but he is ever so cute!

Buckwheat sees the world! As we head up to Mt. McKinley with my mom, Buckwheat gets to come too.

And he got to go camping with us!

Back in May we offered to dog sit for six months for my friend Jayci.  She and her husband had to go to a temporary assignment that did not allow dogs at thier living quarters so she needed a home for her Schnauzer/Yorki mix (aka Snorki), named Buckwheat.

We did it for a variety of reasons. One was because my kids have always wanted a little dog and I kinda did too...I must have been feeling some sort of mothering void in anticipation of Olivia going to Kindergarten....  and ever since Champ chewed Ethan's favorite pair of cowboy boots 6 or 7 years ago, he has held a grudge against the giant slobbery canine we already share a home with and had a romantic idea that a little dog of his own would heal that grudge.

The other reason is it was really no big deal.  Really, it is no big deal and even after everything you read it, is still seriously no big deal (Jayci, that means you, seriously. No.Big.Deal.).  Life is messy, busy and fun and in all honesty, Buckwheat has done nothing but add to what is already great and wonderful in our house. In spite of everything I blog about and all of the foibles of life that keep me from my magazine page looking house and shaved legs, I sort of like the crazy that seems to find me everywhere I look. When I really take a moment to sit back and look at my crazy, I am happy...and then I blog about it ;)

While Buckwheat is adorable, he is a quirky little guy.  First up he only likes me.  Seriously. He follows only me around all day. In the kitchen, on the couch watching TV, on the floor by my bed (or in my bed when I am not home, thanks to the little dog hairs he leaves behind on my pillow I figured that out). If anyone besides me tries to put him out to go potty he runs and hides under the bed or yelps like his leg is getting bit off by an alligator if they grab him.

It is actually kind of funny to watch him follow me.  For instance, the morning dash out the door is ever so much more comical with the little black fuzzball at my feet.  Done getting dressed, walk two feet out the bedroom door and remember phone. Turn abruptly and almost trip on Buckwheat as I head back in. Get halfway down the stairs and forget sunglasses. Turn and almost trip on Buckwheat again as I go back to my room. Get all the way downstairs stop, so does Buckwheat, and tries to lick my face as I am down on his level while I and get shoes. Forgot to turn off bedroom light so run back upstairs with Buckwheat happily prancing after me...

You get the idea and Buckwheat is there every step I take. I am beginning to think I wear a dog collar with all the jingling of dog tags that surrounds me these days!

Second wierd thing: He only eats if I am in the kitchen with him.  Seriously.  So twice a day I give him a scoop of food and he eats mostly out of his bowl now. He used to take a few pieces out at time and hide under the dining table and eat them. I am not sure I am cut out for a constant companion like this. It is sickeningly reminiscent of having a newborn...you know, being his only source of food and all.

Third, he annoys my cats and they likewise, stand outside of the glass door and taunt him.  He goes nuts until the door actually opens and then he gives them a wide berth.  He is smaller than both of them, after all. But he loves Champ. Actually maybe a little to much.  Shortly after Buckwheat arrived we heard a new bark from Champ. Its the I'm-Not-Gay-Bark as Buckwheat tries to hump his leg.  That and a few nips at Buckwheat has curbed that behavior and also sparked a lesson on the birds and the bees with Ethan (Its OK, 10 is when I told Carter too...)

Fourth, he revenge poops.  When he doesn't get his walk or if he feels he is left alone too many days in a row he poops in the house. Luckily it has all been on the hard floor and is the size of tootsie rolls (I am afraid I may never eat those again). To solve this, Buckwheat gets to spend time in solitary confinement (aka Champ's giant dog crate) while I am gone, or he gets to ride with me on errand days and is happy in the car.

Fifth, he also loves salmon and will dig through my garbage to lick up bits left on paper plates.  It is also the only thing that will entice him to leave my room at night and trot downstairs for a foray through the garbage.

Sixth, all dogs shed or I don't vacuum enough.  I am sure I could vacuum more, but I don't need any more hair in my house.

Buckwheat has, however, won JaDee over.  JaDee has taken to calling him Bucko, Buckaroo, or even Bingo.  But most often he calls Buckwheat, Useful Dog.  His usefulness is compounded by the fact that I do not want a little dog anymore.

Buckwheat is a great snuggler though. He loves to be behind my legs on the couch. He is ever so glad to see me when I come home. Once when I was gone for a long day and JaDee and the kids were home, they hardly saw Buckwheat as he moped under my bed. Until he heard the garage door open and he bolted down the stairs and jumped up almost high enough to lick my face.

He also smiles this crazy grin and begs for his little bone to chew everynight.

But the funniest is the Shivers. He never jumps up on the couch with me unless he "asks." To ask he props up on his hind legs and gives me the big puppy eyes and starts to shiver.  The first time I saw this my heart melted and I said "Oh, JaDee, he's cold! Let him up here with us."

Ever the logical JaDee said, "No he's not. Look." JaDee reached down to pet him and instantly Buckwheat stopped shivering. When JaDee stopped petting him, the shivers started back up again. So every night when Buckwheat starts to shiver, I know he is asking for pets and snuggles. But if he was really smart he would have attached himself to Olivia who wants nothing more than to mother Buckwheat to death. As a result, Buckwheat is terrified of her and runs for cover whenever he senses a tea party or hair bows nearby.

All in all he has been a delightful house guest.  My kids love him and will be sad to see him go in November.
And even sadder that we don't get a replacement puppy.  I just don't have the time to make the kind of commitment a little dog needs.

We love you Bucko Buckaroo!