Coco's Corner...Meet Coco!

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If you’ve known me for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard a good Coco story.  Coco is my 7lb Shih-Tzu who is actually a pit bull trapped in an ADORABLE little body.  After our dog Major died and as Greyson, our youngest, was starting preschool, I decided I needed a lapdog to keep me company while I worked from home.  My baby was starting school and I had this burning desire, a need to nurture a little one again.  Knowing we weren't having any more children and having no little girls to doll up, a puppy is just what I needed. Rickey did not share this need and he did not want a dog in the house, but I begged and cried for months until he relented.

I searched for months and found the most adorable little pooch that was supposed to be easy on Grey's allergies and from my research, this breed is said to be docile and a great family pet.  She was PRECIOUS!  Blake and I picked her up, all 1.5 pounds of her and I was sure we'd been duped.  She looked more like a guinea pig than a dog...just a round ball of brown and white fluff. Given her colors, we called her Coco.  I was ready with bows and cheerleading outfits, sweaters and dresses.  I couldn't wait. Boy, was I in for a surprise.  She was none of the things I imagined.  She was meaner than a snake!  I have videos of this teeny tyrant mauling me as I tried to dress her or even just hold her.  She was anything but a sweet little lapdog but she was CUTE and when we take on a responsibility, we see it through.  We would love her despite the fact that she is bordering vicious.  Coco did/does have some redeeming qualities.  Did I mention she is cute?  haha.  She is and she does love to fetch.  She doesn't like to give up what she has fetched so you always need two toys to toss.  She will let go of one to scoop up another.  She is very athletic and prances when she walks but do not, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to pick her up if she rolls onto her back.  She will graciously accept a belly rub but that is code for "try to hold me and I will eat you alive."

I was working for a resort in Houston when we got Coco and I'd travel down a couple of times each month.  To spare the boys of her wrath, and in effort to bond with my girl, I would take her with me.  I bought her an awesome travel basket that straps to the headrest of the passenger seat with a tether to keep her safe and she loved it.  It was clear that she was a pup that loved to go.  A girl after my own heart.  The two of us covered many miles and everywhere we went, Coco was the belle of the ball.  Everyone wanted to pet and hold her, though for fear of being sued, I would only let them admire her from a distance.  I remember on a stop at Buccees in Madisonville, a businessman in his suit even asked to take a picture of her to send to his wife.  Yall, I'm not kidding when I say, she is so stinking cute.

We have oodles of Coco stories, so I'm sure you'll hear more of them down the road, including how she and her BFF, Cookie our rescue cat love each other to bits (she's more of a cat person than a dog person), but here you'll find some helpful tips when traveling with pets. We hope you enjoy Coco's Corner!