Frisbee Love

Millie loves her Richmond Pet Lovers frisbee! And yes, she's very lazy. I think she expects the world to stop and rub her tummy whenever she pleases!

Annual Richmond SPCA Dog Jog & 5k Run!

Banjo & Millie have just signed up to participate in the Richmond SPCA's annual Dog Jog event! The event is two-fold - a 1 mile walk (with your dog) and a 5k run (without your dog). We will of course be participating in the portion that Banjo & Millie can both walk in, a whopping 1 mile! I encourage anyone who lives nearby to participate. It's going to be a great time, and hopefully it will be just in time for some nice spring morning weather!

Hop on over to our event page to learn more!

It all started with Kelso.

Of course you read about Banjo and Millie each time you visit, but there’s a special dog that you haven’t heard about who really started my life-long love affair with dogs, and today marks my third year without her. Her name was Kelso. My sister and I had just lost our bunny rabbit, and my parents thought a puppy would be good for us. They found an ad in the newspaper for some puppies and brought Kelso home to us just in time for Thanksgiving of 1990. Kelso was a fixture in my life from the time I was just a little girl, and lived to be 17 years old. I was 26 when she passed away. She literally watched me grow up. That’s the unique bond I shared with this dog that cannot be replaced, one that will stay with me my entire life. I want to share with you all some memories my family shared with me to remember her publicly today. I hope you enjoy these stories of our special little dog, all 14 pounds of our feisty and loving shih tzu, Kelso.


From my Dad:

We were awakened from a deep sleep around 1:00a.m. on Sunday by her constant, purposeful barking. At the time she was less than a year old, and it was a bark we had never heard before. Kelso had already developed another purposeful bark, intended to convey her displeasure with the quality and speed of the food service, a skill she was able to hone over the next 17 years of her reign. And obviously she was in the kitchen, but where else would you expect her in the wee hours of the morning. The refrigerator door just might accidentally open and a bonanza fall out.  But this bark, though equally purposeful, was clearly distinguishable from a demand or complaint, it was a call to arms. Someone had entered the kitchen through the kitchen window, and she was damn sure no one had ever entered through the kitchen window to feed her.  Of course, the intruder could have entered unheralded, had he but entered the kitchen door carrying a pork chop. But I digress. I loaded my 357 and heeded the call. As I narrowed the gap, the barking suddenly stopped and Kelso and I crossed paths in the foyer. She stopped, cocked her head to one side, which for those of you who are unfamiliar with the shih tzu breed, is somewhat akin to the royal wave, and conveyed the following message: there is a man hiding in the kitchen; he came through the window; he did not have a pork chop; what you do with him from this point on is your own business; I am going to bed; please wake me for breakfast.

From my sister:

Kelso was my best friend from the moment she came home to live with us- that day I was 10 years old, and tiny little Kelso climbed up my baggy pants leg and I was smitten.  I remember dressing her up in our cabbage patch kid fur coats (why does a dog need a second fur coat?) and she just went along with it.  I remember sitting on the floor in front of the TV with her as a child with a bag of chocolate chips- I didn't know of course dogs shouldn't eat chocolate- and she didn't either- we would sit there two peas in a pod- I'd eat one, she'd eat one... Lord only knows why she didn't ever get sick. I also remember as a child sharing my ice cream on a cone with her. We were best friends!

And as we grew up, even when she was pretty old, if I would cry or hurt myself, she would run to my side, lick me and cry too. I even remember fighting with Layne in high school, and Kelso would sit there and bark at us as if to say- "Stop fighting! Let's play!"

Kelso is the dog that spoiled all other dogs for me. She is the reason I love shih tzus so much today, and I miss her so much every day it hurts. 

From my Mom:

In the last year or two of her life, when we sat down to eat, we had to lock her out of the kitchen because of her barking for food. And I remember, one time, accidentally sucking her tail up in the vacuum cleaner.  She avoided me for days, and the vacuum for the rest of her life. Kelso was our first shih tzu, but not our last:  She had 4 puppies (we kept two - Spike and Samantha), Samantha had 5 more.  Then Delaney had 5. Add it up: 15 shih tzus.  Do you think we like the breed?  All because of Kelso.  Check out the names, too: Kelso for Kelley, Samantha for Sam, Delaney for Layne and Penny for Penny. One whacked-out family.

Kelso on the day she came home to us. I was 8!

Sweet Kelso

Kelso with her daughter Sammy at the top, and with me when she was 17!

Atomic Attic's Handmade Suitcase Beds

If you've got a cat or a small dog and you're in the market for getting them a new bed, then check out Atomic Attic's vintage upcycled suitcase beds. I'm in love with the retro vibe, and they're well-priced for such cute, stylish, handmade beds. They aren't very large, so they would be best suited for a small, lightweight cat or dog. It wouldn't really fit Banjo, but it would be perfect for Millie!

Thank You to Oscar the Pooch for Our Stylish Blogger Award!

Banjo and Millie are so stoked to have received the Stylish Blogger Award from Oscar the Pooch! We’ve only just discovered Oscar recently, and are so thrilled that they’ve enjoyed checking out our ramblings, so thank you, Oscar!

We’ve had a great time blogging for the short time we have, and it’s reasons like these that make it so much fun – the opportunity to meet other bloggers that share the same interests and crazy pet lover quirks that only true lovers can fully appreciate! As Oscar the Pooch said, pet bloggers really are some of the nicest people out there. Thanks for being so welcoming to Banjo and Millie!

So the rules for accepting the award are to thank the person who gave you the award, share 7 things about yourself, link to 15 recently discovered bloggers, then contact them to tell them about the award. So here goes!

