Bentley & Blossom Team Up

I came home today to be greeted at the door by Blossom and Bentley!  Little escapees!  I'm not sure how they got out of the kitchen.  The only thing I can figure is that I put the gate a tad too high and they wiggled under.  Blossom is small and I could see her going under, but Bentley is a big guy so I'm not sure how he did it.  He may have climbed over. 

But they had had quite a day in the freedom of the house.  It could have been worse but it was bad enough!  There was poop but that's ok, bodily functions happen.  They had eaten all the cat food, but that's ok, everyone needs a snack.  What really irritated me was that Bentley had apparently gotten up on the breakfast table (he can jump on the chairs, Blossom can't so I know he did this) and had chosen to eat the little card laying there.  The little card that was worth $20 at Coldwater Creek.  Grrrrrrr!  At least they didn't eat the pair of boots that I had left out of the closet!

Oh well, lesson learned by me.  Now I have to either reconfigure the gates or buy another moveable gate.  The gate manufacturers love me!

Our Stay At the Resort....by Blossom, Sawyer, Bentley, & Baylee

Our Mama told us we could write this post since it was our adventure!  Friday before last our Mama came home and we thought it would just be another evening at home, but she quickly loaded us up in the car.  We weren't sure where we were going until we pulled up at the Pet Resort.  Mama calls it a kennel, but to us it is like a doggie hotel.  We had been there before over the weekend that Mama went to the beach, so we were quickly wagging our tails when we saw our friends.  While Mama took care of the paperwork our friends weighed us and checked us over.  (Note from Baylee:  I did not want my Mama to leave me, I'm always afraid that I'm being abandonded.  I looked very sad and concerned but Mama called across the room and told me it was okay and that she would be back soon.)

Soon it was goodbye time and we were taken to our suites.  Mama puts two of us together in a suite so we have plenty of room.  Our suites are really nice.  We have a bedroom with a nice Kuranda bed and a fleece cover that Mama suspects we destroyed.  We also have our food and water in this room, and if it was winter we would have a heated floor.  Since it is still warm we had air conditioning instead.  We have a small window that lets in outside light, even when the lights go out at night.  Our outside area is a long, concrete area like a covered patio.  Mama calls it a run for some reason, maybe because we can run up and down to our hearts' content.  There is a chain link fence at the end so we can see out, but just a little.  We can only go out in this area during the day and if it isn't too hot.

So what did we do at the resort?  Our days were pretty much the same.  At 7 a.m. our friends came in and opened the door to the patio area.  We had a small breakfast and they gave us fresh water, too.  We played and barked a lot.  Every morning they came and got all four of us and took us over to the playroom.  We had fun playing together and playing with their toys.  The day went quickly by and we had a light supper, more fresh water and then it was time for our friends to close our outside door and turn out the lights.  Another doggie day was over.

The days passed quickly and we had fun, but we missed our Mama and our home.  Sunday afternoon our friends came and got us, one at a time.  We thought we were going to play time, but actually we went up front and there was our Mama!  We were so happy to see her, our tails were just wagging and our little faces were so happy.  We were glad to get home, too.  We were very tired after our little adventure so we all curled up and took a long, refreshing nap.  Ah, there's no place like home!

Blossom goes to PetsMart

Last night I made a major shopping run to PetsMart and took Miss Blossom along.  She won the lottery and got to go because she needed a new collar.  After her last bath I had discovered that one of the plastic rings that control the size had broken.  So she got to go shopping!  Little Diva! There was a lot of crying and howling by her three little playmates that didn't get to go, too.

She rode in the cart like she always does.  She is just more secure in the cart for some reason.  I was really proud of her because she didn't bark like crazy like she usually does.  There were a few yaps when we went in the store and then twice while we shopped she let out what I thought was just a yap of joy!  She let everyone pet her (they all told her she was so beautiful!) and made many new friends.  I thought it interesting that everyone asked how old she is and then they were amazed that she is full grown!

This is what a pile o'pookies looks like.  Aren't they cute...well, yes.  But look at the wall above them.  The beautiful wall and woodwork that I spent so much time painting several years ago.  That is what these little darlings do while I'm at work, scratch the sheetrock and gnaw on the woodwork. 

Local "B" Match

Bentley competed in a local "B" match today.  It is a show that isn't a show, so to speak.  A little more than a match but not a full show.  He was the only dachshund of any kind so obviously he came home with ribbons and a small pewter cup.  He went in for best of group against a basset hound and got second.  I think the judge was prejudice or something, how could he give this good looking dog a second place?

Any way, it was good experience for both of us.  I'm still not pleased with how he's doing, but in all honesty I haven't worked with him like I really should.  And he needs to be socialized a little more as he is very leary of people.  There is a show in Austin next month so we need to get busy. 

He was a little reluctant with this picture, I just noticed that his head looks huge but that is just because I was super close to him with the camera!

Bentley & Baylee vs. Shadow

Cat chasing is pretty common in this household.  But this morning it got totally out of control.  I'm not sure what prompted this but it was an all out attack.  Basically, Baylee was trying to finish off Shadow.  Bentley was an accomplice to the crime but Baylee had Shadow down and her mouth was fastened around Shadow's neck.  As I've said so often, it is the shy, quiet one that you have to watch!  No matter what I did I couldn't get them to back off and leave poor Shadow alone. 

