Adopting a Buddy

Today my pawrents took me to the place that steals hair. Again! How many times are they going to do that before my Moomie and Daady figure out not to take me there? Me's tried to tell them it's cold outside and Levi needs his hair but they wouldn't listen. After those thieves did that and other embarrassing to me everyone kept saying what a handsome boy me is. But when Moomie picked me up she just said Levi didn't look like me's needed to go on a diet anymore. Last week she even started me on adult food more than a month before my first birthday 'cause she thought the puppy stuff was making me fat. Well, not exactly. Me's gets baby food half and half adult.

On the way home we stopped at Starbucks for a cup of cream and then Moomie said we were going shopping for a belated Christmas present. Oh, Boy! Levi LOVED that idea. She said me's needed something big so me's would quit molesting pillows…whatever that means. Levi can't help it that they keep trying to run away from home and me's have to stop them.

The selection was picked over, Moomie said. They only had two big stuffies left---a frog and a monkey---so me tested them both out. Mr. Froggie passed. It cost a whole $20.00 to adopt him! Is that fair? He's so homely that no one wanted to take him home before Christmas. But to tell you the truth, it didn't matter that he was the last of the froggie in the litter to go. It was love at first sight.

When Froggie got to our house he tried to get into the refrigerator but Moomie made him get down from there. Mean Moomie! He was hungry. Then we played and got to know each other better after that. Me's showed him my bed in the kitchen and then we got tired and took a nap together in my other bed 'cause it was quieter in the bedroom. ©



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Christmas, Bah Humbug!

Christmas was a GIANT big disappointment. Me's read all over "Dogs with Blogs" how we're suppose to have a good time on Christmas day and get lots of pretty presents but all me's got was this dumb banana---oops, bandanna---and a bag of my favorite treats. Then me's got left alone all afternoon because my daady got sick with the dreaded cabin fever. At first me's was really worried when Moomie said the only thing that would cure cabin fever was to go see a dog named Marley at someplace called Showtime. Then it came out that Daady is in LOVE with Marley's moomie, Jennifer Aniston, and me's got suspious. If you ask Levi me would say that Daady was just pretending to be sick so he could be with that Jennifer woman but Moomie didn't seem to catch on to his charade. So no one tell her, okay?

While they were gone Daady's pillow tried to run away from home. Since Levi is the head of security when Moomie's gone it was up to me to stop it. Me wrestled the pillow in the living room but he kept trying to make a break towards the back door. Then Levi accidentally bit a hole in it while me was dragging it into the library. After that Daady's pillow gave up and me was able to hold him down until my pawrents got home.

Daady and Moomie smelled strange when they returned. Like corn on the cob with lots of butter on it and me's couldn't smell that Marley dog anywhere. Me checked their pants, their shirts, their hands and faces. No dog essence anywhere. Me guesses that Dr. Marley dog was zipped up inside one of those isolation bodysuits to keep himself from catching cabin fever while he treated my daady. Me's didn't smell another woman on Daady either. That Jennifer woman must have been wearing a blue bodysuit, too.

Me's is getting a headache and my tummy hurts. Oh no! What does it feel like to get cabin fever? ©

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Gold Stars for Good Puppies

Anyone there? Levi has some news. Me's got a new gold star on my 'Good Boy' chart. Well, me don't really HAVE a chart but Moomie pretends that Levi does and she just added a shiny pretend star for OUTSTANDING big boy behavior!

Every since Levi came to live with Moomie and Daady me's been practicing, practicing, practicing like a fire drill in case Daady would fall on the floor. He can't walk, you know. Me didn't really know what that meant to "fall on the floor" but me figured it must hurt like when me rolls off the couch by accident. Anyway, we kept drilling for me to sit-stay out of the 'fall zone' every time Daady transfers in or out of his wheelchair.

