Tag: miniature schnauzer

My first trip to a nursing home

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

March 20, 2007
It’s been a while since Mom has helped me write in my diary. She started working at a place where she is doing accounting. I keep hearing her say she hates it. I don’t like when Mommy isn’t happy. She doesn’t play with me enough. I think if she played with me more she would feel better. I think she should just stay home and take me to the park. The weather is nice and I could run, run, run. Then we would both feel better.

Mom came home early on Friday and took me to a nursing home. At first I thought I was going to see my Grandma who lives near there, but I got to see lots and lots of other people who are old like my Grandma. Their rooms all open out to hallways, too, so they wouldn’t be able to let me stay all day either. They all talked to me nice and petted me. Mom told everyone about me being Toto in the Wizard of Oz. The bling on my collar was the button with me and Dorothy on it. I think they liked that. I felt very proud. There were a lot of cookie crumbs and I cleaned them up for everyone. I am a good helper. Mom says I am a therapy dog now. I hope I don’t have to learn a new name again, like I did for the play. I got really thirsty and whined and Mom said we could go. She promised to bring me water the next time we visit. It is really hot in there, and smells funny too, like stuff I am not allowed to do in the house.

Saturday I get to see my good friends Piper and Marley. We are all going to get tested to be therapy dogs for hospitals that take care of children. I like all the children petting me. I am sooooo sure I will pass whatever the test is. I hear that Marley is a little worried about this because she never liked kids. I think I will talk to her about it. After all, I never liked kids either until the Wizard of Oz. I will let her know they are really ok. And they usually drop food, so it’s good to hang around them.

Lexi, the nursing home dog

Super Bowl Sunday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

February 8, 2007
I was right! Super Bowl Sunday was so much fun. My friends Marley and her Mom Jennefer went to Cleveland with me and my Mom to visit my people brother Adam. Adam loves me a lot and I always sit on his lap in the car. We got to go to the pet store while we were there. All Marley wanted to do was ride on her Mom’s hip. Not me, I smelled everything in the store! During the times we had to wait in the car we planned how much fun we were going to have when we got back to my house.

Back at my house Marley’s brother Piper and their dad joined us for the big game. Marley played with me a lot, but all Piper wanted to do was hug his Mom and get on my Mom’s lap. He wasn’t in on the planning earlier, so he must not have known it was play time.

Just like I thought, there was yummy food. I ate lots of chips and dip and Jennefer brought me wonderful doggie cookies. The first one got stuck on the roof of my mouth and I couldn’t get it loose. Everyone was laughing and Mom had to pull it off. That felt very strange. I was more careful after that to bite the next one into pieces. All us schnauzers fell asleep before the game was over and I was really ready to go straight to bed when everyone left.

The Elevator

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

February 6, 2007
I had my first ride in an elevator. Mom carried me onto it. It started to go up and when she tried to put me down I clung onto her like crazy. No way was I going to stand on this thing that was moving under us. She caught me with her knee as I was sliding off her and she saved me. The doors of this elevator thing slid open and we stepped out into a hallway. Then I got to visit my Grandma in her new apartment. I was so excited to see her and she was excited to see me too. When we were done visiting Mom held me on the elevator ride back down.

A few days later I went back to see Grandma and had to go on this elevator thing again. Mom tricked me – just walked right onto it with me on my leash. I was looking at this person that I thought would pet me and wasn’t paying enough attention to where I was going. I could feel it begin to move, but I kept my eye on that bright metal circle in the middle. I think that was the thing making it all happen. We made it up ok and I was so happy to see my Grandma again. Grandma had a piece of toast all ready just for me. Mom thought she tricked me again when we left, but I knew that as long as I watched that circle thing, it would be ok. Now I know to just watch the circle and I will be ok on the elevator. I just wanted to share that with all of you so you would know to just watch that metal circle and you don’t need to be afraid to go on an elevator. The elevator will take you good places, like to see the people you love.

