Z is for Zippydeedoodah! A to Z Challenge- Last Day!

Zippydeedoodah! It is the last day of the A to Z Challenge. I have been real happy to get to make all these posts about my dog life, and to have so many of you read and send me nice messages.

It is hard to always come up with something interesting and clever to say on a schedule, so I thank you for putting up for some days that may have been less than interesting. I DO hope you enjoyed the other days!

I have enjoyed getting to read other blogs.. you know, the ones about dogs. Lol. I am not sure if we will do the challenge for this blog again, but I know momma will be doing it for her new blog-Itzybellababy. I also know she will be blogging about me from time to time here, and of course on the new blog.

Thanks so much for coming by!

Y is for yelling, A to Z Challenge

Yelling is not my favorite thing. Sometimes the toddler yells and it hurts my ears. I know she is yelling because she is learning and sometimes she yells when she is happy, but frankly I could do without it.

Momma tells that toddler it is a bad idea to yell and that it hurts me. She stops when momma says usually, but she always starts again later. I still love that toddler though. We can play for hours and have a great time. I am real sad when she is away, so I guess I can put up with some yelling sometimes.

X is for X-rays, A to Z Challenge

I have a funny deformed leg in the front. You can't always tell when I am walking, but when I stand, it turns out a little bit and momma says it looks yucky.

Momma and daddah took me to my regular doctor when I was little and he looked at the leg and said that I needed to see a specialist about it. I was only about a year old at the time. The specialist was a very nice lady and she sat on the floor and I nuggled her right up as soon as she sat down. I don't usually do that when I meet new people but I really liked her right away. She petted me and loved on me when she talked to momma and daddah. She said she wanted to take a picture of my leg- an x-ray to see what was going on inside of it.

I had to get some special medicine to get the x-ray. It made me really sleepy. I took a nap, and I guess I missed the x-rays! They took those pictures when I was sleeping, and I was very still for them that way. When the pictures were ready, I was still real sleepy so they kept me in the office until I was awake. I peed on the floor! I never do that.. I was so tired!

The pictures told the doctor that my bones grew crooked and would probably need surgery sometime or they wold hurt me. My legs didn't hurt me then. The doctor told momma and daddah that she didn't think surgery was a good idea until later in life. They will have to break my bones and cut pieces off and put pins in my leg to make it walk better. The doctor didn't think it was a good idea for a young dog. After the surgery, I will need to stay very still for 2 months and that will be really hard for a puppy. I don't look forward to a surgery like that. It is going to hurt a lot, but the doctor said it will prevent more hurts later when I am older. Blech!

W is for Water, A to Z Challenge

I am a Basset- German shepherd mixed doggeh. I got the short legs from the Basset side and the full size body from the GSD side.

I am still a puppy in this picture.

Because I have these short little legs, it is supposed to be hard for me to swim, and some doctors say to make sure a basset has a life vest to help them if they are gonna swim. Momma and daddah have a pool in the summer, and I used to always run around it and try to get in so I can be close to them. One time, I wanted in really bad, and I jumped up and tried to get in. Momma picked me up and put me in the water, staying very close to me. Turns out, I didn't really want in that pool after all. Water looks more fun than it really is. I tried to get out really fast and momma helped me. 

Now I don't really try to get in that pool anymore. Water is no fun. 

V is for Vaccinations, A to Z Challenge

Every year we get to go for a ride in the car for vaccinations. I am not a big fan of getting shots but momma says I need them or I can't play with other dogs. We go to a local store that has clinics. Momma says they clinics are less expensive than going to the vet, and it is more fun for me because I get to go to the store and see a lot of other dogs.

Last year when I got my vaccinations I saw one of my friends from the place I used to go to daycare. I was really happy to see her. I wagged my tail and went crazy, but momma didn't know why until the lady told momma she knew me. That made me laugh. I knew that ladie's dog too, and I like that dog.

Anyway, I don't get sick now from some diseases like rabies and stuff, and momma is real happy about that and so am I!

U is for Understanding, A to Z Challenge

When I was a puppy dog, I didn't understand how to be a good dog. I was scared and confused a lot, and sometimes momma and daddah would ask me to do things and I didn't understand them.

One day they took me to a dog training school. I was a little scared at first, but then I realized that it was fun to learn things. I got to sit and run and I got treats when I understood the right thing that they asked. I was afraid of the tunnels but I got used to them when momma bought me one at home. Now I play in it with the toddler all the time and it is great.

Taking a class is a great way for your family to help understand each other better. A lot of times there are doggehs who get taken away to the pound because their families don't understand them. They bark or cry or they aren't good on leashes. They maybe just needed a little dog training to help them.

The dog training school I went to helped us all learn those tricks. I know if I need a little help on a behavior, we can go back to school and learn how to do it best.

