To Holiday or NOT to Holiday?Tis the Question.

Have you ever asked your furry buddy what their favorite holiday is?

Of course, you know yours, I’m sure your furry little companion does as well. Is it Valentine’s Day? A day bursting with reds, pinks and paper manchette hearts, glass bowls filled with toxic milk chocolate hearts they would love to eat evading every counter top, kitchen and coffee table. Could it possibly be the loud and obnoxious booms, howls, creaks and constant knocking of the cutest trick or treaters on a crisp cool fall Halloween night.

Maybe instead they love the brilliant shine and magic of Christmas, sniffing in the fresh pine. Maybe biting into one or two gifts to find as many doggie treats and toys as possible?

Whatever it may be the holiday season is on the horizon and sometimes we two legged humans forget that our four-legged companions go through the hustle, bustle, and stress of the holiday season alongside of us.

I bet your thinking Thanksgiving has absolutely got to be their favorite. I mean it’s a dog’s dream right!?

Snacks galore! An abundance of everything! Turkey, pumpkin & sweet potato pie…don’t forget the ham ma’am.  Then the family who has no limit to what they are willing to share with the most adorable dog in the world. Oh! We can’t leave out the jackpot! The tiny humans running, plates in hand dropping crumbs, to massive chunks sometimes whole pieces of food of every kind.

So, you’ve figured it out? Your dog’s favorite holiday is Thanksgiving…or is it? (Lot’s questions in this post I know) What if your dog’s favorite holiday is the same as yours? It isn’t that farfetched (No pun intended, okay you have got to admit that was a good one) Yes, your dog may love all the treats of thanksgiving but may become extremely anxious with all of the extra family in the house, filling up your living room and bathroom. If you are the type of person who suffers from anxiety, it’s very likely your dog will too.

While your fretting over how juicy the turkey should be, take a good look at your little guy…is he begging or possibly fretting along with you.

Alright we know he’s begging especially if your standing in the kitchen by that big fat juicy turkey! Although, once that turkey is out of sight he may share in the fretting along with you.

My advice, fret less and enjoy the moment more! No matter the holiday, it’s time to take a minute to appreciate life and all that it encompasses, the joy and sorrow. So, while you are busy wrapping those gifts, or bickering here and there with siblings about what house would be the best to host the dinner or maybe even feeling alone.

Know that you’re not alone your furry bud is right beside you, watching, wagging and waiting patiently for that chunk of food to fall off your plate.

-Written by Life Writez

Thank you for taking the time to indulge in Chi-Chi Talks! Join me every Wednesday:)

Butterfly’s Last Illness

Last week we explored the journey of greiving a pet. This week I am featuring the very talented Rachel Mankowitz post “Butterfly’s Last Illness”. This is the post which inspired last weeks “Invisible Grief- The Loss of a Companion”. I hope this touches you the way it did me. Enjoy. Thank you to you Rachel for allowing me to feature you:)

rachelmankowitz

 

Four weeks ago, on a Wednesday night, Butterfly vomited white foam until she was empty. We had no idea what set it off. She’d been wheezing for a few days, instead of her regular coughing, but otherwise she was in the pink of health; especially since her hernia surgery two months before. Suddenly she was panting all night on the pillow next to my head. We were able to get her an emergency appointment at the clinic the next day and ended up seeing a doctor we’d never met before. She asked if Butterfly had eaten anything strange and we couldn’t think of anything she’d had access too, so she took an x-ray, and did blood tests, but she couldn’t find any explanation for the vomiting. She didn’t seem especially worried, though. She had the vet techs give Butterfly subcutaneous fluids and anti-nausea meds on the spot, and then…

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Invisible Grief- The Loss of a Companion

 

You sit, curled up on the couch with a light read and a cup of smoking joe. As you sip slowly, you decide your home is missing something. A new vase? No, you have so many of those that you decided to stick some in storage. Maybe a new partner, nope you like your alone time and to hear your own thoughts. Then what could it be?

You go to work, walk in the office and boom it hits you.  You never noticed it before but there is a wall of pictures, not any pictures… dog pictures. As you slowly gravitate toward the wall you wonder how long has it been there, and why in the hell haven’t you noticed it before?