Lexi, the brave elevator-riding schnauzer

Can’t go to Grandma’s anymore

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

February 2, 2007

Grandma moved out of our apartment (hers and mine) and I am not allowed to stay all day with her anymore. Where she lives now, there’s only a hallway on the other side of her front door, and she can’t tie me out anymore when I want to go outside. I heard Mom promise her that I could still sometimes come and stay for a little while. I wish my Grandma didn’t move. She’s been getting very confused, but she still knew who I was and always smiled and talked nice to me and gave me toast. I heard that she fell down in our (hers and mine) apartment in the middle of the night and pulled the TV down on top of her. I heard that she lay there all night because she couldn’t get up. I think she would still be laying there if Mom had not gone over early the next morning. She said she got up to go to the bathroom and got confused and turned the wrong way. Then she lost her balance and when she reached for something to steady herself the TV fell over on top of her. I hope Grandma doesn’t hurt. I wish she didn’t have to move. Why didn’t she move somewhere that I could stay with her all day? I think she misses me. I love my Grandma.

I am going to see my good friends Jennefer and Piper and Marley on Sunday. We are going to go see my big people brother Adam who lives in another city almost an hour away, and go to the pet store. I bet we all get something good. I should, since I am a very, very good girl. Afterward, there is something called the Super Bowl. I wonder if that is a great big bowl full of yummy food. Mmmmmm. I am starting to drool. My beard is getting wet.

Everyone have a good Super Bowl Sunday and don’t get a tummy ache. Woof, woof,

Lexi

Snuggling with a cat

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

January 15, 2007I found out cats are ok. I have never had much luck with them in the past. They either tried to kill me (Mom says I am a bit melodramatic with this) or got me in trouble by making me cross the street to chase them, or just scared me a lot. Let me tell you what happened.

(L-R) Piper, Marley, me

Mom went away and my really good friend Jennefer picked me up to stay with her and her two schnauzers, Piper and Marley. I didn’t know there was going to be a cat involved! But sure enough, there was a cat in her house, big as day. Not only that, Piper and Marley played with her. Can you believe it? When she started trying to get me to chase her for fun, I didn’t trust her. I have been tricked like that before, and it never ended well for me. (At this point in my story, please imagine me rubbing my nose with my paw, tears in my eyes.) This crazy cat was so persistent about it that I finally couldn’t help myself – I chased her. Then she chased me, but not mean-like. She was kind of laughing, in a cat way. Then she let me chase her some more. I like this cat. I drew the line on cuddling with her like little Marley does. I did cuddle with Marley, though. Everyone cuddles with Marley.The last night I was there both my dog friends went to stay with their grandmother and I got to cuddle in bed all night with their Mom and dad all by myself. No other dogs to take the attention I should be getting. I hope Jennefer comes and gets me again sometime. The next night I got to stay with my Grandma and sleep under the covers with her and eat toast and jam the next morning. I love my Grandma.

I just got to thinking…why did I get to stay overnight with my bestest friends and my Grandma? Where is my Mom? I sure hope she isn’t having fun without me.

Lexi the snuggling schnauzer

A surprise jump

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

December 20, 2006

It’s almost Christmas and there are lots of presents under the tree! I have smelled them all and I don’t think mine is there. I sure hope Mom didn’t forget to get it. I wonder where it is…

Today I really surprised Mom when she came home from work. I jumped right up on the dining room table without even jumping first on the chair!!! She lifted me off, so I showed her again what I could do. Then I did it again!! I think she was very impressed. Mom said not to do that, but I don’t think she meant it. It is much easier for her to pet me if I am up there.

I didn’t go to my Grandma’s for a whole week. She was too sick for me to stay with her. I sure did miss her and she said she missed me a lot too. She is better now and I am getting my toast again.

Mommy was going to let my hair keep growing all winter since it was already long from being Toto. Then she said she couldn’t stand it anymore, and the weather kept being warm, so she groomed me. She didn’t cut it as short as usual in case we get a cold snap. And here I thought I was safe until next year. One just never knows when one will be swept up to be groomed or bathed. I am playing it safe now about the baths. Whenever Mom goes into the downstairs bathroom I run into another room and if she runs the water I try to hide. So far it works most of the time. Well, at least 6 times out of 7.

Mom has to go fix dinner now, so she said I should wish all my web friends a Merry Christmas!!

