My Favorite Things

Let's get the weekend off to a musical start! Here is my special rendition of one of my most loved songs. So grab your foxie friend and sing along!


Treats in my closet,



And food in my bowl,



Digging in couches, and making big holes,



Playing with Gracie, running in rings,



These are a few of my favorite things.

When my Dingo bones dry out,



When I tire of my toy box,



When I'm feeling like a manic WF-Tee...

I simply remember my favorite things,
and then I'm happy as can be!

Enjoy your weekend! I'm off to the vet tomorrow for my check up post neutering, and then finally, to meet Luci and Mom Kathy in Landsdale for a playdate!

AGC

Guilt Elicits Treats!

Mom must be wracked with guilt...she's been giving me Dingoes, MilkBones and livertreats like it's going out of fashion. I guess it's time to forgive her for hacking into my blog and move on. We Wires are very forgiving canines.

Dad went to Petsmart yesterday and came home with bags of stuff for me. Mom and Dad go nuts at pet stores, they just can't resist buying me stuff. I got an 18-pack box of Dingoes! Man I wish I had thumbs - just think I could open the closet door while they are at work, and help myself to as many chews and treats as I like. If I was just a little taller I could use my mouth...maybe I could push the stepladder over there...yes! What a brilliant plan!

I got a funny pic from my pal Colby in Winnipeg yesterday. It looks like he's discovered a new planet or something. Check out his expression! I would love to play with a ball as big as that...I wonder if it is like a balloon - I enjoy biting balloons and hearing them POP!



I guess I'm quite unusual in that way...I am not at all afraid of loud noises! Last night there was the biggest thunderstorm - thunder and lightening, and I stood bravely at the window and barked and barked, daring it to come inside. Once again I seem to have pissed off Mom and Dad. I just can't win. I'll tell you one sound I cannot tolerate, and that is having to watch that stupid American Idol audition television program. Most of the contestants are ugly and can't sing, they hurt my ears. But Mom insists on watching that drivel, and I guess it is still better than hearing Dad's inane playstation games.

AGC

A Wire's Defense

Well I never. Can you believe this? My very own Mother, my flesh and blood...oh hang on...that's not exactly true, is it? But you get my drift don't you? My own Mother has hacked into my blog, stolen my password, and made a mockery of me on my own blog? I am one livid Wire. I am never going to speak to her again. Oh shit, there we go again. I can't speak. Damn.

Anyway, I have a defense for each allegation - in fact just this morning I emailed Alan Dershowitz for his legal opinion. He told me I had a very good case!

1. Regarding the cellphone: Mom left it lying on MY couch with some wire attached to it. Doesn't she know Wire Fox Law #284: Any object residing in my domain, is MINE, and I can do what I want with it. The phone was in my territory, and I acted accordingly. Besides, I knew you and Dad were looking into a family plan with new phones anyway...

2. Regarding the barking allegations. Duh. I'm a dog. I bark. And hear this Mom. Dogs hear noises up to 45 kHz, while humans only hear sounds up to about 23 kHz. So you may think I'm barking for no reason, but trust me, there are evil things outside that I can hear and you can't! I am barking to tell them to not come in and harm US! You should be bloody grateful that I bark and shower me with liver treats!

3. Regarding jumping on the coffee table. What can I say? I don't really dig being so small...I like to be able to look into your eyes sometimes Mom and Dad and see what is going on there. When I stand on the coffee table, I am at the perfect level to see you while you are watching TV. And as for grabbing stuff off that table...well, I'm really just helping you to clean up. Empty Coke bottles and napkins shouldn't be there in the first place. Mom, you are not the greatest housekeeper, even Dad says so. And the fact that you grew up in South Africa with servants is becoming a rather pathetic excuse!

4. Regarding table surfing and "stealing" stuff like hats, gloves, bills and wallets. Listen here. I can't talk. Right? So how would you like me to tell you that I need to go out for a piss or a poop. I take your hats and gloves as my way of communicating, "put these damn things on NOW, I need to go out!" Is it my fault if you don't get it? Do you know what it's like trying to hold in a poop? It's not pleasant. So try be a bit more sensitive to my gentle hints! And as for bills and wallets - well, um...I was just reminding Dad that his Capitol One bill was almost due - if I shred it he will be forced to go online to look at his due date! And as for your wallet Mom, I guess I mistook your greens for greenies. My mistake. Mea culpa.

5. And finally, regarding burying my bones in MY couch while Dad happens to be stretched out thereon...see #1!

I rest my case. I sick of us Wires being labelled as terrierists and manic lunatics. There is method to all our "assumed" madness. It's the humans that have the problem.

AGC
Feeling extremely vindicated and smug!

