Dear Dirt,
I'm writing to you because my Mom brought home a magazine a few days ago with your column in it. In fact, I heard her tell my Dad that the only reason she bought this magazine was to get that list of dog-friendly restaurants to take me to, and to read us your column. I was particularly pleased to hear you sign off with your e-mail address because I wanted to weigh in on a number of subjects.

First of all, sorry about your friend Frankie moving away. It happens to humans too, I understand. But that's cool that you have Mickey to play with from here on out.

Now about that shedding issue. As a 75-lb full-blooded standard poodle, I feel particularly qualified to bark in on the matter. Dirt buddy, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it is indeed true that many mixed breed dogs with "poodle ancestry" are non-shedding dogs. But...it's not always guaranteed. It sounds like it worked out that way for your friend Mickey though, doesn't it? Now, before you start calling him one Lucky Dog, and start feeling depressed again about your constant and perhaps even excessive shedding, I'm here to present you with another point of view...

Have you ever noticed Mickey looking all cute and burly during his morning fence run, and then later that evening he shows up looking a little sheepish and significantly smaller? Well, be on the lookout for this strange occurrence if you haven't yet experienced it. This happens every day all the world over because non-shedding dogs have hair, not fur. And that hair just grows and grows and grows, and rarely--if ever--falls out painlessly on its own. And because of this annoying "non-shedding problem-o," every 6 to 8 weeks we poodle/oodles spend a full day at the "groomer" to have it all trimmed off. Please note that this is never how I wish to spend my time. I'd much rather be napping at various places all over my home, getting up only when I hear the refrigerator door open in the hopes that some stray bit of cheese ends up landing in my food bowl.

Luckily, my owners don't tell me about my grooming "appointments" in advance. We jump into the car and go off to the dog park, and on the way home we dart into this shopping center where my owners leave me for the next several hours. Not exactly a day in the park as they say--being crated, being shampooed, being combed out, being shaved, being clipped, getting that ridiculous bandana put around my neck, and waiting patiently to hear those sweet, sweet words, "Mr. Anderson, Dakota is ready to be picked up." Well, like the good dog that I am, I tolerate it all. But the idea that I could slowly lose that same amount of hair just by having my owners lovingly pet me is pretty darn appealing. And it would be FREE. I bet your owner buys you lots of expensive treats with all the money they save (grooming, my friend, is NOT cheap). And Dirt, you also don't have the identity crisis issue where you come home from the groomer looking like a totally different dog. I mean, that's just plain weird for everyone.

So I hope you see that there's cons to being a non-shedding dog such as myself and your new friend Mickey. Now that you've seen the other side, I highly recommend you sit back and relax about that “shedding issue" that weighs so heavily upon your mind and simply focus on all your strong suits. Like what a good writer you are. And what a handsome little face you have. I bet you have a cute little curly tail too, don't you? I have one with a stylish pom pom on the end that some dogs just love to chase. And pull. And bite. But that's another story.

Anyway, when do we get to see your next column? Do you get to write something in every issue? Please bark back next time you're at the keyboard. Inquiring dogs want to know.

Your non-shedding poodle penpal,
Dakota
http://www.photolee.com/dotmaug06.html

Read about my other penpal Morgan beagle at
http://www.photolee.com/dotmmay07.html