Sometimes taking on the challenge of a new year requires the brazen, straightforward attitude of one of our four-legged friends. Put your words in the mouth of this Chihuahua as he thinks back to 2008 Dogsters, and let us know how you plan on facing 2009.

The winner gets 50 Zealies in honor of the new year. Champion to be announced next Monday, January 5th.

Chi was I thinking

Baby Emma is a 3 month old Chihuahua with a severe facial deformity.  Although Emma requires round the clock care and has extensive medical bills her owner refuses to give up on her.

Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) September 24, 2008 — When Emma was 3.4 ounces and 20 hours old, Dena Lamkin adopted her from an ad on craigslist. Emma’s face was deformed and her severe genetic oral deformities would not allow her to nurse.

Emma must be fed every two hours ’round the clock using a tube that goes directly into her stomach, bypassing the palate to avoid the cleft.

“She cannot eat food normally,” said Emma’s surgeon, Dr. Ellen Domnick. “Anything that she would eat would go through into her airway and possibly into her lungs, obviously creating some pneumonia.”

The vets diagnosed Emma with a cleft palate, cleft lip and severe facial deformities. Emma survived four surgeries within the first week of her life in an attempt to help her function normally. All provided insufficient results. Emma faces at least another two surgeries in the next several weeks as well as long term orthodontic care.

Dr. Tina Neel of Neel Veterinary Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK has offered to donate part of Emma’s treatment, yet Emma’s total expenses are already into the thousands.

Strangers send Emma encouragement. She even has some fellow Chihuahua’s on her side. Dena says that people began sending Emma gifts and asking to help pay for her surgeries. “The outpouring of love and devotion to this one tiny girl has been just awesome! From her doctors to people we’ve never even met. She really has touched so many hearts all across the world!”

To help raise money for Emma’s care a raffle is being held, there are some really great prizes to win.  Act quick, the auction closes on October 26th at 11:59 PM EST.

Every once in a while you come across a winning entry that you just know has no equal. This week we have just such an entry. While there were lots of really good ones this suggestion from Sparky just takes the cake (and the milk). I gladly pass on a well-deserved 25 Zealies to you, Sparky. Everyone else be on the lookout for a new contest tomorrow.

If you’re in the Southern CA. area, here’s a great fun filled event for the whole family. Clear your schedule for October 4th and head on over to the north side of Marine Stadium, the grassy park on the waterfront.

Haute Dogs’ St. Francis Day events in Long Beach (Calif.) will include the BIG Small Dog Festival, dog & cat adoptions, vendor fair, Obama/McCain Look-Alike Contest for pets, one of the nation’s largest Blessings of the Animals (w/ 11 exotic animals) and a Chihuahua Beauty Contest!

For all you Chihuahua owners who want to register for the beauty contest, you can send in an entry online or fill one out at the event. If you register in advance it’s $10, or $20 on the day of the event.

Pop on over to Haute Dogs’ to check out the schedule of events, directions, and everything else you need to know.

This week’s entry is from a recent dog photo shoot I did here at local Whole Foods Market that involved the owner bringing his two chihuahua’s into the store after their evening park outing to pick up dinner supplies. The pups make a regular appearance at the store so all the staffers and many of the patrons already knew them and acted as though it weren’t a big deal. Boy, do I love living in a dog-friendly city.

So, make me proud… make a comment on this post and replace “What was I thinking?” with your own suggestion. The winner gets 25 Zealies and will be announced next Monday, September 29.

The victory this week goes to Dogster member Buddy for an entry that really made us laugh here at photo contest HQ. Your victory nets you 50 Zealies and and a vigorous ear scratch. All you other aspiring captionists get ready for the next contest appearing on a Dog Blog near you sometime tomorrow.

At least not when it comes to destructive behavior.  A study done in the UK used more than 3000 dog owners to find out what breed does the most household damage.

You may be surprised to find out the innocent looking pint sized chihuahua comes in at number one.

They might be tiny, but when it comes to destroying things in the home, the pint-size chihuahuas can be monsters, that”s what a new list of the world’s most destructive dog breeds claims. The peewee pooches are ranked just behind Great Danes in the list conducted by pet insurer Esure, reports the Daily Telegraph.

So, what is your best friend doing to occupy himself when you’re at work and how much will it cost you in the long run?

The items most often damaged were soft furnishings and electrical goods - used as makeshift chew-toys - and vases and lights, knocked over by wagging tails.

According to the survey, chihuahuas and great danes clock up repair bills averaging 1376 dollars and 1420 dollars respectively during their lifetime.

I remember shortly after we got Bo a friend had given us the book No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way by Barbara Woodhouse.  I don’t remember who gave it to us,  but obviously it was someone who knew what we were in for.

One day after Lisa and I got home for work we noticed Bo had eaten half the book.  I guess Bo’s way was not the Woodhouse way.

Do you have a funny tale of destruction to share?  Give me a bark.

This is one of my favorite pictures from 2008 so far. The Pomeranian and Chihuahua came into a local store in San Francisco where I hold monthly pet photography sessions and actually posed like this for over a minute. The tongue out is no fluke –  I couldn’t believe it. This week we’re going for another twofer quote - one for each dog. Just make a comment on this post and replace each “What was I thinking?” with your own suggestions to score 50 Zealies that you can spend in the Gift Shop!

Dressed-up dogs tend to elicit a lot of comments but last week’s chihuahua in a tutu really got your imaginations bubbling. Over 110 of you posted your suggestions and made the decision rather difficult…in a good way, of course. Acid wit (an old favorite of mine) carried the day and the winner was Miss Scarlett with her witty retort. She wins 25 Zealies and a tip of the hat for a job well done

Be ready for the next contest starting tomorrow.

Sometimes words just don’t do a photo justice but, in this case, I’ll make an exception. Have at it, Dogsters. Make me proud. Tell me whhat this well-heeled Chi was thinking? Winner gets world fame and 25 Zealies they can spend in the Gift Shop! The lucky one will be announced next Monday, August 11.

Just make a comment on this post and replace “What was I thinking?” with your own suggestion.