A Day in the Life of Piranha Banana

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

6th Annual Chihuahua Pool Party

Had some fun with friends at my 6th Annual Chihuahua pool party. Glad the weather cooperated as I was able to get a little pool time in. See if you can find the picture of me running away after getting dunked. It was fun hiding in different spots around the party from my Momma - can you find all the places where I hid?

I had to jump in first to encourage others to join in...

I was going to jump out but Momma encouraged me to stay and pose...

Did someone say carrots? "CHEESEEEEE"

Had enough of this...

I'm out - can you find me?

Feeling re-energized after hitting the pool... can you see me in the photo?

Momma hates when I do this...

Heh, heh,..

Capturing every scent!

Scouting for treats...

Can you find me?

Shh! I think Momma wants to put me in the pool again... she won't find me here...

Carrots?!

Fool! (I took the carrots and ran - ha!)

Checking to see if I dropped anything...

Someone was giving away treats... obviously!

Found her - it's Boris, Belle and Annie's Mom - she loves to give away treats!

It was a great party - glad everyone was able to come out and play. Now time for a nap!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: Amazing Chihuahua Trick!

This is my Momma's new favorite photo of me. It was taken by Mike Curran at the Windy City Pet Expo.
Can you guess what trick I am performing?

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

WW: Piranha at the Windy City Pet Expo

I really like my new banner - someone forgot to add "Expert Napper!"

Getting ready to meet people!

The view from my booth, I was in front of the agility trials area.

Guess who I met at the expo? Preston - that's who!

Preston had a pretty snazzy booth - WOOF!

My Momma did not want me to get too tired, so she brought my bed - thanks Mom!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

WW: Supposin' I Were Posin' Before Dozin'...

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: I'll Take This One!

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July 2014!

For their safety, please keep your pets indoors during the celebrations!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wordless Wonder Wednesday

Monday, June 23, 2014

Shining Through Following Roy

I am so honored to learn I have been nominated for the Shine On Award by Roy from the Following Roy Blog!

Thank you so very kindly Roy for thinking of little ol' me! I certainly do not feel deserving of such a beautiful award, but I will ensure I do the needful and pass it on to others as well.

For this lovely award the rules are simple:
1 - Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you
2 - Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back
3 - Share seven random things about yourself
4 - Nominate up to 15 bloggers for the Shine On Award, provide a link to their blogs in your post and notify them on their blogs

Seven Random Things... (these are always fun!):
1 - I hate getting my nails clipped and have been known to get mouthy about it
2 - When I was a puppy, I bit all the corners of my pawrents new dark wood bedroom set - permanently ruined - to this day they still have the chew marks on them (a lot deeper than bite marks!)
3 - I have a thing for gray curly haired poodles
4 - I have a dog bed obsession, right now, I have at least 10 beds in the house and 3 in the car
5 - I love veggies - broccoli, carrots, green beans and peas don't scare me - bring them on!
6 - I have been to funerals, weddings, concerts, comedy clubs, plays and magic shows
7 - I ~~hate~~ er, strongly dislike getting my teeth brushed and will hide under the bed when I know they will be brushed

My Nominees for this award:
1 - Snoweiners
2 - Clowie's Corner
3 - The Maaaaa of Priscilla
4 - Lessons From A Paralized Dog
5 - She Speaks Bark
6 - Sew Doggy Style
7 - Cascadian Nomads
8 - Sheltie Times
9 - Obsessive Chihuahua Disorder
10 - The Misadventures of Misaki
11 - Animal Shelter Volunteer Life
12 - Dolly the Doxie
13 - The Sassy Schnauzer
14 - Sketching with Dogs
15 - Underneath the Shell

Thank you Roy for nominating me!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: Piranha In A Pocket

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

To My Friends At The Library...

Sending thanks and woofs to New Lenox Library for organizing this evening's Meet the Bow Wow Reading Pups event. It was great to listen to the story being read by Gina, meet the children and learn a little about the other therapy dogs in attendance. Special thanks to Gina and her daughters Maia and Zoey for inviting me and giving me super hi-fives.

This summer's library reading theme is Paws To Read. The program is set up through iRead program in an effort to encourage children to read during the summer months while off school. Through this year's program, children will read and learn about animals. As a result, many libraries will be welcoming therapy dogs as part of their summer activities in the Paws to Read program. Studies have shown that children who read to dogs have a more significant increase in reading skills than children who do not. As a therapy dog, I visit libraries every month for children to read to me. My best friend Birdie Girl and I do all our visits together. With this year's program, I have received a good number of visit requests from nearby libraries. I am very, very, excited to have been invited.

