Lucy, Ace Reporter, coming to you live from WGWM with another episode of Grooming with Mom. We are so thankful for all of Mom’s wonderful clients and their pups! Today we have two new ones to introduce to you.
But first, a big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
First up is Bear. He’s JoJo’s brother. We introduced JoJo back in January. You can see that episode here. Some of our friends suggested in comments that JoJo be treated for yeast. This is JoJo:
She was here getting groomed with Bear, and still very “yeasty.” So Groomer Mom showed her Dad what she has been giving Xena, a set of 3 powders called “Yeast Free Fido” from Four Leaf Rover, and suggested he try it. It’s really helped my sister Xena’s yeasty ear and this is the first time her tummy has looked “normal” in years. He asked for the link and said he would try it. Groomer Mom did warn him that it would take at least a month to start seeing results. Paws crossed it works for the dear little poodle JoJo.
Back to Bear. He’s also a miniature poodle, silver, and will be 13 this July. This is Bear before grooming.
He really didn’t look too bad. And yep, he’s got a mohawk. His dad wanted him to keep it, just trim it a little shorter. Remember that when you see his “after” picture, please. Groomer Mom would never suggest a mohawk on a poodle, but she also doesn’t argue with a client (most of the time.)
Bear was very timid, and did not want his toenails cut. Who does? I mean, I don’t, but I also don’t make a big production of it. *clears throat* Sorry. Didn’t mean to make this report personal. Anyhow, here is Bear’s “after” picture.
Moving on…
This next pup, Rosie, was referred to us by Brinkley’s dad. If you missed Brinkley, you can see him here. Rosie had been going to a different groomer who had her Dad sign an agreement that said they would not groom her if she had any fleas. The last time he took her, she had 3 fleas and they refused to groom her. They set another appointment for her and he took her home and gave her a flea bath. Then they called to reschedule that appointment. That was the final straw. He loved how Brinkley was groomed, so he got the referral and came the next day.
Here’s Rosie before her groom. Well, almost before her groom. Groomer Mom had already shaved her body when she remembered to take a picture. She is a nine-year-old shih tzu, and looks and acts much younger.
When Rosie arrived Groomer Mom used three different blades on her tummy for her Dad to decide what length he wanted her hair. It ended up that he wanted the longest one. She was a very good girl on the grooming table. Then it was bath time. Groomer Mom had the sprayer hose going full blast when Rosie decided to leap out of the tub. Groomer Mom dropped the sprayer and grabbed Rosie on her way down to the floor. Meanwhile, the sprayer sprayed the ceiling, the walls, the table and the floor. “Popcorn” rained off the ceiling onto everything, including Groomer Mom. It took three big towels to sop up all the water and wet “popcorn”on the floor. Groomer Mom didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, so she laughed.
After all that, here’s Rosie’s “after” picture.
And she looks so innocent.
Ace Reporter Lucy signing off, with wishes for a great “popcorn-free” weekend!
Thursday was my first time at Mom’s work. It was new (obviously) and I explored a little bit. Mom works at a Lutheran church, and there was a really good vibe there.
I wonder what’s in that room…it has the smell of little kids having been there.
I was very good, and did my bizness outside, unlike Xena on her first day.
First thing, Mom went to the door and let a lady in who only had cats. Of course, I could tell she was a “cat person” before she even said anything about it, so I was gentle and moved slow so I didn’t scare her. I eventually got her to pet me.
The next person was also a lady, but she came in without Mom’s permission. I ran to the door to greet her, then realized I didn’t know her and she might want to kill me. So I hunkered down and gave tight, little tail wags. Then Mom called her by name and I realized she wasn’t an enemy. She stayed with us quite a while and I realized she was a good person. And I got treats out of Xena’s treat drawer while she was there, too.
