Elvis and Me

Elvis's Mom Priscilla took this really spooky photo of me and Elvis - most appropriate a week from Halloween. Elvis is my best male pal - we play together every day, and most of the time he busts my ass. It is not unusual for him to toss me about and send me hurling across the park! But I love him and enjoy the rough play.

Mom on the other hand, is really scared when ever she is near Elvis and he is running off leash with the rest of our posse. She is afraid he might crash into her at full speed - that would probably send my little Mom flying all the way to Washington DC! He once ran into Gracie's Mom by accident, and she landed flat on her side with the wind knocked out of her, some sore ribs and head! And Gracie's Mom is a lot bigger than my wee Mom. So if you ever see all of us running in the park, look out for my Mom, she'll be the little woman hugging a tree or a bench and looking around anxiously! Heh heh!

AGC

One Lucky Dog

I tell you, I enjoy the good life!

I get to lie snuggled in the down comforter and enjoy the sun as it comes streaming through the windows...



I get to eat really humungous marrow bones...well, not every day...but they sure last a long time.

And, I get to enjoy some alone time...in my house, when I feel like it. I quite like my crate these days...



And as if this isn't enough, yours truly is in the lead for the Awesome Blog Award on www.dogswithblogs.com.au! If you are a fan and want to vote, please go to http://www.dogswithblogs.com.au/bonezone/ - click on the register button on the top of the page. Register by filling out a username, password, & email address and select
the human option. That is it! The site will then send you an email, you click on the link in that email, then scroll down to the Awesome Blog Award section - click on October Poll and vote for AXEL! I know it sounds complex, but really it is not! Thank you for your efforts!

You know, when I think how fortunate I really am, I think about all those foxies, who don't have what I have. And I want to help them!

This is the story of one WFT needing our help:

Bess was picked up as a stray and taken to the Garland, Texas city animal shelter. She has large mammary tumors and a very bad cataract in one eye. Her other eye is cloudy also. The vet estimates her age as 10+ years. The ladies who work in the shelter took a special shine to Bess (who had no name at that point) and were determined to get help for her. Thanks to an organization called DFW Cares, Bess was picked up and taken to be boarded at Noah's Ark Vet Clinic in Carrollton Texas. Thanks to Cheryl Collins and Jeanne Rhinehart, a wonderful adopter was found who will get Bess the treatment she needs and give her a wonderful home.
We expect Bess' surgery to excise the tumors and spay her will cost approximately $700. The vet who saw her in Texas thinks her prognosis is excellent once the tumors are excised. She may need treatment for her cataracts at some point but one thing at a time!

Any contributions toward her care would be deeply appreciated. If you can help, please go to https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

AGC

Bear Neccesities

It's taken me a good few days to recover from the excitement of the dog show! But now I am having a bit of an identity crisis. I think I may have some bear genetics in my heritage (but I don't want to imagine my great grandmother Wire humping a grizzly way back when...) because ever since the temperatures dropped, I have become extremely sleepy. I can't keep my eyes open after about 6pm...Mom says it is because I spend my days playing and romping with Gracie, but I have my doubts, we sleep a lot during the day too! Mom and Dad had a frank discussion about my possible slide into hibernation. Mom was rather happy at the prospect as she didn't think hibernating dogs would bark. Dad on the other hand was rather distressed - he enjoys having me, well, wired!

Dad is a strange one. He is like a bear himself - hairy and huggable. Just this morning, when the temps dropped to the low 40's, we found ourselves in bed together, snuggling beneath the blankets and snoozing our heads off.



By the way, the blog you are reading has been nominated for TWO awards. The Cool Site of the Month on www.dogmark.net; and Awesome Blog of the Month on Dogs with Blogs. If you have nothing better to do, please vote for me as Cool Site of the Month by clicking here - click on "international"and then Vote for Site of the Month. I still haven't figured out how to vote for the Awesome Blog Award - which I find embarassing for a dog of my intellect and technological capabilities. I have emailed my pal Opy for instructions and I will let you, my fans, know how to vote shortly. Congrats to my pals Bussie and Butchy & Snickers who also garnered a vote in the latter contest.

