When we find abandoned kittens to take to a rescue, my dogs act like excited lunatics. They walk around and sniff and try to play or cuddle. My cat couldn't care less. She's like Ugh I am a childless renegade don't be looking at me to love it. Boy cat is okay to be next to it and groom it. Bird yells at it and then marches away. But the dogs are the true Ambassadors de Casa Fleur. Except for Neurotic Poodle. She studies it and then runs away. She will peek around corners and then run up and down the halls. Why? Why does she run around the halls and up and down stairs? Beats me. I have no idea why she reacts that way. Oh yes, because she is neurotic! The sad moment for the pups, especially our other GS, is when the kitten is washed, de-fleed and ready to either join the outdoor barn cats if it is feral-ish or off to get adopted. He sits and looks out of the window like Mama, WHY? Can't the baby stay? They miss the cuddle bunnies probably, but we aren't ready for mo...

 

 

  I argue that dogs are the most beautiful to their owners and people, but I find it interesting to look at breeds and learn about their pasts, known behaviors, and traits.  Post your beauties and thoughts. 

  Not Abbie, but look at that face? Abbie is the cutest puppy sweetie. Welcome to the Manor, Abbie! You make me smile daily, and I am happy to watch you grow. You are lucky to have such a devoted Daddy. You found each other, and it is obviously a love match. I look forward to the day when you get to play with Scout, our other very special mini Aussie. I love this breed, and I love your new baby. 

  I love my dogs to distraction, and when they know I am down or stressed, one in particular, a mix of who knows and who cares breed, cuddles me, strokes my hair, and will not leave my side. She does this with everyone, thinking it is her job. We nicknamed her LoveyDovey because she is a bundle of love. She had a very rough start, abused and starved by a cruel "owner," a rescuer I know just stole her and ran off with her. She couldn't bear to walk by that house on her way to work and see this poor young pup be mistreated anymore. Operation Save Her (as I call it) was unleashed, and she just dognapped her. None of us is sorry. That guy didn't deserve her. Neighbors had reported him several times, we found out, but nothing had been done, so my friend took action. It isn't the best idea, but sometimes it is the only idea. She thanks us daily for her loving home, but she gives so much more than we could ever give back. She's getting old now, but it hasn't stop...

Hi Pecker Puppy Lovers!  In the past several months, my life has been chaotic, with no time to breathe. I missed writing for you all, and I missed this weekly article so much. It is close to my heart. I decided to do my best and at least get something up, even if it is a simple video, so dog lovers have a spot to show off their lovely pups. I can't always promise in-depth articles, but I can promise to do my best. Also, losing Octavian devastated me to my core, and I am recovering from the grief and some mild depression as a result. I ached and hurt so much. It was like losing a human child for me, as acute as if I had given birth to him myself. The pack mourned losing their leader and was slow to elect a new one. We may get more pups. Our house is nothing without 5 pups with us.  So share your memes, photos, vids and all the pup stuff you can. 

 

As with most nature shows highlighting wild animals, there are moments of watching the animals hunting. That is a big part of their lives and the cycle of life in the wild. If those moments are too hard, this isn't for you. But if you like to study wolves, their behavior, and some silly moments, you may appreciate this mini "documentary". Whatever one might think of the BBC, they excel at nature studies, and these moments are no different,  Wolves are a special part of my husband's family lore and one of our favorite animals in the world. We call ourselves like a wolf family: Mates for life, a tight-knit unit who will always fight for each other and stay close. That is the mission and the hope.  When we were in Montana, the howling of wolves at night made me smile, calling to each other, and I imagined taking names to make sure everything was as it should be. 

One of the healthiest things a family can do is offer children pets to grow up with and love. We had them growing up, and my children do too. There are so many moments of awww and affirmation that true love does exist between animals and humans. We let them be around them when they were infants and always introduced a new baby so they could sniff and realize someone new was home. Tavi took an extra special interest and thought it was his job to babysit and be our right hand with the kids. The other dogs would follow his lead, bringing tears to my heart to watch their love grow. Sometimes, the dogs think that the kids are there solely for them and will watch over us when we scold them and then follow them to their rooms to comfort them. I have never seen my kids hurt, get rough, or yell at the pets, even when they are little. They even comfort them when a pet needs correction or gets into something they know they shouldn't. The bond is strong, and when we lose them, Tavi in particul...

  Kitten Lady is one of my favorite channels to watch because of all the good she does, and I wish I could have afforded a kit out like hers back when I used to foster and rescue. I had a timeline that I would do it again this year, but life has a way of going sideways, and it takes lots of time to devote to pregnant mamas and their babies. I live vicariously through Kitten Lady and those of you who are kind enough to share your lovable pets with the manor.  I have no idea why my text got effed up, but I fixed it. Well, there was a particular thirsty cat so...maybe she didn't like me talking about the pups. 