Then a lot of ladies came in for their special ladies-only meeting. Mom shut the office door, but there’s big glass windows from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. Some of the ladies stopped to see me through the windows and smiled at me. That made me wiggle all over. In the meantime, the Pastor came in. He liked me a lot! As other people arrived for their meeting he introduced me and said, “She’s a good dog.” He asked me to come into his office and visit him, so I asked Mom to go with me. We stayed a few minutes, and then I followed Mom around.
“Hey Mom, what are you doing? Why are you watching that TV that’s hanging from the wall? Aren’t we supposed to be working?”
Mom answered, “Well Lucy, that’s where the people who come to church services get information. It scrolls from one picture to the next with slides that tell them important things. I just programmed the ‘stick’ that attaches to it. Hey, let’s go back to the office and get some more work done.”
I guess that’s why they call it “going to work.” And I didn’t know that you could stick ‘sticks’ into a TV! See? I’m already learning stuff.
Anyhoo, some of the ladies came into my Mom’s my office to pet me after their ladies-only meeting. Then the pastor came in to let us both know he was leaving. He told Mom that she should bring me every Thursday since she’s usually alone there all afternoon. He said I would be good protection. I don’t know why she laughed, but she said she would bring me. I think he really just wants me to come hang out with him in his office. You know, I might just start doing that.
I am Lucy, the Thursday church dog. (Shhh, don’t tell Xena.) *wags*
Xena: Did you hear Mommy say how thankful she is for all our help, Lucy? She even got pictures of us in action! Here we are.
Lucy: I was busy cleaning the inside of our new dishwasher, you know, prewashing all the plates and utensils, when Mom shut the door and switched the sign to dirty. I just managed to get my head out in time.
So I moved to cleaning up the outside. I was doing a good job too. Can you see me and Xe reflected in the shine? Then Xena said, “Hey Luce, let me help.” I didn’t want to be selfish, and there were other things in the kitchen that needed washed, so I told her to go ahead and clean what she could reach.
Seems she could get up almost as high as me! I started cleaning the cabinets, cause I’m a good helper. At least, that’s what Mom always tells me.
Hmmm, I think this one needs washed.
As a reward, Mom’s making me the church dog today. (Shhh, don’t tell Xena.) I got a bath last night and lost a sackful of hair. I’m a bit nervous about riding in the car, but I think all the new friends I’ll make will be worth it. Mom’s already told the pastor that he’s gonna love me! I’ll let you know how great it goes.
Love and licks from Lucy, the kitchen helper and new church dog.
Hiya, Hiya, Chia here. What a day Monday was! Mom thinks I have a behavioral disorder. I can’t seem to help myself sometimes when I see Lucy. And she’s my BFF! But my tail curls and stiffens, well, my whole body stiffens. Then I sound like I have Tourrette Syndrome. Hey, maybe that’s my disorder! The Cee Bee Dee oil does help some, but it hadn’t had time to kick in when I attacked Lucy in Dad’s office while he was in there working. Lucy, really sick of the whole thing, attacked back, and Dad had an awful time getting us apart. Don’t worry, no one got hurt. At least that time.
After Mom released me from jail, er, my kennel, she held me like a baby and stroked me softly and murmured sweet things to me and my body relaxed and my eyes started closing. We stayed like that for a long time.
A little later in the morning it happened again out on the back porch where both my brothers, Adam and Andrew, were and Mom came running out, too. Mom and Andrew both took a “hit” by one of our teeth, but their blue jeans protected their legs. Even Lucy got in trouble that time.
Anyhoo, I was tried and convicted without a jury of my peers or even anyone to bark up in my defense, so back into jail I went. I was subsequently drugged with something a bit stronger than Cee Bee Dee oil. I think it was in the hamburger Mom tossed me through the jail bars. I shoulda known, but who can resist hamburger meat, right?
You absolutely will not believe what happened a while later, early in the afternoon. The jailer released me for Brother Andrew and Mom to take me downstairs, wrap me in a sling, and hang me. I immediately got the stupid cat muzzle off, pulled my front legs out of the sling and started sliding to the floor, but Mom caught me. First escape attempt thwarted. Then the black muzzle went on, and it’s harder to get off. Then, brother Andrew held my feet and head and I could barely move. Then Mom attacked me with a nail dremel. Oh. My. Dog. The torture!
