The War on the Stuffies

Lucy, Ace Reporter, coming to you with breaking news. Our house’s Dog Nation has declared war on the Family Stuffies.

There were small incidents beginning before the Thanksgiving holidays. An antler here, an ear there. Mom had been in bed sick for a few days with a bad cold, so at first it was all chalked up to boredom. And, as usual, the stuffies were easy targets. Riley’s stuffie, Ratty D, lost his nose in one incident. Mom super glued it back on. And, as usual, Chia was blamed.

Chia: Excuse me, Ace Reporter Lucy! I didn’t do it! I really didn’t! Really!

Yes, that’s what Chia claimed the entire time, but no one believed her. Then we found out she was telling the shocking truth!

Last Friday Christmas decorations and stuffies had been brought down from the attic, including Christmas Reindeer. Chia immediately claimed the reindeer (NOT Riley’s reindeer, Rainey) and carried it everywhere through the house with her. I was carefully watching, waiting to catch her in the act of wanton destruction, but all seemed quiet (OK, maybe not exactly quiet) on the home front.

Then, one evening when brother Andrew was here, Riley walked into the living room with his reindeer Rainey’s head!!! Mom gasped in shock and Riley wagged his tail. He had beheaded one of his best friends, the only stuffy he had never harmed. This was going on two Christmases that Riley had loved and cherished Rainey, and now this! WARNING: Picture of graphic violence to follow:

All the stuffing had also been removed from Rainey’s body.

Mom was getting ready to give Rainey a proper burial in the garbage can when brother Andrew, always quick on his feet, stuffed all the stuffing back into the lifeless body, and set it, with the head on top, on the kitchen counter. His ploy worked. Mom, an excellent seamstress, sewed the gaping neck wound closed and reattached Rainey’s head.

We think Rainey will be disabled the rest of his stuffy life. He can no longer hold his head in one position, but it flops down or to the side. This reporter wipes away a tear as I continue to report that Rainey’s first request was to be near Riley. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing.

This reporter was wrapping it up when Racky D asked to be able to say something on the record. Go ahead, Racky D.

Racky D here. As you can see, I’ve been the the victim of stuffy abuse. After the Mom super glued my nose back on a week or so ago, I thought, great, I’ve still only got one eye, but at least I can smell again. Then, out of nowhere, Xena bit off my nose. Of course, Chia got blamed at first, but the truth always comes out in the end. And that’s all I’ve got to say.

Lucy: Wrapping it up, I see that we still have a large contingent of stuffies on the victrola. Hey there friends. You’ve been up there a long time. Is there something you want to say?

Hey there Lucy, Ace Reporter. This is Chippie, appointed spokes chipmunk by our leader Guru Larry Lemur. The six of us have fled as refugees from the environment that has turned hostile toward all stuffies. And we want to say we were appalled at what Riley did to Rainey. We plan to stay up here where it’s crowded but safe. A kind person has given us our own Christmas tree, and, like I said, we have sought refuge here where it’s relatively safe. We aren’t having fun anymore, but at least we have our stuffy lives. And Santa Paws knows where to find us.

That wraps it up folks. I hope to be back to you soon with news of peace in our Dog Nation, good will toward stuffies.

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off.

Xena’s Sunday Selfie – Again

Xena, Lucy and Chia's avatarXena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia

Thanks to TheCat on My Head,for hosting Sunday Selfies. We love you guys!

I was the chosen one for a Sunday selfie this week. The trouble was, when I got the news I was in baby hold in Mommy’s lap, surrounded by a soft, warm blankie and Rainy the Reindeer, and I could hear the gentle beating of Mommy’s heart.

Even so, I’m never one to turn down a selfie. Shoot, if I’d known sooner, I’d of asked Mommy to comb my face and leg feathers. Oh well. The bigger problem was me starting to fall off to sleep.

Well, I hope this will do and that you still like my selfie…

The Mom: And now she’s going….going…gone.

Xena wanted to include this note to all our friends. I haven’t filtered it, so hoping there’s nothing too inappropriate.

Xena: Hey friends! Y’all first got notified of this post…

View original post 137 more words

Awww Monday Grooming with Mom

Lucy, Ace Reporter with another episode of WG(rooming) W(with)M(om). And many thanks to Miss Sandee at  Comedy Plus  for hosting Awww Monday! 

