Thursday, December 29, 2011

Chloe and Gracie in TROUBLE

Hi Everyone,

It's Chloe today and I can't be on here very long today because I (and Gracie) got in tons of trouble early this morning.

MOM has had HER hands full trying to get rid of the mouses that have come inside for the winter. Almost every day SHE yells at them for getting into HER fleeces and roving (that SHE uses to make yarn) and, one day, SHE was in the utility room beating some mouses on the washing machine (SHE wouldn't let me in to help HER with this job).

SHE had put the mouses's bodies (SHE had about 4 in the bottom of an empty dog food bag) and was waiting to fill the bag before taking it outside. After SHE got the bag outside, SHE left it in the backyard until SHE took it to the dump.

The bag had been outside for about 3 days and Gracie and I would smell it every day but we didn't move it because MOM would get real mad at us and we'd be in big trouble. Well, today MOM wasn't listening to Gracie when she scratched on the backdoor and she (Gracie) decided to check out the bags next to the steps. I thought they smelled good too, and so I carried this one (with the dead mouses in it) about 4 feet from the steps so we could check it out better. Now, I don't know what made MOM come outside then (maybe it was Travis because he was looking out the windows and we all know he's just a tattle-tail) but MOM comes out the backdoor took 1 look at what we were doing and then came down the steps. SHE asked us what the heck we thought we were doing and to get away from that bag. As SHE came toward me, Gracie decided to grab what I had in my mouth and eat it real fast, but she forgot that MOM had the 30 foot lead in HER hands and the next thing we knew MOM was swinging the end of the lead at BOTH of us and telling us to get up the stairs and wait at the door.

Well, we flew up the steps and stood there not daring to move a muscle. After MOM let us in the house, we got a big talking to about getting in the trash, AND MOM said there was a bait glue board (SHE said it was something SHE put out to help catch the mouses) and that we could get very sick from it. SHE left a few minutes after looking in the utility room for the box the glue boards came in, because SHE said the box had the information SHE needed to make sure we don't get sick. SHE said SHE had to go to Wal-Mart to find the box and get this information. I was getting scared because I didn't want to get sick and make MOM sad like SHE was last week after Stylle left us to go live with Grandma and Grandpa and Momma Dee and Catcher and Rosie and the rest of the dogs that crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I kept telling MOM how sorry I was that I did this and that I didn't want her to be upset and I wasn't going to the Bridge because I wanted to stay here with HER. I even started to cry, I was so upset.

MOM left for about 30 minutes and came back and called someone at the Pet Poison Control Center to talk to them about what happened. Then SHE called our doctor and then SHE called the people who make the mouses's poison stuff and talked to them. I was soo worried I couldn't think.

After MOM talked to all these people SHE called me and Gracie to her and told us that we would be OK but to NEVER touch anything that we were told not to because it could make us sick and cause us to leave MOM. Gracie and I both cried and said we'd never do that again. MOM gave us big hugs afterwards.

So, all you pups out there, if your mommy or daddy tell you not to touch anything DO NOT TOUCH IT. It can make you sick and cause you to leave them. I guatantee I won't be touching ANYTHING that has to do with mouses ever again (Gracie says she won't either).

Well, I'd better go for now. MOM said SHE would sit on the sofa with me and we could wrap up in one of HER really soft blankies and watch TV before we have supper. I like to cuddle with MOM. When Gracie and Gtravis aren't fussing with each other, they cuddle with MOM under the blankies,too.

Remember, pups, stay away from things that are for mouses so you don't get sick.

Bye for now,

Chloe.

Monday, December 26, 2011

It's after Christmas

Hi All,

It's me, Gracie. I thought I'd talk a little about how things have been going this past week since we lost Stylle.


It's been a week today since Stylle crossed the Rainbow Bridge and things are getting back to normal.


Vinnie was walking the halls looking for Stylle but couldn't find her. He looked every place he thought she could be, even in the last place MOM had her (MOM couldn't bury Stylle until the next day because it had started to rain shortly after she passed). MOM had wrapped Stylle in a pale blue sheet and had her in the utility room and Vinnie was allowed to be in there with her to say his good-byes to his sister. MOM said he smelled her and then kissed the sheet (MOM said it was very touching to see him do that). Chloe was allowed in there after Vinnie was finished and she said her good-byes, too. Chloe said we (Travis and I) were too young to be in there so she said good-bye for us, too.

For the next 3-4 days, Vinnie would walk the halls and go into all the rooms looking for Stylle and got upset because he couldn't find her and he would whine about it. MOM let him do as he wanted because he and Stylle were form the same litter and she said they knew each other longer than any other of us.

