A Tiny Dog with a Big Entourage, Meet Wheels the Chihuahua

written by Jen Reichle

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

​She is one pound of sass with a killer wardrobe – meet Wheels, a tiny Chihuahua whose huge story is taking over Instagram.  Between her paw-forward fashion sense and cheeky diva personality, it is easy to see why she is an unstoppable star on the rise.  This dog knows how to work it and stand apart from the pack.  She has even caught the eye of Miley Cyrus, (one of Wheel’s Instagram followers) who refers to Wheels as “my soul mate”.  That’s right, she is a tiny dog making a big entrance, and this little power house’s career is just getting started!  Between her modeling and high powered marketing career, she can be a busy dog, but as luck would have it she is also one of our VIP Haute Couture clients.  We just couldn’t resist passing up an opportunity to sit down one on one with Wheels to get the inside scoop on her road to fame and heart-wrenching beginning—So we called one of our favorite canine fashionistas for an interview!

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Wheels is such a unique name; how did you get it?

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

My human mom, Julie, absolutely loves bicycles…racing bikes, track bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, fat bikes…you name it, my human probably owns it! She has even done ultra-endurance races on them. I’ve gotten to learn a lot about bicycles since I’ve lived with Julie, you see, I am not an outdoor kind of dog.  Muddy paws?  No, thank you!  I won’t even walk up an incline unless mom carries me.  But Julie loves her bicycles, and had just acquired—can you guess it?—another bicycle the day I moved in with her! I was hanging out by the bicycle wheels contemplating what that contraption might be —And tada, mom started calling me Wheels!

You are quite the fashionista; what got you started down this path?

Well, if you read #WheelsHouseRules on my Instagram account @jewleebean__and_wheels I think I made it pretty clear that I must be the center of attention. People also tell me that I’m tiny, but I don’t think so – I am 1.9 full pounds of diva dog!  Anyhow, I knew I was destined for something great, but it was a challenge getting the humans to stop and listen. You humans are seriously way too busy sometimes. At first I tried whining, but this didn’t translate well (unless it’s Julie—works like a charm there). I had to figure out something, that is when I realized the powerful expression of fashion. I remember watching the stunning fashion on Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and the Hunger Games thinking…”one day, I’ll have an outfit like that!” It’s funny because my human isn’t too keen on fashion for herself (she is a tracksuit kind of gal) but I was drawn to it from the start. So after a lot of whining, I got Julie to buy me my first piece and my collection has grown from there – if she stops buying me things, I whine – then poof, three more designer hats! 

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

So with a busy modeling schedule, we are all wondering what do you do to relax? 

I like to wait until Julie is watching TV or reading one of her books, and demand pets. Not too much of a problem if she is watching TV, but those books take up both of my hands (you heard me right, those human hands belong to me). So, I just start whining until Julie sets down her copy of the Pathagorean Source Book and starts my petting treatment session. I have it pretty good you know.  Pets on demand and eleven personal beds (although Julie keeps trying to share my biggest one with me). I’ll let her for now, as long she provides human neck snuggles each morning.

Can you run us through a typical day with you and Julie?

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

As I said before, I must start each morning with neck cuddles. Then (only when I determine the time for snuggles is finished) I wake Julie up to feed my sister and I—thank goodness she feeds us separately because I like to take my time—you know, really taste each kibble. Not like that other wild animal mom brought home, does she even taste her food? It goes down so quickly. Then mom takes the kibble monster outside for a walk because she can’t use the potty pad like a civilized Chihuahua. Where did she find this creature? Sometimes mom tries to take me for a walk too, are you serious?  I’ll entertain it to an extent, but she keeps going and going...even if I just had my nails done! So, I put on my brakes until she carries me or brings out the stroller like I deserve. If mom has errands, I demand to come along – I have to get out there in the world and mingle if I am going to be a star. Then in the evening I like to curl up on Julie’s lap while the wild animal chews on her toys.

So you have a sister?

No…darn, did I say sister earlier?  Yes, I have a sister but that isn’t important. Did I ever tell you about the time Miley Cyrus said I was her soul mate?

