The first canine crossword ever, how to adopt a dog — and what about a newspaper you can chew?

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,

A few weeks ago you said that you hadn’t figured out how to solve a crossword yet.

Perhaps you’ll have better luck with a crossword (“Canine Capers”) whose theme is more familiar to you: things to do at the dog park. It’s appearing on my usual crossword puzzle day this week Friday, May 17.

But till then, it occurs to me that, until your human language skills improve, human and canine collaboration to solve a crossword, providing emotional support and hints to each other, might be the best way to proceed.

So I’ve asked our editor if I can upload a simpler free-form crossword today, entitled “Doggerel” — just have your human transcribe your vocalizations to fill it in.  

I hope you like these puzzles.

You also wondered how humans can create and solve such amazing things. I attribute it largely to doggedness (while avoiding dogmatism).

— Steve, Ashland.news crossword editor

Dear Steve,

Is this the first crossword puzzle for dogs EVER? I’m so honored! Wow. Bow wow!

Just wait till I tell Tod there’s something I want to do after our walks other than eat.

Thanks so much. And good luck with that doggedness thing. Remember, I’m always here to help.

Dear Strider,

My girlfriend and I are thinking about getting a dog. Shelter animal or dog from a breeder? Thoughts? I want her to be happy with our new pet.

— Loving Boyfriend

Dear Loving,

You’re asking me? Me, the graduate of three different shelters and a dog orphanage?

Do you have any idea how many adorable, loveable, fun and smart pups there are in the shelters, just yearning to find their own forever homes? Look at me. How much more adorable, loveable, fun and smart do you want?

Did you know you could call the shelter and tell them what kind of dog you’re looking for, what age, breed, sex, etc.? They get every kind. They’ll call you back when they have a match. Although what usually happens then is you get to the shelter and fall in love with a completely different dog.

Shelters check out their dogs to make sure they’re adoptable. By the time you see one in the shelter, it’s a definite winner.

Don’t get me wrong. Breeders have their place. Some of my best friends have come from breeders (hello, Bridget!). But my own feeling, as you can imagine, is that shouldn’t be your first stop on the road to dog guardianship.

Ever heard of a dog from a breeder who’s a newspaper columnist?

I rest my case.

Dear Strider,

Why isn’t Ashland.news a real paper? I mean, one you can hold in your hand, and then recycle? I miss having a daily paper! Can you intervene with your editor for people like me?

— Yearning for Hard News

Dear Yearning,

I understand. Every dog in Ashland has heard the legend of that faraway time when there were news delivery boys they could bark at and, on a good day, chase down the street. Nostalgia for it hits us hard too.

But plus ça change. Those days are long gone. I hear from my friends at the dog park who have younger guardians that their people read everything on their phones.

Although there are rumors — but my editor tells me it’s too soon to spill the kibble about that.

In the meantime, we are lucky enough in Ashland to have the wonderful “Sneak Preview,” which you can pick up in various spots around town, or have delivered by your mailman.

My friends and I love mailmen. They’re almost as fun to bark at as UPS drivers.

PS: I’m not mentioning “Sneak Preview” just because I want to be featured in their “Profile” section. Although, Curtis, if you’re listening, Tod has already informed me that a Beatle is not an insect.

Just saying.

The Dog About Town is super excited to have Southern Oregon Subaru as a sponsor for “Ask Strider.” Want to hear how Strider got to meet the beautiful Bindi, SOS’s mascot? Or just want to chat? Email [email protected].