Our First Time in the Snow with Tiger and Princess

Yesterday we got our first snow of 2012. It was also our first time to have Tiger and Princess out in the snow. We were wondering how they would react to it, since our last dog, Millie, absolutely hated the snow.

I have to admit, I was very surprised that after a short while of walking and burrowing, Princess sat right down in the snow watching Tiger chase birds.

They both ran and jumped through the snow. Our little "snow angels", just look at them fly!

Joanne tried taking pictures of the children with her phone, but they moved too fast. By the time the picture took, they had moved to another part of the yard.

They were so much fun to watch, checking out the whole yard. The would stick their noses down in the snow sniffing. Talk about brain freeze!

Tiger a very intent on watching and chasing any birds that landing in the the trees or the brush pile we had in front of the house. He really got upset about a Robin that had landed across the street in a neighbors driveway.

Later when it had snowed more, covering the street, we went back out. Princess didn't care to stay out very long that time, she got chilled quickly. I took her inside for Joanne to dry off. But Tiger had no desire to come inside. The snow was up to his chest, but there were still birds to chase. I finally had to pick him up and carry him in the house.

I was going to try taking them down the hill on a sled this evening, but the temperature has gotten up and the streets are now clear of snow. Maybe next time we get some snow I can teach them to make snow angels.

Welcome to the Family

Two years ago this January, our dog Millie died. Since then I haven't really considered getting a new dog. Milie had been a member of our family for 13 years and it was to hard to think about having another dog.

http://mountairyjournal.blogspot.com/2010/01/millie.html

In November, a friend from High School had a picture on Facebook of a dog posted by the ASPCA in Bedford. When I clicked on the picture, a collection of pictures of a lot of dogs came up. The ASPCA had gone to the Bedford Animal Shelter and taken pictures of all the dogs there, in the hopes that someone would adopt. As I was going through the photos I spotted 2 dachshunds in a pen. I didn't think or hesitate, I called right away and I kept calling for 5 days, until I got an answer. When I finally got through, I was told that the female had already been adopted, but the male was still available. I told them that I would be there the next morning.

When they brought Tiger out, he wouldn't even look at me. If I tried to reach out to touch him, he drew away, hiding behind the leg of the girl who brought him out. They suggested that I take him out for a little walk. Even then he wanted very little to do with me and contined to draw away. Things were not going well for the relationship. But when I went back inside and they asked me what I thought, I said, "I think we're going home now".

It took us a couple of days to connect, but we finally did. For Joanne it took a few more days. I had to leave for a weekend class and while I was gone, Tiger was not very receptive. Actually, according to Joanne, he would go to the other end of the sofa and curl up with his back to her, ignoring her. But that night they bonded when he curled up next to Joanne in bed under the covers and slept.

In December we got a call from the family that had adopted the other dachshund. They were not siblings, not from the same litter, but they were a bonded pair. They asked if we were still interested in having them both. Again, without hesitation, my answer was "Yes!". When we went to pick her up, we were surprised to find that she was half his size. Tiger was 12 pounds, while Princess was a diminutive 7 pounds. (Our vet thinks that she'll stay about that size.) We were told that she was very sedate, all she did was lay around sleeping and want to be cuddled and that was exactly what she did all the way home in Joanne's lap.

When we got Princess home, we brought her in the house and brought out Tiger. They looked at each other and went nose to nose. After a few more strategically placed sniffs all pandemonium broke out. They were jumping all over each other and chasing each other all around the house. She hadn't been sedate, she was depressed. When we took them both out on the leash, they walked side by side, when Tiger turned Princess turned right along with him. Once they got back inside, they both curled up in the armchair and went to sleep. Together again, all is right with the world.

We have had a few people who have questioned our sanity at acquiring two dogs. But, its been about a month now and I can't imagine not having them both. They still romp and chase each other. They have this wrestle/fighting they do, biting each other, chewing on each others legs and ears, all the while growling ferociously with teeth bared. Every once in awhile Princess will yelp because Tiger hurt her, kind of big brother-little sister rough play. At first we thought that Tiger was picking on Princess. When we watched more closely, she is the instigator most of the time and when she yelps he'll stop, but she prods him to start up again.


 Joanne had mentioned that she was thinking about getting me a dog for Christmas. We decided that we weren't really ready for another dog. Then a friend posts a random picture of an ASPCA dog and I find Tiger and Princess. We get one and then the other. I got my Christmas present(s).

It doesn't get much better than this!