My poor girl!

 We discovered over the course of these past 4 weeks with Sadie that she came to us with 2 different infections and hookworms.  My poor girl!  She was really suffering and we didn't know it.  It explains her behavior, especially with me.  She had been jumping and trying to nip me in the face and would not stop no matter what I did.  Thinking it was behavioral, I kept looking up how to stop a puppy from jumping and nipping, trying the methods and not getting any results.  It was like a horror show.  I thought I'd gotten another Brut and his aggression.  I was terrified.  Slowly I came to learn that when Sadie needed something, this was the behavior she would use to get what she was looking for.  It was so frustrating!  As soon as we noticed there was more going on and she started getting treatment, her whole demeanor changed.  She is still a nippy, jumpy puppy, but she has quit jumping in my face.  Not to mention the sleep she is finally getting.  She was hardly getting any sleep those first few weeks, as she would get up when I move.  And of course, now that she is sleeping deeply, her mood is so much softer.  

I had no idea, Sadie had these infections and her behavior mimicked that of aggression and I honestly didn't know if we could keep her, especially with her attacking Chevy.  Somewhere inside I knew there was a good girl, she had proven it.  And I was so scared and upset that I didn't know if I could handle another aggressive dog.  If it wasn't for the faith that a certain person at the animal shelter put in us and had spoken on our behalf, I may have given up.  And I'm so glad I didn't.  I wish we could've have discovered her infections sooner, but I'm just glad we found out when we did.  My poor girl!  She is one tough cookie, I'll tell you that much.  Thank God, she is getting better and better.  

If that wasn't enough, I saw Brut while in a dream-like state last night.  He was as clear as day just standing there looking at me.  I could almost touch him.  That was such a good sign, telling me everything would be OK.  

A month with Sadie

Four weeks with our new girl and I am seeing progress little by little.  I can not get over how smart this girl is.  Sadie learns things very quickly, like in a day or two and practically has them mastered.  She is definitely challenging me in ways I never thought possible.  Half of the time I feel like I never owned a dog before her.  I make mistakes left and right and feel like I don't know what the hell I am doing.  lol  But we keep pushing through all of that fear and doubt and keep going.  

Our biggest struggle is the way she treats Chevy and I was beginning to wonder if we could keep Sadie.  She is still jumping and biting him when she gets wound up.  There has been some progress in regards to her behavior with him.  I am anticipating her moves, stopping her, and/or putting her in her crate.  Which the crate has been such a blessing.  She was already accustomed to it some how and only whines for a few minutes when I put her inside it.  She doesn't fight, she just calms down.  It is making such a difference.  Today, Chevy was smiling.  I think he can feel the change as well.  

I had no idea that German Shepherds were herding dogs.  I think that is some of Sadie's frustration is trying to herd Chevy.  I have a herding ball ordered.  I am hoping this will help with some that ancient instinct and take some pressure off of Sadie and Chevy as she works out that mental energy.  I will let you know how it goes.  

Sadie is an anxious, high-strung girl and was struggling to get any good naps in.  Every time she falls asleep she will get up when I get up.  I have been reading about the effects of lack of sleep and she is exhibiting all of them.  Especially nipping and jumping.  Which were really getting out of control, and painful!  So, I have been trying to regulate her naps and it is making a huge difference in her behavior. 

She can be a little fury tornado, but she is also sweet and loving.  I'm so in love.  ♥

    

Chevy's 2nd Gotcha Day!

There is nothing that compares to an older, mature dog.  Chevy has been a rock to us ever since he came to us two years ago today.  He is still cool as a cucumber, even with the black tornado on the attack.  He is still goofy and fun, as well as serious.  We are still doing our walks, which are the highlight of our day.  And he is still a gift from God that we have been blessed with.  He is the love of lives and I can't believe it has been two years that Chevy has been with us.  We have been through a lot in the short time and looking forward to much more.  

Happy 2nd Gotcha Day to my sweet, sweet boy.  ♥

Eventually nipping it in the bud

You may remember that I mentioned that Sadie keeps jumping and nipping at Chevy's face...at first "no" worked and she would drop to the ground.  That worked for a while, in the first few days, but it didn't stop her actions.  She just kept doing it over and over no matter how many times I told her "no."  I tried blocking her, rolling her on her back, treats and yelling. It was so frustrating.

Well, today it escalated, she would not stop and started biting Chevy's back legs.  He couldn't get away from her.  I got them in the house and separated.  It most intense outside, especially in the backyard.  So the next time we went out, I had a plan.  Sadie always has a leash on, so I had it in my hand, first thing out the door.  And when she started with Chevy, I redirected her away from him, until the intensity of her stare on him lifted.  Sadie has very little experience on a leash and she fought me, but I kept her away from Chevy until she finally gave.  