I apologize profusely. Life has been so hectic that I can't even catch my breath. So here is a little something, and I expect plenty of smoochy poochies. This 1904 Silent Movie, The Dog Factory, is reflective of the times and dog handling in films. The pups can be hyper at times.

I love silent films, especially the ones with animals in them. I wanted to share one with this fantastic star dog, Shep. 

 

"A dog saved her owner – who hurt his leg at home in rural Washington state, fell, and couldn’t get up for hours – by walking to a road, sitting in the middle of it until a local sheriff’s deputy stopped, and leading the officer to him, according to authorities. Gita’s ability to be “a good girl and true hero” in her 84-year-old owner’s moment of need after his injury at their cabin on 25 September led to her “saving his life that day”, the Stevens county sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The loyalty and heroism of our furry friends never cease to amaze us,” the agency added. Gita, 13, had sat down in the middle of a road when a Stevens county deputy first encountered her. The deputy tried to get the dog into his patrol cruiser so he could then look for her owner, but she wouldn’t get in. The deputy subsequently left the dog where she was and checked homes within a mile of the area, but he could not find her owner, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office said the depu...

On October 23, 2023, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota received an urgent text from his wife, Gwen. It wasn’t about her. Or their daughter, Hope. Or their son, Gus. It was about their dog. “Scout locked himself in our bedroom somehow,” she wrote. “There is no key.” The governor reacted with a question mark. Then, he screenshotted their conversation and posted it to X. “This damn dog,” he tweeted. In 2017, Tim Walz made Gus a promise. If he won the election for Minnesota governor the following year, the family could get a dog. A high-wire and stressful campaign season unfolded over the next several months. But despite the craziness, his son didn’t forget. (He wasn’t the type: Several years before, he delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation on why they should get a cat. “To be honest, the fight for the cat was one of Gus’s premier projects,” Walz told reporters at the time. “Sold my wife.”) Nine months after his January inauguration, Walz scheduled a press conference. The reason? “Afte...

In the TV show Frasier, the adorable little dog Eddie was played by two Jack Russell Terriers: Moose and his son Enzo. Moose, who started the role, appeared from the show's beginning in 1993 until the end of its eighth season in 2000. Moose was known for his incredible training and ability to do many tricks. He was so popular that Moose even got more fan mail than the human actors, which is no surprise. The only problem is that people ran out and got Jack Russells, not realizing how independent and rambunctious they could be. They need plenty of exercise, and let's face it, not everyone is prepared to run their dog for an hour or two a day.  Moose's incredible journey from a troubled pup to a much-loved TV star is really inspiring. Born on December 24, 1990, in Florida, Moose's first family found him way too energetic and hard to handle. That's when a trainer named Mathilde de Cagny adopted him. After only six months of training, Moose landed the role of Eddie in Fr...

I cannot gush enough about Border Collies. The breed is fantastic, intelligent, loyal, and plain wonderful. We have them on the farm for herding, and they double as the farm manager's much-beloved pet children. I thought I was a pup spoiler. Not in comparison, I am not. His wife makes their food, and every balanced meal is fresh from scratch, as if she were making meals for her and their family. If you ask her about commercial dog food, she will look at you like you lost your damn mind. I can't even argue because I make my dog food, too, but not daily, not every meal, and not as extravagant, and that is saying something.  This 60 Minutes clip discusses canine intelligence, measuring it, and the new findings they are making about dogs and their previously unknown abilities. Those of us who love our pups already know all these things. My support dog gets things for me, follows commands, initiates tasks, and picks up on moods and signs of my feelings that not even those closest to...

  Gloria Swanson was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson on March 27, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois. She became one of the most prominent stars of her time and was well-known for her glamorous presence on and off the screen. Swanson was the only child of Joseph Theodore Swanson and Adelaide Klanowsky. Due to her father's job as a civilian supply officer with the U.S. Army, the family moved frequently, living in Key West, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before eventually settling back in Chicago. Swanson showed a strong interest in the arts from a young age, particularly in theater and film, which initially puzzled her family because it wasn't a world they were familiar with or understood. Her passion was without question during her school years when she participated in various plays and operettas showcasing her budding talent. Gloria's initial entry into the film industry was coincidental. When she was 15, she visited Essanay Studios in Chicago, where she was offered a smal...

Post your pups! Share a story about them, and what is your favorite breed/s? Enjoy the first episode of Rin Tin Tin. I love old TV shows, and this one features one of my favorite childhood shows. Benji, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and so many others kept me company when I was sick; Beethoven made me want a St. Bernard. Old Yeller made me cry, so I wasn't watching that one after the first watch. My dad forgot it was sad. I was a little tiny crying wreck, and that was the end of that. Oh, and there is a car driving in the background of one scene, and my dad finds that hilarious and will tell anyone who brings up the movie.