Pepper: Scottish Terrier and Chihuahua Mix!

Sydney sends his love and kisses!!

2012-02-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Winter walkin' with the Three Amigos

2011-12-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

Even in winter, the hollow log must be checked often!

There is always more landscaping to do no matter the season.

The dogs always keep busy on their walkies.

You can even catch a quick sunbath when it's cold out, if you know where to go.

The pond shore is always nice for a sniff with friends.

Happy Birthday Pepper!!

2011-09-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Pepper turned eight last week, and I made this pie.

She's such a good dog. I'm so lucky to have her.

Doggy playtime!

2011-06-01T18:16:00.001-07:00

Winter walkies!

2011-03-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

Never too cold to look for mice!

Buddies!

You can tell who the instigator is!

Fun in the Snow for the Three Amigos!

2010-12-30T12:58:00.000-08:00

Running fast is extra fun in the snow!

Good to keep moving at a brisk pace!

High-steppin' - Whoopee!!

Nice shadow, Sydney!

Hey - was that a mouse?

What's the trouble?

2010-07-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pepper, why are you barking and whining???

Oh my, Pepper caught a mousie!! How exciting!! I placed a star over the corpus delecti so as not to shock our gentle readers...

Pepper loves to catch mousies, but she's so disappointed when they won't play any more. She whines, barks, paces, stares and paws at her prize ceaselessly in an attempt to restart the fun...

Weederman is concerned about Pepper's behavior... it's very disturbing... she's Weederman's rock of Gibraltar, and she's been whining and crying -- oh dear.

BELOW: Sydney Poitier says, "Hey let's go make some lunch and watch golf on the TIVO now, OK? Mousie madness is totally boring!"

Country fun for dogs!!

2010-06-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

The warmer weather is finally coming through, and that means good sunbathing on the front porch!!! Pepper loves to just ROAST.

BELOW: Weederman discovered a spot that needed some diggin'. My dogs never get in trouble for digging because they are terriers, and that's what terriers do, no? So if I need to I just distract or redirect them. But in this case, Weedy needed a project so I just watched him enjoying himself.

BELOW: What a cute dirty face. A little brushing later and he's ready to get back on the sofa :~)

BELOW: Headline news!!! We have a summer lodger!! Sydney, Pepper's best friend in the world as a pup, has come for an extended stay. We are THRILLED to have him. He's a wonderful dog and so easy to care for.

Pepper and Weederman are very happy to have Sydney here with us.
BELOW: Of course, Weederman is happy about nearly everything!!!!! Such a love.

BELOW: Here's a shot of all three dogs snuggling with us on the couch, as usual despite the abundance of dog beds everywhere. Sydney is using Pepper's butt as a pillow!!! Now that is love.

I just love these dogs so much!!!

A note to readers: Thank you very much for being in touch about your pepper-like dogs!!! That was really my reason for starting this blog many years ago. I'm delighted to hear about other dogs that look a lot like mine. Please keep in touch!!! Sometimes I cannot contact some commenters if they are anonymous, so please check back on our adventures here and send pictures to me - I'd love to post them here. You can reach me by email at (storyboard DOT pro AT gmail DOT com)

Vintage Victorian ephemera looks just like Weederman!

2010-01-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

I picked up this trompe-loeil "luggage tag" quite a while ago, being quite fond of small shaggy terrier-type dogs. It's a fun little paper promotional piece from the California Cafe on Powell Street in San Francisco! I like how the little rascal looks to be busting through the paper in his exuberance!Well, all these years later, guess who it looks just like? Our very own Weederman! Here he is below, striking a fearsome pose after seeing a ground squirrel down in the woods!

Weederman is really growing up and filling out nicely. He's also totally in tune with the program here, which consists of lots of walks with his "sister" Pepper, snoozing is the office on his choice of dog beds while I work, and getting lots of love and petting. Here he is below, just waking up from a nap, after a longish hike along a favorite local logging road! He was pretty warm by the baseboard heater so he had his feet up to cool them off. Cute little pink foot pads!

Weederman is really the answer to my dreams and prayers for another family and "pack" member here. What a great little guy!

Who is this little guy?

2009-10-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

It's Pepper's new BFF!
Click over to our other blog for all the details!!!

They are two peas in a pod!!!

Dog Days of Summer, and a visitor!

2009-07-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Pepper loves to take a sunbath, so the hot weather agrees with her. Someday we will have a nice grass lawn for her instead of dust and rocks!

Pepper had a lot of excitement last week, Johnny came to stay with us! Here he is:

Johnny is a Hurricane Katrina survivor, from Louisiana. He was flown to California where he was adopted by my Father-in-law who lives in Sonoma. He's about 4 years old.

