Freddy and the girls' yearly checkup.

Freddy and the girls went to the vet's office for their yearly checkup. As usual, all three were not happy to be there. Of course, no one is as frightened as Malibu...poor baby. 

The first thing we did was weigh the doggies. Freddy is still at a healthy 12 lbs., thin yet solid. Malibu moved up the scale a little and weighed in at 10 lbs. Mommy definitely has to start walking them three times a day again. Not necessary for Malibu, but for Luna. She weighed in at a whopping 17.5 lbs.! She does not seem to eat that much, yet she is still packing on pounds. Mommy laid down the law and said no more human food...okay, okay, unless it's a protein. Otherwise, no carbs! Of course, she is a German girl. She is probably just big-boned.

Secondly, we took the doggies into the examination room. They're unhappy enough to stand on the cold, stainless steel table. But, then they each get a turn getting blood drawn and a stool sample. The vet arrives. He is a very nice man. He is good with the doggies and he listens to their parents' concerns. Freddy is in good shape, but it is time for his teeth cleaning. Mommy refused to allow Freddy to undergo anesthesia last year, but reluctantly agrees this year. Malibu is also in good health except for a couple of rear molars. He said Malibu's teeth cleaning will be more difficult than Freddy's, so we agreed for Freddy to go first. We're still trying to figure out her hair loss. He thinks we need to take her to an endocrinology vet in Gainesville, Fla. We'll see. We do not want to put Malibu under a lot of stress. It's just hair..... Luna is also healthy. The vet was extremely pleased with the condition of her teeth. He was very surprised that they had stayed so white since the cleaning. It wasn't until we were home later that we realized she keeps her teeth clean by chewing on all those plastic lids!

Freddy and Malibu needed their annual distemper shots. Luna was not due for any shots. But, she's felt the worst. She's been moody and exhausted since the appointment. Mommy is worried for her Luna. Maybe it was too stressful, although she didn't seem that upset at the time. Of course, there has been lots of napping since then.

P.S. I nearly forgot!! After the vet's examination of Malibu, he said, "What a weird little dog." I always said Dachshunds are aliens.

Luna's cigar

Daddy brought home three bone toys for the doggies. We have no idea where the Freddy and Bu put their toys. Luna, however, keeps her bone very close to her. Always. She carries it around like a cigar.

Luna's first kill.

"Where is my lizard?"

Freddy the wiener dog and the girls were searching the plants in the front yard for lizards. Okay, Freddy and Malibu were hunting lizards; Luna was trying to sneak across the front yard after the neighbor's cat. 

I decided to move a patio chair to another spot on the porch so I had a better view of the yard and street. As usual, I banged the chair around and lifted the cushion checking for hidden lizards. Sure enough, there were two rather large lizards hiding underneath the cushion. Of course, I dropped the cushion and started screaming "lizard!" {That's always my natural reaction. I'm 100% girly-girl.} That brought Freddy running over and, interestingly, it brought Luna. Freddy chased one lizard into the bushes; Luna caught the other! Luna kept trying to get into the front door with her lizard, but I refuse to allow playmates inside, so I blocked Luna and shut the door. By now Malibu had shown up and wanted Luna's lizard, but Luna wasn't going to share. Instead, Luna used her front teeth to check the lizard out. She didn't seem sure what to do with it. But, she eventually bit it's head off. Malibu still wanted the lizard, but Luna was going to keep her kill. Luna stood guard over her lizard.

Now, when I finally sat down on the patio chair, I kicked off my flip flops and put my feet up on the chair. When I saw Luna protecting her lizard, I wanted to grab the camera from inside the house. Unfortunately, I didn't look before I leaped. I just put my feet down into my flip-flops. Luna had put her dead lizard on top of my flip flops for additional protection. {Or, perhaps she was trying to share?} After I felt cold, squishy lizard, I shrieked and kicked them off. Of course, I had goo between my toes that I had to remove. Ew!!!!! Luna did not understanding my screaming; she just wanted her lizard back.

