sleeping dogs

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping dog?  As I sit typing I have three sleeping dogs on my bed; each one twitching at different times.  Luke is my big dreamer; it seems like no sooner do his eyes close than he is running a marathon, chasing a rabbit or after something but he is going.  Jessie isn't much of a demonstrative dreamer; I'm sure she dreams but it is only on a rare occasion that she twitches or runs is spot.  Although there have been times when she is growling, running and her hair is up from the top of her head to the tip of her tail.  I really wonder what monster she is fighting when her hair is up.   Tilley is a runner; and she has a tendency to sleep with her eyes open in a creepy fashion so seeing her run open eyed in her sleep takes some getting use to.

When a dog falls asleep; it typically means that they feel safe enough to do so.  Of course even if a dog is not feeling safe and in a state of stress there comes a time when their body just shuts down and puts them into a sleep.  But when a dog is in the safety of their home; surrounded by family and feeling confident enough to shut their eyes it is a great thing to watch.  I love seeing Tilley out on the lawn enjoying the sun when she dozes off.  I try very hard not to startle her as it takes more confidence to fall asleep outside rather than in.

Seeing your dog curled up on the bed; your lap, the couch or by the fire is a wonderful sight.  I know it makes me really happy to know that my dogs are as happy and secure that they can fall into a deep, deep sleep.  I love to listen to them snoring; from soft grunts all the way up to the loud snoring that one cannot sleep through.  They make all sorts of noises when they sleep; growling, squeaking, whining and the occasional barking.  Normally they wake themselves up startled by the sound of their bark; looking around to see what the commotion is about.

A sleeping dog is a joy to watch; I often wonder what they dream about.  And like us I'm sure there are good, bad and everything in between dreams.  A sleeping dog is another one of those little things that makes me smile.

Fear response

Fear - a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Many years ago I was attending a parade; it was a city parade and I was in one of the city shelter wagons.  We brought our dogs and waved to the crowds.   I thought it would be fun; but not so much.  Anyhow; there was several others in the wagon and one person had a dachshund that was quite fearful.  Also in the wagon was the resident shelter trainer; was not me.  I was a newcomer and to many of the long timers; I was a person with weird positive training ideas.  So this very harsh conventional type trainer told the woman with the doxie; to yank him.  When she gave him a gentle yank on the choke collar he abruptly grabbed the collar and gave an almighty yank.  It was horrible; not only was the dog in a state of fear because of all the comings and goings, noise and people but the little dog had now received a severe reprimand; for what?

Fear belongs to the person who is experiencing it; no one else.  Whether or not we feel like there is a need or reason to be fearful means nothing.  What you need to do is to address the fear response no matter what the fear trigger is.  How do you do that?  Keeping chill are rewarding calm or calmer behavior.  The worst thing that you can offer your dog in response to a fearful display is soothing touch and words.  When you try to console a fearful dog; you are telling the dog that there is in fact an issue to be fearful of.


Your dog will be watching you; and however you respond to the trigger, your dog will take in.  Often when my guys are startled by a surprise noise or object; I too am startled but I quickly pull it together to appear calm, cool and collected.  It is amazing how quickly it can diffuse the situation.  Just yesterday I was skyping in bed; my bedroom door started to blow shut and I did not have the time to get out of bed and run to stop it.  Luke is petrified of slamming doors; so as it slammed and Luke bolted up I did nothing.  I sat and chatted like nothing had happened.  He looked at me; the door, me, the door and then lay back down.  Had I even acknowledged what had happened; I would have drawn the fear response into a much longer span.


Often a fearful response will be triggered and catch you totally off guard.  About a year ago I was taking the dogs to a new beach; we had to walk through a tunnel like thing to get there and Tilley had a very strong fear response to the surrounding environment.  I had not expected it and was not ready to deal with it.  She was frozen in place; not wanting to yank on her I simply hoisted her up and carried her through.  I placed her on the ground as we exited and continued like it was just another day at the park.  Now I realize that she is quite afraid of bridges or anything like that; we've been working on it.  She is not over it but will walk over a bridge now; we just do it.  There are no treats involved as she is too afraid to eat; I just give her a very good lead to follow, nonchalant and away we go.


Don't try to explain away a fear; it simply doesn't work with our dogs.  Not only does it not work; but it makes matters worse.  Show your dog through your actions that there is nothing to fear.  Often you need to do a really great acting job; you may have been startled or be afraid yourself, don't show it.  Unflappable; that is the image you are going for, can you portray rock solid or cool as a cucumber? 

Bad into good

Touching feet; nail cutting, grooming, bath time, physical touch, sharing..............these are just a few common things that our canine family members are not fond of.   Not all dogs have problems with these activities but  many do.  So if your dog has one of these "issues" how do you change the way they react?  Many people explain to me how they try so hard to hold down their dog to cut their nails and their dog freaks.  It's so bad that the dog reacts violently as soon as they see the clippers.  The owners have come to a point where they simply can't deal with it anymore and their dog now sport long nails. 

I know other people who have given up all together on grooming.  They have tried and tried but what started out as a challenge is now a frantic wrestling match.  Just a glance of the brush  sends their dog into a frenzie and trying to get the brush to the hair is just a no go.   Several years ago I worked with a wonderful couple who had a lovely little schnauzer; "just don't try to touch his feet."  It was the rainy season here in SoCal and their house was wall to wall white carpet so he needed his feet wiped.   Everytime they tried to wipe his feet; they got bit.

