King of The Yard

Mom is Shedding Tears of Joy

Yes, tears of joy at seeing a special memorial tribute to me by Nikki Moustaki on her Pet Postcard Project site. Ms. Nikki also lost a special furiend; her African Grey Parrot, but he's okay now cuz I saw Hope flying around up here at the bridge.

Aaarooooo....aaarrooooo from Doggie Heaven. This is mom's first birthday without Sheba and me since we adopted her so we gotta bark real loud so she knows we haven't forgot her special day. Yesterday she found out what I actually had growing inside me. The pathology report determined it was a "malignant histiocytosis" which according to the vet is a terminal cancer that's very aggressive and doesn't respond well to chemotherapy. Mom's relieved she didn't agree to put me on the chemo after all, but she's still sad wondering how this happened to me; the picture of health, cuz she looked that up and it appears it's a disease which is very rare in most breeds except the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Pawlease Light a Candle in My Memory

Mom finally got around to starting a special candle lighting in my memory. My wish is that all my furiends will Light a Candle for Me here. Click on "Dedicate to Topic" directly under mom's name (Ramona, Lafayette, LA) to light a personal candle in my memory. Once posted everyone can view all the candles lit in my memory.

Pawlease Vote For Me

Pawlease vote for me in the Coolest Dog Competition Costumes & Shades Category.

This is from last year when mom hoomilated me by dressing me in this postal worker costume. I cooperated cuz it was for the Halloween contests on Dogster.

Thank you Charis

Charis' mom sent this to my mom to help bring her some comfort as she is missing me.


Prayer for Spike

Free now to run and jump and play
Or snooze in the shade on a sunny day.
To sit for hours watching birds in the trees
Or to lie on the porch and enjoy the breeze.

Free from the sickness that made me so weak.
Restored to the dog that I was at my peak.
You made the right choice for me, my friend.
Be at ease with yourself and let your heart mend.

No more vets, no shots, not even a pill.
And while you can’t see me, I’m here with you still.
For though you may think that we really did part
I’m there in your memories, I’m here in your heart.

My Ashes Are Home

Mom picked up my ashes today. She hasn't done anything productive all day long...just sitting at that computer screen wishing I was there. She wants to know what happened...why did me and Sheba both get cancer within a few months of each other. There must be some answers, but it doesn't seem like vets or anyone else is interested in these things like they are when something happens to hoomans.

Yesterday mom got two cards in the mail; one from my holistic vet's office and one from the referral center in Mandeville. The words written inside made mom cry, but also brought her a little comfort. One of the dogtors words said I stayed around a lot longer than she expected, but she wrote she knows it doesn't make my family feel any better right now and they should focus on all the great years they had with me and all the funny happy memories I left behind. She went on to say my family gave me a great life and I was lucky to have them and vice versa. Mom was deeply touched by the pawsonal notes written inside the cards.

Today mom got another nice card from my gurlfuriend Kady and her mom. It was so touching and I seen mom crying some more. It's been a rough day for her, but she keeps telling everyone she will get by. It's not fair God had to call me home so soon after he took Sheba. Why didn't he let me stay with mom a few more years? Especially when she prayed so hard every night for a miracle to happen.

On this sad day for mom I'm still celebrating my twin buddy Ernie George. I hope he had the bestest barkday ever!

If It Should Be

If it should be that I grow weak And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand. Don't let your grief then stay your hand.

For this day, more than all the rest, Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years. What is to come can hold no fears.

You'd not want me to suffer so; The time has come -- please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend, And please stay with me till the end.

Hold me firm and speak to me, Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see The kindness that you did for me.

Although my tail its last has waved, From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve -- it must be you Who had this painful thing to do.

We've been so close, we two, these years; Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

All Doggies and Kitties Get A Greenie in My Honor

Thank you, Ernie George for writing such a nice entry in your diary about me. I'll always wuf you my buddy. Listen Up Pawrents...Pawlease read Ernie's Diary Entry cuz we want you to give your furs a Greenie today in my honor.

A great big AAARROOOOO to all my furiends for sending special rosettes after I made my way to the bridge yesterday. It's still a shock to be here so soon, but I've met some wonderful new angel furiends and have been reunited with Sheba and Miracle. You will seldom see us separated as we run through the fields of green.

Many furs didn't know mom would call me her "little buddy" quite often and today she's been thinking lots about me. I know she misses me being there. I heard her tell somebody that words cannot express how she feels because us furs are special and become so attached to her heart it's hard to let us go. She always says we take a piece of her heart with us. Now my twin Ernie George barked something I really like so I gotta borrow it to post in my diary:
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." Auhor-Unknown"

Mom also got this really nice email message from a hooman at ALLN and it had the following included at the end. Here's to my mom and all the pawrents who wuf us furs so much:

by Ken D. Conover
To have loved and then said farewell, is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you have stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly.
For all of these things I am grateful and thankful.
I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.
Today I am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the Sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures.
I can run, jump, play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging.
We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever.
You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such as you are so rare and unique.
Don't hold the love that you have within yourself. Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

I Am Now at The Rainbow Bridge

My mom is sad, but I'm now at the Rainbow Bridge playing with my best furiend, Sheba who was like my mama. There's lots of other angel furs up here who have been keeping me in their pawrayers so I could stay on Earth longer, but it was time for me to go home.

It all started this morning when my panting was out of control. Mom tried all she could to comfort me, telling me to slow down cuz it seems like every move I made was hard. This cruel C mass took over my whole chest area in no time. I was on my ottoman earlier, then got down on the floor. I looked at mom and attempted to get on the couch with her. She knew I wanted to get up there. Mom helped me on the couch so I could sit next to her. She knew my strength was dwindling cuz I looked at her for help. I lay down next to her then within no time at all; less than a minute, I fell in her lap and lost my breath. She said I must have stopped breathing for a few seconds cuz she didn't hear anything. She thought I was having a seizure, but I kinda regained control and hung my head over the couch. I was breathing very heavy so mom called all them dogtors (I gots three of them). She took me over to the local vet who said I was losing oxygen. Mom didn't want me to suffer and the nice vet helped me go peacefully with my mom and skinbro right there by my side. I know they wanted me to be around longer, but none of us could control this ugly mass inside my chest.

I'm lucky to have so many wonderful furiends. I've had a wonderful life. I made it to my 10th Barkday on Saturday. I've been King of the Yard and I've done my duty of keeping out those varmints faithfully for many years. When everyfur sees that new star in the sky tonight that's me looking down from paradise. I have to throw lots of angel dust on my mom so she can be strong without me by her side.

It's My Barkday So I'm Barking

Aaaroooo!! Aaaroooo!! I made it to ten years old today. What a great accomplishment. Mom gave me some yummy chicken & rice with broth poured over it about three times today already. She is happy that I ate it all up like it was ice cream! Who doesn't love chicken instead of kibble?? I'm a very lucky guy having went through so much in the past week. I'm home and that is all we care about right now. I am also lucky mom can be home with me every single day as we fight this battle together. Today we are not concentrating on this nasty C, but celebrating ten years of my life being on this Earth.

A great big AAAARRROOOOOOOO to all my furiends who sent me barkday wishes. As Chance's mom did to him my mom reads my messages to me and tells me I've got furiends all over the world. We are both so lucky to have found Dogster.

This has been a great barkday after all.

Pupdate

Mom and my skinbro came to get me out of the doggie hospital today so now I'm back home again. I am glad they released me, but I'm sure tired. Right now I'm laying at my mom's feet. Those peoples were really good to me, but it's better to be at my house where I'm King of everything.

Mom's got more meds from the holistic vet that I gots to take. The dogtors told mom I still wouldn't eat anything for them, but I gotta tell ya when we got home mom fixed me some boiled chicken and poured chicken broth over it. I ate that up pretty fast so she gave me more until I didn't want no more. It was yummy. She was happy to see me eating again. I'm doing a lot of panting, but that could be due to the Prednisone. Lady dogtor said that could happen. That stuff will make a doggie drink more water, mark his territory more, eat more and pant.

I gots to bark out gigantic thanks to all my furiends for your well wishes and especially prayers. That magic dust Angel Bosco barked about must have worked cuz at least I'm back home. Now for a miracle to kick in to reduce this enormous mass in my chest. It is taking up 3/4ths of my chest which leaves me little room to breathe.

What a gigantic barkday cake I got from my non-Schnauzer twin Ernie George. Thank you my good buddy. All you guys' good wishes got me home so I could celebrate my 10th barkday at my house tomorrow. We met a little Yorkie doggie when we wuz leaving today. That little Yorkie is 16 years old; I pray a miracle works on me so maybe I can live to be that old. That little girl was almost a gonner three or four times cuz she had the kidney failure issues.

Mom says I gotta get off the puter for now cuz she is gonna try to see if I'll eat some more with my meds. We don't know how we would be handling ourselves if we didn't have our Dogster pals. It helps more than anyfur will ever know. Thank DOG for Dogster!

Update

I spoke with the vet again to check on Spike's progress. She said unfortunately there are no real changes since this morning. There's been no recognizable responses from the steroids. They will give him a Lomustine pill and monitor him throughout the night in hopes to see some improvement by tomorrow so he can come home. Of course there is no guarantee he'll be better, but their goal is to get him comfortable without the oxygen. My heart is breaking in many pieces as I think of my precious boy getting ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge. It's a hurt that many fur parents can relate to. I'm scared, but only want what's best for Spike. If it's his time to go I have no choice, but to accept this and will grieve over him along with Sheba and Miracle. He hasn't eaten a meal since Monday, but I hope he doesn't leave me while we're so many miles apart.

He doesn't look sick and wants to do everything he always has done. The big problem is the breathing. Yesterday he had such a good time outside in the sun rolling around on the grass which is one thing he has always enjoyed. And when I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride he got very excited as usual. The vet said we should start thinking about five things Spike likes to do and when he cannot do those five things any longer then he has no quality of life. I love my Spike so much and cannot think of that day, but we will do what's best for Spike; not what I'd like as I could never see him suffering or being in pain. I pray for an overnight miracle, but am ready to face the worst.

Thank you once again to all my friends and Spike woofs loud to all his furiends for caring, praying and sending well wishes. I only wish this was a bad dream which I'd wake up tomorrow with no big C in our lives.

Ramona
Spike's mom

Update

The specialist with the referral center called me a few minutes ago. Spike is resting comfortably in oxygen therapy again after they took him out to tap his chest for fluids, but the problem is there is not much fluid in his chest. It's all mass. It has gotten very big and pushing against his lungs. Removing the mass is not an option. They will give him steroids today and they will monitor him throughout the day then call me later this afternoon with an update. He will have to spend another night in Mandeville, but may be able to come home tomorrow.

We're praying hard that Spike improves, but in the same vein understand how cruel cancer is to our fur babies. I have been trying to be strong since we learned of Spike's diagnosis, but sometimes it's hard. Some days I feel so helpless. All we can do is follow our vet's advice and make sure Spike is not suffering. Yesterday morning he was having a great time outside laying in the sun and then rolling in the grass; something he loves to do. I grabbed my camera and caught him in action. I'll try to post that to his page sometime today. I pray he can have more days to enjoy doing his favorite things.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

Spike's mom

Pupdate

Wednesday's events:

Spike had so much fluid in his chest you could not see his heart, lungs or the mass on the X-ray. The local vet was not able to remove the fluids from Spike’s chest. Therefore we were referred to the Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center in Mandeville. She gave Spike an injection of Furosemide before we left her office. We arrived in Mandeville at approx. 6:30 p.m. and Spike’s breathing was more rapid than previously. He was taken and placed on oxygen therapy almost immediately. An ultrasound and attempt to remove fluids was done, but she said there are a lot of solids within the fluids and she was unable to get the fluids out. She said it may be difficult to get them out, but would keep Spike comfortable throughout the night and consult with the Oncologist today. She told me if they are unable to remove the fluids they may have to do surgery. I called earlier this morning and was advised to call back at 10:30. I'm also waiting to hear back from our holistic vet.

Thank you for all the prayers and your support. Spike and I both appreciate all our friends/furiends.

Spike's Mom

More Prayers Needed Today

Mom videotaped me cuz my breathing has been kinda rapid last night and today. She sent it to the holistic vet for review to see if she wants me to come for a follow up visit. Everyfur knows my mom gets all panicky and worried. She hardly slept last night staying up with me! I want to eat, but won't. Mom offers chicken and other stuff I love, but I refuse to eat anything. The holistic vet said from viewing my breathing on the video it appears I may have fluid on the lungs or around my lungs and I need to have X-rays done ASAP. Mom can't get me in until 2:30 this afternoon, but I'll be going for X-Rays at that time. Mom said I must not be in any pain cuz I was rolling in the grass earlier this morning. Pawlease keep those paws together in prayer. We know how powerful POP can be.

My Mom is Crazy

OMD! My mom is so crazy....just like Ernie George's and a whole lot more of my furiend's moms! She was all smiles as I was leaving a deposit in my yard awhile ago. What is wrong with our moms??!! Can't a guy have some privacy while sniffing for the perfect spot then taking care of business. I want a special screen built out back for me to hide behind from now on!!

I have to bark out a great big THANK YOU to all of my super-duper furiends who have commented in my last diary entry and for those sending me POP rosettes, and pawmails. It really works after all. POP is a powerful thing! Now if I can keep mom from trailing me all over the place I can get back to sniffing and making sure critters stay out of my yard! Can I send her to somefurs house for a day or two??!!

Oh, and she thinks I don't know she's still putting supplements in my food!! BOL! Phooey on her....but I've been getting boiled chicken for a few days so I'm not gonna argue about that. Now she's mixing it with my kibble. I heard her tell somebody a new plan is in order since I'm refusing the raw meatballs.

Please Keep Spike in Your Prayers.

I'm in a panic today. Yesterday was the first day Spike wouldn't eat the meatballs. He got off the bed at around 5 a.m. and went outside. When he came back in he hopped on his ottoman and stayed there until the roofers arrived. We're having our roof re-done. I laid on the couch to be close to him. I fell asleep; got up at 7:30. The roofers arrived at around 8. Meatball time was at 8:30 and Spike stuck his nose up at it. I was able to get him to eat half of it, but he kept spitting it out. He wouldn't eat last night. That scared me. He's had loose stools since last night too.

This morning he vomited 3 times...twice wasn't a whole lot, but the third time was yellow/greenish bile with a bit of white foam in it. He did this between 2:15 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. I got scared of course...took a picture to send to the vet so she could see exactly what it looked like. I boiled him some chicken which he ate and has not thrown it up. I hope it stays down...that was at around 6 a.m. Of course the roofers are back banging away so that's probably not helping him any either....it's stressing him and me out.

I finally was able to speak with the vet a few minutes ago. She said give him the phos 30c pellets then repeat in 30 minutes, give him Pedialite as she's afraid he may be mildly dehydrated. I have to call her back in two hours with an update. I may have to take him to the local vet here, but not sure yet. I'm very scared and keep praying he's okay, but my worst thoughts keep running through my head that the tumor has grown and is pressing on his vital organs because he's been panting a lot lately. To me his breathing is irregular, but my husband says that's how he has always breathed. Needless to say I'm a wreck today. I hope to have some good news, but am fearing the worst despite knowing I need to keep a positive attitude. It's very hard.

I've done the Phos treatments and got him some Pedialite. He drank just a small amount of that. He is walking around, but is panting quite a lot. I'll be calling the vet back at 1:20 p.m CST to let her know how he's doing. He may have to go on sub Q fluids; not sure just yet. I just can't lose him and want the cancer to shrink. All I ask is that everyone keep Spike in their prayers....that this is just a temporary setback and he'll get over this hurdle. I'm not ready for another loss, but who is every ready for any at all.

I Have Been Tagged

I have been tagged by my good friend Prince. So now I am tagging you and 4 other friends! Here is what you are suppose to do: :)

Answer all questions, post them in your diary, then tag 5 friends by sending a rosie or pmail.

1. What color is your collar? I have a black collar with embedded bones & paw decorations.

2. What kind of food do you eat? - Natural Balance and raw chicken necks.

3. What are your favorite treats - No more treats because of my diet. The chicken necks replaced my Greenies.

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other? - Sweet Kady is my Valentine and gurlfuriend.

5. Do you get table scraps? - No, not since I was diagnosed with the big "C".

6. What is your favorite toy? - the rope, but I also like this green squeaky trumpet toy that Ashton's mom sent to Bella.

I am taggin these good friends : I'll have to think about this and tag tomorrow.

Whew....Mom Is So Bad

She's gonna get mad for me telling, but mom needs to let me make more diary entries cuz my furiends keep asking about me.

I'm still doing fine. Mom says I'm perky, alert and I bark at everything that passes in front of the house. Well....of course I do cuz those peoples and critters don't belong that close to my domain!! They don't call me "King of the Yard" for nothing!

Mom decided it was time for a weigh in so out comes the scales today. Wish I'd seen what she weighed before she held me for the weigh in!! She said she was shocked that I'm still heavy despite me looking thinner than before, but said it's probably the fat I've lost. I'm all muscle!!! I weigh 34 pounds. Aaaroooo!!! I can't help it if I'm a healthy doggie just like my furiend Ernie George. Mom made a comment about me gaining a pound since our vet visit. She was scared that I'd lost a lot, but told one of her friends she was glad I haven't lost a bunch of weight cuz that would not be good. Wish she'd make up her mind cuz awhile back she said it would be good for me to lose weight. Hoomans are so confusing. She told me every week we are going to have a weigh in. What's up with that; I'm not going in the boxing ring or anything like that!!!

Cancer Can Not

I was peeking over mom's shoulder when she read this message on the Canine Cancer Comfort forum site. It's so true.......

Cancer Can Not.

It can not cripple love....
It can not shatter hope....
It can not corrode faith...
It can not eat away peace...
It can not destroy confidence.. ..
It can not kill friendship.. ..
It can not shut out memories...
It can not silence courage...
It can not reduce eternal life....
It can not quench the spirit....

I'm Doing Pretty Good

Because I was vomiting the first weekend after beginning my treatment (supplements and meds) the vet recommended I stop taking the Zinc for awhile. This was after mom already stopped and was spacing out my pills throughout the day. The vet believes the Zinc was causing the nausea.

I'm to continue with the other supplements, but if I continue to
have a soft stool to decrease the Tumeric by half. She emphasized my
meatballs should be raw so mom sent a copy of the label from the organic beef she found. The vet approved of this saying it was very good. When mom visited the health food store the gentleman who assisted her in finding some products told her about Shelled Hemp Seed. With the vet's approval I can have 1 tsp. of hemp seed per day to replace the one 1000mg Omega 3 capsule and the Vitamin E. Someone questioned mom about this in the holistic dog group, but she don't know enough about this stuff and will ask the vet again what the difference is with the two. I gotta say that I've been good at taking all these things.....guess it's cuz mom rolls most of it within the meatballs so I only taste meat!!

A bit of news on the heartworm preventative...it works when given every four months. Mom said she was advised if we spend a lot of time indoors I should get one of them Heartguard pills every four months. If we go outside often then we should have it every three months in the Summer and every four months in the winter. In Louisiana we should skip Dec. Jan. Feb and then give it in March.

