Tag: Roxie

Roxie Leaves The Fractions!

“She’s tiny and little,” Stef will say, “and freakishly long.”

“She’s in the digits. She’s not in the fractions anymore.” The words are from Stef. She is speaking about Roxie who turns one today.

Whatever you’ve heard about the impact of dogs on humans, they are that meaningful and then some. I’m not sure how Stef would have survived moving across the country without Roxie’s company.

Over the last twelve months Roxie has grown. She is a maxi mini dachshund. We were told she’d get as heavy as 11 pounds. She’s closer to 14.

We call her Roodle and Roo and Poosun and Roosun and Poodle. She answers to them all. It’s the doggie equivalent of being multilingual!

“She’s tiny and little,” Stef will say, “and freakishly long.”

Happy birthday Roxie. Many happy returns.

Sneaking A Dog Coast-To-Coast

When I last spoke to Stef this afternoon she was waiting at Bradley. Roxie was acting as if she’d just downed a gallon of espresso.

Stef and Roxie are back in California. They flew BDL-LAS-LAX on Southwest this afternoon/evening. The plan was to sedate Roxie for the flights. Right. That trick never works!

When I last spoke to Stef this afternoon she was waiting at Bradley. Roxie was acting as if she’d just downed a gallon of espresso.

As it turned out that’s when Stef met Linda.

I don’t know much about Linda except she was on her way to Vegas, saw Roxie in the terminal and began to talk with Stef. When Stef explained how Roxie had flown west-to-east in her lap Linda said she and her friend would love to share a row with them. They loved dogs!

And so, contrary to every rule ever published, Roxie was out of the bag and on Stef’s lap all the way to McCarren!

Things went just as well from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Stef took the window seat and a man wearing (what’s been described to me as a) turban sat on the aisle. He too loved dogs which is how we come to the attached photo of Roxie in the middle seat! That’s probably his hand (because it’s definitely not Stef’s)

I’m not going to attribute this one to Southwest’s friendliness, because I’m sure Stef hid Roxie under a blanket when the flight attendant approached. This was 100% through the friendliness of her seatmates.

It could have been the trip from hell. After all it was Roxie who ate her way out of a travel bag while flying this same route in January!

And they all lived happily ever after.

Aggressive Chewer: The Video

This toy is like a Frisbee with a thick and tough rope around the perimeter. Roxie loves it!

As mentioned about a zillion times Roxie is an aggressive chewer. It’s tough to buy toys that last. Think pit bull not dachshund.

Stef has learned to avoid anything that’s stuffed or has doo-dads hanging off. Cute and practical are at opposite polls.

This toy is like a Frisbee with a thick and tough rope around the perimeter. Roxie loves it!

Roxie Can’t Help Herself

The most fun thing about Roxie is watching her inbred behaviors. These are things we assume she does subconsciously like trying to hide/bury her toys.

Stef is back and recuperating from the “Piggy Flu” She started with “six and three quarters piggies.” Now she’s down to “one third piggy.” Roxie is back home too and she’s interesting to watch.

First, Helaine and Stef are amazed that as soon as Roxie is left in my care she lays down and goes to sleep! I bring out the best in doggies.

Maybe jealous is a better description than amazed!

When she is awake Roxie is still very puppylike even though she’s rapidly approaching her first birthday. She is an aggressive chewer, able to chew and destroy almost any toy–and she does. Thankfully she only chews those things she’s supposed to chew–mostly.

The most fun thing about Roxie is watching her inbred behaviors. These are things we assume she does subconsciously like trying to hide/bury her toys.

We don’t have much dirt in the house for Roxie to dig up. Instead she tries to bury things in the space between the cushions on the sofa. That’s what she was doing a few minutes ago–though her chew stick was perpendicular to the opening. Oops.

I turned the stick 90&#176 and she quickly pushed it in between the two cushions with her nose!

Once something’s hidden she uses her nose to push dirt and cover the hole. Like I said: no dirt. It makes no difference. Roxie moves and gestures and pushes artificial dirt. A few minutes ago she even tried to use my shirt to cover her buried treasure.

She does all this with such purpose. She is driven by invisible forces that have been bred into her breed. Are all dachshunds like this? I don’t know, but my guess is probably.

She is very entertaining.

Dogs Are Cuter than Humans

Roxie was under my care late night last night. She is much less needy than a human… And cuter!

Roxie Is The Easter Puppy

Roxie and Stef–one with enhanced ears.

Roxie and Stef–one with enhanced ears.