He's reputed to be a local Southern breed called an "Arkansas Ridge Runner" mixed with Dachshund. He's about 30 pounds. My local dog groomer (who trimmed his nails) thinks he could have a dose of Pug as well. He's a very sensitive and sincere guy, and a heck of a tennis-ball dog as well as a snuggler.

What a cutie!! We really enjoyed having him here. He loved being a country dog, hiking and relaxing on the porch. Thanks, Johnny, for being such a good little guy. Pepper misses you A LOT!!!

Pepper on the prowl, while I'm gardening

2009-04-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

This picture of Pepper really shows her "blue-black" color, with tan eyebrow and beard accents. And few distinguished gray hairs creeping in around the muzzle. Her eyes, nose and ears are so incredibly sharp. She lives in a world that I can only imagine!

When she gets a good fix on a mousie, she "points" with a front paw... I think she does that to communicate to other dogs, and to me, what's going on - so I don't come bumbling over and ruin her stalking?

She loves to stalk out in the dry leaves. I could have never let her enjoy this when we lived in rattlesnake country! No poisonous snakes here, thankfully.

Suspected mousie activity

2009-04-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

Pepper, patrolling the tarpaper mulch (and driftwood that I use to hold it down.) She is very patienct when she is hot on the trail of a deermouse, field mouse, gopher, mole or shrew. We have all of those amok in the garden. Sometimes Pepper will present one to me as a gift!

One thing that Pacific Northwesterners don't like to tell people about is the fantastic weather here. We'd prefer that you think it rains all the time in the Seattle area. On this day it was about 65 with ample sunshine, soooo nice. After this mousie safari, Pepper threw herself down on her adirondack chair cushion out in the sun and had a tropical sunbath.

Pepper, walkies!!

2009-04-02T16:02:00.001-07:00

My little sweetie, glad to hear that we are taking a walkie to the mailbox!!

Pepper has been SO patient with us!!

2009-02-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

BELOW: Herself in her bed, enjoying a sunbeam in the new office while I paint baseboards. Boring for dogs!!!! She must hate my new "hobby" of helping to trim out our new house.

BELOW: She snapped to attention when I stood up like I was going somewhere.

BELOW: Pepper loves it when we open boxes brought over from the barn. A few mice have popped out of boxes, and boy is that fun for her. So just to make sure, she keeps a close eye on Larry. The mice get very active here in winter.

What would we do without our Mascot?!!

Meet Gus!

2009-02-07T20:06:00.001-08:00

Pepper has a new friend in the neighborhood! This is "Gus" and he's an adorable mix of Golden Retriever, Yellow Lab and Australian Shepherd. He lives just two doors down! Here he is at 9 weeks.

Sure will be fun watching him grow! Pepper is really fond of him and I hope they have lots of fun walks together when Gus is just a little bit older.

Pepper, in her "SPA"

2009-01-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Since she was a little puppy, Pep has loved to burrow down into hot towels and clothes, fresh from the dryer. She really roots deep and gets buried, then goes into a deep trance. Aaaaah.

Doggy-coat Weather

2009-01-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody!

Pepper does her morning patrols in a "Stadium Coat".

The Doggy in Winter

2008-12-25T11:37:00.001-08:00

Pepper, despite being a small, pampered dog, shows quite a bit of valor in the cold weather. I'm impressed! What a cutie!

She prefers to travel the plowed areas where the tractor has been of course, but with her warm winter coat on she's ready to explore and check around for vermin, real or imagined. She's OK for about 10 minutes and then it's back inside, please.

Below: The plops of snow dropping from the trees could be a squirrel, maybe?

Pop Art Pepper

2008-12-05T10:09:00.000-08:00

Pepper HEARTS Spencer

2008-11-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Much has been written in this blog about Pepper's love for Spencer the Border Collie. Here is a photo from not just the day they met, but from the moment they met, at Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen, CA.

Pepper is not crazy about other dogs now that we live in the country. But boy did she love to go hiking with Spencer and Sydney.

Below: Spencer would not let any other dog take his toys, but he let Pepper be demanding and put up with her trying to appropriate his toys, even a ball. This shot was from their joint 2nd birthday party! Her birthday is 9/15/02, Spencer's is 9/11/02.

Best buddies. Gawd, I hope I can find a good friend for Pepper again.

Mousies, are you skeered?

2008-10-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

The woodpile is a real concern for Pepper. There could be mousies anywhere around here! Devil-dog eyes! Chupacabra!!

Wow! Pepper was mentioned again!

2008-10-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Pepper was mentioned in a funny blog post about Chihuahuas at the Scottish Terrier and Dog News, a great blog that we read every day! What a treat to be mentioned!

The post outlines a few of the reasons why Chihuahuas are not for everybody, specifically their tendency to be very difficult for beginners to housebreak... yikes.

