Allow to introduce myself: Eddie, Chihuahua-Mix, born 2002, male castrated dog, size up to shoulder 10 inches, whole size 14 inches, weight 6 kg / 13,2 lbs (labile).

My nicknames are Ede, Grummelbacke (grumble old man), Kragenbär (Asiatic Black Bear), Schnuffel (Snoozer) or Stollentroll (gallery troll).

At the time I was born I was living together with a Pit bull-/Staffordshire-dog in a family with a lot of problems. My previous foster family fetched me away as they had seen that someone kicked at me with his feet. After a short acclimatization I was negotiated into a family with cats and active children. In summer 2004 I lost my home again. There was no place for me to stay longer, because a baby dog arrived, my pack wanted to go on holiday. They said that I didn't allow anybody to touch me, that I snarl at everybody and I wanted to snatch at the children. My luck was to get back to my foster mother and her family.

My current dog owner wanted to have her own dog since she was a child. When surfing on the internet in August 2004 she came across the site of an animal rights group in Dortmund. There she found me crying for help. As soon as possible she contacted and visited my foster family. It was love at first blush. I could not stay any longer at my foster family, because they had two of their own dogs at home in their flat. So I decided quickly to adopt the "stranger". Finally I moved on August 16, 2004 (Wow! That's my birthday now!) in a house with a garden. I am the owner of a dog basket, a dog transportation-box and will share the rest with Monika, her husband Siegmar and their son Mirko. I am a stubborn dog well fitting into this new family and a sly old dog - but they are definitely cut from harder wood.

I am house-trained, can stay at home alone, I am an impassionate car-driver, go outside (Let's get out) as soon as this magic word is spoken (unless it's bucketing down outside), love a copious walk away. I accept other pets like rabbits and budgerigars. Also I can easily learn words/commands and can combine them very well (Sit, Give Paw, Come, No, Off, Finish). I am definitely not a couch-potato and gladly act as the boss number one (if I get the chance)!

Hands are boding well!

Special dog food is now available for me! I was only used to get something from the table.

I now comprehend the meaning of hierarchy and education and I believe in confidence. Due to consequence, motivation with success experiences and the constant tests to avoid to do things I am not allowed to do but rather something I have to do alternatively (= to commute negative commands in positive) I found and accepted my place in the hierarchy and pack.

From 2004 until 2006 my leader (alpha dog) Monika was learning together with me in the dog school of the animal shelter of Schwerte. We have made good success. The important commands like Stay, Heel, Here, Come, No, Down, Sit, Stop, Out, Okay including the sign language are put and smoked in my pipe - and through specific conduct (pay attention to your body language, gal) I ignore commands by some means or other. Without a leash I am not walking exactly nearby my leader. That's the reason that Monika is thinking not to pass the companion dog exam. So it goes and we practice every day. The training must be fun for me.

To play tag, tug-of-war (Gosh! My opponents are always winning this game.) and seeking games inside: Seek for the treat. Where is the soft toy mouse, the rabbit, the rope? And outside: Seek for the treat. In what mouse hole does the field mouse live? (Oops! Now she escapes!). Squirrel, I will get you: I take to it like a duck to water. Unfortunately I must drop out of this game because a) I cannot climb up the tree and b) my pack is ordering me back.

All over the world "reading newspapers", marking my territory, hunting squirrels, scaring cats away from our garden and being after wild hogs. I see! You want to know something about feed. Very well then! Besides my normal two meals a day and treat I prefer paunch, dry lung, cheese (except for "Harzer Roller". Ugh!), pork sausage and liverwurst (Gosh! Miss them - howling), cooked potato, old bread, kohlrabi, carrot, green and red pepper, celery, fresh cucumber, orange, banana, date, fig and water melon. Help me, am I now a vegetarian? Of course and sadly only in moderation and ground-off from my daily dog food rations. So that I do not end as a stuffed sausage.