I mentioned in a previous report that dog breeds seem to come to Groomer Mom in three’s. We now have another two of the breed King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. A new family moved in just up the road and they saw the now-leaning-against-a-pole-next-to our-driveway grooming sign. They told Groomer Mom that it had been four months since the pups were groomed. They took them to one of the big box pet stores and the groomer there “did an awful job.” Now it was Groomer Mom’s turn! We think the Cavalier’s’Mom was already impressed when Groomer Mom started talking about how that breed should look, and what she planned on doing and also NOT doing as a groom for them.

First up is Mr. Chester, who is 6 years old and about 16 pounds. We don’t have any “before” pictures, because the groom is so minimal. It’s the bathing and drying time that really adds up!

Chester is a sweet, loving, outgoing boy, leaving a big kiss on Groomer Mom’s nose! Notice he still has the Cavalier trademark, the “feathers” on his feet!

His sister, Miss Dixie, is next. She’s quite shy, but still gave Groomer Mom a little kiss on her hand.

Their Mama stayed and held them for their nails. This reporter thinks it was just an excuse for her and Groomer Mom to visit and get to know each other a bit, as the pups gave no resistance. We found out that they recently moved here from Southern California, where, according to their Mom, things were getting a bit too “crazy” for her to stay. They chose Chattanooga on a whim, and are loving it here.

The Cavaliers’ Mom was delighted when she came to pick up her precious pups, and said they now officially have a new groomer!

Lucy Ace Report signing off with two more successful grooms!

Birds of Prey Selfies and Chia’s Confession

Hi friends, and a big woofin’ thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies.

Xena: Hi there everyone! October was a big month for company coming. During the last weekend of the month — actually, beginning that Thursday — Daddy’s sister and two cousins and their husbands came to visit from the IN state. And his other cousin and her husband came to visit from the NC state. That was a lot of people all at once! Chia couldn’t behave herself, something called “over stimulation”, so got put in her my kennel where she screamed for 40 minutes. We were all on the porch right outside the glass door and big window where the kennel was, so we got to listen to every bit of it!

Chia: You just wait Xena the squeala until there’s somethin’ I can tell on you! Umm, I mean, I’m innocent, Your Honor!

Xena: Ignore her. We all do. Anyhow, our folks and all the company spent the day at Rock City that Saturday, and they went to the Birds of Prey show. Oh, I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t go…you see, it’s cause they were all going out to eat at a restaurant afterwards, and we live in a backwards country that doesn’t let dogs inside restaurants, well, except for that time Angel Lexi got to go through a restaurant when she was advertising the Wizard of Oz for the Chattanooga Symphony who was playing the score thingie from it. She was able to check that off her bucket list. But the rest of us won’t be doing that so we all oughta move to France. Because in…

Lucy: Xena, could you please just tell the story about the birds of prey, or do you want me to take over?

Xena: It’s OK, I’m back on track now, Luce. Let’s see, where was I…oh yeah, the birds. These birds had all been rescued and are now unable to live in the wild. They seem to really like their new home, though. Mom got some neat pictures, so we decided we’d let them have the selfies today. We’re going to take turns introducing them. We drew treats to see who would go first, but everyone ate their treats before we could measure them so we are just going from oldest to youngest. Riley, you wanna go first?

Riley: Thanks, Xena. I want to feature Bob the Barn Owl. These owls are also known as Monkey Faced Owls.

I think they should be called Heart-Faced Owls. Look at those long wings, and them long nails! Mom thinks I used to be hard to do a nail trim on…I’d love to see her try to cut those!

Lucy: Thanks, Riley. I’ve got the colorful bird of prey to show you. The American Kestrel is small in size, but so pretty! I didn’t get his name. Oh, Mom just told me that she couldn’t get a picture of the one at Rock City, but this one from the internet looks just like him.

Hi, it’s me, Xena, again. I picked the Barred Owl, aka Hoot Owl to do her selfie today, cause she looks cuddly and cute, just like me!

Barred Owls aren’t usually all white like this. They said this one is an albino!

Hi hi hi!! It’s me, Chia, who Xena fibs about! I picked the fiercest and fastest bird of prey, just like me! This is the mighty Peragrin Falcon!