Riley: This is fascinating. Did Mom Amy hurt you with the dremel?
Chia: She hurt me all right. She hurt my feelings. So when she released me and took me back upstairs, I went after Lucy again.
Riley: Don’t do the crime if you can’t serve the crime, little sis.
That time wasn’t so bad. I got put outside until dinner time. After dinner I went in the front room and laid down on the loveseat right next to Lucy. She said she forgave me and laid her head across my back.
Riley: Lucy’s a good friend. You should treat her right.
Chia; Yep, she is. But just before bedtime…
Riley: Please don’t tell me you did it again…aren’t you ashamed to even admit it?
Chia: Well, yes, but tell the truth and shame the devil, right? So anyhow, I went off on Lucy back in Dad’s office again while he was on the phone. So I’m back on the chain gang. Er, I mean, back in my kennel for the night.
Big wags to Rosy and Sunny over at the LLB Gang for hosting Nature Friday! We don’t have a lot of nature to show today, but, in keeping with Easter, we do have a coupla bunnies.
Eastern Cotton Tail
The next bunny is, well, maybe it is “somebunny.” Our friends Sunshine and Ruthie went to visit the Easter Bunny and sent us some pictures.
Above is Sunshine, a 15-year-old long haired cairn terrier/beagle mix. She’s been coming to see us to look pretty for quite a while now. Do you think that’s really the Easter bunny who’s holding her?
Here’s Ruthie, a rescued greyhound. She comes along with her sister Sunshine to get a pedicure.
Whether or not that is really the Easter Bunny, we all want to wish our friends a happy and blessed Easter and Chanukah.
Hey friends, this is Riley. My first thankful today is that I get to do a post a lot more since Xena took over the blog. Angel Lexi was very selfish with her blog, and only grudgingly let anyone else (me) post anything. So thanks, little sis.
My second thankful is even better. It has two parts. Part one: My Person Andrew came with me and Mom Amy to the vet for me to get my diagnostic X-rays and an ultrasound on my tummy and chest. It was to see if I had a heart murmur or what was going on. Even though I was really high on some good sh*t Mom Amy gave me, I still knew he was there with me and it made me feel even more good than the drugs.
Part two: The tests showed no fluid in my abdomen or in my chest. It did show my heart is slightly enlarged, but all y’all already know I have a big heart, right? *grin* No heart drugs or anything else is needed. I’m feeling good and am eating all I can get ahold of and playing with Chia a little bit and also my stuffies. Hey, I’m gonna be 13 in just under a month, woohoo! Hope I get something good for my birthday!!
Xena: Thanks Riley. I’m glad you understand this is still my blog that I inherited from Angel Lexi. And you can use it anytime you want, since you inherited the position of alpha dog from her.
I’m gonna be real thankful when my right ear is back to normal. The culture the vet place did showed it’s full of yeast, but no bacteria. the new med that Mommy has to put in my ear every day hasn’t helped at all. So now — because we’re at the “end of our rope” — I have to take a half a pill called prednisone. I sure hope that works. I hear everyone gets extra hungry when they take that pill, but I’m a schnauzer, meaning I’m always extra hungry!
Those are our Thankfuls, so next up is our picture poem! Oh, and thanks to Angel Sammy for another great picture.
Angel Lexi the Schnauzer by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
An empty slate, like an empty plate, Always leaves you wanting more. It’s so unfulfilling and makes you unwilling To turn around and walk out the door.
Our Angel Lexi took steps whence she Could fill the void on the wall Our hearts still miss her, our wonderful sister, But she still has the power to enthrall.
Thanks to Angel Sammy for giving us a blank slate to work with today!
