Petco Lockdown

¡ Ay Caramba ! Pedro, the chihuahua puppy did it again. M took him to puppy playtime at our local Petco, as she tries to do every Monday, in order to "socialize" him. Yeah, right. Last time he was there, he bit a bulldog on its head. M apologized profusely to the owner, a gracious lady, and luckily there were no vet bills involved. Yesterday, instead of biting his playmates, Pedro decided he was small enough to get out of the enclosure used for puppy playtime. M was busy yapping away with the other dog owners, when she noticed the trouble-child had left. The store was on instant alert, the doors sealed shut, and the wonderful employees got on the PA and started making announcements. Pedro returned on his own, looking terrified and rather upset with M for ditching him!!! Petco-peace was once again restored, but class was dismissed early (huh). M is wondering when she and Pedro will be kicked out for good . . . "Wasn't me." Twinkie

Holiday Pet Hazards

I got a lovely email from my vet that I'd like to share with you. It's about keeping us safe during the holidays.

Holiday hazards  |  How to keep your pet safe

Electric cords:    Keep all electric cords securely taped down or out of reach of your pet. Dogs and cats may chew dangling wires and be burned or electrocuted.

Ornaments:    Hang ornaments out of reach of your pet. Dogs, especially, may eat ornaments or wire hangers, which can get caught in the stomach and intestines.

Chocolate:    Keep all holiday foods away from your pet. Chocolate contains ingredients (e.g., caffeine) that can be lethal to dogs and cats.

Tinsel, ribbon, and string:    Make sure these are kept out of reach and properly disposed of. If swallowed, any of these can require emergency surgery to remove. Tinsel also has sharp edges that can cut the mouth.

Lilies, other flowers, and houseplants:    Prevent your pets from eating plants or flower arrangements. Lilies are very poisonous to cats.

Christmas tree:    Put the tree in a pet-safe room or monitor your pet when he or she is around the tree. Dogs and cats may eat the needles (even from artificial trees) or drink the water at the base of the tree, which can be toxic (especially if it contains preservatives).

In many cases, if your pet has eaten or drunk something toxic, warning signs will include gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs may include tiredness and lack of appetite, especially in cats that have eaten lilies. If your pet shows any of these signs, or if you think he or she has eaten something dangerous but is not showing any signs yet, please call us right away. Treating your pet as soon as possible is essential!

See? The email contained rather useful information, and even if all your pawrents know all about holiday hazards, it wouldn't hurt to print out this list for their house guests!

Twinkie

Love Goat Says

Today, we interrupt our usual blogging for two reasons: 1. ATT has yet to fix our internet issues and we're  all fed up going to furiends' homes to get to post and 2. The "Love Goat" has a request:

I wanted to wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

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.

Twinkie's Dog Calendar

My chihuahua calendar is finally ready. We have been so hectic this year, we were afraid we'd never get to it. Phew, it's done! Not only that, but it's on sale at Zazzle. If you are interested in my dog calendar, you can find it here: Twinkie's Chihuahua Calendar

Twinkie's Dog Calendar

Even if you don't want my dog calendar, you can find many lovely gifts at Zazzle. You should also know that Zazzle offers free shipping on orders $50+. The code for this sale is: FREESHIPFORU

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Twinkie

Po(o)p Art

M's nose was not mistaken. The problem was that she kept looking down . . . 

Small dog potty training tips: is challenging during the cold and rainy winter months. Tiny dogs get cold outside. It's easier to use potty training pads. Puppy training takes time.

Po(o)p Art by Pedro, the chihuahua puppy

Twinkie

Intermittent DSL Connectivity

Ugh . . .

Must be the new ATT!

Twinkie