March Madness: Canine Style

Very few people are aware that I suffer pangs of loneliness as a basketball "widow", especially now that March Madness is reaching a fever pitch. But I do see my husband at meal times, so it is not a total loss.

The fact of the matter is that I am not particularly a basketball fan, so please excuse any "poetic license I have taken as I wrote today's blog item. What I write may not be totally factual, and for this I apologize, but I could not resist weaving my love for the canine species into the fabric of what is one of the most exciting sports events for many, at this time.

While it is often said that "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb", I highly suspect that college basketball fans may not share that opinion. As competition excitedly heats up, with teams vying for the top four spots, winning the coveted victories to emerge as the top four teams, the competitive weather sure is heating up. With tickets selling like those famously preverbal hot cakes, for those fans eagerly chomping at the bit, only the April shower of completion for the final four games held on April 4 and 6, will bring those flowers of success to the worthiest of teams.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I discovered Jilli, an adorable little dog, who in my opinion, shows such great talent and prowess, making all the right moves that might even get her a spot in one of these final competitions! Not only can she play basketball with aplomb, she also is the only dog who plays poker with her trainer. I would bet my bottom dollar that this pooch may win a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records as a canine champion in the category of sports.

So without further ado, let me introduce the tiny Yorkshire terrier, playing basketball with her trainer, Rick Caran.

She is also a certified TDI therapy dog (Therapy Dog International) and performs at trade shows, corporate events and at fairs and parties. She has been featured on the Today Show, Rachel Ray Show, Animal Planet Pet Trends, San Francisco NBC, and has made many other television appearances.

Watch this entertaining video, uploaded to YouTube by looneytoobs. I think you will get a kick out of watching one very focused terrier who always keeps her eye on the prize.

Do your dogs show any interest in sports? Leave a comment and tell us all about it.