Dogs on Ice (and a horror story)

Wow, the soft white stuff has turned hard and really cold. Today I went to the park and I wish I would have been wearing two pairs of ice skates - it was so cold and slippery! I met up with my buddy Bruno who is a bulldog. We get along so-so - I like latching on to his floppy face and he is obsessed with nipping my ankles. At first it was just the two of us with his dad and my mom and we were having fun, but then he bit my ankle a bit too hard, I screamed and launched a retaliation attack. Because it was so slippery, Mom couldn't get a grip on me, and finally grabbed me and just sat down on the ice. Poor Mom, she had a wet butt! This is my favorite photo of me and Bruno - it looks like we are gay lovers! Heh heh.

Here are some more of us playing just before it got nasty!

Later one of my favorite playmates, Maggie (not sure breed - but she must have some greyhound in her) arrived with her brother Tommy - a daschund. Maggie is the fastest runner you ever met and I love to chase her becos I can NEVER catch her. Put poor Magster...she couldn't run very well on the ice and kept sliding about on her butt, so we just hung out by the bench. Poor Mags, the second photo is not very ladylike, is it? She has a cute bum.

Anyway, we were all shivering after half an hour, so Dad came by in his truck and took us home!
Here in Phila, we only got 3 inches of snow and now it's all ice; but where my friend Pippin lives, Upstate New York, they got LOTS of snow. Here are two shots of Pip - I wonder what he was digging for - frozen rodents? And look at his face!!



And now, a detour from the snow - I present to you, a picture from the annals of WFT horror! This innocent young Wire Fox Terrier pictured below was subjected to the most hideous of grooming abuses -- a poodle haircut!! I joke not loyal readers. It is truly an affront to the Wire heritage and breed. It seems the groomer was asked to shave down the Wire, but before doing so, she decided to have a lark and cut him like a poodle. Brother and Sister Wires, if this fate (worse than death I'm sure you will agree) ever befalls you -- you MUST resist. Bite, fart, throw up - do whatever it takes to avoid such humiliation! Do not succumb! Poodle haircuts be damned!



Finally, big shout out to my good pal Gussie in Arizona -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!

AGC

Snow and Pizza

Well the snow arrived as promised but with it came sleet and rain and wind. And it wasn't enough to keep Mom from work - but she did get to go in late and come home early. It was so horrible out this morning - 3 inches of snow, lots of icy and cold rain, that I pooped right outside the house (as poor neighbor George was shovelling our sidewalk) and dragged Dad back inside (he was not upset!).

Here is me taking a leak in our back yard. The snow is so icy that my paws barely left any imprints. Man it's no fun balancing on 3 legs on ice taking a pee!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL MY GIRLFRIENDS! Especially the delightful Miss Amelia and wee Miss Koobuss. Mom and Dad exchanged chocolate gifts which pissed me off because I can't eat chocolate and I never got a thing (well I did eat a dingo, a pigsear and lots of Milkbones today). And instead of a romantic dinner out - they stayed in and ordered PIZZA. I got to share in that little feast...

Last night we watched the Westminister Dog Show and it was quite a snore. The winning terrier was called Harry and he was a Dandie Diamont Terrier. If you ask me he looked like a freakish daschund with a poof on his head, although he did look like he had oodles of personality and as they say, "personality can go a long way." {Source: Pulp Fiction} The winning dog was an English Springer Spaniel named James and he was rather breathtaking. I was just relieved neither of the poodles won - another ridiculous looking breed if you ask me - with pom poms on their bum! And they were male dogs! I don't know how they go around in public, I would rather die! It's a good thing I've never seen one groomed like that in the flesh, I would feel compelled to remove those pom-poms!

I forgot to tell you that I have a new passion for taking hot baths with Mom! I always accompany Mom in the bathroom when she bathes, but last week I decided instead of just snoozing on the bathmat, it might be nice to join Mom. So there she was, reading her book, when she got the surprise of her life - I jumped in! She let out a scream of shock and jumped out the bath - I suppose because she didn't want to share the warm water with a rather dirty dog. I just stood in the warm water, had a drink (tasted funny cos it had oil in it) and waded about. Mom was laughing her head off and thought well, while Ax is in the bath, I might as well shampoo him. So she did, and I didn't mind. I was enjoying the warm water. When she was done, I jumped out and ran up and down the passage like a loony. Mom towel dried me and then I dived onto Mom and Dad's bed and mom blowdried me. I love that machine. I was almost dry when I thought, wouldn't it be fun to have another swim, so I jumped off the bed and back into the tub! Mom screamed and Dad came running! Dad wasn't so amused, but Mom was. I dived out again and ran up and down and back on the damp bed -- and then....uh oh...I peed! Drinking warm water does that to me...Mom knew but there was no time to let me out...she was about to when I jumped back in the tub!


