Xander, Toby & Miss Willow love playing in the yard while Mommy works. Boy, do those rabbits run when they see us coming!

Xander's so puuuuurrrrrty:) He went to his groomer's for a "spa day" (which means he gets to spend part of the day playing in daycare, plus gets the whole grooming package.) He told us about it (Toby and I have short smooth coats so we get bathed at home). He gets all the tangles combed out that he won't let Mommy do when she brushes him here at night, then he gets shampooed all over, conditioner put on his fur, he gets his back and sides buzzed smooth like our fur and the curls on his ears and legs trimmed with a scissors. He gets his anal gland drained (ewwwww, I had that done at the doctor once and it's no fun at ALL, tho it's way cool when the stinky stuff squirts out on the lady's white doctor coat, hehe.) He gets his nails clipped and buffed smooth (so he doesn't scratch Mommy anymore). Then he gets brushed and blow-dried and comes home so beautiful that Mommy keeps singing to him and dancing with him.

Ugh, I say "WHATever!" - but I'm sure proud he's my brother! Willow Beagle

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

It's our Mom's birthday today. Aaaarf, arrrrf, arrrrf, we want to tell her "Happy Birthday".
Love from her family,
Xander Spaniel, Willow Beagle and Toby Von Dachshund
Misty, Daisy, Monte and Shadow

Appleton Area Mini Dachshund Playgroup

Hey, Fellow Dachshunds!

I asked Mommy to try to find other little guys (and girls) like me who like to meet and play together---- Toby:)

If you're the proud parent of a mini Dachshund you've noticed that, whether or not your dog is the sociable type in general, they all seem to recognize and respond to others of the same breed. There used to be a group of Doxies who met at the Appleton Dog Park on French Road, and it was soooo cool to see these little weenies in a "pack". It's also always nice to meet and talk to other Moms and Dads who are as smitten with these terrific little dogs as I am, compare notes on the many joys and few concerns and let the "kids" meet and greet each other.

If you might be interested in getting together with other mini Dachshund parents please post here, or send us an email. If a few people are interested, we can meet out at the dog park and set up some "playdates".

We really hope you'll consider it - no commitments, of course!

DANVILLE, Va. -- American police have continued their fight in the War against Small Dogs by shooting dead an overweight miniature dachshund.

11 year old miniature dachshund is claimed to have barked, and then "lunged" at an police officer in Danville, Virginia. Despite the dog's small stature and rotund waist line, the officer choose to shot the dog on the spot, after all, you can’t trust those crafty foreign dogs with their funny names and brown fur.

Neighbors told local media that he was a friendly neighborhood dog that had never acted violently before. “He was just a little house dog” one said. Local police representatives are naturally saying that the war against small dogs is completely fair, and the officer was acting within department policy.

The shooting follows the shooting of a 5 lb. Chihuahua in Ohio earlier this week (actual photos above.) The Danville Police Department has identified the officer who shot and killed a dachshund that lunged at him while he was attempting to serve warrants at a home on Berman Drive Monday evening. Chief Philip Broadfoot identified the officer during a Thursday afternoon news conference as Murrill McLean, 43, of Danville.

I'm not sure how many of you have already read/seen/heard about this tragedy, but in Danville, Virgina, a police officer drew his gun, shot and killed a 12 lb miniature Dachshund who was barking at him. What else can I say?

There is more to see on the web about this case, including the police officer leaning against the front of his squad car, smoking a cigarette and refusing to identify himself (caught on his own dash-cam, as was the vivid, horrific death of this little dog), and the Police Chief justifying such a heinous action. The power of the web is truly the "power of the people" - if you are as moved and outraged as I am, and the millions of others who have posted about this case, please contact the Danville Police Department directly:

Danville Police Department - 427 Patton St, Danville Virgina - (434) 799-5111

Rest in peace, little dude. To your family, our hearts go out to you. May you find some solace in the fact that your loss has touched millions, and made so many of us run home to hug our own little "sausages" more tightly.

Toby's Mom

Boy, it's been a long time since we've posted! The kids and I don't have internet access at home right now, so Mom's doing this from the Neenah Public Library. What's new? Hmmmm....we found a new place to live. Upside: It's clean and much prettier than that nasty old house. Downside: No more yard, and no more Buddy-the-dog-next door. Upside: Mom walks the furkids on leash every night, nice long walks with great new things to sniff and blocks and blocks of strange dogs to annoy.