When a dog has such a strong negative association to something that they start to display aggressively; you must kick a plan into action.  Using violence against violence only fuels the issue.  Dogs do not look at our physcial attempts to stop the behavior as we do; violence works against us.  To turn around a negative response or reaction to an event; we need to convince the dog that it is actually good, or defintely worth their while to permit the approach, touch or loss of item. 

Let's use nail cutting as the example; you must start slow.  The first step is to link the sight of the nail clippers to a fabulous treat.  This may take several days but it is well worth it.  Then you want to touch the clippers on your dogs leg; offer that great treat again.  Only do this for a second each time until you get a positive response; then rub the clippers on your dogs foot and treat.  While you are getting your dog accustom to the sight and touch of the clippers; you also want to work on grabbing your dogs foot which is something you must do to clip the nails.  The same slow small steps must be taken as well; short and sweet to start and then grow to the goal which can take weeks.

The first nail clip will be a big success; one treat per nail.  Then you work up to cutting four feet for one treat; but slowly.  I have been clipping my dogs nails since they were puppies and I still give each dog a treat after they get them done.   None of the dogs enjoy their nails being cut but they allow me to do it because I have made it a very positive activity.   It's all in the association; ya gotta make it a good one. 

Daddy's home

Just around 6:00 pm each night everyone (dogs) start to get antsy.  Tilley paces past the front door umpteen times; Luke sits with his ears plastered back waiting.  He may come and stand in the kitchen but his ears are facing the front door.  Jessie is in and out of the kitchen; waiting.  Everyone is awaiting the arrival of Dad; the one and only.  How do they know what time it is?  They may pick up on several of my behavior cues; I head down to the kitchen to start dinner.  The daylight or lack there of also tells them what time it is and then they have that crazy dog sense that only dogs have. 

There are quite a few things during the day that the dogs are quite aware of.  One is Dad's arrival time; what time they eat, when they go for a walk and tv time.  Dogs just know; it's all association.  If I get  my suitcase out; I tend to have a couple of stressed out pups.  If I grab my flip flops in the morning then everyone remains in their comfy spot; but if  I grab my dog walking shoes they all jump and are ready to go.  And  if I grab my dog walking shoes in the middle of the day; I just get a quick glance.   Dogs tend to become habitual; some more than others, Luke is very set in his ways and if you offer to do an activity at a different time than he is use to he can get a littler ornery about it.  This is why I like to mix things up; routine can be good or bad depending on the dog.

For many dogs; routine is settling, it can make the difference for a nervous type.  Dogs who need confidence building can benefit from routine as well.  When you have a pack of dogs; routine can be very helpful.  But as many things are too much is not always better.  It is also good not to be so routine that your dog comes unglued if things change.  I think tossing out things when they are not expected keeps them on their toes and able to handle something random that might just happen.  I often recommend routine for a certain dog; but I also tell the owner to keep a close eye on routine control.  The moment when routine seems to take on a new meaning; and that is the dog controlling the situation.

A daily walk is a good thing to switch up; don't go the same way all the time.  Even my husband will throw the dogs every once in a while by coming in the back or garage door.  They get pretty startled by this but it does help to tone down the anxiety of his arrival the next few days.  If you have a very stringent and regulated routine around your place; good to throw'm a curve ball now and then.  Feed them in a different spot; ask them for a down in a weird place, call them into a room or closet that they've never been and do some obedience.

Keeping a dog on their toes can be tough; they are much smarter than we credit them for.  Heck; they know when Dad should be home and they don't have a watch.

Not the sharpest tack

When frustrated with training I've often heard "well; she's a bulldog."  Commonly known as a tough cookie to train; even considered as thick.  Dumb?  I think not.  I've never met a dumb dog; no matter what breed; they are all amazing.  Each and every dog is an individual and as such each learn at their own pace.  Often people group breeds together as a whole as far as intelligence; not good.  Just like all people learn differently so do dogs.  And as far as breeds as a whole; sure there are tendencies, traits and behaviors that have been bred into them over the years.  But they do not all fit the breed mold.

Bulldogs are the second most popular breed that I have worked with and I constantly hear the "not the easiest to train;" remark from their owners.  I am here to tell you that some of the smartest dogs I've met are bulldogs; and they have to be the most comical.  They are so smart that they convince everyone that they simply can't get it.  After all they are bulldogs so just let them do as they please.  Smart little devils aren't they?

What you need to do when educating your dog is to find out what makes them tick.  Long thought of as one of the toughest breeds to train is the greyhound.  This came around by the simple fact that they are a soft dog and tend to shutdown when harsh training methods are used.  They learn quite well with positive reinforcement methods of training.  They are all different; some dogs have a real drive to work, some like to do it on their own, others need coaxing and then there are the ones who convince you that they just can't "get it."  Some thrive on strict rules and constant working lifestyle; others are more laid back about their learning and take it on the slow train.

Knowing what your breed or mix breed was bred to do can help; finding what they love to do can make things a lot easier.  But they don't all like to do what they were meant to do.  I've met Golden Retrievers who would never retrieve a ball.  I've seen a video of a Greyhound dock diving; a Borzoi doing agility and a Jack Russell schutzhund dog.  The sky is the limit as far as teaching your dog behaviors.  Not all will succeed at all the performance activities or obedience itself; but all are intelligent, intelligent in their own way.  Our job is to tap into that talent; and overlook exterior appearance and preconceived ideas.    Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Feral dog packs

                                          The Kuvasz is commonly used as a livestock guardian.  The breed is intelligent and assertive; steadfast, loyal and devoted to whatever they call their family.

