How can you live with 5 dogs? In your BED?

Yes, even as a veterinarian I get asked this question... #alot

But you see, I barely even notice them. As a matter of fact, half the time my Roomie will ask me 'Where's Chief" or Princess or Linus, etc and I won't know, even though they are under the covers with me.

Well, I won't know until my foot falls asleep and I realize Princess is draped across it (a Chihuahua's signal of true and undying love) or my hip feels particularly warm (for only weighing 2 pounds, Chief can RADIATE body heat) or find a half destroyed cat toy between the sheets (ok, that one could be Orlin or Linus - certainly not Molly, otherwise the whole thing would be gone).

I do, however, usually know where Molly is, simply because we have a nightly, elaborate, grueling battle for my pillow.

You see, she thinks she is alpha and as alpha she should lay on the most comfortable pillow.

Therefore, each night I come to bed, I kick her off my pillow. Then she lays with her head on the corner. Then a paw hits me in the face, then I kick her to the other side of the bed. Then I get up to go the bathroom. Then I have to kick her off my pillow again.

You can see how this becomes a vicious cycle!

And did I mention she snores? Like a LUMBER JACK. Seriously, she could saw wood with that snore. And of course, remember she is sleeping on the corner of my pillow?

My Roomie can hear her from out in the hallway and yet, she is sleeping right next to my ear.

But would I have it any other way?

I could, of course, have them sleep in another room or crate them, but then how would I know how much my Chis and the rest of the pack love me (or in Molly's case replace me as Alpha)?

My question isn't how can I sleep with 5 dogs...

It is... why aren't you???? :-)

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

The Fluffy Life

It’s not easy being adorable. White, fluffy, with a face that makes you want to go, “Awwww.” Small, but not so small that he's fragile. Boundless energy. Oh, and a personality the size of Montana.

These are the challenges that Linus faces on a day-to-day basis.

He’s made peace with it. See, none of this would be even the slightest problem if he were on his own, but instead he’s part of a pack that almost defies description.

There’s the aging alpha who calculates every move five steps ahead of time. There’s the Afghan mix who’s going deaf. The long-haired land-shark (excuse me, Chihuahua) who thinks every visitor is a serial killer.

And then, of course, there’s Chief, the two-pound, three legged Chi that holds his mommy’s heart.

How does a Tigger-like cutie like Linus compete??

Well, he doesn’t.

Luckily, Linus has his imaginary friend. He plays fetch with him, eats with him, even fights with him. And then, when his imaginary friend goes home, Linus comes inside and sleeps the sleep of the just.

See, Linus brings spunk to an otherwise spunk-less pack. But the pack can only take so much of it. So if Linus didn’t have his imaginary friend, there would be problems.

Instead, his energy is enough to stir the pot a little, without ever making it completely boil over. Pretty perfect, actually.

And that suits Linus just fine.


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Chihuahuas. They could be the death of me!

You see, I live for my Chihuahuas.

Do I love my other dogs? Of course I do. I have had dogs since I was 3 years old. As a matter of fact, I stole my poor aunt's dogs. But that's another blog.

As most of you know, I am also a veterinarian so I have treated and loved thousands of dogs.

My motto: A day without a dog is a day not worth living. (um, you can start to see why I am still single).

But since I rescued the Chihuahuas? My heart was permanently stolen. I worry about everything. Did they eat enough (ok that's really only Chief). Did they drink enough? Do they know I love them enough?

Some days it feels like my heart only beats for them.

But alas, they are Chihuahuas so their goal is to apparently to try to give me a heart attack every single minute of every single day.

From flinging themselves off furniture (which they shouldn't have been on anyway), stealing food off your plate then trying to choke to death on it, or after just coming in from the backyard they decide to pee on your bed.

Because, after all, don't you know they hate peeing when the ground is all dewy?

Yes, those are the moments when I can feel my heart pounding and my blood pressure spiking and a cardiac event feels only moments away.

But, as Chihuahuas will, Princess breaks out her turbo tongue and covers my face in kisses or Chief does his hyena dance.

And then, in a single instant my heart is theirs again. #totoywithmainly #buttheirsnonetheless


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Dogs Know What Real Love Is

They really do. I mean as humans we search and beg and wish for it and dogs, well, dogs just live it.

As I work at my computer, I can tell you exactly what the dogs will be doing.

Chief will have wedged himself into my lap somehow (given the fact my laptop is supposed to be the think on my lap).

Princess will be smushed up against my leg, partially under the pillow 'desk' that supports my laptop.

Molly will be on the dog bed next to me, just waiting for her chance to take me down a notch and be able to sleep on my pillow and, of course, Orlin will be curled up on his pile of blankets.

And Linus, well, he will be playing with his imaginary friend.

Each one of them is doing EXACTLY what they love.

Chief and Princess are absolutely certain true love comes in the form of full body contact. I can also feel them just absorbing and radiating that love as they sleep (because napping is also super far up the 'love' list).

Molly comes from a different school. For her, power is love. The more she can control the pack, the more loved she feels. As many of you know I was afraid for the move to the beach for her.

She was failing, looking old. But do you know what transformed her into nearly a puppy again? Barking at the other dogs on the beach. Power. It is the elixir that runs through her veins.

For Orlin, being near his girls (me and Molly), pointed out at the beach (the source of potential danger) and having his blankets 'just right,' is enough to make him practically purr.

