Who Is the Dancing Dingo?

The story behind Dancing Dingo begins with a small stray dog named Margaret.

One cold winter day in 2002, a little dog appeared on our front porch looking for a place to belong. At first she stayed hidden in the bushes — hungry, cold, and unsure if she could trust us. Eventually we coaxed her out with a piece of turkey left over from Christmas dinner.

We searched for her owners, but none were ever found. So Margaret stayed.

When we took her to the vet, we asked what kind of dog she might be. After taking a good look, the vet laughed and said, “I’m not exactly sure… but she looks a bit like a Dingo.”

Margaret had clearly been through a lot. She was malnourished, infested with fleas, and suffering from severe heartworms. With the help of a wonderful veterinarian and a lot of love, she slowly recovered and became part of our family.

Margaret was adventurous and very much in charge. She ruled the house, hid under beds and sprang out like a tiny cobra at anyone passing by, and quietly herded the grandsons when needed. We called her Gangsta’ Madge.

With her family, though, she was cuddly, devoted, and full of joy — a small dog and a true force of nature at the same time.

And what a personality she had.

Margaret loved to dance and hop around on her hind legs, spinning in happy circles whenever she was excited — especially when food was involved. It quickly became clear that dancing was her favorite way to celebrate life.

We eventually named her Margaret. Years earlier I had attended a Catholic boarding school, where the strictest nun was Sister Mary Margaret. When this little dog quickly took charge of our household pack, the name seemed fitting. Officially she became Mary Margaret — though to me she was always simply Margaret.

A few days later, just after New Year's Eve in 2003, I was trying to come up with the perfect name for a small natural body care company I was starting. I wanted a name that meant something personal.

At that very moment, Margaret danced into the room on her hind legs, spinning happily in circles just as she always did.

And suddenly the name was obvious.
Dancing Dingo.

Margaret was an amazing dog and one of the many beloved dogs who have shared my life. She will always live on in our hearts — and in the name Dancing Dingo.

Margaret still leaves her paw prints around Dancing Dingo… if you know where to look...

In the end, the story of Dancing Dingo is a blend of craft, creativity, and one joyful rescue dog named Margaret who loved to dance.