Giving Thanks

I am thankful for the dogs in my life. What is Dharma thankful for? She says:

1. I am thankful for the special noms I got today. Yum!

2. I am thankful for my cute little clothes that keep me warm.

Don't we look fashionable?

3. I am (usually) thankful for my foster-brother, Manfred. Even if he steals all the best toys and body-checks me when we play football together. (Brothers are like that, I guess.)

On your mark... Get set...

4. I am thankful it is not raining today. But I wish it were sunny. I always wish it were sunny.

Plenty of sun to share.

5. I am thankful for the soft little pink brush Mommy got for me.

6. I am thankful for my Mommy, who cuddles me.

Snore...

7. I am thankful for my Daddy, who plays with me.

Wrestling!

8. I am thankful for my squeaky ball, my favoritest toy.

9. I am thankful for my cute little puppy bed, where I can hide my favorite ball.

10. But I am more thankful when I get to sleep in the big bed.

And I think it is almost time to go get into the big bed, where we can all cuddle together.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I, Dharma, am here with a very important public service announcement. My Mommy tells me it is now Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You should all do self-exams and make sure your doctor checks you annually. Yes, boys, too. I bet it is much easier for you to do self-exams, because you have hands. Just imagine doing that with a paw! All the other famous models and celebrities are trying to bring awareness to this important issue, so I feel obligated to join in.

Proudly modeling the Breast Cancer Warrior Scarf.

This is a very serious matter. I am quite fond of snoozing on my Mommy's chest. It would be most uncomfortable if it got all lumpy--or even went away. And my little aunt, Holly, had breast cancer. Yes, even doxies can get it! She is doing well now, but it is very scary. If you get your female pets fixed before they first go in to heat, it reduced their risk of getting breast cancer to almost zero. Two important issues in one! No wonder I look so serious in my photo shoot.

Save the ta-ta's. All of them.

Whozzit day?

No, it is not Columbus Day here. Columbus got lost and then got lucky. He does not deserve a day named in his honor. There are better things to celebrate on this so-called Columbus Day, for example:

1. Fall Leaf-Viewing Day. Take pictures. Drink cider.

2. Mow the Lawn for the Last Time This Season Day. The drinking of cider is optional, but should probably wait until after the mower is safely put away.

3. Stock up on Warm Socks Day. Knitting, buying, or digging out of storage are all permissible.

Pink socks are bestest!

4. Make Soup Day. Cornbread is highly encouraged. Recipe provided upon request.

5. Jump in the Leaves Day. Do this before bagging them, it is less messy that way.

Careful, the glittery leaves are kind of prickly.

6. Walk your Puppy/Kid/Significant Other Day. I'll leave it up to you to decide if you need a leash for this activity.

7. Canadian Thanksgiving. Either be grateful for Canada, or just grateful in general. Turkey eating is common, but not mandatory. Prayers and singing of "Oh, Canada!" will commence at sunset. Touch football will be replaced by soccer for the duration.

8. Is It ANOTHER Football Game Day? Yes, it is. Make pompons out of old newspaper. You may cheer for either team, or just because the game is over. Whatever. Nachos are appropriate for this holiday, but Bagel Bites are also acceptable.

Where are my pompons, Mommy?

9. Dress as Your Favorite Native American day. Just to really tick off Columbus. Great costume ideas: Cher wearing Bob Mackie, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and Rosa Parks. Yep, she was Cherokee. That's a costume that ought to really confuse people. Don't mess with those Cherokee ladies!

10. Rub your Puppy's Belly Day. In fact, you may celebrate this every single day of the year. I have yet to see a puppy suffer from too much belly rubbing. And believe me, I have done extensive testing. Ear scritches are also appreciated.

You may now celebrate.

What is it? It is cute!

Scientists have been up to some strange experiments. Is it a doxie-cat? A corgi-cat? Who knows?

Of course, Dharma may be part cat, herself.

Why wouldn't any species want to look more like a dachshund? Even one with her ears in-side out. Hmmm, that may be a another verse to yesterday's song...

I'm listening.

Ode to a Dharma

Watching Dharma in the warm sun today inspired me to re-write a classic dog song.

Sun worshipper.

How cute is that doggie in the window,

The one with the waggle-y tail?

With her legs so short and her back so long

How cute, how cute can she be?

Pillowtop pup.

How cute is that doggie on the pillow,

The one with my heart in her paw?

With her fur so short and her ears so long

How cute, how cute can she be?

Double-dip doggie bones!

The correct answer is: pretty darn cute!

Big day

Dharma went to Lotus Fest! We all went to Lotus in the Park. We watched our good friend Carrie (one of Dharma's favorite people) perform with the Hudsucker Posse.

