Persephone, the Goldendoodle

My name is Patrick. I am a border collie and Percy is an annoying puppy. Right after I survived a treacherous car ride which plays wacky with my equilibrium, this Percy … thing … wanted to lick me and play with me. I took her to the beach and lorded over her.

Percy thought she could escape me, but my sheep-herding heritage provides me with many clever ways to keep track of her.

Oh, The Horrors! The Horrors! What is the horrid substance so much like bathing?

I shall penetrate Percy’s tiny brain (in comparison to mine) and instruct her never to let water touch me again.

“I love everyone and everything.”
-P.

What? You don’t think I should chew rocks?

All that can happen is a dirty nose. Sheesh.

I was looking at some older pictures of Percy and noticed that I hadn’t been shooting here at home lately. It was an extraordinary day today, so when Percy was out napping on the lawn, I went for the camera.

Here she’s contemplative.

And wise beyond her months.

Of course, the next minute…

In case you were wondering how she could carry around a vicious stuffed blue rabbit, here’s why:

She has a ball.

It is her ball.

She needs only think of it and it appears.

But all is not perfect. She’s coming to the dentist with me next time.

I have discovered mornings at the beach. They’re quiet, the water is flat, and I give Percy a good morning workout.

I have also discovered floating fetch toys good for tossin’ and retrievin’. Today was Day One with the elongated yellow tennis ball attached to a rope, and I think we’ve got a winner. Real tennis balls are fun for a few fetches, but Percy went in after the new toy 30 or 40 times and never got bored.

Here she is proudly showing it off.

Here’s the first chase.

She often had trouble finding it once in the water. Sometimes she’d go right past it. (Check the water arcing off her tail.)

Always a proud moment at the grab.

What did she say to the other dogs who wanted to play with it?

It is always good to be a Long Beach dog.

Percy Was Here.

I made Carolyn go to the beach today. When we got there, I pointed my snoot into the wind and said, “See, this is why we come.”

I found a stick.

It was my stick.

Who broke my stick?

I see all and know all.

For I chase errant brightly-colored tennis balls.

And I dance with two shadows simultaneously (while holding a brightly-colored tennis ball).

It is good to be a California Dog.

I marvel at how much Percy has grown when I get her next to Maggie. At the end of March, they were almost the same height, and Maggie outweighed her two times over.

Um. Not anymore.

Here’s an example from 4 1/2 months ago.

Labor Day is Dog Day at the beach.

There were lots of dogs to play with, and lots of balls to steal.

Sometimes, Percy won.

Only she who is running, running nose.

Percy wanted me to say that she took some time out from playing to teach the other dogs how to pose.

School has started, so every chance that Percy and I have to get to the Beach during “regular” school hours is taken as a subversive (yet legal) little treat.

Today, Percy started by getting wet. All wet.

There were lots of Boxers to chase today.

Of course, that needs a good shake.

Look at the GoldenDoodle wet head.

And of course, that then requires a good rub in the sand.

Aren’t I the best?