Below: Pep with some small-dog pals from the Sonoma, CA Maxwell Park posse. Sadie is a purebred Chihuahua and Harley is a Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix. Pepper really liked these two little guys.

PS: Just for the record, Pepper was a cinch to housetrain!

Watchful...

2008-09-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Pepper's new hobby is to stalk the woodpile from any point around the place here, then explode running toward it when I inquire about how the woodpile is doing.

Below, she's just catching my eye and waiting for the signal to run. What an exterminator she is! I love Terriers...

Pepper is our official construction mascot of course, but now we have another Scotty mascot as well - Check it out here.

Happy Birthday Pepper!

2008-09-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the good times Pepper,
and for keeping me smiling! - Mommy

Pepper is 5 years old as of 9-15-08

I hope she lives forever!!

Above: Same-aged big puppies Pepper and Spencer Tracy, playing their gentle puppy snarly-face game in the back of Claire's old black truck, circa 2005.

We HEART Pugs!

2008-09-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

Pepper has never met a Pug she didn't like. Here is Lulu, "The Pug of Peace" of Point Reyes, CA, a dear playmate and model citizen!

Pepper was just about 8 months old when I took these shots. She's at that in-between, pre-teenage growth stage where she was just growing into her head size and starting to elongate! Tee-hee! She was about 7 pounds then. Her little hot-pepper fabric harness is TINY when I look at it now, like a little bracelet.

Lulu was a real master of the doggy "standoff". That is still one of Pepper's all-time favorite games. A good long standoff, followed by a big burst of chasing, or being chased. Either is fine!

Above is an old box label that I got on eBay. I just adore this puggy face, very old-timey and adorable.

Here's a special shout out to our online Puggy-pal Clover. Clover has a great blog and is always up to something- and is very well dressed too. Visit Clover!

Pepper's new bedroom

2008-08-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

Here is the luckiest little dog I know, standing in her new master suite, taking shape! Pepper, do you feel masterful? Behind her are the big ol' closets on either side of the way in to the master bathroom. That's the tub on the left.

So, this is where Pepper and her pack will be bunking down every night pretty soon. Lookin' good!

NOTE: Pepper is NOT responsible for the puddle she's standing in! That's due to the torrential rains that are blowing through, dumping an inch of rain on our new subfloor, doggone it! Mommy is trying not to freak out, despite knowing that the rain water no big deal, and the new sub-flooring won't be hurt...

Pepper gets some national exposure!

2008-08-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Today on the Scottish Terrier and Dog News blog, one of our very favorite dog blogs, Pepper gets the front page! Wow! We are thrilled!

Mixed breed Scotties are a very controversial subject in the Scottie circles. Hopefully Scot lovers will appreciate Pep for who she is, with all her unique and outstanding qualities, and not just scorn her as a designer doggy. We are really pleased with the national "ink"!!

Is it OK to go down these stairs?

2008-08-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

The stairs going up to the second floor of Pepper's new house has just been made walkable, and so we are up enjoying the sunset vistas. When we went to leave, Pepper very cutely checked in with me, as to whether it was OK to go down the new stairs. It's so great having an adult dog! She's very responsible.

Here is the sunset we were looking at - Mmmmm...

Meet Buddy

2008-08-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

He is a mix of Springer Spaniel and Rottweiler.

His coat is flat and silky. He's a great ball dog and I need to get some pictures of him running and leaping. Look at his paws!! The tracks he leaves are so big it looks like a bear came through! He is very leggy and probably weighs about 85 pounds.

Buddy is here because his doggy daddy, Vito, works for Bishop Brothers Construction of Chimacum, WA. They are here building Pepper's new house! As you can see, Buddy has been to many job sites and he knows how to hang out, be it upstairs or downstairs. They say Buddy can even climb a ladder if need be.

And how does our hostess Pepper feel about Buddy? She acts like she wants to kill him! I think she's pretty jealous of how big he is, and that he's here on her turf. The two have not met nose-to-nose, and I'm not sure it's going to happen. It takes Pepper a long time to relax around a new big dog, as she should. She's a small-dog's dog.

Pepper's page at DoggySpace.com

2008-08-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

If you have not seen DoggySpace.com yet, check it out! It is a social site for dogs and the people who are owned by them... here is a direct link to Pepper's page. It's all in good fun.

Special thanks to Auntie Cara for letting us know about it! She spotted an article in the New York Times. Please stop by and leave a comment for Pepper. She has quite a few very cute dog friends with their own pages too.

Mousie in the DC3??

2008-08-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Pepper think that there could be a mousie of some sort hiding in the "Big Cat" DC3 being used to excavate for her new house.

She is very, very small by comparison.

But a scent is a scent...