Things finally settled down on Saturday after MOM got home from work. SHE talked to Vinnie and told him where Stylle was and that he would see her again. He seemed to be calmer after that.

I miss Stylle and I know Travis does,too. She was a nice older lady dog, unless you were a young dog  then she would snap at you if you were not behaving yourself. She would give some of the best ear washes and face cleanings ever.

Well, better close for now. MOM is sitting on the sofa with a movie on and I plan on sitting next to her (even though Travis thinks he's going to do so).

Talk to you again real soon.

Gracie. 



Monday, December 19, 2011

Stylle (a.k.a.Duegar's Just My Stylle)


Hi Everyone,

It's with a heavy heart that I must say that Stylle lost her fight against cancer and old age today at 3:30 PM. She was 14 yrs 8 months old ( She was approximately 91 years old in human years) and had been living with breast and mast cell cancer for over 3 years.

She was a very loving and friendly lab who didn't know a stranger and always had a smile, wagging tail, and doggie kisses for anyone she met. She was born here on the farm and had moved into the house in about 2001, after the death of her mom (Duegar's Hyjinx of Amen).

Her brother, Vinnie, is still here in the house and was at her side when she passed quietly across the Rainbow Bridge, along with Chloe and myself.

Stylle was never a show dog but she loved living on the farm, digging up the fields and hunting rabbits in the backyard.

She was always close if she thought something was bothering you and was always quick to put her head on your lap to comfort you in your sorrow or if you were ill.

All of us here at Duegar Kennels would hope that anyone who knew Stylle, or any or the rest of us, would please help supprt the Morris Foundation in their battle to cure canine cancer. When a dog develops cancer, the cure (anti-cancer medicines) are very hard on the dog to tolerate and may just barely extend their lives a few months if at all. We have had 3 dogs (Tillie, Trouble, and, now, Stylle) die of some form of canine cancer since 2004. Tillie was diagnosed with end-stage mast cell cancer 6 weeks before she passed; Trouble was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma cancer (a cancer found in the abdominal cavity and organs) and passed 4 days after diagnosis; and, now, Stylle (even tho she was never "techincally " diagnosed, she showed all the signs of breast and mast cell cancers with mets).

I hope anyone who reads this blog will support The Morris Foundation (www.morrisfoundation.org.) and "like" their page on facebook in Stylle's name or in the name of a dog you know that has suffered with this terrible disease.

We thank you for all your support in this time of our grief.

Benita, Chloe, Vinnie, Travis, and Gracie.  

Monday, December 5, 2011

Updates from Travis

Hi All

It's me, Travis here with some of the things that have been going on around here since we last talked.

Well, Gracie has been in heat and (thankfully) is out of it. She was really nasty this time. She got mad about something and was screaming at me and she came into MY crate and was chewing on me!!! I have no idea what got into her but MOM and Chloe had to pull her out of MY crate and off me. It was not pretty. MOM made her get into her crate and cool off. MOM said that she had thought about letting Gracie and me make some puppies now that Gracie was 2 yrs old but decided not to with the she was acting.

Vinnie is still with us. He amd Stylle are now 13 yrs old. Vinnie does his own thing, just kinda walking around trying to figure out how he can sneek outside for a while. MOM says he is just too old to be climbing up and down the steps, so he and Stylle stay inside with MOM and sleeps most of the day. If I start to see if Vinnie will play with me MOM keeps saying I have to be nice to him because he's older than I ever will be (not a clue what SHE means by that).

MOM is upset with the people who made my and Gracie's crates. SHE says that for as long as SHE has been in dogs, SHE has NEVER seen the pan, in the bottom of the crate break into. Mine has 2 long cracks in it big enough that I can get my food pan slid under it and Gracie's has some cracks in it,too. MOM says that SHE now has to buy some new crates for us to sleep in because these can cause us to get hurt if the cracks try to pinch us. If my pan starts to try to hurt me I'll just bit it really hard and make it quit.

Well, it's been raining all day and I heard MOM tell someone that we (Gracie, Stylle, Vinnie, Chloe, and me) have been out in the ark riding around in it and water skiing off the back end. I don't know where MOM gets HER information but I'm here to tell you THIS has NEVER happened since I've been here, altho it does sound like a lot of fun. I think I'm going to see if I can find out how this happens and try it for myself.

Talk to y'all later.

Bye, Travis.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hi All,


Well, last weekend was the 2011 Autumn Oaks coonhound show at Richmond, IN.


MOM and I went up on Thursday so I could scope out the lady coonhounds, er, so MOM could see all the hounds. It was really hot. We sat in the supposedly air conditioned main building that had the rings in it for a while, then we went for a walk. I had to pee soooo bad that I stopped at the first light pole I found.


