I'm ticklish, oooooo, don't do that!

Tonight I was trying to clean out the oak pollen and assorted debris from the dogs' fur before bringing them inside (I had cleaned all day and didn't want it undone when they ran through the house!).  I was using the comb that I use on the cats for lack of anything else to use on them (yes, I know I need to go shopping for dog grooming tools!) and it was working fairly well.  I was also doing a lot of picking with my hands.  When I started working on Bentley he would not be still, he was just squirming around like crazy.  Then I realized that the problem was that he is ticklish!  Especially on his little tummy, and running that comb over his tummy was driving him crazy.  I have to admit he was cute squirming around but I had mercy on him and picked him clean with my hands.  Even then a few times his back paw would start to scratch as I worked on him!

Happy Birthday, Baylee!

Baylee's first birthday was April 14th.  I fell in love with the English Creams the first time I looked at Splendor Farm's web site.  I had never seen them before and was just fascinated with their beauty.  I had seen Baylee's picture on the web site but one afternoon she just called out to me.  That night I sent Kelly an e-mail to see if she was available and almost instantly she answered, yes that she was and would I please, please buy her because she needed a good home.  Kelly explained that she didn't know what to do with her because she was so afraid of the other dogs in the kennel and in her house.  Then I knew why she had called out to me that afternoon!

I'm not sure what had happened in Baylee's short life but she was a victim of kennel trauma!  Kelly reassured me that she would be okay, that she just needed some love.  So I drove over and drove back in one day to get her.  When Kelly handed her to me she was just quivering but she quickly laid down in my lap and relaxed while I talked to Kelly.  I've never regreted the drive because Baylee is so sweet and gentle.  She adapted very quickly to Blossom and Sawyer and was a little skiddish for a while but she just fit right in with us. 

She is quiet and gentle but you have to watch her, too.  She loves to sneak around and find an open trash bag in the kitchen.  She loves to sneak bites of cat food and chases cats with a passion. And when they are outside playing I can hear her going "yip,  yip, yip" in a high pitched, furious mode!

Bentley's Hang Up or Just Hanging Out

This morning I went out in the garage for maybe two minutes.  Just long enough to fill the dogs' food bowl with food and Lacey's bowl as she was in the garage.  Just two minutes.  When I came back in the kitchen I noticed that one of the lower cabinet doors was open and Bentley was jumping up and down (or so it seemed) because Shadow was on the counter top.   Only running on one cup of coffee at that time I was not awake so it took a few seconds for it to dawn on me what was happening.....Bentley was caught on the cabinet door handle by his collar and was hanging there. He appeared to be jumping up and down because he was trying to get loose!  I quickly released him and scooped him up.  His little heart was just racing, poor little guy.  Do you think that this adventure will stop him from chasing cats?  No way!

Blossom, what are you doing...uh oh, oh no

Last night I was sitting in the chair in the living room working on the computer.  I really should have been doing other things, but oh well.  Suddenly I realized the computer had switched over to battery only.  First I checked to make sure the power cord was plugged into the back of the laptop.  It was.  The computer's been doing some strange things lately so I was a little concerned that it was finally flipping out.  Then I looked down in the floor and realized the problem....Blossom had the power cord in her mouth and was gnawing away.  Oh no, right?  Right.  She had not chewed completely through the cord but had severed enough of the wiring that power was not coming through the cord.  So on my lunch hour today I went to Best Buy and spent $70 on a new power cord.  I couldn't fuss at her because all I could think of was what happened to the cat in "Christmas Vacation."  Blossom, no no leave it!

Another shot of four little pups and gotcha day

Here is another shot from yesterday's photo shoot.  This is an unedited photo, only cropped. It is going in my favorites folder.

And today is Sawyer and Blossom's first "Gotcha Day".  A year ago today I picked them up from Splendor Farms.  They were so small and so cute.  It has been a fast year, here's to many more my little buddies!

Four not -too-excited pups

NO, they did NOT volunteer for this photo shoot.  After getting exasperated and wishing I had someone to help me but being determined to get a picture of all four I decided to hook their leashes onto the glider and then hook them onto them.  They were not too happy, but made the best of it. 

Pictures

Baylee, Sweet Baylee Cream! 
She just gets sweeter and sweeter!  She has the sweetest face and I noticed tonight that her nose seems to be getting longer.  She is beautiful and everyone wants to take her home!

Sawyer Brown takes a break from the food bowl.  They love to dine "al fresco" in the evenings!  And look at his tail, wow!

Baby Blossom, Mighty Dog, Little Diva! 
She would not raise her ears and look cute for the pictures, so this shot will have to do.



Bentley Beau Bentley
I included this shot to show his face and how much he has changed.



And, since he is the baby he gets two shots on this post.  This one shows how he has grown and how the shading on his back is disappearing.

P.S.  As I previewed this post I noticed that it coincides with the pictures on the side.  It is interesting to compare them and see how they have changed, especially Bentley.

Blossom learns to drive, sorta

I left Blossom, Baylee, and Bentley at the vet's this past weekend while we went camping.  They love going there and I know they are well cared for, well actually I think they get spoiled but that's ok.  Driving them there was a hoot as I had all four in the car at once!

