Schnauzer Chic

Tucker was in need of a new collar. I usually prefer our locally-owned dog supply store (Hey Brookside Barkery!) but their selection of Tuck-sized (tiny) collars is lacking. Out running errands today I stopped at Petsmart.

In addition to his new charcoal colored collar, they had a nice selection of decent looking engravable tags. We like our boys to wear our phone numbers, so I choose the small round pewter tag with the bone on the front. Then its a quick visit to the self-service lazer engraving machine that was a breeze to use.

If your dog needs a new ID tag you should stop and take a look. The tags are at the checkout counter.

Schnauzers galore

Happy Friday, let's celebrate with puppy pics! Tucker got his first haircut, making him even more insanely cute. Brett had to hold him as he still doesn't often stop moving. And there's Alex, up on the bed for a little time away.
My mom has a new addition as well. Here's Sadie, who's all of 10 weeks old, looking a lot bigger than she actually is. Black and silver schnauzers are kind of rare, I'm really hoping she keeps her color, but thats puppy hair so who knows what she'll end up as. Again, not holding still gets you picked up. Oh and I guess I should say here's my mom too. She'd probably prefer a picture of herself when she was a bit more put together but she doesn't read my blog so she'll never know.

And here's Sadie looking at the dogs across mom's cul-de-sac. She makes Tucker seem comatose by comparison. She's a non-stop needle-toothed biting monster. Mom called one day, I asked how the baby was and she said "We can't catch her." I said "Tell me you're not taking her out without a leash" and she said "No, I mean inside."

Like I always say, they make them cute so you don't kill them.

Introducing Tucker

And once again, we are four.
This is Tucker, who's name we just finally decided on. He's an 11 week old schnauzer who ended up at a rescue down by Sedalia, most likely because he's very brown, rather than the black or salt-and-pepper he should be.

I'm sorry there aren't better pictures to show you, but there hasn't been much standing still. Alex seems more than happy to have a baby to play with, and the baby has no backdown what so ever.

So far we've not had any accidents in the house. (Whoops, make that one accident in the house - pay attention dad!) I wasn't sure I believed the rescue lady, but he really does seem to know outside is where he's supposed to go. He also slept through the night pretty well, although he did wake up way early.

Alex has been a total sweetheart, dealing with the near constant assault of needle teeth and playing tug as required.

Cross your fingers that the peaceful transition continues!

Maison21 needs you

A friend of Christian's has taken in this gorgeous boy, but he needs a permanent home. Full info is here. I'd take him in a second if I had any way of knowing he and Alex would get on. If you're not in the market please pass this on to anyone you know who might be. Look at that face, somebody is gonna hit the jackpot.

What Emmy winners do the next morning

Relax in the back yard with the dog of course...

Canis singularis

So mid-week last week, Chris (husband of Rachel, Brett's business partner) was playing golf at Swope Memorial when a dog started following them around the course. At one point she climbed up into the cart and went to sleep. No collar, and nobody at the clubhouse seemed to know or care anything about her. Even though he's not totally a dog guy Chris didn't feel like he could just leave her there, so he brought her home.


She's gotten along fine with Rachel's lab Lucy, and she's been good to the kids, but Maya (who just turned two) seems to be a bit afraid of her, so the search is on to find her a home. She's been to the vet and he's guessing her at 6-9 months old. She's in good shape and some sort of lab mix, I'm guessing with rhodesian ridgeback as that hair stands up on her back when she gets excited and barks. A beautiful face, tan with a black muzzle. She's very sweet, wags her tail constantly, and knows enough to go to the bathroom outside.


Last night was another wine tasting at their house. All California wines, all delicious by the way. Anyway, by the end of the evening we were all quite comfortable. I was fine to drive, but some how on the way out said "we'll take her home for the evening" and off we went.


She was a good girl, slept with us just fine, didn't chew on anything, and was really generally quite nice. And Alex was visably irked the entire time.


He's a social boy. Sure, he tends to want to meet people first, like at the dog park, but then he's thrilled to run and play with the dogs there. But we've gotten the idea since Jack's passing that Alex really is perfectly happy to be an only dog.


He and nameless girl dog got along fine. There was no fighting, but her one overture to playing was met with indifference. He just seemed tense.


We took her back this afternoon and tonight he seems to be back to normal. Relaxed, but kind of sleepy, probably from a day spent trying to figure out what was going on. Strangely he never seems like this when Prada comes to stay, so I don't know what was going on. I do know that while we've talked about a second dog (for company, which we thought he'd like), we're in no hurry now.

Brookside's Blackjack: 1998 - 2010

Jack,


It wasn't all that long before you were born that I was a single guy on the verge of turning 30. Responsible for nothing but myself, obligated to no one, almost grown up but not quite.


I met a nice guy with a friendly dog named Kirby. Pretty soon that nice guy and I were a couple, and I decided that Kirby needed a best friend too. I'd chosen your name before you were even born, and Daddy and I couldn't wait for you to get here.


