Schatzi did not feel good.
We would have never known, because she was playing like every other morning.
Squeaking the green Willy, racing up the bed stairs, throwing her toys on the floor, looking over the edge to see how far away they landed, then dashing off and catching the squeaky. Up into bed ---- she huffs and puffs , the tongue is hanging out -- but she never gets tired of this game.
Molly in the meantime sleeps in the race track and gets run over frequently.
Breakfast is served --- and no takers.
It is nothing new for Molly, she barely is ever interested, a little sniff and she walks away.
Schatzi cleans her bowl and moves over to Molly's, seeing how vigilant is mom this morning and how much she can sneak before it is snatched up.
Her food stayed untouched and she showed no interest to see what Molly left.
Dad cut way down on the peanut butter bites for the birds, because we were being invaded by the pigeon flock from the chimney across the street.
Schatzi was not interested and could not even be enticed by a little piece of Muenster cheese.
Okay, an upset tummy can happen. No reason to get worried.
During the day she vomited a little foam, tinged beige.
I am always looking for blood, but I still have no experience recognizing it.
Later came a torrent of dark brown liquid -- just like chocolate syrup.. Her snout was dirty and she had to have her feet washed off.
Of course, it is Sunday and the emergency vet's office cannot diagnose anything over the phone . I opted to wait to see our Doc. in the morning, unless things got worse.
Dr. Chmelka felt her tummy, which was tender, she was dehydrated again, bloody stool sample, blood test , fever, no parvo and no pancreatitis.
Schatzi had to stay in the hospital with an I V to be rehydrated again !
The doc was not sure what was the problem possibly a virus that causes intestinal bleeding....... rods.... white blood cells...... too much chemistry in his phone call
She got antibiotics and could go home in the evening, still with a catheter in her leg.
Schatzi was sooooo happy to get home ! She ate chicken and rice with water, another small meal before bedtime, everything stayed in and she had a good night's sleep.
Molly was very worried all day.
Every time the car stopped, we lost some one. Schatzi at the vet, mom at the pool, and when Dad asked her, if she would like to go with, she did not move.
The odds were really bad, Molly figured , she would be left behind the next time.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Fox , Bear and Wolves oh my !
A hint of rain, probably the last one this season. And a tiny dusting of snow on the Peak in the morning. It does not stay yet, but it looks like fall is not very far. The aspens in the high country are turning golden everywhere.
Dad built up the doggie seat in the Lincoln again.
The car is starting it's 17 th year and ever since the dachsies were riding in style.
Several soft sided suit cases were the base, followed by an old comforter to fill all the places where a little dog could fall in. The last layer is a huge green pillow, where everyone is sitting and watch the world dash by.
Schatzi was terrified in the car at first until she discovered people watching in busy parking lots.
Now she loves going anywhere and is very disappointed if she has to stay at home.
Molly of course is a pro at being in the car.
A pick up truck turned in front of us, with a sign on it that said : Yes, they are wolves !
In the bed were 2 huge kennels and part of a tall chain link fence. Out of the kennels looked 2 very big dark gray wolves, which came from the Colorado Wildlife Foundation .
Dad stopped beside the pick up in the next lane and Molly could not believe her eyes. She started to bark , Schatzi had no idea what it was all about until she saw the wolves staring down at her. What a bark concert ! Fearless little girls ..... the wolves could eat them just for an appetizer !
Red lights don't last forever and the guys in the pick up are probably still laughing.
Dad built up the doggie seat in the Lincoln again.
The car is starting it's 17 th year and ever since the dachsies were riding in style.
Several soft sided suit cases were the base, followed by an old comforter to fill all the places where a little dog could fall in. The last layer is a huge green pillow, where everyone is sitting and watch the world dash by.
Schatzi was terrified in the car at first until she discovered people watching in busy parking lots.
Now she loves going anywhere and is very disappointed if she has to stay at home.
Molly of course is a pro at being in the car.
A pick up truck turned in front of us, with a sign on it that said : Yes, they are wolves !
In the bed were 2 huge kennels and part of a tall chain link fence. Out of the kennels looked 2 very big dark gray wolves, which came from the Colorado Wildlife Foundation .
Dad stopped beside the pick up in the next lane and Molly could not believe her eyes. She started to bark , Schatzi had no idea what it was all about until she saw the wolves staring down at her. What a bark concert ! Fearless little girls ..... the wolves could eat them just for an appetizer !
