Chaos Critter: Family Profile - Crokell

Crokell has a lot to say for such a quiet dog. His reach is like his floof - it gets everywhere. This week we feature the largest of the Chaos Critters - Crokell.

This week I was completely tired and ready for a Rip Van Winkle nap. At the same time, we’re due for another Chaos Critter Family Profile, even if the queen of naps was not the one we’re posting about today (https://blog.casasent.blog/p/chaos-critter-family-profile-aki).

Today we focused on Crokell, my first dog as an adult. He’s also the first dog I trained for competition, and the biggest, drooliest, loving boof anyone one could ever want.

Crokell

• Species: Canis lupus familiaris

• Breed: Newfoundland Dog

• Coat Color: Black with a time dot of white

• Eye Color: Brown

• Distinctive Features: Drawls of drool and doom

• Temperament: Calm, sleepy but also likes to work… slowly

• Profession: Rally dog and dog napper

Who is Crokell?

Well, Crokell first joined the family while I was preparing to defend my PhD thesis. He was sort of my graduation present. During my PhD training, I wanted a dog so badly that I trained a cat (https://blog.casasent.blog/p/chaos-critter-family-profile-beleth). OK. I cheated - it was a puppy-cat!

So, the first months after Crokell joining our family involved me sitting next to him and talking to myself as I worked on writing and editing my thesis. He was a little boof of floof that grew and grew and grew. As Newfoundlands are wont to do.

I learned all sorts of things, like puppies do not need and should not have 45 minute walks, unless you want to carry them. There is a rule of thumb on age and length of time for a walk, but I can’t remember it right now. (If you know, drop it in the comments.)

Crokell grew up first being compared to a Chow for his fluff, then being compared to a St. Bernard and Mastiff for his size. But his personal goal was to just be with us. And to sleep at our feet. He likes being in the room with us while we write or talk or whatever. He also loves a good rally class but isn’t so sure about the need to always be up and moving.

What does the family think?

Aki thinks that Crokell is too big for his own good - he drools too much, and he really should give her his water and food whenever she wants. But he is an awesome white noise maker - meaning he has the cutest, loudest snore ever. Beleth thinks Crokell is the best big brother a puppy-cat could have, but he should play with Beleth a little more! Curling up with Crokell on a cold, cold day and sharing a nice and warm and friendly sunbeam is their favorite collaborative winter activity.

As for the other critters, Fluffy thinks Crokell should keep his distance - his nose is bigger than her bowl. Dante thinks Crokell should always be up to playing and that jumping and chewing on Crokell’s ears is the best way to get his attention.

As for Frank… He thinks Crokell is a pile of sheets. Yep. And that Crokell needs to stop trying to help Frank by eating any fluff that is left out. Frank can handle it.

What does Crokell need?

Crokell is getting up there in age - he is the big seven and needs a few things. From the beginning, though, he needed the inside of the house to be COLD. Okay, well cold for me, because I am a summer bee or something that likes the temperatures to be in the 70s or above. Crokell likes temps in the 50s or lower, so we settled for high 60s… But nowadays, Crokell is good with 72F at least for sleeping, not sure about running. He needs lots of water and to be brushed and dried regularly (especially with the Houston humidity). And of course, he needs the normal dog things: food, walks, attention, and training. Although he doesn’t think he needed training, he wanted to be more like a cat and train us.

Does Crokell work?

Yes. Crokell is a working breed and works as a rally and obedience competitor. But more than that, he inspired Newfoundland dogs in our stories like Nano-Sapiens (https://casasent.blog/our_universes.html). Crokell, under a pseudonym from Tod's brother, appears as a monster in one or our novels, currently being submitted somewhere. And finally, he is and will always be the inspiration for our logo.

While Crokell might have not been our first Chaos Critter, he is the most famous of them. We get recognized on walks, at dog competitions, and people are more likely to miss him on a walk than me.

Actually, I know this for certain. Tod had to walk Crokell for over a year when my leg was injured and while I was recovering from another medical misadventure. And no one really asked about me. But the moment Tod and I took a walk without Crokell, we got asked by everyone we passed if Crokell was okay.

Lastly, Crokell is a water rescue dog, even if we never finished training with him in that. He has an overdeveloped sense of rescue. Tod needs to be rescued from the four-wheeler. Little kids we know need to be rescued from their new bicycles. But he saved me on more than one occasion, providing a big shaggy shoulder to cry on and a wagging tail for all to see.

Chaos Tip of the Week

Always know how deep the water is. You want it deep enough to dive, but not so deep you drown. And keep your rescue dog on hand - they will always find and save you, even if it is in the most unusual way.

Critter’s Weekly Question

What is the one thing that your pet saves you from? Be it thinking too hard, taking things too seriously, or actually saving you from the pool.