Posts made by Marie Heidebrecht

Thanks to all of you who enjoyed the photos and those who contributed caption ideas. It's something I have fun with every year. I just can't let all the out-take photos go to waste!

The final batch of finalists are:

"That was eggnog? I didn't know it made you faw down!" from Chris
Indy: "I got a mani, pedi for Christmas. See."
Jigsaw: "Real men don't get mani, pedi's Indy."
Indy: "THEY DO TOO JIGSAW! That's why it's called a MANicure, not a WOMANicure. Tell her what you told me yesterday Mom!"
You: "Ummmm, about yesterday…" from Linda
"Indy...I can't take this anymore. Jigsaw...pipe down.. we need to please mom one more day!!!!
Smile and say Merry Christmas!!!" from Judy
"Raise your right paw and repeat after me. "I, Indy, promise not to bother Jigsaw's Christmas presents in exchange for her not eating my foot."
Indy, that is your left paw!" from J.R.
and
"Hahahahaha! That was the best one yet!" from Dawn

I also have to thank any of you who voted for us in the dachshund photo contest - we WON!!! Don't tell the dachshund people I said so, but...basenjis rule, dachshunds drool!!

As our finale and our Christmas card to everyone, here is the proof that in spite of all the bloopers, I still managed to get some good photos! Jigsaw and Indy deserve all the credit for really being very good - in their minds these photo sessions are just "fun" - with lots of treats and new "toys" to play with!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Yesterday's pix list finalists are:

"Don't you turn your head and laugh at me! It's not my fault that
Mama shrunk my coat in the wash and no one will be able to read my Ho!
Ho! Ho!" from Dawn
"The effects of too many cookie samples while baking Santa's treats were immediately apparent…" from Jo Lynne
"Indy is slightly bloated from his holiday pom pom diet." from Sam
"Yikes..is she kidding! I can't breathe..gasp gasp" from Judy
"Maybe you?ll listen next time when I tell you these things shrink when you pee on them!" from Mike
"Oh, Mom! Slim, young gals should not be walking bulletin boards for fat, old guys. Indy on the other hand ...
Mom, Jigsaw just called me fat!" from J.R.
"Ok, now something is not right - yours fits and what the heck happened to mine?????????????" from Sue
and
Indy: "Does this outfit make me look fat?"
Jigsaw: "Define fat? A pregnant Holstein Cow ready to give birth sort of fat? Or I ate one too many ding dongs after dinner sort of fat?"
Indy: "The first fat."
Jigsaw: "Oh then, yes it does!" from - you guessed it - Linda

Time flies - here we are at the end already. Today Indy seems to want the spotlight all for himself. Poor Jigsaw's going to go find herself a chair of her own! The 12th day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!

Thanks to anyone who's been voting in the dachshund website contest. We're currently within reach of 1st place!! Today is the last day to vote, so if you haven't already voted, we'd really appreciate it if you would! The contest page is at http://www.heavenlyhund.com/xmascontest2012.htm
You can vote for us by sending an email to heavenlyhund@yahoo.ca with "vote for Marie" in the subject line. Thanks very much - beating all those dachshunds would feel so good!

Yesterday's pix list finalists were:

"As soon as she is really asleep, I'm stealing her presents!" from Anne
Indy: "Oh Lord! Who knew a little Basenji could snore so loud!" from Rose
?We?d better get a LOT of treats for putting up with this.? from Peggy
"You think there was something in those treats we ate? Jigsaw? Jigsaw?" from Kevin & Amy
"I'm sleeping with one eye open – if Santa doesn't get here soon, those cookies are MINE!" from Chey
"How can she sleep at a time like this???? Doesn't she realize how ridiculous we look??!!!!!!!!!!!" from Dawn
Indy: that hat looks mighty tasty. Jigsaw: fine, whatev. u can have it. I'm done here. from Diana
"Indy getting ready to pounce on yet another festive holiday pom pom." from Sam
"Shhh, Mom, Jigaw is asleep. What should we dress her up as now? I am sure we could do something with whipped cream and silly string without too much noise." from J.R.
and:
You reading:
"Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.... "
Indy: "Noooooo! Was it a burglar? I bet it was a burglar? What do'ya say Jigsaw, a burglar, like a cat burglar?"
"Jigsaw?"
Jigsaw: "Zzzzz...." from Linda

Only 2 days left! It's almost CHRISTMAS!! Today Indy demonstrates that one size does NOT fit all. This must be what it's like to dress an uncooperative toddler. The 11th day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!

