When we walk...

Today started out like a normal day.

Everyone got up, Auntie left, Dad left, Mom left, and MomMom left.  The Big Guy did his normal routine and we slept upstairs while he got ready for his day.  Then we went downstairs and played with the cats while he worked in his shop.  However, he left around the time we normally get our afternoon walk :(  This was heartbreaking, because not only did we not get our afternoon walk we were left alone.  Little Man and I ended up finding out normal spot to sleep when left alone.

Yup, that is me on the bed and Little Man on the floor.

Auntie was the first to get home and she snapped this picture, then started talking to MomMom who wasn't there (I don't get cell phones).  Apparently, they both feel that Little Man deserves a snuggle ball to sleep in, because he can't jump up on the bed.  After some discussion between Auntie, Mom, and MomMom it sounds like they will order the bed below for Little Man.

Auntie took us out for out afternoon walk, which is good because the Big Guy has been limping after he hurt his knee.

Auntie took both of out at the same time.  When this happens we always start out together, but my long legs mean we quickly separate.

Auntie managed to walk the both of us we me leading her in the middle and Little Man following behind.  I had to stop and wait a couple of time, but it was a great walking with her again.

When we got home the Big Guy had just pulled into the driveway so I tried to run to him, but Auntie and Little Man slowed me down.  It was a great day!

Auntie thinks more happened, but really Little Man and I just enjoyed sleeping in the sun today and going for a walk - I don't understand why humans think there is more to life than this, because this is what makes us dogs happy.

I am too tiny to deal with the cold

Little Man writing here - 

I don't like the cold, my little body has enough trouble staying warm, it was near impossible today in this frigid weather.

This morning I went outside for the morning out and I FROZE!

My paws got so cold and my little body just started shaking like crazy.

Auntie was nice and wrapped me up in a towel and snuggled with me.  It was warm and cozy so I took a nap, which made it hard for Auntie to study, but she managed.

Later, Mom decided to go out.  My sister and I ran upstairs and watched her leave and waited for her.

We didn't want to go back outside, but we didn't want Mom to leave either.  We were both confused about why she would go outside in the cold so we watched the door thinking she would come right back in.  But, she didn't come right back it was a long time of staring at the door.  We fell asleep and when she came back we were so excited that we forgot how cold it was and went outside to go potty.

I took three steps off the porch did my business and could not get back in fast enough.  My sister was able to stay out longer, her bigger size and thick coat of fur really helped her stay warm.

Auntie had to wrap me in a towel and hold me in her lap again.  MomMom took a picture.

I was shaking for several minutes after I finally warmed up I snuggled on the cough with the Big Guy.

If it stay this cold I want a heated blanket.

The flu went around the house...

When the flu goes around the house it means two things

1) We get extra cuddles

2) We get left alone on the couch, often

Sadly, Dad, MomMom, and Auntie all had to go to Urgent Care this past week due to being sick.  The end result of that is extra cuddles for us (for the most part) and being left alone on the couch at random times.  

Dad was sick but still went to work, MomMom worked from home so Little Man cuddle on her lap, but after I saw him get picked up and placed on the floor in a rush to the bathroom I decided that laying on the bed was a better bet.

Auntie was sick and she was harder to cuddle with, because she put like three or four blankets on top of her.  With all those extra layers it was hard to snuggle, but I am resourceful when it comes to cuddling and found a way to snuggle with her.  So did Little Man, he managed to have someone pick him up and put him by her feet.  

With all of that we didn't have much time for anything interesting.  I stayed near the Big Guy, because he wasn't sick so he was the one taking us out for walks.

Hopefully everyone will be better next week and we can get back to our normal ordinary adventurous life.

When Our Humans Leave

Our humans left this morning, and we didn't realize that Auntie was here, so she got a first hand look at what Little Man and I do when people leave.  First, we bark at the door.  Next, we run around and look in all the rooms to see if someone stayed behind (that is how we found Auntie).  Finally we find a place to cuddle and fall asleep.  This morning it was on Auntie's bed while we waited for her to finish getting ready.

After Auntie was ready we moved downstairs and found nice spots on the couch that let the sun warm us as we napped.  Mom and Dad had taken us out for a walk before they left so we were tired.

Little Man decided to snuggle with Auntie.

I being a light sleeper decided that sleeping on the other couch was a better option.