A Mother's Revenge!

I interrupt this blog with a message from Axel's Mother. Axel will probably be super pissed off that I hacked into his blog account and stole his password, but quite frankly, I don't give a hoot.
Axel cannot blog today because he is being punished for being a very naughty boy! The litany of charges against him list as follows:

1. Chewed Mother's cellphone - broke off and ate antenna, and left a litany of teeth marks all over the phone. See evidence below.



2. Barked from 11PM-1AM while Mom and Dad were trying to sleep

3. Jumped onto the coffee table at least 5 times in one evening, each time making an attempt to grab object thereon including napkins, glass of Coke, Coke bottle and mobile home phone.



4. Table surfed repeatedly - each time stealing something including Dad's Capital One bill, gloves, hat, Mom's wallet etc...



5. Tried to bury bone in Dad's back while he was trying to catch up on sleep as a result of charge listed in #2.



As no amounts of yelling, spanking, threatening with crating, squirts from the water pistol, begging and pleading have gotten through to our wiry guy - we have to resort to extreme means like this -- wire fox grounding and denial of access to computer.

There is no telling what the incorrigible hound will do to us when he discovers that I have hacked into his blog - either report me to Amnesty International with allegations or cruel or unusual punishment or devour some more precious objects around the house?

God Help Us!

Mom

Oops, I did it again!

I peed...
On Mom and Dad's bed...
Uh-oh
I am a canine non grata...again.

I didn't mean to, I was just so excited because Mom and Dad let me hang out with them while they were surfing online for wedding wear for the men, and then Dad gave in to my demand for a dingo chew (my second today) after I clawed at the treat cupboard...and then I ran upstairs to show Mom (who chastised Dad...) and then dived onto the bed to enjoy my treat...and then...uh oh...I peed! Eek.

Dad is very mad. Mom always tries to look mad, but I can tell she is amused, especially when Dad says stuff like, "I'll sleep on the couch"...to which Mom responds, "oh please, it's only pee!" Anyway, they sprayed it with that yucky smelling Nature's Miracle, then used a puppy pad to absorb the moisture and then began to blow dry the mattress. Humans are so funny! I still have my dingo, albeit that I have to eat it downstairs...oh well. I can cope!

When Mom came home from work she took me to Lincoln Memorial Park. On the way we met up with Gracie and Keila (and their foster sister Mama who their Mom Diane found abandoned by the road - they need a home for her - poor gal is blind as a bat). At the park, I played with many different dogs - a doberman, a Jack Russel and a teensy Puggle puppy only 8 weeks old. I don't dig these new fangled chic breeds - and in my opinion, they aren't half as cute as we Wires are!

Read a weird story in the paper today entitled, "Man dies after dog crashes into car". It goes on to say that, "An 81-year-old Livonia man died Thursday morning, five days after a black Labrador fell from the Schoolcraft overpass at I-96 west, crashing through his car windshield..." When I first read that I thought, wow, maybe it had been raining cats and dogs and the lab fell from the heavens? Or I wondered, had the lab taken his owner's car for a spin - the title was misleading! But it seems noone knows how he fell onto the highway. What a way to go - for the dog and the man.

I am very impressed with the sentiments of the deceased man's family - what good people. They stated in the article:
"We've been in contact with the people who own the dog, and we feel comfortable that it is accurate the dog got loose and the dog just ran wild and did something very unusual. I feel for the people because I know how much they're hurting, and we hold no grudges. ... I'm an animal lover, like my dad is, so I feel for them."

On that note, I must get back to the couch before Dad gets out the shower and finds me upstairs again! Mom rented "My Life as a Dog" (also known as "Mitt liv som hund " - I like that!) from Netflix -- I wonder if its about ME!!! Why was I not told? Where are my royalties!!!?

AGC

Chicken Thief

Did I really lose my balls this week? It's hard to believe they are not between my legs anymore, because I feel as good as new. As right as rain. As wiry and firey as ever! Mom and Dad are trying to keep me calm and demure, but it's a hard job! I feel great, so I don't see why I have to take it easy!

Last night, acting on a tip from my pals Cappy & Kaiser, I got very excited to see Mom cooking a small chicken, called a cornish hen, for dinner. I thought, wow Cappy & Kaiser were right - I'm getting my post operative chicken and rice meal!

Now Mom and Dad think they are so smart, they always try to barricade me in the kitchen while they eat out in the livingroom by the TV. I know to expect this, so I make sure I remain on the couch while they are dishing up their dinners. Boy do they try everything to coax me into the kitchen - bits of food, sweet talk, promises of dingo chews....but nothing could lure me there knowing what was about to enter the livingroom. So, heh heh, they gave up and brought their hen to the living room. I then sprang into action, making my cutest, most appealing facial expressions, laying a paw on Mom's lap (she is much more of a pushover than Dad is!) and licking my lips with gusto. But heck, none of it was working! Mom gave me a few cooked carrots which were tasty, but I wanted chicken damn it.

