Four Legs

Happy 5th birthday, Fritz!

birthday Doodle

It’s hard to believe, but our tiny little Fritz is already FIVE years old! As much as I really can’t remember what our lives were like without him here with us, it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that he was struggling to climb up on chairs…chewing on baseboard moldings…chewing on blanket tasselschewing on sofas…chewing on absolutely everything in sight. Fritz was a difficult puppy, and Bruno (who is five years older than Fritz) had a really hard time adjusting to having him around, but it was all worth it so many times over. Fritz has turned out to be a great dog, and he and Bruno—despite their very different personalities—have turned out to be the best of friends. The four of us are a family together, and I can’t imagine it being any other way.

Fritz is a complex dog. There’s no other way to put it. He’s very smart (stop laughing—you should see this dog make a nest out of blankets, he’s clearly a genius), but he seems to always be in a state of concern over not being able to convey complex emotions without using words. YES, I AM PROJECTING. But really, if you’re lucky enough to have met Fritz in person, you know what I mean. He’s an intense cuddler and affectionate beyond belief, but you just get the feeling he wants to be understood. He’s sensitive.

Happy 5th birthday, Fritzy Doodle Dandy. I love you so much. Thanks for being such a great dog and not minding too much when pluck you out of a cozy sleeping spot because I want you to curl up with me on the sofa.

These are some of my favorite Instagrams of Fritz (Fritztagrams?) from the past year.

Fritz birthday montage

Fritzy sweater

Isn’t he just the bee’s knees? He’s such a Martian.

FRITZ FACTS: He clips his own nails. He’s an incredibly clean dog—he bathes himself like a cat. He considers human nostrils a delicacy. He’s always cold, even if it’s 95°F out. He has a part-time job as an iPad stand. His favorite toy is a stuffing-free raccoon named Randy. He has a hairless chest. He barks if he hears someone curse. He smells like tortilla chips.

One more picture, just because I can’t resist—this is Fritz on the day he came to live with us. So tiny! Love.

baby Doodle

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60 Comments

  • Reply Christian January 21, 2013 at 1:31 am

    Cutest EVER. I am melting.

    • Christian January 21, 2013 at 1:33 am

      The 5th one down on the right. Those 4 little legs. Officially melted.

    • Anna @ D16 January 21, 2013 at 1:38 am

      Deer legs! 🙂

  • Reply mari January 21, 2013 at 2:01 am

    his facial expressions kill me… i can’t stop laughing at the look on his face in the macbook pic!

    happy birthday, fritz. 🙂 i hope i get to see him and his epic eyebrows again soon!

  • Reply Ilenia January 21, 2013 at 2:43 am

    happy birthday cutie pie! x

  • Reply Monica January 21, 2013 at 6:42 am

    Aww, such a beautiful post, the love we have for pets is boundless. Made me tear up (in a good way) especially the puppy photo. Thank you for sharing- Happy Birthday Fritz! x

  • Reply Erica W. January 21, 2013 at 7:14 am

    Happy Birthday, Fritz!

  • Reply Cristina January 21, 2013 at 7:46 am

    This is so sweet! Happy birthday to your pup. Mine is about 8 months old and it has certainly been an adjustment to have such a young one in my life. My last dog died two years ago at the age of 13 and I don’t think I quite remembered what it was like to have a “baby” around the house. Your Fritz looks like a sweetie pie!

  • Reply the chronic utilitarian January 21, 2013 at 8:12 am

    fritz is adorable.
    is he a longhaired chihuahua?
    his personality sounds like a chi.

  • Reply joy@ OSS January 21, 2013 at 8:21 am

    awww he is too precious. happy birthday fritz! i want to get a pet someday so jealous ><

  • Reply nicole January 21, 2013 at 9:08 am

    Happy Birthday, Fritz! Thank you so much for being brave enough to leave your home planet to share your love and cuddles with us on Earth. It was a sincere pleasure to meet you during my last visit. I hope that next time you’ll see past my intimidating height and learn that my lap makes a very good resting spot. xox

  • Reply Dusa January 21, 2013 at 10:10 am

    I think little dogs are more in tune with human emotions (maybe because they are carried around and more interactive with us?)

