It's a Dog's Life

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:32 pm

Sorry, but I couldn't resist. I had to post this image of our 3 year Bichon Frise (Susie) who was relaxing in "her" (American) football bean bag. We bought three sports bean bags (soccer, football and baseball) for my son but our two dogs have claimed them for their own. Our other dog is a 15-year old Dachshund, Chloe'.

Also, who said that the French and Germans couldn't get along.

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:33 pm

Very cute. Peaceful co-existence indeed. To keep this thread going, here are a couple of portraits I did recently of my two dogs, Jewel and Spencer (4 year old Shih Tzu's).

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:46 pm

Jim,

Cute indeed. So we've got France, Germany and China covered. Now all we need are Britain, USA, Italy, Russian and Japan to have dogs from all the major combatants of WW-II.

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:03 am

rkr1958 wrote:Jim,

Cute indeed. So we've got France, Germany and China covered. Now all we need are Britain, USA, Italy, Russian and Japan to have dogs from all the major combatants of WW-II.

UK is easy---just get a nice jowly bulldog; very Churchillian.

USA---would a Basset Hound be good? Their sad eyes remind me of FDR a bit.

Japan, maybe an Akita (it's the only Japanese dog I know).

Russia---no ideas at all here. Anyone?

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:23 pm

What better dog for the USA than Patton's Willie.

Ref: http://www.olive-drab.com/od_wardogs_famous_willie.php

http://www.pattonhq.com/willie.html

The most famous bull terrier owned by General Patton was purchased on 4 March, 1944. He was named Willie, short for "William the Conqueror." Willie was devoted to General Patton and followed him everywhere.

The second picture is sad.

Photo taken right after Gen. Patton's death, as Willie waits with personal belongings to be shipped to the United States.

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:34 pm

That is a sad picture. Patton's end was not one worthy of such a warrior. Also a bit mysterious, according to some---I think there was book by Louis Farago that sheds some light on it, but can't think of the title right now.

OK, Willie is the USA representative dog then. Still looking for Britain and Japan...

I think you and I are the only two interested in this thread, so we should probably feel free to nominate our own candidates for those countries.

Edit: we still need a Russian too. Nothing too small, otherwise Willie might hurt him...

Clark · Post by **Clark** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:49 pm

Well, my dog is a mix between a beagle, collie, and some other breeds. Beagles and Collies both originated in England as a breed.

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:26 pm

I have a cat that is a British Shorthair, but I guess cats don't count. :p I can post a photo of her if you're interested. She doesn't like dogs very much, but she hates other cats more. Strange animal.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:50 pm

Stauffenberg wrote:I have a cat that is a British Shorthair, but I guess cats don't count. :p I can post a photo of her if you're interested. She doesn't like dogs very much, but she hates other cats more. Strange animal.

Cats are welcomed too.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:55 pm

Happycat wrote:Patton's end was not one worthy of such a warrior. Also a bit mysterious, according to some---I think there was book by Louis Farago that sheds some light on it, but can't think of the title right now.

I use to subscribe to a magazine in the mid and late 1980's that was called Military History (or something close). There was an article in one issue on Patton's death. It was written by an army corpsmen, or doctor, that was one of the first one the scene of the accident. According to him there was no mystery. The cause of death was from a broken neck caused by an old man with brittle bones sitting in a large backseat of a large car (a Mercedes) who was then thrown forward into the front seat when it crashed into a car that pulled out in front of it.

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:37 am

rkr1958 wrote: The cause of death was from a broken neck caused by an old man with brittle bones sitting in a large backseat of a large car (a Mercedes) who was then thrown forward into the front seat when it crashed into a car that pulled out in front of it.

That would do it alright...

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:50 am

Clark wrote:Well, my dog is a mix between a beagle, collie, and some other breeds. Beagles and Collies both originated in England as a breed.

What is your dogs gender and name? Nice looking dog! If he's a boy, he can be Churchill (or George VI) and if he is a she, we can call her Odette Churchill (who was a famous member of Britain's SOE during the war) or Vera Lynn (who sang some truly inspirational songs which contributed greatly to British morale in the war----my favourite being "Blue Birds Over, the White Cliffs of Dover")

Happycat · Post by **Happycat** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:54 am

rkr1958 wrote:
Stauffenberg wrote:I have a cat that is a British Shorthair, but I guess cats don't count. :p I can post a photo of her if you're interested. She doesn't like dogs very much, but she hates other cats more. Strange animal.
Cats are welcomed too.

Wait a minute...we didn't vote on this did we?

Just kidding Borger, the cats are welcome too. In addition to our two dogs, we also have two cats and they demand equal billing. Your cat can be Odette Churchill (no relation to Winston, that I know of) and Clark's dog can be Vera Lynn.

I would suggest Violet Szabo for Clark's dog, but whereas Odette survived the war, Violet, sadly, did not and died at the hands of the Gestapo. Clark's dog might not appreciate being cast in this role.