I recently heard of a street dog taking refuge on a construction site in downtown LA.  One of the men on the job had made the stray a dog house and was feeding it.  The skinny dog was fearful and would only stick it's head out from under safety far enough to grab food and dive back under the storage container.  Who knows how long the dog had been homeless; perhaps it had never known a home to call it's own.  This dog may have been born on the streets and destined to a life where everyday was a struggle for simple survival.  So the dog had found a temporary home; on a construction site, not a good place for any dog.

This past weekend the nameless, medium, white and tan dog was attacked and injured beyond repair by a pack of feral dogs.  The dogs had not only gone after this single canine but the humans in the area as well.  Once the dust cleared and they were able to get a look at the damage; it was bad, really bad.  A shelter was contacted and they arrived to find the dog in such horrific shape that they euthanized the dog immediately.   Such a sad, sad story.

When feral dogs pack together; they can become very dangerous.  They don't just band together and run off to lead a wonderful life in the woods.  Many consist of dominant intact males making the pack an aggressive one to start with.  Then living on the streets and fighting for survival creates an atypical pack; adult members coming together instead of a family that grows with the birth of a new litter each year.  I remember hearing about feral dog packs when I was a child; even then I new that it was a dangerous situation.

Sadly many dogs are simply tossed out to the street.  There they survive the best they can if they are not rescued by a group or good Samaritan.   They tend to gravitate to one another and thus a pack is formed; an unconventional pack.  Packs of feral dogs may kill cats, dogs and livestock.  Many states have laws that allow farmers to shoot stray dogs on their property for this reason.  And because many members of a pack may actually have been a pet at one time they may be fearless of humans and can attack; especially children.  Below are several articles pertaining to feral dog packs.  If you run into a pack of feral dogs; do not approach, immediately call the authorities, shelter or rescue group.  The only way to stop these packs from growing is to round them up and rehabilitate them if possible.

Wildlife damage management article

National Geographic article

USA Today article

A nightmare

I woke up in the middle of the night remembering a particular day at the vets.  As I was coming out of my dream it was playing step by step out in slow motion; it was a nightmare, but one that had come true.  About 12 years ago we had just moved here to Southern California; we were in our house only 2 weeks when Tilley got an ear infection.  We had a pool at the house and Tilley loved to dive in the pool; too much water in the ear and with hair and floppy ears they couldn't dry properly.  Off to the vets we went; we walked, it was only about 8 blocks and it would give me a chance to have a look around the new neighborhood.

Tilley needed a good ear cleansing; I was told and the vet took her away.  Apparently a vet tech then took over who brought her out back to give her an ear flush. At the time I had a bad feeling in my stomach but chalked it up to being an overprotective Mom. Left to sit alone in the examining room I could hear some turmoil going on outside my door. My vet didn't come back and all I heard from an almost hysterical voice on the other side of the door was she ran across the road. I sat waiting and waiting; until I could wait no longer.  I ran out to the lobby and demanded to know what had happened. Everyone just looked at each other with dread.  My blood was starting to boil; the idea that this might be Tilley was making me crazy.  You really don't want to mess with my dogs, honestly. I started to scream "was it a poodle?" "was it a poodle?" Finally someone said yes and I charged out the front door frantically calling to her. We were on a very busy street at noon. I couldn't see her anywhere and my voice was already horse from screaming for her. I ran back into the building and demanded to know which way she went.

Horrible things were running through my head; I tried to think positively.  I had to find Tilley; she'd only been here two weeks, she didn't even know how to get back home, or so I thought.  To make a long story short; Tilley did find her way home. It truly was a miracle as we had only lived in this area for 2 weeks and we'd never walked it until this day but just like Lassie she found her way home. The vet never did come back to talk to me, no calls, no apologies. This was totally unacceptable and should never happen to anyone or any dog.  Each time I drive by that vets I see the gate in the back that was meant to contain my terrified dog left open still to this day.

And now I do everything within my power to stay with my dogs.  Yep; I cause a stir, many of the people who work at the vets there role their eyes.  It is my responsibility to ensure my dogs safety; I cannot do that behind a door.  And when my dogs are stressing; it is not a strangers arms they want wrapped around them.  Strangers are anything but reassuring to a freightened dog.  This fact alone needs to be consider when an owner wants to stay with their dog. 

Recently I asked to stay in the room while Tilley had a blood test; the Veterinarian did not think this was a good idea.  "It's a liability," he said.  "What if you faint?"  "I'm not going to faint; I do everything for my dogs."   I stood fast and he allowed it; he brought everything into the room instead of bringing Tilley out to the back.  I held her in my arms as they drew her blood and she never flinched.  I was able to hold her face close to mine; letting her know that I was there with her and I was not going to let anything happen to her, not again.

What a nightmare; but a real nightmare.  Never again. 

What a face

I shoot alot of dogs; all breeds, mixes, shapes and sizes.  One thing that I can consistently be heard saying is "what a face."  I say it about my own dogs and whenever I happen to see "a face."  Dogs can have very animated facial expressions.  Some have more than others; while some rarely give you anything other than stone face.  I love when I get home; open the files up and see that I did indeed capture "the face."  "What a face" can mean many different things.  For me it is an extreme facial expression which portrays an emotion; or what we see to be an emotion.  The emotion part of  "a face" is typically a human one; one that we see in a dogs eyes, head tilt, mouth and or tongue. 

Dude; you're ticking me off!

Freezing time at the exact moment of full expression is a hit and miss type of thing.  I'm always looking for "the look," but often I miss it.  When I've seen it but didn't capture it; I'm ticked off. 

So much can be read into a canine facial expression; sometimes what we see is simply soft and angelic.  Other faces are just funny; calling out for a one liner.  While many "faces" are just too cute for words; the ones that stir emotion in us just at a glance.  Awwwwwwwww; how cute is that face?  Honestly you would swear that some dogs are just trying to be cuter than belief. 