You were so tiny when we finally went to meet you and bring you home. I held my breath as we set the carrier on the kitchen floor and finally opened the door. Kirby looked at us like "You got me a puppy!" and you came bounding out of the crate ready to play. I think that moment was when I knew you weren't just a dog. You were the last piece, the part that took us from just a couple of guys and a dog, to a family.


I've learned so much from you over the years. You were stubborn, self-involved, demanding, and practically uncorrectable. Fearless, and handsome, always, with those Best in Show eyebrows and that glorious beard. You were also sweet and smart and loving, loyal to your dads, and perhaps most comforting of all, quite likely the happiest dog I've ever known. When I think of you I'll always remember that your reaction to almost anything was to wag your nub.


Your end came unexpectedly, and Daddy and I are both a bit shell-shocked, with schnauzer-shaped holes in our hearts. I truly thought that your last days would come much later, that we had time to spare. And I always hoped that as with Kirby, there would be time for spreading a blanket in the park and having ice cream. Being unable to mark your passing as a family is my only regret.


We loved you dearly Jack, and we'll miss you terribly. I hope you know how grateful we are for your being in our lives, and that we'll carry your memory with us for the rest of our days.


Love,
Your Dads

Benched!

Bill has been back, which is great. I've got the first coat on the window seat, and then he'll be back to install the lid. The man pays attention, there was a nickel and a brass piano hinge available for the lid, and he bought the nickel.

Also up is the crown moulding, and I couldn't be more pleased. You'll notice that this is not the profile I had originally chosen. It was special order from a company that KC Building Supply did not work with and was going to be more of an ordeal than it was worth. Proportion was what I was after most, and this simple, traditional profile in a 5.5 inch size works beautifully.

This picture makes it look like the walls and ceiling are the same color, but the ceiling is actually a couple shades lighter. It's Sherwin Williams' (or Shermin Williams as we call it) Fleur de Sel. I like it a lot, I'm thinking about it for the hallway walls.

Doors are not up yet pending the floor refinishing, for which we got a smokin quote from European Floors. I'll be anxious to report how that goes. I can tell you now that the owner is French, and really cute. That fact wasn't figured into the choice I swear.

We've got a little electrical problem as we've lost the light over the window seat and two outlets. Chris has been out to look and has to come back as he can't figure out what's going on. They worked, and then they just stopped. Luckily if he has to go into the wall he can go throught the master bedroom so the new drywall should be safe.

One last update, the dog pee problem has cropped back up. We're heading back to the vet this weekend. If he's all better we're thinking about calling the pet psychic to see if she can ask him to stop.

Alex update

He has a bladder infection, thus the peeing in the house. Easily fixed with a couple weeks of Clavamox. But he also has some crystals, which isn't good. That could mean kidney stones, which would then mean surgery. Dr. Brown couldn't feel any, but said that it's much like trying to feel a marble inside a water balloon. Al was very good for the exam, standing there looking at me like "what the hell?" as the doc pressed and prodded all over his undercarriage.

Dr. B asked what we feed (California Natural lamb and rice) and didn't seem to have any issues with it, but we need to lay off the treats. That of course would cause pandemonium as the boys get Three Dog Bakery's Itty Bitty Bones for everything they do. The suggested substitute is a baby carrot, which they seem to be happy with so far.

I've got to pick up vitamin C today for him. His urine is on the base end of the ph spectrum, so increasing the acidity should help curb the crystal formation. Recheck in two weeks, so keep a good thought for my boy.

Where else but here do you get remodeling photos and schnauzer urinalisis results. You're welcome.

In honor of Raina

If the lampshade fits...

Jack has had a wet, squinty eye off and on over the last couple of weeks. He wasn't scratching it and never acted like he was in any pain, so I figured maybe he had something in it or a little infection or something. Our vet appointment was this morning at 830.

Should you find your pooch in a similar situation, don't wait. What likely began as a small scratch or irritation had turned into an ulcer. In his eye. I was shocked because other than closing the eye he didn't seem to be in pain. Dr. McGhee reminded me that dogs are pack animals, and as such often refuse to show weakness.

Because of how eyes are put together, in dogs anyway, it's hard for them to heal on their own. So they kept my boy, knocked him out, and basically SCORED his eyeball. The scoring allows the antibiotic eye drops to get in there and kill the bacteria so the eye can heal. Antibiotic eye drops administered at the rate of one drop in the eye, every two hours, for the next 48 hours. And when they said every two hours, they mean EVERY two hours. And then once every 8 hours until we go back for our follow-up visit.

So if you need me I'll be up at 130, 330, 530, and 730am. The pain pill, or half pill because he's a little guy, thankfully is once a day (we're having it after dinner).