First a big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
We all kinda missed our cousin (?) Morty’s birthday a week ago on March 26, so his Mom (our Auntie Jen) sent us pictures to help us celebrate with him. That first picture is his watermelon cake his Mom made him.
If his Dad wanted some of that cake, he asked too late! Have you ever seen a happier looking piggie?
Happy 3rd birthday, cuz. And in “people” years we see you’re a spry 22. Wishing you many more watermelon-filled birthdays!
First, big wags to Rosy and Sunny over at the LLB Gang for hosting Nature Friday!
Riley: Mom Amy seems to love the wild violets we’re seeing everywhere. These are in our dog lot. It’s a wonder they survive what is always happening out there.
Xena: Hey there, totally changing the subject, we’ve got our very own grazing grass right here in our side/back yard. You see, Mommy left parts of a bale of straw sitting around after Halloween last fall, and they started to grow grass. Our side and backyard is losing dirt and grass, so that was a pleasant surprise! Riley found it first and we heard him say, “Mmmmmm, so goooood!” So of course, the next time we got out in the yard, we all had to check it out!
Chia walked through first to see what all the fuss was about and to sample it.
Chia’s like our Mikey from that cereal commercial. So if Chia liked it we knew to jump right in. Lucy and me, we staked out our claim.
Then, because Chia thinks she has to be close to Lucy at all times, she went and started grazing in Lucy’s area.
Lucy: I didn’t care, as long as she didn’t start her crap with me. I am just so over that. Thank goodness she was too interested in this new treat we’d found.
Meanwhile…
Riley: Hey, where’d everyone go?
Xena, Lucy and Chia wishing everyone a happy Friday. Hey, where’d Riley go?
Chia: I’m wearing my Big Girl Panties again. It’s been 10 months since I’ve had to wear them, and I hear talk that this will be the last time. Xena said I’ll be getting my Big Girl surgery in a few months. I’m not gonna think about that. I’m just gonna keep bein’ me.
Lucy: Lord help me.
Chia: You’d better say your prayers, Lucy. Mom says this song is so “me,” especially now.
Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Xena: As promised, I am back today to tell you about my 3 hour trip to south Georgia to my breeder’s, Grammy Toni. It was a real nice day and a nice ride down the interstate. I mostly slept in my favorite kennel in the back seat of the car while Mommy drove.
Sorry for the bad picture. The kennel is soft and blue and has a fluffy pillow and my stuffie JenJen bear and my stuffie Priscilla.
Mommy warned me that there would be two fellas there with their schnauzers that they got from Grammy, too. Here are their “babies.”
L-R Katie Ann, Savanah, Bo
We’re all cousins, or something like that. Let’s just say we’re related.
I was really nervous about the whole thing. New place. New people, new floor to have to walk on. And most of all, seven new dogs to meet. I have to admit, I didn’t do so well at the meet and greet.
I mostly sat in Mommy’s lap or under Mommy’s chair. All the other schnauzers came up to me to sniff me and say hello, and I growled at them. I didn’t lift my lip or anything, I was just kinda scared. Not shaking-in-my-furs scared, just stay-away-from-me scared. The men were really nice and knew all about schnauzers, so they tried real easy-like to be friends with me, and I even got a treat from one of them. (This trip was rather short on treats.)
Mommy sat down on the floor and had what she called a Schnauzer-Fest. It made her really happy, and she kept smiling and offering to take one or the other of them home with us. But they all said they liked where they were, thank you very much. (Do you think it was cause of me?) Anyhoo, we found out that I’m related to all of Grammy’s schnauzers, too. Grammy lost her heart dog just a few months ago, and the fellas kept saying how much I look like him. When Mommy saw his picture, she couldn’t believe how true that was, and said she would have sworn that was me. He was my brother. What do you think?
This is Socrates. This is NOT me.
