Figgys Cocktail Chihuahuas

Update Your Bookmarks!

2011-05-05T23:25:00.005-04:00

I unveiled the latest new look for the website that I have been working on for the last six weeks tonight and I have to say, I am more than a tad bit excited. After many years of maintaining our website and our blog on two separate systems, I now have them ALL TOGETHER - and linked to Facebook too! Now everyone and everybody can read about the latest and greatest and I can get it all done in a quarter of the time. The multi-step process of adding posts can be done in one fell swoop. YAHOO!!

With the new design, I also get to hear more from you! That is the most exciting part of all of the work, hands down! I hope all of our puppies' forever families will share updates and news on their individual puppy pages. I will continue to add photos that you email me to their page but now you can share comments and updates directly on the site through the blog!

My plan all along was to have the site updated and finished before Blue's litter arrived. As of midnight, Blue will be ready to pop and I am only about halfway done with the blog post maintenance I need to perform. Sorry! Goal not reached! With close to 1,200 posts accumulated over the years, the list seems to be never ending. I will continue to work on these updates over the next few weeks. In the mean time, I hope you all enjoy the new look and new features! All further blog posts and updates will be on our actual website! http://www.figgyschihuahuas.com

Rane Passed With Flying Colors!

2011-04-24T21:02:00.000-04:00

First off, HAPPY EASTER!!! We have had out of town family here for the holiday, keeping us all, human and dog alike, very busy. A lot of activity for our anxious little Rane, and a lot of new people. She barked at our guests the first two days but that quickly subsided on the third. Then today, with so many coming and going and the front door being left open multiple times, I just HAD to snap a photo of Rane's major accomplishment.

She is in the Dewey Door Darting Club. Chicatoo, Rane, Ace and Dewey can all squeeze their bodies through the bars on our baby gates to run out and greet guests that come to our door. But with the front door left open as guests were being walked out to their cars, I stood from the street and watched as Rane stopped at the door-frame and just watched. The other three will run right out to the driveway to greet visitors. They do stop and and come on command once outside, but never have they been able to resist walking out the door. Not Rane! I yelled STAY and that's just what she did! Can't tell you how proud I am :)

Capri's Turn

2011-04-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

Not only is she one week behind Blue in the breeding department, she is also one week behind in the POP department too!

Another overnight popping, but Capri's poppage is much, MUCH more significant. So much so that at this rate, she either has two HUGE puppies or a belly fully with over four. Oh my WORD! And she has over three weeks to go! She is gonna be dragging on the floor come in May! Yikes!

Ice - It's The Hot Thing Around Here

2011-04-19T15:45:00.000-04:00

Not all - About half of our pack actually - Are totally addicted to ice. I recall the days of my youth when my mom would tell me to stop chewing on ice because I would ruin my teeth. Now how do you tell a Chihuahua that?

They stand in-front of the ice dispenser on our refrigerator, waiting anxiously for a a piece to fall to the floor. If and when that does happen, they grab it and take the ice under the couch to claim it. Yes! We have had ice attach to lips and tongues. Our ice lovers have learned their lessons and now use their teeth to grasp. Today's catch was by Ace and for the first time, they shared! Well, Ace did at least. He share his ice with Colada - but SHE grabbed it to hide under the couch.

I Swear They Know

2011-04-18T13:40:00.003-04:00

I have seen many signs that dogs know their own offspring and it is sights like this that cement those thoughts.

Dewey was laying in the doggy bed and up walked his mommy, Ginny. She cuddled up around him and started to clean him. He lay there all comfy and in peace as his mommy tidied him up. So uber sweet!

It Happened Overnight

2011-04-16T02:08:00.005-04:00

Once a female has given birth for the first time, I have noticed a few things that change with any subsequent pregnancies. One of those things is how quickly they begin to show! It seemed as if over-night, Blue just POPPED! Her thin frame clearly shows a bulge on her right side, with her left side growing in girth. Counting the days!

Now Look What Ya Gone and Done!

2011-04-13T06:40:00.001-04:00

As I have explained in the past, our Chihuahuas have a bad habit of following my husband to the couch as he carries his plate in to eat. Of course, HE has a bad habit of feeding them bits and pieces as he eats as well! Today's "habit" has to do with the liquid portions of my husband's dinner and it just so happened to be a full glass of milk.

After Dude stood with the pack, surrounding the dinner plate he must have gotten his fill because I watched him slyly sneak over to the coffee table to check things out. He put his nose right into that cup of milk and started to lick away! No lactose intolerance here I tell ya! More like lactose love! He licked and slurped so much that he eventually got his head stuck in the cup! Little shit! He worked so hard at getting to the milk, we had to help him finished the last few drops!

Spring Season Is Here!

2011-04-10T18:18:00.004-04:00

And of course, Dewey had to come along to cheer on my son's flag football team. Their team name this season isn't the Gators, but he was still sporting it because he just looks so stinking adorable in it! And just because he he isn't wearing a Packers harness doesn't mean he wasn't rootin' for the team!

Dewey stood on my knees and watched every play attentively and was such a good boy! He was SO good that by the end of the game, I wondered if I should try to find me some Packers fabric for a tiny harness just for him? Now to find it. Anyone Wisconsin followers out there that could help me out with a quarter yard of fabric?

The Big Tease

2011-04-06T15:53:00.003-04:00

If you haven't seen the movie UP! you will totally not get the story I am about the share. If you have, follow along and you too will giggle....

We live in a house that is surrounded by several large Oak trees. With such woodsy surroundings comes creatures that call our yard home. We have hawks, possum, raccoons, squirrels and the occasional owl. Yes, some are animals that we must remain in constant lookout for but others have become too accustom to our canine residents. So much so that they are confident enough to tease our poor Chihuahuas until they are shaking! You guessed it - the SQUIRRELS!

The use the railings on our back deck to travel to and fro, which just so happens to leave them right in the line of sight for the dogs. It is usually Dude that hears the pitter-patter of their tiny little feet and I swear you can hear that "SQUIRREL" announcement (like in UP!) in his bark. this special squirrel bark is what alerts all of the other dogs in our house to come running and look. That's just what they do too! I snapped this photo today while the big tease sat up in the tree right outside the back door and I swear I could see him smirking as he looked down at the dogs barking intently to get to him. Yes, I haven't taken the chairs off the table since our last leaf sweeping - so chairs aside, this photo captured the intense SQUIRREL screams from 10+ Chihuahuas!

It's That Time Again

2011-04-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

Blue is far enough along to palpate and I felt what I think is one on the left side. The first step in trying to confirm a pregnancy, but with Blue, you never know. She has small litters, the most being two puppies. That means there could very well be two in there, maybe more. Time will tell and whelping will confirm. Right around Mother's Day, Blue should again, be a mother!

New Chihuahua Friends Chicatoo?

2011-04-02T17:41:00.000-04:00

My daughter had a few friends over and they are all still at the "sleeping with their favorite stuffed animal" stage. Ironically, they all find their Chihuahua Webkinz their favorite sleeping pals and Chicatoo clearly recognized the resemblance. The white Terrior Webkinz she barked are fiercely but the Chihuahua ones? She wagged her tail and begged them to play! And then she seemed to thank the girls for bringing new friends for her to play with! Too funny to not capture.

The Bluurrrs

2011-03-31T14:18:00.001-04:00

That's my nickname for Chicatoo and Rane. They play constantly, wrestling, chasing, nibbling and then, cuddling. Rane has become the perfect playmate for Chicatoo and the perfect companion for her during her heat.

Of course, if the boys were allowed access to her, he too would be in the mix. they are our three youngest Chi's in the house and I love seeing how they can get their "Puppy" on!