Red lights don't last forever and the guys in the pick up are probably still laughing.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Window on the World
Molly staked out the window seat a long time ago and for a more comfy perch, the back of the couch by the window too.
There is not much action going on in our quiet street.
The UPS truck stops with screeching brakes , the mail man when it is almost dark, several dogs pass by taking their owners for a sniff, the neighbor has the audacity to park in his drive way and a lot of fast cars are dashing by.
The most exiting moments are a few little kids walking home from school.
And of course, there is a glimpse of Abbey.
Every time you wonder if she is still around, she puts in an appearance. She must be 20 some years old, she lives here ever since we moved into this house and this is 30 years ago.
Molly describes what is happening and the little Pomeranian hops up and down in front of the window on her hind legs and still can't see a thing.
Dad : We have to buy steps !
I say no way, the house is full.
We were looking for an easy solution and found it on the mantle.
We have a large flat wooden box with metal hinges that is occupied by a chain saw carved teddy bear.
This box was used for storing ammunition for a cannon.
We neither have the ordnance nor the cannon , but the box is a handy step up for Schatzi.
She mulled this new contraption over for a day, climbed on carefully and could not believe the big world out there. A little clumsy at first, and by the next try, Schatzi climbed on the window bench and is hooked ever since.
Jumping down needed a short lesson from Dad. Instead of flying about 6 feet and landing on her head, he showed her how to climb over the arm of the couch first ( with a trail of little cheese bites ) and then slowly hop onto the carpet.
She is a smart little girl and catches on real fast.
There is not much action going on in our quiet street.
The UPS truck stops with screeching brakes , the mail man when it is almost dark, several dogs pass by taking their owners for a sniff, the neighbor has the audacity to park in his drive way and a lot of fast cars are dashing by.
The most exiting moments are a few little kids walking home from school.
And of course, there is a glimpse of Abbey.
Every time you wonder if she is still around, she puts in an appearance. She must be 20 some years old, she lives here ever since we moved into this house and this is 30 years ago.
Molly describes what is happening and the little Pomeranian hops up and down in front of the window on her hind legs and still can't see a thing.
Dad : We have to buy steps !
I say no way, the house is full.
We were looking for an easy solution and found it on the mantle.
We have a large flat wooden box with metal hinges that is occupied by a chain saw carved teddy bear.
This box was used for storing ammunition for a cannon.
We neither have the ordnance nor the cannon , but the box is a handy step up for Schatzi.
She mulled this new contraption over for a day, climbed on carefully and could not believe the big world out there. A little clumsy at first, and by the next try, Schatzi climbed on the window bench and is hooked ever since.
Jumping down needed a short lesson from Dad. Instead of flying about 6 feet and landing on her head, he showed her how to climb over the arm of the couch first ( with a trail of little cheese bites ) and then slowly hop onto the carpet.
She is a smart little girl and catches on real fast.
A big Milestone
Schatzi achieved a tremendous milestone : She ate a few little pieces of cheese out of my hand !
Big deal , you say. All the dogs I knew practically took my hand off when you don't feed them fast enough.
For a mill dog to have enough trust to take something directly from one's hand is quite a feat.
It took Schatzi more than 5 months to feel secure enough to accept a treat without fear of being mistreated.
Eating the few little bites this time were not an accident like it happened a few times before.
She loves cheese, she reached for it and instantly realized, oh boy, this is really against all rules. The next bite then already was " no way " and she turned her head away. We just have to drop it into her basket and then she would pick it up and eat it. Or she would store it and keep watch over it.
Poor Molly, if she walked too close to Schatzi's basket, she get snarled at, had to detour around the wrinkled nose, the pulled up tiny teeth and the growling.
We tried it again with the same cheese, Muenster,and later with a bit of smoked turkey.
Schatzi took it again straight out of my hand.
For Dad to feed her out of his hand, took a day longer.
What a doggie ! She must finally feel comfortable with us.
Big deal , you say. All the dogs I knew practically took my hand off when you don't feed them fast enough.
For a mill dog to have enough trust to take something directly from one's hand is quite a feat.
It took Schatzi more than 5 months to feel secure enough to accept a treat without fear of being mistreated.
Eating the few little bites this time were not an accident like it happened a few times before.
She loves cheese, she reached for it and instantly realized, oh boy, this is really against all rules. The next bite then already was " no way " and she turned her head away. We just have to drop it into her basket and then she would pick it up and eat it. Or she would store it and keep watch over it.
