Unsympathy

I keep having to learn that Missy is a dog.  A Malamute, no less.

I've been really sick recently and what do I get from the beast? An ounce of sympathy? Any consideration? Nuh-oh way in hell. 

Her Excellency the Queen of the Universe expects to be walked and played with and if I've got my head in the toilet or am lying on the floor groaning the quiet groans of the moribund, well, that's just too bad. Up and at 'em!  The Miss woooos and howls and whines and vocalizes up a storm to let me know her royal displeasure. 

Does she come and give me a gentle hug or a bit of companionship? Fuhgeddaboudit. She's all about talking the neighbor into taking her for a run.  This is an over-13-year-old dog who doesn't really run much anyway.  But she does like her routine, and that includes being waited on paw and claw.

And?  --- Missy out

Useful (?) Mals?

So I'm taking Rowan to the groomer at Petsmart, and he's prancing down the aisle, tossing head and tail, giving everyone the googly eyes, and they're all throwing themselves at him, as usual ... >sigh< ... he is SUCH a glory hog ...

Anyway, one kid stops us and grabs handfuls of Malafluff (there's a reason we go to the groomer ...) and he yells for his brother and mom to come over. At this point we are blocking the entire center lanes of the store ... the brother tools up in a nifty wheelchair, his eyes light up and he too has to get his Rowan lovin's. Who ruthlessly takes advantage of a captive victim and licks the poor kid up the nose, in the ears and basically all over, to his great delight. Meanwhile, the mother is sighing and rolling her eyes while kid #1 is trying to explain to her that they have to get a Mal to take care of the handicapped kid, pull him around when needed, and basically be their best buddy. I'm trying to explain over the din that a Mal is not a Golden Retriever or a Lab and is a true pain in the a** to train, and is not terribly reliable, when the mom amazes me by saying that she's heard of plenty of Mals being trained as assistance dogs (!!), she just doesn't want the shedding in the house ... a small yappy broke up the traffic jam & I didn't get the name of the org. she was talking about!

Now I've heard of Mallie THERAPY dogs, and have talked to a few wheelchair-bound Mal-people who just happen to be Mal-lovers, but don't count on their Mals for formal assistance. But does anyone know who is training Mallies specifically to assist the disabled?

I've always thought it was a great idea, esp. in a family setting where training could be reinforced & there is backup, etc., but Sherry at Texas Hearing & Service Dogs has always said Mals were too difficult ... What a great thing it would be for Mallie rescue!

Needless to say, Rowan enjoyed his bath & comb-out immensely, as he got loved on by all, and I really appreciate having someone else clip those iron claws ...