A Dog's Life
By Meaghan Wolff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 19, 2006; M05
It's a school day, and 21-year-old Thomas Ingram is about to leave his Adams Morgan apartment. He positions his hip, yet cleverly utilitarian, Anthropologie doggie tote on the floor, and in wiggles his 3-month-old Chihuahua, Hercules, ready for liftoff at the sound of a bag's zip.
They're off to class, but Ingram isn't saying where. Though most of his professors know pup joins pupil, Ingram fears the university would make him stop if it knew of Hercules's solid attendance record. In truth, Hercules does more than perch in lecture halls. At his ripe age, the three-pound pup gets out more than some human beings.
"He's done most of the monuments, of course. He has attended movies at the E Street theater, the latest being 'Brokeback Mountain,' " Ingram says. "He has been to Matchbox in Chinatown, La Madeleine in Georgetown, [Pizzeria] Paradiso in both locations." Spiritually, Hercules's mileage includes trips to high mass at Washington National Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. Matthew. And to Metro riders, Hercules is just another bag in the hazy commute.
"If I go, he goes," Ingram says.
Hercules also likes to spend time with pups his own size, and he does so most months thanks to the area's six-month-old Chihuahua Meetup. Organized by Venessa Mendenhall, 26, who's the mom of Lil' Killer (aka Lily), the group has met during the cold months at Petco in Cleveland Park and otherwise at dog parks, such as Montrose Park in Georgetown. Mendenhall says it offers a safe place for these tiny breeds to build confidence, explore life on the ground (instead of being coddled too much, as they commonly are) and develop positive social traits.
Most owners agree, these dogs are quirky. And they come in such an array of shapes, sizes and colors. Seeing them interact is like watching 20 little monkeys let out of the cage for the first time.
"Friends tease me all the time, claiming that toy breeds are not 'real dogs,' and you know what, I agree with them," Mendenhall says. "With a Chihuahua, I get the best of all worlds -- part dog; part cat; heck, part monkey. Her size and character is nothing short of amazing. She is the ultimate city dog, perfect for apartment life, and I can take her with me wherever I travel."
· The next D.C.-area Chihuahua Meetup is March 26, noon-2 p.m., at Your Dog's Best Friends: Positive Playcare, 2000A Jefferson Davis Hwy., Alexandria. $2. All dogs must come with proof of vaccinations. 703-566-1111.
http://Chihuahua.meetup.com/365.
· Small-dog expert Darlene Arden, author of the upcoming book "Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog," will be online Monday at 2 p.m. to chat about the little critters athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline. Plus, more photos and audio from the Chihuahua Meetup are available athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/photo.
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