What else? Well, we've gotten some good quality dogpark time in lately. We're sooo lucky to live in an area where the humans understand the value of dogparks! Mom is going to try to get a Dachshund Play Group going again - Toby really misses playing with the other little Schwieners (ugh, Mommy and her silly nicknames!!!) Xander's still crabby and Willow's still hyper. Mommy's still working and enjoying her job.

Well, Mommy's going to sign off now - Chris wants to get rolling and we're both hungry. Will still has an upset tummy so Mommy has to go home and cook her dinner - rice and ground turkey.

See you all! Keep on barkin'

Toby, Willow and Xander

Doggie quiz!!!
What's your name??	Toby
What's your mommy/owners name?	Pam
What breed are you?	Miniature Dachshund
How much did you cost??	I'm worth every cent!
What's your facorite toy?	Tug-of-War toys
Tap water ot bottled water?	Bottled
Do you always walk or are you always carried?	Some of each
How many pounds will you weigh full grown?	11-12
Do you wear clothes?	A vest in winter
Long or short hair?	Short
Indoor or outdoor?	Indoor
Do you sleep with your mommy or in your own bed?	With Mommy under the covers
What's your fave color?	Do I have one?
Do you chase cats or get along with them?	Chase them - but I like them!
How old are you? (in people years)	1
Do you like to go swimming?	Nope
Are you fixed?	Yes
What color are your eyes?	Brown
What color is your hair?	Black and tan
Do you get groomed?	Just my nails clipped
Are you potty trained?	Yup
How much do you bark?	Only when Will does
Have you ever bit anyone?	No
Do you believe in interbreedal mating?	Beagles and Dachshunds
Do you like the bath or hate it?	Hate it
Are you friendly with ther dogs or go you just attack?	I love other Doxies
Does your mommy/owner have a carring bag for you?	Yes
Do you do any doggie sports??	No
How cute are you from 1 to 10?	10
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Hi everyone! Toby here! We got our pictures back! I sure am handsome! Willow sure is pretty! Xander sure is...Xander. (Mommy loves him, but I'm not too fond of him. He used to try to bite me when I was little, and besides, he pees on everything before I do so he thinks all the trees are HIS!!)

Mommy took us to

Lindsey Van Roy Photography to get our pictures taken. She was just getting over being sick and had to carry us up the outside stairs. I'm just 11 pounds and I like it when Mom carries me, but she had to carry chubby Xan and squirmy Willow too! Anyway, we got our pictures back last night. When Mommy gets the e-copies, she'll post them on here for us. I just know all the girl Dachshunds are going to be wild about me. Chris even went with Mommy to pick out our pics! He's usually NEVER allowed to go places with Mommy anymore! She was really happy he could come.

Here's Xan when he was a wittle bitty puppy. He doesn't look so fierce, hehe! And here's our brother Chrissy and kitty-sis Daisy, and this is Chrissy and Denise.

See you all later,
Toby

Doggie quiz!!!
What's your name??	Xander
What's your mommy/owners name?	Pamela J. Nitzschke
What breed are you?	American Cocker Spaniel
How much did you cost??	$350.00
What's your facorite toy?	Teddy
Tap water ot bottled water?	Tap (Refrigerated) Water
Do you always walk or are you always carried?	Walk
How many pounds will you weigh full grown?	Should: 25-30; Do: 36
Do you wear clothes?	Nope
Long or short hair?	Long
Indoor or outdoor?	Indoor
Do you sleep with your mommy or in your own bed?	In my own bed
What's your fave color?	Blue
Do you chase cats or get along with them?	Ignore them, mostly
How old are you? (in people years)	2
Do you like to go swimming?	Yes! Learned last summer (Thanks, Mom)
Are you fixed?	Yes
What color are your eyes?	Brown
What color is your hair?	Black and white
Do you get groomed?	Yes
Are you potty trained?	Yes
How much do you bark?	Not much
Have you ever bit anyone?	No
Do you believe in interbreedal mating?	No comment
Do you like the bath or hate it?	Neutral
Are you friendly with ther dogs or go you just attack?	I like them as long as they stay away from Mom
Does your mommy/owner have a carring bag for you?	No
Do you do any doggie sports??	Just swimming
How cute are you from 1 to 10?	9
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