Colada Needs A Hug

2011-03-29T20:41:00.004-04:00

I started to see the signs early this morning. Around 3:30 am, Colada started begging to get up into my bed as opposed to being in the whelping box with Absolute. She hadn't left her puppy's side for ANYTHING, until then. She started whining and pacing too, going from begging to get up into my bed, then running back to cuddle up with Absolute. I continued her feedings, every 30 minutes, but her strength was clearly fading. Absolute went peacefully at 6:42 this morning. So very, very sad.

Colada knew the inevitable, but her body and hormones keeps telling her that she still has babies to tend too. She has spent the day with us downstairs, but continuously begging to get upstairs to search for them. As the hours pass, her requests lessen, but still, you can tell she her heart in hurting none the less.

We Are Loosing This Battle

2011-03-28T16:45:00.003-04:00

Our sweet little Absolute is not fairing well. My every 30 minute feedings are not helping her in the weight or growth department. She is drinking from the bottle but doesn't seem to be retaining any of the nutrients. She is down to 1 1/4 oz, loosing a full ounce from her birth weight. She isn't as dehydrated as she was yesterday but her body temps are still not being retained. I have resorted to using a heated oven mitt to hold her while feeding her to help her out a bit but I am afraid that even after all of our hard work, that we are going to loose her. I don't think tube feeding will help since she is nursing from the bottle, her little feet kneading away!

Hourly Feedings Increased

2011-03-28T07:07:00.005-04:00

Absolute made it through the night but there is a bit too much weight loss for my liking. Puppies usually loose a bit from their birth-weight in the first day or two, but she simply didn't have enough to loose! She is down to 1 7/8 ounces and all of the places that are usually a nice shade of pink after day one are still red. Bottle feeding seems to fill her belly but she isn't retaining any. When I go back for her next feeding she is frail and dehydrated. I will increase her feedings to every 30 minutes and try tube feeding if I continue to see weight loss. I have also placed heated, damp towels in the whelping box to try to keep things moist. Colada has tried her best to keep her hydrated, licking every chance she can get. She tucks her in as close as possible and keeps her at the right temperature but she cools within seconds of being pulled out for her feedings. I tried seeing if she can latch to mommy and she simply doesn't have the strength. Poor poor baby!!

Getting Ready To Fight

2011-03-27T14:14:00.004-04:00

Absolute may have been the only surviving puppy from Colada's litter but she far from the strongest. Her little boy was much stronger and was much more developed than Absolute. She is not suckling very well off of mom, too weak to stay attached. We have resorted to bottle feedings every hour to help her continue to thrive. She is also very dehydrated so we have placed a humidifier in the room near her and placed the entire whelping box close to a window so that the sunlight can reach it. With preemies, the temperatures much be closer to that in the womb, 90 - 100 degrees. Colada is such a trooper, baring the heat and keeping her baby as warm as she possibly can.

Long and Exhausting Night and Day!

2011-03-27T09:52:00.012-04:00

I really thought we had a couple more days. So much so, I hadn't taken out all of my whelping supplies, only began gathering the box and getting ready to put it all up in our guest room. When Colada started panting at 1am when we all went to bed, I wish I had taken a more serious note of it. She had been eating all day and showed no other signs of labor. Off to bed I took her assuming Tuesday was going to be the day - Day 62. But at 3:45am the heavy nesting began in our bed and from there, the night/morning really started.

I set up her whelping box in my bedroom and ran around gathering supplies She panted and nested just about long enough for me to get everything, when the whole house could hear her screaming at 5:40am. By 5:47, the first puppy arrived, but even by dim light, I knew something looked odd. The placenta and sac with the pup in it all came out as one. Since this was her whelping, I wasn't surprised when she continuously licked and didn't go immediately for the placenta or cord - How could she tell the difference at this point? I ripped the sac open and cut the cord. That's when I got a glimpse of what we were dealing with. The puppy was TINY! A 2 1/4 ozs. girl that was skinny, skinny. I brought her into the light when I weighed her and to me, she looked a chocolate blue. Still a bit wet but once she dried I would know more. With the first one out, Colada seemed calmer, as if anticipating what the rest of the night would bring and the panic had subsided.

For the next hour and 10 minutes, she lay on her side, trying to keep her puppy warm and allow her to nurse. The puppy simply was not able to latch on. She patiently waited for her to try to get her first meal AS she pushed out her second puppy. Seriously! She looked so calm and confident! Plop! Out it came at 6:56 am and this time, her instincts kicked into gear. This placenta wasn't as attached to the sac but it was nonetheless, not what I have seen before. She chewed at the cord vigorously while I gave a hand in getting the sac off the puppies face. Within a minute or two, I had her second puppy in my hand and weighed. Another at 2 1/4 ozs. and this time a blue and white boy.

The third puppy made it's way out less than 10 minutes after the previous. This one's placenta was completely covering the sac and Colada again was bound and determined to do what her instincts were driving her to do. I was honestly amazing that she could find the cord in that cocooned mess and eat the placenta only. She opened the sac but I knew instantly that we were in trouble. The puppy wasn't breathing and I began the steps for resuscitation. I brought it into the brighter light and saw my efforts were in vain. This solid blue female was a still-born pup and was a bit under developed.

This is when things got rather hairy. My guess of three puppies was obviously wrong because she started pushing again to deliver her fourth pup. While moving the first two puppies into the heating box so she could focus on the task at hand, I saw something odd with the little boy but the lights were so dim, I couldn't tell exactly what I saw. Back into the bright light I went, only to discover the poor little guy's belly tore just to right from where his cord was chewed off and his intestines were exposed. My husband jumped in to hold wet gauze on the boy while I helped delivered the fourth pup. Not knowing exactly how the tear in the boy's belly occurred, I didn't want an overzealous mommy to possibly harm another pup. At 7:47 am, I grabbed the "puppy cocoon" as quickly as I could so I could cut the cord. Once I got the sac off, I realized this puppy (another solid blue female) was also underdeveloped and still-born.

At this point, I realized I was dealing with premature pups and most likely the belly tear was because his paper thin skin couldn't bare the yanking. These types of tears are actually rather common with overzealous mommy dogs and I knew if we were able to get to him in time, there was a chance to save him. Pushing the innards back in and then taking him to the vet for a stitch or two would totally do the trick. Unfortunately, the time spent tending to the third and fourth pup was a bit too long. Every move, wiggle and whine only pushed out more. I knew my chances were very, very slim but he was a fighter so I was going to do my best to help him fight!

Off to the emergency vet he and I went. Luckily, the closest one is only 7 minutes from my house - The same one we went to for Baby's c-section! I got there at 8:25 am and prayed we could save him. It didn't take long for them to tell me that his chances were extremely slim and that the incision they would have to make was no longer possible. The decision to put him out of his misery was made.

If any of you have been to the emergency vet, you will know what it is I am about to describe. No one on the waiting room is there for a happy reason. Tears and worry are the norm and an ear or shoulder are desired. The nameless new friends you make in a place like that are often times just what you need during a time of loss or tragedy. These nameless new friends that wait anxiously to be called back for an ounce of encouraging news. I listened to the stories of the reasons the others were there and prayed for the furry friends that were were behind the door, realizing I was the only one that already knew the unfortunate out come of my patient. When it was asked what brought me there so early on a Sunday morning, my story was tearjerker but also resulted in a name for our sweet little girl back home with her mommy! I shared how I name my dogs and that Colada was actually Pina Colada - and one of my new nameless friend suggested"Absolute" - because she was! PERFECT!

Right about then, the vet tech came out and called my name, handing me our sweet little boy, wrapped up and now ready to be placed with our sweet Mo and Margie beside the Oak Tree in our yard. I know I only knew him for a couple hours, but he touched my heart in ways I will never forget. A fighter from second one. I cried all the way home.

