Our Portuguese Water Dog/Terrier Mix

There are many reasons! When you're sad, Orso will always be there to cheer you up. When I come home from school, he's excited to see me and shows it by wagging his tail a mile a minute, licking my face and jumping up on my school uniform which my mother doesn't like very much because she doesn't like furry plaids!

In the summertime, Orso likes to run around and nip at my ankles when we play chase in the backyard. My mom's Daycare kids also love Orso--they like petting him and playing with his silky fur. They even love his sloppy, wet kisses. He's really a loving and obedient dog. Of course, since he doesn't like water, he runs from the sprinkler and escapes into the house or lies in the sunny driveway.

Sometimes though, Orso can be very obstinate and will rudely show his teeth when my mother tries to move him from one of his favorite spots -- for example, the sofa. Mother will first politely ask Orso to get off the sofa, but when he bares his teeth, she will be very stern and call him "Bruto!" In Italian this means, ugly thing!

Orso's life is really pretty simple. No bills to worry about, no school papers to complete, hair to comb, clothes to wash, groceries to shop for. Sometimes my mom and I are so busy with work and school that we hardly have any time. But Orso just waits around looking at us with those big, sweet eyes -- watching as we prepare his meals, or get the leash for his walk.

His days are pretty much his own, and he gets lots of attention from my mom. So what does he have to worry about? If he gets tired of playing with the day care kids, he just goes upstairs and sacks out on his doggie bed. And before you know it, his day is over -- no piano practice for, homework, clothes to hang up or school notices to worry about,, teeth to brush or prayers to say before bed. Doesn't have to get up early any day of the week -- and Sunday he doesn't go to church, so he sleeps in then too! Ahh! The life of a dog...sweet!

When you think about it, a dog doesn't own much. These are the things that belong to Orso:

3 Doggie coats for winter
1 Halloween Costume
1 Leash
1 Doggie Bed
His human family
5 Daycare children

Isn't he lucky?

Where We Shop for Orso: We mostly shop for orso at petsmart because we usually get his food from there.

Orso's Brand of Dog Food: Orso eats Purina One to get all of the nutrients and calcium that he needs to have in his body. Usually his favorite flavor is either salmon or beef ( he does not really like any other flavors).

This was Orso in his new Halloween costume, ready to compete in the annual Halloween contest on October 28, 2009. This took place at WARL (Washington Animal Rescue League) Which was also the place where we adopted Orso. He won third place and got a basket full of goodies. The basket included dog treats, dog collars, books about dogs, a bandana plus lots of other fun stuff. Orso is a very finicky dog. He usually does not eat most treats we give him so most treats went to a dog shelter. The first place winner was a pitt bull terrier as a ladybug and second place winner was a wiener dog as a hot dog. I had to give it to them, they were pretty good too!

"A dog owns nothing, yet is seldom dissatisfied." Irish Proverb

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." Josh Billings

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." Roger Caras, president emeritus, ASPCA

"Right now Jack lives with me. Jack is my Jack Russell. I also have a Yorkie named Ginger, but Jack and Ginger can't be in the same place at the same time because she is very jealous." Even if Jack's not in the same state, she would growl if she heard his name. Mariah Carey

"I very much believe in rescuing animals, not buying them" Candice Bergen, on finding her dog, Lois, a terrier/basset hound mix

Your Portuguese Water dog should always get plenty of exercise. If not, they will get stressed and chew things. Orso has chewed blinds, eaten homework (just kidding!), important papers (for real) like my mother's paperwork. He's not as bad as a goat or Fido, our first dog, who chewed cabinets, earrings, hair pieces and pins.

In fact, Fido ate a needle for which he needed surgery. So you have to always be sure that dangerous objects are out of your dog's way. And remember, chocolate is poisonous to dogs. So they are sort of like babies and toddlers -- which I know all about from watching my mom keep her day care children safe and sound.

(Maybe you noticed that my mom likes to give her dogs animal names -- she also had a cheetah as a pet when she was a toddler -- but I'll tell you about that in another lens!)

Well, here's a tip that a friend from London sent me:

"A suggestion: Since dogs are pack animals they do not like being left on their own
(lonely wolves howl to let other wolves know where they are). If a dog starts chewing things in the house while you are out, try leaving some of your old clothes on the floor for the dog to lie on. Those clothes should be worn for a while before giving them tothe dog so that they are impregnated with your smell.

" Your dog should not feel so lonely if it can smell your scent on your clothes.(Try that with Orso!)"