It almost boxing day!

I hope everyone who Christmases has a great holiday. Everyday is a holiday for me. In anticipation of boxing day, I'm in a box. Not only is Monday boxing day, it's also TLWFM's birthday. I will give her the gift of Franklin. What more could anyone want?!?

(Franklin is going to take a few days off from sitting in front of a computer. He'll be back in the new year)

TOYS!

It's hard to pose when playing with TOYS!

A nice friend gave all the furry ones TOYS! I'm playing with my snowman. I love toys.

Lola's bed - part 7

Even when we share, I get most of the bed.

If we could harness wag power

Franklin's wag is constant and strong

This guy's wag never quits. It cools you down on a hot day, makes you smile when you're crabby and makes a really good cat toy.

Busy Sunday

Waiting patiently

Yesterday I had to walk and walk and walk.  First was the walk with the big dogs, then after Sociabulls, my people made us walk even more, to the Co-op to buy people food. Which they don't even drop on the floor for me. Me and Lola had to stand outside in the cold with TMWFM while TLWFM went in the warm room with all the deliciousness. Then we had to walk home.  Then I tried to nap but Lola was snoring and snoring...

I hate it when they dress us alike

I know it was for a good cause, but come on!

I'm an excellent cuddler

This should help you sleep

Sometimes TLWFM can't sleep, so she gets up and goes into the guest room. I like to come with her and snuggle and keep her company.

worn out

Being this cute is exhausting

I'm so handsome

Hand-me-down bow tie

One of my grandpeople sent me a bow tie. He used to wear it, but now he's retired and doesn't get dressed up much, so I get to wear his snazzy tie. I think it's on upside down here. I need thumbs. Then I could fix it myself. 

Lola's bed - part 6

If I was Lola, I'd be embarrassed.

Haircuts (aka the cuteness cycle)

Before 

After

Franklin was a bit of a mess when we adopted him. He was shaggy and matted. I've never had a dog who needed grooming before, so wasn't quite sure what to do. I took him to a random pet store and had them give him a bath and a haircut. I hardly recognized him when he was done. Suddenly I had a spotted, soft little guy. Who wasn't quite as cute.

We've learned that there's a cuteness curve. And that the line between peak cuteness and too shaggy is very very thin.

The cuteness curve

Alpha dog?

Queen bee

Ok, so I know I'm not the top of the pecking order around here. I live with 3 other non-people. And one of them is a 70 pound pit bull. But who's the boss? The cat. The C.A.T. She's the boss of all of us. Growl.

MY bed

Enough about Lola's bed. This is my bed.

It fits me better.

Lola's bed - part 5

This one is just right

Once in a while Lola gets to use her own bed. All alone. 

Rarely.

The one moment when I'm not cute

still cute 

not cute

really not cute

Lola's bed - part 4

That's ok. I'll just take whatever space you're not using

Lola couldn't even get her old mushy bed to herself. She had to share it with a c.a.t.  I rarely share with one of them.  Shudder. 

Free range Franklin?

don't leave meeeeeee

This is Franklin visiting one of his Grandpeople. When he's there, he gets the run of the house when we leave. When he's at home, he's crated. Which is not his fault. He'd be fine running free, but Lola has serious separation anxiety, and everyone (including Lola) is happier when she's crated, and somehow it seems unfair to let him run around when she's in her box. What do you do with your dogs when you're not home?

Lola's bed - part 3

(wow. bad quality phone-photo)

Lola hardly ever gets to use her bed. But sometimes I share it with her.

What's in a name?

How did you decide on a name for your pet? We met Franklin in June 2010, right when 24 was ending. His name was Kiefer.

We did not think he was a Kiefer. We spent about a week trying out names. Most of them were muppet themed. But we already had a theme going on in our house. Our cats are named Lindsey and Maeby.

We had a party during the first week Franklin was with us. He was unnamed at the time. A coworker put all the pieces together and said "you should call him Franklin".

and we did. And it's the perfect name for him.

(and if you have no idea what I'm talking about you need to catch up on your Arrested Development.)

Thankful

 I'm thankful for Franklin. He reminds me that life is generally pretty good. He jumps out of bed every morning with a big smile on his face, tail wagging, ready to sniff the day. In the year and a half I've lived with him, I've learned that everything is better with a small, shaggy dog nearby. And that if I'm ever in a bad mood, looking at my favorite picture from this summer makes me smile. I'm most thankful for the wonderful people in my life, but I'm also very thankful for the furry creatures who share my home and make me smile often.

the picture that takes me to my happy place

Is there such a thing as camplag?

we haven't moved in 3 hours

TLWFM and TMWFM just got back from vacation. We got to go to camp for 10 days. Now they're jetlagged and we're camplagged. We got home, sniffed the cats, made sure everything was where we left it, and collapsed into our beds and haven't moved.

Where did I come from

Kiefer

This is Franklin's adoption mug shot on the Puppy Love/Love Cats website. We don't know much about his life before we met him infront of the bead store at the adoption event. We can't imagine how he ended up shaggy and unwanted. He was probably around 10 months old when we met him.

Because it's a tiny picture, here's a bonus, just plain cute Franklin picture for today.

He seems to have settled into his home quite well.

Lola isn't allowed on the couch. Franklin is. Double standard? Perhaps.

Ready for guests!

Come on over!

The grandpeople are coming to visit this week for Thanksgiving. I got the guest room all ready for them. I expect to be rewarded with Turkey. 

