HOT Again!

I'm not really sure what happened. It was hot but then it was tolerable for quite a while - now it's hot again! This hotness is one of the very few things that I do not find fun in life. Not one bit! Altho-o-u-gh - it is kinda fun when Daddy get's my pool out and I dip my paws in it for a few minutes, maybe dunk after a treat or toy or something - that's fun! Ice cubes are always good and so are those Mr. Barksmith's Cool Treats Smoothies, they're pretty yummy - we only get those when it's hot. Hopefully someday we'll get to try those Frosty Paws that Rebel is always talking about - a pup can dream.
Maybe when Daddy gets home I'll talk him into the pool thing and a Cool Treats, yea life is Fun!

Guest Blog Thursday - Peaches!

Hi everyone - it's Guest Blog Thursday and today we're interviewing Peaches! She's a fluffy little thing and quite sassy! Peacheses Mom sent along some pics too. As usual the questions are in black, Peacheses answers are in blue and my comments are in red! Enjoy!

First - your full name and breed (as the humans call us)? Peaches Strini & I'm a Shih Tzu (I promise it's not a dirty word) (you're so cute - I think I have a new crush!)

Age? In 5 days I will be 10 months old. (you sure are young - is that why you're so little? Happy Birthday - I hope you get lots of presents)

Nicknames? Peachy Peach, The Peach, Pumpkin Bread (my mommy likes food)

What is your most favorite toy? My Minnie Mouse from Disney. I carry her around everywhere and lick her. She's beautiful. (is that a stuffy? stuffies are the best - don't ya just love tearing out the insides?!)

What is you most favorite treat/food/snack? I am not really into treats - I know shocker - right? But I do like Iams Puppy Treats - people food is gross. (ok - maybe I spoke a little too early about that crush - not into treats ?!? and did you say "people food is gross"??? I am totally confused - have you ever tried it? maybe your Momma doesn't prepare it right - 'cus people food is amazingly delicious!)

Regarding humans and your people what do you find to be the most interesting thing about them? I like their hands and they way they pet me. I go to all of them because I'm sure they all want to pet me as soon as they see my lovely coat flowing in the wind. ( Yes, petting is good - but not over the head - I don't like that. You must be brave to go up to all the humans - the stranger ones make me nervous)

What amuses you most about them? Hmmm that's a tough one. I think it's how I can control them by rolling over and showing them my belly. (is that what Gus is dong?!?!? makes much more sense now - you're pretty smart - just like Gus)

You're quite little - what's that like? Does your shortness (no offense)
pose any problems? what about positives because of your lack of height? I am short, but also light - so people love to pick me up and cuddle me and it's a plus to be able to fit into small spaces and run from mom and she can't get that low to find me. (that's pretty good one - I'm too big to hide)

What is your most favorite thing to do? (you can list more than one - I have LOTS of favorites!) I like to play with Minnie. I love to go for walks, especially when Mommy takes me past all on the shops on the way home and the people come out to pet me. I love to lay on the tile floor because it's cold on my belly. But what I love most is sitting right on mommy's lap when she's watching TV. (laying on the tile floor is the BEST - I love to do that too! - I think my crush may be starting to come back)

I have seen lots of pictures of you with bows in your fur. What do you think of that? I think I'm hot - duh! (but don't you lay on the tile floor to NOT be hot? girls are so confusing!)

I also see from your pictures that you are quite fluffy and pretty, like me. Do people like to stare at you and your prettyness? And how do you feel when they do that? I welcome it - because first they stare and then they feel the need to have to touch me and the next thing you know I'm getting attention and petting all around. (I see you like to be petted and admired by pretty much anybody - are there no limitations? strangers are scary)

What kind of things do you and your Momma do together? Well like I said, we go on walks, and sit on the deck - I usually enjoy the breeze while she reads and well let's face it - I'm a lap dog - so I love being in her lap (I know some of these questions seem the same but sometimes a favorite isn't what you get to do all the time - sometimes you have to do non fun things - like baths. Momma says I'm too big to sit on her lap - but sometimes I do it anyway - 'cus I like it too)

Dad says that you are probably carried around in a special Coach purse. Are you? I am not - but I do have a special harness for the car so that I don't go through the windshield. What does Coach mean? If you have to ask, then I can't help you. (Huh??)

Who is your favorite cartoon character? I'll have to go with Smurfette - because she's got pretty hair like me.