I ran into the house for the camera. Luna wasn't sure if she was supposed to follow, so I shut the front door so she couldn't bring her dead lizard into the house. This time I put on a pair of tennis shoes and ran back outside to take the picture. Unfortunately, right as I got there, Malibu ran over and grabbed Luna's dead lizard and ran off with it! So, I have no picture to show Luna's first kill. Now, she's back to staring at the neighbor's cat. I guess catching lizards isn't what she thought it would be......

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Freddy the wiener dog and the girls had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday here in the USA. They had plenty of food to eat and lots of napping.Then, it took an army to get all the three doggies together for a Thanksgiving photo!

Freddy, Malibu and Luna wish all their readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Luna loves plastic.

Luna the wiener dog loves plastic - anything plastic. Mommy was unloading the dishwasher when she accidentally dropped a plastic storage container. Luna couldn't run off with the plastic dish fast enough.

Malibu stopped her though and took it away from Luna. Malibu trotted around the house for a few minutes with it, but then dropped it to go outside to hunt for frogs. Luna took it back. Now, she's making sure that nobody gets her plastic container.

Luna has a new love in her life.

Luna the wiener dog has a new love in her life. Luna a-d-o-r-e-s the neighbor lady from across the street. Her name is Nicole. I invited Nicole over to chat about the kids. Luna fell in love. As Nicole sat down, I tried to warn her that Luna will jump up and stick her tongue in your mouth, but I wasn't fast enough. Luna got Nicole. Smack! 

Then, Luna jumped into Nicole's lap for some petting. Nicole never stopped petting Luna the entire visit. Luna was polite at first. Then, Luna started leaning heavily into Nicole. Then, Luna stood on the arm of the chair to block Nicole and I from seeing and speaking with each other. "No, don't pay attention to Mommy. Pay attention to ME!" Luna finally settled down next to Nicole and fell asleep, while Nicole continued to pet Luna.

Luna was clearly in love. In fact, she wanted to walk out the door with Nicole. I told Nicole that she could take Luna with her. Nicole clearly likes Luna too, but she said that her son wants a Pug. That's so wrong......

Luna and the BIG, icky spider.

Freddy the wiener dog and his girls were barking, barking, barking at something in the living room. I came into the room to see them barking at a BIG, icky spider. Actually, Luna protecting her BIG, icky spider. - It is difficult to describe just how much I hate bugs, lizards, flying things, frogs, etc. The best description is....well, just looking at it could put me into a coma. Yes, it's that bad. - I needed a better look at the BIG, icky spider but I wasn't getting too close to Luna, who obviously wanted her spider left alone.

Luna picks it up and starts trotting around the house with it. Quite pleased with herself. Of course, I'm not sure if she was pleased with the spider or that I proceeded them screaming and running from it. Either way, Luna looked happy.

When Luna finally dropped it for a second, I had my camera ready with the telephoto lens. Once I was able to zoom in on the nasty thing up close and personal, I could tell it was plastic. This gave me some relief but then I thought, "Boys!" [who are at school].

Luna continues to play with her spider...crunching on it mostly. Luna does love plastic. But, this is one toy that Luna is making sure nobody - not even Freddy - gets their paws on it.

Freddy likes 68º F (20º C) with a slight breeze.

Freddy the wiener dog really enjoyed our early evening walk. It was 68º F (20º C) with a slight breeze. Freddy was frisky! He either racewalked or jogged the whole way. In fact, he was so happy that it looked like he was skipping.

Malibu seemed happy enough, but she stayed close to Freddy the entire way. Steven walked Freddy, so I walked Bu. Unfortunately, Freddy wanted to walk so fast that I had to jog now and then to keep up. I wasn't in my running shoes, but at least I had tennis shoes on. It's really tough jogging in flip-flops.

Luna was naughty (what's new, huh?). She hid when it was time to put on their harnesses. So, she was left behind. Of course, she was very upset about this. Too bad. She either listens to her Mommy or she gets left out of the fun.

