Video Star

I, Lexi, now star in my very own video on You Tube. My Dad made the video. It is inspirational, as well as very good because, well, because I am the star.

We are very sad to inform you that Lexi passed on September 4, 2016 at the age of 13. She was the originator of this blog, and has left big pawprints to fill. Xena, Lucy, Chia and Riley are doing their best to make her proud.

Final Puppy Update

Xena: We did it! We found her a home, a good home, a great home! Yay!!!!
You know who I’m talking about: The Puppy.

She grew about 2 inches in the week she was here, and no, I’m not exaggerating. That’s what Mommy said! Two inches! She never stopped messing in the house and Chia got depressed. Neither me or Chia would go into our kennel, er, my kennel because of how she made it all smell (pee).

Then a miracle happened. Brother Andrew’s friend and his family came over. There was a little girl about kindergarten age, and a boy who looked like he just entered his teens. And the wife. She and her hubby listened attentively to everything Mommy suggested as far as food, vacs, and heartworms. The wife is a nurse and understood everything medical Mommy said, and the man already knew how bad almost all commercial dog food is. At the end of the time, Daddy gave Mommy the nod and they offered The Puppy to those nice people.

Today, Mommy got this text from The Puppy’s new Dad:
“[The puppy] is an amazing addition to my family. She is already potty trained. My son that you met is her human. She sleeps with him and stays by his side everywhere. I appreciate you letting us get her. And her name is ASPEN.”

Mommy and Daddy are thrilled and us pups are relieved. Well, the folks are relieved too, just in a different kind of way.

This sure is a Happy Tuesday! (Thanks, Miss Sandee – at Comedy Plus – for letting us tell our happy story on your Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!)

PRESCRIPTION DIETS EVADE REGULATIONS

Coming to you today on the Health Beat!

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with breaking news! PRESCRIPTION DIETS EVADE REGULATIONS: … Hill’s Pet Nutrition made one of the most profitable marketing moves in pet food history: they filed a trademark application for the term“Prescription Diet.”Previous to this, nobody thought about how lucrative selling the same crummy ingredients could be if they simply required a prescription from vets. It was an ingenuous way to sell virtually the same foods found in the grocery store aisle with a grossly inflated price tag….

Mom has known that Hills regular and Prescription Diet formulas were no better than grocery store dog foods for years…ever since she worked at a vet’s and read the ingredients. It went further downhill when Purina bought the brand, with the first ingredient starting with corn or another grain instead of meat. It is reported that a gently cooked complete diet with all natural ingredients helps prevent cancer as well as a plethora of other diseases in dogs and cats. In the meantime…you can read all about it here from a post by Dogs Naturally.

This is Ace Reporter Lucy on the Health Beat!

Puppy Update

Xena: Well, no luck with FB or ND.
Chia: FB? ND?
Xena: Facebook and Next Door. Get with the social media vibe, CheeBee.
Well, Mom tried to give the puppy to a neighbor who had a husky who died recently, but he’s not ready for another dog. Can’t get anyone to answer the phone at the city shelter or the Humane Society. Tomorrow Mommy’s gonna talk to someone at church who volunteers at one of those places.
In the meantime, all three of us were a bit dismayed to find the puppy still here when we got out of bed this morning. We’ve all been growling at her and saying “No!” to playing. Even Lucy! Puppy did have some time outside with Chia, though. (Now she’s actually answering to “the puppy.”)

Mommy put one of Chia’s many name tags with her and Daddy’s phone numbers on the halter in case she gets away.

The folks realized that huskies need a lot, and I mean a lot, of exercise. That means running for a half hour or more every day, preferably an hour. And never off-leash. Daddy said when he stopped thinking with his heart and started thinking with his head, he knew neither he nor Mommy have the energy at this stage in their lives to give Puppy what she needs (other than love). Also, Puppy has to be watched every moment she is loose in the house or she pees everywhere, even soon after she comes in from outside. Oops, there she goes again. Clean up on aisle 1!