She's very thorough!!
OK, false alarm but it was fun!

Saying Aloha to Entrecard Program...

2008-07-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hi there! We have so much going on right now that we just cannot properly participate in the Entrecard program for the time being, and so are taking a break... there is a brand new home being built here for Pepper (and her people too!)

Oh my goodness...!!
We want to take this opportunity to say "Aloha" to some of our very favorite Entrecard pals:

Daisy the Curly Cat
That Mutt
The Cat/Dog Log
The New York Renovator
Nanjo Dogz
Kay's K9's
Tip Tail

Please visit Pepper's Mom's blog at Back2theLand for updates on Pepper's new house!!

See You Later!!!! -- Pepper

My Supervisor

2008-06-27T07:46:00.001-07:00

I got this look from Pepper the moment I pulled a a bag of trail mix out of my pocket!

My Garden Helper

2008-06-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

Pepper has lots to do when I'm gardening.
She sniffs every rock, leaf and inch of dirt.

She has to listen for the sounds of chipmunks and birds in the bushes and decide if anything deserves a running start for a merry chase.

She juggles all of that with keeping an eye on me and supervising what I'm doing. If I'm digging, she helps. If I'm taking a break, she's there for some petting and conversation. She is an amazing companion!!!! I'm so lucky to have her.

Winners of the "I look like my dog" contest!

2008-06-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

Visit this Web site for really funny dog-and-owner matchups!
http://www.flyaboveall.com/dogs.htm

Here is my favorite one:

Do Pepper and I look alike? We both have lots of gray hair!

Thank you Jennifer Robin for the photo shoot!

Queen of the Woodpile!

2008-05-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Mousies, beware!

Pepper knows the mousies are there...

It just isn't fair.

Made in the Shade, It's been hot!

2008-05-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

I remember enduring those scorching summers in CA wine country with Pepper as an active Pup. I'd rise at the crack of dawn to get her happily exhausted with her buddies before the heat of the day geared up, and then doing the same thing again after dinner when it was finally cool enough.

Here in wonderful WA a hot day is much more manageable and comfortable. Still, one has to take a cue from our furry friends and relax in some shade when it's just too doggone hot in mid-day.
Attention Pug lovers: I spotted something new from Ruffwear, a great new top-quality cooling vest for dogs. There are cheaper vests out there, this one is spendy at 49.95, but for the money you won't find a better made product. That's Ruffwear for ya, all their products are well-designed and built to last. By the way, this is not a paid post!
I know that owners of Pugs and other pug-nosed breeds have a hard time not letting their pups overheat in summer since that cute shortened nose means less cooling via panting for the dog. So, check out this handsome cooling vest and keep a cool stool, as my Granny says.

2008-05-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Peppers Grooming Regimen

2008-05-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the Furminator just recently, and it's awesome. Have you seen these? It's top left in the photo. I use the smallest size they make - technically it's the "cat" size. It's a little spendy, but life is too short not to use one if you have an animal to groom.

What an amazing tool. Where has it been all my life??? I included different available sizes in the Amazon carousel widget below, click around if you want to see the difference up close.
Some Furminator tips:

1) Move it SLOWLY through the animal's hair. Don't think it's like a regular brush or comb, it's not. You'll see. It works 5 times better if you use slow strokes. 2) Furminate carefully in small sections. Do one shoulder, then move on down the back in a few sections, then on to a hindquarter side, then the tail, etc. It takes time. 3) Avoid bony areas! Don't bonk into a joint or elbow with a Furminator or your dog won't want to behave.

The nubby pink curry comb is called a Zoom Groom. I normally use it before the Furminator. It's very stimulating, really dislodges the loose hair, and massages the critter nicely. I use it in circles and really let the tips work into the fur. The rubber is very soft, and the pointed tips are very flexible. It took Pep a little time to get used to the Zoom Groom but now she leans into it, especially around where her collar goes.

There is always a microfiber towel hanging, just for doggy use, right by the front door. If she's wet, it dries her. If she's dusty, it slicks her down a little. Great to use a microfiber, slightly damp, for a rubdown after a grooming session to pick up any loosened hairs. I put a set on the Amazon carousel but my clients at Clean Solutions sell really nice microfibers that I think are best quality. Good price too. They are thick and thirsty.

The classic pet brush is for use on the few areas where Pepper has longer hair, along the classic Scottie "furnishings" areas of her flanks, and of course her beard and whiskers.

When Pepper was a pup, she was a real pistol about standing still. Rather than fight about it, I just kept a dish of treats handy near the top of the dryer, where I used to groom her on a textured plastic mat. I would pop her a treat every few minutes and talk, talk, talk to her and pretty soon she figured that it wasn't so bad. Now, I think she just enjoys the sensations and the "quality time" it gives her. So, she's very happy to stand for grooming. I do our grooming now up on an old Fir stump and let the hair fall where it may. I see birds flying around with big clumps of her black fur after I use the Furminator! So cute.

