Dogs of the Day - Vermicelli!

Not real vermicelli, of course. That is our nickname for the wiggly wiener-dog guests of Little Pup Lodge. Few breeds can match Dachshunds for sheer entertainment value. They don’t really have to do much, just stare at you down those impossibly long muzzles or waddle around with little butts that swing this way and that. We have a couple at Little Pup Lodge now.
Lola on the left, Frank on the right.



Frank and Lola like to “burrito” for a nap. They will wind any available blanket around themselves until all that’s needed is a bit of cilantro and salsa to round out the dish. Frank has a particularly amusing gait, but it’s because of a less-than-amusing reason: back surgery. Breeders have paid more attention to appearance than health, leaving Doxies with spines much too easily injured. Back problems are endemic with this breed. The Little Pup Lodge personnel do what they can to prevent jumping and climbing, with ramps and little doggie-steps placed strategically around the house. My brother the carpenter rebuilt both the front and back porch and installed a ramp on each.

El burrito grandé!

Surgery left Frank with one other little problem. Every time he gets excited he gets a little incontinent. This has required us to practice zen-like calm around him at all times. Since Frank likes to sleep on my bed, waking up is an especially tricky process. Like all dogs, each morning he acts like I’ve just returned from several weeks’ absence. Tricky, very tricky.

As an aside, most breeds have inherited health problems along with their spiffy new looks. New York Times did an excellent article on this topic, "Can the Bulldog be Saved?"