I don't know why I didn't think of doing that before.  Guess Sadie will be getting a crash course in leash walking.  :)

And this was after we came in.  Sadie crashed and Chevy laid down next to her. 

 

  

Our first week with Sadie

Wow!  I don't know how to start this.  So much has happened during our first week of having Sadie, that I don't know where to start.  

Overall, she is doing great!  She came with no training, but being the intelligent puppy she is, she has figured out most things very quickly and with little training on my part.  Like when I tried teaching her to sit and she wasn't having it.  But when I praised her when she did sit on her own, she started doing it to my command.  Or when I say leave it, she does, even though I haven't taught her what that means.  

We have had only one accident in the house and that was on her first day here and I didn't make it to the door on time.  Except for that one time, she goes outside.  So, that has been pretty cool.  

Sadie has no trouble entertaining herself for long periods of time.  She may go through every toy we have for her, but she enjoys playing by herself.  

We are not sure about much of her background, but she started out being leery of Mark.  It took a few days, but he is winning her over.  Considering Mark is the Pied Piper of dogs, he always wins them over.  

The first three days were probably the roughest of our journey with Sadie.  It was a big change for everyone, but especially for Chevy.  He took it pretty hard, but he is starting to accept her as only Chevy can.

Sadie has severe separation anxiety, which we are slowly making progress with her.  I wasn't able to walk Chevy that first week, because she would just panic.  I was finally able to take him the other night, and I think that helped out his mental and emotional state.  Mine as well.

One of our biggest issues with is her jumping and nipping while jumping.  She does this when she gets scared and thinks I left her or when she does her zoomies.  She will get overexcited and jump and bite at me.  I am starting to make progress that by turning my back to her and saying no. We are still working on walking on a leash in the yard.  She is coming along well in that area.  I am not rushing it. 

Overall, Sadie is a really good puppy. She takes treats, but isn't overly motivated by them.  Squeaky toys are more her thing.  She's sweet and loving, until she turns into the black tornado.  lol  But really, she's got to be one of the best puppies that wasn't ours.        

Meet Sadie!

Meet Sadie!  Our newest addition.  She is a 3 month old Shepherd/black Lab mix that we got from our local shelter.  She is such a doll.  Although Chevy isn't impressed with her puppy antics.  lol  

We had a meet and greet with Sadie and her siblings and picked her.  Then there was an agonizing wait to find out if we would be approved.  During that week, I struggled with whether this was the right decision for Chevy, first and foremost, us and her.  But the minute she was in my arms and

we drove home.  I knew it was the right decision.  Everything just came together after that.  

During the waiting process, I was trying to think of names for our little girl.  Then one day, with no thoughts about the dog or names, out of the blue the name Sadie came to me.  I tossed and turned it around for a while.  It wasn't until I looked up the meaning and I laughed out loud that I knew it was for her.  Sadie means "princess."  It was the perfect name.  ♥

Sadie is smart, independent, sassy and a little crazy.  lol  She must of ran around and around the yard for most of the day the first day we brought her home.  All that pent up puppy energy of being locked up exploded when we let her in the yard.  And it is those crazy puppy zoomies that get her in trouble with Chevy.  She keeps jumping in his face.  We have been working on putting a stop to that.  In fact, she does the same thing with me, especially if my face is at her level.  When Sadie does that, Chevy steps in between us and stops her.  Very cool!

It's strange, she has only been here 3 days and it feels like she's been here all along.  Sadie was definitely meant to be here.  So many blessings in this little one and with Chevy.  I didn't think my heart could ever burst again with love, but with these two there is no stopping it.  ♥

    

And life carries on...

 

The end of an era.  Boxer and Princess Leia.  I found these Azaleas  while looking for roses for their graves.  The red one is for Boxer and the lavender double petal is for Leia.  They were perfect and will bloom in mid-spring, close to the time they died.  Sharing in the beauty of their lives forever.  

Rest in peace my loves.  

A little about Leia

 

My baby girl Princess Leia

I was sitting in the back of a van on an October day.  The breeder was holding two female Seal Point Siamese that were 3 months old.  I'd just lost my cat, Claw nine days before and we'd driven halfway down state to decide between these two kittens and which one I wanted.

