Didn't see too many people that I knew at the Thanksgiving get together. Sure was a lot of food! But, true to what I'd been promised .....all I got was some smells. Dog oh Dog there were some good smells! From my vantage point of course I couldn't see anything, but I know I smelled turkey and dressing....ham....candied yams....mashed potatoes...green bean casserole...broccoli cheese casserole... yeast rolls.....pumkin pie.....
Just think.....I used to get to eat all that stuff!.........I didn't get too much sleep last night. Just lay awake counting turkey legs!

I made several trips under the tables throughout the day looking for hand outs......dropped morsels.....anything! But nothing was to be had! Absolutely nothing was coming my way!............What's with these people?

Guess I'm gonna have to eat dog food again.

I did get to see some of my good buddies that used to come see me at the old place from time to time. Audrey and her husband Mike. They're really good peeps!. I say that because they are really into loving us four legged guys. They even had a new friend for me to meet. Sookie, a rescue Chihuahua isn't much bigger than the acorns that have been rubbing my belly outside in the yard. They also brought Flash to the Thanksgiving wingding. Flash is a red miniature Dachshund who is about 13 years old and is a sweet older dog.

When Audrey and Mike were leaving, we all met at the door for a treat. That's Sookie, Rascal, Flash, Me (Missy), and Dixie. All and all I'd have to say that we were all pretty well behaved for the most part.

I saw a couple of close calls where Rascal tried to throw his weight around.

 I think he's mostly all bark................




Poor little Sookie had a hard time trying to get around the acorns in the yard. ............She even borrowed a scene from Chicken Little when a acorn almost hit her on the head!....That was when she first got here! .....After that she ran around barking about the sky is falling....the sky is falling!

Crazy Chihuahua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All in all .........a very good Thanksgiving! Hope all of you had a good one as well!

As Sookie would say....."Hasta la vista ...baby!"

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Gonna get to see some new people this year I guess. At least this place is much bigger than where we used to get together. Kinda hard to get excited about it this year too. From what I understand there will be bookoos of food and I won't be getting any of it. ...Oh well..........

Hope yall all have a Great Thanksgiving and hope that you get all you want to eat!

Rascal Loses Focus

   Here we go again.......I've already explained the drill.
   Every day at any given time, day or night....we get turned outside to find a spot to do our "business". I have already tried to explain to these people that I don't need to traipse all over the yard and "find" a spot! I have the ideal spot right there in the house. That pretty white pee pad makes perfect sense to me! I've elaborated on the subject here before.
   Here is me and Dixie now.....trying to locate our perfect spot...#!%$&* acorns! .........don't have those next to my pee pad!

There he goes again! .....Rascal is supposed to be looking for his "special spot" too. He can't pass a tree without having to stop and check it out!

Me and Dixie came right by the same tree.......didn't smell anything out of the ordinary.......

How can he smell anything other than acorns!?

Nope........didn't smell nothing.....didn't see nothing.........didn't hear nothing. Nothing!

I really don't see the point Rascal!

Maybe there was something there earlier.......

Looks like he's gone now.

Makes a pretty picture though................

If there was a squirrel, I bet that's where he'd be..........

You really should be thinking about finding your
"spot"!...You know how these people frown on
"going" in the house!

Can't say I've ever seen you do that though...

They certainly think you can do no wrong!

HEY!!!!!!!!!

There is a squirrel up there!

ok............................

Good eye Rascal!..................

Or was it nose?.............

Acorns... Rug...Visit...Nap

   In an earlier post I mentioned that it appeared that most of the acorns had fallen. ...I was mistaken! The South wind has been blowing hard for the last 24 hours and the acorns have been hitting the roof with a sound not unlike machine gun fire.

    If my belly itched ......a short stroll through the yard would certainly be a welcome relief. But......My belly doesn't itch and these acorns are a pain!

  In earlier post I have pretty much made it perfectly clear that there is no need to go outside for a bathroom break.
..............and in my experienced opinion....any rug is as good as a pee pad!
   Hey!....These people have a front load washing machine and they know how to use it. They have plenty of washing detergent too!
   Why, why, why do I have to go outside, I ask? For 10 plus years it was perfectly OK to do my business inside! I never had any complaints before!
You can't expect me to change my ways overnight!
Hey..... you people "go" inside! I'm gonna have a talk with the other dogs.......

