The Benj

“He’s a Caniche, they’re very smart dogs,” says my neighbor Nat before fleeing from her two and a half year old fluffy buddy Benji for a big month-long thirtieth birthday retreat back to her motherland of London, England. A week into Benj’s rehab, after getting him onto Cesar Milan’s program – exercise, discipline and then affection, always in that order - I discover that ‘Caniche’ is really just Poodle in Spanish.

So here I am, walking this little self-minded poodle, enlisting my entire war chest of dog whispering skills, training and practices. Even as I type, every hint of sound out in our courtyard triggers a nasty low-level growl and then several staccato ear-piercing barks. NO! But his apparent deafness is diminishing and peace is quickly restored, on to better days ahead.

He’s almost house trained, walks well alongside me on the lead and is beginning to ‘hear me’ in the plaza or park when he’s not busy smelling every leaf, tree, park bench, trash can and each and every patch of grass in between. He’s even learning to play poker.

Speaking of poker, there is a rumor that Steven Seagal will grace the South American Explorers Club, BA chapter, this Wednesday night for their weekly Texas Hold ‘Em game… might have to make this one, Ninja-like.