Bentley was in the backseat with Jaydon and Baylee was in the front passenger seat.  Sawyer likes to ride half standing half sitting and looking out the window.  Blossom had laid down in my lap but then for some reason she stood up and put her front paws on the steering wheel like she was driving!  It was hilarious!  I drove quite a way with her doing this.  She was looking forward and it looked just like she was driving (rest assured, she was not)!  Jaydon was giggling in the backseat!  He asked me, "what if she really was driving?" and my response was that she would have a wreck because instead of watching where she was going she would be barking at everything!

Sawyer's First Campout

Jaydon and I went camping this weekend and took Sawyer with us.  He had such a good time!  He is so easy going and just takes everything in stride.  I'm sure that at times he was confused about what was going on but I think next time he won't give the adventure a second thought.  The funny part was when we got home, he really missed his playmates and kept looking around and then looking at me, like "where are they?"

 He loved the water and wasn't the least bit afraid.

Here he is after a brief swim.  I wasn't fast enough to get the camera turned on and catch him in the water.  At Pedernales Falls we climbed rocks and he was scampering up the smaller ones with ease.  I had to pick him up several times to lift him up or down on the large rocks.  Yuk, he was wet and dirty!

We walked across a small damn at Blanco and it was a little scary for me because I was trying to keep my balance and keep him from licking and greeting the people sitting on the edge of the damn!  The picture above shows how dirty he was...I was worried about having him in the tent and even joked about sneaking him into the showers!  But by bed time he was dry and all the mud and debris had fallen off and he didn't even stink.

We cooked hot dogs for our evening meal.  I had an extra hot dog and wasn't going to waste it.  He hadn't eaten his dog food and I figured he deserved a treat so I did something I have never done with these dogs...I fed him the hot dog.  It was all beef so I told myself it wouldn't hurt him.  He LOVED it and licked the paper plate clean! 

 Another picture after crossing the damn and getting wet.

A thunderstorm hit just as we were going to bed.  At one point we briefly got in the car, there was no wind but the lightening was fierce and Jaydon was scared.  I ran to the car with him in my arms, but he was very unconcerned.  He laid in my lap and dozed while we sat in the car.  After we got back in the tent he laid down between us and went to sleep.  This was another first for him because I've never let these dogs sleep with me.  He did bark a couple of times right after he went to bed but I think he was hearing the campers at the next site that were dealing with the storm, too. 

Pet Walker Plus

I know, you are wondering what this is.  This is a Pet Walker Plus, a lead designed for walking two dogs at the same time.  It is wonderful!  I had seen something similar in a catalog or somewhere, and then couldn't find it again.  But this is far better, I'm sure.  The leads are connected to a swivel device so they don't get tangled.  And you can unsnap one lead if needed since there is a clasp on either end of the lead.  I bought two of these at the local dog show on Saturday, and it was money well spent.  Last night I walked all four dogs and was able to unclip Bentley when we started out since he was a little frightened and confused.  He was quickly in the swing and I clipped him back on.  But then trouble started...I clipped him onto the wrong lead so I had three dogs on one walker and only one on the other.  To compound the trouble I had both handles in one hand.  The ensuing mess was a big tangle, although by the end of the walk this brought them all within about 6 inches of each other so it kept them together!  However, as it had been demonstrated at the show they quickly came untangled.  The nice part is that when properly used the dogs can walk independently of each other while being controlled with one lead (or in my case, two leads).  Great product, I highly recommend! 

Beautiful Dogs

Baylee, March 12, 2011 

Jaydon and I went to a dog show this morning.  There were 6 long haired dachshunds that competed while we were there, one of which was a cream (not sure what kind).  As I watched them in the ring I realized that MY DOGS ARE BEAUTIFUL!  I'm not predjudiced, I'm basing this on honest observation.  The show dogs were nice dogs, but I realized that my dogs really are beautiful and their conformation is perfect.  If Baylee had been in ring I think she would have won, hands down.  Her coat is thick and soft and getting longer and her muzzle is perfectly dachshund, too.  She has her head turned in the picture above but when she looks straight ahead she is a perfect dachshund.  I really want to get Bentley in the ring as I think he's a winner for sure.  But show or no I realized that I have four beautiful dachshunds, thanks to Splendor Farms!

Bentley's Trip to the Vet

Bentley had his last "puppy" visit to the vet's on Monday.  He got the last of his shots, including his rabies, so now he can go places and be a real dog.  He weighed 8.10 pounds, little bruiser.  And he was so good, never minded being examined or the shots. 

Afterward we went to PetsMart and got him a harness and lead to match his collar.  He was a little scared in the store, but rode in the basket and allowed everyone to pet him.  I'm sure it is a little scarry to be a little guy and go in a big place like a store!

But from now on he has to ride in a carrier...he threw up twice on this outing and he did not want to stay in my lap.  Fortunately I had spread a towel across the dry clean only skirt so the clean up was fairly easy.  And of course while he was throwing up I was in major traffic and trying to hold him and keep the towel under him.  Not real safe for either of us!

Hopefully I can get some pictures this weekend, he is really changing!  Several nights ago he must have provoked Blossom about something because she tore into him.  It was not pretty, and he has a healthy respect for her so he got away quick.  He ran toward me, not sure what to do.  So I picked him up and loved him for a bit.  His little heart was just racing!  Poor baby.  He thinks he is as big as the other dogs, although he is almost as big as Blossom is now.