Mom made a trip out of town earlier this morning to get more of the arthritis medication for me. On her way back she told me she dropped off our Dingo rawhide goodies we won from the pet postcard project to the local animal aid place. It will make some other doggies happy so I'll quit complaining our goodies went to other doggies. I'm happy to be getting my meatballs!! The lady at the place was very interested in my treatment so mom will stay in touch with her often.

It's time for another meatball so I'm wrapping up this diary entry, but before I do I've got to say America lost a great dog lover last week when it lost Ted Kennedy. No matter what people think of him he loved dogs and did a lot of work on our behalf. Throughout his long political career he worked on a variety of legislation to protect the welfare of animals. Just read the Dogster Blog about Senator Ted Kennedy.

I Got My First Raw Chicken Wing

Oh boy...thank you to the new holistic vet cuz I got my very first skinless chicken wing today. I had the chicken necks already, but mom tried me on the wing a few minutes ago. Maybe they are better than Greenies. Mom says they're better for me so I won't argue with her for a Greenie anymore. At least I got one of those gigantic Greenies a few weeks ago thanks to my pals Ernie George and Izzy. I'm gonna miss those Greenies cuz they was my most favorite treat in the whole wide world.

I've been a good boy too when it comes to taking all my supplements and vitamins. Mom makes me little meatballs and hides 'em in there, but she don't think I know. BOL!! The meats good so I ain't complaining about that either. It's raw and organic.

Pupdate on Holistic Vet Visit

Spike’s mom here….I’m writing for Spike today to allow him additional rest after a long trip yesterday. My baby is tired and he didn’t undergo any poking and prodding with the new vet. Therefore, with Spike’s “okay” I’ll recap our day:

It was a long and tiring day for not only my son and I, but Spike was very tired by the time we arrived home last night at approximately 8 p.m. He was getting restless despite me sitting in the back seat with him. And when we finally arrived home you could visibly see the ride took a toll on him because he had trouble putting weight on his back legs. After a good night’s rest he is moving around better this morning. We were given so much information yesterday I’m glad my son was with me. We discussed everything on the way home.

We were each impressed with the holistic vet. She was so good with Spike and he actually warmed up to her. She sat on the floor while talking with us as she spoke to him and offered food for a few minutes. She gave him a raw chicken neck and a beef bone. He is like his friend Ernie George…food driven. She asked many questions, about his background and environmental questions such as chemical spills in our area. This is something I had forgotten about, but she said it was a concern of hers since we lost Sheba to cancer only five months ago. I came away believing the chemical spill last year most likely is a contributing factor to both Sheba & Spike’s both getting cancer; not the only one, but combined with over-vaccinations and other environmental issues. Because the vet asked what chemicals were spilled, when we got home and settled down, I googled and found information on this incident because it was approximately two miles from our home. My son and I both recalled the city evacuating homes and businesses within a mile of the spill. The chemical was approximately 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid, a toxic chemical .

Spike began part of his regime last night. I gave him his first Kyro pill for arthritis, which he will get daily and also three of the other supplements he’ll get twice a day. No more Greenies because they are full of sugar and no more of his other new favorite treat – sweet potato slices. We must minimize the carbohydrates so will replace his Greenie treat with one to two chicken necks per day or one chicken wing per day (hormone free). He may also have beef bones (raw) to chew on, once or twice a week. He can still have Charlee Bears, but no more than five per day. He will also be taking Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, Tumeric, Selenium, Zinc, and IP6. He also has two other homeopathic remedies (phos thuja and phosphate). And we were told to give the Heartguard preventative medication once every four months. I made a chart to help me keep track of everything. He will not be exposed to Lysol, Fabreeze, Mr. Clean, Mop & Glo, Mop & Shine, Pinesol, Swiffer Wet Jet; instead we will use Simple Green, Clorox or Ammonia.

This will not make the tumor go away, but hopefully keep it from growing; possibly shrinking it. Nothing is guaranteed. The vet said the leg trembling could be related to the tumor as it could be putting pressure on a nerve. Spike and I both appreciate all the prayers and wonderful support from everyone. It’s amazing to me when something like this happens how so many people I’ve never met are there for me. Losing Sheba was painful and heart-wrenching. I’m not over her loss, but now my main focus is dealing with Spike’s cancer. I’d be doing the same for Sheba had we known she had cancer before it hit her so suddenly. That will forever haunt me.

Note to all interested in the Pathologist’s "Cytology" report which I finally got a copy of yesterday morning during our visit at the referral center in Mandeville, I’ve typed the results here in quotes:

"5 slides from fluid pocket/mass near base of heart...Two smears have only a few blood cells and protein. Three smears have moderate to very high cellularity. There are very numerous tissue cells mixed with blood. The tissue cells are rounded, oval or somewhat fusiform. The cells show marked anisosocytosis and marked anisokaryosis. Most of the cells are 3-4 x the size of a neutrophil; some cells are 6-10 x the size of a neutrophil. The very large cells have huge nuciel. Most of the cells have round to oval nuclei that are often slightly eccentrically placed in moderate amounts of pale basophilic cytoplasm. Nucleoli are variably visible. There are numerous mitotic cells; many of which are abnormal. Bi, tri-, and multi-nucleated cells are numerous. A few accumulations of the more fusiform cells show less size and shape variation and have some bright acidophilic extracellular matrix material between and around them." Opinion - "Malignant neoplasia - R/O histiocytic sarcoma or a poorly differentiated sarcoma."

Ramona (Spike’s mom)

Aaroooo....I'm A Diary Pick Today...Thank You Dogster

Aaaroooo....I'm a diary pick today....not that I want to bark about the big "C" thing that's in my chest cuz I'd rather be barking about something good and/or fun like chasing critters out of my yard.

Mom made us an appointment for tomorrow to see a true holistic vet. She completed her studies in advanced veterinary homeopathy with Dr. Richard Pitcairn and she is the only holistic vet in Louisiana. So we have to make another all-day trip tomorrow. We have to be there at 3 p.m., but have to make another trip to Mandeville to get copies of my ultrasound and X-Rays to take with us. Anyhow...mom says we got lucky because when she first called to set up an appointment I was gonna have to wait until September 10th, but mom called back after my friend Sniffer's mom suggested I get on their cancellation list. Thank Dog cuz mom was very upset saying something has to get started now, not a month from now. We are lucky and grateful to have so many wonderful furiends/friends on Dogster.

Somebody in the cancer support group told my mom having the shaky trembling legs is a neurological side effect from the distempter vaccine. This vaccines affects the central nervous system. Now mom is more upset than ever.

Pupdate on My Sarcoma

Mom talked to the Oncologist LATE this afternoon. Believe me she was getting so antsy and called their office early this morning and again in the afternoon, but couldn't get through to the specialist dogtor. She was forced to wait and was about to pull her hair out! She even called my regular vet to let him know what's going on with me. He was shocked and told her the type cancer I have does not respond well to chemotherapy.

That is the number one recommendation to put me on chemotherapy cuz removal is not their first choice since the tumor is in the chest. It appears there could be smaller vessels or whatever they call them attached to other areas in my chest which they can't see on the ultrasound. Opening me up may be a waste of time if it can't be removed and they'd just have to sew me right back up. Second choice is steroids, such as Prednisone. All the chemo would do is shrink what the dogtors see on the ultrasound. She asked about the new cancer drug, Palladia, but was told it's used for mast cell tumors. But the Oncologist promised to do more checking on this drug to see if it's been used for sarcomas. She told mom chemotherapy is the main thing she has to offer at this point so Mom is calling the holistic vet first thing in the morning to make an appointment cuz she will not let them put poisons in my body to make me sick when I'm not even sick....I just got the shaky legs.

My furiend Wyoming barked about having the same type of sarcoma as me, but had it removed then was put on herbs and supplements to make her feel better. She had it done over two years ago and is still doing good after learning to take those special herbs & supplements. I just hope something like that will help me with the thing still in my chest. Mom says were are gonna pray harder than ever and say healing pawsitive thoughts that it will help me live many more years.

Thanks again to all my furiends and their hoomans for the pawrayers, pawmails, emails and everything you have done and are doing for us. We wuf you.

Undifferentiated Sarcomas

First I want to bark a great big AAAARRROOOOOOOO, AAAARRROOOOOOOO, THANK YOU for all the well wishes, POP, pawmails, emails to my mom, telephone calls to my mom and the collective, wonderful support my furiends and their families are giving us. The power of the paw and pawsitive thinking should knock this thing clear out of my system. Pawlease note that mom's got me calling it "this thing" cuz she don't like the word cancer.

Mom guesses the vet specialists were in no hurry to make any decisions last week because they really don't know what they're dealing with... only that it's a bad thing. Mom's been reading a lot and found the best description of this thing I have in a book,"The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, Home Edition" on page 281:

"These are cancers of mesenchymal cells. Mesanchymal cells are the cells that develop into connective tissues, blood, lymph nodes, and other organs. Cancers of mensenchymal cells are difficult to identify because, like the mesenchymal cells themselves, malignant forms of these cells are loosely organized and often undeveloped or undifferentiated. Once identified, surgery is the usual treatment. When removing these cancerous cells, the veterinarian will usually remove not only the visible tumor but also a wide margin of tissue surrounding it. This reduces the chance that the malignancy will recur."

I am Spike the Spiderman, King of the Yard and of all my domain....I will beat this thing cuz Sheba's got Miracle at the bridge with her and mom needs me down here more than I'm needed up there.

Thank You to ALL My Furiends and Mom's Hooman Friends

Thank you everyfur. Mom's gonna check on that drug, "Palladia," that my furiend Talloulah's mom wrote to her about. All your pawrayers are very much appreciated. Mom is besides herself over this, but started Googling sarcomas. There's so many different kinds and after going back reading her notes what I have is "undifferentiated." That's what the specialist told her that the "cells are undifferentiated." It's some form of sarcoma.

Mom doesn't want me to leave her anytime soon and neither do I so we're gonna battle this thing as best we can. We both appreciate the love, prayers and furiendships we have on Dogster....both my furiends and the hooman friends who reached out to my mom in the past and are reaching out once again. Ya'll are very special to us.

Sarcoma

Mom talked with one of the vet specialists this afternoon. I don't have Lymphoma as suspected, but it's Sarcoma. Mom is devastated to say the least. She said it feels like she's in a dream cuz how could this happen to me. She hasn't got over Miracle and Sheba going to the bridge and now I've got this horrible disease. Why is God doing this to my mom?

I think I'm gonna beat the odds and I'll prove them all this will not take me anytime soon. After all who would have known about this had mom not took me in for leg problems. She said it don't make sense that I've been having the shaky legs and now it ends up that I've got cancer. Mom said the vet told her I have something bad in me, but the good thing is I'm not aware of it. And because I'm eating good, drinking water and show no other bad signs of anything except my shaky legs they won't do anything until Monday when the Oncologist can speak with mom about me. However, if I should get sick over the weekend mom will call the specialist emergency services and the specialist said she would come in if necessary. I can't believe this is happening to me. I'm feeling okay and have been playing with Bella today. Mom told me to stop being so rough cuz she knows my legs will shake more tonight. Mom said it looks like I'll have to start chemotherapy next week.

Pupdate

Mom got a call from one of the specialists a few minutes ago. She told mom all my blood work was normal, my chemistry was normal, and the thyroid was a little higher than normal, but nothing alarming. So now we just have to wait for the final test result of the fluid they drew from my chest which won't be back until tomorrow morning.

Thank you all for the pawrayers and sending POP my way. All we gotta do is pray the fluid don't show cancer cells. Mom's been a little wacky today worrying about me. She's been watching every single move I make. The only peace I had was when she left the house for awhile to return my X-rays back to the vet's office here. She's even running behind me when I go outside. Can't a fellow have some privacy!?

262 Miles and 10.5 Hours Today

That's what mom and I did...traveled 262 round-trip miles to the specialists in Mandeville and was gone away from home for 10.5 hours total. Not sure how important that is, but mom writes all that stuff down on a calendar! She likes to document everything no matter how much dad says "it's not important."

Mom is a panicky hooman right now, but is trying to play it low key until we hear the results of the tests that was run today. Boy, oh, boy, the humiliation I endured is downright disgusting! But if it was necessary I guess I'd better not complain.

This all began in January when I started having problems with my back right leg, but the vet thought it was just a pulled muscle or ligament from playing rough with Bella & Scooter. It has gotten worse and I visited the vet in May at which time he put me on Adequan injections before my teeth cleaning visit. The injections helped at first, but maybe cuz I was getting two every week for a month and then one a month starting in June.

Over the weekend mom said she was going to a specialist because I was having problems again and she could not bear to see me struggling to get up. My legs have also been trembling a lot lately. And I fell back on my butt a couple times. She is a scared mom right now cuz she took me down there for my legs...without a referral...and three specialists looked me over after the surgery dogtor got done checking my legs. He saw nothing wrong with my spine or legs...I just have the shakes. The specialists work in what's called the Internal Medicine and Oncology areas of the doggie hospital. One of them mentioned the lump on my neck which my regular vet said it was a fatty tissue cuz it's not hard; it's kinda soft like the one on my rump. Why did that dogtor have to mention Lymphoma to my mom who just about lost control in that office...mom said I can't have the cancer cuz she can't stand to lose another one of us so soon. She's already got me gone, but I'm gonna prove her wrong. All tests will be okay...I just know it. Another one of the specialists said she thought my calcium was high and I'd have to spend the night there, but when they re-ran the tests I was normal...whew! Mom was freaking out by that time thinking the worst and not wanting to go home without me so she was a bit relieved to hear that was normal...the dogtor said high calcium can quickly do harm to the kidneys. Why them dogtors gotta scare my mom??!! They should know she's abnormal these days after Sheba went to the bridge in March, but she worries so darn much and maybe it's a good thing she followed her gut instinct to take me there. Them dogtors did X-Rays on me, Ultrasounds (2 cavities...why do they call it that? I don't have cavities in my insides!), IDEXX Senior Screen, Cytology, Chemical tests, etc. We won't know the results until late tomorrow afternoon or early Friday morning.

I'd better not have cancer cuz mom said she will be a "basket case" for sure. She is praying it's not cancer. She has been asking how in the world can a leg problem all of a sudden possibly be cancer!? She can't believe this is a possibility. Could there be something in our water around here that is causing all our problems? We are being jinxed by somebody or something. I pray my mom can sleep tonight and quit watching every move I make. ''

Pawlease Vote For Roudy

Please Vote For My Furiend Roudy in the Cutest Dog Competition. You can vote for him every day.

Thank You My Non-Schnauzer Twin Ernie George, Izzy and Their- Mama

My good pal and non-Schnauzer twin Ernie George, his sweet fursis Izzy and they mama sent each of us a big gigantic Greenie!! Aarooooo!! Aaroooo! Mom got all excited over the pawresent she got just a hooping and hollering at how purty it is and how great it will look on the wall...blah, blah, blah, but us furs looked at her like she was crazy cuz all we wanted was them Greenies cuz we can eat them. That's fine mom so now you get to look at yourself in the mirror every time you grab our leashes. I hope the mirror comes true and you begin to look like one of us! BOL!

Check out the picture on my page....Aaroooo...I got a gigantic Greenie!!! Thank you so much Ernie, Izzy and mom Mel. I wuf you all!

Facts of Furiendship

I have been tagged by Ashton! Now I'm going to pass it on to my special furiends and let them know how much I care about them. Thank you Ashton, my good furiend!
All you need to do is pass it on to those you consider to be furiends. It might have ended up being a bit difficult for those of you with multiple pups so we picked one in the family and ask that you share the message and the sentiment with all your fublings.

Wow I have lots of furiends!!

Facts of Friendship

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about their problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

A simple friend will read and throw this letter away.
A real friend will keep sending it until he's sure it's been received.

Pass this on to anyone you care about....
if you get it back you have found your true friends

I've Been Chosen as Diary for the Entire Week!!! - Aaarooooo!! Aaarooooo!

Mom's gotta give me more computer time cuz I've got a special award. I'm
Diary of the Week in Black and Tan dogz of the World!! Now that is something to bark about.

Max even sent me a special picture which I'm posting on my page. Thank you, Max!

OMD!! I'm a Diary Pick Today! Aaarrroooo....Aaaarrooooo

Wowsa....I'm a diary pick today. Lately mom says I've had plenty to bark about too, but mostly at Smokey, who still likes to come to our front door. I'm not sure if she's looking for some more of that good food mom was feeding her or if she's teasing me!!

Thanks to all my furiends for giving me steaks, baseballs, fireworks, flags and beach balls it's been a pawesome day. I'm all ready for the 4th of July, except for the fireworks. I hate fireworks.

Pawlease vote for my furiend Bella's in the Luv My Pet Contest. This is the same contest Scooter won earlier this year and we all got Kongs at Petco!!! You can find Bella's photo on page four.

Kitty Has a Home

Well....it looks like the little gray kitty now has a permanent home. The neighbors decided to take her in. Yippeee!!! They've got two young children who are now calling kitty "Smokey." Well...she does have smokey coloring, but isn't Smokey a boy's name??? Mom is just relieved that she is no longer homeless. Aaarrooooo!!! Aaarrroooooo!!!

MJ and Other News

Mom's been watching a lot of the tributes to Michael Jackson. Most furs know mom is a gigantic country music fan, but she liked MJ too....especially the Thriller and Billie Jean songs. She said he was a great man and now I really wuf him even more since mom told us he had a big heart for the animals....not just doggies, but the exotic types and all. We know right now he is up there reunited with all his long gone furs and most likely entertaining hoomans and all the angel furs!!

We still have the little cute kitty hanging around our house looking for a good home. Mom feeds her two times a day, but we still won't let her come in our house. Mom calls us bad doggies, but she don't understand we're just being protective of our turf!! We know some doggies wuf kitties and that Sheba would have welcomed her here too, but not us. We are typical Schnauzers just tuning into our natural instincts!!! Mom said if we grew up with a kitty we would probably be nicer. I hope she finds kitty a home so she will stop calling us bad doggies!! Grrrrr!!!

Don't furget to click here to VOTE for Davey Dog and Teddy Bear and vote for my gurlfuriend Kady who is entered in the Snobby Dogs Photo Contest this month.

One more bit of news is that I have a winning card in the Pet Post Card Project for the month of May. SHEBA has three and Bella's got one!! Aaarroooooo!!!

Little Kitty Needs a Home

Sunny Lee's mama suggested we post a picture of the little kitty on my page so we can help find her a new home without getting a shelter involved. Great idea...so now the pretty little girl is featured on my page.

The pawrents brought her in the back yard earlier, but with all of us acting like she was an intruder or a squirrel for lunch they decided to put her back in the front yard. We're all still watching her very closely and every time she gets near the door we all start barking up a storm. Mom said she's surprised that Bella can be so mean....she's worse than me & Scooter put together. When the kitty tries to peek in the door Bella jumps up & down growling, barking and hitting the door. This little kitty needs a home immediately cut it's too hot to live outside.

No Power, A Wonderful Surprise from Sunny Lee and an- Unexpected Visitor

Last night the pawrents were watching the 6 O'Clock news. The weatherman said our temperature was 101 degrees. A few minutes after he made that announcement and pointed to his big map the TV, the lights and everything went off in the house. Was it ever quiet around here. The pawrents learned that a transformer blew out in our neighborhood. We saw some big white trucks with flashing lights pass in front of the house. Dad said those trucks were enroute to fix the problem. It was getting hotter and hotter cuz the humidity around here is very high right now. I was panting like crazy and of course mom was talking baby-talk to me while trying to explain what was going on. Thank dog those utility company workers replaced the transformer thingy and had our power back on within two hours. I don't know how some doggies can live outside in this heat. I gotta say I'm one lucky doggie who appreciates having the run of a nice air conditioned house.