I would have liked a lot to have met my brother Socrates yesterday…we were twinsies for real! And then Grammy would be happy, too. So me and Mommy, we’re dedicating this post to Socrates (I will call him Socrates the Great), who is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
Xena: Hey friends, I’m on my way with my Mommy to visit my Granny, Toni, who is my breeder. It’s been over five years since we saw each other! I wonder if she’ll recognize me. It’s a three hour drive each way, so I sure hope Mommy packed lots of snacks for me. Just as I reminder or for the first time for my newer friends, this is me at 13 weeks of age getting ready to leave the only home I ever knew and make a new life with a new family.
I wonder if I’ll remember Granny or anything else there. I hope Mommy brings some treats. (Did I already say that?)
In the meantime, Chia promised to keep Daddy company. I wonder what they’re doing?
At home:
Xena: I hope they’re having a lot of fun. I’ll be back as soon as I can to tell you about my day with Granny!
Hey everyone! Look what I found hiding in Mommy’s junk email folder on her ‘puter. Good thing I checked it!
Xena, Lock in Up To $250k of Term Life Insurance for as little as $15/mo.. Yep, isn’t this cool? I have to ask Mommy to get this for me. Or maybe I’ll ask Daddy…
Welcome To Medicare 2023 Xena Not sure what this one is for, but I think I need to check it out.
Xena, Get $100,000 Coverage for Only $1* I can get $100,000 for only one dollar! Woohoo!! I bet that’ll buy lots and lots of treats!
Lucy: Xe, wasn’t there another word next to all of these?
Xena: Oh yeah, it just keeps getting better. Along with the special offers, everyone was also giving me a can of spam. I stay home on Wednesdays, so I’ll get on Mommy’s ‘puter tomorrow while she’s gone to work and doesn’t need it and accept all of them. Won’t she be surprised!?
And a big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
Riley: Xena what’s called in legaleze “the first right of refusal” for today’s selfie. She was sleepy after quickly devouring her breakfast, or brekkies, as she calls it, and refused on the basis of not wanting to go through getting “prettied up” to be presentable.
I, myself had just settled in for a long last-day-of-winter nap when asked if I wanted to do the Sunday Selfie. Since all I had to do was look at the camera, I said sure, why not? So here goes…
Besides I have news from going to the vet — my favorite vet place where I love going — on Friday. My belly has been really big, and I’ve been chewing on one side of it. Plus I’ve been hacking up clear, foamy liquid a couple of times a day. This all brought a big uh, oh from Mrs. Dr. Vet. Listening to my heart, she said my murmur had gotten decidedly worse, too. So I get to go back to visit with them again in two weeks for x-rays and stuff. And I get to take drugs before I go, but shhh, don’t tell anyone. Mom asked if Mrs. Dr. Vet couldn’t just put me on the heart medication she had talked about, and the answer was a bit scary. Something about if it was the other thing, like a growth or tumor or something like that, on or around my heart, the medicine for a heart murmur could make it – and my heart – explode! Eeeyikes! So Mom Amy and Dad Jeff decided to spend the money on diagnosis. Whew. I’ll let you know what happens. But at least I won’t be having an exploding heart…I think that would hurt a lot. Your buddy, Riley
Oh, and thanks so much to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
Xena: Last week I got to go to Mommy’s workplace for the first time since I was just a puppy. It’s a new place, and it’s a church again. Mommy went from temp status to hired! So now I’m the official church dog. My first day there was Tuesday a week ago. I got so nervous that I had a runny, stinky accident. I didn’t get to go back last week, after that embarrassment to both me and Mommy.
Anyhoo, this week I got to go back to work with the promise I would only potty outside. I went on Monday and again yesterday. We don’t work on Fridays which is why we’ve got our vet appointment today. I’ll tell ya’, it’s hard work. My office is right in front of the front door, and it has big glass windows both in the front of the office and on both sides of the front door so I can see anyone coming. I have to grrrrrrr real quietly with my mouth closed until I know they are OK. Then I run up to them and welcome them with a wagging tail.
