pit bulls – Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia

Here and Gone Again by Lucy

Published on August 16, 2017August 21, 2017 by Xena, Lucy and Chia32 Comments

Early in the morning last Friday, right after Mom gave me my breckies, she packed the car and left. She took both my peeps brothers and my Auntie Jen – who I had just met! – with her. 87 hours later she sent this picture to Dad’s phone to let him know she got to wherever she was going:

Dad said Mom went to a place called Floorida. So here I was with no Mom, and Riley with no Dad. Dad replied to Mom with this picture of poor pitiful us. I wonder if it made her want to come home.

Dad claimed to be sad and neglected too, but I think it was just to make us feel better. After all, he did fix this for his supper:

And finished up with this:

Mom didn’t send any food pictures, but she did send some restaurant pictures to Dad. Everyone but Mom ate a lot of alligator. They said it tastes like chicken. I wonder where I can get me some alligator…

After 87 days, Mom came back home. I think it was Sunday. Now both Mom and Dad are packing their suitcases. And brother Andrew just left. I am worried. Who is going to feed me? And pet me? I am not going to let Mom out of my sight!

I will let you know if I survive.

Love and wiggles, Lucy

Lucy and Riley at the Vet

Published on August 9, 2017August 15, 2017 by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

A week or two ago – I have trouble keeping up with time – Dad took me and my beau Riley to the vet. I had bumps on my upper lip and under my chin. Mom had already asked Mr. Google, but didn’t think what I had looked like that pappy stuff. Concerned about tumors, my pawrents decided a vet visit was in order. Since Riley was almost due for his vaccinations, and had been scratching himself silly over fleas he got at someone else’s house, and had been off of heartworm protection all summer, Dad made him go too.

First it was my turn. This was a different vet for me. Dad said Dr. Karen was the lady who took good care of Lexi and gave her a cute puncture for whatever was wrong with her leg. Dr. Karen does a lot of what’s called East Turn medicine, and her husband is a dogtor there too for everything not East Turn. Everyone was so nice to me and I was very, very good. Turns out I really do have that pappy stuff, so Dr. Karen told Dad to just give me some L-Lysine pills for a month or two and it would go away. Then it was Riley’s turn. I am embarrassed to tell you what he did. OK, I am going to tell you anyway. Oh, and Dad wasn’t able to get any pictures. You’ll understand why in a moment. Instead, I am borrowing some pictures from Mr. Google to illustrate my point.

First, Riley begged them not to do anything to him.

Then, Riley saw the tech pick up a needle and he screamed like a banshee.

Riley got so worked up that my Dad told them to put a muzzle on him. My guy is strong, and he was throwing himself all over the room with all his strength to try to get away.
My Dad and three vet techs were holding him to try to steal some blood, and the lady with the needle still stuck herself instead of Riley. I was like…

I just didn’t know what to think. They finally got some of Riley’s blood and he doesn’t have any heartworms. I sure hope they tested his blood, and not the vet tech’s.

Then it started all over again when the tech got the rabies shot ready. And once again, I was like…

Everyone was relieved that he wasn’t getting any more shots. Later, while we laid in bed and watched TV with Andrew, I asked Riley why he acted like that. He said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, woman.”

I am sure I didn’t imagine it… right Dad?

Love and wiggles, Lucy

Last Day at my Grandma’s

Published on April 15, 2017 by Xena, Lucy and Chia19 Comments

Lucy - bone in distance — **I can see the lake from here. I wonder…**

Lucy bone close 2 — **I found a bone! Should I…**

Lucy - bone tasting — **Yes! It tastes good!**

Lucy looking up at grandma cropped — **I love you, My Grandma**

Lucy sad with grandma — Why can’t we take My Grandma home with us tomorrow? I want to keep her.

Breakthrough

Published on February 10, 2017February 10, 2017 by Xena, Lucy and Chia34 Comments

Our household has had a wonderful breakthrough. Riley and Lucy are playing. Let me give you a little background on Riley and why this is so important.

I found Riley when he was 6 months old and 28 pounds. He was a happy, carefree, loving dog. Even as he matured into a 70 pound bullie/lab mix, he loved to go to the dog park and play with all the dogs. Then, one day, he got attacked by a Rottweiler and a Great Dane team. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt. But it affected him psychologically. Ever after that, he has been not only suspicious of other dogs, but would jump them. He never hurt any of them, but we sure didn’t need someone reporting an aggressive bullie mix! Plus, I didn’t want anyone else to be psychologically damaged like Riley had been.

It should be noted that he never jumped or tried to hurt Lexi or any other “frequent visitor” at our house. He has always especially loved Piper, my schnauzer nephew. I know Lexi thought of Riley as her bothersome, younger, big brother, but never showed any signs of fear. You can see them together in the header.

He became my son, Andrew’s, dog about 3 years ago. They are totally bonded, just like Lexi and I were. Recently, Andrew and Riley have come to stay with us for a while. I have been monitoring Riley and Lucy very carefully, as I only wanted good experiences for them both. Last night, Lucy’s sweet disposition and pleas to play finally won out. It started with them in the hallway outside my husband’s home office. Riley dropped into the play position. Lucy appropriately responded with the same posture. They went back and forth like that for about three minutes. Then they moved it to the living room where they had more room to maneuver, with Jeff following to be sure all continued to go well. These two big dogs played hard for 10 or 15 minutes until I broke it up with praises and treats. They played for a bit longer after that, when I stopped them for the night while it was still happy play. I managed to film some of it.

Today they are back at it again. They went into the fenced back yard and did the “buddy” thing – walking together, standing together, running and playing together. Lucy is thrilled to have a playmate, and even Riley seems much happier. It didn’t take me long to decide I would rather have a full heart than a clean house.