Arthur the Film Star

Arthur has been very busy.  He is currently taping a TV show, a documentary, a public service announcement and a university project documentary.  He also has finished taping another TV show and we are waiting for that show (which was taped in February of this year) to come to air.

This is Scarlett and Isaiah (on the Treehouse Network) used Arthur in an episode where Scarlett learns how to train puppies.  Arthur was 10 months old when this was taped.  He is the puppy learning to sit.  Once his episode has aired, it will be available on the internet for those who don`t get the Canadian Treehouse channel.  I have not been told when the episode will air, so I check the programming each Saturday night.

The TV show (Dog Park Tails) will be shown on The PetNetwork in Canada and then on internationally in 2014.  The Talent Hounds documentary and public service announcement (about pet adoption) will start out on The PetNetwork as well.  Interviews were done with Heidi and Arthur for the documentary.  We did 3 PSAs (public service announcements), the third being with Cognac and Pogo together.

York University film/TV students have done an interview with me regarding puppy mills and taped Arthur, Heidi (in her cart), Pogo, Cognac and new foster Walter at a local dog park.  Their project will be completed in April 2014.  We will let you know what mark we get from the professor and if we can have a copy of the final editing (at least of our portion).  In the meantime, I may be getting a few still pictures from the dog park portion of the documentary.

I think Arthur is going to need his actor`s union card soon (except the only pay so far has been dog treats). 

Not bad for an unwanted, "handicapped" dog the breeder wanted to kill.

Arthur`s Navigation System

Arthur is now 18 months old, he has been with me since 10 weeks of age and he still can surprise me with his skills.

We were at a friend`s house for the weekend.  Arthur knows the house, but had not been there in about 2-3 months.  They had a wind storm which took out the railing from their deck.

It is a significant drop to the yard below

I panicked when I realized that Arthur had gone out onto the deck with the rest of the pack; but I should have known better.  Arthur knew exactly where he was in "Uncle Robert`s" house.

He came out the patio doors, straight over to the inside railing, turned left and marched right down the ramp.  He never knew there was a new abyss was only a few feet away.

Arthur went up and down this ramp all weekend, with the other 11 dachshunds, flawlessly.  He had no idea anything was different that his other visits.

As we all have said, Arthur is blind, but he is not handicapped.

playtime jackie and arthur

Jackie was hurt by a human and never supposed to walk again. Here she is playing with my blind from birth puppy, Arthur.

Leggings for Life

I just found a new Facebook page, Leggings for Life.

Volunteers crochet or knit leggings for handicapped pets. Crafter and pet are matched for the pet's lifetime.  The premise is that once the crafter gets the fit correct, it is easiest for them to provide any addition leggings needed for the pet's life.  It is all volunteer and free.  You can donate yarn to your crafter but they do assume the yarn and postage costs when they volunteer to craft for your pet.

I was impressed that within 24 hours of registering, we were contacted by our assigned crafter (who also happens to be in Canada, which saves on customs, international postage, etc.)

Here is Miss Heidi's leg (after being bandaged for several days)  You can still see the wound on the side of her foot.  Having crocheted leggings for her will be awesome.

How it all started

Valentin and Heidi

 

 

Brothers make good pillows :-)

Jackie's cart

Jackie's cart is different from Grace's or Heidi's.  Jackie's cart was made in Canada. The harness fits on the dog, then two clips attach the harness to the cart.  The other two cart designs, the dog is set directly in the cart.

Where has the time gone?

This was Arthur 9 months ago, where had the time gone?

 

 

 

 

 

Our "little" boy has grown up.

 

 

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that he fit in the palm of my hand.

So how many dog do you see?

 

 

Visiting a friend, we had 12 dachshunds and the "fluffy" one for the weekend.

 

So who do you see here?

Dachshund UN

 

Making our Red Carpet entrance:  Gracie, Cognac, Heidi and Arthur

 

 

 

In the belly of the beast

 

 





 

What the audience sees

Out of the mouths of babes,

I did a home visit yesterday for rescue.  The family was thinking of adopting one of our younger and smaller dachshunds, so I took Arthur with me.  Arthur was a fair representation of size and energy level.

As Arthur was exploring his new environment, I would give the ususal "careful" if he was headed towards a wall or other danger.  The little 4 yr old boy asked me why I said "careful", and I explained it was because Arthur could not see.  (being a long hair, a lot of people don`t immediately realize Arthur`s eyes are missing).

The little boy gave his parents and I a collective look which clearly said "grownup can be so dense sometimes" and said "I`ll turn on the light so he can see" (and did so).  Oh to be so innocent again.

We had a great visit, the little boy showed me pictures of his dog who "is in doggie heaven now".  Normally, we don`t adopt small dogs to families with very young children, but this boy is very dog savvy, did great with both Arthur and Pogo.  I have met 12 yr olds who were not half as good with small dogs as this little boy (and his dog in heaven was a lab, so he is not even used to small dogs).

So, the next time Arthur is about to bump into something, I now have the answer, turn on the light !

Silly boy

Arthur is just such a happy, confident boy.

 

His newest trick, is to take his dog tags in his mouth and lead himself around.  He reminds me of an old vaudville act getting the (virtual) "hook".

Jackie Update

I know, I need to get some photos up here, but I wanted to let everyone know that Jackie is doing very well.  She has surpassed the vet`s expectations !! Jackie stands to eat her meals and was taking a couple of steps yesterday.  This was on the tile kitchen floor, she does even better with some traction.  She does not have the muscle strength (yet) to pull her legs back into position when her feet start to slide on the smooth flooring.

She is an awesome, happy, loving little girl and I so hope she fines her own family to love and to love her.  Jackie will need another dog in the family for companionship, otherwise, she is a great little girl.  If people could look past her mobility limitations, she (and Grace) would have been long since adopted.

I had to turn down taking in another injured little one.  I know that I cannot handle 4 dachshund in diapers, Arthur, the rest of the crew and life.  I still feel guilty saying "no".  My head knows it was the right response, my heart is still struggling.

Pictures soon, I promise ....

Cognac and the girls at Dachshund UN

 

 

 

Cognac (Senegal) and Grace (Gabon) are busy looking for more treats through the front slot, Heidi is having a chat with the human attached to Cameroon. ("Hey, you got better treats back there?")

Heidi and Grace at the Dachshund UN

Heidi says: "Grace (Gabon), trust me, the guy in the second row is wearing a toupe.  It is so obvious!!"

Arthur at the Dachshund UN

Arthur was the delegate from Jordan on opening night and very aptly, kept his head in the sand (aka down the slot looking for treats).  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

I am hoping to get a picture from either Saturday or Sunday, when the two cart girls were also in the performance as well and Pogo and Cognac.

It was a blast!! 

The Dachshund UN is being presented in Montreal in May.  I don't have the New York City date yet, but dachshunds will be recruited for NYC (Montreal is already cast, all I can say is stay tuned .....)

Preview of Arthur's Talent Hound Audition

http://talenthounds.ca/dog-auditions/tricksters/arthur#

This is just a short clip of Arthur's audition for Talent Hounds.  He will be on their January episode on The Pet Network.