Wordless Wednesday

I'm terribly sorry, but due to the unfortunate fact that this is Wordless Wednesday, I cannot post about the development of events in my dwelling after the untimely passing of Brother Bubba and the subsequent and sudden arrival of Brother Rocket. All of you caring furiends (and Curious Georges) are going to have to wait a bit until I can post again. As you can tell, I'm still in one piece, since I'm still able to type and all... (remember that words in ai-talics do NOT count as words)

Now, can you name this new two-headed beast?

All I can say is that it has the potential to make it on the updated Designer Dog Breed List.

Twink!

Are We There Yet?

When it comes to car rides, puppies and children have a lot in common. Check out my embarrassing pack mates, Frankie (lately we think she's an Italian Greyhuahua) and Pedrito (we're pretty certain he's a Rat Terrier chi mix, aka RAT-CHA BOL)

Designer dogs in action

Are We There Yet?

A movie directed by Twinkie Von Twinkerson

Shhhhh

 

"Silence is golden"

Edited by

Twinkie

Chiweenie Demands Own Dog Calendar

After publishing my personal chihuahua calendar, Frankie, the brindle chiweenie, threw a fit. She said that enough is enough and that between all the new rescues, adoptions, and work, she feels left out. She put all four paws down and demanded a photo shoot in the hopes she will publish her own dog calendar. See, that's what happens when "mutts" suddenly became "designer dogs"!

Chiweenie Pictures

I'm not so sure M will oblige and give Frankie, the chiweenie, her own dog calendar, but, at least for now, brindle-bum is appeased.

Chiweenie Retriever

Frankie, my chiweenie sister, wants to be a golden retriever when she grows up. I told her that it's impossible because she's brindle, therefore not golden, and rather small for a retriever, but she never listens to me. With all these new designer dogs popping up all around us, who knows, maybe this small dog will get her wish.

Chiweenie pictures:

In anticipation . . .

"You're NOT a retriever!"

And finally. . .

Perhaps I was wrong. She may never be golden, but she's an excellent retriever.

Twinkie

Chiweenie Steals Dog Treats

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Some dogs never learn. Two days ago, I mentioned dog treat thefts at our barn. Yesterday, I shared with you top secret information about Boomer, the tiny chihuahua, trying to steal them out of a horse trunk. Today, I am obligated to share the fact that Boomer wasn't the only thieving chi at our barn. His brother, Tigger, the chiweenie, has picked up the clepto-skills!

I had an advantageous position from my observation tower . . .

The chiweenie in action!

Between furiends, this is the proper way to enjoy dog treats, there's no other way unfortunately.

Congratulations to the chef.

Something got this chiweenie's attention. Can you guess what?

The brindle chiweenie! Oh, no! Where did she find the courage for such an undertaking?

Okay, now even I, Twinkie the teacup chihuahua, was impressed!

My sissy was fearless.

Heroic brindle chiweenie pursued her heart's desire.

But Tigger had other plans.

I'm relieved my sissy didn't follow him any more. I think that past a certain point, guts, glory, and dog treats can be downright foolish. 

Of course now, somebody has to pick after them.

"Come get your trash, you "designer dogs", you!"

There's never a dull moment at our horse barn. If when we're not fraternizing with goats, eating treats, dog chews, and horse hoof clippings, all of us rescue dogs have a blast!

Twinkie

Designer Dog or M-u-t-t? | Shandy

Our beloved furiend Shandy, aka Sandwiches, came by for a visit yesterday. Shandy is a rescue dog found wondering the streets as a pup. Within a couple of days, Shandy was found by a friend of M's who gave her her forever home. Shandy's got it made. She is loved and cared for. Her new family did not care about trivial details, like breeds, but they've been wondering and even toyed with the idea of getting a DNA test. I also recently heard that Shandy is on a diet of best quality kibble along with boiled chicken and lots of veggies. I wish M would cook for me like she used to, but apparently she only cooks when I'm sick. In any case, here's our Shandy when she came over to visit:

Shandy when she got to our home for a visit. She is always clean and well groomed.

Isn't she stunning?

The brindle chiweenie and I were a bit hesitant about greeting her at first,

but she's got such a kind smile.

We played a lot and marked our entire yard as if it wasn't ours. We drank fresh water out of our pond and ran and ran . . . It was so much fun!

Here's Shandy again, this time before her departure.

Tsk-tsk, what a dirty dog. Doesn't her mom every bathe her?

Come visit soon, Sandwiches!

Shandy's mom coincidentally figure out her breed. Shandy is no designer dog. She looks therefore she must be an Icelandic Sheepdog! Good thing she didn't attempt to herd the Twink. I may be tiny, but I do not get bossed around. So, Shandy's not even a designer dog. Now, we can't help but wonder, what was an Icelandic Sheepdog doing roaming the streets of Pasadena as a stray. Humans!