Then fate intervened!

Near the end of the meal, the door bell rang and Dad jumped up to answer it. It was the water dept to tell us they were repairing a main on the next street over.

Quick as a flash, I made a lunge for Dad's plate and grabbed what was left of the chicken and sprinted off to the kitchen! For a 40 year old, Dad is quite spritely - he tackled me and pulled most of the tasty treat from my mouth, but not before I swallowed some of it. They tried to act angry, but I can tell when they are fibbing -- I could see their expressions and the look they gave eachother as they called me a naughty thief. It said - "Hurray, our little guy Axel is fully recovered from surgery! hip hip hurray!"

AGC

PS I had an email from Tilly - the lassie featured yesterday hunting rats in a hedge. She wants everyone to know that, "We have chickens and unfortunately in the winter when you've got chickens you get rats ! Thankfully they are well away from the house. My parents daren't put poison down as apart from the fact that it is a horrible way for them to die, and the dead rats can be eaten by other animals, we all know that wires like us will eat anything. Consequently, my folks are trying to evict them in other ways!
It also seems that Tilly is not the only wiry gal who enjoys a good dirty chase. Check out Libby in her post chase hoe down - or is that hose down?

Lots of Good Wishes...

Well here I am, ball-less and still pretty knackered. But I'm really enjoying all the attention I'm getting! I got lots of good wishes and fan mail today.

Cosmo Kramer II (pictured left) who lives near Toronto, Canada wrote to tell me, "Don't worry"! The day after my surgery I was back roaming the house like a King in his fiefdom. I can relate to the cone-o-phibia though...so hard to be my playful self! And..I didn't understand it, but daddy kept laughing at me and saying something about "better reception on the radio"...silly humans!!"
He also had something interesting to add: "I think mommy and daddy are thankful that I haven't eaten
a "condom" yet..although daddy said he was pretty disgusted when he had to pull out a rubber band that was hanging out of my backside one afternoon!"

That's a little too much info Kramer, but it does remind me to tell you all that I both puked and pooped up the condom - how interesting is that. You can't fault me for being thorough!

Then Mom recieved this email from Carol, Mom of Nipper:
"Tell Axel that Nipper says he had the same surgery long time ago, but does not remember. Unfortunately, instead of calming him down which everyone said it would do, as soon as he got over the anesthetic, and forever later, he was wilder than ever. I know you don't want to hear that, but at least be aware that he could happen. Oh, well, as the saying goes, "Life is merrier with a fox terrier."

Carol, I have been sounding that warning bell in many blog posts - I think Mom is wise to the fact that not even neutering is going to calm me down!

And still more fan mail - this time from Cappy and Kaiser!

"We hope you are feeling better. My brother and I went through the same thing, day after the surgery mom made us chicken and rice. I read you blog about getting your mom purse, I, Cappy, like to do that too; my favorite things are the nail files and pencils. My mom says I have a nose for nail files, if she leaves them out I chew on them. Mom always asks me if I am filing my teeth, what a silly thing to ask. Last night I coffee table surfed and ate mom's vitamin. Horrible flavor, definitely did not taste like chicken!"

Chicken and rice...hmmm, that would be swell. Not sure about nail files! I spyed Mom take a cornish hen out the freezer this morning...hope that's for me! I did get scrambled eggs for breakfast this morn - and a dingo chew! And so much loving!!!

Adrianne and Huckleberry also sent good wishes, as did many of my internet wiry pals. Thank you all for your support and love through this traumatic time...

I like to end with a bit of a laugh. So check out my English wiry lass pal Tilly after she had been digging in the hedge for rats. My guess is, she was dunked in a bathtub shortly after the picture was taken. I have never seen a hedge, much less a rat...as fun as digging for rodents must be, I think I'd rather not have rats running around my territory. And I think Mom would agree!

Off to lick my stitches before Mom and Dad get home and put that ridiculous lampshade on me...

AGC

Whoozy Wire

Well friends, I lost my balls, but I gained a lampshade!

The operation went fine, but the vets were very interested in my red scabs on my leg, so they sprayed it with stuff and insisted I put this dumb lampshade around my neck so I don't lick the wound. A wire in a lampshade, oh please - how long do you think we'd tolerate that thing?

To Mom's credit, when she saw me trying to lumber up the front stairs, the lampshade hitting each step, she said to Dad, "oh take that ridiculous thing off!" and off it went with the warning that if I lick my leg, it comes back.