Yesterday it happened. Daady fell while trying to sit on his shower bench. It happened so fast! He hit his head and was moaning and acting kind of scary. Moomie was acting all scary, too, checking for blood and trying to pull Daady by the feet so his head could get away from the shower wall. Then she put a pillow under his head and made a telephone call. All this time me was the perfect little schnauzer, still sit-staying out of the fall zone which is right along side of the wheelchair, real close-like to the brake lever should you ever have to learn to do it.

Finally, Moomie scooped me up and put me in the kitchen behind the baby gate. Me's didn't even let out a peep then or when a noisy truck roared up to the house and two guys came inside. Five minutes later two MORE guys came in. Me could hear them all asking Moomie and Daady questions. Daady can't talk much---just one word at a time---but when he said, "Gas" Moomie said, "He fine now. When he starts giving tours of the artwork, he's fine." (The bathroom is decorated with photos of old gas pumps that Daady used to collection.)

Then at night another bad thing happened. The lights went out and they stayed out for four hours. It was getting really cold in the house, too, and me didn't even fight Moomie when she put a winter coat on me. Daady didn't fight when she made him go to bed early either. Poor Moomie. She had quite a time getting Daady out of his electric La-Z-Boy in the dark. She was holding a flashlight in her mouth trying to put the back-up batteries in a thingie. Earlier she had hooked my flashing light on my collar and a clip-on light on Daady's shirt until she got us both where she wanted us to stay until the lights came back on. Moomie said to pretend we're all camping. Me doesn't know what camping is but me's don't think Levi would like it. Anyway, me's got another gold star but it was kind of dumb to get that second one just for not getting lost in the dark. Moomie doesn't seem to know that we doggies can see in the dark. ©

Smell ya later,

Love Levi

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Did You Get My Pee Mail?

Anyone there? Levi here. Me is having a strange week. It started out good. On Monday Moomie and me left Daady sleeping in his La-Z-Boy and we went to the place that gives money to Moomie and bones to me. Then we went to Starbucks where me's got a cup of cream and Moomie got a caramel macchiato. Levi even got to check for pee mail and leave a few at the river park on the way home.

Tuesday Moomie was glued to the TV and the computer. She was watching something called 'hearings' and she told Daady if they don't turn out good for GM we'll have to live in the car. Levi doesn't see how we can do that! Me's don't understand why Moomie can't just go back to the bank and get more money if GM stops giving it to us. Life is really hard to understand. Last night Moomie woke up in the night a lot, walking the floors and disturbing my sleep. She is spooky when she gets like that.

Today Moomie and Daady had to go someplace to get a thingie fixed on the Blazer---a lift for Daady's rolling chair. While they were gone they put me in charge of guarding the entire house. Usually they only assign me the kitchen and laundry room to watch. So Levi was proud of my expanded duties.

When they got home, Moomie took me for a walk in my new jacket. When we got back to the house, Moomie said that jacket must have been made for a girl and was a waste of money. Me's had peed inside it. Levi wanted to tell her that me's did that on purpose so no one could follow me around. You can't be too careful when you've just been promoted to head of security. But she wasn't listening. She went right back to ignoring me and glued herself to the TV again.

Love, Levi

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They like Me! They Really, Really Like Me!

Look what Levi got---awards!! My friend Happy sent me this beauuutiful one....


And my Friend Abby gave me this pretty one....



And my friend George sent me this sparkling one...



Me isn't sure what awards are for but Moomie says it's an honor to be picked. Me asked her if I can eat them. Nope. Me asked her if I can wear them. Nope. She won't let me. She says me can't take them to obedience class either. Why can't Levi do that? If it's an honor I should show them to my teacher. She's judges awards...or is it she get awards for judging? Levi is confused. Oh, well, me don't care. They are pretty and they are mine.

Just a minute Moomie is talking.

She says me has to pass these awards on to other friends. Is that fair? Levi just got them! She can't make me do it now. Me's going to tell her I need to go outside to poop.

