The curse of the ‘Purse Puppy’

There are currently seven Chihuahua or Chihuahua mixes living at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue.  From Taco to Annabelle, Casabella to Tacquito Patrico, these little buddies have a lot of love to give and they are patiently waiting for that someone special to come and bring them to a forever home.

My guess is the latest onslaught of Chihuahua surrenders is due to the fact that people see certain movies with cute talking Chihuahuas and automatically think that any dog of the same breed is going to be as friendly, bright and playful. Here’s the problem, if you don’t do your homework on the breed you’re considering, you may end up surprised at certain behaviors.

Take the Chihuahua. Did you know that Chihuahuas can become extremely attached to their owners and when not properly socialized can become territorial and protective. When socialized well, this little companion can be playful, lively and loving.

Because Chihuahuas are so small and cute, often times they can be coddled and babied which can lead to other behavioral problems, such as dominance. But when trained and treated in a firm, but loving way, can be wonderful family pets and companions.

Their slight size can also make for challenges around young children who must be taught early on to treat these little guys with gentleness and respect. They can be easily injured and can become skittish when found in uncertain situations such as being lifted up over and over again.

And while Chihuahuas have been called “purse puppies” it’s important to note that these energetic pups need daily exercise. Not only will walks provide mental and physical stimulation, they can help curb behavior issues stemming from boredom and lack of exercise.

Chihuahuas are intelligent, learn quickly and can respond well to firm, consistent positive reinforcement training. When raised well, these little dogs are loving, sweet and amazing lifelong companions.

If I could stand on my soapbox for just a minute, I would like to say that celebrities that carry their Chihuahuas around in sparkly purses are doing their dogs, and other dogs of the same breed, a sad disservice.  Ordinary people see Chihuahuas portrayed this way, go out and (hopefully) adopt one and then are disappointed when they run into behavioral issues. The result, hundreds of Chihuahuas sent to shelters across the country every day.

While movies like Beverly Hills Chihuahua and the Taco Bell dog provide a humorous and often sweet portrayal of this lively breed, remember to rely on experts for actual breed information and do your homework before you make your decision. It’s only fair. Any Chihuahua is a shelter today would tell you that.

Trouble

I love this commercial. Love it! Right now, at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue, there’s a Schnauzer mix up for adoption that looks like a smaller version of the dog in this commercial. Hi name is Tyler and he’s an absolute sweetheart!

What the eyes can’t see…

There’s a dog lover’s saying that goes “Blind Dogs See with Their Hearts.” In our case, our hearts were captured by a blind and partially deaf West Highland White Terrier Poodle mix named Stevie who was living at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue. I posted a while back about Stevie and since that time, my family and I have fallen head over heals in love with him. That being said, we officially adopted Stevie and will be bringing him home tomorrow!

We’ve been educating ourselves about the precautions we need to take to prepare our home for his safety and we’re good to go. We’ve put a baby gate at the top of the stairs, raised all exposed cords, created a ‘safe spot’ for him and even put a low fence in an area of the yard that will give him a frame of reference when he’s doing his business outside. We’ve hung jingle bells by the front door so he can tell when we open it, and we’ve hung a small bell on Toby’s collar so Stevie can hear him coming. He’s been added to our pet insurance, a vet visit has been scheduled and we’ve booked our first grooming appointment (our groomer has a blind dog as well). He’s got his own bed set up, a new set of toys and treats, a smart little collar, a tag telling others that he’s blind and a comfy harness for walks. We even bought a classical music CD to play for him at night because that’s what he’s used to hearing at the shelter.

I’ve joined several online groups for owners of blind dogs, downloaded multiple articles, bought several books and talked to everyone I know that has any experience with blind dogs.

We’re so excited to have Stevie as a member of our family. He is a very special little dog with a huge heart and a lot of love to give. And we have a ton of love waiting for him. I know he has quite a bit to teach us and we’re so blessed to have found him.

Soon you’ll be reading much more about Stevie, Toby and all of our wonderful adventures together!