After I took care of Mother Nature, we walked around and bought some new bells. I don't know why MOM bought 2 of them but they had a nice sound, not like the one I wear at home, but she said if we have puppies this winter or next spring, we will need bells so SHE can find us easier. I told HER that I'm not hard to find and SHE said I wasn't as long as I had my bell on. Oh,well.


MOM and Gracie were supposed to go to the show on Friday but MOM got up sick, SHE said SHE thought it was from getting so hot the day before, so SHE and Gracie stayed home. Boy, was that a long day. Gracie was mad because she wanted to go to the show and MOM wasn't feeling too well, so they got into an agrument about it. And Gracie bitched, and bitched, and bitched, and bitched all day long. I asked MOM if SHE could tell Gracie to stop but SHE said that when Gracie was in this type of mood the best thing to do was to ignore her. Easy for HER to say, my crate is right next to Gracie's and she will scoot next to my side and bitch real quite like so MOM can't hear her but I can. I had a headache after about 5 minutes of Gracie and finally told her to shut up which set her off even more.
I finally asked MOM if I could come out of my crate and sit next to HER on the sofa snd SHE let me out. I HATE it when Gracie gets like this - she's sooo hard to live with then.


MOM said to Gracie that, in the new issue of Coonhound Bloodlines, there were 3 shows she could go to in October and that finally shut Gracie up. It only took 6 hours to do it, but what a relief it was. I couldn't even sleep when she was acting so silly. She, Gracie, keeps telling me that she's a big girl but you sure couldn't prove it by me last Friday.


Anyway, things are pretty much back to normal around here. It's finally cool enough that MOM can let us out back and hunt rabbits again. It's been so hot that we are only allowed outside to go potty and then we have to come back inside into the air conditioning. I hope it stays cool like this for a long time. I don't like it when it's hot, I want to be outside hunting rabbits and MOM won't let us when it's hot. Oh, some nice man who sat down beside us, I made sure he was nice when he talked to MOM, and he asked me if I hunt coons and MOM said no that we hunt rabbits in the backyard. He said that he knew I'd be able to hunt coons and continued to scratch my head. He was a nice person and I liked talking to him.


Well, better close for now, MOM says SHE needs my blankie so it can be washed - I get scared when SHE takes my blankie because I'm afraid blankie won't come back. MOM takes Gracie's blankies and when SHE'S done with them they are different. I think it's becasue Gracie chews on her blankies til there is very little blankie left. I don't chew on mine anymore because I am a big boy, I play and wrestle and snuggle with my blankies but I don't chew on them. I guess Gracie is still a baby (I HEARD THAT, TRAVIS!!!!!).


Well, now that she is awake I gotta go.


Talk to you real soon,

Travis

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Chloe's business

Hi All


It's me, Travis, and I was asked to talk to you about what Chloe is up to.


It seems that she has decided to have a business of her own making clothes and blankies and beds for all the doggies out there.


She says she wants all the dogs, and their families, to have nice clothes, with dogs on them of course, so they can show how proud they are of their furry kids. She said that she will be making, with the help of MOM, t-shirts and sweat shirts, dog beds (she said I could try one out), blankies and quilts to snuggle under, and, naturally, some dog clothes (coats, sweatshirts, things like that) and all of these things will have dogs on them. She said they may be charactures (whatever that is) of dogs or sillouttes of real dogs. I hope she makes good on this because she is driving me nuts and this would get her out of my hair.

So, I told her that I would tell everyone about this and even model (and who can resist such a handsome guy like me) so she can get off on the right foot.

Now, what I need from you is to go over to her blog, www.chloessewingroom.blogspot.com, and check things out. She says she hopes to have some sketches to post during the next few days of what she'll have to offer.

Please go there so Chloe will leave me alone for a little bit - she has been yapping about this for the past few days and it's really starting to get on my nerves - she even has Gracie signed up to be a model.

Help, please.

Travis.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Upcoming show.


Hi All,


It's Speed Racer, um I mean, Gracie here. I've been "flying" around the back yard hunting rabbits that MOM has started calling me "Speed Racer".


I was talking to MOM the other day and SHE said the coonhound dog show is next week and if I was a good girl (I told HER that I am always good - but SHE just laughed???), I could go to the show and actually be a show dog.


I've been to this show (Autumn Oaks at Richmond, IN) a couple of times - once when I came home with MOM and last year when I came to look around. But, MOM said I was going to be a show dog at the show this year.