   Yea! Had a visitor yesterday! My ole buddy Denise came by to see me. It was really good to get to visit with her. Me and her go waaayyyy back!

    Kinda wish she wouldn't have picked me up for the picture though...... I don't do so well above ground level you know.

    I think it's that low center of gravity thing I have going on here......Whoa!

I post this picture just to prove a point.  ....Rascal is the favorite around here. If you didn't realize it by now, this should prove my point!.....Here he is taking  a nap with the big guy by the fire in the rocking chair! The rocking chair that came from my old place! That should be me cosying up by the fire!
    Me?....I gotta sleep on a pillow on the cold tile floor and hope somebody comes along and throws some cover on me!



I guess no one ever said that life was fair.............................

Heavy Hounds Shedding Pounds

   OK Folks........ .....I'm getting tired of all this talk about how Missy needs to lose weight.... Missy is waaaaay too heavy...... Missy has hips........Missy can't make it up the stairs.........I hear all the talk behind my back.......All the jokes........Come on now!.....Dogs have feelings too you know!

   Well I think it's time to do something....time to be proactive!...Time to get up off the pillow and get busy and lose some weight! ......All you heavy hounds out there....I need your support!

    What we need here is some incentive.......some competition....some dog pack mentality to ban together and help each other out! ..............I propose a contest!

The Biggest Loser Contest For Dogs

Info on the contest is as follows:

All you heavy hounds out there.....send me your most unflattering picture.

Send those pics to darstcreekelviejo@gmail.com

Other info needed to enter the contest:

Dog's name

A short bio on the dog

A picture of the dog on a scale with a posted weight to begin the contest as well as the same to end the contest

The contest will begin January 1st 2011 and ends December 31st 2011.

Most weight lost during that time wins one bag of chicken treats and one bag of pee pads

During the duration of the contest I will be posting pics of my creative weight loss ideas. I will also post some of yours if you send any in. 

Remember.......Our Motto...............

Heavy Hounds Shedding Pounds

Home Field Advantage

   It's hard fitting in at a new place...... Remember when, as a kid, your family had to move across town and you had to change schools? Remember how it was in the beginning with all the new school kids having their little clicqs and their established pecking order? ........It was kinda hard to fit in....find your niche. ...Remember?
Well that's a little how I've been feeling lately.

   Rascal is obviously the top dog around here! I mean really....anyone that can't see that he is, needs to get their head outta the gopher hole! .........That's ok though....I mean I get it. He's cute, he's athletic, he loves to chase the ball, he's first when it comes to greeting the big guy, he can catch a squirrel, catch a mouse, aggravate a chicken, jump higher than a kangaroo ......whatever! The list goes on and on and on....... He's really a great dog!

Then there's Dixie........ Dixie Dog......Dixie Do Little...she answers to all the a fore mentioned. .....She's been here longer than Rascal so she has more seniority.....right? Yeah she has more seniority, but I can tell you that everything revolves around that darn Rascal! .....Dixie is the steady one. Not much bothers her. Well....sure she'll chase a chicken if she's provoked. She's a lot like me in a lotta ways ........Sleep all day and night if she can get away with it. Eat whatever she can get her paws on, but as you can see.....she has been a little more restricted on her diet than myself. She has that slim and trim look going there. Maybe her metabolism is different from mine!...Yeah that's it!....It's a metabolism thing!   Hey on the negative side...she has been known to hide a pile behind the TV when the need presents itself!..Bad Dog!........
Bad Dog!..........................OK ...so maybe I've been guilty of the same thing from time to time. .....It's the stress I tell ya!  .....Dixie.....she's a sweet dog!

 Then we eventually get to me.....Missy Missy Missy as I'm known around here. Alias ...New Kid on the Block.......And remember....I have that slow metabolism thing going on. I'm kinda low key.........kay serah serah......whatever......woof ..woof.... OK ...done my part. Let's get something to eat and go back to sleep..........