Amazon.com Widgets

CA Friends from the Wayback Machine

2008-05-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

This exuberant young fellow is named Wookie! He's a Pomeranian. Pepper and Wookie connected through this blog, and that led to some very nice play dates and walks.

Wookie's owner was recovering from the heartbreak of her retired Guide Dog's passing away of old age. She had been extremely close with that dog, who was just one of those wonder dogs that brimmed with love and never made a false move - a very difficult dog to recover from losing. She had decided that she was finally ready to love a dog again and discovered little Wookie. She also adopted a gorgeous Papillon that I never got to meet but who I understand is just a fabulous dog and great little sister to Wookie.

Wookie was a real "zipper", that is to say that he would get riled up and dart around so fast, it would drive Pepper nuts! Watching the two of them play was such a gas. When Pepper and Wookie would tire of chasing in one direction, Pepper would take her turn as the target, and Wookie would happily reciprocate and chase her. Great back-and-forth playmate energy.

When we moved from CA to WA it put the kabosh on their play dates of course, but we will always remember Wookie and the joy that always shone from his every pore.

I have known quite a few people that are absolutely hooked on Poms, and I totally understand why!! I don't know if I'd be up for all the daily grooming it takes to keep a Pom in top fluffy-puffball shape, but it would certainly be worth it.

We love you Wookie!!

Shes all about the Mousies...

2008-05-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Pepper has finally let go of her obsession with the critters hidden inside the work truck and now she's back on patrol outside. It's always about the mousies/moles/squirrels! But that's OK, I'm happy to see the tough terrier DNA in her constitution firing off!

Here Pepper is wearing an artifact of her previous "city dog" life, a dog coat with a handy pocket for pickup bags. This one is made by PetRageous Designs. It's pretty comfy but does not quite cover her rump, a common problem for long-backed doggies like Pep (her custom coats from Dogedesigns fit to perfection, of course.)

While it's frequently cold enough around here to warrant a dog coat, we have not had to fool around with a pickup bag in months. Pepper just heads off discretely into the bushes around here when it's time to take care of business and I have no worries.

Sure is a far cry from her apartment-style living arrangement in CA. She could hardly ever be outdoors unsupervised there, we just didn't have the space for it, plus the neighbors were always doing something barkworthy very close by and I just couldn't let her become yet another barking backyard dog.

So we are really enjoying country life and we are so grateful. Pepper is an excellent country dog!!

Terrier torture! Mousie is tantalizingly out of reach....

2008-04-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is poor Pepper. She's beside herself because a dadgum mousie has worked itself out of reach deep into the undercarriage of her Daddy's old truck.

The frustration of it all!! It occasionally squeaks and scratches, surely just to torment Pepper, as revenge for all the mousies she has gleefully dispached around here.

She is "pointing" just as high and tight as she can, eyes bulging, trembling from head to toe, and I think the devil-dog camera retina reflection is a nice touch.

This dog is not much fun right now. All she wants to do is freak out in the garage, whining , clawing at the truck parts, running around the truck in circles.

Poor obsessed doggie! She does not care to take a walk, cuddle on the sofa or make peepee. She will not come back into the house when Mommy calls, but has to be forcibly picked up and brought inside where it's warm.

I think we need to take this truck for a long ride and get those mice out of there so I can have my dog back!!!

Peppers doggy BFF, called "The Alien"!!!!

2008-04-11T17:03:00.001-07:00

Don't be scared! This is just Sydney making his play face... You should hear the sounds that go with it! It takes a Poodle and a Terrier to have this much fun!

Some of Pepper's funny doggy looks

2008-04-03T10:36:00.001-07:00

Dog of a thousand faces...

Just so you know, the little blonde-haired dog that it looks like Pepper is going to chomp on is just about the most rambunctious, rowdy, jump-on-your-head playmate that Pep has ever taken on - that's why she broke out that snarly look. The two got along great.

For the love of a Border Collie

2008-03-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is Spencer Tracy the Border Collie, Pepper's one true love. Here Pep is trying to relieve Spencer of that soft frisbee, since it was her 2nd birthday party!

These two really seemed like soul-littermates! Here they are below, romping along together at age two.

Pepper always knew that Spencer was COOL, and she adored him instantly when they first met. But as soon as Spencer discovered what a tennis ball was for, thus becoming gainfully employed, he lost interest in playing and just became a "ball-dog".

But he never lost his spark of love and joy that made him such a good boy. We miss you, Spencer!

Pepper in protection/car alarm/killer mode

2008-03-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Don't stick your hand down there!