Here are yesterday's finalists:

Santa (voice-over): Use the force, Luke .. er Indy.
Indy: HELLO? WHO'S THERE?
Santa (voice-over): Use the force, Indy. Force the hat to our side.
Indy: HUH?! WHAT?!
Santa (exasperatingly voiced-over): Oh, never mind.
Santa (voice-over): Use the force, Jigsaw (not sure where Linda comes up with this stuff!!)

Jigsaw: No, it does NOT smell like chicken, Indy.
Indy: Well, ok, but it tastes like pom pom flavored chicken. Nyum nyum nyum from Sam

Indy "I've got him by the foot, you pull his hat off. Invisible? Ha! He didn't figure on Basenji XRay vision!" from Hank

Now for my next magic trick. My exotic, invisible cord and my intense concentration will pull my resisting, assistant, Indy, toward the enchanted hat.
&
Jigsaw, if we are going to do the Mexican Hat Dance, you have to put the hat on the floor! both from J.R. (I couldn't decide between these 2)

Today, Indy can't BELIEVE that Jigsaw would actually fall asleep in the middle of the photo shoot. The 10th day of Christmas, basenji style!

On another note, Jigsaw and Indy have a photo contest entry in a webpage contest run by a dachshund breeder client of mine. The page is at
http://www.heavenlyhund.com/xmascontest2012.htm You can vote for us by sending an email to heavenlyhund@yahoo.ca with "vote for Marie" in the subject line. One email per day until Dec 24th. We would appreciate any votes - it's turning out to be a tight race!

Yesterday's pix list "finalists" were:
"Grab the end, Jigsaw, and I'll pull you up before the Roomba comes around again!" from Rose
"Jigsaw: PeeU Indy! You could knock over Santa you're so noxious. What is Mom feeding you?
Indy: The usual … elastic string, felt hats, stuffed stockings, pompoms, reindeer pelts from India, the backside of a fat old man's red pajamas ..." from Linda
"See that sign? I've really got her fooled, of course, she didn't see me chewing on this stocking!!!" from Sue
"Where are the goodies in that stocking?! Hey - come back, you sneaky thief!!!!" from Rea
"As the last Frito's Corn Chips "foot cookie" falls from his now empty
stocking, Indy tries to squeeze out any remaining crumbs with his bionic
jaws of steel." from Sam
"Why doesn't this darn megaphone work? I need to tell Santa what I want for Xmas." from J.R.
"Wait! What? I win! I win! Jigsaw ran away! Mwahahaha.." from Kevin and Amy

Today, it might appear at first glance that Jigsaw has won the tug-o-war. What you can't see, though, is that Indy's got the pom pom in his mouth. The coveted prize. The 9th day of Christmas bloopers, basenji-style! Posting a bit later than normal 'cause I am now on Christmas holidays.

Thanks to the people on the forum who have been playing along and posting captions. Considering the pix list response I receive, I had expected this to be a bit more popular here than it's turned out to be, but I will finish it out since I see that folks are looking at them, anyway. It'd be more fun, though, if more of you would put up some captions!

At my house, Jigsaw and Indy's behaviour is always being compared to my old shepherd mix, Sassy, who has been gone for a couple of years now. Sassy was known as "The Good Dog". That explains my addition to the stocking. The one that Indy's chewing on actually says "Spoiled".