We sure do miss Chrissy. Mommy misses him the most, and I do too! He doesn't spend time with us at all, and Mommy cries. When he does stop in he's so RUSHED he doesn't even LOOK at me, even when I climb right up and lick his face. He's Mommy's human pup and he's "grown up" but he used to be Mommy's best friend. He talked to her about his friends and girlfriends and the things he did and tv and movies and the news and "Seinfeld" and Jon Stewart's Daily Show and the war and politics and a kazillion other things. Mommy talks to us now, and we like the sound of her voice but we can't talk back, only love her. Mommy needs her human being back in her life. Xander remembers Denise. She was Chrissy's girlfriend a looong time ago. She liked Mommy and used to come and visit and hang out and watch tv with Mommy, even when Chrissy didn't, and Mommy says Denise is the last person to see the "real" Chrissy alive, so she'll always feel a connection to Denise. Now it's just us and Mommy and we can take care of her but we can't take Chrissy's place. I wonder if there's anything I can do to bring him home again.

Doggie quiz!!!
What's your name??	Willow
What's your mommy/owners name?	Pam
What breed are you?	Beagle
How much did you cost??	Way too much!
What's your facorite toy?	Tennis Ball
Tap water ot bottled water?	Bottle of course
Do you always walk or are you always carried?	Run
How many pounds will you weigh full grown?	25
Do you wear clothes?	Only on dress up days
Long or short hair?	Short
Indoor or outdoor?	Indoor
Do you sleep with your mommy or in your own bed?	With Mommy
What's your fave color?	Hmmm....something bright
Do you chase cats or get along with them?	Chase
How old are you? (in people years)	7
Do you like to go swimming?	Nopers
Are you fixed?	Was I broke?
What color are your eyes?	Brown
What color is your hair?	Black, brown and white
Do you get groomed?	No, I leave that to Xander
Are you potty trained?	Uh...most of the time.
How much do you bark?	A LOT
Have you ever bit anyone?	Not yet
Do you believe in interbreedal mating?	Yep
Do you like the bath or hate it?	Hate it
Are you friendly with ther dogs or go you just attack?	Friendly
Does your mommy/owner have a carring bag for you?	No
Do you do any doggie sports??	Fetch and running and fun-agility
How cute are you from 1 to 10?	12+
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Gee, it's been a long time since Mom had time to go on the computer. So much has been happening. She has a new job, as a Project Manual Specialist at XX in Oshkosh (Mommy said part of the rules are, she can't blog anything about the company she works for, even their name, and I guess that means me too.) Anyway, she wasn't so worried about buying dog chow since she got that job and I was sure glad about that. Now she's worried because we have to find a new house or apartment to rent and it's going to be hard to find anything we can afford for all of us.

Anyway...more good news (GREAT news!) I know how to SWIM! Neenah has this neat little dog beach, and all summer I've been going down to watch the labs swim. They sure look like they love the water but me, well, I wasn't too keen on getting my fur wet, or even dipping a paw. But Mommy knew how much I WISHED I could swim like them so she taught me. Last week, finally, I let her take me out and hold me under my tummy while I paddled my paws until....ta DA! I was swimming. Now I love it, and can't wait til we go down and I can dogpaddle after my tennis ball over and over and over and over, just like the big dogs! Swimming rocks!

Willow's back in dog school, and Mommy's been working really hard on teaching her to be calm and not bark (more like me, Mommy says.) Will isn't a bad kid, as little sisters go, she just yaps a lot like all Beagles. But I'd really hate to see the poor kid end up in....the BAD PLACE where dogs without mommies and homes go. She's always happy and loves to play and cuddle. We're going to try really hard to find a new place to live for all of us.

Hey, here's a really neat dog video that our Aunt Alyce sent us. These dogs like to swim too!

Xander Spaniel

Toby's got a girlfriend, Toby's got a girlfriend, nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, Toby's got a girlfriend~:)

Hi everybody! This is Toby. I was at daycare all day today and boy! did I have fun. I have a special friend there. Her name is Mia and she's a Dachshund like me. Did I tell you, I like other wienerdogs like me? And Mia is really nice and fun to play with. I'm soooo sleepy now and it's still light out and Mommy is going to walk us later so I think I'll take a little nap. I drank tons of water when I got home (I don't like drinking water or eating when big dogs are around) and ate my dinner and now (yawn) I think I'm going to tell Mommy to turn on Animal Planet so I can catch some zzzzz's. Latah!

