What if your dog gets attacked

I was driving down my street the other day and noticed a sign on a light post.  I stopped the car and got out to read it; it had the word ATTACKED on it so I was curious.  It basically said that this person's dog was attacked by a very large mastiff/shepherd/lab mix and if you own "said" dog to contact this person.   So I'm thinking that the dog who was attacked was more than likely walking down the street when it was attacked by a stray dog.  A very scary situation and one that I have had happen to me twice.  The dog was not a stray but it was on my daily walk and very scary.

The first time was with my very first dog Mandy.  An adorably sweet and friendly Airedale gal, I was all of eighteen years old.  I was out walking before work, it was mid summer, probably around 6:00 am.  We were walking the neighborhood when a huge German Shepherd ran out of his open garage, grabbed Mandy by the neck and started shaking.  She never even saw it coming, I had barely enough time to see it in my peripheral before it was on us.  The dog was far larger than Mandy and shook her like a ragdoll.  I was screaming for the dog to stop and yelling at several men standing at a nearby bus stop for help.  Just as suddenly as it started, the dog let Mandy go and ran back into his garage.  I stood in shock, none of the men at the bus stop had stepped up to help.  They stood there watching and no one offered anything.  I scooped up Mandy and ran home. 

Once we were home I checked her over and found a large puncture wound in her neck.  I called work and then head to the vets.  Now this was some thirty years ago, it cost just under 500.00 to flush her wound and stitch her up.  She was given some antibiotics and we headed home.  Apparently a woman who had seen what had happened that morning had gone and told the owner of the German Shepherd and they had paid every bit of the vet bill.  The never challenged the bill, they obviously knew that their dog had committed the crime. 

From that moment on I never walked the streets again and preferred to walk in parks where I could see what was coming.  That was until we moved here to Southern California.  I decided to take Luke for a walk, I already knew that a very unfriendly German Shepherd lived only two doors down from us.  I looked down the street to be sure she wasn't out and off we went.  I got only a few feet and she came charging out of her open garage door at us.  With my adrenaline rushing through me I screamed at the dog, again the dog was much bigger than Luke.  The owner came out and called the dog luckily and I then screamed at him.  This dog was known to be very aggressive, it had already gone after several people and bit one jogger.  The owner should have known better.  No sooner did he turn his back and the dog charged us again, the event played out as a carbon copy version.  I screamed, the guy called the dog but this time I gave the guy a blast and told him that I would report the dog.  The dog was euthanized shortly after for biting someone else. 

As a side note, I am in no way putting German Shepherds under fire here, it just happened to be the breed that was involved with both of these incidents.  I love the breed myself.  I have had many big time dog issues with other breeds and mixes, these two happened to have been while walking on the street.  What is sad is that both situations could have been avoided had the owner taken responsibility for their dogs and not allowed them to be running around free.  Dogs can become territorial when on their own property.  Now most dogs will just muster up some bluster and noise and not attack but it can happen.

If it does happen it is essential that you report it.  If you do not report the incident and it happens again, there will not be a prior.  What if that dog went after a child the next time?  As much as I love dogs, some people with dangerous dogs do not ensure the safety of others by being lazy and irresponsible.  People who have dangerous dogs and do not keep them contained are the real criminals, not the dogs.  Sometimes dogs are simply not socialized as I believe was the cause of the second of my street incidents.  A dog that has aggressive tendencies added with the territory issue and perhaps fear can be a very dangerous situation. 

The best thing for everyone involved is socializing to start with.  If you have a problem dog you must go above and beyond to keep that dog contained.  If there is even the smallest chance of a dog slipping out, going over or under a fence it must be fixed.  It simply cannot happen.  Often a dog fenced in a front yard becomes frustrated by all the people and dogs walking past their property.  When they do finally get over the the fence, they are a big hazard to anyone walking by.  It is all caused by frustration.

