Page 32 - ShowSight Presents - The Chihuahua
P. 32
“...THEY ARE BIG IN HEART AND THEIR CAPACITY TO LOVE.”
regulations that base obstacle height on the dog’s height would have benefited Bazl if they had been available when we were training in agility.
Living with Bazl is a joy. He is a defi- nitely a one-person dog. He follows me around and wants to be with me constantly. He is always happy to see me when I return home, even if I’ve only gone to the garage. He ecstatically wags his tail, puts his ears back, and brings me a toy when I return. And if I leave home without him and it’s not to go to work (yes, he knows the differ- ence!), I have been told that he sits by the door and howls like a little wolf. However, this doesn’t mean that Bazl isn’t pleasant to others in the household or strangers, although he is very protective of his home.
Oftentimes, we are stopped during our walks because people want to pet Mr. Bazl. Cars have slowed down so occupants can get a better look at the cutie. And Bazl has his own share of paparazzi to deal with.
When people meet Bazl, they are sur- prised at how friendly and outgoing he is because they think of Chihuahuas as nip- py. I attribute his welcoming personality to a good temperament and early socializa- tion. I had read that Chihuahuas are clan- nish, but Bazl doesn’t exhibit this behavior at all. In fact, he’s a social butterfly.
Bazl has lived in a multi and only dog household and has done well in both. He liked being with his buddy Zenith and they kept each other company. After Zenith’s death, Bazl was an only dog for about a year. I do think he missed Zenith, but the only change I noticed was that he didn’t have to worry about someone stealing his chew toy.
Bazl’s new doggy buddy is Figaro, a Basenji puppy, who was smaller than him when he moved in, but is now so tall that Bazl can fit underneath him when both are standing. They enjoy playing together and Bazl has no qualms about telling Figaro if he does something wrong.
As Bazl is my first Chihuahua, I don’t know if things Bazl does are Chihuahua traits or Bazl traits. For instance, Bazl can be very demanding. He pushes my hand with his head if he wants to be pet- ted. He is an energetic bed-maker, work- ing hard to arrange his covering just right using his head, mouth, and paws. To release excess energy, he runs around the house like a little wind-up toy. It’s very funny and cute. He licks his front paws, wiping his face with his paws to wash his face.
Bazl loves to travel. Whenever I put my shoes on (other than going to work), Bazl gets extremely excited because he expects to go with me. I certainly wouldn’t leave him behind, would I? He runs and sits in his crate, which he travels in, ready to go. He also loves to go for walks. The word “walk” cannot be said in the house unless one plans to take Bazl for a walk, because he gets very animated, runs around, and jumps up and down, bouncing off the clos- est available knee.
Why did I decide on a Chihuahua? I wanted a small, cute companion that I could train and compete with. And I got that. Bazl is a very affectionate young man and loves to give me kisses. Chihuahuas may be small in stature, but they are big in heart and their capacity to love.
While training has had its challeng- es, most important to me is not earn- ing titles, but Bazl’s companionship. He is devoted, loyal, and generous with his love. He cheers me up when I’m sad. Just thinking about Bazl makes me smile and if I’ve had a bad day, seeing him always makes me feel better.
I can’t imagine my life without Bazl.
U-CD Guichon’s Bazl CD, RE, CGC is owner-handled and trained by Maurine Atkinson. Bazl needs one major to earn his breed championship.
The Graduate—Bazl graduates from Puppy Kindergarten.
Bazl proudly celebrates his Mexican heritage.
Bazl with his proud owner, Maurine Atkinson.
