Happy 3rd Birthday to ME!

Happy Birthday to me!
I am 3 years old today. Mom already sang the Happy Birthday song to me this morning, but I think it was way to early to really appreciate. But that's OK cause I heard her tell dad last night that she is going to BBQ a steak for me to celebrate. YUMMY! I love BBQ and love steak too. She says I have plenty of toys, and I have plenty of balls and I won't wear clothes so she didn't know what to do for me that would be special. Then she thought - OH STEAK! that will make Tucker very happy. So I am looking forward to a nice Birthday dinner.

Nothing special has been going on around here. I have been really bad about telling mom to write for me. We haven't gone for many walks cause our neighborhood has lots of big dogs that don't stay on leashes and they run at me and scare me and mom. So mostly it's play days that we look forward to. The one we were supposed to have yesterday got cancelled cause we got so much rain this weekend. That's OK - mom dug some holes and of course we helped and then she put stuff in them. And it wasn't bones. Oh well - humans are kind of silly sometimes!

OK I'm off to nap the day away and wait for my Birthday dinner!

I Have A Confession

I love to cuddle! Can you believe that? I love to have mom hold me really close and give me loves and hugs and kisses. I close my eyes and just enjoy all the attention. Well, that part is probably pretty believable come to think about it. And she rubs my shoulders and kisses me on my cheeks. I'm the only one that lets her do that - well one of us has to do it - might as well be me!

I am also mom's protector. I follow her wherever she goes and stay with her too. When she is sewing collars, I lay on the bed until she's done. I watch over her pretty good. I bark and let her know if something doesn't sound right too. Yep, I take very good care of my mom!

I sure have missed my walks since it's been so cold and dark when mom gets home from work. But it's starting to stay light longer and we'll get our walks back soon. I can't wait. I bet there's all sorts of new stuff out there to smell. Until then, I just guard the yard. I'm really, really good at that too.

Come on Spring!

Happy New Year 2009

The year sure went by fast! We had Christmas and it was a lot of fun. Mom got me some strange balls - made out of wool stuff - and they are too big for me and I don't play with them at all. They don't bounce or squeak, so really, what good are they to me? I am so good at catching the tiny Kong Balls and those are the ones I really like. I can jump and do flips and twists and everything. Me and mom play ball every single night after dinner and sometimes for a little while when she first comes home. The other really wonderful part of Christmas is that she is home with us until after New Years. It has been a great 11 days, but she told me today that she has to go to work tomorrow. What a bummer. So I plan to get in as much lap time as possible today.

It has been a cold winter so far, but I am doing really good about going outside for most of my business activities. I still have to water a chair now and then, but the rain and cold doesn't bother me a lot. I go outside with mom every time she goes out and I don't come in until she does - the others do - but they don't have the important job of protecting mom - that's my job and I do take it very seriously.

Those little noisy people came back twice during the Holidays. Man, do I love to bark at those little people. I scared the little girl person really bad. I didn't want her to walk around the house at all, and I knew she was scared of me and so I really barked at her a lot. Mom didn't think it was so fun, but I sure did. See I knew she was scared of me and so it was fun to harrass her! I know, shame on me! I really don't understand why she'd be scared of me - I am way smaller than she is. Oh well, she went home and hasn't come back, so I guess I won! BOL

We had a fun play day with Nina and Charlie. He's an OK dude and it's always fun to get to play with him. I showed him all the bushes and plants and stuff to water and I think he had fun too. He did like to sit on mom's lap and I didn't think that was so great. I didn't mind so much if Nina wanted to sit on mom, cause she's a girl and all, but Charlie is a guy and mom is mine!

I had a fun date with my pretty Snow Princess Nikki on New Years Eve! She sent me a cupcake and hot cocoa and I sent her a party hat! It was a long distance date, and that was fine really. You know that distance makes the heart fonder and all that right? Mom says I am very lucky to have such a pretty, sweet and patient girlfriend. I just know that I like her a lot! Wonder if I'd like her as much in person? Maybe I'll get to find out someday - wouldn't that be awesome?