I gotta bark a great big THANK YOU....AAARROOOOOO to Sunny Lee's mama for making a pawesome CD for my mom and including something special for us doggies. She sent us a big bag of delicious natural dog treats and three small squeaker tennis balls. We wuf the treats, but we're trying to figure out why mom is being so stingy...it's a big bag...she could have given us at least half the bag, but she told us it should last us for awhile.

There is a little gray kitten who has taken up residence on our front porch. Dad said he can't come in the house cuz us doggies would try to tear him apart. Mom went to the store to get him some kitty food. She spent some time outside trying to find out who he belongs to, but nobody claims him. Poor little fellow is homeless and he must have been starving cuz when she gave him some food he didn't stop eating until the dish was empty.

It's HOT Around Here

Gee-whiz is it ever HOT and HUMID in South Louisiana!! The temperature today is 96 degrees, but it feels like 103!!! I've been a good boy and go outside when mom says I need to, but I sure don't waste a lot of time sniffing and marking things these days. Our weather has been so darn hot and it will be up to 99 degrees for the next few days, then it will "cool off" to 96 degrees by Friday. Hopefully we get that rain the weatherman promised on Saturday. We are desperately in need of rain cuz we haven't had any for about three weeks; maybe longer. Mom said it's been too long. She's been watering plants every day and keeps repeating the same thing every day...that we need rain.

I'll just lay on my ottoman and keep my eyes on the front door. A dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do...I'm just guarding my house, but relaxing at the same time and keeping cool. Bella and Scooter have taken over the bed in the living room which is okay with me, but makes mom a little sad. Sheba used to lay on that bed when she wasn't laying on the floor...before mom brought down that big mattress for her. Mom and I miss that big furball a whole lot; mom is always saying things about what Sheba would do and how she loved to be outside with her; even if it was hot. Sheba just loved chilling out by the pool and being near mom no matter what the temperature. She would stay out there until mom was done with yard work no matter how long it was. Not like me; if it's too hot or too cold I'm in the house as fast as I can inside. I'll go out with mom, but I am not staying out too long in this heat; sorry mom...I wuf ya, but I'm gonna stay inside for awhile!!

The Schnauzer Stroll....I Missed The Fun

Wowsa....what a wonderful time some of my furiends had last weekend. I sure missed out on a pawesome time, but 88 Schnauzers got new furever homes. What a GREAT organization the Schnauzer Love Rescue folks are! It held a Schnauzer Stroll fundraising event in Marietta, Georgia last Saturday. My furiend Rockefeller's mama works for this organization and shared a cool video of the Stroll.

Greta Grace barked a pawesome review of the stroll in her diary, Greta's Gabs.

There's a pawesome video on Bella's page and she posted a picture of a cool prize she won at the Stroll.

Cisco's mama put up more pictures on her Websi te.

Uno and Little Man Mickey posted some pawesome photos too.

Aaaarroooooo!!! Aaaaaarrrooooo!!! to all my furiends who went to the Stroll.

What Kind of Ice Cream Are You ?

Pepper tagged me with this game!
Here we go......

I am going to tag five friends and tell them what kind of ice cream I look like. Then you tag five friends and tell them what kind of ice cream you look like! Sprinkles count too!

I am Black Licorice.

I am going to tag:

My gurlfuriend Kady
Lowenhart's Jaxima Dalicious
Mr. Tuggles
Snickers
Jake

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by my good buddy Jake who is the smartest little guy I know.

To those I tag here's what ya gotta do if you choose to play along: You need to tag 6 more pups after you answer and post these questions on your diary here are the questions.....

1. What color is your collar? - I wear a black collar with silver paws & bones studs. When we go walk mom puts a green harness on me so I don't choke and she says it's safer for me.

2. What kind of food do you eat? Natural Balance

3. What are your favorite treats? They used to be Greenies, but mom gives me Liv-a-Littles and sweet potatoe slices by Cloudstar.

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other? Yes, it's Kady.

5. Do you get Table Scraps? – No.

6. What is your favorite toy? - The rope

7. When is your Birthday? - October 10

8. How many times a day do you get to eat? - Two times

9. Do you have a favorite color? - Not that I know of, but mom thinks I look good in blue...thank dog she doesn't dress me up too often.

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary? – Yes, if they’d like to.


I am asking all my furiends to vote for my gurlfuriend Kady who is entered in the Snobby Dogs Photo Contest this month. Kady is not a snobby dog at all; she's a beautiful gal who deserves to win this contest.

Pawlease vote for Uno & Mickey's Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary in Salisbury, NC.

And...pawlease don't forget Teddy Bear and Davey Dog's video.

I'm recovering well from the teeth cleaning; am enjoying the extra pampering and eating only canned food until tomorrow. I've also been sleeping next to mom on the bed which makes her feel better.

I'm Back Home - Aaaarroooooo

Thank dog I didn't have to spend the entire day at the dogtor''s office. Whew!! Mom treats me so much like a baby. We got there at 7:30 this morning and she hung around for my blood work and all that stuff, up until they put me in a trance to where I was sooooooo sleepy. I don't know what it was, but all I could do is sleep. Mom was going to stay cuz she is paranoid these days, but she went back home for a few hours. The place is only about a mile from our house. She couldn't wait for anyone to call her; she called there twice to check on my progress. After she spoke with the dogtor and found out she could come get me at 1:00 p.m. she was there. No problem....I was in good hands and really feeling good on what the dogtor gave me....he said it was something called Morphine. He made my teeth pearly white!

The dogtor pulled some of my teeth; ones that were way in the back and one in the front on the side because they were in bad shape. Mom says she has to do a better job of brushing them so we don't have to get them cleaned as often cuz it makes her worry too much. I'll be eating only soft canned food for five days and taking two pain pills and two anti-biotic pills twice a day for a few days. Since mom did away with all those treats that have BHA, BHT and that other dangerous preservative in them she thinks my teeth will be easier to take care of. The only treat mom said I'm going to get from now on is those sweet potato slices from Cloudstar cuz those are healthy.

I was a little groggy, but eager to get out of the doggie hospital so I almost ran without stumbling...still kinda groggy...to mom first and then straight to the door while she was checking me out. When we got outside I made sure to mark a few of their shrubbery and a small tree.

After we got home mom fed me some canned food. I ate half a can and now I'm going to take it easy the rest of the afternoon. I'm going to enjoy this pampering for as long as I can!! BOL!!!! Mom is telling everyone I'm okay cuz when I saw a kid walk down the sidewalk I ran to my front door to let that kid know he was too close to my front yard.
I'm still King of my Yard!!! The back yard and the front yard.

PAWLEASE Vote For My FURIENDS

I am asking all my furiends to vote for my gurlfuriend Kady who is entered in the Snobby Dogs Photo Contest this month. Kady is not a snobby dog at all; she's a beautiful gal who deserves to win this contest.

Pawlease vote for Uno & Mickey's Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary in
Salisbury, NC.

And...pawlease don't forget Teddy Bear and Davey Dog's video.

So many furiends entering contests and I want them all to win and would appreciate all my furiends helping them out. Aaaarrooooooo!!!!

Teddy Bear and Davey Dog are Stars!!!

THIS IS A POST FROM TEDDY BEAR in the SBU Brag thread which I've copied from Sheba's diary. Teddy Bear and Davey Dog need votes every day, pawlease!!!!!

Teddy Bear's post says:

Well today I have BIG woofs!! I'm on TV!! Every day through the month of June!

It's only a local Chicago station, WCIU, but who knows where it may lead!?

Me an' my buddy, Davey Dog, did a promo fur the Bernie Mac Show an' if you live in the area you can see us during commercial breaks on WCIU. Even if you don't live here, you can go to the link below & see me portraying a chocolate lab without a clue. BOL!

And if our friends will vote fur us every day we could win the distinction of being named Top Dog for June an' have our picture in the WCIU Newsletter, be featured on their website fur the next month, an' get a DVD of our Academy Award winning performance!
We'd be terribly appawreciative if you'd vote fur us.

Vote Daily for Davey Dog & Teddy Bear

Big labbie licks ... Teddy "I'm ready for my closeup" Bear

Click here to VOTE for Davey Dog and Teddy Bear. THANK YOU.

OMD

Miracle's a Diary Pick today. Wowsa....I just know she and Sheba are celebrating with all their angel furiends at the Rainbow Bridge. God bless my two fursis' --- they're furever in me & mom's hearts.

I forgot to bark the other day about mom finally giving me a haircut. Well....her and dad did it together. It was my first non-professional cut. It's not too bad, but they need to pull the hair outta my ears now. I actually was a very well behaved guy throughout the whole process. It didn't even bother me to have my nails trimmed. Mom was surprised to say the least. Scooter got his haircut today and they plan to get Bella tomorrow. Scooter was beginning to look like a shaggy little fellow. It's getting hot so we're both feeling pretty good now. Today I was outside rolling around in the grass. Mom said she was glad to see me doing that again.

I'm a Winner......Aaarrooooo!!!

I'm the second place winner in the First Ever "Schnauzers Rule PUP IDOL Contest! " I need to learn how to sing like Susan Boyle....mom thought she shoulda won the Britain's Got Talent contest.

I'm the "Best KKC Comedy Central Comedian of the week beginning 5/31."

Now if only mom would give in and let me have a few treats for my accomplishments I'd be a happy doggie. A dollop of yogurt would be okay, but I'd rather have a Greenie.

I Am a Finalist in the 2009 SR Pup Idol Contest

Aaaarrooooo!!!! AAAaarroooooo!!!!
I am one of the three finalists in the SR Pup Idol Contest!!! My video is now posted on the main page for all to see and vote for who they want as their 2009 SR Pup Idol. I like to take claim of this video, but must give some credit to my sweet angel fur-sis Sheba because she was my co-star; we made a great team.

Pawlease Pray For My Good Buddy Ernie George Cuz He's Been- Sick

Ernie George wrote a special song for his mama on Mother's Day, but he's also been a very sick little fellow; throwing up for the past two days. I'm sending big prayers his way that it is nothing serious and just something he ate to give him an upset tummy. Go check out Ernie's diary entry today.

I Got a Partial Hair Cut

Well....mom is living up to her word. Today my hooman brother and her went to the pet store. They came back with those clippers and other stuff. Before I could run and hide they had me sitting on my ottoman trimming the hair around & under my feet. It had grown very long and was in need of a good cut. I'm feeling cooler already! They decided to do a little at a time so tomorrow they will work on my coat....if I let them. BOL!! Mom said if I'm not good she'll get one of those hanging thingies and put me on a table.

The Pet Postcard Project

Dogvice got a overhaul and is called the Pet Postcard Project. It posted my card on Friday. It's me in my Mutt Mail suit getting ready to deliver mail for Halloween!! Aarroooo!!!

Prayers For Baxter's Safe Return

I'm sorry for being a couple days late with this, but my good buddy Harley Davidson tagged me about Baxter. How sad he's gone missing. Baxter is in all our pawrayers. Here's what I'm supposed to do:

Prayers for Baxter Tag!
April 22nd 2009 12:40 pm
Here is How it Goes:
Hi furs, if you are reading this you have probley recieved a paw mail, telling you to come and read my newest diary entry!! For the furs that don't know me good, I am going to introduce myself a little bit!

Hi, my name is Baxter and I am a Boxer. I am 3 years old! If you don't already know, I ran away 4 days ago, but if you read my previous entry, I am having a blast *wink*! I started this game to get furs praying for me to return home! Here is what you do!

Please say a prayer for me and pass this on to 10 furs! The goal is to see how many prayers we can get! I will start!

Baxter's Prayer: Lord, please help me to find my way home safely. Thank you for all you do, I love you.
Amen

No More Freebies

Aw shucks, we're out of Zealies and Dogster took away the freebie treats so we can't send Easter greetings to all our furiends. Dogster should consider giving us doggies more Zealies cuz 30 per month go nowhere with all the furs in this house...not to mention our angel furs. How about Dogster give each doggie 30 per month!? Oh, well...I hope all our furiends have a super-duper Easter tomorrow.

I Went to the Dog Park Today

Mom took me to the dog park this afternoon. There were lots of dogs of all sizes all over the place. I wasn't sure what to do so I barked at them all! I'm not much of a social doggie, but am doing better. I'd much rather walk in my neighborhood cuz it's all mine, not like the park.

Dogvice Got Me Again!!!!

Dogvice caught me warming up before my exercise routine today. I'm working out and helping feed some needy pups so all is good.

My fursis Miracle is a diary pick today so I'm celebrating in her honor too.

I've Been Tagged By My Non-Schnauzer Twin Ernie George

My good pal and non-Schnauzer twin Ernie George tagged me.

So according to the offfurcial Tag Game Rules as set forth by Ernie George, here is how it works.... I tell you 7 things about myself and then tag 7 of my pals to do the same.

1. I'm getting to be a big celebrity on Dogvice and Dogfessions cuz they've posted cards of me several times during the month of March. Aaarrrrooooo!!! Aaaarrrroooo!!

2. My mom has been taking me on walks every day, but she don't call them walks since I run the whole time. If I was a bigger doggie she'd be dragged down the street!!!

3. I miss Sheba a whole bunch cuz she was like a mama to me. When I was just a little baby Sheba wufed and played with me, but never bit me once despite my little puppy dog toofies biting all over her.

4. Greenies are my favorite treats in the whole wide world. All mom's gotta do is say the word and I'll stand at attention any day!

5. My new favorite toy is the big Loofa dog. I've been carrying the green one around with me for a few days and won't let Bella and Scooter anywhere near it!

6. Mom is gonna start grooming me this month. I hope I still have my Schnauzer skirt when she's finished!

7. Ernie says he has the biggest hinder, but mine is kinda broad. But my excuse is I've also got some big fatty tissues under the skin. The vet sees no reason to remove them, but hopefully more exercise will help them become smaller!

Okay, now I gonna tag 7 of my furriends...

First, I am gonna tag my gurlfuriend, Kady who is a very special girl!
Flannigan McCloud that cute little Scottie.
Bailey a beautiful Cocker Spaniel/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and furbro of Oliver.
Virgie my band mate who is one cool dude!!
Raoudi who is Bogart's furbro; Bo is Miracle's boyfuriend.
Strauss another cool Schnauzer.
Ashton my other band mate and furbro of Dugen (Bella's boyfuriend).

Dogvice and Dogfessions - Help Feed Doggies

I am proud to bark about this worthy cause which helps feed needy doggies. Me and my furmily have been excited the past month to see our cards and our furiend's cards all over both sites. The best part is we are helping feed doggies. It does a doggy good to help another fur.

My buddy Prince, the loving Chihuahua barked this in a message:

"...I am Aprils first weeks spokes dog and I want to remind all furs how important this effort is. Please do just one ( more if you want) Send it in and earn 2 lb of food! Sopport this cause!!"

Prince also posted the following. I hope all my furiends will join in by helping other furs in need.

Prince's post:

I am excited to announce that our group, P*I*F (Paw it Forward) on Dogster has been named

CELEBRITY SPOKESGROUP OF THE MONTH

for dogvice.com, dogfessions.com, pugfessions.com, bullyfession.com and their sister sites for not just one, but THREE months!

Now we can do live up to our group name by Pawing it forward and helping hungry dogs at two shelters.

For every dogvice or dogfession card that gets sent in during our reign (Feb1- April 30) Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (yes, the one you see on Animal Planets DOGTOWN) and Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue will recieve one pound of Rachael Ray's NUTRISH dog food!

Each week one of our administrators will be a celebrity spokesdog for the group.

WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION!!

Take time to make a card or two (or twelve)
If each member of P*I*F* sends in just ONE Card, we will have earned 6, 000 pounds of food - thats 3 TONS!!!

Besides feeding the shelter dogs, your entries are also eligible to win prizes from the different sites.

Additionally, some of the admins may choose to run contests in the group or in the forums to gather your advice or confession. All of this is in addition to the food we are earning.

To see samples of Dogvice/Dogfessions go to dogvice.com, dogfessions.com, pugfessions.com or bullyvice.com

Complete rules are available on all of the above sites.



From the dogvice site:

Dogvice Spokesdog of the Month
The "Dogvice Spokesdog" for the "food raiser" campaign running from February 1st to April 24th, 2009, isn't a celebrity dog, it's over 6,000 celebrity dogs! The PIF (Paw it Forward) group on Dogster.com is spearheading the campaign to raise 6,000 cards so that we can get 3 TONS of Nutrish food to homeless dogs. Each week, a different individual dog from the group is going to be a celebrity Spokesdog on all of the 4 sites collecting cards (Dogfessions, Dogvice, Pugfessions/Pugvice, and Bullyvice/Bullyfessions). P*I*F: Paw it Forward (a play on words of "paying it forward") is a group of animal lovers on the website Dogster.com who have committed themselves to helping others one step at a time and asking that the favor be repaid by paying it forward. The P*I*F pack is thankful that they can do their part in helping Dogvice.com in their FOOD raising effort to benefit homeless animals.


WHAT IS A DOGFESSION??

Dogfessions are "dog secrets" written or typed on 4x6 postcards or photos that people decorate (or help their dog decorate) and snail mail to Dogfessions for posting on this site. Why? It's fun, you can win prizes, and $1 for each Dogfession received goes to helping homeless dogs! Your dog may even appear in the next book, helping even more shelter animals.

WHAT IS A DOGVICE??

The Dogvice cards themselves are decorated 4x6 postcards (or anything that’s about the size of a postcard, such as a photo or paper that you trim to size) that includes advice from a dog, and then snail-mailed to the Dogvice mailbox. Why snail mail? We’re a low-tech operation here at Dogvice -- a girl, a laptop, and a mail box.

There’s a monthly contest where your dog can win stuff just for giving good (or bad or funny or strange) advice! Finally, every participating Dogvice card received goes to helping shelter dogs. The Dogvice site itself does not make money -- sponsors pledge money or products to help rescue dogs for each card received.

Dogvice can be practical, philosophical, funny, weird, or thoughtful. Dogvice should be meaningful (and sometimes frivolous) and come from a dog’s own experience. Dogvice comes directly from the DOGS.

Here’s what’s considered Dogvice:
Advice from your dog to dogs in general
Advice from your dog to humans in general
Advice from your dog to a specific dog
Advice from your dog to a specific human
Advice from your dog to the world at large
Advice from several dogs to whomever
Dog wisdom or insight from an individual dog (the dog “talking” from experience)
Smart, original, witty, and/or deep or inspirational quotes from DOGS, unique to the individual dog.

Send as many Dogvice cards per month as you like, and write your name and contact info on the back of each to be eligible for the contest. CARDS MUST BE CREATIVE AND ORIGINAL TO QUALIFY FOR THE CONTEST AND THE CHARITY CAMPAIGN. Your name and contact info will not be posted on the site, just your cards. It’s recommended that you put your Dogvice cards in an envelope to protect them, and you can put more than one in an envelope. Use paper, photos, and arts and crafts supplies -- anything you need to get creative. Help your dog with the scissors and glue stick please.