If your dog does damage to someone else's dog, step up and do the right thing.  Your dog, your bill.  If someone else's dog injures your dog, go after those people until they pay.  And report the incident so that the people are held accountable for the safety of others around their dog.  And, if you should ever see someone in need of help, step up and do what you can to help.  It is always the right thing to do.

Beating my head against the wall

Okay, if any of you see me out and about and notice that my head is slightly flattened, you'll know why. Lastnight I made salmon for the dogs, yes Alaskan Salmon, yummy right? Well the girls thought so and I already knew that Luke was not going to think so by his absence in the kitchen. I fed the girls and decided to doctor up his meal so he might just eat it. Typically Luke is not a fish eater; he wouldn't do so well in the wild. (Wild poodle...........hmmmm)

Lukes customary routine is to stand in the middle of the kitchen, he waits for Jessie and Tilley to be done.  Then and only then will he have a look see as to what might be in his bowl.   But on this night he wasn't even coming in the kitchen, not good.  If there had been a big slab of raw beef on the counter he'd have been in the kitchen all right.  But I don't have raw beef all the time, and it's good to eat a big variety of foods.  Just like my two good girls do. 

Anyhow, I brought the food down to His Majesty where he was propped upon his thrown and placed the salmon, quinoa, liver biscotti and lots of butter down infront of him. He recoiled his legs and left. Nice! So I proceed to do the airplane routine which worked for a while but there was no way he was eating it out of the bowl. FINE!!!!  And I left to go upstairs with his uneaten food.

To my surprise he followed me, wow maybe he wanted to eat the rest. I put it on the ground and ........................................nothing. Nope, he was not eating it but Jessie was waiting as patiently as a pirahna to devour it. I grabbed the bowl and carried it to the safety of the counter.  Hmmmmmmmmm; what to put in this bowl?  He was not in a fish mood obviously, but he looked like he wanted something.  Running out of "real" food options I thought "I'll get some kibble  (Orijen) and throw it around, maybe he'll eat that." As soon as I poured the kibble into the bowl Luke's ears went up. What? He was interested in the dogfood?  I sat the bowl on the floor and he licked it clean, I added another bit and he ate that as well. 

Long story short? He ate two bowls of dry dog food, about a cups worth. Somebody shoot me.

Time to break the chain

BREAK THE CHAIN

Yes; it is time to break the chain.  Chain collars, chain leashes and chain tethers.  No more chain, let's all go chainless.  There should be no more association to dogs and chains. other than maybe chain link fencing. 
Yesterday I saw a woman walking down the street using a big chain leash.  The whole concept of chain leashes boggles my mind.  They are not only uncomfortable for a dog to haul around on their neck but they are uncomfortable for humans to use.  You can't bunch them up, they're heavy and kill your hands should your dog decide to give you a yank.  I just cannot wrap my brain around using chain leashes.

As far as neck attire? No, never, no more, not again.  No chains around necks.  There is just no need for them.  We have come a long way since yanking our dogs around by a chain to whip them into shape.  We can now lose the chains.  Can you imagine how much it hurts to be yanked on a chain continually?  Perhaps there will not be any visible damage on the outside but who knows what's going on inside.  With continual yanking, tightening and constricting one can only imagine what damage is being done to all the soft tissue, tendons and more.  Of course I don't want to see any dog yanked on any type of collar or leash.  Our poor dog's neck have taken a huge amount of abuse over the years.

BREAK THE CHAIN

Now; let's talk about the chains that binds.  A chained dog, tide to a tree, a dog house, a pole etc.  There life plays out in a small circular confine, day in and day out each step just like the one before.  This chained life is no life for a dog.  I'm not speaking about the occasional time when we all have to tie our dogs.  I am talking about life on the end of a chain with no freedom, no life, no point.  I just don't understand why people acquire dogs and then tie them outside on a chain.  Dogs are not decor for the yard, that's what patio furniture and garden gnomes are for. 