Woof, woof, woof.
Lexi

My friends got a puppy

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

November 15, 2006

I didn’t get to go to help teach dance last week, and Mom came home smelling like new puppy. I tried to ignore it so she wouldn’t know I could tell, but she stank of it. Then she confessed that my good friends in Dunlap got a new Schnauzer puppy from my breeder, but that they still love me too. If they love me, how could they find room in their hearts for another Schnauzer – I truly do not understand. I feel cast aside, betrayed. The next thing will probably be the new puppy getting her own web page!

O my gosh, I just found out the new puppy got her own web page and asked me to be friends. What could I do?! Mom said I should be nice and accept, so I even sent a nice note.  Her name is Sadie. Maybe we will get to play together sometime. That is, after I show her who is boss. Mom said the classes are over for the year, so I won’t get to see those friends for a long time (unless they come to Chattanooga to visit me!).

Mom says I am going to get to go to places called assisted care and nursing homes to visit with old people. I know how to do that. I wonder if they will all give me toast like my Grandma does. They are going to pet me lots and I will be real nice to everyone. I wonder if I will have to have a new name like I did for the play. I will let you know, so everyone knows what to call me when they want to give me a treat!

I have started going back to the park on the weekends because the weather is nice and I don’t go to the theater any more.  I love to run, run, run…

 

Woof, woof,

Lexi

 

I cried all night

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

November 3, 2006

Mom kept explaining that the play was over, was done, that we weren’t going back, but I just couldn’t believe it. How could she give me something so great and then take it away? I hate the world. I feel so very bad, I don’t know what’s wrong. I think I might just die. I have never felt like this before. I heard the word depressed. If that is what I have, I don’t want it. I want my stage back, and my audience, my fans, my cast, even the scary flying monkeys. I want my Dorothy and my treats and my children and my old people. I want my warm up room and my green room and my special kennel. I felt so alive at the theater. I love the theater. I hate my life now.  I want my job back!

Lexi, the sad

 

It’s time to go to the theater

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

November 2, 2006

Last Sunday we didn’t go to the theater. I figured we were just taking a day off, a break. Then Wednesday came around and I didn’t get a bath. I sure wasn’t going to remind anyone about that! Suddenly it was Thursday night and it is almost 7:00 and we haven’t left for the theater yet. I’ve gone to the door and keep looking at it and back at Mom. She has forgotten…hurry, it is time to go! I am going to miss my curtain call!! Everyone will be looking for me on stage and holding their breath to say “Awwwwww,” and I won’t be there on time! Mom, please, Mom, please, Mom pleeeeeeeease!

Mom no fun

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 27, 2006
I haven’t been going to Grandma’s much lately ’cause Mom has been home. She isn’t working and has a cold and doesn’t want to play much. Once in a while she will throw the ball for me or play keep away with Quack Quack, my bestest duck friend toy. Then she lights the fireplace and we curl up on the couch and take a nap together.

Mom says she is going to work tomorrow and I can go stay with my Grandma again. I like that – she makes me toast with yummy jam on it and always says really nice things to me. She lets me get in her bed and burrow down under the covers to the bottom where I snooze all morning, except to get my toast. I see Mom going to the kitchen to make some desserts now, so catch you all later. P.S. I know sometimes I tell ya’ll things more than once – it is because these are the important things in my life! Woof!

Lexi the Snoozing Schnauzer

Rocktober Fest

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 24, 2006
Hi Ya’ll. I got to go to Rock City to celebrate Rocktober Fest. As I was walkingon the sidewalk in front of Rock City, I jumped up over a rock wall onto what I thought would be a nice grassy bank where I could smell all the other dogs that had been there. Imagine my surprise when, instead of grass, there was a water fountain! I went in up to my chest before my Mom grabbed me out so I wouldn’t drown. Boy, was that water cold!