Send Postcards to:

Dogvice
676A Ninth Ave.
#321
New York, NY 10036

Dogvice Got Me Again!!! Aaarrooooo!!!!

Bella and Scooter are caught tag teaming me on Dogvice today. The caption says "Pack or gang?" I say it's ganging up on me!! I see my good pal Shooter today too.

My fursis Miracle's photo is on there from yesterday. It's titled, "Maxin' and relaxin'" and is one mom took of her sitting in a chair outside last June.

And there's me again under the March 27th date sitting in front of my giant Loofa dog toy. It's titled, "Leave no toy unturned."

My Good Furiend Ernie George is Top Diary Pick Today

Arrooooo...My Non-Schnauzer Twin is today's Top Diary Pick!! Now that is something to bark about. Aaarrooooo!!! Aaarrooooo!!

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit Us and Like to Complain- About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't like their hair on your clothing, then stay off the furniture. (That's why it's called "fur" niture.)

3. I like my pets better than I like most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he or she is an adopted son or daughter who is hairy, short, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

We will always be number one in our pawrent's lives and I am so happy to bark about that!!!

Too Much Noise in My Front Yard Today

I did a lot of barking at the work crew today. They've been laying fiber optic cable down our street since earlier this week. We will soon have fibe in our home!! Mom says that's a good thing so I'll agree. The workers are digging holes in my front yard!! You know how I feel about that? I let 'em know until mom told me to stop. She'd call me away from the door, but I'd sneak back and give 'em some more barks to let them know I did not appreciate what they're doing out there walking all over my yard and digging those holes. Mom kept running me out of the door, but not until I left my "doggie art" all over the glass!!! BOL!!!

Yesterday they broke the main water line, but got it fixed around 8 or 9 p.m. People better not talk bad about the city workers anymore cuz they really do care and they are dedicated people. Thanks guys for getting our water back within just a few hours.

Too much sadness around here right now, but I did get mom's attention a lot today. I'll keep it up tomorrow too cuz those workers will be back. I'll keep mom busy again tomorrow.

Dogfessions

My photo in which mom caught me practically drooling over Tweety the Lovebird is posted today on Dogfessions. Wow!! What an honor. I only wish my fursis Sheba was here to share in the excitement, but I know she's celebrating with Miracle today. Her "Swan Lake" photo was posted March 13th. I'm proud to follow my fursis and am so happy she got one selected. Mom made that tutu especially for her too so it makes it even more special.
Aaaaroooooo!!! Aaaarroooooo!!!!

What a Sad Time for Ida Claire, Prayers to Other Furs and- Update on Sheba

We are all so broken up over the news about Ida Claire's daddy. Big hugs and prayers to her and her mama. She barked in Schnauzers Rule and the KKC that her daddy died yesterday and she is brokenhearted cuz she was daddy's girl. She'll be offline for awhile, but we will keep her in our thoughts and prayers. She always signs off "Blessings and Brighter Days" so me and my furmily/family are wishing Ida Claire and her mama "Blessings and Brighter Days." Our own problems pale in comparison to her losing her daddy.

We also need to reach out and keep all of our dear furiends in our prayers. Those include....

Georgie who got sick on her 14th barkday. I sure hope she is doing better today.

Sophie who had a seizure the other day.

Billie Bob who is 15 years old and getting ready to meet his fursib Bunkie at Rainbow Bridge very soon. BB's latest diary entry made mom cry.

Sheba is still fighting her infection and is back at the dogtor's office this morning. They put off sending her to Mandeville cuz she was doing better yesterday and her temperature was back to normal. She's still refusing her dog food, but mom did a no-no this morning and put some Vienna Sausage under her nose....well, she quickly ate that. She just don't want that nasty dog food. She was moving slow this morning and panting again. Yesterday the vet said it appears to be Colitis cuz everything else looks okay. It depends on how she's doing today as to what they will decide to do for her. She still may require an ultrasound, but we are praying she keeps improving. She hasn't vomited again and may get switched to oral anti-biotics today. Mom talked to the dogtor a few minutes ago and all we know right now is Sheba's temperature is back to normal, she had a normal bowel movement and is getting around good over there, except she pants when she is moving around and they're not sure if it's because she's overstressed from being there, but she stops panting when resting.

Me and my whole furmily and our mom are pawraying for all furs and their hooman families in need. Life is already too short so everyone should never forget to hug and play with us furs as often as possible.

Sheba's Spending Another Day at The Dogtor's Office

It's kind of empty in the house despite having Bella & Scooter around to pester me cuz I miss my big fursis, Sheba. I'm sticking close to mom to give her some comfort cuz she is sad about Sheba not being home. She knows how much I miss Sheba too. She was telling me about the time we took Sheba to Mandeville for back surgery in 2003...like I'm ever gonna forget that. I spent the day in the car, waiting around for diagnosis, walking all over the place marking up everything in sight and just hanging around until after the surgery once we knew she was okay. We got back home in the wee hours of the morning. Sheba was there for a whole week and I refused to eat for quite a few days. I was moping around the house, mom wasn't getting much sleep and spent a lot of time on the telephone. We all went to pick her up and she looked odd cuz her back was shaved and she had them big stitches almost the whole length of her back. The pawrent's kept her confined in the fold out fence thingy with her bed and blankets. They had to carry her outside to potty and carry her back inside. Most of the time they'd use a towel under her belly to help her stand up and later on walk. Thank dog she got back to normal and mom always worried about her having another ruptured disc. The pawrents immediately took action to fix up things to prevent Sheba from climbing steps and stopped her for doing her "pretty girl" sit up routine. She would do that for a treat. We have a ramp at the back door which was placed there just for Sheba. Mom always picks her up to put her on and off the bed, they've got those ugly bed railings on mom's side of the bed and at the foot of the bed so Sheba don't get the idea she can jump down. She is definitely special and I'm praying she gets well quickly so we can have a few more good years together.

Sheba is at the Dogtor's Office

Sheba is under the weather and has to stay at the dogtor's office for the rest of the day. Mom had to come home without her, but will go back to get her after the vet gives her a 4:30 p.m. dose of antibiotics since Sheba can't hold down any food or water. The vet said come between 5:00 and 5:30 before the office closes.

Sheba's temperature was 103.5 when she got there this morning and she had mild dehydration. She had a high white blood cell count at 51.2. She has a "huge infection" which she is fighting. All organs look okay from the X-Rays taken, but right now she has to be given anti-biotics intravenously since she can't hold down any food or water. Lady vet said she hasn't figured out what is causing the infection. She called mom at approximately 11:30 to let her know they will run a pancreas test to see if that's the problem. Sheba will have to return to the vet's office in the morning. We're all praying for our fursis to get well quickly cuz we need that bossy old gal around here.

Thank you to all who have sent get well prayers to my big fur-sis.

I Am KKC's Comedian of the Week Again!!! ARROOOO!!!

I Am the Kit Kat Club's Comedian of the Week because I keep my furiends in stitches with all my cool jokes. Actually I steal 'em from my mom...I peek over her shoulders while she reads her e-mail messages!!!

We Wuf You Lassie

We all went to Lassie's Memorial at Doggie Connection tonight to pay our respects to one of the best furs we know. We are sorry she had to cross Rainbow Bridge at such a young age, but now she is free from pain, running and playing with my fursis Miracle.

Lassie Crossed Rainbow Bridge Today

Lassie has been suffering for quite a few months, but now she is no longer in pain. I'm so sorry she had to cross Rainbow Bridge at such a young age, but God must have needed a special angel today. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family because we know how it feels.

Me and my furmily lit a candle in Lassie's memory. God Bless Lassie and her family.

Spay Day USA 2009

The 15th annual Spay Day USA is Feb. 24, 2009.

Check out the official site.

I Am KKC's Comedian of the Week!!! ARROOOO!!!

Not only do all of us little rascals have the featured diary pick today, I just found out I am the Comedian of the Week again at KKC. I wuf that place and wuf spreading humor around. Mom always says laughter is the best medicine!!!

Thank you KKC! You ROCK!!

Rained on My Parade

The rains came early, the weather turned colder, and mom decided no parade even if it happened today. We forgot to check the radio station to check whether it was postponed, but she did not want to get out in the bad weather. Oh well..there's always next year.

Mardi Gras Is Almost Here

Lafayette's Parade for Dogs is tomorrow if Mother Nature doesn't rain on us. Our weatherman says there's a 60% chance of rain in the morning, so I'm afraid the doggies may have to strut their stuff another day.

My hooman brother comes back from Korea this afternoon and I hope he gets a chance to come see me tonight. If not, that's okay cuz we know he'll be tired from that LONG trip! He called mom awhile ago to let her know he was in Houston. Arrooo!!! Arrooo!! He'll be around for about two and a half weeks then he goes back again.

It's Official; Kady is My Girlfuriend

I'm one lucky dog tonight cuz my sweet Valentine said yes, that she would be my girlfuriend. Arroooooo!! Arrooooo!!! Now I gotta go to bed cuz I'm tired from all the dancing at KKC. I'll be dreaming of my Kady in my dreams tonight.

My Attempts at Writing a Valentine's Poem

Schnauzers Rule has a Valentine Poem contest in which we can complete the well known Valentine poem "Roses are red..." in our own way should we choose to pawticipate. We can be silly, romantic, or someplace in between. I've never been a great writer, but I decided to join in on the fun anyway.

Here's the first thing I came up with before I had a Valentine, which is pretty pathetic:

Roses are red
My paw's a little bit blue
from its stickly thorns,
but it's okay cuz I luv U!!

And this is what I wrote after Kady said yes when I asked her to be my Valentine:

Roses are red
I'm no longer blue
Sweet Kady is mine
Such a sweet Valentine!!

A Diary Game

I read about this game in several furiend's diaries and thought I would play too. Me and the whole furmily are playing it cuz it’s a new edition of "2009 Get to Know Your Pals"

Copy this diary entry, and paste it into your diary. Read then delete my answers. Then you can fill in your own! We can get to know our pals better!! Have fun!!

Here we GO!!!!!

1. What color is your collar?
My color is black with bone & paw studs embedded. It’s really cool and I don’t want to ever give it up. I get upset when somebody takes it off too!

2. What kind of food do you eat?
Right now I am eating Purina Overweight Management (OM) prescribed food cuz I’m on a diet!! Mom mixes a little bit of Duck Formula soft food in it to make it tastier.

3. What are your favorite treats?
Greenies, but mom has been VERY stingy with those lately! Somefur needs to bark at her for punishing me by withholding my favorite treat. I also like Vitakraft Yogurt drops and Milkbones, but haven’t had any in a LONG time!!

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other??
Yes, this is the first time I have a Valentine. Kady is my Valentine and she is such a sweetie.

5. Do you get Table Scraps?
No, except when dad sneaks them to me!! Mom has caught him a couple times and she is mean for telling him to stop.

6. What is your favorite toy?
My favorite toy is the knotted rope cuz I wuf to play tug-of-war with mom or Sheba. I also like the Milkbone brown doggie that has a red bandana on and the Loofa dogs.

7. When is your Birthday?
My barkday is October 10, 1999. I will be ten years old this year; OMD, that is 70 in hooman years!!!

8. How many times a day do you get to eat?
I eat twice a day, every morning at 9 a.m. and every evening at 5 p.m. I don’t get many snacks in between like I used to! That’s cuz mom has laid down the law around here.

9. Do you have a favorite color?
Not that I know of, but I guess it’s black since I’ve got a black color and a black Harley Davidson leash.

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary?
That would be pawsome cuz I wuf to read what my pals bark about.

Pawlease Vote for Miracle's Entry

Pawlease take the long way around to vote for Miracle. You can access mom's profile page then click on the "View and Vote" button under the "Campaigns" box in the upper right hand corner of the page. Then click on the "View and Vote" button. Miracle's campaign entry will load and all it requires is for you to click on VOTE for Miracle's Entry Here. If you have time, pawlease leave a review cuz mom heard rumor it helps boost the entry. This contest ends on February 9th.

Watch The Videos and Help Feed Dogs in Shelters

Every time you watch a video ad at Pedigree's Site it donates a bowl of food to dogs in shelters. These are funny videos too so what a great way to feed doggies and have fun at the same time.


Today is the last day to VOTE for Scooter so he can win a $100 Petco gift card. I'll get to share in his good fortune if he wins so it means a lot to me also!!! BOL!!
Just for voting you can also be in a drawing to win a $100 gift card.

One More Day to Vote For Scooter in the Pet Photo Contest

Pawlease VOTE for Scooter Here so he can win a $100 Petco gift card. I'll get to share in his good fortune if he wins so it means a lot to me also!!! BOL!!
Just for voting you can also be in a drawing to win a $100 gift card.

Grooming Day

Oh boy, I tried as hard as I could to hide from the groomer today, but nothing worked. I was hiding under mom's chair, but she found me!! Why can't Bella and Scooter go before me...no, I'm the one who gets clipped first! Thank Dog that's over for another six weeks. Whew!! I must say after that haircut I'm looking pretty good! After Bella & Scooter got their hair cut mom decided we needed to take pictures in these silly Valentine's scrunchies. All I wanted to do is chill out on my ottoman....no good photos for mom today! Sheba was worse cuz all she did was bark about it!!

My Valentine is Kady

I asked Kady to be my Valentine; she said yes. We danced at KKC last night and had a pawsome evening. I asked her in front of everyfur at the pawty!! Is Spike shy?? Not! Thank you Kady for being my special Valentine.

Kelley Pack

Sad day for the Kelley Pack when Ralph crossed Rainbow Bridge this past Friday. We know Miracle was there to greet him with open paws as were all the other Angel babies at the bridge.

Miracle's boyfuriend Bo is in need of prayers. He's been sick since last week. I know how much Miracle wufs Bo and would prefer he spend more time on Earth with his furmily. We are all praying for him to get well.

Touchdown!

Alright Pals! You made it here. I see you caught my foot ball pass. Here is what you should do next! Hurry and pass the ball to 5 of your team mates so they can make a touch down. You are also supposed to write down 5 things about yourself that are funny. Also please leave me a bone and ask all those who visit your diary to leave you a bone so you will know they have been there! Ok…Here goes the play!

1. I do my little Spikester shuffle if that pawrents don't remember to give me my Greenie at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then I arroooo several times to get their attention, make huffy puffy noises which get louder. I don't stop until they comply with my request!!

2. I like to walk around the house with the big green (don't ask me why I picked that color one...could be the Greenie thing) Loofa dog in my mouth.

3. I look through the gaps in the fence at the Jack Russell Terrier who lives in the next yard.

4. If I see a cat out the front glass door I'll jump on the door as if I'm gonna get that cat. Mom says she don't know what she'll do if the door glass falls out when I've gone wild over a cat!

5. I'm a weird sleeper from what mom says. I start out the night on my pawrent's bed, then later jump down to sleep on the floor at the foot of the bed with my head under it and butt sticking out. Then around 2 a.m. I'm back on the pawrent's bed after making a trip outside to check the perimeter and/or mark some territory out there. Mom usually wakes up to find me right there next to her!

My wingman Montgomery tagged me!

I passed the football to:
1. Ernie George
2. Oliver
3. Jake
4. Romeo
5. Ashton

AFTER You Get Your Puppy - Free Book Download

Jelly barked about this great freebie offered by Dogstar Daily. It's Dr. Ian Dunbar's "AFTER You Get Your Puppy" and the site recommends it should be required reading for anyone who is thinking of raising a puppy. It is available as a free download during the month of January. So hurry up and Get It While You Can.

I am The "BEST KKC COMEDY CENTRAL COMEDIAN OF THE WEEK!!"

Duke, Jessi, Howard and Simon gave me a blue ribbon rosette for being KKC Comedian of the Week. Arroooo!!! Arroooo!!!

Here's what the message says:

"Hello Spikester!!

You are the best buddy and those jokes are making us laugh! You made best comedian of the week and we appreciate all your funny jokes and interaction with all the members! Also your Bad to the Bone scarf is looking good. You cool dude!

Many hugs to you from KKC, Duke, Howard, Jessi and Simon "

Oliver My Secret Pal

Oliver was my Secret Pal last week. And what a grrrrrreat week it was. He sure made my week extra special and I woof at him for that. Thank you, Oliver. You're a furtastic furiend.

Safe Travels SkinBro

Today my hooman brother visited with us. It is kinda sad cuz we won't see him again until February 13th when he returns from Korea. His job is sending him there then he can come home for two weeks, but he has to go back again at the end of February and stay another month. I'm gonna miss him a whole lot...lots more than when he was in the Navy cuz he was stateside then. A whole month without seeing him. He played with us and we had fun before he left today...we pray he stays safe over there.

It's Dogster's Fifth Birthday, etc.

Happy Woofday to Dogster! I am so happy to have a site especially dedicated to us dogs. This allows me to bark at lots of furiends, play games, go to the moon, and have fun. I've been on Dogster for a year this past December, but I wonder why it took mom four years to discover this pawsome site!! I got my own Dogster page because of mom posting my crawfish video on another site where I actually won. In November 2007, I won "Honorable Mention" and was awarded the real winner in December, but mom cannnot find those pictures so here's a picture of my Hon orable Mention Photos.

We posted comments about Dogster's barkday on the Dog Blog. Any fur can do this for a chance to win 25 zealies, but all furs better hurry cuz this one ends today. We posted comments about how we learned about Dogster. We also told about how it came to be the best support anywhere as we went through Miracle's adoption last February through her AIHA diagnosis then the hardest thing to hit us in a long time when she crossed Rainbow Bridge. We are forever grateful to Dogster and our furiends on Dogster. It is truly a place for dogs and dog lovers through the good and bad times; just like family. We cherish our friendships here. It really is the best dog site on the Internet. We hope it continues to grow, expand our photo albums and give out more Zealies. Pawty on!!!!!

When we went outside this morning it was COLD! I will be jumping for joy when we get warmer weather again cuz us Southern doggies are not used to these below freezing temps. Thank Dog the sun was out cuz it shined its rays on me as I sat at the front door. I wuf soaking up the sun, but am not going to spend much time outside in it until the coldness goes somewhere else. My heart goes out to my furiends who live where it's sub-zero weather. Mom says I would not last an hour in weather like our Canadian furiends are having right now. BRRRRR...I'm shivering at the thought of below zero temps.

I got a beanie hat and a cool dancing doggie from my Secret Pal today, telling me to have a great day and a "Groovy Weekend." One more day of Secret Pal fun to go, but I think I know who mine is....should I say it....NOT yet!! hint-hint....mama's on vacation. Maybe or maybe not! Time will tell cuz tomorrow is revealing day. BOL!! BOL!!!

Pawlease VOTE FOR SCOOTER BY CLICKING HERE so he can win a $100 Petco gift card. If he wins so do I!!! Just for voting you can also be in a drawing to win a $100 gift card.

And Pawlease vote for the Animal Rescue Foundation of LA

The foundation can win $10,000 to help keep doing the great work it does by finding pets new furever homes. My wish is that all my furiends and lots more dogs here on Dogster will help by voting for this foundation.
With all the doggies in the house now this could also help my furmily cuz my mommy could win a $50 gift certificate for being a top recruiter. I'm happy to see some of my furiends have voted and I really appreciate their help.

