Definitions of a Rez Dog

Ever wonder what  Rez Dogs truly are? We go straight the source and ask the people that have intimate knowledge of these creatures - In this episode, we are going to talk about Rez Dogs.  There is no exact definition of what Rez Dogs are, I guess that’s what makes them almost mystical.  I asked many of my family and friends this question, “In your own words, what is your definition of a Rez Dog, no wrong answers.”  The responses were eye-opening, funny and unexpected, some descriptions were actually a little cringe-worthy. So, listen on and enjoy the comments.  If you would like to contribute to a future show of what exactly these amazing canines are, please email me your definition to, lifedogrez@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you and knowing if you ever drove to a feast or powwow on a "donut" tire,

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-      “Welcome to the show, “Life of a Dog on the Rez”, a place where we share funny, cringe-worthy, and inspirational stories that uplift the soul and heal our spirits, like the chili stew that satisfies our hunger after a long day of dancing in the plaza.  I’m your host, Ya-schay and I am so happy that you joined me today. Today we are going to talk about Rez Dogs.  There is no exact definition of what rez dogs are, I guess that’s what makes them almost mystical creatures.  When putting together this show, I asked many of my family and friends this question, “In your own words, what is your definition of a Rez Dog, no wrong answers.”  The responses were eye-opening, funny and unexpected, some descriptions were actually a little cringe-worthy.” So, let’s get into some of the comments that were made.    But before we start, some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent from being mauled by a pack of rez dogs.  “The first comment comes from the president of the Rez Dogs United Post 145 he states, “we just want you to let the cat out!” Ah, good ole Ruffles the dog.   “My best-est friend in the whole wide world said, “Rez Dogs are loyal and best friends, they live anywhere and survive anything.” I guess that’s why I am her best friend. A family member who shall remain nameless said, “A rez dog is a man whore”“A loyal, scroungy friend who protects our home and eats our leftovers,” another relative said.”Tanya from the rez commented, “It’s a mutt dog, that just runs around the rez, visiting everyone! We don’t tie up our dogs, so they just roam around, my dog is a great example, I see him in Chicale sometimes and I’m yelling at him to go home!”  Many of us can totally relate! Throughout my travels, I have seen some crazy Rez dog combinations. I think the rezziest dog I ever seen was in Hopi, I swear, that dog looked like a race car, short legs in the front and big, long lean legs in the back.  It was truly a sight to see. He was with his buddy that looked exactly like Salacious B. Crumb, Jabbah the Hutt’s pet from the return of the Jedi, for all you star war honks.  If you don’t know what I am talking about, Google it!” Let’s move on.“I posed the question to my non-native friends as well, and these are their answers. “A very immortal man that sleeps with lots of women.” Sounds like someone had their heart broken…ha ha just kidding.  “An actual dog on the reservation?  I know in Dodson, a lady talks about going to the “Rez Meals” and as far as I know its meals on the rez, you know like a senior citizen meal, meals on wheels or something like that. I have a feeling it’s kind of a mean slang term. “A dog from the reservation that is usually not very well taken care of and sometimes kind of mean”  “Dogs that aren’t tame, they scavenge for food and roam around the rez.”   These are some of my favorite responses. My long-time high school pal responded, “A rez dog to me, is a dog that…wait, what was her name again?  Literally, the making of a rez dog starts when a puppy is purchased or given to an individual or family in the Pueblo.  The puppy is given so much love and attention, until it pees and poops all over the house.  The minute it grows bigger, the dog is tossed outside to guard the house.  Maybe they will be fed, maybe they won’t.  The dog interacts with other dogs and realizes that he has, “special powers”. He disappears for weeks on end, and tries to fight off other dogs so he can use his “special power”, usually in front of humans during a dance in the plaza.  Then you hear the dog’s family say, “Hey, there’s Buster, he hasn’t been home for two weeks now!” Then 12 more little rez dogs are born.”My brother/friend from Acoma, said, “A rez dog, is the Rio Grande Singers during the early 2000’s”.  Now that’s a whole other episode for another time.  My buddy Eddy states, “An animal, almost feral dog, that hangs out with you because you feed him, shots or hygiene not needed.  It’s really a rez dog if one leg is missing.  As a person, a Native Hillbilly”.  “A dog that has multiple generations of breeds in him. Some might have 3 legs, multiple homes to eat at, chases cars down the road, and runs in packs or alone.  They run wild and free and are usually given away for free or somehow just end up at your home".  My aunt says, “A dog that belongs to a family, yet no one really claims it.  If that dog is to be taken or put down, then everyone claims it.  Another is a pup born on the rez left to survive in the best way he can, using his wits and intuitiveness!” This next description is probably my most favorite and comes from my cousin, Joanna, Mama Yotes, as i affectionately call her,  “A GOOD rez dog is a chill, free-spirited survivalist, a protecting dog, living the life, rent free, WOOF! Rest in Peace Grizzly! Best Rez Dog ever!” Her sister, Ashley followed up with, “When I think of our dog Grizzly, he was the ultimate rez dog who ruled the rez.  He didn’t come home for days when the females were in heat and all the dogs followed him.”  “Here are the rest of the responses that you might find interesting”.  “Friendly and Happy” quoted, Nicola.  “Like the movie Reservation Dogs?  They are survivalist!” said her dad.   “A desperate reservation aboriginal boy or girl that will come to the city and try to claim the street life, sleep around with everyone (even own cousins), use drugs and drink” Dang that’s deep!  “A dog who lives on the rez. Like the one that had been hit one day when I was picking up Auddie, I said, “We should do something” and he said, “It’s a Rez Dog, either it will live or die”.  It probably could refer to a person as well, I don’t know.”  “Dogs that aren’t tame that scavenge for food and roam around the rez”. “I never heard of that term, Rez Dogs”.  “A very immoral man, sleeping with lots of women. A wild feral dog hurting or killing people or animals..  “Wild flea ridden scavengers that roam the rez, specifically canine.”  “Rez dogs do whatever they want, usually they run in packs and will attack sometimes for no reason, almost like a pack of wolves all hunting for food all the same just to survive.”  “A Mutt, LOL I don’t know!". “A dog that lives on the rez and roams freely or fairly freely.  May also refer to dogs chained on the rez.  Does not refer to a dog in a contained yard.”  “Someone who doesn’t give a shit about anyone’s feelings and does whatever they want with whomever they want to do it with, no shame!”  “When I think of a rez dog, I think of them always coming around when you have good stuff to eat and are always dirty.” “Honestly to put it simply probably think of community, in this way it’s a whole community’s dog and everyone takes care of them when they can.”  "A mutt born, running around, breeds and dies on the rez.”  “I don’t really know the difference, because if you take a dog into town they adapt, so it makes them a town dog. Who would know how to tell them apart? LOL."  “First thought, a mutt of a dog, different colors of hair, has a limp, is resourceful, a survivor, can fight off other dogs.  Second version is a guy who is always trying to score with the females, even if it’s with someone already spoken for, they don’t care.” “Someone who wants to explore but always return home.” “Stray, feral, non-purebred dog.  Community pet, not owned by one particular owner, free roaming.” “I would say a dog that roams free, no worries, no care and is taken care of by numerous people on the rez.” “A slightly feral dog that lives mostly outside a family’s house on the rez, with a decent chance of not having all their legs.” “A dog that lives on the pueblo or reservation that can take care of themselves.”  “A dog who is free to roam."  “I’ve heard of many different versions, but my interpretations are, when both dogs are of a different breed, and they bring an offspring into the world and the owners can’t figure what breed it is so they call it a rez dog.” “A tough dog that does what needs to be done to survive even after being hit by cars.” “Uuuuhh, a dog that lives on the rez? Typically when its free to roam.”  “A dog that finds its home wherever it can and has no definition of character to any one particular breed.”  “A rez dog is well known in their community by name because we know who’s dog it is.  Rez dogs know their territory and a rez dog takes care of the community.  A rez dog is one who chases cars for fun.  A rez dog is everyone’s dog and could be any color, shape, or size.  I think rez dogs are cool and are here to protect you.” “A mutt, that’s my answer."  “A rez dog is a dog that is born and raised on a reservation, whether it comes from a different reservation and brought back here.  It is well known in the community and is fed everywhere and anywhere.  People feed it leftovers and it brings home junk to your yard, and yeah that’s what a rez dog is.” “Rez dog to me, do not necessarily mean an animal, it refers to something else.  To me, they know no boundaries, they go where they want to go and do what they want to do.”  “A rez dog to me is known around the community, is an animal that eats everywhere, wherever people put their leftover and knows no boundaries, goes wherever they want to, is any color or breed.  It doesn’t have to be a dog, it may or may not have all the privileges of a white man’s dog." “I have two insights into a rez dog.  A rez dog is a dog whose breed is from everybody’s dog around the rez.  Another term is a rez mutt, it describes a person from different communities who has a bunch of native blood in them.”