I feel like a recent AA failure - when I walk around I fall over my own feet. I swear I heard Mom and Dad giggling! Despite my surgery, I am still jumping up and down the couch and barking out the window - you can't stop me baby! Balls or no balls, the fire wire burns on!

And you believed that bull about calming down after neutering.
Can't say I didn't warn you!

AGC

PS What a nice surprise I had this evening. The doorbell rang and there was Lydia with my best friend Bailey the Boxer come to visit to see how I was post surgery. They even brought me a lovely card and gift of...you won't believe it...TWO BALLS!

Farewell Dear Woody

It was with much sadness that I found an email in my inbox this evening entitled, "Woody's gone over the Rainbow Bridge". Eventhough I never had the privilege of meeting High Steppin' Out of Merrywind (his fancy name), he was my email buddy and Miss Amelia and Bigfoot Fletch's beloved brother, and Alexandra's baby boy.

In October last year vets found a tumor, the size of a lemon, in his chest, pushing against his trachea and esophagus, making it very hard for him to eat or swallow. It is testament to the beautiful natures of many human beings, that Woody's Dad Phillip lovingly spoon fed Woody for the last week's of his life. No doubt Woody felt his human Mom and Dad's love very deeply.

It makes me very happy to know that I was able to bring Woody a tiny little bit of happiness in the last few weeks, when Mom helped me to send him a Christmas gift of a squeaky red dinosaur.

Thank God Woody is free from his pain, and no doubt happily reunited with his family and many friends, running and playing in the sunny fields over the rainbow bridge. He will never be forgotten. Below is a picture of Woody and his dinosaur gift taken a short time ago.

Until we meet again Buddy...rest in peace.

AGC

Parents Acting Weirdly

I decided to dedicate my day to saying goodbye to my balls. It's a pretty sad day really - I'm going to miss my two little friends - but sometimes one has to undergo a loss of sorts for a higher purpose and what could be more important than preserving my own health? I got the cutest card from my friend Luci in PA - it had many different types of ball images - tennis, soccer, golf -- and she wrote, "I know you won't have your balls after tomorrow, but look at all the other balls you'll have to play with!" Thanks Luci, and hopefully the weather will be fine on Saturday so that we can finally get together to play. What an awfully rainy, windy weekend it was, would have been no fun together.

I'm not allowed any midnight snacks tonight or breakfast tomorrow morning - I still hope I get my morning run with my friends, and then I can sneak some little titbit found in the park. Heh heh.

Talking of park titbits, yesterday Mom and Dad took me to Lemon Hill and I saw this tasty looking thing on the ground, so I put it in my mouth, gave it a chew and down it went. Dad was waving his arms and Mom was positively wretching! They didn't seem to want me to enjoy this particular snack. I heard them call it a condom - don't have clue what that is, but it had a good rubbery taste. Mom and Dad told me I couldn't lick them for at least 24 hours! What could all the fuss be about?

I have a new favorite pasttime - raiding Mom's pocketbooks! When she isn't looking, I make a grab for it from the dining room table, and then I ransack the contents while under the table where she can't reach me. Yesterday I managed to destroy a lipstick and a few pens, and I ate some weird cardboard thing filled with fluffy cotton and string. When Dad saw that he waved his hands in the air like he did in the park. What is with my parents?



Eventhough my Dad has been behaving oddly, I still love him with all my heart. Dad loves to hug me, and he is always willing to supply his thigh for me to rest on while I chomp on my Dingo chew. Mom does too, but Dad's thighs are more comfy than Mom's - her's are too bony! Heh Heh.



So the weather as I mentioned has been AWFUL. Freezing cold, a bit snowy and very windy. So many trees fell over in my park, that there were a zillion new sticks to play with! But the weather in Philly is nothing like it is in Upstate New York. Check out my buddy Pippin playing in the snow with his Mom Pat and sister Maggie:



Last night we all watched the Eukanuba Dog Show on Animal Planet. I found it quite a yawn because it took forever for the terrier group to enter the ring (and I had to miss half of Desperate Housewives!). And when they did, there were so many terriers, I had to strain my eyes to find the Wire and the Smooth. The Wire was a cute little bitch! In the end Rufus the Bull Terrier won the Best Terrier (personally I think he's an ugly mother...oops, I must not curse!). And at the very end of the evening, after much deliberation by a rather clapped-out geriatric looking judge, the Alaskan Malamute ...CH Nanuke's Snoklassic No Boundaries of Lockport, NY - known as Costello, won the championship. As you can see, he looks pretty excited. He's doing a jig! I would do one too to take that honor (and the $50,000!).

