That’s me and Watson. I’m Meghan Hemenway, a municipal financial consultant by day and blogger by night. Oh, and a very soon-to-be mom. Watson’s new playmate is due August 20th. Watson is a three-year-old, male Labradoodle.What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?
I have been refraining from coffee intake while pregnant which for me has meant dealing with a weekly craving for a big, chocolaty iced coffee ever since the heat of summer set in. Watson and I took the opportunity to head over to Einstein Brothers for a little Sunday afternoon snack.
What's brewing?
A massive – decaf – iced mocha from Einstein Brothers which hit the spot on a hot day.
Any goodies to go with the coffee?
Absolutely. To go along with my coffee craving I am having a bagel sandwich.
Any treat for Watson on this occasion?Watson is treating himself to a dog bagel.
How were you and Watson united?
My husband and I found Watson from a newspaper ad. More than being a “designer dog” he is the consequence of a 70-pound yellow Labrador and her apricot-colored Standard Poodle neighbor. Watson is like the result of one of those old “What if they mated?” segments from Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The answer to that question is a 79-pound Labrador with the spindly legs of a Standard Poodle and the hairdo of a Muppet. When we went to see the litter, Watson, then Buddy, followed us all around, sitting on my husband’s feet, and staring lovingly up at us. We were hooked.
How did Watson get his name? Any aliases?
Watson is named for Kansas City’s own, PGA and Champions Tour golfer Tom Watson. My husband is a bit of a golf fan. Watson also responds to Wats or Watsie.
Cat, squirrel, postman...?
Yes. He lays by the front door and guards our home from all three, and rabbits. He hates – or loves – rabbits the most. But judging by the abundance of rabbits, squirrels, and neighborhood cats in our yard I would say that none of them is scared too badly by him.
Who is Watson's best pet-pal?Watson knows no stranger, but his best friend is our neighbor’s Great Dane named Jell-O. Jell-O often comes over to our yard for play dates and the two wrestle, chase each other, play tug, and end each play event by collapsing on opposite sides of the yard.
Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?
Watson is a fan of playing games in general so will chase after anything you throw. He likes to keep the same tennis ball as long as he can and pull all the fuzz off of it. I once took his favorite ball to the dog park, not realizing his connection to it, and when another dog fetched it he followed forlornly along behind the dog until he dropped it. My husband is now working with Watson to become better at catching Frisbees in the air. His long poodle legs are good for towering over small dogs, not for gracefully jumping in the air.
What is Watson's best quality?
Watson has these black, button eyes which make him look even more like a Muppet. He will follow me around the house and gaze up at me with his sweet eyes watching for any clue of what is coming next.
Where is Watson's favorite place for an outing?Watson’s favorite place is a dog park in our city with a lake. He loves swimming and retrieving things from the water. It is a great place for an outing during the hot summer days, but he will also accept any body of water as a substitute.
What's your favorite Watson story?
Our first year with Watson was filled with all kinds of hilarious mishaps. He was an exuberant puppy who got bigger and taller by the day. He was soon able to put his front paws up on every counter and snag anything he found, especially his favorites – bunches of bananas and loaves of bread. We watched him vigilantly throughout his puppy phase making sure we didn’t lose too many shoes or pieces of furniture to our active dog. One day we both were working outside in the front yard with him watching us from his spot at the front door. After a few minutes I had a bad feeling and looked up to see he wasn’t at the door. I ran inside to find him in the kitchen foaming at the mouth. He had found a tube of Bengay on a counter and punctured it while investigating it. Other than a lingering minty smell and a lot of confusion he was fine.
Visit Meghan Hemenway's blog.
--Marshal Zeringue
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