Thanks, Peaches for answering all my questions! Even though you're a bit confusing I bet you're lots of fun! Life is fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GUS!

It's Gus' Birthday! Yeah! It's Gus' Birthday and we're gonna have some fu-u-nnn!

Well, we don't actually know the date of Gus' birthday - but Momma & Daddy celebrate it today 'cus this is the day that Gus joined the family. In case you don't know the story, here it is. Momma & Daddy lost their first Aussie, Hogan, unexpectedly (he was 10). They wanted to get another dog and they decided to get a rescue. Although they checked out Aussie Rescue of St. Louis (www.aussierescuestlouis.com), they also looked at ARPH (Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline - www.aussierescue.org) and there was Gus! Big white eyes and Happy Gus Gus face! He was discovered wandering around Ft. Riley, Kansas with no info. He was at a shelter with only 48 hours left when ARPH found him (no one will tell me what this means but I guess it's a bad thing). His Foster Mom, Michelle (she's pretty cool - she has three Aussie's of her own and still does fostering - what a big heart!), said she looks for Aussie's online, like Petfinder.com, and she saw Gus listed there and couldn't resist those eyes - so she saved him (thanks, again). She & Gus were all the way in Kansas but she said she'd meet Momma & Daddy in Kansas City and so off they went to KC. When Gus & Daddy met, they bonded immediately. Gus actually jumped right into the car and laid down next to Daddy as if that was where he belonged and now it is. The end!

Well - it's not really the end 'cus the story continues when they got me! Oh - Momma says that's a story for another day. The actual hero of the story is Michelle and all those Foster Mom's & Dad's out there. They do such a lot of work and have such big hearts - where would all the dogs like Gus be without them? I think they all deserve a big high-five from us pups and I'll even share my treats with them!

OK - I'm gonna go help Gus celebrate - this should be so much fun! Life is FUN! OH! Here are some pics of Gus - he sure is a handsome fella!

This is before I joined the family and Gus didn't have to share his toys yet. He sure looks happy!

Still before I joined the family. This is out at Purina Farms at the Canine Games (I got to go last year & hopefully we'll go again this year). It's a fund raising event for the local Samoyed Club & Samoyed Rescue group and it's lots of fun!

Gus being silly in the white stuff - we were playing. (oh how I miss the white stuff-look back at my "Ode to White Stuff" post)

Gus likes to have his belly rubbed - A LOT! He does this ALL the time!

Guest Blog Thursday - Pet Sitter Extraordinaire

Hi! It's Guest Blog Thursday again and I decided to interview the bestest pet sitter ever Miss Trina, of Orphan Annie's Pet Sitting. Gus and I really like it when Trina comes over - she plays with us and gives us lovins. When Momma & Daddy aren't here and she comes over she not only plays with us & gives us lovins but also sometimes feeds us. It sure is nice when she visits. Plus, she's the Momma to my bestest bud Phillip & the girl I have a crush on, Bella.
As usual the questions are in black, answers are in blue and my comments are in red. Enjoy!

So, how long have you been a pet sitter?

10 Years in August

Why did you decide to become a professional pet sitter?

I have always loved animals, especially dogs. So when I heard about

pet sitting I thought it was a perfect fit. I always wanted to be a vet,

but couldn't handle doing the surgeries etc. So now I get to do all

of the fun stuff with pets. (doing the fun stuff with us pets is pretty cool)

Can you tell us the story behind the name "Orphan Annie's Pet sitting"?

Little Orphan Annie was the name we gave our Cocker

Spaniel when we found her running the streets and

starving in 1981. She passed away one year before I started

my business and wanted to remember her this way (I don't like to hear that any pets don't have a home it's nice that you gave her a good home)

What do you do as a pet sitter? (I know you play with us LOTS but what
about all the others)

I walk dogs, change litterboxes (yuck), I give medicine if they need it. And

mostly I just make sure they are happy and comfortable while mom and

dad are gone. I also walk dogs while mom & dad have to work. (sounds like you have to do more than just the fun stuff. I don't know what a litterbox is but I'll take your word this it's yucky)

What advice can you give humans on hiring a pet sitter? What questions
should they ask of a potential pet sitter?

They should always make sure they have insurance and that they are bonded.