Anyone want a husky?

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

New Puppy??

Chia: Mommy was sitting at her desk at work yesterday when she heard a noise at the window next to the outside door. When she got up to see what it was, she saw a large puppy scratching at the glass. As she approached the window, the puppy saw her and, frightened, started to run away. The church is on a very busy street (which is why Chia isn’t allowed to go). So Mommy went outside and started called to the puppy. She got down low and gently urged the pup to come to her. It took a while, but with patience and perseverance, Mom was able to extract her from beneath the rose bush. Two things to note here: there is black mulch under the rose bush and Mommy wore her white pants to work yesterday.

Moving on….Mommy got my car kennel from the car and put the puppy in it in the office. She posted a picture on NextDoor and asked the owner to contact her. At closing she hadn’t gotten an email, so she emailed Daddy (with a picture) and asked him what he thought she should do. “Bring her home!” was his answer. On the way home they stopped at a vet clinic to see if she’s microchipped, and she is not. (Mommy could tell Daddy was glad, BOL!) You see, Daddy had a Husky years ago and loves the breed. So Mommy’s gonna keep checking her work email over the weekend to see if anyone responds. She’ll make them tell her their name and what vet they use for the puppy, and then she’ll follow up with the vet to be sure it really is their puppy.

In the meantime, puppy had what we think, by her response to it, her first bath. She got a packet of our Ollie turkey food and gobbled it up. (He, he, I made a funny.) We have found out that she likes balls and anything that she can chew on, and that she is not housebroken. She’s friendly but a little shy yet. She and Chia have taken turns going into the play position, and other play gestures. But Chia’s just a little too forward and rough for the puppy, and it scares her. We think she’s under 3 months old.

And Lucy, being the gentle soul that she is, has been kind to her.

I saw Chia whispering in Lucy’s ear, and it turns out she asked Lucy to help her show the puppy how they play.

Even Riley welcomed the puppy. He took a good look at her and woofed, “Not a schnauzer. She can stay.”

Friday early morning Update: Not shy. Me and Chia are trying to put her and her sharp baby teeth in her place, but are now hiding, er, I mean have now retired to Daddy’s office. Mommy, is it safe to come out yet? Is she outside? In my kennel? Yep, she’s caged. I can hear her whining.

So, that’s what’s going on at our house this weekend. Mommy just checked her work email, and no one is claiming her. *sigh* It’s going to be a long weekend. Glad I’m leaving for my Freestyle practice this afternoon.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Riley’s 14th Birthday

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Popeyes Chicken Breast

Achilles Sunday Selfies

Lucy: My boyfriend Achilles sent me some pictures to remind me he’s still around, and still loves and misses me.

Hey Lucy, sweet, pretty girl. I’m still here waiting for you. I hope you’re waiting for me too. Just a reminder…

Here I am in profile. You know, the strong and silent look.

Do you like this picture? Do you still think I’m handsome, Lucy?

Oh shoot, I still love you Lucy. I’ve got so much to tell you! I miss you. Come visit me soon, ok?

Your guy, Achilles

Lucy: *swoon*

Xena: Guess I’ll take over here and wish everyone a good Sunday. Thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Riley on Thankful Poetic Thursday

I’m on a streak here for the poetry Thursday. Chia’s complaining, but she is alway complaining about something, so all I can say is “deal with it.” I might, and I mean might let her do the poem next week. We’ll see.

Here’s the picture Angel Sammy gave us to work with. Of course, it has had a small alteration.

The Travel Guide by Riley

Hello Monsieur Bear.
It’s nice to have you here.
I hope your trip was good
And you got some fishy food.

I’m your travel guide;
I’ll take you far and wide.
Where’er you want to go
Moving fast or moving slow.

To the spots the tourists go,
Moving fast or taking it slow.
Or to spots much more remote,
Touring farms with cows and goats.

You can’t eat them when you’re there
But I’ll get you some sans hair.
We’ll go to a movie show
Or to a club b’low.