The characteristic signal from other dogs "Come and play with me!" I do not understand. Are we friends? Do you want to chat with me? Monika thinks that there must have been something wrong during my childhood with the "fighting dog". Straightaway I don't figure it out. But who isn't a pain in my neck I leave him alone. I prefer to ask for the next play at first!

Lurching figures, deep voices, laughing (Are they laughing about me?). Busy throng if I have to stay in my dog basket (What goes on?) and packing bags (Hello, here I am! When and where are you going? Who is going? Do you take me with you?).

And then there is freshening wind in front or behind me. The ocean (Hey! That paces around. Ugh! It tastes freaky.) Sand (Help, I am sinking! Why get my paws hot?).

Aye, and the kind of human beings, who dismiss me. Indeed I am a small dog but in almost the same manner as other dogs. I can be not only cute as a button but also very grouchy.

Large-sized male dogs are very bad and I begin to bark if I didn't get to know them before. If this will happen without a leash, nobody has a chance because I will decide to keep him at arm's length. I can't stand it any longer without any safe distance and will stop only in front of the other dog with a loud bark. That's the reason I have to go with a leash in unknown territory, because my family wouldn't like to bring short 6 kilograms of minced meat home. At several times my enervated leader Monika meant I will get too big for my boots. Hey! You have to know about something: I put a Chihuahua in my pocket. And a Chi always believes he can take an elephant on! But what will happen if the others will not leave the field for half pint me?

My pack has in mind a lot of plans to change my behavior. It is not so easy to find like-minded people beyond the dog place where we can practice the acclimatization to the same male species. But I know my biped will get a grip on this.

Ugh! It is raining buckets. A dog coat is very fancy, breathable, gives warmth, blocks wind and sheds rain and snow. Humans have the feeling that they have to protect us dogs against severe cold. That may be so. But I feel better without dog coats, even if I tremble a little bit during the cold and wet season.

Who is the boss - to know the rules and one's limitations!?!

I can only associate an action with a reaction and learn exclusively by success or mistake - also leader Monika you have to work hard on this! Often there is a misunderstanding between humans and dogs because they have a different interpretation of each other's body language. My family has to look after the signs not to send out controversial messages, so that the communication will work effectively between us:

I keep an eye on the human beings more successfully than they on me. In order not to forward a false message to me you have to pay attention to your body language!

If I act by mistake you have to reconsider your behavior. Perhaps we didn't get along well together?

Malpractice? Did you reprove me within 3 seconds?

Well done! Hey! Please don't forget the praising. And by the way: Where is my reward?

I never bear a grudge. What ails you?

The problem with other male dogs (I don't have any problem with that!?) is well spotted: Here my leader has to work very hard to get my attention early enough so that I will watch her and not the assumed rival. 

Slowly we get that under control. Practicing with training discs, a lot of commendation and diversion with dog goodies (between-meals snacks), careful approach and acclimation I accept and ignore other dogs - with a few exceptions - if I am on the leash. To ensure that it will work at any time and any place my leader Monika hopes to master it with the dog food training (see below: Training with a dog food bag).

We began with Agility on March 8, 2006. First my leader was very sceptic if the common practice with other, unknown dogs will come to a positive result. Shortly after I understood what to do and how it works I was arduous in this new business. Generally speaking I have a lot of fun with Agility. After the training lessons I am exhausted and tired. The next two to three hours I lie down at home in my dog basket snoozing or sleeping. My leader Monika too looks similar, very battered as if she came out of a fitness center, and often is gasping for breath. 

I learned to jump over variations of hurdles and through the tire, run through collapsible and pipe tunnels, cross the dog-walk and the A-frame and sit or lie down a short time on the table. 

Once again that is a demonstration that the human is the weak point in the biped-/quadruped-team. Amazing how little my leader can keep her hands and body in check if she tries to show me the direction through the show-jumping course. Don’t hit a snag (hurdle, dog-walk, yada yada yada) or lose sight of something. Along the way she must keep in mind what the trainer wants to see next. What was about the shifts in direction and changes of ends? Well! Shit happens! What’s this tittle-tattle with an immediate neighbor? Howdy, the ball’s in our court! Also funny if she is as pleased as Punch at something on the spur of the moment and she is forgetting in a fever of excitement to take me at leash at once or she has taken her eye off her dog. Joker Eddie - the devil is in the details - let’s take a short look to disturb the neighbor-dogs. Dear me! 

