Vacation? Without moi?

Mom and Dad have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Seems they’ve been planning a “vacation” and are getting ready for it. I know what a vacation is, but I don’t understand how they can have a vacation without me. Seems they are planning to go to California for a week or so and have no plans to take any of us dogs along. Now, I can see not taking Ollie or Finnegan, but why leave me at home? I’d enjoy the 80 degree, humidity free San Diego weather more then they ever would…and the beach too! Mom said that they are going to leave Ollie and I with Grandma and Grandpa and Finnegan has to got to the kennel. I don’t think I’ve been away from mom for this long since they brought me home to live with them. I sure am going to miss them and I know mom is going to miss me…she keeps telling me so. I keep telling her that there is only one solution for this…take me too, but she says they cannot. Hub-bub.
Anyway, I won’t be checking in with any of you friends for a bit over a week or so cause grandma won’t let me on her computer there…something about my nails on the keyboard…sheez! So friends, take care and I’ll see everyone in just over a week!!

Have a good weekend everyone!

My dad did make it home, by some miracle. I’ll never know how he gets around without me. Of course, maybe its all a big scam…maybe he just goes around the block and sits all day waiting until 4pm when he usually comes home and then walks in the door like he’s been at work all day…yeah, that must be it because I’m sure he needs me to navigate for him otherwise.
Anyway, have I mentioned that I’ve been having skin trouble? Well, I have and mom decided she was going to wage a war again the hot spots and she is finally winning. I was taking benedryl everyday but now I’m on an antibiotic and it seems to be clearing up. Also, I get to have bath in oatmeal shampoo twice a week. Yes, I said, I get to…I like my oatmeal baths. For example, mom was kinda disappointed yesterday morning when she ran a bath for herself and went into her closet to get her clothes, I jumped into the bathtub. When she came in she said “Aw, Mackie!- Have you stolen mommies bath?” and I wagged my tail to say that I had which of course just made her laugh. I knew then that I was in and I’d get a good oatmeal scrubbing. Oh, it felt so good! This morning, Finnegan got a bath because mom said something about him going on a trip with them tomorrow. I can’t imagine that they would take that little punk and leave me at home.
(Note from mom: As I have mentioned before, Mackie is a terrible traveler! He has too much anxiety and is hard to handle on long trips…Finnegan is a good traveler and rides very nicely.)
Seems mom and dad are going to some family reunion in Pennsylvania tomorrow and my grandma is going too. Oh how I love my grandma. I know grandma will talk them into letting me go too…right, grandma??? ….grandma???...hello.., grandma??...This isn’t looking good for me.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Sitting at home....

I’m not really sure what is going on today because I’m at home and no one is around. Well, Ollie and Finnegan are home, but I mean people. Usually, when mom and dad go to work, Ollie and I go to grandma and grandpa’s house, but dad didn’t take us with him today and I’m worried. He may not know where he is, or how to get home! You see, I usually stand on the center console in the Rover and tell dad how to get places and without me, we may never see him again. Still not sure why we couldn’t go to grandpa’s today but now I’m most worried that we’ll never see dad again. He certainly can’t find his was around the sprawling city that we live in without me there as a guide.

(Mom: Mackie, you dad can get around fine. He was driving for years before you came around and besides, Easton is a very small little town.)

Don’t listen to mom. She has no idea what I’m talking about. Besides, it took me years to train her before I ever had to start with dad. Sheez, people.

Have a good weekend everyone!!
I’m not really sure what is going on today because I’m at home and no one is around. Well, Ollie and Finnegan are home, but I mean people. Usually, when mom and dad go to work, Ollie and I go to grandma and grandpa’s house, but dad didn’t take us with him today and I’m worried. He may not know where he is, or how to get home! You see, I usually stand on the center console in the Rover and tell dad how to get places and without me, we may never see him again. Still not sure why we couldn’t go to grandpa’s today but now I’m most worried that we’ll never see dad again. He certainly can’t find his was around the sprawling city that we live in without me there as a guide.

(Mom: Mackie, you dad can get around fine. He was driving for years before you came around and besides, Easton is a very small little town.)

Don’t listen to mom. She has no idea what I’m talking about. Besides, it took me years to train her before I ever had to start with dad. Sheez, people.

Have a good weekend everyone!!
v

Happy Birthday to some of my bestest pals!!

It's been weeks now since I've written, and about the same time
since I have even visited my blog or anyone else's. Sorry I've been so
out of it. My little brother Finnegan (that's him running in the picture)had his first birthday on August 2 and mom and I agreed that we didn't feel much like doing a blog celebration so soon after losing dear Oscar. Since Oscar was just a
little pup too, it seemed kinda weird to say good-bye to a good friend and
celebrate something within a few days.