As the breeder talked, she kept trying to push the one in her left hand towards me.  The kitten was lighter in color and was a bit more spunky.  I paid no attention as my focus was on the skittish one in her right hand.  This kitten was darker in color and was obviously more scared than the other one.  The breeder tried again to sell me the lighter kitten, but my mind was made up.  The breeder was hesitant, but finally agreed.  I received the kitten's purebred lineage papers and my first traditional Seal Point Siamese.  We headed home. 

All that attitude!

As we were driving home, trying to think of a name and Mark says, "Princess Leia."  I laughed, because it fit.  It was perfect.  She was our little Princess.  And yes, Star Wars is my favorite movie!

My love for Siamese goes back to early childhood.  The neighbors that lived in back of us, had two Siamese.  They were quite old cats when I met them.  Their names were Ping and Pong.  Which I always thought were such cool names for the breed.  I was fascinated with them.  I don't remember what kind of interaction I had with them, but I was in love.  

 The Disney classic, "Lady and the Tramp," was another that shaped my interest in the breed. The two Siamese cats that got Lady into all kinds of trouble.  "We are Siamese if you please.  We are Siamese if you don't please," the cats sang.  I was still in love, even though the cats got Lady kick out of the house.  Which was a first for me, because I always rooted for the dog, but these cats had me spellbound.  lol

Claw, my first "Siamese"

And then there was Claw, the cat I had just lost to cancer 9 days earlier.  I had suspected for a while that she was at least part Siamese. Even though she looked like a grey tabby, she had large ears, a long, skinny tail, a sleek body, along with that infamous Siamese screech.  It was Claw and those childhood dreams that lead me to search for a traditional looking Siamese.  Dark face, paws and tail with a lighter body.  And when I left that day with Princess Leia, I stopped grieving for Claw.  It was like they were twins in the same body.  I never lost Claw, I gained Leia with Claw right there. In fact, I used their names interchangeably throughout Leia's life.

Princess Leia was a very quirky cat.  She was skittish, but not afraid.  She was tiny and quick.  She was dainty but bold. She really was a mixed bag.  She had no problem getting around six dogs.  Fiona was especially fascinated with Leia. She didn't chase Leia, but she made it known she could. Leia outmaneuvered her with no problem. 

One time Leia was sniffing Brut's back leg while he lay chewing on a bone.  I held my breath!  Brut and food made him aggressive.  Leia finally left him with no incident.  She could be very brave at times.  

Leia was a hidey cat.  If anyone came over she was gone.  No one but us has ever seen her.  She also ran from us.  She hated being picked up and held.  In typical cat form, it had to be her decision.

Best buds

One of my favorite times with her was when she would lay on my chest.  We would take little naps and she would crawl on me for a little siesta.  She did do something that was weird when I would pet her, Leia would rub her fangs on the back of my hand.  Never knew why.  As she got older and we lost the dogs, she became more insistent with this behavior. Someone I mentioned this to recently, thought it might be a nursing/nurturing behavior.  All I know is that she did it all the time and it was a creepy feeling for me.  

Together forever  ♥

Wherever Princess Leia was, Boxer wasn't too far behind.  These two were quite bonded.  Almost always cuddling together.  Chasing and playing together.  Not to mention surviving the 24 Paws of Love dogs.  Boxer, the bully and Leia the submissive one.  They made a good couple.  

Princess Leia was a strange and unique cat.  She filled my Siamese dreams in all fashions of the breed.  She lived 19 years, 6 months and 22 days with us and I couldn't have asked more.  ♥

Boxer~ May 23, 2005-March 26, 2026

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I share with you that Boxer was put down on March 26.  He fought the good fight against a cancer he didn't deserve, yet beat the odds against it.  He was given 3 months to live, with a rare (for cats) and aggressive cancer.  He lived almost three years since that diagnosis.  Unbelievable.  If there was one thing that boy was, it was being strong willed.  He was such a force of nature.  And an angry one at that.  He was difficult to love being so stubborn, pushy, demanding and obnoxious, but somehow he found a way into my heart.  He was 100% cat...and then some.  And I loved and hated him for that.  Definitely one of a kind.  I'm so grateful that he came into my life for those 20, almost 21 years that he was here.  

Forever in my heart... Boxer-boo    

Blaze- 5 year anniversary

She was our littlest 24 Paw.

She was an avid hunter and full of spitfire.

She had an hyper anxious electricity about her.

We have always been grateful that her previous owners brought her back to us.

She had quite the fascination with Boxer and Leia.

She was loved.

She was Blaze.

And she more than fit her name.

and then some.

Can't believe it has been five years that she has been gone.

