Thursday, February 28, 2013

YAWNING DACHSHUNDS: THEY CRACK ME UP!

Okay, I admit it:  I have a zany sense of humor, and my family can attest to that.  But every time our doxie Duke yawns, it just cracks me up!

So, I did some "yawn research" into what other dachshunds look like when they yawn--and these pics made me laugh, too!  Hope they brighten your day as well:


"If I can stop yawning, I'll grab that ball!"
 
"It's morning ALREADY??"
  
"Why does my face keep opening like this??"
 
 There's nothing like a good yawn beside the ocean!"


"Why wake up?  My eyes haven't even opened yet!"


 "OOOOh, goodness--too much exercise--time for a nap"

The fourth doxie looks A LOT like Duke--we haven't managed to snap a pic of him yawning yet, but he definitely gets lots of practice and is really good at it.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

WHAT IS THIS DACHSHUND SAYING??



Here's a doxie pic that is just BEGGING for a caption.  Oh, I have several in mind, but I'd love to hear from doxie lovers out there (keep it appropriate, of course).

What say you?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

CHOW HOUNDS EXTRAORDINAIRE!


Er . . . don't put ANY food within reach of a doxie's nose - he/she will definitely make a grab for it!  Duke loves apples:  when my hubby Clark is eating one, he'll save a little "meat" near the core and hold it while Duke takes little bites of it.  Thus far, just about the only people foods that Duke doesn't like are lettuce and onions. 

We don't give him much of our food, but we've been known to allow him to lick out our dinner plates when we are finished.  I know, I know . . . not good discipline.  He's spoiled rotten, and it's my fault.  I plead guilty!  He now considers it his due to lick out plates, and I have nobody to blame for that but myself.  I don't care--he's a good dawg and lots of fun. 

He doesn't get but a few morsels . . .

Friday, February 22, 2013

OWNING A DACHSHUND: PROS AND CONS



That "hangdog" look to get what they want
 
PROS                                                
Loyal friend                                        

Comedian/funny to look at                                                
                                                
Inexhaustible cuteness                       

Cuddle buddy (sometimes)                 

Good listener (sometimes)                  

Reliable intruder alarm                        

Gets plenty of compliments                 

Always happy to see and be with you                                       

Intelligent (sometimes a con)                

Easy to travel with (sometimes)                                              

Excellent hearing/smell                         

CONS
You will no longer be owner of your house

Personal privacy:   what is that?

Your list of chores just got longer

Requires your undivided attention

Intruder alarm is overly sensitive

Gets it, but hard to housebreak

Bed hog

Stubborn to the bone

Must share all your snacks

Can “guilt-trip” you with sad face

Toys must be replaced often

Thursday, February 21, 2013

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

"I've got something on my mind . . ."

This doxie obviously sat still long enough for his picture to be taken, and I applaud the photographer.  Duke thinks all stuffed toys are his and proceeds to "kill" them if left to his own devices.

Few dog toys can stand up to dachshunds, especially those filled with some kind of stuffing material.  More than once, we've had to throw away a "durable" dog toy within five minutes of its contact with Duke!  He has a couple of squeak toys that are composed of a hard vinyl, and although Duke has done his best, hasn't managed to dismember them yet.

I suspect this doxie can't wait to get his fangs into the intruder on his head.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

TODAY IS "LOVE YOUR PET" DAY!


Since today is "Love Your Pet Day," then I urge you to get to it, folks!  Our pets (at least at our house) are four-legged friends, confidantes, children, encouragers--you choose.

Duke loves attention (as most doxies do), so I've spent some extra time playing tug of war with him, which he dearly loves.  Now let me put my shoulder back into the socket . . . that dawg is strong!

Happy Love Your Pet Day!

MINIATURE DACHSHUND: DIFFERENT VIEWS


I totally agree with each "viewpoint" above.  Our doxies are anything but boring critters, aren't they??

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

DOWNTON ABBEY WRITER LOVES DACHSHUNDS!




Julian Fellowes, who has always been fond of dachshunds, explains, "My mother introduced me to them when I was quite young. Later (wife) Emma became a dachshund obsessive, so my mother and my wife have had this shared quality and we have always had a dax around."

To see the full story, go to  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/when-julian-fellowes-home-turned-into-dachshund-abbey-for-the-day-2311644.html

Who woulda thunk it!

BABY LOVE?


Doxies and babies just go together . . . oh, I've heard the stories about doxies nipping little children who pull their ears or tail (not that I blame the dogs, but adults have to be on guard).  The two dachshunds in our family, Duke and Shadow, have been nothing but gentlemen when it came to the grandchildren.

Shadow was the first "granddawg," since he's 12 and was four years old when Annika was born.  He has always been more gentle with the babies and young children than he has been with us adults.  In his younger days, the rougher the play, the more he seemed to enjoy it.  And, if one held out a bite of people food for him, beware of missing some fingers when he chomped down!
Shadow and Asher

And Asher, our little grandson, was a fixture at our house until he was a year and a half, so Duke had a good opportunity to be "bad" if he were going to.  Duke did exhibit jealousy when I held Asher as a little baby (after all, Duke had been my "baby" since he was eight weeks old)!  But Duke never took it out on Asher.  He'd just avoid being around Asher, even when Asher began toddling around on his own two feet.