I recently read an article about a dog who hung herself after jumping over a fence.  Sadly she was a tied dog and hung before anyone could save her.  Dogs deserve so much more than to be treated as a material object chained to your property.  The people who tie dogs in the yard have no idea what they are missing.  They have yet to be touched by a dog and sadly may never be.  To many of these people dogs are "just dogs" in the bad sense of the term.  But things are changing, slowly but there is definitely a movement towards more humane treatment for animals in general.  One voice can be a strong one.  If each person speaks out against chain, one voice becomes a movement. 

I am happy to say that there are many groups who are trying to have tethering of dogs outlawed.  Perhaps someday there will be no more chained dogs.

Dogs deserve better

Unchain your dog

The only chain I want to see around a neck is my own.  And more than likely there will be a paw print or blinged out bone hanging from it.  :)

Mixing it up

No matter how you stir the pot, the result is spectacular.  The mixed breed.

The magic of, the dog.

Dogs; enough said.

The exterior is but the shell which holds the heart.

Canine combo

Yes; you do light up my life.

companion:   a celestial body that appears close to another but that may or may not be associated with it in space

Life is far too short not to enjoy it.

They would wait for all eternity.

Through the eyes of our canines we see the world anew.

Sometimes a simple face can light up another.

Making your home dog friendly

I remember when I was having kids and had to consider "kid proofing" my home.  I was raised in a home where we learned not to touch things, everything was not put away until we grew up.  I've had a few kids at my house that have come from a home where nothing but toys or indestructible items are around and they pretty much were a one kid demolition crew.  They never learned not to touch.  Of course anything dangerous should be put out of reach but they must learn not to touch, just like our dogs need to learn what they can and cannot touch. 

Anything that could possible be dangerous should most definitely be put away.  Supervision plays a huge part in teaching the "don't touch" way of life.  If you leave a dog free in your house and don't supervise them in the beginning then pretty much everything is fair game and nothing will be learned.  That is except that all your stuff will most likely be destroyed when you have this unsupervised type of lifestyle.  And if you have this type of lifestyle then you and your pooch are not going to be really welcome in other homes. 

It is frankly unfair not to teach your dog basic manners with regards to living within a home.  "No, we do not eat the furniture," "we don't pull the Christmas tree down, or destroy the decorations."  "We don't jump on the kitchen counter and help ourselves to whatever is available," or "we do not grab and shred dish towels that are hanging ever so temptingly on the stove."  Simple things like this can make or break a beautiful relationship.  With a little guidance you can walk your pup through the rules and regulations of your home without having to clear it all away. 

One of the most dangerous items in a home are all the wires.  Within seconds a puppy or dog can chew through the protective coating and be electricuted.  So even with supervision, you want all electrical wires taped up and out of eyesight.  Items that might be hanging off of a counter or table top can be very dangerous as well.  A dishtowel with a jar of jam sitting on it, an iron sitting on an ironing board with the cord hanging off or even a table cloth can be a tempting toy.  So be very aware of anything hanging. 

Take a slow and arduous walk around your home looking for anything that could tip over, fall off or roll.  Any of these type things that might injure your dog.  Make a switch to more green cleaning products.  Check carpets for any stray frayed strands.  They can be enticing and one bad strand can quickly become a half of a your carpet destroyed.  One thing that I do suggest removing or raising with a very young puppy is house plants.  Even the ones that are not poisonous are often just too much temptation.  You can bring them out once you get the general rules set in place.

Above all; supervision is the best kept secret to raising a mannerly pooch.  That is supervision and feedback; with daily guidance rules, routine and living arrangements are quickly understood.  And they all lived happily ever after will be in the books for you and your family.

What about me?

One on one with your dog; yep it is extremely important. Do you remember when you were a kid; if you had brothers and sisters how great it felt when you got to spend one on one with your parents? I know it made me feel pretty special; it was a time to share without getting lost in the crowd so to speak. I'm actually a twin, I have a twin brother.   I have two sisters and two brothers, getting some individual time was a treat. The same goes for your dogs; if you have two or more then you have a pack of dogs and although a pack of dogs is a wonderful thing they need their alone time.