These last two comments, I really think summarize, the two sides that we all see in the term, REZ DOG, in its literal and figurative interpretations, but that just my opinion. This first comment comes from a well-respected individual of the community.  He has always been an advocate for the people, cared how we as native people are viewed by the outside world and holds in high regard our journey, we as the Pueblo people made from our place of emergence. He stands firm on his views and convictions and doesn’t hold back, I respect him for that, he said, “A rez dog is a derogatory, stereotypical term used towards Native Americans.  The government put us on reservations to control us by saying that we are savage and untamable.  The term Rez Dog is used to stereotype us natives.”

 The final comment came from my aunt, she has a more of a spiritual view of rez dogs which I really like.  I heard this myself, from my grandma when I spent time eating tuna fish sandwiches with her. “A person who has a different kind of character that is positive. As far as Rez dogs that we grew up with, I never seen them as plain old dogs, they’re protectors, especially that black colored ones, they say, that they are healers, that’s what I learned from our elders. They are our eyes and ears throughout the night.  I don’t know if we could think the same thing of a dog that comes from an urban setting.  I respect our animals, whether it’s a rez dog, a family dog or whatever kind of dog, but a dog is valuable to have.”  “As you can see, there is no exact definition of what is rez dog is, and that’s OK.  For me, I look at the positive qualities they possess, being loyal, best friends, happy, survivalist, protectors, free-spirited, wise, witty, intuitive, possessing special powers, explorers, healers and known by everyone. Just like us, they also possess traits that are not so desirable but in the end who are we to judge.  If you would like to submit your comments as to what rez dogs are, please email me at lifedogrez@gmail.com  I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully we all can finally figure out this enigma of what a rez dog is…better yet, let’s just enjoy them for what they are……REZ DOGS! Well, that’s the end of our show.  I want to thank you so much for listening to the Life of a Dog on the Rez Podcast! A place where we share, funny, cringe-worthy, and inspirational stories from our beloved pueblo homelands.  I hope this episode brought a smile to your face, made you laugh and inspired you to do good things.  I truly appreciative the love and support that you send, and I wish all of you, the happiness and joy that we all deserve.  

If you have a story you would like to share with the world, shoot me an email at lifedogrez@gmail.com I look forward to connecting with you and learning your secret fry bread recipe! If you like the show, please subscribe and spread the word to our families, friends and fellow rez dogs.  Until next time “Shoo-simp, Hopah”. Thanks for listening, Bye!