HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, from Freddy!

Wishing you a happy new year!

Freddy, the wiener dog, and Malibu too, wishes everyone a very Happy New Year! He plans to spend the evening barking furiously at all the fireworks going off in the neighborhood.

Freddy thanks everyone for reading his blog and Facebook page, and hopes you'll turn in for his many adventures in 2012.

Freddy luncheons at Hamburger Mary's.

Enjoying the scenery.

Freddy, the wiener dog, felt like eating lunch out today. He was in the mood for meat...hamburger meat. The best place to get hamburger meat is Hamburger Mary's on Church Street in Downtown Orlando. So, Freddy, Malibu and Mommy hopped into the car to head downtown. Freddy hadn't been in the car since they took Petey to Lakeland. Freddy immediately started fussing in the car. He wanted Mommy to go straight to the restaurant and not stop for any stray dogs. Freddy eventually settled down for the drive.

They parked in a parking garage and took the short walk to the restaurant. To enter, Freddy had to walk between the outside tables. The first table on the right had a medium+ sized dog, who decided to see the new arrivals. The sight of the other dog set Freddy off. Malibu had to back him up. To stop the frenzy, Mommy picked up Freddy and Malibu. In the process she dropped her bag and cell phone. Once everything quieted down, Freddy took the far outside table on the right. Whew! Not long after, his luncheon companions arrived - Miss Sue and Miss Julie. You know Miss Julie, Spotty's mom. Yeah, that Julie. Freddy's a lady's man, so he was happy to turn on the charm and met Miss Sue. She's an avid follower of Freddy's Facebook page and blog. Freddy will always take time for his fans.

"Mom, where are we?"

It was quite an adventure for Freddy and Malibu...all the people, delivery trucks, car horns, sirens. It was overwhelming, so he sat in Miss Julie's lap while Malibu sat in Mommy's until the food arrived. When the waiter put the plate in front of Freddy, he thought it was all his. And, then, Miss Julie put him on the ground. Freddy was okay with that because Mommy gave Freddy and Malibu bits of hamburger and sweet potato fries. The best part, of course, was dessert. Hamburger Mary's serves fried Twinkies. Oh, yes..fried Twinkies. They're amazing. Mommy gave Freddy and Malibu a little taste and they went bonkers. "Oh, Mom. What was that?!"

Freddy was the center of attention. He even sat next to Mommy's chair where everybody could see him. People just love those mini wiener dogs. Freddy even met people who had their own Dachshunds and showed their pictures. When the waiter came to pick up the money, he was carrying a couple of trays of dishes. When he leaned forward stuff started falling off the tray - a knife, a fork, a soup bowl. Well, all the people sitting outside restaurant did a collective GASP! and several yelled to watch out for the little dog. The waiter's career flashed before his eyes. But, luckily for him (and Freddy), nothing broke and nothing hit Freddy.

Tired puppies.

The weather was perfect and it was a pleasant walk back to the car. Miss Sue was impressed at how well Freddy and Malibu walked on the leashes. They didn't even hesitate walking over the railroad tracks. Mommy heard more than one person say, "Look at the little wiener dogs!" It was a great outing. With tummies full of food, Freddy and Malibu napped going home.

Freddy's red fur is growing back!

Freddy, the wiener dog, started losing his red top coat earlier this year. Mommy has been asking and asking the vet about it. Other than testing Freddy for thyroid disease [Freddy's test was negative], the vet hasn't had any ideas. Mommy has continued her online research. Thanks to his Facebook doggie friends and many web pages later, Mommy discovered that the hair loss was caused by fungus in the dirt. Freddy is now taking anti-fungus pills and using medicated shampoo, and his red top coat is growing back. Unreal.

FYI:  Freddy is taking GNC Ultra Mega Shedding Formula. The shampoo is Vet's Remedy Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal Shampoo for Dogs. I definitely think its the GNC that's helping Freddy so much. Malibu and Daisy are taking them too. Gives them a great coat.

Freddy rescues Petey, the shelter dog.

Petey rides with Nana. 

Freddy, the wiener dog, had a great adventure today - He rescued Petey, the shelter dog. Petey is a 3-year-old Chihuahua who needed transport from Sanford, FL to Lakeland, FL, about 160 miles round-trip.