Freddy and the girls meet (the new) Daisy.

Daisy look-alike on the left.

Freddy the wiener dog and the girls were frolicking in the front yard. It was a gorgeous morning. Mommy was sitting on the front porch reading her Kindle. 

The only problem was Luna's trying to sneak across the street to catch the neighbor's cat. Luna walks along the sidewalk in front of the house and tries to make it to the neighbor's driveway. She thinks if she can make it that far, then Mommy hasn't noticed and she can dart across the street. No go. Mommy catches Luna every single time. When Mommy calls Luna back, Luna walks as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible back to Mommy. She likes to pretend that it was her idea to come back into the yard. Ha!

Besides Luna's trying to sneak off to the catch the kitty, it was a lovely morning with no incidents. Mommy could see down the sidewalks in both directions. Nobody was walking their doggies or jogging around the neighborhood. Mommy got a little too involved with her reading and didn't notice the young man approaching with his 5-month-old German Shepherd puppy until they were walking across the neighbor's driveway. About the time Mommy noticed the German Shepherd puppy, Freddy noticed the German Shepherd puppy. Freddy went tearing off, barking, snarling, snapping at the puppy....with Luna right behind to back him up. Malibu came barking and running too, but she kept her distance. The poor puppy was so confused at that barking, snarling, snapping midget dog. What's up with that?! Mommy reach the doggies just a second or two behind Freddy and Luna and ordered them into the house. They did...still barking and snarling all the way. 

Mommy went back outside to apologize to the young man for the behavior of Freddy and the girls. "You see, Dachshunds own all that they see...... They think they're grizzly bears and don't know their size...." Etc., etc. He was quite nice about it. Then, he introduced me to Daisy. As mentioned, she's 5 months old and all legs. She's quite tall for a puppy. Once she fills out, she's going to be a big girl. And, she was the most adorable, friendly puppy. Daisy just wanted to play!

Daisy ran around the yard, sniffing everything in sight. Apparently, Freddy's digging brings up lots of new smells. She was fascinate with the dirt. She was near a bush when a squirrel jumped from it onto a tree. Daisy tucked her butt under and ran back to her Daddy. "What was that?!" Maybe she thought it was one of little doggies sneaking up on her again. Mommy enjoyed her time playing and petting Daisy.

A favorite digging spot.

After Daisy left, Mommy let Freddy and the girls back outside to the front yard. The doggies needed time to smell everywhere that Daisy went. They were not interested in smelling Mommy's hands. They only wanted to track Daisy's scent around the yard. Once Freddy was satisfied that he had run Daisy off, he was content to continue frolicking and digging in Daddy's front garden.

Yay! Daddy's home!! Daddy's home!!

Freddy the wiener dog really missed his Daddy. A couple of times a year, Daddy takes 4- to 5-day business trip/meetings, usually in Galveston, Texas. Freddy knows what it means when Daddy takes out a suitcase.Freddy did pretty well this time. He was a little moppy, but he spent most of his time pestering Mommy. "What'cha doin', Mom? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Freddy gave Daddy a very quick hello, and then he wanted Daddy to chase him and throw woobies around the backyard.

Luna the wiener dog was depressed while Daddy was gone. She didn't want to play with any toys. She followed Mommy from room to room, just making sure she knew what Mommy was doing and that Mommy wasn't going anywhere too. Luna, however, had the biggest "welcome home" greeting for Daddy. She couldn't have twiggled that rear-end or tail any faster than she did. If you hear of any earthquake tremors in the Central Florida area, no worries. It's just Luna shaking the house and everything else loose in her welcome to Daddy.

Malibu the wiener dog was a little different. She handled herself the usual ways --- Run around the house like crazy, keep track of Mommy, dig for frogs...... Routine stuff. Malibu gave Daddy a quick, little greeting when she saw him, but she couldn't be slowed down. She was chasing frogs and digging dirt when he arrived home. Malibu did give him a better greeting later. When she completed her frog hunt, she came back inside, ran over to Daddy, and frantically scratched his knee. This is the universal symbol for "pick me up."

