My Rat Terrier Sonny and His Best Friend Ziggy

Today, my Rat Terrier Sonny has been pining for his best friend, Ziggy. Ziggy is a miniature Schnauzer that lives next door. He's a wonderful little dog with the sweetest face and a calm, relaxed attitude - until he sees Sonny.

The moment Sonny spots Ziggy, he's off like a shot. In fact, the only time he ever moves that fast it's to get to food. Ziggy, too, will perk his ears up and stare at Sonny but if he's on his leash, he won't drag his poor owners down the street towards us. He leaves that to Sonny! My little 33 pound hound will literally drag me forcibly to meet his buddy.

Once together, we quickly let them off their leashes (if we are in our front yards) and let them transform into a whirl of fur as they wrestle, roll and generally cavort. Considering the fact that Sonny is very picky about who he plays with, his obsession with Ziggy is astounding. The funny thing is, Ziggy seems to feel the same way about Sonny. It breaks my heart to take away these moments of ecstasy when I'm in a hurry because they seem to infuse him with contentment for quite a few hours afterwards.

Today, Sonny is hinky because he hasn't seen Ziggy in a few days. He keeps asking to be let out although I know he doesn't need to go and as soon as I take him out, he dashes over to the neighbor's front door and sits waiting for Ziggy to come out and play. I let him wait for a few minutes but then I start leading him home and his dejected look of disappointment rips my heart out. Once inside the house, he pretends to be conforted and appeased with a small treat and a huge hug but we both know the truth. Maybe tomorrow.

If you care about the health, happiness and longevity of your dog, then download your totally FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book. To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

My Rat Terrier Sonny: Are Animals Intelligent?

I read an article in Parade Magazine today as I was browsing through the Sunday paper in search of coupons and the elusive bit of good news that posed the question, "How much do animals really know?" Having always been stunned by the scientific community's reluctance to accept intelligence in animals, I found the article to be very encouraging. It seems that "scientists are seeing evidence of higher mental abilities in a wider range of animals than previously imagined. They've also observed unexpected traits and skills, like empathy and the ability to fashion weapons."

The article also gave some amazing examples of animals not only showing self-awareness but displaying astonishing abilities such as dogs dialing 911 (on speed dial) when an owner was in distress or limping to a vet's office after being hit with a car, chimps helping other chimps, dolphins saving people who were drowning and even elephants supporting injured herd mates.

Empathy, the article states, relies on self-awareness and dolphins, great apes and even elephants have proven they are self-aware by recognizing themselves in a mirror . I'm not a big fan of that test as we're not sure how certain animals really view the world so who's to say they recognize themselves in other ways.

All I'm saying is that anyone who doubts empathy in animals did not witness the support, affection and constant concern that my Rat Terrier Sonny and my tabby Boris showed my beloved black cat Sasha during the final week of his life last Christmas. Every time Sasha moved, Sonny and Boris were up and watching to make sure he didn't fall and if he did, they would hover around him calling me until I could come and help. When Sasha curled up on the sofa, Boris would watch over him on the backrest and Sonny would lie next to him as if keeping him warm. Sonny always made sure that he was actually touching Sasha without hurting the fragile cat.

On New Year's Eve as the whole world celebrated, the four of us huddled together on the sofa and then on the bed while Sonny, Boris and I bade our final farewells to our beautiful 15 year old companion. Immediately after Sasha's final breath, Sonny and Boris crowded in on me - one on either side - and started nuzzling me and licking away my copious tears. They did not leave my side for the next few days which helped me to get past the grief that I felt so keenly. They were quiet, obedient and didn't even beg for food which they always do one way or another. It was almost as if they were mourning too. I may be personifying them to some extent but seeing how lively and communicative they usually are, it's very difficult to believe that they didn't feel empathy for Sasha and for me. There are many more examples of intelligence in these stupendous animals but that was a big one for me.

Hopefully, one day, everyone will feel the same respect and awe for these intelligent creatures that many of us feel already. For now, if you'd like to read the full article, you will find it right here.

