Sulley was merely four months old when we opened our first dog park gate. A little tot compared to his grown-up 50 pound weight-lifter frame. We had just moved across the street from the Clarendon Dog Park in Arlington, VA...literally across the street. Right where a dog park mascot should live. He/We were determined to win him this title in no time. Clearly we had nothing better to do with our lives than exploit the cuteness and handsomeness of our yummy puppy.
Sulley got greeted as all newbies do. First one dog noticed his presence. Then another and another. Afterall, the favorite pasttime of all regulars is sniffing a new butt, and telling them who's boss. The winners in this game of meet-and-greet were two giant puppy Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Kenji and Rainbow majestically cornered my vibrant new pup and stood over him, fascinated. Enthralled actually. Sulley looked up from his seated position as though looking for a treat. Having just started coming out of my "post-adoption depression," I was looking for a relatively-well behaved dog to "correct" him. The nibbly-nibbly scars on my hand were still fresh and I knew I just couldn't teach him the way another dog could.
Kenji and Rainbow were the perfect pair to show him the ropes. Goofy with their big floppy feet and inquisitive eyes, I'm fairly certain they read my mind. Sulley needs a lesson in Doggy Behavior 101. Still looking a little stunned in the corner, the Ridgeback duo began their sniff fest. The world must have seemed instantly bigger in that moment. Prior to this moment, Sulley thought he was the center of the world. Having just discovered his voice his favorite game was engaging in an indoor barkathon with Grandma - preferably in front of the giant mirror in the entryway. But now, a bark seemed a little inappropriate. I began to gush, so proud that my boy was standing his ground.
Soon after Kenji and Rainbow had sufficiently sniffed out their specimen and sauntered off to more playful tails, Sulley began his first trott through his stomping grounds. Needless to say he won all of the people-hearts. Nobody could resist his face. His two brown triangular ears perfectly accentuated by a white line down the middle of his head and face all the way to his nose. Sweetest of all are Sulley's eyes. Expressive - sometimes tender, often mischievous. But like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or the Phantom of the Opera, Sulley's mask has a dark side and a light side. His left eye is black and his right eye is pure white. Nothing says mutt better than Sulley.
From that Sunday afternoon in December of 2005 until today Sulley has never gone unnoticed in Clarendon. He is a true breed unto himself and represents it proudly!
