.
Shogun
belongs to Ann and Mikio Okada. Ann and I became
acquainted when we both joined the aquasize class
last year. Ann is one of those people that radiate
energy and good will. We frequently chat if we catch
one another outside working as we pass while
walking. In one of our chats I asked Ann if she had
a pet and she said yes, an old
Poodle named
Clarion-5star-Shogun. Ann and Mikio purchased Shogun
from Ann Kennedy in Rohnert Park who raises
Poodles
for show purposes. She was willing to part with the
pup because his specs weren’t quite up to show
level. His full brother has since gone on to become
a Champion. Ms Kennedy has since relocated to the
Lodi area. Shogun was 15 years old this March 15th.
He is trim and fit with some gray around his muzzle.
His eye sight is failing now and lately he only
seems to feel secure when resting in Ann’s arms. He
lays his head on her bosom and is totally relaxed.
Ann feels she may have misnamed Shogun she says that
he definitely has an amorous nature and even though
“fixed” and almost blind he pay’s close attention to
Ann’s niece’s
Poodle when she visits. Ann says it is
comical to watch because Shogun is a miniature
poodle and Bubbles Cabernet Champagne is standard
size. Bubbles turns and looks at Shogun as if to
say, “What are you up to squirt?” Ann thinks that
Shogun would have been better named Romeo. Shogun
has been a wonderful pet and he has never been sick
a day in his life.
Poodles
are highly intelligent and come in varieties
distinguished by size, color, and coat.
Poodles
are bred to be pure color and commonly are found in
black, chocolate, red, apricot and white. Their
coats can be curly or wooly and less likely to
tangle or wavy and more easily corded.
Poodles are
an ancient breed whose origin is unknown. Most texts
suggest an origin in what is now Germany. One text
suggests they were originally bred by Greeks for sea
sponge diving and were later adopted by the Spanish
colonists in North America where they were employed
as lobster divers (Weinstein and Jefferson, 1979).
The same authors also make note of the
Poodle’s
tactfulness as a herding dog, although this is
highly debatable. Following further breeding
refinement,
Poodles found particular popularity
among French nobility in the 18thcentury. Their
intelligence and bravery were utilized by large game
hunters in Africa and the breed proved especially
adept at stalking and tracking lions.
Poodles have
long been popular in the show arena, as their unique
coats allows for a wealth of opportunities to sculpt
their hair into fun and fanciful patterns.
Poodles
are available in a variety of sizes, Standard,
Miniature and Toy as well as colors.
Ann
and her husband have collected some wonderful curios
and artifacts in their travels.
They
have a large collection of “perfect pets”. Ann has
animal shaped bells for ushering in the Japanese New
Year. There is a horse shaped bell for the Year of
the Horse and many others too numerous to describe
here. I was particularly taken with a child’s wooden
rocking horse that resides atop a wardrobe. Ann says
that when she and her husband went to a yard sale at
a horse ranch the women who owned the ranch regaled
them with stories of her horses. She went on for a
long time and then realizing that her listeners were
tiring she insisted on giving the rocking horse to
them. Ann didn’t want to take it for nothing
therefore she offered a fair price but all the women
would take was $1.00! Ann also likes to collect
bears and has a wonderful picture of an old
fashioned Teddy Bear. There are Teddies sitting in
an old fashioned child’s wagon that complete a
charming spare bed room. Ann used to sing opera and
has some beautiful orchids that were given her for
singing. She says she still likes to sing acappella.
Her husband is a talented musician also and can sit
down at the piano and play without music. She has an
interesting giraffe that is made from rattan. Ann
purchased a china
Poodle, at a garage sale, that
guards the front entrance now that Shogun’s eyesight
is failing. He is also a “perfect pet” and never
needs feeding or walking. Ann enjoys finding art to
decorate her walls, she says her husband shakes his
head and asks if she will ever be satisfied with the
results.