So tonite, when Mom was in the bath, I snuck in and tried to join her again. Dad would have none of it...after snapping these pictures - I was forcibly removed from the bathroom. Humpff!





AGC

Snow is a-coming!!

I heard on the news today that Philadelphia is finally going to get a snow storm - not just a dusting like a few times this month, but real snow - 12 inches worth! I am going to sit by the window and wait...oh hang on, I can't get to the window anymore ever since our horrid neighbor complained to the cops about my barking. Anyway, I will look forward to stepping outside later this week and seeing a mountain of white stuff...it always falls so silently, even we dogs don't hear it! I wish I was a dog living in Oswega, NY state - they've had over 100 inches of snow. Dad said he would kill himself. Haha. Dad is such a laugh.

Speaking of Dad, Mom took this cute shot of us snuggling. Dad loves me to pieces and never leaves me alone, he is forever rubbing my head and singing me the "little guy" song. Mom orders him to stop irritating me and flicks his ears and says, "see do you like to be pestered?" Mom is funny. I don't really mind Dad's pestering 'cos it is so rooted in love.

I love to hang out on my couch perch. Mom got me a blankie when the winter started, and I love to lie up there and get toasty - here I am rather sleepy...the camera buzz woke me up:

Of course the couch is my general hang out in wintertime. I also like to eat my smelly, greasy bones on the couch - Mom used to try to stop me, but she has since, wisely, given up.



Dad was home 3 days this week because he picked me up and hurt his back. Dad is my hero - he tried to pick me up because the salt they put down to melt the ice burned my feet, so dad was going to carry me for a while so I could recover - and wham, crack, and next thing I see, Dad is lying on the ground in pain. I felt very bad so I was a very good boy all week while he was home. We hung out on my sofa, watched tv, played playstation and did other guy stuff.

Photos of me and my pals in the snow are sure to follow later this week!!!

AGC

Enchanted Forest

Yesterday Mom had the brilliant idea of going for a hike despite the 26F temperature outside (for people in SA reading this blog - that is about minus 6C). Dad thought she was crazy but weirdly went along with it. We drove for quite a while until we came to Carpenters Forest in Mt. Airy. Mom and Dad had a hard time keeping up with me because they were wearing ten layers of clothing. I refuse to wear any clothing whatever the weather - I'm a tough guy!

So here we are, Dad and I (with Mom lagging behind as usual), entering the woods:


Doesn't my Dad look silly all hooded up?
Dad stops to read a sign welcoming us to the enchanted forest...

Next I came upon a very interesting looking log. Something smelled weird in there, so I had to check it out for a while:

Unfortunately, no snacks in there...

Suddenly I heard a noise. I looked up, and saw a family with their German Shephard approaching...

He seemed friendly - so I went up to say HI.


After only 30 minutes, Mom and Dad started to complain that they couldn't feel their own faces, so we headed back to the car. I put up a protest and refused to get in - I wasn't done yet exploring the woods - but as usual, I lost the battle and Dad picked me up and heaved me into the car.

This morning Mom slept late (for a change - boy does she like to sleep). When Dad and I get back from our early walk, I always run up the stairs with my after-walk cookie, jump on Mom and drop the cookie/chew/bone on her head! I think it's a grand ol' way to wake up, don't you?
Mom staggered downstairs in her long undies (which she stole from Dad after they shrunk in the wash) - I immediately jumped in her lap with my piggie chew and she assumed "the position" - which is, hold the chew FOR ME, so it's easier to chew!


Boy in the picture on the left, my head looks ten times bigger than Mom's. heh heh.