Alone time is especially important when you have a puppy; you don't want the puppy bonding with the other dogs and not you. You need to become the most important thing in your dog's life; the leader. Dogs in a pack will usually figure out the pack dimension; occasionally they can't quite figure it out and we must step in. If the dogs are always together, never given alone time then they will be handicapped when you take them out alone. I have seen this alot when people never have alone time with individuals. By removing a dog and spending quallity alone time with them, taking them on walks or just getting out and socializing you allow each dog to grow to their full potential.

Dogs act very differently when they are on their own. A dog who is a confident member of a pack may be a very fearful dog when removed from the pack; their comfort zone. Socializing is extremely important; the more you introduce your dog to the more comfortable they will be in general about life as a whole. And when you take them out alone they flourish; they can experience life without the shadow of the pack. Even when you only have two dogs; individual time is extremely important.

If you have a big pack then you can do individual time and switch around pair time. This allows each dog to bond to the others without the whole pack watching. New relationships can form resulting in a very happy pack. Having a pack of dogs is work; and often one member can get lost in the crowd. This is a sad situation because removed from a large pack this individual may thrive. Sometimes certain dogs are not meant to be large pack dogs; and these dogs are best placed in a home with perhaps only one other member.

Just because dogs are pack animals does not mean that every pack is a match.  In the wild, when a wolf pack member doesn't fit it may be driven out of the pack.  This is usally the start of a new pack, the member must find one or more other pack members.  I have seen packs that just aren't working, and it is not a good way to live.  When you look for new pack members be careful to look for personalities that might best work.

By taking each dog out on their own, their confidence grows as does your bond.  This is a win win for everyone.  Leadership is imperative in a group, as is alone time.

Remember how wonderful it feels to be given one on one attention; then give that gift to your dogs.

Life

Life is not always wonderful, it would be great if it was wouldn't it?  On a daily basis I am sent sad, horrific, unbelievable and heart wrenching emails, posts, news bites, videos and photos.  It can be tough to deal with and often I can't deal with it needing to pass.  But I learned long ago that sometimes you have to look.  The simple act of turning your head does indeed save you heartache but does it stir emotion?  No, it doesn't have a chance to.  If your insides are never churned around, you will never be moved, perhaps moved to make a difference. 

So sometimes we have to look, to see how others may be suffering to stir our emotions.  It is most definitely not easy, I have seen many things that I wish I'd never seen but these things are real, and they are happening.  To close your eyes and hope that it goes away is a pipe dream.  The only way that things change, that people change is to experience some of life's gut wrenching real life scenarios. 

Many of these moments are very sad, no doubt tear shedding moments.  But we shed tears when we feel, feeling is a good thing even when it is a bad thing.  Most of the movers and shakers in the rescue industry were moved to make a change.  Many people had no idea until one day they make themselves see.  Many celebrities involved in doing good have seen an unbearable truth, so unbearable that they were moved to act, to make a difference.  Celebrities can make a very big difference simply by being a celebrity and leading by example.

Life is all about giving back.  Sometimes we are not able to give as much as we might like but there are so many ways to give.  Time is a huge gift to give anyone, especially those in need.  Everyone has a talent, lend yours to someone who could use it.  Even a small voice can make a big difference if people are listening.  So the next time something comes across your desk that has you opting to click out, maybe watch a little.  Feel, be moved.  Life needs you. 

Snoop Dog

I spent the afternoon with my daughters yesterday down in San Diego, CA.  I love San Diego, even though it is only a short hour long drive South, it is much different from Orange County.  There is a more relaxed atmosphere there and where we spent the day, a beachy/surf feel looms in the air.  My oldest daughter was dog sitting her boyfriend's dog and you know it, I took the opportunity to do a photo shoot.  This little man is a 10 year old Pekingnese, which happens to be amongst the Brachycephalic breeds.  These short faced dogs have special needs so if you have one or are considering getting one you should familiarize yourself with them. 

