The Little Pack

This picture depicts Cheyenne’s personality exactly. Everyone knows that hoarding 2 bones and the biggest toy you can find is the secret to happiness.

She was beyond sweet this morning and insisted on cuddling with me before I left for work, even putting her head on my shoulder like a little person. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that crazy brown spotted dog is something else.

Also it should be noted, the nicknames Shoo Shy and Shoo Shoo are derived from the children’s song. As in, shoo Chey–don’t bother me.

Cheyenne guarded her dish all night and delighted in taunting Dixie with her food. When Dixie walked by, Cheyenne took a few pieces in her mouth, laid down facing Dixie, and spit the pieces out of her mouth. Concerned that Dixie couldn’t actually see said pieces of food, She made a point of picking them up in her mouth again, tossing her head around several times, and then, you guessed it, spitting the pieces of food out directly in front of Dixie but out of Dixie’s reach. She didn’t need English to convey her message–it was crystal clear: this is mine and not yours and don’t you wish you could have what is mine? I could practically hear her singing “nah nah nah nah nah.” This went on for several minutes, and at one point Cheyenne became insecure and began nibbling on her leg (“corncobbing”) to try and relax. Dixie began woofing. Woofing soon escalates to barking, which only gets louder and louder, so I removed the dish. We were laughing so hard, we were almost crying.

Most hilarious thing ever… whenever we give the dogs treats, Archie shows up also. He loves dog treats, as long as they are the soft ones. Sometimes I can’t help but laugh as I look around and see 4 dogs and a cat lined up, sitting next to each other, waiting for a treat. Archie will take them right out of my hand. Tonight he was so excited that he was biting my hand instead of the treat. I know that other people’s pets do not act like mine, but someone forgot to tell them how to be normal.

Is it me or does Jack look like he is posing with Cheyenne? They are very concerned about what I am doing and why they are not with me.

Yesterday and today we did alot of things around the house that we have wanted to accomplish for awhile. Once we started, we couldn’t stop! Several tasks required excluding the pooches, which confounded them. We heard scratching, whining, and lots of woofing, as if to say, “ummm, guys? I think you forgot that we are outside the door.” As the newest members of the clan, Cheyenne and Dixie were the most nervous. Change still worries them. At a breaking point this afternoon Cheyenne climbed into my lap and Dixie curled up by my side. Poor puppies! Tonight they are utterly exhausted as though we went on a huge adventure.

Dixie has been eager to find her place in the pack. Earlier this week, Cheyenne and Dixie had a tiff over food. Initially when Dixie came to live with us, Cheyenne tried to bully Dixie out of her food. Now the roles have reversed and Dixie is bullying Cheyenne out of her food. Since Dixie is restricted to her special food only, this is a problem. Chey decided to stand up for herself the other night, and an argument brokeout between them. Cheyenne pinned her down, but gently, as though aware that Dixie is very small and fragile. Which is exactly what Dixie wanted her to believe. Dixie is a little scrapper and completely unbothered that Cheyenne is 4 times her size. She immediately started biting Cheyenne’s feet. The dispute escalated and we broke it up. Afterwards Cheyenne was Miss Dramatic holding her paws up, inspecting them, literally licking her wounds. Meanwhile, Dixie’s ego inflated, she was convinced she won the round and strutted around to prove it. I laugh everytime I think about it.