Mousie in the Cedar Stump!

2008-03-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

Tantalizingly out of reach!! Pepper tries to corkscrew herself into the tiny burrow. The rotting Cedar bark gives way easily to her claws and she's got a good tunnel started in hot pursuit. I am so grateful that there are no rattlesnakes here!!! This would have worried me to death back down in CA.

I really love all the native plants here in WA, the Salal (large "Lemon Leaf" plant), all the different delicate ferns, the many fascinating mosses, the Huckleberry bushes and of course the mighty Cedar trees. This stump is huge - it is the remains of a real titan of a tree.

Pepper of course loves all the different varmints and vermin here. We have abundant clever Chipmunks, rather large and sluggish Wood Rats, Deer Mice, regular mice, and some sort of swampy critter in the pond, probably a Muskrat? Pepper is smart enough to give the Muskrat a wide berth although she does like to sniff around it's trails.

Apply fragrance to the pulse points ---

2008-03-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, look - Possum Poop!
I do believe that I will stoop
Down to it and roll around
The fragrance will be so profound

I'll make sure to apply this paste
To my snout and my shoulders,
I won't waste
This chance to impress the doggies in my 'hood
They will know that my hike today was good

But what's wrong with Mommy?
Here she comes now
Why all the yelling?
She's really having a cow

On goes the leash and here comes the hose -
Oh, don't rinse off my prize!
These humans, don't they have a nose
To savor the riches the forest can share
for brave little doggies to smear in their hair
A wealth of sweet forest messes
For good little doggies to wear in their tresses

Well I guess soap and a bathtub await.
I still think it was this dog's lucky fate
To have found rancid Possum Poop,
Oh such a prize!
And I still have a little bit caked near my eyes...

Attention, Entrecard Buddies

2008-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Easiest 1000 Entrecard Credits You’ll Ever Win? Yes! "I Hate Your Web Site" is hosting such a contest. It's so easy... Follow this link to win 1,000 Entrecard credits! If you run a blog and you are not yet participating in the Entrecard phenomenon, consider this a wake-up call and check it out.

Cozy Heated Dog Bed for Winter

2008-03-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Since relocating from California up to the Pacific Northwest, Pepper's favorite place to relax, besides: 1) In the people bed, under the covers or 2) On her pillow in the sun, is in her heated dog bed. Now, that may sound totally extravagant to some folks. But, hey, Pepper is telling you: It's the best! It probably would be overkill for a big dog, but for the peewees it really a must around here where it's rather... er... cold and damp.

If you have a small dog, do consider a getting a heated bed for him or her. It's nice to not have to heat the whole house to keep Pepper cozy if I'm away, and it just is obviously very comfortable for her. I can't recommend one of these strongly enough for the little guys! Cats, too, adore these beds.

You can get a nice heated dog bed in most "better" pet stores, but here's a link to a good one right on Amazon.

Petsafe Small Heated Wellness Sleeper

ScotChi or Fruit Bat? You decide!

2008-03-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Tee-hee! Anyone who loves these dogs knows that they truly seem to have Fruit Bat DNA in their veins. It's all in good fun... Which is which??

This first cute little guy pictured above is a Fox Terrier and Scotty mix actually, not a proper ScotChi. He looks straight Fruit Bat to me!

ScotChi or Fruit Bat?

This above shot features a little ScotChi named Fillmore. I don't know anything about him other than his owner claims he is "One part fruit bat, one part goat, and one part James Dean"...! I found Fillmore online here.

ScotChi or Fruit Bat?

This last photo mashup features our hostess, Pepper, at 8 months. We got caught in a warm Spring rain while out on a hike. Pepper had this crazy look and fortunately I snapped a picture. What a total fruit bat!

Pepper, scandalizing the pure-breed folks!

2008-03-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

Pepper was discovered by one of the best Scottish Terrier fancier blogs, the Scottish Terrier News. Imagine my surprise! Yes, they made fun of her looks in the blog but I'm not bothered. She's conforms to no standard of perfection, except the one in my heart. She's a perfect 10 to me!!!

I do truly understand the concern about trendy "Designer Dog" breeding, I really do. It just leads to more pet overpopulation, which leads to more dogs being dumped and put to sleep in shelters, or "warehoused" for years in kennels at "no-kill" shelters. So, I'm thrilled with Pepper but I do want to make it clear that she was not intentionally bred and that I don't condone the idea. I think there are quite enough purebred dogs being bred too, it's not just about mutts.

Anyway, the Scottish Terrier News is a great, witty blog. It's really fun and well-written. Check it out, especially if you love dogs of any stripe.

Entrecard program, and makin' friends!

