At the level of the everyday pet dog, these questions don't usually present themselves to our consciousness.  We're more concerned about physical realities like food, water and shelter and whether the rabbits are going to take over the back yard.  I have come to appreciate it's much more difficult being a human.  Having these questions of interiority occupying your minds all of the time must be distracting.  This may be one of the reasons that you don't take your dogs for walks and exercise often enough.  I imagine that all of that thinking makes you feel loopy after awhile.  I suggest you look at your pet as an escape from the need to maintain that complicated facade of an "I" you've created, and get down on an animal level with us. We are humble, simple creatures. Most of us anyway.
Buffy
A Unique Strange Loop


    

 

     I've become quite enamored with cheese in its many varieties, as my master uses it to slip me my medication at times.  She thinks I won't notice the tablets imbedded in the chunk of cheddar, or the bite of brie, she's offering.  It's okay boss, I'm a scientific dog.  I know I need the medicine that you're trying to give me.  When it comes to cheese dogs, I'm your huckleberry.  I fancy myself a canine connoisseur of coagulated casein.   How about you?

      Being a French Poodle from Wisconsin gives me particularly keen insight into which cheeses are of the highest quality.  I appreciate the King and Queen of cheeses, Roquefort and Brie, and their French heritage.  Wisconsin has a 160 year history of fine cheese making, and is known throughout the world for the innovations of Brick and Colby cheese.  I do accept bribes, in food form, so if you're asking me to tell you which country produces the best cheese, be sure to bring gifts.

     When I abandon my pretensions, (which doesn't happen very often), I find that just about any old processed American cheese serves the purpose when it comes to feeding a cheese dog; or making a cheese dog if that's your bent.  The scent of cheese stirs my soul when it's removed from the refrigerator, and its molecules start to disperse and fill the air.  I can detect the distinct scent of the aromatics from anywhere in the house.  If you want to make me happy, just say cheese!
    

 

Being of French descent, inspires in the soul of a dog, a natural proclivity towards haute causine, fine wines and truffle infused milk bones.   I've been pleasantly surprised that the French way of cooking is still alive and well today, and that the appreciation of cuisine from all parts of the world is finding a voice on television networks, in books and on DVDs.  Has anyone thought about a dog hosted cooking show? Each breed has its own spin on spice, and take on texture, and can offer new nuances on common cuisine.

First of all, it would have to be a short program.  The will to food is strong in the canine character.  Cooking is optional. The addition of fine sauces and spices may go unnoticed by the average dog, but there are pups of prodigious patience and talented tastebuds who have the capacity to appreciate an appropriate balance of heat and sweet, creative crunch, and time tested technique.  There are just a few of us, but we have a lot of clout in the canine community.  The will to food!  Wars have been fought for the services of the best chefs in the world.  Or if they haven't been, that's a better excuse than some sort of need for power, isn't it.  You can't eat power, or oil? 

The essence of being human is desire. Different animals inhabit different Nietszches when it comes to what it is they desire.  Humans have a will to power and a will to pleasure.  Dogs are into that whole dominant-submissive thing too! Why don't we agree to settle all disputes with a cook off, instead of using tanks, bombers and nuclear weapons.  Just think, the French might finally win one!

Buffy
Canine Food Critic
Bone Appetit

 

     As a self described highly evolved dog, I always wonder what the future will bring to dogs, and humanity, as we hurtle towards the 22nd century.  I was watching The Jetsons the other day, and according to that documentary, the future will bring leisure, flying cars, robot helpers and 9 hour work weeks.  "Ruh-roh", I hope they don't replace real pets with artificially intelligent ones.  The Jetson pictures the year 2062 as a time of plenty.  Let's hope so!

     Last night I had the strangest dream.  Astro visited me from the future.  He arrived in what he called a "DeLorean" and was in quite a panic.  He said I had to come with him to the year 2100, and that I should bring along my laptop.  It was hard to understand him, his accent includes the addition of random r's in various places,but I remember getting in the Delorean with him and zooming off.  This morning I awoke in my own bed, the family didn't seem to miss me, apparently it was just a dream.

     As the day has gone on, I keep getting flashes of futuristic scenes.  There are people running amidst futuristic buildings, and shouting "stop this crazy thing!"  Astro is yelling, "Ruffy, Run!  Ruffy, Run!"  There are other flashes of amazing beauty and serenity with brilliant colors, music and light.   Whether these are glimpses from a real future or only dog daydreams, I guess I'll never know.  In the last flash I received, I was receiving a medal for saving Orbit City from destruction at the hands of a rogue Transformer.  The key to humanity's survival was somewhere in my laptop.  "Ruh-roh!"
Who do I give this information to?  The government?

