Brandon's handsome two-year-old dog, Hozho, is a "love child" after a brief encounter between a Blue Heeler and a Navajo coyote. I guess dogs and coyotes are not all-natural enemies, apparently Hozho's parents had a little Romeo and Juliet in them! She was born in an area where sheep are raised and ranchers have Blue Heelers for herding flocks and protecting them from predators like coyotes.

Adopting Hozho came as a surprise to them both! "I was not looking for a dog. I had never had one before and I did not choose her," said Brandon. "Her arrival was destiny."

When he was driving a friend home in rural Arizona, the friend pointed and announced, "That's my house. Do you want a dog?"

Apparently, weeks earlier during the night, someone left new born puppies on his friend's driveway because of his good and compassionate reputation in their community.

Brandon, as a new dog daddy, instinctively did the right thing and gave his dog an honorable name.

"Hozho's name is an adjective derived from a Navajo Dine Bizaad prayer that describes reality itself, encompassing beauty, balance and harmony," said Brandon. I heard the prayer just before meeting Hozho and it was a way to bring Arizona memories home with us.

Little Hozho was unbelievably desert-dirty. "When she was patted, dust billowed off her for 20 seconds," said Brandon.

The new family spent 30 hours bonding on the drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico to their home.

"Never having had a dog before, and Hozho never having a home before had us making up our lives together along the way," said Brandon. "As a youngster she had some scary looking hooked-canine teeth, perfect for tearing flesh, so I did my best encouraging her to be gentle."

As it turns out, Brandon's gentle nature rubbed off on Hozho and he had nothing to be worried about. While out walking, meeting strangers, children and pet columnists, the dog's happy-grinning face welcomes everyone to approach her and her dog daddy. "As a matter of fact, her friendliness makes others happy, even people who don't like dogs," proudly states Brandon.

"She's gentle-hearted and fascinated by anything smaller than herself (puppies, babies, birds, chipmunks and squirrels).

Hozho verbalizes in unique whines, grunts and sighs. I've never heard another dog duplicate her sounds and assume it is from her coyote heritage.  Also, we are so close, we communicate without words. Instead of telling her to sit, I snap my fingers. Instead of yelling at her to come, I make a smooching sound and wave for her when she turns towards me.

Hozho must also have a hidden Husky DNA, ("I want to run, run, run") gene because her favorite sport is running for hours along hiking trails. Then visualize this! When she runs through tall grass and weeds she looks like a dolphin hopping across waves. Her other happy time is being curled up on the couch snuggled up to Brandon.