I'm feeling tired again...catch you later, after my snoozel.

AGC

The Greatest Show on Earth

Boy, I'm pooped. Today Mom, Dad and Mom's pal Lynne (who is crazy about me) shlepped me to Blue Bell for the All Terrier Show. I've never seen so many dogs in my life! It was quite the experience!

So let me tell you all about it...
The weather was glorious and hot after days of rain and cold:

We headed for Ring 15 where the Wire Fox Terriers were parading about the ring:

I have to be honest with you, when I saw all these dogs which purported to be Wires like me, I had my doubts. I don't look anything like them. I couldn't figure out why they were in the ring and I was on the sidelines. We all know, I am not only King of the Blogs, but pretty darn handsome too. Here are some of those "Wiry imposters"...



You can imagine my relief when some REAL Wires and their humans showed up! I made many new friends! This is me with Dad and Smitty (left) , who is a real handsome, and well-stripped dude. And on the right is Me again with Paddington - poor little guy has no eyes, but he's a very special fellow.



Here is Smitty again with an Airdale pup (left) and with his Mom Joanne (right).



Then this is Ricky who belongs to Leslie and Ed - he's 8 years old. And here we all are, in a tangle of leads - in the background are Lucy and Abby in Eagles gear:



And here we all are in a row with our humans - it was quite a feat to get us all to cooperate!
(L to R: WFT Abby and Mom, WFT Lucy and Mom, WFT Ricky with Dad Ed, Barb (WFT Skippy in absentia), Mom and Me, Joanne and Smitty)



Mom was very excited to meet her online Smoothy friend Claudia - who's two Smooth Foxies, Brody and Brillee were competing. Today Miss Brilee took Best of Opposite, shown exclusively by Claudia and Mr. Brody got the second AOM (Award of Merit). Kudos all round. Here are two pics of Claudia in the ring with little Brillee - who my Mom took quite a shine to!


And here is Mom with Claudia and Brillee (picture courtesy of Kathy). She is pretty darn cute (Claudia is not bad either, heh heh) - I think I quite like those smooth bitches...never really been with one, might be a nice change... Dad says it's like dating a feminist human with hairy legs vs. a bitch who shaves!



It got pretty tiring out there in the sun watching all these dogs strut around the ring... I kind of passed out for a while...I dreamt I took best in show...



The only downer of the day was running into my breeder Bob. He took one look at me and asked Mom and Dad what they'd done to make me so fat! He kept harping on how overweight I am and now I think Mom said something about a DIET!!! I am just a healthy wire - I don't want to look like those skinny model WFTs in the ring. Hasn't Bob heard that the trend is away from anorexic looking models - both human, and I have to think Wire too! Get with it man!

I loved meeting many of Mom's Wiry friends. Barb, Mom of Skippy, even brought me a Halloween gift - thank you Barb! And Lucy's Mom Kathy was very impressed with my good behaviour, and it was good to see Melissa (Mom of Mackie) and Steve again too! And we met Dot, Mom of Crystal and Glory who belongs to Pat. Pictured left is Mom, Me and Kathy. Pictured right are (back) Melissa and Dot, (front) Mom and Kathy. Check me out making myself comfy across two laps.



We were also thrilled and honored to meet Elizabeth Pierce - the very special lady who did so very much to help the abused Wire Foxes from Blainville, Montreal. Here she is with Mom and Kathy.



Well it was one fine day all in all, and especially special meeting so many fans of this blog! When I got home around 5pm (after a stop at McDonalds, where I am happy to report I got to eat fries despite the dire pronouncements on my figure), I happily hopped onto my perch and had a wrestle with dad. A perfect end to a perfect day!



