Good Dog Days

I have had 2 really good days!  Uncle Jonathan made a stew, and invited me over to taste.  Sake, my best friend and I, bounced a little bit and ate bites and bites and more bites of stew meat.  Both of my Uncle John's are excellent chef's.   My Aunt Rita made sure I had some comfy spots to lay and entertained my Mom so she wouldn't worry over me.  Then my friend Schmedley came the next morning to visit!  He is the fluffy guy in the photo; one of the sweetest, most good natured guys you would ever want to meet!  I really was happy to have him come check to see how I was.  Our little gang, 2 legged and 4 legged, really look out for each other!

Dog Cousin Siena

I want to introduce you to my third cousin Siena.  Her name is so fitting because she is an Italian Greyhound, black and white as you can see.  Black and white marble comes from Siena Italy.  Her last name is Marble.  It just all fits!  Her sister Bianca would really have liked to remain an only child like me, but Mia thinks she is a puppy of her very own.  Mia protects her, and plays so gently with her; she learns a lot from her big sister Mia!  She has a her own lymric like her sisters:  There once lived a black and white pup.  And oh how she loved to jump up.  She'd nuzzle, she'd kiss, Oh what bliss.  A pup to never give up.

She's a cute kid.  Maybe I'll like her better when she settles down a bit.

Sweet Little Dog

I think I have been at the vet more times in the last month than I have been in my entire life.  Ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but I have seen Dr. Maria a lot lately.  She's a great lady, but I would rather not visit her so often.  I heard the word cancer.  I don't know what that word means, except that I've gotten tons of extra treats.  I hardly even have to ask for them!  My Mom has been spending so much extra time with me too.  She usually moves around so much always doing so many things at the same time.  Lately, she's really just spending quiet time with me.  Sometimes I even catch her watching me sleep.  I really never see her cry, but that cancer word, it seems to make her sad.  I think I need to cuddle her back a little extra.  You know, after I eat all of my treats.

The Early Years of the Little Dog

My Mom has been cleaning out the garage.  She has found some very interesting things, lots of them being photos.  My Uncle John always jokes that Shauna thought she would find me a good home; she wasn't going to keep me, but she had an entire roll of film to develop within the first 24 hours she met me.  Just look at us; committed to each other from the start.  She didn't stand a chance!  From the beginning, we have taken great care of each other, and not a day goes by that I can't say that is true. I, of course, knew I was "home" as soon as I saw her!

Little Dog Luvs Her Uncle

When my Mom goes on trips that I can't go with her, it means that I get to vacation with my Uncles!  I have my own key to their "beach house", and I say vacation because, well, I am completely and utterly doted upon without the need to be a watch dog.  Uncle John becomes my personal chef.  He always checks the menu with Shauna cuz there are lots of things I would describe as treats but lots of human food that I just have to turn my nose up at as well.  Uncle John wants to make sure I get what I like.  He has turned into quite the cook in he and Uncle Ray's new home.  My Uncle John says my Uncle Ray and I are a lot alike and that is why we get along so well.  Two peas in a friggin pod, he calls us : )  I love my Uncles very much!  I always get bouncy when my Mom comes to pick me up, but even a 4 legged girl needs a little change in scenery once in a while, and I couldn't image a much better spot than with people who care so much about me!

Chase Dog Celebrates 106?

April (or May) is my birthday month.  Yes, my Mom and I and my Auntie Rita believe in celebrating the month, not just the day.  Which in my case is especially appropriate since we are not sure exactly when it is, you know being a little lost and found pup.  But truthfully, I think Shauna and I have celebrated every day we have been together!  That would be 5,479 days and counting.  We are both pretty lucky, to have each other and SO many good friends and family to share birthdays with.  This one started with my "Aunt Do-Ho" in the photo above.  She writes a blog about donuts, which I guest starred on for my birthday.  You can see it here.  She got me my very own doggie donuts, one to eat and one to squeak, from the Three Dog Bakery in Santa Monica.  My grandparents sent a birthday card with money in it to buy treats!  Can you believe I had to wait 2 whole days before we went to get them?!  And finally a day of parties.  There is the photo album to the right that you can see some of the festivities.  Puppies and meatloaf cake in the morning at our very gracious friend Roberta and Schmedley's.  Then Uncle Jonathan cooked up a feast for me and all my favorite people friends in the evening.  Ahh, what a life.  That's why I have stuck around 16 years!  Besides, there is a 21 year old weiner dog that I have to catch up to!  

