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

WW: Piranha Gets A 69 Cent Massage!

When Momma was a young child her dad used to carry a plastic comb massager in his back pocket. He used it often and Momma wondered why he was always combing his hair with it. Flash forward to recent months, she saw one at a local pharmacy and immediately thought - I wonder if Piranha (ahem, me) would like that? Well, lo and behold and all of .69 cents later, she let me smell it while I laid on her bed. It felt really good as it ran down my back and when she ran it down my back against the direction of my fur. Then she ran it softly around my ears and under my chin, by my chest. So now each time I see her take it out of the cabinet, I immediately lie down and then move my body around the places I want her to comb. I sometimes stretch out and arch my back like a cat --- heaven! I am absolutely certain any dog with short hair (long hair won't work with the tiny bristles) and no doubt cats would love this. Here is the link - Studio35 Scalp Massager you can also get them at barber shops and on ebay.  For better lighting and demonstration, my Momma put me on a doggy bed on top of the dryer and on a chair - but normally the massage is on the bed before bedtime. 

Wordlesss Wednesday: Carousel

La Grange's 68th Annual Pet Parade!

We participated in La Grange's 68th Annual Pet Parade. We had a lot of fun marching down the streets with a nice group of chihuahuas.  Every time children (and some adults) would see us coming through they would yell "CHIHUAHUAS!" very excitedly. In some sections along the route groups of people even clapped loudly.    It felt really special to know that people can appreciate the vast variety of friendly chihuahuas.

Almost WW: Piranha Helps The Environment

Taking a little time to enjoy the warm weather I decided to
help the environment...

It appeared lots of 'helicopter' pods had invaded the area  -
sleuthed around to see if any damage like food or stinky spots were left...

Spent some time in the shade ensuring the flowers were doing their job
maintaining their proper scent and beauty...

Learned one was being invaded by giant ants.  Let this be a lesson for you nasty ants!
You  harass the flowers, "No Flowers For You!"

Took some time for low crawling practice to ensure the grass
was keeping itself nice, soft and properly hydrated..

No sense in leaving it dry and thirsty... gave it a little help!

It's been a  good hard working day protecting the environment - I've done my duty!

WW: Piranha Gets Squoosh-hugged by Giant Tiger Cat & Photobombed by Giant Dalmatian

Learn about my adventure at the Anti Cruelty Society's 20th Annual Bark in the Park this week!
(now that I found my camera!)

WW: A Girl Kissed Me (and I Liked It!)

WW: Royal Mail For Captain Piranha Banana!?

Received a letter stamped Royal Mail... 
 I know its for me,  there's no other tail

Royal Mail, Royal Mail,   
did the Queen mean, Royal Male?

Is it tasty,  
is it meat?  
Is it a good and wholesome treat?

Give me something Royal Mail -- If it's not good, I will just wail!

Want to know what's in the mail? 

Come back tomorrow without fail!  ;o)

Update:  We had lost our camera which we found this past week... more to follow!

First, to apologize for the very long delay - as we lost our camera :( 
So I promised a photo of what was in my Royal mail.... 
besides that lovely bandana and stamp from the Queen?!  Well I won a lovely cartooned key ring with my likeness from Tweedles auction made by Mollie and Alfie.  They asked that I send photos of the front, sides and back of my head so they could create a 'mini me' of my head... and here it is! 
Though I am not all that amused that it was placed on my head for comparison - I can appreciate the lovely workmanship and how well it resembles me. I love it!  What do you think?

Chihuahua Support

I have a hard time leaving my Momma's side when she is ill. On Friday night she and my Daddy got a severe case of food poisoning from a nearby restaurant. They almost thought to go to the hospital if it got worse but I laid on my Momma's pillow throughout for doggie support. Thank goodness  they are both starting to feel better. What do you do when your Mommy or Daddy become ill? Do you give a little support too?

I feel crummy when my Mommy and Daddy are ill...

Wordless Wednesday: Chihuahua Razzberry

Can you caption my razzberry?

(my momma doesn't know how to spell the sound one makes during a razzberry)

Cinnamon Brought Me Sunshine

Cinnamon brought me sunshine on a not so sunshine day - Woo hoo! I received a lovely Sunshine award this morning from Cinnamon!!  Cinnamon is a beautiful coon hound from Washington State who happens to think I am cute - Woof!   

Thank you very kindly Cinnamon!

