Sometimes life just happens and something that you put away for a little bit just gets lost in the shuffle. Thirty some odd years ago I put a fun talent away and it got lost in that shuffle. Thanks to an internet friend and artist I had a desire to test drive that old talent and rediscovered the fun I always had in drawing. Thought I would share a few things that are finished and the beginning of one I started today. Welcome back into my life drawing pad, pencils, pastels and erasers. Missed ya'll!

Booger

Pantera

Rough out Quihi

Living With The Little People

I’m not sure what it is that attracted me to the Chihuahua as a breed. I certainly wouldn’t have listed them in my top ten several years ago. In fact I thought of them as psychotic rats on a lead, ankle biters and little evil dogs. I even remember saying, “I would never own one of those psychotic little creatures.”

One day I met a little white Chihuahua named Julio. He was just what I had always thought a Chihuahua was. He refused to walk on a lead. In fact if you put the stinker on the floor he would climb his owner’s leg like a fire pole. If you put your hand down to block him he then climbed your arm to the desired position, sitting on the shoulder. On his first day of classes with me he attacked two dogs and then bit me. Needless to say he stayed after class that first night to go over new household rules. The next week he was quiet and attentive in class, the week following that he walked in proudly next to his beaming owner. A changed dog, he had gone from spoiled rotten to a proud happy dog.

Then we had the tiniest little dog come in. Socrates. He weighed in at a whole 1.5 pounds when I met him. His vet said he wouldn’t live and that it would be waste to invest in training. Socrates loved his training classes and excelled, plus he has had a fantastic life during the past five years and still loves learning new things.



I personally have always preferred to train Labs, Pit bulls, Catahoulas and other large breed dogs. Just what is it about these little dogs? Was it the neotanized eyes, head and noses? Is it that they are all different and known to be feisty, but loving to their owners? Or is it the fact that they are known as hard to train to the point that some trainers won’t touch them? I was under the spell of these little creatures who’s owners many times anthropomorphizing them so much that I thought of them (the owners) as a bit off.

At one point in my career I stumbled on the fact that little dogs just had to be trained a little different. A ton of patience, extremely short sessions and it had to be a ton of fun for the dog. I had to get a small dog to learn from. I then acquired little Quihi, who turned out to be a very sickly but loving dog. She wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for but I was madly in love with this doe eyed little dog that seemed to wrap everyone she met around her dew claw. Then I understood how easy it was to anthropomorphous or put human emotion/characteristics to these little creatures. She has a way of rolling her eyes at you when you ‘ask’ (that’s right, ASK) her to do something. She snorts in disgust, and has a way of looking at her dinner as if to say, “So, what is this slop you’re serving today?” Oh my gosh! I’m now one of ‘those’ dog owners whom I've always labeled as a bit off. Then it got worse! I got a second one.

Enter Pitiful Pearle, Quihi’s new partner in crime. At first Quihi wanted nothing to do with the bald little black dog with demodectic mange we were going to foster. In fact the first night she sat on the couch and howled a mournful long song. As if she was saying good bye to her old life. Pearle is the opposite of Quihi, she attacked my beloved Hondo (Catahoula) her first night, then the next night attacked me. I called the agency I fostered her from and gave them a report of my concerns. They just said that she was in the right place and they were confident that we would be just fine. Pearle is a smart cookie who loves to learn. A dog trainer’s dream, so after seeing some behavior problems and some fear issues I found myself in love again. We kept her. Now I have two little people in the house. Yes, that is what we call them. Unlike the other dogs they have a way of making me stop and say, “No, that did not just happen.” They both give eye rolls and snorts, now Quihi even shakes her head yes and no. I kid you not! Is it that she understands me or have I conditioned her? Truthfully she has been conditioned to shake her head yes or no. Just as Pearle has been conditioned to lick her lips when I ask is something is yummy. It is just that Chihuahuas learn quickly when they want their way. Laughter is also a great reward for the little one. They have bigger than life personalities and are highly trainable when they think it is their idea. They even have a way of training us to do their bid and calling. That however is another topic, another day.

I do however find myself asking, “Did that just happen? Nah, just my imagination” On more than one occasion I have left to go to work, got in the car and started to back out of the drive when I realize I’ve left something. Upon returning to the house I find the two little people in odd frozen positions. One will be ready to leap from the couch to the dining room table while the other I halfway on the coffee table. Frozen in time, not moving a muscle it is like time has stopped. As I run in and grab whatever I left they stay in the frozen position giving me the creeps. I usually run out and then after about 30 seconds open the door really fast to find them curled up on the couch looking at me as if I woke them from a long nap. Now, I definitely am one of those Chihuahua owners. Oh well, all I can say is that they play hard, love harder and can give really dirty looks when not pleased with you. They bring much joy, and laughter at the end of a long day training dogs and they have taught me a ton of techniques on training the smaller breeds. Huge personalities in those tiny little bodies make up for a life time of love and laughter. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Small Dog, Big Heart

I have never really been a fan of the little dog. Ankle biters, feeder dogs, psychotic rats are all descriptions I have used to describe small dogs. For me it has always been “real” dogs. I have owned Australian Shepherds, Doberman’s, German Shepherds, St. Bernard mix, Catahoula Leopard Dog and a Lab mix. My view of the little breeds changed when Quihi a Chihuahua came into my life and changed my opinion of the little dog forever.

I decided to get a small dog to help me in my career as a dog trainer. There are techniques that work great for large dogs but I knew I was missing techniques for the little dogs. I will be the first to say that this is completely the wrong reason to get another dog. I went down a long list of small dogs and chose the Chihuahua. I had heard they are hard to potty train, that they won’t heal, they are picky eaters, and have an attitude. At last, the perfect small dog for the experimenting dog trainer.

When I went and picked up my new little puppy, I didn’t know that I was in a whirl wind of events that would change my view of these little guys forever. First off, she was very sick with Coccidiosis. She also had some kind of stomach issue that would cause her to regurgitate clear liquid for hours. We spent the first four months of her life trying to figure out what was going on with her medically. She battled her illnesses and still gets exited when I tell her we are going to the vet.

I was worried about her at first with my big dogs. Little did I know that she would be such a part of their lives as well. Hondo protects her, as if she was a precious gem he is put in charge of. She sleeps curled up next to him.

She is the watchdogs, watchdog. All the large dogs in the house will be sleeping when Quihi sends out the alert. The large dogs will then lift their heads, listen, smell the air and decide if there is a reason to get up. She goes to pit bull meet ups and holds her head high as she trots with the big dogs. She will try any task I give her, if she likes it and believes it was her idea she will do it several times. If not…well just forget it, with time maybe but don’t hold your breath. I am amazed at how well she has trained us. A scratch on the arm means lift the covers I’m coming under. Sitting at the door making, a little chirping noise while you are getting ready to leave means I’m going with you.

I have seen her tell the big dog to back off and even saw her defend herself when a Patterdale Terrier mowed her down like a rabbit. She popped up and fought her ground. She also is the most loving dog I have ever seen. She is asleep in my lap as I type. She has never bitten, growled or even shown anything other than affection to anyone. When she doesn’t want you to touch her you can’t she simply walks away with this look like not now please.

Therefore, my view of the little dog has changed dramatically. They are smart, loving, fun little dogs with the heart of a large dog. They truly know the meaning of love and do so with all their might.