The Truth about Small Breed Dogs / Cricket Was Adopted

 I've never really thought of small breed dogs as actual dogs. They were a whole other species, somewhere between cats and real dogs (i.e. big dogs). Real dogs were at least the size of a beagle. All those little yappy dogs were more like noisy decorations. I've seldom fostered small dogs, since having a horse pony Great Dane in the house meant large playmates were needed. There have been a few exceptions - but even those didn't completely change my mind.

He's a Peanut.

 Now that I've fostered two adorable Chihuahua/Toy Fox Terrier puppies, I can tell you from personal experience, that I was right. Small dogs are a whole different species than real dogs. I'm sure the experts will tell you otherwise. They'll say small dogs are just like big dogs - only smaller. But I'm not convinced. Small dogs are not all yappy - Peanut and Cricket are some of the quietest puppies I've ever fostered. And small dogs are not just decorations - Peanut can play a rousing game of fetch or tug. But I'm still not convinced they're real dogs. Oh don't get me wrong, I love them very much. I could even see myself owning a small dog someday. I just don't think I would consider it a real dog. Peanut and Cricket seem more like toys than dogs. Adorable little stuffed toys that move and bark and give kisses. Stuffed toys that I can dress up (yes, I spent way too much money on a little hoodie to keep Cricket warm). Stuffed toys that I can carry around in my arms everywhere I go. They're absolutely wonderful - they're just not real dogs.

Peanut makes new friends at an adoption event.



Cricket finds a friend

Many trainers will tell you that if you have a small dog, you have to treat it like a regular dog. The reason some small dogs become yappy and high-strung is because they are treated like toys instead of like real dogs. This is very good advice. It is also a very good reason for me to never own a small dog. Because although I do my best to treat Peanut and Cricket like real dogs, it is not easy. I try hard. I walk them on leashes, and play games with them, and if they ever did anything wrong I'm sure I'd be able to manage a stern look. I even put them in their own little crate at the last adoption event.


Homeless puppies - will you take me home?

Fortunately Cricket was adopted before I had to issue any stern looks. Because seriously, how do you expect me to manage a stern look when faced with this?


Cricket

Cricket went home with a wonderful family who has a Mastiff and another Chihuahua. Peanut, on the other hand, has not been adopted yet. Stern looks should be a bit easier to manage with Peanut. Until he looks at me with his big eyes and wrinkled forehead.

Peanut

Then I'm done for.

Catching Up

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, and I have so much to say, that I'm not sure where to start.  So let me give you a quick summary, and maybe later this week I'll share more about some of these things. 

1)

First, let me assure you that life around here continues as usual.  I still haven't closed on the log home that I've had a contract on since September.  I'm told it could happen any day now.  In the meantime, Ziggy continues to be Ziggy (yes, he was laughing at me when I caught him chewing on the vacuum cleaner cord).  Please note that both the vacuum and the carpet spot cleaner have taken up permanent residence in my kitchen since they are put to use so often.  Also please note the silver exercise pen that has been turned into a fence to block off the kitchen from the living room.  This serves two purposes.  First, it limits the destruction caused by Ziggy to just the living room.  Second, it keeps Peanut and Cricket safe in the kitchen.  Please ignore the chew marks on the windowsill.  These were not caused by Ziggy! 

2)

Remember the thirteen puppies I talked about several weeks ago?   They grew up and got adopted.  At least ten of them did.  There are three left, including the one shown above.  I am guessing they will all be gone by next weekend!

3)

Cricket and Peanut are doing great.  I am so crazy about these puppies.  One of them actually went to their new home yesterday, and the other one has received two applications (we are waiting on the vet check and home visit to be scheduled).  I'll tell you more about them later this week - I promise!

4)

I was recently contacted by a teenager who lives in Illinois.  She is a volunteer with Forever Home Feline Ranch, a 501c3 organization that provides sanctuary for homeless cats in need of a forever home.  Owen has not only fostered special needs kittens for this group, but she's actually written a grant proposal that has been accepted by the Pepsi Refresh Project!  That's pretty amazing for a 16-year-old to do all on her own.  The organization sounds like a great group of people, so I hope you will support them and Owen by voting for them as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.  You can vote every day, once a day, throughout the month of January.  And if you have a blog or a twitter account or Facebook account, please share the link below with others.

Vote here: http://www.refresheverything.com/felineranch

Introducing Peanut and Cricket

I was told about four Toy Fox Terrier/Chihuahua mix puppies needing to get into rescue.  I've never fostered a Toy Fox Terrier.  Or a Chihuahua, for that matter.  And they're only ten weeks old.  So how was I supposed to resist?   Two of the four puppies went to another group, and the other two... well, allow me to introduce Peanut and Cricket.

Can you guess which one is named Peanut?  I know it's not very original, but it just fits him so well, that I couldn't resist.  Peanut is a bit more outgoing than his sister.  He loves to play, and will pick up a stuffed toy that is almost as big as he is and shake it and run around.  When I tried to take pictures of his sister Cricket he insisted on getting right in front of the camera lens every time.  He's a bit of a show-off, I'm afraid.

Make sure to get my good side!

Cricket is quite different than her brother.  She is very shy and scared.  She's only been her a couple of days and she's already improving, but I admit I was surprised at how shy she was for a ten-week-old puppy.  I'm used to the large-breed goofy puppies that don't know to be scared even if they should be.  When I brought Cricket home, she curled up in a little ball and started shaking, and I just wanted to pick her up and cuddle her and make her feel safe.  I named her Cricket because sometimes she tries to jump out of the ex-pen that she and Peanut are in.  She can jump very high.  Apparently Toy Fox Terriers... or Chihuahuas... or both... are quite athletic little dogs.  Cricket is doing much better now and has started coming up to me and asking to be cuddled, which I'm quite happy to do. 

These puppies will be ready for adoption in a couple of weeks.  I'm sure you'll be reading more about them before that happens though!