And the first thing I did was check on mommy and baby. She is clearly a preemie, struggling to suckle off mommy. With my help, I was able to help her get her first few sips of mommy's milk but we have a long road ahead of us. I don't think she is that premature. If she and her litter mates had baked maybe two or three more days I think this morning would have been a completely different story. But it is what it is, and together we are going to do all that we can to pull her through this. Welcome to the world Absolute!

Pizza Left Over Saturday

2011-03-26T23:42:00.003-04:00

I grabbed myself a slice and plopped down on the couch to catch up on some of my shows and within seconds, Dewey crawled out from behind my neck and right onto the pillow I rested my plate onto. I realize the boys didn't get the veggie droppings last night and for that I do feel bad! I know the little guy could use some extra meat on his bones. Those sweet eyes are beyond killing me! How can I not give him just a bite? HOW?

It's Pizza Friday Night

2011-03-25T19:32:00.004-04:00

And with the girls in our house granted access to the kitchen because that is where Chicatoo is, they all got to chow down on the pizza toppings my husband conveniently drops while he's making dinner. They LOVE the green peppers, but just about any raw vegetables they will devour.

Zhu Zhu Pets Make Great Fun

2011-03-24T15:14:00.002-04:00

Forget the laser pointer! Goodness me, we have had hours of fun with those! My daughter got a Zhu Zhu Pet for her birthday and between the sounds and squeals and squeaks alone, the dogs interest was piqued. When it started to move? Oh my WORD! All bets were off and Baby was the winner. She freaked out at first but then she took control and showed the electronic raccoon who was boss! For $5.00, an entertaining dog toy!

The Preggy Sit

2011-03-23T12:54:00.007-04:00

All the girls do it. The closer they get to their whelping, the more awkwardly they sit. Hind legs out like a human and their baby bellies resting on the ground they are resting upon. She is also starting to get that "wide load breathing".

At day 56, she has about 6 more days to go! Of course, she can deliver as early as day 58 but that's pretty early! Dogs deliver 62 days after they ovulate and every dog is different when it comes to standing heat. This is Colada's first breeding and first pregnancy. Ideally we will have her cycle figured out after she whelps. Until then... we wait!

Cosmo and the Back Window

2011-03-22T13:46:00.004-04:00

Cosmo love, love LOVES our back window and if given the option, he would sit in front of it every hour of the day. When the sun shines in or not, he loves to look out at the squirrels, blowing leaves and anything else that makes its way past. Of course, that is the place he also sees lightening from and at that point he runs from the window, right into his crate!

Dewey Knows They Are Back

2011-03-21T11:39:00.000-04:00

I headed over to Karen's to pick up the girl after we got back yesterday and just like clockwork, the boys knew instantly there were women to conquer in their midst. Dewey immediately ran to the gate with a whimper and a whine.

Pooooooor Dewey. All the boys loose weight when the girls are in heat but Dewey doesn't have ANY extra to loose. This heat season seems to have gone on for ever - Back to Back to Back. Rane will probably be right behind, if not thrown in early with all the estrogen in the house. Looks like I need to get that bacon fat out again for some midnight snacks

My Leash Buddy Today

2011-03-20T15:07:00.001-04:00

Ace has always been our quiet, go-with-the-flow guy that never really made a stink about anything. Perhaps his two conquests this month have made him more brazen - or Dewey whispered in his ear the good stuff in outside the camper - Because today while we were at the picnic table sipping on our final weekend cup o' joe, Ace begged to be at my side. this need of his remained as we were packing up to head home and even for the ride! On my lap he insisted to be.

Tag-A-Long Dewey?

2011-03-19T21:17:00.004-04:00

After a long adventure around the park with me today, I discovered a tick right beside Dewey's... well... umm... his meat-meat. Poor guy! not sure if we picked it up in the campground, the hiking trails or dag walking area, but he jumped on and took hold. Damn it man! Hate those ticks!

We Are All Lovin' Lake Griffin!

2011-03-19T16:42:00.002-04:00

And I mean the dogs too!

They spent the last hour enjoying the dog walking area in the park, as well as a a tour around the campground. They all had an on-leash blast and then a well deserved nap-fest. Long walks like that always bring on the sleepy mode and we now will have a very quite camper for at least 2 hours.

Colada is Chillaxin

2011-03-19T11:31:00.006-04:00

She has about 10 days to go until her puppies are here and to help her get into the chillaxin mood, we took off her harness and let her lounge where ever she wants in the camper.

I felt her puppies kick for the first time today - The true sign that the fun is around the corner. This is the stage when mommies present their bellies in full form for tons of rubs and lovin'.

Dewey's Latest Trick

2011-03-18T18:13:00.000-04:00

Dewey is the latest of our Chihuahuas that figured out the good food is outside the camper. That's where my husband does all of the cooking on the grill and that is where you can get his extras. Tonight is was marinated chicken and with just a quick sniff, he was up on his hind legs, begging away. Too bad it's too entertaining to stop the teasing.

And Away We Go to Lake Griffin

2011-03-18T14:55:00.000-04:00

We are all piled up and on our way to Lake Griffin in Fruitland Park. We love this campground. It is one of the very few state parks that actually have a dog waling area! Very dog and kid friendly place to camp. And yes, the dogs are all dressed in their blue and orange. Dont they look excited? Not sure if it's because they are representin' or because we are going camping!

Updates From Hotel KZ

2011-03-18T10:44:00.005-04:00

With Chicatoo in her first official heat, how fitting is it that she will get to spend it her mom Chica, who is also in heat! Karen snapped this picture and tell me she doesn't get her amazing good looks from her sweet momma?!?! Chicatoo isnt in her standing heat yet. thats somethign we weill get to contend with after we get home. But you can guarantee she will get some pointers from her mom while she's there!

And then of course there is Blue - the TEASE! Karen's boys are being kept in the other room and blue would be the first to sway and coo in front of the gate to get them all wired up. She does the same at our house. But she also is a jumper. Where there is a will there is a way in her mind.

Busy, BUSY Day!

2011-03-17T23:58:00.002-04:00

Not only did I finish up my pile of Gator harnesses, but as a thank you for being such a life saver for me and my family, I decided to add a set of harnesses for Karen's dog, in her favorite color to the to-do list. Her dogs have become part of our little family and a personal set of matching harnesses for the KZ Krew was a must to so our appreciation. Well, at least a small portion of it.

The to-do list and the time allotted in my brain to get it all done was completely unrealistic. Basically, I was off by 4 hours or so. So late tonight I headed out to Karen's with her purple harnesses as well as Blue, Capri and Chicatoo, who is now in heat as well! We have another camping trip planned for this weekend and the girls will be having a girly-girl party because her girls are in heat too!

Tickle Me Confuzzeled

2011-03-16T21:36:00.003-04:00

But excited too!

Just when you count her out she confirms you TOTALLY have it ALL wrong. Ace, Blue and Capri have been alone in the kitchen for DAYS with Blue having the time of her life with Ace. Capri has been the tease in the room and we have had nodda in the breeding department. That was until this afternoon. and then again tonight. She screamed something fierce the first time. Second time, not a peep. Took her a little bit to figure it all out and now we will wait until May to see how she takes to whelping.

March Madness Madness

2011-03-16T20:41:00.007-04:00

We along with many other families we know are huge Gator fans and with March Madness in the air, I am in the process of making some custom Florida Gator harnesses for all the Chihuahuas in our extended family and our own! That's quite the pile of blue and orange aye?

When I made the first batch of Gator harnesses for my son's football games, I got several requests of onesies and twosies for Gators and even a request for a Seminoles harness, but this is, by far, the largest pile to date. Because the fabric is licensed, I cannot sell any in my ChiChi Gear section. But if you have a request for a college or NFL team, shoot me a message and I can sew it if you buy the fabric and send it to me! In the mean time....off to sewing the outer edges and Velcro on 24 Gator harnesses I go!