Poor Molly, if she walked too close to Schatzi's basket, she get snarled at, had to detour around the wrinkled nose, the pulled up tiny teeth and the growling.
We tried it again with the same cheese, Muenster,and later with a bit of smoked turkey.
Schatzi took it again straight out of my hand.
For Dad to feed her out of his hand, took a day longer.
What a doggie ! She must finally feel comfortable with us.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Mollie's Really Big Hunt
Just when I thought the hunting season is slowing down, the yard is filling back up again.
The fox ran away from me !
It is getting dark early by now and it is still so hot, that the door stays open longer when the AC is not on.
There was the fox waiting for dinner !
I just wanted to introduce myself and ask if he prefers kidneys or heart.
I dashed down into the yard and he impolitely raced off and escaped over the fence.
Of course I got all the credit for being such a brave dachsie , because Schatzi is not going out in the late afternoon , let alone in the dark !
Now the yard is overstocked with Wildebeest. They walk around slowly and eat all my peanut butter sandwiches. If I fly like an arrow toward them, they lift off and scatter with lot's of noise. How much fun ! Andy calls them doves, I prefer Wildebeest.
Dad hurt his ankle and hobbles around with a pair of flip flops tied to his leg. The doc called this an air cast.
Early in the morning, Schatzi wakes Dad up so we have to go out and pee. I rather stay in bed, but this one time only it was really really really worth it !
Dad hobbles into the kitchen and slides the door open.
I knew this instant something really big was going on ! I raced left,to where the bird feeders are hanging and got into my best berserk barking mode. This is even a step higher than pandemonium barking.
The big red feeder had crashed on the ground and there was a gigantic black cat rooting through the dry plants. I was in awe of the gigantic cat, when I realized, the cat was a black bear !
Schatzi is scrambling down the stairs and Dad is yelling to us, to get back into the house immediately.
The bear ambled into the big spruce and started to climb up into the tree. The squirrels up there must have been scared out of their little peanut sized brains.
The scariest thing for them are cars. They never heard of a St. Bernhard sized black bear climbing up into their condo.
The bear changed its mind and jumped down the branches with lot's of noise, breaking some in the commotion. The bear reappears on the other side of the tree and heads for the fence. He climbed over it, just when the screaming woman from the Shut up House yells, " Oh my God, we have a bear ! "
So, there was another bear, maybe the mom or another cub.
I did not see the other bear, but one was enough for an exiting adventure so early in the morning.
Can you top having a bear in your own yard ?
Hardly.
The fox ran away from me !
It is getting dark early by now and it is still so hot, that the door stays open longer when the AC is not on.
There was the fox waiting for dinner !
I just wanted to introduce myself and ask if he prefers kidneys or heart.
I dashed down into the yard and he impolitely raced off and escaped over the fence.
Of course I got all the credit for being such a brave dachsie , because Schatzi is not going out in the late afternoon , let alone in the dark !
Now the yard is overstocked with Wildebeest. They walk around slowly and eat all my peanut butter sandwiches. If I fly like an arrow toward them, they lift off and scatter with lot's of noise. How much fun ! Andy calls them doves, I prefer Wildebeest.
Dad hurt his ankle and hobbles around with a pair of flip flops tied to his leg. The doc called this an air cast.
Early in the morning, Schatzi wakes Dad up so we have to go out and pee. I rather stay in bed, but this one time only it was really really really worth it !
Dad hobbles into the kitchen and slides the door open.
I knew this instant something really big was going on ! I raced left,to where the bird feeders are hanging and got into my best berserk barking mode. This is even a step higher than pandemonium barking.
The big red feeder had crashed on the ground and there was a gigantic black cat rooting through the dry plants. I was in awe of the gigantic cat, when I realized, the cat was a black bear !
Schatzi is scrambling down the stairs and Dad is yelling to us, to get back into the house immediately.
The bear ambled into the big spruce and started to climb up into the tree. The squirrels up there must have been scared out of their little peanut sized brains.
The scariest thing for them are cars. They never heard of a St. Bernhard sized black bear climbing up into their condo.
The bear changed its mind and jumped down the branches with lot's of noise, breaking some in the commotion. The bear reappears on the other side of the tree and heads for the fence. He climbed over it, just when the screaming woman from the Shut up House yells, " Oh my God, we have a bear ! "
So, there was another bear, maybe the mom or another cub.
I did not see the other bear, but one was enough for an exiting adventure so early in the morning.
Can you top having a bear in your own yard ?
Hardly.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Mollie is slowing down
This weekend is the official end of the summer. Balloon Festival and BBQs !