Auntie was really nice and took us both for a walk, by herself, before she left for a birthday party.  She got the leashes for Little Man and I tangled once, but we will let that slide since it is when she was picking up poop and Little Man and I started sniffing and mailbox post.  After Auntie left Little Man and I ran around the house and then decided that sleeping on our dog beds in the family room was the best place to be.  Auntie came home and snapped a picture, because I didn't get out of bed fast enough...

...and I knew she was going to come and pet me.  Right after this I was jumping to try and kiss her.  My normal routine when someone comes home, is to run to the door and cry for kisses.  Little Man usually follows me, his eyesight is fading at 16 years old he usually follows me instead of leading the charge.  After crying for kisses I run to the door to see if I can get a walk.  Auntie took the bait this time :)  She walked Little Man and I together again, but only for a short walk so we could both pee and poop.  We ran out of poopy bags, so Auntie had to put a new roll on the leash when we got back home.  She told us not to poop again after we used two bags, that is all we normally use but I guess she thought she needed to say it to be safe. It was great, I was so excited that when we got back inside I played with my duck.

Auntie says I have no shame, because I roll over when playing with my duck so that I can get my belly rubbed.  Auntie being the best, rubbed my belly and took care of Little Man.  Little Man likes being wrapped up in a blanket and held, so she did that while rubbing my belly so that we would both be happy.

It was a hard day, with lots of walking.  Apparently Auntie and MomMom are doing that Fitbit Challenge thing again.  I love it when they do that on the weekends, but that means I get extra walks.

We now share the couch

I know I started out as the youngest of the four, Mom and Dad had two cats and Little Man before I came into the picture, but for the five weeks before they all moved in with MomMom, the Big Guy, and Auntie I was the only one here.  I had full run of the house, and still do, and had a specific routine for the day and places that I liked to sleep.  One of those places was on the couch next to the Big Guy.

See, didn't we look comfortable?  Now Little Man seems to have taken that spot.  At first I felt slighted, I mean that was my spot and I thought the Big Guy stopped liking me.

With Little Man taking my spot I spent serious time on my window bench, looking at the world and trying to figure out what to do.  It took me some time, but today we figured it out.  When Auntie came home she found me on one side of the Big Guy and Little Man on the other.  I jumped off and ran to greet her before she could get a picture.  My new place to sleep was only slightly different than the one prior to everyone showing up.

I have also found that a surprising benefit of Little Man being here is that I get more walks.  The Big Guy takes Little Man and I out for a half loop of the development, because that is all Little Man can do with his arthritis and tiny legs.  Then I get a full loop, that is like one and a half walks for me :)  

We each get to use the extendable leashes when the Big Guy walks us, mom and dad use the 6 foot leashes.

With the melting snow on my multiple walks today I got mud all over my belly I was told it is a good thing the groomer is coming tomorrow.  I wonder if I can convince my humans to not send me to the groomers but to buy some tools and groom me themselves?  Auntie helped me search Amazon and I found some stuff mom and dad could buy to groom me instead of putting me in a car and taking me to a groomer.

     

We have DEER!!!!!!!!!

I have seen deer before in through the window and once I saw one while walking with the Big Guy.  Tonight it was so amazing I saw 5 deer just run out from the stream beside our house cross the street and then into the trees on the other side of the road.  I froze for a moment, I was only 10 yards away maybe less and they were so close, what should I do?  Of course my response was to run after them!
Sadly, Auntie said no she was not going into the woods so we could not follow them.  I told her she was mean and kept pulling on the leash to chase them. (picture from previous walk)

It was at the end of our walk and we were so close when they jumped out of the trees I could smell them, see them, hear them, and I wanted to play with them.  Auntie was mean and we stayed out of the woods, but she did let me go over to the trees the deer came out of and spend some serious time sniffing the air and trees.  I loved it, but after what Auntie said was enough time (it wasn't for me) we went inside because she was getting cold.
I ran inside and told Little Man, who had been sleeping, and the Big Guy all about the deer we saw on the walk.
After I told them all about this Little Man decided he needed to go back to sleep and curled back up with the Big Guy.  I usually sleep there, but lately those two have gotten close and snuggle, I am not sure how I feel about that yet.

After I wore myself telling those two about the deer, Auntie misunderstood one of my thoughts and said yes it was time to brush my teeth.  I do not love this, but I love that Auntie gives me a special goodie afterwards.  I have started liking the taste more and I don't hide my face anymore.  Unfortunately, Auntie has taken this to mean that she can spend more time brushing my teeth.  I love her, but she doesn't have to stick the toothbrush into my mouth so much.