Finnegan did have a nice birthday though. Mom took him off to camp and
they had a birthday party for him there with all of his doggie camp
pals. He even had frosty-paws and came home wearing a bandana that they
gave him that said Birthday Boy! I have only one thing to say-
S-P-O-I-L-E-D!!!
Finnegan was so tired from all the play and his birthday
party that he was too tired to come out of his crate for dinner that
night! Heheheh! Mom says it was the single quietest night we've have
since Finnegan came along! So anyway, my little brother is growing up.
He's about as tall as I am now, but much slimmer still. Finn weighs in
at 20 lbs and, well, let's just say I'm a lot more than that ; ) Finnegan and I get along famously. We love to romp and play and wrestle (I always win of course!) but he is a fast little guy and I can never catch him if he doesn't want me too.



Anyway, I want to say Happy Birthday to my great pal, Bogart and Jackson! Yesterday was Bogarts 2nd birthday and today is Jackson's birthday. Happy birthday pals! I hope you have as much fun as Finney did and that you get frosty paws and lots of lovin'!!!

OSCAR (Sherifs Sundance Kid -May, 2006-July-2007)

I am in total shock. I just can't believe what I have just read. I got a message from Maggie to check Oscar's blog. I am so sad to say that the news is not good. Our dear friend Oscar passed away on Saturday morning. He had been sick only a short time and still unknown exactly what caused it. He was so young. He was only 1 in May, just a puppy.
We are so sad and are crying for Katy and Martin because we know how much this hurts and how sad they must be. Please join us in sending healing thoughts and prayers to them.
Rest in peace, dear buddy. You will be missed.

Swimmers!

Mom has been pretty busy lately working and stuff so she and dad have worked out a pretty nice system to make it up to us. Every Saturday night for the past few weeks, mom and dad have been taking us out to some park like place where we can see people and boats and all kinds of stuff. The best part about it is that mom and dad let us get in the water...well, that is they let Finnegan and I get in the water and lately just Finnegan because I have been having skin problems and mom won't let me in. Ollie doesn't have much interest in the water and besides if he gets wet he is wet for a week. (Well that is an exaggeration but mom always says it, so I will too!)

Little Finnegan has decided he really likes the water and has been playing in my sprinkler out back too. I may have to eat him for this. It is most definitely MY sprinkler and I didn't see anything about sharing him in the agreement mom and I had when she asked if she could bring home another WFT. Sheez.

On a bad note, I've been having skin problems all of the sudden. Mom has always felt lucky because she knows of so many WFT's who have skin problems and I have always done so well. Not really sure why I have them. Mom and Dad have had me on a really high quality food and treats too, but still I have been getting hot spots. Mom got a new bag of Natural Balance Potato and Duck formula for allergies and we'll see if that helps. I sure hope so; I'm tired of being itchy!

Sparky's Story

Today I'm going to break the rules. Sometimes it just has to be done. My mom wants to tell you all about a special little rescue dog that was here a few days ago and the wonderful people who adopted him.