Hugs and best wishes for a happy 2009!
Tucker

Barky Boy

Hi, This is Tucker the Barky Boy! Seriously, I love to bark and now I think my name is Quiet instead of Tucker. I hear Quiet so often that I am really quite sure mom has renamed me. Do you think she'd really do that? Probably not. She is a little frustrated that I bark so much. But those kids really should not play on my sidewalk. Or the cars shouldn't drive by my house when it's dark so I can see the red tail lights through the window in the front door. Or a lot of other things that make me bark. What is really fun is that when I bark, Sparky, Molly and Katie all bark too. We really make a nice choir - really we do!

I have a new habit too - when we go for a walk, I yip and yap and nip at whoever is closest. This is not real popular with mom and she can't figure out why I do that or how to get me to stop. All I know is that I really want everyone to hurry up and get outside and WALK! and walk fast! None of this pokey stuff sniffing every little thing. I have tons of energy and want to burn some off. So mom lets me and Katie walk as fast as she can - she won't run for us thought - and dad walks with Sparky and Molly cause they are pokey!

I did a lot of barking on Thanksgiving too. I really don't care for little kids at all and there were 6 of them inside my house! What was mom thinking? she knows I don't like them. She says they can come over anytime they want cause they are her grandsons. Well, I don't think I agree. They are noisy, move fast and stomp their feet. And they play with my balls too. But not with me! I was pretty glad when they went back to their own house. I sure was a tired guy from all the barking and running around. I really preferred to stay as close to mom as I could - I wasn't being a baby - I was protecting mom from those noisy, two legged short people! Seriously - she didn't seem to see the danger, but I sure did.

Christmas is coming! I am really excited about that. I love Christmas cause it means new toys. I do wish mom would put that itty bitty Christmas tree down just a little lower - I think it could use a good watering! BOL She says it's artificial and it's very happy up there on top of the entertainment center thing. I see some birds on it - so after I water the tree, there are toys! Man, would I love to get my paws on it - but sadly, it's not to be.

Tucks

What's New in My World

Well, where to start?
Fancy came back to visit us in July - and that was fun and of course I had to try to be bossy again. Mom was right on that of course. Got real familiar with the time out room - so did Fancy though! But we also had a lot of fun times together. We all just love Fancy really. And it was sad to see her go back home again. Hope she'll come and visit us again sometime.

We had a lot of play days this summer and I love play days. I come home really tired and mom loves that! There are some new doggies in our group and they are all really nice. I especially like to play with Bella. She is only a puppy, but she likes me to play with her. She likes the chase games as much as I do. I sure hope she still likes them when she gets older! It was always fun to have the pups at our house too - I was a very gracious host - REALLY! I didn't get bossy with anyone - played very nice.

I am getting better and better at catching the balls and mom has to work real hard to throw one I can't catch. Now she's teaching me to sit and wait for her - and you know what she does while I wait? She bounces my ball and tosses it in the air and catches it! And I am supposed to sit there real still until she says OK GO and then she throws it for me and I get to catch it. I am doing very well with it all. I have the hardest time sitting down. I really don't want to very much but once I do, the wait is pretty easy. I really am a very smart guy!

I am going to have my picture in a magazine! The Chihuahua Connection magazine takes pictures from Chi owners that send them in and puts them in their magazine. I am going to be in the Fall issue and the Holiday issue too! We just found out about the Holiday issue today. You can find me in the brag book section! I am really excited about this - it means I'm like a celebrity right? Me and Molly were on the Chihuahua Connection calendar this year. Mom really likes that magazine and can't wait to see my picture in there! The fall issue is one of my ball pictures and the Holiday issue is me in the snow! Too bad you can't really see my face in the snow picture - but I'm cute from behind too!

I think that about catches things up. Hopefully my secretary - or mom - will keep this updated a little better in the future!

Hugs
Tucker

OK So I'm a Little Bossy!