I LOVE being in shows. I get all kinds of people talking to me, petting me, having me walk for them (I always have my "strut" on), and looking at my teeth (MOM keeps reminding me that I am not to bite when the judge looks in my mouth). I like to see all the other coonhound pups there and talk to them about what they've been doing. After I show, MOM usually gives me a cookie and lots of scratches and pats and other people come around and pet me and tell me how pretty and good I am.


Travis said he likes to go to the shows but DOES NOT like to get up on the bench. I called him a chicken and we got into a fight and MOM made us get in our crates and we continued the fight thru the wires til MOM came in and stood in front of the crates til we stopped.


I can hardly wait to go. But, I have to have something called a bath before I go because MOM says I'm dirty. I don't know where SHE got this idea - my white areas are still white and my red spots are still red, and Travis says I don't stink.


Well, better go because the computer is typing weird, maybe I can say Travis caused it.


Bye for now.


Gracie

Wednesday, July 6, 2011







Hi All


Well, now I am 3 years old. My birthday was last Saturday, July 2, 2011. MOM said she was going to hold me while Gracie "beat" me. I was a little worried, but when it didn't happen, I knew MOM was only teasing me.


Actually, Gracie was nice to me - she didn't bark at me as much as she usually does. MOM let me climb into HER lap when we were outside (until MOM saw a tick on HER lap), and SHE even scratched me in my favorite places. It felt so good, I gave MOM kisses after.


Gracie chased me around the backyard and then she found where a rabbit had been and she asked me if I wanted to help her find it. I was fun running around with our noses to the ground even tho we didn't find a rabbit.


Stylle let me smell her without her trying to bite me. Vinnie just looked at me, MOM keeps reminding me I can't play rough with him because he is old.


Better go see what Gracie is doing. MOM put an air conditioner next to my crate and now I stay really cool when it's hot outside. I think I may just lay in my crate on my back and sleep.


Talk to you later, Travis

Monday, June 6, 2011

News from the AKC






Hi All,


MOM said that SHE read, on facebook over the weekend, that the AKC was going to allow English coon hounds into the breed rings and they will be at Westminster Kennel Club dog show next Feb!!!!


MOM said that since the AKC has recognized English coon hounds as an actual breed of dog, that Travis and I can go to the AKC sponsored shows and get a title. When MOM told Travis this, he asked if he would have to get up on a bench, like the UKC uses. SHE told him that at the AKC dog shows the dogs, unless they are small dogs, are shown standing on the floor and that whoever is showing them can use bait (food - Travis' ears really perked up at the word "food") to keep the dog's attention on the handler. He thought about it for a while and then he told MOM that he would like to go to one show and if it's all that SHE said it was then he might go to more shows. I told MOM that I was ready now to go.

I can't wait to go bye-bye with MOM to a new dog show. It will be fun. The only thing MOM said was that SHE would not be able to take both me and Travis to the shows at the same time - I told her that was fine with me and Travis said he was OK with that too.


I don't know when we'll get to go to these new shows but I'm getting my show collars and leads ready for that day. I hope it will be soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bye for now,

Gracie

Monday, May 30, 2011

Show Results


Hi All,


MOM took me to a dog show last Saturday, it was around the corner from home. It was fun. I saw several coon hounds - many I didn't know. As we walked around waiting for classes to be called, everyone came up and told MOM how pretty I was and they wanted to know what variety of coon hound I was. MOM told everyone that I was an English coon hound and that I hadn't been to a show in about 1 year.


When we were called to the class - it was for registered coon hounds - there was a nice bluetick girl, me and another girl. I won my class and breed and received 25 points toward my championship title, so now, I have a total of 50 points.


MOM says we will be going to more shows this summer so I can hopefully be finished by Autumn Oaks and, MOM said if that happens, then I can have babies over the winter. I'm so excited, even if I do have to have Travis be the babies dad (hey, watch it, I can be a good dad. I will play with the babies and teach them to bay, chase squirrels, wrestle and give MOM kisses).


Better close for now, MOM is going to mow the back yard and I'm trying to convince her SHE needs my help.


I would also like to send out hugs and congrats to my Newfie friend, Leroy for having a great show this past weekend - WAY TO GO, LEROY!!!!!