I bitch, but when it comes down to it I'd do anything for my boys. What amazes me is what a tough little dog he is. The vet said he'd be groggy, but when we got home he was happy to see Alex and wanted to go when I took Al out for a walk. He's snoozed most of the evening, but he's nearly 11, so he does that every evening. I can't imagine he likes having us pry open his sore eye and put in a cold drop, but he takes it without a sound and promptly goes back to his nap.

On the bright side, he's weighing in at a svelte 18 pounds, does not have heartworms, and the little bump he's had on his leg is a benign cyst!

She's outta here

Tonight, Prada's excellent adventure comes to an end as I return her to her daddy, and things get back to normal around here.

She has traveled the backs of sofas and launched herself from end tables. She's chewed on my shoe and peed (more than once) on my carpet. She has led me through rain and snow across Union Hill in search of a spot suitable for pooping. Her ball and Kong remain intact, while Alex's favorite toy is in shreds. And she has chased and chewed Alex from nose to tail. Just this morning she even goaded cranky old Jack into joining the rolling wrestling match that has dominated the last week here.

She's a pain in the ass, and completely delightful. Brett and I both look forward to next time.

Bath day at Chez Malaise

When Jack was a puppy I gave him baths in the kitchen sink until it was time for his big boy haircut, then he went to the groomer in our vet's building. The last time he was there they scraped his neck and didn't tell me. I found out after returning home from dinner to find my baby all pink from bleeding and scratching. $170 later at the emergency vet he was bandaged up and much better. I cancelled his next grooming appointment and wondered where we'd go.

A woman I worked with gave me a business card for AJ's Zoom N Groom. Amanda and Jacquie came and showed me around their mobile grooming van. Extended in the back and on top it housed a full size tub, hydraulic grooming table, heating, cooling, and maybe most importantly, lots of dog treats. I got an appointment and hoped for the best.

I worked odd hours then, and was home for Jack's second appointment. We answered the door and when he saw who it was he ran to the kitchen, got one of his stuffed animals and brought it to them. That was all I needed to see.

When I sold the house and moved in with Brett, Kirby and Jack got groomed together. When prices went up we stopped, but before long we were back on the waiting list, and shortly after that back to regular grooming. When Kirb was gone Jacquie cared enough to send a card. When Alex arrived she was happy to add him to the appointment.

It's wonderful to see people who have their own business and a great product do well. The girls run two vans now, each working alone, because all of their routes were full and they were turning away so many customers. It's so convenient to just leave a check on the counter and know she'll take care of everything. More than that, it's worth the price (which isn't cheap) knowing that she'll be good to them like they were her own, and after an hour and a half or so they're back home safe and sound.

She comes once a month, usually on a Thursday, early in the morning. Brett's in charge of AM walks, and says they pull like hell when they see the van. We go off to work as she does her thing, and come home to the clean, handsome boys you see above.

Meet the boys

A few folks have noticed Alex the schnauzer in my profile photo, so I thought it was time to start properly introducing the family. Alex is shown above draping himself over Jack. The torso and legs belong to Boyfriend.

When boyfriend and I met over a decade ago he had Kirby, a wonderful schnauzer who I immediately fell in love with. As boyfriend and I became a couple I decided Kirby needed a buddy. I got on the puppy list and soon we had Jack.

Jack, Brookside's Blackjack on his papers, and Kirby were instant friends and lifelong buddies until Kirby's all too early exit due to cancer at age 9. Note to dog owners: should your dog start to have trouble with a toenail or toe, have your vet check for cancer. It can often start there but you won't realize it until it's spread elsewhere, and by that time it's too late.

After Kirby was gone we moved from the house to the apartment awaiting the condo's completion, and finally (months late) to the condo. Jack began to withdraw and act odd, and I began to search for a rescue schnauzer hoping a new friend would help.

Because we live in a low-rise condo with no yard, most rescue groups would not consider us for a dog, but I found a photo of a good looking schnauzer at the animal shelter in Bowling Green, Missouri. I phoned and spoke with April, and filled her in on our family, our living arrangements, our vet and groomer and what we feed our dogs. I gave her phone numbers for the vet and groomer and offered to open our home for a visit. While I went on and on I think what she actually heard was "Two gay guys need another schnauzer to spoil." She called back and invited us to come visit "Lou" to see him in person.

Two years ago on Labor Day Sunday we loaded up the car and headed to Bowling Green, near the Illinois border. The cute face shot online was a bit misleading as Lou was a skinny puppy with no hair as he was matted and had to be shaved. He was also muddy from playing out in the yard with his shelter mates. Still, he got along with Jack, and we had driven over four hours, so we took him home.

Two years later we're still amazed that that scrawny, odd dog Lou became our sweet, handsome Alex. He adores Jack and his dads, and we couldn't love him more. He could have turned out to be a terror so we count ourselves very lucky.

There are so many great dogs in need of homes, please please PLEASE consider adopting the next time you're looking for a companion. They know when you save them, and they'll show it every day.