Yesterday's pix list captions included:

"O dear, are we meant to be a cross between a moose, a sheep, a bear and a reindeer????? What is she doing to us…. are we now basooses, or sheepbaaaaas, babearenjis or senjideers??? Let's think it over and have a good nap" from Annechien (my spell check is having a coronary)
"Indy: "Oooooooo, what was in that egg nog?" Jigsaw: " I don't know, but I'm going to stick with toilet water". from Rose
"Indy: "I can't believe she dressed us like this...and then took PICTURES"
Jigsaw: "Not only that, she sent them to all of her friends!!!" from Hank
"The dangers of dog club Christmas parties - it's all fun & games til someone ends up in a reindeer suit." from Jo Lynne
"Well, she's FINALLY lost it - she thinks we're reindeer!!!!!" from Sue
"Shut your eyes and pretend to sleep ? and as soon as she leaves, the cookie jar is ours!!" from Mike
"Jigsaw and Indy lulled into submission by their radio controlled vibrating
stereophonic red nosed reindeer head heaters." from Sam (WHERE do you come up with these things?!)
"Jigsaw: "Ok, I get the curly fawn coat color and the dark brown antlers representing Santa's reindeer but what's up with the Bindi?"
Indy: "'Shh, I'm channeling Mahtma Ghandi;come in Ghandi!" from Linda (ditto)
"Indy, with the Santa hat we got cookies like Santa eats. Do dogs with reindeer hats have to eat straw?" from J.R.
and, how could I NOT use this one:
""Definitely embarassing, but a small price we have to pay for having the best mom!" from Cathy (their breeder - ok, maybe she's biased!)

Today, Jigsaw had had enough of Indy's shenanigans. (Note the foot at bottom of pic.) The 8th day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!

Such a handsome boy! And cool slideshow effect for the photos.
Merry Christmas to you as well!

Yesterday's pix list finalists were:

"Look, Mom! His get up and go got up and went!" from Dawn
"Call 9-1-1!! I think he o d 'd on sugar cookies!" from Rose
"I guess I wore him out!!!" from Sue
"Mommmm, Indy ate ALL Santa's cookies and didn't even leave one for ME!" from Katy
"Hey! This is no time to rest! We gotta think up more mischief!!!" from Rea
"Now that Jigsaw has hypnotized Indy by rubbing his belly like a crocodile,
she can easily stuff him into his very own Christmas stocking." from Sam
"Too much candy." from Susan
""Look Mom, I pinned Indy! Where's my treat?" from Kevin and Amy
"He's asleep:) now it is mine…all mine!!!!" from Judy
and
"Jigsaw: "It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's a wild women with a camera!"
Indy: "Oh the horror, the horror!" <he faints="">" from Linda

Today's wardrobe selection was a little less than popular. Their basenji pride looks a bit shattered. Don't worry - they recovered quickly. The 7th day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!
</he>

Finalists from the pix list yesterday are:

"Hang on, Jigsaw! I"ll pull you to safety!!" from Rose
"Jigsaw, look into my eyes…you're getting sleepy, very sleepy." from Kevin and Amy
"More goodies will fit in it if we stretch it out really well!" from Katy
Jigsaw: "L.e.t. g.o."
Indy: "N.o."
Jigsaw: "I'm telling you Indy, it's not manly to wear this kind of hat; l.e.t. g.o."
Indy: "I.AM.too.manly.....MOOOOOOOOM!" from Linda
"If you can't even pull me onto the bed, how are we ever going to go mountain climbing?" from J.R.
"Just pull the string, and out pops a pom-pom cookie." from Sam
and
"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye..." from Hank

Today, at the half-way point, Indy needs to take a bit of a rest - this has been hard work, you know! The 6th day of Christmas bloopers, basenji-style!

With the news from Connecticut the last few days, it somehow seems a bit trite to be doing this. But it is my sincere hope that those who have been affected by this tragedy might be able to pause for at least a little smile in this horrible time. Please know that the thoughts and prayers of people around the world are with you.