I taught Mommy a game tonight! I bring her the tennis ball and she throws it! She caught on pretty quick, too. Xan and Toby didn't teach her the tennis ball trick, I did, Miss Willow Beagle. Tomorrow I go to daycare, yeaahhhhhhh! I love daycare! Mommy is going to a J-O-B. Well, I'm sooo sleepy, it's bedtime here. Good night!

Oh boy oh boy, I am a GRADUATE of Puppy 2!!!!! Yuppers, I have a diploma to show that next I'll be in a Grown Up Dog class. I know "Sit" and "Down" and "Stay" and I walk nicely beside Mommy on a leash and I come when she calls me. I LOVE school. The teacher is sooo nice and the other kids are fun and I have Mommy all to myself. I can't WAIT until classes start again! Here's a picture of my Puppy 2 class, with our teacher holding me, and Buddy and his mommy and Maggie and her daddy. I hope they're in the next class too.

We went to the dog park and met our friends. We really love the dog park here in Appleton. First we take Mommy for a long walk on the trails. We have a lot of fun doing that, even if Mommy is kind of slow and we have to keep coming back to make sure she's keeping up. I smelled so many dogs! My Beagle-nose is better even than Toby's long Dachshund nose, and way better than Xander's Spaniel nose. After we go around the whole trail, we go to the Small Dog Area. That's a small area where dogs can take their Mommies. There are tables and benches for us to put the humans, so we know they're not going to wander off and get lost while we play with our friends. Great idea, huh? Otherwise, we'd have to keep a closer eye on them, but in the Small Dog Area it's all fenced in so Mommies can't get lost or wander off while we play.

I have a lot of friends. At daycare and at the park, Mommy says I'm her bestest friend-maker. I get along with all the dogs.

Little Toby and I played outside all day Sunday too. We rode a long way in our crate in the van - sure was glad it was air-conditioned and big, because I don't like the car with all those windows. When I see other cars whizzing past, and bicycles, and worst of all motor-cycles, I bark at them! When we got done with our ride, we were at another house far away. Mommy had work to do in the house, but there was a BIG fenced in yard where we could play. We played and played, and I sunbathed (sure do like the feeling of sunshine on my tummy and grass under my back when I roll around on the lawn!) and we got soooo tired we ASKED Mommy if we could come in the house, and took naps, and then went outside to play some more.

This afternoon Mommy and Toby and I took naps in the big chair. I like having Mommy home during the day! But I know she's sad and worried so I hope she finds another J-O-B soon, even if it means Toby and I can't run and play during the day.

Byyyyeeee for now,

Willow Beagle

Good morning everyone! Rrrrrroooof I feel good today. Daycare yesterday- boy, am I liking THAT. Wasn't too sure at first - lots of big dogs, Willow running off and playing with her friends - but now it's greeeaat! We go to the Ruff House in Neenah, Wisconsin. It's really nice there. The people all know Willow and me and Mommy, and there are lots of nice little dogs to play with all day. Sometimes we take naps and I curl up with Will on a fluffy pillow, just like at home. Other times we run and play outside in the big yard.

This morning when Mommy and I were cuddling in bed, we saw a dog who looked just like me on the TV. Mommy thinks it's funny when I see dogs on TV but I don't know why - I can recognize dogs on the TV without hearing them bark. This dog was a Dachshund like me, only he has a little car-thing with wheels. Mommy said "awwww" as if it was sad but I just thought it looked cool. He (or she) sure can get around, and I bet he'd be fun to play with too. He sure didn't look sad. His mommy wrote a book about him called "Frankie the Walk and Roll Dog" and they are going to be at a bookstore in De Pere today. I sure wish I could meet him. Mommy said she might drive up and get the book and meet Frankie for me. Maybe she'll let me go too. Here's his blog.

We graduate from puppy school next week. Maggie and Buddy are in my class. Maggie is the St. Bernard I told you about. She sure was pretty last night. She seems to like me...hmmmm....who SAYS size matters? I'm verrry handsome, everyone says so.

Well, gotta run, Mommy's going to turn on Animal Planet while she runs her errands, but first I have to go to the shower with her. I curl up on the fluffy rug while Mommy stands in the inside-rainwater-thing and washes the fur on her head. Pssss....Mommy doesn't have fur, only skin. That sure looks funny. No wonder she wears clothes. I just wish she wouldn't make us wear clothes - I don't want to cover up this beautiful black and brown fur of mine!

See ya!