They didn’t walk around with this big girl, so the picture was taken from the bleachers. She even screams like I do! (Oh, wait, I think I just told on myself.)

Xena: With that great presentation and confession, we’re wrapping up Selfie Sunday!

Woofs and Wags from Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia

Thankful Thursday with Xena and Chia

Xena: First, me and Chia want to give a big thanks to Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it! Chia wants to go first, as usual, so I’m gonna be the nice big sister and let her, even though this is MY blog.

Chia: Hi ya, everyone! We thought that we’d tell you about some things we like, and that means we’re thankful for those things, right? I like my stuffy named Ratto. As you might have seen on Sunday, Riley grabbed Ratto away from me and kept him all night, and that really miffed me. This week my Mom was playing with me and Ratto. She would throw him across the room and I would run and get him and bring him back. But one night I was a little sleepy and just wanted to cuddle with Ratto and not have to run and get him. Mom just didn’t get it, and kept grabbing him and throwing him. Finally, I hid Ratto under the big blanket on the couch.

After I got him all hidden, I hid me. That was that for the night.

I could feel Mom’s arm laying on top of the blanket, but she left us both alone. I’m thankful for that and also that I had my Ratto to cuddle with under a warm blanket. OK, Xena Weena, go ahead. I’m going to find Ratto, or maybe grab Riley’s Racky-D. Shhh, don’t tell him.

Xena: So, y’all probably know I love to ‘splore the yard. I love to hunt for critters: lizzies, chippies, and yes, even big ol’ snakes! The weather was so pretty last week that I got to do that several times. Mommy likes to be outside when it’s warm enough, too, so she just followed me around.

I know there’s still something in this drain pipe!

I dug in it and couldn’t find anything. I ran the length of it, sniffing, and couldn’t get to anything. I even tried to get inside the pipe, but after I got in up past my shoulders I got spooked and backed out fast. I won’t tell Mommy what’s in there; I want to surprise her when I finally catch it!

Do you remember the super big snake – at least six feet long – that visits us every year and eats my lizzies? I was looking for it through the lattice work where we last saw it, all wrapped through the holes.

I didn’t see it, but I smelled me a chippie. One of these days, chippie. One. Of. These. Days.

So I want to say I’m thankful for my Mommy coming outside with me so I don’t have to stay inside or in the dog lot, and I’m thankful for all the fun critters I get to smell (and hopefully catch) in my own yard!

Your good friends, Chia and Xena

Lucy’s Nature Friday

First, big wags to our friends over at the LLB Gang for hosting Nature Friday!  Even though I got to do Awww Monday this week, Mom gave me first dibs on presenting Nature Friday. *wags* I didn’t even mind my picture being taken this time!

Hmm, I wonder where the best spot would be for this presentation…

There’s some pretty stuff down that way, but I don’t really feel like going off the porch right now. I haven’t had my post-breakfast nap yet.

Oh, looky there! Nature right here on my own front porch.

OK, Mom, take the picture, I’m ready.

What? I am smiling.
Happy weekend everyone!! *wags* Lucy

Grooming with Mom on Awww Monday

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday! And thanks to all my readers for joining me in another episode of Grooming with Mom.

Even though Groomer Mom’s business cards and sign reads, “Small Dog Grooming,” we had another large dog on the table this past week.

Chia: It seems like they just keep sneaking in.

Lucy: No Chia, they are scheduled.
While Groomer Mom also worked at the Jewish synagogue, she promised her young co-worker that she would teach her how to groom her new puppy. Fast-forward four months, and the Golden Doodle is six months old and ready for her first groom. This is Willa, another precious puppy who has never had an accident in the house, never chewed anything, never misbehaved, never run off…Riley, Chia and Xena are trying hard not to hate her.

Willa’s Mom, who we will call L, used to help her Mom groom their shih tzus, so she’s been around the block once or twice. Groomer Mom demonstrated how to do a particular grooming task, then handed the tool to L to do it. Seems that L is what’s called “a natural.” She’s very artistic, so we think that helped. After a couple of hours, the “masterpiece” was finished.

Hi, I’m Willa, and I was a good girl for my first groom.

Groomer Mom emailed to L the Amazon links of the tools she will need. With that, we say bye bye to sweet Willa knowing she’s in good hands.

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off ’til next time, with *wags* and *smiles*.

