Lila models Peachie’s sweater, ready to brave the January winds. Photo by Joe Kitchens.

Since Peachie, our 14-tear-old Labrador, left us in October, the house has been quiet. Of course we still expect to see her every morning, and there is the downer of discovering that she is not sleeping nearby. So, we were excited to babysit our grand-dog daughters, Lila and Millie, this weekend.

Millie is a “Chiweennie,” half Chihuahua, half Dachsund. “Designer crossbreed” doesn’t do her justice. She evokes broad smiles with her big-dog attitude wrapped in a small package. Lila is a new adoption and, to all appearances, a whippet- elegant, gazelle-like, faster than a Japanese monorail. And, she has those beguiling, angelic eyes.

Lila was slow in warming to us. Dainty, modest and shy, she had that cautious, quizzical, deer-in-the headlights look in her eyes-, and played hard-to-get until the weather came to our assistance. The temperature dropped from daytime highs in the seventies into the 30’s with winds like razor blades. Lila has a thin, silky coat and needed protection. We rummaged through Peachie’s old things and found a seldom-worn, too-small sweater. Gray with pink polka dots, it hung loosely on Lila’s ballerina frame-but it was warm.

This left Millie. We cut a sleeve out of an old sweat shirt and fashioned a less-than-stylish ski outfit from it. Revealing at one end, it was snug at the other, around her neck. And, so we were off! Millie took the lead and never looked back. Invigorated by the cold air, Lila bounced around like a kite on a short string, snarling our little gypsy band with her leash.

Mille is the BossDog, older, wiser and more assertive, though she is less than half the height of Lila. Photo be Joe Kitchens.

By the time we returned home, Lila had changed her mood,. Subdued and cold, she snuggled up to us and went sound asleep. From then on, she was bonded to us. Of course every hour or so I had to let her into our fenced yard where she leaped and sprinted for ten minutes. Then it was up the ramp and slam-bam through the doggie door into the warm house for another nap.

By the time the kids returned from their weekend trip, we had all settled into a lazy winter routine of cocoa and naps, our bedroom arrangement of dog crates, quilts and dog toys reminiscent of scenes of hillbilly decadence from Tobacco Road or Lure of the Wilderness. Walter Brennan would have felt right at home.

Lila and Grandad hunker down to watch National velvet . Photo by Joe Kitchens.

Lila, discovering Peachie’s toy box, managed to tear the squeaker out of them one by one, leaving little cotton balls strewn everywhere. We watched the film National Velvet and dew-ed up when an adolescent Elizabeth Taylor won the Grand National riding her horse “The Pie” (trained by orphaned stable boy Mickey Rooney). She caused a sensation when it was discovered she had disguised herself as a male jockey, becoming the first female to win the race. The dogs slept through the best scenes. As a rule, dogs don’t watch much TV.

We felt a little deflated when the kids arrived Sunday afternoon to retrieve our grand dogs. And, they surprised us by showing up with their latest family addition, “Savannah,” a teacup- sized chihuahua puppy, one of a litter being given away at a Walmart near Georgia’s first city. They are a soft touch.

Shivering, as chihuahuas will, Savannah inspired our nurturing instincts. We are such suckers. It was one of those a-w-w-w moments as we took turns holding this diminutive darling. Our next babysitting assignment promises to be fun and challenging. How can only two people give three dogs all the one-on-one time they require?

Savannah arrives unexpectedly. Photo by Joe Kitchens.

Meanwhile, we will be clued to the Dog Whisperer reruns, hoping for useful advice.