An email this week from a Cape Rose Toy Poodles guest brought back a fond memory we’d like to share.
When we were breeding toy poodles, we would give the puppies temporary names. It helped them learn to respond to a name when called--and it helped us to remember who was who. One year Monique had three male puppies and we named them after the Three Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti (God rest his soul), Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras.
Puppies were usually spoken for well before they turned six weeks of age, but we kept puppies at least 10 weeks, or until they had two puppy shots. Once a new family had been found, we started using the family’s chosen name for their puppy.
Luciano was the exception. When Alice and John chose Luciano, they decided to keep the name, although they later shortened it to “Chano” for everyday purposes.
It was a match made in heaven. You see, Alice and John work for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. (They also run the New York Lyric Circus.) You’ve probably guessed by now that “Luciano Grimaldi” does indeed appear on the Met’s Guest List with the word “dog” appended to his name.
What’s in a name? Could be more than you imagine!
Until next time,
Cindy
(Mr. Dibs has the day off.)
P.S. Check out the Circus Poodles album in our Poodle Gallery to see more of Chano and to learn about his assisting in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