Grooming with Mom: Theo on Thankful Thursday

Hey there folks, this is Lucy, Ace Reporter, reporting to you with another episode of Grooming with Mom. Let’s shout out a huge thanks to Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

We get emails every week from Dogs Naturally, where we learn lots of stuff about good nutrition. They’ve been giving us a little quiz with one question each time, so we thought it would be fun to share those. Here is this week’s:
Which breed’s name means “curly small dog?” Answer at the bottom of this post.

Groomer Mom got what she thought was the strangest call ever from someone wanting a groom. The person said he has a miniature schnauzer whose groomer retired, and he couldn’t find anyone to give his dog a good groom. Then he saw a schnauzer with a great cut, a real “schnauzer” groom, and asked the owner where she took her dog. You can see where this is going, right? So far, nothing strange. The strange part is that he lives in Dalton, GA, which is almost an hour from us. We’ve had people drive 30 minutes, but not an hour! Groomer Mom even asked him if he was sure he wanted to come this far, and he assured her he did.

Theo – short for Theodore – is on the tall side for a mini at 20 pounds. He’s solid, though, no fat to make up those pounds. This is his “before” picture.

Theo’s legs and feet were very matted and a bit of scissoring and shaving had to happen to remove the worst of the mats. The last groomer had cut the hair straight cross that was growing out of his ears, instead of pulling it out. Groomer Mom growled a bit about that, and Theo sat perfectly still while he was tortured all that hair got pulled out. However, he absolutely would not allow his nails to be cut or have the Dremel used. His Dad holding him didn’t help and hanging him in the sling (you’ve seen Chia in it) didn’t help, either. Finally, Groomer Mom asked Theo’s Dad if he wanted her to stop, and he said yes. In the end, his groom was the same as our Xena’s!

Theo was happy cause he got lots of treats and his Dad was happy cause he loved the cut! He said he’ll be back next time Theo needs groomed, and promised to keep him combed out in between.

TRIVIA ANSWER
The breed whose name means “curly small dog” is the Bichon Frise. Bichon means a small, toy or lap dog, and frisé means curly. 

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another episode of Grooming with Mom! (*wags*)

Nature Friday Around the Neighborhood

Hi Folks, Lucy here. First, big wags to our friends over at of the LLB Gang for hosting Nature Friday! Riley and Xena and I took a walk around the neighborhood yesterday and saw all the pretty colors and fun Halloween decorations. Chia goes early every morning for a fast, 30 minute walk with Mom, but we don’t get to go. Riley can’t handle it (shhh, don’t let him know I told you) and Mom says Chia by herself is enough of a handful, BOL! So she stayed home (and screamed) while we finally got our walk. Here’s some of what we saw.

This first house looks like a crime scene!

Aren’t the leaves on that tree beautiful? And I wagged my tail at the happy jack-o-lanterns.

While Mom was waiting for Riley to make his slow way up the driveway once we got back home, she got a picture of me and Xena in front of our fall flag.

I promise we’re not sticking our tongues out at you. It had gotten pretty hot in the sun, and with Riley, we had a very slow, sunny walk! We don’t care though. We were all just happy to be out walking with our Mom on a gorgeous fall day. Have a great weekend, everyone!

*wags* and *wiggles* Lucy, Xena and Riley
Xena: Hey Riley, you almost to the house yet?

Thankful for Xena’s New Harness

Today we are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

Lucy: Hey Xena, I know Mom took you out for a car ride this morning. Mom, do you want me to do the Ace Reporting on it?


Xena: No thanks, Luce. I can handle it myself, but thanks for the offer.

Xena here. I went to one of those big hardware stores whose name rhymes with lows like the noise cows do, and walked all around with Mommy this morning. I did better about not being afraid of buggies and stuff, and was only a little shy when a nice lady reached her hand out for me to sniff it. We kinda steered away from all the big, scary Halloween blowups. From there we drove to the pet store where Mommy previously got my new pink harness that Chia has ended up wearing. She had her own blue one, but she chewed it up about a year ago. These harnesses tighten when we pull on the leash, so they won’t slip off. And since Chia has slipped the old red and black harness we have and then ran off for a while, Mommy’s been putting what should be my harness on her every morning when she goes out for her twicearoundtheneighborhood walk. So I’ve been stuck with the old one she got for a dollar at a yard sale. Mommy thinks I back away every time she tries to put it on me cause I don’t like harnesses. Wrong!! I just don’t like that one!

