Tag: schnauzer

Mommy got me a new daddy!

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(L-R) Lily, Ivy, my new Dad, Mom, me
(L-R) Lily, Ivy, my new Dad, Mom, me

 October 16, 2008

Mommy and Jeff got married. They talked about it a lot first and said that my Grandmas loved Jeff and wouldn’t want them to wait. They used my screen house in the back yard and fixed it up all pretty. Mom strung lights and put out great big pots of flowers called mums – how funny to think flowers could be someone’s mum! Mom put Grandma’s picture on a table to make it seem like she was close by. My bestest friend Jennefer came and helped Mom get dressed, like she isn’t a big person and can dress herself! Everything is funny today. My bestest friend Maria came with her husband who is very nice too, and my people brother Andrew came, and the preacher and his wife came. My new step-sisters Lily and Ivy were there too. Lily is orange and hairy and big – at least she looks pretty big to me. She is always trying to get everyone to like her and wants us all to play with her. It is very annoying. Ivy is almost as big. She has long black hair and some white, just like me. I can tell she is in charge because sometimes she tells Lily to stop and Lily listens to her. I will have to watch her to see how she stays in charge all the time. Of course, I will also have to let her know this is my house and she will have to listen to me. I sure hope she listens when I bark and growl and fuss at her. She is kind of big, after all. But today I will just be nice because it is a special and fun and funny day.

After Mom and Jeff promised to stay together forever – which made me really happy – they had champagne and we all had cake. Jennefer made the cake. It had lots and lots of icing. Yummy!! I could have eaten it all, but Mom and Jeff said they would freeze it until this time next year. I really don’t understand why they would freeze perfectly good cake that could be eaten now. Eat it now!

Lexi, the schnauzer with a Daddy

My Grandma died

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I love my grandma.
I love my grandma.

Mommy said my Grandma died. I am not sure what that means, except it is very sad. Mom has been happy all day because it is her birthday. Then, late at night, I heard the phone ring from my kennel. Then I heard Mommy crying. She said we can’t go see Grandma at the nursing home anymore. That makes me very sad too. I am always so happy to go visit with her. It always made her very happy too. I won’t even stop to do pet therapy stuff on my way to her room; I am always so excited to know I am going to see her again. I really don’t understand why we can’t go any more…I love my Grandma. I hate this dying stuff. It makes everybody unhappy.

  Sadly,

  Lexi

Christmas 2008

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Me and Father Christmas - I later chewed u him up
Me and Father Christmas – I later chewed
him up

January 4, 2008

Wow, this Christmas thing is really nice. It sneaks up on me every year, but this year I knew there was something in one of the pretty bags just for me – I could smell it and Mommy kept telling me to leave it alone. Sure enough, it was a new chew bone filled with rawhide! And I got a new Quack-quack. The quacker broke in my old one, but this one works really good. I was so excited when I got it I wiggled all over.

Christmas Eve I went to the nursing home to see my Grandma. Grandma fell again in her apartment and broke her hip. She had an operation to make it better and went to something called physical therapy in the hospital. That was supposed to help her be able to go back to her new apartment where she has lots of people around and help if she needs it. But every day when she went back to therapy she couldn’t remember what she had learned the day before. It was like starting all over again. That doesn’t make any sense to me. How can you forget what you just learned the day before? I always remember what Mommy teaches me and we have a grand time dancing new steps together or doing new tricks or, well, you see what I am saying. Mom says it is because my Grandma is 89 years old – wow, that is something like 623 in dog years. People used to live that long –  623 years – in the bible times but not anymore. Anyhow, the hospital finally sent Grandma to a nursing home to keep trying to learn to walk again, and that’s why we are here visiting her. Mommy put up a little Christmas tree in Grandma’s room and the lights are very pretty. It reminds me of the Grand Illumination and makes me smile my little schnauzer smile.

We had pizza. It was good. I love my Grandma.

My people brothers stayed all night on Christmas Eve and I got to jump on Adam Christmas morning to wake him up. He was sleeping on the couch and didn’t want to get up. So I wiggled and stood on him and dug in next to him until he finally succumbed to my charms. In the middle of it all I had to stop to run in and tell my other big brother Andrew that I was busy with Adam and I would be back to get him up, too. He didn’t wait for me, though.

The day after Christmas I went to Siskin Hospital to work. They call me a pet therapy dog. It’s really lots of fun. I sit next to people and let them pet me. These are people who come and learn to do things like walk again, just like my Grandma. I like some people there more than others, and when I find them I won’t let them stop petting me. They smile and I wag a lot. Mom says it’s good work if you can get it.

Lexi, the Christmas Schnauzer

Grand Illumination

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December 27, 2007

Hey ya’ll,  I got to be on-stage again. I am such an on-stage type of Schnauzer! I led the cast of performers onto the stage at the riverfront for Chattanooga’s Grand Illumination performances. Then I got to walk out on stage again with my Mom and our bestest friend Jeff, and Santa held and petted me while they danced. When the show was over, the Christmas lights were turned on all over the city.

