Chiquita Chuck

When I was just a pup, Dr. Bauer was eating a banana. He noticed my interest and held it out to me. I took one bite and was hooked. I got a few more bites before he selfishly tried to take it back. I made a pitiful sound and he gave me some more.

 

This time, I grabbed it with my paws and didn’t let go. Dr. Bauer said that I should just keep it now that I had touched it with my feet. He was ok sharing when I was biting it, but not when I was holding it?

Either way, I got to keep the banana. I love them to this day, but I will always remember the first one that I stole, I mean that was given to me.

Chuck

Chiquita Banana Bandit

Ho Ho Holy Chihuahua - I love Christmas when the giant Santa Chihuahua brings gifts for all of the good dogs in the world. Oh, wait according to my Mom and various other people and dogs who know me, that might not include me. Do you think that I am on some bad dog list somewhere and will be deprived of all of the holiday gifts and treats? I think not.

So every now and then I pee where I am not supposed to. That could happen to anyone. So what if I get a little nippy when my nails are being clipped. I have heard that people do this too. And ok, I have been known to be snarky to my fellow dog friends when they want one of my toys. They are MY toys.

Overall, I am loving and cute. Maybe more cute than loving, but I could crank up the love in the month of December. How far does this list go back anyway? I am going to continue to howl when I hear Christmas music and hope that the Santa Chihuahua brings me stuff. If I am left out on Christmas day, I can pout and hold a grudge for ridiculously extended periods of time! This will bother my Mom who will then go out and get me stuff just to see me be happy again. I am expecting a full stocking this year. How about you?

Chuck
Makin’ a list, checkin’ it twice – Chuck, naughty and nice…

Chuck and Cayenne ready for Christmas!

Leg-Ow-Hurties

At Colorado Canine Orthopedics, they do many surgeries. Some dogs have bad knees or hips or broken legs. I never thought that I would need their services. One day Dr. Swainson was watching me run around like an idiot and he told my Mom that my hips looked funny. She laughed and so did I since we thought he was kidding. Then they actually took pictures of my hips. (I am very photogenic). Surgery? You are kidding.

Come to find out that I had a hip disease called Legg-Calve-Perthes. I am thinking what do I have to do with cows? I couldn’t remember the name so I call it “leg-ow-hurties”. My little dog hips did hurt, but I didn’t tell my Mom since I knew she would worry. Dr. Bauer ended up doing surgery on both of my hips.

After the surgery, I looked like I wasn’t wearing any pants. Both of my legs had been shaved and it was wintertime and Christmas. Not the gift that I had been hoping for, but my hips didn’t hurt anymore. It took a little while, and I had to go to dog rehab where they have an underwater treadmill. That was pretty fun. I wore a little life jacket and everything. I can now run, run, run and my Mom can’t catch me. That is when she calls me funny names that I can’t repeat.

Chuck
One hip dude

Before I came along, my Mom only had big dogs, so I was a nice addition to the dog family. That is until I tried to play with the big dogs and I was the perfect height to sniff their underparts, so my Mom got worried about me being stepped on. She looked and looked for a friend for me who was closer to my size and finally found Cayenne.

She is a Chihuahua also and was so happy to come live with me when my Mom got her from a rescue in New Mexico. We love to snuggle under the blankets together and then for fun we fight like dogs and dogs. She comes to Colorado Canine Orthopedics with me about once a week. The building we are in has different businesses that make up the Veterinary Specialty Center. We like to go visit the other people in the building since they tell us how cute we are and stuff like that.

One of our favorites is the dog dentist, Dr. Tony Woodward. He brings us ham. He wrote a little poem for us, it goes like this…. “A little ditty about Chuck and Cayenne, we’re in dog day care please bring us some ham!”
Chuck
Cougar Mellancamp

A Rat in the Cupboard

 

So if the cupboard door is open and no one is looking, wouldn’t you climb in there and have a look around? That’s what I thought too. There is some cool stuff in there. Pots and pans which I know sometimes have food in them, cooking spray for food and food containers that were depressingly empty, but you get the idea.

Well, you would have thought that I stole a steak off the grill or something. (not that I could reach the grill) My mom was squealing at me to get out. The other dogs were sticking their big heads in the cupboard doors to see if there was a rat in there. They were so disappointed that it was just me. The next time I see a cupboard door open, I will make sure there is something in there worth getting in trouble for.

