Cassie the Mutt

Dog Profile

Name: Cassandra

Breed:  Mutt (She’s the result of a cross between Japanese spitz, Chihuahua, Poodle, Terrier breeds.)

Coat Color and Texture: Her fur is mostly white with brown-black patches on her head and a white marking on her fontanel. In her fifth year, curly or twisted hairs appear alternately with her usual straight fur at the neck area and tail.

Spayed: No — gives birth twice a year in 2008, 2009, 2010

2011 – no puppies for the whole year

2012- gave birth to a litter of 5 healthy puppies last January 7, 2012

Nickname(s): Cassie, Cassie Dahling

Birth date: November 20, 2005

Height: 12 inches tall

Weight: 12 – 15 pounds depending on her appetite; 20 pounds when pregnant
Personality:

• quite sociable and friendly to humans and other pets;
• fighter since puppyhood;
• fun includes chasing rodents;
• posey-pooch: likes to pose in front of camera;
• alert and territorial (if she’s having a BF – bitch fit);
• mediator to other pets, and between humans and pets;
• displays her dominance with other pets such as biting other dogs when they are out of line, pinning them down and forcing them to submission, humping both male and female dogs, etc.

Favorite Food: Beef Stew, Beef Steak, any beef dish

Favorite Treat: beef bone with meat, of course

Favorite Trick: High 5, open door grills, poke, climbing on chicken wire fences

Favorite place to sleep: Her den (under the shade of a Mango tree)

Favorite Hobby: Street watching

Likes: Cuddling with humans

Dislikes: Smoke — she shivers when she smell ‘em

How Cassie got her name

December 19, 2005 — It was already dusk when my Aunt Juliet brought a tiny puppy to our home. Her size was just about a hand-span and barely a month old. The reason behind her untimely weaning slipped my mind… but I remembered cuddling her that day. Constant patting seemed to reassure her that she’s in a safe place.

That season, the first Pinoy Big Brother reality show was a hit on tv. A sexy housemate called Cassandra/Cassie got lots of attention, so eventually, we named the puppy after her. She grew up under Pikenya’s rule and learned alertness and socialization. (Pikenya was a feisty chihuahua who gave Cassie constant nips.)

When our senior dog Pikenya ran off in 2007, Cassie assumed the position as the senior dog. She became the dominant pet of the four-legged creatures in our home — keeping the other dogs, residents and visitors alike, in line and stopping dog-fights when she’s not involve. Also, Cassie embraced the role of a guard dog, keeping an eye on our home and alerting the humans of possible intruders.

Twinkle’s Observations on Cassie

During her first year with us, this dog didn’t know how to bark. We thought she was mute, she whined and growled most of the year but that changed when she became Keanna’s bff. Running around with Keanna’s helped her to finally managed a hoarse bark after her second year with us. We gave her praises, treats and lots of pats for a whole week every time she uttered a hoarse rrruff aarruuufff.

Cassie gave birth six times here at home in the past; her litter size was about two to six puppies. Her pregnancy and delivery were somewhat stressful for us. One time, she even gave birth to a puppy with a cleft palette ( that pup died after a few days). She unintentionally killed two of her pup on separate occasions; her constant motion and struggle during the birthing process often lead to an early death of a pup.

My mom said that Cassie is short on maternal instinct. This dog often weaned her pups early… That is, she stopped giving them milk after three weeks or when the pups developed their canine teeth.