I'm not sure if I'll be up to blogging tomorrow - I may be sore and depressed. I'll ask Mom to send you an update instead. So send me good tidings for a speedy recovery - and wish my balls well on their journey to ...well wherever severed balls journey to...

AGC

A Feeling of Impending Doom, but Light in the Future

I have only 4 days left to enjoy my balls. Come Tuesday, it will be time for my orchectomy - which is a very big word for the simple action of snipping off ones balls. I'm not looking forward to it of course, but I do at least know that my Mom and Dad are putting me through this for my own good, and the good of the planet. I know that neutering can also drastically improve my health and life expectancy. And Mom is anxiously hoping that what she read will come true - i.e. "that neutering also will make me more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost."
Hey Mom, they're only taking my balls off, they aren't removing my terrier genes!! heh heh, so don't invest too much energy in those silly aspirations!

My wiry friend sent me this Larson Far Side Cartoon in the hope that it would cheer me up for my impending operation. Mom loves Larson - but frankly I don't really get this cartoon...do you? Mom was crying with laughter over it...the female species sure can be weird:


I am not sure whether my playdate with Lucy will take place tomorrow 'cos those dreadful weather people are predicting rain, so it won't be much fun, especially for Lucy's Mother to have me and her on the loose in her house!

Mom has started making enquires about where to send me during their wedding weekend. I'm still mightily pissed off that they don't want me to come to their wedding and don't trust me to behave...but I must say, after she posted an ad on Craigslist, we heard from this woman Kristel in New Jersey offering to host me. And boy, it sounds so great - long walks, playing with 2 cats, treats, my own couch, and wait for this...a doggy massage/yoga session - that this may turn out to be the best week of my life! I sense that Mom is concerned I will have such a good time, I won't want to come home!!!

AGC

Politics Make Me Sleepy ...

Geez, I can barely get to the computer these days! Now that Mom and Dad's wedding is a few months away, they are loading all the wedding supplies (invitations, favors etc) in the computer room and keeping the door closed for no apparent reason...other than to keep me out of there. The nerve, do they really think I'd be interested in eating their silly invitations or favor boxes? It's not like I regularly destroy stuff and shred all manner of paperware. Heh heh...

I ordered a new book on Amazon today that was recommended to me by my pal Colby (pictured below left) in Winnipeg. Man, I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. Ok, bad choice of words...I will read it at least once before I eat it, I promise! It is called Dear Mrs. LaRue and described as, "A clever book for a clever dog, Dear Mrs. LaRue collects a series of guilt-inducing letters sent home by the cat-chasing, chicken-pie-eating Ike to his "cruel" owner Mrs. LaRue, whom he hopes will come to her senses and spring him from obedience school." It will come as no surprise that Ike is a Wire Fox Terrier! I can't wait to read it - I bet Oprah will pick it up for her Book Club - at least Ike doesn't pretend to write a non-fiction book like some people! (Are you reading this James Frey?)



I got an email from my buddy golden retriever Noonie in Israel to ask what I thought about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent stroke. Geez, even the dogs in Israel have political opinions! Well, Noonie, I don't like anyone to be sick of course...and I don't really know what happened to him...all I know is that I'm not terribly interested in the newspaper reports about him. I never thought I'd see headlines like this every day: "Sharon wiggles a toe" or "Sharon blinks his right eye". I mean is that really news worthy? Do I send out a press release every time I take a poop or shred a napkin? Anyway, that being said, I hope he recovers 'cos from what I can see, he was moving towards a peaceful path in that troubled land. When and if he recovers, may I also be so bold as to suggest that he cuts down on his falafel intake or signs up for Jenny Craig?

Anyway, politics makes me tired -- especially all this Alito business. I wish Mom and Dad would NOT leave the TV on when they are not home. I know they think it is good company, but at least leave it on Animal Planet - CNN bores me to drink! Off for a snooze on my zebra day bed...

AGC

Amazing Grace

So remember I told you about my new girlfriend Gracie, the Anatolian Shephard? I finally remembered to take my camera along to the park this morning, so I hereby present my new little bitchy pal:



She is so cute, but she doesn't like to rough-house as much as the rest of us. We are all very aware that we need to stay on her good side, 'cos one day soon, she will be 110 pounds, and the biggest bitch on the block!

Dad is really sick...eventhough he's at home, I haven't seen him much, he's been sitting on that white porcelain water bowl all day. He is not being very cheerful or playful, but I tried to keep him company and give him a few grins to lift his spirits. Mom on the other hand, is in a very good mood because she heard that many members of her immediate family and cousins are making the trek to her wedding from South Africa, Australia and London. So soon I get to meet all Mom's family - who admittedly, are very keen to see me. They have a special place in their hearts for Wire Foxies like me. Seems my predecessor Georgie made a very positive impression.