"This is disgusting;" gag looks are common.

I almost always catch the big bored yawn.  Right in the middle of the shoot; yep being a photo model is one tough job. 

There are the smiling faces; just happy to be.

I'm a little shy but would love you to throw my ball.

Then there are the tiny sleepy faces.  These ones don't need any work to be adorable; they are just as adorable as can be all on their own. 

The dogs of 9/11

Photo: Photo by Andrea Booher/ FEMA News Photo

Below is a list of links that will bring you to stories and photos of the dogs of 9/11.  On this day we take the time to remember those who were lost.  These were some of the dogs who worked tirelessly to help.

Article 1

Dog heroes of 9/11

Video Dogs of 9/11

Flickr photo collection

More photos

Welcome home

Last night I had to run to the grocery store; I must have been gone all of 20 min.  On my return I got a huge greeting from my little one Jessie.  Being that she is nearly blind and deaf; it is the slamming door that tips her off to my arrival.  She runs to the top of the stairs; has a look around and when she sees me, comes running down the stairs crying.  She continues to cry while she is frantically looking for a toy to kill.  She runs into the living room; nothing, into the kitchen, nothing.  Then she finally finds a toy in the family room; she's happy now.  She shakes the living daylights out of it and charges around the house like..................well a Jack Russell.

While this was going on; Luke was sleeping on the couch, only 10 feet away.  He wasn't in the mood to get up; too much work.  It is a rare event when he doesn't come to the door; but he has his moments and this was one that he thought did not need homecoming celebration.  Luke's typical greetings are big; we get the circle tail (when the tail actually goes in a large circle,) we get huffing (an open mouth, lips pulled over the teeth huffing thing,) and head pushing.  He loves to rubs his head; on the side of your legs, between your legs, wherever.  It's a big event; an affectionate extravaganza, but not last night.  After all I'd only been out a few minutes and he did have a prime piece of real estate.

As for Tilley she had been enjoying the sun out in the yard.  I could see her looking in the back window "Mom's home?"  She stood there for a long while; wondering if I was really home.  Was it worth going inside to see?  Finally she made it through the dog door and staggered up the stairs to the door.  She was excited now; her tail vibrates and she throws her head around resembling a stallion.  Then she comes and sits ever so demurely in front of me awaiting her turn.

This was a lingering greeting; often I come in and walk right past the dogs.  It's not good to have a big formal greeting every time.  Making a big deal out of your exit and entrance each time can cause separation issues.  Slipping out and slipping in a good percentage of the time is good practice.   If I do come home and do the business as usual routine; everyone settles much more quickly.  Of course big greeting don't always cause anxiety but it can simply by creating too much anticipation around your arrival.  If you come in and act like no big deal; there is no preoccupation with your coming home, which is good to implement.

But every once in a while it is amazing to come home to such a welcoming committee.  After all is there anyone else that is ever that happy to see you?

A little timid

Yesterday I had the dogs at the park with me.  At this particular park they have put up some cool work out equipment so I always do a quick workout while there.  The dogs sit patiently waiting for me as they watch the other dogs walk by.  Today there was a young pup that got tied up for a bit while her owner did a short workout.  She was only about 10 feet away and sat calmly watching her Mom.  She was very cute; a mix of spaniel and border collie perhaps.  When the woman unhooked her and started on their way the pup made a sheepish attempt at visiting my guys.  When Luke looked her way her body language shrank; this let me know that Luke was going to be too much for her.  I reigned him in and brought Tilley out; she is Miss Neutral, all dogs like her.  The young pup approached her and gave a small wag; very cute.

After my workout we made our way around the park when we saw one of Luke's friends on the other side.  We  headed towards each other; Luke saw her and his ears assumed friend position.  With his ears dropped in anticipation we watched the other dog approach.  She does the same thing every time she meets Luke; she is intimidated by his presence and displays a hundred feet away.  Inch by inch she dropped lower and lower until she is literally commando crawling across the field.  Her eyes squinting as she gets closer.  I let Luke off leash and he charges her; she drops to the ground and flips over immediately but is soon up and ripping around with Luke, a sight to behold.  With her confidence growing they run like the wind; but she is ready to drop on a dime if Luke shows any macho stuff.

Timid can be a good thing; a timid dog keeps out of trouble simply by submitting.  Their whole body displays their unsure feelings; which typically results in a less threatening confrontation.  When in doubt submit; it's a great rule to follow and it works wonders.  I've seen big dominant dogs charge another; but as soon as the other dog submits, displays fear or unsure behavior the other dog becomes neutral.  Sadly; I have heard some people complain that their dog submit,; they want a more on their toes type of challenging dog.  The idea that their dog cringes at a confident dog's approach is embarrassing to them.  But dogs are not like humans; they tell it like it is and if they are feeling a bit lacking in the confidence department, they say so.  A dog who knows when to say "I'm not comfortable," is a smart one.

We ran into another dog who was a little timid a couple of weeks ago.  We were at another park as a couple of ladies approached up with a fairly new rescue dog.  I immediately knew that he was not comfortable with Luke looming over his head; so I called Luke to me.  We talked about the little dog; he was cute as a button. Luke was sure this dog wanted to be friends and approached slowly; the dog threw Luke a flash of his teeth  backed up.  Luke quickly turned his head and moved away; he did not have another interaction with the dog. The woman started to get mad at the little guy and I quickly jumped to his defense.  I explained that he was just letting Luke understand how he felt and Luke got it right away.

