Pet's Story or Bio
We chose Tycho as a puppy, born to a feral mother in a San Pedro backyard and cared for by a rescue group called Dogs Rule. At first encounter, he was sleeping upside-down in the chaos of an adoption event, so he appeared to be the perfect example of a "California Casual" dog. He grew up slightly eccentric but most lovable, taking quickly to clicker training and agility classes. Our daily walks with him and (later on) his sidekick Lucia always included some obedience and agility exercises for fitness fun, which amused and impressed onlookers around town. He adores the dog beach and woodsy walks in Idyllwild, and has a special fondness for tiny dogs, who often yap at him, to his disappointment.

He competes with Lucia at fetch and tug-of-war, and occasionally they'll ambush or chase each other, getting especially rowdy when I'm on the phone or computer, as 4 o'clock nears: it's the sacred hour for playtime and dinner. With opposite personalities, they are wonderful subjects for my photography and pastel artwork, and each has inspired countless cartoons as well.

Tycho's keen nose serves him well in frequent hunting games with us and visiting kids, and he has continued to learn new tricks; whereas Lucia will remind us with a woof to let her indoors, Tycho has always been the strong and silent type (like his "dog-dad"), preferring to wait politely outside until we think of checking his whereabouts. Then just last year, at 13, he decided to lightly scratch the door for entry - firmly but politely. He understands many words, including spellings, and we now suspect he's lip-reading! His best tricks are flipping his empty dinner dish over as a hint, and luring Lucia off the couch with a squeak toy when he wants to claim his favorite spot; if it doesn't work, he'll appeal to me for help by putting on his "play-face" and engaging my attention to make her jealous enough to come over and join in. It never fails...

Despite what you see in the photo, Tycho is not a wino...he was just being helpful and tidying up what a guest may have left in her glass. I now propose a special toast to Tycho, who early on convinced my husband that he was a dog worth bonding with - that little pup could do no wrong!