Toby Von Dachshund

Wow, I saw the biggest water EVER! It was ALIVE! At least, it kept coming towards us, trying to lap at our paws. It was called "Lake Michigan". I didn't let it get ME wet, and I pulled at Mommy so it wouldn't get her either. She sat right down on the sand and put her feet in it. Humans sure aren't too smart sometimes.

The sand was really neat for digging. I got some major holes in before we left. I mean BIG ONES.

Last night we went down to our big water - I thought Lake Winnebago was big until we went to see Lake Michigan on Sunday. At first I didn't want to get my paws wet - this beautiful long fur isn't easy to keep stylin' - but some other guys were there and we started playing chase and before I knew it I was in the water. Up to my chest! Man, those dogs could swim. They were all Labs - a fine looking blond lady, her black Lab brother, and two chocolate labs. One of the brown ones - I think his name was Brody - was AMAZING, he swam so far out to fetch his tennis ball and then back in. Maybe next time I'll try swimming a little.

Well time for our evening walk, I think. It's been so hot and humid I haven't felt like going far and neither has Mom. We wait until it's almost dark so the sidewalk isn't hot on our paws but still, between being hot and those nasty mosquitoes, I've been slacking off and Mommy needs the exercise.

See ya!

Xander Spaniel

Hey, everybody, Xander here. Boy, this "4th of July" business sure isn't for dogs. Last night we heard the explosion-gunshots-big bangs every few minutes and it was only the 3rd of July. Tonight Mom's giving us the valerian herbal stuff in the blue glass bottle, especially Will, so we don't get too nervous. Me, I'm cool - I was only walking around carrying my Teddy in case the pups needed him. But Will and little Toby were hunkered down next to Mommy all evening.

Mom and I went for a walk last night, just the two of us. We live in a town called Neenah, in Wisconsin, and overall it's okay. They let dogs in all the parks and that's nice. If you ask me, they should keep KIDS out of parks. I never saw a dog spray paint bad words on buildings or smash up the toilets in a public bathroom, or light off firecrackers, or any of the other stuff KIDS do in parks. Well, anyway, Neenah also has "bike lanes" on all the streets. Last night Mommy and I were walking down the sidewalk, and three big people came riding towards us on bikes. They didn't go into the bike lane at all, just aimed right for us. I kept my cool until they came RIGHT next to us and then I barked once, to tell them to watch out. One of them YELLED at Mommy and me. Mommy told them to use the bike lane, and one said "train your dog." Hehe, Mommy yelled back, "why? he's already smarter than you - HE isn't walking in YOUR bike lane." I'd show them, yes I would - they think they can hollar at Mommy because I'm a Cocker Spaniel??!! I hope there are a whole PACK of pitbulls next time they hollar at someone's Mommy!

Last year Mommy took me down to the park, and all the people petted me and talked to me. I love that! I wonder if she will again this year. The big sky-fireworks really don't scare me - it's the ones kids drop or throw right next to you that kinda freak me out.

Well, everyone, have a great summer weekend. I'm gonna do one of my favorite things - take a nap in the sun on my back, so my tummy gets all warm and aired out. See ya!

Hi! This is Toby the BIG DOG. I had an ad-ven-ture today. I stayed outside in the yard ALONE. Not just to play or go weewee but...stayed.outside.alone. I was brave, I was. I barked at the birds and barked at the noises and barked at all the BIG SCARY THINGS all around and played all alone with the ball without Xander taking it away. I heard Mommy leave in the car thing. She's NEVER gone away in the car thing with ANY of us in the yard, and she's NEVER left me alone without Xan. So I tried to peek out of the gate, and then I tried to squeeze through it. I tried to open the door too, I scratched and scratched. And then I laid down in the grass. I didn't cry, nope, nosirree, not me, I'm a big boy, I just laid down like a fierce big dog. And I wasn't scared, and I wasn't sad and I didn't miss Willow and even cranky Xander and didn't miss Mommy, nope, nope, nope.
I must have slept because when I woke up I heard Mommy's car thing coming back, and I heard Mommy go in the front door and heard Willow, silly Willow, yipping and yapping. I think she was trying to TELL Mommy, I do. But instead of coming outside, Mommy started CALLING ME. I heard her "Where's Toby? Toby! Toby!! TOBY!!!?" and some other stuff and Mommy sounded SCARED. I didn't know big humans get scared. I wanted to tell her "Mommy, I'm out here" but she wouldn't have heard me. Boy, did she run around in that house, yes she did, oh yes. Finalllllly the back door opened and Willow and Xan came out and Mommy saw me and scooped me up and I let her cuz I already proved what a big fierce guard dog I am so I pretended I was a little puppy-boy again for Mommy. She hugged me so tight and kept saying "sorry...oh my God poor little Toby oh you poor baby, you big brave boy, oh my god how could I..."and all kinds of words and I licked Mommy's face and let her hold me and even stayed in her lap when she sat down, like I was a BABY. That's okay. I know I'm brave enough to be a big dog now, but I sure don't ever want to be alone again, and it sure was good to feel Mommy hold me and see silly Willow and Xan and even the CATS again.