2008-03-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

I am now participating in the Entrecard program. That's the picture I'm using, actual size, at left. It's basically a gadget to get more clicks on the blog and boy is it fun! I have heard from some really cool people that have dropped by to check out the blog as a result of the Entrecard linking. We love the comments and dog stories. By the way I'm not making a commission on mentioning it. I just think it's cool! If you run a blog, do check out Entrecard, you will probably have fun with it like I am. And the extra clicks don't hurt a bit.

Nice hot sunbath on the sand pile!

2008-02-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here in western Washington it has been "Club Med" sunny weather recently, especially compared to January. I saw pepper panting just after I took this shot, that's a nice hot sunbath for a Chihuahua! Actually it got so warm in the sun that she had to move off into the shade. I was glad to see that, since I know she has missed the hot Sonoma sun of our CA days.

Old picture of "Early Scotties"

2008-02-19T09:28:00.000-08:00

These dogs are a far cry from today's show ring Scots. The coat looks like it needs no care or grooming at all. Their legs are quite a bit longer - these toughies could probably swim very well if needed, something not advised for the Scottie of today.

Snow? What the....

2008-02-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

Well, for a dog from California, snow really is a conundrum. Please note that since this picture was taken, Pepper has become quite adept at flying around through the snow and slush like a trooper. She has a lovely floating extended trot in the snow, the better to contact it less with one's paws!

Let's take a break from Winter, shall we?

2008-02-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

Last night it snowed AGAIN and the winds whipped up to 45 MPH. Winter is beginning to overstay it's welcome with such dramatic outbursts. Let's go back to warm weather with some hot-summer doggy sunbath pictures. Pepper has not had a decent sunbath in months and I know that it's missed. Here she is on her chair cushion atop sun-warmed bricks last summer in the patio. Aaaaaah.

Happy times in the Summer sun! Here is a great shot of Pepper and Spencer Tracy the fabulous Border Collie. They used to love patrolling the hot, dry hillsides of Sonoma Valley together. Spencer has always been Pep's favorite dog, always. There are many great photos of Spencer in earlier posts of this blog.

Scottie and FOX TERRIER mix! What a cutie!

2008-02-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know where this picture came from, but I was told that this little guy is a mix of Scottie and Fox Terrier! Wow! Looks like a Fruit Bat. Bet he's a smartie. Look at those bat ears! I wish he could run my life!

Welcome to February!

2008-02-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

Spring will come soon. That's what they say at least! For now, enjoy the sunbreaks and keep checking the corners of the barn for mice to chase.

What about the Scottie and Chihuahua Mix?

2008-01-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to have been asked on several occasion to elaborate on what to expect with this kind of dog. I think I should write about that much more here. I'll get into it over several posts since it's snowing now and I might get knocked offline if my satellite dish gets covered up!

ScotChis are real dogs! They can be protective, are very active and bright, and are capable of extreme bravery/risky behavior while hunting! What permitted Pepper to turn out to be such a great adult dog is that I work at home and was able to give her PLENTY OF EXERCISE! Had she been cooped up alone all day, as is all too often the case, she'd be a real mess and probably fairly dangerous with strangers.
On the topic of strangers, these dogs have issues coming from both sides of their breeding. Scottish Terriers are known to be "reserved" with strangers (that's putting it nicely) and Chihuahuas are famous for snapping and biting actually! Just ask any dog groomer or veterinary assistant! BOTH breeds are well-known for their extreme devotion to one person. Add it all up, and you have got a tiger by the tail. So, careful socialization and training is really important and you need to figure out how to get this done when you have a puppy. It takes up lots of your time.

Look at that gorgeous dog... look out, chipmunks and deer mice!

More ScotChi talk coming soon. There is a lot to say about the topic. Including a disclaimer that I have to make: I did not breed this dog. She was a rescue. So, please don't think that I am going to set up a puppy mill to create these dogs. And I'm not encouraging anyone else to do that. So please don't send hate mail - she's not a "designer doggie" but a wonderful, miraculous stroke of luck for me, not to be repeated, which is why Pepper is under strict orders not to die any time soon!!!! She'll be in big trouble if she doesn't live to be 100 years old.

My "Taco Terrier"

2008-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

I just got this name for a terrier/Chihuahua cross from another owner of one. Cracks me up!! I am definitely happy with the mix of breeds. I am delighted to hear from people via the internet who have Scottie and Chihuahua mix dogs, AKA "ScotChi" dogs. Really a delight for me to hear about all the joy these dogs bring. I'm still hoping to hear back from some folks who have contacted me through this blog - Blogger comments don't include an email address though so I have to ask that you include your email in the comment if you want, or email me at bonnie@storyboardproductions.com so we can exchange stories about our dogs. I love it!

S'now Problem!

2008-01-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Another snowy action shot! This was the first day we could really go out walkin' after our latest go-round with the snow here on the Toandos Peninsula.