A dog that is unsure should submit; they don't have the confidence to back up a dominant display.   Most dogs that are a little timid just need time; once they have their greeting and all goes well things become much easier.  They are cautious and very aware of the other dogs reactions to them; they watch every move.  A  dominant gesture or aggressive approach can lower them once again in submission.  Dogs that are a little timid can grow confidence quickly; with positive experience on a regular basis things start looking brighter.  It is extremely important to avoid bad experiences and watch your reaction should something not so great occur.

A little timid can be a smart move for a canine.

Bloat and Gastric Torsion

I wanted to discuss this horrible health issue; it is something I try to share with as many people as I can.  Knowing the signs can save lives; being that quick action is imperative if it occurs.  Bloat - is when a dogs stomach swells from an excess of gas in it's stomach.  Large and giant breeds are far more at risk than are small dogs.

Gastric Torsion - is when the stomach actually flips; cutting off the entrance and exit to the stomach causing a balloon effect.  This is life threatening.

There is no one cause of bloat; it can simply happen but it can also be genetic.  Bloat is definitely something you need to be aware of; especially if you have a large breed dog.  There are many different ideas of what causes bloat; one is dry dog food.  Dry dog food is like a sponge; it can absorb a large quantity of water which causes the food to swell.  This can make one cup of food into 2 cups or more.  Which means that when you feed your dog; you do not want them drinking a large quantity of water.  This is why an hour before and after eating you should not exercise your dog.  I always make it a habit to not feed a meal before I exercise the dogs.  A small snack is the best and safest way to go when exercising your dog.

Another risk is the amount of food; when talking about dog food, less is better.  All dogs should eat at least two meals a day which helps to lessen the amount of food in the stomach at one time.  If you need to put weight on your dog; do it slowly.  If you are planning on a big day of hiking or running; bring small sized snacks and try to use as fresh food as you can.  Also; when your dog does drink, don't let them chug down a gallon at a time.  Break down the drinking to a little at a time; less is more.

Sometimes bloat just happens; if you know the signs you can get to the ER quickly.  This is a great link with many of the symptoms related to bloat.  

There is much controversy over raised or non raised bowls related to bloat.  My opinion on the subject is that if my dog wants to get closer to the food; they can lie down, which is what Tilley opts to do about 70% of the time.  And when Luke and I are on a walk I always try to keep his water bowl down near the ground.  Otherwise; if the bowl is held high, I can hear the air that is going down into his stomach with the water.

Be aware; be prepared.

The comforts of home

 

I was making dinner last night when I was called into the living room to see the man.  There he was curled up in the corner of the sofa under the blanket; an amber light cast over him from the blazing fire, nice.  He looked adorable; it makes me smile and left me thinking that this should be the standard of comfort for all dogs.  But my mind jumps to the dogs I see posted every day online; the ones who don't have a great life or a comfy bed to sleep in.  Comfort is very important for dogs; you really see it when you have old dogs.  There is a big difference between sleeping on a floor and sleeping on a cushy bed.

Just like kids; young dogs can sleep anywhere, they often choose a cold tile floor.  Have you ever had the joy of sleeping on a hard surface all night now that you are an adult?  I have and it is no picnic; somehow it seems much harder than when you were a kid.  Dogs have the same reality; the older they get the harder the floor becomes.  Luke at 10 years old still plays hard; but he also limps when he gets up from resting.   More so if he's been sleeping on the floor so I often usher him to a bed when I find him on the floor.

We have dog beds in every single room of the house; and there isn't one bed that doesn't get used.  Even the one out on the balcony get's used when I'm out enjoying the day.  There is a dog bed outside; Luke uses the double chaise lounge but the girls use the bed.  Dogs "get" comfort; they seek it out.  Ever throw a shirt on the floor only to find someone taking up residence on it moments later?  How many dogs have to sneak a couch snooze? The dog stuff makers even made a piece of equipment for the problem. Ever wonder why they want to sleep on the couch?  Hmmmm; could be it's comfy up there, sure it is.

The larger the dog the more pressure on the body when they lay down.  Many large dogs have callused elbows and other pressure points from laying on the hard ground.  I don't like to see any dog sleeping for long periods of time on hard ground.  Sure many choose to lay down for a while but if they are given the option; most choose the comfy bed.  Jessie chooses to lay on the concrete outside when it is very hot; she loves to feel the heat on her old body.  But any other time she is on a dog bed, couch or blanket that someone tossed and forgot to pick up.  She loves her comfort and she loves nothing more than piles of blankets on top of a bed.

They all deserve to be comfortable; every dog deserves a bed, or at least a nice thick pile of hay to sleep in.    Just spend a night with your kids in the backyard tent; with no air or foam mattress.  This alone will convince you that the ground is indeed, very hard.

Last hurrah

This weekend is the last hurrah; the dog days of summer are on their way out.  By Tues. the kids will be back in school; and Halloween will be just around the corner.  But today and Monday; many are still celebrating summer as it slowly slips away.  Here in Southern California we are just heating up; September is our hottest month, my least favorite one here although fall back home in the east is my season of choice.   But even though it will remain hot here; the official "summer" is over.  Our temps will heat up and we will spend more and more time inside; but our fall will eventually get here and that is when the fun begins.  Your fun may begin much sooner if you are already feeling that wonderful evening nip in the air.

