"Wow. He's a vicious little guy."

Nobody laughs at Freddy and his shark.

Freddy, the wiener dog, went for his evening walk with his pack - all of his two-legged family members and Daisy.  We were on the usual circle when we came across a new neighbor and his dog.  I knew he was a new neighbor because he had never seen Freddy before, and because Freddy went crazy when he saw the other dog.  Freddy was carrying his shark.  When Freddy saw the other dog, he began growling, snapping, and barking - all with the shark in his mouth.  He also shook the shark back and forth violently, like "This could happen to you."  At first the neighbor chuckled at Freddy's carrying the shark in his mouth.  Then, he was really surprised at Freddy's reaction and said, "Wow. He's a vicious little guy."  I think he meant it. 

"Time-lapsed photography"

Daisy takes Freddy's spot.

Freddy wants his spot back.

Freddy takes his spot back.

Daisy naps elsewhere.

Daisy's baby.

Freddy, the wiener dog, doesn't like sharing his woobies with his baby sister Daisy.  Every once and a while though, he doesn't fuss at her or take it back.  He did that this evening, of course he was just glad Daddy was home.  Daisy really likes Freddy's Mini-Dachshund woobie.  It's her baby.

Daisy sleeping with her baby.

It just so happens that Daddy was on his business trip to Texas at the same time Mommy stepped up Daisy's potty-training.  Daisy has been very, very unhappy with Mommy the past few days.  Daisy was thrilled when Daddy came home tonight.  She curled up on the big bed with her baby and fell asleep.  She looks quite relaxed....now that Daddy's home.  Just wait until she finds out that Mommy is still going to potty-train her!

Daddy's home!

Love my Daddy!

Freddy, the wiener dog, is so happy his Daddy is home!  Daddy went on a business trip to Texas for several days.  Daddy came back home tonight.  As soon as Daddy put his head on the pillow, Freddy climbed up and joined him.  This is just way too cute. 

Driving Miss Daisy

Big Girl

Freddy, the wiener dog, didn't go to the middle school car-line today.  Freddy went to Mark's car-line and to pick up Steven, but today Daisy went to the middle school.  Daisy is terrified of the car, so Mommy thought she'd give Daisy a chance to be in car-line for Eric to see it's not always bad to be in a car.  However, before Mommy and Daisy left for car-line, Daisy peed and poo'd in the house....in front of Mommy.  Daisy got in trouble.  So, when Daisy went to car-line, Daisy thought she was going to the glue factory.  Daisy either tried to hide under the seats or she clung to Mark.  Daisy was soooooo relieved when the car pulled into the garage and she knew she was home.  

Waiting for Eric.

Finally got my Eric back.

Freddy, the wiener dog, waited in the middle school carline for his two-legged brother Eric.  Freddy has to get there early so he's not in the 200th car back, which would drive his Mommy nuts.  Freddy decided to start his wait by walking on the sidewalk next to carline at the back of the school.  Once he got too hot, he told his Mommy that he wanted to go back to the car.  She's not as smart as Freddy, so it took three times being stubborn on the leash before she understood that Freddy was definitely going back to the car.  Once there, Mommy realized that she didn't have his traveling water bowl with her, so she improvised.  She poured water into her hand and Freddy drank it that way.  The best part was that his seat was in the shade!  Once the kids started leaving school, Freddy stood up in the seat to watch for Eric.  He started barking at the other kids until Mommy said, "Where's Eric?"  Then, Freddy started crying and whining for Eric.  Freddy saw Eric first, of course, and was SO happy when Eric got into the car.  He settled down and relaxed for the car ride home.  Mommy thought Freddy was so cute that she had to take a picture. 

I know the feeling, Freddy.

Stop bothering me!

I'm so not into this....

Freddy, the wiener dog, has been barked at all evening by Daisy.  She's barked from underneath pillows.  She's barked from on top of pillows.  She's barked from underneath the bed.  She's barked from on top of the bed.  She's followed him down the hallway barking at him.  She's even howled at him.  In the beginning, Freddy tried to ignore her.  When she persisted, he defended his position.  I know the feeling, Freddy.  I'm tired of listening to Daisy bark all evening too.

What?! School again?

Sad Freddy

Are they home yet?

Freddy, the wiener dog, is depressed the boys have returned to school.  Freddy can barely drag himself around the house - He has no energy.  He really dislikes being left behind and must wait all day for them to come home.  Mommy takes Freddy in carline, but it's good and bad.  Freddy loves riding with his brothers, but he really hates it when they get out of the car and go into that brick building.  He howls and barks for them to get back into the car.  When it's time to pick them up, Freddy growls at people walking by until his brothers get into the car.  He doesn't know what they do in that building all day, but he wants his two-legged brothers home. 

Mommy's favorite. Teacher's pet. Whatever.

Poor little nervous Freddy.

Freddy, the wiener dog, has been a very good boy about his baby sister Daisy.  But, poor Freddy's had enough.  At 4 1/2 months, Daisy is now twice the size of Freddy, or more.  Mommy can't stand her Freddy being picked on, so Mommy has started protecting Freddy.  Mommy keeps Daisy away from Freddy when he's napping, eating, playing, peeing, walking, riding in the car, etc.  Mommy's even started carrying Freddy around the house if Daisy is pestering Freddy and he doesn't want to "play."  He's been such a good boy about a new doggie in the house, but it's his house and we'll play by his rules.  Mommy choose Freddy 8 years ago to be her baby and she's tired of the new puppy bothering Freddy.  Mommy's favorite.  Teacher's pet.  Whatever. 

The Tormentor

She's crazy!