Our classes were not very expensive and momma and daddah liked it a lot.. the only time they didn't was when I pooped in class, and momma had the toddler in her belly and she got real sick from cleaning it up. I felt real bad, but I really had to poop. I didn't like pooping in the grass outside. Pooping inside is nicer! Anyway, she gave me a hug later and we had a good time.

You should try dog training classes- it will help you understand too!

T is for Time, A to Z Challenge

I am a dog, but I seem to never have enough time playing with my family. Every day, all day would be my preference. I can run and run and nuggle my family members and never get tired at all. I wish that we could be together every second!

Other dogs don't get as much time with family as I do though. I am lucky now that momma is home all day with me and the toddler. Even when I have to go on my crate, like when the toddler is napping, I am still close to momma because she sits next to me on the couch. I will say though, I get real sleepy and this is when I take my nap too most days.

But when that toddler wakes up it is fun time again! YAY!

S is for Shopping, A to Z Challenge

I like to go shopping. I especially like to go to Petsmart.

When we go shopping there, we always get a lot of attention.


People stop and look at me, they pet me. I get to smell lots of people. Especially kids. They love me best of all because I wag my tail at them, and I am cute. I am also short so their mommas are not scared of me. I am a good dog afterall.

I sometimes get my nails done there. I don't like that part so much. But I need it done or my feet get weird.

When we are done shopping, we get to buy treats. Sometimes its a new toy,  sometimes it is a bone or a pack of snacks. I love all of those things.

On the way home, I am sure to leave lots of hair in mommas car. She likes it, even though she says she doesn't.

R is for Running, A to Z Challenge

I love running. I can run for hours. I can run back and forth in my yard and chase bunnies, and also in the living room with the toddler. She likes to run a lot. We can run back and forth forever, and toys and rugs and furniture flies in every direction.

Sometimes momma says stop because she is afraid we are going to break something or hurt ourselves, but we really like to run and don't like to stop.

I used to go to daycare sometimes when momma and daddah used to work all day before the toddler came to live with us. I loved to run with all those other dogs at daycare. Momma used to get a report card from my friends there. I always used to get stars for everything except drinking water. I never wanted to drink water, I was too busy running all day!

When I would come home I would pee and drink a bunch of water and then sleep for 12 hours straight. The first time I went to daycare I ran so much that I slept so long that momma thought I was sick. I learned to pace myself after that. Plus I get blisters if I run too much.  Momma said she googled it and read that a lot of dogs get blisters at daycare from all the running.

Its ok with me, running with a pack of dogs is fun!

Q is for Question, A to Z Challenge

Sometimes my momma asks me questions and I do not understand them. I kind of turn my head sideways so she will say something else I understand. Then she says the same thing again. I turn my head sideways again. And then the darndest thing happens. She laughs at me.

I didn't do anything funny. I just got confused. She keeps trying to make me turn my head sideways but I figure that out after 3 or 5 times and I stop.  Sometimes I think she does that just to laugh at me.

I guess its ok though. After she is done laughing, she gives me scratches on my ears and kisses. I like that part a lot.

P is for Puppy, A to Z Challenge

This is a picture of me the week I was adopted by my family. I was such a cute little puppy. My uncle used to work for the pound in this county, and he called mamma and said to come look at me because I was a Good Puppy. Mamma used to work really close to this pound so she came right over and played with me. She MAY have exceeded the speed limit, but luckily no one was harmed. Momma and daddah were looking for a doggy for awhile and I was the one!

Mamma cried a little because I was so cute and she loved me right away.

I was adopted by momma the minute I was available. It was a great day for me. I got my special lady surgery the next day and momma came to bring me home on Friday and we have been together ever since.

Momma says some day we weill get another doggie for me to play with, when the toddler is bigger. And maybe a cat too. I can't wait to have more friends to play with!

O is for Outside, A to Z Challenge

I am a strange dog. I do not care to go outside.

In the morning I stay in my crate for a long time, even when I have to pee. We have talked about this before.

But let's talk about the outside at my Meema's house. I love it there. My cousin Rook has a nice big backyard, and for some reason, I love it there.  ( I have a bigger yard, but I don't like it.)

I chase Rook back and forth and back and forth and back and forth until he gets so tired he jumps up on the table.

Since I have short legs I can't jump up there. So I run around the table until Meema comes and tells Rook to stop howling. He sure does like to howl. He also has a very small head. He is a Beagle.

I like to go to Meema's as much as possible. I make sure that I leave as much hair in the car as possible so I don't get it in Meema's house. Isn't that nice of me?

N is for Spay and Neuter Your Pets, A to Z Challenge

Things have been pretty light around here lately with the A to Z Challenge, and that is ok. But today I would like to officially back up and discuss something that is important to all dogs, and even cats out there.

