Yesterday I wrote a whole bunch about how the things we share about our children's first families changes as they get older. It was all introspective and brilliant, of course. (Actually, no it wasn't. Just my rambling ideas.) Then something happened. I didn't lose it all, but a couple of paragraphs were gone. I don't have the energy or patience to reconstruct it now, so I'm just going to tell you about the Great Pet Search.
We might have found our dog.
One of the breeders I met a few weeks ago referred me to someone who has a two year old dog whom she is (mostly) ready to let go. She describes him as a big silly goofball of a dog. She decided not to breed him so he was neutered just a few weeks ago. He's great with kids and she thinks he'll do well as an only dog.
She did show him enough to get his AKC championship, but stopped there because he wasn't a superstar and he didn't like it all that much anyway. His owner says, "He just wanted to play in the ring, not be a stately and dignified Doberman."
So he sounds great! We're going to meet them at another dog show so that we can see the dog and she can see us... Then if we both decide to go ahead with it, we'll go pick him up just after we come home from South Africa.
Here's my favorite part...
Ready?
His name is...
Viper.
That, for some reason, is just so funny to me. It sounds sort of vaguely threatening, like he might strike at any moment.
"Sure, you can pet the dog kids! What's his name? Oh, it's Viper! That's right, come on over and give him a pat, he loves kids!"
Like naming a dog Fang or Danger or something.
I had been thinking that if we ended up with a puppy we'd name it Bosco or Cosmo, or something else that sounds very much like a family pet dog name to me. But we'll probably end up with a Viper.
It's growing on me!
Maybe I'll get him one of these.
Definitely keep Viper. I love it!
Posted by: susan | Monday, September 08, 2008 at 03:47 PM
You can call him Piper if people are afraid...but I LOVE the name Viper. Think of the doggie Halloween costumes!!!
Posted by: Leah | Monday, September 08, 2008 at 04:51 PM
um, so your conversation at the dog park will look like this:
stranger: that's a nice looking dog. what kind of dog is it?
you: doberman. what kind of dog is yours?
stranger: poodle.
you: what's his/her name?
stranger: Fluffy. what's your dog's name?
you: VIPER!
stranger: uh....gotta go.
Posted by: hwang | Monday, September 08, 2008 at 08:28 PM
I love the name Viper!
Buy a big drum in Africa for the boys. They will love it!!!!
Posted by: Caroline | Tuesday, September 09, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Oh good graciousness. I LOVE it. Viper is a great name.
So funny.
Posted by: Lisa M | Tuesday, September 09, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Ha! That's a great name. ;-)
Posted by: wendy | Friday, September 12, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I just like the name, it sounds good. I am sure I would never choose it, but it really sounds so fun.
Posted by: Happy mom | Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:13 PM