Twinkie  

Horse Show Dogs | Dog Costumes

The Santa Barbara National Horse Show is my favorite because I every year they hold dog contests. This year they had two categories: cutest dog and dog dress up. Our new furiend, Tanya, the miniature piebald dachshund, took part in the cutest dog contest and won third place. I think she should have gotten first, but that's how I am with my friends and loved ones. Obviously the Santa Barbara National Horse Show is an event that caters to horseback riders, but it's a known fact that horse people usually come with a dog or ten. They're all animal freaks, the kind we all like. Because the show goes on for five days and also because many great riders get to show, everyone's focus is on the horses and the dog show turns a bit . . . chaotic. Let me demonstrate.

The entrance to the dog show arena.

A bit of disarray, but fun to watch all those dog costumes together.

The dogs on the left look like italian greyhounds, but the purple doggie on the right is most likely one of those designer dogs--a new breed.

This is the closes this group came to being orderly.

But that didn't last long.

Ah-oh! Here comes the judge.

"Tanya! Turn around. Show the judge your cuteness."

Tanya had to be picked up to show her doxie cuteness, oh well, she still got THIRD place.

Congratulations, Tanya! What an honor for a miniature dachshund.

I did mention the contest was being held in Santa Barbara.

Our surfer dude here is practicing his trimming, but there's not much victory at sea.

Just don't wipe out, kook!

I don't really get this one, but I admit it's unique. Is that a hair net?

And my personal favorite dog dress up entrant.

Bam!

And the winner is . . . I'm just glad it wasn't a teacup chihuahua, look at the size of that wreath!

Crazy horse show people and their crazy dogs. We sure have a ball at these shows. Last year, after five days in Santa Barbara, I had had so much fun I went after five people!  Wha-at? They were in my face, plus this year, I got more respect. 

Twinkie

Chihuahua | Teacup Chihuahua

No quiero Taco Bell y no hablo español. Huh? Attention all chihuahuas and teacup chihuahuas. Do people stop you in the streets to speak to you in spanish that you don't understand? Maybe that is because you're from Asia. Nobody is certain about the chihuahua's origin. While the first chihuahuas purchased by Northern Americans came from  across the border of Juarez Mexico, and while their name is from the Mexican State of Chihuahua, there are no indications that the Toltecs and Aztecs had any domesticated animals, including dogs. There is also no record of any dwarf dogs in Mexico until the year 1875. A possible theory is that the chihuahua arrived that year to the New World on a ship from Asia. 


Physical description: The chihuahua is a tiny toy sized dog with a rounded head and a short and pointed muzzle. The chihuahua puppies are born with a soft spot on the top of their skull, not unlike human babies. It is called a "molera" and it usually does not close. They have large, rounded eyes, set apart. Their ears are erect and large. The coat can be of various lengths and textures. The chihuahua makes an excellent companion dog. Despite its strong will and adventurous personality, the chi is a loyal dog that becomes attached to its owners. No wonder it's rated among the top twelve most popular breeds. 


Size challenge: One more advantage chihuahuas have is their hardiness. But while they're small and mighty, the truth is, especially with tea cup chihuahuas, that they're vulnerable. Teacups usually weight under five pounds and are therefore rather susceptible to physical harm. As joyful and curious as they are, they can easily end up under your foot or you can roll on them in your sleep. Drop a rambunctious teacup chihuahua from less than a foot height, and the poor chi will most likely end up in the emergency room with a fracture or two. Teacup chihuahuas should ideally not be raised in households with small children or large dogs who may accidentally hurt them by merely trying to engage in play. All chihuahuas are to be supervised when outdoors, since they can become victims of all  predators, including birds of prey. 


Training: Due to their strong personalities, chihuahuas need to be trained and disciplined. With today's economy, it's a relatively low cost dog, vet bills excluded, and its messes are easy to clean up. Depending on the household, chihuahuas can be turned into adventurous hikers or couch potatoes. It's up to the owners. Speaking of discipline, there is one issue that needs to be addressed, potty training. All small dogs are particularly difficult to housebreak. Not only do they have tiny bladders, but they also make such small messes that are easy to go undetected, therefore, the best approach is to limit their space, until you are sure they are fully potty trained. An old mess that went undetected will draw them back. If you don't  want to shell out the money for special pet store odor eliminating and enzyme based products, you can clean up and erase all traces of smell by using distilled white vinegar. No worries, after about five minutes the vinegar smell dissipates and then disappears altogether. 


Temperament: Chihuahuas are by nature excessive barkers. Due to their size they are easily overwhelmed and they will either break out into barking or even snapping. Their voices are high pitched and annoying but all those problems can be eliminated with proper training, firm, consistent, and gentle. Balanced chihuahuas, are easy to introduce to an existing pack, and they even get along with cats nicely. 


Some of the chihuahua's health problems are bladder stones, arthritis, and tracheal and heart diseases. They are also prone to seizures. ¡Ay, caramba! One thing I highly recommend to all chihuahua owners, and especially teacup chihuahuas, is have some Nutrical handy. It's a caloric supplement paste, loaded with valuable nutrients, that can jump start a finicky eater too without burdening the digestive tract. Tiny toy dogs cannot last without food for as long as a regular sized ones. They tend to "crash" and the next best solution is a trip to the dog vet for IV fluids. Nutrical can help prevent that. 