Smell ya later. Love Levi

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Come Rover, Come!

When I was Levi's age I went to puppy obedience too. Back then Mom took me to a class at a school that was located next to the second busiest street in Michigan. At one of the last classes the instructor had everyone take their dogs off leash outside next to that street. True to the live-on-the-edge life style I had going for myself, I ran huge circles in the grass scaring my Mom to death because I kept getting closer and closer to the car-congested street and I wouldn't come when I was called. All the other puppies did come on command and to be fair to instructor, I was coming just fine when we were inside the gym so she probably thought it was safe outside. A lot of the humans tried to catch me but the instructor made them all sit down in a circle. Eventually, I did get close enough to the humans so someone could nab me. Boy, was Mom mad at that instructor for making her take such a big chance. It was a very long time before I got off leash again.

Tonight when Levi was at puppy obedience class the instructor told everyone if they are having a hard time catching their puppies off leash to run in the opposite direction of the danger their puppy is headed towards and make it sound like great fun to follow them. I'm not sure Mom could be cool-headed enough to remember that. She can get a little freaky when one of her fur-babies is in harm's way...but it sounds good in theory.

In class tonight, when it was Levi's time to demonstrate coming when called he got so much speed built into the action that when he got to Mom and tried to sit he skidded on by another three feet on the polished floor, making everyone laugh. The trainer said, "Now, Jean has made coming when called a high value event for Levi." Actually, she's been working him every day in the back yard on a 90 foot clothes line and half the time all she has to do is open her mouth to call him and he's on his way, not even giving her time to get the words "Levi, come!" out of her mouth . He sure loves those Wellness holistic salmon, lamb and fruit puppy treats.

Now on to another topic: Our blog was presented this sparkling, special award by both Boy Gorgeous George and by Nottie Scottie! Thank you both. I'm giving up boastful pride for angel training so maybe I shouldn't tell you this but Mom's been lusting after this award every since she saw it floating around the dog community. George's came the day of Levi's debut blog entry (see Schnauzer Saturday) which makes it extra special for him but to tell you the truth, I was feeling slightly left out. Then the next day Scottie's nomination showed up on our doorstep. So now we both have one of these very pretty awards!

Now we are pawing it forward to Barksalot Bloyz, Scruffy, Lacie and Stan's Place, The Days of Joann, Candi the Cavalier, Latte and Cookie, and Joe Stains. ©

Suggested Rules for Accepting this Award are:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate 7 other blogs (I think 7 is a bit too many but I didn't make up this list.)
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

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Schnauzer Saturdays

The 'Dogs With Blogs' community has a nice tradition going on many blogs where they set aside one day of the week for blogging something different. There's Wheelie Wednesdays and Rosco Wednesdays which are like having guest bloggers come in to tell about their adventures. There's also Thankful Thursdays which is like doing affirmations and Wordless Wednesdays for photos plus there are a host of other special days that I can't find on the tip of my tongue.

That got me to thinking that since Levi is six months old now and is trying to send mental telepathy messages out into the world that maybe it's time for me to help him start blogging. Levi regularly snatches ink pens off the table when Mom's back is turn and paws at her keyboard which probably means he's ready to take communicating with humans to a higher level. So, from now on Saturdays on this blog will be known as Schnauzer Saturdays. Be warned, though, he's still a baby and the thoughts he tries to express are still the thoughts of a baby. With that said, I turn this entry over to Levi….



Peas tell Levi what thingie is that pits---no---spits paper! Me fears---no---hears thingie run back and forth. Mouse in there? Me watch paper come out. Me listens to Moomie tell---no---yell "NO PAPER!" If me can't have paper why does thingie want to give it to me? World is so confusing. Moomie covers thingie up sometimes. One day me took cover off so me could study thingie. Moomie said, "NO!" but she won't answer my questions about thingie. Levi needs help learning about thingie!




