Jake looks at his toy while Windy waits for hers.
Jake, Hope, Windy and their furparents wish you a Merry Christmas.
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Merry Christmas
Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Toys, Schnauzers
Tagged Christmas, Dachshunds, Schnauzers, toys
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Furkids and Indoor Trees
Angel dog Alex, a dachshund-terrier mix, loved to nap under the Christmas tree.
Sometimes dogs and Christmas trees lead to frustrating situations.
I’ve not had a problem for quite some time. On the bottom branches, of my artificial tree, I hang ornaments that are not enticing. No fluffy or stuffy danglers that may resemble dog toys are low on the tree. I use bells or metal ornaments.
As for wrapped presents: forget it. The ribbon is too tempting to the furkids, and, with Hope’s inclination to chew up paper when she can get it, the gifts reside elsewhere.
You can buy gates that make a pentagon shape and put it around your tree, provided you don’t have furkids who like to jump.
My tree has been up for two weeks, and no problems yet. Jake has walked under it but got startled when he brushed past a bell. I am so glad dachshunds are low to the ground.
Puppy Mill Girl Shows Her Smarts
Hope has been free of the Amish puppy mill for two years this month.
In spite of being in an Amish puppy mill for five years, Hope is an intelligent dog.
This month we celebrate her being out of the mill for two years, and today she surprised me.
We feed the furkids twice a day, with Windy being fed in a crate and Hope and Jake eating out of separate dishes.
While I was on the couch with the newspaper, I noticed Windy had stopped eating.
“Are you done?” I said. Windy wiggled.
Hope jumped and came within 3 feet of me. She yipped and wiggled. She knew I was going to let Windy out of the crate. When Windy is out, Hope goes and checks her bowl for leftovers.
No, Hope doesn’t understand sentences. Like any dog she knows certain words. But she has observed my body language and inflections and responded like a dog who lives in a house with a family.
This was an early Christmas present.
Posted in Dog Behavior, Dog Food, Puppy Mills, Schnauzers
Tagged Amish, puppy mills, Schnauzers
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Dogs Love Disgusting Smells
Windy enjoys lap time after a hard day.
If an odor is bad, I guarantee it that your furkid will revel in its source.
Dogs have millions more olfactory receptors than humans. They can detect multiple layers of odors. This is what makes them ideal to detect bombs, missing children, cadavers, cell phones and much more.
The other day while I was on my back doing some yoga, Windy came rushing into the room. Of course I was touched. She came up to my head and nuzzled me a bit. (Oh, how sweet.) Then she moved like lightening and shoved her tongue up my nose.
My rational brain kicked in after I jerked my head to the side and said: “NO!” While she was in the living room, Windy probably smelled and heard me in the master bedroom. For some reason my nose was too enticing.
Afterward I blew my nose then took a shower. Windy, however, was not enamored with my mango mandarin body lotion.
Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Behavior
Tagged Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, sense of smell, yoga
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Sleepy Dogs
Windy loves a fleece blanket for naps.
The cold, gray days of winter have turned my furkids into little bears.
Dogs need more than twice the amount of sleep humans need. Now I am sure Jake, Hope and Windy have surpassed that, which might not be a bad idea.
Dogs Get Cabin Fever Too
Hope prefers walks in nice weather.
Yellowstone National Park is home to a few hundred wolves. I can’t believe my furkids are their distant cousins.
Jake, Hope and Windy are getting cabin fever after a couple days with no walks and quick dashes out to the backyard. So, we gave in yesterday and took them out into 4 inches of snow in 25-degree weather. After sunset. I’m guessing the neighbors thought we were crazy. Everyone was bundled up, though.
Initially their excitement overcame their environment. After five minutes Hope wanted in. Jake and Windy trudged on for a couple more minutes then started to turn and walk me back home.
I recalled a National Geographic Channel program, The Rise of Black Wolf, which I saw last weekend. This is a wonderful show that profiled an unusual wolf throughout his life. I highly recommend it. Insightful and with beautiful scenery, The Rise of Black Wolf will be shown again at 3 p.m. Dec. 17.
As for Jake, Hope and Windy, they would rather watch something on the Food Network.
Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, Schnauzers
Tagged National Geographic Channel, Snow, Walks, wolves, Yellowstone National Park
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Dog Hero Receives Stem-Cell Treatment
Jake thinks all military dogs deserve good retirements.
In time for Christmas, a German Shepherd dog that served in Iraq and stayed with his dying partner is getting a chance at a longer life.
Lex, wounded, stayed with Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee after they were hit from a rocket-propelled grenade March 21, 2007. Later Lex was allowed to live with Lee’s family in Mississippi.
Now Lex, 11, has received a stem-cell operation to ease his arthritis. Lex is on the mend and his prognosis is good.
You can read more about this story at http://tinyurl.com/2e6y5gf.
House Training Tricky in Snow
No fans of snow, Jake, Hope and Windy prefer dry ground.
With about 4 inches of snow and single-digit temperatures, the furkids aren’t too thrilled with going outside to take care of their business.
Shoveling the steps, ramp and a potty path are not enough. Carrying Jake and Windy outside the door and chasing Hope outside are parts of their morning routines. Once outside I watch them. After they finish their jobs, I lavish praise on them.
Reinforcing housetraining during horrible weather is essential. This keeps us from having to do multiple clean-ups, even though we have potty pads in place.
However, I think my neighbors are questioning my sanity when they hear, “Goood girrrrrl,” “Way to go Jake,” and “What wonderful dogs!” several times a day.
Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, Schnauzers, Waste Management
Tagged Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, Housetraining Pads, Schnauzers, Snow, Winter
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More Progress for Puppy Mill Girl
Wanting a walk, Hope waits for her collar and leash.
Hope, our Amish puppy mill girl, has been free of the mill for two years, after having spent five years in it. Recently, she gave me more anticipation of her becoming a normal dog.
Hope loves to go for walks and gets excited when you ask her if she wants to have one.
After I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk, I started putting on shoes. Jake and Windy, my dachshunds, came up to me. Hope joined them. All were excited. I petted Jake and Windy. I put my hand out, palm up, to Hope. She sniffed and nibbled my fingers. What a breakthrough!
Nibbling fingers may not seem like much to most folks, but when we brought Hope home in September 2009 she would not come out of a crate. At one point to get her out I had to unscrew the top off of the crate.
I doubt she will become a snuggle bunny like Jake and Windy, but slowly her trust issues are fading.
Posted in Dog Behavior, Puppy Mills, Schnauzers
Tagged Amish, Dog Behavior, puppy mills, Schnauzers, Walks
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More Gifts for Dogs
Jake makes sure the bedspread stays put while it waits for the washing machine.
How many furparents buy presents for their dogs?
A recent poll sponsored by the Associated Press and Petside.com shows 53 percent of all pet owners plan to by gifts for their furkids this season.
Women are more likely than men, 56 to 49 percent, to buy gifts for their pets, according to the poll.
If you need a cheap gift, once again fabric remnants are an idea. I once mentioned buying fabric scraps to make bandanas, but look for fleece scraps. Those make nice blankets. You don’t have to sew the edges unless you want to.
Jake, Hope and Windy have some toys for Christmas morning. A couple, whom we have been friends with for years, sent them a giant dog Pez dispenser with treats to fit in it. They ordered it from ThinkGeek.com.
Please don’t let Jake, Hope and Windy know what Sandy Paws will be bringing.
Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Accessories, Dog Toys, Schnauzers
Tagged Christmas, Dachshunds, dog toys, Pez, Schnauzers, Shopping
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