This is Stevie's little sister, Helen, who is also blind and deaf. Cute, isn't she? It's funny how these photos make both of them look bigger than they really are -- she's the size of a miniature Dachshund, and just a tad bigger than the smallest dog at the ranch, Daisy. She's in constant motion, and as I write this, all I hear in the background is her tiny feet zooming all over the house. These two adore each other, and whenever they find each other after having been separated ... no matter how briefly ... their tails just start a-waggin'.
Now, that doesn't mean Stevie isn't above helping himself to her food, a not-so-brotherly trait that Phyllis had warned us about. He's not mean or snarly about it, far from it -- it's the passive approach of gradually moving in, then using his body to slowly push her away and block her from the bowl. So we feed them separately to make sure she gets everything she needs. But when there's no food involved, Stevie's the doting, loving brother!
Things will be relatively quiet, and then all of a sudden we'll hear a lot of skittering and sliding around on the floor -- it's the two of them, roughhousing and playing with each other and spinning in circles.
Eventually they do finally run out of steam and take a nap:
Here's a close-up:
Thanks to everyone for the terrific name suggestions! We'll make a decision soon and let you know which names we go with.
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Please vote for the ranch in the Shelter Challenge -- and you can vote every day! We're currently in third place, putting us on track to win $3,000 for the animals. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT, for Montana, and it will bring up our listing.
Vote in the Shelter Challenge here.Last year we won $3,000 in the first round and then won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the second round, so your votes really do add up and make for a wonderful gift for the animals here.
Thank you!
Really cute! I'll say Spin and Martie.
Posted by: Susan | April 15, 2010 at 07:06 AM
Just thought I'd throw Kurt and Courtney (Cobain and Love) in as possible names. You two are former Seattleites, aren't you? :)
Posted by: Glenn | February 23, 2010 at 09:46 PM
OMG, how cute can you get. I love the description of the 2 of them & how bonded they are & I'm so happy they were able to come to RDR & Phyllis contacted you all. I just adore the 2 of them. I can't wait to hear the new names. There have been so many good ones submitted. I still think Who & Dat is hilarious because whoever is calling them to come inside would just crack up laughing every time! But, I hope you go on the theme of some names that will go along w/ where they are from.
I love the pic of them napping together. Oh how I wish I could just drive over there & get them.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | February 23, 2010 at 09:12 PM
My goodness, each of these last four additions to RDR has been cuter than the one before! I wish I lived closer than three states away so I could offer a home to a pair of these dogs.
Posted by: Moon Rani | February 23, 2010 at 06:19 PM
Cuteness factor is off the scale..............
So happy they will be together and happy at RDR!
Posted by: Doe George | February 23, 2010 at 05:08 PM
How about Fred and Ethel - Many years ago, my sister and I adopted 2 dogs - a sister and brother - that's what we named them.
Posted by: Elaine | February 23, 2010 at 04:43 PM
The girl, Mardi
The male, Louie
After all it's that time of the year, Mardigras! Louie Armstrong! The other male name, Dr. John. He's another New Orleans musician as I'm sure you probably know. I'm just getting in on the last of this, & maybe too late. Magnolia is also a great southern Belle name, you could call her Maggie....do you have a Maggie? I can't keep up! Enought already!
Warm hugs to the new two,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger, Tobias & Tlingit | February 23, 2010 at 04:37 PM
What an absolute sweetheart!
Posted by: Mary | February 23, 2010 at 04:28 PM
Sorry, of course I meant Trixie and Bullet - duh.
Posted by: Jane Tunnicliff | February 23, 2010 at 01:20 PM
In honor of the "fine" establishment in Ovando, I suggest Dixie and Bullet!
Posted by: Jane Tunnicliff | February 23, 2010 at 01:15 PM
They are truly precious. How about one of these pair of names:
Fred & Ginger
Bobby & Sissy (dance duo from Lawrence Welk fame)
Sonny & Cher
Desi & Lucy
Napoleon (Leon) & Josephine (Josie)
I'd better stop, this could get silly.
Whatever you choose to name them - they are lovely little dogs. Thank you for all you do for ALL the animals.
Posted by: Karen D. - SD Dog Mom | February 23, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Oh what a darling wee girl!!
And now she and her brother are in heaven on earth!!
Posted by: Maree in NZ | February 23, 2010 at 12:40 PM
OH look at my Hellie Bellie....the name my girls called Helen because she ADORES a belly rub. Thanks guys for taking these two together. When I pulled them from the shelter I didn't know what their future would be....and then I saw what you have seen....Happyness, Joy and Love for each other and us (Phyllis, Sophia age 12 and Olivia age 11). I had dreamed that they could remain together because they are so bonded. Play time with them was always so exciting. I'm sure you've seen them play, get lost from one another, jump around, tamp their front feet on the floor and then pounce on each other when they find one another again. They are indeed a happy pair and that's why I couldn't let them be euthanized at the shelter. With all of the interrest you have in them maybe they can get adopted together one day. What a lovely gift they are to us all!!!!
Phyllis
Posted by: Phyllis Funches | February 23, 2010 at 12:38 PM
How about calling them: Spaten (good German beer!) and Spaetzel (equally good German noodles!)...or Struedel (hmmm, good german dessert....)
Or Georgie and Gracie (as in George Burns?)
they are so sweet. they are lucky to have RDR. and I think RDR is lucky to have them too!