Water fun is still great into the fall; the air temps are cooler but the water stays warm for a while.  This makes it the perfect time for water retrieving in the day and nice cool temps for sleeping at night.  One of the wonderful things about fall is that most bugs have gone.  When the temps drop at night the mosquitos seem to quickly disappear; something that no one is sad to see go.  Evenings may be darker but the lack of constant buzz around your head is............well; pretty great so welcome the wonderful early sunset.  Fall walks in woods, yards or anywhere deciduous trees are plenty is spectacular.  The added ambiance from the sound of crunching leaves beneath your feet and your dogs paws means that colder temperatures are just around the corner.  Is there anything more relaxing than listening to your dog run through the fallen leaves?

There is a very obvious change in the dogs when it gets cooler.  An extra spring in their step; more zoomies around the yard and a general fervor in their day to day.  For the last couple of scorching days here in Southern California; the dogs have been zonked to say the least.  They get out for a very early morning meander and thats it for the day.  Even the evenings have stayed hot; the heat eminating from the sidewalks makes it just too hot to do anything but sleep; especially for seniors.

Years ago we would have had the doggie pool set up; the sprinkler going and would have probably been to the beach.  But now we just wait out the heat; knowing full well it has to leave at some point.  And when the last of it is but a memory; we will be out enjoying the lower temperatures and breeze of fall.  And it won't be just the dogs who have an added spring in their step. 

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend as you say good-bye to the summer and hello to the fall. 

Crumbs in the bed

This  morning I was laughing; all three dogs were in the bed with us enjoying a late breakfast when I realized just how many crumbs were in the bed.  It seems that every morning I go through the process; after we get up I pull back the sheets and sweep the crumbs out.  Then I take off the top protective sheet that I keep on the bed and shake the crumbs off.  As I lay in bed this morning watching Luke eat his share of breakfast; I thought to myself "no wonder we have a bed full of crumbs."  The ritual is the same; will he eat this morning?  First is the attention step; he does his best to seem uninterested.  Luke is offered several pieces of chicken (specially brought up for the dogs) which catches his attention.  Coaxed he then happily chows down.  Next; he's offered a piece of toast, again he gobbles it down.  And another piece of toast and out it comes; not enough butter.  That's right not enough butter on this outside crust.  Honestly.

Hmmm; I might be interested.  (Luke left; Tilley middle and Jessie right)

The girls; Tilley and Jessie eat everything given to them, chicken, toast, cheese without hesitation.  Not Luke; nope, he checks out each piece before taking it.  If by chance it does not have enough butter on it; if it is a type of cheese that he is not fond of, forget it.  If a piece of toast has a tiny corner of butter on it; he will lick off the butter and reject the rest of the toast.  The night before we had been having an array of cheese with wine before dinner.  Of course we shared; the girls happily ate whatever cheese was offered to them, not Luke.  Once he got a taste for the Tuscano black pepper cheese, forget the rest.  I offered him a nice sharp cheddar; nope.  No he only wanted the "special stuff."

One of the highlights of the day is having breakfast in bed with the dogs.  They are so well behaved; they all sit and wait their turn; no pushing, shoving or growling.  Luke is usually apprehensive; he's comfy and not sure that it is worth waking up for.  Often when offered a piece of our breakfast he decides that he was correct; not good enough to wake up for rejecting the food and opting to recurl back to sleep.  The girls would never reject food; only if it truly was inedible.  And don't even think about tossing Luke his treats; if it lands on his foot, grazes his face or drops on his leg, he's likely to get up and leave.  Imagine.

Just realizing it is his favorite; as the girls wait patiently.

Success!!!!

There are even foods that Luke will eat; or at least you think he's going to eat it.  He chews; tosses it around his palate for a bit and then plop, out it comes.  He is a rare boy indeed.  And he will occasionally love something one minute; the next, no way is he eating it.  So when Luke likes something we really run with it; like butter, the boy likes butter on his toast.  So; there are a lot of crumbs in our bed and it makes me smile.

Begging

Good morning; begging came to mind this morning with all the yummy food that is starting to be prepared and consumed this holiday season. And the fact that I had quite a begging situation lastnight. So how bad is begging and how far should it be allowed to progress or encroach?  Begging is a very natural behavior for dogs. Watch any documentary on wolves and you will see the exact same behavior within a pack. Begging goes as far as the "alpha" wolves will allow it. The act of begging is how a dog asks for the food that you are at the moment; eating. Begging in general is not a bad behavior; infact I consider it to be quite an amazing behavior.

Most trainers think of begging as simply unacceptable; but how well mannered is a dog that sits and watches you consume a delicious meal without attempting to remove it from you? I think it is a very controlled behavior when a dog can accomplish this; especially if they are drooling at the sametime.

When it is not acceptable is when they do attempt to take your food from you; whether by charm or cheer force. Dogs who try to take food from you forcefully by grabbing or jumping probably lack manners in all aspects of their life. Training and rule enforcement is a must to get this under control.

Even the ones who sneakily attempt to take your food; inching up on you without notice then ever so slightly moving their head forwards. If you give in at this point you have not only been had but you have just lowered your status within the pack. Eye contact is a great way to let your dog know they are way too close to your food. Moving towards them if eye contact is not enough and when they move back you sit and eat.

It is essential that you should be able to complete a down stay with your dog while you are eating so you know that if you desire this amount of control, you have it. So rethink the whole begging issue; does your dog watch you eat from several feet away? Do their eyes watch every bite you take? Then that's pretty amazing to me. Having them not watch at all is a difficult task and needless in my mind.

Always reward your dog for good behavior, do not give in to those sad eyes moving in on your food or you have been had and out brained by your dog.

