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On December 31st my husband and I were able to bring home this 1.2 pound wonder to join Pepito and Carino.  I think my husband was a bit taken aback by how small he actually is.  Meeting the other dogs was a little contentious at first, but within a week all was well.  We named him Choya’s Winter Storm Diego el Nevado.”  Nevado was my daughter-in-law’s idea, and I loved it immediately.  I call him Nevvie.  He is so sweet and has fur as soft as a baby chick’s feathers. He is smart and feisty despite his miniature state.  In two days he was climbing up and down the pet stairs to the bed.  Pepito still doesn’t do that!  He just barks to get up and down. At first we were all hyper vigilant but gradually became more confident about his ability to manage.  We always keep an eye on him, though.

I took him to the veterinarian today for his second round of vaccinations.  His shoulder is obviously very sore, but he is a  trooper.  He was pronounced quite healthy, and the veterinarian says he may get to four pounds one day.  At this point he is at 1.7 pounds. He is awesome, and I am so grateful to begin this new year with him and my two other Chis.

Carino and Pepito continue to be joys in our lives.  Carino, now at 13 pounds, continues to be the trickster.  He probably should have been named Loki.  His long legs enable him to jump up and grab things out of the trash.  He has stolen shoes and chewed on them—always on the heel part.  He steals clothes I have laid out, and when I get out of the shower, I find the two of them playing tug of war with my underwear.  They are good about using their potty pads but still won’t let me know when they need to go out,

When days are warm outside like today,  I take them out into the back yard where they explore endlessly but always check occasionally to see if I am sitting in my lawn chair.  I would NEVER leave them unsupervised even though our fence is secure.

Our house is cool in the evenings because we have lots of windows and tile floors.  They will curl up together in a little round bed near my sewing machine while I work on quilts.

The biggest Christmas news and my best gift is that the boys will soon have a little brother.  At 8 weeks old and 1.2 pounds as of yesterday, tiny Choya’s Winter Storm Diego will join us on New Year’s Eve.  Ronda Aycock of Choya’s Chihuahuas texted me today and ask if she might gift me with this little one.  Because he is so fragile, she and her husband want him to go to a home where he will receive special care and protection. I was stunned at this Christmas miracle.  I thought my husband would object, but he said without hesitation, “Okay.  Of course.  Go get him!”  But of course, we have to wait a bit while he nurses a week longer and Ronda and family get back from a holiday weekend in Louisiana.  That will give me time to sort out on my mind daily routines. I feel extraordinarily blessed.  I actually fell in love with this little guy when Rhonda first started showing pictures on Facebook of him and his litter mates. It’s strange how things work out.  I call it a God-thing. I have a strong feeling that 2019 is going to be a very good year indeed.

After an extensive hiatus due to back issues (mine, not the boyos), we’re back to blogging.  The boyos are 7 1/2 months old. Since my last entry they have been neutered and were back to playing the next day.  Pepito is holding steady at 8 pounds, and Carino weighs 11 pounds.  Their biggest accomplishment in the last two weeks is walking on leash.  I thought they would never “get it,” so I was excited to see that happen.

In the warm days of late fall I enjoyed sitting out in the backyard while Carino and Pepito were exploring the yard.  Carino with his long legs liked to take running leaps into my lap.

In the cool mornings of late fall I introduced the boyos to cableknit sweaters which they don’t like putting on and taking off but don’t mind wearing outside.

The greatest challenge remains getting them to do their potty business outside.  They will “go” outside if I take them out every two hours, but rainy, and now cold weather has been a hindrance.  They will use their potty pads, however.  I have decided that the potty patches are not all that great an idea.  They smell and require frequent washing down with a hose; that is a problem during inclement weather.

Cold weather has arrived, and the boyos are well content to stay inside and cuddle on the bed.

It has been a while since I have posted.  August has been full of events, some good and some bad.  I had asthma attacks due to the dust from the African desert.  The boyos were a great comfort as they snuggled up close while I was sick.

Then  I returned to counseling work for a week to cover for someone on vacation while the boyos stayed with their godmother for daycare.  I worked a series of some very long days, and after two years of being in retirement, I was exhausted.  I am afraid I rather neglected potty training st home.  I have had to  hard to get the boyos back on track.  Lessons learned.

Then after doing a lot of walking during a vacation in Corpus Christi touring the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium, my back reacted very unpleasantly.  There has been more comfort snuggling with the boyos.

Another new development has been that despite my vows to the contrary and warnings to the contrary, the boyos are now sleeping with us all night.  It started out so innocently.  After taking them out at 3:00 AM, I would then let them sleep at my side till time to get up.  Then I began letting them on the bed from my bedtime on although I still take them out around 3:00 AM. Surprisingly, they are very quiet and still, burrowing down at my side under the covers.  I love the feeling of their little warm bodies next to me. I love them so much. We all get s very pleasant night’s sleep.  Winter sleeping should be wonderful.

The last new development is that I bought a new nap nest today so that each has his own bed. I thought they would still curl up together in one or the other, but they have each picked their own,  That seems especially good for Pepito as he develops more confidence and individuality.