To help your dog live a happier, healthier, longer life download your totally FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book. To see more pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

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My Rat Terrier Sonny: Our Trip To The Vet (part 3)

As it happened, the trainer was walking towards me and when she was introduced to us, I swear I saw a flicker of horror in her eyes. She started telling me about the classes and out of the corner of my eye I could see the veterinary assistant waiting to take us into the examination room. So now, apart from juggling the purse, the papers, the poop and the dog, I was now juggling the trainer and the assistant too. I’m not really sure what the trainer told me but I’ve got a card and it says I’m supposed to call her so I suppose I will.

Once in the examination room, things went a little smoother as I was able to dump my paraphernalia and hand Sonny over to professionals. He screamed so loud when he got his shots, though, that the vet actually jumped a bit but that calmed him down and he came over for a reassuring hug. He’s in good health, which I knew but then we went to get him weighed. Last year, he weighed in at 29 lbs. which was 7 lbs. overweight. I’ve been cutting down on his treats, giving him lean or low calorie dog food and trying to take him on more walks so I was confident he’d lost a pound or two. When I looked at the scale and saw that he weighed 35 lbs. I almost burst out crying. I know the serious effects that dog weight problems can have on the health of a dog and on a Rat Terrier's life span. My guilt was now complete. Even if she had pointed a finger at me and said, “Bad mistress, bad, bad mistress”, she could not have made me feel worse.

Although the assistant had mentioned a mild sedative for Sonny for the long car drive (some of which I could have used at that time), the vet told me that all I should give him was Dramamine which I just happened to have in my purse. I shouldn’t give him more than 50 grams at one time but he can have up to 150 grams in one day. The only thing is the ones in my purse are the non-drowsy formula so I’ll be picking up the “can’t stay awake no matter how I try” version for him this week.

The drive home was much less eventful. Sonny probably sensed my contrition and decided not to make me feel worse. We drove home listening to the Oldies (we actually heard Me & You and a Dog Named Boo) and when I opened the front door to the house, I think he would have kissed Boris if Boris had let him. He’s happy now because he thinks the worst is past; little does he know there’s a long, long drive ahead of him and another on the way back. I know he’ll survive it; I’m just not so sure I will.

Did you know that dogs have a genetic lifespan of 27 years? Find out how you can help your dog live well into it's teens or 20's. Download your totally FREE copy of the Long Life Dog book just by clicking the link.

To see pictures and videos of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

My Rat Terrier Sonny: Our Trip To The Vet (part 2)

Reminded of old cartoons involving stubborn mules, I tugged slightly on his leash and pointed inside the car. He, in turn, decided he’d rather visit Ziggy, his dog-friend from next door. Pulling him back to the car, I tried gesturing frantically in the direction of the car dog with little examples of how he should jump up and into the car. Obviously amused by my antics, he decided to sit and watch me. Realizing that I would have to pick him up and that he weighed a ton, I started reaching for him losing my sunglasses, his vaccination papers, the lovely little bag of doggie-do that I was asked to bring and my purse when he bolted away from me. The next few minutes could have been a scene from a Harold Lloyd film with me bending to pick him up, dropping something and Sonny slipping out of my grasp, over and over again. I finally threw everything inside the car and grabbed him. It took all my strength to get him in the car and attach his harness to the seatbelt but I did it.

Of course, by this time, I looked like I’d fallen into a well and clawed my way out. I was drenched due to the fact that temperatures have been hovering around the 90 degree mark and, truthfully, I’m at that time of my life when outside temperatures don’t really factor into how hot I feel. I got in the car and tried to drown out the whining and whelping with soothing sounds of encouragement. Afraid that he might decide to give me back his breakfast at an inopportune time, I decided to drive slowly and take the curves with great care. The inside of the car could have roasted a turkey in record time so I put the air on full blast. The sound didn’t appease Sonny in the least so I turned on the radio (I like to think he appreciates the Oldies) and started singing "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce to him which confused him enough to stop his complaints.

