They also serve who stand and bark — even if underappreciated

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,

I’m a small dog — half Cavalier King Charles and half poodle — and I live in a family run mostly by cats. My mommy, who loves me very much, has a magic window in the living room that opens on to other parts of the world. Sometimes she likes to look through the window at other animals, including other dogs. She recently watched something called the “Westminster Dog Show” through her window. I was terrified that all those strange dogs would leap through the window and invade our home! Naturally, I barked at them to warn them away, and it must have worked, because none of them tried anything. I also bark at horses and bears, and that seems to work, too. But I feel I could be much more effective if I got more support from my family. Most of the cats just ignore me. Even my best friend, Flynn, the grey and white part-Siamese who likes to chase through the house with me, just ignores the threat. What can I do to get more support from my family in my efforts to protect our home?

P.S. While we’re at it, do you have any idea why my mommy gave me such a silly name? I mean, it’s hardly the proper way to address someone whose main mission in life is guarding the home.

— Pippin

Dear Pippin,

First off, I feel you, brother. Nothing has been stolen from our car when I’m in it, particularly at gas stations during fill up. And yet, no one seems to appreciate my hard work making sure of this. I don’t really mind. I have a job to do, and no one is going to stop me from doing it!

I see that you are the same.

We have even more in common. You are named for one of the proud heroes of the “Lord of the Rings” series, from which my own name derives. I ran away from three homes before Tod found me. My name was “Trykker” at the dog orphanage, given to me when I was “adopted” to guard a meth lab (which, needless to say, was one of the homes I ran away from). Tod thought “Strider” had a more noble sound, especially since the character I’m named for had a motto: “Not all who wander are lost.”

In this same work, Peregrine Took, or Pippin as he’s known for short, is a stalwart, adventurous, brave soul. It sounds like you are the same, so your name is very appropriate.  “Pippin” — the character in the book — was also helping to guard and preserve his pack, while those at home didn’t have a clue as to his heroism. This undoubtedly included the cats.

So you are rightly named! It is you, Pippin — the dog, not the character in the book — who bears the lonely task of scaring away monsters from the home. And see how effective you are! No evil wizards or miserable tree-killing scoundrels make it anywhere near your friends when you are about.

Let the cats live in a fool’s paradise. Pippin is on guard, protecting them from threat!

Not all of us get the credit we deserve. Our pay must come in the form of pride in a job well done.

Just saying.

Exciting news from Ask Strider! Even though your advice columnist is a Taylor Swift fan, he thinks he’s not the best dog to answer questions from the younger generation. What to do? Bring on an intern, of course! Stay tuned for the next column, where Woody the Puppy makes his debut. Got a question for Strider or Woody? Just want to wish Woody well in his new role? Email [email protected].