The fight started under the bed and then went to the far corner of the breakfast room.  That was the point where Baylee had her mouth on Shadow's neck and I knew it was serious.  So I swatted Baylee (dumb, I know) and got enough distraction time that she let go.  Shadow ran back to the bedroom and under the bed (dumb cat, jump up and escape).  So Bentley and Baylee gave chase and the fight continued.  I managed to grab Bentley's hind leg and pull him out from under the bed and throw him in the bathroom.  Then I took a yard stick to get Baylee out from under the bed and grab her.  They both went outside for a while, but as soon as I opened the door they were back under the bed where Shadow was hiding.  So I got the yardstick again, and this time they got a swat with it as they ran by me.  I left them in the kitchen while I went to the grocery store and when I got home and let them out....they ran right back to attack Shadow.  So once again the yardstick was put into play.

Finally, I got Shadow out from under the bed and checked her over.  Her neck and head had obviously been soaked with dog slobber as it was sticky.  But she had no puncture wounds that I could feel.  I gave her a good rub and put her on top of the bed.  A little while later I noticed Baylee's under ear as shown above.  Shadow, even with only back claws and teeth, had put up a good fight.  The picture doesn't really show the damage but there are several puncture wounds and a long, bloody scratch down the ear.  Baylee's ear is a mess.  So now all the dogs are taking turns cleaning it for her.  No sympathy from me, but I now know that it isn't just friendly cat chasing that is going on and the situation has to be human controlled!

Tired to the bone

I have four little doggies that have passed out in various spaces.  We were finally able to go walking tonight.  I was so tired and have so much homework, but I decided that I had to force myself to harness them up and go.  Once we were out the door I was so glad we went.  I don't know when was the last time we could go walking, the heat has been too much.  The dogs and their human needed to walk but it just couldn't be done.  

When we started out they wanted to rodeo a little bit, but the routine quickly came back.  Usually Sawyer leads the pack but tonight it was little Blossom (and she was the first to lay down and go to sleep!).  I took them at a fairly slow pace, and they still wanted to stop frequently.  We'll have to work back up to speed, but that's ok. 

When we got home I fed them outside (fed myself out there, too) and they chowed down.  Bowls were almost empty, for once.  They have gotten where they just nibble around but the walk must have revved up their appetites.  Uh oh, the boys just woke up and they are playing a little.  That's ok, I'm glad we all got some exercise and fresh air.

Doggie Fun

This is what doggies do for fun when Mama is gone!  The paper is what is left of the instruction manual for my food processor.  What I can't figure out is how it got off the counter and into the dogs' area in the kitchen. And then how it got into the living room.  Bentley and Blossom had escaped from the kitchen, so did they go over the gate with the book in their mouth?  Or did they go under the gate?  This was NOT what I wanted to come home to after school tonight! 

Baylee's Reaction

I took Baylee in yesterday for her shots and check up.  As usuall, everyone wanted to hold and pet her, they all love her!  She is 16 months old now and weighed in at 11.11!  So she is officially a tweenie.  That was the good news...bad news was that she had a reaction to one of the shots and I had to rush her back to the vet.  Her muzzle swelled up and she was going crazy trying to rub it on everything.  Thank heaven for these wonderful vets and their staff, they had already closed when I called but they all stayed there to treat her.

She's okay today, but no more lepto shots for her.  Maybe for the others, too.

Tales of the Food Bowl

It's finally happened, someone has emerged as the "food bowl controller".  I've been expecting this as it is just too much to expect four excited little doxies to share a bowl of food.

I've always just filled up the bowl and put it in the floor to let them graze at their lesiure.  They are fed once a day, in the evening, and strangely do not get very excited about the appearance of the food bowl.  Other dogs that I've had would start to pace right before feeding time, or sit patiently in front of the bowl.  But not this pack!  And, sometimes they clean out the bowl and sometimes they just nibble.  Usually they would take turns eating.  For a while Blossom would growl and hog the bowl but that seemed to pass.  I've always kept an eye on them as I didn't want any one of them to controll the bowl.

As an overly concerned "doggie parent" I had added another small bowl into the routine several weeks ago.  I had the thought that maybe adding another bowl would spark more interest in eating and keep down any conflicts if they arose.  Ok, fine.  Or so I thoughht.  Tonight Bentley decided that both bowls were his and no one was going to eat. He did a good job of protecting the bowls while intimidating any one who tried to invade the bowl territory!  I tried separating the dogs but that didn't work; they were all confused and did nothing but yap.  So I'm hoping that everyone did get enough to eat before this little episode.  Tomorrow I'll fill up four bowls and figure out how to distribute dogs and bowls separately.  They'll figure it out once I figure it out!

Cat Chasing

Bentley and Baylee have developed a great affection for cat chasing. They are also fond of cornering a cat and "yip, yip, yipping" until I arrive on the scene. And no matter how many times I tell them "leave it" they just can't resist.  Poor cats, at least  they can jump up onto something and escape!

What is really funny is that Baby Girl will stand her ground with them when they corner her.  She just looks at them like, "really, do you think I'm scared?"  Mitzie, the most skiddish of the cats, is not afraid of the dogs and will nap on the sofa back or arm while the dogs are napping.  Rarely do the dogs mess with her.  But poor Shadow, she is fair game for a chase.  I'll hear her poor little mew and then hear the sound of thundering paws chasing her around!  NO, NO, LEAVE IT!

Post script to the last post

I came home from work today and, as I came through the garage door into the laundry room, I was greeted by a brown, fuzzy wuzzy puppy!  Yes, Mr. Bentley had jumped over the doggie gate and was wonderfully free in the house.  I hope that he had just jumped over when he heard the garage door going up and not that he had been loose in the house all day!

I was in a rush and went on to choir practice pretty quick, and didn't even think about another break out.  Oh yes, when I got home from choir there he was again, welcome committee of one!  So now what do I do?  I may try raising the gate up a little to see if that will keep him for a while.  I have a feeling it won't last for long and he'll just jump over again.  At least, for now anyway, it is only one dog loose in the house and not all four!  Short legs and long body make jumping real easy!