k-brow: E is for Ella

G'Day Silverella, the little pocket dog that could do it all... the runt of her litter, I saw her in utero (well, saw that bulge, anyway), cuddled her as a 2 day old pup, and held my breath as she was bottle fed and carried around in her breeder's pocket because she was so small they were afraid she'd not make it on her own. Never knew she'd be mine, til the day came to go pick up the puppy that had been chosen for me (our dogs were puppy-tested, a la Volhard's) by the breeder. It's been mad, mad love ever since. She was my first dog, as an adult, and has been such a splendid companion, up for any sport or training, smart AND pretty, to boot. At 9, she remains my wildest, liveliest dog, and can throw some serious attitude, when she chooses. She's also completely reliable off leash, and virtually ignores other dogs on walks, so she's my easier dog, these days.

I got Ella right after we'd bought our house in Sacramento; I like to think of her as the dog who led me out into the world, introducing me to all sorts of new joys and tiny details that only dogs know. If not for Ella, I'd never have met my co-blogger DisKnit, whose dog Curtis was one of Ella's dearest canine friends. We both lived in dog-mad Curtis Park, when the dogs were pups. Now DisKnit is of the opinion that Ella is a wee bit neurotic, while my mom says she's just flat-out crazy. The breeder called her the "CEO and Board of Directors", and even around here, she's called Ms Bossybarks more often than not. But there's no better bedwarmer, no more reliable surf frisbee retriever, and no more enthusiastic beggar of handouts and crumbs in this house.

The camera just loves her, too.