Love you Sweet Pea.  ♥

 

Princess Leia~ August 10, 2006-March 4, 2026

 

This past Wednesday I had to make the hardest decision I've ever made.  I had to let go my little Princess Leia.  We got her when she was 3 months old and she lived for 19 years and 5 months.  She had kidney disease for the last 7 years of her life and we managed it with special food and supplements.  The last month she was not doing well and she went into renal failure.  She was the longest living animal I have ever owned, besides Boxer, who's a year older.  I really struggled with making THE decision, but knew in my heart I could not let her go on this way.  And we did the only kind thing we could do for her, by letting her go.  I know she is at peace now and free from her ill-ridden body.  

Run free, baby girl.  I love you ♥

Zappa's 3 year anniversary

 

The first thing I remember about Zappa after he was born, was the mouth he had on him.  OMD!  He had no problem belting it out even as a wee little thing.  lol  He was always running that mouth for whatever he wanted.  The second thing was that he was a momma's boy.  He loved his Momma Dog Silver.  He could always be seen hanging close to her mouth or in her front legs as a newborn.  He remained tight with Silver her entire life.  I have several pics of just the two of them together. 

The third thing I remember about Zappa is when he had stolen the toilet paper roll and when I called him from the lieu, he actually brought it back!  I still giggle over that one.  

The fourth thing I remember was how many times he outsmarted Brut when it came to their challenges.  Zappa knew how to get Brut in trouble, even if he had instigated the situation. It took me a while to catch on to his game.  

There are several other memories and moments with Zappa, but the time period that sticks out the most for me was after losing Blaze, Chance and Fiona in less than 60 days.  How suddenly he was all alone and it was just him and I.  I often wondered why it was that Zappa was the lone survivor.  We had kind of a rough relationship and didn't really know each other.  He was Mark's dog and Brut was mine.  It was a struggle after the loss of the dogs and being alone with Zappa.  That first day after Fiona died, I shared my turkey sandwich with Zappa and it was the beginning of a peace offering.  Together we slowly began the healing process and grieved together.  That one-on-one time with Zappa became precious in so many ways.  I couldn't be more grateful for his strength and endurance to carry on through even after the losses he had.  I got to know him in a way I couldn't with the other dogs around and it was a blessing.  

Zappa was always a mystery to me.  Fiona and him were the only dogs out of the six who had never been abused or neglected.  And with my childhood abuse it was hard to relate to him.  He was on a higher plane, spiritually, and I was sort of intimidated by him.  So, in these last moments of his life, we were actually able to bond and find each other.  Like I said, it was a blessing.  That time gave me a chance to call him friend, which was the best gift of all.  And I've never forgotten.  ♥

Zappa-Dappa-Do.  

Love you forever buddy.  

Dodging the bullet...for now

Had a scare with Boxer this past week.  He wasn't doing well and I had to make THE decision.  The next day I woke up and there he was acting fine and lively.  It turned out he had been constipated and pooped that night and was fine.  Talk about freaking me out!  Constipation is one of the symptoms of anal gland cancer because of the tumor partially blocking the passage way.  This is what my life with Boxer's cancer consist of, monitoring whether he poops or not.  At some point the tumor will get big enough to block the opening  and he will not be able to go.  The scare he gave me this week means we are closer to that point and will try to make THE decision before that happens.  

Boxer is a fighter.  He is the most strong-willed animal I've ever had.  Even compared to Brut.  I have no idea what kind of cat he is, but I know his father was a wild tomcat.  And believe me it shows.  This boy is all out determined to live for as long as possible.  And I am willing to help him until he tells me different.

        

Confessions of a grieving dog mom #4-No one told me I might have resentments

Chevy and the roses of the 24 Paws of Love

The first month with Chevy was bliss...and then I found myself with resentments that I wasn't prepared to have.  I was suddenly in the anger stages of my grief over the 24 Paws of Love.  I loved Chevy, but he wasn't Brut, Silver, Zappa, Fiona, Chance or Blaze.  I didn't realize I had an expectation of finding another Paw.  What made it even more difficult was that Chevy was a complete opposite of the 24 Paws.  In almost every way.  I felt like every day I was losing the 24 Paws faster and faster with Chevy being here.  I never missed six dogs so much in all my life and I struggled to keep my focus on Chevy.  It was a bit of a trying time with Chevy settling in and my resentments.  If it wasn't for the structure Chevy and I were building with feedings, downtime, training, playtime and walks, it would have been a whole lot worse, but we carried on together. 