Chia: Hey! Did you get a treat while you were gone? I can smell something on your beard.

Xena: Maybe. Hmm, so where was I? Oh yes, the harness. So backing up to yesterday (I’m really good at backing, you should see!) we all went for our DNA HW blood draw at two different vets. Riley has his very own vet place cause he’s a “handful” everywhere else. When we got to my vet, Mommy was trying to get everyone out of the car and make sure she had a good hold on Chia’s leash so she didn’t “take off.” Mommy had everyone out but Lucy, who was seat belted in the front. When she got Lucy out she looked down to see that one of the leashes was still attached to a harness but the dog was gone. It was me, BOL! I had quietly slipped that stupid black and red harness and started across the little parking lot to hide around the corner of the building. Nope, I don’t like goin’ to the vet place. But being a good girl, I came back when Mommy called me. Then I signaled everyone to wrap the leashes around Mommy’s legs, and I tried to take off again. I ended up in the vet’s anyhow.

That takes us to today. At the pet store, I got a brand new, never used, turquois blue harness, just like what was my pink one that Chia now wears since she chewed up her turquois blue one.

Chia: Hey, is that a new harness?

Xena: Yes, it’s MY new harness, and if you chew it up I’ll eat your breakfast for the next 87 days while you’re out walking with Mommy.
See, Luce? I toldja I could do my own reporting!

Lucy: Yes, but I usually (never) threaten anyone while I’m reporting.

Xena: Not a threat, just a fact. Oh, and yes, Chia, I got treats while I was out.

Lucy’s Sunday Selfie and a Quiz

Thank you so much, Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies.

This is Lucy. While I do not like having my picture taken, I will do it for my Mom and my friends in Blogville. If you’re a regular reader you already know that with our selfies, we’ve started doing a little quiz to see how well you know us. Don’t worry, you won’t be graded; it’s just for fun. We’re doing one each Sunday until each of us has had our turn. This is Sunday #3, so just one more to go. Here’s my selfie *sigh*.

Now for the quiz. I came up with these. I hope you get them all right!

  1. Mom has assigned us all numbers, just like on the Netflix show, The Umbrella Academy. Which number am I? (Hint: It’s the order in which we joined the family.)
    a. #2
    b. #4
    c. #1
    d. #3
  2. Mom says my picture is in the dictionary next to this word:
    a. Quiet
    b. Vicious
    c. Fussy
    d. Compliant
  3. My favorite pastime is (Hint: Look at my selfie.)
    a. Going for car rides
    b. Laying in the sun
    c. Watching TV
    d. none of the above
    e. all of the above
  4. Which of these statements is true?
    a. I growl at anyone coming in the door.
    b. I am scared of strangers.
    c. I am the healthiest dog in our household.
    d. I love to learn new things.

The answers are at the bottom of the page.
Happy Sunday! *wags and wiggles!* Lucy

————

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia Go to the Beach

Xena: You know Mommy and Daddy’s gone off to the beach without us again, right? And we’re left all alone to Talk like a Pirate.

Riley: Never fear. I will once again lead the charge in finding them this year. We’ll let narry a pirate whisk them away, at least not before we get our supper.

Lucy: Yeah, well, that didn’t work so good last year. We ended up on an inflatable pirate ship that took us nowhere and we had to hurry and get back home before Miss Christy got back from work. (click here if you missed that.)

Chia: But I was the captain!! Let’s do that again! I wanna be the captain again! I found Miss Christy’s credit card and phone and I’ve contacted an Uber to get us to the beach.

A few hours and a huge Uber bill later…

Chia: Lookie here, ye rogues! Me caught me a sea serpent and made haste to kill it. That makes me the Captain. I’m Captain Chia, harr, harr, harr!

Xena: Quiet, bilge rat, and bring me a grog whilst I watch for our pawrents.

Chia: Grrrrrr. Garrrrr.

Riley: Me thinks me catches their smell, Lucy me mate.

Lucy: Remember to get yur hat on the way back, C’ptain Riley.

Chia: Why din’t any of ye rogues wanna play with me sea serpent?

