What is that white stuff?

Two days ago the boys and I went for a run on the grassy area behind the house. I was in a t-shirt, the sun was shining and there was hardly a breeze.

Yesterday, we got hit with a winter storm and this was what we woke up to this morning. Although it looks pretty, it's ass-biting cold. Although the dogs do go out, they do their business real quick and run back in. Quite frankly, none of us were prepared for this nor are we ready for it. As you can see, the plants on the patio were still green and the geraniums were still blooming. They didn't know what was coming either.

Rocki the "healer"

Our little guy instinctively wants to heal others.

When his brother had an ear infection, I noticed it because Rocki made me aware of it. At first he kept licking his brother's ear. Whenever Bruiser went to scratch his ear, Rocki would jump on me and get my attention. Then he would run back to his brother and stare at me as if to say "do something!". If I didn't respond, he'd go through the process again - jump on me, then run back to his brother. After Bruiser was treated for the infection, Rocki would check his ear every day at intervals to make sure that the ear was in fact okay. He'd sniff, and then walk away. I learned to rely on Rocki's instincts when determining if the medication was actually working on his brother.

Last week I caught a very bad cold. As I was laying on the couch, Rocki jumped on me and began sniffing until he pinpointed the source of the problem - my nose. He tried to lick it to take the infection away. I stopped him from doing this but he is persistent - he sensed something was wrong and had to make it better. He kept trying to lick my nose no matter what. If I was sitting up, he tried climbing up my chest to get to it. When I pulled him off and set him down, he jumped up to the arm of the couch, made his way to the back and crawled along the top to come around from my shoulder in order to lick my nose.

I've never seen a dog so determined to take care of others. If you push him away, he will come back with more force to finish what he has started. At our home, we've just come to accept that Rocki is the nurse in residence.

Making Your Own Dog Food

I bought a book that had a number of healthy recipes for dogs that you make yourself. So I decided to put on my baker's hat one day and make the dog biscuits they recommended. 

After baking a huge batch, I proudly presented my handiwork to the boys. The dogs came, sniffed the biscuits and walked away. They never actually ate them, although they were full of healthy products and no chemicals. I tried one and quite frankly, I wouldn't want to eat it either. In the end, all 50+ biscuits went to the trash.

However, having said that, I realize where I went wrong with the recipe and am determined to try it again. I just need a better recipe.

So for anyone who wants to try making food for their dog on their own, I did find a web link that offers free dog food recipes. Some of them look good enough for me to eat and the biscuits actually look like they may have some taste, so I think I'll try a couple of them and see if the boys like it.

Bunny returns

The open space beyond our fence is a favorite walking path for dog owners and wild creatures alike. So, the boys regularly patrol the yard, marking the outer edges to let all who pass know who's territory it is. 

The boys are quite comfortable with the parade of Canada geese and selected dogs which pass by their property. They've given a "free pass" to these ones and simple watch as they go by. Unknown dogs get a bit of a bark but nothing much. Bruiser absolutely despises the collies that walk past and lets them know it with barks, grunts and frantic marking.  Rocki comes along for moral support on each of these outings, but doesn't make a sound. He'll mark for good measure, but isn't really sure why.

But nothing gets the dogs on guard more than when bunny comes back to town. Bunny is not afraid of them...he sits on the grass outside the fence and watches them. Bruiser will growl and mark and run around, and bunny just sits and stares, his little nose twitching and all his sense alert. Rocki wags his tail which further infuriates Bruiser. How could his brother let bunny come so close? Bruiser is not sure what to make of bunny. At times he is actually wagging his tail. Perhaps he wants to play? Other times he'll try to be menacing with growls and barks. But no matter what he does, bunny just sits and stares.  So as fall draws closer and the rabbits begin foraging for food to get them through the winter, Bruiser is on guard to let bunny knows where he stands on his territory. 

The Loyal Shih-Tzu

My little Rocki (aka Munchkin) is just over 2 years old and still follows me around like a shadow.

If I'm in the basement, he's at the top of the stairs with his tiny face peering down. If I'm on the couch, he's on the floor next to my foot. If I'm sitting on the floor, he's curled himself around my legs. If I'm having a shower, he's patiently waiting outside the door until I come out. If I'm upstairs working, he's at the bottom or the top of the staircase waiting with the patience of a saint.

Bruiser is a bit more independent but still exhibits the same traits. He's always around, but he's a little further back.

Shih-Tzus are loyal - they are always there keeping you in sight. They may not be right next to you, but be assured as you're going about your day, they're in the room or just outside the room watching and waiting for you.

Strange Habits

The other day I was watching television and my oldest was going nuts. He kept going to the footstool, grunting, and coming back to me. Back and forth...back and forth. This went on for about five minutes. He usually does this if one of his toys is missing, but the stool is so low that there couldn't possibly be a toy underneath.

I figured he was just having an episode and tried to ignore it, but he got louder and more insistent. It was obvious I could not watch television in peace until I discovered what was going on.

So I went over to the footstool, moved it and sure enough - there was one tiny kibble of dog food under the stool. Bruiser promptly grabbed it, ate it in a split second, and went along his merry way. I might mention that the boys had a pile of dog food sitting in their dish. But Bruiser absolutely had to have that one piece that was under the stool.

And that's the Shih-Tzu. When something is theirs, they want it and they want it when they want it, and you will have no peace until they get it.

Breeding for Money

I found some information this morning while having coffee and surfing the web. It's videos and reports on puppy mills. Hard to watch but I think necessary to inform people just how awful the conditions are in puppy mills. The articles and videos were compiled by a reporter and photographer who went undercover.

"It's the stench first. Then you recognize that buzzing sound. It's flies swarming around the dirty cages where the puppies live, around the green scum that floats in their water bowls." more...