So that is my news for now. Mom just took me for a walk in the even colder than yesterday weather. She had had enough after 20 minutes of the cold wind numbing her face, when she started to drag me home...and along comes my hyper pal Dublin and Mom knew there was NO way I was leaving! She's a trooper - she unclipped my lead - and off we went, running in circles around the parks like happy lunatics.

AGC

Brrrrr

It's too darn cold! That's my excuse for not blogging for a week folks. When it is this cold, I prefer to curl up and stay in bed. Little do Mom and Dad know that while they are at work, I climb into THEIR bed, put my head on THEIR pillows and pull the covers up to my chin. I managed to take a self portrait to show you:



Don't I look snug?

Last night I had so much energy that I got into a bit of mischief. I went into the parent's room and set about dismantling Mom's sleep apnea mask. I know I shouldn't have, but I did notice that she had a brand new one delivered today - so technically, the way I see it, she didn't need this old one. So I was doing her a favor, no? Unfortunately, she didn't see it that way. She was rather pissed at me and even more so when she discovered that my fur was full of sticky pieces of the gel mask. Eek. Anyway, I stand by what I did and am proud of the results. If I wouldn't have been interrupted...it would have been completely destroyed and would have been no need to recycle or trash it. But no...the parents have to stop me.

This morning I went to the vet to get a bordatella shot. I don't mind visiting the vet and I didn't even feel the shot or protest when my nails were cut. Can you believe the vet thanked me for being such a good boy!? I got weighed by the way, and I'm a staggering 28.5 lbs now. Mom asked the vet if she thought I was overweight and the vet said I was certainly getting there. She had the audacity to tell Mom to replace my milkbone and rawhide treats for carrots! I mean, seriously, what a crock that is - Mom and Dad will be the laughing stock of the dog park if they rock up with carrots in their pockets. Last time I checked, we were not donkeys!!!!

I just got home from playing with Gracie so I'm rather tired. Think I'll curl up on my couch perch for a while.

Cheers,

AGC

Gracie's Visit

Gracie's Mom is trying to sell their house so them can move to another state. This makes me VERY sad and I secretly hope that noone buys their house because I can't imagine my life without Gracie in it. I know that sounds horrid and selfish, but I can't help it. I love Gracie. Gracie is an Anatolian Shephard and we have known eachother since we were both very small. We love to play and run and wrestle.

So a few days ago, Gracie came over to visit 'cos her Mom had to clean her house for a showing. I get really excited when Gracie comes over, and boy do we have fun! Here are the photos to prove it!


Here we are searching for lost treats behind the sofa cushions. Before Mom goes to work in the mornings, while I am out with Dad, she drops treats in the sofa and I come home and search for them! Gracie and I were hoping I'd missed one...


I suspect Gracie might have found a treat after all - why else would she be licking her chops?


Here we are wrestling! Look carefully, you can't see much of me except my huge teeth!


I really enjoy standing on the sofa to make me tall and then dive bombing Gracie!


Now it's time for tug-o-war with my silly squeaking octopus.

All in all, we had a fabulous time! How will I survive when she moves away? WAAAAAAAA!

AGC

Eagles are a Bore!

Humans are, in my esteemed opinion, oftentimes quite crazy. Mom and Dad leave the TV on for me during the work week, and if I have to hear that stupid Fly Eagles Fly song or E-A-G-L-E-S chant one more time, I may just have to bite someone. The Eagles are Philadelphia's football team and they are playing New Orleans Saints tonite and local people have gone quite bananas. I find it one BIG Bore. So does Mom. Dad is sort of ambivalent though he is watching the game and screaming at the television as I type this. Don't tell anyone, but I am hoping the Saints win so I don't have to hear all this Eagles crap for another year. I also think the folks in New Orleans need something to get excited about after the terrible times they are going through after that bitch Katrina nearly wiped them out!

In other news, remember I mentioned that two Wires had been stolen from a truck at a gas station in Florida? Well, I received a disturbing update about what's going on in Florida...unfortunately, still no sign of Toby and Dakota - but I did want my blog readers to hear this report:

As of today, no news or new sightings. We continue to receive strange calls and emails from folks wanting money upfront for information about the dogs. Lost dogs are one of the latest scams on the internet. Folks need to be very careful when driving with dogs in their cars anywhere in Florida but especially along the interstate highways. There is a dog stealing ring that operates along I-75, I-4 and I-95 according to the sheriff's department. Folks need to lock their doors if dogs are left in their cars or vans even for 10 minutes while at the gas station.
Orlando has a problem with a group of people called the traveling criminals from the Carolina's and Eastern Europe. They come to Orlando every winter and run different scams. Last winter they were caught stealing dogs. They followed folks home from the dog groomer's and were stealing freshly groomed purebred dogs from fenced in yards. Most of the dogs were never found.

