Ebony's Pearls

arrrr
Originally uploaded by nodigio

So Rhapsody and Xoco were caught playing with a tennis ball. That gives a scale to people who don't know Itzl. Xoco is a very small dog. She's finally - at almost 3 months old -tipped the scales at 1 pound.

The vet says her hydrocephaly isn't severe and she may live a long if bumbling and intellectually impaired life. The bumbling is exacerbated by patellar luxation in both back legs. She isn't to be encouraged to jump or to stand on her back legs.

Her growth may also be affected.

That doesn't matter. Itzl adores her and I think she's darling.

He liked Shika a lot, but he had boundaries with her. She couldn't sleep in his bed or touching him, she couldn't share the car seat with him, she couldn't share my lap with him unless I put a barricade between them. He would share a pillow with her, his food dish, the sofa, and all his toys. He loved playing with her.

But he not only shares his bed with Xoco, he shares his Dawgie Bag with her, shares my lap, shares his food dish and treats, plays with her, looks for her as soon as we get home when she's been left behind (she is not, and will not be, a service dog, there are lots of places she can't go).

Xoco is definitely an alpha female dog,leading Rhapsody and starting things, and keeping Rhapsody in line. She made Rhapsody use the potty pad earlier today - a first for Rhapsody who has resisted the potty pad all week.