This pekingnese's name is Snoop Dog and he is quite a character.  Not living with dogs that have little or no muzzle I did a lot of staring and very close shooting.  Of course I've photographed many of these types of dogs, pugs, bulldogs, boxers etc but got to spend more time with Snoop.  I really enjoyed watching all his little quirks.  He's a funny little guy, very confident and a tad dominant.  He reacts to other dogs much like Jessie does; "I can smell you but don't try to smell me."  He is definitely a big dog in a small body as he struts his stuff around town.

First we went out for lunch leaving Snoop on "his" chair at home.  He's well use to going places and because of this he doesn't sweat the small stuff.  On our return there he was still lying in "his" chair.  I took a few more shots, and my daughters brought out his toys.  Snoop loves his toys, but his favorite toy is an empty water bottle which is continually switched out for a new one.  He gathered up all his toys and put them in a pile, cute.



So then we head out to the pier in Ocean Beach, CA, a very mellow beach town.  My daughter told me that people always stop to meet him, but witnessing the huge amount of interest that he drew was intriguing. A few people called him a pug, but other than that most don't seem to know what he is.
Pekingnese are not that popular a breed, unless of course you are at a dog show.  At a recent show that I  attended there was a very large entry, although they looked much different that Snoop, they were full coated which is literally to the ground and then some.  Snoop keeps a neat and tidy sport clip which is definitely much easier to maintain and more enjoyable for the dog I'd have to guess.  Being so close to the ground it keeps much cleaner having it nice and short.

We walked down the pier receiving constant points, stares, smiles and questions.  It was a gorgeous day so we took our time stopping here and there on the pier to take photos.  At the end of the pier we ran across this little dog above.  I was smitten, this little dog was one of the cutest dogs I've seen in a long time.  Obviously a mix of something and a poodle, it's coat was so soft and she was adorably sweet.

Dog beach is just around the corner from where we were.  Its a great beach where dogs can run and play in the sand and water off leash.  Next time I'll head over there to shoot as well.  Having already been on a big morning walk and done the whole pier which is very long we headed home with Snoop, he had to be tired.  Ten years old isn't that old for a small dog but when your legs are only inches long, it's a big walk. 

With the sun setting I headed back to the OC, what a great day in San Diego. 

Fueling aggression

A clear message from Tilley; don't touch my ball.

Aggression fuels aggression. This phrase has been forever ingrained in my brain.

Aggression: the action of a state in violating by force the rights of another state.

We've all heard the term "dog aggression." But many confuse or intermingled the terms aggression and dominance. Simply; dominance is a state of mind, aggression is an act. Often a dog may be very dominant but not aggressive at all; as well as a very aggressive dog may be a very submissive dog so I am talking about aggression here, not dominance.

Several years back I was in a sticky situation; I was on a business trip with my husband up in British Columbia. While he was at a work meeting; I took my camera and went off to explore. The scenery was spectacular and I was snapping images like crazy. I ended up on a beautiful beach; there was no one around, just me and the great outdoors. That is until a black chow mix charged down the beach after me. This was sheer aggression; I was obviously on this dogs beach and he didn't like it. I tried ignoring the dog and he charged to within a foot from me; I turned to defend myself. The only thing I had on me was my camera and it was new so I had no intention of using it as a weapon. I quickly scanned the beach; of course no sticks, this place was immaculately clean.

Our whole interaction took probably 5 min. it was like a choreographed dance. He would charge; I would face him down and he'd back off. As soon as I turned to walk away he was on me again. He was a very menacing looking beast; large, black and displaying everyone of his pearly whites to me. My mind was racing; charging this dog could really be a bad thing although he had shown some signs that he was not confident enough to follow through with a bite. When I turned to face him he backed off; but not much. There I was stuck in a game of cat and mouse. Standing there watching this dog spitting and growling with his eyes fixed on me; every bit of his hair raised on his back and his tail held high with just the tip wagging, not good.