I think I should have a Fitbit

I am not sure what a Fitbit is, but I think I should have one.
Auntie and MomMom each have one and they do these Challenges.  I love it when this happens, because then I get more walks.  However, today it was too much, Auntie wore my butt off.  I was so exhausted at dinner I could barely keep my head up.

Auntie had me walk not only in our neighborhood, but she walked me to the pharmacy to get her allergy medicine.  I wish I had know we would be leaving the development, because then I would have saved some of my pee.  This neighborhood has tons of dogs and I had to mark trees, sign posts, mailboxes, and random locations those dog use so they would know I visited.  It was hard work, I ended up having to do a BoomBoom to help me mark.  All of this in the snow and ice, my feet were very cold, but smelling this new area was totally worth cold feet.  When we got home Auntie let me take a nap, but apparently she needed more steps so she made me go out for another long walk, OK she asked if I wanted to go and I jumped with excitement.  But let's be honest, asking me if I want to go on a walk is like asking the Pope if he is Catholic, the answer is always yes.  I thought we would be going back to the pharmacy, but Auntie just did a loop around the neighborhood, thankfully :)

When MomMom got home claimed she needed steps, I thought I was going to have to outside in the cold, so I tried to hide in my snuggle bed.

Then MomMom and Auntie started pacing all around the kitchen and the family room.  I don't understand my humans.  Auntie said she would not fall behind MomMom which is why she joined in.  I really don't get my humans, but they are my family and they love me very much.  I don't know what a Fitbit Challenge are, but I think if I got a fitbit I could totally blow MomMom and Auntie out of the water with how many steps I take.  But, then I might now get as many walks, so I'll just stick with getting extra walks and napping in my snuggle bed when my humans pace around the house to get extra steps in.
   

Football Night

I have been dressed in Carolina Panthers gear and have been told since we are now living in Carolina we are Panthers fans.  All I know is that I was put in clothes, and I am not overly enjoying this.  However, I am enjoying that my entire family (Mom, Dad, Auntie, MomMom, and the Big Guy) are all sitting on the couches in the family room and I get to snuggle with whoever I want.  Wait, moving to the kitchen because MomMom is cooking - I will stay here with her she sneaks me food.
I had a very exhausting day, you wouldn't know it because I mostly sat on my window bench, but when I left I was out chasing squirrels and running around the back yard.
I saw a squirrel from inside the house and ran to the back door, Auntie was not fast enough to get there when I did and the squirrel almost got away, but I ran down the deck stairs and chased it to the fence.  Then I patrolled the fence line so if it made an attempt to come back in the yard I could chase it again.

I was really lucky and got to chase three squirrels today.  It was exhausting work, but today was like a dream day for me.  Chasing squirrels, getting kisses for doing it, and relaxing on my window bench.  LIFE IS GOOD!  Auntie and the Big Guy are really proud of me. I got my "good girl goodies" that I usually only get when Auntie brushes my teeth for chasing the squirrels.  After all of that I decided it was best to just curl up and fall asleep with Little Man, but my family said I had to get dressed for the game first.  I finally got to snuggle with Little Man but Auntie and Mom went nuts taking pictures.

I looked to Dad to save me and let me sleep, he is awesome and helped, but then got too into the football game and I moved so I could sleep.  Football night seems fun, maybe next time I'll enjoy it more if I didn't spend the day chasing squirrels.

My Good Girl Goodies are

For you Guys the Awesome Jersey I am wearing comes in black too

Snow Day Round 2

Today was another day of snow, and that means we stay inside and snuggle for most of the day.

I decided that it was a good day to lay on my window bench and just watch the world.  Dad was great and took me out for my morning walk, then the Big Guy did a short walk with me too.  I have learned that puppy dog eyes to the Big Guy when Little Man goes out to poop means I get a short walk too.  Auntie and MomMom walked to the grocery store to pick up some ice cream and veggies.  I was told I couldn't go with them, because I can't go in the grocery store :(  

I spent the morning on my window bench and snuggling with Mom and Dad.  This afternoon was more snuggle time, Auntie got some love because she took me for a walk, more like a run on my part.  Auntie told me several times she can't run on ice.  I may not be a sled dog, but I love running in the snow.