I am pooped after participating at New Lenox Library's Meet The Bow Wows Reading Pup Event! Zzzz...

Below you will find my library schedule for the rest of the Summer. We are still looking to schedule Park Forest Library. Call the libraries below to schedule your reading time and learn about each library's activities and programs:

Wednesday, June 18, 2014	Acorn Oak Forest Library
Tuesday, July 01, 2014	Crestwood Library
Wednesday, July 02, 2014	New Lenox Library
Monday, July 28, 2014	Orland Park Library
Tuesday, August 05, 2014	Crestwood Library

FOODS THAT ARE TOXIC TO DOGS

1 - Chocolate

(abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, death)

2 - Onions/garlic/chives powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated

(can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia and breathlessness)

3 - Grapes and raisins

(kidney failure, vomiting, hyperactivity, heart failure, can become lethargic/depressed/disoriented)

4 - Avocados/guacamole

(congestion, difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation around the heart)

5 - Coffee

(caffeine poisoning -restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, bleeding)

6 - Gum/sugar free candy and foods (Xylitol)

(seizures, heart failure, death)

7 - Alcohol

(vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, coma, death-the smaller the dog, the greater the effect)

8 - Nutmeg

(tremors, seizures and death)

9 - Macadamia nuts

(muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature and rapid heart rate)

10 – Greasy Fat/Foods – Fat off a steak/meats, French fries, etc.

(stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis)

11 – Salt (and Salty foods) chips, pretzels, etc.

(sodium iron poisoning/vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures, death)

12 - Unbaked bread/cookie dough

(causes gastric obstruction -raw, fermenting dough produces ethanol, which quickly causes alcohol poisoning)

13 – Milk

(stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea)

If you are not sure if a food is safe, visit the ASPCA website or call: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1 (888) 426-4435

What are some ‘people’ foods you can give as snacks safely?

1 – Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas & corn (boiled, cooked/frozen, etc.)

2 – Banana slices (in moderation)

3 - Tomatoes (without the green leaves on top)

4 – Apples, oranges, cantaloupes and watermelon slices (no seeds)

5 - Plain pasta noodles (in moderation)

6 - When sick - plain white rice w/boiled ground beef or chicken

7 - Canned Pumpkin (plain) (good for hardening the stool) (no pumpkin pie – it contains nutmeg!)

9 –Boiled/frozen plain green beans (good for hardening the stool)

10 – Piece of plain cheese/cottage cheese (in moderation)

Please wash all fruits & vegetables before feeding

I was born January 1, 2007. I immediately began extensive training towards certification for the CGC, therapy, behavior and services. I visit and work with Silver Cross and South Suburban Hospitals, Ronald MacDonald House, Hines VA, nursing homes, schools, libraries, help children improve their reading skills and participate in health fairs and programs geared to bring therapy assistance to the community. You may have seen me in a commercial for the Lucy Pet Foundation on the Hallmark Channel. I also appeared on DogTV's K9 Fit Club - their opening sequences (the little dog on the ball) and on two episodes of the program. I was also a WCIU TV Channel 26 Top Dog twice. I have been on a few commercials and modeled at the International Kennel Club Show in Chicago. I love modeling, you may have seen me at Chicago's Fashion Fest run way show, Chicago Sun Times' Holiday Guide on the Magnificent Mile. American Dog Media Magazine featured me on their "Famous Dogs with Friends on Facebook" pages. I wrote a community column with Tinley Junction titled "Piranha's Tales" and run South Suburban Chihuahua group with over 200 members. We work with various charitable organizations, helping local shelters, rescues and fosters. I love to travel. Some of my favorite places are Colorado, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and my favorite is Marco Island. I enjoy going to see movies, ballet, sports events and live theater. I love school! I learned to hi-five, hide, roll-over, bang-bang, sit pretty, patty cake, take a bow, wave hello and shake paw. My favorite foods are bananas (of course), carrots and broccoli. I love my best friend Birdie (a cocker spaniel) fluffy blankets, floppy toys, sunshine on my belly and lying on fresh green grass.

Monkey

My pain-in-the hind failed foster brother Monkey. Monkey's bday is April 06, 2011. Monkey's mother and father were given up because the owner had cancer. Monkey was taken in as a foster but was rejected when the families found he was too small. He soon developed severe bleeding (back there) which continued on for two months. Several hundreds of dollars later, my daddy said Monkey should just live with us forever (and that he loved him). Now I have a fun brother to play with. Though he sometimes annoys me, takes my food, my bed, my toys. Everything.