After work I went to the vet to get my ears checked again. They were much better, but still not 100%. So I’ve been getting this globby stuff in them every night, but one of them is actually worse. We’re all going to the vet today to get blood pulled for our twice a year DNA HW test *shake* *shiver* so the vet is going to look at them again then. I’ll be shaking so hard I probably won’t even notice. *sigh*
Working all day can be exhausting. We must have walked up and down the long hallway to the coffee room and the lobby (they call it a narthex) 87 times yesterday. Sometimes I just nap in Mommy’s lap.
Can you see her green top she wore a day early for St. Patty’s Day?
I like to schmooze the pastor, too. I follow him into his office and ask to be pet and to sit in his lap. He says I’m a real cutie and a good girl. (He doesn’t know about my accident down the hall.) He said I can come every day except Wednesday when there’s lots of people there. That’s OK by me! I also like to lay in Mommy’s lap while she works on the ‘puter. I haven’t gotten my own ‘puter yet — maybe we’ll get another one from the Good Will store like I had at the other church.
Mom: Whatcha’ doin’, Xexe? Xena: Miss Nancy fed me all my treats. Is it time to go home yet?
Well, that was my long way of wishing you a very happy St. Patty’s Day, and don’t drink and drive, BOL!
And here’s one for my Daddy, who’s something called a “Trekkie.”
Lucy, Ace Reporter, coming to you live (well, I AM alive!) from, WGWM with another episode of Grooming with Mom. We are so thankful for all of Mom’s wonderful clients and their pups! And a shout out of thanks to Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday
My usual M.O. is to report on new grooms. Today I would like to show you how some current grooms have changed, as well as other pupdates.
Let’s get the sad one over with first. You may remember Barkley, a one-year-old rescued schnauzer/yorkie/poodle mix. He was here last December for his first groom since being rescued. A couple of months ago he escaped from his house and ran into a yard that belonged to a bigger dog. Precious Barkley didn’t survive the encounter. May he play like the puppy he is on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
We’ve been following puppy Dixie since her first groom here. She’s now nine months old. This time her front right leg had shorter, curlier hair than her other legs. Her Mom said that she had broken her leg in two places when she jumped off their bed. She had her surgery and her leg now has metal plates, but she is getting around like nothing happened. Dixie has grown a lot and Groomer Mom decided it was time to do something different with her face. Dixie’s Mom agreed. And her Dad wanted all her leg and body hair trimmed as short as her one leg. Here are pictures of her previous groom (L) and the one done this time. Let us know which way you like her face best.
Dixie still has crazy puppy ears, and that’s just going to have to take time.
Molly came to us from downtown for her first groom here several months ago. In response to a reminder text, her Dad called from L.A. saying he was visiting his son over the Christmas holidays when he fell and broke his hip. He wasn’t going to be able to bring Molly, since she was stuck there in L.A. with him. When he was finally able to make the trip back, he hobbled into the small grooming area with his walker and Molly on a leash. He told Groomer Mom she could cut Molly’s hair how she thought it would look best this time, as opposed to making it look like a picture he had of another dog that she modeled the groom after last time. Then he asked what she’d been doing. She told him she’d been to a nearby Mexican restaurant the night before and how great the food was, and the band was really good too. At that, he said he’d go wait there, get a beer, watch the game on their many TV’s, etc. That was a great solution, since Molly was un-groomable with him here. Here’s Molly from her first (L) and second times here. Personally, this reporter really likes the second groom better.
Molly’s Dad got a late lunch and declared both the food there and the groom here excellent!
Next up is Winston. He is a multi-poo/shih tzu mix. Winston first came to Small Dog Grooming in 2017. He came back two years later, then in a year, and seems to be a more or less regular client now. His Mom gets busy and keeps forgetting to make an appointment. His last time here was the beginning of January, when he got a “mini-groom” because the weather was cold. These are his before and after pictures from this past weekend. He was terribly matted, but thankfully no fleas. And he was very good for his groom!
This time his Mom made an appointment for 6 weeks, and wants to keep doing that so she doesn’t keep forgetting.
