As soon as I opened the mail yesterday and saw the cover of my March issue of DVM Newsmagazine ("The voice of veterinary news"), I knew there was going to be trouble. A small headline said, "page 8: AKC unveils top breeds." Now, everyone around here knows that Labs always come in No. 1 in these rankings, year after year (19 in a row, but who's counting?), and no one cares. "Labs, Schmabs," they say. What the gang wanted to know, of course, is where the Beagles and Dachshunds ranked. That's the real competition at the ranch. So I gathered them round the kitchen table and read off the top 10 list, and when I got to No. 5 -- Beagles! -- there was a lot of celebratory woo-woo-wooing. And then, mercifully, came the Dachshunds at No. 8. There was a chorus of little barks from way down there near the floor, but it was pretty subdued compared to the Beagle cheering squad. They were more than a bit worried that they just barely made it into the top 10. "How can that be?" they fretted. "We're so cute and have so much personality, and besides, we're easy to pick up and carry! Just try lugging a Beagle around."
The Dachshunds don't know what people see in Beagles, and vice versa, but at least they can both agree that they should be more popular than the Labs/Schmabs.
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Please vote for the ranch in the Shelter Challenge -- and you can vote every day! We're currently in third place -- oops, just slipped to fourth! -- putting us on track to win $3,000 for the animals. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT, for Montana, and it will bring up our listing.
Vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Last year we won $3,000 in the first round and then won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the second round, so your votes really do add up and make for a wonderful gift for the animals here.
Thank you!
You should have posted a picture of Widget instead. She's the perfect compromise between Doxie and Beagle fanatics. Plus she's adorable.
Posted by: Katie | March 20, 2010 at 09:37 AM
Well, I love all labs/schmabs but I have to agree nothing is as cute or funny as a beagle or a doxie. I love them all.
And, it was only fair to picture Dexter as the model of this daily blog!!! What a cutie!!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | March 19, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Hmmmmmm......it is a bit telling Steve that you pictured a Doxie instead of a Beagle for this post.....might have been more diplomatic to plop a Beagle down next to a Doxie for the photo! LOL!
Posted by: Marla | March 17, 2010 at 06:56 PM
I vote for doxies. I have long thought Daisy would make a good girlfriend to my Renaldo.
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | March 17, 2010 at 06:52 PM
Emmett the Wonder Beagle concurs with the results, and agrees that Labs/Schmabs need to be toppled from the top of the list. And although he has a crush on her, he is wondering which side of the argument Widget is on - how is she voting?
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | March 17, 2010 at 06:27 PM
At my house, the doxies rule! Nothing says "I'm #1" like my tiny little doxie going up to a HUGE Great Dane and barking "get outta my way, fella".... yikes!
Posted by: Penny Heinrich | March 17, 2010 at 05:56 PM
This photo is oh, so adorable! And in my book, dachshunds will always be #1!!
Barbara Techel
Posted by: Barbara Techel | March 17, 2010 at 05:47 PM
Since we have a "lab/schmab", I will forego reading todays post to her. She thinks all the "little" dogs at RDR pretty terrific ... and the big ones, too! I won't tell her they want to topple the labs off their throne!
Posted by: Lisa K. | March 17, 2010 at 01:36 PM
Those Labs/shmabs, along with the ranch of course, get my top vote everytime!!!!!
Posted by: Jo Burris | March 17, 2010 at 01:30 PM
Our household votes for dachshunds, but we're prejudiced. Great photo!
Posted by: Tonya | March 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Widget thinks the beagles were jobbed by the selection committee. She thinks beagles deserved at least a two seed with a playoff with number one. However the RDR beagles have voted and will not pursue the matter if they get a celebratory ham with "we're number five" written on it in hot dogs.
Posted by: Bob | March 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
As a "Mommy" to two remaining doxies, NOthing tops them!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | March 17, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Please give us updates on the newbies at the Ranch!
Posted by: Taz | March 17, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Aw, but how many dachshunds are at RDR? huh? ;)
Posted by: Amy A | March 17, 2010 at 11:02 AM
I hope you had a party for the labs at the Ranch? Labs-Schmabs, they're still #1!
Posted by: Linda | March 17, 2010 at 10:17 AM
oh it's great to see Dexter!! Tell them all that no matter what their breed, they are special!
Posted by: Kristi Gross | March 17, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Dexter has to be one of the most handsome boys on the ranch!
Posted by: gayle | March 17, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Who does Widget root for?
Posted by: Lynne Parker | March 17, 2010 at 07:25 AM
Awwwwwww, I think they should all be number 10's!!! Gotta love 'em, the little darlings! Is that an Elvis lip thing I see going on in the picture there?
Posted by: Leila - Washington | March 16, 2010 at 10:11 PM