Getting the Christmas picture done (early)

Last year I didn't get the dogs' Christmas picture made until almost New Years.  By the time I got the cards and mailed them out it was, well, let's just say early to mid-January.  I really was embarrassed but was determined to send out a card as I had done the first year we were together.  I made a note to myself that I would not be late with the picture taking/card sending going forward.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving I realized that I had a little time that afternoon when I could try to shoot a picture.  Yes, I had many other things I should be doing but I decided that it was time to get out the tripod and have a doggie photo shoot. The day was overcast so the light was perfect.  I had wanted to take them somewhere and do the picture in a scenic area...in my dreams, right?  So I set up a little Christmas scene on the much used glider in the back yard and commenced to shoot.

I'm happy to say that in the short time I had to do this that it got done.  I ordered the pictures the next day and the cards are here, ready to be addressed and mailed.    While the project is done I have to confess that 1)  the dogs would have looked better had they been bathed but it was either bathe the dogs or take the picture that afternoon 2) I did not edit the picture.  All I did was crop.  No pulling one dog from one frame and putting together a composite shot.  This is the way they really look.  I'm not thrilled with the picture but it isn't too bad either.  At least for this year I've kept my resolution!

Blogger has decided that I've used up all my free picture space so until I figure out what to do here I have no pictures to share (boo).

I'm tired

I haven't been posting as much as I would like, haven't been reading blogs as much as I would like.  Life is busy.  Between the non-productive job, school and preparing for Thanksgiving I've been busy.   And, I'm tired, too!

I had to smile this afternoon when I saw Blossom sleeping in the crate.  She never sleeps in the crate during the day, so I knew she was really tired.

"It is not easy being cute all the time"

Sofa change

Have you ever looked under the sofa cushions for change? Tonight I moved the sofa for a much needed cleaning of the floor underneath.  I won't go into what all I found under there but let's just say there were quite a few unfinished raw hide bones!  The dogs were ecstatic!  This was their version of finding change in the sofa cushions!  They all chewed and chewed and have now passed out, probably dreaming of the next sofa cleaning!

How to get your dogs to eat

This is easy.  Your dog won't eat?  Easy solution:  feed them kitty kibble.  Yes, that's right.  Feed them kitty kibble.  That's what I did last night and the dogs chowed down.  No, it was not intentional.  It was an absent minded mistake!

This group of dogs is so different with their eating practices.  Every dog that I've ever had expected to be fed at a specific time each evening.  If I didn't fill the food bowl at precisely the appointed time the dog(s) would (a) sit by the bowl and stare at me or (b) run around me in circles until I got with the program and fed them.  Then they would begin to eat as soon as the food was in the bowl.  But not this group of dogs.  I can feed them early or late and they don't care; they never get concerned about the empty food bowls unless it is getting really late. When I do fill the bowls they don't get too excited.  Meal time is a leisurely experience.  I know it is not a good practice but I just leave the bowls down for an hour or more until they have finished. 

 

Last night I had school.  And a final exam.  Plus I was thinking about work, Thanksgiving, house cleaning, tree trimming and everything under the sun except what I was doing.  I fed the dogs before I left for school, putting yogurt and oatmeal topping on top of each bowl of kibble.  Before I left I looked in the kitchen and the bowls were almost empty.  Bently and Blossom were just gobbling down the food.  Wow, I thought, they must have been really hungry.  So I went back to re-fill one of the bowls with a little more kibble just in case one of them didn't get enough. 

 

And then I realized what I had done:  I had filled their bowls with the kibble that Lacey eats.  No wonder they were gobbling down their food.  What a treat for them!  I'm sure they were expecting the same tonight when I filled their bowls, how disappointed they were!  No more kitty kibble for you, my dears!

I didn't do it

Really, look at me.  I'm just that sweel little warm, brown, fuzzy puppy that rode home from Louisiana in your lap.  I'm not a b.d. (bad dog).  Now, look Mom, just because I've learned to climb over the baby gate on one side of the kitchen and then push aside the stand alone gate when you leave doesn't mean I'm a b.d.  Come on, give me credit.  I thought it was pretty smart.  And I didn't do anything while I was loose in the house. 

 

No, it was that silly little Blossom dog who went under the gate after I got out and then she proceeded to shred your Sunday paper.  So don't blame me for that.  She was also the one that did the poop in the dining room, I know it was her, she did it! It's not my fault, I didn't do it!