Watch that bus! It’s coming fast!
Oh crap! He shouldn’t of smoked that grass.
If that bus had only braked!
But what a pretty rug he’ll make.

A bear rug, BOL! I bet that would be super soft to lay on. Now for my thankful. My Person Andrew has been here with me all last week and all this week. That makes my heart happy.
Hey, anyone else got a thankful today?

Chia: I’m thankful that Mom and Dad’ve been taking me and my sisters on a lot more walks. I pull so hard on the leash that my nails scrape on the road and I don’t have to get them cut. I’m really thankful for that too!

Riley: Chia, you’re weird.

Chia: Grrrrrrr *runs away*

We give many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Your friends, Riley and Chia

Xena and Chia on Awww Monday

Xena: Hey Chia, wanna play? Look, I’ve got Lambie. *singing* Nah, nah, nah nah nah.

Chia: Uh, I don’t think right now, Xeboo. I’m goin’ to see what Lucy’s doin’.

*30 seconds later* Now what are we going to do, Lambie??

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Annie Got Skunked

Lucy here on the Groom Beat with a stinky story for you today.

Hi there dear readers. *smile* You may remember Annie, the bernedoodle who began coming to Small Dog Grooming last May.

Annie, May 2023

When her Mom contacted Groomer Mom for an appointment she said both Annie and her husband had been “skunked” at the end of February. She thought Annie was ok now, but Annie’s Dad Ed must have it lingering in his nose, cause he was still smelling it.

So last Saturday Dad Ed brought Annie for a much-needed groom. Annie hadn’t been in the small grooming room for more than two minutes when Groomer Mom realized that she still reeked of skunk. She used to have a fresh air machine that put ionic particles in the air to eliminate odors, and it worked great on dogs who had experienced the same terrible “spraying” as Annie. But, after almost 30 years it had broken and been relegated to the trash. Now what? *the tension builds*

First off, I can testify that no person can cover their nose and mouth with their hand and groom a dog at the same time. But Groomer Mom persevered in removing the affected hair, giving Annie a shorter cut – with the blessings of Annie’s Mom – than she had ever had. After that hair was all off it got bagged and taken out to the trash. Then came the bath and dry on the table. Can you guess the outcome, dear readers? Yes! The smell was all in the hair that got cut off -except for what was now in the air in the room. And in Goomer Mom’s nose…

Annie after her groom last weekend.

Annie’s Mom thinks there is a young skunk near their house and it sprayed Annie a couple more times since the first incident. She felt bad about putting Groomer Mom through that and offered to pay for the hepa/ionizing machine Groomer Mom hurried out to buy at the local Walmart as soon as Annie left! Of course, Groomer Mom thanked her and said no, she needed a new machine anyhow.

As a side note, my Mom sat with her head above the machine to try to clean the smell out of her nose. By the next morning both she and the grooming room were fine.

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off of the stinky groom.

Thankful Poetry Thursday with Riley

I get to write another poem today, and I’m going to try really hard to be great at it.

I’m the Kid by Riley

I know this swing is just for kids
And the rules us pups forbid,
But I’m the kid in my family
Just with a different anatomy.

I steal the food and run through the house,
Slipping away quiet as a mouse.
When Mom’s on the phone I bark loud.
Of my high howl I’m very proud.

I’ve toys that fill the living room
Plus my own bed, my own costume.
Yet in bed with my folks I creep,
Praying, “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

Amen
Now here’s some thankfuls from my two little sisters.

Chia: Well, I have, besides the GPS tracker I already wear on my collar, yet another little tag to trace my every move. I couldn’t be happier – NOT! Why do these people think they have to know everywhere I go? And now I jingle louder as I run through the house, so they even know where I am when I’m at home. It must be an obsession. Here’s the stupid thing that’s now hanging on me. I’ll be happy when it falls off and gets lost.