After what seemed like an eternity his owner road by on her bike; she called to him and he went running. I had a few choice words for her and let her know that I saw this dog bite a jogger who was up further. She yelled and swung at the dog but did not put a leash on him. There are so many types of aggression that you can never simply look at teeth, or a growl, it is the whole picture that tells you what is going on and how to diffuse it if possible.

The problem with using aggressive techniques to "fix" an aggressive dog is that you the human may end up on the loosing side. A dog that has a real aggression problem will not simply give in. This is where positive behavior work is so important. We humans are (allegedly) much smarter than dogs; with the correct use of our gray matter we can outsmart the dog. On the other hand; those who use physical aggression against an aggressive dog risk the possibility of a battle that they may not win.

One of the worst case scenarios is a conventional trainer subduing a dog with the use of violence which puts the dog in a further state of stress. This stress can then reappear to an innocent bystander; perhaps a child. Example; a food guarding dog is violently shown that they are not allowed to growl around the food bowl, with either alpha rolls or scruffing. The dog learns that growling is a no go with this one very dominant aggressive human. This is a stressful situation for the dog; a dog who naturally wants to guard his food is now blocked with aggression against him. Then one day one of the kids in the family walks too close to the bowl; the dogs sees that it is not the dominant one and has an aggressive outburst far worse than any warning had been before. There may be irreparable damage done to the child and most likely the dog will be euthanized.

The same case could be completely turned around by teaching the dog that humans around the food bowl is a great and beneficial event. By using food rewards and positive association you can create a dog who is safe with whoever walks by the bowl. Humans = good stuff. Aggression from a dog towards a human is a message; this lets you know how a dog is feeling about a certain situation. By taking this information and changing a dogs perspective on it; you can rehabilitate a dog safely and positively. It is not a quick fix but it is also not an aggressive attack on the dogs causing a more "on edge" dog.

When it comes to rehabilitation; aggression is never the answer. Aggression fuels aggression.

Valentines day challenge

Monday is Valentines day; are you ready?  What are getting for your loved one for this lovey dovey day?  Well; how about something different this year?  How about a donation to one of the many rescue groups?  Yesterday I wrote about how all the wonderful volunteers give of their time; but many of them dig deep into their own pockets as well.  Out of pocket is a common phrase I hear when talking about rescuing.  Not all of the groups have a huge donation fund, it would be great if they all had enough money to run without making a huge dent in their own finances.

Just imagine if everyone donated even 10.00 to a rescue group.  Can you imagine the monumental amount of money that would be?  And imagine for a second if many donated even more, the impact could be phenomenal.   Perhaps the new phrase for valentines day could be "Give from the heart."  Each and every year so many dogs are needlessly euthanized due to the sheer numbers.  If we all gave just a little, that would add up to a whole lot of dogs that could be saved.  But it's not a perfect world.

I'm not saying to opt out of the mushy stuff, goodness knows there are a lot of people who wait for this day all year.  Maybe just take a small percentage of what you plan on spending and give.  Give the gift of life to a dog or two.  How easy could it get?   Give a gift and the rescue folks will take care of the rest.

And guys; if you are wondering if this is a good idea?  Let me tell you that this will earn you extra bonus points.  ;)

A pat on the back

One of the photos that I took of Courage ended up as the image for the award plaques.  I am honored.  

A pat on the back; a job well done.  Isn't that one of the best things in life?  To be recognized?  Far too often hard working, selfless people go unnoticed, passed over and taken for granted.  I was able to attend the Bellflower Bravo awards this past Thursday where there were many citizens and officers recognized for their valiant, above and beyond actions.  Several of the people who were recognized at the event were from "team Courage."  The folks that stepped up and never gave up in their fight to keep him alive.  Courage was a standout for sure, he took the stage to the excitement of the audience.