Some of the pictures are small others are huge. Some dogs have Christmas hats and rain jackets on, you notice some of your co-workers smiling in the photo, which is ironic because some of them you have never seen smile at work. It’s gotta be the dogs, making them this happy. You decide, that’s it I want to smile like them, I want some of that doggie magic!

Okay, I realize that’s a bit cheesy. The beginning of the journey with your furry companion may have played out a bit differently. Maybe a thunderstorm, and the furry little guy running in front of your car with you having to swerve on to the curve to keep from hitting them. There is a possibility that it could have been a subtle situation with them coming into your life as a gift from a loved one.

However, your journey with your furry family member began and  you hold the memory  close to your heart. Time passes and you share Christmas, birthday’s and they become the background to your foreground. Without realizing it, they are always there while you cook sitting by the hot stove patiently waiting for that little piece of anything to drop. Barking at all intruders (who are usually only family). Hogging an entire side of the bed, leaving fur all over your comforter after the winter season. Going out of the way to teach you how to love by forcing you to trade in your hectic schedule for a simple walk in the park.

Then just like that, they are gone. The time flooding past you quicker then you ever would have imagined. So what now?

Do you try to feel the space with a new companion? Take up a hobby? How do you numb the pain?

As you walk around the house that is just a little too quiet, you decide to go for a walk.

Wait that’s what you and your companion used to do. The tears begin to fall, and they don’t stop.

Smearing away the tears with a soggy kleenex your neighbor stops by to borrow your lawn mower. Perfect timing. You find yourself explaining your tears, with dull eyes they say “sorry” and walk away. You know they think it’s silly to cry over a dog.

As the days slowly roll on , you realize the sun just doesn’t shine the same. You begin to question if you are normal for grieving your furry companion this long.

I am here to tell you, yes you are normal. If you didn’t feel this way I would begin to think you weren’t human.

These little guys are so much more then pets, and when they die it leaves a blank space in our head and hearts. So, this post is for those who have lost a little guy or girl recently or a while ago.

Cry!

Cry hard. Cry soft. Cry in waves or in blankets. Get it out, it is normal and it’s necessary. The love for your companion goes hand in hand with the grief you will feel.

Go Down Memory Lane

Remember the good and the bad. The times they made you laugh and the times they pissed you off (which will usually make you laugh anyway). Go to the places you used to go to together. This may make you feel closer to them, just because they are no longer with you doesn’t mean you can’t visit places that brought you joy.

Talk About Them with other pet lovers

Make sure it’s someone who understands, there is nothing worst then talking to someone who has a misconception of pet lovers. Talk about it. What happened? Did they die of old age? Did they get lost. How do you feel now? It’s important to discuss how you feel with someone you trust to gain a greater perspective.

Let Go

Only when you’re ready. This does not mean you must let go of loving them or their memory, it only means time moves forward and so do you. Get another companion when you are ready (you will know when you are ready). Remember they will not replace your loved one, but may bring a new joy to you.

It is never easy to lose anyone we love we can’t change losing them, only make the best while we have them.

This post is dedicated to Ms. Butterfly and her loving owner Rachel Mankowitz of  The Cricket Pages and all the furry companions that were lost this year. May you forever rest in peace.

Written By Life Writez

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi- Chi talks, follow, comment and share. 

Aye! Aye! Sisters!

I am sitting in the yard watching the dogs.

It’s a cloudy day but they don’t seem to notice at all. They run carefree sniffing the ground and one another. I sink into the lawn chair going over the long day ahead of me when I noticed the sister Frenchie bulldogs had separated away from the chihuahuas and were jumping and playing with one another in their own little world. This wasn’t the first time I watched these two. They will go about running and playing with each other until they fall into a heap of puppy pile adorableness (is that a word…probably…I’ll use it anyway).

I begin to think how wonderful is it to have a sister in a doggy dog world?

Having someone you can laugh with and confide in even on cloudy days. I believe that they are one of the many wonderful gifts this life must offer.

So, what exactly is a sister? I asked google assistant. Google gave me a rather matter of fact definition referring to lineage and daughters of parents…well something to that degree. Seems a bit too simple and shallow to me.

I decided to ask the Frenchie sisters instead (yes, my lovely pet-lover reader I asked them) they gave me a sniff and continued with their Frenchie business. The thing that I love about my furry little guys is that they don’t say one word, but they show you a mouth full.

