That's Mr. MonkeyOctober 20, 2006 In part II of my little family introduction series, I bring you Ike. Ike AKA: The Munky, Mohn-keh (different pronunciation), Mr. Monkey DOB: January 25, 1998 |
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It used to just be Ike and me. Just the two of us, before we met Chris and Gus. So he's our dog, but he's still kinda my dog. Since I am not at ALL impulsive, I researched dog breeds for six months before I decided to get a Basenji. Trust me, people tried to talk me out of it. If having a Labrador is elementary school, having a Basenji is sort of like getting your doctorate. Without any clear reference materials. But totally worth it. |
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I researched breeders and bought Ike from a reputable one. (He's Changa/Taji, for anyone in-the-know.) Part of my agreement with the breeder is that I would show him. He was "Changa's Shot O' Africa" in the show ring. Totally new experience for me, but he and I got the hang of it. Well, we got the hang of it, but we didn't really like it. |
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Showing dogs means a lot of driving, a lot of wearing suits in the dead of summer, and a lot of crate time for The Monkey. I decided to end his showing career, and I got him "fixed". (I don't like that word. He wasn't broken.) |
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Here's an interesting fact...Ike was named after both Dwight D. Eisenhower AND Ike from South Park. |
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Here's a tattered photo of Ike in front of my house when it was just the two of us. He must be about a year old here. Note to single people looking for dates: get a dog. Just do it. Guaranteed dates with people who like animals. |
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A big part of Ike's life story is that he was hit by a truck when he was a little over a year old. Basenjis are notorious escape artists, and I was well aware of that fact. But someone left a gate open and Ike got out. He was hit right in front of my house, while I watched. (It took years to get that image out of my head.) After a broken jaw, a couple of surgeries, and a lot of bruises, he's okay. He only has this scar on his forehead to show for the whole ordeal. That was 7 years ago now. |
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Another big part of Ike's life story is Gus. I swear, they have totally different personalities, but they are best friends. This picture was taken the second time Chris and I saw each other. After meeting in the park, we found out that we were both going to go to this Basenji Playday, in another town, the following day. So if we hadn't met the first day, we would have met the second! Amazing. |
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The thing most notable about Ike is his "Ike-ness". He is a strange animal. Ever seen a dog that runs to the mirror when you tie a scarf on his neck? That's Ike. Ever seen a dog who lays exactly where you put him, in the same position, like Gumby? Ike again. Ever seen a dog who has "Rabid Dog" in his repertoire of known commands? Uh huh. Or a dog that turns into a raving, crazed, lunatic whenever he sees an especially hairy dog? Yeah, great. That's him. For the most part, Ike is smart, calculating, aloof, and calm. Like Hannibal-Lecter-sort-of-calm. |
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Ike has his bad traits, but he is the sweetest thing in the world during naptime. |
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Maybe he's just a typical middle child. |
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Brace yourself for a different topic here... Gimme a "C"! Gimme an "A"! No, their name is too long for this. Go Cardinals! Chris predicted a St. Louis/Detroit World Series AGES ago, and he's pretty proud of that now. So if you happen to see him on the street today, I'm sure he'll mention his prediction to you. |
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My email - staci@verypink.com |
Chris' email - barkless3@yahoo.com |
