AKC Canine Good Citizen Atrocities

Monday was Roxie's (the brindle boston terrier's) dress rehearsal, the last class before the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. Last week, M forgot to show up for the class, meaning, there was no chiweenie to practice step #8, Reaction to Another Dog, and there was no post about Roxie's improvement either. Let me tell you, if that dog does not pass the CGC next week, I'll eat catnip! Roxie, as hyper and unruly as she started out, is now unofficially a canine great citizen. This intro serves as a warning, so you don't get shocked by the outtakes and the chiweenie's take on Roxie's last class.

Class started out the usual way.

"You want me to do what? And for no treats?"

I just love opinionated terriers!

A hug from mom made it all better.

Well, almost.

On your marks, get set . . . wait a minute!

Class disruption, a welcome one.

The chiweenie loves children, as for Roxie, she was on her best behavior.

As for the child's mom, too cool for words, so her child is already dog savvy and an animal lover. 

ATROCITY!

The chiweenie got locked in the pet store's grooming area, so everybody could focus on Roxie.

The chiweenie is not very happy away from M, but you can see that. 

From that point on, Roxie's training went smoothly-ish.

Roxie remained skeptical but compliant.

The crowd went wild with joy as our future canine good citizen got her graduation star and a large baggie of dog treats (for her trouble).

But this, we did not expect!

Brindle-bum got a star too, aaand a baggie of dog treats to bring, ehem, home.

Roxie's mom is reading my blog, well, at least the posts about Roxie. Feel free to wish her good luck (not that she'll need any). And if the dog trainer ends up reading this post: three cheers for trainer extraordinaire. You managed the impossible! By believing in us and our dogs and by using only positive discipline, you've given us the opportunity to turn them around and make them safe and enjoyable for us the owners/handlers/parents and everybody they come in contact. 

Next week, I will be proud to announce that Roxie has sealed the deal and earned her dog treats. 

Twinkie

Santa Barbara National Horse Show

We didn't do too poorly at the show. Human sister made us proud and so did the rest of our barn. I though it most fitting for the chiweenie and me to do the presentation. More Santa Barbara National Horse Show pictures and information coming your way soon. They even had a division labeled: horse show dogs! I got to see a bunch of dogs in funny costumes too, it was a dog dress up contest. I laughed my head off, but . . . I'll tell you more about it later, along with photos of the dog costumes.

Proud to be horse show dogs!

Twinkie

Dear Twinkie | A Dog Advice Column

A dog advice column

houndstooth asked...

Wonderful advice again, Ms. Twinkerson! It appears that Morgan is taking your advice to heart.

Why is it that Morgan acts so different from us, anyway?

Bunny

TVT: Bunny, it makes me sad you have to endure, as I do with my younger sister. New family members can bring unrest and confusion. Wait a minute, I got it! Maybe Morgan is not a german shepherd as she originally thought. Maybe she's a chiweenie! That's it. That's the answer to this deep question.

Bunny's "different" sister with the "disease to please.

Lola asked...

Twinkie, thank you for the fashion advice. I'm going to study it carefully and do my best to dress appropriately for the occasion.

As to the next question - I think this will be a standing request for a while. Any tips you have for training a little brother will be much appreciated.

wags, Lola

TVT: You could always start by teaching him how to speak "kitty". But that would mainly help out Simone and Happy. Okay, how about you teach Brooklyn how to surf the counters and bring you his loot? That would be a great start. For the record though, I think you've done a fabulous job training him so far. I mean, the bed situation was rather important. We'll just have to work on dinner time, but tell your humans, all your moms etc. that extra dog treats make the heart grown fonder. There!

Brooklyn, already in training.

Sam and Pippen asked...

Twinkie,

Now that Puddles is a Preacher, do you think this will influence everyone's roast speeches?

And you bring up a very good point... who should be the next roastee? how often should they be held?

Sam and Pippen
Hosts of
The Hobbit Celebrity Roasts

TVT: She will definitely influence Ruby, Penny, and Frankie, that's for sure. As for the next roast: I would like to suggest we roast Mango. He's constantly in my thoughts and I hope he bounces back real fast so we can roast him out of pure joy for regaining his health! It's not going to be easy to find a pot to accommodate his enormous self, but he's so worth it. 

Why don't you two lie back and meditate. The answer shall come to you.

