Such grand dogs! Let us hope that they remain largely unknown forever...

The real-life story of Hachiko (whose name was actually "Hachi") is one of incredible tear-jerky potential...be warned! Hachi was an Akita whom you may or may not be familiar with: The story begins in the fall of 1923 when a gorgeous litter of 8 purebred Akitas was whelped in Odate City in Akita Prefecture (Odate city is rightfully proud of not only Hachiko...but of being the founding location of the Japanese Akita breed). Hachi's sire was: Oshinai; and his dam was: Goma (which means "Sesame"); His price: 30 Yen. He presents as a cream-coloured Akita in photos...(he was often called "tan")...he could have been a dilute red sable...but... (this is the breeder in me!...gulp...) It is important to note that purebred Akitas were a rarity, with only 11 known in all of Japan at that time...

Hachi was acquired at 8 weeks of age by Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University. He named the puppy "Hachi" (for the number 8, which was purportedly the litter order in which Hachi was whelped...tis also a lucky number in Japan). Every day, the doctor would take the train to work & he would, upon his return, be greeted by Hachi at Shibuya Station. What loyalty!

Tragically, Dr. Hidesaburo suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture & passed away without ever returning to to the train station where loyal Hachi waited...and waited. He was even given away, yet returned to the station to await his person's return. Hachi endured callous cruelty, beatings & mistreatment by passers-by. Yet, incredibly, he continued to arrive at the train station every day at precisely the time when his person's train was due, never to greet his best friend again.

It was natural that his story would eventually reach the ears of a proper dog-person...& it did! In 1932, when Hirokichi Saito, chairman for The Association for the  Preservation of the Japanese Dog heard about Hachi, he published an article on the mistreatment of the poor dog & Hachi became, very quickly, a carefully tended & respected, canine icon (at which time the "ko" was added to the end of his name to show respect, love, admiration & devotion).  Commuters, officials & shopkeepers alike, made note of this exceptional dog & his tremendously poignant devotion. Eventually, Hachiko became well-known throughout Japan (& the world)...thankfully, this profoundly wonderful guy received lots of cookies.

In 1934, a sculpture of Hachiko was created by acclaimed artist Teru Ando (who was an acquaintance of Saito). Hachiko himself was present at the unveiling! The statue, unfortunately, was melted down during WWII (on the last, darned day of it). But, in 1967, the artist's son created a 2nd statue, which still stands today.

The extraordinary spectacle of Hachiko's watch occurred for the next 9 years, 9 months & 15 days. At which time, he passed away of cancer. There truly is nothing like the loyalty of a dog. Don't you agree?
 
   

None of us really want to kick the bucket but...we will. It's not dying that frightens ME....nor suffering...its my dogs & their well-being that concerns me most! My kids will fight over the Saddleback Leather & that will be that...but, my dogs...oh boy.

So, let's fantasize that a pandemic rears its ugly head.  Oh wait. 

Let's envision that you become acutely ill. You land in ICU. Your dogs just thought you were going in for a Corona test....all the rest is a blur...

While you're comatose, who is in charge of your quadrupeds? Do you have a 2-month supply of food stashed? Have you left feeding instructions on a laminated piece of paper  & then placed it in a clearly marked 3-ring binder on your counter-top? All veterinary info pertaining to your dogs should be laminated and 3-ring bindered too...& the insurance policy info (you know, the one you bought with your dogs well-being in mind just in case you kick it)??? No? You didn't do that? OK, never fear, there's still time & thus,  hope.
 
You might do well to "get on it" as they say...if you don't like my 2-month-food -supply concept...just have yourself on auto-ship...Evermore, Petflow & Idahound have very flexible schedules for their shippery of healthy cooked, raw & commercial goods. Petflow is a full-service dog supply...so, you can order toys, treats, blankets, heart worm medication, flea treatments...you name it...they also donate a ton of foodstuffs to needy dogs every single time that you make a purchase with them (which is one of the two reasons why I solely engage with Petflow & not Chewy). *Be certain that your designated caretaker has your log-in & card info*

If you dislike the auto-ship concept, there is always the gift card concept...whatever your concept, let it not be: the non-concept. Your pet's designated au pair is going to have enough on his/her plate. In fact, I advise procuring them the best bottle of tequila that can be had, the very moment that they agree to be your dog's nanny! That way, the deal is sealed & they'll have tranquillity-in-a-bottle for later, when they need it. Because, no matter how great your dogs are, there's a good chance, that they might, at some point, be deemed as complete assholes by your new designated caretaker.