Seven things about me. Well, seven things about us, since Banjo and Millie are the real stars here.

1.   I’ve been a dog-lover for 10,543 days. Ok, busted, it might be hard to be a dog-lover from the moment of birth, but it’s been close. In my lifetime, I’ve had the privilege of having the love of 8 full-time dogs. That doesn’t include the 3 litters of shih tzu puppies who went to friends and family members who don’t live with me (but I still consider them my babies too, of course). They’ve made everything in my life so much more meaningful. I have them to thank for giving me perspective. Good dog!

2.   Banjo has no teeth. Well, he has a few, but basically he doesn’t. When we adopted him, most of the few teeth he had remaining were ground nearly down to the root, so we had to have all but a couple removed. He’s the sweetest, tamest, most ridiculously calm dog in the first place, but with no teeth, he has to be the world’s least threatening dog.

3.   Millie was almost not born. She was the last of her litter, and her mama Delaney (my parents’ dog) was having trouble birthing her. When we took Delaney to the emergency vet, they told us the pup was upside down in the birth canal with no heartbeat, so they took her in the back to have a stillbirth. When they came back, they had one tiny, adorably happy, very much alive, Millie. She is our very own little miracle. In fact, before she came to us, she was even named Lazarus, because she rose from the dead!

4.   Though he is a beagle, which is allegedly a breed of very vocal hounds, Banjo doesn’t bark. Instead, when he wants or needs something, he does a little tap dance to let it be known.

5.   Millie is a kisser. She loves to give kisses and has the sweetest little butt wiggle when she’s happy to see you. It’s not really a tail wag, but rather the cutest little shake of her entire tush, like she can’t control it she is so overcome with joy. She never fails to make you feel like you are the most important person in the world.

6.   Banjo hates grass. You have to force him to walk on it. It's very peculiar. He loves it though, if there's SNOW on the grass.

7.  Millie is afraid of her leash. Once it's on her, she's totally fine, but whenever I pull out her leash, she darts under the couch. I still haven't figured this one out.

Now I get to pass on the award to all of the other blogs who I’m excited to share! This is where the fun really begins. I hope you enjoy checking out these 15 blogs that I would like to pass on the Stylish Blogger Award to! I know several of these individuals have actually already received the award, so my apologies for doubling up, but I think you deserve it! Woof!

1. Chronicles of Cardigan 
2. Cooper & Lola
3. Paw Print City Times
4. Daily Oskar
5. I Still Want More Puppies 
6. 1 Year 1 Dog
7. My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much
8. Daley’s Dog Years
9. Hound Girl
10. The Other Winnie Cooper
11. Will My Dog Hate Me?
12. Sew Doggy Style
13. Two Little Cavaliers
14. Life with Lulu (And Wally Too!) 
15. Trixie, Lily & Sammy-Joe

Millie Tries the Stairs

Last weekend while visiting the “grandparents,” Millie decided to attempt the stairs. You see, Millie has done the stairs at our house before once or twice. But she has also slid all the way back down them three or four times. Hardwood stairs are slippery and scary, so it’s no wonder she is nervous on stairs.

So when she had a shot at carpeted stairs, Millie was brave. She darted right up the stairs, but when she got halfway, she stopped and completely froze. She will get it eventually!

Millie Attempts the Stairs. from Banjo and Millie on Vimeo.

Henrico Humane Pet Expo

Over the weekend, Banjo & Millie (and Mom & Dad, of course) went to our first Henrico Humane Society Pet Expo, and boy, did we all have fun! The Expo consisted of over 75 local vendors (grooming, daycare, artists, retail, rescue groups and more), and even more exciting, there were HUNDREDS of other dogs who came out and supported the Humane Society. Dogs of all shapes and sizes paraded around the Showplace, and Banjo & Millie had a good time making all kinds of new friends. We also found a few new local vendors that we're excited to get to know, so we will be showcasing/reviewing them here in the near future!

Here are just a few photos we took while wandering the Expo.

The Flying Jacks Stunt Dog Team Setup

Millie found the jackpot of rawhides!

Frosty Paws Eating Contest

Two tired pups after hours of fun!

In Honor of Presidents' Day

To celebrate Presidents' Day, Banjo & Millie thought it might be fun to spotlight none other than the First Dog himself, Bo Obama!

Bo was born on October 9, 2008 and was the topic of much discussion after President Obama’s election. What breed would become the face of the American Dog? There was much speculation and after 6 whole months, it was announced that the First Family would receive Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog, as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy (who owned one of Bo’s litter mates). Several weeks before the announcement, there was special meeting to determine whether or not Bo clicked with the Obama’s (a meeting that came to be referred to by the staff as “The Meeting”). Of course, the rest is history, as Bo was the perfect fit, and was introduced to the world as Bo Obama, First Dog of the United States. When asked if Bo would be allowed inside the Oval Office, President Obama responded, “of course” and went on to quote President Harry Truman who famously said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” (Wikipedia).

Other famous First Dogs include Scottish Terrier Barney (Bush, Jr.), Chocolate Lab Buddy (Clinton), English Springer Spaniel (Millie – yes Millie! – Bush, Sr.), and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rex (Reagan).  

Happy Presidents' Day! Woof!

The Weather Gets Warm...

The weather is starting to warm, and Banjo & Millie have been taking advantage! Here's our first trip down to the river now that we can actually enjoy sitting outside. We hope you have a fabulous (and if lucky, warm) Saturday!

A millisecond, as defined by my Dad.

A millisecond, as defined by my Dad: