Digressions: My Life in 500 Words or Less

The family Pomeranians, Tybalt and Zorro, are an exercise in contrast. Becca and I have always appreciated that.

Though they are both older canines--Tybalt will turn 14 this year and Zorro 9--they are both puppies at heart. They both will express joy in playful ways.

This is a contrast to their ages, but they also contrast each other.

In a blog post a few years ago I mentioned how generally attentive Tybalt is while Zorro is easily distracted. That hasn't changed.

Additionally, Zorro is truly food-motivated while Tybalt is much less so. In general, Tybalt prefers being petted and given attention much more than Zorro, who tends to shy away from anyone other than Becca and me. Unless they have food, of course.

One of the more amusing contrasts, and the one which prompted me to make our Poms the subjects of this blog, is their attitude toward photos. While Zorro doesn't mind having his photo taken, Tybalt seems to be consistently camera shy.

And it is funny.

On so many occasions over the years when Becca or I have tried to take portrait shots of our elder Pom, he seemed to sense when we were about to snap the photo, at which time he turned away or even walked off. If it didn't look so rehearsed, it wouldn't be so amusing. It became a going joke with us.

Becca said Tybalt subscribed to the belief that if someone took your photo they stole your soul.

He acted that way.

Whether alone or with Zorro, Tybalt found a variety of ways to avoid having a portrait photo taken, especially any with him facing the camera. We even started doing a Tybalt voice whenever he successfully eluded our photography, something along the lines of "Nope. I'm not standing still so you can steal my soul!"

While Tybalt's attitude has amused us over the years, that's not to say we haven't gotten any portrait shots of our elder Pom. I've included visual evidence with this blog.

Still, I can't blame the old boy. Soul-stealing anxiety aside, Tybalt is such an easy-going and cooperative companion he defines the term "laid back," and we love him and all his personality traits.

Tybalt might think we stole his soul, but he's the one who stole our hearts.