    Happy birthday Fritzy Doodle Dandy! (and so glad the chewing has abated!)

  • Reply Daniel @ Manhattan Nest January 21, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Happy Birthday, Fritz!! Love you to pieces. <3 <3

    (Also, everything Anna says about Fritz being complex and smart and wanting to be understood is totally true. There is a tiny, neurotic, maybe a little paranoid person inside his brain.)

  • Reply Adam January 21, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Happy Happy Birthday Fritz from Adam and Chloe!!!

  • Reply gracie January 21, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Baby Fritz!

  • Reply Hanna January 21, 2013 at 11:59 am

    Wow, this makes me realize how long I’ve been reading this blog. 🙂 Happy birthday to Fritz!

  • Reply kay* January 21, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    oh my goodness i love fritz and i’ve never even met him! i need to figure out a way to get a play date for fritz, bruno, howard…linus and mekko!

    happy birthday fritz!

  • Reply dean / my little apartment January 21, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    I love that you mentioned the tortilla chips thing! My dog, Bunny, a corgi-beagle, has always smelled like Fritos! My neighbor had 2 longhaired Chihuahuas and we always laughed about how our dogs smelled like corn chips…Did you know it’s totally a thing? It’s from the (healthy) bacteria on their feet…

    Anyway, Fritz is the cutest!

  • Reply Lauren @ chezerbey January 21, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    Aww, happy birthday Fritz! You are the cutest.

  • Reply susan black January 21, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    absolutely adorable, lucky you & lucky Fritz
    especially love the striped sweater and the last photo.
    I’m a huge dog (& cat) lady

  • Reply brend January 21, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    living vicariously w all these cute little bloggy doggies … priceless photos!

  • Reply Nicole January 21, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    Fritz is my favourite! His big, beautiful eyes make him look so loving, apprehensive and thoughtful all at the same time <3

  • Reply Priscilla January 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    He has tuftytoes!

  • Reply Lizzie January 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Aww, he’s adorable. Happy Birthday little guy!

  • Reply jessica January 21, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Oh Anna, this post made my Monday! Adorable is an understatement for this little bundle of fur. Thank you for being yet another vindication for the wonderful world animals in all of our lives. I personally, would not want to live without them! Fritztagrams? Love it! My favorite? Little Red Riding Fritz with that cheeky tongue and tooth filled grin. Wishing you many more birthday celebrations!

  • Reply wendy January 21, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    i’m remembering the pic you took of fritz, at nose level, in the flokati rug, right after you got him. one of my faves, ever.

  • Reply Kristen January 21, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    AWWW Happy Birthday Fritz! So freakin cute!

  • Reply Monica January 21, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    Happy Belated Birthday Fritz! Such a cutie.

  • Reply bethany January 21, 2013 at 4:37 pm

    Such a sweet pea! How much does Fritz weigh? I have a 4 pound female chihuahua (short haired and all white), and I think they would make a very cute couple! Fritz sure is handsome. Happy birthday, little man!

  • Reply Jana January 21, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    Happy 5th to a cute, corn chip, chap!

  • Reply Clare January 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm

    “He smells like tortilla chips.” This! I love how one of my dogs smells like cornchips.

    I gave a friend who’s been in NY for the past couple of years a lift home from a Xmas party a month ago. He got in my car and immediately said “Do you have a dog?” I started apologising for the dog odour I no longer notice, suuuuuuper embarrassed. He stopped me and said “No, no. It’s no problem. My dog passed away a couple of years ago and I find the smell really comforting, actually. I was glad I still recognised it.”

  • Reply sherry January 21, 2013 at 7:52 pm

    I totally had the worst day today but that picture of baby fritz is melting my cold bitchy heart right now. I hope he had a good birthday! Also Bruno needs to write my cat a letter telling him a dog in the the house will be OK because I’ve been dying to adopt one.

  • Reply Steph N January 21, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Love the pic with the computer. Looks like he was caught looking at something naughty!

    Happy 5th birthday to your youngest!

  • Reply mommy January 21, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    Happy Birthday Fritzy. We love you!

