Those ears, oh my!

Little Blossom loves the winter sun.  But I love her ears and her tail!

Just another day

Today has been a fun day, although a long one.  Up early and on the road to the dog show in Rosenberg, Texas (about 2 1/2 hours east of us). As I started out to the car with the first load of last-minute-things-to load Bentley ran ahead of me through the kitchen, through the laundry room and was waiting excitedly at the door into the garage.  This little guy knew he was going on a road trip! He went in and out with me as I loaded and then was ready to hop in the front seat and settle in.  I think he knows the clues: lots of grooming and fussing over him, a bath the night before, and then up earlier than usual.  He's too smart!

The sky was just beginning to turn light along the horizon as we pulled up onto the freeway.  I love watching the sunrise while driving.  Maybe that's one of the reasons I like these day trips to shows.  There were no clouds this morning, just a clear sky with the morning star shining down on us. The temperature dropped below freezing for a while and there was a heavy frost that made the pastures and fields look like snow had fallen.  Beautiful!

The show venue was a little tricky to find; thank goodness we had plenty of time.  It was inside one of the show barns with a packed dirt floor.  Oh joy trying to push a cart with a crated dog and bags of gear piled on it!  Fortunately I had worn sneakers to drive over and then changed into dress boots before walking inside.  I kept Bentley off the floor at first, but then decided to just not worry about him.  I gave him a quick brushing and a spray with finishing spray and he was ready for the ring. 

 

I had one minor panic when I realized I couldn't find his show lead anywhere.  I know I had it when we left the car, but where it is now is a mystery.  I had a lesser quality lead with me, but managed to find one vendor that sold the martingale leads. Lesson learned to always have an extra with me and to keep all of them secured. 

So how did the little guy do in the ring?  He was great!  Very relaxed and walked fairly well.  The judge was very nice, but didn't give me time to stack him.  She did everyone that way - I think she knew what she was looking for in the breeds she judged. He took Reserve Winners Dog and made his Mom very proud! I did have problems keeping that long dachshund nose out of the dirt - he loved it!

Same song, different verse

I didn't think the day would ever come when I could go somewhere without a) a small bag of Goldfish and b) a plastic bag containing a diaper, training pants, or a pair of size 2 underwear in my purse.

Now look at what's in my purse.  Dog treats and poop-pick up bags.  Oh well, life is good.

Cheering 'em on!

BLOSSOM:  I'm so cute, why just look what my Mama bought me!  A little cheerleader outfit!  I've never had an outfit before, but now I feel so special. I'm ready to cheer my team on to victory.

They're winning the Sugar Bowl tonight!   Yes, I now think I'm a "Hotty Toddy Girl"!

BENTLEY:  I'm sporting my nice warm fleece jacket to support my team.  They, uh, had a bad night in Houston this past week.  I don't take all this sports stuff too seriously, but I love my jacket. 

No way!

No, I will not open my eyes so you can make my picture.  I will not do it and you can't make me.  I do not want my picture made today!

Stolen cookie - oh joy!

My oldest grandchild (who is old enough to know better) left a cookie unattended on the sofa this morning.  I found out later there were 3 pieces in the box when he left it.  Bentley has no shame and by the time I caught him he was quietly consuming his second cookie probably thinking that Santa had come early just for him.  So far he has had no side effects. 

Do I love this little rascal?  Of course, he's spoiled rotten.

Almost clean, not!

My Mama gave me a bath - on Sunday afternoon, can you believe it? I showed her...as soon as she finished with me I headed straight out into the dirt and gave myself a good roll.  Ha ha Mom, take that!  Ooops, she's coming after me with the garden hose to wash me down, better run now!

Where I Stand

Little blog, I have not forgotten you.  While I have posted dog stuff on my main blog, Small Simple Things of Life I still intend to keep this blog going.  I have many dog things to write about, especially since I've done several dog shows this summer and realized that I know absolutely nothing about dogs! I have discoveries to write about, but first...