Note to self: Stay away from Florida!

After communicating with dog psychic (or animal communicator) Liesl last week, Dean-O sent me this picture of myself suggesting it might just be the perfect outfit for my next consultation. Actually, I think I may be quite psychic myself - I can anticipate everything that Mom and Dad are about to do and communicate my wishes to them quite easily. For example, when I care for a nibble, I stand and stare at the box of Milkbones until they notice my disappearance, seek me out and inevitably croon, "Oh Axie Pax - do you want a snack?" I look at them with my adorable mug, and communicate, "oh yes please, that would be lovely" - and two seconds later, I have a Milkbone in my mouth. HA!



Today Dad dropped me off at Doggy Day Care for half a day, but the parents forgot that the biz closes at 5PM on Saturdays! At 4.55pm the owners called Mom to remind her to pick me up! She arrived 10 minutes later in a complete tizzy and wracked with guilt as the owners were standing by the entrance of their establishment, coats and hats on, me on a leash...boy was I relieved to see Mom - I thought for sure I'd be spending the night there, alone. Mom apologized profusely to the owners and then to me, all the way home, reassuring me she would never have forgotten me. Likely story.

And on a final note - there are two foxie photo contests going on right now. The Fox Terrier Network, of which we are members, is running a three category contest: wires, smooths and a joint category with the title, "Foxie, what have you done?" I am entered in both the first and third categories and expect to win of course. Click here to see the wiry entries. Click here to see the "Foxie what have you done?" category.
Then the Wire Yahoo Group is running a wire photo contest. You can see both slide shows by clicking on the links below. Even if I say so myself, we foxies are the most gorgeous breed on the face of this earth!
Slide Show 1
Slide show 2

And finally finally, Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary to my grandparents in South Africa! Wow, 45 years - that's 315 dog years! I drink a toast (of water) to you both and wish you many more healthy and happy years together.

AGC

The Psychic

Well, yesterday turned out to be an interesting time! My friend Sophie's Dad Vince and Gracie's Mom Dee told my unsuspecting parents that they had both consulted with a pet psychic and invited Mom and Dad to a session! Mom and Dad are both rather skeptical of people who claim to be able to read an animal's thoughts via a phone call! But at the end of the experience, they both looked at eachother and proclaimed, "That was cool!"

So this is how it went down. Vince and Sophie came over to my house (Dee couldn't make it), and they called Liesl, the pet psychic. (By the way, Mom found an article about her online - to read it, click here - it's pretty interesting reading.) At first, I was running around my house overcome with excitement of having Sophie visit. Liesl told Mom she couldn't contact me because I was so unfocused. Me? Ha! So Dad grabbed me and sat holding me on the floor behind the couch so I could not see Sophie. The first thing Liesl said to Mom (but in talking to me) was "Hi, Little Guy". Mom was flabbergasted as that is what Mom and Dad always refer to me as - their little guy! Then Liesl asked Mom to describe me physically and she guessed correctly that although my tail is tri-color, the tip is white. She told Mom that I was very hyper, very sensitive to noise, super intelligent (the woman is a genius) and finally, very brave! It was like she knew my best pals were pitbulls, American bulldogs and the like! All through her chat with Mom she tried to speak to me...she told me to try to cut down on my barking so that my parents could trust me without the bark collar. She told me I didn't have to be such a vigilant watchdog - that Dad could protect us all.

At some point, Mom wanted Dad to hear Liesl, so she surrended the phone. He reported that she told him that I loved more than anything to RUN. Right on woman! Mom and Dad laughed when she relayed to them my responses to her comments - they were all pretty cheeky. Wow, she really did read my thoughts!