 

Since for many years my husband and I have only had big dogs—Labs and Irish Setters,  I was dismayed to learn from our veterinarian that Chihuahuas are prone to  dental problems and often need extractions.  I have been doing research and learned that the dental issues can begin as early as two years for these guys. I was careful to select a pet insurance policy which includes coverage for cleaning once a year.  Now my quandary is getting Carino and Pepito to allow me to  brush their teeth!  So far they are very resistant.  Today I ordered peanut  butter flavored toothpaste because they love peanut butter.  We will see how that works out.  I am very concerned about this because all the articles I read stressed that dental care is critical to Chihuahua  longevity.

 

Initial training is slowly moving forward.  Carino, who has always exhibited confidence, has taken to leash training although he often gets almost too exuberant.  Pepito has at last ceased his “dead fish” routine when I put him in the harness and leash.  It took several weeks of just letting him drag the leash around the yard while I walked ahead of him, luring him with treats.

The two seem to have the “sit” command mastered, but “down” is a slower process.  We are not ready to move on to “stay.”  I keep reminding myself that these are not the Labs I have been accustomed to training.

J am currently considering having them trained as therapy dogs so that I can take them with me to the addiction treatment center where I go to teach yoga.  I have been taking them with me on a regular basis, and patients love them.  During class they have always slept peacefully throughout.  However, a recent new policy prohibits all dogs on campus unless they are certified as therapy or service dogs.  I have been doing online research and making phone calls.  The training and certification process is quite expensive, so Inam uncertain at this point.

In the meantime the two have been my personal therapy dogs this last week as I suffer through a severe asthmatic episode brought on by the influx of dust blown into Texas from the Sahara Desert, as crazy as that seems.  The dust particles are insidious and fine; I haven’t even noticed a haze in the air.  I just know I can barely breathe.  Carino and Pepito have lain uncomplainingly by my side on the bed and sat on my lap in the recliner.  They seem to pick up on my low energy and need to be still.  Today with new medication I feel a little better,  and they are romping around on the bed.  Dogs are very intuitive that way.  These two would be great therapy dogs.

 

This is a visual history of Pepito’s progression from cute floppy baby ears to two erect ears at 4 months although the right ear has a bit of a curve which is quite charming.  He is tiny, feisty, and a bit pudgy.  We will definitely have to watch his weight as he moves into his teen period of development.

Carino and Pepito love to be wherever I am and are currently keeping me company while I am quilting.

Training is still going forward although in our current suffocating heat we have not done much leash training.  Carino is really coming along, but Pepito is still shy and reluctant.  House training is going well as long as I stick to a schedule.  The biggest challenge is to teach them somehow to alert me when they need to go outside.  They seem to recognize the words “outside,” “good potty-potty,” and “good poopy-poopy.”  Their sleeping quarters are right by my side of the bed, and they do bark to awaken me when they need to go out in the morning—usually around 4:00 AM.  After their duties are accomplished outside, I put them in bed with me where they happily snuggle until around 7:30.  I am definitely not getting up at 4:00 AM!

They are healthy, content, and friendly to everyone .

The boys continue to expand their adventuring in the back yard and finding new places to pee and poop.  We are three days into NO ACCIDENTS in the house!  At 3 1/2 months they are really getting the idea of doing bathroom business outside.  Being on a three times a day food schedule has helped as has taking them outside regularly after meals, playing, and napping.  I have learned that it is important to be patient and allow them plenty of time to find “the moment.”  That is especially true for Carino.  I walk all around the back yard with them and encourage them to explore.  The weather here is hot and dry, and that is good for outdoor training.  I am not sure what will happen if we have inclement weather; I hope they will use their potty patches.  Again, I stress that the idea that Chihuahuas cannot be housetrained is ludicrous, but it does take commitment.

Pepito has reached a milestone this week.  His left ear is now standing upright!   We had begun to wonder if he would remain a floppy-eared Chihuahua!

Carino is really taking to leash training and leaps around, sniffs, explores as we walk a few houses down the street.  He still struggles with staying on my left side, but that will come with time.   Carino is very shy and has to be coaxed even to leave the porch.  I am practicing just laying down the leash and letting him walk while the leash trails behind him.

The two of them continue to be delightful, and I am so glad I got both of them!

The “Littles “  visited their godmother Sara yesterday and reportedly did very well in a new environment complete with other dogs.  Their comfort in new settings would seem largely attributable to the fact there are two of them and that they are so bonded—another positive point for adopting two litter mates. This and upcoming visits will help prepare them for staying with Sara while we are on vacation.

My husband, my daughter and I are planning a trip to Corpus Christi, Texas, in late August.  We were hoping to take Carino and Pepito with us, traveling with us being one of the supposed perks of having small fur babies.  We have never been able to travel with our two 100-pound Labs.  I made reservations via Expedia at the Emerald Beach Hotel for one of the “superior rooms” with an ocean view.  When I called the hotel to inquire about extra charges for pets—which I was more than willing to pay, the staff member to whom I spoke advised me that their only “pet friendly” rooms were the “standard “ ones on the ground floor.  I had visions of dirty, smelly rooms for those of us who dare to travel with dogs—an overreaction, no doubt.  Nevertheless, I found the information quite annoying because we are very responsible pet parents.  I suppose, as in all things, responsible people pay the price for those who are not responsible.  Learning about so-called “pet-friendly” accomodations is going to be quite a learning experience.

Tomorrow I will taking the “boyos” to stay with their godmother Sara for a few hours while I teach two back to back Yoga classes.  I hope to do this periodically before the end of August so that the two can feel hopefully less abandoned and more comfortable staying with Sara during our trip to Corpus Christi.  This will be another learning experience.