Spaying and neutering. This is a process that I have undergone, and I have to say, that although it was not the most pleasant day of my life, it is crucial to saving other dogs from having to go through life unwanted.

Every day there are thousands of my fellow dogs being put to sleep because no one can love them. The reasons are all over the chart momma tells me.

Some dogs are mixed breeds and do not have any "status" so no one picks them. Some have some behavior issues like chewing or barking. No one has given them proper training and they don't act nice at home. Some are "too old" for the owner so they just took them to the pound so they could be put down when no one else wanted them.

Some are legitimately sick. Momma said she adopted a tiny tiny kitten at the county pound years ago before I was born. They were so teeny tiny that they kept falling into a drain in the kennel. I guess back in those days they didn't have a place for little kittens to be safe... anyway, momma brought the kitten home and loved on the little girl. She had fleas really bad, and momma tried to help her, but it was so sad because that kitten died that night. As it turned out, all of the litter died from some disease that I don't know about. Momma was so sad. Those poor kittens only lived a few weeks, and their momma died, and then they did.

Momma says if that momma cat had been neutered, those kittens wouldn't have had to have such short miserable lives with no one to even love most of them.

Every day there are so many dogs and cats that suffer because people don't help them. It is so easy there days to find an inexpensive spay or neuter clinic. The pound that I came from did it right away so momma didn't have to worry about it. There are loads of dogs and cats at the pounds that already had their surgery, so if people adopt them, they don't even have to wait.

If you get a new friend in your house, check out this link to help them get spayed or neutered for a low cost:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

There are LOADS of places to try.

M is for a Mess, A to Z Challenge

My momma wrote a blog post about messes today at http://itzybellababy.blogspot.com/.

I would like to counter this by stating that I am going to go out of my way from now on to MAKE messes. MORE messes. The toddler and I can seriously do damage to a room in under 30 seconds. I am going to work this living room into a toddler and dog tornado of mess.

Tissues, paper, food, and most especially hair.

I have this in abundance and I see no reason why I should keep it to myself.

This hair is for sharing. 

Why else would I have been given so much?

L is for Love, A to Z Challenge

I love my human family. They take care of me every day. They feed and water me, they keep me in a nice air conditioned home and they snuggle me.

I like being petted by the toddler. She giggles when she runs my belly and I pant. She giggles when I run and hide in her tunnel. She giggles when my tail makes funny noises when I wag my tail in the tunnel.

I like when the toddler goes to sleep and momma nuggles me. I especially love when daddah comes home. I go insane. I wag my tail. I jump. I wiggle. I love daddah. I never see him enough.

My family is the best!

K is for Kracken, A to Z Challenge

I get a bath at home sometimes when momma tells daddah “That dog has a smell and I can’t take it anymore.”

It doesn’t hurt my feelings at all. 

I like to take bath in the big tub with daddah. Sort of. I can’t actually jump in and out of the tub very well because of my short legs, although I can when I get really excited. Daddah will usually pick up my 40 some odd pounds and put me in the tub. I get all clean and my fur clogs up the tub and coats every surface in the bathroom.

I really like the part where daddah throws the towel on me when I am done. I try to shake really hard before he does that to help clean the fur off of me..he says he LOVES to clean dog hair off the ceiling. 

After he has rubbed me down with the towel and we are done with our schnuggles, he will open the bathroom door and shout to momma 

“RELEASE THE KRACKEN” 

This is my cue to run through the entire house shaking and jumping and woof woof woofing. It is super fun.  I am the KRACKEN!

J is for Joy, A to Z Challenge

I am so filled with joy to have a family that loves me so much.

I was adopted from the pound when I was a puppy, and apparently some of my littermates died before I was brought there. I was told they froze to death in Prescott. I don’t know about all that anymore. I just know that my family now loves me a whole lot.

They play with me. They feed me and they give me lots of toys to play with. I have a really comfy crate with a super puffy cushion to sleep in when I want to. 

I have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. There is always a bowl of food and a bowl of water. I live inside and I am never by myself for very long.

I hope that every doggie can have a joy like this with their family! 

I is for Ice cubes, A to Z Challenge

Ever since I was a little puppy, momma has been putting ice cubes in my water bowl. She also puts them in my crate sometimes, or even on the floor. It is pretty fun to push them with my nose. I also like to eat them sometimes, but I spit them out pretty fast. They make my tongue really cold.

Ice is also nice to play with when it is really hot out. It helps to cool me down really fast. The toddler likes to play with ice too and we have a fun time together. She squeals and throws it around the room and I chase it. Good times.

H is for Hot, A to Z Challenge

It is going to be pretty warm out this week, momma says so anyway. It is not so fun in the summer time for me because I have such a thick coat. I will shed a bunch of it, all over momma’s floor, but I still keep a lot of fur on me.