Roxie’s Back In Town

She doesn’t object to photos. That makes her life easier to chronicle.

Stef’s back in Connecticut for a short visit. I’d write about that but no pictures! Also appearing, Roxie. She loves doesn’t object to photos. That makes her life easier to chronicle.

Is Roxie still small? Yes, but she’s bigger than we thought she’d be at nearly 14 pounds.

Is Roxie still cute? Hello!

She’s still not a year old but has calmed down a lot. In fact she’s sitting on the sofa with me right now. She was totally content until she heard Stef’s voice on the phone upstairs.

Roxie’s crate (aka: gated community) is back on the family room floor. Suitcases block easy access to ‘sensitive’ areas.

In many ways having Roxie here is like having a child in the house… if you could only get a child to poop on the front lawn!

And They’re Back

As I understand it Roxie flew on Stef’s lap coast-to-coast on two separate flights!

It’s my understand child and dog have returned to Connecticut. As I understand it Roxie flew on Stef’s lap coast-to-coast on two separate flights! The Foxes are rebels if nothing else.

We will find a plastic hard case that fits under the seat for Roxie’s return to the Coast.

“What if she barks?” Stef asked?

I haven’t figured that part out yet.

Roxie And Stef Are On The Way

Roxie took a pill and a half which hasn’t taken effect yet. Uh oh.

Helaine spoke to Stef a little while ago. They were on their way to the airport. Roxie took a pill and a half which hasn’t taken effect yet. Uh oh. Earlier Helaine saw Stef’s Chicago flight was the continuation of a Sydney/Los Angeles.

“It’s running an hour early,” she said.

It’s not quite that simple, because other than the flight number these seem like two totally separate flights. The Sydney/Los Angeles leg is aboard a 747. Los Angeles to Chicago is on an A320.

Why does United present it this way? Is it so they can claim ‘direct’ Australia/Chicago service? I don’t know.

In the meantime I’m hoping Roxie sleeps coast-to-coast.

I Wish They All Could Be California Dogs

Stef saw the vet today looking for some chemical help in relieving Roxie’s anxiety–in other words “Doggie Valium.”

Yes, that’s Roxie in a suitcase preparing to fly east with Stef for a short visit. If it was only as easy as putting her in a suitcase!

If you’ll remember Roxie flew out to California in a perfectly good dog carrier with mesh sides. They didn’t last as far as the Mississippi! Roxie chewed her way out before we landed at Midway in Chicago.

Stef saw the vet today looking for some chemical help in relieving Roxie’s anxiety–in other words “Doggie Valium.” She even gave her a test taste tonight. Not good. Roxie was up and playing in no time.

Stef’s looked around for a hard sided carrier but if anyone is selling them in Los Angeles we haven’t found them. This afternoon I called a company in Texas that makes them, but they knew little about where their product was sold! Petsmart and Petco they offered. Sorry, neither stock the hard stuff!

Hopefully the trip goes smoothly and Roxie sleeps her way across America. It’s unlikely, but it’s a hope.

In the meantime, did I really need an excuse to post the picture?

How’s Roxie Doing?

You shouldn’t offer up human emotions for dogs, but we’re pretty sure Roxie has a great time running around with the other puppies that come and go during the day.

When Stef moved to SoCal Roxie moved too. Helaine and I love that little puppy, but she’s Stef’s dog! I don’t have as much detail as I did when Roxie lived here and served as my favorite photo subject, but Stef passes some details along.

Stef shares an apartment with Jen. In turn, Jen has a cat, Goo. It’s possible Goo is the world’s largest cat!

Goo and Roxie get along! It’s not that either of them seek each other out, but when in the same room they don’t shy away.
Goo puts his paws on Roxie. Roxie in turn humps Goo. We don’t understand why. Roxie’s not telling.

Roxie wasn’t used to apartment dwelling with its steadier noise level and lack of bathroom privacy. She has adapted and has her own spot out back where she’s killed a small patch of lawn near the pool.

Sometimes when Stef needs to leave the apartment for longer than Roxie can be expected to hold she will bring her to Judi at doggie daycare!

Helaine found Judy before Stef moved out and we left Roxie for a test visit early on. We were very happy with what we saw.
You shouldn’t offer up human emotions for dogs, but we’re pretty sure Roxie has a great time running around with the other puppies that come and go during the day.