Thanks to those of you who have been playing along.
From the pix list people, my favourite captions from yesterday are:
"It looks like spaghetti, but it sure doesn't taste like it. How is your end?" from J.R.
"Jigsaw: What happened to the guy wearing this?
Indy: That was a GUY?!
Jigsaw: Dude! You sleigh me." from Linda
"Indy: "I've got it! If we sabotage the hat, we won't have to wear it." from Kevin & Amy
"Ugh, don't like fluffy pompons, but this stuff could just be like chewing gum….... no wait.... oh ooooops, it's floss for my teeth!!"
from Annechien
"Not sure what it is, but it stretches like a chicken!" from Chris
"Watch it buster - you'll be yankin' your teeth out and possibly sending me flying across the room..." from Sue

Today, Indy tries to use height to his advantage. (Kind of surprising that the pom pom hadn't been decapitated yet!) The 5th day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!

Yesterday's pix list "finalists" are:

"I can get myself dressed, thank you very much!" from Jo Lynne

"Look, you can have the green one, red suits me much better!" from Annechien

"I LOVE TUG OF WAR! Pull harder mom…Indy, help! She's winning!" from Kevin and Amy

"It holds more cookies if you stretch it first!" from Mike

"You can't go back up the chimney until I get my present!" from J.R.

"Changed my mind...I NEED to be coordinated!" from Lynn

and

You: "Didn't you hear me? I said, on a count of three, we'll both let go."

Jigsaw: "Yes, I heard you!" from Linda

Today, Indy takes over for me. What IS it about him and elastic?! The 4th day of Christmas bloopers, basenji style!

Here are some of my favourite captions for yesterday's photos from people on the pix list:
"Pay attention now!

This is the way you floss your teeth,

Floss your teeth, floss your teeth.

This is the way you floss your teeth,

in time for Christmas morning!" from Dawn

"Instruments of torture, must be destroyed." from Peggy

"If I've told her once, I've told her a thousand times. We DON'T do hats!" from Kevin & Amy

"Ah, the Spirit of Christmas pest!" from Chris

"No, you shoot the antlers at the squirrels this way" from Jo Lynne

and

"Brace yourself Indy, using that reindeer hat as a slingshot is about to backfire on you." from Debbie

Today, Jigsaw argues with me about wardrobe selection. The 3rd day of Christmas bloopers - basenji style!

Ok, here's day 2. The new reindeer antlers I bought - these ones supposedly designed for dog heads - took a beating!

Every year, like I'm sure a lot of you do, I endeavor to take Christmas card photos of my basenjis, Jigsaw and Indy. And every year, they do their utmost basenji best to derail my attempts at getting nice, "posed" pictures. Usually at the expense of my dollar store props! I've consequently ended up with quite the selection of "out-take" photos to choose from, most of which come courtesy of my "Just Do It" dog, Indy. I swear, Indy is determined NEVER to grow up!
The last 2 years I have posted "The 12 Days" on the basenji pix list, and have gotten quite a response from people submitting caption ideas for each of the photos. So, this year I decided to also include the Forum, figuring that if folks want to submit caption ideas, everyone will be able to read them, not just me!
So, here goes the 3rd "annual" 12 Days of Christmas Bloopers, basenji-style. On Day 1, Jigsaw and Indy acquaint themselves with the new set - and do their basenji-best to dismantle it before I've hardly even begun!

She looks like quite the little trouble-maker!

Just a little ways up the highway from you, Arlene, and we have nothing! Even saw the sun earlier. I'm not complaining. Most of the mud in my backyard is frozen, anyway! Enjoy the snow - you can keep it!

My old shepherd mix also suffered from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. What literally worked a miracle for her, and gave me almost an extra year before I lost her for another reason, was a combination of 2 drugs, Anipryl (selegiline) and Novifit (which is a SAMe). Here are links to 2 sites to give you some additional information:
http://www.virbacvet.com/products/VirbacAnimalHealthBehavioralHealth/NOVIFIT.aspx
http://www.cdsindogs.com/CDSInDogs.aspx?drug=CC&country=US&species=OO&sec=000
Hope this helps. They weren't inexpensive, but the difference they made in Sassy's quality of life was immense.

It's a very well-written article and I think it accurately describes the basenji's idiosyncrasies that we all know and love and that the average person would find frustrating. I think the take-home message for those who don't know basenjis is that they should educate themselves more before taking the "plunge".
Personally, I was thrilled to see a b/w pictured. My only complaint is that the main cover dog wasn't a basenji!