It is about time, because I absolutely hate the heat and I am sick of the days in the 90ties and upper 80ties.
The nights are quite a bit cooler already because of the clear air and lack of humidity in the high desert.
I promised I would not complain this summer about the heat, and I did not. Hating the heat does not qualify as complaining. Good thing is, I can always retreat into the AC when it is necessary.
Schatzi is acting strange for two days already.
Andy is wearing a new khaki shirt and he is wondering , if that color might cause flash backs from her bad life in the mill.
She is barking at him , bolting out of her basket and sliding along the floor trying to get away from him. Schatzi will not be picked up and we cannot catch her without scaring her.
She races into the absolute last corner of the house, the south east corner which is full with obstacles. There is a plant stand, a very low tea cart and a doll carriage loaded with teddy bears. My desk and Mollies new bed keep everything confined.
Andy will see, if changing his outfit can calm her down.
Mollie on the other hand calmed down tremendously.
She realized that the backyard will be there in the morning again. So she happily can do tomorrow what did not get done today. Sounds like me. She can take real naps and even sits in the sun occasionally.
Especially the big game hunting lost a lot of its luster.
The squirrels don't play by the rules, they don't want to be caught. There is no need for 3 feet vertical jumps either since the squirrels heckle her from way higher up. Most of the birds left for safer grounds and even the fox rescheduled his dinner hour for when Mollie is in bed already.
Truly lazy days. I suspect, it will get more interesting in the winter again.
School started at least a week ago and Mollie is studying too.
Every time someone opens the big cupboard, she stands right there and pays attention. Oh, the fragrance ! Coffee, rice, pasta, lots of cereal boxes and the better stuff like chewies from the vet and the oh so delicious bacon filled rolled beef chewies from Brazil.
Bummer, they have been recalled because of salmonella. Last year it was doggie food from China. Mollie is a fan of Chinese food.
Mollie will study how to open the cupboard and then graduate to the really difficult course : " How to open the Fridge. "
This might take a few semesters.
It is about time, because I absolutely hate the heat and I am sick of the days in the 90ties and upper 80ties.
The nights are quite a bit cooler already because of the clear air and lack of humidity in the high desert.
I promised I would not complain this summer about the heat, and I did not. Hating the heat does not qualify as complaining. Good thing is, I can always retreat into the AC when it is necessary.
Schatzi is acting strange for two days already.
Andy is wearing a new khaki shirt and he is wondering , if that color might cause flash backs from her bad life in the mill.
She is barking at him , bolting out of her basket and sliding along the floor trying to get away from him. Schatzi will not be picked up and we cannot catch her without scaring her.
She races into the absolute last corner of the house, the south east corner which is full with obstacles. There is a plant stand, a very low tea cart and a doll carriage loaded with teddy bears. My desk and Mollies new bed keep everything confined.
Andy will see, if changing his outfit can calm her down.
Mollie on the other hand calmed down tremendously.
She realized that the backyard will be there in the morning again. So she happily can do tomorrow what did not get done today. Sounds like me. She can take real naps and even sits in the sun occasionally.
Especially the big game hunting lost a lot of its luster.
The squirrels don't play by the rules, they don't want to be caught. There is no need for 3 feet vertical jumps either since the squirrels heckle her from way higher up. Most of the birds left for safer grounds and even the fox rescheduled his dinner hour for when Mollie is in bed already.
Truly lazy days. I suspect, it will get more interesting in the winter again.
School started at least a week ago and Mollie is studying too.
Every time someone opens the big cupboard, she stands right there and pays attention. Oh, the fragrance ! Coffee, rice, pasta, lots of cereal boxes and the better stuff like chewies from the vet and the oh so delicious bacon filled rolled beef chewies from Brazil.
Bummer, they have been recalled because of salmonella. Last year it was doggie food from China. Mollie is a fan of Chinese food.
Mollie will study how to open the cupboard and then graduate to the really difficult course : " How to open the Fridge. "
This might take a few semesters.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Sneaking up to 5 months
It is rare to see clouds in the morning . It was just before sunrise and a big part of the eastern sky was intensely red and orange . For a few minutes it looked like the prairie was on fire.
We are sneaking up on having Schatzi 5 months already and Molli going on 6 weeks.
Schatzi sleeps in a little past 6 now, which is a relief for all of us, including Mollie. She cuddles under the blankets with Dad , mostly right in the traffic lane, where Schatzi does not see her when she hops up from the doggie stairs. Growling and yipping , Mollie sighs and might as well go out too and pee. The longer to sleep in later.