Rock Lobster

2011-03-15T16:45:00.005-04:00

Anyone with Chihuahuas knows the nightmare of finding the perfect dog toy that will last longer than a week. Mine LOVE the rope bone toys but really prefer the plush stuffed toys. Problem is, they don't seem to last very long, getting gutted (or at least busting a gut and then finding fluff all over the room) and then eventually tossed. I have tried mending the injured toys but the same always results.

I have recently diminished my plush counts to the bear minimum. The one and only toy I have found to withstand the tiny teeth of twelve Chihuahuas is a plush/rope combo that I found at Target. If I could buy 100 I would because it gives them the best of both pleasure worlds and the oldest in our house is almost 2 years! That's an eternity in dog toy land! Be sure to check out the Boots and Barkley Plush Lobster.

Bakin' Um Inside & Out

2011-03-13T13:36:00.006-04:00

My plan has worked (my Ace and Blue plan that is) and they have tied several times now. Ace is walking tall and proud - Full of the confidence he needs. Blue on the other hand is an experienced mommy. She jumped up onto the back of the chair this afternoon to soaked up the sun and even without the rays, she seems to glow! She is such an amazing mommy and we are all looking forward to see what she will produce with Ace. We are expecting to see chocolate, black and hopefully blue!

Oh Good Golly!

2011-03-12T18:18:00.008-05:00

These two have become what I would totally call "girlfriends" - Back to my Glee reference, TOTALLY Santana and Brittany and Capri in Santana!

I remember way back when Baby and Ginny had their first couple heats, being kept together and away from the boys is what I truly believe what bonded them to be the best of friends. They are always together and seek each other out for both napping and playing from morning until night.

When a female experiences her first heat, you can actually see them mature right before your eyes. Breeding kicks that maturity up a notch and I have actually witnessed how whelping and raising their first litter turns them into amazingly loyal and affectionate dogs. Now Blue and Capri have taken this heat-time bonding to a whole new level and I have no idea what I will see if Capri is in fact with litter!

Perfectly Official

2011-03-11T12:56:00.001-05:00

With all of our dogs being named after cocktail drinks, I usually find a drink recipe that best fits the dog's colors, personality and temperament. From there, my husband decides on the call name, often a shortened version of their official drink name. Chicatoo is our rare occasion where the call name came WAY before the official drink name. She was named after her amazing mom Chica that stole all of our hearts. We wanted our own lil Chica to love and adore.

It came time to finally send in her AKC papers, so that meant I had to find a drink that fit her call name. The moment I found this recipe for a Hot Chicana I knew immediately it was perfect! Chica is our hot Chicana, that is for sure!

She is KILLIN' Me!

2011-03-10T21:27:00.017-05:00

Ok, I am only reporting what I am witnessing and I am here to tell you all I am totally lost! And a pre-warning - this post might been seen as PG14, so little ones - move on please!

Since Blue and Ace were our scheduled breeding for the Spring and Capri has kept all males at bay, I simply kept Ace in kitchen (heat room) so he could have his way with Blue. As I have stated early this week, Capri will not stand for a male - only females - hence, convincing us she will not be bred. That was until this evening.

If you happen to be a fan of Glee, you will understand when I say I had a "Santana/Puck/Brittany" situation on my hand. But Ace started out more like Finn as he is not that experienced and has only tied once in his life before. I gave him free reign to Blue to help him gain confidence and experience. His attempts were lacking the gusto a good sire needs. It was as if the three were giving each other lessons.

Ace would try, then Capri would chase him off. She would then get on the back of Blue and hump away, only she would also lick at Blue's ears and nuzzle the back of her neck. This cycle went on for what seemed hours. Then whamo! Ace succeed!

Soon after, that's when things got weird. Now suddenly Capri was standing for Ace! And I mean STANDING!!! What the hell? No more growling or scaring them off, she was teasing and begging for it! She has always been a slow maturer, but was the threat of her "girl friend" being with another what threw her canine instincts into gear? Then of course came the Blue factor - She now is the jealous ex that watches the cheaters with leering eyes and a threatening bark. She will actually lunge to get Ace to back off Capri.

I am just going to ride this one out and wait to see what happens. No more making ultimate decisions until all heats are over. And until then the threesome will remain just that. I am 99.9999% sure Blue will be delivering and since the three have been left in the kitchen over-night, I have no confirmed tie for Capri. We will wait until next month to palpate. Oy vey!

Sure Sign of a Cold Snap

2011-03-09T14:32:00.003-05:00

We all have grown accustom to the wonderful weather lately so the second the temps drop below 70, we all huddle for warmth. Humans find blankets to warm up the chill and the Chihuahuas cuddle in the kitchen sunspots. I am sure this slight drop will only be temporary - Spring is in the air. Soon we will be bitching about the sweltering heat!

Dogs, Kids & Kitchens

2011-03-08T12:07:00.001-05:00

At lunch time when the kids are in the kitchen making their meals, all dogs within sniff's reach are at their feet, waiting for even the tiniest morsel. They can usually be found at one's feet until the meal is done. That is when they scrounge for other items to chew on. That could be anything from twist ties that have fallen off of bread wrappers or plastic pieces ripped or cut off of packaging. It's always something!

One Popped and One Will

2011-03-07T12:21:00.006-05:00

With about three weeks to go, Colada finally POPPED! When I say popped I mean, her belly expanded and you can actually feel bulges in her abdomen. When a female experiences her first pregnancy, they usually take a bit longer to show. After their first, the signs appear much quicker! Colada is moving along beautifully and has started to also slow down on her playtime and activities. She seems to be spending a lot more time napping and lounging than anything else - Oh yeah - and cleaning herself. Looks like I need to set up the whelping box and get her used to what will be her new home for the next month!

And while Colada IS expecting, Blue will soon be. We have planned on breeding her to Ace this heat and just like clockwork, her cycle started this week. She is an expert at the whole process and will be able to pick up the teasing where Capri left off and if all goes as planned, we should have our second litter of the year due around Mother's Day!

Not Gonna Happen

2011-03-05T14:05:00.014-05:00

Our sweet Capri is simply NOT going to be bred and that is totally O-K! My desire to try to reduce the weight and size of merles will not be on my to-do list. Merles have the tendency to be larger than the breed standard and my goal was to produce a line that stays within the limits, as always, trying to improve the breed. Well, I also love the guys from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and in this case, Bill Engvall's Here's Your Sign. Often times breeders will artificially inseminate in a situation like this, but why would I wish to potentially pass along a possible issue to future generations. Capri doesn't want to be bred, so she won't be!

She has NOT been separated from the boys for almost 24 hours and is smack dab in the height of her heat. Buddy is whining his head off but cannot get anywhere near her. No flagging a single male (only females) but she definitely has all of the boys on high alert.

Capri will be riding the rest of this cycle out on her own acorn and will then be taken to the vet to be spayed. She has spoken loud and clear and can now spend the rest of her doggy days without the hormones. Perhaps that was her unspoken message all along.

Play Dates A Plenty

2011-03-03T19:39:00.006-05:00

I spent the day at Karen's today, with several dogs and ideas in tow. Capri has had the longest "pre-heat tease" known to man and as of Monday, has finally shown the definitive sign. With spotting apparent, her most current heat is finally upon us and also my last ditch effort to see if she will breed. Up until this point, she has refused to stand for any dog, especially males. Yesterday she started to stand for females, so I thought I would try an male that is from outside to see if there is something specific about the boys in the house that has held her back. Boy is the perfect specimen to try my experiment on so she came along today to see if she warmed up to him, and to see if a change in environment might be part of the key.

She was far less timid away from home than when a stranger comes into our house - Very interesting to see. And Boy was very persistent, with his instincts in high alert. She let him get close, but not TOO close. So I consider today her blind date! All in all, a success for step one. We will try again once she is further into her heat.