Khyra And Sometimes Her Mom said...

Aren't all khyttens edible?

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

TVT: Funny you ask, Khyra. Just yesterday, one of the kittens was asking if all fluffy sibes are edible. I guess the answer to both questions is "yes" depending on whether or not you can get away with it. For example, I know you'd meet a bit of resistance from M as well as I know the khyttens would have a tough getting rid of their hairballs.

A hairball of gargantuan proportions

Tucker asked...

Twinkie - Why won't momma get me a brudder? Other doggies are gettin' siblings (Bunny, Brutus, and Dory to name a few). It's not fair I tell you, not fair at all.

woof - Tucker

TVT: Tucker! What did you do with Evil kitty brother #2??? Do I need to call the cat police or send you over some more kittens?

Missing Cat

Frankie the Chiweenie asked…

Could you tell our furiends about Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation's important contest?

TVT: Finally, the brindle-butt is making sense. Of course I will, especially since it's for a great cause and because it's being led by our good ol' pals, the Thundering Herd! You can find the details here: "Walking With The Herd Contest".

Now, go take on the day!

Twinkie Van Twinkerson

Scorcher

When the temperature jumps up to the triple digits, it's nice to have a furiend with a pool. The other day, it was 103 degrees at my home, when the phone rang. It was my pal, Hank, the rhodesian ridgeback. He and his sister wanted to know if we would like to go over to cool down by his pool and have a kick back.
I jumped at the opportunity. I told the rest of my pack and they loved the thought too. The chiweenie put on her favorite leather collar, the dalmatian mix brushed off her fur (so she wouldn't get the pool full of hair, and I, the teacup chihuahua, went to work on M. She was easy to convince. We were out the door in under five minutes. Thanks, Hanky!

As soon as we arrived, Hank was anxious to show us his pool.

The chiweenie wouldn't go for it.

Linguini, chose a shady spot.

After our swim, Hank tried to spend some alone time.

"Not, today, Hanky boy. I have a headache."

We moved over to the front yard as soon as our furiends told us about Lizzy. We were curious.

Ay ay ay! Chiweenie.

The lizard is to your left! Other left!

The rhodies watched us go after the lizard, from a safe distance.

I thought they were laughing their heads off because of our unsuccessful hunt, but apparently they thought what I was doing was funny.

"Whaat? I'm just leaving you a little memento -- something to remember me by!"

Even the chiweenie understood my gesture. 

Overall, we had the best time! We can't wait for the temperature to rise again!

Twinkie

Doxie N' Boots

This post is dedicated to my new friend, Tanya, the four-month-old piebald dachshund cutie  pie. Since we're at a horse show and surrounded by tall and dangerous riding boots, you get the boots too, in other words: doxie n' boots.

Why would this sweet girl need a forever home? Why did she join the rest of us rescue dogs? Because people breed more dogs than they should. It all comes down to the supply and demand theory. We've seen the pounds, we've seen the euthanasia rates, and we all know the truth. Please spay and neuter your pets.

Dachshund pictures of  Tanya n' boots:

Off to meet Tanya at the horse show grounds now. We're going to play like there's no tomorrow, since we're all going home later today. 

Twinkie

Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place
Such a lovely place
Plenty of room at the hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here . . .

But when you are a tiny three legged dog, even 20 star hotels can have their issues. For example, I made a special request for a staircase in my suite.

'Scuse me! You don't think I can tell the difference between pillows and a staircase?

Getting up to my luxurious bed is a chore.

"OMD! Frankiiiiiiie! I can't breathe."

The brindle chiweenie stole some three bean chili con carne for lunch. Ugh!

Help! Somebody get me an oxygen mask.

"Wasn't me."

Welcome to the hotel California,

Last thing I remember I was running for the door . . .

Remember, always ask your suite-mates to refrain from eating gassy foods.

Twinkie

Please Do Not Disturb

I am staying at a 10 star hotel in Santa Barbara, in between commuting to Los Angeles and going to the horse show, and I need my beauty sleep.

You may however be interested to know that we have a new barn rescue! Yay, for rescue dogs! Tanya in the photo above is four months old and she's awesome. 

The prisoners are right where they belong

The chiweenie is as freaked out as always, especially since she doesn't know whether Tanya wants to eat her.

As I was saying. . .

Twinkie