Ohhh, it's that doggone squirrel again!

Just look at her. Anybody would say that Trixie is very happy, judging by that smile she's flashing. But actually, she's mad as hell, trying to get a squirrel who's looking at her from a tree. But it's in her genes: a hunting dog that will use any opportunity to catch her prey. (She'd wish. Squirrels always manage to escape her. But she will try again, and again, and again . . .)

Frogs and toads taste nasty, Trixie

Frog poisoning? Ughhh, no for me.

Today, Trixie tried to catch a frog. She was barking at something on the back yard and I thought it was a squirrel. But it was already dark so I went outside to see what was all the fuss about and there she was, trying to trap whatever was on the grass and  maybe gulp it. I thought it was a lizard but then she started to sniff the tree where she was under. When I looked closely, it was a frog, who was fortunate enough to evade Trixie and crawl all the way to the top. And Trixie was also lucky she didn't get a bite of the frog, since frog and toad poisoning can be a serious health hazard for dogs.


Marine toads: Not only
ugly but potentially
deadly

 According to the University of Florida Wildlife Extension, all frogs and toads have skin secretions or mild toxins that taste nasty and may make dogs salivate excessively after biting or licking them. But there are some species that can be deadly, like the Marine Toad (left) which is typically only found in certain parts of North America, including the region between Arizona and California and Florida, Texas and Hawaii.

If you suspect your dog has messed up with a Marine Toad, call your vet immediately or contact  your Pet Poison Helpline for life-saving advice.

Sheeee's baaaack. . . . .!!!!

After almost six months, Trixie the beagle is back in the blogoshere. So let's go to business and give you a quick update. Health wise, Trixie has been terrific. During Winter time, she made sure to be warm and cozy with whatever blanket was in reach. I love this picture of her:                                                      

 

I like this picture's warm and subdued colors, like if she was close to a fireplace (there's none). And of course, she had her Sunday's walks around the city park. Going back home, her face said it all: she was ready for a nap:

 

 

Well, Winter ended and warmer temperatures came back to Central Florida, where we all live. Trixie is fortunate enough to live in a house with floor tiles. Those tiles feel very cool when it's getting hot, so she switched from the bed to the floor:

 

 



She wanted privacy (well, sort of, 90% of her body could still be seen). But she was happy, and that's what matters.

And Spring time means fashion times, so how's this look?:





("I wonder what these people are up to?") she seems to be thinking But, hey, she looked cute.

Well, that'll be it for now, folks. I promise to post more frequently about Trixie. And here she is to say good-bye: "Woof". That's my girl.

Christmas came early for Trixie

Yep, Trixie is one lucky dog. She got her Christmas treat early this year. It happens that my wife was carving a pork shoulder for our Christmas Eve dinner and when she finished, she ended up with this huge fat bone, just like the ones you see in cartoons. No, this bone just couldn't be thrown away. So she took the bone and recooked it, so any piece of meat left would get really tender for our little precious friend. Once it was, ready, Trixie wouldn't stop looking at it. My wife proceeded to walk to the backyard, but Trixie was almost running. And once my wife threw the bone to the yard, Trixie immediately grabbed it and went walking around, looking for a nice spot. And once she found it, she sat and "crunch, crunch, crunch . . " Oh, that bone tasted so delicious. . . And here's the picture to prove it:

 

I wish all Beagle owners, and those who have other pooches, a very Merry Christmas!

Trixie's mischievous adventure

I did what???

Yes, she did it. Trixie decided today to do a little "hiking" and follow her nose to wherever it would lead her. She ended up in a neighbor's house (inside of it!), several doors down, apparently because somebody was cooking something that her nose simply couldn't resist. In the mean time, mommy was getting crazy, pappy had to return on his car from where he was heading to and everything was on a standstill: where in the world was this dog? It was the very first time that she had disappeared, thus the mayhem. I even went to my archives to retrieve Trixie's records to call the company that issued her microchip. And then, voila!!!!, my wife calls me on my cell to tell me that Trixie was safe, playing with the neighbors down the street. Ohhhh, but how that scared us! If she only had an idea. I guess lots and lots of people out there have similar stories to tell. It just gives you an idea how attached can one get to a pet. Wheeew, we love you Trixie . . . but don't do it again!!!!!!!!!!

Happiness is a warm blanket

Yep, it's that time of the year again. Summer is gone, temperatures have dropped in Central Florida (thank God!!!!) and Trixie my Beagle is again bundling up. No more naps on the cold floor, or near the bathroom or anywhere where she can feel a little bit cooler. Now she just hops into our bed and she herself, with nobody's assistance, makes herself comfortable under a blanket, making sure she's warm and cozy. Just look at this picture ----------------------->

What are you looking at?

But wait a minute: Beagles come from Britain, a very cold country, and they should be able to cope with low temperatures, right? Well, that doesn't seem to be the case with Trixie. I guess the weather in Central Florida can get so unbearable and nasty during Summer that when fall and winter arrive, the difference is simply way too much. I don't blame her. I prefer cold weather to hot weather a thousand-and-one times. With hot (and humid) temperatures you can't help it. You either fry like a sardine under the sun or you run to the AC. In cold weather, you can grab a sweater, have a hot chocolate or sit in front of the fireplace. Thank you, Mother Nature, for this break. And enjoy it, Trixie, while it lasts!

Dogs and fish

It's funny how unfounded ideas can linger in one's mind for a lifetime. That's what happened to us with the notion that dogs don't eat fish because that's supposed to be cat food. It turns out that fish is actually very good for dogs.

Fish a are good source of protein and omega oils. And you can find fish products for dogs at any pet shop. Of course, be very picky. Your dog cannot eat raw fish, which can carry parasites. But a well-cooked chunk of salmon in your dog's plate will probably make your pooch very, very happy. Which brings us to Trixie, the main subject (actually the only one) of this blog. As soon as she discovers that we are cooking fish -- thanks to that remarkable sense of smell -- she will come from wherever she is to see if she can get a bite. Oh, and if she's denied a piece of fish, she will start whinning, howling or even barking until she gets what she wants. Yes, we know, she's terribly spoiled. So it was a good thing that in our last visit to the pet shop we found canned salmon for dogs, with no preservatives, additives or artificial coloring. When we opened the can we found out that it's actually like a paste -- not chunks of fish like we had expected -- so we served Trixie small portions throughout the week. I'm sure there wasn't a happier dog on Earth during that week.

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