That's the official terminology for how I was with Fancy when she came to visit us last weekend. I was bossy with her and she was bossy right back to me. Earned me and Fancy a timeout, it did. But I am the Alpha in my house and here comes Fancy and she's an Alpha at her house and thought she was here too. So we had a misunderstanding. But we got over it in true doggy fashion - it happened, it's over, now lets play! We had so much fun really - Fancy likes to play with the kong balls as much as I do. So we'd both chase the balls and race to see who could get it first. Mom finally caught on and would throw one in one direction and another in another direction! We sure kept her busy. Sylvie came to visit us too and she is such a sweet, pretty little girl. She didn't play with the Kong balls much, but she sure did play chase good. But when I got bossy with her, I think it hurt her feelings cause her little ears would go way down and mom would tell me to stop it. I did steal stuff from Sylvie though - treats she hadn't finished eating and chewies. I know I should be nicer and I will be - someday! I wasn't being mean really, just getting a little extra treat cause it was there. As far as the chewies, well I was the one that got it all perfect and so great to chew on. So I figure it's mine. Well, apparently I am supposed to share. Bummer for me. Fancy and Sylvie went home with Auntie Melody last night. I really did miss them a little bit! And I know mom did. She said that her lap felt kind of empty with only three of us up there! Silly mom!

Guarding the House

I have been a very busy boy. My job as Alpha is to guard the girls and Sparky and to guard the house. Mom says this is a self appointed job and she can handle it just fine (with Dad's help of course) but I have decided that she needs my help as well. So everytime I see kids playing on the street or another dog walking with it's people or a CAT I bark and bark and bark. Mom herds me away from the door and says I have to be quiet. I don't like that much, but I do it cause she has a very serious look on her face and it is not her play voice. But those dogs and kids and cats just keep walking by my house. What's a guy to do? BARK! Unfortunately, the alarm bark is very loud and a little high pitched. It really does make mom's ears hurt. I am sorry about that of course, but honestly, does she want me to neglect my duties? Apparently she does.

We had company this weekend. And of course I had to guard everyone from them and try to get them to leave. They did not leave and tried to play ball with me. First I didn't want them there, and second they didn't throw the ball right. And why would I want to play ball with people I didn't want in my house? So finally I decided that if they sat real still it was OK. Then they'd get up and move to another room. So I had to tell mom by barking that there were strange people walking around my house. The first time they came, I was really bad. But mom played ball with me and I love to show off, so it was OK. But yesterday it wasn't just the company (dad said she was his daughter and his son-in-law - do I really care?) but dad's son's too and one of them brought another girl. Good grief. And I don't think the one son and the girl liked me very much. The other son comes over a lot, and I don't like him at all. Anyway mom says I was very annoying and gave her a headache. Have to tell you that Sparky and Katie and Molly did some barking too. But to be honest me and Sparky really were the worst. The girls liked those people! Both of them and let them hold them and give them belly rubs. Girls!

It is super hot this weekend too. It was around 100 yesterday and it's going to be close today too. That is way hot for us especially this early in the summer. So we are spending most of our time in the house in the AC. Mom says she understands cause she doesn't like it that hot either. Maybe we'll try the pool today - but I did hear it is bath day - so maybe not! I am glad it's summer though. We get to go for more walks cause it's not raining. And it stays light out longer too. And play days are back! I love playdays. I get to play with my friends and get loves from the mommies too. What could be better?