I have a new wiry friend to introduce to you. Her name is Derby - her full name makes me giggle, it's Demolition Derby - what a perfect name for a Wire! She lives with her Mom Sue in Snow Hill, Md. (the Eastern Shore near Ocean City) with her two great dane sisters, Dana and Sammi. Looks to me like she enjoys a good belly rub!

I am pretty excited, it looks like this weekend I may get to meet my e-buddy Luci who lives in Landsdale, PA with her Mom Kathy and Dad Ed. She tells me she has a big yard and a pool - I can't wait to see it. I may just have to test the pool out eventhough it's still winter...I can never resist a good plunge!

Gotta run, I see Dad putting on his shoes. That can only mean one thing...WALKIES!

AGC

Toys, Pals and Good Times

Boy I'm tired today. I was up most of the night protecting Mom and Dad from baddies. No sooner had I fallen asleep at their feet, than a baddie would make a noise outside, so up I'd get, run down the stairs barking, jump up on my window perch and bark and bark until the baddie went away. I think I must have done this at least a dozen times. Mom and Dad must have also been angry at the baddies, but for some reason all their yelling was directed at me. They were probably half asleep!

Over the last few days I have recieved many new toys. My favorite is my ZAP ball - when I throw it about, it lights up and makes funny noises. At first I was a little scared, I thought maybe it was another baddie (a very little one) who had taken up residence in the ball and infiltrated my house! Here are photos of me and my ball hiding behind my couch cushions!



In addition to my Zap ball, I also got a dinasaur that has eggs inside it which squeak - boy it's fun trying to get them out of there; and my Barkslope Winners Prize arrived yesterday - a talking Octopus. It's a scream!

When I went out on Sunday to the park with Mom, I met a new bitch puppy, a little chocolate lab named Daisy. She has really sharp teeth and she kept going after my tail! What a flirt! I wish I'd had my camera with me, 'cos she was ever so sweet. I did have my camera with me this morning though when my usual posse of pals met up on Lemon Hill. Below left are me, Ohren the Shephard and Bailey the Boxer; and right are me, Bailey and Elvis the Pitbull.



And here are some more pics of us having a rollicking good time!



My other wiry pals had a really busy weekend. Dean-O in Canada throughly enjoyed watching the dog show on TV, especially the terriers; and Buddy Wiser and Sweet Tea had a wonderful time helping their Mom Sara Beth mow the lawn with her new Christmas mower!

I also had an update from my wiry friends in West Sussex, UK. Back in August, I posted this adorable picture of Mom Izzie and her pups (left). Well, look how they have grown. Pictured right are Izzie's 2 sons, Doodles & Butch.



And finally, let this be a lesson to all humans: cruelty to ANY creature, big or small, will get you in a lot of trouble (Thanks to Pippin and Pat for emailing me this story).
Enter Luciano Mares, 81, of Fort Sumner "who tried to dispose of a mouse by throwing it in a pile of burning leaves. The blazing creature ran back to the man's house and set it on fire.
``I had some leaves burning outside, so I threw it in the fire, and the mouse was on fire and ran back at the house,'' Mares said from a motel room Saturday. "

AGC

Out the Tochuses of Foxie Babes...

Boy, who would have thought that stuff coming out of my tochus would become the conversation in the Fox Terrier Community. You wouldn't believe the emails I have received describing the amazing things that have come out of my fellow Wire and Smoothie (and the occasional Airdale's) tochuses! Mom and I have been sitting at the computer giggling in amazement at your stories. We were so impressed that we figured we would have to post them! I came up with the brilliant idea of also awarding a blog honor to the foxie with the most amazing tale!

Here are some of the best:

From Helen: "Kodiak was eating gravel, rocks up to 1", and would poop them in the bedroom at night. We'd wake up laughing because he sounded like a cement mixer! Not a bit messy, very dry."

From Kathy and Joe: "When we brought Lucy home , we had a beautiful storage/coffee wicker table, she climbed on top of it and ate almost the whole top!!"

From Kay: "From the terriers in my life I have scooped up scads of "remains" from chewed toys, aluminum foil, hunks of rope from rope toys, bits of sponges, wads of kleenex and paper towels. Oh, and big balls of hair. I too have entertained neighbors when I'm out poking at piles of poop with a stick and muttering to myself..."

From Christine: "When Dean was Axel’s age he would pick up everything. Seemed I was always sticking my fingers down his throat to pull out something horrible -- once an entire bird wing. Yuck! So, I started giving him one of my gloves to carry. He would have to drop it in order to pick up something else (disgusting!) & I would have a chance to swoop in before he swallowed it. Well...since then, he has become a master glove thief. I cannot tell you how many strangers I have apologized to after returning a glove filched from their pockets. Come to think of it...maybe I should have given him my wallet to carry!!!"