Well, that's all the little guy has to say today. He's off to take a nap. But I've got something special to tell you. I'm getting a new feather in my wings for coming up with this idea! Jason says there'll be a little presentation ceremony tonight since it's my very first merit earned feather. The ones in my training wings are just standard issue, you know. ©

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Heaven Sent Service Dogs

I've been thinking a lot about services dogs. So instead of blogging about Levi today I want to share some of my thoughts from here at the Rainbow Bridge. What got me started thinking about service dogs is I a met a K9 military service dog today, a beautiful German shepherd. A bunch of us were exploring the four-leaf clover field at the time and he was talking about how rewarding it was to have a job down on earth. Then a Siberian husky spoke up about how he came from a long line of working sled dogs. One after another we all told about our breed histories regarding jobs we've done for humans---herding stock, circus performers, hunting, guard and patrol dogs, search and rescue, drafting like horses do. Our blood lines went way back to the Middle Ages when dogs were used to power crude machinery. We even have drug enforcement and cadaver dogs up here and one of newest types of working dogs---the therapy canines.

All this talk made my angel sister, Sarah, cry and we couldn't figure out why. Finally she told us that because she had been so dim-witted down on earth from being the product of a puppy mill that she hadn't been of much value to anyone. I didn't know what to say---I was speechless at her assumption---but my angel brother, the ever-so-wise Jason, told her about how she filled a giant hole in our Mom's heart at a time when she was just figuring out that she couldn't have any two legged babies. "You were a therapy dog," he told her, "before they even invented that category of working dogs." That Jason, he always has the right words on the tip of his tongue. That's why he's one of the official newbie greeters up here at the bridge. When dogs come here, disorientated from a sudden death, he helps them find acceptance and sticks with them until they understand that they are still with their families in spirit, can check on them at the magic water under the bridge, and will be able to jump in their arms again when it's their time to come to heaven.

Levi is a therapy puppy, too, I think. You see the last six months that I was on earth I was getting sicker and sicker and that made my Mom more depressed than she even realized. She knew that she'd get another dog when I was gone and she spent some time looking at rescue sites and the local human society site in my last two months. That depressed her even more because none of those dogs seemed right for Mom and Dad's situation. They had personalities or special needs already formed and with Dad in a wheelchair she didn't want an older dog. Puppies seemed rare on the rescue sites and even if there had been puppies there was no guarantee that they wouldn't be unhealthy puppy mill victims, she thought, or would be like me who had been sold way too young---5 1/2 weeks---from a ruthless breeder creating a lot of behavioral problems. Mom needed an easy dog this time around.

When Mom first saw Levi, two weeks before I died, she hadn't planned on looking at a litter of puppies. She had gone to pick me up from the groomers but I wasn't ready on time so she was driving around to kill time when she saw a 'puppies for sale' sign. She pulled in and met two male schnauzers. She told my Dad afterwards that she would have taken one of them home on the spot if not for the fact that it probably would hurry up my death. I was too ill from my heart problems to deal with a frisky puppy. Two weeks later, I crossed over to the bridge and the next day Mom called to find out if the schnauzer she liked was still there. He was.

I call Levi Mom's therapy dog because he's bringing such joy to her life. Sarah, Jason and I were all loved for different reason but with Levi it's different in a way---more intense---because Dad can't talk anymore or express things he used to be able to do. Levi gives lavish affection and kisses that Dad can't. Levi also helps her remember that life is a cycle and not all about dying, disabilities and illness. So I guess what I'm saying here is that all dogs that are in loving homes serve mankind in some pretty amazing ways, whether it's through formal training to do a job or just by being themselves. ©


NOTE: Our blog got nominated for the 'Awesome Blog of the Month' award. Voting ended Saturday June 28th and we didn't win but it was exciting getting nominated.

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Busy Little Boy

The windowsills at our house are all very low, only eighteen inches off the floor plus there are three doors with glass panels that are even lower to the floor. A fourth door is solid and it goes to the garage and to a service door that leads to the deck and dog yard. Mom always uses that solid door to take Levi outside.