Let’s wind this up with a wish for a Happy St. Patrick’s Day from our friend Laila.
This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful episode of Grooming with Mom.
First, thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
Today I honor miniature schnauzers across the world. No, this isn’t a federal holiday or even one of those made-up Hallmark holidays — although I think that’s a great idea! I just love the breed. I found this on FB, where I rarely look at anything at all. My hubby laughed, knowing that only by the grace of God, we only have one schnauzer…for now!
I was always a “big dog” person. I had Alice, my dalmation until she passed at 11 years. After that, my “then” husband and I bought a house in Cleveland, TN, where we could have more dogs. He always talked about having a schnauzer, so I got him one for his first birthday in our house. I’ll admit that I got this 6 week old puppy from a backyard breeder. I had never heard of backyard breeders at the time, but something sure seemed “off.” About a year later, when I found out what kind of breeder and person this man was, I went back to try to get my pup’s mother, but he said he didn’t have her anymore. Here is Freda.
When her dad left us, I wouldn’t let him take her. She and I bonded while grieving together. She developed terrible allergies, and the steroid shots caused her to have cushing’s disease. At age five she went mostly blind. As long as I didn’t move the furniture, no one could tell she couldn’t see. She even led the way on our hikes down wooded paths! She was smart, feisty, “top dog” in all situations, had attitude, and wanted most of all to be with me no matter what I was doing. In other words, she was a miniature schnauzer! She taught me about the breed, and they embodied all the things I admired and could want in a companion. When, at 13, she passed from the terrible effects of the cushings, I found someone who needed to rehome their mini schnauzer.
I took Evie to the vet after picking her up, and was told she had a bad heart murmur. I then took her to UTC Vet School in Knoxville, and was told it was a class 4 murmur, as bad as it gets. They could do surgery, but there was no guarantee. She was only seven months old. She had very little energy, and just cuddled or hung out quietly with my other two dogs.
All I can say is she had a good life…boating, sleeping in my bed, going on trips, and playing with the big German Shepherd who was living with me at the time. Well, let me define playing. The GSD would run through the yard, slowing when he reached Evie so that she could grab ahold of his neck with her teeth and hang on him like a giant engorged tick while he kept running. When she was 19 months old I came home from work and found her gone, still warm in her kennel.
After that I was determined to find a well-bred schnauzer. After researching, I contacted a breeder, Becky, who lived three hours away in southern GA. One of her females had just had a litter, and she emailed me pictures of them a couple of times a week. I picked one out and gave her a very Southern, girlie name: Anna Belle Lee.
When they were six weeks old I made the trip to Becky’s to meet her and Anna Belle Lee and leave a deposit. I would have to return in two weeks to pick up my puppy. I sat on the floor for three hours watching them all play. I met their Mom and Pop, who were also house dogs and seemed happy and well cared for. Anna Belle Lee was every bit as beautiful and sweet as I had imagined. But I was still living with the GSD, and I was concerned this wouldn’t work. There was another puppy who stood out as the one who could deal with him..and pretty much anything. I left to get some lunch, and when I returned I had made a decision. On the way home I knew I had to come up with a different name for this one, the one who tore up all the newspaper while the others slept; jumped and bit at the air coming out of the floor register; and generally, although physically the same size as them, had a huge presence amongst the other little ones. She was no Anna Belle Lee. I named her Lexi. Many of you knew Lexi, who was the inspiration for this blog.
To the right, Ara is doing an alligator roll with 8 or 10 week old Lexi’s head in his mouth. She wasn’t a bit afraid, but I was holding my breath. He did this after she had repeatedly grabbed his lip and pulled it until he screamed. At least she stopped pulling his lip…
There’s not enough space in one blog to elaborate on everything Lexi loved and did, but here’s a condensed list.
Agility
Titled in Freestyle
Played Toto in 3 plays, each 2 years apart, and won the Annie Award in the The Chattanooga Theatre.