I'd like to share with you all a pretty nice story - I think, anyway.
In late June I got an email from a lady who said she saw a wire fox terrier
in a shelter in Delaware. Since I am the Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Delaware volunteer for Fox Terrier rescue I called the shelter to
inquire about him. The said they had him but it was the first day he was
eligible for adoption so they wouldn't work with rescue. I asked for
them to take my name and number and to call me should anything change and
asked them to please not put him down if he is not adopted. Some
shelters don't like to work with rescue groups so I figured it was one of
those cases and thought I'd call back in a week and start bothering
them again. Last Friday I got the call from the shelter. He had been up
for adoption for a week and no one was interested so they were going ot
put him to sleep. I was out of town in the Southwestern corner of PA.
I told them I couldn't come but the lady promised they would hold him
for me until Tuesday. So Tuesday I left early from work and drove to Wilmington DE to get the fella. He was in awful condition. Filthy, matted hair, feces all over
him, long toenails, stunk to high-heaven, had dirt and wax and God
only knows caked in his ears and was flea ridden. Amazing that he was up
for adoption in this condition. I told them who I was and they asked if
I had seen the dog, when I said I had they asked if I still wanted him.
(Imagine that...). His name was Sparky and he was an owner surrender
because the owners said they were moving and could not take him with them. (the
very best thing that could have ever happened to him) I paid the
fee and got him out of there. He had a full out panic attack being put into the
crate in my car. When I got him home I interacted with him a bit and took
him to the basement to get cleaned up. I worked on him for about three
hours. I clippered him down, trimmed his nails, but out the matts and
gave him a flea dip. He never flinched. He was perfectly fine with me doing all of this to him. When he got out of the sink he ran around the basement totally excited and ran over and wrapped his little paws around me and literally hugged me. Wow. What a boy. Hard to think that something this sweet could have been treated so poorly. Soon I found out a few things about him. He has terrible separation anxiety. No way to tell is this is a longtime issue or just caused by his recent he could leap a foot foot fence with no problem at all. Great Houdini. But he is a sweet, easy, calm dog who got along beautifully with my three boys and had a gentle, special little soul. Amazing little boy especially considering all he'd been through.
Since I already have the three boys at home (and are transporting two smooths over
the weekend) I couldn't keep him long. Thankfully a lady who has helped with rescue offered to foster him for me. Meanwhile another rescuer sent me three of the apps she
had on file, one of whom already had the vet check, additional reference
and home visit done.One of the apps really stood out. A couple, she is a retired registered nurse, he is a physician. She has has wires, schnauzers, scotties, and welshies. Some of them were rescues throughout the years. I spoke with her by phone she was touched by his story and was concerned that he had to go to foster when he already had separation anxiety. I sent her a picture of him and she liked him. This was a wonderful woman. She and her husband really wanted him. We discussed having her come over the weekend, but instead she and her husband drove 2.5 hours to meet me with him last night. I could tell by her face the minute she saw him, she was in love with him. Not long after our meeting, I said to them, "He's such a great little easy boy. I think you will grow to love him" and the man said "I think I already do". So sweet and touching. He is going to a wonderful, safe, secure, patient home and his whole life just turned around from horrible to marvelous in 48 hours. No question that he will have issues that he will have to overcome, but I really think this guy has found a gift. Its amazing to me how things can change so quickly because of wonderful people like this who are anxious to open their homes and hearts to a little dog that needs a little extra. Just amazing.
My husband went with me last night. He has seen dogs come through the house, he knows about a lot of the work that is involved with them and knows that oftentimes I'm not where he wants me to be because I'm transporting some dog or something. Last night after Sparky drove off with his new family, Steve said he finally understands why people do this.

Mackie's mommy

So there is Sparky's story, via my mom. I have to admit, he was a nice little guy. I tried to get her to take Ollie to those nice people instead, but she said they wanted a wft, not a Bearded Collie...duh, mom...doesn't everyone?

A game to learn more about me!!

Oh, Oh, Oh- I am all over the new game that I saw on Bussie's website (and Romeo's and Ozzy's too!)
Here are my answers:

1. Your age? 6 (I'll be 7 in November)

2. Your age when came to live with your people? 2.5 years old- mommy and daddy rescued me!

3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now? Blue with a celtic print on it

4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with? Um, Um,...too many! Aunt Michelle, Grandma Sheila, Grandma Eve, Grandpa Dan and oh, yes, I do love my Aunty Robin too!

5. How much do you weigh? Oh I hate this question! About 33 lbs

6. Most expensive thing you’ve ever chewed up? I pretty much stick with my toys..

7. Do you like other Dogs? I like some, mistrust most...

8. Who is your best non-human friend? My dear little pain in the butt brother, Finnegan!

9. Squeaky Toys or Tennis Balls? Squeakies inside the house, tennis balls outside!

10. Do you like to be brushed? I like to have my back brushed. I'll bite you if you try to brush my back legs....grrrrr!

11. Peanut Butter or Cheese? CHEESE!!?/ Did you say CHEESE??? (Where is it??)

12. Do your people cut your toenails? Yup and they stink at it...good thing they have that stop bleeding stuff or I'd die from a loss of blood.

13. Any formal education? Yup!

14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny? Both! I have times of doing both and I'm good at both!

15. Five nicknames your people call you? Mommy's Baby, Mackie Doodle, Punk, Bud, Baby Boy

16. What is your best trick? Sitting pretty (but I am also excellent at just hanging around and looking cool!)

17. Do you like kitties? They are very yummy!

18. What did you have for breakfast? Wellness dog food and tuna fish.

19. Can you hunt (aka have you ever killed anything living)? If so, what? Oh, I'm a good hunter! I've killed bunnies, birds, moles, a lizard and a squirrel!

20. When & why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.? Last fall for my ear infections.

21. Where do you sleep at night? In the spare room on the bed. (I'm not allowed to sleep with mom and dad anymore since I bite them in my sleep...)

