“He doesn’t need to win the dog show to feel special."

June 21, 2022 1:33 PM

"A recent visit to rural Pennsylvania found GCHG CH Pequest Wasabi, as he is officially known (the letters represent his winning credentials), chilling at home, already semiretired at the age of 4. Bestirring himself to say hello, he did not exactly run, but moved with all deliberate speed, his luxuriant locks wafting like wheat blowing in a breeze."
posted by praemunire (9 comments total)

I do enjoy these tongue in cheek NYT articles. Favorite bit: Still, Wasabi has sired six puppies. (Fitzpatrick brought two of them out, in a small flower basket. They declined to comment, being only a couple of weeks old, but did briefly open their eyes.) N.B. there is also a photo of the puppies, hooray!
posted by merriment at 2:44 PM on June 21, 2022

I do enjoy these tongue in cheek NYT articles.

Me, too.

“Spaniels are very needy, they’re clingy, they’re pawing at you,” he said by way of counterexample. “Golden retrievers — they’re always right there, and they make fabulous pets, but that’s not the kind of temperament I like. I wouldn’t even like that in a person.”

By contrast, he said, “Wasabi is trained to be a loving dog. He’ll come when he’s called, but otherwise he doesn’t do anything except walk on a lead. I don’t want my dogs to do anything but enjoy their little lives.”
posted by Dip Flash at 2:55 PM on June 21, 2022 [1 favorite]

Sensational. Just the balm I needed after a nasty day. Thank you for sharing.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 3:17 PM on June 21, 2022

For the first time in my life, I can grow the hair on my head just about as long as I wish-- and it's thick, too. So I hate it, it gets caught in things, and I don't look like any kind of old movie star no matter how I let it screen half my face.
So I can relate to a dog that isn't willing to do anything other than be a dog with lots of hair. It's hard work.

Also loving that I got a free article from NYT and this was it! Puppies!
posted by winesong at 3:18 PM on June 21, 2022 [6 favorites]

GCHG

I just cannot process this acronym without thinking that Pequest Wasabi is a spy.
posted by srboisvert at 4:31 AM on June 22, 2022

Today I learned that I didn't actually know what a Pekingese dog looks like, and every time I've read about one (like Tricki Woo in All Creatures Great and Small) I've been picturing a Pomeranian.
posted by Daily Alice at 5:49 AM on June 22, 2022

By contrast, he said, “Wasabi is trained to be a loving dog. He’ll come when he’s called, but otherwise he doesn’t do anything except walk on a lead. I don’t want my dogs to do anything but enjoy their little lives.”

Now, this is a good show-dog handler.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on June 22, 2022

He does look like a little lion in the picture where he's running, but where is the picture of him rolling on his back with his tiny paws in the air?
posted by betweenthebars at 9:42 AM on June 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Pekingese have the best attitudes, just pity about the show-conforming noses - they tend to have the same problems as other races bred for short noses. Thankfully not as bad as English bulldogs but you can see in old photos that nose and mouth used to be on the same level. Makes for less energy as they age, but they are the most regal balls of fluff - several of them in my neighbourhood over the years, and all of them were the kind who very much decided the direction of their walks and activities. Here's to Wasabi keeping that energy through a long life with many puppies.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:25 AM on June 22, 2022 [2 favorites]