Little Miss B Is Stylin'

If you're anything like me, then your pets rank right up there with your children. My lovely Little Miss B has brought us more joy in the last year than words could ever express. She is sweet and lovable. She is quirky and fun. And just like my Dear Cherubs, I want her to have only the best.

Little Miss B is one stylish pup and a very spoiled one at that. She has more collars and matching leads (of course they must match) than there are days of the week. She has a bed in almost EVERY room in our house and two at my office, and I have purchased more dog bowls than we have dishes in our own kitchen.

As some of you know, Mr. P is a photographer. A few of his clients are in the pet product business and one in particular, UP COUNTRY, has some amazing stuff. He recently did a catalog for them, and of course as the shooting was going on, I did a little shopping. He was very concerned that at the end of day, we would owe them money instead of the other way around.

Anyway, I ordered a couple of collars and matching leads.

Don't you absolutely love the alligators?

Can you say, Sooooo Preppy?

Alligator from the Mayfield Collection

Paisley from the Town & Country Collection

And some beds . . .

Pink Awning Stripe for my office (Pink and Green, what's better than that?)

Blue Seashells for the Summer House (Yes it matches my bedroom so well!)

And I originally bought this Natural Stripe for Dear Elder Sis, but loved it so much and it matches my family room just right, and Little Miss B just settled into it like she's had it forever, and it's not like you could ever have too many beds, and . . .

Just for the record, the Pink Awning Stripe and Blue Seashell beds are both OUTDOOR futons. This way, Little Miss B can relax in luxury outside as well as in. Yes, UP COUNTRY carries both indoor AND outdoor futons.

Although they are not currently available, coming soon, UP COUNTRY will be carrying "Tag-Its". And for someone like me, who is constantly changing collars and leads, these are perfect. With a quick snap of the fingers, you can move your dog's tags from one collar to the next. No more messing around with those unbearable jump rings that are always ruining our neatly manicured nails. Just attach your dog's tags to the bottom hook and use the top piece to attach to your dog's collar. It's so simple. Have tags, will travel.

Also coming soon, is an adorable line of pet furniture. They will be carrying pet beds, feeders and toy boxes. You can get them in very beachy colors like blues, reds, greens, etc. . . . And, yes, I have already placed an order for those too.

This is Little Miss B digging through their prototype to find the perfect toy. And yes, the toys are all from the UP COUNTRY line as well.

(In the background, you can see one of the feeders.)

UP COUNTRY is also now carrying keychains - you can go out in style with your matching keychain, collar and lead.

And from what I hear, rumor has it that they may soon be carrying belts and flip flops. How cute is that? A whole Mommy & Me line for me and Little Miss B. I can't wait. Check out their sight. They really do have some great things.

And that is coming straight from Little Miss B.

She just loves ALL their futons - so comfy, comfy!

They Say People Look Like Their Pets . . .

                                   

I'M SCREWED . . . 

Enough Said

The Consult Is Tomorrow

Tomorrow we meet with Little Miss B's Orthopedic Surgeon.  I am a little nervous.  Apparently, her left front leg is not growing correctly.  She started walking with a limp (or as I prefer to view it, a "Swagger") about a month ago.  We were back and forth to the vet and started with the diagnosis of sprain and moved up the rungs from there.  Mr. P insists that she wants to be like him with the limp he has from his accident.  Anyway, if you look at her leg, it is shaped a little bit like the letter S.  It is actually kind of cute and doesn't cause her any pain, but we have been told that we need to correct it now, otherwise, there is a great likelihood that the leg will eventually become lame.  Enter Orthopedic Surgeon - she needs surgery.

I am not surprised.  Why am I not surprised?  Because poor Little Miss B joined our brood with the following ailments.  

Worms, worms and more worms 

A double ear infection (yes, both ears)

Kennel cough

A urinary tract infection

A bad back right hip (which will need to be dealt with as she gets older)

 Found only through the X-rays that were needed when she had her Kennel cough

And now her front left leg

"Why didn't you just return her?"  is the question I hear quite frequently.  Are you kidding me?  I always said that I would never buy a pet shop puppy, so when I saw her and had to have THIS particular dog.  I knew we would have problems.  I didn't expect not to.  

