The Silly Names We Call Our Pets

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie loves to hang out in her “Take-A-Long Bag” from Dachshund Delights- especially after a bath.  I like to call her my Pocket Pooch.

In my recent ebook (which I updated to include more short stories), “For the Love of Animals: A Collection of Short Stories” I share an article I wrote about the silly names we call  pets. I enjoyed getting responses back from those I sent out a request to, to share their silly pet names. It is quite funny, I think, how we name a pet one thing and then end up calling them so many other names. I have to believe it is just a way of trying to show our deep affection for them. Or perhaps when they are naughty they get a new name. That has been known to happen a time or two!

I had known L-O-N-G before I got Frankie that I would name her Frankie. I named her after the song from the 1900’s called, “Frankie and Johnnie.” I happen to affectionately call, my husband, John, Johnnie, and I like to think I have my own love story at home with my version of Frankie and Johnnie. My Johnnie did not want Frankie when I first brought her home almost thirteen years ago— upset with me for not asking for his blessing– but oh, how Frankie wormed her way right into his heart and how he loves her so.

I find it great fun when I meet another person who has a Dachshund to ask the name of their dog. I’m sure it is because of my passionate love of the breed, but every name I hear always cracks me up. Dachshunds can just seem like little people, so their names always seem appropriate.

Some of the nicknames we call Frankie are:

Ween Spean, Frankster, Ms. Frankie, Sweet Pea, Baby Dog, Schuts Butts, Peanut, Mrs. Beasley, Cuddle Bug, Love Dove, Little One, Granny Babushka, Granny, The Granster, Schniedly, Schmitty, Good Ol’ Frank Techel, and Schmitty Techel.

Did you know that in modern German, the Dachshunds are more commonly known by the name Dackel or, among hunters, Teckel? During many  school visits I did with Frankie over the years I had such fun sharing with the students that Frankie is a Teckel,and I am a Techel- and how we make a great Techel/Teckel team. They always roared with laughter! And then I’d say, “I think I was meant to have a wiener dog, don’t you?” They’d all shout, “Yes!”

So what are the nicknames you call your pets?  Submit them in the comment section below as I’d love a good chuckle!

If you are interested in my ebook, For the Love of Animals you can find it on Amazon for Kindle or to receive it free just sign up for my bimonthly newsletter on my website.

Frankie Retiring from Therapy Dog Work. Together We Move Into a New Phase of Life.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Going through photo’s of Frankie’s therapy dog work, ran across this one when we had a special request to visit Froedert Hospital. This man had a stroke and he LOVES dachshunds.  Frankie made his day! 

I thought the tears were done. Yesterday I sent notice to Libby’s House, Senior Assisted Living and Sharon S. Richardson Hospice letting them know that as of July I will be retiring Frankie from her therapy dog work. While I’ve contemplated this for quite some time (semi-retiring her in January) I felt a relief in letting the facilities know, but I find myself having a hard time with it today—knowing this decision is now final.  But I won’t ignore the tears and will accept it as a way for me to move through this.

I’ve always known how much my work with Frankie has meant to me—it has been huge. A part of me is finding a great deal of peace and comfort in knowing her and I can enjoy quality time together, just her and me. But another part of me is having a hard time knowing one phase of our life together is complete. I had no plans to share this today and was planning to wait until she was officially retired in July, but I felt the need to write about it.

As I told Libby’s House and Sharon S Richardson Hospice I have no doubt God meant for me and Frankie to travel the path we have. While my heart feels such a loss, it also is feeling so blessed remembering all the wonderful memories of our therapy dog work. And I’m really grateful I was given this opportunity.

Frankie’s health is good and it truly is just a feeling I have in my heart that now is the right time to have Frankie retire. She deserves it and so much more. As I started to contemplate this decision and was finding more time to blog, as well as work on my new book, I found an acceptance in it all. I want to enjoy our new phase of life together and not get lost in the sorrow of what we’ve let go. With every end is a beginning. I remind myself to be still and listen.

Frankie and I will make one more visit to hospice this month and then one more to Libby’s House in July. Frankie will retire just in time for her 13th birthday in August. We’ve begun our summer by going for more impromptu walks, Frankie soaking up the sun and all the good smells as she rides in style in her pet stroller, bike rides with the wind blowing through her ears, lots of naps for Frankie, and much time snuggling and appreciating all that she means to me…. her papa, and her dog sis, Kylie.

It has been quite the honor and privilege to witness many “golden moments” watching Frankie roll into a room, filling it with sunshine, joy, and love. To witness a feeble hand reach out to pet her, a smile move across a lonely face,  and a memory return that was lost-there simply were no words in those moments, it can only be felt by the heart- and my heart expanded in ways I can never describe adequately in words. To share Frankie with someone who only had days or months yet to live, and give them the love that only a dog can, cracked my heart wide open each and every time. I welcomed that opening as it reminded me what this thing called life is all about. In each of our moments together doing our therapy dog work, I was reminded to not take life too seriously, and to enjoy each glorious moment…

Stay tuned as I’m working on a video of photo’s of Frankie’s therapy dog work and will share that sometime in July.

 

Help a Soldier Get a Service Dog with a Click of Your Mouse

Posted by Barbara Techel

What a great idea!  This especially touches my heart because my brother is overseas right now. I pray he comes back safe and uninjured.  But for those that have not, I can just imagine the amazing goodness these service dogs are to these warriors. We owe them the chance to have a service dog if they need one.  And it’s so easy for us to help out:

For every 1,000 Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest followers Dog Bless You gets before July 4, the nonprofit will donate a service dog to a wounded warrior.  Please go to Dog Bless You Facebook page today and click “like.”  That’s it. That’s all you have to do.  But then take it a step further and share on your Facebook wall or blog. Wouldn’t it be great if every soldier who needed a service dog, got one?

God Bless America. God Bless our soldiers, and God Bless the work of service dogs.