                                    David Ono was the host of the 2011 Bellflower Bravo awards

            Huell Howser of PBS California Gold television series was the keynote speaker at the event.

As I sat in the audience waiting for the event to begin I couldn't help but over hear all the folks talking about the dog.  "Did you hear about the dog?"  "That dog Courage is going to be here."  "Did you see that starved dog is being honored?"  "My son asked that I get a picture with Courage."  It made me smile; knowing what a wonderful dog Courage truly is and how with the help of a crew of caring people, he not only recovered but is thriving now.  He has a new Mom, a new family and a support system that anyone would dream of.

                                                 Everyone wanted to touch Courage, he is a true hero

I often think about the sheer man hours that people give to rescue, save, rehabilitate and re-home canines.  It is a daunting task but many have stepped up to make a statement.  "I/we will save as many as I/we can."  It is inspiring to see the dedication of those who give every spare moment to one common goal, save.   I have met so many wonderful groups of people who have dedicated their lives to just that, saving dogs.  When you meet some of these folks who just won't stop, they have a passion that drives them, it is uplifting.  With all the bad in the world there truly is a lot of good.

And every single one of the rescuers say that hopefully there will come a day when they are put out of business.  Imagine if this were true, no homeless dogs, no over crowded shelters, no euthanasia of healthy dogs?  That is a goal that we should all strive for.  And to those who make it their life goal to save unwanted dogs?  I would like to simply say, thank you.

Get your copy of Courage's very own calendar, 100% of the proceeds to to German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. 

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Unbelievable

Here we go again.............................................ya gotta hear this one.

As I pulled into the lot at the park I thought to myself “what a great day for a walk.” I was there with my old gal, Jessie who is nearing 15 years of age and suffering from Dementia so we take time to stop and smell the roses.   We’d only made it a quarter of the way around the park when we ran into a cute little black dog. I told the black dog's owner that my girl was not friendly and they sauntered on by. It was earlier than we usually walk and there were several dogs there that I'd never seen before.  But it was cool and quiet, with a feeling of ahhhhhhhh in the air.

Our peaceful walk changed very quickly when two white fluff balls came charging across the field. One of the dogs ran up behind Jessie, luckily she hadn’t seen it and I wasn’t letting it get any closer. Keeping one eye on the dog that was closing in on us from behind I saw another white fluff making a b-line to the black dog and his owner that we had just spoken to. The little white dog made a full on attack, the black dog never knew what hit him. But at more than double the size he fought back, it was quite a display of ferocity from the white fluff dog.

Thinking now that perhaps the white dog shadowing us may be up to no good I called to the lady to get a leash on her dogs, as did the man with the black dog that was being attack. Just like the little black dog that hadn’t seen an attack coming, we did not see this coming our way. We were about to get the full brunt from the owner of the white fluff dogs. She yelled “calm down,” with her hand held out to show that she was not listening to us she yelled again “I said just calm down.” Odd because we were the calm ones, she was the one going off.

This was just the beginning; she had much more in store for us as I told her “just put your dogs on leashes, no one is freaking out.” This was what followed and I am still baffled, shaking my head. She screamed “I know everything, I know it all, I know everything more than you.” It continued “I know it all, I know everything more than you.” This was delivered with the ever present raised hand which was now waving furiously at us. After 15 years of training dogs I still don’t know it all, this woman must be a super human. We stood in astonishment. The attack never stopped until she was out of range, she never took a breath in her assault on us. I had a few choice words of my own, but they fell on deaf ears as she was still ranting her “know all” theory to us across the field.

