I will deal with Jonah’s slander against poodles in due course, but first some serious business. Christmas carols about dogs do indeed exist, and, I now know, in abundance.

From our erudite readers:

“What about ‘Bark the Herald?’”

“Those ’shepherds’ in ‘As shepherds watched their flocks by night’—maybe they were German shepherds.”

“Have you forgotten ‘Fleas Navidad?’”

One reader sent these choice lyrics:

Winter Wonderland (to the tune of “Winter Wonderland”)
Dog tags ring, are you listenin’?
In the lane snow is glistenin’.
It’s yellow, not white – I’ve been there tonight,
markin’ up my winter wonderland.