Pharaoh Hounds

Since I was talking about Egypt yesterday I started wondering what kind of dogs are in Egypt. Mom told me that she saw lots of stray dogs when she was last there. (Perhaps people there are not encouraged to spay and neuter their pets?) She told me she was sad when she saw a dog with her puppies at the Step Pyramid in Sakkara. The puppies seemed fairly healthy, but being so far away from anything, she thought they would have a very difficult time surviving. She said they were cute, but not as cute as me of course!!!

Mom and I did a little research on the Internet and we found that the Pharaoh Hound is thought to originated in Egypt in about 3000 BC. They like to hunt rabbits, and they are now the National Dog of Malta. (It's thought that the Phoenicians took the breed to Malta.) The American Kennel Club (AKC) didn't recognize the Pharaoh Hound as a breed until 1983. That seems strange since they have been around for so long. But the AKC recognized my breed (Cairn Terrier) way back in 1913. Go figure!

Other dogs that are thought to have originated in Egypt are the Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Saluki, Besenji, and Whippet. I have asked Mom to be on the look out for these breeds when she goes back to Egypt in January and take pictures for me so I can post them on my blog for everyone to see.

Dogs in Costume

Last night was "Beggars' Night" in Columbus. What fun that was! I got to beg for attention from all of kids passing by our house. Most of them would stop and pet me, but sometimes they were afraid. Mom said I behaved pretty well and she gave me some special treats after we went back in the house; that was okay by me!

Mom said next year she wants to dress up like Cleopatra. Maybe she can pick up some parts for the costume when she and Dad go to Egypt in January. They went to Egypt once before and liked it so well that they are taking a small group with them this time. Mom said it was fabulous and very interesting. The highlight of Mom's trip was going up in a hot air balloon over the West Bank of the Nile while in Luxor. She is so afraid of heights, I can't believe she ever did that. I wonder if she will do it again on this trip?

I hope Mom doesn't try to get a costume for me in Egypt! I only saw one dog in costume last night. I think she was supposed to be a fairy god dog. She was all dressed in pink with little wings on her back. I, of course, am way too dignified to wear a costume. However, I'll never be too dignified to beg for attention, even from total strangers!

Swine Flu

I keep hearing Dad telling people about the trip to Europe he took in September. He keeps talking about staying in a hospital in Greece. He said it was not a very good experience. He had just gotten off a cruise ship in the morning and that evening started feeling very poorly. He was short of breath, had a very bad sore throat, was coughing, and had a fever. He decided he should not wait until the next day to see a doctor, so he and Mom went to a local hospital. Apparently the hospital staff got the impression he might have the swine flu! They kept him in the hospital for 24 hours, just to make sure it wasn't the flu. They never did say exactly what he did have, Mom says her guess is that it was bronchitis.

Mom told me that Dad was in the hospital in Rome when they went there a year and half ago. She told Dad that Hospital Tourism was never going to be popular, and he should just stop trying to stay in hospitals everywhere they go!

Here's what I want to know: Why was he hanging around with little piggies on his trip? If he wanted to be with animals, he should have taken me with him! Or, he could have just stayed home with me and then he never would have gotten sick in the first place. Never heard of dog flu, have you?

My human "parents" made it home again!

I was so excited to see my "mom" and "dad" when they got back from a place called Banff. My "sister" took very good care of me while they were gone. (I even got to sleep on her human bed!) I love Sister but she's still not too crazy about me. She doesn't like it because I want to play alllll of the time.

Mom and Dad said that Banff is in a different country, called Canada. It is in the Rocky Mountains and is a very beautiful place. They went there for a conference and met with lots of their friends in the travel industry. They said they had to work a lot and did not get to have much fun, but I am not so sure I really believe that!

I'll let Mom tell you more about it -

Matilda's "mom" Donna here: Banff is a great destination for many outdoor activities. Skiing and snow boarding in the winter, hiking, biking, fishing and golf in the warmer seasons. However, I have to warn you that the golf course has some very unique hazards; wildlife such as elk, moose, and bear! Now, I'm not sure just what the proper etiquette is when a bear walks on the course, but I think I would let the bear play through!

There are a wide variety of accommodations in the area ranging from condos to motels to the Fairmont Banff Springs (a fabulous luxury resort) where we were fortunate enough to stay. The Fairmont also has a wonderful spa, which I did not have the opportunity to utilize, but it would make for a wonderful after ski or hike activity.

No matter what the season, Banff, Canada is a beautiful place to visit for any activity!

Back to you Matilda-

Thanks Mom, Banff sounds like a place I'd like to go. I would make sure to keep all of those animals off of the golf course for you!