The weather too plays a decisive role on the exercise area. With wet and slushy bedrock Monika has to exert herself to keep from slipping and find herself on her dirty backside. And last but not least a wee bit with myself, because I am unmotivated to do something on slushy ground too. Particularly at beastly weather I try to jump through the tire between the frame and ground or want to go round the tire to the next obstacle. 

In summer 2007 we were accepted as members in the advanced Agility group. We made ourselves slowly familiar with the unknown obstacles see-saw and weave-poles. My leader integrated the commands Outside, Right, Left and Go ahead to know a priori in what direction it will go on soon in the course. Together we had a nice time. 

In spring 2010 I had to stop with the Agility training because of my nebulous sickness. After several visits to the vets and in animal hospitals they came to the conclusion that I didn’t have epilepsy, but a perineal hernia at my left backside. 

On August 16, 2010 I was in surgery and they had to castrate me – to be on the safe side. I got my teeth fixed with a professional tooth cleaning – now eight of my teeth are entrusted to the care of the tooth fairy! 

As the old saying goes: When it rains, it pours. On November 15, 2010 the vet removed a benign tumor from my right upper eyelid and a visceral awn from my right ear. On January 20, 2011 the vet operated on the perineal hernia at my right backside. 

Since my recovery we practice carefully Agility at home in our garden. The self-made hurdles, a tube (toy for children to crawl through), a juvenile bicycle tire and the weave-poles await their next mission. 

In fact I am not a circus-dog and I do not want to be the actor in a dog and pony show but I have a good command of some skills: Jumping through the bicycle tire. I can jump over self-made, little hurdles (self-made by my human beings, not from myself) or through human legs. I can twist, wave, give five or ten - give paw is for beginners! - and make a roll. I will drop dead too if they nudge me with the fingers or point to me with BANG - but only for a short time, because I am definitely not a dead dog! Through all kinds of formations which are fitting for dogs I whiz through in a rush. If someone is crouched and shouts Jump, I will jump directly into his arms. With command back I slowly go backwards. If someone shows me a fist or says Speak I start barking on command.

Show-jumping courses in the field, forest or meadow with balancing on logs, climbing on roots, adventures at the creek are a great amusement. Snooping for goodies in all variations between old socks, newsprints, in bunches of leaves or on the ground inside and outside are a most welcome diversion for a surprise picnic. 

To sit up is only working with balancing on my hind legs (that’s Stand up)! That I thereby remain sitting with my backside on the ground and only sit up with my upper part of my body, that doesn’t work with this command. Now we try it with “What does the rabbit do?” - and lo and behold - all beginnings are difficult – it works this way! I need the help of Monika by holding my front legs for my dog balance. I place my forelegs on her hand and stretch up. My bottom stays on the ground. I brought home the bacon! As I get stronger I will be able to balance without her arm-assistance. 

Further tricks are Slalom through the legs, retrieving magazines out of the newspapers-basket, putting away my dog-toys into the box, bringing the leash and much more.

Dog Timmi and his leader Tanja were with us in the first training course. After each successful exercise Tanja threw a dog food bag which is joyfully retrieved by Timmi and he brought it promptly to her. Afterwards he was allowed to eat a smidgen out of the bag. Unlike Eddie Timmi had no problems on the playground with other distractions. 

My leader Monika decided that it will hit the spot! She wants me to train with a bag in addition to all the other things we undertake together. She hopes to forge closer links with me, that I will accept her in all situations as leader of the pack. She alone determines whether I can eat out of the bag and when I can play with it or have to retrieve the bag. The canvas-bag filled with dog food) provides an acceptable alternative. To all intents and purposes I don’t want to take a walk but rather I will hunt! This approach has been developed by Jan Nijboer. 

