Beware the Schnoodle!

Alright. Look at Rosie, then look at the picture of the random Schnoodle below. I can't figure out (am too lazy to work at it) how to make the pictures be side by side.

Unless I am in a mood, I love walking my dogs and meeting other dogs and owners in the park. Josh prefers that his walks do not include human interaction and he sometimes hides in the woods to avoid neighbors. One time he almost pulled my arm out of its socket trying to strong arm me into the woods before a chatty lady spied us. He says I encourage people to talk to me.

Yesterday I met someone who looked at Rosie and said right away, "Oh, you have a Schnoodle too!"

A Schnoodle is one of those made-up breeds that is a cross between a poodle and a schnauzer. You know, like a "Morkie" or a "Peekapoo." 

Silly combo names aside, I personally don't believe in inventing new breeds and selling them to people when there are tons of lovely mutts being euthanized every day. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HOMES, PEOPLE. But, whatever.

Her schnoodle looked just like Rosie except for his coloring, but apparently they come in all different colors. He had Rosie's eyes, Rosie's fur texture, Rosie's little white chest blaze, and her funny long legs.

We don't know anything about Rosie's background other than the whole 75-dogs-in-one-house thing, but I looked up schnoodles when I got home and she damn sure looks like one.

Here is a random Shnoodle that I found on Google Images. I know the ears look different but I think she has them sort of half-cocked because I've seen Rosie's ears do that too. Also, all the dogs looked a little different because there's not really a standard for the "breed." 

We have always noticed that Rosie doesn't shed, and that is one of the characteristics of this mix, since neither poodles nor schnauzers shed. They are also reputed to be highly intelligent and very friendly AND THAT'S MY GIRL.

So. A Schnooooooodle.

In other news, I have decided to get serious about strength training again. I have done it off and on for years, but more off than on for awhile now. Clearly the whole yoga thing is just never going to work out for me.

So yesterday I did the treadmill for 40 minutes and then did free weights for chest and shoulders. I was really careful not to overdo it, because the last time I tried to start this up again I was so sore the next day that I couldn't perform ordinary functions and it took a week to heal up. By that time of course I had lost interest. Today I can feel soreness, but it's not too much. It feels good. Tonight I will do abs and lower body. Go squats!

I'm kind of psyched about it. I love muscles.

In other other news I accepted an invitation to go to an out of town birthday party for a close friend who is turning 50 in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, my mother-in-law decided to do Passover.

"Yes! Great! Yay Passover!" I said. We had several conversations about it. Then I looked at the invitation from my friend and I figured out that it's the same weekend. This is practically unforgivable from my mil's perspective.

I'm all bummed because no matter which one I blow off, someone will be disappointed, if not downright shriek-y mad. Josh thinks I should do the weekend birthday thing because I never do stuff like that alone and it would be really, really fun to spend a weekend in a fancy vacation house with good food and lots of wine and close friends.  So, that's what I might do.

One more thing: a cafeteria aide hit a first-grader in the cafeteria today. No, really. Grabbed his collar, pulled him over to the timeout place, and SMACKED his face. No doubt he was being a royal pain in the ass but dude...you can't go around smacking kids at school. Unless the rules have changed lately, in which case my little Julio better watch his ass.

Comments

[Gretchen]

I dunno, we have big dogs so all them little dogs look alike to me! Just kidding! I'm sure Rosie is unique and special! Actually, we had a mini schnauzer when I was a kid and I loved him just like I love any dog that spends more than about 2 minutes with me. But I have to wonder why you would bother crossing a schnauzer and a poodle - aren't they basically the same dog in slightly different form? Designer breeds kind of make me crazy, too. As does the custodian here whose lab just had her 3rd litter of puppies. Because god knows there aren't enough lab puppies around. Fortunately he knows enough to not brag to me about the whole mess.

[Wende]

A Rose by any other name. . .

I don't care what you call her, she's darling.

But I have to say, as a HUGE fan of the Poodle and all Terriers... why would you mix those two dogs? To answer Gretchen, they are not remotely the same dog. I can't see them being compatible mixes. I mean, I get the idea, but... no. NO.

And don't tell my Welsh... but a Standard Poodle is the best dog on the planet. As you well know. ;)

[Belle]

Whatever she is, Rosie is a cutie pie. The white around her eyes are just so expressive.