This picture was on Facebook this morning; it speaks for itself.  I'm a strong proponent of spaying and neutering your dogs. Why would you want to bring more puppies into the world unless you are an experienced dog breeder who understands bloodlines, genetics, breeding dogs, whelping puppies, and is willing to bear the cost of veterinary care for mama dog and her litter.  And, is willing to provide around the clock care for newborn puppies for weeks. 

Over the years I've heard people say the following:

• Oh, I just want to let her have one litter before I have her spayed. Really?  Do you think that the future owners of those puppies, provided you can find homes for them, will say the same thing?  How many dogs do you want to descend from your dog?
• My neighbor down the street has a beautiful poodle and I'm going to breed her to him.  Really?  What kind of dogs do you think your dog will throw?
• I've had people stop me and ask me if I want to "mate" my dog.  Really, What makes you think I would breed my pure blood, registered dog to your quite not right dachshund that has a smooth coat. What makes you think you have a Bichon there, mister?  Bichon's do not have long skinny smooth coat legs.  Can you imagine what goofy looking dogs you would end up with?

So here's a quick tour of where I stand:  Spay and neuter your dogs.  Only buy from a reputable breeder that lets you see his/her dogs and where he/she keeps them.  If you have a heart for rescue, then find a group that fully vets their rescues and take one of their dogs (and make a nice donation to their group in appreciation for giving you your forever friend).  And what about all the shelters that are brimming over with dogs?  They wouldn't be full if those dog's parents had been spayed or neutered!

Spay, Neuter, and leave the breeding to the experts!

Girl Dog Stress

I'm having a real hard time looking cute for this picture.  I'm so stressed out.  Today was my bath day and even though now I'm all fluffy and clean and smell good I'm sitting on this table.  You know what that means - I'm getting the dreaded pawdicure.  It's so stressful to be a little girl dog.

Such talent!

We've been to several dog shows during the month of July.  Bentley did okay on some days and not so okay on others.  I'm changing my tactics and starting over with training, but more on that in another post.  While Bentley's skill in the ring is lacking he has made up for it in other ways.  One of them is a skill that he displayed while I was dropping off the other dogs to board while we went to Dallas. 

As usual, I had all dogs in a harness and attached to the Pet Walker leash with all four dogs on one leash.  The girls had already been taken to the check in station and I was filling out papers when the kennel tech came to get Sawyer.  When I reached down to hand him over I realized that he was already off the leash because Bentley had chewed through both his leash and Sawyer's!  In less than 2 minutes time!  Such skill and talent!

The scenario repeated itself when I dropped them off to board while we went to Houston.  This time I was short 2 leashes so I had Bentley on the retractable and Blossom on her individual leash.  Blossom and Sawyer were taken first.  When they came back for Baylee I found that Bentley had chewed through the retractable leash and was working on Baylee's leash!  So he has ruined 5 leashes, including the retractable leash I had planned to use to walk him while in Houston.  Grrr!

So while we were browsing through all the many vendors at the show I decided to pick up several over the head leads to use when just walking them a short distance.  They are not as secure as a harness and leash, but Mr. Super Chewer will have a harder time chewing his way through these.  Or, at least I hope that will be the case.  We'll see. 

"My Mama loves me, I know she does.  I'm spoiled rotten!"

Where am I?

Hello everyone, Bentley here for the next few posts.  Mom told me I could write about the little adventure I'm having.  Where am I?  Well, yesterday morning Mom and I dropped off the other little yappers at the "resort" and then she told me we were headed to Big D.  Big D?  What is that, Big  Dog?  Turned out it is a really big city, I'm in Dallas, Texas!

It was a really long ride.  We stopped once in Austin for Mom to get some stuff from a lady to bring up here, seems a lot of people found out we were coming and they asked us to take stuff in our car.  And then we stopped at a rest stop where we walked around and Mom ate a sandwich.  She shared a bite with me and it was yummy.  She left me in the car for a few minutes while she went in a building, but the car windows were down a bit and she put up the sunshades so I didn't get hot.  Then we were on the road some more, but I went to sleep while Mom drove us right into this big city.