While I was on Santa’s lap, I asked for good chew bones. I think I will get them, because I have been a very good dog this year.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Lexi, Santa’s lap dog

I WON, I WON, I WON!

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August 25, 2007

I won a Miss Annie Award at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre for my role as Toto in The Wizard of Oz! I am so excited! I licked the award a lot last night and watched it closely when Mom let someone else hold it. I didn’t take my eyes off it all night at the theater. I won, I won, I won! Mommy put it on a shelf on the wall with my headshot as Toto and the program for the play. I won! Yeah! I ran up on stage when Mom told me and everyone clapped for me just like when I was in the play. It says right on it that I am the director’s choice. He loves me. Everyone loves me. I love being on the stage. Since I can’t really hold the award with my paws, Mom came up on stage too and accepted the award for me. I leaned into the microphone to say something and everyone kind of giggled, and then I changed my mind and let Mom talk. She said I was so surprised that I didn’t have a speech prepared. She sure was right! Can you imagine a schnauzer that is speechless?

I got to help Dorothy present an award to someone else, too. I ran up on stage on my cue, just like always, and everyone said, “Ahhhhw” and laughed like when I played Toto. Dorothy held me for a while, and then I just stood there with her and my director Geoffrey and followed her off the stage as usual. Did I say I love the stage? I love Dorothy too. I love treats, too, and I got a lot of them last night – cheese, crackers, cake – all yum!

Lexi-Toto, the Winner

My Screen House

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June 22, 2007

Mom finally put my screen house up in my back yard. She thought it was her screen house. Isn’t she silly? I can scoot right under the screen to get in it. I like to sit in there where it is shady and feel the breeze. I also wait for a bird to get in. I remember last summer when birds would somehow get inside, and I would have to take charge in chasing them out. Now I am going to wait for them. Won’t they be surprised!

Woof!

Lexi the screen house dog

Boating time

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Me on my boat in the Tennessee River
Me on my boat in the Tennessee River

June 2, 2007

My pontoon boat is in the water! I have had so much fun on it this summer. I mostly lie around and sun my beautiful body. Sometimes I lay in the shade and eat snacks. Sometimes I swim to a nearby island and smell all the luscious smells. Last Sunday I got a bit hot so I went to the edge of my pontoon boat to let Mom know I wanted to cool off in the water. What did she do? She reached for my life jacket. I hate that thing. It ranks right up there with clothes. She could tell I didn’t want to wear it, so she said she would make a deal with me. I wouldn’t have to wear it if I stayed close to the boat. I thought, ok, no problem. Mom lowered me into the water (I still don’t like to jump in) and I swam around the boat twice before asking her to help me back in. Mom says I am the smartest schnauzer girl ever.

I have a good life.

Lexi the boat dog

Visiting

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April 16, 2007
I had a big day on Saturday. Sophie, my new schnauzer friend from Dunlap came over with her Mom, and my Mom did her first groom. She is almost 7 months old and she has managed to not get groomed all this time. I will have to ask her secret. Her mom watched, so now that her Mom knows how to do it, I think Sophie will be getting groomed more often. Then Mom groomed me. Wasn’t I surprised! Sophie’s Mom said I was soooo good.

After that, Mom took me to my Grandma’s and let me stay with her for a few hours. Grandma was very happy that I was there, but I was bored. It was so hot in Grandma’s apartment that I just slept the whole time.

I have put on two pounds from all the treats when I was Toto. Now, I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is over 10% of my body weight. Mom said that would be like her putting on almost 14 pounds. We have to exercise more, which means going to the park more. Yeah! We went to the park only once last week, and then the weather got cold again. I hope it warms up soon so Mom takes me to the park to run, run, run.

Woof!! Be good!
Lexi

Coyotes

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March 22, 2007
There are coyotes in my city. They are kind of like dogs only wild and mean and kill little dogs and little kids. Mom read about it in the paper. It said some coyotes killed a schnauzer in her own front yard. One of Mom’s friends killed a coyote with his car late one night a couple of months ago. He had to get his car fixed, too. Even though I have a fenced yard, Mom is now afraid to leave me out alone at night. She stands at the door and watches. She says daytime is ok, because the coyotes only come out at night. I wonder what they do all day? I hope there aren’t any near our house. I hope one gets in the other fence with Stitch, my neighbor Doberman. He will rip it apart. Maybe then the other coyotes will be afraid to go in the fences in my neighborhood. I am going to stay good friends with Stitch. He likes me.
Everyone be happy and stay away from the coyotes and play with kids and visit old people. (Mom says I am bossy.)

Woof, woof!
Lexi

My first trip to a nursing home

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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