I just received a lovely email from a viewer "Miss Mallory Says" - please give me your email address - I have a long note here for you with pictures and no email address for you. I hope to hear from you soon!

Miss Mallory enlightened me as to the proper name for a Scottie and Chihuahua mix: ScotChi!

I love it!! Now I have the proper term for my pride and joy! Thank you Miss Mallory! Email me soon!

Winter-Time Gal

2008-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Pepper is such a good sport about everything. I have moved from sunny CA to cold WA and she still is undaunted in her search for vermin!

Here is my girl diligently hunting in her custom-made foul-weather gear from DogeDesigns.com. Due to her unique shape, we can't fit doggy coats right off the rack! I highly recommend Dogedesigns.com for dachsunds and other "long little doggies" like Pepper.

Nice choppers, kids!

2007-09-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

This photo is of Pepper's true love, Spencer Tracy, and Pep mugging in the car. This game, which I call "Bitey Face" involves, slow gentle brandishing of teeth and funny gutteral sounds. These two don't really do this much any more, now that they are all grown up at the age of four, but "Bitey Face" was great fun for them while it lasted.

This crazy picture cracks me up because I could never, ever get this as a posed shot. And no, the dogs were not anesthetized!

Mount Tamalpais from Bartholomew Park Trails

2007-01-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice shot of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County from our favorite hiking trails in Winter, Bartholomew Park in Sonoma. They allow dogs and Pepper loves it there!

The very best Scottish Terrier book

2007-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Get this rare book if you love Scotties!
This is a very hard to find book but it's simply the best. The complete history of the breed is fascinating. The author then catalogs the most important current breeders out there today. The photos are great too! I look at this book often. I had trouble finding a copy, I see that there are afew used ones available at this time but they probably won't be for long. Grab one!

Odd but Cool! -- Virtualpups.com

2007-01-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

For folks with lots of spare time, this may take the cake. It's VirtualPups.com. Too funny! The object of this massive multi-user game is to "breed" the perfect dog, using your own dog as part of the foundation stock, of course. It's a riot - sure wish I had more spare time to burn fooling sround with this. I dedicate just about 2 hours a week to blogging and surfing various web sites, when I'm not building them for a living. Then it's back to the grindstone, like I'm off to now.

Want to know more about the Sonoma outdoors?

2007-01-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

Book: North Bay Trails by David Weintraub
Doggy Bloggy readers have asked for a good resource about getting outdoors in the Sonoma area. I think this book is quite good, I have used it myself to discover some very nice trails. It's on Amazon for not too much money and it could open up unknown areas of this lovely landscape to you. Dogs are welcome on some of the trails featured, not on others, so do check before going. Happy trails and I hope this helps!!! -- Bonnie and Pepper

That Diggin' Dog

2007-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

Pepper loves to dig. And she's quite effective. If only I gave her more time to pursue her excavations. I just don't find it interesting to teeter over a gopher hole, frozen with one paw lifted and head cocked, listening for the perfect cue to pounce and dig madly. Humans just don't know what fun is!!

Great Book for Small Dog Breed Info!!!

2007-01-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

One book really helped me get through the puppy phase:
Living With Small and Toy Dogs by Terry Jester, published by Alpine Publications in 1996.

This book has incredible ratings on Amazon's Customer Reviews. I had the priviledge of working with Terry at the Marin Humane Society. Her advice has helped me since my last dog was a 65-pound Shepherd mix, very very different from Terrier-Chihuahua mixes like Pepper!

Looking back to when Pep was just four pounds!

2007-01-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is after one month of owning Pepper, thank goodness I remembered to take some pictures!! What a cute little scamp she was then. She loved her toys so much, still does. She was just four pounds when I took this photo, all paws and eyeballs. Such a perfect doggy for me now!

Bartholomew Park Coyote!

2006-12-30T12:07:00.000-08:00

On our hike, Pepper and I disturbed a really large Coyote in this vineyard by Agoston Haraszthy's Villa. By the time I fumbled with my camera, it had darted away, then doubled back towards us before veering across the trellised vineyard rows, leaping over each lower crossbar like a porpoise. I have never seen a coyote here after 10 years of hiking, especially so close to the Villa. Wow! Sorry I didn't capture it on film.

Starfish Flower and Doggy

2006-12-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Pepper poses with the Starfish Flower blossoming on the patio. The flower did not smell sweet but rather pungent. Very fleshy. This is the first bloom we have had on this 3-year old succulent plant. It's one of our favorites.

You won't see too many Scottish Terrier - Chihuahua mix dogs around!

2005-05-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

Her personality is classic terrier plus lap dog. Best of both worlds!

She's really an unforgettable dog. I look forward to spending decades together!!