Mommy found a couple of dogs that needed transport in Central Florida. When she contacted the rescue group, they already had a volunteer but they needed transport for Petey. Freddy said, "Let's go!" 

Freddy asked Nana to come along because she likes little dogs. So, this afternoon Freddy, Malibu, Nana and Mark rode with Mommy to Sanford, FL to pick up Petey. The poor little thing was skin-and-bones with really icky, long toenails. Freddy and Malibu were nice to Petey in the car, but they were very curious about the little doggie that Mommy and Nana went inside a building to get. The people at the shelter were very nice and very, very happy that Petey had a home.

Petey needs surgery on his right hind leg, so it was difficult for him to get comfortable in the car. He rode in Nana's lap. Petey tried his best not to fall asleep - keep alert, stay awake - but eventually he did fall asleep. When he was awake, he did a lot of talking to Nana. He was bigger than Nana expected. We've had friends with Chihuahuas before, but they were half the size of Petey, who seemed to be small.

Freddy and his group traveled safely to Lakeland. When they arrived, Mommy took Petey for a walk. Petey wasn't leashed trained nor did he seem to know his name, but he was a good boy and didn't try to run away. He also peed. When Mommy set Petey on the ground, he seemed even smaller... like a scrawny, baby fox. They waited a few minutes for Petey's new family. A very nice young man came to get Petey. He said, "Hello, little guy" and Petey seemed quite happy. Freddy and Malibu didn't bark at Petey, but they were glad he went in another car.

After Petey left, it was Freddy and Malibu's turn to walk around the grass. They weren't interested in anything except following Petey's trail. It was a cool and windy day, so they were happy to get back in the car. 

Freddy and his group traveled safely back to Winter Springs. Freddy and Malibu shared a plain hamburger from McDonald's as a reward for being such good friends to Petey. Freddy would like to help other shelter dogs find new families. It was a great adventure.

Freddy wakes up every morning at 5:00 a.m.

Freddy, the wiener dog, wakes up every morning at 5:00 a.m. to pee. Good boy! It's very important not to wet the bed... especially as Freddy gets older. But, does he have to wake up at 5:00 a.m.? Couldn't he wait until 6:00 a.m.?

Daddy gets up to take the doggies outside. Good Daddy. The doggies get back to bed before Daddy. Slow Daddy. Except for Freddy - he waits for Daddy. Good boy! Unfortunately, that means Daisy gets back to bed before Daddy. When she sees a "strange man" coming down the hall, she starts her big, booming bay. Daddy has to walk up to her and let her smell his hand before the growling and baying stops. Good Daisy. But, really? He just took you outside to the bathroom. 

Freddy is an excellent sleeper.

Freddy is an excellent sleeper.

Freddy, the wiener dog, is the best for cuddling and sleeping. Whenever anybody goes to bed for a nap, Freddy naps to help them sleep. He's such a good boy.

Mommy took a nap in the early afternoon. Freddy came along. He burrowed under the blanket and came along side Mommy so she was warm. Malibu wanted to nap with Freddy too, so she squeezed between Freddy and Mommy. When Mommy got up, then Daddy went down for a nap. Freddy didn't want Daddy to be lonely, so he napped with Daddy too.

Freddy is such a good boy that he roams the house looking for anybody who needs a nap buddy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, from Freddy!

Merry Christmas!

Freddy, the wiener dog, had a busy Christmas Eve. His family came over for mango wine and dessert. Freddy didn't have any wine, but he was really interested in Mommy's plate. Freddy spent the evening in Mommy's lap. Whenever Mommy wasn't looking, Freddy would reach over and try to take something off Mommy's plate. Of course, he was quite unhappy when Mommy lowered her plate too much and Daisy ate the whole thing! Thank goodness for Uncle Louie. He'd peel apple for the doggies. Freddy and Malibu liked bits of apple, but Daisy was a real hog. Freddy stayed up late to make sure that Santa filled Christmas stockings and left presents. Besides, Santa probably needed help with his egg nog and Christmas cake.

Samurai Freddy

Freddy opened Auntie Ruth's present on Christmas Eve. She saw it and immediately thought of Freddy going on his walks with his woobies. Clearly, Freddy posed for this statute because it captures his attitude.

Freddy had a good Christmas. Luckily, his brothers didn't wake up until 7:15 a.m., so Freddy got to sleep in. He watched his brothers open their presents and enjoyed a little of Daddy's fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. Freddy was exhausted from the morning activities, so he took a very long nap.