Rane came along for even more socialization. The change in environment, the exposure to new sights, smells, sounds and of course, dogs - and a chance to visit with her buddy Angel! She made herself at home rather quickly and joined in Karen's pack easily. Finding a rawhide and relaxing with it in a sunspot was awesome to watch, but the most interesting thing to witness was her getting her "play" on while riling up the 9 week old litter of pups in the room. She was soooo sweet with them! This even inspired Angel to come out and play.

Last but not least, Chicatoo came with to visit her mommy Chica and of course her human grandma, who wanted to do a bit of an experiment herself. Having read rave reviews about the Pure Paws grooming products line, Karen wanted to give it a go for her show potential Chihuahuas. With Chicatoo's coat coming in so beautifully, a dip in the bath to show me how great the products work was in order. WOW! She wasn't kidding! Chicatoo's coat was so fluffy and shiny! Count me in on placing an order for the entire line! Very impressed!

The Weekend Did It's Job

2011-02-27T10:34:00.004-05:00

Another successful camping trip - On that allowed us all - Humans and Dogs - The chance to totally chillax. Even with the Chicatoo detour mixed in! A lot of bonding time napping on the couch and so many leisurely walks, taking on the beauty of Lake Louisa State Park.

And I finally got to read the every page in one of my most favorite books! It is one I recommend to my new puppy families - How to Afford Veterinary Care without Mortgaging the Kids. I have read pages that pertained to me several times but to read from cover to cover was awesome. I TOTALLY agree with the author 300%. If you one one dog or 20, this book is a must read!

Blue's Creation

2011-02-26T17:03:00.007-05:00

The lovely job Blue did on the screen door of our camper has now become the rest of the dog's favorite peep-hole (and for some, jump through hole!)

The moment we open the man-door to come in, we are greeted with wet noses first. I totally need to add "Plexiglas Replacement" to my to-do list. Until then, we are using a baby-gate in the entry to block the licks and kisses.

And She Wowed Us Again

2011-02-26T11:43:00.005-05:00

Rane has totally made herself at home in our home on wheels too! She has already had two walks around the park today and has really come to enjoy the "picture window" view from the back of the couch. she has also found a few new cuddle buddies - Chicatoo, Colada, Ace and Dewey. Napping is something we all do a lot of during camping weekends and she has totally got that mastered now!

This Was A First!

2011-02-25T21:16:00.004-05:00

Never in all of our camping adventures has this EVER happened! I realize that we are up one dog and my daughter got confused but apparently our one dog that doesn't run to the back door with excitement as we pack up to leave for one of our trips, didn't make it into the truck as we pulled out of the drive way. Of course, the hustle bustle of walking the dogs after the drive to the park still didn't bring this fact to anyone's attention. It was when we were letting them into the camper after their potty walks that the head count brought the truth to light and the change of plans into action. Chicatoo was Home Alone! (queue paws slapped on either side of her face!)

Back to the house I drove. Thank goodness the park is a short distance from the house (within an hour). As I walked up to the front porch to unlock the door, I could hear her whining from the other side. Tail a wagging, she practically jumped into my arms as I stepped in. Here, one might think complete free reign to the house and not having to deal with any other dog would be pure heaven to her, apparently being with her humans was higher up on the list. The excitement continued until she kissed each human she could see at the campsite and the eyeballs of every Chi friend in the camper - then she crashed!

We Made It!

2011-02-25T16:35:00.002-05:00

And with a full load too!

With a grand total of 12 non-puppy Chihuahuas. That is the most we have had with us on a camping weekend. (Yes, when we have had puppies in tow, we have reached up towards 15). And with the weather so beautifully perfect, they have many State Park walks in their future over the next couple days!

That Was Easy

2011-02-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

Fitting in when it comes to feeding time can sometimes be a bit of an issue. Baby is a food hog and will easily scare any dog that is new to the pack (and some that have been here as long as she has!) And it has taken many of our Chihuahuas a bit of time to grasp the "individual bowl" concept, especially since we went that way from free feeding. We mixed individual bowls with scheduled feedings. The schedule part went was easy breezy but keeping to one's bowl took about a month.

Rane has been here just less than a week and and has totally nailed the schedule AND sticking to her bowl without wandering. She actually walked to the back door to be let out after she finished her bowl!

Weather in Florida

2011-02-23T17:29:00.004-05:00

The last couple days have been absolutely beautiful and the dogs have taken full advantage of that. They too are enjoying the perfect weather and temperatures, soaking up as much sun as they possibly can. If they aren't piled up in the dog beds in the kitchen, they are out on the back room, lounging on the patio chairs. Ahhh...to be a dog aye? They have the life!

Quite the First 24 Hours!

2011-02-20T18:08:00.002-05:00

All I can say is I think I have learned a majorly huge lesson in dogology! I know temperament is genetic and a huge part of how I choose dogs to pair for breedings. It is also why I ask potential new puppy families a plethora of questions about their home environment, family lifestyle and activities.

With each of our Buddy/Ginny litters, we always seem to have at least one puppy who is on the shy side, requiring a bit more socialization than the others. These same puppies can become the most loyal and amazing dogs after a bit of one-on-one. What I have learned this go around is that the temperaments of the other dogs in the house can also make a huge difference.

Rane walked into our house last night with her tail between her legs yes, but never once did she hide. She actually jumped into my husband's lap and stayed there for quite a while. For the next hour, she followed his every step, until my daughter entered the room with her friends. They were about to embark on a sleep over-party in our living room. Rane was ALL about that and cuddled up with them on the couch, remaining there all night.

Today, we had my son's football game. To help Rane with her socialization, we harnessed her up and took her along. Surprisingly, she was intrigued and interested in all the new sights, sounds and smells. The only thing she didn't like was the lead. But not enough to display one of those "nips" we heard about. So far so GREAT with Rane! We all cannot wait to watch her continue to blossom!

Road Trip!

2011-02-19T20:47:00.004-05:00

When I got the news on a fellow friend and breeder downsizing I knew I could help her with at least two of the dogs she wanted to place. Karen fell head over heels for Colada the moment she saw her. Since her mom, Angel was on the list, I called Karen immediately! This was her chance to have her own Colada. They are carbon-copies!

Then there was Rane. Almost from day one, her temperament didn't bode well and her shyness resulted in an over anxious Chi. She was the one puppy from her litter that would have needed the most socialization to increase her confidence. She was also my daughter's favorite. Word that she would be coming back here to receive some rehabilitation made her beyond excited and we were all anxious to work with her. We were told she runs and hides from everyone and on occasion has nipped. My daughter accepted this as a challenge and so did I!

We drove out to pick the girls up tonight and got trapped on I4 for close to an hour due to a pretty bad accident. Add the hour and 30 minute drive to the pick-up spot and that made quite the trip for these two to endure on a pillow in the backseat of a strange car. They did AWESOME!!!!

Ahhhhh...

2011-02-16T13:28:00.001-05:00

.....the first round is officially over! The first round of heats that is!

ALL of the dogs are back together again and enjoying the full sun-lighted kitchen. Look at them all piled up and happy! And now we wait for Capri to finally go into a REAL heat, Chicatoo to have her first OFFICIAL heat and Blue to remain on schedule with her heat.

The Girls Are Back!

2011-02-14T10:48:00.002-05:00

The end of the camping trip also meant the end of relaxing and back to burning the candle at both ends. The drive home yesterday included dumping the camper, running to our son's football game, driving back home to unpack and then back out to pick up the girls! Wheeeewwww!

They did SO great - making mommy proud - and comfortably napped for the ride home. Driving home in the dark I was sure it would make them wonder where they were going next. Nope - Totally comfortable in their skin and their element. Back home they went and their comfy beds they would soon be in for the rest of the night. We will be spending Valentine's Day back all together again!