And I want to remind everyfur to Click on the Animal Rescue Site to Help Feed Homeless Pets.

Trip To The Moon Was A Blast

Wowsa!! The KKC Trip to the Moon Was Furtastic. This was my second trip blasting off into space aboard the space shuttle with the KKC crew and lots of my furiends. I wuf having fun with my furiends. The crew did a spectacular job of getting us all there and back safely.

We were served one of my favorite treats; pig ears. I wonder why my mom don't give me anymore pig ears cuz I wuf those things. I can put one of those away in no time flat! We also got to check out and mark the cool fire hydrant there, see a few aliens, see Superman, see E.T. and a few others. The comets were spectacular too. We'll be going again in the Spring. I'm a space doggie!

I Got Bones

Thank you Secret Pal for the football and pile of
BONES. These will keep me busy for a long time. I wuf my Secret Pal!!! Arooo! Arooo!

Balloon Ride!!

Oh boy, today I got a rainbow for good luck and good weather for my next adventure from my Secret Pal. It's a Balloon Ride!!! Arooo! Arooo!!! The weather's cool, but the sun is out so it will be fun!!

Secret Pal

I'm enjoying this Secret Pal Virtual Exchange in Schnauzers Rule. It is so much fun. I'm having a blast sending as much as receiving. It's fun thinking up new stuff every day to send to my special Secret Pal.

Saturday I got a big cup of hot cocoa with a note that says, "Now that we are getting older I guess it is hot cocoa for us. Remember what it was like to be a young pup? This could have been us. Your secret pal." What a pawesome video. Everyfur knows how smart us Schnauzers are and these Schnauzies are ready and raring to go! Notice all the barking...they remind me of Bella and Scooter cuz they do more than their share of barking!!!

Sunday I got a cool pair of sunglasses with a note that says, “I think you need a vacation to recuperate your leg. Sunglasses will be a necessity. How about this? Your secret pal." Oh boy, a trip to Hawaii is just what I needed to get away from these busy little rascals whom shall remain nameless. I'm enjoying the warm sunny beaches right now as I close my eyes for a nap.

Today I got a big golden bone. Yummy!! I wuf bones. The note says:
“Hope you are having a great day!! Here's a golden bone for you to look at while you chew on your bone supply. I made sure you have enough to last a while. Too bad they're not real. Bol.” My bowl got filled up to overflowing at 719 bones!! Wow!! Yummy-yummy! Did I say that I wuf bones?!

This goes on until the 17th so that means more fun days filled with cool stuff. Although my Secret Pal to me has already exceeded the requirement. Thank you so much whoever you are. You are a wonderful Secret Pal.

Furtastic News - Redi Is Safe and Recovering

Arooo!! Arooo! POP does work cuz Redi is now safe and recovering from being on the run for approximately two weeks. I'm so happy for Redi.

With the help of a professional trapper who specializes in recovering
runaway dogs, as well as the assistance of several neighbors,
volunteers, and members of NJSRN, Redi was herded into a large fenced
yard and safely captured this afternoon! She is in pretty good
physical shape considering that she was on the run for almost 2 weeks.
She is dehydrated and has a limp (looks like she has some stickers in
her paw) and is currently recovering at a local vet hospital. Thank
you to everyone who tramped through the woods searching for Redi, as
well as those who passed the word locally and on the Internet. Anyone
wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to help NJSRN recover the
almost $1000 it cost us to capture Redi can find details at and can specify the donation go
towards "Redi's Recovery Fund" if you wish.

Please cross-post.

Prayers For Redi and Sam

All this news about doggie rewards for their safe return makes me forget about my leg problem.

First there's Redi who escaped the day before she was scheduled to go to her new furever home! People are trying to capture her, but she's still on the run. She's been on the street for approximately two weeks now!

Here's the link to the information about Redi. We hope those who spot her read and take note that they ask she not be approached because she is very shy and will run even more. Apparently that's what she's been doing. We can also see Redi on YouTube.

The following update was posted this morning on another Schnauzer list:

"Redi, the missing miniature schnauzer girl, is still on the run. She's still in the Towamencin area of Pennsylvania. Humane traps have been set up to catch her.

Volunteers are needed to put up flyers in surrounding areas, in case she migrates out to them. Please call Stu at 215-301-3888 if you can help.

If you see Redi do NOT approach her. Please call Stu at 215-301-3888 with the following information: location you saw her at, what direction she came from, what direction she was going in, what time you saw her, how she looked, was she injured. Please keep in mind that Stu is very busy looking for Redi, and keep your call short.

Thanks so much.

Please cross-post."



And then we heard about Sam this morning. Sam is a beautiful 3-year-old doggie whose mama, Tamara Jarrett, the director of university recreation at LSU, is offering a $5,000 reward to the person who returns Sam to her home.

We're all pawraying for both Redi and Sam's safe returns to their homes where they will be safe from harm.

I Am Doing Better Already

I am doing better today and not limping around as much. Mom stopped me from playing with Bella earlier. This I did not understand because we were having fun playing tug of war with that Loofa dog. Thank dog mom didn't lock me up!! She kept telling us to stop and then she took Bella & Scooter outside. I followed, but when we came back in I sat at the front door looking for cats. BOL!!! Mom told dad she was pleased to see me getting around so well. It shocked her that I was able to jump on the ottoman. Hey....my name is Spike; King of the Yard and Mr. Tough Guy!! A little ole muscle/ligament ain't gonna slow me down much. Oh, mom....it's almost time for my pain meds!!

I Hurt My Leg

Apparently I pulled a muscle in my left leg while playing with Bella and Scooter yesterday. We rough-housed quite a bit and later in the afternoon I was having a hard time putting any weight on my leg. At one point I had to sit down immediately. Mom looked up information in the Merck book for dog owner's. I think it's a book similar to what the vets use except it's written in "layman's" terms. She was scared that maybe I have hip dysplasia because I was limping and fell back down when trying to stand up after sitting at the front door for awhile. I was moving okay once I'd walk around, but it bothered me after I would lay down for awhile. Last night mom had to put me on the bed. She massaged my leg. For awhile I was shaking it, but settled down and went to sleep.

Mom called the vet's office first thing this morning and got me in at 11:00 a.m. The vet believes it's either a pulled muscle or ligament because everything seems okay after she pulled, pushed and moved my leg around. She applied pressure from the tips of my paws all the way up to my hip. The pain is in the upper part of my leg. I'm on Rimadyl medication for a week and cannot engage in any activity during this time. It's tough getting old! Now if I can just make Bella and Scooter understand I can't play with them now. Mom's gonna have to put them in line cuz they've already started harassing me. The vet said I should be isolated from them. OMD...isolation sounds like solitary confinement to me. I hope they're the ones who are confined; not me!!

I was also put on an official prescription weight management food, OM, beginning tonight. I've got to lose some weight cuz I'm at 34 pounds and the other weight management food mom's been giving me is not working. I will be starving even more now, but if it works I'll be much better off.

I Am The Kit Kat Club Comedian of the Week

Duke, Jessi, and Howard gave me a red ribbon rosette for being KK C Comedian of the Week.

Every fur knows how much the Spikesterman loves to BRAG!!! I'm barking loud to tell all my furiends!! Arrrooo!! Arrooooo!!

Redi, the runaway mini schnauzer in Blue Bell, PA

Late Breaking Update

Redi on YouTube

everyfur put your paws together for Redi...

UPDATE Saturday, 1/3/09, on Redi, the runaway mini schnauzer in Blue Bell, PA: Volunteers were able to get within 8 feet of Redi before she darted away and ran off into a cornfield. She does still have her pink collar on, although it is not as visible as previously. She
looks good considering she has been on the run for a week.
***VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!*** If Redi is not caught by tonight, we need as many volunteers as possible to try to catch her tomorrow (Sunday). Volunteers are meeting at 6:30 AM Sunday, 1/4/09, at the Skating Rink near the Blue Bell Country Club residential homes area, on North Wales Road near Foxcroft, in Blue Bell, PA. Please check the NJSRN petfinder website (http://njsrn.petfinder.org) before leaving in the morning, updates will be posted if anything changes. THANK YOU!

PLEASE, if you spot Redi, immediately call NJSRN at 732-920-8242 or Kelly at 717-761-1751 (home) or 717-645-5411 (cell). Redi's photo can be seen here: http://njsrn.petfinder.org. NJSRN and its members are offering a $1,000 REWARD for Redi's safe return.

I Got Hon0rable Mention

Thank you Lassie for awarding me with pink and white ribbon rosettes for DC Christmas parade'08 Honorable mention (Enhanced and Non-Enhanced category). I wuf the Doggie Connection and Lassie is a super fur who continues to need all furs prayers.

I Recieved a Certificate of Appreciation for DC Best- Christmas Page 08

Thank you Lassie for giving me a pink ribbon rosette and "Certificate of Appreciation" for entering the DC BEST CHRISTMAS PAGE 08!!. DC Rocks!!! Mom only changed my default picture and added the certificate in my photo plus album. My Christmas background and other photos will stay on my page until mom packs away the real Christmas decorations sometime next week.

Miracle, Bella and Scooter each also received a "Certificate of Appreciation." Sheba got a special award of "Honorable Mention."

LASSIE is a DIARY PICK today. WTG Lassie!!!

It Is Really Me

My hooman brother told mom this new picture of me looks like a Photoshop creation. It is not a photoshop image. That is really me in my "Bad to the Bone" bandana. I can't help it if my body looks a different color from my head. It's because I was at the front door where I like to look for cats. I have a smooth soft coat of hair after the groomer is finished with my haircut. The only alterations to this photo is the Blingee stuff mom added for the New Year. The original photo is number ten in my album. It IS real. It's REALLY ME...not an altered picture.

Christmas Eve

December 20th marked my one year anniversary being on Dogster! Aro0oo!! Aroooo!! Don't we supposed to get a special Zealie for that? Mom gets anniversary pawresents on her anniversary!! How come I didn't get anything special??!! Last year at this time I rarely barked after I joined. I became a member here cuz of an invitation from the Fido site where I won video of the month for my crawfish video. A lot has happened since that date last year. Now I'm hooked on Dogster. I know that's a fact cuz I have to check my pawmail every single day and I peek over mom's shoulder at her email to see if she got something about me!!

I saw this link to a very smart doggie on YouTube and have to post Tuppy's Ready For Santa Claus cuz he hung his stocking, said his prayers and has been a good doggie. I gave him 5 stars! He is amazing and cute too.

Then mom was doing a Google search for doggie Christmas stuff and stumbled across this neat poem:

Walking in a Doggie Wonderland
(Sung in tune of Winter Wonderland)
Author Unknown, but it coulda been me if there was snow around here!

Dog tags ring, are you listening'?
In the lane, snow is glistening'.
It's yellow, NOT white I've been there tonight,
Marking up my winter wonderland

Smell that tree? That's my fragrance.
It's a sign for wandering vagrants;
"Avoid where I pee, it's MY pro-per-ty!
Marked up as my winter wonderland."

In the meadow dad will build a snowman,
following the classical design.
Then I'll lift my leg and let it go Man,
So all the world will know that it's
mine-mine-mine!

Straight from me to the fence post,
flows my natural incense boast;
"Stay off my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I marked it as my winter wonderland."

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful Dogster furiends!

A Doggy Christmas Video

This is really cool. Rudy's mom posted this link in the Schnauzers Rule group threads. Everyfur should check out A Doggy Christmas Surprise video on YouTube. Thumbs up!!!

Diary Pick Again Today....Two Days in a ROW!!!!

OMD! I'm a diary pick again today. That's two days in a row. Black minis really do rule!! Arrooo! Arroooo!!

Everyfur should read Winston's Twelve Treats of Christmas cuz it's a super poem.

It's cold here again today; at 39 degrees right now with a wind chill of around 35. Brrr...brrrr..., but I don't have it as bad as my furiends up north. They're really getting blasted by old man winter. I hope they all got lots of extra food packed away for a few long winter nights. Santa shouldn't have much trouble getting to their houses cuz there will be plenty of snow for his sleigh and if Rudolph's nose keeps shining bright he can get through those blizzards without any trouble.

I've got some of the bestest furiends of all! We have all these beautiful Christmas cards coming in the mail...two more arrived today. This is the first year us doggies have got so much mail! Not just cards, but all the cool pawresents that Sheba wrote about in her diary and also posted pictures. Mom said she is going to get us a nice scrapbook after Christmas and put all our special cards in it. We will have our own special Dogster Furiends scrapbook on the bookshelf!! It won't be packed away with all the other Christmas stuff either; it will be there for anyone to see. Arrooo! Arrooo!!

I appreciate all the rosettes, special gifts, pawmails and thread posts congratulating me for my diary picks yesterday and today. Thank you furiends if you're reading this entry; you rock!! I wuf each and every furiend.

It's Been a Great Week

Arrooo! Arrooo!! Man what a wonderful time of the year! We all got a really cool "Bad to the Bone" scarf from a very good furiend on Thursday. I must say it makes me look really cool. Mom helped me put a picture in my photo album, but it's not in the top ten cuz we are still celebrating Christmas and my page will stay Christmasy until the holiday is over. Bella & Scooter got a laser light from our furiend and they've been going crazy chasing that thing. I kinda chased it a little, but they're too fast for me so I mostly watch them. Sheba got a box of goodies from Emma's Christmas basket project and we're all enjoying the goodies. We also got a furtabulous box of goodies from our Secret Santy Paws. OMD...we are loving all those goodies. Mom helps us keep up with our Advent calendar every day...the time is getting closer!! Last Friday night I had a blast playing games at Schnauzer Playland with all my furiends and even won a prize. Today I wake up to find out I'm a Diary Pick. OMD! I am totally blown away...well I could be with that cold blast of wind we're getting today. I'm going to spend lots of time inside until this cold passes. The weatherman pawromised a warmer week. I will enjoy my day in the spotlight. I wish all my furiends who are snowbound could come to my house for Christmas. We would have a fun time for sure!!!

That cute little mini Mr. Tuggles, who looks a lot like me when I was a baby, is a Diary Pick today too. Oh, boy....black Schnauzers really do rule! Go Tuggy, go!!

Oh, and my furiend Ernie George has been seen riding around on a snowmobile! How cool is that. Mom said she has to check on some old pictures cuz her family had a Motor Ski and a Scorpion; they rode those things too back in the 70s.

The Christmas Watchdog

I borrowed this from one of my furiends.

The Christmas Watchdog

Tonight's my first night as a watchdog,
And here it is Christmas Eve.
The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs,
While I'm guarding the stockin's and tree.

What's that now - footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a cat or a mouse?
Who's this down the chimney?
A thief with a beard,
And a big sack for robbin' the house?

I'm barkin', I'm growlin', I'm bitin' his butt.
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air,
I've frightened the whole bunch away.

Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again,
The stockin's are safe as can be.
Won't the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow,
And see how I've guarded the tree?!

I Won A Prize

I got a special gift for winning the "Christmas Around the World" game at the Schnauzer Playland Holiday Open House tonight! Was I ever on a roll with that game, but I have to admit some of my answers were guesses (it was multiple choice). The best part is I got to play with my furiends. It was a blast! I hope we have more meetings at the playland so I can play with my furiends more.

Christmas Cards and Completed Angel Tree Pictures

Arrooo!!! Arrooo!! Us doggies of the house have 26 Christmas cards and the pawrents have only 17! I'd say doggies rule the house! Mom says it too. It's been so neat getting all the pretty Christmas cards from our furiends. Each and every one of them will go in a special Scrapbook mom pawromised to get for us. She said she'll pick out a nice one after Christmas cuz we're gonna leave our cards up til' New Years Day.

This is the first Christmas we did a card exchange and pawticipated in a Secret Santy Paws gift exchange. We got our big package delivered late this afternoon. Wowsa! There was lots of goodies in the box, but we can't reveal anything until after the pawty on the 21st.

Elsa has her pictures of the completed Angel Tree posted on her page. The links from my diary entry yesterday are no longer working cuz she removed the pre-completed photos. The following links should work until Elsa changes her photo album. What a beautiful tree and tribute to all the Rainbow Bridge angels. God Bless you Elsa and Elsa's mom. We wufs ya!!

Our Tree of Angels

Happy Holidays Pals

Can you see me, Mom

Merry Christmas MOMS! These stars are for you

One beautiful angel tree

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Beautiful Angels

Angels We Have Heard On High

We Wish You a Merry Merry Christmas

Guardian Angels

Tree of Love, Bless Us Every One

For our dogster friends

See me, see me

Lit from within with love

Hi Everybody

Forever Together

Special Forever Friends

All so lovely

Everybody is a star

So many special friends

Do you see who I see?

For Our Friends Who Need Forever Homes

With Love to Our Moms, Our Forever Loved Stars

Forever Loved

Pre Completed Photos of the Angel Tree

Elsa Our Guardian Angel has some "pre completion" photos posted in her photo album of the special Angel Tree she's helping with. What a beautiful tree it is too. OMD!! I'm so excited about this very special tree which helps animals in shelters. For every 5 pictures Elsa's mom is donating food, treats, blankets, toys, etc. to her local Animal Rescue shelter. I'm happy to see Miracle's photo on this tree.

Elsa said her mom is not yet finished, but we can view the "pre completion pictures" that were taken without the tree lights on and the without the trim. They're still waiting on some more pics to arrive, but the completed tree will be photographed from many angles so we can see ALL of the angels.

Picture Number 1

Picture Number 2

Picture Number 3

Picture Number 4

Picture Number 5

Picture Number 6

A great big thank you to Elsa and her mom for creating this very special project.

The Groomer Came Today

We have a new groomer cuz Ms. Barbara sold her mobile business and is in the process of moving to Kansas. This was my first grooming by Mr. Jimmy, but he's nice so I didn't give him a hard time. With it being Christmastime he gave us some goodies....two stockings filled with rawhide chews, two squeaky stuffed toys, and a Christmasy colored tennis ball. He sure knows how to make furiends real fast!!! Sheba got hold of one of the stuffed toys and already took the squeaky thingy out. Mom picked up all the stuffing & the squeaker thingy so nobody would eat it. She took a picture of Bella & Scooter with the goodies before we started getting into everything.

It snowed this morning. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but you can bet I took care of my business real fast and hightailed it back in the house!

Bella - Diary of the Day

How am I going to maintain my Top Banana status around here with these little rascals. Especially Bella....she is a cutie for sure, but now she goes and gets a diary pick today. And mom's talking about taking the "kids" to see Santa Paws on Sunday! I'm gonna end up in the SBU group with Sheba if I lose any more ground.

I've Been Tagged Again

OMD, that pretty little white Schnauzer Coco tagged me yesterday. She is growing up so fast and I see she's got a pair of rose colored glasses just like mine! She calls my good buddy Ernie George her "knight in shining armor!"

I have to tell you 7 wonderful things about me! Oh, boy how hard can that be...everyfur knows how much I loves to brag:

1. I have the best home in the whole wide world.
2. I'm still a baby at heart despite being 9 years old!
3. I've won lots of cool contests on Dogster with my most recent being named Comedian of the week at the Kit Kat Club!
4. When I speak in my roo-roo language everybody listens!!
5. I put up with Bella & Scooter when they tag team up on me. I'd like to beat 'em up, but mom says to be good cuz they're smaller than me.
6. I keep guard on the house and all of my domain.
7. I'm so special that I've got my own ottoman, section of the couch and chair (but lately some other fur around here has been invading my turf).