Bye for now,

Gracie.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

The Itches, part II


Hi All,
Well, I went to the doctor with MOM the other day and she (the doctor) gave me a shot after looking in my ears and at my rash. She kept asking MOM if SHE knew what I had gotten into and if SHE was sure it was an allergy. I think MOM was getting upset with the doctor with the way the doctor was speaking to MOM. I know I didn't like the way the doctor was talking to my MOM.
Anyway, I feel much better now. I barely itch at all. MOM gives me half of a tiny pill at night with my supper so I won't have any more itches.
Now, if MOM could only do something with Travis. He barks at me after MOM puts us in our crates. He's so mean. But when we are outside, he chases me and tries to knock me over until I growl at him and pull on his ear to make him play nice. Just because he's a boy doesn't mean he can be so ruff with me. I have told him to be easy or I will bite - he just doesn't remember it from one day to the next. MOM says it's a boy thing.
Well, I'm going to take a nap so I can play outside later.
Bye for now,
Gracie

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Itches


Hi Everyone, Gracie here.
Well, I finally convinced MOM to take me to the doctor to get me something for my itches.
I've been itching for about 2 weeks and now have red areas on my body. MOM said she didn't see any red spots just the red areas.
All I know is I ITCH!!!!!
Travis doesn't like it because I get to come out almost every night before MOM goes to bed to cuddle with HER as SHE rubbs my itches ...... it feels sooooooooooo goooooooooooood.
Travis got so mad the other night that the next morning he peed all over his blankies as he was eating his breakfast. EEEEWWWWWWW. That was nasty.
MOM said that I might get to go for a ride with HER after we leave the doctor's office. Hope so.
Well, I'd better go, Travis is looking for MOM so he can tattle on me. He is just so mean.
Bye for now.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

I want to lay down






Hi All,
Travis here.

Well, Chloe and Gracie have decided to plot against me!!

I have been watching for the blasted mousie to crawl out of the furnace so I can escort him outside and get rid of him. Unfortunately, he doesn't think he needs to go outside, so I sit with my nose next to the bottom of the furnace just in case he wants help to go out.

Anyway, after all this hard work, I want to take a nap but Chloe and Gracie are stretched out on the couch so there is no room for me. I talked to MOM and told HER the problem but all SHE said was to ask Chloe real nice and she'll let me up there.

I walked over to where Chloe was and asked her real nice like and what did I get??? Gracie looked up and made a face at me and I heard he tell Chloe not to let me up there. I told MOM but SHE said to try again.

I decided I'd rather not so I went out to see if the mousie wanted to go out yet. No such luck.

I think I'm gonna ask MOM if I can go to bed and talk to my blankies - they always have good advice and cuddle with me.

Bye for now.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What Celebrity is Your Dog?



Well, MOM has been at it again. SHE saw on www.dogster.com/quizzes, a test to see what celebs we are like. SHE did it for Gracie and me, so below are the results.



Will Smith - Leading Man


A fresh prince in the persuit of happiness, Travis is megastar Will Smith!



Putting the jazz back in jazzy, Travis is always moving anf grooving to the beat of his own internal drum. Not one to settle for 2nd best, Travis only takes on projects that are sure to draw attention and improve his pawpularity in the pack. Travis's broad appeal across breed, age, and gender lines means that his actions often lead to his being named best in show. Smooth, suave, and debonair ... he's the perfect pet to take home to Mommy. Not lacking in the looks department, Travis's toothy grin would send even the most furious group of alien invaders spinning helplessly back into space.


Oprah : The Host With the Most
When Gracie barks, people listen. Yes, indeed, Gracie is Oprah Winfrey.
A true rags-to-riches story, Gracie is a comeback pet who has not only survived a troubled start, but uses her success to lend a helping paw to others. Well-rounded and hard-working, Gracie has re-written the rules of stardom and continues to spread her influences throughout the animal kingdom. Still a down-home country girl, Gracie's one weakness is the chow that she knows from her youth, and she's not afraid to gobble up a little gravy every now and then. Gracie manages to keep her positive reputation intact, despite being hounded by the press and her thousands of die-hard fans everywhere she goes. Gracie is smart, creative, and innovative and has used these qualities to build up an empire the likes of which have never before been seen.
Personally, I think Gracie should have a description of "diva that tries to destroy anyone who gets in her way. She loves the high life of adoration, pleasure and being waited on hand and paw."
Mine should have been " Travis enjoys being outside hunting, fishing, chasing cats and rabbits. For a good time, he likes to be with close friends, watching the sunset and barbecuing."
But, NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, MOM liked these descriptions for us.
MOM keeps telling us that she is going to find a job and then we will have to spend more time in our crates. I think SHE is full of it, because when she sits down to listen to the news, SHE will give tummy and ear rubs. How could SHE ever think of leaving us to go to work???? I don't think SHE would last 2 weeks being without us.
Well, I'd better go or I will end up in my crate again. (The reason I'm in it, in this picture was because Gracie said I was picking on her. Little Snitch!!!!!). Gracie is in her crate because she grabbed a ball of MOM's yarn and wouldn't give it back (couldn't happen to a better dog!)
Bye for now, Travis.