AGC

Excitement in the House

Apologies for not writing for a few days. It seems whenever I slack off, Mom gets an email from grandma in South Africa asking if everything is okay! We're fine Grandma, just busy! The main excuse I have for less frequent posting is that I now spend most of my days with Gracie thanks to the generosity of Gracie's Mom who is the bestest lady in the world apart from Mom. I help keep Gracie out of trouble so her Mom can get some work done, and at the same time it distracts me from barking! So we have a good thing going...it's just not going to last long alas, 'cos Gracie's family are moving to another state...but I can't bear to even think about it!

Guess what? there is a mouse in our house! I can smell it under the skirting boards in the kitchen, but I can't find the darn thing! Whenever Mom or Dad hear the mouse, they holler for me to come and catch it, but so far I have failed. It's hurting my reputation as a terrier!

On Sunday we are all going the All Terrier Show at Montgomery. "Unentered" dogs like me are not really allowed to go, but Mom and Dad are taking me anyway because there are many wiry friends (both dog and human) who want to meet the dog behind the blog! Mom is positively beside herself with excitement and if I have to hear about the "75 Wires" who will be competing one more time, I think I may vomit. Why Mother would be interested in seeing anyone besides me, is beyond me. I may have a crooked tail, but I am more handsome than any show dog!

By the way, Smitty (a wiry pal I will be meeting on Sunday) asked me if there would be any poodles at the event - I assured him there would not, and he was much relieved. It seems well-coiffed poodles give him the willies! Which reminds me, can you believe that some man in the park had the temerity to ask Mom if I was a "long nosed poodle"! I nearly took a crap on his ankle in pure revenge, but unfortunately I wasn't feeling a bowel movement at that exact moment. Darn it.

Expect to see an extra long edition of my blog on Sunday evening full of photos from the Terrier Show - you won't want to miss it!
I'm going to rest now - Mom and Dad just returned from dinner at a steakhouse and Mom generously brought home three quarters of her steak and many fries for ME! It was rather delicious, but I do prefer McDonald's fries if you really want to know.

AGC

Change is Hard!

I've been a bit down in the dumps. It's hard to adjust to having no window perch anymore. It's hard to accept that when Mom and Dad aren't home, I am banned from their bedroom (becos I tend to stand on the bed and bark out the window). It's hard to get used to being told to "shush" every time I emit the slightest bark. And all this, because of one miserable neighbor who doesn't seem to like me much.

To make up for these major upsets in my life, Mom has come up with a new idea. When she is home, and the weather is good, she tethers me to the railing outside our front door and I can sit there and watch the street and the people/dogs passing by. It's even better than looking out the window...but Mom is too afraid to leave me out there without her sitting right next to me - someone might steal me! And sometimes I see things that make me bark...so I still get those irritating shushes. Here I am sitting on our porch. Just call me Tether Terrier! Why do I have to be tied to the railing...it's not like I'd up and run away..heh heh, you don't believe me do you?



The only good thing to come out of these major changes to my life, is that I'm getting a lot more treats!! When Mom and Dad leave for work, they hide liver treats around the house and I go and hunt for them. Mom leaves me a kong full of yummy peanut butter on a towel in the livingroom. There is always a dingo lurking somewhere...and of course, when Mom is home, she has started giving me raw beef ribs. I know she did that to get me to like my crate...yesterday I surprised her. After taking the rib and hiding it in the shower, I went back and got it, and ate it in my crate. Voluntarily! Mom was thrilled but frustrated as she'd spread a dirty towel on the floor in front of the crate because she didn't think I'd want to go into my crate...so I ate the rib in my bed and made a lovely mess!

I got an email from my buds Chris and Highcrest Dale Gunn. Chris wrote that, "I took a picture of Highcrest in his house relaxing. At first he did not like his house very much, but now he loves it!! He has a couple of toys in there when he
sleeps." That's a good idea, I will move some of my toys from my toybox to my house...



My house is okay, but I prefer to still hang out on my old perch - I just wish it still faced the window!



AGC

Bait in a Crate

Remember I told you the trainer lady Jane told Mom and Dad to crate me all day to stop me barking. Well, Mom and Dad have held off doing that because they know I like to have the freedom to move around. Besides, we never had a crate! But that changed when Gracie had the temerity to outgrow hers and get a new one. So guess who got the hand-me-down? Moi.