Xena: My collar name tag broke, so Mommy ordered me a MYLUCKYTAG QR Code Pet ID Tag from the amazing Amazon. It looks like this. Now if I somehow get lost, my Mommy will be able to find me through something called a Gee Pee Ess, and find me even better if a nice person scans that square thing on the back and contacts her. They’ll know I’m lost cause the tag says so. She also got me one that slides on my collar that has my name and Mommy and Daddy’s phone numbers on it. I’m so thankful they love me and want me to be with them. That makes me happy.

The Mom: I’m so very thankful that such great technology exists to help get our beloved cats and dogs back to us if they should get lost. I’m also thankful that it has a free subscription so that I can see where in the world they are and so that anyone who finds them can contact me. Go technology! Here’s a link if you want to check them out. (Nope, not getting anything for this other than the satisfaction of knowing it could be of use to someone.)

And here’s many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Xena’s Happy Tuesday with Adam

I finally got to go see Adam, who loves me lots! It’s been at least since Easter that I’ve been with him. I like to ride in my kennel in the back seat. It feels safe, and I can even nap if I want to on that 87 hour drive (Mom’s note: it’s less than hour). First place we went was to the Petco place. I admit, I did shake a little when we first walked in, but then I got to look at the guinea pigs and even a pet rat! And I got to sniff the treats and try on a new harness. It’s pretty nifty looking on me too, right?

Oh darn, the pretty part is on my tummy. Oh well.

Then we picked up some food and went to the Greenway up in Cleveland, Tennessee where Adam lives. They have a new dog park, so we went in there and I found out that Mommy also bought me doggie treats. Woohoo! There were two other little dogs there – the big dogs had their own dog park next door – but I wasn’t much interested. Pretty soon the trash and my poop were thrown in the big black can and all three of us went on a walk down a paved trail through the woods. There were a few dirt paths off the paved trail, and brother Adam wanted to ‘splore one. Off we went into the wilderness, dodging vines and poison ivy and slippery slopes. After a while the path disappeared. Oops! We had already walked what seemed like a long way, and Mommy didn’t really want to turn around. So out comes her phone with that Gee Pee Ess and it showed that the Greenway was to the South West. Hmmm. I thought the South West was where the cowboys live…along with some of my blogging friends.

Next, Mommy looks up and says, “The sun’s in the west right now, and it’s around 2:00 in the afternoon, so we should go this way,” and starts leading us through leaves and more vines and under branches and pretty soon, guess what? We ended up on the paved trail. It was a fun adventure, and yes, Mommy checked me over real good for ticks when we got home, and there weren’t any on me. Here’s me and Adam after we got back on the trail

I sure do hope I get to go again in a coupla weeks when Mommy goes back to visit with my big brother.

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop! (even if it was a happy Saturday that I saw my Adam)

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Grooming with Mom: Laslo

Lucy, Ace Reporter back with a first time groom. Read on…

Laslo is a 5 month old Yorkie, and she was here for her first groom. Through the years, Laslo’s Mom’s family have brought all their yorkies to Groomer Mom. Her Mom held her for her nails, and the first nail Groomer Mom cut bled. So, since G.M. had not cut it very short, she decided to just use the dremel on the rest of the nails. Not! Poor Laslo freaked. Maybe next time…
Here is Laslo before her groom.

Laslo was not happy about the groom, either. It was all so new to her. And the bath…let’s not even talk about the bath. Groomer Mom -with her owner’s permission – tried CBD oil. It didn’t help. A kind but firm tone of voice did help. And treats. Lots of treats. Here is Laslo as she waited for her Mom to come for her.

We hope to see Laslo again in the near future!
Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.

Run Away! by Riley

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Here’s Angel Sammy’s fun picture and my poem for it.

Run away! Run away! by Riley

Run away kids, run as fast as you can.
No, your parents aren’t blind, they just don’t understand
They think it’s just soil from the water’s bottom,
But it’s really a monster, too late when you spot ‘im.
Run!

