Lots of folks have been asking us how our latest arrival, Dexter T. Dickens, is doing. He's great! This little tyke has absolutely captured our hearts -- he is a pure joy and delight to have in our lives. I told one of the sanctuary's wonderful friends in Chicago this morning that Dexter is one of those once-in-a-lifetime dogs. And he is a dickens. Alayne's choice of names was perfect.
Alayne had been hoping for another Oscar, her uber-minion, but it turns out Dexter is a dual minion! He loves both of us equally, and he is always running back and forth to check on each of us. In fact, after his first couple of weeks here, he ended up as a "cottage dog" at night for that very reason.
We were letting him sleep in the living room, but every night about 2:30 a.m. he'd knock down the child-gate in the hallway and march into our bedroom to see if we were still okay. He'd come over to my side of the bed first, stand up on his hind legs to see if I'm there, then scurry over to Alayne's side of the bed to determine her whereabouts. One of us would have to get up, take him back down to the living room, and put the child-gate back up.
At 5:30 a.m. he'd do the same thing. Crash goes the gate, here comes the pitter-patter of tiny feet down the hall, then the inspection tour of the bedroom.
Somehow the child-gate manages to block Labs, Rottweilers, and Huskies but, um, not a determined miniature Dachshund.
So now he sleeps in the cottage, and he's not too happy about it, but at least we're sleeping through the night again!
(I'm a very light sleeper so the bedroom is a dog-free zone at night.)
In the morning, if I'm the one who lets him out of the cottage, he zooms into the house and races from room to room looking for Alayne. He jumps up and down at her feet, licks and wags, and then races back to me for some licks and wags. If Alayne is the one who lets him out in the morning, he's not content until he finds me. He just needs to make sure we're both present and accounted for.
And whenever one of us leaves the house, he gets restless and worried -- standing up and anxiously looking out the windows for us -- until we come back. He wants us to be together at all times.
Early on we discovered he loves to sit up when he really, really wants something ... like our lunch. That's what he's doing in the photo at the top of the post. Hard to resist that, isn't it? Somewhere he learned it was irresistible.
Being a Dachshund, he does love to burrow -- even if it means just getting partially wrapped in a chore-jacket he pulled down off the the couch:
But he's also a little guy who likes to perch up high ... whether it's on a stack of freshly laundered bedding or the back of the couch:
This is actually a problem because he has no inhibition about jumping down -- which is how Dachshunds often end up with spine problems in the first place. Despite his age, Dexter is a very athletic guy with lots of energy, and he's always zooming around and climbing up on things. Thus whenever we see him like this, we pick him up and set him down on a bed on the floor. We'd like to have at least one miniature Dachshund who doesn't have a spinal or orthopedic disability!
Dexter look like a true gem. You are all so lucky to have found one another. Karma. Thanks Steve and Alayne for doing what you do! You are both saints in my book.
Posted by: Lisa | February 21, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Dexter sounds like a great dachshund! Definitely a perfect minion! I just love it when a dachshund is a "velcro dog".
Posted by: Julie | February 20, 2009 at 08:44 PM
What a cutie! He is one happy dog.
He knows he's got it made at RDR.
How's Smokey doing?
Sonya
Posted by: Sonya Brooks | February 20, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Thank you so much for posting about him - I was wondering myself how he was settling in! He looks like a wonderful little guy.
Posted by: JC | February 20, 2009 at 12:32 PM
That's a great update on such a sweet guy that seems to have fit right in. I'm glad he is your dual minion & it's good to know you have such a fierce little guy looking out for you. I'm so glad Alayne said yes, as I'm sure both of you are too. He sounds like a ball of energy & no way I could resist the sitting up or as we put in our family, "sitting pretty."
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | February 20, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Dexter T. Dickens is so inspiring! I just love that face of his. I have a friend who just adopted a 10-year old doxie named Barney. She fell in love with my Frankie after watching her a few times for us... once you get hooked on a doxie you are ALWAYS hooked on them. They are just like "dickens" and so darn loveable!
~Barbara
aka Frankie's mom
www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com
Posted by: Barbara Techel | February 20, 2009 at 11:47 AM
There's a quick fix for that problem -- let him sleep in the bed! LOL Even if you are a light sleeper, once he cuddles into a spot and is finally content, you won't know he's there. :)
Posted by: April - an EXPERIENCED dachshund owner | February 20, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I'm so glad Madame Nyet said "yes" this time. What a sweet boy Dexter is.
The problem for everyone, of course, would be to just let him sleep in bed with you. I'll bet you all would sleep through the night...
Posted by: Linda | February 20, 2009 at 10:03 AM
What a character! Glad to hear he's settling in so nicely.
Posted by: Joey and Maggie | February 20, 2009 at 08:04 AM
Thanks for this great update, Steve!
Dexter is a sweetheart for sure: he just looks (and acts) adorable! Not to mention that you and Alayne finally have a minion in common...;-)
Please give him a HUGE hug for me.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | February 20, 2009 at 06:15 AM
What a sweetie! Love that grey beard. Those eyes on the second photo say "I'm very happy here".
Posted by: Bregda | February 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
SMILE--BIG TIME!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | February 19, 2009 at 11:47 PM
It's great to see that Dexter T. has settled in & become a dual minion, as it should be. It's funny about him knocking the gate down to come & check on you! When I have houseguest, Tobias has to go & check on them while they are attempting to sleep. Since the guest room is upstairs, & he sleeps in my room, downstairs, it's a conscious effort. They like to know that all is well in their world & keep the people that love them safe.
Warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | February 19, 2009 at 05:01 PM
What a sweetie! Have you tried crating him at night? We had to put our terrier-dachs on "crate rest" for several weeks when he hurt a disk, and before long he was enjoying his "burrow" so much that it became his preferred sleeping place even when he was allowed to be out and about again. We still crate him at night and when we leave the house, and he is very happy to be in his safe place. The crate IS in the bedroom; if he had to spend nights in a separate room he might not be so pleased. But it might be worth a try. :)
Posted by: Tonya | February 19, 2009 at 03:02 PM