#Repost @mileycyrus ・・・ My soul mate Look who is featured @mileycyrus !!!!! Thank you Miley □□□

A photo posted by Wheels The Tiny Chihuahua (@jewleebean__and_wheels) on Mar 5, 2016 at 5:38pm PST

Yes, but I’d like to go back to your sister, what is her name?

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

Sigh, alright. Her name is Spokes and mom says she is a Chihuahua like me, but she towers over me. Mom picked her up from the Green Dog Foundation, a place for homeless dogs out in California. She is a three-legged Chihuahua who runs fast as lightning on two legs. She is kind of impressive…lol, love my little sis…Shoot! I forgot this was all “on the record”. You are going to print that aren’t you? Oh well, just print it…yea, I love that wild beast of a Chihuahua…plus she makes a great scape goat (don’t tell Julie)!

Speaking of dogs with difficult beginnings, you’ve had quite the tear-jerking start yourself…

Yes, that is true, my life wasn’t always fame and fortune, I had to work hard to be where I am today. I was born prematurely out on the streets…covered in mites, infected with worms, part of my skull wasn’t formed…things I don’t really like to talk about you know? The vets didn’t think I had a shot at surviving—boy am I lucky to have found Julie! She took me home and gave me the best care a human could provide, syringe feedings and liquids for almost two years.  Things looked pretty bleak for a while, you can read my full story at #TheStoryofWheels on Instagram, but bottom line two things changed my life. First, my mom was so dedicated; you won’t believe the number of times the vet recommended euthanizing me…I’m so glad she didn’t listen! Her homemade syringe food and, secondly, the Shining Star Pet Supplements she starting giving me set me on the path to where I am today.  Now, I’m a fabulous Chihuahua who can eat on her own just fine, thank you! I still let Julie think I can’t drink water except from syringe, what can I say? I like the star treatment, but when she isn’t looking, I sneak water from her drinking glass. Shhh, I don’t think she knows yet.

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

Photo Courtesy of @Jewleebean__and_Wheels

With you and your sister’s unique conditions, do you ever encounter people who don’t understand you because you are different? If so, how do you handle it?

I’m sure they are out there, but I don’t pay them any mind. I honestly have no idea that I’m different. I mean, I don’t feel different. I’m just like any other dog really--I bark, I play, I snuggle, I go on adventures…the only real difference is how fabulously fashionable I am in comparison to other dogs. Can you believe some dogs run around in the nude? You won’t catch me being part of a nudist pack, I discovered how fun clothes are and I’m never looking back.  But I digress, it’s like Julie says, the more love she put into my care, the greater the reward. She came to my rescue at a time when I wasn’t able to help myself. She has always been that type of person, a real hero to those in need, dogs and humans. After all she and I have been through, we share a bond that is hard to put into words. I know I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her, and all the puppy kisses in the world can’t express how grateful I am but that doesn’t stop me from trying. The beauty of it is that at the end of the day, I think she knows and feels it too. Thank you Julie, you absolutely amazing human, for all you’ve done for me! You are one of those rare humans who make the world a better place to be.

That is such a beautiful connection you and Julie share. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us here Wheels—it is truly an amazing one and just keeps getting better!  We’ll be keeping an eye out as the next exciting chapters unfold!

Thanks Jen! I just received more of your gorgeous Haute Couture hats—love them! It is so nice to have an on-call designer. I started whining for more, so Julie should be getting in touch with you again soon if she hasn’t already. It’s so important to keep my wardrobe fresh with the latest styles! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go whine at Julie for slacking on her petting schedule…she has picked up one of those books of hers again.  If she thinks she is sitting on my furniture and reading that alone, she has another thing coming.

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​Playfully Refined is passionate about animal rescue and donates 10% of each purchase to various rescues and shelters. This month (May 2016) our sponsored Charity is the Mia Foundation in honor of Wheels, Spokes, and their amazing human Julie. So what are you waiting for? Jump over to our shop and use your shopping superpowers to help save adorable doggie lives! It’s that simple (and fun).

A little about the Mia Foundation from their homepage:
“The Mia Foundation was developed to give animals born with birth defects a fighting chance. So many animals born with birth defects, such as cleft palates or missing limbs, are euthanized at birth. With a little work and a lot of love, these animals give back so much more than anyone could possibly imagine. All they need is a chance!”