Sasha vs. Squirrel

One of Sasha's favorite things to do is protect our home from Squirrels..those annoying rat like creatures. She takes personal offense to them daring to live in the trees in our backyard. The creatures enjoy taunting her - coming just far enough down the tree to stare at her.

SQUIRREL.. quite annoyed with Sasha as she is keeping it at home today instead of scurrying around on the ground storing nuts for the winter season.

Rocket Ship for Sasha

Brian got creative a couple of days ago and took a cardboard box and created a rocket ship bed for Sasha.

She even has different colored control buttons at the front! She was very polite and spent some time in there, but when it came time for a real nap, she settled into her good ole reliable bed.

Dunbar Cave State Park

 

Sasha loves it when you ask her if she wants to go for a "ride!".

Sasha "talking" to the ducks.

Turtles!

This morning Sasha and I took a short drive over to Dunbar Cave park. We walked the Recovery trail and the short loop. It was a great outing for both of us. We saw lots of birds, a chipmunk, and yes - she chased any squirrel she could see. We both took a long drink of water when we were finished. It was a great morning!

Sasha is Three!

On the day my friends and I picked up Sasha to bring her home, we found out she had been born the first week of April. She was the smallest puppy in the litter. However, her personality and determination were bigger than the rest of the pack. She was also the only puppy without a tail; although the little bump thats left wiggles big time, along with the rest of her.
This little 6 pound rat terrier, full of personality, has wiggled her way into all our hearts. As anyone who ownes a pet knows, the daily unconditional love they provide us is priceless. Little miss Sasha keeps us all laughing too! Silly little dog.
Today she enjoyed half a vanilla cupcake, a chicken jerky treat and many naps in the sunshine on the back porch! 

Happy birthday Sasha!

One Cold Little Pup!

Folks tend to have a thermometer that updates them as to what the temperature is in their home. We have a dog. Sasha, our 2 year old Rat Terrier lets us in on how cold it is as to how much of herself she leaves uncovered.  As you can see from the picture here...she must have been quite chilly.  Guess its time to turn up the heat!

A little dog, an opportunity to share Christ

Courtesy according to the Websters Dictionary means: civility, politeness, service. The dictionary refers to this word as a noun. My blog today refers to it as a verb. An action, something deliberately done in consideration of another.
Okay, here goes.
Being a proud owner of a puppy/dog comes with many responsibilities. We need to provide them with shelter, food, and keep them healthy by taking them in for vetrinary care. It is my belief we also need to be courteous to our neighbors and clean up after our pets. My gripe today is one I wittness often, sad to say.
Why is it that folks feel they can walk their dogs in the neighborhood and let them poop in everyone else's yard?
I have wittnessed this several times, shocked each time. And yesterday to top it off, I watched (as I was walking my dog Sasha) an owner open his front door, and let three dogs out the door. I was on an adjoining road so he didn't see me. However, his dogs left his yard immediately and crossed the street into his neighbors yards and relieved themselves. By the time I was within sight, I had picked Sasha up as the dogs we all around me by this time, (several houses away from his). We heard the whistle for them to return. The dogs left us, took off and went into the house, with the man waving at me, and closing the door.
WOW! I will give you a minute to absorb that.
Okay..a couple of days ago there was a man walking his huge grey great dane on our street. Beautiful dog. As I watch him approach our home, I decide to wait on leaving for the errands I was going to run, as just the night before I cleaned up a big pile of eww out of our front yard, and really wondered who had left me that treat..
I made my way outside and busied myself with cleaning off my front porch. The man was walking his dog alright, but carried no bag to clean up the dogs mess. I figured since it was still a chilly morning, maybe (giving him the benefit of the doubt) that he could have a bag in his pocket. Unfortunately, the dog decided to take care of business in my neighbors yard. I made it a point to be out in the yard as this was happening. He just stared at me. I looked at him, and looked at his dog and looked back at him. The man turned around and went the opposite way back down the street. I wonder if it worked. It did something as he went the other way, I sure hope it either keeps him from walking down our street or to be responsible and bring a bag. Had he kept on walking past me, I would have given him a bag to go clean it up himself. He hadn't turned the corner yet and he watched me as I cleaned up his dogs mess out of my neighbors yard. THey are an elderly couple that most likely couldn't clean that up, and they don't need to accidently step in it as they come from the house to the mailbox to get their mail.
Sasha, bless her everloving little self is 6 pounds. The little thing doesn't excrete much herself. Little ones she leaves, but if she goes in anyones yard, even ours, it gets picked up. Common courtesy. I carry my bag on my arm as we walk. I want folks to know if she makes a mess, I will find it and clean it up!
One day a few weeks ago, we were on our walk and a dear man was out raking his leaves, Sasha decided to pick his yard. Sigh. Well, I had my bag, I cleaned it up. The man came over to me. I braced myself for a good grilling. But I got a handshake and a big thank you from the man for cleaning up after my dog. I asssured him it was no problem, he laughed and asked how I managed to see it, coming from such a little dog. I told him I was very aware, and wanted to make sure we leave things as we found them. He then went on to tell me about several in the neighborhood who don't follow the same convictions. We then went on to talk about why we had convictions, and I was able to share with that man, where we go to church, why I act differently that others. He told me he hadn't been to church in years, and his neighbor was always trying to get him to go with them. He thought that the world had gone bad. He was glad to see the younger generation had some convictions about what was right and what was wrong, and were involved in church. I invited him to church, but he said he would talk to God about it, and maybe go to church at his church, the one he hadn't attended but on special events.
I haven't seen him out in his yard lately, but if I do, I will ask him about church!
Isn't it neat how God can work through a little dog and a simple walk around the neighborhood? Ask God for an opportunity today, an opportunity to wittness for Him. He will bring someone to you!