Great shoot

I love it when my work brings me to the beach "okay; fine I'll go to Laguna beach, wink, wink, nod, nod."  I love it; and I have to say that the coast of California is pretty spectacular.  I have a thing for waves; I love to shoot them and the bigger the better.  When I'm shooting a dog at the beach; there just is no better back drop for a shoot.  I'm a natural photographer; I don't have a studio, I don't typically like props and I'm not a fan of posing.  I'd much rather catch a natural shot; a dog being a dog.  Last night was gorgeous; it dropped about 20 degrees from my house to the beach which works for me. 

This shoot was another for my upcoming book; so if you know that I'm working on a standard poodle book you will know that; yep, it was a standard poodle.  So far I have done a book on Dogs in the OC; which was filled with all breeds and mixes set in different places that we walk our dogs here in the OC (Orange County.)  My next book is a black and white rescue Greyhound book for the non-profit canine blood bank Hemopet and the dogs.  All proceeds from this book go to the dogs.  I have a couple of calendars; and last week published Courage's calendar which I am very proud of.  100% of the proceeds will go to the dogs.  So now I have to get this poodle book done; I'm halfway there. 

Even though I have a Facebook group called The Standard Poodle which has now over 1300 fans and a local OC Standard Poodle group; finding my models is not that easy.  Standard Poodles are not a really popular breed; those who know and love them usually have more than one, like most dog lovers.  But they are slow to come out of the woodwork.  So when I get an email about a new one I'm pretty excited; and last night was no different.  She was gorgeous and one of the happiest dogs I've shot. 

First we started with the typical back up shots, the beautiful stills with the ocean behind.  They are important just incase the action shots don't turn out.  When all goes right and I snap "the" shot and find out once I get home  that I did get "the" shot, amazing.  So once we get the guaranteed shots; we let her rip.   She was set loose to be herself; and that's what I love to capture.  Actions shots are definitely more difficult  to get; a spinning, jumping and running dog can be a challenge to focus in on.  But when it happens; it's magic.

I could watch dogs running around having fun forever.  I love to stop action; this enables you to see things that you would have missed completely.  A look; a head turn or communication that you would have been oblivious to had you not been able to see it by freezing a moment in time.  For me; there is nothing more beautiful than a dog, being a dog.

Touchy feely

I just finished giving Luke a massage; I regularly massage all three but I tend to focus on Luke the most.  For you long time readers; you all know he is a nervous ninny and a thorough massage does him good.  First he worries what I am doing; then he worries about why I am pushing him over.  Next he worries about why I am not letting him get up; all the while I am staying as cool as a cucumber.  He looks at me and sniffs to test my mood; then he relaxes.  He is much better than he use to be; after ten years he actually trusts me and really enjoys his massage, once we are into it.  How do I know he enjoys it?  He gets his googly eyes on; his eyes half shut and his third eyelid half up. 

Massaging your dog is not only beneficial for them; it is also great for lowering your blood pressure or destressing from a bad day.  The moment I start rubbing I can feel the stress leave my body.  Most dogs learn to love it if they don't from the start.  Many dogs are not the touchy feely type and need to learn to enjoy a massage.  But even if a dog enjoys a massage from you; they may not enjoy receiving the same treatment from a non family member.  None of my dogs would appreciate someone pawing all over them; it would be in itself, a stressful event.  So keep that in mind.  Several years back I talked to a gentleman who was offering Reiki for animals.  I understand the basic idea behind reiki and asked if there was a need for touch while doing it?  He assured me that no touch was needed; although if an animal enjoys it, they may touch. 

Massage not only feels good; it is very relaxing.  So relaxing that 5 min. after our session Luke remained on the couch as I vacuumed around him; something he never does.  Normally; as soon as I head his way he's gone, this was very interesting, he even had his eyes closed as I approached.  Massaging your dog regularly is a very good way for bonding time; it builds trust and helps dogs get over their touch issues.  I've worked with many dogs that cannot be touched in certain areas.  Owners say to me "oh ya very friendly, just don't touch his stomach," or "just don't touch his feet."  You should be able to touch everything; even their feet which is the most common issue.  Most dogs recoil when you touch their feet; even if they don't mind a whole lot. 

You must start slowly; and if they have any reservations about the process, add yummy treats into the mix.  Ah; good treats appear when the touching begins, your dog will soon look forward to the touching session.  Then once they are accepting the gentle massaging; you can slowly eliminate the treats.  When you massage you should have a firm but gentle touch; keep your hands flat on your dog, no digging fingers.  Keep one hand on the dog at all times; removing one if the other remains.  This helps to eliminate the startle factor; I learned this by getting my own massages.

Massage everything; spine, legs, tail, feet, ears, toes etc.  Luke loves a good face massage; he is particular about it but it is probably his favorite, the googly eyes come out bigtime for a face rub.  When you move; think "zen."  Pick up each foot gently and return it to the ground as if it is made of something very breakable.  But firm with your touch; you don't want to freak out your dog by acting apprehensive.  Canine massage should be short and sweet; unless of course you have one that slips into a coma from a massage...........then time may be limitless.  But my motto in life is quite while you're ahead. 

                                             

Life with dogs

I am at the moment supervising a bone chew; being that I have to sit and watch I figured I may as well blog.  It is surprising to me that I am not asleep; I didn't have the greatest sleep last night.  Something woke the both of us up about midnight; it was only for a moment and  I fell back asleep fairly fast.  But then I was waken abruptly at 4:00 am which I did not fall back asleep from until moments before the alarm went off at 5:00 of course.  So I'm a bit tired today; not quite myself.

