What Makes A Great Dog

A GREAT DOG CALLED “DOOFUS”

By Heidi Dellafera Eagleton

“Doofus,” who’s just chilling in the photo above, is an Italian Spinone, like my Maddie and one of my favorite dog breeds. He’s an on land and on water bird dog whose ancestors are from Piedmont, Italy. They date back to 500 BC or so it’s thought. His ancestry alone is amazing, but you might wonder what makes Doofus a great dog. OK, fair enough.

 But let’s get this out of the way first. Some may think that “Doofus” isn’t a great dog or even close to being a great dog. In the dog show world, when Doofus is measured under current American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards, or by externally observable qualities such as appearance, movement, and temperament for Italian Spinoni, Doofus falls short.

To be more exact, Doofus has been in the show ring twelve times, mostly by himself, for a total of four shows in  three days for an estimated total of fourteen participation ribbons and, drum roll, ZERO points. As a result, he’s not an AKC champion or an AKC grand champion. Moreover, it’s unlikely that he ever will be no matter how many dog shows he enters, or how hard he tries.

His two-legged mom explains it this way. “Doofus won another participation ribbon today, which brings us one step closer to papering the bathroom walls. Both he and I only do it (dog shows) because his breeder asked us to. I, personally, do not enjoy it and I do not think he does either, although he wags his tail a lot.”

But the show ring is just a tiny slice of the greatness pie. Doofus is a part of something bigger, a universe of greatness, and he has the courage and doggedness, no pun intended, to stand out among the rest no matter what he chooses to do. Doofus is a great dog and always will be a great dog, just by being “Doofus.”

Sometimes, Doofus is thought to be a Bracco Italiano with his lean limbs, smooth coat, sculpted head, and well-developed muscles. More like a Braco, Doofus doesn’t have a harsh, single coat and a two-piece topline like most Spinone.

Bracco

Doofus

But true to his breed and like most Spinone, he’s a loveable character who is always wagging his tail, smiling broadly, and making someone happy, except of course when he’s sleeping and out cold like below. And characteristically, Doofus has Spinone big feet.

Doofus came by his name because his two-legged mom and dad thought he looked and acted clown-like, like a “Doofus.” “The fact that Merriam-Webster defines a ‘doofus’ as something ‘stupid, incompetent or foolish,’ matters not says his two-legged dad. “Doofus is no dimwit, half-wit, or nitwit. Rather, Doofus is a comedian, a joker, a buffoon, a jester……a ‘doofus,’ which should mean “clown-like” even if most people including his two-legged mom and I use it wrongly. It just fits. Oh, and by the way did someone say Goofy?

Doofus does all things Doofus with pluck and humor. He comes by it naturally and lives in the moment. He loves to “read the mail” left by other dogs. He loves to point at butterflies, lizards, and squirrels, not at birds as he was bred to do. He points but it’s not at a full point, but rather more of a freeze with a slight vibration. He loves meeting people, especially “human” puppies. He wiggles uncontrollably with a whole-body tail wag.

But the best doggone thing that can be said about Doofus is said by his two-legged dad. “He is the happiest damn dog we have ever had. Never had a bad day. He makes us laugh. He is probably the best of several ‘best’ dogs we have had the privilege to spend time with.

A Canine Good Citizen with Proud Two-Legged Parents  

Beverlee Steinberg & Chad Alexander

YES, INDEED DOOFUS IS A GREAT DOG!