Traveling with Dogs: On Capitalism & Bacon, Dead Bird Cologne, and Ball Busting Clichés

Good morning and welcome to the first edition of “Traveling with Dogs: On Capitalism & Bacon, Dead Bird Cologne, and Ball Busting Clichés.”

Today we are lucky enough to be riding along with a very fancy Havanese, Ché Guevara.

Hi there Señor, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these burning questions we have for you! I know you are very private and don’t like being video-taped, so we will happily transcribe the questions and responses for our audience after completing the interview, and also include a photograph of your handsome, fluffy face.

Natalie: Alright, let’s get started, shall we?
Your name…Ché Guevara. Is is hard to live in the shadows of a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist? Especially given your fondness for Capitalism and bacon?

Ché: Rests head on paws and lets out a big sigh. Starts methodically licking paws with eyes closed…

Natalie: I figured as much. Do you think this is why you have five thousand, seven hundred and six nicknames? Nicknames like, for example: Ché Puff Marshmallow, MGB (Micro Goonie Bear), CatDog, BunnyDog, Super Fuzz, Señor, Puff-a-lump, Gene Simmons…?

Ché: Sticks out tongue and yawns.

Natalie: Yes, I can see why all of those names work so well for you. It’s nice not to be confined to just one name. Let’s move on to our next topic: rolling in smelly shit. Sometimes it is actual shit, right? Or like today, for instance, you rolled in the remains of a dead bird covered in flies and ants. Some say this works well to camouflage your scent, like a very earthy, organic cologne. Is this true? And more importantly, can you give us any pointers on your enviable sneaky stealth moves when you are on these undercover missions?

Ché: Sleeping…

Natalie: Okay, we are running of time… and clearly (coughing) energy as well. So let’s jump to the last question. Chasing shadows.  This is something that really sets you apart from many others. I mean, yeah,  dogs and the whole chasing balls thing (rolling eyes)…I really appreciate your rejection of such an obvious and tired cliché and admire your complete disinterest in the actual ball itself–rather you will chase it’s shadow, or really any shadow (some may say obsessively). Does it bother you, though, that there are times of the day when the shadows just plain suck or are completely absent for this game? Having had the pleasure of observing this particular behavior of yours, it seems that it really frustrates and perplexes you.

Ché: blinking then winking, then panting twice….

Natalie: Wonderful! Thank you again Ché for indulging us today with your incredible insight and sage responses.  You’re the best!

For the next edition, please click here.

Natalie resides in Peoria, Arizona, with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Her artistic journey has taken many twists and turns but photography and writing have become the primary outlets for her artistic expression. She is an artist at Offset.com, Lensdrop and Adobe.   Her work/photography has been published by National Geographic Your Shot, Lensbaby, Beyond the Wanderlust, and has been licensed for ads by Samsung and other companies for advertisements. Her best days are filled with trying to guide and raise up her offspring and pups, music, reading, creating photographs and writings, hiking, yoga, cooking, and sky-gazing.  In the social media world, she can be found on Instagram @natalie_a_wheeler, and as a moderator for @theechoesinside, a hub for self-portraiture.