22. Do you like to swim? Uppy!

23. Can you make puppies? Nope. (There are too many puppies anyway!)

24. Do you give kisses? Oh yes! My Aunt Amy says I give rape kisses cause I'll hold you down and kiss you wheather you like it or not!! (You'll like it, I promise!) heheheh!

25. Can you potty on command? I'm open to suggestions.

26. To Cuz or not to Cuz? Oh yes, I LOVE my cuz ball. I eat its feet off athen I de squeak it and then I squeeze it and blow the air out of it! What a fun toy!!

How humiliating!

Mo's been on a kick lately. Last week I got a haircut and nw this week mom gave me a bath and ANOTHER haircut!! Can you believe that? And she massacred me! I admit I don't let mom brush my back legs...I HATE it! She can brush the rest of me and thats okay...on second thought, maybe not, I won't let her brush my belly either, but when she gets the brush out, I come running. I love to have my back bushed and my mustashe is pretty good too...I can't say I care for her brushing my front paws, but dare not touch my back legs or I'll snap and if her hand is in the way, well so be it. (Yes, I have to admit I will bite when provoked) (Note from mom: It doesn't take much to "provoke" Mackie. Sometimes he just gets grouchy and we all stay out of his way! He also hates to be told "no" and of course having his back legs brushed sets him off...let's see so does having his feet touched while he's sleeping) Enough of that mom! I'm trying to tell everyone what a horrible job you did on my hair. So anyway, because I won't let mom brush my back legs regularly, my hair was matted. So mom decided to put me ont eh grooming table in the basement and muzzle me! The indignity!!! Then she proceeded to brush my back legs before she realized that a brush would'nt get through it! heheheh! Then she tried the Coat King to no avail, then the matt cutter and I have to admit here that I let out a little cry (just to jerk her chain of course, it never really hurt!) and she gave in. I thought that meant she would let me off that darn table, but instead she shaved my back legs!! Urgh! A WFT missing his rear furnishings! I look silly! I look bow-legged! (note from mom: He does look silly and he looks FAT!!heheheh But I had no choice. This is a good lesson to Mackie that he is just going to have to let me brush his back legs when the rest of him is getting brushed!)
I'm humiliated....

Where in the heck was I ????

I can tell you that I'm not so happy. Seems Mom and Dad went to Philly to see a bike race and visit Daniella, Ron and Axel and guess who stayed home? ME! What's worse is who do they take with them?? FINNEGAN!!! This is an outrage! This has got to stop! This little fella comes into the house, and don't get me wrong, I like the little guy, but to take him and leave me at home???

(Note from mom: Mackie is a TERRIBLE traveler! He whines and prances and is so much work! Besides, he would never be able to be around all the noise from the bike race- the sirens, the motorcycles, the loud music....Mackie doesn't do well at all arund these things despite what he's telling you!)

Anyway, I see on Axel's blog that they had a wonderful time! I think they have A LOT of making up to do! I WANT ICE CREAM!!!

Its the weekend! Woohoo! Its the weekend! Woohoo! Its the weekend...you get the idea, right!
I'm hoping mom will be home more this weekend then she has in the past several weeks. Seems there is always something that takes her and dad away from home. I know she said she was going to volunteer at some adopt-a-thon on Saturday to help find homeless dogs a new place to live. As long as that isn't our house, that's okay by me!
Have a good weekend everyone~!~

Little brothers!

So I've been pretty busy being a big brother to Finnegan. He relies on me to play with him, run with him, wrestle with him, go with him on walks and generally tell him how things go around here. He's a pretty quick learner and I'd admit I have grown to love the little fella. Here is a picture of me kissing Finn. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, I 'm all about the girls and all (Ms. Sunshade, Opy, Banba!!) but still a little brother needs to know he's loved sometimes. Besides, he gives me something to do and is pretty good for me waist line too! So pretty much havig a little brother rocks! Actually I like it even better than blogging so I'm sorry that I don't blog so much anymore, playng with Finn is so much more fun!!

Farewell Friend

It is with heavy heart I have to tell you of a great Wire Fox Terrier's passing. Nigel Precott -"American-born statesdog, philosopher, adventurer, essayist, barrister, mixologist, canine behaviorist, pioneering dog blogger and ball player (he sometimes went by "Shoeless Nige") died Saturday, April 28, 2007 in his doggie dad's arms at a veterinary clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida.
He died of complications from living an extremely long and happy life.
He was somewhere between 15-and-a-half or 17.
Nigel was timeless, but he was not ageless." Please visit Nigel's amazing blog to read about this boy. Wow. It left me speechless and that's saying something for a WFT.
Nigel's blog will now be penned by his little sis, Gimlet who is also a writer extraordinaire.
Rest in peace dear friend. Here's to an amazing life.