From Kathy (PA): "Whiskey our WFT ate an entire Easter basket of candy. On Easter morning when my son was small we came down and found all the candy out of one of his baskets missing, including a solid chocolate rabbit. Well the next day out of her tochus came the pink ribbon that had been tied around the bunny’s neck."

Cindy: "My beloved Airedale, Beatrice Brown, ate the most amazing things…
A half of a roll of fiberglass insulation (ouch!)
A string of Christmas lights (also ouch )
And bread left in a plastic grocery bag.
That’s right, you guessed it, her mom (me!) pulled an ENTIRE grocery bag out of that
dog’s butt! An amazing dog. Lived to be 15 …cast iron stomach! "

From Melissa: "Mackie (left) swallowed a women's size 7 nylon dress sock. The days went by and I was studiously watching Mackie's, ahem "tochus" for the missing sock. the days went to weeks as I found myself walking Mackie at all hours day, night and early (very early) in the dark of morning out with a flashlight trained on his behind. Somehow it dawned on me that my neighbors probably thought I was a freak with a poo fetish. Well, alas, my Mackie finally threw up the sock. It was smelly and weighed a ton. With the weight of the sock out of his tummy he ran and ran around the backyard like the weight of the world was off his shoulders."

But the Blog Honors go to WFT Ashley (right) who is owned by Beth, in South CA for these 3 amazing stories:

1. "Ashley ate a whole bunch of sand on one of her first trips to the beach. She was zipping around in circles with glee like a crazy dog and snatching up mouthfuls of sand. I didn't realize she was also swallowing it. She pooped practically nothing but sand for two days."

2. "Ashley ate a bunch of pre-shelled sunflowers seeds for the birdfeeder. Later that evening, her poor belly puffed up and rumble, rumble, rumbled. Seeds do not digest. They come out looking just like when they went in. She pooped nothing but seeds for the next 24 hours. She was like a birdfood dispenser, despositing piles of sunflower seed here and there throughout the yard."

3. Ashley herself tells this hilarious story:
"The Xmas before last, my family left out a santa mug with a couple of mini-snickers that were in shiny christmas packaging. When they were out of the house for a bit, I helped myself to these treats but in the process, knocked the mug off and it broke. When my family discovered the broken mug, my mom apologized to dad for me breaking his mug. He said that was ok but where were the snickers bars?
My mom insisted that there couldn't have been any in there because there was no
wrapper, no little bits of chocolate stuck to the floor, nothing, just a broken santa mug.
Dad said there were definitely snickers bars in there, mom insisted there couldn't have
been and they both dropped the topic. The day after Christmas, my mom laughed when
I pooped and when we went in, she told my dad that he was right, I had eaten the
snickers bars. My poop came out with shiny red, gold, and green plastic wrapping.
Mom said it was like gift-wrapped poop, hence "the Christmas poo story" was born. "

Well done Ashley - you my dear bitch have one hardy digestion system and one cute tochus! And I bet you keep your Mom and Dad very, very busy and very amused!

AGC

Many Wenches to Choose From...

Shhh! Don't go telling Miss Amelia, but I think I have a new girlfriend. I mean let's get real here - would you rather have a long distance relationship with someone living in rainy Washington State, or with a sun-loving beach gal living in Orlando, Florida! I thought so! I also have more chance of going to Florida than I do of shlepping across the United States to meet Miss Amelia.

So the new gal's name is Angel which is an ironic name for a WFT me thinks. Her parents Sheri and Bill must have a good sense of humor or do a lot of wishful thinking! So check her out, she's in her shades, looking very cool indeed. She's 4 years-old, and as you know, I dig the older bitches!



If you recall, I featured a few siblings in my post on Friday. One was those adorable friends Olive and Ivy - a Wire and a Welsh - in the snow. Well, their Mom Maggie also sent me a pic of the third sibling - another Welsh wench named Lulu. She is quite an old gal at 14. She has trouble walking and seeing, but how awesome is this, her Mom told me that, "I bought a baby stroller for her so she can still accompany Ivy and Olive on walks." Can't you just picture them?



Not much news from my neck of the woods. Poor Dad is sick in bed today, he has a bad cold and is sniffing and coughing. I'm sad he's sick, but I love having him home with me, even if he is a grumbling old dude, like all human men when they are sick (or so I hear from Mom).
I tried to get Mom and Dad out of bed at 6 a.m. to take me out to poop, but they were out cold, so I had to poop by the front door. I wish I could learn to turn off the burglar alarm myself and go for a walk when I feel like it! I hate being so dependent, it's not part of my wiry personality!