At long last, we arrived at the pet clinic and Sonny dove out of the car like the best diver in Acapulco. Bustling through the door disheveled, sweaty and with a hyperactive dog, I looked at my watch and was horrified to see that it was 3:42 pm. I couldn’t stop myself from fantasizing about how much I’d enjoy strangling the nice lady at the counter if she told me I’d lost my appointment. In fact, I’m quite sure that my eye started twitching like Inspector Dreyfus in the Pink Panther movies. But, instead, I was asked to wait and fill out their forms. Now how does one fill out forms when you’re trying to juggle a purse, vaccination papers, dog poop, oh yes and a dog that has now completely lost his mind? Couldn’t they empty the place out for us? Dogs of all breeds, cats and even two parrots were apparently taunting Sonny into becoming a lunatic. A staff member even came out and gave Sonny a treat, to try and calm him down, which he promptly spit out (first time in history that this dog has spit anything out). I finally handed in my illegible forms and asked about the dog obedience training that one neighbor had mentioned. (To be continued....)


To find out how to help your dog live to a possible 27 years (!), download your FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book. To see pictures, videos and great information on Rat Terriers, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim and healthy, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

My Rat Terrier Sonny: Our Trip To The Vet

In preparation for the odyssey that we’ll be enduring at the end of this month, Sonny and I decided to visit the vet (or as my addled, middle-aged mind referred to her, the ventriloquist – don’t ask). You see, almost every year, we drive up to Buffalo and Toronto from Knoxville, TN, two whole times; first in the spring/summer and then in November. Not only do we get a chance to see our friends and family but we also get away from our rut even if it’s only for a week. Usually, while we’re away, our neighbor checks in on Boris (the cat) at least once a day to make sure he has everything he needs, clean his litter (what an angel she is) and play with him a while. Sonny, on the other hand has had to be boarded – something Rat Terriers abhor! He’s always lost a little too much weight and had mild behavior problems for a while afterwards so we really didn’t like doing it but what could we do? This year, however, my husband decided that we should take him with us… to Buffalo… in the car… with us… in the car… for eleven or twelve hours… in the car! Not a problem, you say. However, Sonny gets car sick (like Mummy, like Puppy) and, therefore is really quite afraid of the car. Ergo, our trip to the vet for some fantastic knock-out pills (my hope).

I had decided to change veterinarians as our other one had already claimed our arm, leg and first born for the very few times we’d actually gone to see her. After talking to the neighbors and discovering that I was the only one stupid enough to still go there, I took their cue and made an appointment at the new place. I got an appointment right away for 3:30 pm but I was supposed to be there at 3:00 pm to fill out the obligatory paperwork. Excellent.

The day arrived and since the office was only about 7 minutes away from my house, I decided, quite foolishly as it turned out, that I should leave around 2:45 pm. I, of course, hadn’t counted on Sonny refusing to go. With the car door opened, I let Sonny do his business to avoid any accidents and then led him, naively, to the door expecting him to jump up and into the car happily and elegantly. Instead, he looked at me as though I’d sprouted antlers, cocked his head to the left and promptly sat down on the driveway. (To be continued...)


To help your dog live a longer, healthier life, download your free copy of the Long Life Dog Book. To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

Rat Terriers in Motion

Today, I thought I'd share a few videos of Rat Terriers that I found interesting.

The first one is of a Rat Terrier (Lilly) and a Miniature Pinscher (Louie) having a bath. First, I've always loved the song and second, there's nothing like the forlorn look of a cute, obedient dog who has resigned himself to a dreaded bath. This is "Splish Splash v. 2":



Once you see this video, you'll understand why I fell in love with it. Not only does it remind me of Sonny when we first brought him home but it makes me want to go out and get as many Rat Terrier puppies as I can find to be Sonny's playmates. Of course, I come to my senses fairly quickly as soon as Sonny starts chasing his cat-brother, Boris, around the house. This is "Breakfast":



Lilly seems to be a very popular name for Rat Terrier females. Sonny even had a sister named Lilly. This Lilly is captured here with her very young puppies. Nursing puppies are always adorable but we also get to see the puppies close up in the second half. This is "Lilly's Puppies":



I love this video because it really shows the personality of the Rat Terrier even as a puppy; energetic, playful, loving, gorgeous and funny! This is "Zoie":

And, last, but most definitely not least, we have two videos of rescued Rat Terriers from Ratbone Rescues.

Ratbone Rescues has dogs in foster homes all over the United States and also in Canada. You can find them at http:/www.ratbonerescues.com/. Please, please pay them a visit to show your support.