I had done research on the breed, I had a list of reputable breeders, I was prepared for when I was ready to get my Basset.  I had it all planned.  It was not time, we were not ready yet, but then I saw her.  I was standing in line to buy dear hubby an I-phone for his birthday.  Suffice to say, he didn't get it that day, but a dog instead.  She was being walked by a pet store employee.  One look and I knew it, she was MY dog.  It was very strange.  I had seen a TON of Bassets over the last few years, never to feel like I had to have one.  I'd think they were cute and that someday I would get one, but never at that moment.  It was different with Beatrice.  I. JUST. KNEW.  So, I got the pet shop puppy I swore I would never get.  I could NEVER return her.  

As far as most of her ailments, they were a little bit costly, but minor.  Nothing huge that couldn't be treated and cured.  But in any case, Mr. P and I decided it might be wise to get her pet insurance (can you believe it?  I can't even afford health insurance for the humans in my family and we were considering pet insurance?  Yes, C-R-A-Z-Y!)  Anyway, we got it (and it was a pretty reasonable price too) because we figure that we have some heavy duty vet bills coming our way if Beatrice's short history is any indication of her life.  GUESS WHAT?!!  Her leg isn't covered!  Go figure. . .  Her leg isn't covered because the X-rays were taken a week prior to the insurance taking effect.  It is a "pre-existing" condition.  Gee, just like human insurance.  It makes me take pause and wonder if all of her ailments down the road will be denied for some sort of fine print exclusion.  No matter, we can't not help our dog, so one way or another, Beatrice will always be well taken care of - just like the kids.  They wonder if she might even be a little MORE well taken care of than them :)  

So, we meet for our consult with the surgeon tomorrow.  He will explain fully, what exactly needs to be done and why.  I only know a little from the conversation with our actual vet.  She really wanted us to speak to the surgeon directly - not a good sign??  We will find out where we go from here and possibly look for a second opinion, depending on what Surgeon says.  

Wish Us Luck.  We Need It.

Failing Puppy Class

"The Basset is facing the wrong way"     "The Basset needs to sit, not lie down"    "The Basset is on your wrong side"    "You need to turn to the right, not to the left.  The Basset needs to be on the outside".   These are a few of the things we heard last night.  I want to yell "HER NAME IS BEATRICE!"  Little Miss B and I are taking a puppy class.  It is not going well.  I don't think the instructor likes us very much.  We are both a little spazzy.  

While all the other dogs and owners are walking nicely in the circle, I am tripping over Little Miss B because she is diligently trying to get on my right.  Apparently, she MUST stay on the left. Neither of us is comfortable with her on the left.  She has always walked on my right.  I approached the trainer after class and questioned this.  I asked, very nicely, I might add, if it was OK for her to stay on my right.  "Absolutely not.  She MUST learn to stay on your left.  It is protocol," was the response.  What the . . .  I am not going to show her, I just want to be able to walk down the street without her tugging on her leash.  

We also got reprimanded because we are very slow.  While we walk our circle, the others in the class are lapping us.  To our 2 laps of the room, all the others have done 3 or 4.  We were told we need to keep up.  Huh?  She has a bad leg, she is short with little legs, she is lazy and I am lazier.  We can not possibly keep up that pace.  The instructor was not happy.

We are told to Halt.  All the dogs stop and sit nicely facing forward by their owners' left sides.  I tug the leash and tell Beatrice to sit.  She lays down facing backwards across my feet.  Instructor says, "The Basset can not lie down when told to sit.  When she does this, please pick her up, face her forward and put her in a sitting position."  I do this.  Numerous times.  Each time, Little Miss B proceeds to flop down on her belly and scooch back across my feet.  She's tired, she needs a nap.  