PS...Mommy fed me summer sausage!!! All for me!!! And kept calling me "poor little Toby" and "you brave boy".

That was my ad-ven-ture!

Toby

Oh boy oh boy oh boy I went to the vet last night. I love their treats! Everyone is so nice too! And the smells! I saw a sleepy tired white doggie who didn't bark back, and a weiner dog like Toby with his tail bandaged and a bigger white dog who didn't bark back either and a little Sheltie dog who did. And I got treats, lots and lots of treats, and did my down-stays (I can bark and wag my tail when I'm laying down too, and I get treats and Mommy says "good girl" anyway!) And a nice doctor came in and petted me and gave me more treats. I really liked him. He said I have a "sweet face" and "kind eyes". Mommy liked that too - she likes people who like us. Then I got hugged by Mommy and poked by a lady who gave me MORE treats and Mommy said I was a REALLY good brave girl. The boys don't like going to the vet very much - I remember when Toby came home wearing a funny plastic collar and without those little-boy parts and he was sad a little bit so I was sad too but then he forgot about it I think, and he still pees like a little boy and has a big deep BARK and I told him Xander comes home without his FUR when Mommy takes him to daycare and even without his tail once but that was before we knew him and as long as I still have my TAIL that's all good because I wag my tail a LOT to show I'm a happy little girl.

Mommy's home today. She didn't take a shower and get dressed up in her going-away-and-leaving-us clothes so maybe we'll do something fun today instead.

Bye!

Miss Willow Beagle

Dog parks are the coolest, neatest, bestest, happiest places ever! How come there's only one dog park and a kazillion human parks in Appleton, parks where only humans are allowed? We pass those parks and they look so nice and green and empty - no dogs walking, and no humans either mostly. Except sometimes at night when big humans hang out there and do naughty things and scare people. Humans don't walk in their parks, they don't run and smell things and if they're not dog-humans sometimes they're not very nice either.

Our dog park is always busy, even if it's cold or hot or rainy, all day, every day. I LOVE it. I love running as fast as I can, letting all those wonderful smells rush past me, feel the wind and the sun and the fresh air skim past me as I go, feeling my legs go so fast I feel like I could fly. I'm like the wind, like a bird, like....a dog! Running's the best. Mommy can't run, and she can't even go fast like little humans or those running-humans I see going past the house, so I'm very careful to always stop and come back to her and make sure she's keeping up. Little Toby tries to keep up with me - silly little Toby - he's got short stubby legs and can't FLLLLYYY like Beagle-Girl can. Xan trots down the trails, stopping to enjoy interesting new smells, but he doesn't runnnnnnn like I do either. Sometimes big dogs with long legs run like I do and then I get scared until I know they won't hurt me, but nope, nosirreee, no one loves running like Miss Willow Beagle does. It's the most wonderfulest feeling in the world and when I can run like the wind I feel like I can fly.

After we walk on the trails at the dog park - well, I run - then we go to "the little kids area" and there are little dogs there that don't scare me, and that's fun too. We play puppy-chase, and little Toby keeps up with me and sometimes he finds other little dogs like him there, and we all play together.

I love the sun on my fur too, and I stretch out looooong so the grass tickles my tummy and the sun makes my fur all warm, and I love the way the world smells from a car window. Humans don't understand that, even Mommy, how DAZZLING the world is when a kazillion smells rush into my nose all at once, all mixed up and telling about all kinds of new, strange, wonderful things in the world I haven't found yet.