I was rudely awaken last night by a loud gag and a heave; I was up and out on the deck with a 50 lb dog in my arms before I was awake.  I don't even think that Luke was awake at that point.  Normally if I hear the all too familiar heaving sound during the night I'm up pretty fast.  But as I heard the first gag and sat up quickly I realized that Luke was on our bed; not good.  If I didn't get him off fast enough I was going to not only have to clean up the substance that Luke so kindly brought up on our bed; but change the whole bed as well, and fast.  Oh I'm fast; I'm really fast now.  After three children and many dogs you learn to whip things away before they have a chance to set in.

Funny how certain noises; even quiet noises will wake you in the night while other loud noises don't even cause a stir.  When you have small children; the softest of  squeaks can have you up and running to check on them.  My kids are now 20 and over so I rarely hear them come in at night now.  What I do hear is the dogs; not the normal happy dog sounds like snoring and dreaming, I hear the sounds of somethings up, impending doom ir perhaps somethings coming out.  Those noises none of us want to hear but if you are lucky it can be a heads up for you to be on your way to the tile, linoleum or outdoors in time.

Funny; I never pick Luke up, he is 25" at the shoulder and although he is skinny, he is still close to 50 lbs.  Which at 50 lbs is not heavy but he is large in size and I am only 5' 1"; short.  Being a dominant boy he doesn't like to be picked up; and because he is a large dog there is no reason to pick him up.  I do however lift him down from the car and the bed when I can catch him.  He is completely fine with this and I know it will move to a full pick up into the car before too too long.  Tilley is lifted into the car everyday; she has been for a couple of years now.  I really should get a ramp; might save my poor back.

Anyway; there I was out on the balcony with blondie in my arms.  I really don't know how I got the screen door open or stepped over the fan with Luke in my arms and in the dark, but I somehow managed.  And there we were; me holding Luke until he finished and Luke giving me pathetic eyes that said "what just happened?"  He is an extremely sensitive and emotional guy; so this grab and run event was not his bag.  He was upset; upset enough that I'm sure he just stopped himself from being sick.  We sat our there in the bright moonlight; looking at each other, then snuggling before coming in and making it back to bed.  Of course Luke was twitching off to his dreams in minutes; me on the other hand?  I lay there tossing and turning; planning today's meals, thinking about daily stuff until moments before the alarm went off.

Yep; I can smile about it today; I will be able to laugh about it tomorrow when I get some much needed sleep.  Life with dogs is filled with stuff that keeps you humble.  They make you laugh, smile, beam with pride, pull at your heartstrings and make our life essentially complete.  "What's a little puke and lack of sleep right?"

Leave it - Do you mean it?

Do you mean it?  You said it; but are you serious?  If you're not then forget about your dog listening to you.  Often when we make rules and regulations we sometimes let things slide; but there are a few behaviors that should never slide.  One of the least trained behaviors is "leave it.  It is essential that each and every dog should be taught and understand what "leave it" means.  It's not easy for some; those who are not into sharing or have a high drive can find it difficult.  But all dogs can learn and perfect the "leave it."


The secret to this particular behavior is to make not taking something a good thing.  In the beginning of the training you are going to make it easy; really easy.  Dogs learn very quickly when they have success; so the most  infinitesimal progress will be rewarded.    The leave it verbal cue is to be used before your dog picks something up in their mouth.  So if your dog already has an item in their mouth; you would use "drop" or "drop it" which I will cover in a future blog.   To teach the "leave it" behavior you begin by putting a low value item in one hand.  In your other hand that is held behind your back you will have reward treats.  The item that you are going to have your dog leave can be a toy; but preferably food, if your dog likes food that is.  Before opening your hand and putting it in front of your dog you say firmly "leave it."  You cannot allow your dog to take the item at anytime; you have to have really fast reflexes.


If your dog attempts to take it; close your hand quickly around the item and pull it away.  I also use ahhahh in a deep tone.  Then try again; remember to say "leave it" first.  If your dog does not take the item for a split second; praise and reward with a piece of food that you had in your other hand behind your back immediately.  Once they leave it for a second they catch on very quickly.  Dogs learn that they just need to sit there and not take the food and you will keep rewarding them for it; simple.  At that point you make it harder and harder; first switch hands, this usually throws them as the delivery hand now becomes the no no hand.


Leave it video

Once they can do both hands then you move your hand down until it is on the ground to do the exercise.  Most dogs loose it here as well; typically food on the floor is fair game.  Be very on guard; if they actually get the food out of your hand then it is much harder to get your point across.  Next you are going to say " leave it," put the food on the ground and your hand an inch away.  Reward again for a second of not taking the food.  Practice this throughout the day at short intervals and only progress to the next step when you have success at each.

The goal is to be able to drop food on the ground and have your dog not grab it.  If you practice the  leave it behavior often enough and make it beneficial enough for your dog; you may have a dog that never grabs for food dropped on the floor.  A typical response then turns to attention on you and waiting for the okay.  "Leave it" is an amazingly useful behavior; you can use it for many different situations once it is second nature. I will often use it when Luke and I are walking by a pushy type male dog; this averts a leash aggression issue.  Just this evening I told Tilley to leave it when she approached the dishwasher for her regular pre-wash evening cycle.  She looked at me like "what?" I always lick the dishes; but she left the kitchen like a good girl.

For dogs who have an obsessive behavior for a particular object; this takes a lot of work to get to the "leave it" stage.  Tilley is very obsessive for tennis balls or anything that might be tossed so that she may chase and retrieve it.  But with hard work; she learned to leave a tennis ball and even a frisbee, even when tossed.  It is very important to get a handle on obsession in dogs; "leave it" can make the task a bit less daunting.

Giving your dog is never a waste; each and everything that you teach your dog makes it that much easier to teach the next lesson.  And this one really comes in handy.