Posted by: Penny Heinrich | February 23, 2010 at 11:45 AM
How about Trilby and Tess? They are so beautiful! I wish I lived nearby so you'd let me adopt them. They'd fit right in with my "furry" family!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | February 23, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Here's another reason to have a Dachshund named Dixie - ignore the video, just listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWhj9_3rB8k
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | February 23, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Sounds like they're young. I'm so glad they have found a home together. That has surely helped them adjust. I would love to see or read about how you and Alayne go about introducing new pack members to the home and to each other. Thank you so much for all you do.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | February 23, 2010 at 10:56 AM
or Pebbles and BamBam!
Posted by: Leslie - PA | February 23, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Too cute for words!!!!
How about Barry and Belle?
Posted by: Chloe | February 23, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Way too cute!
How about:
They look like a Barney/Betty to me!
although I really love the Drew/Brees names that other people suggested!
Posted by: Leslie - PA | February 23, 2010 at 10:41 AM
I'm just spechless.... sooooo cute!! And in that last picture she seems to be smiling.. she knows she is in RDR!!!!!!
Thanks for your great work and BIGGGG hearts!!!
Can't wait to know the new names!!
Posted by: Carolina | February 23, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Why not name them what they are?
Adora and Able to make up Adorable!!
:)
Posted by: Amy A | February 23, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Stevie & Helen
WELCOME HOME. Your adventures are just beginning.
Be safe & be Warm
Posted by: Eric | February 23, 2010 at 10:34 AM
They are SO cute!
Posted by: Elaine Roebuck | February 23, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Oh, no! Heart failing from CUTE attack! Two more of the luckiest little dogs in the world.
You may have to change the name, though, to Rolling Dachshund Ranch or Roving Dachshund Ranch or Rockin' Dachshund Ranch, all things considered! (That way your acronym can stay the same.)
I can't wait for an update on sweet Ella and Timmy's leg.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | February 23, 2010 at 09:57 AM
Oh my goodness. Adorable. I want them to come live with me!!! So, so cute.
Posted by: Niki | February 23, 2010 at 08:40 AM
How absolutely sweet they look. What a great gift to be able to stay together in their own special home.
Posted by: Dee in KY | February 23, 2010 at 08:34 AM
What a pair of cuties! They look so hugable.
Posted by: Lynda | February 23, 2010 at 08:21 AM
Just looking at them sleeping together makes me smile....they sound delightful. I'm so glad they have always had one another.
Posted by: Debbie | February 23, 2010 at 07:48 AM
I'll add my exclamations of cuteness. Those two are adorable! I wonder what Widget thinks of it all.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | February 23, 2010 at 07:24 AM
I have a dachshund-chi mix and he is deaf. I wonder why so many in this breed go deaf.
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | February 23, 2010 at 07:04 AM
I like Ying and Yang!
She is precious. They both are. What great pics.
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | February 23, 2010 at 07:00 AM
They are so cute!
These are my name suggestion.
Jack & Jill/Jenny(I think both would be cute with Jack.) - Cocoa & Chip - Sunny & Delilah.
Thanks for taking care of them, they look very sweet. :)
Posted by: Annie | February 23, 2010 at 06:18 AM
Oh my, they are adorable!!
Posted by: Karrie Baker | February 23, 2010 at 05:57 AM
What an adorable pair of sweethearts! Their pictures brought a HUGE smile to my face.:-)
Please give them a very big hug for me.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | February 23, 2010 at 03:22 AM
O my poor heart...
Sometimes technology makes us think the world is really small (and it is in a way). But then I see these pictures and I want so much to hug these two adorable little ones, and I realise they are so very far away. If only I could fly....
I like Louie and Dixie for names, very cute.
Thank you for taking them in, I know they will give you lots of happiness - if they stay, which somehow I don't think will be for very long...
Posted by: Bregda (South Africa) | February 23, 2010 at 01:18 AM
My, they are both so sweet and adorable. I second Nick and Nora. I know it would be nice to come up with names to honor Louisana, but these two seem like they could have come from the Thin Man era, don't they? I think the Charles' had a terrier or something, didn't they? But these two definitely look like a Nick and Nora. And they certainly look happy. I'm so glad they are safe and happy.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | February 23, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Oh my goodness, she's beautiful! The first thing I thought was "she's such a little Peanut". Maybe not the greatest name, but that's what I thought of. But I think there were other really great names given and I know you and Alayne will pick out names that fit both of them. So glad they are happy and already having fun!
Posted by: Ann | February 22, 2010 at 11:31 PM
They are adorable.
How about:
Vysa and Versa (not sure about the spelling)
or
Ying and Yang
or
Hot and Dog
Weiner and Schnitzel
Oh sorry about the last 2.
I couldn't help myself.
Posted by: Ev | February 22, 2010 at 11:13 PM
They are absolutely adorable. How about Nick and Nora?
Posted by: Jennie Wiseman | February 22, 2010 at 10:41 PM
They are SO adorable!! I just want to scoop them up and hug the stuffing out of them!!! They are so blessed to have a brand new and huge family to love them. Thanks for taking them in.
Posted by: Leila - Washington | February 22, 2010 at 10:12 PM
oh! oh! oh! . They are SO DARLING! Why, oh why would people not see how wonderful they are? Thank goodness for RDR!
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | February 22, 2010 at 09:56 PM