Related Articles

• The Wonder of Stevie (hearts4paws.wordpress.com)
• You’re formally invited (hearts4paws.wordpress.com)

You’re formally invited

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue in Mukwonago, Wisconsin is requesting the public’s presence at the joining of paws for two very special rescue dogs. Stevie, a special West Highland White Terrier/Poodle mix will wed his mystery bride on Saturday, February 19^th at 6:00 p.m. at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training at 828 Perkins Drive in Mukwonago.  

Families and their canine friends are invited to witness the exchange of the dogs’ wedding vows and tags. An Elvis impersonator will serenade the couple and a dog and a human wedding cake will be served. An open Muttini bar will be available for all canine attendees and a secured dance floor will be provided for those four-legged friends who want to kick up their paws. A silent auction, interactive games, raffles, pet portraits, food, drinks and music, as well as animal communicator, Tresa Laferty ($25 for a 20-minute session), will be provided for everyone’s entertainment.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is requesting a $10 donation at the door and/or a selection from the couple’s gift registry at End of the Leash in Mukwonago. They are registered for items such as Diamond dry puppy food, canned Pedigree® puppy or adult food, Kuranda dog beds and Martingale Collars in petite, small, or medium sizes. An RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary, to 414-750-0152.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is committed to the rescue, care and adoption of Bichon Frises, Shelties and other small breeds and mixes. Primarily serving Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois, Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue takes in dogs surrendered by their owners, dogs found as strays and those rescued from puppy mills.

Update on Stella the Silky Terrier

Stella, the 8-year-old Silky Terrier I mentioned in my last post, has been recovering well from having her eye surgically removed. She’s looking much better and, most importantly, she’s no longer in pain. She’s even been able to go for lengths of time without her cone on and eat on her own.  She really just wants to sit on someone’s lap and get some love. 

Even though she favors one of her back legs, she doesn’t let it slow her down. She still runs around and gets up on furniture to take a nap.  As a terrier, she does bark in alert when she hears unfamiliar noises.  She can also be reactive to other dogs.  Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is going to recommend that Stella be adopted by a family with no children and she would have to meet any other dogs in the family. 

 

Stella touched my heart the moment I met her. She was as sweet as can be – even so soon after surgery. I really hope she finds a forever home where she can spend the rest of her days being showered in love.

If you’re interested in Stella, click here.

Who wants a Taco?

The dog rescue where I volunteer currently has quite a few Chihuahuas up for adoption. These sweet little pups would love to find their forever homes.

I first met Taco back in November.  Taco is an 8-year-old, 7 pound, long-haired male Chihuahua mix.  Cute as a button, this tri-color pup was found as a stray in Waukesha County. Like many Chihuahuas, he seems to prefer women to men and would probably do best in a female only home or one that will be understanding that he is going to need some time to warm up to the males in the household. Taco is a little shy and while he sometimes ducks away from the person trying to pet him, he is submissive and is just trying to avoid a situation that might make him uncomfortable. He’s super cute which makes everyone want to reach out and pet him, so his new owners will need to give him the extra time he needs to warm up to people he doesn’t know. 

Taco has had his vet work updated, including neutering and having his teeth cleaned.   If you are looking for an incredibly cute, older Chi, Taco may be your man!

To learn more about Taco, click here.

What a little love can do…

What a difference a week makes and what a great job everyone is doing at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue! When I went in to volunteer today, the puppy mill pups I mentioned a couple of posts back were in the main room with all of the other dogs. They were bathed, groomed and looking absolutely adorable.

I started by cleaning out their run. As I approached the gate and knelt down, the two Bichon Frises stuck their noses through and covered my fingers with kisses. Even the Yorkshire Terrier tried to get in on the action. I opened the gate and stepped inside. The Yorkie moved away from me, but was sniffing curiously and inching closer, his tail wagging. Both of the Bichons were wagging their tails furiously and greeting me with quick licks and sniffs. All three were friendly and excited to have a visitor. As I pulled up their soiled papers and collected their beds and toys for cleaning, they continued to follow me, moving in a funny little dance of playful curiosity. When I mopped the floor, all three sat patiently on a raised dog bed and waited for me to finish. I placed new beds and blankets in the run and brought them some clean toys. I tossed them into the run and the dogs excitedly scrambled after them. Toys – a new luxury for them – and they were enjoying them to the fullest.