Watching those two in their tiny puppy pile a few definitions popped into my head of what a sister means to me.

They are your please don’t judge me because what I am going to tell you is going to make you fall out of your chair person. They are your let me borrow this outfit one last time person. They are the reason you made that dumb decision to dye your hair that outrageous color, then it became the conversation starter with the person who later became the love of your life.

If there was no sisterhood, who and the hell would we fight with?

Oh yes! I have witnessed the most adorable sister Frenchie fights! Pulling of ears and paws. Some of the most creative and brutal arguments on this green earth have been between sisters.  Telling them we would never talk to them again, then finding ourselves bored and lonely without them leading us to send the famous wyd? text message.

Let’s Have a KI KI

Some sisters have no blood relations, and these sisterly bonds can be the greatest. Lunch and wine in the middle of the day for no reason to discuss the latest gossip or just to get away from the responsibilities of life. The occasional “kiki” at two in the morning, after a break up or a break down at the bar with that special someone. Find out what a “kiki” is click  here just in case you don’t know…Great song check out the version by the Scissor Sisters they did it best.

 Getting back to the point. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most extraordinary women after losing my biological sister some time ago. Within the pain of that loss I grew more appreciative of sisterhood, and begin to hold relationships more dearly. I now have several sisters that I call on, from all different races and walks of life. We hold each other’s secrets, joy’s and dreams. We encourage one another when we fail and feel discouraged. One of us always knows how to whip the other back into to shape by a sassy flash of the eyes and simple phrases like “get it together” or “you must be kidding”.

Sitting here in this chair on a cloudy day, staring down at the tiny pile of Frenchie sisters.

I am proud to be a woman, I am proud to be a sister.

By Life Writez

This is dedicated to my beautiful sister Nesanet may you rest in peace & all my bold in control sisters of the world.

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi- Chi talks, feel free to share special times with your sisters. All comments and questions are welcome.

Lake Calhoun & My Chi-Chi Coaches

Each summer I decide that I am going to conquer Lake Calhoun. Every summer I fail horribly.

This year I got a early start, late March ( here in Minnesota it can still snow…so that’s pretty early) decided to put on my running sneakers and take off. As I went bumbling out of the door I noticed tiny little Chi Chi eyes starting, I took that as a sign of them wanting to join me on my crazy escapade of CONQUERING Lake Calhoun.

Off we went full throttle!

There tiny little legs trotting as fast as they could. The cool crisp wind blowing through their fur, past there minature sized coat vests.

Then it happened. I stopped. I begin to think.

I’m not getting anywhere…this is too much for them….I’m gonna pass out!

They jerked abruptly and turned to look at me, I hadn’t noticed but we had completed over half of the lake. I had felt like I was running sooo slow, I had no idea we were almost done.

As I stood there observing the beauty of the lake, and all of the runners passing me by I felt a tiny tug on the leash. It was my two tiny chi’s encouraging me to keep going. So I did, I figured if these tiny little guys can get through it so can I.

I honestly can say that it was them who helped me conquer Lake Calhoun this spring, we haven’t been back… oh but when we do!

Written by Life Writez

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi Chi Talks, commenting and questions are encouraged.

Does your companion need a companion?

We have all come home our beloved chihuahuas;

we walk in the door their tail wagging out of excitement to see us they jump nearly  slipping and falling on the tile floor. There tiny eyes are full of joy, and no matter how bad our day for a split second so are we. Ahem ( Clears throat) those are the really good days. 

On the other hand we have those not so great days. We walk in the door their tail is wagging ( much slower) and there tiny eyes are filled with suspicion.

You know something is up so you dash around the corner to find your living room in one piece except for the huge pile of doggie essence in the middle of your floor. No worries this is completely normal.

Ahem.( Clears throat again…this can’t be good) What do you do when you walk in the door and there is a slight wag or none at all because your adorable chihuahua is hiding under your desk? You REALLY know something is amiss so you dash around the corner to find your living room in shambles!

While cleaning up the many piles of doggie essence and scrubbing tiny paw prints off the sofa you start to wonder why your companion who has  A. never done this before and B. would do this to you. Consider this…maybe your companion needs a companion. 

Here are a few signs:

Chewing- You come home, everything including the dog toy is shredded to pieces. He’s in some corner of the house sleep.

