pet connection

My crazy puppy is mature now … er … in years, anyway. McKenzie is the first flat-coat puppy I ever raised (previous flat-coats came to me as adults). She kept me on my toes from the first. The whole litter runs at high speed: They’re smart, biddable and very, very fast.

How fast? Well, sister Sprint is the fastest agility dog in the world.

Others have done well in everything they can do — field, agility and show.

McKenzie’s a bit behind in all, since I haven’t much time for dog sports. But she’s right up at the top of the list in terms of personality and non-stop excitement, and you’ve never met a dog with more nicknames (McKutie primary among them). She has people who love her like crazy, and people who pray they’ll never have a dog like her. And people who love her like crazy and pray they’ll never have a dog like her.

The girl’s a challenge, but I love her like crazy and pray I’ll have McKenzie for a long, long time.

Tonight we’re celebrating with birthday “cake” for all: In a meat-loaf pan I’ll put the best from our region’s organic farmers: a layer of ground free-range turkey, a layer of steamed, mashed yams, a layer of organic yoghurt and parsley garnish. I won’t have any of it, but I know the dogs and cat will not leave a bit behind.

P.S. McKenzie is named after Christie’s mom, Kathleen McKenzie, and Christie’s brother, McKenzie Keith. I think they’re flattered. I just thought it was a cool name, and they’re nice people, so …

It does lead to some goofy conversations where I insist that when Christie says “McKenzie” she clarify whether she’s talking about McKenzie-her-brother or McKenzie-my dog.  I actually think I believe these conversations are a lot more amusing than she does. But hey … she lives in glamorous San Francisco, and I live in … uh … non-glamorous Sacramento. I have to do something to keep myself amused.