The need for Attack Chihuahuas in modern city living
6 Comments Published by Gussie on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 9/11/2008 11:04:00 PM.
Image by Emmanuel, some rights reserved.
Work took me to Madrid for a few days... As usual when I travel, I studied the local dog-owning culture. There were many, many city dogs to watch. Lots of small dogs ... schnauzers, French bulldogs, English bulldogs (less exaggerated than the ones I've seen locally in the UK), miniature pinschers, lots of clipped spaniels and terriers (Madrid is a tad hotter than Edinburgh) and several of what I think are bolognese but may be the Spanish equivalent. In one small area I saw three different sorts of pet shops - one called Pet a porter (muy buen), full of little outfits & hip dog beds. One with cages of pups in the window :-( , and another with windows full pictures of dogs that need new homes (bueno!) I guess that the Spanish working day probably helps working people keep their dogs happy. Plus there are all those pavement cafes where dogs can sit under tables, waiting for snacks to fall. Lots of dogs get to trot around off-lead - "vamos, vamos," say their people, and the little legs trot to keep up. They all seem to wear two collars, and I guess one must be a dog license of some sort.
Sadly I can't share any of the pics I took of dog-life in Madrid because on my last night there my bag was nicked, so I lost my camera (among other things, including my passport). It all came right - I was with friends, the Madrid police and the British consulate were great, and I flew home on schedule with an emergency passport.
It's been pointed out to me that if I kept a chihuahua in my bag à la Paris Hilton, this would never had happened.
Or carry a bag large enough for a lurcher!
Ooh, sorry to hear about your stuff being stolen! Lucky you that you were able to get it all sorted out easy enough.
How bout instead of carrying your dog around, train the dog to carry the bag! Get a nifty little back pack for the dog and keep all your important stuff in there. Like a personal armed (err ... toothed?) security guard!
oh gosh... glad u can get back as scheduled
Thanks folks!
Booker - I sometimes think my bag is large enough for a lurcher :-)
GeeRome - if the dog is carrying all my clobber, I need a dog even bigger than Jake.
Pacco - thanks, safely home and love-bombed by the Jakester.
make a mental note: always keep a chihuahua in your handbag :) just kidding!
i also like to learn about dog owning culture anywhere i go and i have to say that i found this post very interesting because i've never been to spain - but would love to some day!
Xsara - glad you enjoyed the post. I'm off to Denmark soon so maybe I will be able to report back on another sort of dog ownership - climate wise, more familiar for us!