It is time for them to sit facing the middle of the big circle while Instructor walks around and tempts them with a bowl of food.  They are not allowed to get it.  Only to sit and patiently wait.  I can see it in Little Miss B's eyes.  She is going to melt down.  "Why is this woman teasing me so?" She is thinking.  "Why won't she let me eat?"  Apparently realizing that pulling on her leash and looking pathetic will not work to get the food, she decides that she won't even bother.  I asume she is now thinking, "Well, if I can't eat,  I'll just sniff the other dog's butts."  

"The Basset needs to return to her spot and resume position."  Uh-oh - Busted!  I tug and cajole Little Miss B back to our spot and think that the Military Boot Camps are probably less emotionally grueling than this.  

I am not very good at paying attention or following Instructor's direction and Little Miss B is even worse.  We are going to fail.  We can't even walk the circle without tripping over each other.  5 more weeks.  

I wonder if it is possible that we will miraculously transform to an amazing team of dog and owner.  I envision us amazing everyone with our ability to read each other's minds and walk and move seamlessly through throngs of people and animals without missing a step, only to "Halt" simultaneously facing the same way without any tugging, pulling, pushing or cajoling.  And then I wake up.  

Oh well, 5 more weeks and we can go back to our snuggle fest of a life.  It is OK that she can't seem to stay on my left.  She comes when called, leaves it when told and brings me sheer pleasure and joy every day, all day.  Who cares if she isn't perfect.  She's lovable and cute.  And in my world, that's all that counts.

Weatherproof? NOT!!!

Little Miss Beatrice is doing well and settling in to our wonderful if not hectic family life.  The only problem we seem to be having is when it rains.  When we purchased our little bundle of joy, I did some serious reading and research on her breed.  All the websites and books that I read say that the Bassett Hound is "Water Resistant", "Weatherproof", "Water rolls right of their coats".  This is why many hunters use them for tracking prey.  

I THINK NOT!  Although Little Miss B likes to go for the occasional swim with Mr. P in the pool, she absolutely DETESTS the rain.  And in New England, that is pretty much what you get A LOT of the time.  Our little ritual in the rain goes a little something like this.  

I say, "Do you need to go potty?"  Miss B responds with a wagging of the tail and runs to the door.  Out we go.  Little Miss B hits the ground running, only to stop abruptly, look up at the sky and make a beeline for the cover of the front porch.  When I pick her up and place her in the yard, yet again saying, "Go potty", she then runs UNDER the front porch and looks at me with the sad Bassett eyes as if to say, "You are the absolute meanest mom in the world for making me get wet."  After a few minutes of crawling through the mud, grabbing at whatever extremity on her little body I can reach and pulling her ever so gently (Right!) out from under the porch, we have a moment of World Wrestling Federation worthy squirming to get back to the front door.  It is at this point that I head back into the house, wet, dirty and pissed to find an umbrella, the only one of which we have left is so small that it barely covers Little Miss B's nose, never mind the 2 of us together.  So, out I go again, and while I stand soaking wet with umbrella over Little Miss B, she meanders through the yard, to find that perfect spot and FINALLY does her business.  When finished, she looks up at me with that special look of disdain and again makes the mad dash back to the house.  So dry, relieved and happy, she either lays in her bed or plays with a toy and waits for me to dry off, change clothes and return to pay her the attention she so determinedly feels she deserves.  I need help, I am an enabler.  I can't believe I actually hold an umbrella for my DOG!

So, as I figure out a way to get Little Miss B to do her business in the rain without cover, I will also spend some time figuring out where exactly I can file an official complaint of False Advertising regarding the weather worthiness of my new dog.  

I'm In Love . . . AGAIN!

As much as I love the wonderful Mr. P and my beautiful, if sometimes mischievous cherubs, I have fallen in love all over again with someone truly amazing.  We met the other day and it was absolute love at first sight.  I actually felt that "flutter" that people describe when they are in a new and exciting relationship.  I couldn't get enough of her and she seemed to feel the same about me and it has been pure and utter bliss since.  So with no further ado, I would like to introduce our new love.  Her name is Beatrice, she is 2 months old and I can't wait to hit the sights I know about with great shopping for her.  Say Hello to our new addition.

WE ARE ALL IN LOVE!