  • Reply Melissa January 22, 2013 at 1:40 am

    This is my favorite post ever! My bichon, Max, has frito feet!! I love that you love Fritz so much. Happy Birthday, Fritz-a-licious!

  • Reply lisa January 22, 2013 at 7:03 am

    O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu Fritz-San.
    お誕生日おめでとうございます。

  • Reply Heather P. January 22, 2013 at 9:27 am

    Happy Birthday Fritz! That doggie sweater he’s wearing is adorable!

  • Reply Megan January 22, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Aw, what a sweet little dude! I love a good snaggletooth 😉
    Happy Birthday Fritz!!!

  • Reply jeannette January 22, 2013 at 11:14 am

    happy birthday, l’il man.

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/88056861/hand-knit-red-dog-sweater-aran-design

  • Reply Benita January 22, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Happy B-day Frumblebee!

  • Reply Chelsea Wilson January 22, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    Dogs are family! Happy birthday Fritz!

  • Reply mariane January 22, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Happy birthday Fritz! You have a precious dog, I love a pet with a deep, complex personnality, you make me want to meet him. Also, he is a gorgeous dog, if I ever had a dog it would be a long haired chihuahua, the only concern is that it is quite cold in Montreal for a couple of months!
    Have a great week.

  • Reply Ryan January 22, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    Too cute! Totally get what you mean by telling he wants to be understood – my little Eve is so the same! Couldn’t have put it better myself!
    Wonder if they’d be pals..!

    How do your dogs go with apartment living? Do they scratch/bark to go out and you oblige or is there a schedule they’ve come accustomed to?

  • Reply Cecilia January 22, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    He was so little! And I suppose he is now too, but hehehe! Happy Birthday cutie!

  • Reply Uncle Beefy January 22, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Impossible to choose a favorite. But then why should one have to choose?! Uh-DORABLE! Happy [belated] Birthday, Fritz!

  • Reply Jade Sheldon January 22, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    He is such a sweetheart. I want one just like him! Although, it seems like he is truly one of a kind… 🙂

  • Reply Steph January 23, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Happy birthday Fritz! Dogs are the best!!

  • Reply mandy January 23, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Oh jeez, these pictures are way too cute:) Happy Birthday!

  • Reply rox January 23, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    so freakin cute. I love that little lip snarl photo!

  • Reply Anathalia January 24, 2013 at 11:39 am

    Happy birthday to Fritz! I you had posted this 5 months ago, I would have thought “WTH?”, but since we adopted our little monster, I became another person and now I completely understand this dog love thing. 😉 Fritz is adorable and sounds like a handful! All the best to him!

  • Reply jodi January 24, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    awww, so sweet! happy, happy birthday, fritz!!

  • Reply Angie January 24, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Happy Birthday Pooch. 35 in doggy years. Think about retirement. It’s around the corner. Living the hard life dogs do. You should always have a plan after the couch and floor laying career is over.

  • Reply Mamma Biscuit January 25, 2013 at 10:20 am

    Happy 5th Birthday Fritz! You’re such a big boy now! I seriously cannot handle this wallpaper of Fritz cuteness within this post! It’s nearly impossible to choose a favorite photo but the shot of him wearing that red hoody and sticking his tongue out comes closest to being my most favorite out of the bunch! Mamma Biscuit and family are sending you big pug hugs and kisses!
    xoxo
    Ruff Ruff

  • Reply ryan January 25, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    It’s nice to see someone else who so lovingly lets their dogs on furniture 🙂

  • Reply Beth C January 25, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    What a lovely tribute to a good friend. I’m a few days late, but happy birthday, Fritz!

  • Reply Eleni January 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Happy belated Fritz. I don’t even like dogs that much but I die for your Fritztograms.

  • Reply Suzanne January 27, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Happy happy birthday!!! He is too, too full of cuteness!
    Our pup smells of tortilla chips, also. Or sometimes crackers. Or popcorn. Funny.

  • Reply kristenv January 28, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    This so made me laugh. Our dog is half Chihuahua, half Maltese and totally has the Frito smell. He is also an intense kisser and is very focused on nostrils, too!

  • Reply Kerry / Paper Dahlia February 13, 2013 at 1:25 am

    He is too dang cute!! Happy birthday, Fritz!

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