Hobie Dawg - Best Dog Ever

It is with great sadness I have to say we recently said goodbye to our beloved Hobie Dawg. We are heartbroken. I can honestly say, I have never known a better dog who was as intelligent, faithful and loving as Hobie. He was a once in a lifetime pooch and was such an integral part of our lives. We knew this day was coming but it is still very hard. We feel extremely fortunate to have so many happy memories with him. He will be in our hearts forever. 

Hobie would have been 15 years old this May 18, 2020. We found him in a newspaper ad when he was just a few weeks old and with little deliberation, picked him from a litter of 8 gorgeous pure-bred Australian Shepherd puppies.

Hobie fit right in with our pack of two dogs and two cats and quickly became leader of the pack (including us). He was always willing to please and a constant source of joy and entertainment. Australian Shepherds are known for their intelligence and Hobie was no exception. Training him was a breeze. He literally learned every trick in the book and many that aren’t.

His ability to catch frisbees on the fly or chase balls was incredible. Taking him on walks, going to the park or hiking the many local trails was always a delight. Invariably, when we took him on walks, people would stop us and ask if they could pet him or just tell us what a beautiful and amazing dog he was. I can’t tell you how many times people on the street or driving by would just yell out “I love your dog!” or “Your dog is beautiful!”

One of my goals when we were looking for another dog was to find one that I could do dog agility with. I knew Australian Shepherds excelled at dog agility and I loved the breed. So, that was what I was looking for. I had never done dog agility. So, I bought a bunch of books and began trying to learn the rules. I setup obstacles such as jumps and weave poles in our backyard where Hobie and I could practice.

Eventually, I found a dog agility training class at a local doggy day care where we began taking classes once a week. Hobie’s eagerness to learn and fearlessness was amazing. He never hesitated; even on the scariest obstacles like the teeter-totter, A-frame, raised walkway, or tunnels.

After a while, we joined a local group called CAT (Cascade Agility Group) where Hobie and I took classes once a week running agility courses in a big old barn on the south side of Portland. Hobie quickly advanced beyond the classes CAT offered. So, I found a private trainer nearby where we took classes and practiced agility once a week.

Finally, when I felt we were ready, I entered Hobie into an actual dog agility competition. I will never forget how intimidating it was running our first agility course competition. The thing that really amazed me though was how unflappable and natural Hobie was from the very start. Hobie was a natural and within a few years, earned all of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Excellent agility titles and Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) Elite agility titles.

In his later years, Hobie also became a certified Animal Assisted Therapy dog which allowed him to go to hospitals or senior centers to help people in recovery or with disabilities such as PTSD or Alzheimer’s.

As you might have suspected, Carol and I are a just wee a bit dog crazy. Together I think we’ve owned over twelve dogs and I know there will be many more to come. Hobie was special though and will always hold a very special place in our hearts. We will miss him very much and will always cherish the time we shared together.  

We found you in a newspaper ad

You were just a ball of fluff

You were exactly what we were looking for

You had us at WOOF!!

You learned every trick in the book

There was nothing you could not do

You excelled in dog agility

And frisbee fetching too

Your butt would wiggle constantly

Just like a bumble bee

Your smiling face and licking tongue

Were perfect therapy

A more faithful friend and soulmate

There surely never was

You are one in a million, Hobie Dawg

And you will always be with us.

Rest in Peace Hobie Dawg

"Having a dog will bless you with the best days of your life and one of the worst days.” – Anonymous

Ode To My Hoomans - Poem

Ode To My Hoomans is a poem by my dog, Hobie Dawg in celebration of his relationship with his hoomans (humans) who have loved and cared for him for his entire life. According to Hobie, the poem was inspired by another poem titled "Bum" by W. Dayton Wedgefarth 

Ode To My Hoomans

They're pudgy folks, not too quick

as far as hoomans go.

Their legs are weak and wobbly,

I doubt they'd win best in show.

They snore at night and fart a lot

and blame it all on me.

But then I lick my private parts

and kiss their faces with glee.

I talk to them like they're a dog,

They try to understand.

They look at me quizzically,

but I know they're only hooman.

They take me on walks daily

through rain and sleet and snow.

They feed me like a king,

but why, I do not know.

They pick up my poop with nonchalance.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

They stick with me through thick and thin

and always have my back.

So, if you’re wondering how I feel,

About my hooman pack.

I think I've trained them very well

and THANK GOD I'M NOT A CAT!

A Human's Litany for a Dog - Poem

A "Human's Litany for a Dog" is a poem by me that was inspired by my dog, Hobie Dawg and the poem "A Dog's Litany for a Human". Both poems were inspired by the poem Litany by former US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins that was inspired by a poem by Jacques Crickillon. (Click here to listen to Litany read by a 3 year old boy).

You are my copilot through thick and thin,
my muse on our morning walks.
You are an agility genius,
and a frisbee fetching fanatic.
You are my soulmate
and the #WorldsBestDog.

However, you are not a fussy feline,
or an attention seeking sycophant.
And you are certainly not an umbrageous oaf.
There's just no way you are an umbrageous oaf.

It is possible you are an Instagram star,
or even a meaningful meme.
But you are not even close to being a Grumpy Cat.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither an Internet Bot
nor a Twitter troll.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am a bag of biscuits.
I also happen to be your Uber chauffeur,
your photo paparazzi,
and your primary pooper scooper.

I am also an ardent admirer
and fanatic fan.
But don't worry, I'm not an agility genius.
You are an agility genius.
You will always be an agility genius.
Not to mention a frisbee fetching fanatic,
and somehow, my soulmate and #WorldsBestDog.

A Dog's Litany for a Human - Poem

A "Dog's Litany for a Human" is a poem written by my dog, Hobie Dawg that was inspired by the poem Litany by former US Poet Laureate and New York State Poet, Billy Collins that was inspired by a poem by Jacques Crickillon. (Click here to listen to Litany read by a 3 year old boy).

You are the biscuits in the jar, 
the water in my bowl.
You are my mentor on our morning walks 
and the Frisbee that flies through the air.
You are my superhero
and awesome provider of  food and fun

However, you are not the squirrel in the tree,
the cat that I chase 
or the tree that I mark.
And you are certainly not the scent that I roll in.
There's just no way that you are the scent that I roll in.

It is possible you are my dog park buddy
or even a psycho paparazzi 
But you are not even close to the smell of a dog butt.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither my bed in the corner 
nor my basket of toys.

It might interest you to know, 
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of sirens that howl.
I also happen to be the guarder of mail,
the fetcher of newspapers
and the hair in your sandwich.

I am also the snorer at night
and the anonymous fart.
But don't worry, I'm not the biscuits in the jar.
You are still the biscuits in the jar.
You will always be the biscuits in the jar.
Not to mention the water in my bowl
and somehow, my mentor on our morning walks

Hobie Dawg