Sasha update..

"The Rat Terrier craves companionship, often using his paws to demand attention, and most are somewhat vocal, "talking" and grumbling, especially when ignored."

Sasha, our year and two month old puppy sure has changed the lives of our family. (And our friends)What a joy she is! She is consistantly the happiest "little gal" I meet any day! It has been fun to watch her personality grow with her.
She listens more than she used to. She knows her boundaries. (she left a chicken sandwich alone when left alone with it)When she is sorry, she is the sorriest (okay maybe not a word, but she is pitiful when she is sorry!).
When we first met her she climbed all over her brothers and sisters to make sure she was seen! Her personality hasn't changed much since then. She makes sure she is around all the time.
Oh! Side note! She is very handy to have in the kitchen! I don't have to sweep as much as I used to! I don't think anything has time to even fully come in contact with the floor before she has scooped it up! You would think this little dog doesn't eat! hmmm.
She is always ready to play, boundless, seemingly limitless energy. Moving and shaking all the time. Just like the quote above from a fellow rat terrier lover, she will "grumble" when she doesn't get her way. Not a lot, just a little cussing. Funny really. She also sighs a lot! I hope that means she is content. However, most of the time, I think she is fed up with the bunch of us!

Protective? yes! She will tolerate folks who come to visit, all will get a protective bark for sure. If the doorbell rings she is gone barking all the way there!
She loves to go for a ride. Due to her little stature she usually has to be held up by the passenger in order to see out the window. If we are stopped and someone is next to us where she can see them, she will bark a warning. When she goes with me to take the boys to school or perhaps to pick them up, whomever comes near the car gets a warning, "ruff", or a low "grrrr". Full fledged barking occurs if they make any move to come closer to the vehicle.
She has definately bonded with our family. She loves us all. Funny though, if any of us leave the room and dont come back for awhile or wear a hat she will bark at us too, we have either suprised her or she forgot us for a moment!
Sweetie takes full advantage of this, and delights in "scaring" her. HE has also found out that Sasha loves to chase a flashlight! We keep her busy with that sometimes!
She follows me around quite a bit, then sees I'm busy involved with something else and she will opt for a nap, but it is usually within sight distance.
Fetch! She will go play all day if you allow it. Doesn't get tired of chasing something and bringing it back.
Adopted Aunt Teri and Uncle Deane, they are the only other two people other than our family of four that she will be thrilled to see! Neat thing is, Deane leaves for several weeks sometimes months at a time between seeing her, and she will still recognize him when he comes back! I think she also likes the fact that he and he alone with share his Boznian coffee with her. No! She doesn't get much. He dips his finger in the last drops of it and lets her lick his finger! ha! We have also found out that she likes key lime pie! Uhuh! Teri? There is a special bond there. She likes NO girls other than me and Teri. It is hard for me to get her to settle down with another gal in the area.
Teri has made Sasha a facebook page. I know, but it is cute, and she has some followers and lots of friends. Teri, our middleschooler, and I keep up Sasha's page with the latest videos or pictures that we have taken of her.
Right now as I type this she is sitting on my lap with an occassional sigh as I type on.. oblivious to the fact that this post is all about her. She sits with me a lot. She loves Bible Study time. How do I know? She will watch my finger follow the words. Sometimes, okay most of the time, I read the lesson to her. Good little puppy. She will sit and listen. I think she understands more than she lets me know.
Teri has also made this pup a hater of monkeys. How? If there is a stuffed monkey anywhere in sight that remotely looks durable, Teri will buy it for her. She will then delight in Sasha's destruction of it.
Sasha wants to go out, so I must close this chapter. More about our delightful canine companion, Sasha later.

Do puppies get brain freeze?

We found out that Sasha our one year old puppy likes orange sherbert icecream. I'm not sure that dogs are supposed to eat the stuff. hmmm.
Sweetie and I were having some of this delightful treat and Sasha decides she wants a taste. I put a little bit in her food bowl. She ate that quickly. Her little tongue just going in and out very quickly. Sweetie thinks this is funny, so he gives her more. She still doesnt have a lot but say the size if you scooped out icecream with a melon baller. She inhales it! This time however, she walks over to her blanket on the floor and starts rubbing her head in it. Brain Freeze? I don't know.. just wondered. We thought it was funny though.
Another thing we figured out she liked was Key Lime pie. Well, She must as she takes every opportunity to eat it if given. I don't think her tastebuds do, but her brain says, "take it!" before she remembers what it does to her.
Some folks give their dogs peanut butter to watch them lick and smack their mouths. Sasha? Give her a taste of Key Lime pie and watch that tongue go! It is funny! It is lots longer than peanut butter.
I read that dogs have a 1.5 second memory recall. So see, she has already forgotten about it!