As a professional who trains and shows dogs, she’s had a variety of interesting breeds over the years, but these days, she’s particularly partial to a standard poodle and a pair of Hungarian pumis.
“Pumis are a herding breed and are smart and eager to please, but they still need a lot of training,” their person said.
Her poodle, Demi, now nearly 11, is a champion who reigns over the household with her cool, calm and collected nature. A lady who holds herself to a regal standard, she’s a queen, her person says, who makes sure pumis Levi, 9, and Veni, 5, know who’s in charge.
“Demi still wonders why we brought these brats home in the first place,” said their person. “Standard poodles are in the top five smartest dogs, but pumis are a teensy bit smarter, and that probably irks her.”
Nevertheless, Veni will roll onto her back and submit to Demi. That’s not intelligence, their person says; it’s her position in the family.
The pumis, however, are the best of friends.
Levi, born in Oregon, was one of the first pumis to come to California. Veni, often considered one of the prettiest pumis in the state, came to their Chualar Canyon home from Italy, where her people flew to collect her.
A small- to medium-size breed of sheepdog, pumis have soft, wavy coats and teddy-bear ears, and look a bit like Maurice Sendak’s “Little Bear.”
The pumis’ person was shopping in Carmel when a customer stared at Veni and asked her what she had done to the poor dog’s ears.
“This is how they come,” she replied.
“Veni has lovely pumi ears and beautiful dark eyes,” her person said. “Levi’s eyes are lighter, and his ears are not as well set, but he is adorable. They both are.”
As seen in “Sandy Claws”, in the September 14, 2018 edition of The Carmel Pine Cone