It was so fun to see these puppy mill pups coming out of their shells and displaying the beginnings of their social little selves. Very soon, these cute little guys will make someone very happy.

I’ll post some pictures of them soon so you can see how adorable they are!

Everyone needs a Buddy

Yesterday I volunteered at Bichon and Little Buddies and met one of the new adoptable dogs – Buddy.  Buddy is a four year-old black Pug whose family was no longer able to take care of him. From the moment I saw him, Buddy made me smile. He’s a funny little pug with a huge grin and bright eyes. He’s friendly, spunky and full of character. He followed me around, sat at my feet while I washed dishes and played with the other dogs. He’s snorty and snarky and smiley, all at the same time. He’s very hard to resist.

In his former life, Buddy lived with a family that had children around the ages of 11 and 13, so Bichon and Little Buddies is going to recommend that he only be placed with children this age or older as he can be a little sensitive about being picked up. From what we’re told, Buddy loves to ride in the car and sits nicely for a treat. This handsome little guy had me charmed from the moment I met him. I’m sure he’ll put a permanent smile on the face of the person that decides to make him a forever friend.

I love spending time at Bichon and Little Buddies. There’s something very relaxing and satisfying about being around all of the dogs and doing things to make their lives a little better. When I leave, I’m happy and the feeling stays with me throughout the day.

If this post made you interested in Buddy or any other adoptable dog, just click here.

Happy New Year! Any Canine-Related Resolutions?

It’s officially 2011. A new year. A new start. Every year, I try to make resolutions, but rarely stick to them. I think it’s because I set my goals way too high. I set myself up for failure. So, this year, instead of trying to achieve something virtually impossible, I’m going to improve upon the things I’m already doing. Here are a few of my non-canine resolutions:

• Eat more dinners together as a family
• Add more healthy options to our meals
• Replace some of the sweets in our house with healthy treats like fruit

As for resolutions related to my dog and other dogs out there:

• Add an extra 15 minutes to my walks with Toby
• Start making homemade dog treats – my friend made them once for Toby and he LOVED them!
• Visit the local dog park once a week from May through November (We live in Wisconsin and Toby’s not fond of the cold)
• Adopt another shelter dog
• Volunteer at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue at least three times a month all year
• Work hard on my classes at the Animal Behavior College so I can start my Veterinary Assistant internship in the Spring of 2012

How about you? What are your canine-related resolutions for 2011?

The Wonder of Stevie

There’s a special little pup at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue named Stevie. What makes Stevie so special is more than just his even temperament and outgoing personality. Stevie is special because he’s wonderfully friendly and social despite that fact that he’s blind and deaf in one ear. This West Highland White Terrier Poodle mix was surrendered by a breeder when it was discovered that he was blind. After seeing an eye specialist, it was determined that Stevie’s optic nerve didn’t develop properly which leaves him sightless with the exception of maybe being able to see some light. After getting his hearing tested, it was also determined that Stevie is deaf in one ear. So while he can hear, he can’t always determine the source or direction of the sound.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue staff is looking for an exceptional home for this extraordinary little pup. And because he is so social, he would do well in a home with another dog to play and hang out with. Despite his handicaps, Stevie is a wonderful little guy who will make the right individual very happy.

I’ve spent some time with Stevie and I’m so impressed with his playfulness and ability to get along with other dogs. I’m also amazed at his adaptability and how he is able to get around despite his handicap. Stevie is a lesson is overcoming what seems to be an insurmountable challenge with grace and a smile. Regardless of his physical limitations, he is eager to make new friends, excited to play with others, and determined to do things on his own.

And that is the wonder of Stevie!