Am I Wrong?

One of my mottos is to treat others as I would like to be treated. That goes for everything.

I'm a little hurt that somefur would actually be upset with me because I asked that credit be given next to a photo that was taken from MY photo album, without my permission. First, I would not do that without asking permission and then I would never post the photo without giving the person credit, such as the cool Photoshop picture Carson did for me that says "Spike's Yard."

I never meant to hurt this fur's feelings, but only suggested my name be placed in the caption because after all it is me in the picture. I was only being nice and making suggestions for using my picture cuz I knew from the pawmail this fur also is against Puppy Mills so I suggested putting a caption such as "I say no to Puppy Mills just like my furiend Spike here," but the fur got upset with ME. This was a really nice fur too with a beautiful furmily, but I don't think I did anything wrong so why do I feel bad?

I can only hope furs who borrow other's pictures think twice and ask if they would want somefur to take their picture and use it without permission. I'm sure this fur meant no harm in borrowing my picture, but we all should respect each other and ask first.

MICA'S IMHA RESEARCH FUND

George nominated Sheba for Emma's "Christmas Paws" Baskets!!

George's nomination says: "I nominate Sheba.
Sheba is a rescue who had back surgery over 5 years ago when she ruptured a disc and her regular vet said she would have to be put to sleep furever. Thank dog her Mom said no and she is a happy, healthy baby now."

Emma wrote in the P lus Fun Thread "Sheba....... we wanted you to know, that as part of our gift to you.... we are mailing off a donation - on behalf of you and your family - to Mica's IMHA Research Fund."

I'm so thankful to George for this nomination because part of the gift is a donation to help Mica's IMHA Research Fund. Our sweet Angel Miracle must be smiling down on all of us right now! I'm so proud and happy about this. God Bless every one!!! And especially our little Miracle!!!

Thanksgiving Holiday Happenings

We've had company for the Thanksgiving holiday and I was a very good doggie. I found me a new friend; my mom's best friend from the Army! It was my first time meeting her cuz she lives in Florida now after living in New York and New Jersey for a few years. During her visit with us she said, "Spike is so handsome" several times. I can't argue with that!!!! She is the only other person besides family that I will let give me ear scratches, back rubs and petting on the head. Mom was surprised since it was our first meeting. Needless to say I wuv Irinel too and hope she comes back again. She bought me a doggie toy which has a plastic water bottle inside for the body. It's really cool cuz it makes those water bottle crackly noises. Sheba tried to tear the velcro strips, but it's still intact. I've got to find a good hiding place for my special toy.

I was sad to read our furiend Lexie's Diary Entry today. Samson is leaving the Schnauzers Rule group as an administrator. His shoes will be very hard to fill cuz he always keeps us entertained with lots of fun, games, contests, the wonderful newsletter he writes every Sunday morning, and much much more. At least we can still play together at SR cuz he'll still be around.

I Was Named Monday Night Party Best Dancer of the Week at- the KKC

Arro0oo!!! Arroooo!!! I'm Monday night's best dancer of the week and am jumping for joy at being bestowed this furtabulous honor!! I was decked out in my suit for the Thanksgiving pawty. It was a blast, with great music, great furiends, a beautiful dining room with turkey & all the trimmings, ball room, and just a lot of fun.

Sheba's Cool Prizes

Sheba got some really cool prizes in the mail today and I grabbed one of those Canadian Geese cuz I wanted it for myself! Wow! Mom gave us all one of those Busy Bones too. Yummy! It sure was good! I hope my dogtor don't hear about that cuz I'm supposed to be on a diet. I'd like to tell them all I'm on a seafood diet....when I see food I eat it!! BOL!!

Oh No Not Again

Mom came back from the store today with little Santy Claus and Mrs. Claus costumes for us doggies. Can you believe it?! I have to endure another photo session with clothes on! Howlaween was bad enough with me in that mutt mail postal uniform. When will hoomans learn us doggies don't need clothes. Our fur is our clothes!! Mom says this is for Christmas photos cuz she wants to show us off. I could care less about the photos; just bring on the pawresents!!!!

It's Been A Crazy Week

What a week it's been. First, I'm so happy to report my little furiend Mr. Tuggles got his self back home after being away for seven and a half hours!! I was scared for him being out that long cuz I knows it gets cold in Kentucky. He coulda got lost in the woods, but apparently his little Schnauzie nose got him back home despite being out in the rain.

Our city has reported black bears roaming in neighborhood areas this week. Now that's enough to scare the daylights outta my mom, but not me. She refused to let us out by ourselves at night and blocked our doggie door! That's punishment to me for something I haven't done. Well...thank Dog the good Wildlife and Fisheries employees captured that bear and took him far away from our city.

The next report is coyotes in a town nearby (Youngsville). The coyotes are preying on people's pets cuz several have come up missing. I'm glad we don't live around there, but I know there is lots of construction projects going on out there as well as new subdivisions coming up.

And, I've been had by the Second Bananas Unite group!!! They think it's funny to prey on us Top Bananas of the house! I'm not the only one who has been pranked by those SBs!! We are all gonna have to put our heads together and come up with a payback plan.

I Am Top Banana and Proud of It

It appears the second bananas of some of my furiend's furmilys and my own furmily are feeling a bit neglected or have low self esteem these days because they've targeted us Top Bananas. Now I've been embarrassed with a picture of a banana that says "SBs Rule" written on it behind me while I'm eating my dinner posted here in my photo album. I want to know how mom allowed this to happen. As humiliating as this is I'm still gloating with pride that I've won some contests over the past few months. Just go to Fancypa nts Cafe, scroll to the bottom of the page and see my happy face on the group page all this month!!!

I've Been Tagged Again

I've been tagged by Oscar.

I'm gonna list only five things this time.

1. I am the King of my yard which means no unwanted critters are to trespass. Those include hoomans, rats, birds, mice, possums, snakes and any others who dare to enter my back yard uninvited.

2. I really don't like wearing clothes, but I tolerated it for mom during Halloween. Thank Dog it only comes once a year!! And I hope she don't get any ideas for Christmas clothes.

3. I LOVE Greenies. Those are my favorite treats in the whole wide world.

4. I've come to love Bella and Scooter as good pals now. We play every day.

5. I'm on a diet and have to weigh-in monthly.

Tag You It

Well I have been tagged by Sophie Claire. Here are 7 things about me in this diary entry.

1. I love Greenies which I will demand if not given to me at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every single day.
2. My mom is my best friend, but I also wuv Sheba.
3. I absolutely love attention.
4. You can find me on the bed next to mom at night or nearby on my ottoman or the couch by mom during the day.
5. I love to ride in the car.
6. I have won lots of Dogster contests
7. I love Dogster

Now, I gonna tag 7 of my friends. You need to read my diary and then you go tag 7 of your friends. You will write in your diary and be sure and pmail them and tell them they have been tagged.

I tagged:
Ernie George
Lowenhart's Jaxima Dalicious
Mr. Tuggles
Miss Izzabelle Satterfield
Snickers
Sniffers
Kaci

KKC Comedy Central Award

Duke threw me a football for being a winner at KKC Comedy Central and Being Best Comedian of the Week on November 3rd with my good little buddy Jake who is the smartest Yorkie I know. I hop everyfur checks out the cool photo of me and Jake dancing like Jerry Lee Lewis & Dean Martin. Arrrooo!! Arrooooo!!

Yay for me and Jake!!! Another stat on the Spikesterman's board!!!

I Won Another Contest

Both Sheba and I were one of the top ten Doggie Connection's Best Halloween Costume 2008 winners

That is so cool! Lassie gave us each a special gift and a very pretty award certificate! Wow...how cool is that!!! Mine is posted on my page for all my furiends to see. I wasn't too keen on wearing that Mutt Mail hat for mom this year, but I'm honored to get such recognition from the Doggie Connection. What a pawsome group! I'll be passing that maildog costume on to Scooter next Halloween!!!

I Am November's Dog of the Month at Fancypants Cafe

OMD! I Am Dog of the Month at Fancypants Cafe

My picture will be on the front page at Fancypants Cafe for the whole month of November !!!!!!!!!! Arrooooo!!! Arrooooo!!! Fancy gave me a forever yellow star with my winning photo enclosed for this great honor and five Zealies! Wow...how cool is that!!! I am so honored to be a member of the FPC group.

And to think last month my crawfish video got me selected as Fur Featurette at the Dog Park for the month of October. ARROOO!!! ARROOO!! My video has been on that group home page this month.
Dog Park Playground and Pawty Place.

Now that I have regained my Top Dog status I'm feeling pretty good around here today.

It's Cold Outside

Yikes....what is mother nature doing to us doggies? All of a sudden the temperatures dropped from in the fifties at night to down in the thirties. Now this is not the temps I want to go outside in. It didn't take me long to finish my early morning run and get back inside. Bella and Scooter usually stay out to run around for awhile longer, but they just about knocked me down racing to see who could get through the door first!

ConDOGulations, FurSis Sheba for Your Diary Pick Today

My fursis Sheba is a Diary Pick today. Go Sheba....go. I wuvs ya!

Day 4

Whew! Boy these two little Schnauzers are wearing me out! I'm posting a photo in my album to show them off until mom gets their pages up. They were chasing me to get one of my stuffed toys out of my mouth. We played so much today that I'm plum tuckered out again tonight. I can barely get my thoughts out in my diary because I am so sleepy.

Sheba just barks at them and they leave her alone, but for some reason they've attached onto me like glue. And to think mom was worried about me accepting them. Far from it, except I was a little skeptical of them when she first brought them in the house on Tuesday afternoon. I wasn't sure if they should be here or not, but now we act like we've been together furever.

I've got to get to bed before tomorrow morning gets here. I need all my rest tonight.

Day 3

Bella and Scooter are now running all over my house. The pawrents decided to let them have free rein. They've been good except the one time Bella decided MY ottoman was hers!! Now everyfur knows how I am about that ottoman. I've claimed it as mine. It's where I oversee all of my domain; the house, the front yard, every single thing in view from the living room! It's the best seat in the house. But being a good guy I let her stay and I sat at the front door watching for cats.

Mom's eager to get birth dates for my new fursibs so she can create a Dogster page for them. She may do a combo page with their "gotcha day" first then go do individual pages later. Why do hoomans get so obsessed with dates? Well...they are kinda important cause if they weren't me and Ernie George wouldn't have had such pawsome barkdays this month!!

Bella and Scooter

Oh boy, it looks like my furmily has doubled! My pawrents took in these two minis on Tuesday and are now talking about making them a permanent part of our furmily. They are Bella and Scooter, two little energetic, busy schnauzies! My goodness, they've run loops around me in the back yard all morning until I couldn't take it anymore. They wore me out! They also wore themselves out cause they're both sleeping like little babies!!

Both will be two years old in February and March next year, but we don't know they're actual barkdays. Mom said she would try to find out that information so she can make them each a Dogster page. Scooter has to go to the dogtor to be "fixed," but Bella's already had that procedure done.

I think Miracle must have sent them to us due to the circumstances of their arrival at our home.

Gotta go....I need another nap!

We Have Visitors

These visitors could turn into furmily. Mom brought home two mini Schnauzers yesterday afternoon. I haven't decided whether to play with them or try to bite them, but mom's keeping me at bay so I can't get too close, except to sniff noses right now. They've run all over my yard, but not the house just yet. I'm glad they have limitations.

Mom is hoping I decide they're no threat and embrace them as I did Miracle. I'm not that much of a sociable guy, but I haven't tried to attack them. Sheba took to them instantly. Bella is gray & white and she is a whiner for attention...most likely my attention! Scooter is white and has one ear that he keeps up in the air, kinda like Buddy Grau. The lady who gave them up wanted them to go to a home together rather than be separated. Mom's hoping they can become a permanent part of our furmily and it's all up to me. I've got patience and I may come around to accept them. And, mom says that would be good for me too because I'd have somebody to play with and exercise, which would help my d-i-e-t.

I got good luck wishes from my good buddy, Ernie George, who told me not to worry cause no fur can take me the "Crab Man's throne." He said I'll always be the "Top Dog...Alpha..King of the Hill...and Big Kahuna."
I wonder how long it will take Bella and Scooter to realize this.

More tails to come about this later...gotta keep an eye on these guys.

I Am In The Contest - Working Category

I hope all my furiends will cast a Vote For Me In The Working Category of Dogster's photo contest cause you know how hard it is to fetch and shake the dickens out of those ropes!!!

My Week as Schnauzer of the Week Captured in My Diary

I decided to do something different and capture my week of questions and answers in my diary for keepsake.

Georgie posted notice on Sunday, October 5th:
Congratulations Spike our Schnauzer of the Weekwishes

Spike our schnauzer of the week, is an 8 year old male from Lafayette, LA who originally came from Texas! His motto is "King of the Yard"! Let's congratulate him and get to know him this week. blue dog

Enjoy your week in the spotlight, Spike!!! hail

Bella posted question on October 5th: Hi spike. I sleep with mommy and daddy were do you sleep?
Love
Bella

My replies on October 5th:
Thank you Georgie. I am honored that Millie chose me to be SOTW this week!

Hi Bella. I'll start off by sleeping with mom and dad on the hooman bed, then at around 11:00 p.m. I jump off the bed. I go to the very end of the bed on the side where mom sleeps. I then stick my head under the bed with the rest of my body sticking out. I'll sleep there until around 2 a.m. and then it's back on the bed with mom & dad. Dad says I've had this habit for quite awhile now. It's probably because Sheba is a terrible sleeper and disturbs me by rolling over next to me and wakes me up! I usually get in mom's face in the morning to give her a few licks on the nose. She calls it her wake up call.


Samson posted on October 5th:
WOW Spike - this really looks like its going to be your week!
I see you have a barkday coming up on Friday. Do you have a pawty planned or anything special?
Sure hope you enjoy all the attention this week my furiend!
ConDOGulations!
SAMSON


I posted a reply to Samson on October 5th:
Thank you Samson! For my birthday mom is planning to have a little celebration here at home. She'll be fixing me up something special and I hope I get to go for a ride, but not to the vet's office!!! I LOVE to ride in the car!! I'll be 9 years old, but I'm doing good. I had my yearly checkup this past week and all is fine, except I need to lose a few pounds!!!

Samson posted on October 5th:
I know all about the losing weight thingy. My vet wants me to drop 2 pounds and it seems impossible - but I'm still trying.

Sure hope you have a fun day celebrating. Wish I could be there to help you celebrate! and eat some of those yummy treats you'll be getting!
How much do you weight anyways & how tall are you?

I posted a reply to Samson on October 5th:
I'm a big boy weighing in at 34.4 pounds and am approximately 14 1/2 inches from floor to top of my shoulders. I've got some fatty tissues on my rump and in my chest, but the vet's not interested in removing those and I just know they add a few extra pounds to the scales!!

I have to visit the vet's office at the end of every month for a "weigh-in" like those humans do on their weight watching programs!!! Mom's got me on weight management food, but dad sometimes sneaks treats and stuff to me. He's already gotten in trouble for that, but not from ME!!

Samson posted on October 5th:
Well - just keep working at it. I bet you'll lose the weight. way to go
Being 13 inches tall & 17 pounds all of the sudden doesn't sound too bad. Well enjoy answering all the questions this week. Can't wait to learn even more about ya!
SAMSON

Greta Grace posted on October 5th:
Congratulations, Spike!
I sleep with my mom, too. Right now it's on my dad's side on a pillow, but I guess that'll change when daddy comes back home. BOL!!
What's your favorite game to play?
Good luck with your weight loss!

I posted a reply on October 5th:
Thank you Greta Grace! My favorite game is tug of war with my rope and of course with mom. I could play that for hours!! She gets tired, not me! I also like to chase the ball down the hallway then bring it back so mom can roll it down there over and over. After awhile I'll get tired of that and take it outside.

Winston posted on October 5th:
Congratulations Spike! Black schnauzers rule - BOL!!! way to go
I was wondering how you get along with your siblings? Did you all get along from the very first moment you met? Finn & I had a few run-ins but now we're best of pals.

I posted a reply on October 5th:
Thank you, Winston! BOL!!

When I got to my home in 1999 Sheba was already here. She was almost four years old at the time and all I wanted to do was play with her. She treated me like I was her puppy. I chewed on her feet, her ears and all over, but she let me do it. When she got tired of all my playfulness she'd do a snippy bark to put me in my place. I learned fast that she was the boss! But as I grew older I stood my ground and mom says we are both Alpha dogs. Neither one wants to give in. We get along fine now with no scuffles, but when I got to be one or two years old mom had to be careful about our feeding territories because if we got in a scuffle neither of us wanted to stop. Mom would have to break us up.

When mom brought Miracle to the house for the Schnauzer rescue lady both Sheba and I were very curious and wanted to check her out. Mom kept her in a penned off area the first night, but neither Sheba or I tried to jump on her. We just sniffed noses through tthe wire holes. Mom said we probably knew she was scared and she was very shy. I tried to play with her several times, but she didn't want to. She'd run to mom for attention. Of course mom also said I was kinda rough and Miracle was much smaller than me. And she was skin and bones when she first got here so mom hovered over her like an old mother hen!! I can remember mom telling me "No, Spike, leave Miracle alone" and "Stop it Spike, you're being rough, etc."

You can say Sheba & I respect one another a whole lot. If mom takes Sheba to the vet and leaves me behind I get very upset. Dad says I run all over looking for her even though I know she got in the car with mom. The same for Sheba, when mom leaves with me Sheba looks for me. We are like two peas in a pod! We're bonded to each other.

Zoe posted on October 5th:
Hey Spike! Congrats to you this week! cheer

On your page you say your family calls you RoboDog. Why is that?
And you say your Dad gives you too many treats, shock, what do you get?

Uno posted on October 6th:
Congrats Spike!

What's your favorite toy and do you share with Sheeba?

Uno

I replied on October 6th:
Thanks Zoe and Uno!

Zoe: My hooman brother calls me Robodog; it has something to do with that Robocop movie. I am aggressive towards his doggies when they come here and I am intent on getting ahold of them! Hooman sibling says I'm unstoppable like that robocop dude!! I don't give up until I get what I want!! In his case its the doggies leave my house!!

The treats dad gets me is Beggin' Strips which mom says have too much fat in them! He also sneaks me real bacon and other stuff when mom's not looking, but lately he's been getting in trouble for doing that!!

Uno: My favorite toy is my rope! I've got some stuffed toys too, tennis balls and rubber things, but the rope is my favorite. I swing it around and bang it into mom's legs so she will grab it to play tug of war! Yes, Sheba will play with all my toys, but she is really bad about the stuffed animals. She rips the stuffing out of every single one that she gets her paws on! I'm not happy about that cause it ruins my toys. Mom puts my stuffed toys away now so I can only play with them when Sheba's sleeping! Sheba does play tug of war with me and the rope sometimes. We both growl and pull hard. Mom will grab the middle so each of us is on one side (it's the long rope which has several knots in it) and we have fun.