These past two weeks of house breaking nirvana Levi figured out the best way to tell Mom he has to go outside is to scratch on one of the three glass paneled doors. From her computer wardrobe in the kitchen she can see two of those doors and hear him at the third so it wasn't such a bad plan for my baby brother to devise for himself. Between Mom keeping him on a schedule that fits with Mom and Dad's life style and Levi finally figuring out how to talk to Mom about his bodily urges I'm giving them both A+'s and declaring they can move to the next hurdle in growing Levi into a great furry kid.

Next on the puppy breaking list is biting or grabbing at anything that remotely moves. Bathrobes that flow behind Mom as she walks, Dad's pants as he tries to put them on---you name it, if it's an article of clothing Levi wants it in his mouth. Our dad is right side paralyzed but getting him self dressed is something he learned to accomplish a long time ago. Even so, it's a long process and thus enters Levi to make it even longer. Levi pulls on socks and pant legs as Dad tries one-handed to thread them in place. Mom hears Dad laughing from the bedroom and when he gets to the part where he says one of the few words in his vocabulary---"shit"---Mom goes in to rescue Dad and give Levi a puppy approved toy to chew.

When I was on earth, I had a thing for socks, too. I stole Mom's whenever I could and would take them all through the house. After Dad's stroke I never, ever took dad's socks again even though he always leaves them on the floor. Levi hasn't learned to respect Dad's uniqueness and limitations yet. His dad comes with wheels---doesn't everyone's, he thinks. So along with the regular puppy training stuff, Levi has extra stuff to learn but he's up for challenge. He's a smart little bugger, even if he did cause Mom to 'redecorate' the place now that he's learned how to snatch things off the table tops. Out of the deck he even manages to get himself in trouble. He tries to help with dead heading the flowers only he hasn't got the part about 'dead' right yet and picks the pretty ones instead. But what's really going to get Mom shaking her head is when she figures out that Levi took a snail ceramic off one of the windowsills and "buried" it in the guest bathroom. He's a busy little boy. ©

Recall Training and the Flyball Regionals

Shopping at Chow Hound was on Mom's schedule today and my baby brother FINALLY got a stash of treats besides those bland Mother Hubbard puppy biscuits---although he got those, too. He got some Kong Stuffy'n spray, puppy formula made with chicken liver. Hummm good! And he got Wellness Puppy treats, soft and smelly holistic bits to use for when obedience training starts at the end of the month. He's going to learn to heel with Mom first and then with dad's wheelchair so they all can stroll the neighborhood together.

Mom and Levi have been doing recall training using a seventy foot clothes line out in the back yard. She waits until he gets distracted by a butterfly, a blade of grass or a chipping bird and then she calls him. I must say the little guy comes running faster than I ever did. When they play the recall game in the front yard, however, where there are kids and other dogs to catch Levi's attention, it's harder for him get with the program but he eventually does come running at full speed back to Mom and her pocket full of Holistic Select nuggets. Mom is trying her best to remember to only give the 'Levi, come!' command one time. Sometimes she screws up and repeats it but what can I say, Mom is Mom.

Speaking of running at full speed, Last night was the finals at the flyball regionals up here at Rainbow Bridge. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how much fun we all had. We wore out our barkers cheering. Every single dogaroon up here was watching or competing except for the canines who manned the steak grills for the after party. Let me tell you, the waiting list to get those plum jobs is longer than an alligator's tail. EVERYONE wants to watch the steaks on the grill because they 'accidentally' fall off quite often and have to be rescued from hitting the ground.

Well, I need a long nap after all the excitement so I'm signing off for now. Mom and Dad are going to a retiree picnic today so Levi will get a long nap today, too. ©

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Big Boy Haircut

Before and after Levi's first haircut.
