Secrets To A Successful Weekend

2011-02-13T17:29:00.009-05:00

Our anxious Chihuahuas have made camping trips a bit nerve-wracking in the past. Blue bounces and beats her front paws on the camper door - non-stop - if left inside without any of us. Dude barks non-stop when in the same situation but for a different reason. Blue wants to be with my daughter but Dude just wants to be outside.

Over time, we learned that if we tie their leads to our belt loops and keep them with us the insanity ends. This weekend we added Capri to the "tied to us" list and gave her some much needed lead training. Last night the three of them crashed before the sun went down, not making a peep until this morning. Ceaser always says to exercise them right? Being tied to us seems to poop them out and keep the anxiety to a minimum, leaving us all with an awesome and restful camping trip in St. Augustine.

A Party Of Our Own!

2011-02-12T09:34:00.002-05:00

This camping trip is one I personally have been beyond looking forward to. I haven't seemed to be able to catch up since Thanksgiving - Running nonstop with a never-ending to-do list containing items that seem to have multiplied like rabbits. No, this trip wasn't going to help me with my list - It was going to allow me to completely unplug and NAP!

I never get to catch up on my sleep at home and after we unpacked and settled in, I actually turned in early and retired to my mobile master bedroom. Chicatoo finally caught onto the "way of the camper" and jumped on up to nap with me. My shadows, Dewey and Ace were right behind. (Buddy joined in too). For Dewey and Ace, they appreciated the change of pace. For the first time in months we went to bed in the PM hours!

The Girls Are Having a PAR-TAY

2011-02-11T10:05:00.004-05:00

We are about to embark on our first camping trip of the year and with some of he girls still in some stage of their heat, Karen offered to dogsit for us. WE ALL LOVE KAREN!!!

Baby and Colada have spent time there before but this would be Ginny's first time. I dropped the girls off last night but I wanted to stick around for a bit to see how she adjusted. Within a few minutes, she was up on the back of their couch, just like she does at our house - A sign that all would be well. Here is a photo Karen sent me after I left. Oh yeah - they are doing JUST fine!

A Birthday Gift Review

2011-02-09T20:57:00.009-05:00

One of the gifts the kids picked out for my birthday was Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. We all fell in love with the first movie and when we heard they were making another, we waited with much anticipation. Unfortunately, after seeing it was released directly onto DVD, the concern took over.

We all cuddled up on the couch - humans and dogs alike - and almost immediately, I saw the lack of famous Hollywood actors as lead character and that even Chloe was played by a different dog. I had to get the original out of my mind and see this one separately. No comparing allowed!

All in all, I loved how they used the history of the Chihuahua breed and the Aztecs to teach the importance of family and working together. A great family movie. The story line was a bit rugged - not very smooth - but the puppies were ADORABLE!! Of course, all Chihuahua puppies are!! The dog show scenes are so far off from the truth when it comes to AKC shows - a very "Hollywood" visual for what really happens. (I would totally recommend checking out your local Chihuahua Club to see a REAL dog show).

The Switch

2011-02-07T19:52:00.008-05:00

The boys are normally in the living room with us during the heat cycles because they are the loudest in the bunch. Being away from us is something they vocally express their disappointment with.

During our dinner feedings tonight, the girls were left in the living-room after their potty breaks and remained with us all evening. It was as if they missed their "spots" on the back of the couch so much that once they jumped up to them, they were not willing to budge - and of course - fell into a comfy slumber. Look at Colada and Ginny! Like they never left!

I Wish Dogs Could Talk

2011-02-02T18:22:00.004-05:00

..because then I would know who was actually ripe and who wasn't!

Capri has shown all of the signs that she was going into heat. The first phase signs have been going on for close to three weeks with no standing heat in sight! The boys sniff but never go any further so she is in with them.

We thought Chicatoo was going to be the initiator since she has had the boys on her since the first of the year. We can now guess that was her pseudo heat - the "pre-heat" before her first official one.

Ginny is now officially in standing heat. Her and Colada have been hump buddies all day, so she will be in the "girl's section" for the next two weeks.

And now Baby has stirred the interest in the boys. That and of course, her humping the crap out of dog beds and her other female friends. No swelling yet, but I am sure it will be on it's way, so she is in with the ripe ones too!

Romanic Vacation Is Over

2011-01-30T20:12:00.008-05:00

Colada's vacation is now over and she is back home - No longer in the throesof passion.

Of course, she is now with her best girly friends and I am sure in her doggy way, is sharing the tales of her trip - and new found love.

The New Favorite Toy

2011-01-29T15:06:00.002-05:00

Cathy sent a couple of her awesome fleece toy dogs with the treats and the dogs have been claiming them every chance they can get. They are the perfect size for a Chihuahua's mouth and the ideal weight to be carried into their individual hiding spots.

I have spent the last few days digging them out from behind couch cushions and under the sofa. That's a sure sign they are voted number one in this dog filled house!

SUCCESS!

2011-01-27T11:48:00.003-05:00

After all that tongue cleaning flirtation, last night Colada and Boy finally made their love connection. Looks like we can expect her first litter at the end of March.

Colada is staying with her boyfriend for a few more days to help guarantee the breeding, which I am sure will be filled with a lot more cleaning sessions. She is SO spoiled! The true princess in the eyes of the one who adores her! He won't leave her side!!

A Box Filled With Love & Yummies

2011-01-26T17:27:00.003-05:00

Cathy at Arf! Chihuahuas also offers a fantastic variety of homemade treats, dog toys and blankets. The peanut butter treats were sniffed out immediately after I brought the box into the house and they have been pawing to get them ever since. Our Chihuahuas just loved them - devouring every crumb! Be sure to check out Beastie Biscuits N More and pick out your dog's favorite flavor!

Colada Has a Boyfriend

2011-01-25T18:56:00.001-05:00

And he is not sharing!

I dropped Colada off today so that we could breed her to Boy - A much anticipated coupling - And she has totally been claimed by her new boyfriend.

Boy won't leave her side and it's not just because of the hormones she is emitting. He is a cleaner! Some Chihuahuas are obsessed with cleaning other Chihuahuas and Boy is prime example of such a dog. Eyeballs, ears and faces, Colada is totally loving the affectionate attention!

Another Crafty Project

2011-01-24T16:43:00.011-05:00

My dog harnesses have been flying off the shelves, so much so that I made a huge stockpile to be able to keep up. Since I have received so many orders containing multiple sizes, I thought I best make me some clothing tags to make sizing easier. Well, to know which one is which size that is.

I made these color-coded size tags using inkjet iron-on sheets and a roll of twill. They turned out pretty cool - Rather impressed actually. Guess my Figgy Gear has been kicked up a notch aye?

It May Be Cold Outside...

2011-01-23T10:53:00.003-05:00

...but the heat is flowing around here!

Looks like number three on the list of females to go into heat is Capri!

In addition to Colada, we will be breeding Capri as well. Of course we are holding off on Chicatoo until she is older - so that means two litters this spring!

Nirvana's New Forever Family

2011-01-21T11:55:00.003-05:00

I am so pleased to finally meet Orangel and Aida - They are the sweetest couple and the perfect home for our sweet Nirvana. Their kids are going to totally adore him and he, them! Today has been a long time coming - So well worth the wait. Enjoy your lovable boy and his sweet puppy kisses!

Looks Like We Will Have a Busy Spring

2011-01-17T15:19:00.004-05:00

The girls around here are on pretty much the same cycle. Just like humans, their hormones have the tendency to sync with the other females they live with. February is when they are scheduled to be in their next standing heat. Looks like it is going to be late January/early February because now Colada is showing signs of spotting and swelling.

You guessed it - Nirvana sniffed that one out too! Ace is whining and Buddy is doing his horny dance - This also means that the rest of the girls will be close behind. I will be scratching them off the list as they go!

