Chihuahua Mix and Poodle Rescue Friends
Today I want to share with you a story about two little dogs that belong(ed) to a friend of mine. She shared it in an email a long while ago, and I just stumbled on it, and thought you’d like it, as it shows how two dogs can learn to get along. After I post it, we’ll track our friend down and have her come read it and update on the latest news about these two little furbabies in a comment…it picks up a bit into the story about her adopted Chihuahua mix, Zeena. Enjoy!
We only know for sure that Zeena’s mom is a Chihuahua. (Dad is from a nice neighborhood.) The vet is convinced that her dad is a dachshund, because of her growing features, but we are not really sure. The vet said we could do DNA testing to find out, but I really don’t care. She’s my fur baby and she’s a doll! When I got her at 3 weeks old, she was less than a pound and looked just like a Chihuahua puppy. As she grew she changed a lot. Now, she is 5.5 lbs., completely healthy and loves everyone she comes into contact with. Very smart and very active!
Bernie, (Bernadette) my toy poodle has been with me for 3 years. She was rescued from an abusive home where apparently the young man or teen living in the home kicked her down a long flight of stairs. That was when they took her away—who knows what kind of stuff happened behind closed doors. Bernie has always shied away from men, but she knew she had me tied around her front paws the minute I held her. She needed a lot of medical care for ear infections, bad teeth and is almost toothless now. I wanted to breed her at first, but the vet said she was too old and had her spayed instead. She is not a very bright dog, but she and I are bonded and I take very good care of her, so no one can ever hurt her again. We think she is around 8 years old, but are not sure. She is very loyal to me.
When I brought Zeena into our family, Bernie wasn’t sure what to do about her. I knew she was jealous of Zeena, because I kept her near me, or carried her around most of the day when she was a baby. She had to be bottle fed every 2-3 hrs. the first week. I think Bernie thought she was a squeaky toy—I didn’t notice any mothering instinct at all! I kept them separated for the first two months, except when I was right there to help Zeena.
Now that Zeena is older, the two of them play all day long and only get mad at each other when I pay more attention to one and not the other. Bernie is not lonely when I have to leave for the day and Zeena is just non-stop fun! Geeze, I could write all day about their antics, but I have to stop for now. I like the idea of Aspen’s blog and was thinking about maybe doing one for my babies—they give me so much enjoyment! (Teri, if you still have your fur-babies, doing a blog about them is a bright spot in the middle of whatever life brings your way…luv, Aspen)
Aspen,
Our mom Teri is writing for us becuase we just haven’t found that Purr-fect keyboard that we can control. Our mom has had a hard time the last week or so. Her father-in-law died on May 4th, and mommy got sick with pneumonia right after that. She has all kinds of bad stuff going on and we do the best we can to cheer her up. She sleeps a lot trying to get well and we miss playing with her. Bernie wants you to know that Zeena jumps on the bed and kisses mmomy all the time, but Zeena says that’s just cause Bernie’s to old to jump that high, and is all jealous and everything!
We love each other so much. Bernie gets nervous when mommy gets mad at Zeena. Bernie always feels like it’s her fault, but Zeena does all kinds of bad puppy stuff, like tearing up magazines, eating mommy’s plants, chewing on everything but her toys. Mommy tells Zeena “no!” and Bernie hides. Zeena just lays down on the floor and stays quiet. We really are good girls, Zeena just can’t seem to control herself. Mommy always says, “Zeena play with your toys” and mommy plays with the toys with both of us. But when mommy is out of sight, Zeena always finds something to do that is not allowed. It’s usually so much fun, that Bernie winds up joining in and we just forget that we have rules. Mommy has caught us both!
Aspen, do you know what to do to help us? Do you have any idea how we can remember not to eat the plants, or tear up our blankets? Mommy works hard to gives us the best stuff, but Zeena always has other ideas.
Note from Mommy: Both of my furbabies are fun, beautiful and healthy. Zeena’s very first vet visit, when she was 3 weeks old, the vet said she didn’t have much chance at survival. Imagine how happy and proud I was when that same vet said at 8 weeks that I was a good nurse! He even wrote on Zeena’s 3 month physical papers, “cute puppy!”
Zeena and Bernie are ready for their checkups, but I have to get well first. Zeena is more terrier, has surprisingly long wire hair, not like a chihuahua at all. She is the cutest little thing and everyone loves her. She is fully grown and weighs probably around 10 #. I’ll write again after their checkups this month. Bernie maintains a beautiful body by keeping up with Zeena. They still fight over me. I love it! I have to pet both at the same time or else!
Hi Bernie, Zeena and Teri,
We are so sorry to hear about the hard things that you have been going through. When my owner’s Daddy died, all the physical things that were hiding under the surface “came out” too, because she was tired and grieving and not taking her vitamins and other goodies she takes to stay healthy. It took a while, but finally she started to feel better…I always feel it when my owners are feeling bad and cuddle with them to comfort them.
Since there is only one of me, there is not competition…I keep hearing my owner tell people I was hard to train, not when it comes to chewing things, I was good about that, but when it came to going to the bathroom outside. They have embarrassing stories they could tell about me, but I won’t let them type those things. I am older now, and just seemed to mature into being a good dog, and didn’t really like having my messes in the house anymore…so I guess you could say that with all my owner efforts, it was me who finally decided when I was going to be a good little dog about the potty thing. Otherwise, I think I’m wonderful and so do they. I’m getting older now, and get tummy aches and things more, but they take good care of me.
I hope you will find the strength you need to deal with the challenges that come along the way..I sit here sometimes and see my owner praying…or reading a book she calls the Bible, she finds a lot of help and comfort there…it seems like a big book to read, but God helps her to understand it, she says.
Okay, I have to go and pester my owner with my raggady toy bunny and see if she’ll throw it for me, we already went outside, so it’s on to the next thing!
Wish I could give you a few yorkie-kisses on the cheek,
Aspen