Every dog needs A/C in the “Valley of the Sun”.  We have 2 large, fluffy dogs, and it’s just a reality of life here in this heat.  All our pets live with us in their own area of the house.

Petunia, the 2.5 year old white Pyre, is rather wolfish in her nature.  This is almost entirely to the fact that she was raised as a working livestock protection dog (LPD) in Montana — it has very little to do with her genetics.

Petunia in July of 2015

She accepts her place as subordinate to us, but she loves the great power in her teeth and enjoys using them.  So, some limitations are necessary.  It is not that she is “bad”.  No.  And I remind myself that the proper name for wolf is “Canis lupus” and the proper name for a domesticated dog is just “Canis lupus familiaris“:  a domestication of the wolf through centuries of selective breeding oversight.  I often call our tough girl “Familiaris” while soothing her less domesticated nature through grooming.  Experiencially, she was a working livestock protection dog before we bought her, so she was raised to be a lethal threat to coyotes, lions, and wolves.  She likes to show her teeth to us in a prideful way and click them at times.  We respect her very much, but have no fear of her.  She is totally loyal to us and accepts discipline well.  We pet her while she eats and she never challenges us when we take her food away, though she eats voraciously.  She accepts her position in the family hierarchy, but does push for her agendas within that lower rank and kind of relationship.

Petunia’s snowy coat has thinned nicely in this Phoenix heat.

Song is so different.  She was raised as a show dog so she has never been in the wild or had to do anything for herself.  She is totally “familiaris.”  She’s a badger Pyre: not pure white, but with coloring of the facial area and ears.  It’s like makeup.  Song reminds me of a matronly contralto of the opera in that her voice is uncommonly deep and moody – she recalls the felling of a Marian Anderson performance.  Neighbors don’t all seem to recognize this, of course.  Song is a trusting girl who will give almost anyone a chance.

Song in Montana

Song is obedient if not compliant.  I tell her once to go to the office and she gets up and goes.  She knows when I tell her to go to the back door or the front door of the house.

Her temperament is to be sincere and honest – loving her grooming and requiring it due to her dense undercoat.  She does not shed!  Being mated to a Poodle, these Fall puppies will make for a super non-shedding family member.