Carrie, on right, with purple flags.

It was cold and threatened to rain, but the show was great. And then we had a hotdog. No, to eat.

Somehow, Derek failed to take any pictures of Dharma that afternoon. Even though total strangers kept stopping to pet her and tell her how cute she was! (They were right, of course.)

We were a little worried when the music got Dharma excited. I was afraid she was going to start howling along with the music. That might have been a bit distracting for the performers.

Carrie, on left, hooping.

Dharma has been getting bedtime reading. It is important to read to your little ones if you want them to grow up to be smart. We have been reading 101 Dalmatians. The Disney movie is only loosely based on the book. So far, we like the book better. Thanks for the idea, Elizabeth!

Adoptable doggies!

Costume decision

I think I have decided what Dharma will be for Halloween, if I can figure out how to make her costume. And it will be even cuter than the little sheep (ram?) costume on Amazon:

Baa-rk?

Can you guess what Dharma will be? Hint: it involves a bad pun. Wait, aren't all puns bad? At least in English?

And, just to be fair, we will also include this lovely ferret costume. Who knew there were ferret Halloween costumes? Gee, you don't think they would fit a doxie, do you?

I love how proud the ferret looks about his outfit. I bet, if he didn't like it, he could slide right out of it even faster than Dharma stripped off her fur coat. She doesn't seem to mind it when it is cold out, though. Smart puppy!

Updates

Why hasn't Emilie been updating Dharma's blog? What has she been up to?

Why, belly dancing of course!

Emilie, dancing with Banat Mara at The Fourth Street Arts Festival.

It started to rain about five minutes after this picture was taken, but we just kept dancing. And the rain chickened out and stopped. If it looks like Emilie is smiling flirtatiously at the photographer, she just might be. Derek took this picture, in between running our music. He is such a good roadie!

Poor little Dharma, she has been so bored and restless since Maddie left. Maybe it is time to foster another puppy? Here is Dharma, looking bored. A true wiener of leisure.

Aw, poor puppy. Doesn't she have a pillow for her little head?

Emilie's Humanities class has been studying Greek architecture and the three orders of columns. Perhaps this picture could help them learn the Ionic order?

Grandma Dharma

I, Dharma, have another suggestion for Halloween: I can go as either a granny or a hipster.

See? I already have the sweater. My Mommy made it for me. Isn't she talented? It even matches my fur! And it is getting cold enough to wear my little puppy clothes, now.

Thanks, Mommy!

The best thing about wearing little outfits? The overwhelming cuteness enslaves humans to my will. Heh, heh, heh.

Do you think I should find some glasses to go with my costume? Remember, the cuter the costume, the more treats you get!

Another idea

Oh, Emilie really likes this idea. Dharma isn't too sure about it. She would rather ride a pony than BE a pony. Maybe we could rent a tiny pony for her? Then Emilie could wear a flowery dress and a big, floppy Kentucky Derby hat.

Dharma says she wants to be Kate Middleton, in her wedding dress, for Halloween. If you're going to be a princess, you might as well go all out.

Planning ahead

Emilie has been wondering what Dharma should be for Halloween. Admittedly, it will be hard to top last year's crayon costume. Or the original Tootsie Roll costume.

She could be Sherlock Hound. She would have a head start, since she already has a lovely tweed jacket. Should Emilie wear a matching Victorian costume, maybe? A nice, Gothic mourning costume, perhaps?

The hot dog is kind of a cliche, unless you can put a new twist on it, like they did with this little weiner. Maybe Dharma could be a bottle of mustard? She has a nice, cylindrical shape. And she looks good in yellow. The cap could be a little pointy hat. Any other doxies want to go as the hot dog with her?

She is so sweet, she could be a banana split. I love that hat, but I'm not sure the doxie likes it.

Perhaps a bottle of Hershey's syrup? She is already chocolate colored, so she would just need the label.

I asked Dharma what she would like to be. She suggested she could go as a nudist:

I'm not sure that is appropriate for the small children in the neighborhood to see. She would make a good fairy princess, though.

What do you think, readers?

Bored fur-baby

I, Dharma, am now bored. Maddie is gone. I have napped a lot since she left.

Power napping.

At first it was nice, kind of peaceful. But now, I sort of miss her. I have chewed on all my toys. Rearranged my bed. And I even tried to dig a hole in the floor (unsuccessfully.) Now, I am bored.

And annoyed: Mommy went to work today. I thought I had gotten her trained to stay home with me all day! I worked on it all summer. And then, just like that, she goes back to teaching. She was gone for almost six hours today! Hmmph. She really needs to get her puppy priorities straight.