We mostly still sleep with the AC at night, hoping to have less allergies in the morning, especially Andy.
We open the window very early in the morning and Schatzi's " radio " is on. She curls up on the blanket and listens intently to all the sounds coming from the street. She is sorting out what is what : Garage door slowly rattles open, a guy on a Harley enjoys waking up the neighborhood, what ,a dinosaur roaring ? No, really a garbage truck with screeching brakes in the distance, a utility truck beeps while backing up, several dogs barking, a front end of a car scraping the drive way hump ----- her little ears are moving left and right and you can see her brain working. She cannot see anything from her listening post in bed except the sky -- a virtual theater for the ears.
Steve mowed our lawn for the last 6 weeks while Dad was gone.
Years ago, when Schnapps was defending us from anybody in a wide perimeter around the house, Steve and his wife Neicha were cutting the grass in Betty's yard.
The garage door was open just a tad, Schnapps slipped under it and bit Neicha in a heel. We had to call Andy in West Virginia and inquired about Colorado dog law. He had no idea about that particular law.
In the meantime we found out, after Clar's husband almost got his face bitten off that there are no penalties and that the Humane Society does not pursue dog bites.
Steve still has his lawn service, and now he has Buddy, who works with him. Buddy must be the biggest dog I ever met, a massive, muscular, probably Mastiff and a sweet heart. Buddy keeps Steve company and guards what ever equipment is in the truck.
When Buddy comes up on the deck, the girls go totally insane with barking, hopping up and down against the glass door, charging and yelling until they are exhausted
.
Any lawn mower noise in the area now has been associated with Buddy appearing here any second now !
Molly and Schatzi go into their mayhem performance with yipping, barking, racing around and doing their best to get all worked up. Molly flies up to the window bench without missing a step and Schatzi dashing behind her, panting and the tongue hanging out . At the window Schatzi stands on her hind legs hopping like on a trampoline, her nose as high as possible and still can't see out.
It is not Tuesday girls, Buddy is not coming.
We are sneaking up on having Schatzi 5 months already and Molli going on 6 weeks.
Schatzi sleeps in a little past 6 now, which is a relief for all of us, including Mollie. She cuddles under the blankets with Dad , mostly right in the traffic lane, where Schatzi does not see her when she hops up from the doggie stairs. Growling and yipping , Mollie sighs and might as well go out too and pee. The longer to sleep in later.
We mostly still sleep with the AC at night, hoping to have less allergies in the morning, especially Andy.
We open the window very early in the morning and Schatzi's " radio " is on. She curls up on the blanket and listens intently to all the sounds coming from the street. She is sorting out what is what : Garage door slowly rattles open, a guy on a Harley enjoys waking up the neighborhood, what ,a dinosaur roaring ? No, really a garbage truck with screeching brakes in the distance, a utility truck beeps while backing up, several dogs barking, a front end of a car scraping the drive way hump ----- her little ears are moving left and right and you can see her brain working. She cannot see anything from her listening post in bed except the sky -- a virtual theater for the ears.
Steve mowed our lawn for the last 6 weeks while Dad was gone.
Years ago, when Schnapps was defending us from anybody in a wide perimeter around the house, Steve and his wife Neicha were cutting the grass in Betty's yard.
The garage door was open just a tad, Schnapps slipped under it and bit Neicha in a heel. We had to call Andy in West Virginia and inquired about Colorado dog law. He had no idea about that particular law.
In the meantime we found out, after Clar's husband almost got his face bitten off that there are no penalties and that the Humane Society does not pursue dog bites.
Steve still has his lawn service, and now he has Buddy, who works with him. Buddy must be the biggest dog I ever met, a massive, muscular, probably Mastiff and a sweet heart. Buddy keeps Steve company and guards what ever equipment is in the truck.
When Buddy comes up on the deck, the girls go totally insane with barking, hopping up and down against the glass door, charging and yelling until they are exhausted
.
Any lawn mower noise in the area now has been associated with Buddy appearing here any second now !
Molly and Schatzi go into their mayhem performance with yipping, barking, racing around and doing their best to get all worked up. Molly flies up to the window bench without missing a step and Schatzi dashing behind her, panting and the tongue hanging out . At the window Schatzi stands on her hind legs hopping like on a trampoline, her nose as high as possible and still can't see out.
It is not Tuesday girls, Buddy is not coming.
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