Which leaves Linus, who I believe is love incarnate. Or maybe play incarnate. Which since he loves to play... #youseewhereIamgoing

Dogs don't just know what love is, they know how to soak it in and be content with it.

If that isn't the most awesome thing in the world, I don't know what is!

#dogsrule #catsarenttoobadeither :-)


Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Orlin and I have a Signal

Even though I am a veterinarian, I still live in denial of how old Orlin is.

When people ask how old he is, I answer somewhere between 10, 11 or 12. Kind of like how I say I'm 29 (#ok #fine 39)

But he's not. First off I've had him for 13 years. And he was an ADULT. He could have been anywhere from 1-3 years old at the time I found him.

I don't even want to add those numbers on to 13 to come up with 14-6 yrs old.

Thank goodness he's in great shape. Deaf and cloudy eyes, but healthy.

But that old age is starting to creep in. He peeped on the bed the other day. He sometimes gets confused about what the routine is. He sleeps 23 hours a day.

I know he won't last forever.

So while my heart will break in two when he goes, I know, I just know, we will see each other again.

Because you see we've got a plan.

I figure if there is karma, Orlin is in about as good a stead as you could be.

He's been the best big brother a pack could ever have so he really should get his choice on what he comes back as.

After much debate, we have decided Orlin should come back as a medium-sized terrier.

He has always wanted to be a lap dog, but cramming 45 pounds into a lap has been awkward at best. But he wants to be big enough to protect everyone (that's just how he rolls). And he wants to be wire-haired so he can have great bed-head (again, how he rolls).

So about 6 months after he passes, I am going to start looking at the area shelters for him.

I know, I just know, it will be him, when that new dog gives me the 'signal.'

You see for all his life, Orlin has never just kissed me. He always looks into my eyes first, sniffs where he is going to kiss, then plants the most luscious kiss.

He doesn't lick, he kisses.

I have been called many things on the stream: "A weirdo," "Crazy," even "unprofessional" calling my license into question because I, you know, sit around and talk to my older dog about reincarnation (and having a sound plan for it).

But you know what? I don't care...at all.

Because I've been around enough to know that one day I will stop at a cage and Orlin will peer out through new eyes, sniff my cheek and plant a kiss.

And on that day, my heart will heal #again

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Life on the Beach...

Is great.

Well... except for the fact that my dogs aren't all that fond of the water. And they could really do without the whole 'sand' thing.

Did I mention what adventurers they are? I mean, what dogs don't like the beach?

Um, apparently mine.

Don't get me wrong, they are happy as clams (no pun intended :-). Because I mean, come on, right on the other side of the fence is a dog beach.

Dozens of dogs all day long, every day for the pack to get completely angry at and bark until Mommy stops them.

How awesome is that? And for Princess it is a cavalcade of serial killers, each one scared off my her ferocious bark (and of course, Chief's squeak).

So far we have only been able to take the 'Bigs' on an actual walk on the beach. Technically the "Littles" have been on a walk, but their tiny paws never actually hit the sand.

Both Princess and Chief just freeze and shiver if you try to make them walk on that evil, evil, shifting stuff Mommy calls 'just sand, you dorks."

So the "Littles" go for what we like to call a "carry."

Mommy has Chief inside her bra #duh and Auntie has Princess on her shoulder.

I am sure we are the talk of the neighborhood (and you know that's exactly what we were shooting for #not).

"Hey do you know those two weird women at the end of the lane that carry half their dogs down the beach and the other half run away from the water?"

Yep, that us. The pack that never quite fits in! #anywhere #anytime

Remember, Mommy has written a mystery novel about serial killers. Which might seem odd, but then remember Princess' obsession with them and it becomes a little more clear! :-)

You can watch the trailer, listen to the audio excerpt, and even read up to 50 pages before you buy! Follow the link here: http://bit.ly/b60jVe and here is a 50% off coupon as well! RH88E

Thanks so much and we will see you next week!

Top 50 Dog Tweet!!!!!!!!

No, wait. It was the #47the Best Dog Tweet!

That pretty much rocked our world. I mean, the pack knew they were awesome, but to get over 3,000 votes? Holy cow!

All kidding aside, I'm not sure what the dogs and I are going to do every 20 minutes! LOL

I mean, obviously they don't understand (well, at least Linus doesn't) the concept of the bigger win here, but what they saw was Mommy several times an hour stopping what she was doing and praising them, and stopping and petting them, and generally all of us having a grand time.

If we went up, there were shouts and cheers and lots of kisses. If we went down, there were consolatory snuggles and smooches.

And let me tell you, they worked it!. If I was a single MINUTE late, Chief would put his paw out of his pink fuzzy blanket Igloo and tap me. Princess would come over and set up near my hand, in anticipation of the vote.

The Bigs even made sure they were napping at the right angle to see screen and share in the fun (without, you know, Orlin having to get up or anything).

So I just wanted to take this time and officially thank EVERYONE who voted! And especially @francinemhaas for nominating us in the first place!

It not got us into the Top 50, but brought me and the pack closer together (and got my Roomie to Tweet, so ya!!!!!).

Since Mommy has to earn money for dog food, we are going to take a couple of months off the contest, but we are planning on rejoining in July!

A nice long summer month to break into that Top 25!!!

Again thanks for supporting Pups :-)