They should always see how they interact with their pets, to make sure they

are all a good fit. I would ask for references, and call their vet to make sure

they are good to their own pets. (I think your the bestest pet sitter - why would anyone hire someone else?)

What can humans do to make your pet sitting job easier?

Leave detailed instructions, which by the way, your mommy does a

great job at that. I always try and get as much info as I can when I

meet, but there are always things that are left out. If anything changes

with the schedule they can let me know, preferably before I show up

and find out that you are home early. (I bet Momma does leave a long list - we have a lot of rules and you seem to know them. We can't get away with anything when you're here!)

How many visits do you have in a typical day?

I usually have anywhere from 5 - 8 jobs, and more than that of course on

Holidays and heavy vacation times. (I bet you're in the car a lot - Gus likes car rides - I like the getting to the fun place - not so much the ride itself)

What's your mostest favorite thing about pet sitting?

Getting to be around so many different kinds of pets. I love all the

personalities that I get to experience. Then I don't have to bring

anymore dogs home, I can play with my customer's. (us pets are pretty fun - who can blame you for wanting to be around us? )

Your leastest favorite?

Picking up Poo, yuck! But it's got to be done. (that's no fun)

What should people really think about if they want to become a pet sitter?

Pet sitters works very long days. We start early in the morning and we

sometimes work until late at night, with a few breaks in between. You will

work lots of week-ends, and of course you may not ever have another Holiday

to yourself. (that sounds like a lot of work and crazy days)

Who is the prettiest pet you've ever pet sitted for? Mostest fun? (momma
says I have to disqualify myself from this answer and that you don't have to
give names - just descriptions if that works bestest for you)

Momma knows I think you are very handsome! But that is a hard questions

because I think all my furry pet friends are pretty. Some look pretty silly,

but I love them all. I have to say Arthur, who was my very first daily dog walk

really captured my heart. I petsit him for 8 years before we lost him and it

was very hard. (It is pretty hard to pick just one prettiest - us dogs are all pretty pretty. It's like trying to pick one favorite of anything - just not easy. I bet that Arthur was pretty cool - I'm sure he liked your visits a lot!)

What's a really funny story/experience you've had while being a pet sitter?
or several :)

Wow in 10 years I have so many, let's see:

Well, I learned quickly while trying to play soccer with a 220 lb Mastiff

that you cannot wear flip flops. Ouch. (I step on Momma's feet sometimes & She says it hurts - but I'm no Mastiff size - wow!)

I love this one..last winter I was walking a dog named Duke. It had snowed

tons the night before and we are walking along and he pulled off into a yard. I

thought he needed to potty so I turned around only to see him making a

doggy snow angel in the neighbors yard. (who could blame him - that white stuff is awesome!)

I love the simple fun stuff, that is what makes me smile about dogs. It's the

little things.

What are some of the more interesting or unusual & fun names for pets that you've encountered?

Hoppe

Mugzi

Minka

Zippy

Starbucks

To name a few.

personal stuff about you

How many pets do you have? names? breeds? ( i know the answer but the
readers don't)

Heidi is almost 10 years old...Dachshund

Chloe is almost 6 years old...Mutly Aussie/Golden

Bella is about 4 years old...Dachshund

Phillip is 2 years old.....Dachshund/Chihuahua mix (me & Phillip are the same age - you sure do like the little ones)

What kinds of things do you like to do with your pets?

I love playing with Chase It, teaching them new tricks, playing

ball and in general spoiling them. (that's pretty cool,those are all good things - especially the chase-it and the new tricks, learning new tricks is fun and the spoiling part is super fantastic!)

What human thing do you do that probably annoys your pets?

Make them work hard for treats. (yeah, that can be pretty annoying)

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Garfield (I don't know that one - but Gus told me that's a cat? A cat?)

What is your favorite food?

Ice Cream, and french fries (those are pretty good favorites)

What is your favorite toy?

The Wii, love it. (not the chase-it?)

If you could be any type of animal - what would that be & why?

A dog of course, because depending on who they live with, they don't have a care in the world. (well, I can't blame ya here - it is pretty great being a dog!)

Thanks Miss Trina for doing the interview. Say Hi to Mr. Jared, Miss Kayla, Heidi, Chloe, Bella & Phillip for me!
I hope you all learned a little something about how great it is to have a pet sitter. It's pretty awesome to have someone come by when Momma & Daddy are away. Miss Trina is always a lot of fun. Life is fun!