I was waiting for the Julio was fired sentence......can't believe he isn't gone! Oh, my.

[Miz S]

According to Wikipedia:

"The schnoodle mixes the intellect of the Poodle with the companionship and devotion of the Schnauzer."

Also:

"Schnoodles have become more popular as individuals are looking for companion animals that are hypoallergenic, and train easily."

I'm definitely not a fan of the designer breed concept.

But I have to say, Rosie is about as perfect a little dog as I have ever owned. Alert, devoted, and smart as a whip I tells ya! Then again, I believe that most dogs can be nurtured in such a way that they are highly desirable companions, whatever their genetic background is.

[Belle]

Gah, I should learn to hit preview to keep from posting bad English. "The white around her eyes makes them so expressive."

[Miz S]

Belle - no I was joking about Julio. He's one of my students. The person in question was a woman and the administrators are handling it. I assume she'll be asked to leave.

[Maggie]

Oh my god. I'm kind of horrified by the hitting. I'm afraid I'd freak out if that happened to my son - I know just how irritating he can be at times, but wow.

Also schnoodle or not, Rosie looks like a special one of a kind dog.

[blackbird]

Oh god.
We're talking about dogs? Dogs and exercise?
You redeemed yourself with the smack story.
When Middle was in 8th grade, his history teacher open-palm smacked the kid behind Middle in the head. It gave us plenty to talk about for months.

[Dawn]

Hee. Schnoodle. I love it.

I say do the birthday thing. As long as Josh has your back and is willing to, you know, buffer the MIL wrath, you should be totally OK there. (Appropriate responses from him to his mom would be something along the lines of, "Quit yer bitchin', I TOLD her to skip Passover!")

[Kate]

You know, I just did a similar "lots of wine and really good friends" long weekend vacation for someone's 4oth birthday, and it was the most fun I have ever had in my life. If you've got Josh's support, go for it. And please don't feel guilty.

[Belle]

Ok, I misunderstood. Thanks. My ornery daughter's 2nd grade teacher smacked her on the back of her head with a dictionary because she used - gasp - a red pencil on her paper. And, yes, you can bet your ass that we went to the principal's office on that. Nothing happened to the teacher other than she wouldn't look at us in the eyes for the rest of the year. We did ask that a report be placed in her file, but who knows if that happened.

10 years later our daughter hit a home run off of her pitcher/daughter in the softball conference championship. We went on to State and they went to Mass. Payback's a bitch. snort

[Margaret]

My friend has a Golden Doodle which is a mix of Golden retriever and full size poodle. Sadie is a friendly, crazy doggie who has helped my friend take her mind off her husband's terminal prostate cancer. So, I say--GO, SILLY MADE-UP BREEDS!! Yeah, no hitting allowed unless it's a kid hitting a teacher--if that student is spec ed or on a 504. It's happened too many times in my school, and our kids are BIG high schoolers.

[Liza Lee Miller]

My mom's old dog was clearly a Shih Tzu/Poodle cross -- I figured that made him a ShittyPoo. :) The Julio story is somewhat amazing -- we fired a sub for swearing at kids -- I can't imagine the fallout for hitting one. Yikes!

I'd do the Birthday thing -- your MIL will have to understand. Besides -- I thought you did Easter . . . can you legally do both in the same year? Aren't there laws against that sort of thing. :)

[Cazza]

Some people (not you, I hasten to add so I don't incur the wrath of your readers) have to have a BREED. They can't just have a loveable mutt which is what these dogs would have been, once upon a time. (It's happening with cats too which I find rather odd.) So we end up with these bizarre concoctions. What happens when we end up crossing a schnoodle with a Shitzeneze. A fucking ugly dog, to start with!

Scary about the hitting business. For both the kid and adult.

Go the strength training. You want a bit of soreness but not enough to incapacitate you.

Josh rocks. For not wanting to be sociable on his walks and for encouraging you to go away for the weekend. DO IT!! Enjoy it and be guilt free.

