Breaking up is hard to do

Chester found a new home last week. It was a hard decision, but since Bear was born, he hasn't gotten the attention he is accustomed to. He licks obsessively when he's stressed and it got to the point that he licked his entire leg bald. Plus, if we'd leave him for a long time in the day (like to go to the zoo), he'd get us back by having accidents (not while we were gone, but after we'd get home). With me going back to work and DMP at school all day, that added up to both an unhappy dog and a very unhappy me...

In the end, I can't even feel TOO bad since he found a home in his version of doggie heaven. He went to live with a woman who is retired and lives alone. She had a doxie for 15 years who just died and she is looking for a little dog to hang out with her all day and be spoiled. He'll have so much attention, petting and treats. He'll even get to sleep on her bed (something never allowed here!). We'll miss him, but I think it was a solution that works best for everyone.

I was particularly impressed with how EJ handled things. She is typically melodramatic and still occasionally has dramatic moments where she "misses" Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Holly, that died 3-4 years ago. I was really afraid that she'd have a hard time. She cried when we talked about it, but she understood that it was better for Chester and ended up comforting me. Maybe my girl is growing up a bit?

Shave and a haircut...

Chester got a major haircut this week. We almost don't recognize him- he looks like a "normal" naked buggy-eyed chihuahua! Hopefully he enjoys his new, cooler, haircut!

Spot the Chihuahua

So you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Our neighbor Stacy inspired us to try training Chester some more. So far, he will pretty reliably "sit" and go "up" if he knows there is a treat involved. This is an example of "up". Next up? Dancing.

By the way- Chihuahua's are dumb. Small dog = Small brain :) Once he sees a treat, it is really hard for him to focus on any other thought than "Treat! I'm gonna get a treat! Where's the treat?".

BTW- Chester has nothin' on my cousin's dog (his twin!). Check out Lily's trick on their blog.

Why, yes...

My dog is kinda spoiled. Why do you ask? Is the leopard-print mini-couch too much?

(don't freak out- I got it for $5 from someone on Craigslist)

Furbabies

Warning: This blog is about our pets. Seriously. I just thought I'd warn you and possibly head off the mockery. Possibly. We have become THOSE people. You know, pet people who consider their pets as bona fide parts of their family. Get over it :)
The way I go on about the Third Child, people are suprised to find out that we also have a cat. This is Ollie- our original Furbaby. He is about a year older that EJ and is completely in love with DMP. He would love nothing more than for me to kick the bucket and leave him to be with DMP in peace.

He is in his lap for most of his 6 hr. nightly shift. The second DMP looks like he might be waking up, Ollie is there, begging for loves. Mostly I tolerate him- it isn't fun being the one that is being "shoved out" all the time. DMP loves him, though so I guess he can stay.

Look at this look of total adoration:

The funny joke is that he has his boyfriend and I have mine. We are often found with our respective boyfriends watching TV or reading. I guess things are equal, then.

Speaking of boyfriend, look how cute mine is! He is much cuter in real life. Usually every picture we take makes him look like an ugly, buggy eyed chihuahua which he totally doesn't in real life.
Oh, and I had to share his latest humiliation. EJ got a "happy birthday" accessory set from Build a Bear and we couldn't help but try it on Chester. Poor Doggie.

And.... We're Back!

A full vacation report is coming, but we are back home safely after a LOOONG drive yesterday. Ollie is very relieved we are back to love and feed him (every time we leaves he thinks he is done for this time for sure!).

We got back last night at midnight (!) to one very, very happy Chiuhuahua. He is too small to contain the excitement of having his family go. We can't open the car door without him jumping in and refusing to get out until he sees that we're all going in the house together!

It is good to be home!

Dog People

EJ took this one- awesome.

We have offically become "dog people". Worse, we've become "small dog people". Or maybe it is just me... I find myself resisting the urge to buy things for Chester - NOT clothes, but pretty much everything but.

Last night I was at Petsmart buying doggie poo bags and flea/tick repellent and I discovered that they have collar charms. Basically dog bling. I womanfully resisted. The next isle over, I discovered that they have tiny doggy sun visors. So cute! I resisted knowing that Chester would never wear it.