That's Not Good!

2011-01-15T21:29:00.001-05:00

My husband has had a rather odd work schedule lately and the chance to catch up with the news in the comforts of his fluffy couch have been rare. Bringing his plate of dinner to the couch has become rather common with these changes and the dogs have taken a liking to it, that is for sure.

Unfortunately, Nirvana may have picked up a less than polite habit from this. He jumps right onto the back of the couch cushion and then right up onto my husband's shoulder to BEG for a taste. When I say beg I mean paw, lick the ear and throw in a whine or two. The rest of our dogs will sit around the plate, waiting patiently for a possible dropped morsel. This little guy is persistent though. Ignoring him has been the lesson thus far - He has yet to get a taste but still the smells drive him wild!

I Never Would Have Thought ...

2011-01-13T15:23:00.004-05:00

...that a four month old puppy would be the one to alert me to what the month of February will have in store for us but he has! Nirvana sniffed out the fact that our sweet Chicatoo takes after her mother and at the ripe ol' age of 6 months will experience her first heat. Chica is one you can set a calendar to and Chicatoo clearly is about to become a woman. Nirvana is "all over that" and can't seem to get enough of her lately.

Stayin a Little Bit Longer

2011-01-11T11:18:00.004-05:00

The family that will be taking sweet Nirvana home had a bit of a family emergency and have asked that he stay with us a tad bit longer. He has truly warmed our hearts so the additional time is totally cool with us. The kids have taken turns sleeping with him at night and of course, prespoiling him for the NEW forever kids he will be playing with. He has grown into a very sweet and affectionate boy to those he knows and is on the submissive side to those he doesn't. A bit more socialization after he has received his final set of vaccines and he will become the perfect addition to their family!

Whooooops!

2011-01-09T15:12:00.003-05:00

So we get to the football game and in the parking lot, look what I found! Dagnabit! We couldn't go out on the field with the dogs but it actually worked out in our favor. The concession stand had benches we could sit at that was the perfect vantage point to watch the game and not many people even noticed these two tiny cuties (Dewey and Ace) in my jacket. Those that did took were tickled to see such tiny dogs and the the boys - they just beamed from all of the attention they got. Oh, and the harnesses were a huge hit - Even to the "Seminole" fans. I did get a couple requests for custom Noles vests ;)

Gator Fans

2011-01-08T15:30:00.003-05:00

My youngest son has taken on flag football this year and their team elected to name themselves the Gators. This inspired me to add another project to my sewing pile. I have been sewing a huge number of harness vests for the last couple weeks. I have a new design that allows for a bit more flexibility when it comes to the size measurements and honestly, I think they fit a lot better than my first design. I promised myself I would have the racks filled with the new harness vests by the first of the year (I was off by 3 days - not too bad) and am proud to announce I have many new adorable prints available.

Anywho - the Gators - I used the new design and this fabric I found at Joanns to make Dewey and Ace a harness for game days. Toooo cute aye? They turned out really nice and made our two little guys the perfect little mascots.

Bestest Buds

2011-01-02T14:17:00.016-05:00

Nirvana and Colada have become the bestest of buddies over the last couple weeks. She has truly shown us all that she is going to make the most amazing mommy someday. She looks after Nirvana as if he was one of her own puppies and Ginny has had no complaints. The extra help has been very welcomed and the two "mommies" have taken turns in continuing Nirvana's puppy lessons.

Ready To Ring In 2011

2010-12-31T23:30:00.001-05:00

We humans have had a rather quiet night thus far. We have been cuddled up on the couch, watching movies and eating popcorn. All of which the Chihuahuas have joined in on too. It's what we do every year. Nice and calm and relaxing.

The change for this year was pleasantly surprising! The kids got beanbag chairs for Christmas and they have remained in the living room ever since. The kids have turned them into their very own private seating for movie time. While up filling the popcorn bowl as we get ready to watch the ball drop, I came back to find that Ace likes the new arrangements so much he kinda took my son's over. He totally has the right idea!

What Did I Tell Ya?

2010-12-29T14:55:00.001-05:00

With 12 new toys in the house, I have had a couple days to see which of them is their favorite. No matter how many times I have picked it up and put in to the toy pile, I can even bury it at the bottom, it is constantly being pulled out and played with. Tug-O-War is the much anticipated game in our house now, with their new chartreuse green lobster toy!

We Are Now 1 in 12

2010-12-27T15:02:00.002-05:00

Listening to a story on NPR inspired my husband to pick up a gift for me that never in his wildest dreams would he have thought to buy. Mostly because we have poked fun at them for the last two years. The Snuggie is now owned by close to 25 million people – that’s 1 in 12 – so to add to the joke, he bought one for me. Little did either of us know that we would have more record breaking temperature lows.
The low 30′s last night and again tonight! It only reached the 40′s today! OUCH!!! And guess who saved my day? You guessed it! My kitschy, pink Snuggie!!! It actually kept me and six Chihuahuas cozy warm!

Santa Was Here...

2010-12-25T11:50:00.005-05:00

...and he left a new toy under the tree for each of our dogs. Each year they are allowed to rip right into the wrapping paper and chew out their new treasures. It has taken a while to teach them when they are allowed and NOT allowed to chew paper but I have never had to teach them the different between new and old toys. It is so interesting to watch how even in a huge pile of dog toys, they can sniff out and find their new ones and only play with those. I see many happy dog playing hours in our near future!

Oasis Is Gonna Have A Fabulous Christmas

2010-12-23T22:06:00.004-05:00

Kevin and Diana came by tonight to see if Oasis would make a good fit as their new Christmas guest and of course, family member. It didn't take them long to discover his adorable sweetness and puppy playfulness. So much so that they decided he would make he perfect addition to their family! He is going to be one spoiled lil guy - What more could we possibly ask for?

Their First Backyard Adventure

2010-12-20T12:01:00.005-05:00

Due to their size and of course, the cold weather, we have kept the puppies contained to the deck during backyard play-sessions. But now that we have had a mini break with the frigid temps, we finally let the boys outside with free range of the yard. Oh my WORD did they have a blast!!! They were dashing too and fro, wrestling with leaves and loving the new smells everywhere. It was like a sense overload! We actually had a hard time getting them to come back inside!

It's Beginning...

2010-12-18T15:19:00.001-05:00

...to look a lot like Christmas around here!

For the first time ever, the dogs have NOT become distracted or fixated on the Christmas tree! It's like they don't even realize that it's there!! We normally witness an attempted game of tug-and-war with a branch, a marking session on the tree skirt, or a batting of an ornament. not this year. It's just an item that is blocking their sunshine!

And since the humans in the house are totally in the holiday spirit, I drug out Dewey's Christmas sweaters to help keep him warm during this cold snap. Tell me he doesn't make an adorable little Santa!

Not Liking The Tease

2010-12-15T14:32:00.004-05:00

The sun is teasing our poor Chihuahuas! It has them convinced that a romp outside would be a pleasant thing. Hell to the NO! It's still soooo cold outside and there seems to be no end in sight. With the majority of our windows covered to help keep the heat in and the cold out, the windows that run to the floor in our kitchen are the only place the rays of the sun shine in. The dogs will use the dog beds as a perch to look out to the sun, begging with their eyes to go out and play. Sorry guys - not yet!

No End In Sight!

2010-12-13T11:43:00.004-05:00

The temps just seem to be getting lower and lower - So much so that the heater is now running during the day too! And as I said, all of the dogs have come to worship the rotating tower of warmth - and now my kids have joined in too!

Just Too Dang Cold!

2010-12-12T20:29:00.001-05:00

The tile on the floor is just and the windows at floor level in our kitchen just don't retain heat. Since the boys have been kept in here and the winter "freeze" has officially arrived, the nights have become just too cold. Once the sun goes down, these 30 degree temps are brutal! We pulled the heater we use in the camper out and set it up by the doggy beds to give them relief. Little did we know it would also become a source for our own entertainment.

