Merlin is my three-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He was the only boy in a very large litter, and when we went to pick one out at five weeks, he so greatly resembled the golden hamster my brother had as a child that we had to call him that. And so Merlin came to live in our household at about eight weeks old, with three other dogs to play with, and one that came into our lives less than a year later.

   Many people don't know that corgis are excellent athletes. Herding dogs, as a rule, have a great stamina, desire to please, and are pretty intelligent. While most corgis have only mastered dog sports such as agility and flyball, Merlin has taken it a step further. You see, there is a very good reason why we call Merlin a Wonder Corgi. He doesn't limit himself to doggie activities. He does everything we do, too.

   For example, Merlin absolutely loves freestyle motocross. You can't keep his corgi butt off a motorcycle. He does all kinds of tricks, but his most famous is perhaps the Corgi Can-Can, where he actually swings himself into the air and throws his nubby legs off to one side, before returning to the normal riding position. He's really quite good. I must say I am envious.

   And then, of course, there's the scuba diving. Merlin is quite adept at swimming, and if you're not watching carefully, he'll have grabbed a mask, air tank, and weight belt and be out among the fish! Personally, I think he'd do better if he wore swim fins on his little nubs too, but what do I know. I mean heck, how many corgis do you actually see scuba diving? He must know what he's doing.

   Merlin is a HUGE hockey fan. We like to all sit together and watch Blue Jackets games, and I kinda think that's where he got the idea. Now, Merlin is the cuddliest, nicest dog in the world, but when he's out playing hockey, he's a totally different dog. He is very competitive, and does not take losing lightly. He is his team's leading scorer, and is absolutely obsessed with where that puck is going. I've gotta hand it to him though, he's a pretty good ice skater. I can't even go forward without falling on my face.

   One of Merlin's more unusual hobbies is his passion for the dance, particularly the Tango. This little dog can dance your socks off. I have no idea where he gets it; I have two left feet. I have yet to see his doggie equal. We like to watch the "freestyle dance" competitions they have for dogs, and Merlin smirks quiety to himself. I can only imagine the embarassment to the other canines as he began his hot Latin manuevers.

   So you see, Mer-butt isn't anything like other dogs. He is more like a devious, furry little person. He likes a wide range of sports and does them quite well, better than I can anyway. But maybe your dog is a Wonder Corgi too. Look at him, lying innocently beside you. I bet he takes the car out for drives when you're not at home. Just because you haven't seen him doesn't mean he doesn't - it just means you haven't caught him yet.