10 Things About Rex

I was just reading Kate DiCamillo's book Because of Winn Dixie for the umpteenth time. In the book, the little girl makes a list of 10 things she knows about Winn Dixie. But later she reflects that a list cannot tell us the essence of a person.

Nevertheless... here is a list about Rex.

10 Things I Know About Rex

1. Rex farts. His farts are like what you smell if you drive past where someone ran over a skunk. Sorry for the comparison. But ... no lie.

2. Rex is big. He even looks like Clifford the Big Red Dog. But you get used to the size if you are around him long enough. Then he only looks big when you see a medium-sized dog.

3. Rex loves belly rubs. Who among us would not like a massage. Duh.

4. Rex's favorite toy is anything he has at the moment that you want to get away from him. This is also his favorite game.

5. Rex loves to chase a tennis ball if someone will throw it for him. (He actually loves this a little TOO much. When he gets wound up about chasing that tennis ball, he might even come near to knocking you over. How would you like to have a lion jumping up on you? Well... that's what it's like.)

6. Rex loves to eat. If you asked him his favorite time of day, he would probably say: Mealtime. Rex can eat a lot too. But if you dump three scoopfuls of food into his dish, that'll probably hold him for a while.

7. Rex hates plastic bags and he will tear up a brown plastic bag with a Cub logo on it for no reason whatsoever--no reason I know of anyway.

8. Rex loves walks. If you want to get in shape and get motivated to walk every day--he's your man, a personal trainer. He will even check you like a hockey player and corral you toward the front door in the morning if it looks like you are trying to go into the kitchen or bathroom or anywhere else besides to the front door to strap his halter leash on him and head out for a walk. A 105-pound dog smiling and jumping and barking can be awfully persuasive.

9. Rex is protective. He will kick someone's butt--or some dog more likely--if they come near you. So when walking him, it's important to get between him and any approaching dogs so he knows that he doesn't have to protect you and that you are there to protect him instead.

10. Most of all, Rex just wants to be loved. When he is laying at your feet, he always wants to be touching your foot or leg with his paw. He wants to be close to his owners. No matter what.