Now, if you're like me, you may need a tissue for this one because the idea of these beautiful dogs being abused, mistreated or simply needing a home and a little love destroys me. This is "Foster Dogs":

Okay, and if you needed a tissue for the previous video get ready to reach for the box on this one. This video is by a foster "mom" named Jacki who not only has cared for, loved and given back the lives of many Rat Terriers but included a poem that reflects her giving nature and huge heart. This is "Poem For My Foster Dog"



After that, I can only say, to see what love really is, just look at your pet!


Download your FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book now and start extending your best friend's life span.
To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems. Thank you.

My Rat Terrier Sonny: To Leash Or Not To Leash (part 3)

I experienced that horrid sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach and that nervous, semi-nauseous wave that comes over you when inevitability starts to set in. Sonny was lost and he was not coming back. My mind raced with the what-to-dos; put up signs, call the local papers, send out a search party, stop the world so I could find my dog! I began to imagine my life without him, to wonder if he was in pain or if he would suffer, if someone might take him in and take care of him better than we ever could, if I would ever see him again. The tears threatened to come; the guilt washed over me, the despair began to embrace me. I looked up as the clouds opened up and the sky cried with sympathetic grief. Standing there on the bicycle path, soaked and miserable, wallowing in remorse I looked towards that villainous spot where my Sonny had disappeared. And there he was. My little bundle of furry fat was trotting happily towards me, jumping here and there over taller tufts of grass after his exploratory mission to who knows where had concluded.

I could almost taste the mixture of relief, anger, elation and love. Without any hesitancy or obvious signs of guilt at doing something wrong, he ran up to me in his usual, “I think it’s time for a treat” manner. Hooking the leash to his collar in one faster-than-the-speed-of-light movement, I half-heartedly smacked his bottom and said, “Bad dog!” while hugging and kissing him fiercely (talk about mixed messages!). We continued our walk as the whole ordeal had only taken about ten minutes and we both needed our exercise but at no time was Sonny more than five feet away from me. To be truthful, if I could have, I would have carried him. And even though I know I got carried away - a little bit - I haven’t let him go off-leash since then….....…maybe next week.

Did you know that dogs have a genetic lifespan of 27 years? Find out how you can help your dog live well into its teens or 20's. Download your totally FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book just by clicking the link.


To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems.

My Rat Terrier Sonny: To Leash Or Not To Leash (part 2)

My shrill screams of, “Come back here!” turned into pleading yet angry bursts of , “Sonny!” as he disappeared around the corner of some distant townhouses. After waiting for a total of three whole seconds, I started working my way over the field to the nearest edge of the line of homes so that I could head him off as he ran around the complex. As I turned the corner onto the road expecting to see Sonny frolicking with some new-found friend, I swear I heard the theme song to the Twilight Zone. Nothing. In front of me was an empty street with only one open garage door. Listening intently for any sound that could be attributed to a stubborn Rat Terrier (and there are many), I walked towards the solitary open door only to find an old man puttering with some power tools. I debated whether to possible waste some precious minutes asking the man if he’d seen my beautiful, fat, little dog but decided to search the banks of the pond instead. As I turned away, horrible thoughts of the man having dog-napped Sonny and preparing to dismember him with his power tools crept into my ridiculously fertile and warped mind. Mental note: stop watching horror movies!

The fairly steep bank of the pond did not fill me with optimism. Since my invasion by arthritis in ’95, I have been anything but steady on unsteady planes. On the left, the bank rose right up to the townhouse that I had seen Sonny run around minutes before, on the right, the bank tumbled down at a 60º gradient to the muddy remains of the pond after several months of drought. Taking precarious steps while visually searching the area and vocally expressing my displeasure with the situation, Sonny and the world in general, I finally reached a more horizontal area of the bank where I feared less for my physical integrity. With no Sonny in sight, the reality of the situation and its ramifications began to invade my conscious mind. (To be continued tomorrow)

Did you know that dogs have a genetic lifespan of 27 years? Find out how you can help your dog live well into its teens or 20's. Download your totally FREE copy of the Long Life Dog Book just by clicking the link.