Barking/Whining- You pull in the driveway and you can hear your furry guy loud and clear. You think “Once I’m inside he’ll settle down, he just misses me”. You find that he doesn’t and continues until the next morning.

Following you around…Constantly- We love when our little guys follow us around, but when you accidently begin to trip over them all the time something is wrong. This could be with a toy in their mouth or without.

Dogs (especially chihuahuas) are more like humans then we give them credit for.

They are extremely social and hate being left alone for long stretches of time. For example, I have a Frenchie who follows me and can’t stand to be away from me for more than five minutes no matter what I do. On the other hand I have a chihuahua who only wants to be bothered when she wants to be bothered…( there is so much more to that story, but I’ll leave it there).

The idea is to know your companions limitations, and your schedule. If you’re a workaholic and are never home, maybe it’s time to invest in a second companion for your lonely companion, at least they can keep one another company.

Here are some other considerations:

Give the dog to someone who has time for it: If I am coming across as crass, your right. Someone has to speak up for the adorable furry and also very lonely companions of the world. Put yourself in their paws, no one like to be lonely.

Keep them on a daily routine: If you know you will be gone for reasonable stretches make sure to include lots of exercise, a hour or even thirty minutes goes a long way and is better than nothing at all.

Doggy Daycare: I know here in Minnesota we have so many, but choose wisely. The stricter the intake process the better for your beautiful pup. They can offer everything from socialization classes to training, some even have doggy cams and you can check on your cutie pie while you work.

Written by Life Writez

 

I hope you enjoyed this Chi-Chi Talks, please leave a comment. Swapping stories is also encouraged.

Image Credit: Photo One-Hum Ideas

 

Holding Paws

I have to be bravely honest and admit that while I have had the time to read others beautifully created blogs , I have not taken any time to cultivate my own. Thus, leaving many of you in absolute with-drawl of our beloved Chi Chi talks. For this I am delivering a second dose of Chi-Chi talks this week to get your heart, mind, and funny bone back in order.

“No more water or food, now what will we do Yoda”

The frail seventy-one year old women stared blankly at the tiny chihuahua-terrier

her mousy brown fur blowing in the chilled wind. They had walked in what seemed like circles all day, at first it was exciting, a new adventure with her favorite person. The air raw and crisp, so many smells; mountain goat, squirrel, ocean, pine, rain, black earth so much room to run.

Yoda loved when they came to the trails every year, she waited patiently to have bragging rights for the other chihuahua terrier, Bambi who lived next door. She had rolled around in every scent she could. No one her size had conquered the Olympic National Forest as many times as she had. The first time they had set paw on the peninsula, she had doubts. Her owner was not a youthful pup; her hair a stream of silver. So, she decided to keep close watch of her.

Today was different, they usually sat for lunch and water when the sun was high, and the air grew moist and warm. Instead they had eaten twice, and the sky continually grew darker birds, and bats echoing in the distance. They would be home in there warm bed, wrapped in the quilt she made her for christmas last year.

Something was terribly wrong, they were lost. She decided to keep her warm, and comfortable by wrapping her tiny body around her pale, cool hands.

“Well Yoda, if I die here I’ve lived a good life. I’ve raised my children, traveled and the best is I am not alone. I have you little one. No fear I love you”

Yoda knew she wouldn’t die, or her silver haired owner. So she wrapped herself tighter around her pale cool hands and fell asleep.

By Lifewritez

The inspiration for this story is dedicated to Sajean E. Geer & her tiny chihuahua terrier, who had the courage, and love for one another to keep each other alive. If you would like to read the news clip Missing 71 & Chihuahua Terrier

Tell me how this story has inspired you, all comments are welcome.

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi-Chi talks

Art Credits/ Image One- 16-year-old Dimitra Milan

Top Ten Tuesday! Ten Reasons Dogs Are Better Than Cats

All this time I have been wondering why I am more of a dog person. Phil Taylor of the entertaining and funny blog Phil Factor breaks down ten hilarious reasons why, you picked a dog instead of a cat.

The Phil Factor

10. Dogs always warn you when there’s a house fire.

9. According to Cruella Deville, they make excellent coats.

8. Dogs are too stupid to lie.

8. The Grinch had a dog. (Who knows his name?)

7. Dogs often solve mysteries (see Doo, Scooby)

6. Dogs are capable of making noises you can hear more than three feet away.

5. When Timmy falls down a well dogs will always tell you.  Remember Baby Jessica? Yup, dog told them where she was.  (I hope she reads this. Hi Jessica!)