With all my family home I was having a great day.  MomMom got sick this afternoon, I went to check on her a few times.  I think giving her kisses helped her feel better.  When she came down to the couch I snuggled with her there too.  I stayed with her and the Big Guy until bedtime, because I was worried about her.  

I am not a huge fan of this snow thing, but I do love that it makes my family stay home all day :)

Baby it is cold outside

It is chilly outside, so cold out that Little Man's whole body is shaking by the time he walks to the end of the driveway (and our driveway is not long).  Today he ran outside, pooped as soon as he got off the steps and then ran back inside.  I thought he was making too big of a deal.
I have a nice think fur coat so the Big Guy was really nice and put multiple layers on and took me for a mile walk.  He became my favorite today when he did this several times so that I could poop and sniff the entire neighborhood.  It got colder as the day went on :(  I convinced my humans that my last night walk did not need to happen, thankfully.

When I got back inside from each walk I curled up in a little ball and tried to warm up.  Once on the bed, Auntie was nice and let me snuggle on her bed.  Another time the Big Guy was nice and let me snuggle with him on the couch and Mom let me hide under a blanket at one point.  I am not sure why the cats don't have to go outside, but by my last walk I was jealous of them.
I might be willing to learn to poop in a cat box if it means I don't have to stick my tush out in the cold to poop outside.  If this cold weather keeps up I may not give Auntie a strange look when she talks about getting me a fleece jacket.
 

Snuggle time

This post is written from the view of Little Man a Toy Rat Terrier who is in the "senior" phase of his life.

I like to snuggle, if you could wrap me in a warm blanket or towel and hold me all day that would be my dream of a perfect day.  I like being pet, snuggled, cuddled, and around my humans all day everyday :)  When I am snuggling with people I tend to not spite pee or poop - I am just saying holding me makes me less likely to pee, I wish my humans would realize this.  I have lucked out and had great snuggle time in the last 24 hours and wanted to brag about snuggle time with my humans,
Last night Auntie wrapped me in a pink towel, because it is her favorite color and she did not listen when I protested about being a man and pink not being my color.  Really look at my blue harness, I am more of a blue kind of guy.  After she wrapped me in a towel she held me close so I could listen to her heart beat but still see everything around, and just swayed with me, like you would to put a baby to sleep.  This was perfect, it was such a good snuggle, that despite my best effort to stay awake my eye lids started getting heavy and I felt myself falling asleep.
Then Auntie took me outside to pee, which was cruel because it was freezing outside.  Then Mom wrapped me back in the towel and we went for a car ride, I like car rides in part because I get snuggle time.
Today I got to snuggle with the Big Guy as he did his crossword puzzles, normally it is where my sister Daisy snuggles, but she was laying on her bench by the window so I took that seat today.  He is nice and occasionally pet my head while he did his crossword puzzle.  When Mom came into the family room I switched couches to snuggle with her while she read.  And the ultimate snuggle time happened when Dad came home and he and Mom both sat on the same couch and I was able to sneak in the middle and get snuggle time with both of them.
Snuggles are important is all I am saying and the more snuggles I get the happier I am.

Selecting which bed to sleep on

Last night I had a tough time deciding which bed to sleep on.  Mom and Dad is the normal place I sleep, but it is them, plus Little Man and me, so it can get crowded.  Auntie lets me sleep on her bed and gives me half of her bed, I decided to sleep there for a little bit - however she did not say which half of her bed, so I decided to take the diagonal middle half.

I like to use her Red Sox pillow pet as my pillow.she lets me as long as it stays on her bed.  I think it is her way to trick me into sleeping on her bed sometimes.  I love her and she gives me the good goodies when mom and dad aren't looking so I will continue to let tick me into sleeping on her bed sometimes.

MomMom and the Big Guy have a nice comfy bed and they let me cuddle with them, but I really like the couch in their sitting area.  MomMom has given me a special pillow and a blanket that I have scrunched into the perfect circle for me to sleep in.  I briefly went and sniffed the bed and went on bed and sat down so that I could get some pets and love from MomMom and the Big Guy.
I finally decided the bed to spend all night is the one that I normally do, I slept with mom, dad, and Little Man.

I had three years of being one of four animals, 6 weeks of being one of one and I think I liked not having to share my Auntie, MomMom, and the Big Guy.  We had a nice routine and I didn't have to share attention.  Now my siblings are here and so are my parents.  We are all facing a new routine and I am getting used to sharing again.  I think my silver lining is that I have all these beds and people to snuggle with to pick from each night.