Mom helped Jeff teach a dance called polka and I danced with her for a little bit. We took a break and walked down good trails, which got my nose twitching with the scent of other dogs. I wanted to look for those interlopers but Mom said we would go another time when there wasn’t so much dancing to do. My bestest friend Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz was there, and so was the Tin Man. Dorothy took me around to meet people and everyone naturally adored me, the Toto.
Lexi the Rocktober Fest star

More antics at the theater

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 12, 2006
So there I was near the front of the stage and I was getting a bit bored just standing there with my good pals – no one was feeding me or petting me or singing to me – and out of the corner of my eye I saw the wicked witch sneaking across the back of the stage. Thinking it would be great fun, I turned and ran after her, barking as loudly as I could. She kept stopping and motioning with big waves of her arm to go away. The audience started laughing so of course I kept it up until she was clear off the stage. What a great time that was! I tried it again the next night to see if people still thought it was funny, and they did, so I am just going to add it to my part. Won’t the wicked witch be surprised!

LexiToto the witch chaser

Dorothy-Kim

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 8, 2006
Mom told me she had this funny thought about when I go over to Dorothy’s house (you know, Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz) and meet her dog Graham. Graham is going to say, “Why do you keep saying ‘Dorothy’?”

And of course I will reply with, “Because that is her name.”

After a few rebuttals back and forth (which I hope doesn’t turn into a fight) Graham may come up with “I knew it! My Mom is leading a double life. The first clue should have been when she came home smelling like you! By day, my sweet, innocent Mommy Kim. By night, well, I don’t know what the heck she does with you! But she’s had your stink on her for weeks now.”

Me: “I hear people say I may be going to have an identity crisis. Do you think that is what is happening to Dorothy-Kim?”

Graham: “I don’t know what that is. Let’s play.”

Isn’t my Mommy funny? Everyone knows my friend’s name is Dorothy!

LexiToto

I won’t do it!

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia1 Comment

October 5, 2006
I keep adding things to my part as Toto, as the audience notices and responds. I have, however, decided to leave one thing out, and Mom has finally stopped trying to make me do it, because I am not going to do it anymore. Period. End of discussion. Those trees scared me. They walk around and dance and act entirely not like trees. Well, they got in my way after I skipped – well I try to skip – with Dorothy and the Lion and the Tin Man and the Scarecrow across the stage. It is the third time I sort of skip down the proverbial yellow brick road during the play. The first two times went fine. Then that third time those trees, oh those nasty moving trees, got in my way and it scared me and I will not do that again when they are on the stage. Absolutely, positively not.

LexiToto

Baths and dancing

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 4, 2006
So here I am, the star of the Wizard of Oz, and Mom still comes home at lunch and gives me a bath. The indignity of it all! I thought I was safe at my Grandma’s, but no, here Mom comes with shampoo and a towel and sticks me in the sink. I can’t wait to get back outside and get this shampoo smell off of me. At least she hasn’t tried to make me wear clothes lately. That’s even worse than a bath.

I get to go to Dunlap tonight and help teach dance. I haven’t gone in a long time. I missed the first two lessons because I had to go to rehearsal and face the flying monkeys. Of course, there were lots of treats and fun, too. Mom says some of the people who love me are still there in Dunlap, and there are new people, too, to love me. I am so excited, I can hardly wait. I wish we could go now. I don’t understand why we can’t go right now. I think Mom should come home from this work place where she always says she is going and take me to dance. Doesn’t she know I want to go now? Now, now, now, now, now.

Woof!
Lexi, the dancing schnauzer

I Am the Star

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

October 2, 2006
I am the star. That’s what everyone says. They say I steal the show, but honest, I didn’t steal anything. I just run out on the stage (at least most of the time) when Mom says, and get treats, and run off, back to Mom who is always there waiting for me. Now I have found that I can go down the front stairs and off the stage into the audience. That’ a hoot. Mom seems kinda freaked out when I get back, though. She says she can’t see me and isn’t sure if I am coming back. I know when I have to be back for when the good witch points at me and asks if I am the witch – how silly! I haven’t missed my cue yet.

And those monkeys – oooooh I don’t like those monkeys. I run as fast as I can when I see them coming and Mom picks me up. But then she hands me to one of the monkeys! So last time they came after me, I ran into my kennel off-stage where I would be safe. When I came out of my kennel, thinking they were all gone, Mom picked me up and handed me to one of them again. I don’t know how I am going to stop her from doing this. Doesn’t she know they are scary??