Kady posted on October 6th:
Hi Spike,Condogulations to you!!!! You are a great furiend,and I am happy for you! Are you gonna have a cake??do you have a favorite walk? thanks,cutie!cheerred face

My reply on October 6th:
Well, hello there sweet Kady, my dancing partner!! Thank you! I probably won't be dancing tonight cause mom wants to watch Dancing With The Stars. If I'm there I'll be kinda quiet; maybe just eating & drinking a bit. Mom says it's too hard to supervise me while she's entranced with the dancers on TV! Supervise??? Now what would I do wrong in the KKC???!!

My mom found a recipe here on Dogster so she's going to bake me a cake. Yummy....I just can't wait for that. Oops! There goes the diet!
I like to walk with mom, off the leash, around the back yard. I do like to go walk in the front of the house, but she puts the leash on me for that cause sometimes we go down the street so I can sniff all the other doggie smells and of course kitty smells too. That's always exciting!

Drover posted on October 8th:
Hi Spike!
Do you like to travel? Where is the farthest away you've been?

And are you still missing Miracle?

I replied on October 8th:
Hi Drover!

I like to ride in the car, but haven't traveled very far from home. The furthest I've been is about a fifteen minute drive to the vet's office and back. When I get in the car I'm a happy guy. It's fun to see out the windows and bark at things along the way! The most longest ride I had was from Texas to Louisiana cause I was born in Texas. Mom said she needs to pull out my papers so she can see who my mom & dad are again. She wants to see if they're anywhere on the Internet; maybe at the AKC site or here on Dogster. That would be cool if we could reunite via Dogster!!!

Yes, we all miss Miracle a whole lot. She was special to all of us; especially to mom who called her a Princess and her little shadow. I used to sniff Miracle's beds a lot, but mom's moved them out of site in the spare bedroom so I don't see them now. Mom said I acted sad and looked for her awhile after she'd crossed the bridge. Mom talks to me about her and I listen and understand despite what others say. I'm out there with mom in the evenings before sunset to pay my respects at her grave. She is furever in our hearts. Mom's reading a book "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" and will tell me stuff she's read in there from time to time. We know she's in doggie heaven now where we will all be together again one day. Bless you and thanks for asking about our little angel.

My non-Schnauzer twin Ernie George posted on October 8th:
Hi My Schnauzie Twin, Spike! (I just found out we both has October birthdays by reading your thread...another thing we has in common..my Birthday is on the 16th!!!!! I wish you lived closer so we could pawtay togetherconfused)

Anyfur, I wanted to say congratulations cause you are my best furriend furever, Crab Man.

And I wanted to ask you, since your Mama's about as goofy/gaga over you as mine is over me, do you like it when your Mama gives you hugs and kisses and squeezes and love? Do you get embarassed? Do you kinda like it? How about the baby talk? waveWhat do you do when you're getting the cuddles? Do you ever seek out the snuggles, when you know you did something bad? That's a good trick...in case you never tried it!

I replied on October 8th:
Thank you, Ernie, my little Scottie buddy! No wonder we think so much alike, having birthdays only six days apart. How cool is that? Would we ever have a furtabulous pawty if we lived closer! We would shake up and rock the neighborhood for sure!

Yes, I LOVE the hugs, kisses, squeezes and love mom showers on me except when company is here. I'm not sure if it's me not wanting them to see how much of a big baby I really am or me just protecting my territory by keeping a close eye on them! big grin

I look at mom with my head tilted sideways when she starts the baby talk at me or at Sheba. When I get cuddles I try to lick her on the nose. Sometimes I get her smack dab on the mouth! And if she's talking up a storm with that baby talk I might get her real good inside the mouth and she'll stop playing with me to go rinse her mouth with that big bottle of blue stuff that's fresh smelling!

I do sneak snuggles from mom if dad says I've been a bad boy. She gets a kick out of that! When she's on the couch I'll jump up there and lay down with my back against her legs then put my head up for rubs. I know how to get attention when I needs it.

Sniffers posted on October 8th:
congratulations Spike! I noticed your motto is 'king of the yard'. Can you expand on that? I know squirrels, raccoons and cats go thru our yard, what's happening in yours?

I replied on October 8th:
Thank you Sniffers!! I love your motto....good things do come in small packages and that's all of us Schnauzies!

There are no squirrels that run through my yard, but I've seen and caught other critters out there! Squirrels need trees and we don't have any big ones for them to hide in! Mom don't want any big trees either because of what happens to lots of them when hurricanes come through the area.

I am King of the Yard because every day, more than once a day, mom catches me walking the perimeter of the back yard. I'm sniffing around the fence, on the ground and just checking out everything for intruders. My catches include rats and snakes. Mom don't like me finding those things either because she worries I could get bitten. She caught me thrashing out the rat, but only found the body of the little snake. It was a harmless one anyway. We've seen them in the pool from time to time since.

I run all cats out of the yard when they trespass. And I bark at every one of them when they cross my front yard! The only problem with that is I'm inside the glass door where they can tease me. They know I can't get out so they move slowly across the yard! If only the door latch wasn't so high!

I also like to chase the birds away from the bird feeder when I can get away with it! Mom saved some baby birds one time. Their mama hatched the eggs in one of mom's hanging plants and they started falling on the ground when they became active. Mom went out there and taped some cardboard around the pot so they couldn't get out. It wasn't long before they grew up and left. Darn! I tried my best to grab one when it was on the ground!

And one of the most strangest critters I encountered was a baby possum. Both me and Sheba had him cornered under the chimnea, a little fireplace type thing dad used to light wood in during the colder months. Anyhow, we both were barking up a storm while he was hissing back at us. Mom came running out the back door to see what the commotion was. It was dark so she had to go back inside to get the flashlight since we were out of range of the spotlight. She shined the light up under the chimnea and saw two glowing eyes, a big wide mouth with lots of teeth that hissed loudly at her. She said at first she thought it was a cat until it opened its mouth! Well...that stopped our fun. She ran us in the house pretty quick and blocked the doggie door so we couldn't get back out. Later on she went back out to check the area. After discovering that little possum was gone she let us back outside. I ran all over the yard sniffing for his trail. He must have went through a hole in the fence that was made by a four wheeler crashing into it back then. The hole has long since been patched up so no more critters like him can get in the yard again. However, those pesky cats jump the fence from time to time.

Samson posted on October 11th:
Spike sure hope you hat a FURbulous Barkday

I replied on October 11th:
Thank you, Samson! I had the bestest day any fur could ever ask for. I've also enjoyed my week as SOTW. I'm honored to be a member of such a fun group of doggies whose pawrents are so much like mine! Aroo! Aroo!

Happy Woofday To ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Lassie made me an awesome birthday card which I just had to share with all my furiends! Thank you, Lassie!! And I got a nice birthday wish from Dogster, somebody gave me a whole pile of bones (I'm way over 1,000), and I'll be profiled with other birthday doggies all day on Dogster's special birthday stroll!! Arooo!! Arooo!!!
Dogster also gave me 25 Dogster bones and one vote of 5 Paws! Dogster loves me!

But the bestest pawresents of all are the pawmails and special gifts from all my cool pup pals here on Dogster! I'm so amazed at the attention I'm getting today. It is so cool!! I love my furiends and a great big thank you to each and every one!! As Ernie G. knows I love the limelight and have sure been getting my share, especially with being named Schnauzer of the Week for the entire week!

Mom baked me a special cake which we will be getting into before the day is out, but I had to make this entry now because of my birthday photo before I partied too much and crashed early!

Today Was Decorating Day

Me and Sheba had a lot of fun with mom today as she put up some Halloween decorations in the living room. We wanted a piece of the action and we got it when she put our Halloween costumes on us to take photos. I was actually better behaved than Sheba. Mom didn't have to bribe me with anything, but my costume was too small! Oh, well...she said I could be a postal carrier doggie who was on a break with his shirt open cause it was too hot carrying all the mail around. Thanks mom, for coming up with an excuse for me running around with the shirt open!! Mom made me a special mail bag just for all what she calls "junk mail" that comes to the house. She's been saving it for a couple weeks now. I deserve a special treat for being such a good boy today. Tomorrow will be special too because it will be my 9th birthday! Arooo! Arooo!!

Since When Do Boys Play With Pink Tennis Balls

Mom gave us pink tennis balls yesterday afternoon. They were in a prize package so I guess she had no choice, but don't we have some spray paint so I can at least change the color of mine!!! She thinks it's cute to see me running around with that pink tennis ball in my mouth. Maybe I'll just let Sheba have both of them and I'll keep the others, which are yellow!!

I Am Schnauzer of The Week in Schnauzers Rule

Wow, what a great surprise to wake up this morning and learn that I was chosen as Schnauz er of The Week in the Schnauzers Rule forum!!!
Arrooo! Arrooo! I can hardly contain myself. Mom said I'd better calm down and get ready to answer some questions. I'm ready so I hope all my furiends ask lots of questions because as everyfur knows I love to brag about myself. BOL!! I go in the KKC and brag with Ernie G. all the time. In fact I was over there earlier this morning bragging away!

Seriously, this is a great honor to be in the spotlight for the entire week. To top it off this is my birthday week. I'll be nine years old on Friday! Mom said it doesn't seem possible cause she remembers the first day I was placed in her arms.

Donate To Help Find a Cure for AIHA - Approved By Dogster

Sheba's furiend Snickers was scouting Dogster on Saturday and learned about a worthy cause which we've known about since losing Miracle to the dreaded AIHA disease. Snickers is on a crusade to raise money to help find a cure for AIHA. We've been meaning to contribute since being contacted by Mica, but mom's been so upset over Miracle's crossing Rainbow Bridge she just hasn't been herself.

What a wonderful idea Snickers has. If each one of us told one of our furiends and they tell one and on and on we could help educate all furs about AIHA so all would understand what a horrific disease this is. A cure is needed fast!! If each fur sent just $1.00 think about what we could do to help Mica find a cure. Me, Sheba and our Little Angel Miracle, with mom's help, will be sending a check to Mica for this worthwhile cause.

Miracle was diagnosed with AIHA in August 2008 and it quickly took her away from us. It stands for Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia. It is a serious and often fatal blood disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells. Pawlease consider donating just a dollar to help find a cure for this horrific disease. To do so just visit Mica's page for further information...just click on DO IT FOR MIRACLE. We love her and miss her so much. God Bless our little Angel Miracle.

If furs don't want to send money pawlease spread the word.

My Yearly Checkup

I was overdue for my yearly checkup, but mom took me yesterday. No more mobile vet coming to the house. I got to ride across town to see my new vet. It was a lady who was very nice to me, but I wanted to bite her when she shined that light in my eye!!

Let me back track before I forget this important part. I say important because I got attention on the way there. While we were sitting at a red light some guy pulled up in a pick up truck alongside us and he motioned for mom to roll down the window. Mom always likes to talk to other people so she rolled down the window while I looked on with interest. The nice man asked if I was a Scottie!!! That's a nice compliment because my good buddy Ernie is my twin Scottie/non-Schnauzer. Mom told the man no, that I was a Mini Schnauzer. He said he had one just like me at one time and then he said I was cute. Mom did some bragging for me and told him I am very smart too. They didn't say anything I didn't already know! After conversing mom rolled the window back up and I jumped in the back seat so I could get a better look at that guy since mom wouldn't let me in her lap!! She said we're going to have to buy some kind of restraint for me and Sheba while we're riding in the car! We've been spoiled so long with the mobile vet and the mobile groomer that she wasn't prepared to ride me over there. I was a good boy because I didn't jump all over the place, but I do like to see where we're going. Maybe she'll get us that banana hammock Sheba raved about. It's a hammock that attaches to the headrests and sits in the back seat where doggies are safe from sudden stops.

Anyhoo....the lady vet is nice, but she told mom that I need to lose weight. Of course mom's already had me and Sheba on that diet food for about two or three months. Now I'll be on a diet similar to those weight programs you see on TV for hoomans that require monthly weigh ins. It looks like I'll be visiting the vet's office once a month! That won't be so bad because I will get to ride in the car and nobody over there will be sticking me with needles!

Other than a little extra weight and some fatty lumps I'm a healthy boy!!

Sheba is a Diary Pick Today

My fursis Sheba is a Diary Pick today. Go Sheba....go. You're doing GREAT!

Mom took me to the vet today for my annual checkup. I'm doing okay unless the blood tests come back with some oddities. We'll hear about that tomorrow sometime. Mom got our Halloween costumes and this is exciting! I can't wait until my furiends see me in costume.

October's Fur Featurette at the Dog Park Playground and- Pawty Place

My crawfish video got me selected as Fur Featurette at the Dog Park for the month of October. ARROOO!!! ARROOO!! For those who haven't seen my video just check it out on my page! As soon as they do the update my video will be on the home page all month long!!

They've got a really cool background for Halloween too! Check it out:
Dog Park Playground and Pawty Place.

AROOO!!! Miracle is Diary Pick Again Today....Two Days in a- Row!!!!

Miracle, our special angel, is a diary pick today. That's two days in a row; three times this month. We always knew Miracle was special and is now a very special angel.

Miracle Is a Diary Pick Today!!!! Arooo! Arooo!!

Miracle, our special angel, is a diary pick today. She was just bestowed this honor on September 6th and here's our little angel a pick again today. We are so proud of her and know she is up there partying at the bridge today!! She continues to live on in our hearts.

We love and miss you Miracle!!!

Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2008

I took the pawledge and am proud of it!!!

Puppy Mill Awareness Day will be today,
Saturday, September 20, 2008 11am - 5pm

Learn More about the day and more about what we can all do by clicking on Puppy Mill Awareness Day.

Miracle Is Schnauzer of the Week!!!! AROOOO!!! AROOOO!!

My fursis, Miracle was chosen as Schnauzer of the Week in the Schnauzers Rule forum!!!! She is still loved and missed by all of her family and furiends. The house is a little bit empty without her here, but we feel her spirit all the time.

I want to shout out a special thanks to my buddies Duke and Ernie. Ya'll rock!! And, to Harvey Wallbanger's mom, Becky who sent Miracle a big box of doggie cookies, which Sheba and I have been enjoying in Miracle's honor.

Click here to visit Miracle's Candle. Then click on "Dedicate to Topic" to light another candle in her memory.

Now, my next job is to come up with entries for the Kit Kat Club fall photo contest and the Dog Park Playground and Pawty Place favorite toy photo contest. I've got to go get busy before mom sends me off to bed.

Three Weeks Ago Today Miracle Crossed Rainbow Bridge

We've all been thinking of our dear little Miracle today because it marks three weeks she left us for the other side of the bridge. Oh, we miss her so much and wish she was still here with us, but apparently heaven must have been missing an angel and called her home.

Mom lit a virtual candle in Miracle's memory and I added one too because after all she was a special fursibling. It appears the candles stay lit furever so I hope Miracle gets lots of visitors and extra messages from all of her special furiends.

Click here to visit Miracle's Candle and click on "Dedicate to Topic" to light another candle in honor of Miracle.

All of Miracle's candles can be seen HERE .

I Won the Silver Medal for Being The Official Water Bottle- Destroyer

Wow...another award to add to my collection! Aroo! Aroo!

I woke up to learn I won 2nd Place in the Schnauzers Rule 2008 PAWlympic Contest! How cool is that!? Mom wasn't even sure she would let me enter the contest because I'm not an athlete of any kind. One day she caught me destroying a water bottle and got me on film by snapping a picture.

That has been one of my many pleasures thanks to my human sibling brother. He started the whole thing by teasing me with an empty water bottle many years ago. Once he dropped it I pounced on it, rolled it all over the house then busted it with my sharp teeth. Now I waste no time rolling it around; I go for the quick destruction by chewing off the caps, removing the round plastic things and then crush those bottles in record time. One day mom will have to catch me on video if she's quick enough!! BOL!!!

Miracle Is a Diary Pick Today!!!! Arooo! Arooo!!

Miracle, our special angel, is a diary pick today. Just two weeks ago she was Dogster's Dog of the Day and now she is honored again today. We still can't believe she crossed Rainbow Bridge. She is so alive in our hearts. There is not a day that goes by our mom talks to me about Miracle and how much she meant to us. We were so glad to make her happy here even if it was a short time. Me and my entire family are overjoyed at all the love that her furiends here on Dogster have bestowed upon her. They all made her a very happy little girl while on Earth and we know her star is shining bright in heaven as she smiles down on us.

God truly blessed us when he sent Miracle to be in our care. We only wish he would have let her stay a little longer. We love you Miracle!!!

I Want to Win The Gold Medal in SR Pawlympics Contest

Who do you think should WIN the GOLD MEDAL?

I hope you say me, the Spikesterman, but take a look at all the entries at Schnauzers Rule PAWlympics. My photo entry is on page four. Then please Vote For ME Here (I hope). You can see me doing one thing my mom says could make me a champion. I love to demolish plastic water bottles. If anyone gives me an empty water bottle the first thing I do is remove the cap, then the little plastic ring and then I crush the bottle until there's no air left. When I was younger I'd roll the bottle around for awhile, but now I get right down to business!

Chance - What a Great Name and Hurricane Gustav

Chance McGregor is in the final stages of cancer. He was diagnosed just over a year ago and has surpassed his survival prognosis. His pawrents created a page on Dogster as a true dedication to him. My, he could be my buddy Ernie's twin. He's an adorable Scottie who I pray makes history by beating the odds and living a longer life than predicted. I've got to go show him some love.

Goodbye to Hurricane Gustav. He finally left our area after dumping a whole lot of water on us today! First he breezed his way right over our heads here in Lafayette, LA leaving a whole lot of people without power and knocking down trees plus causing more damages to buildings, signs and fixtures, then he dumped heavy rains and stewed up some tornados that caused havoc throughout the state. We were under tornado warnings for most of the day, but we are glad he is gone!!

We were prepared to be without electricity, but we are lucky because that didn't happen to us. We live on what's called a hospital grid...one major hospital is very close to our house...we could see it over the back fence if not for the trees blocking the view. And we don't have power lines in our subdivision; our lines are underground.

The only good thing that came out of Gustav visiting our area is that mom got to stay home with us yesterday, today and she'll be home again tomorrow. Now we got Ike and Josephine out there headed toward the Gulf. We're praying those two hook up and fizzle out!

I Won First Place in The Kit Kat Club Enhanced Hat Contest

I won a star for placing first in the Kit Kat Club enhanced hat contest. Who would have ever thought I'd win....mom just helped me enter for the fun of it and boy, have we ever been having fun with that photo. I've never gotten so many compliments and questions about any one photo before!! I wonder why?? One of my furiends even asked if I was okay...mom chuckled over that one.

My good buddy Ernie was named "HONORARY MEMBER OF THE WEEK" in the Kit Kat Club. He's my un-Schnauzer twin and a wonderful furiend! Way to go Ernie, my bud! We're like peas in a pod, two twin doggies having the times of our lives!

Gotta go...mom says it's din-din time (isn't that how Morris the Cat used to get called for his meals)? We're not cats, but we know what it means!

One More Plea Before The Month Ends

Pawlease all my furiends....Gustav is looming down upon us here, but I'm begging ya'll to go vote for my video cause today is the last day. Just click on the Fido photo here or the link in yesterday's diary.

Also, check out my diary and vote for Anastasia in the Snobby Dogs contest...it's the last day for her to win also and she is coming in second to a puppy. PAWLEASE help her out. And, don't forget to vote for our little furiend Jelly...link in yesterday's diary.