She says that she works so we can buy noms and toys. But what good are toys if you don't have anyone to play with?

Maybe we need another foreign exchange puppy...

Double-cute puppies!

Bye-bye, Maddie

Yes, Maddie has found her forever family! I, Dharma, am a little lonely, but mostly happy. My mommy says she is going to a very good home, where they will love her and spoil her. And maybe things will get back to normal around her. I hope they are ready for Maddie, she is quite a handful!

One night last week, it got kind of chilly. In an on-going attempt to civilize Mad Maddiekins, Mommy dressed us in little puppy pajamas. I don't think Maddie liked hers.

Or maybe Maddie just liked my pajamas better?

So, instead, we decided to share a nice, snuggly blanket. Maddie is quite warm and soft, when she holds still. Once she fell asleep, we curled up together...

And then cuddled even closer...

Maddie and I became very close during her visit.

It was so nice, we even cuddled some when it wasn't cold.

I shared the sunbeam with Maddie.

I think we finally taught her to play nicely with other doggies. Most of the time. Mommy said she will have other doggies to play with in her new home. Good luck, doggies!

Foreign Exchange Puppy

Dharma here, updating you on our house guest, Maddie. Yes, Derek insists she is a guest, not a family member. Sort of like a foreign exchange student. She will stay here and learn our ways, teach us new things, and then move on.

Don't think Maddie is all cuddles and wiggles. She steals my toys! And then she does the "cute baby puppy" act so well, I can't stay mad at her. I thought I was good with the puppy dog eyes, but she is a master. I think this picture shows her deviousness and determination, don't you?

Charge!

She's cute and she knows it. And she knows how to use it. She has my Mommy wrapped around her little paw.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

What she doesn't know is that she has a appointment with the V-E-T next week. Yep, she is in for a bit of a surprise. Nail trimming, shots, microchipping, and even something my parents call "fixing." I don't understand. Is she broken?

It really irritates me that she gets more food than I do. I know, puppies and their fast metabolism. But she gets two meals a day, and I only get one! And she gets treats for doing the least little thing. The way my parents carry on, you'd think she was pooping rainbows when she "goes" in the backyard. And they don't even get mad when she makes a little puddle inside. It's the magic puppy cuteness, I tell you.

Nobody said she's not allowed on the couch.

But I admit, it has been nice to have someone to play with. And snuggle. She's not allowed in the bed, for some strange reason, but I am. And don't worry, I am still bigger and stronger than she is, so I can always steal my toys right back. Right now I think I will go steal the warm spot she made in my blanket.

Mad Maddiekins!

Marvelous Maddie

Maddie is settling in nicely. She is a puppy, though. So she is very energetic! We are trying to teach her to "SIT" before we give her food. She will sit, but when you start to pass her the food, she jumps up and down in excitement. Even some of my friends commented that, compared to Maddie, Dharma seems so calm and serene. Hence the name Dharma, I suppose. And Maddie's new nickname: Mad Maddiekins. Sort of like the guy in Willow.

Dharma shows Maddie the right way to sunbathe.

She and Dharma are playing together kind of rough, but they both seem to enjoy it. And, so far, there are no injuries (except to the carpet...) They are so cute when they pretend to be fierce!

Maddie, looking wild-eyed, trying to steal a bone from Dharma.

When they fall asleep, they look so innocent, don't they?

Maddie and Dharma, (kind of) sharing the blanket.

Dharma says

I don't hate the foster puppy. I'm just suspicious of her. She's cute, and she worships me. She says she wants to be just like me when she grows up. (First, she'll have to learn not to nip the humans.) But I'm not sure I like the way my Mommy is looking at her. See what I mean?

"Isn't she the cutest thing!"

Maddie update

Maddie has completely worn us out, including Dharma. Since the puppies are both asleep, Emilie will report.

Maddie has peed on the carpet twice, and destroyed one houseplant. To be fair, the houseplant was on its last legs anyway. She is doing very well. She is playful, curious, and affectionate. And if she gets any cuter, she will probably burst. If you look closely, you can see that she has a little white spot on her chest. It is very soft.

Maddie gets tummy rubs.

If she sees Dharma doing something she wants to do it, too. That is good if Dharma is demonstrating SIT before getting breakfast. It is not so good when she wants to chew on theexact same bone that Dharma is chewing on. She also nipped Dharma a few times. Dharma growled at her, and she backed down. Then, thirty seconds later, Dharma was coaxing her out from under the table to play chase. No wonder they are both sound asleep!

Chase! Dharma (left) and Maddie (right.)