Fluffy & Buck need you to detail their habits, quirks, deets, tiks etc.. For instance, Safir (he would kill me if he knew I was writing this) will unleash a diarrheic tidal wave on expensive rugs only (you know...your authenticated William Morris museum piece from 1890-that one), if fed more than one NZ green mussel per day; Perfidia must eat out of her stainless bowl at Safir's right side...(not the left) or all living hell will break loose; Safir, Hindrance & Perfidia must have their dishes cleaned after every feeding; Hindrance must eat alone in her crate; Hindrance does "stiff-dog" if you touch her while she's eating; Safir opens any packages that are brought in, as he is ever-optimistic & believes they are his; Safir, Perfidia & Hindrance HATE bicyclists; Safir, Hindrance & Perfidia LOVE Dairy Queen kid cones; Safir gets violently carsick; Perfidia has the red rain blanket, Safir's is teal...& as usual, the Sylvia Plath of my group (Hindrance) won't wear a blanket when it's raining; then, attach these things to your laminated counter-top 3-ring binder. The insurance policy will be grand, absolutely grand if you croak. But, your designated caretaker needs to know about it!  Please have a lengthy conversation with your ideal pet caretaker. Have them in your directive, in your phone, in your wallet, on your desk & as a known fact. Don't assume! Don't surprise! Don't wait before its too late. A caretaker deemed as such without their knowledge &/or consent may really end up being compromised. They also have absolutely ZERO authority to act on your dog's behalf in terms of veterinary care etc. Another nightmarish scenario is that of having someone completely unqualified undertaking the care of your animals...you don't want that.

Imagine your dogs in foster or rescue. You don't want that.

What do you want? The time is nigh for detailing your will on every level. 

But, what if you don't bite the big one?!! What if your dogs just need long-term care while Mama recovers? Will this doggy babysitting be in your home? In your bestie's home? At a resort in Sedona? A lodge in Banff? At your chateau in Aix en Provence? How much loot have you set aside for this fiasco? Please don't tell me you're shooting for a Go-Fund-Me. So gauche.

I'd recommend having several dog tags made with your potential caretaker's telephone number & email address on them. Affix these to the 3-ring binder you're now using for this whole enterprise. & then, if something terrible happens, your pet's ID tags can be switched out, just like that. I affix mine to collars and leashes (on the handle of the leash) (because no one, if my dogs get loose will be able to get close enough to their heads) *as an aside, I always use heavy duty attachment clasps...like those found on key fob rings...* Red Dingo makes the best tags...

Have leashes, collars, everything at the ready. Boxed, labeled. The whole shabang.

Get it all worked out before decisions are made on your behalf. Before you're in a bowl-cut & breathing via a respirator. Your dogs will high-five you for it.

The greatest thing?! If this whole thing is unnecessary, YOU WIN!!!!! Nothing is lost! Any unwanted supply overage can be donated to the overworked, overwhelmed rescue agencies.

Be well!!!! XOXO

2 iconic paintings that you've often wondered about...

    A while ago, I thought it would be interesting to focus on regional dog breeding artisans. I really wanted to highlight projects that have long-fascinated me & so, I contacted Wild West Wolfdogs!  I first noticed proprietress Kayla Hoot's Wolfdogs last year via her website: www.wildwestwolfdogs.com. I had ventured online to other regional Wolfdog breeders (because I would love to live with a Wolfdog at some point...) but the acumen at Wild West Wolfdogs resonated with me. Clearly, Kayla cares about the well-being of her animals & has long-term goals in mind with her planned breedings (for which the waiting list is easily a year out). She is also committed to health-testing & DNA testing her dogs through Embark. Very shortly, they'll be OFA'd, how cool is that? Benchmarks for a developing breed. This is what establishes a reliable format from which scientific approaches to breeding can merge with art & spirit thereby creating a great puppy. Yay Wildwest Wolfdogs!

What exactly IS a Wolfdog? Well, as you may have gathered, they are a wolf-dog combo.  They’re designated into the following percentages:

LOW CONTENT: (mostly dog starting at 20% -49%)
MID-CONTENT: ( 50%-79%)
HIGH-CONTENT: (80%-99%)

    Embark (Cornell University) is the industry standard in DNA & health testing...their genome study also reveal haplotypes from which we can derive loads of intel not only regarding our own beasties...but, importantly, where they originated from geographically. Most fascinating (for me anyway) is not how they migrated, but rather how wolves & dogs diverged. And when!? Most science now supports a 40,000 year relationship between man & some form of domestic dog.