I love a good sunbeam

We like to bask together

Sometimes in the morning, the sun comes streaming in, and we all gather in the sunbeam to hang out. 

Lola's bed - part 2

I think I'll stretch out and get comfy

Lola doesn't seem to realized that the big bed is for her, and the tiny little bed is mine. If I take the big bed, she just squishes her big ole body into the tiny little bed. 

How did it take me a year of two dogs to find this?

Less tangling. More strutting.

After about a year of struggling with two dogs and two leashes and lots of tangling and twisting, we finally got a leash splitter. Lola and Franklin walk very nicely together and this makes it much much easier to take them out.  What little things have made your life with dogs easier?

Lola's bed

This is not my bed

I like Lola's bed better than mine. It's roomy. Sometimes I share it with Lindsey. But I don't share my bone.

I did it!!!

I saved SuperLevi's x-ray vision. I walked with a bunch of my friends and we raised enough money to get his eye fixed.

Saving superheros is exhausting.

too worn out out look out the window on the ride home

I couldn't reach the pedals

I'm a very good driver

I tried to drive myself home from Canada. But I have very stumpy legs and couldn't reach the pedals.

I think this is a dog

EEK.  She's NAKED!

When I was in Canada I also met my aunt Hildy. She's a fancy special kind of dog. She didn't like me. I hid behind my people's legs most of the time we were at her house. (pssst: she doesn't have fur on her body).

One time I went to Canada

Me and my aunt Molly

I get to go to Canada when my people go. Lola can't go. She's pitty, and they don't let her kind into Ontario, but they can't keep my cuteness out. I got to stay with my aunt Molly. She stole all my toys. 

Winter's coming

Really?

I hope I don't have to wear my snowsuit again this year. It's supposed to keep the snow off my legs and belly. TLWFM (the lady who feeds me) made it for me last winter. She's not trying out for Project Runway any time soon.

What's the most embarrassing thing you've made your dog wear?

Meet my family

Lola, Maeby, Lindsey and me

This is my family. I think this is the only picture of all of us in one place. Lola is the big white dog. I think you've already met her. Maeby is sitting on the jacket. She likes to sit on stuff. Lindsey is the big cat. She's bossy. They're all 3 years older than me and are good big sisters. Most of the time.

Who says dogs and cats can't get along?

Remember summer?

I like babies

One time I went to the beach for a party. It was fun. I met a baby. She was cute and petted me. I ate stuff off the sand. I don't like swimming so much.

Buddies!

Happiest dogs in the world

This is Owen. He's my buddy. Sometimes we go to the dog park or meet for walks. How much schnauzery cuteness can you handle?  

Going to camp is FUN

are we there yet?

Sometimes Lola and Franklin get to go to camp. They stay at Chi Town Dog House when we're go away and can't take them. And occasionally get to just go to play for the day. They love it.

What do you do with your dogs when you can't take them with you?

The best nurses

just hanging out at the foot of the bed. holler if you need anything.

I was home sick a while ago. My nurses took good care of me.  I think they know when I'm not feeling well, and treat me differently.

Can your pets tell when you've had a hard day or don't feel well?

Boo

Bat and Sexy Devil

We went to a Halloween party this weekend. Lots of dogs dressed up in costumes. Some just looking for someone to adopt them. Like Nick.  Nick is really cute and sweet. TLWFM (the lady who feeds me) really liked Nick. Good thing she knows we already have enough pets.

After trying to dress me like a pumpkin (too small, too boring) and Harry Potter (ugh. Glasses on my face - no thank you!), I ended up just wearing bat wings. Which I did not enjoy and kept pulling off.

Lola was a sexy devil. Since all Halloween costumes for girls are sexy these days.  And yes, that's the famous Ms. M as a (sexy?) ballerina behind us.

It's not always all about Franklin

This is not Franklin. This is Levi.

There will be no cute Franklin picture today. But there will be cute. Meet Levi. Levi is adorable. I think Franklin is a bit threatened by Levi because he knows that had we not adopted him, we'd be all over Levi. He's everything I look for in a dog and I have a bit of a crush on him.

Sadly all is not well in Levi's world. 

#1

Levi needs a family. He's currently being fostered by a loving family, but needs a permanent home. If you're interested contact New Leash on Life. 

#2

Levi has a medical condition and New Leash and his foster family are having a fundraiser to cover his medical expenses. Get the details, including how to order an awesome Levi t-shirt here.

I could get used to this cuddling lifestyle

Stuffed animal

It took a while for Franklin to learn what was expected of him as a lap dog. But once he got a taste of cuddling, he got hooked. He is now a champion cuddler. It's kind of like having a live Gund toy who also functions as a hot water bottle.

Does your dog like to cuddle? 

This is Lola

I know she lets me win

This is Lola. Lola is my roommate. She's not really my girlfriend. I like her. But we don't usually cuddle. She's fun to play with. Even though she's almost 4x as big as me, and years more grown up, she lets me jump all over her, and sometimes lets me win when we play tug.

Running (well, walking) with the big dogs

Out for a walk

Sunday I finally got to join Lola at the Sociabulls walk. Our friends at Two Pitties in the City organize pack walks where a bunch of big dogs get together an show off how good and nice and not scary they are. They let little pipsqueaks like me come along to. 

And Two Pitties' A. takes much better pictures than my people do. Thanks for this glamour shot!