Received a life-time pass to attend any Chattanooga Theatre production
Advertised the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra from a pedi-cab
Made a guest appearance with a children’s ballet troupe
Helped us teach ballroom dance for 3 years to a group of homeschoolers
Did therapy with physical rehab patients
Visited nursing homes
“Therapized” at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital for 10 years
And more, so much more
Lexi with her headshot and Annie Award from The Wizard of Oz. She was very proud and possessive of the award.
Cancer took her in 2016 when she was 13 years old, only three months after she was diagnosed. I lost my partner and best friend. While I can’t say I’m done grieving her, someone else won my heart about a year later.
It usually takes me a while to actually, really love anyone. The day I brought Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess home from another renowned breeder, I fell in love with her. Even though this is her blog now, and you see her all the time, she wants me to include her picture in this post. Like all my schnauzers, she loves having her picture taken.
She was 13 weeks old when I got her and took this picture. This is how the breeder groomed her, and I’ve tried to stay true to it. Oddly, her leg hair or “feathers” and her beard have never grown.
The personalities of all four schnauzers have been extremely different; they have been their own, unique dogs. Evie was too sick to be anything but docile. Lexi was self-confident, brave to the point of danger, was able to change to meet whatever was needed of her, and quick to see the upside and make the most of all the different situations I put her in. She didn’t like to cuddle.
Xena is a bit shy, sweet, loving, smart, and like the others loves to be with me and do anything I’m doing, especially freestyle. She loves to be outside and “hunt” critters. She’s also fearful of new situations and even of changing textures on the floor. She’s my baby.
If you’ve gotten this far in this long blog, I thank you. I’ll be back soon with more adventures with Xena and her “crew.” Thank you, Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday, Oh, and why don’t you scroll back up and get one more laugh out of that meme?
Xena: Sure, sometimes we argue over things, like whose kennel is this and who gets to sit on Mommy’s lap. But sometimes it’s like this morning. The kennel door is always open so we can go in and out as we want (except when Chia is in jail!). I actually had the kennel first this morning, and Chia came in asking me to leave. I always hold my ground by simply ignoring her demands. Today she just cuddled up for our morning nap. It was kinda nice.
We had already spent time playing together with our stuffies. I grabbed one and ran so that Chia would chase me. Sometimes we play tug-of-war for a short while and then run and jump at each other and make funny noises. I’ve taught Chia how to dance, and she’s taught me how to, well, how to be a puppy again. Sure, Chia can be extremely annoying, but in my big schnauzer heart, I guess I really do love her.
Angel Teddy of Two Spoiled Cats gave us a great picture to write a poem about. And boy, am I ever gonna do it!
I thought and I thought and I thought. Mom Amy went to work and came home and fed me and ate and went to a church meeting and came home and I said, “Mom Amy, I know it’s late, but I’m ready. “
She said, “OK, let’s do it, then.” So here goes.
Topsy Turvy World by Riley
Everything seems upside down In this world and in this town.
Right is wrong and wrong is right. Why do some folks always fight?
Hot in winter, cold right now; Hey, does anyone have a plow?
Dogs who get the very best; Kids who’re hungry, cold, and stressed.
So topsy turvy cars are weird? To some the difference is revered.
The problem with this picture now: The dog should drive, the man should meow!
I'm Dalton, a Rat terrier mix and I came here in Sept, 2017, I was rescued from Hurricane Harvey. My birthday is 8-20-2016. My Gotcha Day is 8-27-2017. And I am Benji, a terrier mix of unknown origin. MY Birthday is June 6, 2018, and my Gotcha Day is Dec 28, 2018. I also was a rescue from a different part of Texas. We also have Angel MrJackFreckles, (2-5-2018); and also we have Angel Minko, (6-18-2017); and Angel Pipo, (11-3-2020);There are also Angels Groucho, Simba, Suki, & Toki. We meezers used to be known as WeBeesSiameezers. We'e all from Michigan, Dalton and Benji both came here from Texas, as rescues..
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 