We got to the dog show, unloaded our car and set up our space, Mom groomed me a little and then we walked around.  Mom said she wanted me to get familiar with the hall so I wouldn't be spooked in the morning.  By the time we finally got to our hotel I was ready for some shut-eye!

This morning we were up early.  I love hotels and would have been happy to just stay there all day, but Mom had me over at the show bright and early.  Don't I look good?  I only look like this for a minute or two and then I'm messed up again, drives Mom crazy!  Mom decorated our space for the Fourth of July, isn't that fun? She said they are having a contest and are paying cash prizes, we need to win!

After the show Mom put me back in the car and told me were going to see the sites.  I wasn't too excited as she wound around on those city streets, but the first place she took me was a blast. (Note from  Dachshund Mom:  we visited Dallas Heritage Village located in the Old City Park).  I had so much fun and would have had more fun if Mom would have let me chase all those squirrels that were running around!

There must be at least 10 squirrels over there under that tree.  Look at 'em, Mom!

Hey squirrels - if I wasn't on this silly leash I would so have you all up that tree!

We stayed here for quite a while.  Mom couldn't take me inside any of the buildings, but she made pictures and I just had fun walking around.  She's going to do a post on her blog if you want the human scoop on this place.

Then it was back in the car - I was ready for some air-conditioning and a nap.  But the nap wasn't to be.  We drove back through the city streets and then, gulp, my Mom drove our car right down under a building!  Yeah, no kidding, she did!  I wasn't sure what was going on, but then we got out and rode up an elevator and we were right in the heart of Big D!  How did my Mom do that?

Mom found another neat thing for us to do.  This is a big park and she said it is built over a freeway, imagine that!  We walked around and then we got on this thing she called a trolley (looked like a bus to me) and we rode on it for a long time.

I sat in Mom's lap for a while, and then I moved down into the floor.  People wanted to pet me and I obliged them very nicely.

Getting off this thing was scary.  Mom had to carry me because the steps were steep and then there was a gap to the curb.  I started to freak out when she tried to pick me up and she didn't get a good grip on me.  I was somewhat dangling as she came down the steps and landed on the curb - you would have thought that one of the trolley men or someone would have helped her!  But, she got us back onto a sidewalk and we went back to the park and ate at a restaurant.  Well, Mom ate and I laid under the table.  Can you imagine?  I got to go to a restaurant!  We sat on a patio and enjoyed the view of the park.  Mom and I got annoyed with some people sitting outside the restaurant that kept letting their two big dogs wander over and taunt me.  I do not like big dogs and, besides, I'm almost human and don't want you sticking your slimey dog nose in mine.

We walked around some more after we ate, but it was getting hot.  Mom was worried about me getting too hot and too tired, so we went back down under that building and got in our car.  We came back to the hotel.  She said we might go back there tomorrow and see some more things.  I'm really not sure what is going on here, but I'm having fun doing new things!  Let's just skip that dog show Mom and go places!

This little guy is all mine

This picture was made with the so-so cell phone, so it isn't the greatest quality.  But I think it has become a favorite of mine.  Here's why:

It is Saturday morning and Bentley and I have headed down to the Farmers' Market at the Historic Pearl Brewery.  This has to be one of my favorite things to do; I love fresh veggies and all the good things they sell as well as the historic nature of the grounds.  I usually take Bentley because he needs socializing and he is the best shopper of the 4 dogs.  He also has no problems with people petting him, so he is the perfect companion.

He is not neatly groomed.  In fact, we were there between rain showers so he is wet and a little muddy underneath.  But this is the look I love.  It is the true Bentley, just laid back and so unworried.

So, it isn't the best picture by many standards, but this is the little guy that I love and he is all mine!