The saying, “First they steal your heart, then your bed,” is true of Nati’s dogs. His family’s three Chihuahuas used their secret powers of love and humor to take over their home!
Nati’s mother, Anna, explains, “Our dogs: Kiko, 14, Chalupa, 7, and Rio, 1, match the same
three ‘odd’ purrs-onality traits of our three children. The eldest dog and child are calm and good listeners, the middle dog and child are hyper and rambunctious, and the two babies of the family are a combination of the first two.
Nati and his two sisters learned to be gentle with our small dogs. It is heartwarming seeing how proud they are,” said Anna, “as they have the dogs’ purr-form tricks for friends.”
Our dogs have favorites
amongst our children’s friends. Chalupa is in love with our daughter, Nicolette’s, boyfriend. When he arrives, Chalupa projects his tiny body three feet into the air to get closer to him. In disappointment he cries, for 15 minutes, after the boyfriend leaves.
Rio’s other ‘odd’ habit is when anyone walks in our front door. He runs towards them, stops half-way, then he about-faces, and runs to his toy box. He grabs a toy, because he never
greets anyone without a toy. His agenda is that he loves to play, so he thinks that anyone arriving has come for ‘his’ play date. If you don’t respond to his playful overtones, he places the toy at your feet for you to ‘get the hint’.”
Two of their dogs are hilarious when playing tug of war. Chalupa grabs one end of the toy rope, and Rio the other. Chalupa drags tiny Rio around the slippery floor. Rio refuses to let go and all the while he
is growling. The little guy is tough! Chalupa usually is the first to tire of the game and let go.
At dinner time, the dogs go crazy when they see Anna reach for their bowls. They jump, do flips, and run around crazily. Then at the family’s dinner time, the three dogs sit and stare at the family like itty-bitty vultures, who have not eaten in a week!
Kiko and Chalupa were not allowed to sleep on the children’s beds, but
when Rio arrived things shifted! Nati was having nightmares and when Rio was allowed to sleep with the youngster, it was easier for Nati to go to bed. “Besides,” explains Anna, “Rio was so tiny and cute it was hard for all of us all not to want to sleep with him!”
“Life is richer when you have a dog,” said Nati. “I am happier and never lonely. Chalupa smiles at us and makes funny faces and sounds. She is a thief, who eats everything she
sees! One day she stole a lipstick, candy bar, and a toothbrush - and ate them! I have to keep my bedroom clean so ‘things’ don’t disappear. If she gets into my room, it looks like a tornado hit! She messes everything and burrows under my blankets, where she likes to eat the things she finds in darkness. Our other dogs would rather eat with the family.”
Nati has learned responsibilities while caring for his dogs. He lets them out for
potty breaks, feeds them, and baths them. “You have to commit to do what is right for your pets,” said Nati. “I’ve trained Rio to shake a paw, lie down, and retrieve toys. My life would be empty without a dog. Every day I play outside with them and toss their toys and they never tangle their leashes when walking because several of us walk them.”
When Rio arrived, he was so small, he fit into pockets! He’s traveled to Italy with his family
and because he slept in pockets, Nati’s sister, Cassandra, said, “He was so quiet, I took him to school. When you look into our dogs’ eyes, you can see what they are thinking.”
“Our dogs are on a grain-free diet,” said Anna, “just like my husband. We swapped from ‘regular’ dog food when Rio’s fur began falling out. His skin and fur are now normal on his new food, so we continued with grain free for all the dogs. (My husband is doing better
too.)
And my husband says, ‘Chico’s been a ‘Papa’s boy’ since day one! He is the only one in this house that I can have a conversation with – who listens.’”
