Conrad Wesselhoeft has a lot of fun with his poodle, Django (pronounced JANGO), who was named after the Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Conrad describes him as "back of the class smart," because, while Django failed obedience school, he does a lot of "wacky" things that make him lovable. He was recently groomed in Burien at Horizon Pet Supply making him look quite civilized.

But Conrad, a journalist himself, can tell it best.

"He's a standard poodle. The word “poodle” is related to the German word for “puddle.” Poodles are water dogs—excellent retrievers. Django is an excellent retriever, too, but only on dry land.

He is one of two famous canine Djangos that frequent Lincoln Park. The other is "Jeff and Marcie's Django." (could not find last name or breed.)

In Django's mind, the most powerful word in English is not “no!” it’s “cheese!” He will do anything short of a felony for a bite of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar.

Based on a real episode accounted by Conrad: "Recently, while walking in Lincoln Park--at the north end, under the towering oaks--Django and I encountered a squirrel. Django lunged, dragging me with him in a pell-mell fashion. The squirrel had plenty of time to flee up a nearby tree, but it stood, as if frozen, with front paws raised, jowl clearly holding a nut, and watched us race toward it. At the last instant, with only a few feet between Django’s snapping jaw and itself, the squirrel darted up the tree to safety. Why did the squirrel wait so long to save itself? Probably for the sheer pleasure and adrenalin rush of a 'close-call,' which is so much more interesting and entertaining than merely striding to safety. Django and I agree on these points: at a primal level, that squirrel understood the physics of storytelling better than most humans or dogs. We believe that that night, safe in his nest, the squirrel told the story—and Django and I were, deservedly, the foil and butt of all his jokes."

Conrad also included a link to a YouTube video (click here). It's a jam session in which Django plays percussion by chewing his ball and making it squeak.

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Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Veterinary Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.

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