Now, all three are piled together with Daddy, sleeping. Freddy started off between Mommy and Daddy's pillows. Now, he's on Daddy's pillow with his front paws resting on Daddy's shoulder. Malibu is also on Daddy's pillow, but she has her paws on Freddy. Finally, Luna is stretched down the length of Daddy. Luna's a l-o-n-g girl. She wants Daddy's warmth, but she also must unkink her back with a good stretch.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Luna's in trouble......

Luna, the wiener dog, is in trouble. Big trouble. Freddy was walking across the bed to sit next to Mommy. But, Luna cut him off and took the spot next to Mommy instead. Luna had her chewed up funnel with her.... Mommy grabbed Luna's rear-end to shove her over so Freddy could sit next to Mommy. Luna gave Mommy quite a nasty growl. Mommy snatched Luna's funnel from her and told her "bad dog." Of course, Luna is unhappy that she's in trouble. But, Mommy scared Bu. Sorry, Bu.

Luna's funnel is in time-out.

"Ew, what is that?"

Early this morning Luna, the wiener dog, and I were crossing the kitchen when we spotted a big pile of poo. Actually, Luna saw it first and I saw Luna's reaction. Luna was almost upon it when she stopped, took a brief sniff, jumped back a little, and then took the long way around the poo. Yeah, Luna, I agree.

So, I let Luna outside for a pee break while I went back to pick up the doggie poo. Thankfully, t-h-a-n-k-f-u-l-l-y, I turned the light on first. When I went back over to the poo I saw that it was actually a huge toad. Ew!!!!! {*shudders*} Malibu!!!!!!!

Luckily, there was a rather large bowl sitting on the kitchen counter. I quickly emptied it and with shaking hands managed to get the bowl over the huge toad without screaming.....My screaming that is, not the toad. I'm still freaked out imaging reaching down - with toilet paper and not bare-handed - to pick up the big, squishy, living toad! Ew!!!!! {*shudders*} In the dark!! Can you just imagine!?!

Now, if Malibu had brought it inside last night, she would have brought it to the bed. But, if Malibu had brought it in this morning, then she would have been spastic, running around the house in circles and barking at me. {She actually had a "come and see my toad" bark.} Neither happened, so I have no idea when Malibu brought the big, nasty toad into the kitchen.

Anyway, I did what any SANE woman would do..... I woke my husband at 5:00 a.m. to remove the toad from the kitchen. Hey, if I'm on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, then hubby can join along too. {Our neighbors must be wondering why their toad population has risen exponentially.}

I'd like to give a big "thank you" to Luna for notifying me of the foreign object on the floor.

"Pay attention to only ME!!!!!"

Luna, the wiener dog, loves her Mark. She chases after him to get petted. Seriously.

Mark was trying to do his homework. First,.Luna jumped into the chair and started banging his arm with her chewed up funnel. That's didn't work. So then, Luna flung herself into his lap and onto his papers. That worked. She got petted.

But, Mark had to finish his homework so he went to a table. 

Luna was despondent.

Okay, Luna, this is a new one......

Luna, the wiener dog, was fascinated with the pool tonight. She was fascinated with some smell known only to her. We have no idea what it was, but she kept smelling the pool in one particular location. We could see the little tip of her black nose wiggling back and forth. We checked the area for swimming frogs or something, but couldn't find a thing. We even checked the pool drain, nothing. I was ready a book, and the entire time I sat out there she kept her head down, sniffing the water. Freddy and Malibu came by, but they weren't interested in whatever Luna could smell. Sure wish I could read doggie minds.....

Snuggling with Luna.

Luna, the wiener dog, loves to cuddle...when she wants to. Mommy is trying to get Luna to cuddle when Mommy wants to. Luna's not so sure about that. When Mommy puts Luna in her lap, Luna remains all stiff-legged, every muscle tight, and her spine stiff as a board. Gee, relax Luna. Mommy gives Luna extra attention trying to loosen her up. So far, this has only made Luna want more of her cuddle time. But, she still stiffens when Mommy wants cuddle time.