Xena: I told ye, ye bilge rat. Me watches fer our pawrents who’ll have the chest of treasure.
Chia: Huh? And call me Captain Bilge Rat, er, I mean, Captain Chia!
Xena: With our supper, Captain Bilge Rat.

Riley: The smell gets closer.
Lucy: It smells like BBQ…
Riley: Aye! We’ve found the booty!!

(People yelling) Hey, you dogs! Get away from there! Bring that food back!

Later that evening…Miss Christy on the phone with Uber…

Why did you charge my credit card all that money? Uh huh, no, no! I’m telling you, I did not order an Uber to the beach and back! Do you know how far that is!? I was at work all day. Wait…
do you dogs know anything about this? Wait, what am I saying? You’re dogs. Dogs just don’t do these things. *shakes head*

Well, is everyone ready for supper? Uh, Riley, where’d you get that hat?

Everyone: *woof, woof, woof, arrf, grrr, woof, Miss Christy! (Translation: Supper, yes! And we love you, Miss Christy.)

Grooming with Mom on Thankful Thursday

I am Lucy, Ace Report, welcoming you to another episode of Grooming with Mom. Today we are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

Hello, dear Readers. It’s time to report on another new groom. A young couple moved into our neighborhood – across the street and one house down from us – a few months ago. A quick note that the other pups living here are determined to stop by to welcome them with some pee mail! The man with the same name as my Dad saw Groomer Mom’s *grooming sign and made an appointment to have their 13-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel groomed.

*Perhaps a quick background on that sign is in order. Shortly after Groomer Mom revived her grooming career in our new house, she mentioned to Groomer Helper Dad that she was going to have a sign made and put it in the front yard. G.H. Dad actually laughed and said, “Do you really think that’s going to bring in clients?”

Of course, Groomer Mom just went ahead with her plan. Now, many years and three signs later, she has quite a few people who have become “regulars” because they saw her sign! This is the current one.

Back to Everly. She was rescued from a cruel puppy mill several years ago. At the puppy mill her tail was docked to “provide better access.” This reporter is not quite sure what that means, just that Groomer Mom choked back tears when she heard this. Everly is a quiet “soul”, gentle and cooperative. Her Mom said they named her Everly because they were giving her a for-“ever” home!

Everly’s Mom wanted her shaved, and her ears left long. Her “before” picture isn’t as dramatic as many of the first-timers’.

A groom, a few treats, a bath and a little over an hour later, she looked like this:

We think she even looks happier! She tied Maggie, the poodle/shih tzu mix for our Best Behaved on the Groom Table Pup. And since she was even better at getting a bath than Maggie, we think Everly may take the lead!

We’ve noticed that some things, such as different dog breeds, really do “come in three’s.” Mom and Dad’s good friend brought her King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, River, to Groomer Mom a couple of weeks ago. That was the first one. Now we have Everly. Who will be next?

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.

Awww Monday Big Bed Sleeping

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Chia: Hey Lucy, who d’ya think’s gonna get to sleep in here tonight?

Lucy: I don’t know for sure, Chia. I heard Mom and Dad talking about how they aren’t sleeping well with all 3 of us in the bed and with Riley on the floor scratching and snoring.
Last night I slept in here with Riley on his floor bed, and before that you were in here, so I’m kinda thinkin’ it’s Xena’s turn. Yep, there’s Mom calling us into the living room.

Riley: I call dibs on the couch.

Chia: Maybe we’re gonna throw dice to decide. Or draw a card. Or play a game. Or see who can bark the loudest.

2 minutes later

Xena: Thanks, Mommy, I like this pillow better. Will you please turn off the light and ask Chia to stop barking? Do I hear dice rolling around on the floor out there?

Wishing all our friends here in the USA a Happy Labor Day, and a reminder to take it easy today. We told Mom she can be Rosie the Riveter the rest of the week, BOL!

Heads Up on Rawhide Bones

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with a different kind of News Beat. We came across an article about rawhide, which is something we never get. I decided it’s newsworthy in that it can help you make an informed decision about putting these supposed treats in your mouth — or, if you’re the Mom or Dad, about giving them to your dog. Warning: This report contains toxic information that is not for the squeamish.