  

Pee Pad Princess

          Where I used to live, I was thought of as the Pee Pad Princess. Everybody knew it!.... It was no secret...let me tell ya!  After all...I was an inside dog, and there were those darn stairs when I'd go outside!..........No problem going down, but a  BIG problem going back up! ... It takes a Lotta effort to get this body moving in an up-hill direction! You know what I mean.......?

...And there was always those nice BIG pee pads ! ......................I couldn't miss! 

 Now don't get me wrong.....I can "go" outside.
No Problem!.......ANY time I want to.

But...... they expect me to go out in the DARK!

How well do you see at night? I'm eleven years old!  Seven dog years = one of your human years. You do the math! I don't see so well out there in the dark!.....AND....AND........We are in the COUNTRY! There are WILD animals out here! I could bump into an armadillo or skunk or something worse!

Coyotes, owls, and snakes....oh my!

Coyotes, owls and snakes .... OH MY!


You really just never know what could be lurking out beyond the yard lights!

I'll just stay inside where it's nice and safe

Pee on my pad..... for it's no disgrace

My goal ....as always .... to avoid a scene

And advance my stature as the Pee Pad Queen!

Yard Mowing Hound Dog

The Big Guy has finally decided to cut the grass and leaves, and chop up the acorns!

It's about time!.....I think the last of the acorns have fallen.

Of course there's still lots of leaves yet to fall.

At least maybe I'll have a few days without acorns and leaves scratching my belly when I go out in the yard.

Yeah That's right I got to be a part of the action......

Didn't say I liked it.................................

Nice clean and short grass.

Just the way I like it!

I feel like my legs have suddenly grown an inch! ............course my belly still skims across the grass...........

Heck....my belly drags the floor in the house.

Kinda embarrassing I know!



Anyway..................Thanks Big Guy!

We Love Ya Man!

OK....OK......It's another work day.....Judge Judy is on......where is Dennis?..... He usually gets home about this time.
Rascal must have heard his truck as he pulled into the driveway because he bolted to the door and here we wait.........and we wait.......and we wait................any minute now Debbie will open the door.....any second now... that door will open and we will charge out and show the love to the big guy!

There he is!...wag, wag, wag. wag, wag...........


Hot Diggity Dog! Dennis is finally home!


Whoooooo Hoooooooooooo!!!!!!

Course Rascal is the first one to get to him! Show Off!

That's ok though cause me and Dixie get our backs scratched too!

OH that feels good!.........Dog oh Dog that does feel good!.......................................

I gota say......the big guy really knows how to make a dog feel special.

Really ...Really Special

He is a really great guy!

Aight .......... That's enuff sucking up for one day






NOW..... let's get to those chicken treats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I'm talkin bout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                     Rascal is a show off !!!!

Chickens...It's A Love/Hate Relationship

They have chickens here at the new place. Not big chickens.....little chickens....Bantees I think they call them. Every afternoon they feed the chickens and gather any eggs that the chicken snakes haven't gotten yet. These people make a big deal outa going out to the chicken pen! All us dogs have to participate!

Here we go.....heading out to feed the chickens. What's the big deal?

I don't get it!

Rascal evidently lives for this moment though! As soon as the door opens he races ahead to be the first dog there! ......Of course he is the first one anywhere!

Me and Dixie don't really see the rush.............
although she does get there before me.

I mean aren't they really just two-legged lizards with feathers?!

Can't we go camping instead? I see the 5th wheel over there.

I am going to get to go camping aren't I?

  Look! Rascal's already on his way back! Why don't we all go back inside and take a nap?

Dang these acorns....rubbing my belly!

.............Wonder what they taste like?

um...kinda bitter

yeah...ok....I'm here...............Here I am....................

Here chicky, chicky.......................

                                 I still don't get it..........


           What's all the fuss about?!

       two-legged lizards with feathers!.................

Ya seen one........ you've seen them all.................



                                Now here is some chicken I can get excited about!

                                                                   Best Treats Ever!

Hey Santa!

Don't Forget Me!