Here are some shots as she calms down with Judi after a day at play.

roxie at the keyboard.jpg
roxie on a leather chari.JPG
roxie looking at judy.jpg

Helping Stef Get Settled

Wow! What a day. We are doing our best to get Stef off on the right foot.

Wow! What a day. We are doing our best to get Stef off on the right foot. That translates to an “I can’t remember when I did as much physical work–ever” day!

At least the weather cooperated. We were well into the 70s with crystal clear blue skies. There was a little morning haze in the valley, but it burned off.

Kudos to Helaine for figuring out we needed a mom-mobile and not a sedan. We’ve got a Dodge Grand Caravan. Four seats have been folded into the carpeting. The space is huge. We needed it.

ikea in burbank california.jpgFirst stop Ikea in Burbank. Helaine and Stef had already scoped out what they wanted. We double checked, marked it down and plucked the boxes from the shelves.

I have volunteered to assemble the furniture. I’m in over my head, right?

geoff with california doggies.jpgSince Stef has Roxie with her we went to arrange ‘daycare’ should it be necessary. This was really cool because as the owner of the place took us to her backyard today’s dogs poured out.

Nice doggies. I spent some quality tush time with them.

Next we got paint at Home Depot. I’ll let Helaine and Stef handle that while I drive to my friend’s house to pick up the ten large boxes shipped here.

Finally we bought a mattress. We went to one store which didn’t have what we wanted and sent us to see his friend at a different store down the block. The mattress arrives in the morning.

We’re taking my secretive friend to dinner tonight. It’s warm. We’re going to a restaurant with a patio so we can bring Roxie.

Winter’s Just Getting Going

Stef was there in a jacket and gloves. I was in my pajamas and slippers. I took Roxie for her walk!

roxie-resting-on-her-side.jpgStef just came home. The 11:22 from Grand Central takes its time getting to New Haven. We are the end of the line.

“Would you take out Roodle?” she asked. Roxie has about a dozen names. Please tell me we’re not alone in this?

Stef was there in a jacket and gloves. I was in my pajamas and slippers. I took Roxie for her walk!

Good God it’s cold. There’s less wind than earlier, but we can’t be any warmer than 15&#176.

On a night like tonight I like to look up. The air is bone dry. Too much moon tonight. The stars are overpowered.

This is crazily cold. Winter’s just getting going, isn’t it?

There Are Three Of Us In Bed

Roxie is now our charge. Thankfully, as she’s gotten older she’s become less puppylike and more Geofflike

roxie-resting-in-the-vestibule.jpgStef is down in Florida. When Helaine spoke to her she was sitting by the pool watching water aerobics. Seriously? Where is the justice in that?

Roxie is now our charge. Thankfully, as she’s gotten older she’s become less puppylike and more Geofflike. She’ll sleep anywhere at any time! Even with her tiny legs she manages to hoist herself onto the sofa where she can nest in an afghan.

In the past we’ve had a problem getting Roxie to sleep with us as she does with Stef. She has bolted from our bed. For a dachshund jumping off a high point like a bed can cause back problems. Obviously we’ve tried to be as cautious as possible.

The last time Stef was gone Roxie slept in Stef’s bed… with Helaine. That’s not good.

Last night we tried again in our bed. Helaine and Roxie went upstairs around 12:15 AM. I joined them a little before 3:00 AM.

roxie-carries-a-patriotic-toy.jpgAs I walked in the bedroom Helaine started to speak. Uh oh. That’s not a good sign. Roxie was restless. She was staying in the bed but she was stirring and moving which meant Helaine had to stay ‘on point.’

I laid down and a strange thing happened. Roxie decided it was time to go to sleep. She crawled deep under the covers and curled into a little furry ball.

Over the course of the night Roxie did move a little. At one point she and I were spooning–though she is demitasse spoon size!

One would hope Roxie will happily sleep in our bed tonight, but who can really predict this kind of thing? In the meantime for the time being there are three of us in bed.

It’s Wake Up Time

I’ll be in much better shape this morning–not that yesterday was so bad.

It’s 2:30 AM. That’s 30 minutes before my alarm is set to go off (I’d better grab it before it wakes Helaine and Roxie). This is much better than yesterday.

Working these two mornings required changing my internal clock as much as flying halfway around the world!

I’ll be in much better shape this morning–not that yesterday was so bad.

Even though I’m doing the same job I do in the evening its utility is totally different in the morning. The time until use is shorter. The extended forecast is much less important. And, good grief, I’m on a lot!

I’m having a good time because it’s a brief change of scenery. By Monday I’ll be back to nights.