Our New Way to Travel

Our human mom got a new car.  But, dog-gone it, she makes us ride in a crate in the back.  No more breathing on the windows and piling into her lap while she drives, or so she says.  We'll see how long this crate thing lasts.

Poor Sawyer

I felt so bad for Sawyer last night.  I had school and couldn't get out of the office a little early like I usually do, so I was on a tight schedule to get home, let the dogs out and get back out the door.  I fed the dogs because I never know what time I will get home and I feel bad if it is late and they haven't eaten.  Then I decided to eat two pieces of cold pizza, just in case class ran late (which it did, glad I ate the pizza).  I was standing at the sink, eating the pizza; all the dogs, except Sawyer, were eating.  He was standing in the laundry room by the door into the garage.  I asked him what he was doing, and he just looked at me and wagged his tail.  The scene continued for a minute or two and then he began to whine.  He has a soft whine, but it is a very sad little whine.  Then I realized what he wanted...he wanted to go for a walk.  He had been looking up at the dryer the whole time he was standing there - his harness and the lead was on top of the dryer.  Then I felt so bad because I knew there would be no walk for him.  I felt like a real bad doggie-mama when I put them in the kitchen when I left a few minutes later.  Poor Sawyer, he is such a sweet-hearted dog and he just wanted a walk.

Sawyer loves to run the fence when the neighbor's dogs are out.  When I tell him to "leave it" or to "get away from the fence"  he always gives me this look.  I think he is saying, "Aw Ma, do I have to?  Don't you understand - there are dogs on the other side of our fence!"

A Dog's Simple Sunday

In today's post on Small Simple Things I didn't mention what the dogs were doing.  The girls curled up this morning and settled in for a little nap, just a simple thing.

And where were the boys while the girls were snoozing so soundly?  Sacked out on the sofa, after all they are sofa sleepers!

I am not a dog

I don't know why everyone thinks I'm a dog.  Okay, I know I have four short little legs and I walk on all four and I just happen to have a body shaped like these other creatures who really are dogs.  But I am not a dog.  Look into my face, look at my eyes.  Don't you see, I'm not a dog.

I am Baylee, the beautifully elegant ... well, I don't know what I am, but I am not a dog.  

If these other creatures were not here I know that my life would be so different.  For one thing, I would not have to sleep in the kitchen with that Sawyer boy-dog.  I would have my own little crate next to my human Mama's bed.  And I'm sure I would not have to eat that kibble food, although it really isn't too bad when it is mixed with some sweet potatoes or fresh veggies. Plus, I would not have to tolerate the wild playing and rough housing that goes on between the creatures.  Do you really think I enjoy having you pull on my ears and roll me around?  Enough of that nonsense!

And that Bentley boy-dog, good grief, he will not leave me alone.  I know he just adores me, but I really get tired of his flirting and what is with that trying to jump on my back.  Really, guy, I'm spayed and not interested in that stuff.  Thank goodness my Mama doesn't crate me with him.  He just can't leave me alone.  He is a dog, I am not.

The only itsy-bitsy thing that might make me be like a dog is that I love the trash.  If I find a bag waiting by the door to be taken out, it is all mine!  Rip, rip, rip and it is all out and over the floor!  Mmmm, garbage. But my fondness of trash is just my little secret.  Oh, did I mention that I love to chase cats, too.  But I am not a dog!

Blossom's Ears

Blossom is over 2 1/2 years old, so she is now an adult and her coat has reached its max, so to speak.  It is nice but not over luxurious either.  However, her ears and tail are amazing!  Last night I was experimenting with the camera and she just happened to pose so I could shoot her ears.  They were not combed and she needs a bath, but while I could get her to look at me I took pictures!

Blossom says, "Ha ha!  I may be a might mini diva dog but my ears can beat your ears any day!"

Several thoughts on dog ownership

I made a late afternoon trip to PetsMart to buy the usual stuff (food, cat litter,toys) and I remembered that I have been meaning to write this post ever since the Reliant show.  It is a usual thing for PetsMart to have an adoption going on on Saturday but today they had probably 30 or more dogs for adoption.  They had big dogs and small dogs, no really young puppies.  There were lots of cats and kittens, too. Since it was late in the day I had the feeling that most of these would be going  back to either a shelter or their foster homes.   I didn't stop to really look at the dogs, it just breaks my heart to think that they need a good, loving home.  I know my house is full, so I have to just keep walking!

