Annie and I walking after hurricane Irene

The day after hurricane Irene, I went out to survey the damage with my trusty Bichon Frise Annie. Here she is sniffing the edge of a flooded out street. Annie is not afraid of much when it comes to weather, we cannot say the same about the Chihuahua/Pug.

The poem “And Dog Makes Three” by Aaron Middlepoet Jackson has been included in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of The Bark Magazine. Available now!

Top Ten Dog Breeds According To Me

One of the coolest things about dogs is that they come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Dogs can range in size from just a few pounds to weighing more than an adult man. No matter the human personality of a potential owner there is a dog to match. Some dogs never bark, some dogs sing, some howl and others can bark on command. There are dogs with no hair and dogs with dreadlocks, dogs that love water and a few that can’t swim. So here, after years and years of studying and more importantly owning dogs I give you my list of the Top Ten Dog Breeds (according to me).

Honorable Mention: Corgi, Schnauzer, Doberman, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shorthaired Pointer, Rat Terrier, French Bulldog, American Bullnese, Basenji, Italian Greyhound, German Shorthaired Pointer

10. Basset Hound

Is it the ears? The eyes? The reeeeeeealy long bodies? Or is it just the cartoon character Droopy? Basset Hounds rock. Perhaps the cutest puppy of all dog breeds when in its puppy form. The stubby little can really move when required and any dog that can let go a good howl is alright by me.

9.  Golden Retriever

Everybody knows or has known a very cool, laid back Golden Retriever at one point or another in their lives. The Golden is the ultimate family dog, the ultimate symbol of canine Americana. Many kids have ridden a Golden like a horse or been pulled by one in a wagon. Golden’s truly become members of the family, not unlike the household canine butler.

8. Boston Terrier

While she was growing up my mother had a Boston Terrier named Duke.  She said he was the best, and if my mom endorses the dog, what more can be said? They are a great sized suburban/urban dog and they look really cool in that dog with a smushed up face sort of way.

7. Boxer

Seriously, what isn’t to love about a Boxer? They are they perfect size if you want an above lap sized dog. This breed of dog has one of the most expressive faces and the energy level is just right for an active family dog.

6. Shiba-Inu

This breed makes the list because in my opinion they are the perfect size, not to big, not to little.  They are also adorable and they really don’t bark much. For further proof that there is a heightened level of cuteness about the Shiba check this link. Click here!

5. Pug

Pugs are the rolly polly clowns of the dog world. Although they may have a hard time breathing because of their smushed schnoz, they still are very active and quite charming. For those who like the “bulldog” look

4. Labrador Retriever

This is the champion of the outdoors dog. I don’t care who you are, when you think of a dog swimming in the summertime, you think of a lab. Labs are the ultimate sidekick and perhaps the most loyal of all dogs as well.

3. Chihuahua

They are the smallest of all dog breeds. When standing back and thinking, “that is the ancestor of a wolf?” Look at a chihuahua. They come in the regular and long haired varieties, I prefer the look of the long haired but the maintenance  requirements of the short haired.

2. Bichon Frise

Originating in the Canary Islands, this white ball of fluff is more circus dog than anything else. The Bichon is hypoallergenic because its coat is more like human hair than fur, and since their hair constantly needs to be cut, they can be styled to fit their personality. (I should know, our dog Annie has had a mohawk.)

Photo by Jan Tompkins

1. Mixed Breeds (Mutts)

Lets be honest, mixed breeds are the best because they are a blend of all worlds. Less inclined to genetic defects, mutts can be the best of whatever traits that are desired by a prospective owner. To be clear, I am talking about mutts, not mixed breed hybrids or “designer” dogs that can be bred to have the same genetic defects that often arise from the same irresponsible breeding often used to create pure bred dogs. Moreover, when you consider that it is rather easy to get a mutt from your local shelter, how can you go wrong?

Reggie, a dog of Pug/Chihuahua/???? origin

So that is my top ten? What do you think? What breed did I miss?

Minds by minutes live in it to play a moment relayed by a desire to own it when everyone is walking the other way.

My wife reminds me that I do the best that I can and she loves me for it, it is nice. The type of thing one rewinds in the mind when the morning alarm clock rings.

Things change when the money runs out, the couple becomes closer.

In a manner of speaking

Thinking of drinking away today until tomorrow is forgotten, rotten

When it gets to that point

Time to anoint another way

A display of the resurrection of hope, Presidential in that regard

Hard to find meaning when leaning on pennies to turn into dollars

Bottled like pigs ready to burst from lack of nourishment

Banks banking on the ability to fill their vaults

Giving halt to now

The purple cow has long since crossed the silhouette of the moon

Sometimes the mind reclines within a haze of red wine to define the line between rhyme and reasons for believing that deceiving is not what is happening on a Federal level

Treble adjusted when felt as a high pitch pain in the brain

Left to drain the rights of the swollen into puss for the poor

Poured down the throat of ignorance with a spoon full of sugar

Walls of sound pound the ground into a stark realization

Constellations bring elation to children like fire fly’s in a jar

Twinkling star enrapturing young hearts on the soul of a summer siesta

Half + Half = Half when the half equals a bit of confusion in regards to self-identity.

Remember Jordan

Smoothly flying through the air

Artist in motion

Summer Flower

Just something nice to look at.

People Practicing Poetic Politics Politely Prying Prayers Promising Pristine Purple Poppies Passing Potions Proportionately Peeling Petunia Petals Phonetically Prescribed