The Fig Newton Incident

Peaches the bear

We went to Florida for Thanksgiving. We drove down, roughly a 2500 mile round trip with 4 dachshunds. That may sound crazy, but we don't have teenagers at home to watch them because they don't want to go places with us. Now we have to drive long distances to see our twenty something children. So we try to make it in two days. First day went real well until the hotel we were planning to stay at had changed their pet policy last June. Then we were trying to find one that would without charging 25 dollars a dog or limiting the number of dogs. We found a place, but didn't get precise about the number of dogs we had. They were good, only one woof out of all of them (Fooze) and no accidents. However the next morning we had the Fig Newton incident. We left pretty early, planning to stop for breakfast, (no buffet available). I had wanted to go to McDonald's so we didn't have to get out of the car. Missed the exit, next exit few options. Okay, let's go to the Waffle House, it'll be quick. I could write a whole story about how screwed up breakfast was, but I'll get to the point.

Road Ready

 I was going back to the car with a piece of bacon when I quickly realized something was amiss. Miss Peaches had gotten into the sealed container we had snacks in, and she had taken out an almost full package of Fig Newton's and consumed them. I'm not sure that the other dogs got any. She's not one to share such booty. Besides that Sandie was in the front seat and both the boys were in the way back making like they had no part of this situation. Needless to say no one got any bacon. I cleaned up  the wrappers and crumbs, some scolding went on and we went on our way. Peachy kinda laid there like a beached whale for most of the day, but I know she would do it again in a heart beat. We have decided we need a bear proof metal box to keep our snacks in because Peachy is a marauding bear when it comes to anything edible in the car.

Drabble knows his dachshund- Wally

close to home

 Naturally Wally got up early because we turned the clocks back. Well, it's been the same thing here too. Spaatz and Foozie especially. I find myself kinda awake too because we're used to the dogs eating and going out and back to bed. So I'm awake, and my bladder is full, and there's a dachshund standing on me adding to the pressure. I'm not waiting any longer, their tummy alarm went off and I gotta go.

Eventually we'll all adjust to the new time. It never ceases to amaze how accurate their tummy clocks are to the minute. Like the other day I was in the kitchen making a cheesecake and they were just watching and waiting. Then all of the sudden Miss Peach comes up to me and gives me the look, and sure enough, it's 5 o'clock on the nose. This happens all the time, a body clock accurate to the minute.

HAPPY HALLOWIENER!!

So I had to do it. My daughter sent me a photo of the Hallowiener dog and it was pretty much a lock I would get one. I mean come on, I'm surrounded by dachshunds and all things dachshundy. Although  it's not worrisome like some collections I've seen.

Step aerobics not for dachshunds

I once knew a lady with a panda obsession. I'm talking thousands of them, an entire room devoted to them. There is a smattering of dachshund things about the house, but if you look around and always see one it's probably a real one.

Ole' blue eye

I thought the hallowiener was good because that was all the decorating I was going to do this year. I think it says it all for me. I also have a Christmas wiener too, it's a little bigger though. That will make it's way out after Thanksgiving.

Miss Peaches, dreaming of biscuits

Maybe someone will come up with a pilgrim themed dachshund for Thanksgiving, Then I could keep it going all through the fall and holiday season. Think about it, what other breed consistently pops up in holiday decorations? A generic dog maybe, but everyone knows the wienerdog

Sandiepoo getting a better view

So Happy Hallowiener everyone! I have to go now, I  have a wire haired dachshund in my lap and smoothie behind me in the chair, and I'm typing with one hand. My left hand. Ah, the life of a dachshund owner, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Dachshund Can't Navigate the Blankets?