    Interestingly, puppies are whelped in the human home of Wild West Wolfdogs & removed from the dam at 12-14 days! This surprised me, because I breed domestic dogs & am accustomed to the pups suckling for at least 8 weeks on the teat (unless of course the bitch decides that motherhood is not for her...& is instead for me...). Wild West Wolfdogs does not breed domestic dogs & as such, follow a prudent protocol based upon their experience (which is 5 years in Wolfdogs). Their acumen allows for perfect socialisation, as I learned from Kayla that puppies who are not removed from mama are skittish. What happens after being “pulled”? Bottle feeding! Kayla feeds a formulae first developed by the Florida Lupine Association…(see pic in slideshow). This ensures that a human-savvy puppy will have enjoyed a daily experience of humankind, applied conscientiously, when at 4 weeks they’re handed over to their new pack leader (in theory, YOU!). This is an enormously rewarding & encompassing responsibility! Imagine it!

    To that end (responsibility), some states don’t allow Wolfdogs/Wolf Hybrids to be owned without appropriate permits & housing. In fact, homeowners insurance is another potential hurdle to consider, as in some cases the Wolf Hybrid is considered a “restricted breed”. This is really a matter of buyer's due diligence, as truly the last thing anyone would want to have happen to the fragile being of a puppy, would be the trauma of being re-homed (it is a rejection that lives with a dog for life)...(these are my opinions). Kayla recommends that anyone wishing to research the breed, should start with Nicole Wilde’s books Living with Wolfdogs & Wolfdogs A-Z, respectively. (see photos below the slideshows)...

   With mental stimulation high on the requirements list, prospective homes must be willing to provide same for this incredible creature. Because Wild West Wolfdogs is profoundly responsible, they place their puppies with a contract & Kayla screens her inquiries to ensure the successful transfer of the puppy from her pack to that of the new home. Prior experience with this breed is required. Are you ready to have your world rocked by a Wolfdog?  Me, I’m dreaming of one...Oh Yes!!!

Thank you Wild West Wolfdogs for sharing with me!

    

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If you'd like to procure some Wolfdog literature, Wildwest Wolfdogs recommends these 2 books by Nicole Wilde, as your first acquisitions.

This presentation is surprisingly good...I would like to point out that the dog shown in the beginning of the film (tongue hanging out) is representative of the poor dentition & malocclusion that occurs in breeds with hair mutations (including hairlessness)...

Born 9/18/1844 in Antwerp, NY to Quaker farmers Nathan & Martha Coolidge, little is known of the early years of Cassius Coolidge. Who the hell was Cassius Coolidge you say? I give you three words...ready? Dogs. Playing. Poker.

Now that we have that out of the way, let me commence! On a pastoral farmstead located on Hoyt Street between the rural villages of Antwerp NY & Philadelphia NY lived Cassius "Cash" Marcellus Coolidge. Though the facts of his childhood are quite minimal, a crystal-clear portrayal reveals itself in his surroundings. Coolidge's childhood, if one reviews the town's early plat-map (see below, where his lot is listed directly after #5) &/or visits the Historic District of Antwerp (550 acres of sublime, up-start Americana) was magickal. Here, set gem-like amidst nature & beauty, was the medium in which the seeds of Coolidge's gorgeous mind were sown. The affinity he obviously felt for the dreamy, architectural hamlet he was reared in immediately played out in his extravagant movements during early adulthood. In addition, his farming & husbandry continued throughout the course of his life.

By age 24, Coolidge-the very personification of entrepreneur- began a zig-zagged path which wove the following careers together into into an exceptionally tight window of time (1868-1872): druggist, cartoonist, school superintendent, art instructor, bookkeeper (at Eastman's College Bank), street sign painter, house number painter, farmhand, Antwerp Town Clerk, founder of Antwerp's first newspaper "Antwerp News", founder of Antwerp's first bank "The Bank of Antwerp" in 1872 (which he sold in 1889) now "Jefferson Bank" (see the self portrait that Jefferson Bank commissioned Coolidge to paint of himself in the slideshow below!). 

What I'm getting at in this seemingly wayward tangent, is that Cash Coolidge grew up in a pastoral idyll which nurtured his very soul.  He was thus, bound to love, adore & invest in developing his community. Further, his abundant time out-of-doors observing animals & nature guaranteed a degree of excellence to his own brilliance. He was an artist born & bred.