The new puppy rocks!!

Sorry its been so long since I've updated, having a new brother is exhausting. It seems mom relies on Ollie and I to do some babysitting and I have to correct Finnegan occasionally when he misbehaves. But really, all and all, we all love the new fella. Actually mom says she never expected it, but I will wrestle and run with him. I have yet to allow her to video tape it though. She has caught Ollie playing with him and Finnegan playing with one of our cousins, Cracker.
Who would have guessed that we would have loved him so?

It's MY ball!

Mom decided that I should put some photos of me and Finnegan on the blog. So, she asked us to go outside and play and be nice to each other. Only thing is though that Finnegan is still a silly puppy. Nevermind sitting still, mom can't get him to stop messing with me long enough to get a decent photo because I constantly have to defend my turf. Here the silly puppy thinks its a good idea to take my ball. Can you imagine? I have killed for less. (note from mom: Mackie hasn't actually KILLED anything except a squirrel, a few moles and a few bugs.)

So here I am with MY ball.


Then here is Finnegan with MY ball.

Here is Finnegan realizing that I see HIM WITH MY BALL.


Then this is what happens when Finnegan gets MY ball.


Get the idea?

Puppy update

So, I couldn't get my blogger to work! How frustrating! Sorry guys! Anyway, I wanted to say that things here are going along well. Finnegan is fitting in well and we really like him. He and Ollie are truly buds and love to run and run in the backyard. Mom loves Ollie for this as he tends to wear the puppy out so he sleeps better! As mom says, a tired puppy is a good puppy!
Here is a new photo of Finnegan looking very tired.
Anyway, mom was pretty happy to get a call on Sunday from Finnegan's breeder, Mary Raggett. Mary was just checking in on him and wanted to meet his new family.
Mary was really nice an sent a photo of Finn's mom. Her name is Edenshire Cricklewood Tufluv, but they call her Jade. What a girl!! She is a beauty!!
Also here is a photo of Finnegan's dad. His name is Dalriada's The Boss, but they call him Bruce. Funny how his name is "The Boss" since I everyone knows that I'm the boss!!! heheheh!

I can't seem to post!! URGH!!!

Finnegan, Begin-Again!!

Sorry I have been away from my bloggin' duties but I've been so busy! Thigs have really changed around here and I'm starting to understand what poor Miss Sunshade has been going through with Jaffa....mom went and did it...I told her not too....I begged her not to, but she did anyway...I have a new brother....
Everyone, meet Finnegan! I call him Finnegan Begin-Again!! He's a 7 month old WFT puppy that mom took in last week. Finnegan's name was Cheddar, but mom decided to change it, kinda like she did with my name when I came to live here. I used to be Buddy, but mom renamed me MacInturff after friends of her's and decided to call me Mackie. Anyway, back to ol'Finnegan. He's a complete fool! He runs and plays with no abandon! He does all kinds of things mom tells him not to do like climbing inside of the dishwasher, knocking over the trashcan, grabbing shoes and running off with them and I could keep going on and on...boy does mom have her hands full, and I do too! This little fella needs a big brother to teach him the ropes and to remind him of all the things other dogs (like me and Ollie) just won't put up with like jumping on our backs, stealing our toys, humping us and most importantly getting love from mom. That is a real no, no. Other than those things, we all get along well! He can be fun, I guess. He likes to play in the backyard and no I have someone else to blame for my stinkies!!!heheheh!
So, now you see why I haven't been around much. I have a full time job....urgh, mom. Don't you think she should have gotten my permission first? : )

Sleepy, clean boy!

True to her word, mom sent me for grooming on Wednesday. Boy am I tired from it! Grandma and grandpa laughed because when I came home I collapsed on the ottoman and didn’t get up until dad came to get me.
Anyway, mom says they did a good job on me, but she thinks they did a better job on my face last time. She says I look a bit like a schnauzer or a Lakeland Terrier. Oh well! As long as she doesn’t send me back!
I want to say special prayers for my new friend, Jackson. Jackson’s mommy said he has cancer on his parathyroid gland and that he gets surgery for it next week. The great news about this is that the cancer is very treatable, so we expect a full recovery for Jackson! Anyway, we’re praying for you buddy! I think that Jackson and I look a lot alike he could be the other long lost brother of me and Gussie!
Also, I wanted to say welcome back to my one and only WFT gal, Banba! I see on Banba’s blog that her mommy left her at home and made up for it by getting her a great big beef bone. I notice that I had to get bathed twice in a week and didn’t event get a beef bone. Urgh!

Have a good weekend everyone!!!