And at night, when it's dark, I love feeling Mommy's hand petting my ears, my fur, and I love the way it feels to have little Toby snuggle up against me and we both snuggle up against Mommy and are all cozy and warm. Toby says that's the way it was when he was a baby with his first dog-mommy and brothers and sisters. I didn't have a dog mommy, just Mommy, and I didn't have dog-brothers and sisters, just Xander and the cats (until Toby came) but that's okay, this is my family and I'm soooo glad because there are soooo many wonderful things in the world to smell and feel and taste and do.

I'll tell you more about my favorite things another day - there's so MANY!!!

Bye, now - Willow Beagle

Hi, it's Toby. I'm just a puppy but maybe some grown up dogs can help me figure things out. People sure are weird. Our mommy got sick. Xander was soooo worried, he guarded her and tried licking her and even let me crawl up and lick her. We didn't know how she was hurt but she moaned and couldn't get up or lift her head and kept throwing up and calling for Chrissy to help her. Chrissy is her puppy, her human puppy, although he's a pretty big dog now, a grown up. I know he's her puppy because she cleans his clothes and feeds him and fusses over him pretty much like my first mommy did, and like she takes care of us. We knew how sick Mommy was and tried our best to help her. We wouldn't leave her alone either - even when she was throwing up and pushed us away. All night we laid by her and sniffed her and when she started shivering later I crawled right up on her and so did Xan and we snuggled to keep her warm even when it was waaaaay before our bedtime and we didn't even get to go outside and play or walk or have dinner or water. Xan would do ANYTHING for Mommy and I would too, and we would NEVER leave her alone when she's so sick. I know our first dog-mommies wouldn't leave US when we were sick and our human mommy wouldn't either. Well anyway, so our human brother Chrissy just left. Said he had "people to see" and couldn't hang around "all night", even when mommy begged him to at least call her an ammm-boo-lance. (Xan says that's the big scary noisy carthing that takes humans to their vet. One came to get our Gramma in winter.) Xan and I couldn't do people things like find her cell phone and make it work to talk to people and get them to help Mommy, so we did all we could by laying near her and keeping her warm and washing her with our tongues.

Is that the job God gave us? To love our human and take care of them when there's no one else who cares? Because I'm little and just a puppy but I just knew that your human is YOURS for life, to love and take care of and never leave, and Xan sure knows it and hyper silly Willow even knows it because when Mommy brought her home and couldn't open her eyes and dropped Will's leash, Will didn't even run around, she just walked inside all by herself.

I'm sorry for Mommy that she got sick, and I'm sure glad she's better (Mommy said it was a "vestibular migraine" and came from being all worried about "job" things) but I'm also glad I know what an important job God gave me. I'm PROUD to be a dog-son.

Toby

Hi, guys. I'm kinda down today. Mommy was sooo sick last night. I tried to help her but at first she just chased me away so I laid down and guarded her instead. When she finally fell asleep I was able to get closer and take care of her. Even little Toby helped, first by not geting into trouble and then by laying next to her when the sick was over and she started shivering. Little Willow was at daycare and Mommy couldn't walk or see so she couldn't go get her. We were all so worried, but the supernice people at Ruff House took care of Willow for Mommy until she could see again. Chrissy came over but he wouldn't stay and we all felt so bad when Mommy cried and begged him not to leave while she was sick. Mommy's been very worried about things lately - we thought it would be so nice if she wouldn't have to get dressed up and leave in the morning and could stay with us all day, but I'm the oldest and I know that if she doesn't go away like that, then we won't have puppy chow or even a place to live and she might "lose" us. She tells me things because I'm the oldest and she knows I'll listen. Our house is still all messed up from Mommy's sick and not seeing, and I've been keeping little Toby from chewing up stuff the best I can. Sometimes it's hard being the big brother and Mommy's little man. I told Toby and Willow that when Mommy comes home tonight we're going to try to be super-good dogs. Even the cats didn't complain when they didn't get fed last night or this morning. But if something happened to Mommy, who'd take care of us? Me? I'm not that big a boy yet.

Xander Spaniel

Hi everyone! I had daycare with Will yesterday, and puppy class last night. Daycare is fun, sorta...Will LOVES it, and Xan LOVES it. I'm not too sure yet, prolly because everyone is so much bigger than me. And Will runs around and plays with all the other dogs and not just me and that makes me mad sometimes. But then finally Mommy came. I get soooo excited when Mommy comes back.