I hope to be back posting after Gustav passes. We're all praying the storm doesn't hit us too hard.

Get Out The Votes and Pray For Our Dear Furiend Lexie

Hello all my furiends!! Today is Saturday and we are being threatened by Hurricane Gustav. Mom's running around the house figuring what to put together in an "emergency pack" and is in a "tizzy."

I can't play on the computer very much today because of all the activity around here, but I want to put in some plugs for myself and other furiends who are in some contests.

My little furiend Jelly is in a photo contest which ends on September 5th so pawlease everybody Vote For Jelly Here and make her a winner!!!

Miracle's boyfriend's sister has only one more day to win the Snobby Dog's contest. She really needs all of us to rally behind her and bring her over the finish line. Click HERE then vote for Anastasia....her picture is the first one on the page. You only have to confirm by e-mail for the vote to accept, but PAWLEASE hurry up and vote for her. Also beg for your furiends to vote too with all the email addresses they can use. Miracle won this contest last month because of all our Dogster furiends.

Let's all GET OUT THE VOTES and rally behind these beautiful doggies!

And....don't forget to vote for my video by clicking ME dueling with a crawfish so I can win a trip to L.A. then I can visit all my California furiends and be a star. As you can see I'm already dressed up for the part too!!! Ar000-Arooo!!

Also....keep our dear furiend Lexie in your prayers since she is now at the doggie hospital undergoing tests to find out why she's not feeling well. Let's all light candles and pray that she recovers quickly.

My New Look

For all my furiends wondering what has happened to me, I've entered a hat contest, but kinda got carried away in the process. Anyway, I'm a cool dude now with my bling-bling stuff....fedora hat, rose colored glasses (these were the only glasses that would fit my face cause all the others were way t0o big and covered my head....just think of John Conlee's "Rose Colored Glasses" song), my martini, cigar, spotlight and mirrored ball. Perfect get up for the Kit Kat Club!!

I think I've got a good chance at that contest, but wouldn't it be even cooler to be a finalist and win the Fido contest too!! Wow...a trip to L.A. Don't I look like I'm ready in my cool outfit!!??

My link is still here:
http://www.worldwidefido.com/watch/3126/spike-sheba-a nd-the-crawfish

And, I want all my furiends reading this post to go vote for Jelly at
http://www.winnipegfreepress2.com/canineidol/index.php?a ction=details&id=1423 and my good friend Anastasia in the Snobby Dogs Contest cause she's running a close second. We gotta make her a winner this month...Bo is her brother and was also Miracle's boyfriend. The link is http://www.snobbydogs.com/contest_vote.cfm and hers is the first photo.

Spike
(dreaming of big winnings)

This Is My Home....If You Don't Like It You Know Where The- Door Is

I got this from my good buddy the Dukester. This is exactly how my pawrents feel so I'm posting it here for them.

I love my dogs,
This is their home
from which I hope they'll never roam.
They're faithful friends,
I love them best.
This is their home,
you are a guest.
If dogs to you
are just a peve,
then by all means
feel free to leave.

Miracle Pupdate - Saturday - August 16, 2008

It's just amazing how the power of the paw works. Mom picked up Miracle today and brought her home. Of course she was gone just about all day since that's a 5 hour round-trip and she ran into bad weather so it took longer.

But we are all so happy tonight to be one big happy fur family again. Miracle's back in her bed, but she's sleeping a lot and not up to posting much yet. The vet said she must rest for the next fourteen days. She goes back to the regular vet here on Monday to have her PCV checked again. In ten days she'll get the staples removed and then probably follow up a few more times to make sure her body will produce the red blood cells. Right now she's on Prednisone to help the immune system. Mom has a two page report from today and one thing that caught our attention is Miracle's bone marrow is showing a slight response.

We are all so thankful for our Dogster furiends who keep praying, lighting candles, sending pawsitive thoughts and everything else they do because it is working. We cross our paws every day more than once a day then before we crash for the night that our little sister pulls through this difficult time.

Spike

Miracle Update - Friday Night

Our little Miracle has to spend another night away from home, but she's being monitored closely by some wonderful folks at the LA Veterinary Referral Center. Mom got an update early this morning. She said the vet told her Miracle ate really good this morning. The urinalysis looked good, but there was some protein in the urine. They will run further tests to see if the kidney is releasing the protein.

The bone marrow tests came back late, but shows that Miracle has anemia....her body is destroying her red blood cells. They will suppress her immune system by giving her steroids, watch her PVC levels throughout the night and promised to call mom between 8 and 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. We are all praying real hard here tonight that all goes well and mom can go pick her up tomorrow.

Once again...me and my whole family, humans included, want to thank all of our Dogster furiends for showing so much love and sending prayers for Miracle's recovery. God Bless each and every one.

Hugs and licks to all
Spike

Update on Miracle

My little adopted sister, Miracle is away from home again tonight. To make a long story short she went back to the regular vet this morning for monitoring after her surgery last night (spleen removed because it was lumpy/bumpy and “grossly engorged” (vet’s words). Her red blood cells are wreaking havoc in her little body. The paxel count is very low so at about 10:15 this morning the vet called mom to let her know the count dropped again and Miracle needed another blood transfusion. Thankfully about thirty minutes after that call the vet called back to say the paxel level was at 20% which wasn’t as bad, but suggested she go to a specialist for further diagnosis and have a bone marrow biopsy done.

Mom took Miracle to Mandeville which is a two and a half hour drive from home. She is spending the night there for observations and for results of the biopsy so the docs know what kind of treatment to follow up with. Mom is worried, but said Miracle was alert during the ride there and even nudged her hand for more petting. Mom got back home at 7:30 tonight with red puffy eyes and tired, but took time to hug us and tell us all about the day’s events. Sheba and I are crossing our paws and praying real hard that Miracle gets over this little bump in the road and is home again real soon. She’s a real trooper and a fighter too. She’s been through an awful lot for a little girl of 15 pounds. Mom says thank you all for the continued prayers, messages and love you’ve sent to Miracle and our family. When Miracle gets home, and we hope it’s soon, she will be posting a big long diary entry explaining all she’s been through the last few days. She may have to stay in Mandeville a couple nights into the weekend.

Thank you so much to everyfur who lit candles for Miracle. We wuf you!! We urge everybody to light a candle in prayer for our little Miracle’s speedy recovery.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l =eng&gi=SRule

Hugs and licks to all my Dogster friends,
Spikester

Worldwide Fido Contest Ends on August 31st

I've added a direct connect to my video to make it easier for all my furiends to vote for me and bring me one step closer to winning a trip to L.A. BOL!!! Arooo-Arooo! Just click on that big purple and gold doggie picture here on my page and voila!! You can watch me and Sheba teasing a crawfish or is he teasing us??!! We'll never tell. And for those who have asked neither Sheba or I get hurt in this video nor does the crawfish who got away into the pool. Hey...he could have ended up in the boiling pot of water like most crawfish do!!

Anyway, right now it's every Fido for himself and I need everyfur's vote each and every single day!

In September, the Fido folks will narrow down the entries to 24 Finalists, the top 4 dogs from each of the 6 categories, based on everybody's votes. So, pawlease all my furiends....make me be the top dog in the Most Outrageous category. After that 24 dogs will compete for the chance to travel to LA and get one step closer to becoming Worldwide Fido 2008! Wouldn't that be cool?! I could visit with some of my Dogster pals while there too.

Fido folks say the winners of each category will be revealed on Nick at Nite during a special televised event, The Worldwide Fido Awards. How cool would that be!!! Just to see me in the top dogs and have my face plastered all over Nick at Nite would be super duper!!

I'm leaving it all in the good paws of my fantastic furiends to push me to the top.

Crossing my paws until September 1st!!

Spikester
:)

Congratulations, Miracle

Congrats to my little sis for being selected as a Dogster Daily Diary pick today. WTG!!! BOL!!!! I'm so proud of you. I'll even let you go through the doggie door ahead of me if you're quick enough.

While sis is having so much fun in the spotlight I'm having a blast partying on Mondays at the Kit Kat Club. It's a lot of fun and I've made some cool furiends, including cats---yes, I have cat furiends!! Duke gave me a really pawesome Steve McQueen bike he used in the Great Escape movie. Thank you, Dukester, my special bud!!! I'm taking Jessi for a spin on it tonight.

I'm also catching crawfish or at least trying to in my video contest entry at
http://www.worldwidefido.com/watch/3126/spike-sheba-and-th e-crawfish and my little sis Miracle is entered in the most cutest over there at
http://www.worldwidefido.com/watch/4985/tossing-pillow. I'm hoping everybody who reads my diary will go vote for me every day and also vote for Miracle's video so one of us can win a trip to L.A.

Life is good.
Spikester

I Got A Bike

Aroo! Aroooooo!
My furiend Duke gave me a bike....I'm going to use it for getting to the Monday night Kit Kat Club dances then switch back to Carson's cool creation because I am king of my yard after all. I don't want anybody to forget that, but I'm also a cool biker dude now!

Miracle's still in the lead for the snobby dog photo contest with only six days to go. We hope she's declared the winner on Saturday. We don't know how we're doing in the Fido contest, but keep voting every day and encourage all of our furiends to throw us bones over there. Someone posted a comment wondering if anyone was harmed while mom was taping mine. I wasn't hurt, Sheba wasn't hurt and the crawfish wasn't either because he got away into the pool. That's a better ending for him than the steaming pot, don't you think?! Mom should have posted the fact the crawfish would have had a worse fate in boiling water than me trying to toss him around a bit.

This summer has been hot and humid, but we'll take that any day over a hurricane. We could use a little breeze.

Sad News To Report

We are all praying for Georgie and her family during this difficult time.

Georgie posted this message in her diary yesterday:
"My 19 year old human brother, Andrew, crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. He was broadsided by an SUV while riding his motorcycle. We love you & miss you sweet brother.

Georgie & family"

We lit a candle and hope everybody reading my diary will do the same. Candles may be lit at the following address:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l= eng&gi=SRule

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Georgie and her family.

Spikeman

Times Square Celebrity Dogs

Miracle's been having a super week after being chosen as Schnauzer of the Week on Schnauzers Rule. We all got our five seconds of fame when our pictures were displayed in Times Square last month. Now we have the moment captured in a snapshot.

Mine is here:
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/dogpark/TimesSquare.as px?imgurl=http://llydtimesquare.s3.amazonaws.com/P50413_1711 53000.jpg


Miracle's is here:
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/dogpark/TimesSquare.as px?imgurl=http://llydtimesquare.s3.amazonaws.com/P50425_1711 53100.jpg


Sheba's is here:
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/dogpark/TimesSquare.as px?imgurl=http://llydtimesquare.s3.amazonaws.com/P50405_1711 53000.jpg

Mommy Entered Me and Miracle In Another Contest

All my furiends can vote here once a day. It would be so cool to win this one.

Miracle's in the most cutest video which is perfect for her:
http://www.worldwidefido.com/watch/4985/tossing-pillow

I'm in the Most Outrageous video: http://www.worldwidefido.com/watch/3126/spike-sheba-and-the- crawfish

I won last December for this video entry, but the prizes weren't as awesome as they are now!!

Somebody Appreciates My Demands

BOL!!!! Sweet Sadie appreciates my demand for treats at 10:00 a.m. sharp and 2:00 p.m. sharp. If my pawrents have forgot I will begin to remind them by slowly making little huffy puffy noises, then if they've ignored this I will begin to make little arooo noises, then back up making all those huffy puffy and arooo noises at the same time until one of them pays attention and gets my treats. When I posted my funniest habit she replied that I'm a demanding pup, but she thinks that's cute. My dad doesn't always think it's cute because I will not let up until my demands are met!

4th of July

We were lucky because not many people were shooting off fireworks last night. Not sure why, but I'm not going to question that because it made me very HAPPY. That is one thing I cannot tolerate and when those firecrackers start popping I'm looking for mom. She always keeps me safe!
Yesterday I donned my new collar and 4th of July gear that Miracle's boyfriend Bo sent to us. I do say so myself it looked great on me!

Miracle was named Schnauzer of the Week in the Schnauzer Rules group. How cool is that? It looks like she may win the snobby dogs contest this month too. I'm very proud of her. She also beat me out in the number of Guestbook entries. Oh well....that was just between us doggies. Mom gave us all something special yesterday. We each had a chopped boiled egg and a small hamburger. We all gobbled up everything like it was our last meal!

I've Only Got Two More Days To Win

It doesn't look like I'll win this one because Miracle's got over twice as many Guestbook entries as me. Well....I am ahead of Sheba by 8 entries. If anyone takes a peek at my diary before Friday the Fourth of July please sign my Guestbook.

Hey....you know what's cool is that I have two cats who signed my book! Furby and Sam are some good looking kitty cats. Sam looks like a cat my mom's friend used to have...his name was Midnight. Guess they're teasing me and looking for a wild chase. Mom says the cats may come out on the winning end because they've got sharp claws. I'll probably never find out cause she won't let me out in the front yard. I can only watch through the windows and storm door.

My Adopted Sister Is In A Photo Contest

Our mom entered Miracle in a doggie contest this month. I hope she wins. I just read her diary and she said she's not sure why mommy picked that picture of her yawning, but guess it had something to do with being a snobby dog and the caption she posted below the photo. It's because she's pampered and getting more spoiled by the day!! But being the super great big brother that I am (I'm actually younger, but bigger) I will be rooting her on to the winner's circle.

http://www.snobbydogs.com/photo.cfm?id=00046E8D-D A63-1866-A1B08873D18E006C

I'm Going To Get My Few Seconds Of Fame Tomorrow

I'm going to be a star in Times Square tomorrow!!! My Mom entered me in this Purina dog contest. On June 19th I will be featured on one of the digitial displays in Times Square, New York!!!!

My mug will appear between 3:30 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. We were told this is an estimate so if you get a chance be on the lookout for me!! Sheba and Miracle will also appear between the same time frame. Actual times may vary.

You can view the event live on longliveyourdog.com by clicking http://www.longliveyourdog.com/dogpark/timessquare.aspx.

If we miss this event Purina will send us a snapshot of our "big moment in Times Square" to mommy's email.

Here's a link to my page: http://www.longliveyourdog.com/dogpark/album/40031-16915.asp x

I hope all our furiends get a chance to see us. One of our other Dogster furiends, Montgomery will be on between 9:45am and 10:05am Eastern time...best estimate.

Congratulations to Harvey Wallbanger's mom, Becky....Harvey's diary is one of today's picks! I love you Harvey!

I'm Spoiled and Need Some Attention

Because I'm feeling a little competitive with my adoptive sister, Miracle and am a wee bit jealous of all the attention showered on her, I'm starting something new here. I do love her, but it's time I got back some of the attention. Mom said it was okay, but said there won't be any prizes...just hugs and kisses to whoever has the most signatures by July 4th, Independence Day!

Miracle has 21 friend's signatures in her guestbook, I only have three (including me) and Sheba has three (hers are all family).

I'm inviting everybody to sign my guestbook so I can be declared the winner on July 4th. It will show my family that I've got real friends and fans too.

Mom lets Miracle have more PC time than me and Sheba because she thinks I'd prefer watching the yard for critters, which I do a lot of, and Sheba's old and sleeps a lot.

I must say my good buddy, Carson made my day when he sent me my very own personalized photo. Yippee....yard dog is exactly what I am and one day I'm going to catch me a bird too.

Don't get me wrong....I love Miracle even though she won't play rough with me. Mom stops me and says to stop playing rough, that Miracle will play after she gains a little more weight. I'm for feeding her some Twinkies, brownies, doughnuts, whatever it takes to put the pounds on!!! Hee-hee-hee.

Wellness Tips we can learn from a Dog Author unknown

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Let the experience of fresh air in your face be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
When it's in your best interests, practice obedience.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
If you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing, run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

I Need A Little More Attention So I'm Gonna Do Some Bragging- Tonight

Well, it seems my new little buddy here, Miracle, is getting a lot more attention than me these days, but I kinda understand. I must admit I am a bit jealous even though mom pampers me too. It's just not enough so I decided to do some bragging on myself tonight while Miracle is taking a nap!

I won most Outrageous Video for the month of December 2007 with my Crawfish video entry on the fido site. I also won honorable mention for the month of November 2007 because I was neck and neck with other dogs in October and November. They sent me a cool doggie bowl, and ID tag, a tennis ball, a certificate, a t-shirt for mom, a lanyard and a gift certificate to get a new collar. The fido site merged with Nick at Nite and things changed. My award doesn't show any more and they have a strange pug puppy in my photo album over there. I'm not complaining too much cause he's a cute little fellow, but it's not me folks! Fido is the reason I ended up here on Dogster. If you get a chance check me out over there:
http://www.worldwidefido.com/dog/1269/spike

Hey.. .I also won a Halloween contest in 2005 through one of our local radio stations. That got me a $25 gift certificate at a pet store in town. Mom's just gonna have to get Miracle off this computer long enough so I can find those pictures and post them here on my site. My Halloween photo is posted at the Fido site. I'm gonna pester mom to let me have more computer time....Miracle's just gonna have to learn how to share time in here!

My mom won some cool prizes for us at another ritzy pet store which has since closed. The contest had nothing to do with us. She just entered in a drawing and had a choice of which place to shop. She chose the pet store of course. It catered to those small Yorkie doggies with their cute little clothes. She got us some neat stuff and some things for herself too. The prize was a $250 gift certificate! How cool is that!!??

Beware....I Am King Of My Yard!!!

Whoa! Wait just a minute...what's this about Miracle wanting to teach me some manners? I love my new forever companion, but I am exercising my God-given rights/talents by keeping MY yard free of unwanted critters and that includes the birds.

I've been here for over eight years and no matter what mom says, even though she does feed them birds, I don't want them in MY yard, period. Why did she give me a dog tag that reads "King of The Yard" if she don't respect my territory out there?! Or how does she expect me to keep my vigilant patrol if it don't include getting those critters who trespass on my domain!? Just let me get ahold of one of those birdies and we'll see who's the boss (don't tell mom).

A great big kudos to my furiend Buddy Grau who just nabbed his first bird!! Go get 'em tiger! Keep up the good work.

The Animal Rescue Site Helps Feed Homeless Pets and You Can- Help For Free

Click here for an easy and free way to help care for those in need at The Animal Rescue Site!

Miracle was adopted in February and we are enjoying having her here. She said it was time for me and Sheba to start a diary so we thought it best to begin with something dear to our hearts. It's especially fitting since Miracle was once a doggie in dire need. Now we click every day to help feed homeless pets and hope that all our furiends will do the same. If you choose to follow suit, thank you so much and thanks for reading this extremely long entry.

The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary.
Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals' renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League , and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood. org foundation.

How You Can Help In Mere Seconds — Every Day
The Animal Rescue Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness and prevent rescued animal deaths every day — through easy and quick online activities.

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those most in need. Every click counts in the life of a rescued animal.


You Can Help Even More
In addition to clicking the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button, visitors can help more by shopping in The Animal Rescue Site store . With each item purchased, shoppers generate funds for the feeding and care of animals in shelters and sanctuaries. The store offers a wide array of items to show your support. Our mommy bought a few things for us and said this will be a great place to do some Christmas shopping this year. Get good gifts for family (human and furfriends) and plus help feed those in need.