Well, at least I got one little kid moving! I’m thankful that I can still move around, too. I’m coughing more, but I’ve learned to lift my head up or lay it on a pillow and that helps. My Person Andrew’s been with me all week, but he’s leaving to stay with Jentry tomorrow cause it’s some big anniversary for them. I’m sure he’ll be back on Sunday, but I’ll miss him. *cough, gag, cough*

Your buddy, Riley

Happy World Unicorn Day

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.

Angel Lexi: National Unicorn Day on April 9th each year celebrates the mythical horse-like creature with a single, pointed horn growing from the center of its forehead. Some day, many years from now, perhaps I’ll move from applauded and celebrated to mystical, like Spike.

Me and my buddy Spike up here with the Big Guy

May all your days be full of rainbows and unicorns.

Grooming with Mom: Funny Ears

Today’s grooming report, brought to you by Ace Reporter Lucy (me) at W-Grooming-With- Mom, is about one of her current clients.

Those of you who have been with us for a long time may remember Maggie, the pretty little poodle/shih tzu mix. Here is the story of her first time with us. She was almost 3 years old. Since then, her Dad, who started bringing her when her Mom got cancer, but don’t worry, her Mom is doing fine now, uh, her Dad agreed to Groomer Mom grooming her as a poodle. So her face and paws got shaved. He brings her every six weeks like clockwork, unless, of course, he or Groomer Mom are on vacation.

Xena: Is this all really necessary? Just get on with it! *yawn*

Ace Reporter Lucy: Xena, go back to digging in your critter holes and leave me to do the reporting!
So where was I? Oh, yes. So this last time it was 7 weeks because Mom and Dad and me and Xena were all up in Inn Dee Anna at their usual six week appointment. As Dad Dan was handing her to Groomer Mom, he commented on her “crazy ears.”

Groomer Mom was unable to get an after picture, as her Dad Dan showed up and she went crazy with excitement. Just imagine her shaved all over except her poodle head and her now not-crazy ears!

This is Lucy, signing off from the crazy ear groom.

Riley and Egg Girl on Poetry and Thankful Thursday

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Here’s Angel Sammy’s fun picture and my poem for it.

EGGSHELL SALLY by Riley

Eggshell Sally sat on a wall
Eggshell Sally took a great fall
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t make omelet of Sally’s eggshell so thin.

As I was waiting to see what would happen
Poor Eggshell Sally (who was now Miss McCracken)
Cried out “Dear Doggie, won’t you please help me?”
So I ate up the eggshell and set Sally free!

Sally was so happy she took me to eat
All the steak and sushi and hamburger meat
My poor stomach could hold; think I’m getting too old,
Cause I woke with a start from my really loud fart!

Chia: BOL, BOL, that sounds like something I would write, Riley. Guess you do have a sense of humor after all! I’m really thankful for that, cause I think it might mean the sneers you give me are just in fun..and that you weren’t really going to bite off my head when you almost caught it when I was sticking my head into your almost- empty dog food bowl. Dad could hear your jaws snap together from the other room. Good thing I have fast reflexes!
Riley: Think again, hot dog.

Xena: I have a thankful, if you two are done. Even if you two aren’t done. I’m thankful that I haven’t had an allergy outbreak in over a year, since Mommy started giving me that Four Leaf Rover powder stuff to get rid of yeast and make my gut healthy. And Riley, believe it or not, I’m also thankful that all your itching and ear inflammation has gone away since she started giving it to you, too. (He scratched really loud and drove me crazy…at least I used to lick myself quietly.) I’m looking forward to another spring without the itchies!

Happy Thankful Thursday, everyone! Riley, Chia and Xena

Grooming with Mom: Doobie

Lucy, Ace Reporter, here on the Groom Beat. Today we have another new pup to introduce to you. Nothing exciting, but I think the word is “sweet.”

One of our current regular clients has a young teenage girl living with her. The girl has a seven month old beagle. She wanted Dooley to get a bath and a nail trim. Here is Doobie:

I didn’t get to touch her ears, but Groomer Mom said they feel like velvet. She is a very precious girl, and a bit scared of the nail trim and also the bath and dryer. Groomer Mom tried to give her cheese (with her owner’s consent), but she was too nervous to even eat it! Wow, look at those big eyes!