I was derfurminated at the doggie store 2 weeks ago. All this means is for one day I don’t shed a lot but I pick right back up again. The hotter it gets the more I shed, but I am still hot. When I come in from making my pee pees I have a funk. I get sweaty and stinky out there.. so says momma anyway.

I won’t get to play outside as much once it gets too hot, which will be in a few days. It kind of makes me sad because I can’t chase the bunnies as much, but it is also nice because I get more time to play with the toddler. I guess summer is ok after all…

G is for Good Dog, A to Z Challenge

You all know my name is Alia, but my momma and the toddler like to call me Good Dog sometimes too. 

Actually quite a bit. 

I am a good dog as it turns out.

Sometimes I am good when I play super careful with the toddler. I know she is still smaller than me and I don’t want to hurt her. I do sometimes knock her down when we are running, but it is my accident, and she always pops back up. 

We have a good time running in the living room. The best part though, is when we are both done running, and we lay on the floor together. The toddler pets me then, and momma says Good Dog a lot. 

Then the toddler says it too.

I am a very Good Dog.

F is for fur A to Z Challenge day 6

Fur. I am covered in fur. I have more fur than 4 cats in the middle of a summer day when the air conditioner is broken.

My mom cleans the floor often, but I make it a very specific goal to shed handfuls every day to replenish the supply. I want to make sure momma doesn't get bored.

She loves to clean my fur.

She gave up on using the vacuum cleaner because it fills up in seconds, no matter how often I shed.

I am glad she stopped with that noisy thing. It hurts my ears, even when she sends me outside when she uses it.

The toddler doesn't like it either.

The toddler DOES like my fur balls though. She picks them up and carries them around. Momma doesn't like that though. Especially when the toddler tries to eat the hair. EWWWWWW!

E is for Exciting

E is for excited today.

Here is a brief list of things that are exciting to me:

1. Toddlers, love them

2. Toddler's food, mmmm

3. Toddler's toys, mmmmm

4. Dad - I love my momma, but MAN I am happy to see Daddah when he gets home from work. I practically wag my bottom off. He smells great.

5. Grilling- sometimes Daddah drops food and I eat it

6. The car- I love going places in the car. Sometimes if it is a long trip I get sick and need benadryl. One time I even went on a long trip with momma and got so sick I pooped in her office. She gave me bendaryl ever since that trip and now I don't poop except where I should.

7. Other dogs- they smell great. OMG. Especially their butts.

8. Paper. I like to eat it.

9. Bunnies- in the yard. I chase them. I go nuts when I see them. I have never caught one. (momma says PHEW...)

10. Schnuggles. I get really excited when I get schnuggles. I may step on you. I may push my head all up on you. I may lick you, but only if you smell like I should. I am not much of a licker really.

D is for Decided...

I have decided that as a dog, I no longer care to leave my crate in the morning. I sleep in there because I like to eat stuff, as you well know, after reading my posts every day. Momma says I am safer there.

I like my crate. I like it so much that this decision is an every day thing. I will not leave this crate unless I am practically pulled. Momma opens the door and goes away. I stay. The toddler opens the door, and may or may not walk away and I stay. Sometimes I sneak out, and then I go hide.

The toddler has lots of great places to hide. She has a tunnel, a slide and an easel in the living room, and I can hide under all of them, and no one can see me. At all.

I never have to leave the living room again. Even if I have to pee reallllly bad. ( and I never pee on the floor)

I don't know why I do this, and even if I did, I am not telling anyone. Even you.

C is for Coloring

Right now that toddler is coloring with crayons. I really like crayons. I find that they are so delicious.  I keep trying different ones, because I want to see if they taste different. So far I have tried several and they all kind of taste the same to me, but you know, I am a dog, so I am not sure if its just me or the crayons.

Do you eat crayons? I am starting to positively drool over the coloring.

What's more, I really love to eat the paper. Kleenex. Paper towels. You name it. Paper that the toddler has put crayons on tastes even better to me somehow. But once again, momma says no. Not to do this. I like her but sometimes she really kills all the fun.

B is for bone

I am a dog and I love to munch on everything I can get my hands on. I really love bones though. Safe ones. Every once in awhile momma will get me a giant bone like this



And I can much on this all day.

I don't get these in the house anymore because that toddler tries to eat it too, and apparently that is not ok with momma. I am cool. I can share. That toddler gives me stuff all the time when momma isn't looking.
Just today I had some crackers right off of that toddler's plate! YAY ME!

A is for AAAAGHHHHHH

For some reason I cannot name, my momma decided to enter the A to Z Challenge for 2 blogs at once.. what she was thinking I know not.. I am a dog after all..

But I hear her saying ARGRHHHH ARGHHHH.. and I think that is probably something bad. I hope she doesn't run away!

Anyway, I have a cute picture of me to look at...