Chihuahuas recently gained even more popularity with the release of the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) and of course as a purse accessory through media's darling, Paris Hilton. Similar to the effect 101 Damatians (1996) had for the dalmatian breed, the pounds were soon overwhelmed. The need for chihuahua rescue was obvious. Because the main concentration of the media victims was exaggerated on the west coast, in the past few months, there have been movements to mass transport these little guys to no-kill-shelter States. One of those that captured the attention of the media was Operation Chihuahua Airlift. 


As if the tiny chihuahua wasn't enough, breed variations are growing in popularity as well. They are called designer dogs. Here are a few examples:


chihuahua +  doxie =  chiweenie
chihuahua +  corgi =  chigi
chihuahua + dalmatian = chimation
chihuahua +  havanese = cheenese
chihuahua + chinese crested = chi chi
chihuahua + jack russel terrier = jack chi
chihuahua + maltese = malchi
chihuahua + italian greyhound = italian greyhuahua
chihuahua + pomeranian = chiranian
chihuahua + poodle = chipoo
chihuahua + pug = chug


The list goes on and on (you can see the extended version through the American Canine Hybrid Club), anything is possible but sometimes one wonders if there is a step ladder involved, as in the case of the chimation or the italian greyhuahua. 


All scientific facts aside, both the chihuahua and the teacup chihuahua, are adorable. They make sweet baby grunts, burrow on their owners, and make them feel like the center of their universe. There is a multitude of chihuahua geared products being sold to enhance your and your chi's experience, from blingy outfits and designer dog leashes, to beds and even strollers and carry ons. Do your research and if you think this breed is appropriate for your household, go get your own chihuahua, preferable a rescue dog. And try to speak chinese to it. You never know. 

Happy and muddy teacup chihuahua

Twinkie

Chiweenie v. Black Beetle

After our long visit with the dog vet the other day, M decided to visit a friend to vent. We were all invited to take in the sun on her friend's deck, as the two women had coffee and nice chat.

I was happy to leave the dog vet's office

I love sitting in the sun and gazing around me for hours at a time

The chiweenie, on the other hand, is restless, as designer dogs often are

She found herself a black beetle

The chiweenie acted like she'd never seen a bug before in her life

She approached the black beetle

She cautiously . . .

. . . inched up on him

M finally kicked the common black beetle off the deck and soon we were headed back home.

As expected, Frankie and I were rather spent

But Linguini, dog vet visit and dog tumors temporarily forgotten, got the honorary seat for a change and stayed alert as any good co-driver should

Chiweenie v. Black Beetle: 0-0

Twinkie

Monday's Dog Training Tips | How to train a Greyhound

Enough joking around. Today, I mean business and I'm here to share some serious dog training tips. I will demonstrate that size does not matter and that designer dogs aren't any smarter than purebred dogs.

I was playing by the side of a "river" when I spotted trouble on the other bank. My Chiweenie sissy was in need of my help. Dog training tip #1: Look fearless. This way, even if you look pathetic like me, you at least surprise your opponent.

Like superman, bum leg flying off to my side, I dove into the raging rapids

"I'm coming, Frankie!" I yelled, swallowing more water with each breath I took

Have no fear! Twinkie's here!

One final leap and I was almost there

Frankie was screaming for her life because Mabel, our good old furiend, was looking at her. I tell you, designer dogs can be quirky, especially the Chiweenie type. As for Mabel, she's a fancy mix herself. She is a Rottweiler and Greyhound cross. Dog training tip #2: Stand your ground and take advantage of the voice Dog gave you. 

The minute I landed on the other side of the river, I let the Greyhound - Rottweiler have an earful. "And don't you ever look at my sister again!" I said in the highest pitch ever known to Chihuahuas, especially considering I'm a tea cup chihuahua

She leaned a bit closer, probably because she couldn't hear me well from that high up

Frankie the Chiweenie, or Chicken Weenie, was inching away

"Run, Frankie, run," I yelled, while staring Mabel down

The Chiweenie didn't get far. She did feel braver though and she learned a lot from me that day. I sure hope you enjoyed my latest dog training tips.

* * *

I've been so busy recently, I still haven't had a chance to visit the Global Animal Blogging Event links to see if I won any of our free giveaways. I can't wait and I'll do it first chance I get! Bottom line, we're all winners just for participating and making new friendships. 

The Date Night over at Twix's is turning into the event of the century. It's fun, unpredictable and hilarious. Look what they did with me and my Gunther!

"Twinkie and Gunther stopped at the beach before heading over. I heard she might put her bikini back on later and go swimming in the toilet!"

The happy couple! BOL

Warning: Please check first before flashing toilet

Have a wonderful week!

Twinkie