Before too long, Doobie heard a car pull up, and she was right; it was her Mom come to get her.

Well, folks, that’s all for now. Lucy, Ace Reporter signing off with another successful, uh, bath and nail trim.

Lucy’s Poetry and Thankful Thursday

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Babysitting by Lucy

The folks invited me over
To watch their little kids
While they both got plastered
And soon closed their eyelids.

The children were such angels;
Never screamed or pulled my ears.
I made them both some bagels;
They had wine but no dark beers.

I’m sure their folks will be so pleased
When they awake tomorrow
To find their small angels received
My love with care apropo.

Did you like my poem? I would like to babysit. Maybe I’ll run an ad. What do you think?

Now for my thankful. I am so very thankful that Mom and Dad chose me and Xena to go on their trip with them. I’m thankful that I knew how to be a good therapy dog with all the residents who wanted to pet me at the elder care facility, too. They want me to come back as soon as I can! Maybe there’s another trip in my not-too-distant future!

Lots of wags and love, Lucy

Awww Monday

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Lucy: Here we are, finishing out our time in Fort Wayne. Hey Xena, let’s tell everyone what we liked about being here, besides being with our Mom and Dad. I’ll go first. I like this house and the big king size bed.

Xena: I like the pictures Mommy took of me on the stairs!

Xena: And I like the nice fenced back yard.

Lucy: I loved visiting with my grandma!

HI Grandma, I love you!

Grandma: Look at the camera, Lucy and we’ll get our pictures taken with your Mom and Xena. You’re a nice dog.

Lucy: So, despite my aversion to having my picture made, I smiled. And of course we got Xena and Mom and Miss Carol who we met there, too. She loves dogs, just like Grandma does.

Dad’s cousins and sister and brother-in-law came over to our Air B&B to visit and I made sure to give them all chances to hold me and pet me. They love me…in fact, even though Dad’s cousin is more of a “cat person,” I heard her say, “I love this dog.” I love her, too.
Well, I see everyone waiting for me at the door cause it’s time to go back home to Chattanooga. Will catch y’all next time!

*big wags and smiles* Lucy
*woof, woof* and me too, Xena

The Makeup Artist by Xena

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Xena: It’s my turn to do the picture poem this week that Angel Sammy gave us. So here goes.

The Makeup Artist by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Mom, I see you put your makeup on
Every day, every morn.
Your cheeks are first, then chin and head.
I watch you from beneath my bed.

My little sis will soon be grown;
I’ll help her show off her good bones.
Some eye stuff just above her cheeks;
Working to perfect my techniques.

So Mom, can I do your face next?
Why is it that you look so vexed?
To my room I go with a big sob;
I thought that I did a great job!

Lucy: Great job, Xena! And thanks for letting me do a thankful today. I’m thankful that my brother and friend Riley is doing a bit better under the careful watch and care of His Person Andrew. I’m also thankful for the sunshine so I can lay out in the yard and feel it warming my furs.
Go ahead, Chia, I think you had a thankful today too.

Chia: Yep, thanks Luce the Deuce! (te he) I’m thankful Mom and Dad get to go away to Inn Dee Anna this weekend to visit my 93 year old grandma as well as some more of Dad’s relatives. I heard that on Sunday they’re going to Inn Deann Apple Us. (Don’t these places have long, strange names?) There’s a big dance there in a huge, old ballroom, and they’re doing the big 3D’s like they did 2 weeks ago. Yes, Xena, that’s Dine, Drink and Dance, not Doggie, Doggie, Doggie. And guess what, Xena…you and Lucy are going with them. (Wow, am I ever gonna miss her!) I wish I was going but I’m also thankful that it means more time with Andrew, who is staying with me and Riley. Maybe I can get out running again like last time….