Lexi the star

Dance in Dunlap

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

September 30, 2006
Tonight is dance in Dunlap again. I went last week and really yelled at everyone. I was making up for lost time. And I wouldn’t go to the girls when they called me either. I am mad at them because they didn’t come and see me all summer when Mom wasn’t taking me there. I think they should have come to see me, don’t you? I am not sure if I will let them pet me tonight. I am still getting a lot of petting at the theater, so I don’t really need more. (Why is Mom laughing??)

Mom has started putting good stuff on my food in the morning. She says she wants me to start eating every morning because I am getting too thin. I don’t always do what she wants, but my goodness, this stuff is good.

I am going to rest some more now so I have lots of energy to go to dance tonight. I sure hope we stop at McDonalds again so I can have french fries. Mmmm.

Impromptu

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment

September 22, 2006
I am having such a great time at the theater, both on-stage and off. I try to think of something new to do every night as well as on Sunday afternoon. I pay close attention to how the audience reacts so I will know if I should do it again next time. When Dorothy and I go back onstage after the house has landed in Oz, all the little kids called Munchkins sneak out around the edges of some fake plants and start giggling. I have started running and barking at them, and they giggle harder and run back behind the plants. Everyone in the audience laughs a lot when I do that, so I have kept it in my role as Toto.

One day before the show opened I went to an upstairs place back behind where the audience will be sitting. Mom kept telling me to bark by saying my word, free! She said they were recording me and I should bark as much and in as many different ways as I wanted. All I have to say to that is BARK! BARK! WOOF, WOOF. RRRRRRARRR. So in the scenes where I am supposed to bark, the audience hears the recording. Who knew that when I did a little improve that it would sound different! A few people actually asked if some of my barks were recorded. I wasn’t sure if I should feel embarrassed or proud…

Lexi the Thespian

The Show opened!

Published on by Xena, Lucy and ChiaLeave a comment
That’s me in the middle

September 15, 2006
Last night the show opened and I got to perform on-stage for the first time ever! It was a Thursday night and there were a lot of older people, which was great, since I really relate to that age bracket. I have had lots of practice with my Grandma, after all. Dorothy was about to take me out on stage with the old-looking new leash she had gotten for the part when Jeffery the director said, “No. We aren’t using a leash.” You should have seen the looks on both Dorothy and my mom’s faces. Dorothy took a deep breath and I think Mom started praying. No one knew what I would do since I had never been able to show them that am a born actor. We had rehearsed a lot and I knew my part and did it. When I first ran out to Dorothy on cue, and the audience breathed a collected sigh of “Awwwwww,” that sealed it. I knew I had found my calling. I would have done anything to hear that again. Then when I stole the hot dog from the stick like I was supposed to do and everyone laughed, I knew I loved this job more than anything. Dorothy had treats hidden in her socks and gave me lots of them during the play. Mom helped by always waiting off-stage where I was supposed to run when it was time and she always had a treat for me too. I think I am in heaven.

LexiToto the happy Schnauzer

 That’s me in the middle

Annie Awards

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia1 Comment
Wearing my tux collar at the Annie Awards
Wearing my tux collar at the Annie Awards

 September 4, 2006

You should have seen me at the Annie Awards just before the show opened. I wore a white tux collar and red bow tie – I just knew clothes were going to enter into this at some point! Mom says it was, after all, a black tie affair. So where does this red bow tie come in? Mom wore a red gown to match my red bow tie. I worked the crowd. Pet me, feed me, adore me. And they did. Mom managed to ruin it a bit when she stood up on a chair and warned everyone, “Do not give any ham to the schnauzer.” After the social hour in the lobby, I sat on Mom’s lap for the awards in the auditorium – the one where I will be performing. At first, all the clapping, yelling and hooting bothered me. After about 20 minutes I decided it didn’t matter and settled down to watch the awards, even taking a little nap at the end. Then back to the lobby for dessert! I found the cream puff table and stood with my front paws on it, looking longingly at the treats – not without reward! The director is extremely impressed with my behavior, everyone’s reactions to me and my reactions back to them. What does he expect? When I am nice everyone feeds me treats and pets me. Isn’t that what life is all about, anyhow? So Mom says I don’t have to wear any more clothes during the play. That’s good. Now, if I could just get rid of those darned flying monkeys.

Woof, woof!

LexiToto