Fifi's Birthday

Fifi is 9 years old today! Time flies...

True Love

Who says animals don't love?

Chacha has been in love with Fifi since they first met and you can see it in his eyes when he looks at her. If you say her name, he snaps his head around to look for her. He is very protective of his lady, doesn't even let her play with Callie.

He holds Callie back while she eats (Fifi is nervous around bowls and Callie takes advantage of this by stealing all of her food). 

When he is around Fifi, Chacha is a real gentleman.

At the Lighthouse

With the cool weather we have been having, it is a great time to go on nature trails.

And who's better to take along then your best friend?

Dogs love to explore, so I take Chacha with me as often as possible. I usually have to carry him after a while because he doesn't have the energy he use to, but he keeps going for as long as he can.

Yesterday, we went to the lighthouse and everyone had a great time. Dogs are awesome!

Chacha's Photo Album

I've got a photo album that I will fill with just pictures Chacha. 

I've only got two pictures in it so far, but will be getting some more printed soon.

Chacha is not amused...

Training with the Clicker

I recently read The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller. 

It is a great book that any person with a dog or thinking about getting a dog should have. No hitting, jerking around or bullying your dog, just fun and effective ways to teach him to do what you want. I was planning to wait until I got a clicker to start with Chacha, but yesterday I found a old one that I've had for years. Although it is broken, it still clicks and will have to do for now. 

We started yesterday. I will be updateing our progress every so often. 

Here are the exercises for week #1. 

The Clicker - This teaches the dog that the click means treats. All you have to do is click then quickly give him a treat. Once the dog learns this, it will never need to be repeated. Chacha seemed to get after only about 6, but we done 15 just to be sure.

Name - Say the dog's name. If he looks at you, click and treat. This teaches him to pay attention to you when he hears his name. After I got the hang of timing the clicker right, Chacha caught on. Today he did better. 

Sit - Chacha already knows how to sit, but I usually have to lure him. Hopefully with more practice he will sit on cue. 

Down - Chacha knows this too. But as with sit, I have to lure him.

The Problem with Girls

Fifi and Callie are in heat... 

Now Chacha is going to be acting crazy for a couple of weeks or so. 

He can't get them pregnant for some reason, but he doesn't seem to understand that. If he could, we would probably have to get the girls spayed. Chacha is so small that he might not wake back up if we took him in, and Fifi is only a little bit bigger. One of my aunts took a cat to be spayed and she died, so we've never wanted to chance it. 

That being said, my next dog will be fixed when he/she is young and healthy.

Chacha doesn't like it, but he is banished to my room until he leaves the girls alone.

Why is it Going Away?

The fur on Chacha's ears, tail and paws is slowly disappearing. 

I don't know if it is because of his age or something genetic. I noticed that some of my Granny's chihuahuas also have this, so I'm thinking it's genetic.