Interactive Monday: To All the Girls I've Loved Before

There is much debate about which is easier to handle -- male or female basenjis. With just over 48 hours together, I don't want to say too much too soon, but I am becoming a sucker for the lady basenjis.

It got me to thinking about the trends of canines in my life. In reality, there have been only three, two of which were officially mine and both of those were hounds, all three of which were girl dogs. I love male dogs as well, but not having a dog in my home since my college years, I'd forgotten how special it is to have a lady pooch around.

Mind you, I dearly loved my two feline boys who gave me nearly 20 years of close companionship, but my house is feeling so much more like a home with my new special someone who is snuggled up to me as I write this.

So here is the proud line of she pooches that came before her, and feel free to share the stories of yours.
JULIE (1964 - 1969) This lovely girl was the best possible first dog for a kid to have, and her early passing was a huge tragedy. She loved to terrorize gophers and was mainly an outdoor dog.
NINA (1965 - 1979) The little ones are always the bravest and longest living ones. Nina was a smart but devious little dog who was officially my sister's but very much the family dog. She was part of one of the first waves of Chihuahuas as a teenage girl fashion statement, and she ultimately became the close companion of my grandmother.
NATASHA (1974 - 1985) This lovely Basset fit to a T all the funny and sweet characteristics of the breed, including becoming overweight. Only after several years of my family's attempts at increasingly aggressive exercise and diet that did not work, our neurotic neighbor finally revealed over dinner "Oh, I just love that dog. She comes over every morning and I feed her 4-5 doughnuts." Just as Nina evolved from a high school pet of my sister's Natasha became more attached to my parents in my early 20s as I grew to think I was "too hip for a hound", a trend that has since reversed. If you've ever seen the movie "My Dog Skip" you have something of our relationship.

And by the by...though I'm pretty cynical and have more or less given up on internet dating, I encourage you to check out Bow's Dogster profile where she has a growing fan base. I would screen any boyfriend before she went on a date, but I know many boys are smitten by my gorgeous girl.

When it comes to Bow, all I can say is, "She had me at baroo."