After 20 minutes, Liesl spoke to Vince about Sophie while I tried really hard to sit still and chill. But I wanted to play. Sophie doesn't dig playing with me so much 'cos she's quite an old bitch - I suspect my hyperness gets on her tits, so to speak. Here is a pic of us:

So all in all, it was an interesting time meeting Liesl - later that night, I heard Gracie and Emma barking their furry heads off down the road and I didn't bark. Mom was sure it was becos of what Liesl had said to me. But I didn't want her to get excited, so 5 minutes later, I let loose one heck of a bark. Heh heh.

AGC

New Years Resolutions

First of all. I am in love. Shhh, don't tell Miss Amelia - she might get mad! My new love is just a very wee gal (Miss Amelia is older than I am and I know that is in vogue...but I prefer them young and virginal), you met her on my blog last time. Her name used to be Spencer but she was rechristened Koobuss this week because her silly owners couldn't remember her name was Spencer. You see the wires they had before the wee gal were all called Koobus, so they just couldn't remember to call her something else. Humans are so weird. Here are the latest pictures:

I also wanted to share some cute photos of my two Californian pals - BigFoot Fletch (who is actually Miss Amelia's bro) and Maxie taken on Xmas morning - By the way, I know for a fact that their Mom is Jewish, so I'm not sure what's up with the dogs celebrating Xmas instead of Hanukkah. Remind me to ask them! Perhaps that is a Hanukkah bush in the background?

So we all made it to 2007! For a while there when the nasty nameless neighbor was reporting me to the cops, I thought I'd be locked up for good! On New Year's eve, I sat down in a very comtemplative mood and wrote down a few new years resolutions:

1. I will cut down on my consumption of treats
2. I will stop beating up Wiley, the bearded collie, in the dog park. I just can't stand him, damn it.
3. I will keep working on my barking so that I don't need to wear a bark collar
4. I will try not to hog the bed at night forcing Mom and Dad to shiver with no covers or worse, push Dad out of bed.
5. I will cut down on destroying anything with stuffing making our house look like the aftermath of a cotton candy assault.
6. I will blog more frequently
7. I will give Mom kisses. I only like to kiss Dad as he is the alpha and Mom is my servant.
8. I will not dive onto Mom or Dad's lap the second they put the car in park or unclick their seatbelts
9. I will not try to flee out the door everytime Mom or Dad try to leave the house
10. I will try my damnest to be a good boy (who am I trying to kid?)

Finally, here a story about a very stupid human from San Francisco:

A Burlington woman has been charged with trying to get painkillers from a drug store by using her dog's name. Kymberly Smith, 38, faces more than two dozen charges related to her alleged repeated attempts to fraudulently obtain painkillers at a Farmington pharmacy under her dog's name. Farmington police said Smith was a veterinary technician for several area veterinarians when she began using their ID number to call in prescriptions for herself under the name "Zack Smith."
I mean do you every hear stories of Dogs ordering Frontline in their humans' names? Just plain silly!

AGC

Happy 2007!

I know. I've been really slack in updating my blog. I've just been busy celebrating Hanukkah, then I got to celebrate Xmas with my non-Jewish pals and now it's almost the new year. Wow, 5 more months and I'll be TWO years old. In human years I'm just about bar mitzvah! Luckily for me dogs are not allowed in synagogue!

I am proud to report that I helped a friend in Pennsylvania find a new Wire for her household. They lost their beloved Wire Koobus a few weeks ago of old age and were desperate to fill their lives with a new Wire to love. As I say...noone should ever be without a Wire! So tomorrow, this wiry-loving family are travelling to NY State to pick up their new addition who they have named Spencer. I think I'm in love:

I look forward to meeting Spencer in the Summer as they only live 110 miles from Philadelphia!

Despite it getting dark here before 5pm, I am grateful to Dad for always making a grand effort to take me to the dog park so I can see my friends. Their fearless owners also still come to the park eventhough it is mostly very dark with no lighting. Some of my friends have trippy flashing collars but me being mostly white, am easier to find. Pity the owners of black labs! Anyway, so I love it when Dad gets home early from work, or else I'm stuck being walked by Mom who is too afraid to go near the park in the dark - she just shleps me around the neighborhood streets that are well lit under the streetlamps. But it's a solitary walk with no play! So Dad is my hero!

I know I shouldn't complain as I now have my lunchtime walk as well! Elvis and Gia's Mom P walks me every day with either of her kids or another dog she walks, my buddy Austin. I love the break in my monotonous day and am a much happy camper since Mom and Dad decided to pay for this great service!