It wasn't Chevy himself that I was angry at, it was just the fact that we were here at this point in our lives.  The 24 Paws ending and Chevy beginning.  It opened a new wave of grief over the 24 Paws.  Angry for what would never be again.  Angry for what we had and angry for grieving all over on an entirely different level with Chevy here.  I felt like I was in the middle of the Paws and Chevy and couldn't decide which way to go.  My loyalty was being stretch in both directions and my first devotion was always to the Paws while struggling to give my heart to Chevy.  

Chevy was his own dog with his own personality and quirks.  For some reason I thought that Chevy would be part of the 24 Paws of Love in some way, shape or form.  That I would "see" the 24 Paws in him or signs that they were "there" in Chevy.  But I didn't and that made me sad and angry.  Chevy was a total stranger.  As we were to him and that made it harder to not feel disappointed. 

I was looking for an instant spiritual connection that never came and I was crushed.  Except for the color of Chevy's fur matching Zappa's, Chevy was the exact opposite of the 24 Paws.  In mannerism, behavior, spirit, dog breed, disposition, and temperament.  You name it, he was as far from being one of the 24 Paws as could be.  And I was angry about that.  That fact alone took me to a place in my grief I never thought I could be.   

Then the next big bombshell hit...the anniversaries of the deaths of the 24 Paws.  From Silver in January to Brut in June, with the pups in between. Almost every month had an anniversary in it.  I sunk into one of the worst depression I'd had in a long time.  Going through that period of each of the dog's death's and having a new dog.  It was awful.  (I will note that I'm prone to depression.  So, this wasn't new to me, but the combo made it more difficult.) 

At the same time, Chevy and I were bonding through walks, training and playtime.  It was the highlight of my day being with Chevy, through these dark times.  

Then the strangest thing happened in May, after Chance's and Fiona's anniversary's, I started to feel a shift in my mood, that continued to lift me out of my depression.  And I tell you what, normally I'm depressed in the summer as well, but this past summer was one of the best I'd ever had because of Chevy.  He made everything worthwhile because he was there for me and I was there for him.  

My patient, gentle boy

I have come to a place of harmony with the 24 Paws and Chevy.  The 24 Paws can't be Chevy and Chevy isn't the 24 Paws.  It was a difficult discovery to make and was painful on many levels.  To be honest I still have shots of the anger flare up.  It is there, but I talk myself through it and it doesn't last long.  The 24 Paws were in my life for a reason.  They were a lifestyle.  My entire life was consumed with those 6 Husky-mixes.  It has been hard to let that go and let another dog in.  Oh, that doesn't mean they aren't here or I never think about them, the 24 Paws are very much part of my every day life, but expecting another dog to be part of them...isn't going to happen.  The 24 Paws were who they were and Chevy is exactly who he is.  And if I really think about it, I'm very, very grateful for that.    

My two favorite boys

These two....

are so bonded.  

It is incredible and so adorable!  Chevy will follow Mark around the house and give me this quick look that says, "Yep, that's my dad!"  It is so cute.  

Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, they got quite a few hours on the couch together that bonded them even more. 

Chevy isn't one to wake Mark up in the morning, instead Chevy sleeps in with him.  

And when they are together, all rules and discipline go out the window!!  lol  They have a language that is all their own.

Just a boy and his dog.  ♥

  

Silver-9 year anniversary

We had her for three years before she became Momma Dog Silver.  Those first few years were a bonding time.  She was part Husky, part Black Lab and even though she looked like a Lab, she acted like a Husky.  A complete free thinker. I had no idea about Huskies and I went in blind. I tried to treat her like the Lab she looked like.  Boy, did she teach me a thing or two or three or four!  I still never really understood the Husky in her until we got Brut.  

Silver and Brut were never legally married, but they might as well been.  They were made for each other.  One year after we had Brut, we let them have their way with each other.  Silver gave birth to 10 beautiful puppies.  She was a gentle mom.  It looked to me that she never disciplined her pups.  She was always wanting to play.  She was a good mom who took care of her pups.  So much so, that we had to separate her from her puppies, because she wouldn't wean them.  She was a happy mom.  I'll never forget the first I knew she was pregnant.  It was the skep in her step and the way she protected her body from Brut.  We were so blessed to have be our Momma Dog Silver. 

 

And when we became the 24 Paws of Love, Silver always put the kids first.  She stayed in the back, quiet and waiting for her turn.  It was her gentleness that she passed down to her pups that took the rough edge of Brut in them.  She was patient, loving and a stronger force then Brut.  When Brut died they lost their leader, but when Silver died the pups fell apart.  Silver was the glue that held everyone together.  I hadn't realized by how much until she passed.  

Nine years ago today, we lost our girl and all she stood for.  My heart will always ache for Silver