Mommy doesn't get much cuddle time with Luna as it is. Malibu has no tolerance for Luna in Mommy's lap. Malibu will squeeze between Mommy and Luna until Luna is shoved off. Of course, then Mommy is in trouble because she was holding Luna. 

Freddy doesn't care as long as he's not disturbed.

How much is that doggie in the window?

Freddy, the wiener dog, and the girls are so happy Mommy's spent more of her time at home the past three days. Mommy was putting a lot of volunteer time at the middle school helping with the band. 325 students. The band teacher has a lot to do..... But, Mommy really missed her doggies. It was apparent before, but especially now - how much the doggies missed their Mommy. We're used to hanging out with each other all the time. Mommy hated seeing her doggies so sad.

Today, they have been full of energy! They're running around, swapping out toys, and just being silly. Mommy put a footstool near the windows and Luna just loves it, which is quite funny. There's a big chair in the living room that they can see everything from, but Luna prefers the footstool for watching the world. Of course, the footstool is in the same room and the computer, and it's lower to the floor for easy access. Still, Mommy finds it funny to watch Luna on the footstool.

Little Green Rhino

Luna carried the little green rhino outside with her for a pee. She set it down and accidentally peed on it. Now, she doesn't want it. She walked around and around the little rhino trying to find a place where she would pick it up, but left it. Now, she doesn't want it. Neither do the other dogs.....

Mommy's turn to be sick.

Freddy, the wiener dog, has enjoyed the last few days of complete bedrest. Mommy has been sick with a bad cold, so Freddy has been lounging next to Mommy. Tonight, Freddy is snoring...loudly.

For the most part, Malibu has enjoyed Mommy's stay in bed. But, she does get a little restless to go outside and play. Thankfully, she understands that Mommy is sick so Bu isn't fussing for Mommy to outside and play too.

Luna, however, is very lazy so she is happy to stay in bed for extended periods of time. She makes sure to never miss a meal or snack, though.

Update at The Toddler House

Luna protecting her toy.

Freddy, the wiener dog, and his girls have not enjoyed the last two weeks. Mommy has been helping in the band room at Eric's middle school. This leaves Freddy and the girls alone for most of the day. They are very unhappy with Mommy. But, Mommy stayed home all weekend and made them feel better.

Freddy is getting a massage. Oh, yeah, he's a Diva.

Luna is chewing on plastic, and Malibu wants to take the plastic away from Luna. {The remnants of the old chewed up plastic vitamin bottle.} Every now and then, there's a brief scuffle, but Luna refuses to let Malibu win. Oh, girlfriend!! Mommy gave Malibu a big water bottle to destroy. Malibu put on a big show in front of Luna, but it didn't work. Luna didn't want the big water bottle; she kept the chewed up plastic. {Oh, Luna just buried her chewed up plastic in a blanket and laid on top of it. She even refused doggie treats because she doesn't want to leave her nasty old plastic.}

All is normal at The Toddler House...... 

Celebrating Nana's 74th birthday.

Old Man Spotty

Freddy, the wiener dog, his girls and their humans went to Miss Julie's house for Nana's 74th birthday celebration. You may know from earlier bogs that Miss Julie has an old doggie. His name is Spotty. He's 17 years old, nearly blind, deaf, and has difficulty walking. In the past, the doggies have always ignored Spotty. This was Luna's first time meeting Spotty. It didn't go so well.

Luna disliked Spotty from the second she saw him. She not only barked at him, but she charged at him...trying to bite his rear-end. Of course, pack rules so Freddy and Malibu ran to back Luna up. Luna wanted to growl, bark, and chase Spotty all evening. Survival of the Fittest, I guess. We finally had to keep the dogs separated so Luna would leave Spotty alone.

Mommy was so surprised. Luna has always been so friendly to other dogs in the neighborhood. She may run up and bark for a second, but she wants to make friends. Not with Spotty.