Mom's friend Christine, Mother of the famous Dean-O, instructed Mom on how to get me to like my crate.
"Give him rib bones in the crate, that way he'll associate the crate with delicious treats" (Well, that was the gist of the advice).
So off Mom went to the supermarket to buy me beef ribs. The crate was assembled in Mom's office and the experiment began.

I smelled the rib bone. I got excited. But I also smelled a rat when she threw the bone into the wiry crate! I am not dumb. I get my ass in there and I knew I'd be trapped. So I wasn't going in. Bone or no bone. Oh how Mom tried to coax me in. When she wasn't looking, I dashed in, grabbed the bone and ran downstairs with it. I hid it behind the TV, but Mom found it and brought it back to my crate.

Enter Dad. He told me to get to my crate to get my bone, and somehow coming from a fellow male, it made logical sense, and in I went.
And it wasn't so bad, the crate that is. And the rib was WONDERFUL!

Here I am eating it in my crate (note I am not wearing my orange harness. I killed it last night, I chewed the buckle off when Mom and Dad were not looking!):



So thanks to Christine and Dean-O for giving Mom this brilliant idea.
But I'm still a bit weary of that wire crate...den my little tushy - it's a cage doggone it!

AGC

Keeping Paws Crossed...

My itchies are back. With a vengeance. I am so itchy I want to just shed my skin like some old snake and get a new one. I am that uncomfortable. Thank the lord, Dad took me back to the vet today so I could get a shot and stop biting and scratching myself. I never thought I would ever be happy to see a syringe!

I've been having a really good week thanks to Gracie's Mom. From Tuesday to Friday, after our usual gang went for a walk, I was allowed to stay over at Gracie's house while Mom and Dad were at work. Man it is so much better than being alone all day! I suspect the thinking behind this was to appease my nemesis, the complaining neighbor. In fact, let me add, that Mom called Animal Control to find out what the law is on barking dogs in Philadelphia. She was told that dogs are permitted to bark for FIFTEEN minutes every HOUR. I really don't believe I ever exceed that... and anyway, what with my recent training and the sudden plethora of chewing treats and toys, who has the time or inclination to bark!?

Anyway, enough about neighbors who don't appreciate my charms... I want to tell you all about this amazing quilt that you could win with a small donation to Airdale Rescue. I often get mistaken for an Airdale by the ignorant masses, besides foxies, I think Airdales are the coolest, though I don't recall ever having had the pleasure of seeing one up close. Mom grew up with an Airdale, a bitch named Winston (yeah, I can't work it out either), but unfortunately she was hit by a car at a young age, poor gal. Just look at this quilt!!



And, believe it or not, there is a wire hidden in there amongst the Airdales. Can you spot it? I've blown it up for you here:



I wish I had an Airdale pal! Please check out details of the raffle at
http://www.airedale rescue.net/ friends/ and support them if you can. Mom really wants that quilt - she sent off money for a few tickets and told me to keep my paws crossed. I asked if we could line my crate with it if we win, and Mom gave me a very odd look!

By the way, another Airdale rescue is raffling yet another quilt - for details to win, click here:
http://www.arant.rescuegroups.com/info/display?PageID=1828 (you may have to scroll down some)

Remember my pal and fellow motorcycle gang member Dean-O won the Petster Dog of the Month contest and generously donated all his proceeds to American Fox Terrier Rescue? Well, the organization accepted the check, and you can read all about it over here:
http://www.petster.com/blogs/winners/Aug2006/10760 It was a mightly big check- and thanks to Jake-the-Wire, seen below, for accepting it on behalf of all Foxies in need:

SHANA TOVAH TO ALL MY JEWISH CANINE PALS!
I have yet to see a piece of brisket, but I remain, Axel G Chocholoza, ever the optimist.

AGC

I am ALL Powerful!

Boy, never underestimate the Dog Power! I have single-handedly turned my parents lives UPSIDE DOWN!

