Blossom's Little Basket

Blossom likes to sleep in this basket in my sewing room whenever I have a few moments to go in there to sew.  It has a quilt that I never finished in it, perfect for her to snuggle down into!

Sweet Dreams!

Bentley's 2nd show

We travelled north this morning to a dog show just outside Austin.  Bentley did great and brought home three ribbons, mostly by default since he was the only dog in his class.  But we did get to go in the ring two times and got some very valuable experience. 

I've realized that I probably haven't been feeding him the right food, oops!  He is way too skinny since the specialized food I've had him on is designed to keep off the weight that can cause dachshund back problems.  I had another breeder tell me that Bentley needs muscle build up, and I believe that after seeing the beautiful finished dachshunds he was in the ring with today. 

And, I had bathed him last night and was thinking that he really looked so good until I looked at him closely after arriving at the show and realized that he had dandruff!  I think it is time for a new shampoo and maybe conditioner, too.  Hopefully, changing the diet will also help his coat to improve.  

Stephanie and Jaydon went along and she made some pictures while we were in the ring.  The show was in a livestock building and the lighting was not good, but she got some good shots.

Bentley on the table



Bentley on a little walk



Bentley brought home a new friend from the show!

Harvest Festival

This afternoon/evening was our church's Harvest Festival.  Bentley won the lottery because he has a show next Saturday and he needs socializing so he got to go.  He wasn't sure at first what was going on, but he let children and adults pet him.  I did hold his lead close because he wanted to pull back.  Most children knew to ask to pet him and also to let him smell them first.  There were a few small ones that were afraid, so it was fun to coax them with petting a dog! He never jumped or lunged at anyone and everyone commented about how handsome he is!  He is one tired puppy tonight!

I couldn't get a decent picture of him but I decided to post this one because it shows his beautiful black beard and also how the fur is starting to come in on his chest.  I noticed this afternoon that the fur on his back seems to be darkening a little and I can see it starting to thicken on top of his neck.   I'm not sure if this is winter coat or if it is his dachshund long hair starting to finally come in.

He was so cute when I snapped this, but I made it with one hand and it is blurry.  I've left it small so it isn't as bad. 
But what a handsome fella!

Baylee: The Little Magician

We had only walked a short distance tonight when I felt the tension on the lead change.  When I glanced down I realized that Sawyer was tangled in his own lead.  As I was getting him untangled Baylee suddenly started doing a contortionist type movement, like a twist and a turn all at once.  She twisted her head up and then down, and quick as a wink she was stepping out of her harness!  We were on the busiest street in the neighborhood at 5:30 p.m., the busiest time.  I had the quick presence of mind to hook my finger in her collar, just in case she freaked out and bolted.  I got her back in the harness and re-hitched to the lead (while holding the lead with the other three dancing like little wiggle worms).

I still haven't figured out what happened.  I had harnessed her first tonight, but she must have been squirming around too much and I didn't get it on right and just didn't realize it.  But I still wonder if she just isn't a little magician that got herself out of the harness!

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!