MISSING DOGS: CAN YOU HELP?
A man travelling through Florida with his two Wires Toby and Dakota stopped at a gas station and when he came back to his car, both dogs were gone. Stolen or released? Noone knows, but he is desperately looking for them. If you are in the Lake City, Florida area - please click here to find out more.

And, to anyone living in the Park City, Utah area - there is a Giant Shnauzer with the same name as me, AXEL, who is missing. His family really miss him. Please visit www.findaxel.com for more details.

I will pray all three dogs find their way home SOON.

Anyway, to my two legged and four legged friends - may you all have a healthy, happy and tail wagging new year 2007!

AGC

PS You know that Dingo Cane I got for Hanukkah - I finished it in THREE days! I'm a pig!

Hanukkah Rocks!

Happy 4th night of Hanukkah!
It just gets better every day. On the first night of Hanukkah - Mom and Dad lit the shabbat candles and the Hanukkah candles, so the house was a-glow and we put all our lovely Hanukkah cards from our doggie friends around the display:



Then after we lit the candles and sang some songs, Mom and Dad gave me the most awesome Hanukkah gift - a huge candy cane made of Dingo rawhide! I nearly had a cadenza! I definitely did a jig!

And then today, a big parcel arrived in the mail from Unkie Phillip and Auntie Chris and my girlfriend Miss Amelia, her Mom Alexandra and their sis Beau and kitty Pepper. I was so excited I could barely contain myself as Mom opened the box. Out came the most amazing kong chicken toy on a long rope (see pic below) and Mom demonstrated how it worked by twirling it over my head and throwing it for me to catch. It was a wild time! I then took it and ran upstairs to bed so I could examine it closely. I also got TWO packages of Dingo Minis - so when I'm done with the cane (I have eaten two thirds already), I will have MORE Dingoes to enjoy!!



Mom and Dad also got a gift, something edible called Poppycock. Dad looked very very happy! If you look closely at the photo below of me inspecting the package to see if I could find any more goodies...you'll see Dad pigging out on the Poppycock in the left corner! Heh heh, and they think I am a piggie. Dad didn't wait half a second to open that yummy gift up. Mom liked it too. I got ONE lousy popcorn, but I didn't care, I preferred my chicken on a rope! Another thing to note in the picture below, is the gorgeous blue blankie with doggies on it - that was also a Hanukkah gift from Auntie Carol, Big Foot Fletch and Maxie. I sure am a lucky dog!



You may notice as well in the photos that I have a bit of a goofy haircut. They trimmed my hair around my eyes and now I look a bit creepy if you ask me...But I can see better, so I will forsake my vanity for vision this once.

Anyway, I gotta get working on the rest of my candy cane, time is of the essence - I have two more packages of Dingoes to get through. By the way, Mom made latkes tonite and the whole house smells of oily potatoes...if you want to revisit how to make latkes, click here to see my step by step guide from last year. Try not to notice how much thinner I was back then. I really need to go on a diet. I'll call Jenny Craig in the morning. If that whale-like woman Kirsty Alley could shed her pounds, there is hope for moi.

Wonder what other surprises are still waiting to happen with 4 more days of Hanukkah remaining. More miracles I hope.

AGC

Dirty Dog

I'm a dirty, dirty dog. I look like a scruff muffin. Later, I am going to get groomed, so stick around for the AFTER photo...



I see I got tagged by Gus to tell you 3 things I want for Hanukkah and 3 things I really don't want:

I want...
1. End to puppy mills, animal abuse and homeless dogs (my philanthropic wish)
2. A Dingo chew the size of the Empire State Building (though how will it fit in my house?) (My greedy wish)
3. A new house big enough to accommodate #2, with a big yard and no horrible nameless neighbor who complains about my barking. (My greatest wish!)

What I really don't want:
1. More visits from Animal Control or the Police for falsely alleging I bark too much
2. Days alone at home. I hate being alone.
3. Regular baths!

AGC

Axel Dreams of Hanukkah

THREE days until the exquisite festival of latkes and lights. I'm more partial to the former, of course. With sour cream and apple sauce. But I'll take 'em as them come!

AGC

PS Excellent news - looks like our buddy Elliot is off to his new home across the border to Canada. What a great holiday it will be!