It all began with a phone call to Mom at work by my dreaded nemisis Rex.
"Dani, Axel has been barking for 20 minutes. Can you do something?"
Mom felt her heart constrict - and stammered that she would be home soon. She then called Dad who came home from work instead. Mom hates upsetting our neighbor, she is that odd sort of human who hates any kind of discord.
By coincidence, Mom had arranged for a dog trainer lady to come over to help them adjust to my barking "issue".

[For the record, in case you forgot. I am a %$#&ing DOG. Dogs bark. That's what we do. So what is the issue here? I'll never get it.]

Jane the trainer lady arrived just as I was having a barking frenzy out the window. I thought I'd show off a bit...She had the temerity to suggest that the reason I bark out the window is because I get instant gratification. I see someone, I bark, I chase them away. I win!!
Boy - how did she know that???

So she talked and talked to Mom and Dad as their eyes started to glaze over with the knowledge of all the work that lay ahead. And then she started to click at me and throw me treats! I liked that part! All that clicking would have made a Xhosa South African proud (for the ignorant - for Xhosa people clicking is part of their language).

After Jane left, the strangest thing happened. Dad started moving my furniture around. The couch was dragged away from my window, and the TV went there instead. My world turned upside down. I didn't know what to make of it. I'm still confused. How will I bark out the window if I can't GET TO THE WINDOW?? HELP!
And all night, Mom and Dad walked about clicking at me...I think they've finally lost their marbles. So here is a picture of my new universe...Gracie came over to check it out for herself... but she was more interested in stealing my bone!


Just as I was trying to acclimate to my new surroundings, Dad dropped me off at Doggy Day Care this morning to give my nemesis some peace until they adapt to my new training regimen. Boy I had a hectic day. I came home and just collapsed. Mom and Dad looked very happy...

When I came home, I heard some sad news. Remember I told you about that Pitbull pup we found abandoned in the park? Well, after Gracie's Mom fostered him for 3 weeks, no home could be found for him, so he was despatched kindly to the rainbow bridge where he will finally find his safe forever home. He didn't like me and tried to bite me a few times, but even I, Axel G Chocholoza know that it wasn't his fault. He was horribly abused and defensive, so I didn't hold it against him...may his little tortured soul rest in peace, and I think Gracie's Mom was very special indeed for caring for him all this time.

Finally - Guess what? I got a gift in the mail from my Canadian buddy Dean-O - winner of the Petster dog of the month if you recall! He sent me this ultra-cool black leather jacket - I am now part of the wiry motorcycle gang, I look so butch, the bitches are going to go wild! I may just make a video of it - Bitches Gone Wild!

I may just wear my coat to the All Terrier Show on October - I'd like to show those prissy show dogs what a REAL manly wire looks like. We don't go parading around in a ring, and get chalked and blowdryed 5 times a day. We are naturally sexy and handsome.

AGC

Two Revelations

Revelation #1:
I tried one of those tuna flavored dog treats by Cordog Bleu and ...I quite liked it! I ate the whole thing! Mom was shocked I tell you, shocked!

Revelation #2:
It is difficult to be a social butterfly when one's Mother is an idiot.
Mom has been going on all week about the Grand Opening of the Doggy Style Boutique in downtown Philadelphia. The owner of the two stores has a Wire named Lucy and Mom has been yakking all week about us going to meet her at the Opening, today, Thursday.
So Mom rushed back from work and shlepped me, in the pouring rain and rush hour traffic, to downtown...after what seemed like ages in the stop and start traffic, we finally, and most miraculously, found a parking spot one block from the store! We get out, enter the store....and there is NO other dog or human there, just the saleslady.
Mom asks, "Isn't it your grand opening event today?"
Lady replies, "oh no, that was YESTERDAY! IT WAS A FABULOUS TIME!"

Mom turns bright red and drags me out the store.
She tried to make it up to us both by taking me to Rittenhouse Square Park. I had a swim and then we both got caught in a torrential downpour and ran back to the car. We both looked like drowned rats by the time we got into our car.

