That Little Dog

Charlie has a job to do. Well, he thinks he has a job to do.

He is watching the trees for squirrels. The squirrels like to come and clean up any seed on the ground near the bird feeder that has seed in it. 

I put out a cup of seed each day in the feeder so hubby can enjoy his morning coffee and tell me which birds show up.

Charlie watches the yard for any squirrels. And ... he is diligent.

This is his new mission in life. It's so fun to see him so intent. The one tree is a hickory tree so squirrels climb it often and then dig in the yard and bury the nuts. Charlie is also on top of that. After all, it is good that he has a job.

I'm pretty sure he sees the squirrels this way:

On very hot days though, I have to be careful with him. His short snout makes it hard for him to cool off quickly. I went for a walk on our gravel road with him just to get out and move around. On our way back home Charlie sat down in the shade and stopped.

He was puffing and hot. Bad me! 

I picked him up and carried him most of the way back home. When he got inside, he laid on the cool floor and just stared at me with those big round eyes of his.

Eventually he got up on the couch and relaxed.

This Little Dog has a great life and we know our lives are enriched by having him with us.

Really it is cold

I must be getting used to it I guess because I waited until it was only -3 to head out and do chores. The sun hadn't topped the trees yet but I had some things to get done and three mules were staring at the house.

I imagine they were mind melding with me and sending me mental photos of yummy hay. 

I'd just let Charlie out and he had done a refusal until my stocking foot pushed him out the door. He looked rather upset with me and walked over to one of my very cool porch rocks and proceeded to pee on it.

He trotted back to the door. I let him in. He jumped up onto his blankets on the couch and gave me a look as if to say, 'there I peed, happy?
I shall ignore YOU!'

I shook my finger at him and told him he needed to get out in the yard and bless that chunk of a stump I'd put out there just for pee purposes. NOT my fossil rocks! He closed his eyes.

I got out a hat and scarf figuring that Charlie would need to bundle up.

He was soooo not impressed.

Next I said I'd get him a face mask so he wouldn't get chilled.

Again.
He was not impressed.

However, by late afternoon he was all in on going for a walk.

He likes snow and doesn't mind it as long as....

there is a trail...

and he doesn't have to wade through it...

When you have 3 inch legs, a fresh snowfall can certainly be hard on a little fella.

Note: Thank you Charlie for being such a willing little guy to put up with my shenanigans and join me on my winter walks. I do pick him up on trails like these so he doesn't get cold.

What a good boy.

Relentless

 

This is about Charlie. 

He is a mix of Pekinese and Mini Dachshund. The Dachshund in him requires that he hunt and that he hunt hard. Here he is searching out mice and voles in the snow. He captured a vole just a few days ago. He is all about getting another one, even if the last one bit him on the lip. He will track any animal and believes deer are game for the chase.

His little size means he can't chase well. He usually stands after he loses sight of the deer and just looks around. After all, he is a low rider. His chest is 3 inches from the ground.

The Pekinese in him asks that he be extremely loyal to a member of the household. And Lazy when it suits him. He tolerates me, but fawns over Rich. Here he is on his pile of blankets on the loveseat couch. He looks entirely enthused about my hat on his head doesn't he?

The moment Rich comes in to sit next to him, he sprawls against my husband. Rich's hand absently reaches down and pets him. Charlie's eyes close and nothing else in the world matters. 

In the mornings, Charlie waits for Rich to get up and then fusses over 'The Great Awakening' making sure I know WHO is important in our household.

This all from the little puppy I brought home that Rich objected to. 

"What good is he? Just a fru fru dog!" 

Charlie has been anything but the couch potato. He has become the Therapy Dog that I did not intend him to be. He has shown great wisdom in Who in the house needs his comfort.

And when it suites him, he is relentless on mice and voles.

What a happy accident this was for us.