#Goofball

Well OK he's not a mutt. He's one of the new "designer breeds". Like Koko, he's a Labrador/Corgi. I still cringe to say he's a "Corridor". I still say "Labragi" would be infinitely better. But no matter the nomenclature, he's a first class goofball!

After my love affair with Koko, I decided I wanted a Labragi, so I googled "Corgi mix rescue", and his was the first picture that popped up. Yes I know you're supposed t shop around. Bt I'm not a good gatherer. I'm a hunter. When I find what I like, I act. None of this mamby-pamby fishing around "just in case". For some reason, I took one look at him and knew this was the dog I wanted. I couldn't believe I was doing this! I had a family reunion coming up in October! I should wait until that's over and then get a dog... But no. I got him seven weeks ago in August from Double Dog Dare Rescue.

And when I got him home, he was all wrong. He's too big, too long - he can't fit on my lap. He's too spunky - holy cow does he walk fast! And he charges at cats and squirrels. And he throws a fit and a half when left alone at home even for half an hour or in even the car for ten minutes. Geez Louise! You'd think someone was holding his toes in the fire! I come back to find a crowd of people milling about the car looking very concerned.

I finally wrote a note in large black print and taped it to the inside of the windshield:

HI! My name is Merlin. Even though I'm crying like a tortured soul, my mom is just picking up a a burger. She'll be right back. #Goofball

And that's the day he stopped his La Llarona impersonation. Of course.

But he's also the perfect dog. He only barks if someone is weird, or knocks on the door, and he stops when I open it. He's only destroyed one thing of mine: He ate the drawstring out of my sweatpants. And even so, it was only half the string. Not that the does me any good. #Goofball! He also peed on the carpet only once, and it's because he was stressed out and frightened because I'd left him alone. Weirdly, he'd been left alone 3x as long with no problems, so I don't know what his problem was that day. Goofdog!! So I got him a large crate. He's only 40 lbs, so he has extra room. And problem solved! :) He's very easy to train and great with everybody.

He's an incredibly good dog. He's unusually sweet, compassionate and intelligent. When I was really upset, he crawled into my arms to comfort me.

His "thing" is he loves to chew, and lie on his back and throw his toy up and catch it. And he's true black!

Sometimes he's all Corgi.

He's the Master Destroyer of Tennis Balls.

The other thing that makes him my #Goofball is that hew likes to lie on his back, twist sideways and get ahold of his tail, then leap to his feet and run in circles.

He's also charmed. He has a double dew claw on one hind leg and a triple dew claw on the other with a tiny little toe and nail in the middle of the set, a Thor's hammer on his chest, and a crooked right front leg, which I call his "sheleighleg". You can see his triple dew claw and Thor's hammer below, but his leg looks normal. Often when he stands upright, his right foot juts straight out at a 90 degree angle, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all. He's also about to sneeze.