Now, of course, Duke loves Asher and the granddaughters abundantly.  When we visit, he showers all of them (and anyone else who happens to be around) with lots of doggie kisses.

The bottom line is this:  our doxies love people, especially children, and enjoy their company.

Monday, February 18, 2013

PASTA, ANYONE??


This doxie is obviously just like our Duke--he'd walk a mile to get hold of some pasta!  Such is the life of a chow hound extraordinaire.

When we have spaghetti at home, I always set a side a small bowl of plain pasta--equal to a few tablespoons--just for him, and feed it to him one strand at a time.  Otherwise, he'd gulp down the entire serving in a couple of bites.

Shadow, our granddawg doxie, is thrilled over pasta, too. I really don't understand why they love it so much, since it doesn't have much of a smell (a big deal to dachshunds), and by comparison to other people food, probably doesn't have that much of a flavor, either.

What about your doxie?
 



Friday, February 15, 2013

GRANDSON AND GRANDDAWG


Our grandson Asher (who will be three next month) and our granddawg Shadow (age 12) are having some fun this morning.  Asher was lying on the couch, and Shadow could not resist giving him lots of doggie kisses, causing Asher to laugh.  That only encouraged Shadow to "pour it on" even more!

One of the (many) things I love about dachshunds is their sense of fun.  They love to play, and if they sense that we enjoy what they're doing, they'll really ham it up!  I know that Duke still plays like he's a puppy, and he's 5 1/2.  Don't think the dawg will ever "mature."  I'm glad, because I'm still a kid at heart myself!

Enjoy your doxies.  They make life so much fun, don't they?

Thursday, February 14, 2013

WD-40: MIRACLE CLEANER/POLISHER

I don't usually post such things on this blog,
but this is an exception.  You'll love it!
 


A friend sent me this email below, and I've tried WD-40 on items 10, 16, and 31 thus far.  Works like a charm!  (And by the way, no one in my family works for the company that makes it :).

DID YOU KNOW?
What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?
No Cheating.....

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.
He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do....
probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.
It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?
"Water Displacement #40".
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound.
They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40.
The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.


Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.
If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass.
It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop.
It's now shinier than it's ever been.
You'll be amazed.


WE "HEART" YOU, DOXIE LOVERS!


Dogs are the perfect valentines, because they exhibit unconditional love toward us just like God does :).  And our doxies are known for their loyalty and cuddle-ability (not really a word--but it should be!).

That's what my late father, Robert "Papa" Duke, said in I AM SARGE, Book 1 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES:
"A dawg loves you no matter what. You can be ugly, old, even dumb--but a dawg don't care. All he wants is your love and some food now and then. I think dawgs represent the unconditional love God has for us--maybe that's why He created them, to show that to us." 

So--Happy Valentine's Day, doxie lovers.  Be sure to hug your dawg today :).  And, I am certain that a treat would be appreciated.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

GUARD DOG!


Those of us who know, love, and own a doxie know that dachshunds do not realize they are relatively small dogs in the scheme of things!  They sincerely believe they are (1) as large as anyone else, and (2) are people, too.

There have been times at our house when our doorbell rang, which resulted in a mad barking spree by Duke, of course.  When I answered the door, the mail carrier would be standing on the front porch shuddering--he'd look through the storm door at shoulder height, then gradually work his eyes downward to where Duke was still barking.  "Oh--you mean that little fellow there was doing all that loud barking??  I was certain you had a German shepherd or mastiff!"


Duke making himself comfy


Such are our doxies . . . but we wouldn't have them any other way.

Monday, February 11, 2013

DOXIES FOR EVERYONE!


     




Dachshunds come in two sizes recognized by the American Kennel Club:  standard and mini (up to 11 lb.).






They also come in a variety of coats and colors:
*coats:  smooth, long-haired, and wire-haired

  








*colors:  red, chocolate, black, black and tan, gray, cream, fawn, dappled, and piebald

I love all of them!





  

Monday, February 4, 2013

DOG NOSES, ETC.


At least, that's the way most doxie lovers I know feel.  No matter what kind of day you've had, isn't it fabulous to come home to an overjoyed doxie, greeting you with that windshield-wiper tail going double time, a smile, a bark, and a good face licking (if you get down close enough).

And, if you happen to come in the door WITH FOOD, well . . . that seals the deal!  We know how great food smells to us, so I can only imagine how good it would smell if our noses were even one fourth as sensitive as a dog's.  I wonder how much Duke would eat if we just let him "have at it" and eat all he desired.  We'd probably have a very sick dawg on our hands. 

"While a dog's brain is only one-tenth the size of a human brain, the part that controls smell is 40 times larger than in humans. A dog’s sense of smell is about 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human’s (depending on the breed). A human has about 5 million scent glands, compared to a dog, who has anywhere from 125 million to 300 million (depending on the breed). Ever wonder why your dog's nose is wet? The mucus on a dog's nose actually helps it smell by capturing scent particles. When a dog’s nose is dry they may lick it to aid them in scent . . . While a human will smell something like spaghetti sauce as one smell, a dog smells each individual ingredient. Unlike humans, dogs can move their nostrils independently, allowing them to know what direction a smell is coming from."  --http://www.dogbreedinfo.com