4. Brian Griffin (R.I.P.) fom Family Guy, funniest cartoon character ever, is a dog.

3. Dogs always act like whatever you’re saying is really interesting. Cats won’t even feign a little interest.

2. Dogs will always clean up food you drop on the floor. In fact, my dog is officially my housekeeper.

1. If my dog hadn’t followed me up to…

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Walk the Blues Away

Last week I met an eighty-year-old man who I thought was sixty.

 

RAIN & CAFFEINE WITHDRAWAL…

It was around six in the morning, raining and least to say I wasn’t too pleased about walking the dogs in the rain. I remember rising that morning and not shining but instead trying to blot out the morning sun by stuffing myself deeper into my pillow.

I marched and mumbled down the parkway attempting to avoid puddles but to no avail. I wanted to get home as quickly as possible so I could enjoy my morning caffeine injection and deliberate on how I would go about my day.

QUIET REVOLUTIONARIES…

On the parkway, there is a small pond, and if you get out early enough you can watch the geese. I don’t know whether I decided to become entranced by the geese, or lack of caffeine caused my legs to freeze. While I stood in the rain with my little guys, I noticed him there smiling and talking to his soaked shiatzu. This intrigued me, mostly because I always thought people who spoke to their dogs in public were revolutionaries (like myself).

He laughed at himself when he noticed I was smiling at him, talking and smiling at his dog. For the next twenty minutes, he told me he loved a woman for over forty years, she passed and so did all their friends, and what he had left was his Nina after the famous Nina Simone.

They walked the parkway every morning the same way he and his wife had. He expressed to me that not only would the house be lonely without her, but he probably would never leave it. When he told, me he was eighty I initially thought he was sixty.

I WANT TO BE FOREVER YOUNG…

I went home and I thought about living until the age of eighty. I imagined not being able to call someone from my generation to discuss  how “crazy” the “new generation” has become “nowadays”.  I thought about how easily the man continued to smile. As I sat there and sipped my coffee, I figured out why he looked so young. It wasn’t his clothing, skin or hair. It was joy, this man had mastered finding joy in something as simple as walking his dog.

I don’t know your name, and I don’t know if I’ll see you again. I just want to say

thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi-Chi talks. Swapping stories is encouraged in the comments section. 

We Got the Beat!

If you follow this blog faithfully, you have become very familiar with two things specifically. One is that I don’t always post every Wednesday (but when I do its good stuff) the other is that I believe dogs (Chihuahuas especially) have their own personalities, and speak their own language.

FIRST THINGS FIRST…

Call me crazy but to me it makes no sense that such a variety of dogs could all have the same exact personality or needs. It kills me when my non-dog lover friends make generalized comments such as

“Can’t you just feed the dog scraps…it’s a dog”

“Why did you get “it” a heating pad? It’s a dog”

“Why did you buy clothes?” …it’s a dog”

Alright, I get it, I get it! You have confirmed it’s a dog. It has four legs, with fur and pants when hot.  As a dog-lover I would like to respond for all the other dog lovers. They are OUR dogs! OUR dogs and guess what non-dog lovers.

THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN DOGS TO US!

MOVING RIGHT ALONG…

Okay now that the rant is over, and I cleared up what has been wanting to be said since the first paw/hand shake. Shall we move along.

I am a massively obsessive music lover, give me a stream of smooth Jazz and I am completely satisfied. The type of music I listen to for a day depends heavily on my emotions. Monday can bring on a lengthy marathon of Aerosmith, where a Wednesday can be some slow sultry ballads from Sade.

The day I noticed the Chihuahuas enjoyed the same type of music I did was a comfortably warm and sunny Friday. I began the day with popular hits from Prince. While Raspberry Beret thundered out of the speakers and I imagined I was Lisa & Wendy rocking out with the late Prince. I sashed around the house singing at the top of my lungs and noticed little Chi-Chi eyes following me.