WHY RAWHIDE IS TOXIC

If you knew how rawhide was made, you’d never give your dog another one of these treats … ever! Here are the six toxic steps in rawhide production:

1. COLLECTION
In slaughterhouses, the hides are placed in a brine that slows down (but doesn’t stop) the hides from rotting.

2. PROCESSING
The brined hides are shipped to tanneries, where the fat and hair are removed. This is done with chemicals like ash-lye or sodium sulphide liming, which is really toxic. 

3. SPLITTING
Next, the hides are treated with more chemicals that puff up the hide, making it easier to split it into layers. The outer layer is used to make leather goods, while the inner layer is used for gelatin, glue … and rawhide.

4. BLEACHING
The next step is to wash the inner layer in a solution of bleach or hydrogen peroxide. This helps remove the dead, rotten smell from the decaying hide.

5. COLORING
The white hide strips are decorated to make them attractive to dogs. They’re often basted in different flavors and dyed with petroleum-based food dyes like FD&C Red 40.

6. PRESERVING
It would be a shame to let these rotten pieces of hide rot even more…so they’re preserved with chemicals like chromium salts and even formaldehyde, the most carcinogenic chemical that exists. 

So, you ask, what can you chew if you can’t chew rawhide. Click this safe link to find out.
HOW TO CHOOSE SAFE BONES

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off!

Those Dogs Eat Better than Me!

Chia: That’s what we hear people say when they hear about or see what we eat.

Our supper time is 5:00 sharp! We all know that, but we never ever mind if Mom feeds us early. Late is a different story. Every evening, Mom makes up our supper and our breakfast for the next day. Our breakfast bowls get covered and put in the refrigerator until 6:00 the next morning. We get her or Dad up if they sleep late. We’re helpful like that.

In the left column is our supper bowls. In the right column, Lucy will get 2 eggs added in the morning, and I will get one. I don’t think that’s fair, but Mom reminds me that means I get more meat, so that’s OK. Xena and Riley are both allergic to eggs, so they don’t get any. Then we get all our special additives on top, like fish oil and krill oil and bone broth capsules and pre- and probiotics and some other stuff, too.

Can you guess whose bowl is whose? Bet you can’t, so I’m gonna tell you. I get up on the stool on the far side of the counter and watch as Mom makes it all up, so I’ve got the scoop on this. The bowls at the top are Riley’s. He eats a lot!

Riley’s picky, so Mom puts his veggies and fruit in the food processor, then mixes it in with his meat. I don’t know if he knows she fools him like that, but it works. The day Mom took these pictures, he didn’t eat his fruit, so Mom saved it and processed it for his next meal. You might remember he had been having lots of diarrhea, and some throwing up. No more! His furs are shiny again, too! He never was excited about meals, and often didn’t eat much, but now he’s right there waiting with us for every meal and licks his bowl clean (when Mom “food processes” his veggies and fruit).

Next are Lucy’s bowls. She gobble, gobbles and barely tastes what is in her bowl.

No need for the food processor for her. Can you see her tongue licking even the outside of the bowl and the floor?

Next are the best bowls…mine!

I’ve got little teeth and I have to chew a lot. I don’t like swallowing my food whole like Lucy does. Sometimes Mom puts mine in the food processor too, probably to make Riley think his food is supposed to look like that, since we eat right next to each other.

Riley and I eat slower, and are always the last ones done. Sometimes Mom puts yuckie stuff like strawberries or apples in our bowls, and we both leave those as presents for our sisters. But when she uses the food processor, we lick our bowls clean!

Closest to the edge of the counter are Xena’s bowls. Mom has to remember or look at the list on the fridge for what to NOT feed her, because of her allergies. She does the same thing now for Riley, too.

Xena loves to eat, and licks her bowl clean then checks out Lucy’s while Lucy checks out hers, BOL! There’s never ever anything left in those bowls. I don’t know why Mom even bothers to wash them after every meal.

We get different things…sometimes grass-fed ground beef, sometimes beef roast, sometimes turkey or tuna fish or sardines. We get deer meat too, when Mom can get it. No one gave us a deer (for the cost of processing) last fall, but we all have our paws crossed that we’ll be eating venison again real soon. We get all kind of fresh veggies: cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens, carrots, squash, bell peppers, and also cooked mushrooms that we love. Lucy and Xena really love all the fresh summer fruits, too: watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. We all like avocados, too, and they help with Xena’s leg cramps.