Levi went to the poo-poo, fancy-do groomers today and came home looking like a little old man. How could Mom do that to him? He's only 21 weeks old! Gone is all his fluffy, silky-soft fur that bounced with each step when he ran. Gone is his stocky look that had my humans wondering if he really is a pure breed schnauzer like the breeder promised. He's got a waist line and long legs! Who knew? And ears, eyebrows, and a little tail. Levi was so fascinated by the newly discovered wiggly thing on his butt that he chased it for the first time in his young life. Mom thought Levi was going to turn out to be a muddy shade of medium gray and was shocked when she picked up a puppy that turned out to be mostly charcoal gray with light patches on his chest, face, legs and butt. I guess his big-boy haircut will grow on me. Poor little guy, though, he's been scratching since he came home. I think he's allergic to haircuts.

Looking more and more like a schnauzer...





































Short legs before the haircut, long legs afterwards (see below---photos taken the same day).



Well, I've got to get back to my friends up here at the Rainbow Bridge. I'm taking flyball lessons, can you believe that!? A bunch of us small-fry dogaroons are running the course today while the big dogs coach and cheer. ©

The Cost of Raising a Puppy

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First Year:
422.94---Adoption day costs 4/25/08
048.88---First pet store purchases
078.38---First trip to the vet
050.00---Puppy socialization class fee
012.53---Kong toy and treats
005.59---3rd trip to pet store - Kony toy
013.99---Eagle Holistic puppy food
125.32---2nd Vet appointment, shots and vaccinations
018.01---Colossal playmate duck
337.80---Animal Emergency, hurt paw 5/17/08
009.99---Doggie day pack
004.91---Travel blanket
033.00---Grooming, puppy intro.---bath & pretend haircut
020.00---Dog license 5/20/08
003.49---Rope for training 'come' command
110.00---Obedience class fee
028.51---Bag of dog food and two bags of treats
028.74---Bag of dog food and two bags of treats---again
100.00---Fee for Puppy Obedience 101 class 6/08
004.99---Gadget to clip leash and Levi to stationary objects
041.00---Grooming---haircut, bath and blow dry 6/18/08
007.90---Grooming comb 6/22/08
004.49---Kong football for playing outside
303.74---Neutering, blood work and micro-chipping 7/30/08
006.24---Onsie to wear so he can't pull out his stitches
028.74---Bag of dog food and two bags of treats
006.85---Flea comb for combing schnauzer beard
010.00---graduation day photo, obedience school
022.24---Bag of dog food and untangling comb 8/13/08
021.90---Easy Walk Harness, on line
003.99---Blinker for collar to use at night
110.00---Adult obedience class fee 9/13/08
028.61---Large bag of dog food
010.99---Winter coat
008.99---Pet bath wips
037.80---3 sentinel tablets, flea and heart worm medication
011.67---Squeaker duck and puppy treats 10/5/08
010.00---Homemade dog treats, farmer's market
026.95---Furminator - grooming tool
045.00---Grooming appointment 10/14/08
006.00---Squeaker toy
033.98---Eagle Holistic dog food 10/10/08
010.80---Wellness treats and new stuffie toy
028.61---Large bag of dog food 12/10/08
003.59---Christmas neck scarf
010.98---Small bag of adult dog food to mix with puppy food
020.07---Large frog stuffed toy - 12/31
045.00---Grooming appointment
037.80---3 Sentinel prevention pills 01/03/09
006.98---2 bags of training treats
011.65---Pull toy for Levi's play dates
033.36---Dog food and a $5.99 fleece toy
037.80---3 Sentinel pills 03/03/09
015.49---training pouch for walks
160.60---one year vet check up with shots
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$2,666.88 grand total spent for the first year in our puppy's life. This does not include the hat, bathrobe and two throw rugs Levi chewed up. We also had two cages and a dog bed left over from our previous dog plus assorted leashes and collars that we were able to recycle for Levi's use.

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