The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

17 years ago today a very special puppy did a very special thing.

Our first Dalmatian, Chili, was 10 weeks old at the time. I had left for work already that morning when he started crying. And crying. And crying. Brent was still sleeping and was slowly awoken to the sound of the cries. By the time he was alert, he realized the house was full of a thick, black smoke. He could hardly take a breath. He scooped up the little puppy and was able to escape from the burning building unharmed. Thanks to Chili, both my boys made it out ok.

Every anniversary of that heroic event we'd take the ChiliDog to Dairy Queen for a peanut butter sundae. Chili passed away several years ago now but we still think of him on this day each year. He was a smart boy. Tried my patience like anything, but he will always be my #1 Dal. I think he and Browser would have been best buddies. Although Chili was devious, and I could see him luring Browser into trouble!

Chili was such a huge part of our life. The three of us basically grew up together. He was such a part of our life that his name is part of our company even. CDKitchen.com was originally called "ChiliDog's Kitchen", and we still tell the story of its namesake.

This is the picture I keep on my desk of the infamous Chili Dog.

This was taken April 1, 1992 - the day we got Chili. He was a surprise for Brent's birthday (ok, so I got myself a puppy for Brent's birthday)

Chili and Pepper sit still for the camera. Don't ask me how I got them to sit still - that was the first and last time they ever posed nicely at the same time!

This has turned out to be the dogs' favorite game EVER! Widget will try to steal the bubble wand from you if you aren't blowing bubbles fast enough (I'm not sure what she thinks she'll do with it, but I'm pretty sure she can't - yet- blow bubbles on her own).

We pretty much have to play bubbles daily or we suffer the wrath of Widget. She is all about the sport.

The pups are ready - it's BUBBLE TIME!

Faster Daddy! You aren't blowing those bubbles fast enough!

Widget is such an amazing athlete - she will leap into the air and grab a bubble.

Well, well! Look who else can jump afterall! Browser gets in on the bubble game with full force

I made the mistake this morning of going upstairs while the pups were outside, leaving the back door open so they could let themselves back in.

I was busy working (making backups, was having some computer issues this morning) when I hear them RACE up the steps and gallop into my office. I took one look at them and shrieked. They were covered in mud. They tracked it thru the kitchen, living room, up the carpeted staircase, around the long carpeted hallway and into my office (also carpeted). I immediately got them back downstairs (of course, retracking the mud the whole way) and outside again. Just in time for the lawn crew to show up to mow. So, into their beds they went (still dirty) while I dragged out the carpet shampooer (we have beige carpet).

Once the carpet, and the dogs, were all cleaned up we headed outside (it was afternoon at this point) to enjoy the weather. The second they went out the door they ran right for the mud puddle they had discovered earlier.

Sigh.

The newly added muddy puppy photo was the next day - Widget got into the mud yet again. I'll be going to Lowe's shortly to buy fencing.

It's a tough job, but I guess somebody has to guard the water in the pool.

Puppies weighed in this week...

Browser: 53 lbs
Widget: 51 1/2 lbs

Keep in mind, Widget is 2 months older than Browser!!!! He's a brute. Not fat at all, but very densely packed!

Well, I think Widget must have got a good night sleep last night because she is in a GREAT mood today. She and Browser are having a blast playing in my office right now. Maybe she knows it's her bday!

I did get some pics of the bday festivities yesterday with the new stuffed toys. The duck already met its demise unfortunately. The sheep is hanging in there. I'm not sure how the shots turned out but I will try to upload them this evening if any are usable. It was quite the K9 flurry of activity when the toys came out.

EDIT: photos added. Both toys are no longer part of the play rotation, sadly. The sheep lost his stuffing tonight after many bold hours of play.

Where is the time going? Just yesterday he was my "little" boy!

For a bday gift (Widgie's 9 month bday is tomorrow so it's a double dal gift) I stopped at Petsmart. They had a ton of stuff on clearance. The cutest items I got were two HUGE Easter stuffed squeaky toys - a duck and a sheep. I don't expect them to survive more than a day or so with the dotted duo demolition team, but I just wanted to have them long enough to get some cute pictures. Browser loves plush toys so this ought to be entertaining at the least.

Pictures WILL follow, I promise!

Lawn chair: $25
Bottle of Bubbles: $1.50
Not having to chase a toy myself: Priceless

Warning, this is a long video, but it's pretty cute (if I do say so myself). This is by far the pups' favorite game.