Buffy
Possible Savior of Humanity

      There is an ancient saying that is taught to every pup from its first days, and is handed down to each subsequent generation as a part of its cultural inheritance.  Each dog, regardless of its breed, size, or position within the pack; is taught that one way or another, sooner or later, this way or that, every dog will have its day.  This saying has such power and persistence that it has crossed over into the world of humans.  When a human accomplishes something unexpected, achieves more than even he could hope for, and gets his 15 minutes of fame, it's common to hear people stop and remark; " every dog has its day!" 

     The average dog, at its best, has the mental capabilities of a human two year old.  He believes what he is told, and as a child believes in Santa Claus, the young dog believes in his parent's promises.  He accepts his place in the pack, and uses the talents he has been given, with the knowledge that one day he will be acknowledged. The elders of the pack see to it that each dog that does his part, and performs his duties in a diligent manner, will be King or Queen for a day.  Their life story will be celebrated. Their integral role in supporting their family and their pack will be made known to all of their fellow dogs. They will lead the hunt on that celebrated day, and have first taste of the bounty.  Dogs, with an instinctive wisdom, have found that this consideration for, and recognition of the role that each individual dog plays in the web of the pack's life and success, leads to a devotion and loyalty on the part of it's members that leads to a mutual benefit to both the dog and his group. Dominant dogs are willing to cede their authority on these special days, because they know that their own success and standing is dependent on the fealty of their fellow pack members. The wise dogs know that another dog's happiness doesn't need to threaten their own.  For some exceptionally gifted dogs, almost every day is "their" day. They don't rub it in to the less successful dogs though.  Dogs don't have great egos, as great egos require intelligence. We're not that brilliant.

     Humans, it seems like to adopt dog ideas and expressions and apply them to their own lifestyle and give them their own cultural significance.  "Every Dog Has Its Day"  is an expression that is often used to pick people up when they're down.  It suggests that, while life isn't fair; as some people are just born into positions of dominance, and talent is not equally distributed by nature, in the end there will be some sort of reward for those who have led a noble life, and have performed their duties with devotion and diligence.  " Every Human Has Its Day" is not something you hear quite yet in polite society.  In the competitive world of human relations, it's an idea that might never take hold. Kings and Queens don't willingly relinquish their authority, or bow down to the lower members of society.  I guess the pack is a lot like a human family.  It may be up to the heads of the family to make sure that their offspring grow up knowing  that their work and their efforts are important.  Dogs have found that giving every member a day, or many days, of dignity and recognition can lead to harmony in a simple dog's heart, and order in the pack.
We hope humans get their days in this life, or failing that, perhaps in the next.

Buffy
A Dog Who's Had Many Days 
   

    

 

 

                                         An Afternoon Walk in the Tall Grass                                            

  Dogs, and some fortunate humans, are intimately aware of the signs and symbols that Nature has provided to us as part and parcel of its own purpose; satisfying the Soul's desire for beauty.  A flower can inspire a multitude of images and emotions.  It may demand close inspection of its parts, or suggest a panoramic view as the best way to capture it's character.  A blooming flower can be wanton in its display, as it lures insects into its lair.  Or it might be reticent, as it closes its petals as dusk falls, and prepares itself for a midsummer nights dream.  Flowers have many secret powers.  They work their magic through inspiration, suggesting that; while life may be hard at times, Nature is still looking out for the creatures it has produced. A flower's survival, through storm and flood, through fire and wind, tells us that beautiful and sensitive souls can also endure through their own trials and tempests. Flowers were an integral part of that process as life evolved on the prairie.  They still play that role today, to those who are open to their hypnotic scents, and beguiling poses. 

This flower has got me transfixed.  It's got my olfactories saturated with pleasing fragrance.  It's aromatherapy at work.  I sense a growing tranquility engulfing my soul. The scent of a flower can induce a calm serenity in the heart of a creature.

Flowers often grow in groups.  They cooperate when arranged in bouquets. They demonstrate a collegiality that might inspire dogs, and humans, to live with their own fellow creatures with civility and gentility.

Like almost all living creatures, flowers need water to survive and thrive.  They translate the sun's energy into nectar to feed the bees.  The bees pollinate the crops.  Dogs and humans eat the crops, or the animals who fed on them.  The life cycle of a flower is intimately connected to the life cycle of a dog, or a human.

Sometimes flowers display their own luminosity, as they reflect back at the sun their own version of a heavenly display. Nature sometimes competes against itself, to test its own powers to create and inspire. Dogs, and humans, are the winners, in the end.