The "dog face" begging for DMP's dinner.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at The Thrift Store in Heber and I found myself seriously contemplating a small, yellow, doggy rain coat- complete with little hat. "I can't put him in clothes," I thought "That is silly. Plus with his long hair he'd look terrible. But he does hate going outside in the rain so maybe he'd like it...". Seriously. That was my thought process.

I also find myself wanting to take him everywhere with me- the store, in the car, on road trips- you know. I was thinking as I drove in to work today "I wonder if I could convince HR that he is my service dog...". There is just something so nice and soothing to have a silky-soft doggie follow me around. I find myself craving cuddling up with him on the couch after a long day. I don't even mind the doggie breath.

TV Time (bad pic of me...)

He has quickly become such a part of our lives- the girls adore him. Birdy still asks for him first thing every morning. EJ loves to give him treats and Birdy loves to boss him around. We are so lucky we found such an awesome doggie for us!

Napping with me when I was sick.

This is why we have a dog

Everyone in our family has a part to play. DMP's job is to be warm in the winter. EJ's job is to pick up toys. Birdy's job is to pick on her sister, apparently.  Chester- he is soft, fuzzy and picks up food that falls on the ground.

We got a dog so that we wouldn't have to deal with all that tedious sweeping. Serously- I was jealous of my friends who had dogs and small babies eating in high chairs. Dogs slurp up the dropped food lickety split.  It doesn't count as feeding them "people food" that way- right?

More Chester!

Wow- I got the most comments ever on my post about Chester. A couple of you asked for his "back story" since he is a rescue (meaning a dog we adopted from an organization that takes pets that would otherwise be taken to a shelter and likely destroyed).

The rescue we adopted him from keeps their dogs at a local vet shop, so the person who actually does the "intake" on the dogs is different than anyone who is helping people to adopt them. In Chester's case, he had only been there a couple of days and they didn't know any details about his family before us- just that he was quiet, gentle, had a good history with small children, cats and was housebroken.

So far as we can tell, he was well taken care of and given lots of "people food" - either given as "treats" while cooking or from the table. We know this because he follows us closely and expectantly when we are in the kitchen.  Apparently, eating off the floor is SO very fun, because he will pick up two or three pieces of his food and drop them on the floor just so he can pick it up and eat it.

DMP and I have discussed things seriously and have decided that, even though we have a Chihuahua, we will NOT dress him in dumb outfits. But gay-looking pirate bandanas are OK:

He LOVES to give kisses- on your face, your hands, any exposed skin, really.  I think he is just fishing for traces of food :)  He totally ignores the cat- which is great. I only wanted to increase the animal population here if it wasn't a "chasing and bickering" addition like Jack was (sorry Cyndi!).

So that is Chester's story- I should have made something up, but you know I'm no good at that kind of thing!

My New Boyfriend

I have a new boyfriend. He is about 3 years old, a redhead and is totally devoted to me.  DMP doesn't mind much- he has his own boyfriend (Ollie the cat).

My bofriend's name is Chester:



I can (and have) heard the collective groan from my parents and sisters- as a family we haven't had much luck with doggies.  However, Chester is super-mellow, already potty trained (really!) and loves the girls, DMP and, most of all, me. 

Chester is a long-haired chihuahua but he isn't yappy (we've hardly heard him"talk") or jumpy. Really all he is interested in is a warm lap to snuggle on.  We feel pretty lucky he has joined our family. Cross your fingers that he doesn't develop any "issues" as he gets more used to our family.

EJ is just over the moon about having her own dog. She is kind of disappointed that he doesn't know any "tricks" (yet) like "sit" or "play dead".  She has this to say about him:

I love Chester. He likes his tummy rubbed and he loves to follow Mommy and me. And he loves, sort of his drink and his food really really much. Right now he is licking his paw.  I love Chester!

Birdy loves that she has someone smaller than her to scold and the first thing she has said every morning since we got him is "I luff my puppy". She thinks his name is Chihuahua.

Here is one more pic for the road- isn't he cute and totally not naked buggy-eyed Chihuahua-like?