MUSIC IS LIFE…

As I put the bottle of body spray I was singing into on the coffee table, I observed the slow wag of tails, and expression of slight amusement.  I quickly turned down the music and asked the idiotic question “you guys like Prince huh?” Of course, they do! Doesn’t everyone? I decided to try some Tupac, nothing heavy just a little Keep Your Head Up kind of Tupac. The tails continued to wag.

The music binge began, I played everything from Metallica to NWA and guess what? Some songs received several wags others a howl, and the worst no response at all. Most of the songs they didn’t like neither did I. I ended the musical binge sitting on the floor by the stereo while Imagine by John Lennon flowed through the air. I think that it’s their favorite, can you blame them?

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi-Chi talks, swapping stories is welcome here in the comment section below.

The Decent

My Side of the Story

It was a day like any other, the people moved around freely carrying on with people business. They had no worries because they knew at a moment’s notice I would give my life to protect them. I alerted them when something didn’t feel, sound, or smell safe. I would sit perched on the arm of the couch, that was my favorite spot because you could see the front door. I smelled who was coming in and going out. It was an “apartment” well that’s what the people called it, all I know is that you had to climb a lot of tiny hills to get there. So, that day I was sitting there protecting my people, and suddenly I was thrown into the dark. It was scary, it felt like the time I made an accident and got in BIG trouble for it. Except this time, I didn’t make an accident. Maybe I spilled my water? No, I’m sure I didn’t do that. Then I was falling, for a long time. I hit something, it hurt so bad I called for help but no one came. I tried to dig my way out but the dirt that surrounded me only slid around and wouldn’t break. I don’t know what I did so wrong? Maybe they will come back and get me…maybe…Please comeback?

If Dogs Could Talk

There is a cliché which states “If only walls could talk” what if instead the cliché were “If only dogs could talk”. The conversation would be quite interesting. The story of an interview with a New York Chihuahua thrown four stories down a garbage chute would make front page of the paper, and even TMZ would pick it up. Although, I would rather use the above chihuahua monologue as only a figment from an overdue story in my imagination; I cannot because unfortunately it is very true. It didn’t make front page news, nor did it get caught by TMZ cameras. At very least, it managed making making the pet section of the New York Post. .

Perspective & Motive

This story is one of many that happens every day. The chi lived there long enough for the neighbors to become familiar with its habitual barking. So, then the question becomes how does a family go from seeking a dog to become a family member, to tossing it like day old garbage? Perspective and motive. If a dog is bought only because it’s cute it’s seen as an object. The motivation is superficial, and the perspective is no different than buying a new pair of shoes. When those shoes become worn we toss them out (some of us stick them in the back of the closet, just in case) and march down to the shoe store to buy a new pair. When perspective and motive are equally yoked, great families seek dogs because they would like to add an addition to their family, and it’s a bonus if they are cute. Let’s be honest an old sock can be cute if you fall in love with it!
This doesn’t mean that people don’t have the right to change their mind. Maybe they never had a pet, and they find out it isn’t for them. Maybe a love one passes and the pet has nowhere to go, with no extended family to take them in. It then becomes our responsibility to handle our loving companions the best way possible, it becomes our duty as humans to be empathetic. There are several options available to those who no longer want to care for a pet, tossing one into a garbage chute should never be an option.

What are a few options?

Contact the Pet Store or Breeder- Contacting the person or place you got it from can be a way to take action, most good breeders would rather have the dog with them then homeless.

Surrender- Some states have animal shelters that will except unwanted pets. Each state has its own set of rules so check with your local humane society or animal shelter. Animal Humane Society Surrender Info
Make a post-Tell social media, place a pet ad in the paper or sign up to a website dedicated to finding homes for pets.
Ask a friend – Be open, maybe that friend that can sit on the couch entertaining themselves with your pet for hours without getting bored just might be a good fit.

Thank you for taking the time to engage in Chi Chi talks, comments and story swapping is encouraged here!

“Is that You or Your Dogs?”

Sweet Cocoa dreaming of letting go:)

A good friend came to visit yesterday, although I wasn’t expecting her at all; unlike many of my other good friends she was a pleasant surprise. I had been marinading in my sweatpants from a morning run ( please don’t ask why) and to add I was very comfortable. My beautiful Chi Jazz cuddled just beneath my thigh, and my frenchie sweet cocoa lay at my feet, which also included the running socks (as you guessed) from earlier that morning. We had been sitting there for the majority of the afternoon, smooth jazz softly playing in the background while I bounced between researching upcoming literary events, and the latest celebrity gossip ( or should I say tea). Needless to say, the three of us were happy and  content.

