I feel like I owe you a new post today instead of an encore, seeing as how I missed putting up something yesterday. Blame it on the bone-chilling cold. I don't want to be outside any longer than I have to, and taking pictures indoors is boring...until this Wednesday, when sunroom construction is scheduled to begin! Then I'll have something exciting to share. Meanwhile, the post below is from last January 5.
Someone recently asked on one post or another (and of course I can't find it now) how it came to be that Smooch joined the 7MSN family.
It was January 2006. Has it really been six years? I had just
lost my sweet yellow lab Annie to bone cancer. My other elderly yellow
lab, Dusty, was bereft, as was I. We both needed another dog. I went
searching on petfinder.com for a puppy to join our family and
located a four-month-old "possible Chihuahua mix" named Gracie at a local animal rescue. When I went to the rescue to meet her, I took her for a short walk and she seemed to like me well enough, so I brought her home.
The name "Gracie" did not suit her at all, so when I wanted her attention, I made a loud and obnoxious kissing sound and she would come to me...some of the time. After a week of trying out a litany of names, none of which felt right, I finally gave up and called her Smooch.
The name is rather genderless, and people often wrongly assume that Smooch is a he. In my mind, Smooch is neither a she nor a he – Smooch is a dog, a dog's dog, a four-legged, 36-pound, fiercely loyal companion who scares the crap out of strangers, snakes and rabbits with her ferocious bark.
When Smooch is not on high alert, she is comatose. There isn't much of a middle ground.
Smooch: What was that?
Me: Nothing. Now go back to sleep.
Actually the noise she heard was the camera shutter. Nothing gets by this dog.
Perfect doggie. Perfect name.
ReplyDeletehahaha possible chiwawa ?? don't think so ;) jeanne in sc
ReplyDeletelove the story, and if Smooch is a Chihuahua so am I. BOL LOL
ReplyDeleteI love Smooch's name, what a great dog! love the story. :)
ReplyDeleteChihuahua cross? I always thought Smooch was a pitti-lab mix, and a lot larger than 36 pounds - Bwahahahaha. Photos can be deceiving when it comes to size.
ReplyDeleteWhatever she is, she is beautiful.
Don't you just love shelters where they try to guess a dogs heritage, if she is Chihuahua she is about 30 lbs overweight and she does not look obese. I see listings all the time for Border Collie Mix, just cause the dog is black and white. What would you do if you lived somewhere that you could not have a dog over 10 lbs, and you though she was really a Chihuahua when you got her.
ReplyDeleteWell, she does have the coloring of a Chihuahua but that's about it, I think. Then again, I've seen red healers from Australia that are the same color. Whatever, she is a great companion and is so lucky to have found you and your ranch. She really earns her keep with all the warnings you get about snakes, huge spiders, and passing wildlife. She is a photographers best friend.
ReplyDeleteBest always,
Smooch is a lover...The best kisser! Can't wait to see what she thinks of the "construction"
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever knew the whole story - Smooch being a chihuahua - interesting! 'Gracie' would have never fit...
ReplyDeleteI don't think I realized (in spite of having read this post before) that she was that small. She looks a lot like our Sandy, who easily doubles that weight. Sandy also gets the zoomies, barks alot, and does the comotose thing very well...
ReplyDeleteSmooch is truly a dog's dog. Such a love and very personable and a fierce protectress of her surroundings. Our Odin was according to the Espanola animal shelter a Spanish Mastiff mix. Whatever that is. He looked very much like Smooch. We miss him lots and it is a comfort to see Smooch's sweet mug to remind us how much Lucky Dogs (adopted shelter and rescue babies) are loved. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteWhatever Smooch is, she is a beauty. I love mixed breed dogs whose eyes often tell you how very smart they are. Thats Smooch.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jo, Stella (Spaniel/Lab mix), and Zkhat the muted tortie.
Smooch is the perfect ranch dog. She looks the part and is the perfect size to walk with, ride in the truck, and guard her territory. Her personality makes her seem bigger than her fit and trim 36 pounds. You both lucked out the day she came home with you.
ReplyDeleteA dog knows what to do with sunshine, doesn't she?
My great uncle's chiuaua, named Tiger, thought he was a boxer or some other larger breed. Actually fairly large for his breed and would have gone for any larger female he found. Long time ago. Uncle Charlie would stop at the corner and open the truck door and Tiger would hop in.
ReplyDeleteSmooch may have some of that kind of heritage. She is mostly just awesome.
I'm trying to be objective and Imagine a dog more perfect (or as perfect) for the 7MSN ranch and I just can't ..Smoochie girl, you are perfect and we adore you !!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been tempted to have Smooch's blood tested to determine her breed(s)?
ReplyDelete(Disclosure: I haven't had it done to my dog either, and won't).
Smooch is truly larger than life, she's bursting with so much personality. Just an awesome, amazing dog.
ReplyDeleteOak in the Seed, I did have Smooch's DNA tested - here's the link to that post. Definitely not a chihuahua.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.the7msnranch.com/2010/11/smoochs-family-tree.html
Smooch is a great dog and a perfect match to your ranch and you! I never would have guessed Chihuahua mix?
ReplyDeleteI love Smooch!! She is so beautiful. I did think she was a boy, but really, I should have known better. She is clearly a woman!
ReplyDeleteSweet Smooch! She's wonderful - but if she's a chihuahua... LOL My "educated" (years of rescue) guess would be Besenji mix - check them out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basenji You couldn't have found a better dog for a 7MSN/semi-desert lifestyle!
ReplyDeleteChris in KY