I really like this Sunshine Award  (Lord knows we need a lot of sunshine around Chicago right now!) - the Award Requirements Are As Follows:
1 - Thank the person who gave you the award.
2 - Name ten things about yourself that others might not know.
3 - Pass the award on to ten other bloggers (Be sure to show the Sunshine Award logo so they can use it too)

Ten Things You Don't Know About Me & Never Asked:
1 - I was born in Nebraska (but live in the Chicago area)
2 - I am a splurge (meaning I was not rescued-unless you consider a cage while being chosen a rescue)
3 - I love to sleep and have to be forced out of bed each morning
4 - I make a good nurse mate. One time my Momma got sick for 2 days & I did not want to leave her side.  I had to be forced out of bed to drink water, eat and go out
5 - I will only play dead for food (shh!)
6 - My biggest fear is having a big dog sticking his nose in my ear (can you tell it's happened to me before?)
7 - When I am thirsty I lick my Momma or Daddy's arm
8 - I have more bow tie collars than I do jackets (a drawer full of them!)
9 - I love rubbing my belly on almost any grass and carpets I can get my paws on (we have no carpets in my home!)
10 - (Drumroll please) I have been known to steal food from my pawrents jumping up like a shark (eh, piranha) in midair to catch the food and then run away (check this out: Chips)

Now the time has finally come to pass on this amazing Sunshine award to the wonderful blogs below and my reasons why they are well deserved:
1 -  http://www.pricillaspeaks.com/  - because there is something so inherently charming about a talking goat - maaaa maaaa
2 -  http://2chihuahuagirls.blogspot.com/ - because they bring me such delight with their funny antics and cuteness and not to mention arts and mini mes - they have it all!
3 -  http://baileyunleashed.blogspot.com/2014/04/doggie-lashes.html - because Miss Bailey is one of the cutest chihuahuas I've ever seen
4 -  http://www.sewdoggystyle.com/ - because they have a Sebastian who looks like me (were I to have long hair) & they bring crafty to a new level!
5 -  http://clowiescorner.wordpress.com/ - because Clowie entertains me with her wit and she is lovely to boot!
6 -  http://www.dollythedoxie.com/- because Dolly is cute, from my town & has a great blog!
7 -  http://theadventuresofhiggins.blogspot.com/ - because Higgins is my twin brother from another mother - woof!
8 -  http://mollythefundog.blogspot.com/2014/04/funny-molly.html - because Molly makes me laugh!
9 - http://bicontinental-dachshund.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html - because there is no other bicontinental, funny & cute dachshund!
10 - http://www.cascadiannomads.com/1/post/2014/04/baby-brychwyn-wordless-wednesday.html - because this is a family who photographs well and their posts make me smile!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

Thank you again to Miss Cinnamon and please check out the blogs that I have nominated!

WOOF~!

WW: The Waiting

Monday Is Over!!

Monday is over, I'm so glad!

The whole day was crazy mad!

I worked, I toiled, it was a bust, 

and now its over,  which is just!

WW: The Biggest Chihuahua Ears You've Ever Seen!

My Momma and Daddy have both been sick with all kinds of flus and viruses that are going around.  So she hasn't been keeping up with my blog. A likely story. Ahem! But my puppy pictures always seem to cheer them up!  Momma and Daddy - here are my photos from the first day you brought me home:

Momma and Daddy had just returned from their trip to Hawaii.  That is why my Daddy is so tan (not to mention 
the dirty shirt 'cause he just finished doing some work).

This literally was my first time outside, ever.

I found a leaf to have fun with and grass too - in March!  Can you believe it?

Wanting to come back inside the house. Puppy cries and sniffles.

I  know, I know! I have the biggest chihuahua ears you've ever seen!
The better to 'hear' you with!

Almost WW: Will Exercise for Food!

My friends from South Suburban Chihuahua and I met at K9 Tailshakers for a learn and play meetup. Dr. Lisa Woodside, from Midwest Animal Hospital was our special guest speaker.  Dr. Woodside presented on Chihuahua chiropractic and joint care.  She explained the importance of keeping nails short and trimmed often to ensure less stress on the nails as long nails changes a dog's gait and make it feel as though it is going on an incline. Long nails also work to stress the back and joints thus causing a 'hunched' look in a chihuahua injuring the back area (Dr. Woodside used more medically specific terms, but this is the way I understood it).  She also explained that there are certain exercises dogs can do to keep the joints  in check and balanced to prevent injury.  

She asked me to help demonstrate one of the exercises using a rubber disc with nubs (found at most department stores or online) that is often used for physical therapy.  My job was to get on the disk to promote balance and exercise and strengthen my chihuahua muscles.  I started by being asked to 'touch' the disc with my front paws only by walking on it for a treat then step back.  So paws on, paws off, paws on, paws off.  I then practiced putting my entire body on it which forced me to try and balance on it much like the photo below.   On and off and stretching up and down to take treats while on it.  This forces my body to try and stay balanced during treat reaches.  I am told I did a great job (never mind that treats were involved).  

I'll do anything for treats, even exercise.
Dr. Woodside demonstrates how balancing on this nubby disk will help my joints 
(while I do a little begging of my own!).  

Dr. Woodside stressed that these exercises should not last more than 10 minutes or so at a time or per day.  We don't want to stress our joints, we want to strengthen them.  We learned a lot from Dr. Woodside and we appreciated her time teaching us new skills. I especially appreciated her freeze dried liver/chicken treats she gave me (even though they were teeny tiny pinches of treats) while using me to demonstrate the exercises.

*Please note that these exercises were done on a table for demonstration only - please only do them on the floor when practicing with your pet*