So there you have it. No Lucy. No grand opening. Just a silly Mother and too much rain.

AGC

PS If this doesn't prove my Mom is an idiot, then perhaps the fact that she has decided to watch the premiere of Survivor: Cook Islands tonite will put all doubters to rest.

TV Star....in Norway?

Another doggone awesome day! Mom stayed home from work today to take me to the Doggie Brunch at the Schuykill River Dog Park. We went with Elvis and his Mom Priscilla (get it? Elvis and Priscilla? Kinda weird...) and drove down there together. It was fun sharing the backseat with Elvis!

The brunch wasn't much of a brunch. It turned out to be more of a promotion for Cordog Bleu dog treats and a film shoot. Elvis and I were the big stars really. First the producer interviewed Priscilla and Elvis (see pic below) and then he interviewed Mom and Me. Mom asked what they were going to do with the footage, and the producer said it was for Norweigen TV! I'd never heard of Norway, so I raided Dad's Atlas and saw that it's quite far away from Philadelphia, and they don't speak English either, so I wonder whether I'll be dubbed into Norweigen? Kind of funny to think of me romping on TV screens in that far away country! After the interview, the camera man followed me about and that camera near my face freaked me out some, so I barked and ran away and then came back again and did it over and over. Bet the Norweigen people will love my antics!



Of course the whole point of the brunch was to introduce us to Cordog Bleu dog treats. Being a dog with a social conscience, I was impressed to read that the biscuits are "handmade by single mothers in a unique partnership with the People's Emergency Center's welfare-to-work program - JOBS (Job Opportunity Business Skills)". So by buying the biscuits, we are helping single moms stay off welfare. Brilliant.

Only one wee problem...I didn't dig those biscuits. Even Elvis who has a voracious appetite, ate one and then couldn't face another. And those were the peanut-butter/banana treats - the other flavor is (wait for it...) TUNA! Tuna!? What were they thinking? What happened to good ol' beef/chicken/lamb or swine? Yes, we have social consciousnesses, but no, we ain't freaking vegan/holistic/microbiotic/health conscious creatures! We eat bones and pig ears for crying out loud...not TUNA! Ever see a dog go fishing? Who did they do their market research on - a bunch of cats disguised as dogs?

Anyway, some of the dogs seemed to appreciate the taste so I don't want to slam the product (especially if it endangers my potential new TV fame in Norway)...

AGC

Life is a Carnivale!

Another glorious day! After a long walk with Dad this morning to the Art Musuem, which included a swim in the fountain, we arrived home to be told by Mom that we were going to the Dog Carnivale at Rittenhouse Square Park (very larny area) in downtown Philly. I of course, did a jig. I've never been to a carnivale before, and it sounded exciting!

When we got there, I was overwhelmed by the number of dogs...dogs of every shape and size, and many dressed in ridiculous costumes as there was a costume contest. Phew - was I relieved that Mom and Dad didn't put me through that. By the way, there was not ONE Wire to be seen anywhere - plenty of Jack Russels and those nerve-ending- with-hair dogs - Yorkies, but no foxies. As a result, I attracted my fair share of attention...but of course also got mistaken for an Airdale and Schnauzer. One old lady loved me and asked what I was - Dad gave his usual shtick he gives old people - saying that I am Asta the Wonderdog from the Thin Man. This confused this woman, who it turned out, thought I was the Asta, which is really silly given that it would make me a very old dog indeed - about 55 in human years! Dad meant the breed lady, the breed!!!

Well a fun time was had by me, that's for sure. I got free peanut butter ice-cream, and jumped into the pond, much to the amusement of the crowd as for a while there, I was the only swimming canine:

I also had my photo taken with Dad and Scooby Doo...


There was a band that only played doggie type music - but it hurt my ears. While they played, I relaxed atop a wall and hung out:


After a few hours, lots of treats and the sniffing of many a-butt, we headed home and all enjoyed a well-deserved afternoon nap.

AGC