A new woobie!

Upon awakening, Freddy received his new woobie. He really likes his polar bear. It's super soft and lightweight. If you look at Freddy's shoulders in the picture, you'll notice the bear is twice his size. Daisy and Malibu like it too. When Daisy takes it away, we have to get it back for Freddy. When Malibu comes over for a tug-of-war with Freddy, he tugs on it but eventually lets Malibu have it. Freddy likes a challenge and adventure, but Daisy was a little too much today. She was a bit of a bully and kept stealing other presents. Daisy even stole one of Mark's gifts! "Eric! Daisy has another one!"

I want my cookie.

Mommy didn't realize that Nana brought oatmeal cookies until Christmas afternoon when Freddy was ready for a cookie. He came over to Mommy and whapped, whapped, whapped on her knee. When she got up to see what he wanted, he lead her to the kitchen and the oatmeal cookies. After a bit of cookie, Freddy was ready for another long nap.

Freddy enjoyed his naps today. When he woke up, he was full of energy. Freddy went for a short evening walk and ran the whole way. After dinner, it was time for Christmas pictures. Freddy didn't enjoy wearing his Santa hat. He dislikes having his picture taken, ever. To get Freddy's cooperation, we'd hold up oatmeal cookies to get Freddy to look somewhere near the camera lens. But, Malibu couldn't wait to get her picture taken.

Freddy was very happy to have dinner and watch some TV with Daddy. Freddy even fell asleep in Daddy's lap. He's probably dreaming about oatmeal cookies and Christmas cake.

Freddy wishes everybody a very Merry Christmas!

We have a mole problem.

A really loooong mole problem.

Freddy, the wiener dog, does most of his digging in the summer. He likes to dig when we're swimming in the pool. Malibu is an any-time digger. Mommy was sitting on the pool patio, watching the doggies frolick and play, when she noticed that Malibu kept "disappearing," including her tail. Mommy discovered that we have a mole problem, a loooong mole problem.

It was an amazing sight - Malibu was digging a hole like she was going after a badger. Mommy watched Malibu wigging in and out of the hole that was over 2 feet deep, but not much wider than Malibu. It was really cool that Malibu could move so quickly in/out of the hole. She never pulled anything out so I don't know what she was hunting. Of course, as usual, it went underneath the pool patio.

Slip-and-slide.

Strong hind legs for pushing and twisting.

Keep dirt out of ears.

A very dirty girl.

"Um...I'm stuck."

The Freddy Chase

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves to play in his front yard and to take the boys to/from car-line. We have three car-lines every morning and afternoon. Lately, Freddy won't get near the car unless one of the boys is with us or he's sure it's time for an afternoon car-line [preferably for Mommy to hold a snack for Freddy]. Otherwise, Freddy runs around the front yard like a butterfly, fluttering from one thing to the next. He's not hunting for lizards - He's just running back and forth like a happy, little crazed butterfly. I don't know how else to describe it. "Catch me if you can!" He's driving Mommy crazy.

This morning he was particularly bad. Usually, if one of the boys stands next to the car, then Freddy will run right to him. But today, if we could herd him near the car, then he ran underneath it back and forth. We're getting to car-line later and later because we're doing The Freddy Chase. 

FREDDY AND HIS FAMILY LOSE TANK.

"My boyfriend's back."

 Freddy, the wiener dog, had a love-hate relationship with Tank, the Golden Retriever puppy next door who stole a woobie. Yeah, Freddy loved to hate him. But, Freddy is losing The Great Nemesis. Tank is the casualty of a nasty divorce. Freddy now needs a new Great Nemesis and Daisy has lost the love of her life. Here's the sad tale:

Earlier this year, a beautiful Golden Retriever puppy arrived next door - The Husband got it for the kids after The Wife told him that she wanted a divorce. They named him Tank. One evening, Freddy was going on his usual walk...with Duck. Tank, being the rambunctious puppy that he was, "borrowed" Duck from Freddy. For 10 minutes, the boys and other neighborhood children chased Tank, trying to get Duck back for Freddy. They finally did. Freddy, however, refused to take Duck back and later that evening Freddy destroyed Duck. From then on, Freddy hated Tank. [See blog: Duck and the Puppy Next Door.] Then, Daisy arrived.

"That's my man."

 Daisy is bigger than her Mini-Dachshunds. Mommy quickly realized that Daisy needed a BIG playmate. Mommy got The Wife next door to let Tank play with Daisy. It was love at first sight, for both of them. [See blog: Daisy's new BIG playmate.] Since then, they've played nearly every day [photos on Freddy's Facebook page]. Tank was even allowed to play with toys at Freddy's house. Eventually, The Divorce was final. Two weeks ago, The Wife stopped allowing Tank's playdates with Daisy. The Wife didn't like Tank getting dirty. The Wife didn't like Tank's digging holes...in Daisy's yard. That made him even dirtier. Freddy's Daddy would bathe and dry Tank, but The Wife still complained of Tank's dirt. Daisy was inconsolable these last two weeks. She's been an entirely different dog. She spent nearly all of her time in the front window waiting for Tank to come back.

"Isn't SHE the best?!"

 When Tank first arrived and The Wife complained about him, Freddy's Mommy offered to adopt Tank. "I don't like dogs, but the kids love him." Every time The Wife complained about having a dog, Freddy's Mommy offered to adopt Tank. "No, the kids are really happy with Tank." Freddy's Mommy offered every day to baby-sit Tank... She offered for Tank to stay in her yard with Daisy [Freddy prefers the front yard anyway], but The Wife never allowed it. Well, The Wife came over today to let Tank play "one more time with Daisy" because she had found him "a good home."  [Judging from the way The Wife treated Tank, Mommy is concerned what "a good home" means to her.]  The Wife cried, of course, because the kids are upset with her for sending away Tank. No kidding. Tank will spend the rest of December in their Daddy's apartment and at the beginning of the year he goes to his new "good home."

"Eric, isn't it great?! Tank's back!"

 You'll see in the photos how deliriously happy Daisy was to have Tank back. [There are more pictures on Freddy's Facebook page.] How is Mommy going to explain to Daisy when Tank never comes back?! And, Freddy? Whenever Freddy goes on a walk, he looks for Tank in the neighbor's yard so he can growl and snap at Tank [although Freddy never wants to actually go into Tank's yard]. Now, Daisy will die of heartbreak and Freddy has to find another dog to hate. It took Freddy eight years to find a dog to hate. Freddy's almost nine now.....

"Girls, girls! Stop fighting over me."

"Oh, girls....."

Freddy, the wiener dog, crawled into the folds of his favorite blanket. Malibu joined him. Daisy wanted to put her head next to Freddy inside the blanket. Malibu growled and snarled at her so Daisy backed off. This, however, caused Freddy to leave his blanket. "Girls, girls! Stop fighting over me." He tried different spots on the bed, but he went back to his blanket... and Malibu curled up with him. Daisy decided against a Round 2. 

Round Two.

Mom! They're touching me again!

1. Mom! They're touching me again!

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves to find a very comfy spot for his naps.  Lately, wherever he goes, Malibu and Daisy follow along. Now, they don't want a nap. They want to wrestle. Today's battle was epic, and Freddy wanted off bed, okay, okay...to get lifted off the bed.

2. What? We're just playing.

4. Mom, please, pick me up!

3. I have to get out of here.

Freddy, get off that!

1. Freddy, get off that!

2. Fine, I'll get on this blanket.

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves clean laundry...so does his Mommy, if she can get Freddy off it. Freddy's Mommy has been trying to put clean linens on the master bed - that's Freddy's domain - for hours, yes for HOURS. Freddy has refused to budge. If Mommy gets stern, he licks her face. Freddy is King of the Hill.

4. Malibu & Old Monkey join Freddy.

3. I'm NOT getting off this one!

Freddy's getting wet!

Freddy, the wiener dog, went to pick up two brothers from school. Mommy decided to park at the elementary school, walk over to the middle school, pick up Steven, and then walk back for Mark. Unfortunately, Mommy, Malibu and Freddy where halfway there when it started to rain! It wasn't even that hard of a rain. Mommy can't remember walking in the rain with Freddy before though, and he didn't like it. He was a good boy and kept going, but he kept turning around and giving Mommy upset looks that he was getting wet. Every now and then, he'd stop to shake water off. We finally turned back to the elementary school, drove over to the middle school, picked up Steven, and then drove back to the elementary school for Mark. Freddy spent the entire time in the car grooming himself. He seemed most upset that his paws were wet.

Freddy's the leader!

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves his walks, but he wants to be out front. Little Malibu starts her walks off by running. Unfortunately, Freddy can't keep up with her. So, for the first half, Malibu leads the way. Once she tires, Freddy passes her up with a huge smile on his face, and it stays there for the entire second half. I could even see it in his shadow tonight. Now, the second half of the walk, Malibu is tired so Freddy runs. Toward the end, he wants to sprint! Well, to get Malibu to follow Freddy, I keep singing, "Following the leader, the leader. Following the leader, wherever we may go! Freddy's the leader! Follow Freddy!" He loves it. [I haven't been able to get a picture of him because I'm holding two leashes. I eventually will and then I'll get that big smile on camera.]

No, Freddy! That's Daddy's garden!

"Oh, perfect spot in the garden."

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves to dig WWI trenches. No problem. He can dig as many as he wants in the backyard. But, Freddy was in the frontyard when he decided to dig a trench in Daddy's favorite garden. That little doggie is a very fast digger with those front paws. It took just a few minutes to get a nice, deep trench...probably to bury a woobie.

2. "This is a good spot."

1. "I need a new trench."

4. "A tunnel that perfect for me!"

3. "I'm a fast digger."

5. "Okay, I'm done."

6. Pbbsst. I've got dirt up my nose.

Malibu's big, bad attitude.

Mine, mine, mine.

Freddy, the wiener dog, is a Diva. But, his little sister Malibu has a big, bad attitude. She really likes to tear things up. Mommy has to be careful when she leaves or Malibu will get a hold of it. Malibu found something to play with...It was bigger than her. And, it took her a while to get it up on the bed...determined little spitfire.

Don't touch it.

It can't get away now!

Freddy attacks Tank!

Dude.

Freddy, the wiener dog, attacked Tank!  But, unfortunately, Tank was behind the pool screen.  Tank would run back and forth around the screen, and Freddy & Malibu would run along too.  Tank clearly isn't impressed with Freddy's attack.

Tank loves to play!

Malibu joins the fray.

Daisy defends Tank.

Freddy and Overlook Park

Who wants to go for a ride?

Freddy, the wiener dog, went with Mommy and Malibu to pick up Eric, who was boating on Lake Jesup. To retrieve Eric, they had to go to Overlook Park. The park has a lot of dock space for fishing, picnic tables and a playground, and a little boating canal so it was easy to transfer Eric from boat to car. The problem with Overlook Park? Alligators. There's a lot of easy access for the alligators. They can come underneath the dock or craw onto the bank. There's even a grassy spot for the gators to float around and wait for the right little morsel to come along to eat.

We even went there once for Geocaching. Mommy was panicked the entire time and kept telling Daddy that the boys and Freddy had to go back to the car. Frightening. Who designed this place? How about building the bank up so the gators can't access the park that easily! It's like ringing a dinner bell. Oh, it's listed as a "Pet Friendly Place in Oviedo, FL." Ha!

Mommy gets extremely nervous when she has to take Freddy to a place with gators, obviously. [Even as Mommy writes this, she can feel the panic starting to rise -- The thought of Freddy that close to gators.] Try eating when one's swimming nearby...http://freddythewienerdog.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-closer-little-doggie.html.

Bah! Humbug!

Freddy is so annoyed.

Freddy, the wiener dog, hasn't enjoyed the holiday season yet. In fact, he's been very upset that the Christmas tree lights are getting more attention than him. And, Malibu won't stop running away with the lights.

Blurry, but she's really tugging.

She's determined to get the lights.

She's starting to fuss at Mommy.

Freddy's Thanksgiving

I'm so full.... When's breakfast?

Freddy, the wiener dog, wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  Freddy spent the day at Old Man Spotty's house.  He spent most of the time fussing at everybody at the table.  The food was excellent, but Freddy's favorite was the turkey.

The best part of the day was when Freddy whined so loudly that Daddy picked him up.  Most of family didn't have food anymore, but two people had leftover pie crust on their plates.  Freddy gave those two an eagle-eyed stare.  His cousin suggested covering them up with a napkin so he wouldn't know it was there.  Mommy said that Freddy's big snout could smell that pie crust without the napkin.  Funny. 

He started and ended the day the same way...sleeping. But, a very happy Doxie.