Rascal ...My Exercise Coach

I need to say a few words about Rascal the Jack Russell. He is the most energetic, athletic mutt I have ever encountered. He lives to hunt and chase anything that will run from him. When inside, he likes to "hunt" squirrels from the Dining Room bay window. If a squirrel is spotted, he sets up a blood curdling howl and heads to the door  Whoooaaaa be unto the fat rolley polley dachshund that may be in his way!!!
Feels like being bowled over by a NFL linebacker!

When he gets to the door he jumps and barks until someone opens it for him.


On the tile floor he runs like Wiley Coyote chasing the Road Runner!

Once outside he chases the squirrel up a tree and checks out all the places that he has been.

Gopher Hunting

Between the gophers and Rascal the yard looks like an exploded mine field

This guy can dig!

They want me to try to keep up with this guy!

No table scraps! AND keep up with this guy!

Lets get one thing straight folks.....................

I am an over weight, sleep all day, belly dragging, exercise hating, dachshund!......Lets keep it that way!

Eat..... Sleep....and More

Bathroom

  All the dogs are closed up in the downstairs bathroom at night and while Dennis and Debbie are away. Where I used to live I only had one place to sleep, I now have two. My over night bed is in the bathroom and for a change of pace I have a pallet in the living room for the day time. My exercise consist of walking from bed to bed, from bed to food/water dish, from bed to pee pad, and from bed to the occasional romp outside with the other dogs. I really can't complain about the sleeping accommodations. They even come by and cover me up!

Living Room

Here we are heading outside Not my best side...................but I have no control over these things. I'm not even sure why we're heading outside. From time to time every body gets all excited and here we go.....outside. I usually will do my business while I'm out there, but heck I can do all that inside any time I want! They keep a pee pad in the bathroom and that's where I always go. I mean whether I need to go or not....that's what it's there for .....right?

  I'm always the last one out....and the last one in. What's the rush? That's what I wanta know!........
Rascal Is always first one anywhere! Y'all knew that though I bet.
Did I mention they have acorns in the yard here? Lots of acorns!...I only mention it cause they rub my belly when I walk through the yard.

   When I come back in the house... I get a treat! Let me tell ya...they have some really good chicken treats here! If you ever come to visit me, you might wanta think about bringing me and the other dogs some. I'll find out what they are and post a pic later.

Big Step...Little Step....A Step in the Right Direction

   It's a BIG step moving forward. Kinda sad too. ..........Gona miss the old place ......chasing squirrels, barking at the mailman, eating hamburgers with fries, barking at the free roaming dogs that came too close to my fence, eating Angel Food cake with Cool Whip, sleepin in the living room under the lamp table and watching the Spurs and Cowboys with Oma. But, ...........things change and time marches on. I gota learn to change with the times. I can do it. ......I know I can.

   One thing I certainly wont miss will be those BIG Steps into and outa the house. Front and back!... BIG Steps! Big Steps make for a hard life for a BIG dog with SHORT legs! 

  
Getting around at the new place is much easier because of the low steps at all the entry ways. These people really knew what they were doing when they built this pad! Even a weight challenged weiner dog such as myself can easily manuver in and out. ....just don't rush me.

 
   I guess I should bring everyone up to speed with whats been going on since I got here.
 First off, Rascal was not too keen on my moving in. I think he had heard about my love for people food and felt a little threatened. We are getting along a lot better now. I have learned to keep away from him when it's his turn at the food dish and no people food has been passed around to the hounds since I arrived.
  Course Dixie and I are sisters, so we have pretty much always gotten along well. She used to come stay with me and Oma sometimes when Dennis and Debbie went traveling. ...I'm not sure what kind of arrangements will be made when they travel now. Hope I get to go along! (wag wag wag).

Tabby Preuss and her boyfriend Greg came out last Sunday (Halloween) and gave me a bath and trimed my toe nails!....Boy that was scarry! Not when they did me, but when they did Rascal! Boy they geared up like they were going into battle!. I discovered why when they got started. He was not very well mannered about the whole process.

Well I should tell you that Brooke and her daddy came to visit for the weekend. Seems it's deer season. Brooke's dad Russell got an 8 point buck. Must have been a big deal....seems like everybody was pretty excited.