Was he restless? Or was the world just not enough for him? After traveling to Europe in 1873, he returned stateside & moved to Rochester, NY, writing travelogues for Watertown Times. It was in this period that he began his career as a portraitist, specialising in dogs. His ken for absurd anthropomorphism was quickly noted by Brown & Bigelow printing company, who commissioned him for a series of 16 images of dogs a'la Coolidge. Suited for adorning calendars, trade cards, flyers & other printed promo pieces, Coolidge knocked 'em dead with his dogs attending parties, dogs at tea, dogs in court...but, it was the cigar-smoking images of dogs playing poker (which covered more than half of his series) that immediately secured Cassius Marcellus Coolidge ETERNAL fame! Is there anyone on the planet who is not familiar with Dogs Playing Poker? How is it that Coolidge is such an unknown?

Coolidge also enjoys being known as the founding father of what he called  "Comic Foregrounds" you've seen them: life-sized caricatures painted onto boards where a patron can stick his/her face through the empty hole on the back-side where the head would be & VOILA! Transformation into surreality, silliness, fat man in a little suit, Americana kitsch at her best. His mail-order business selling the caricature boards was to provide him with the majority of his later-life income. 

If that's not enough, he also wrote an opera based upon the mosquito infestation hammering NY & NJ at the time! Scenery & costumerie were also deftly handled by the genius! See some of the characters in slideshow #2 below...

In 1909 at age 64, Coolidge, at the zenith of his fame, married his 29-year-old art student Gertrude Kimmel! The following year, a daughter Marcella was born & the family moved to Brooklyn where Coolidge finished with painting & settled back into the peace of writing which was not a particularly successful fiscal venture. Ultimately, they moved to Staten Island, with Gertrude (now a law clerk) as the breadwinner. On January 13th 1934, Coolidge, aged 89 gave up the ghost. What a life! Excellently lived! Gertrude passed on August 4th, 1977 & both are buried at Hillside Cemetery in Antwerp, NY. Marcella died on 11/27/2007 at 97 years of age in CA.

In researching this article, I've enjoyed delving into the village of Antwerp, NY. Charming, stunning & with INCREDIBLE architecture, the 2017 census gives a population of 663!  If you elect to investigate this Rockwellian dreamscape online, by all means, check out the approximately 550 acres encompassing the Village of Antwerp Historic District (designated as such in 2001). Within this embrace is stunning architecture in the Federal, Gothic, Italianate, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Arts & Crafts etc...the use of brick is liberal & eclectic.
Thanks to dogsplayingpoker.org
And New York Genealogy

I've written before about Suydam & Mary Cutting & the EXTRAORDINARY legacy they handed us when they imported the first Lhasa Apsos to the USA-gifts from the 13th Dalai Lama-whom they'd befriended during their intrepid, early 20th-century Tibetan adventuring. The Cuttings reciprocated in kind, with gifts of GSDs & reportedly, Dals as well(which the Dalai Lama is reputed to have loved). It is the legacy of the Lhasas that the Cuttings imported which is exceptional, as the Cutting's Hamilton Farms IS the Lhasa. Seeing a "Straight Hamilton" Lhasa (which is to say a Lhasa Apso descending in all lines from 100% Cutting-bred Lhasas) is viewing the genuine article, void of Shih Tzu (& other errant infusions). While the Cuttings have long since passed, their Lhasa legacy will never wane! In fact, the faction of straight Hamilton Lhasa Apso breeders is alive, well, thriving & bunkered in, as protective of the Hamilton legacy as wild Lions! In the below footage, an occasional Tibetan Mastiff can be seen. The Lhasa Apsos were likely in the lamasery windows announcing the slightest movement....something they do very well!

The guard & watch dog formulae is as follows: Tibetan Mastiffs roamed the streets of Lhasa at dusk-dawn decimating (& I mean decimating) anyone/anything in their paths...there are countless 19th/20th century travelogues describing this...they resided out-of-doors.

The Lhasa Apsos lived inside lamaseries, perching on a ledge or sill somewhere & announcing anything furtive or fervent with their piercing yap.

I published a couple of these last year, but enjoy them...! I love the rhubarb...and other fauna.

This gorgeous little collection is a fascinating 25-second show for you. The coloured drawing was made as a study for an oil painting which was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1861 (the Skye Terrier "Boz"). Interestingly, Keyl was Sir Edwin Landseer's ONLY pupil. Ever. Can you see what he received from Landseer? The sensitivity & soulfulness? 
I posted a short video on Eos & her famous Landseer portrait for you yesterday. XO!  Be well in these strange & beautiful times.

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