A dachshund that isn't an absolute professional at infiltrating any sort of bedding or blankets? Well, it would have to be Sandie. She is my "not the sharpest tool in the shed" dachshund. When Sandie comes to get under the covers she stops short, not sure what she should do. Now with the other dogs I just lift the covers and they scoot underneath, heading to "their spot". Everyone has a spot. Foozer will sometimes take Peaches spot and that doesn't go over well. She will come back out of the covers and may make several attempts to get to her spot and doesn't  understand why he's still there. She eventually stuffs herself next to him. Spaatz likes to sleep with his head on my shoulder. Then there is Miss Sandie, she stops and I go to help her and she turns into a rag doll, unable to move on her own. This where I grab her and stuff her under the covers like that last item you stick in your suitcase as you run out the door. Then she might try to take Spaatz's place, also not happening. Eventually everyone settles down and all is well.

Professional Blanket Navigators

   

Early Signs of Dachshunds

I have mentioned before that my husband is the dog warden for our town for the last 14 years. Recently we picked up a dog and the owner didn't notice the dog was missing for over 24 hours. This was a smaller breed that spends time inside the house. This scenario I personally can't imagine. First of all if you have dachshunds there is a good chance that they sleep by your side. Second, even before you wake you may be acutely aware  of their presence. I may have a dog tucked under each arm, or sometimes when it's about time to get up it feels like someone is standing on me. Not a person of course,but I feel four, sometimes eight feet walking around or just standing, and you know your being stared at. This is just Spaatz and Foozie standing on me, hoping I'll get up. Not that there is much choice in the matter.

The other day, when I opened my eyes there was nothing but this big dark shape before me blocking my view of almost everything. What is this? The zombie apocalypse? No, how silly, but Spaatz was laying so his nose was a half inch from my eyeball. Ooh, a little early for the close encounters. Then there is always Miss Peachy who will not growl, but grumble I would say because it IS time for her to be patted, and she will complain until I comply. I usually just need for her to get closer to my hand so I can rub her scruffy head without actually getting up.  Once you get up, when you want to make the bed you may find you have some sizable lumps in it and you have to ask them to leave. Even then the lumps may return when your not looking. So not noticing the dog was missing, not possible. I feel oddly alone if there's not at least one dog in the room.                                  

Peachy the Mouser

Miss Peaches, the wire haired dachshund is known for her hunting abilities. She has taken down snakes, squirrels, chipmunks and tag teamed a woodchuck or two. Over the past weekend while staying with relatives, she earned her keep once again. Out in the Connecticut country we were staying with my husband's sister and her taller than average husband. We always have fun when we're together. Their home is a converted dairy barn. As one might imagine, it's fall, the mice are starting to move in.The same thing happens at my house. After being shown a place where a mouse had been previously removed Peach got on the case. Sniffing and snuffling around and letting it be known where the best place to look. A cabinet was moved and she ended up killing two mice and pointing out (with her nose) a nest, or mouse house as we call them, was also removed. Good job Peachy! Usually when we go there, she concentrates on critters out in the yard and has only managed to get extremely dirty. This time, in closed quarters she she came up aces and eliminated the vermin. With dachshunds, when they can't find a badger, anything that moves will do.

There was a lot of barking over the weekend, but all is quiet now.

  

DANGER- Tripping Hazard

Say it isn't so. Little Sandie, a tripping hazard. Well, as it happens, it is true. Now all dachshunds are a tripping hazard, but when when you are used to having them around it's not that big a deal. One tends to shuffle around so as to just push little doggies out of the way instead of tripping over them. This is especially a good idea when you have a bunch of them, there is a really good chance there is one of them in the path of your next step. Now my husband and I know that Sandie Poo isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Unlike Spaatz who can actually have the thought process to be devious. Sandie is very sweet and a little dumb, but that's okay except when she actually decides to run between my feet when I am walking. I am not quite as graceful as I once was and this, well it's hazardous. She's nearly taken me down a few times. It's mainly when I ask the dogs if they would like to go out. Which is really a dumb question, unless it's raining. 

Anyway, they all start running for the back door, and on occasion Sandie will decide to run between my feet whilst I'm walking. Fortunately I haven't hit the ground yet, and trying to tell her not to do that. You know, Sandie, blah blah, blah blah blah. Got that? Good.

My moon and stars