We started this on August 3, 2006. Dog food bag was bought, my complete dog toys were removed and by now I get my dog food only directly out of the bag! Where has my feeding dish gone? 

But retrieving? Very funny! In former times if it was a good time for playing, I snatched up my little yellow plush-rabbit, ran in a hurry to one of my biped and called on someone to play and drag with me and the toy. Whenever someone was throwing the toy I brought it back, I brought it back but only as long as I had a nice time. All other things I do not put into my catch or carry or take it around! 

And now such a thing! What is all this good for? Why is the dog food in a bag and I cannot open it, but my leader can? And at present she is the person to decide on everything? Yet I found out the following: 

The first two days I ran a few times after the dog food bag. My leader lauded me, held the bag in her hands, opened it, and let me eat. 

Afterwards she attached a five foot long leash to the bag. Once again I ran after and tried to hold it tight with my paws. Whenever I nuzzled the bag with my nose, I again got some dog food as a reward. 

I am hungry as a hunter! Up to now I am not very interested in this bag. But now it is filled with pork sausage! 

Since Saturday evening I get the hang of the retrieving training. Now I try to grab the dog food bag with my teeth and keep hold of it for a short time. Promptly I get some food out of it. My leader is praising me and is saying with enthusiasm: Retrieve! Gee! That is very exhausting. As soon as my enthusiasm while playing is failing my leader will pack the bag away. 

A highlight was Sunday evening. After the first throwing I brought the dog food bag back to crouching Monika and put it into her open hands. Laud and dog food! I figured it out! Bingo! 

Now we have to do a lot of homework. Inside the house and outside in the garden it works brilliant. The bag is thrown now without leash because I get entangled constantly. Indeed I am for coverage on an 18 foot long sheer leash. What’s all that instead of? Hey! I will not run away with the prey - anyway I cannot open the dog food bag alone. 

August 6, 2006: Today we had practice for the first time after the walk in the open countryside near the border of a forest. As long as the grass is short and no thistles in sight, there is no excuse for not retrieving. 

August 18, 2006: One step backwards. During a walk I am not interested in my bag. Nearly all she-dogs in my stomping ground are in heat. How can I be concerned about dog food? 

We managed the adjustment without a training course. Shortly after I blazed my stomping ground and sounding out the situation in the surrounding I will completely fix my leader and the food bag. On walking-tours together with my pack I am impatiently waiting for the common hunting. I like to use breaks to call attention to my person so that I can graze prey. 

Since a mishap end of October 2006 I applied for an exemption: I get dog food in the morning out of my old feeding dish. I went stalking for squirrels in our garden. As luck would have it the squirrels escaped on the lime tree but lost at the first opportunity the walnut which it snatched from the walnut tree in the neighborhood. I captured the walnut as fast as possible – walnuts are very delicious – and I tried promptly to crack it. Worse luck! I am definitely not a squirrel! Whine! Yip! Yowl! Since that time a lower tooth is a little bit shaky and I need a rest from the dog food bag training. Yippee! Now I will get dog food a few times without working hard for it. 

December 6, 2006: Ho, ho, ho! Here comes Santa Clause! On Wednesday I found another dropped walnut outside in our garden. Ouch – that hurts me! When it rains, it pours: One of my incisors is waggly. The veterinarian has to pull the tooth on Thursday. Poor guy! I look so pretty with my first tooth space … 

Due to the training with the dog food bag and the hot summer 2006 I lost my fear of creeks and ponds. I like to quench my thirst at the waterside. Along the way I am uninterested about the wildlife. Lucky Eddie likes to retrieve the dog food bag. It is very fascinating and a great challenge to sniff the bag out of some hiding-places.

Thanks preydummy! Since 2008 it works better with our communication and cooperation. At home I will get my dog food at the dog bowl. As soon as we go out we start in common with the replacement hunting. Together we will reach success - that is exciting, that is fun and that keeps me busy physically and mentally!