Chuck
The Culinary Investigator

Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving is a special time of the year where families get together and share love, laughter and food. The smells are just too much for me. I know that the holiday was created with me in mind. Scarfing to your heart’s content with no regard for later consequences. The whole pie thing is perfect and I picture myself fitting perfectly inside a pie pan and eating my surroundings. Yum. I know that the leftovers are also meant for me because you people had your chance to eat! Now it is my turn.

When I was a puppy, my Mom had a hard time getting me to eat. No really, it is true. She actually went to the trouble of cooking turkey for me because it always worked. Even though I am not quite as picky now, I am still a turkey fan. So Thanksgiving brings back those puppy-hood memories. Just thinking about it makes my stomach growl. I am thankful for Turkey Day!
Chuck
Talkin’ Turkey

The Dutchess

It is so nice to know that I am not the only dog who has had to have a surgery. There was a furry dog who came to Colorado Canine Orthopedics where I hang out with my Mom sometimes. She had a broken frong leg and was pretty upset about it. She was in a cage snarling and growling. If I did this I would be reprimanded with the usual “Chuck, stop being a Chihuahua” Like I can help it.
Anyway, Dr. Riecks, a canine orthopedic surgeon, did surgery on her broken leg and then someone sent her home with me. Are you kidding? Her name is Dutchess and she thinks she is royalty or something. Since her leg is no longer broken, she does seem to be getting a little bit nicer. Last night she shared her toy with me. I tried to eat it and then she took it back. I think she likes me…..

Chuck
The Quasi Chihuahua

I would like to address a topic that is hard for us shorties to discuss and that is our weight. I was, for a time, a little bit overweight, especially for my size. I know you find this hard to believe since I am certainly not obsessed with food.

Anyway, I once ate a rock and had to have abdominal surgery to get it out. Dr. Bauer, our orthopedic vet friend, was kind enough to point out that the rock didn’t belong in my stomach. Who knew? So since he is an orthopedic guy, I figured I could get out of it, but no such luck.

I got to stay in the posh ICU for three days after my surgery. I was treated to turkey meat and baby food. This was not my idea of a weight loss plan since it was very tasty. So I lost a few pounds and continued on the baby food regimen and now I get vegetables, ham and a variety of baby food.

That rock was the best thing that ever happened to me. Though I haven’t eaten one since.

Chuck
Dietician Expert

Keepin it Warm!

So as a new blogger, I plan on covering many topics that should interest my furry and not so furry friends.

I myself don’t have a lot of fur which is why I am cold sometimes. I sleep in a furry bag and like to have it put in the dryer before I turn in for the night. My Mom says this makes me spoiled. I think it just makes me smart. It is like additional fur for me and since it probably wouldn’t be smart to put me in the dryer (though I did try to jump in there once or twice) I like my stuff warm.

- Chuck
Temperature Controlled

Halloween is for Monsters & Little Devils!

Don’t you love Halloween? Costumes and candy, people ringing doorbells, and barking your fool head off with howls in between for good measure. I have a few outfits that I wear for Halloween.

One says, Lil Devil. It has little horns which my Mom says that I have even without the costume. I don’t know what she means by that. The other says Lil Monster and that one makes me look like I have a Mohawk hairdo. I’m not sure what to make of the monster/devil theme clothes that my Mom gets me. Does she think that I am a bad dog? If so, I can’t imagine why. 


She must not think I'm too much of a devil,
'cause she still hands out treats!

OK, so I hide in the closet and run when she calls me and steal everyone else’s food whenever possible and pout when I don’t get what I want, but does that make me a monster?

Maybe the devil made me do it, did you ever think of that?

Chuck

Runnin with the Devil





I'm Chuck & I'm here to eat -- I mean blog...

This is my first blog. I am a little nervous. When my mom told me I was doing a blog, I thought it was a new food! Maybe if I do a really good job, it could turn in to a food. Anyway, my name is Chuck and I am a chihuahua. (I should get food for spelling that correctly). I go by many names besides Chuck, like Chuckie, Mr. Choo and one that I am not allowed to put on my blog. Yikes.

I am a very well behaved dog and I am friendly to all that I meet, unless I don't know them, or if they tease me, or if they are a small child, or a veterinarian, but otherwise, I am a social butterfly. I spend much of my time sleeping under my blanket and waiting for the dinner bell to ring. (OK so there isn't an actual bell, but there might as well be.)

My mom says that I am highly food motivated. I like to think that I am a food specialist who tries to find good in all morsels that fall on the ground. One must have a purpose and I am so glad that I already know mine. I hope you know your purpose as well. That is all for today, cause I am hungry. Maybe next time I will eat before I blog or eat my blog when I am finished?

Chuck
Food Specialist