Today is a very important day...

Today is the day Ms Menchi came into the world.

One year ago today her mama Presto gave birth to three beautiful little jellybeans.

Menchi and her sister Annabel with whom we exchange regular emails :)

Menchi when we first brought her home

Menchi as we know and love her today :)

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl!!!

What I did with my day off this week...

I once again left my poor curly tails home alone today...

...but it was for a good cause!

I am part of a couple of different online forums. One of them is a basenji breed related forum. One of the little dogs there was in trouble and needed help getting to a new home. So along with another member I got to be his chauffeur through the wilds of WI and into IL and IN where he was safely placed with his new owner whom he traveled the rest of the way to his new home in MI with :)


Meet Diesel... a gorgeous, one year old basenji! He was a wonderful traveler and is a sweet little soul.

Wish him good luck in his new home!

Bewildered curly tails...

So last weekend was the first time ever that the kids were left without both Sabe and I. We were out of state attending a wedding.

I had arranged for an in-home pet-sitter. We have a friend that was kind enough (and brave enough) to come stay with the brigade. Arrangements were made with the vet in case of emergency and treats were stocked :)

Even though they were a little confused, and were looking for us out the window a lot the first day we left (the pet-sitter let us know this) they seem to have weathered the experience just fine.

The home-coming was an outburst of joy from both of them. I am used to Menchi going crazy with happy when even one of us returns after an outing without her...but even Watson was doing a basenji happy dance :D It is nice to know we were missed.

The best laid plans...

So I was really looking forward to last weekend. I was going to take the dogs on the two hour trip toward the Illinois border to head to the all breed lure coursing club and the BCOSW fundraiser that was being held there on Saturday.

Watson was going to do what he loves best...run his heart out. Menchi was going to get her first try at chasing a lure.

Somewhere the universe chuckled kindly and said "look she is planning...how droll"!

Thursday evening I remark to Sabe "Hmmm, I seem to have a bit of a sore throat. I should get ahead of this. I am taking some Nyquil and going to bed."

Friday morning at the butt-crack of dawn...two hungry dogs attempt to make me rise so breakfast can happen. My throat was on fire and that was after something had stomped on it, clawed it, and submerged it in acid just to be sure. Swallowing was impossible and talking pure torture.

The zombie lifts it's very heavy head and pokes a claw at Sabe "Croak, groan, mumble, mumble." Which seems to have translated to "Can you please get up and feed the dogs...I am too sick to move." Because, like the saint he is my boy friend got up and took care of the canine and feline needs of the household.

When consciousness intruded again on my fevered delirium a couple of hours later it became clear that work was not going to happen that day and I dragged myself to the phone to let my boss know.

The incoherent thought process happening was something like "Well it is only Friday if I stay mellow I might still make it to lure coursing with the dogs tomorrow." Are you laughing yet? Someone sure was...not me though. I was dead for the rest of that day.

I was in capable paws though... Dr. Watson was applying basenji body heat directly to me at all times as we slept the day away. Menchi was using an ancient Chinese secret involving dog drool and shar pei cuddles. I am sure it is a great cure in Eastern Medicine, right up there with dried Tiger penis and powdered Rhino parts.

Alas it was not to be though...even with all their curative canine powers combined I was still laid out on Saturday and most of Sunday!

No Lure Coursing Event for us...

Today I would like a moment of your time...

...to draw your attention to an affliction that runs rampant in the dog community. I am sad to say that I too suffer from it.

I am talking about the dreaded "Puppy Fever"!

Many of us dog folk fall prey to this condition. It is characterized by the almost unquenchable need for a cute, cuddly puppy of just about any breed/mix you can think of, a glazing of the eyes when we see a puppy or a picture of a puppy, memory lapses as to how terrible actual puppies can be, grabby hands syndrome when in actual proximity to a puppy, and vicariously living through others that actually are in possession of a puppy currently.

There is no known cure!

Having a puppy will alleviate the symptoms and cause a remission. Once said puppy grows up symptoms often return eventually. Onset of symptoms after puppy reaches adulthood are correlated directly to how naughty the puppy was while in the puppy stage...the naughtier the puppy the longer it takes for the symptoms to reoccur.

Having a puppy at any time can expose you to this condition. In some people it seems to have the opposite effect and immunize them against ever wanting another puppy and having them seek out young adult, adult, or even senior dogs when adding a canine member to their household. It is not known what causes some individuals to react this way and fend off Puppy Fever.

Beware the infectious agent that is a cuddly puppy!!!

All is well...

...in the land of the curly tails.

They do not know it yet, but this weekend they are left to their own devices with Sabe. I am going to Iowa for my friends bridal shower.

We often try to take them with us when we have to travel somewhere...they are pretty good little travelers :) Since Sabe is staying at home though it is easier this way.

In other plans there are a few coursing events coming up at the end of May and in June that are within reach for us. I hope I get to take Watson to at least one or two if our schedule and cash flow permits. I want to try and get him his JC eventually. I would also like to take Menchi to an all breed lure coursing event to see what she makes off it. :)

Menchi just graduated her advanced obedience class... lets face it though both Chi Chi and Mr Perfect still need a lot of work before I ever try to take them even into a rally event. Both seem to be going through a stage in which the feel that stay is somehow optional. Also the heeling needs work...lots and lots of work. They like to give me a run for my money...the joy's of owning clever and independently minded dogs!

Picture time