Our school is really neat. There are only a few other dogs in class so our teacher spends a lot of time making sure we "get it". I like that, because then I don't feel all frustrated and neither does Mommy. I love class because it's just Mommy and me, not the other dogs in our family. (I love my Willow but it's so neat to be Mommy's only dog for a while.) She feeds me lots of treats and our teacher Ms Ally shows her how to help me figure out what those sounds mean ("down", "left side", "sit", "up"). When I get it I feel so SMART and grown up, and I love the way Mommy sounds when she is happy. Her voice gets all soft and gentle when she says "yessss" and tells me I'm a good smart boy. Our Willow learned a lot in school too, and Mommy says school is soooo good for her.

Our teacher is the best! She calls me "handsome" and I LIKE that, and I like her too, almost as much as Mommy. There's another girl in the class with me named Maggie and she's a puppy just like me, only I think she's even littler...er...younger than me. I'm 8 months old and she's about 4-5 months. She's fun and wants to play and I like that. But she's got this GINORMOUS bark, and is so HUGE and that scares me. I like it when Maggie's laying down, then I can sniff her and crawl on her. Mommy thinks she's adorable. Maggie is called a "St. Bernard", which I think means "GINORMOUS HUGEST EVER puppy".

Our teacher's dog is named Trei and I like her. She's not too big and doesn't bark a lot and sniffs me nicely and doesn't scare me. She's a MOVIE STAR! She's been on tv. Here's a link if you want to see her. I'd love to be that smart someday, because I love it when people think I'm special. Maybe if I was an only dog...but then I wouldn't have my Willow, or Xan to make me feel safe when Mommy leaves us alone during the day. But I'm going to keep going to school and try to learn as much as I can.

Bye now,

Toby

Willow's First Post

Hi, I'm Willow Beagle and this is my first time - what's that? paper? oooh --- I have to get some water - run along the back of the couch - chase a cat just a little bit - oh, sorry, yes, I'm Willow Beagle and I'm a little girl beagle. I'll be one year old this summer and Mommy says I'm - Toby! I'm gonna chase you! - hey, I see CARS and I'm gonna bark at them! where's my chewie? ahhh - Mommy says I'm ADHD like Chrissy and if they made Ritalin for puppies I'd need some for sure. I'm GOOD in school, and when Mommy and I do my homework alone together I "down" and "sit" real good! I come whenever Mommy says "Willow, come" and I learned "leave it" too, because it's better than Mommy sounding angry and yelling when I take something new to play with. I love daycare because I can run and play and run some more allllllll day with my friends at the Ruff House. My teacher is really nice to me too. Toby's my little baby brother and I sure do love him. Mommy says Toby brought out the sweetness in me. I love Mommy and sometimes I love Xander and I love Chrissy and I sure would love to have some short people to play with. They run around as fast as I do and are always moving and making noise just like me. I see them out the window. I have a friend and uh...where was I? Well, hi, I'm Willow Beagle and I'm a very happy little girl.

xxxooxxxx Miss Willow Beagle

Toby's First Post

Hi hi hi hi. I'm Toby and tonight I got to sniff goose poop and see a giant white floating car-thing on the biggest most giganticist water I've ever seen! Mommy called it "Riverside Park" here in Neenah and wow! It had all kinds of strange sights and smells. I wasn't afraid, no sir, I wasn't, I stood my ground and barked in my deep big-boy voice at every new thing. Even hordes of those screaming running jumping small people my sister Willow likes so much. All the people we know at home and at day care and at doggy school are big people who talk softly and move like Mommy does, but those short ones SCARE me. Sure don't know why Willow thinks they look like so much fun - she's always hopping over our fence to try to play with some and I tell her you watch out Will, be careful. Ohhhh tonight was soooo exciting though - I'm 8 months old and love having new adventures. There's so MUCH out there to sniff and see and taste and do. Look out world, here I come!

Xander's First Post

Hi, all! It's Xander Spaniel here. Well, Mommy finally sat down and created our blog for us. We've wanted one of our own for the longest time.

Just so you all know what I have to deal with, not only do I have this adorable baby brother Toby who everyone thinks is soo handsome, and who makes Mommy carry him everywhere - grrrr- and the most annoyingly hyper little sister in the world (she makes HUGE messes and tears up everything in sight and then Mommy has to spend the evening cleaning and yells at all of us) but we have four, yes, read this, four felines around the house at various times.

Well, guys and gals, Mommy wants to run some errands now so I guess I'll let her go, so we have plenty of time to walk later.

Xander Spaniel