And Then There Were Two (Pups that is)

Bianca was such a happy addition to the family, that once they saw her mini version at the pet store, they just couldn't leave her there!  Mini Mia that is.  But she didn't stay mini for long!   This girl loves to eat and it didn't take her long to get to full size and then some!  She is the only one of her kind that I know that doesn't really have a waist line : )  But she is the sweetest.  She will wiggle herself right underneath me if I try to ignore her.  She just wants to be friends with me, her California cousin, with way more hair than she has.  So, I usually cut the kid a break and give her a little lick or two. Did I mention she likes to eat?  Her lymric goes like this:

"There once lived Mia an IG.  Who looked at her meals with glee.  For food she'd dance, Go into a trance, Do the dishes 1,2,3."

Dog Cousin Bianca

I have three cousins.  They are all Italian Grey hounds.  Bianca is the closest to my age.  You know how they say people look like their pets, well B is a good example of that. She resembles much of my Aunt Holly and Uncle Scott; all of them long and lean.  Her personality is a little more reserved and elegant like my Aunt Holly (til you get to know her).  They made up lymrics for all of their girls!  B's goes like this: "There once lived a greyhound named B.  And oh what a love bug was she.  Try as they might, All day and all night, There were never enough snuggles for B."

Little Dog Ditches her Stitches!

Thanks to everyone who sympathized with my need for stitches!  They were not fun, but when Shauna threatened to make me wear a t-shirt if I didn't leave them alone, well I hate clothes more than I disliked my stitches, so...but they came out this week!  I didn't enjoy that, but, our first stop after the vet's office was Coffee Bean for ice blended coffee with whip cream on the side.  My Mom drinks the coffee (hopefully she remembered to say decaf) and the whip cream is for me!  It is one of my favorites!   Then she gave me a puppy massage; the scratches on my head and under my collar are the best!  Then she put a bunch of kisses on my head, which are definitely more for her than they are for me!  As long as we are following up with more treats, it might even be worth the stitches.

Four Legged Friends Foundation

My Mom and I are big proponents of animal and people bonding.  Fur children can add so much to a person's life. Our friend Maureen has a good friend who runs an organization called Four Legged Friends Foundation.  They do a great job of assessing how they can best promote pet/people needs in the community.  They have joined up with one of our favorites, Best Friends Animal Society for a local event next Sunday.  They have lots of great things going on and it is one of their most successful adoption days!  I gave Shauna permission to go.  Oh, I know what you're thinking, but she has strict instructions not to bring home any extra critters.  No seriously, do I LOOK like I am kidding?  "Fluff" is also holding a raffle with fabulous prizes.  No really good stuff like a 40" flatscreen, a gift certificate to Asia de Cuba (I've sampled a doggie bag from there.  YUM) and a "Danelectro" guitar signed by Ellen.  Nothing would make my Mom and I happier than if every 4 legged critter could enjoy a life like mine!  So check it out for yourself, and get your raffle tickets before the drawing May 9!  And if you win the Asia de Cuba gift certificate, make sure you order the calamari salad and my Aunt Jen's favorite, coconut cake!

Dogs Host Easter

While my Colorado cousins were hunting chicken filled Easter eggs, we had a champagne Easter toast, Rascal and the ladies.  Rascal is Pua's brother, you know Pua, the local Beagle calendar girl from my last post!  Rascal likes to pretend to be the tough guy, but we have always had our terrier bond.  He loves his people, and he always cuddles up to my Mom.  But he found a new lady love in Karen on Easter Sunday.  Yeah, that Rascal. He would like you to think he is too cool, but we know he was the host with the most to all the girls on Easter Sunday!

Pua Dog Strikes a Pose

We hung out with our friends Pua and Rascal this weekend.  Their people were out of town for the holiday, so we stayed over at their house. I love lounging with them in the back yard.  All three of us sat on the chaise with Shauna.  It was even more crowded than all of us in the bed, and my crazy girl couldn't be happier!  Pua was excited to show us the Beagle calendar they have hanging in their kitchen.  She looks just like Miss February. Her Mom often reminds her she could be a pin up girl!  She's practicing her poses; watch out 2010!

Trip to the Vet

I don't know about this this going to the vet thing.  This is the second time I have gone in minding my own business and come home with stitches.  (My Mom tells me I had them when I got fixed too, but that was a long time ago and I don't remember!)  I have a few "beauty marks".  You know, the kind we get as we age.  I guess I must have accidentally opened one up with a toe nail, so Shauna took me to see Dr. Maria.  She's really nice, and always gentle.  She likes me too, cuz I remind her of her own  Schnauzer's.   But it seems a little extreme that they would shave a spot of my great fur that I work so hard to grow, and then put in stitches!  At least they didn't put that awful cone collar on like last time!  I did hear them saying I would have to wear a Tshirt if I scratch at my stitches.  So I won't be doing that.  I know I have expressed this before, but I Don't wear clothes!  I may however, be able to use this situation to get some extra treats out of my people.  I'm going to go work on that now! 