The Funk

“What is that smell? Is that you or your dogs?” My good friend had a history of speaking her mind very loudly. I watched as her nose wrinkled in disgust. I couldn’t help but to laugh out loud. All afternoon my beautiful dogs sat right under what humans considered “the funk” they didn’t care that I didn’t smell like  lavender, or freshly crushed sage. They just wanted me with “the funk ” and whatever else came with me.

Sweet Cocoa Lets It  Go!

As I proceeded to explain my run, and the extremely lame excuse to why I hadn’t yet hopped into the shower. Sweet Cocoa between snores released a “silent but deadly” explanation. The gas quickly filled the room crashing with “the funk” that previously pronounced itself champion to anyone entering the front door. I burst out laughing ” It’s me! My dog had nothing to do with that bomb” The laughter woke up sweet Cocoa she rose slowly, stretched and exited the room.

Thank you for taking the time to read Chi Chi Talks, if you enjoyed this article share it or like it! If you have any stories you would like to share please email me, I would love to hear them.

Who’s the Boss!?

Oh, how cute! Look he’s claiming you The two pound Chihuahua lifted his tiny leg and whizzed three honey colored drops onto grandma’s cotton white knee high stocking. “Well isn’t he the cutest, he is so tiny he almost tilted over when he did it”. Everyone laughed and the very adorable little pup continued making his rounds, peeing on everything he put his little paw to.

This very scenario was the beginning of the most irreversible doggie disaster!  Little pups all over the world (and some adult dogs too) got wind of what happen to Grandma’s knee high TED stocking and begin to follow suite. There was spontaneous whizzing taking place on the snow hills of Minnesota, to the gorgeous historical architecture of Cinque Terre, Italy. Millions of pictures posted on puppy-gram of puppies large, small and in-between whizzing while sky diving and even on the statue of liberty. Puppy parents all over the globe tried to get these pups from freely whizzing. They tried treats, long walks and dog retreats which included roast beef gravy facials; nothing worked. Finally, these parents banned together across the globe to form an alliance against the wildly whizzing pups. Resistance broke out against the alliance of puppy parents, pups no longer whizzed because they needed to but because they wanted to. In the end, the darkest day came when the pups were forced to wear diapers, all trust had been broken.

Order was eventually restored in this story but at what cost? The question that arises is who is the boss in your home? Is it you or that cute little fellow running around on all fours. Many of you may answer matter-of- factly “me of course”. Well if we became fluent in dog (some of us already are) and we asked our cute companions, they would naturally disagree. Before, we band together to form an alliance let’s consider their perspective. They protect, entertain, keep us company, motivate us to exercise and ensure that we make it to the store; even if it’s just the pet store.

The linguistics of Puppy

Taking these wonderful acts into account, it makes no sense to correct these helpful little guys, right? Wrong! It’s naturally necessary. Let’s explore the smooth, choppy linguistics of dog. The word “family “translated into the language of dog means “pack”. The meaning varies slightly, the leader of the family or pack isn’t the one who brings home the bacon, but the one who exhorts the most dominance of the bacon. Even if it’s just you and your companion, it’s still considered a pack in the doggie world.

No Boss Is Cute…Except Yours

Let’s get to the bottom of who is truly the boss. Do you find yourself wiping up whiz more than you’d like to, or being yanked along a quiet trail toward the first sight of another furry companion, maybe coming home to a living room disaster? If you answered yes to any of these questions, take a good look at your adorable companion. That sweet face is the boss…for now. As a dog lover, you know accidents happen, but if these incidents happen more than three times a week…every week it’s time to reestablish who is the boss.

Three Steps to Stick To

1. Keep a Simple Routine-We don’t adjust well to swift change and they don’t either. Keep it simple and they will know what to expect. Keep potty and eating times consistent.
2. Say no and mean it – No in English still means no in doggie language. They are so cute, I KNOW! Remember they respect dominance, and no is how you establish it.
3. Give treats, give treats, did I say give treats! – We love to be complimented and so do they. Give treats when they do well and they will continue to do well.

Your comments, suggestions and stories are greatly appreciated!! Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed CHI CHI Talks.