2 Years Old

I celebrated my 2nd birthday yesterday - well all weekend really! I had so much fun and was so tired. It is really fun being two. On Saturday mom left for a little while to help with a transport (the doggie's picture is on Molly's page - he was BIG) and then she came home and we cleaned up the house and the deck cause we were having our Chi play day at our house! Mom made some special treats for us to have and some dried apples and yams too. And we got some toys out to play with outside and moved all the chairs around so we could all enjoy the nice sunny day. Then we put a little water in the pool and opened up the x-pens and made the backyard bigger. I sure wish she'd leave it like that all the time - I like the gates being open and being closer to the street. She says NO WAY - we bark at the kids too much as it is. Anyway, back to my Play Day - the mom's all bought treats! Yep we had lots and lots of treats and so did the mom's! We didn't get any of their treats though. Smelled a lot like chocolate to me so I guess that's why. And then I made a new friend. Her name is Cassie and she is really pretty - the same color as me - and she was real nice too. And Kirby was there and we ran zoomies together. Me and Kirby like to run! Kirby tried out the pool too - not me though. I will wait until it's a little warmer! And there was little tiny China too. She was so scared that the mom's took turns holding her to help her learn social skills. This little girl is three years old and doesn't even weigh 2 lbs! I heard mom say that she'd love to have her, but me and Sparky play too rough for such a tiny, dainty little girl. So she is living with Fancy (who is Molly and Katie's doggy mom) and Sylvie and Latte and Chloe. We did get to meet her a little bit though. I think we all scared her real bad, cause she cried and the mom's picked her right back up again. And my mom took her in the front yard so she could potty in peace and quiet. It was a really fun day. Sunday wasn't quite as much fun cause mom and dad went to grandpa's for Father's Day. But mom baked a cake and cupcakes Sunday morning. No cake, but we did get to lick the spatula. She made whipped cream frosting for the cake and it was yummy! We didn't get much cause we had to share, but wow - I'd do it again! Then I got my presents and no balls. Bummer, but I think I have enough. I did get a blue octopus that is fun. I got enough toys that all of us could play with a new one. Mom is trying to make sure that we don't fight over one or two new toys. Sadie and Lucy got me a pretty blue bone toy too. We got a nice walk before mom had to leave. It was a very pretty day - warm and sunny. We were some really tired, grumpy pups last night. We just wanted laps for snuggles and then go to bed. Weekends can really be rough on a guy - even if he's 2 years old!

Playing Ball

My new passion in life to is to play catch the ball. I have a bunch of the tiny Kong Balls - and they squeak too! - and me and mommy play catch the ball every single night after dinner. In fact if she takes too long finishing her dinner, I have to talk to her and tell her that she needs to hurry up! She tells me to wait, and then I am very good and lay down and am quiet until she's ready to bounce those balls for me. Daddy's new passion is to take pictures of me catching the balls - I think it's a challenge for him to see how many pictures he can get of me mid-air. He's done a really good job so far. We really wonder how many pictures of me catching balls we need, but I really don't care as long as someone is bouncing that ball for me. It all started by chasing them and bringing them back. Then one bounced and I caught it. You know the rest of the story. Now I really don't want to chase them at all. But I will once in a while if mommy does a wild bounce that I miss. Sometimes I miss and just hit the ball and it goes wild. Then I'll chase that ball down and give it a good chomp! That'll teach those balls to get away from me.

Snow in April, Sun in May??

Well, I sure hope so cause I am so ready for nice warm sunny days! I like walks every day and when it's snowing or windy or rainy we have to stay inside. Mommy is a wuss when it comes to bad weather. I'd go no matter what, but not her! She gets cold and so then we have to play balls inside. I would prefer a walk, dinner and then balls! And I usually get that too! I have discovered that if I play with the ball by myself, you know, toss it up and then run and catch it a couple times, mommy gets on the floor and plays balls with me! Of course I have some play with me noises that help too! I use them on mommy and when I want one of the others to play with me too. They work great and pretty soon we are running zoomies through the house. I have to tell you, those sisters of mine can really run too! And they are small enough that they can run under daddy's chair and the tables too! I can't do that! But I can jump on the couch and they can't! So alls fair.

We've gone to a couple play days and they have been really fun. There are some new puppies to play with too. A couple little girl puppies and some new pups to the group too. The newbies are always a little shy, but I am nice and friendly and I hope they'll come back and play with us again. We have a bunch more fun days planned for the summer and I can't wait! Sounds like this doggie walk thing is not going to include me. I can't help it if I like to bark at the big dogs and pee on everything! I'm a guy - that's what I do. But if Sparky isn't going either, than that helps. Sounds kind of like a girly thing anyway. I bet all the mommies bring their girl pups and all the boy pups have to stay home. I'll have to let you know how that works out!