According to Wikipedia, the Romans referred to the dog days as diēs caniculārēs and associated the hot weather with the star Sirius. They considered Sirius to be the "Dog Star" because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). Sirius is also the brightest star in the heavens besides the Sun. The term "Dog Days" was used earlier by the Greeks (see, e.g., Aristotle's Physics, 199a2).
I think we've probably had the hottest weather of this summer already, but the term "Dog Days" will always have special meaning for me and Ab because, well, we got a dog. I know, I know... now we can't just pick up and go on a trip. Right. Like we ever did that to being with. The look in my daughter's eyes, and the great hug I got were well worth the trip to the Humane Society and PetSmart and the subsequent "tied down" lifestyle we will now enjoy. Who can afford to go on a trip anyway? Besides, taking a trip will just give us the opportunity to pay some out-of-work teenager to dog-sit for us. We're stimulating the local economy.
We're going to take dog behavior classes at PetSmart as well. These will be aimed at teaching Abby the basics of being a good dog mom. She is so excited about this and I think she is old enough for this kind of responsibility. I'll play back-up, but she will be the pack leader.
He is a 7-year old poodle-mix that loves going for walks and car rides. No shedding, and already he is much better behaved than the last dog we got from the Humane Society. That was a poodle-chaos breed, I believe.
Abby named him Friday. No literary reference here, it's just that we got him today... Friday.
(Her other option was Elvis, so you can see why I might have steered her away from that. Can you imagine hollering "Here Elvis!" in the backyard? 'Course, praising him with "Good Friday" is a little weird, too...)
There were so many sad looking pups at the Humane Society. If you are thinking of getting a furry companion, please check there. Don't use craigslist- you'll be looking for love in all the wrong places.
http://www.southwesthumane.org
