Thursday, February 28, 2013

THEY FLOAT THROUGH THE AIR . . .

. . . with the greatest of ease!

These dachshunds are proof positive that dachshunds love to run and jump.  They may have short legs and long bodies, but they can "take off" when the mood strikes--that is, if they aren't napping or eating! 

Granted, one of the pictures below is a drawing, but it so exemplifies how doxies look when they run that I HAD to include it:







Wednesday, February 27, 2013

SHADOW THE DOXIE AND ASLAN THE SIAMESE


Here's yet another pic of good buddies, Shadow our granddawg, and Aslan, a flame-point Siamese. 

Our daughter Holly says she took this picture right after Aslan gave Shadow his nightly bath :). 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Friday, February 22, 2013

PERFECT SLEEPERS? A.K.A., CUTENESS PERSONIFIED


A well-known mattress company touts its "perfect sleeper," but I submit that dachshunds also deserve that title.

The cute doxie puppies below are oblivious to the world around them--they clearly haven't a care in the world. And, like most dog breeds, they should get an A+ for their ability to sleep anytime, anywhere--and for any length of time.  Whether it's all night or a mere five-minute nap--dogs have definitely perfected the art of slumber.  When they awaken, they just "might" get into something they shouldn't, so the old adage "let sleeping dogs lie" has some merit!

 Dream on, little puppies--of playing with your siblings, having a tug of war, and finding something fun to chew up--and bringing unsurpassed joy to your owners :).

Aren't they adorable?





















Thursday, February 21, 2013

DIGGING, ANYONE?


This doxie has been digging for crabs at the beach, and the evidence is right there on his nose!  He doesn't realize what will happen if that crab sees him first :).

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

THE ADOPTION OF DUKE THE DOXIE

Below is Duke the day we adopted him at eight weeks old:
Who could resist that face, I ask??

When we went to the doxie farm where he was born, there were about a hundred dachshunds running around the property.  As we entered the gate, all of them came toward us, barking and wagging their tails.  Clark commented to the breeder that she certainly didn't need an alarm system!  She said that was why she lived out in the country, because city folks would not tolerate all those loud dogs (and we all know how loud one doxie can be).

I reached out my hand, and at least fifty tongues started licking it!  I was impressed that not one dog nipped at us, snarled, or growled.  I said as much, and she stated that she simply did not allow snippy dogs!  She was definitely the pack leader, too.  Carrying a large stick similar to a shepherd's staff, she hit the sidewalk with it twice--and all barking ceased immediately.  We were amazed, because we have a hard time just getting Duke to hush now when the doorbell rings!

As we went up the steps and onto the deck, we were followed by an entourage of wagging tails and a chorus of barking once again.  She pounded the deck twice with her staff, and silence reigned immediately.  Once inside, she showed us several enclosures of mama dachshunds with their babies, and they were all so cute.  I wanted a black-and-tan male like our granddawg Shadow, and she said she had one left, so she took us over to the mama who had him.  She handed the little puppy to me, and he immediately wet my hand--but I was hooked!  Duke came home with us a little while later.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

One other outstanding thing we noticed:  since it was August, and we'd had an extremely hot summer that year, I asked if the heat had affected her dogs.  "When it gets too hot, I just bring them all inside the house," she replied calmly. "They are allowed in if they behave properly; banished dogs have to stay on the deck, and believe me, they don't enjoy looking in through the sliding glass doors, seeing all their friends lolling about on the furniture, while they have to sit outside."

 Her home was dog friendly--tile floors, comfortable furniture, but conspicuously clean.  Two dogs were lounging about on her bed, too.   A widow, she told us that very good dogs got to sleep on her bed, and "last night, I had seven dogs sleeping with me!"  That might sound horrible to a non-doxie lover, but we thought it was . . . well, amazing, for lack of a better word.  She obviously loved every one of her dogs, treated them well, having a well-earned distinction as an AKC-recognized  breeder.

Duke has turned out to be a wonderful and charming pet who has us wrapped around his little paw.  We wouldn't have it any other way, either.
King of the castle at 3 months


GOSSIP, DOXIE STYLE

"And I heard that we're all gonna get 'dopted, whatever that is!  Hope it doesn't hurt!"



Did you ever play that game of "gossip" when you were a child?  You know, the one where the first child whispers something into the next child's ear, who in turn whispers what he/she heard in the next child's ear, all the way to the last child.  At the end, the last child announces to the group what he/she thought she heard--and it was a far cry from the original statement!