Their response was almost instant - the warmth drew them in and kept them fixated. Even the dogs in the living room opted to huddle and cuddle around the rotating tower of pleasure instead of laying with us on the couch. As the band of dogs grew, it also rotated within the area - Switching from close to the heater then far for a cool-down.

It's Time

2010-12-09T16:20:00.005-05:00

Since the boys have been spending more time out of the puppy play pen and in - and I need that spot for my Christmas tree - we put the whole pen up and have officially started "house training" the pups. This here is their very last photo taken in the comforts of their pen. It's time to experience the world big boys - and so far so GREAT!

They float between the kitchen and living room (with the dogs being separated) and it has actually worked in favor of our training! So much access at once can confuse pups and of course, give them the chance to potty where ever they wish. so far they are still searching out the pee-pads set up in each room! A totally fabo sign!

Searching For The Sunlight

2010-12-07T14:08:00.001-05:00

The temps here in Florida have dropped as a cold front moves in and the warmth of the sunlight has been a precious commodity in this house. The dogs search it out and stay in the warmth as long as they can without being pushed out by another.

This afternoon, they all seemed to cram into the one spot in the kitchen. Interestingly enough, this also helped bring my attention to the fact that Baby is probably going into heat. Consuming body-heat is a true Chihuahua trait, but humping and sniffing one's rear-end is a heat sign that is undeniable.

Looky Here

2010-12-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

I have told all my puppy families about the amazing deal on doggy steps from Walgreens but they have become very, VERY hard to find. I know my local Walgreens hasn't carried them for over a year now. I swore once I found them, I would buy them out!

I stopped in at the CVS on University Blvd. today to get me a water and happened to need to go down the dog aisle to get to the coolers. Voila! They had their very own doggy steps for $9.99!!! I BOUGHT FIVE!!!

So all my ChiChi loving friends - run to CVS - I mean RUN and get at least two sets. They make couch cuddles and bedtime siestas a breeze and are what I consider a must-have in all Chihuahua homes. You will thank me when your Chi gets older - These steps will help ease their joints and hips for sure!

8 Week Adventure

2010-12-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

The boys are 8 weeks old today so I scheduled a visit with Doc for their vaccines and health certificates. With an 8 hour drive already under their belt, the just under 2 hour drive was a breeze! They did awesome both during the drive AND during the exam! And since they both still weigh under 2 pounds, it looks like they will be with us a bit longer. I am sure they will be in their new forever homes soon enough though!

Both were given a perfect bill of health and were cute as ever! So much so that I had to stop to snap a photo of their adorable cuteness during the drive home. They became much more accustom to being out of a crate in the car after our trip to The Keys, so we brought a doggy bed for them to lay in for this ride. The crashed about halfway home in this precious position. Toooo stinkin' cute!

This Is Only Temporary

2010-12-01T14:35:00.001-05:00

Since we got home, the puppies have been more accustom to free-reign than the puppy play pen. We now keep the gate door open and they pop in and out for their snacks and naps. They do it all on their own! Problem is, the dogs hop in when the gate door is open and eat all of the puppy food. It's a tasty treat that they cannot refuse. I am thinking by this weekend, the pen will be put up and they will have the ultimate free-reign.

My Riding Buddies

2010-11-29T17:32:00.002-05:00

The ride home was actually shorter - By a full hour! That was a nice way to end the trip! And the two dogs that remained in my lap for the full 7 hours? Cosmo and Dewey!

These two napped, cleaned each others ear and periodically peeked out the window to check status and location. They make perfect companions for the trip.

Packin It Up

2010-11-29T07:46:00.000-05:00

We are heading back home today and gearing up for the long drive home. The puppies have become so acclimated to being with the rest of us, they will sit with the kids for the ride instead of in the crate. And they have figured out that we are up to something because they watch the dogs for every sign and the dogs have is all mastered.

Packing up is about an hour process and the dogs now simply sit and watch, being sure to stay out of our way. It's just so amazing to see how quickly dogs can learn. For the 7 week old pups to pick it all up, that speaks volumes!

My Latest Find

2010-11-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

While shopping in Key West, I stopped in at Blue Cat & Red Dog Too - A Dog & Cat Boutique in the indoor mall. This sign is what caught my eye and became a must have! at $9.99, it was the perfect addition to the camper. I plan to hang it on the back because we don't have a Toy Hauler - We have a CHIHUAHUA HAULER!!!

While exploring Key West, I did happen to find another boutique right on Duvall street. They had puppies (which based on my honest opinion, were more like 6 weeks old, not 8 weeks old) and I was a bit perplexed about the possibility of a vacationer buying a puppy away from home. I can only imagine the stress that would produce. Puppies aside, they had some adorable t-shirts and bananas.

Another Dog Pile

2010-11-27T17:50:00.001-05:00

See the puppies up there in the dog pile on the couch? They have totally worked their way into the pack and have mastered naptime to the max! This x-penless camping trip has taught me a lot! More freedom makes much more happy and social pups!

Chicatoo's Got It Down

2010-11-27T13:21:00.002-05:00

Chica has totally loved this trip! She has finally gotten the whole camping thing totally figured out and the free-reign of the camper is what she truly enjoys the most. See, at home, Cosmo controls the "good" toys. He carries them with him everywhere, especially to greet people when they walk in the door. In the camper, none of the dogs really play with the toys. That leaves them all for Chicatoo! She gathered up her favs and brought them to one of the doggy beds for her own enjoyment and fun!

She Finally Did It!

2010-11-26T21:28:00.003-05:00

THIS would be why we don't leave Blue in the camper without us.

She jumps nonstop at the door, trying to open then door. And when she takes a break from jumping, she uses her nails to scrape at the screen on the screen door, finally tearing right through, make a hole large enough for her to slip out when the main door is open. I see a piece of Plexiglas in our near future!

Dewey Loved Key West!

2010-11-26T18:20:00.002-05:00

We all headed down to Key West today and I decided to bring my shadow, Dewey, along for the adventure. Spending time with me since we got here has been at a minimum so some alone time was just what he needed. Alone with me and the gazillion other tourists here for the holiday weekend.

He enjoyed a bit of shopping for trinkets and such and then explored Duvall Street. I know there are many humans out there that have a story to share about the uber tiny Chihuahua they saw walking around Key West. Many of the street entertainers stopped us as well as those passing, seeing his either on his leash or in my doggy purse.

He did so well and enjoyed all of the attention that is for sure. From the ice cream covered fingers of the little kids that pet him to the sweet and affectionate rub downs from men and women alike that fell in love with his adorableness.

Step Mommy Colada

2010-11-26T10:40:00.004-05:00

Colada has shown us that she is going to be the most amazing mommy! Last night Ginny opted to sleep up in bed with us, which she has been doing at home too. Colada stayed with the boys and slept with them in their open-doored crate. Whenever Ginny is not within eye-shot of her puppies, Colada has been right there to watch over them. So sweet!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T21:34:00.004-05:00

We humans are STUFFED and so are the dogs - adult and puppy alike.

They all got a bit of a turkey treat and within an hour, they were all crashed and napping. That's the way it should be right? Stuffed and happy.

About Time Aye?

2010-11-25T16:40:00.003-05:00

We have been camping for over three years now and we are finally figuring out some of quirk solutions. We have a couple dogs that have separation anxiety and if left in the camper without one of us humans in with them. We figured out on our last camping trip that taking the offenders out with us resolves that problem. but what about those that calmly remain inside?

It's not like I didn't know the fabric covered windows were in the back of the camper but I finally opened them for the first time this trip. The dogs LOVED it! they had the chance to look out not only at what we were up to but also take int he amazing views! Totally cool!