Our big, little additions!!!

Hi, my name is Baxter. You already know, from the previous post, how I ended up with my family. I was abandoned..... starved.... and abused. I am over 10 years old. I love Kimber and Erik. My new owners fed me A LOT when they took me in, so I got some meat on my bones. However.... I did have some seperation anxiety from being abandoned.  The first few weeks after being rescued, I would hyperventilate any time Kimber and Erik would leave my sight (including leaving for work, using the restroom.... anything that required them to leave my sight). The second night with them, I was in the yard (surrounded by a 6 foot fence), and Erik and Kimber where on the other side getting groceries from the car. I could hear their voice and my anxiety kicked in.... I did NOT want to get abandoned again. Although I am old, and huge, and can't jump..... I gave it all I had I got my paws over the top of the fence and pushed myself over. I fell onto my back on the other side.... it did not feel good, but I got to my owners! I was hyperventilating and crying. I went and sat in the trunk where the groceries were.... they were not leaving me!!! After a few weeks... and Kimber and Erik coming back to me every time the left..... I starting to trust them more and more and my anxiety slowly stopped and things with me got normal.  

I'm an alpha dog. I guard...... especially Kimber.  I follow her wherever she goes, and I lay in front of the door of whatever room she is in.  I don't get on any furniture, I don't chew up anything (except Kelsy's soccer balls), I don't bark at people, I am house broken and I am just content laying around all day.  I sound pretty perfect, right? One flaw I do have..... being this beautiful, and having this fur comes with shedding.  I shed like crazy!!!!

Although I love sugar- I'm not a fan of other dogs.  I am a bit sceptical. And although I am the biggest sweetheart.... little dogs (especially) bug me! I need to uphold my image and be intimidating to the dog world. One day, Kimber was taking us on our daily walk. We were coming up on an annoying yappy little dog. Kimber did all she could to avoid the situation, but her not being that strong, and trying to hold back two huge dogs.... this dog and his owner did not stand a chance.  I licked the owner (because I love people), and that gave him a comforting feeling and walked passed with his annoying dog in his arms.  I reached up and put that little dog in my mouth! Now.... I know what you are thinking. But I did not break the skin..... in fact, I would hardly say I even bit him! He was not hurt, but he squealed like a little baby.  This of course got me a few swats from Kimber... and a threat to have the pound called on me from the yappy dog's owners. Nothing happened.  The next weekend Erik took me to his friends house.  When outside using the bathroom, I saw a couple little chiwawas. GOLD! I ran right over there and put the whole thing in my mouth! Something about having a whole dog in my mouth does something to my ego... and I like it!! Again.... I did not cause harm to this dog. Erik freaked out within seconds and I split the little guy out... you should have seen that thing scurry off!

Anyway.... I am so grateful for my owners. And in return.... my owners are beyond happy I came into their life. They love me so much!!! I have cancer throughout my body. My time with them will be cut short. My owner is crying as she writes this post.... so she will stop here. Maybe once I am put to rest and am out of pain she will write more about this.

Hello! I am sugar. I also go by: sugs, sug-night, sugar babies. I am three years old. I am basically the opposite of Baxter! But I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing.  I love to cuddle. I weigh about 75 pounds.... but think I weigh 5 pounds. Don't let my size fool you. I'm actually a lap dog at heart. I am a princess (according to Erik- that translates to a "pansy"). I will not lay on the carpet.... gross! I hate being outside. I need to be the center of attention. I insist on sleeping on a real bed (comforters are my preference), but these new owners of mine insist I sleep on this nonsense they call a "doggy bed." I got away with sleeping with them for the first few weeks. Erik is huge so he got a good portion of the bed, I'm a princess so I sprawled out and took about 1/2 of the bed, and poor Kimber got a small corner. Apparently since I'm the "dog" I'm the one who got the boot.  This "doggy bed" of mine just does not work for me.  I get up after a few hours of sleeping in the middle and all the cushion is on the sides. I have to use my paw and push it all back to the middle- usually takes about 5 minutes of continuous "scratching" motion and sound. Ridiculous. 

You can usually find me in these kinds of positions. I'm constantly making Erik and Kimber laugh. I'm also a ditz. I run into everything!! You name- the bed, the night stand, the coffee table. Oh man that coffee table is going to be the death of me! I run into that thing on a daily basis!! Lets face it... I bring the entertainment to this household!

I love Erik. I really do.... But I am definitely a mamma's girl.  If she goes to the bathroom... I'm right there.  If she gets up to get something from the bedroom, I am right there with her. If she's on the couch... and there is no room to sit next to her, I sit on top of her. I do make for a great cuddle buddy tho. When we go to Kimber's parents house.... I'm not allowed inside. Can you believe that?? I love going over there because they have grass, but when everyone is inside my anxiety just kicks in. I NEED to have Kimber in sight at all times.  I can cry and scratch the doors all I want.  Doesn't work. So... what do I do? I follow her.... from window to window I go. Wherever she goes. I start to cry when she starts to do her make-up. I know that means she is leaving (heaven forbid she actually get ready for any other reason). And when I see that stupid purple suitcase- I'm done for it. I cry and cry. I refuse to eat when she leaves for a long period of time, and I even go thru the trash and act out just so she needs to come home!

What would life be without these sweet little additons to our family?? I can't image. They make life so much more interesting. They are my best little friends. I had a hard time excepting Erik and I's conflicting schedule and I felt we never got to see each other.  These little beauties filled that "lonely" feeling I was having in this new life of ours.  When I was home with a broken foot.... they entertained me. I talk to them all day long. I enjoy coming home and having them both right in the door (to the point I can't even get in), excited to see us- yet whimpering with sadness because they missed you. I'm so grateful they came into our life!!

They love grass. They love, love, love going on walks!!! Baxter loves his soccer balls.... think he has 3 now that he has popped and he loves carrying them around.  Neither one will play fetch with Erik (he was a little disappointed), but they love going to the park and just running free. 

They love car rides. Yes.... this is a picture of their arrangement in the car. Shows their personalities- Baxter's carefree "whatever" personality. And sugar sitting on Baxter..... crazy, princess personality.  Make fun of me.... but I take them every where I can. Post office, bank, when paying bills, to my mom's office, to my parent's house.... any place I can leave them in the car for a short while and they will be okay. I even took them to the mall with me one night (30 minute drive). Sugar apparently has never been on the freeway and the high speeds freaked her out! She was shaking and basically sitting on my lab. I'm sure anyone that drives by and sees these 2 huge dogs in the car with me gets a slight smirk on their face. Hey... I'm just here to make some one's day!

They love each other!!! They play together all day/night long. I love watching them wrestle. Sugar is usually the instigator..... but Baxter always dominates.  Sugar usually ends up on her back, with Baxter's mouth around her neck (again no harm... he just has this thing with putting dogs in his mouth?). And it ends when sugar comes hiding behind me or Erik like a pansy! I don't think they have ever been separated since we have taken them in (4 months ago). Sure they have their differences. Baxter likes his food... and doesn't want to share. When sugar is trying to take his food.... he simply picks up the whole bowl of food and takes it across the room to get away from sugar (usually causing a trail of dropped dog food). And of course sugar cries until she gets her way. But at the end of the day... they are best little buddies. They have their own dog beds- when I wake up in the middle of the night they are usually cuddled up together on one. 

What will sugar do with our Baxter?? We will cry together for a while.