Freddy, the wiener dog, is being tormented by his beagle sister Daisy.  Daisy has certainly become relaxed in her new home.  She's really blossomed - She used to be smaller than Freddy, now she's quite larger.  Unfortunately, she's now comfortable with tormenting Freddy, like little sisters can do.  Her newest torment is when Freddy is laying on the couch.  She hunkers down really low on the floor and then springs up to scare Freddy while she barks and paws at him at the same time.  This causes a lot of snarl-sneezing by Freddy, but Daisy just loves it.  She does this repeatedly.  Freddy tries to look below the couch from his position, but he can't see her.  Daisy knows that and just keeps springing up at Freddy.  It's hard for Freddy to nap on the couch because he never knows when Daisy is going to sneak below and spring up at him. 

"Get this chick OFF me!"

"Oh no. Her again."

Help?!

Freddy, the wiener dog, and his beagle sister Daisy go to bed at 8:30 p.m.  Freddy, of course, climbs on top of all of Daddy's pillows as King of the Hill.  Tonight, however, Daisy climbed up there too - and brought along an orange chew toy. Freddy was disgusted, but he ignored her and went to sleep.  While he was sleeping, Daisy just snuggled up.  When Freddy woke, she was laying head and shoulders on top him and he didn't like it.  First, he had to pull an ear out from underneath her head.  Then, he slowly crept forward until he could get out from underneath her.  The disturbance caused Daisy to move to the middle of the bed, and Freddy climbed higher onto more pillows on my side.  All the time he looked like, "Get this chick OFF me!"  

"Come closer, little doggie."

Hungry!

Freddy, the wiener dog, loves adventures especially if that includes dining out.  Today we went to the Gator Riverside Grille.  Their seating is outside, situated on the St. Johns River.  It's a pretty spot and a short drive from the house.  We picked up Nana along the way and met Jeff and Big Steve, who motored up to the dock.  Overall, Freddy was well-mannered (Daisy didn't get to come along) and went from person to person at our table quietly begging for food [mostly Mommy and Daddy] - He used his "leaking air" begging noise.  His favorite was the chicken.  We had a visitor who wanted a better view of our table and the little morsel-on-a-leash we brought along.  "Come closer, little doggie."  I'm just glad the water level was low so the restaurant's deck was high above the water. Mommy was freaked the entire time and kept checking to see if the gator had moved. She wanted to know where it was at all times.

9:30 a.m.

My sleeping "babies."

Freddy, the wiener dog, demands his naptime at 9:30 a.m., promptly.  He does not like a change in his schedule.  Luckily, during the summer, I have a sleeping teenager or two so it's easy to find someone to bunk with.  Freddy sat down next to the bed and refused to move.  I finally picked him up for naptime.  Then, I moved his doggie stairs so he could get down when he wanted to.  Daisy has learned this schedule, and that Freddy doesn't deviate from it.  More importantly, she's learned not to bother Freddy when he wants his nap.  Freddy likes to burrow under the covers; Daisy doesn't.  Thank goodness Freddy found someone to nap with - you just can't see him.  Pick a lump, any lump, and you might find Freddy. 

"Oh, no! There goes Tokyo. Oh, no, Godzilla!"

Freddy likes having a den.

Freddy, the wiener dog, said good-bye to his ratty chair for the last time.  Godzilla, um...er, Daisy, ripped apart and shredded Freddy's favorite chair.  I bought a portable crate for Daisy, but she's terrified of it.  It's been sitting empty.  When Daisy destroyed Freddy's ratty chair, I moved the crate to his favorite spot in the kitchen and added his woobie pillow.  As you can see, Freddy immediately took over the crate.  He even has the tennis ball that he doesn't want Daisy to play with.  Freddy's really likes snarl-sneezing at Daisy from inside the crate.  She can't reach him there.  He's definitely King of the Hill now. 

Freddy's snarl-sneeze

MY pillows!

Freddy, the wiener dog, reached an important turning point.  He took his spot back on the pillows as The Baby.  He also took the prime spot for naps.  I'm very glad to see that he's adjusting to the puppy.  They'll even share a doggie dish.  He tolerates her well, except when he's in Daddy's lap - especially when his Daddy has food.  Freddy doesn't want to share his Daddy, or his food.  Jeff keeps correcting this behavior, but Freddy keeps doing it.  First, Freddy will pull his lips back, then he'll start to snarl, then he starts sneezing.  His snarl-sneeze is the last warning, then he'll use the effective bark/chase-off.  She always backs down and he never bites.  Playtime goes a little better.

Two's company, three's a crowd.

Is that a fox?

Freddy, the wiener dog, and his baby sis Daisy had a visit from Old Man Spotty - Auntie Julie's very old, deaf and blind Pomeranian/Sheltie.  Old Man Spotty didn't have his usual summer haircut, instead he was very fluffy.  Daisy was happy to meet another playmate and was ready for the doggie handshake of butt-sniffing.  Old Man Spotty wanted no part of this.  He couldn't figure out who she was and what was going on.  It didn't take long for Daisy to notice Old Man Spotty's fluffy tail.  Why, if it was the color red then it would look exactly like a fox tail.  Ooooh, beagles like fox tails.  It looked enough like a fox tail that Daisy wouldn't stop jumping up and biting it.  Auntie Julie - who is a tall chick - even tried lifting Old Man Spotty out of her reach.  Nope, Daisy would still get that fox tail.  Eventually Miss Julie put Old Man Spotty on the floor.  This delighted Daisy very much.  Twice Daisy grabbed a hold of that fox tail and started dragging that "fox" across the pool patio and then inside the house.  Old Man Spotty was very unhappy.  Freddy was even unhappier.  He ignored Old Man Spotty until Daisy would go after that fox tail.  Then, Freddy would intervene.  Freddy might not want Daisy as a playmate, but he wouldn't allow his woman to play with another dog either.  Freddy was glad when Old Man Spotty left.  Two's company, three's a crowd.