Gots da Mouse, Mommy!

well, I had a rough day yesterday - my muse went into a coma and refused to do anything.  It was just one of those days, y'know?  Anyways, she did ok yesterday... lots of play and laughter =D

She found one of Midnights catnip-stuffed mice.  I had to watch her closely with this, and ultimately had to take it away, as it was just the right size to try to swallow whole.... and the perfect shape to make the baby think it was edible.  After numerous hours of fun with it, she did finally get it in just the right position in her mouth and was doing the whole snake-swallowing-prey action.  I grabbed the tail and held on for dear life!  After about 20 seconds of struggle and me forcing her mouth open, i finally retrieved the toy.  Again, this is EXACTLY why she was closely monitored, cus the whole thing took less than 45 seconds.... and I knew that if my attention wandered, I could miss it and she could choke. I prefer to err on the side of caution - and at times like this, it pays off.   The mouse is sitting on my desk now.  Lil Bit gave me that look of "hey, mommy... I killed it fair and square!  give it back!"

She had a lot of fun with it, though LOL.  I think I'll look for a larger version of them for her - something I know she can't easily swallow.  She's not getting that bone back, that's for sure - her poor tummy just rejected it, rather grossly might I add.  bleh.

I laughed so hard watching her play with that mouse.  Midnight was so offended that the dog had her toy - but she never plays with her toys!  She was just being stingy and didn't want to share.  I made her anyway. =D

Anyway... it created quite a problem between the two.  Midnight was suddenly wanting to play with her toy, and the puppy had it... and was NOT letting it go.  Sure enough, a skirmish quickly ensued.  Midnight barely held back her punches - and I had to call her on it a few times.  Fighting is to be kept fair and clean.  Ultimately, Lil Bit ended up the victor... having discovered that if she grabs Midnight on the back of the neck in a certain spot, she goes limp.... and can be drug around like fresh kill, much to Midnight's intense displeasure.  She was glaring like no tomorrow.  The skirmishes continued off and on for over an hour... and each time, ended in Midnight being drug across the floor.  So yes, Lil Bit is the ultimate victor!

Go Lil Bit!  LOL

Watching their skirmishes, you wouldn't believe they're friends.  There's times I wonder, until I see how gentle Midnight is with Lil Bit when she's sleeping... jumping up on the couch to be beside her, gently grooming her head and ears, and then curling up beside her for a little nap.  There's no doubt that Lil Bit loves Midnight... her tail never stops wagging happily when she's playing with her kittykitty.  She whimpers and cries until Midnight climbs up on the bed at night - and sometimes, THAT takes an engraved invitation.

Right now, Midnight is a little lost... her puppy went for a walk with Daddy.  He threw his back out this past week, and is trying to stretch it out a little, hobbling along with his cane (he is disabled as well, has cerebral palsy).  As its fairly warm out today, he decided to take her along and let her get some fresh air and a change of scenery.  Unlike our other baby - Rajiah-puppy (she's currently off learning how to be a sled dog), she can't easily pull him off balance.

Ultimately, Rajiah and Lil Bit are cousins of some type or other.  They both came from the same kennels - both are sled dogs - huskies, actually.  Not the Siberian type most think of, but the short-haired to moderately fluffy kind LOL.  Rajiah has the beautiful ice blue eyes and the pale golden coat... Lil Bit here, as you can see - is a beautiful brown-eyed brindle-coated baby girl.  Both are highly intelligent... Lil Bit's learning problems stem from her disability rather than lack of intelligence.

Rajiah is a year & a half old, and came from a surprise litter.  She was, like Lil Bit, the runt, and bow-legged to boot.  She was smaller than her siblings, and she wasn't very wide in the chest, so she ended up slated to be sold or given away.  She was given to my fiance (hubby) because he was wanting a dog really really bad.... she quickly grew on me - a bona-fide cat person.

But, we don't have a lot of space... and no yard to speak of.  Her living space is usually a pen in the back area.  Not a bad space for a darling girl, actually... she has a wonderful igloo-style doghouse, too.  But, late last winter, we watched her... she was soooo full of energy.... all she wanted to do was RUN.

We sent her to our friend to get checked out - the same friend who had initially rejected her for a team.  I was simply hoping that she would be enough to pull me in a one-person, one-dog sleigh, and could be trained for such.  Which would mean, ultimately, I need training as well!

Anyways... he hooked her up, and once she understood she was allowed to run... he had a hard time getting her to stop!  He was impressed, but was concerned that if he took her, he wouldn't want to give her back.

Basically, now she's training like one of his own dogs... she is still ours, but she goes to him during the on season for training and races - so she can BE the dog she was meant to be.  She's happy as a lark, and just doesn't wanna stop running LOL.  We get her summers, and when she retires as a sled dog, she'll be our baby girl permanently again.

She did have a tragedy in November... she lost her puppies, still born... they were born 2 weeks early.  But the whole pregnancy was one big complication, as she never showed until a few days before she actually gave birth... actually, the way they found out was her waddling when she ran!

Anyways... she's fully recovered now, and back to doing what she loves to do.  We're hoping she can try again for a litter in spring, and then we'll get her fixed.

Oh well, this isn't letting me get work finished.

Hugs and kisses from Lil Bit,
and thanks for reading our blog!
Lil Bit and Meli-Mommy