I Regret Naming Our Pup Francisco

Dagney seemed like the perfect name for our first female Yorkie. She was the fifth Yorkshire Terrier over 40 years to join our family and we didn’t expect her to be much different from the others, wow, we were wrong! Maybe her different attitude evolved because she lived in a home void of competition. All the children had grown and moved out so we doted on her and spoiled her rotten.

Being named after the main character, Dagny Taggart, of the book, Atlas Shrugged, we probably set her up for failure. She acquired all the characteristics of her namesake.

Our Dagney is opinionated, stubborn, driven, and goal oriented. She announced her dissatisfaction when we changed dog food by picking out the dark, crunchy pieces and leaving them on the floor before eating the softer, larger bites. When a chipmunk crosses her path, obsessed might be a better description than stubborn because the world around her disappears as she strives to corner the prey. There is no distracting her attention, and she becomes deaf when we call her name.

However, five years later, which is 7 months ago, we adopted a male to fill the space of her brother. The relationship between the two again was probably our fault. They are best friends but competitive and love to annoy one another. Francisco is named after Dagny Taggart’s first love in the novel. A pair that were always drawn to each other by chemistry but fought and challenged the other’s ideals. Sound familiar?

Cisco, his nickname, desires to be closer to any human in the room. He attempts to bark louder, run faster, eat more, and dominate every situation. Dagney accepts his challenge and they bicker like siblings. Thus, it is possible their relationship was poisoned from the beginning, when they were named.

Read Dagney is an Addict and a Hoarder

Francisco should have been named Me Too

Though he torments Dagney, he idolizes her and imitates every move. Often we refer to him as Me To because wherever Dagney goes, he follows. In fact there is no need to put a leash on him because he is either under our feet or with his sister. We think his adoration is cute until he jumps on her back and pushes her to the ground. Dagney growls as she chases him away. Honestly, her behavior is cute too.

Whatever she does, he does. And if she is not in the mood to share, he waits for his turn. He will sit and stare until she tires of the bone or toy. When Dagney walks away he pounces on the item and lays claim. Dagney does not share. In fact, she had developed a strategy of picking up a different item on the floor and taunting him. The minute Cisco sees her with something he drops what he has to try to get what Dagney holds. Being older and wiser, Dagney lets him have the item and picks up whatever he drops. It works every time.

When Dagney has had enough, she turns her back. I think she believes if she can’t see him, he doesn’t exist. Too often she moves from one spot to another to get away from him, but he quickly appears at her side and gets as close as possible by wiggling under her, crawling under her or jumping on top.

They do everything together whether Dagney likes it or not.

They love to ride on the Harley Davidson. The moment they hear the roar of the engine, both are jumping and begging for a ride. At first we were unsure how they would do sharing a seat, but it worked. I suppose Dagney figured it was better to share than be left behind.

At this point I don’t know if in reality they are adopted siblings, lovers, or she simply tolerates him as a necessary evil. But I know we are family.

Read more of Dagney’s adventures — and Cisco.

The Art of Seduction

Dagney's Picture Dictionary: Vocabulary Lesson from a Dog