[maddy]

When I was a kid, a neighbor's cocker spaniel had puppies with a poodle, the result supposedly called "cock-a-poos." (This was an "accident," not an intentional thing.) My dog was the sweetest thing in the world, but he did not have a lot of smarts. He was the dimmest dog I've ever had. But very, very cute. Later I had a dog who was supposedly part westie, part shih tzu. He was amazingly bright, but had a bit of an attitude (very brave, that little dog). Most of my dogs have so many different breeds in their background that they don't have a special name. Rosie is adorable.

I think your weekend sounds fun. Go without guilt! Ya can't please everyone, etc.

[sue]

Girls weekend!! - or I'll smack ya..

[MsCellania]

My vote is for the party. Plus you got that invite first!
That Rosie is one sweet dog. You are lucky to have her.
We had a party a few years back, and one of the guests announced that my very large rabbit was "HEY! That's a beautiful Flemish Giant you've got there!" I googled Flemish Giant and up popped a portrait of my bunny! I remember emailing about 50 people and yelping "Baxter's a pedigreed thing!" And I would highly recommend that breed if anyone is looking to get a rabbit. Gentle, loving and easily litter box trained. Lots of rabbits right now at your local animal shelters, folks! (One of those sad things about Easter - people buy bunnies for kids and then the kids get tired of them a couple of days or weeks later. Some assholes 'set them free' outside with horrifying results. The luckier ones end up in shelters.)
Wow. Sorry to hijack your blog Miz S. Let's talk about Rainbows!

[Kathryn]

Oh my god, that's crazy about the hitting. Was this a paid teacher, or a volunteer mom-type?

And designer dogs are such a strange phenomenon. It's like mutts are faux pas now, you have to have a DESIGNER mutt. I had the most adorable yorkie shih tzu mutt when I was a kid that I adored. From the pound. For a $60 adoption fee and shots. I bet that dog would cost a fortune if you bred it. That was one cute, adorable, smart dog. He used to hang out in the bird bath in the summer. CUTE!

[Heidi]

I see in the Twitter bar that MIL is moving Passover on your account--can't they have it without you? Guilt-free is the route to take, baby. You'll have a WONDERFUL girlfriend weekend.

[Gail]

It is too funny that people pay BIG bucks for this 'designer' bred dogs as if they are pure bred and ready for the AKC. They are just mutts people. Please go to your local shelter and find a sweet companion. You won't regret it.
Girl's weekend is the way to go!
Enjoy.

[Keri]

WOW. This was a post full of STUFF, girl. Am glad about you going to that girlfriend party. And your dog is beautiful, I don't care what kind of dog she is. We had a terripoo (whatever) when I was in high school. She was smart and friendly. Didn't shed. And very cute. But that whole naming thing is crazy. I wouldn't mind another mutt like her, but I gotta admit I have my eye on another couple of crazy high-priced designer dogs, too. *sigh* But she HIT a child? She needs a vacation. And I'm afraid she's gonna get a long one, eh?

[Pam L]

How clever of your MIL to change passover to make you feel guiltier (?) Can she do that? Is that legal? SO yeah, girl's weekend it is.
Now about those report card comments; I think you should make them fun and see if anyone notices. I'm sure you could come up with some interesting things to say that tells the parents just how you feel about their child, and make them think it's a compliment.

[raehan]

Seder (say-to-her) you are going to passover passover.

Send Rosie in your place. You are raising interfaith dogs, no?

[bonnie]

Our dearest friends (only 9 children) have Whoodles.

[the bee]

First, I love your non shedding dog. I saw Oprah's puppy show and tribute to Sophie and I cried.
I am also mad at the cafeteria worker. What happened to serving bad food with a hairnet in your hair and bad shoes? That is all we ask ladies.. that's it ... hands are for cooking bad food not hitting.
Perhaps you can have the kids make a poster about it .
BTW, your MIL rocks. Do not feel guilty. Go to both parties and have a blast! xx00 the bee

[Ali]

omigosh! I totally have Rosie's doppelganger. His name is Bo. (wish I had a better picture of him on hand!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7399608@N06/424603157/in/photostream/

Found your blog by googling "schnoodle." Much like you, a complete stranger informed me that Bo was, in fact, of the schnoodle persausion. Never heard of it myself. Alls I know is that we adopted him from the SPCA about 3 years ago and he's the best shelter-mutt-dog ever!

Ali

ps - Rosie's a cutie too!