I couldn't resist posting this pic of these adorable doxie puppies--I'm a softie when it comes to any breed of puppy, but especially dachshund babies.

And I can imagine that those puppies are playing the "gossip" game, too :).

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

RULES FOR NON-DOG OWNERS WHO VISIT


W-e-e-l-l-l, in our home we don't insist that visitors sit on the floor or allow Duke to lick them to death (as he is prone to do).  We hold him until he is ready to greet visitors in a calm fashion, because he gets SO excited when we have company!

Our vet says that some doxies are simply more excitable than others, and that certainly seems to be the case with Duke.  After he gets used to having company in the house, we'll let him down and he'll greet, but not "over-greet."  He's just the perpetual puppy, so happy about everything.
Duke:  "Puleeze play with me!"


In any case, I thought the rules above were worth a chuckle :).

Monday, February 18, 2013

NO!! NOT THE TOENAILS!

"Puleeze don't clip my toenails!!"
Most doxies aren't too fond of having their toenails clipped.  In fact, we just throw in the towel and take Duke to the vet because he just will not sit still.  He has to place his nose right on the toenail we are attempting to clip, and we're afraid that we'll clip his nose instead of the toenail.

Other doxies simply lie down and take it, but unfortunately, we are blessed with a placid one.  That's okay--Duke is difficult to ignore, and he's got so much personality, we just love him, anyway.  He's so much fun and loves to play.  I wanted a dachshund with personality, and he's got it--in spades!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

SHADOW: ELDER BROTHER

 Our granddawg Shadow has been a good buddy to our grandson Asher since Asher was a baby.  These photos attest to the fact that Shadow is indeed a bonafide member of his family, and he definitely thinks so, too!








Thursday, February 14, 2013

DOXIE LOVERS: WE "HEART" YOU!


Dogs are the perfect valentine, because they exhibit unconditional love toward us just like God does :).

That's what my late father, Robert "Papa" Duke, said in I AM SARGE:
"A dawg loves you no matter what. You can be ugly, old, even dumb--but a dawg don't care. All he wants is your love and some food now and then. I think dawgs represent the unconditional love God has for us--maybe that's why He created them, to show that to us." 

So--Happy Valentine's Day, doxie lovers.  Be sure to hug your dawg today :).  Even a treat would be appropriate.
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!


Today is our oldest daughter Holly's birthday . . . she was born at 6:08 a.m. in VA Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, VA, 34 years ago.  The delivery room nurse commented, "Oh no!  Not another loud one!"  Even then, Holly was exercising her lungs in preparation (I am certain) for her beautiful singing voice later :).

Life has never been dull since--she began walking at 10 1/2 months, would spend hours sitting perfectly still if I would look at (and later read) books with her, and was a bundle of energy.


She's a busy pastor's wife and mother of three;

 she's a wonderful daughter and big sister;


she loves her family and does so much for them;

and she always "gets into the act" at Halloween and any other time she needs to:  birthday parties, church and school functions, etc.

But above all, she's a committed Christian who lives out her faith by doing for others and using her talents and creativity for Him.  I am proud to be her mother.


HAPPY 34TH BIRTHDAY, HOLLY!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Monday, February 11, 2013

FAMILY IS MY FAVORITE!


Clark and me with the grandchildren: 
Annika 8, Alexa 7, and Asher will be 3
next month!


Our son-in-law and daughter, Philip and Holly

We had the joy and privilege of spending a few days with them, returning home yesterday.  They live in Georgia, and we live in North Carolina.  Such is life these days!  Our younger daughter Bethany and hubby Kurt live in Arizona, so we don't see them as often.
Everyone was here for Christmas, and then returned the first week in January for my mother's funeral.
I've always believed family is special, but especially since Mom's death, I am even more thankful now for my loved ones.  God is faithful and will sustain us in life's sorrows, but I so enjoy my family, my major joy on this earth.
How about you?

Monday, February 4, 2013

BUDDIES: PIPER, SHADOW, ASLAN, AND DUKE


Here's a pic of our granddawg Shadow with his good buddy, Piper, a Norwegian Forest cat.  Despite the adage that cats and dogs don't "mix," these two don't seem to know that.  Good.

And, there's another cat in Shadow's family, Aslan, a red-point Siamese:



Aslan gives Shadow a "cat bath" every night as they lie on the couch!  In the pic above, Aslan seems to be taking over Shadow's space. 

Our dog Duke loves to play with his cat cousins when we visit the family.  It is really fun watching animals enjoying each other's company.

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