Saturday, April 11, 2015

Saturday encore ~ Because you asked...about Smooch

I brought Smooch home from the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in January 2006, when she was four months old. 
One of my yellow labs had just died, and I wanted a puppy to keep me and my other elderly lab company. 
Both labs had a long history of health problems, so I didn't want another pure bred 
who might be predisposed to particular health issues – I was in search of a mutt. 

I saw her advertised on Petfinder as a "chihuahua mix." Her shelter name was Grace. When I went to the sanctuary 
to meet her, she didn't look anything like a chihuahua to me, but what did I know? I took her for a little walk, 
she seemed like she would be a good match, and that was that. I brought her home. 
"Grace" did not suit her one stinkin' bit, so without a name to call her, I would make a little smooching sound 
to get her attention. And that's the name that stuck ... Smooch.

The picture above is the only one I have from her early days. Her ears were floppy and she was a little smaller 
than she is now, but otherwise she hasn't changed much at all physically. She was quite mischievous as a youngster 
and quickly learned she could open every door in the house by jumping up and pushing down on the handles. 
A bunch of friends came with their horses to stay one weekend and I'll never forget 
coming home with them from a ride to find my dirty laundry scattered all over the front yard. 
That's when I learned Smooch knew how to open doors.



Anyway, she settled into her role as ranch security early on and does a mighty fine job. 
I can't begin to tell you how safe I feel living here, knowing she'll tell me 
whenever something's going on that I need to know about. 




I had her DNA tested and learned she is 25% Chinese Shar-Pei, 25% Australian Cattle Dog (red heeler), 
and 50% unknown origin. In other words, she is a mutt. 




Laura S. asked what kind of food I feed Smooch. She gets one cup of Pedigree dry food twice a day,
plus the remains of every container of yogurt I eat, an occasional Alpo Snap... 



...plus whatever she digs up, which is usually nothing, but my oh my does she enjoy trying.




13 comments:

  1. i love this story, and have two mutts now and had 2 others in the past 30 years, i rescued my first mutt when i was 8 and have loved many since then. thanks for the story and smooches to Smooch

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  2. Smooch does have awesome alert skills....of course those you encourage. But what about her excavation skills....have you ever tried to discourage those?
    Lisa G in TN

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  3. Thanks for the background. Chihuahua mix? Makes you wonder.

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  4. She is perfectly wonderful! I think I will always miss that Lab thing, the big head against my leg, the almost constant desire to please, but making a home for a mutt (or two) beats paying for a pedigree and makes the world a much better place!

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  5. I love your Smooch! She is a sweetie! marsha@tubbslanefarm.com

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  6. A rescue mutt is a great dog! They appreciate what they have!

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  7. Chihuahua! Yeah right! Love everything about her. <3 Especially her name :)

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  8. Mutts are the best---at least for me. Smooch is one of the very best dogs I have ever met. She just goes with the flow and that has to be one of her best traits.

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  9. Such a clever pup and wonderful grown Smooch.

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  10. Those genetic tests are something aren't they... I wouldn't have ever guessed Shar-Pei, though I do see the Heeler.

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  11. She is the best watch dog, great at giving kisses and cuddler!

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  12. I just adore Smooch! I saw her "twin" once while driving up in Pinyon Flats! I think I told you...I did a double take! Wow!
    I also give my black lab, Ripley, yogurt, although SHE prefers going through our trash! There's a reason she is called Ripley! Yup...after the heroine of the Alien movies! She isn't afraid of anything and she rips up EVERYTHING! But, I dearly love her! Let's see...she is now 8 years old, will be 9 in September.

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  13. An American in Tokyo4/13/15, 6:23 PM

    Oh my favorite, Smoochie-poo! Please give her a big hug from me! =)

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