Dog N Suds

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.” 

—Groucho Marx

Do you live in one of the 56 million American homes that have at least one dog? If not, you're missing out. It is said that nobody is too poor to own a dog. If you're really poor, you can have several.

A dog offers unconditional love and loyalty. Like a Zen master, a dog will teach you to live in the present moment. They'll joyfully hop in the car not knowing whether you're going to the park or to Pittsburgh. They're a reason to take a walk. They will miss you if you're gone for ten minutes. They communicate, remember, reason, and love.

Some cats can be almost as close as a dog. But as they say, "dogs have masters, cats have staff." Cats are favored when they behave more like dogs. Please don't get me wrong. I love felines. 

How to tell the difference between a feline and a canine? Felines have retractable claws.

Pigs and rats also form close bonds with humans. Sadly, your precious precocious pet rat might live three years at best. 

Potbelly pigs, weighing up to 200 pounds, can live 14 years. It's a myth that they stay small. We're talking about a serious commitment. And double down, because it's recommended to keep at least two potbelly pigs; otherwise, they suffer from loneliness, which stresses them out and leads to behavioral problems.

One of LaRee’s original recipes was Pennyroyal Pet Soap. Pennyroyal, a member of the mint family, is a traditional remedy to repel fleas, but we soon learned that its oil is toxic, especially to cats. Cats groom themselves and rarely need bathing.

We reformulated and renamed the pet bar Healthy Dog Skin & Coat Shampoo. The soap contained essential oils specifically good for dogs. The bar's base was our original gentle soap with added jojoba oil for soft, shiny, smooth fur. 

Most dog shampoos from pet stores contain petroleum-derived detergents and synthetic fragrances. No wonder the itching and scratching. A dog's skin is extremely sensitive under that fur.

In 2011, two years after being on The Hill, a stray 3-month-old puppy found her way to our shop. She signaled through the glass front door that she wanted to come in. 

We assume she must like the way the shop smells. That thrills us to no end. A dog's sense of smell is estimated to be 1,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than a human's, depending on the breed. 

The puppy wasn't in the shop 40 minutes before a woman showed up and asked if anybody had seen a dog. “Of course, here's your dog back.”

It turned out she had rescued the dog from a dreadful situation in the city. She already had a dog and couldn't keep another. Did we want to take her?

Okay. I hadn't had a dog in 15 years but was finally ready for another. 

Just to show her off, I walked her next door to Skif, and Jenny asked if she could have the dog. I wasn't attached, so I agreed. This was on a Tuesday. I was committed to going to Wisconsin on Thursday with a friend.

2:00 p.m., still Tuesday, Jenny called to say her husband wouldn't let her have the dog. Had to pick her up. That evening, at a mushroom club meeting, I offered the dog to the 25 people there and got no takers. A veterinarian attending the meeting couldn’t identify the dog's breed.

So LaRee ended up watching the dog until I got back from Wisconsin. She called me on Sunday afternoon. “I hope you'll be home soon because this dog is driving me crazy. We can't have a dog.” I wasn't coming home for another day, but by then she had given up trying to keep the dog off the couch, and all was well. LaRee named her Soapy.

She was a born shop dog. Always calm, Soapy charmed adults and especially children. She accepted the kids’ adoration wth grace. When she sat upon her throne (a converted antique bathtub) in the window, passers-by could not pass her by. 

I was fortunate to bring a dog to work, a cherished job benefit.

Soapy is a Catahoula, Louisiana's state dog, named after one of the state's parishes. (A way to remember: think of a cat doing the hula.) Her very short-haired coat color is called a blue merle, with patches of lighter and darker browns that can look bluish in the right light. Sometimes when people ask what breed she is, I'll say she’s a miniature Great Dane. She carries herself regally with a gorgeous sleek figure.

Swimming in bayous must be in the Catahoula genes because there wasn't a mud puddle she didn't miss. Indeed, the breed is known for its webbed feet. Muddy Soapy got plenty of baths (in the shower) with Healthy Dog Skin and Coat Shampoo.

She would also roll in stinky things, and as a booster to the shampoo, we made Soapy's Après le Bain, an aromatic mixture of canine-friendly essential oils and moisturizing oil. My mother used it to perfume her old dog Pretzel instead of having to bathe him. 

It wasn't until I bathed Soapy that I realized most bars get unwrapped and put in the shower until they're used up, but other bars you use and then save for another day. This led to our Stow-and-Go Soap Case, a reusable container to store the bar and allow it to dry out between uses. 

Other bars needed a Stow-and-Go case, too: our bug repellent bar and our multi-tasking bar for travel. Thus, the origin of our Soaps with Case: Soapy's Choice, Camper's Choice, and Traveler's Choice.

Soapy has been a delight. She’s now 15 ⅗ years old.* She never got a Social Security number, but she did a lot of valuable work for Herbaria. Visit Soapy's Guide to St. Louis and let Soapy be your concierge! Even if you've lived here your entire life, betcha she’s been places you haven’t been. You’ll find over a thousand pictures of Soapy on our Instagram.

Soapy and I retired in the last couple of years. People visiting the shop would ask, “Where's the dog?”

It didn't take long before my partners Melissa and Blake got Bubbles. She's sweet and gentle, worthy of being the official shop dog. She's sparkling white with tan spots beneath her fur, with a big ‘ol head. Bubbles also shines on our Instagram. 

Two years ago, at our home, we rescued a 2-year-old Havanese for my 13-year-old daughter. That breed’s hair never stops growing and needs to be trimmed at regular intervals. At least Sugar doesn’t shed like my old Akita, Paik. He shed twice a year—from January to June, then July to December. 

The first time I took Sugar to be groomed, she received a lovely haircut, but she carried the overpowering scent of synthetic fragrances for a week. From then on, I make sure her groomer uses Soapy's Choice and Soapy's Après Le Bain. Sugar comes out feeling soft as a brand-new fleecy. 

Speaking of fleecies, let's talk about sleeping with a dog. Just yesterday online, I watched a doctor list five reasons why you shouldn't. The next day, I saw a neurologist explaining why sleeping with a dog is good for you, even better than a human.

Dogs and wolves sleep as a pack, their bodies together. I do it for the same reasons. It helps form bonds, we feel secure, and we keep warm. Of course, the dog should be clean and up to date with flea and tick prevention. 

Did you know that once-a-year heartworm and flea and tick protection is available instead of monthly? Ask your vet. No more forcing a pill down the throat. 

At her advanced age, Soapy gets Librella injections monthly. “Takes a dog from limping to leaping” is the drug’s tagline. The shots have been helpful for the last couple of years, so well that I asked for it myself, but they tell me it doesn't work the same way on humans.

Nonetheless, Soapy's hind legs have weakened. Parquet floors are like walking on ice for her. Our walks are shorter, but she still eats well. She sleeps a lot. She'll let me know when it's time. When the time does come, I know I'll be crying like a baby. Just thinking of it brings tears to my eyes. 

Who knows? Maybe on her birthday next Valentine’s Day, we’ll give Soapy a Sweet Sixteen party at the shop. You’re invited!

* People used to figure a dog's human age by multiplying their age by seven. It has been revised to 15 years the first year, 10 years the second year, and 5 years for every year after. So when I say Soapy is 15 3/5 years old, I've divided 365 days by 5, This way, Soapy has a birthday every 73 days. 15+10+65(13x5)+3=93 years old. Do you follow me?