 

Thought #1:  I've always been a supporter of the spay/neuter concept.  All of my animals, with the exception of Bentley, are spayed or neutered.  When Bentley finishes (no wait, when I give up!) then I will have him neutered, too.  I've had several people in the neighborhood ask me if I want to breed him and I always have to think "no, not to your quite right dachshund that obviously has some mysteries in the family tree".  If all dog owners spayed/neutered their dogs there wouldn't be so many dogs looking for homes.  Leave the breeding to experts who understand bloodlines and genetics!

Thought #2:  These dogs are the first dogs that I've had that were purebred dogs (other than the poodle that wandered up one night).  I've always had shelter dogs or little mutt dogs.  They were all good dogs.  

If you research your breed you will know about the characteristics of the breed and any special needs they have.  For example, dachshunds bark and burrow because they were bred to hunt small animals that lived underground.  They are also known to be stubborn, but really they are just intelligent, independent thinkers.  And, the standard dachshund can have serious back problems.

If you buy a purebred dog from a reputable breeder you will meet the parents and you will have all your questions answered about the breed and your puppy.  The breeder can tell you about the puppy's bloodlines and your puppy will be well socialized, too.  You will know what to expect from your dog and how to approach training.

I have nothing but good things to say about supporting a shelter, but I have also come to realize the value of a purebred dog.

Thought #3:  At the Reliant show there were the show dogs and vendors, lots of good vendors.  But there were several long rows of rescue groups with booths set up.  Of course, they all had dogs there that were available for adoption.  I told another steward that I was walking around with that I had learned it was best not to make eye contact with any of the dogs!  I couldn't stay in the rescue area very long, it was just too sad for me!  But I was also reminded what wonderful, loving people work with rescue programs.  Most of the dogs are in foster homes because their owners just couldn't keep them but wanted them to have a loving home.  Sometimes, though, the former owner didn't research the breed before getting the dog and they weren't prepared for the dog's behaviors and attitudes.  I spent several minutes with the dachshund group and thought to myself that if I didn't already have a houseful how easy it would be to take a rescue dog for a pet.

So I need to conclude this lengthy post.  Here's the main point:  Do not buy a puppy in a pet store or along side the road.  If you want a shelter dog, check out the dog carefully since you don't know where the dog came from and what breed characteristics he may have.  Only buy a purebred dog from a reputable breeder.  Consider adopting a rescue dog, too.  And please, spay or neuter your dog as soon as they are old enough.

Bentley, Eat your egg

I still have this idea that I can make Bentley into a show dog.  Kinda like a "Rocky" or "Karate Kid" story, the little underdog that makes it big.  I know, I know but I can always dream, right?  He is a good looking dog and, for the most part, does well in the ring.  I keep thinking that if I can get some weight on him and get his coat to look a little better that he might at least get a few points. 

There are some fall shows coming up so I decided to get serious about getting him ready.  Step one:  diet.  One thing that I really haven't been doing is feeding the dogs an egg on a regular basis.  It is easy enough to open a can of green beans and divide it among their bowls.  Same with yogurt or matchstick carrots.  So tonight as I was boiling some eggs for my lunches I decided that I would make several extra for the dogs.  When I divide food among the dogs I always wonder if everyone really gets a fair portion since they all eat out of each other's bowls.  So to make sure that Bentley really got a whole egg I decided to resort to a little sneakiness.  I had seen him and Sawyer standing by the back door earlier so I took one of the eggs in my hand and opened the door without calling them.  Sawyer had disappeared but Bentley was still close by and he went out with me.  First part of the mission was successful!

 

I led him away from the door so the others couldn't see him get the egg.  I knew that they would get theirs later so I didn't feel too sneaky. I held out the egg expecting him to take it and proceed to chomp it down.  No, instead he just smelled and licked it.   I finally had to break it up in chunks for him and then he started to eat it.  But he ate it very slowly and very politely.  It took him several minutes to finish the one egg!  I think he realized he had no competition so he didn't need to gobble but I also wondered if deep down inside he is just a well-mannered little house dog that has to be Mr. Big Stuff with his peers!