Puppy Dog Tales

This is the youngest of my three cousins.  Her mouth is usually open like this, chewing a toy or more likely, someone's nose.  Her name is Siena, with 1 n, like the black and white Italian marble.  You know, cuz she is black and white, she is an Italian Greyhound, and her last name is Marble!  Yup,  perfect name for this pup.  Her middle name should be chomp.  Maybe she will outgrow that once she turns 3, or maybe not, if she has anything to say about it.   

Chase Arrives for the Weekend

My Uncle John came to pick me up for a weekend stay.  Shauna is flying to Colorado to surprise Aunt Holly for her birthday!  So my car service, I mean Uncle John came to get me on Wednesday.  He always likes to finagle an extra day with me, partly because he thinks its funny to hear how pathetic my Mom is without me, and mostly just because he loves me!  And I love my Uncles!  I get lots of rest and relaxation at their house.  They have great pillows to sit atop, they don't move around nearly as much as Shauna does (they are much easier to keep an eye on), and Uncle John has taken to much experimenting in the kitchen.  He has sort of become a gourmet!  He was discussing the menu for my stay with my Mom.  For my first night, he is doing an orange chicken with fingerling potatoes in butter (cuz my Mom told him I wouldn't eat the mushrooms in a balsamic reduction as an accompaniment).  Yum!!  I like just about anything with butter!  I overheard him talking to Shauna when she called in to check on me (maybe for the 10th time!).  Uncle John told her I was quite comfortable, following the sun around from pillow to pillow.  He wanted to know where I learned my diva behavior.  Really, the man who chauffered me to his house and arranged gourmet meals around what I as a 4 legged girl would like is asking where I learned diva behavior?!  I love my people!  Ok boys, who wants to go for a walk? 

Date With a Little Cat

Shauna and I had pizza night at Lynx's house.  I like him.  He is a cute little cat who still doesn't know quite what to make of me.  He is curious, but still very respectful.  One of my favorite things is the guest pillow Aunt Jen puts out every time I visit.  Sometimes she stacks two pillows, and I pretend to be the princess and the pea and sit on both of course.  Single or double, they are just my size!  Lynx hadn't figured out how comfy the cushions were before I showed him, but now he knows.  He is a pretty quick learner.  And Aunt Jen is the hostess with the mostess!

Chase as Flower Girl

My Uncles got married this summer.  It was a very special intimate wedding at their home with our closest "california family" in attendance.   I was the flower girl with my pink and chocolate brown flowered collar (it is the most girlie thing I own).  My best friend Sake was there of course.  Now she is a girl who likes to dress, so she wore her red silk custom made by an Italian tailor.  I suppose you could say her Mom, my Auntie Rita, is a little over the top.  That is what we love about her!  It really was the perfect, personal ceremony.  Uncle Jonathan shed a tear or two.  He's the sensitive one in this group.  Congratulations!! We love you. I was so lucky to be a part of that day!  And even luckier I didn't have to wear something as a flower girl that I could "just shorten and wear again"!  

Chase Navigates

I like riding in my new car!  I get to ride shot gun. That's where Shauna set up my blanket. I like blankets and I have them all over my house.  My Mom wanted heated seats but she didn't want me to slide on the leather, so we compromised.  But then she asks me to navigate.  Someone should tell her I don't read maps, well, maybe I could read them as well as she can.  But with these eyebrows...Where did that map go anyway?  Just follow your nose, it always knows! And can we open the sunroof please?

Serena Kitty

This is one of the newest fur friends!  Her name is Serena and she just recently became a California Kitty.  She moved out with her Mom when she got transfered with her job.  I haven't actually met her, but Shauna has been visiting her and she said she thinks she is adjusting just fine!  She apparently is quite soft and sweet.  My Mom would say she would only be gone a little while, but Serena would be so into her kitty massage, Shauna would just stay and pet her and pet her.  Did you know that they actually have a place they call the Cat Cafe in Tokyo where they have many cats who reside on the premises.  People who don't have their own pets pay in 30 minute increments to be able to pet the cats.  I personally would hate all that touching, but it sounds like Shauna and Serena would both like it there!  

Dirt Face Chase

It is Spring, well at least it feels like it today.  It is sunny, my blonde under fluff is shedding, and I feel like digging!  Personally, I prefer a little cooler weather.  Or if the sun is going to be out, a good breeze makes me happy.  I am on my way to a BBQ at Sake's house.  That makes me happy too.  Her people, Aunt Rita and Uncle Jonathan, always make sure we have yummy appetizers followed by something tasty on the grill.  And if we are there long enough, snacks after my nap on one of my 3 favorite pillows at their house.  Ah, the life of a little dog!  Think anyone will notice I've been digging?!