There's a generosity displayed by flowers.  They're willing to share their beauty without pretension and without reward.  A sip of water and a little sun will suffice to keep them in a magnanimous mood.

Flowers can be coy at times.  They can put on a display of innocence that hides a precocious maturity in matters of reproductive prowess. Who knew?

Here's looking at you, kid.  A one on one conversation with a flower might be a transcendent experience, if you're in the right state of mind for it.

The hardy plant, flowers in bloom, displays a vitality and physicality that a conscious creature might want to use as a guide in devising his own workout routine.  Lots of hydration, sunshine, and a low fat diet can do wonders.  

     Each flower has its own personality, its own hallmarks of beauty, and its own flaws.  It takes a trained eye to appreciate the many battles this living organism has been through to reach center stage in this photograph. A round of applause may be apropos.

Red is the color that will make be blue, in spite of you, it's true.  Yes it is.  Flowers inspire poetry and song, and are integral to human romantic gestures.  Even dogs get giddy at the sight of so much beauty, and then there's the heavenly scents.

Even lowly clover makes its mark on the world, by inhabiting places that are on the periphery.  It displays a humility, a willingness to play its part without notoriety and grandiosity.

Flowers can show complexity.  Within one bloom can be many shoots, many petals, each with its own purpose and lifespan.  The top half might dry while the lower endures.  The flower strives for perfection, but the percentages work against the achievement of the sublime. Every so often there is one specimen that suggests divine intervention.

You can converse with  a flower, or with a group of flowers if that makes you more comfortable.  Barking doesn't seem to bother them much.  Flowers are often strong, silent types.  They won't give you a lot of wordy advice on how to live your life.  They work their magic by example.  It takes a sensitive soul to hear their message, to heed their advice, to succumb to their powers.  It's an experience that never fails to enrapture and enthrall, to illuminate and inspire, to seduce and beguile.  Are you aware of the secret powers of flowers?

 

     It's human nature to sort and classify material items, ideas and living things into hierarchies.  In this way a person can make a mental map of the world, and set priorities for the use of scarce resources.  A good pet, specifically a terrific dog, is one of those commodities that is subject to supply and demand; so humans have sorted and categorized dogs into groups and subgroups based on behavior, intelligence and  work ethic;  size, shape, and energy level.  The working dog group includes Great Danes and St. Bernards.  They have the size, intelligence and loyalty to perform tasks alongside humans.  Terriers are independent and spunky, with high activity needs.  Toys like pugs and chihuahuas can be high strung, but are affectionate and adaptable.  Standard Poodles like myself are hard to classify. Some references refer to our "pampered, high class history" and our "aura of superiority."  One says that poodles are "highly creative" and "love to be stars."  Gee, and they haven't even interviewed me yet!

     While humans have been rating and classifying dogs for years, we dogs have been doing the same.  Our methods are classified TOP SECRET, but they include the use of our olfactory capabilities, and the use of Sheldon's Body- Personality criteria. We plug our measurements into the appropriate Human Preferability Algorithm and "voila" we have an indication of how you will perform as a master, and whether you will keep a good house for us, and feed us well.  The ectomorphs among you tend to be reserved, private types.  You look a little like a poodle with your thin arms and legs, and narrow faces.  A social dog might bring out more of your personality. Perhaps a Retriever since opposites attract.  You endomorphs are sociable and fun loving.  You love food and good humor so a toy poodle , or a pug might be right up your alley.  The mesomorphs among you; physical, assertive, and competitive might want a sporting dog like a pointer, or perhaps a hound to hunt with. The two of you can bond, but watch out; the wife might get jealous if the dog monopolizes the mesomorph's time with fun and games

     The truth of the matter is that a Standard Poodle would be the perfect dog for any human body-personality type.  Since we are generous, intelligent dogs, we want to share the bounty with all of the other dog breeds , so that we can live together in perfect harmony.  When it comes time to choose a dog, please consider all of the attributes of the chosen breeds, and take a good look at yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.  Consider the fact that while you are making your assessment, we dogs are doing a little mental calculus ourselves.Don't forget to use your intelligence when formulating your rating system, these classifications that were handed down by our ancestors don't always apply today.  You need to judge the individual dog that you meet, not the stereotype that you might have learned about in some book.  It's the nature of animals to classify,  and to analyze the environment. All animals use ratings and classifications, either consciously or unconsciously, to make decisions that can effect their future happiness. Judging by personality, breed or body type goes both ways when two animals encounter each other and attempt to form a relationship. Intentions and motives are assessed, sometimes in the spur of the moment. A humble good will is the attribute we dogs rate the highest. Coming in a close second is competence in providing a good home. A dog has a built in need to please her human master. All we really want to do, is be friends with you.