AGC

Good Humans...

I have been so busy that I have scarcely had time to read all the papers piling up in the corner of our livingroom, but this morning with nothing much else to do, I finally caught up on the important news.

I know for weeks I've been bitching about the cruel humans who hurt the Blainville and Missouri wires and the some of the Chinese and Amish people who treat their animals so abyssmally. Well, of course, most humans are not like that, and I was delighted to find two stories in today's news that make my point.

How about the man who lived with his dog in an Atlanta trailerpark? He was so caring of his best buddy, that he attempted to heat his kennel for him: "The 45-year-old man had been trying to keep his dog warm by running an extension cord to an electric blanket inside the dog house. The blanket may have overheated, sparking the blaze which killed both the dog and the homeowner." This story brings tears to my (less pink) eyes...

In another heartwarming story up north in Canada, a couple are looking for a brave Russian man who rescued their 2 year-old golden retriever who fell through the ice and nearly drowned:
Ms. Coward decided to let the dog run loose in the park. Rae was more in the mood for a swim. The moment she was off her leash, Rae jumped the stone embankment, landed on the thin ice and fell into the frigid water. With no one in sight, Ms. Coward ran up a small hill to look for help. She saw two men out for a Christmas day stroll -- until she found out they could not speak English. After trying to explain, one of the men pointed to himself and said "'Russian.'""He stripped off his clothes, including his socks, down to his undergarments. And without my sister saying anything, he started crawling out across the ice to go get her."

The Russian man nearly lost his life, but managed to save Rae the dog and himself, but he didn't stick around to be thanked! Now Ms. Coward (funny name for a story like this) is looking for this brave soul to thank him! This is a true hero, one who does a life threatening act for another being, and then doesn't wait around to be thanked or praised.

Spaciba (that's Russian for Thanks!) Mr Russian, you are a good man! Ms. Coward, any wire owner could tell you it isn't the greatest idea to let your dog off leash in an icy park....heh heh.

Not much else to tell you today...just the same ol', same ol' existence of barking, playing with my friends, cuddling my Mom and Dad and being a naughty rascal!

AGC

Weird Stuff Out My Tochus

Boy, sorry I never came back to blog last night, I was too pooped. Actually, a good pun there, I was totally constipated yesterday after chewing up Mom's curling brush handle. When Mom took me on my walk around 5 PM, I tried to poop, but it wouldn't come out so Mom had to make a grab for it through the poop bag. I was ever so grateful, but confused when I heard her mutter, "Geez Axel, no wonder you are backed up, half my hairbrush came out of your tochus!" (Tochus means backside in Yiddish I believe)

After that huge relief, I came across a dead squirrel! Mom didn't see it at first, but when she did she gasped and tugged at my leash. I tugged back and sunk my teeth into the dead rodent. Mom screamed - I swear for a second I thought I'd bitten her by mistake and not the squirrel! Well, Mom yanked me away and off we went. What a shame, I would really have liked to roll on the squirrel for a bit, that's my favorite thing to do when I spot a dead thing!

Unfortunately Chanukah ended on Sunday night - I sure miss those dancing candles. I got a cute photo my pal Gimlet celebrating her own latke fest and I had to share it. I love your kitchen cupboards Gimlet - did you paint those yourself? (Sorry for mixing up your gender earlier - thanks to Jennie and Terence for correcting me!)



I also received many photos of my friends who are so lucky to have big families. As you know, I am an only dog - sometimes I wish I had a sister or brother - but other times I'm not so sure I'd want to share my Mom and Dad or my toys. I'd also get half the amount of table scraps I guess.

Anway, check out my pals Danny, Suzie and Molly who live with their parents Joan and John in SE Ohio. Have you ever seen happier, snugglier looking wires? Mom and Dad always marvel at the people who have more than one Wire...I don't know why? I couldn't think of anything better if I was a human!

Then meet Ciara and Simon who belong to Tom and live near some desert...I'm not sure where. I wonder if they know Snoopy's cousin Spike? The picture on the right is a funny before and after pic of Simon after a run through the desert! Looks like my kind of dirty fun!

Some wires have siblings who are NOT wires, but other breeds. They seem to get along pretty well nevertheless! So here (left) are Buddy Wiser and Sweat Tea. And on the right are Ivy the Wire, and Olive who is a Welsh terrier. They look like mini Airdales! Mom always says she'd like a Welsh to match her own coloring!



I have a new trick that is freaking out Mom and Dad. I like to jump up on the coffee table and just stare at them and grin. They usually yell, "OFF" and I just pretend I am deaf and grin at them. I love toying with them! Tee hee!

AGC