Sunday Fluff

Given that I've been known to let my own dog write a guest post here, it seems obvious that when I came across a quiz offering to tell me what breed of dog I am, I could not possibly pass it up. Here's what I found out:



Personally, I think Literature Professor and Astronaut/CEO are basically the same profession, so obviously this is a right-on-target quiz you should be champing at the bit to take for yourself. For more enlightenment, Dogster also provides a human translation of what it means to be whatever dog you are.

Border Collie

The Achiever

You've heard about this "second-place ribbon" thing, but really don’t ever plan on getting one. Not a chance. Highly competitive, you keep one eye on the Best in Show prize and one on the rest of the pack, making sure you're always at least one paw ahead. You love your family and enjoy the company you keep, but you'd trade all of them in a heartbeat for a corner office and some meaty stock options. When you're not licking your professional coat, naked skydiving and triathlons keep you entertained. You idolize the top dog and will do so until you sniff out a way to take over the company and do a little "restructuring."

There's a handy dandy Learn More link, which bops you out to a page about the dog itself. Honestly, I liked reading that better, as it seemed less lunatic-overachieving-family-hating cutthroat bitch (I use that word only in the technical dog handler way, obviously). So, without further ado, I present to you a breed-specific profile of MommyTime (abridged):

Trademark Traits

:

• Long, two-toned mane
• Smart and independent
• Eager to please
• Suspicious of strangers
• Great herder
• Perfectionist
• Tireless worker

Border Collies are loyal, trainable, whip-smart pets with an oversupply of energy; i.e. they won’t just hang out on the couch. . . . Easily trainable and eager to please, Border Collies can sometimes be perfectionists when it comes to learning and executing new skills. . . . Border Collies also like direction. A firm (but friendly) owner who can keep up with obedience lessons and training is necessary. They have a tendency to dominate weak-willed owners, so make sure your Border Collie knows who’s the boss. However, severe punishment or harsh treatment can elicit strange, irrational reactions. Regular doses of positive reinforcement will help them thrive.

The things I think deserve the most emphasis here are tireless perfectionist (read: can't say no to projects, then refuses to do them half-assed even if it means staying up till 3am to finish) and a tendency to take charge (Husband would say bossy; I would say organized). I've always wanted to be a better herder and am delighted to learn this is a skill I should be able to develop without much difficulty. As for strange, irrational reactions, I suppose anyone might stomp around the house in a snit and rattle the dishes too loudly after paying the hairdresser over $70 to add highlights that would achieved the much-desired long two-toned mane--highlights which no one could even tell were there. Because obviously several days of stomping dish-rattling is so much more productive and satisfying than calling the salon back and demanding a redo.

What kind of dog are you?