Dachoo and Darwin

This is Darwin Don Warriner, the son of Darwin and Carol Warriner.

This picture was taken in August, 1953, before the family moved to Eagle Street.

The little Shetland Sheepdog puppy was named Dachoo.  Her ID tag was a simple crushed washer.

Baby Darwin was born on a kitchen table in a trailer in Michigan the year before.  The family left Michigan to chase the California Dream.  At first, they rented a house in Linda Vista, which was a very new neighborhood at that time.

When Mom showed me this old dog tag, she told me that Dachoo was a combination of the names Darwin and Carol.  She also advised me to never get a Sheltie, because she believed they are the most stupid dogs on the planet.  They did not keep Dachoo very long, because they couldn't train her. I am surprised that they bothered to even save a photo of that cute little puppy, since they never bonded with her.  If baby Darwin hadn't been in the picture, I would have the dog tag, but no face to put with the name.

Now that I have my own Sheltie, I can see why Mom thought they are untrainable.  Its not that they are stupid.  They are more catlike in their personality, independent, reserved with strangers, and a little bit finicky.

I hope little Dachoo went to someone who understood how to "speak Sheltie."