Boingle!

For weeks Matt and I have been throwing around the names of different dog breeds, trying to figure out exactly what it is that Teddy is mixed with. We brought our mutt home from the animal shelter that labeled him a “Pointer/Lab mix”, as most mixed breeds in any given animal shelter in any given city are probably carrying some kind of Bull Terrier or Labrador gene (at least in my experience). We could see the Pointer breed in him (his nose is uncontrollably in control) but that Labrador side of him…not so much. Also, neither one of those breeds could explain his big ol’ floppy ears nor why he looks like a giant dachshund (his legs and body are not proportionate to the size of either a Pointer or a Lab).

When a friend came over last week and met Teddy for the first time, I mentioned to him this mystery and he said, “He’s got a big head, like a Beagle.”

Bingo!

I finally got around to looking up images on Google of a Pointer/Beagle mix and all of a sudden my screen filled up with hundreds of Teddies. It seems this is a designer breed called a Boingle. Luckily Matt and I didn’t have to spend too much money on one and simply picked Teddy up at the pound for $25.

And isn’t designer breed just a pretentious way of calling one’s dog a mutt or a mixed breed? Although I will admit that I really get a kick out of saying the word “Boingle”.

Here’s Teddy, our Boingle, in all his bandana glory:

Teddy and Abbey. Teddy’s not much of a talker so when he decides to say something, it’s probably important and usually deep (not philosophically, just sound-wise and un-yippy, though I’ve been told the quiet ones are usually deep thinkers).

Teddy and Chimay, soaking up some sunshine and grass clippings.

I’m not sure why, but this reminds me of Bruce Springsteen. Like the Boss, Teddy here was also born to run. (Get it? Oh, I’m hilarious.)

One friend called him “front-heavy”, referring to the size of his head. I’ve also come to appreciate an alternate use of his bandanas as drool wipers.

Here’s Teddy getting in touch with nature or, more likely, having been spooked by a butterfly. Have I mentioned he also runs from the kitchen when the coffee maker gurgles?