To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems

My Rat Terrier Sonny: To Leash Or Not To Leash

Having had a very frightening and unnerving experience two days ago that in no way could be construed to benefit my Rat Terrier, I have been loathe to take Sonny off his leash even for a minute. On Saturday, as we were walking along the bicycle path that caresses our deck and leads us into glorious and mysterious places with myriad smells and the occasional gourmet delight tossed haphazardly into the surrounding greenery, I made the mistake of trusting in Sonny’s sense of right and wrong. Actually, there is never anything incorrect in an animal’s sense of right and wrong, it’s just that we insist that they view the world, and therefore react to it, as we do. I suppose that if I’d had Sonny trained properly he would acquiesce to my expectations but not having done that, I am, therefore, at the mercy of his animalistic whims. Saturday’s whim was a doozy! Having reached the two ponds that book-end the path lest it should stray from its pre-planned route, I noticed that there were no people, stray animals or littered remnants of fast food consumption anywhere in sight. The quick yet erroneous conclusion that Sonny would be able to romp freely and safely, thus getting more of his much needed exercise, prompted me to take him off his leash. It took but a fraction of a second for the little mongrel to hit his nitrous switch and tear off into the distance leaving bits of flame in his wake. The glorious path suddenly turned into the bowels of hell. (To be continued tomorrow)

Download your free copy of the Long Life Dog Book to find out all the ways you can extend the life of your dog. To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems .

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My Rat Terrier Sonny

As I look down and watch my dog Sonny, the Rat Terrier, pretending to be asleep at my feet, with one paw on my right foot lest I should wander off without him, my heart fills with love and gratitude.

I’ve never truly understood people who don’t enjoy the company of animals. Yes, cleaning their poop and living with a slightly torn up sofa are not favorites of mine either, but looking into the eyes of a devoted pet and seeing pure, unconditional devotion and trust makes all of that so worthwhile.

My dog Sonny became a member of the family in February 2005. He was eight weeks old at the time and I could hold him in one hand. His floppy little ears and white sock-like markings warmed my heart but the furrowed brow and pleading brown eyes simply did me in. I wasn’t particularly fond of the name (the breeder had named him Sonny) having leaned toward more exotic Russian names for my two cats, Sasha and Boris. I ruminated over Ivan the Terrier which gave me a giggle or Misha which I’d always loved or even Ilya like “The Man From Uncle”. My bubble was burst by my husband who absolutely loved the name Sonny, not because he’s half Irish (Sonny Boy and all that), but because of James Caan’s character in “The Godfather”. There was no dissuading him but then, after all, I had named my cats. I’ve gotten over my aversion to the name, but I still entertain the fear that if we ever get a female Rat Terrier, we’ll have to name her Cher.

Sonny and I go for a walk every day. Well…actually, it’s more like a drag; he drags me out the door and down the street and five minutes later, after his morning ablutions (to put it elegantly), I’m dragging him down the street because he wants to go home. Although born in East Tennessee, he can’t stand the heat and humidity that constitute our spring, summer and fall seasons. I’m positive he would like nothing more than to be “The Dog in the Air-Conditioned Bubble”. I carry water for him and stop every few minutes so he can take a few laps and look at me with disdain. He stops at every semblance of shade and looks at me as if I’m mad. With constant coaxing, cajoling and offering bits of dog treats (he’s on a diet so one treat becomes 4-6) I finally get him to stay outside for about 45 minutes; not great considering we only go about four blocks! However, we both need the attempt at exercise no matter how feeble it may be.

It’s time to go to bed now and Sonny is now nuzzling my ankle because he knows it’s bed biscuit time. Sometimes I’d swear he’d go to his crate at noon if he thought he’d get his bed biscuit. We started giving him a little biscuit in order to train him to go to bed. It was the only time of day he’d get that biscuit and boy would he scamper upstairs when the word “bed” was mentioned. Now, he gets only half a biscuit but he still loves bedtime. As I look down at his “worried” little face with the furrowed brows and the pleading brown eyes I still see that puppy that burrowed into my heart two and half years ago and I fall in love with him all over again.

Download your free copy of the Long Life Dog Book to help your best friend live a longer, healthier life. To see pictures of Rat Terriers and find out more about them, please visit Rat Terrier Life Span and for information on keeping your best friend trim, take a look at Dog Weight Problems