I became 13 years old in August 2015. That is roughly 72 years for human beings. I am fit and feel on top of the world. I enjoy my life as a single dog and do not mind being part time alone. With pleasure I still travel by car in the dog crate, visit friends and go on holiday trips. Over the years I lost some teeth and have problems with my eyesight in the dark. From time to time I hear poorly.

Old dog - so what? Depending on the day or weather, I try to decide between going outside for long walks, taking a sun bath by enjoying a break from everyday life in the garden, relaxing in front of the fireplace and/or I am looking forward to tender loving care. I still get enthusiastic about Agility at home in our garden, intelligence games and new tricks. 

My humans say from one day to the next I am getting older and lovingly call me grandpa. At home they install a baby gate, so that I cannot play alone on the stairs. Automatic openable doors are not available. Sometimes that is the reason that I am manhandled by a sheet of glass.

Now I am hand-tame and in closer need of affection. My world slowed down. My movements are easy-going. I like to have forty winks often and like to sleep a lot. Before I go out I stop dead in my tracks and check the situation. Slowly I am losing my hearing ability and my eyesight. Sometimes I do not come back if someone is calling me or I cannot orient myself in familiar surroundings. Time and again I refuse to be part of activities which was fun earlier. I dislike hiking tours. Short tours and daily walks through the park are my odds-on favorites. Preferably I ride in the car. Woof, yowl and whimper - no longer do I like to be transported in the dog box! Fasten doggie seat belts, please! I like riding in the back seat of the car – so I never miss a trick! 

After a new surgical extraction I lost my back teeth. Feeding is just rare fun. And anyway, was there something to eat in my dog bowl today? For worse my bones pain or I have circulatory problems. For better I am the whippersnapper with ants in the pants like in former days. In the latter case I do not understand, that my humans are surprised then and look pretty stupid. Will they lose their faculties? 

In case of my hearing and vision problems I now dislike car rides. In good weather I like best to be in the garden area. Here I know myself and can be alone after my needs. 

My sight is very poor. I try hard to check my environment. But I overlook one or another obstacle or misjudge the circumstances. It takes some time out for walking on a leash in slow motion. My sense of smell is functioning properly – maybe I could get lost without leash. 

Sometimes I stand still in a room, a corner or behind a door, remain there and consider about what doing next. The dog owners put a quick end to my aimless wandering in my trust home. As soon as I show signs of unrest I am carefully maneuvered into a spacious transport cage and the door closes behind me. If serves me my nose are here actually goodies on the soft padded cushion. Well: Enjoy your meal! Snuggle down in the dog pillow and Goodnight! If it was up to me I would only eat, relax and sleep. 

A longstanding active and docile companion with character changed into a 14 years old (76 human years) quiet and senile dogs senior.

Now is the time to say farewell. Today, after a long happy dog-life Eddie is gone over the rainbow bridge. Thanks for the wonderful time that we were allowed to spend with you. Eddie – you dog with character – we miss you so much! 

Biped are rather curious dogs. Mostly they are bigger than ourselves, smell different and can do unusual things, for example they can use household appliances. But we can hear and sniff much better than humans. Anyway humans and dogs can build a harmonious team. We must trust each other. Learn to understand us with time and patience!

Dogs are not toys and no alternative to a human baby! Forget it - also we are looking so cute - to teach us in baby language!

Hold your dogs at the leash if other biped with/without dog, on foot or on sets of wheels will approach. For this reasons you can play for safety.

Let a dog at leash in front of a store alone. Don't feed or pet him without permission of the dog owner!

Sometimes we have to do number two. Please clean it up if we did it by mistake on the sidewalks, the street or public places. You can buy dog dirt waste disposals everywhere. Often you can get them for free - in case of emergency you can use the small plastic bags which we carry home full with fruits or vegetables. Nasty? No, thank you, for this I pay dog license? It's not as simple as that! Either you consider that as early as possible or you will buy a smaller one (small dog = little dog's muck, big dog = ?) or you live without a dog. Did you ever step into dog waste, took it with you into your home sweet home and have to clean it up afterwards? Very well then! It is so easy to do something for our good reputation as a responsible dog owner!