Anyhoo, you can see why we are happy pups, on Happy Tuesday and every day! And oh yeah, thanks, Comedy Plus, for hosting Happy Tuesday. Y’all are the best!

Thankful Thursday Pups

Lucy: Today we are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it! And we’re kinda late ’cause Mom got her days mixed up and then had to go to work and come home and feed us and clean up the kitchen and stuff. Anyhoo, we are still very thankful today and always for…

…each other! Xena’s not happy she has to wear her shirt and Big Girl Panties, but until the flea bites heal, it’s the only thing keeping her from chewing herself up. In spite of that, we’re still thankful we have each other, especially when Mom and Dad go off to work.

Hey, wait, we’re missing someone…Riley!

Xena: I see him…he’s on his bed at the entrance to the living room.

Chia: Grrr, arrr, grrrrrrararar.

Lucy: You don’t seriously think that’s going to get him over here, do you, Chia?

Xena: I know why he didn’t come over with us. He didn’t like my shirt that says, “Life’s short, bite hard.” Now that I went and changed, he’s ok with being in here with us girls.

Lucy: Now we’re all together, and we’re thankful for Riley, too! Our pack is complete!!

XOXOX Lucy, Xena, Chia and Riley

Grooming with Mom: Toby

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with Mom. Many thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.

Today we have another new poodle puppy to introduce. Toby is five months old and never been groomed. I, Ace Reporter, personally met and interviewed Toby. First, Toby’s “before” picture.

Under all that hair is a sweet, 3 pound baby. Groomer Mom’s original plan was to brush him out (that’s a grooming term) and take a couple of inches off that mop, all the way around. But the brush wouldn’t go through his hair. The comb wouldn’t go through his hair. She sprayed him with a de-matter and used the de-matting tool, and it wouldn’t go through his hair. His mats were almost to the skin; there was no way to get some sharp shears there without risking cutting him. So next, Groomer Mom tried a long, #5 blade. It wouldn’t go through the mats. She then moved to a #7 blade, which cuts a little shorter, with blades closer together. Sure enough, with a little work, it found it’s way through. Of course, Groomer Mom also had to use the table strap to keep the little guy on the table and not trying to crawl on her shoulders while being groomed. Here he is again, partway through and wondering what this thing is around his body.

It was at this point that the groom got really tricky.

“Do NOT shave my front legs! Do NOT put that noisy shaver near my throat! Do NOT cut my nails!” declared little Toby with his screams, his teeth, his claws and all his energy to fight. It was at this point that Groomer Mom unstrapped him, carried him upstairs to Groomer Helper Dad and said, “I need help. Now.”

Groomer Helper Dad went downstairs, taking this reporter with him. At that point, I was wearing my proverbial Zen hat. While I sent calming thoughts Toby’s way, Groomer Helper Dad held him, got peed on, got scratched, and nearly dropped him. Then Groomer Mom wrapped Toby in a towel and pulled out or uncovered only the body parts she needed to work on. Groomer Helper Dad agreed to a picture as long as he remained anonymous. I’ll look up what that word means later…

The towel actually worked better than my zen thoughts, if you can believe that! Toby calmed right down and the groom was able to be completed. Here he is after his bath and touch-up.

Since Toby’s Mom couldn’t pick him up for 30 minutes, Groomer Mom brought him upstairs and put him in Xena/Chia’s kennel. Xena and Chia immediately ran up and started barking at him, which our Mom immediately put a stop to, saying, “Stop that! How could you be so hateful to this poor little puppy?!” Xena harumphed and walked away, but Chia decided to stay and try to make friends with him.

In the end, Toby’s Mom – who had never before had an “indoor” dog – loved the cut and understood why it had to be different from what was planned. She bought a grooming comb from Groomer Mom and made a new appointment for six weeks from now. She also told Groomer Mom that her 7-year-old son was very worried about leaving Toby. He asked his Mom how they knew they could trust “that lady” they left him with. She explained that his great-aunt brought both of her Yorkies (Molly and Cooper) here, and that she would never do anything to endanger them. Groomer Mom suggested that the boy be given a chance to stay and help during the next groom, so that option will be presented when Toby returns in October.

Lucy, Ace Reporter and Zen Master, signing off with another successful groom.