She made her retreat to the other side of the field with her tiny misbehaved dogs, where she proceeded to throw the ball for them while keeping her distance. I kept one eye on her and her dogs, my job was to protect my old girl and that is what I intended to do. While I kept an eye on the group who was lacking even the smallest speck of dog or human etiquette, one of the white dogs pooped as the owner stood pretending not to notice. Was I surprised when she walked away not picking up after her dog? Are you kidding?

As I often run out of ideas for my blog; sometimes all it takes is a trip to the park for my material. Thankfully people like this woman and her dogs are a very small percentage of dog owners. We don’t often run into this type of very poorly behaved dogs and humans that ruin it for all the great dogs and their owners anymore. But it is a reminder that they are still out there. Unbelievable.

Smile

We should all know by now that having a pet in our life is good for us. I read an article years ago which I have had a very hard time find; about how we are not as healthy now that we have moved away from the farm way of life. I'm a big believer of dirt, I try to use as little chemical cleaners as possible and opt for vinegar and baking soda for as much as I can. My family has been (knock on wood) very healthy to this point.

I am not a cleaning fanatic by a longshot but I like my house to be tidy and clean (it's not always).   So back to farm living, the more regular dirt and germs that your body comes into contact  with throughout the day the more your body can handle. Of course I'm not talking about filth and buckets of germs, just regular everyday stuff.

I truly believe that people who have dogs (I know other pets count as well) are much happier and healthier. Each day my dogs make me smile, and it is the small things that do it for me. Watching Luke wait patiently while he stalks a lizard across the back wall or Tilley enjoying a good roll in the grass and then showing up at the backdoor covered from head to toe in all the dead grass she pulled out of the lawn.

One of the greatest things that dogs give us is simple fact of being dogs. How much fun is it to watch your dog having a blast being a dog. The beach or a park are some of the best places to see it. Dogs running free and loving every second. Watching a dog dig a hole is completely enlightening; of course only if it is not in the beautiful garden you just spent hours planting.

I walked into my yard yesterday to see a pile of dirt outside of one of the planters, a huge smile came to my face as I pictured long legged Luke in there flinging dirt everywhere. Seeing my little Jack Russell Jessie trigger by a movement in the bushes makes me smile. And watching my three dogs all covered in blankets cozied up together twitching away in their dreams makes me smile.

Dogs truly do bring meaning to our lives each and everyday; so start watching for those amazing little things they do for us.

DROP IT

I thought I might discuss the whole "Drop it," idea.  Let's face it, dogs may pick up and chow down on the strangest things around, and the most gross things of course.  Once an item is inside the dogs mouth it is one hundred times harder to get it out.  Stop the behavior before it happens and your a champion, get a dog to spit out something they want to eat?  You are a star my dear friend.  The most common cause of dogs picking up items is us; that's right we have associated attention to picking up unwanted items.  So the first step is self control, our self control.  No chasing, screaming, arm waving etc if your pooch picks something up.**  Many dogs just simply pick up the taboo item and wait for you to fly into action.  Others chomp and swallow, these are the very dangerous situations so training needs to be done now.

You start out by teaching your dog what "drop" means.  So; when they have a low value item, something they are allowed to have you begin the training with that.  Walk up to them and say "drop" while holding out a very yummy treat.  They may smell the treat and keep the toy in their mouth, if they want the food enough they'll drop the toy.  Praise and reward immediately.  Give them back the toy.  What you are doing is creating the association of dropping items out of the mouth = receiving food.  You need to work up to the point of just saying "drop" without holding out your hand and having your dog drop the item.  Always reward.  You can sometimes reward with another better toy but never take away the original item.

Then you up the value of the item, perhaps a brand new toy.  Approach your dog, say "drop" and reward with an excellent treat for dropping.  With enough practice, an automatic response starts to take place.  As you up the value of the items to be dropped you are training for that big moment when you really want the item.  By not taking away the items from your dog you are lessening the impact of when you do need to take an item away.  For those moments, make sure there are amazingly yummy treats around.

This takes a lot of work, it does not happen overnight and you must constantly practice it.  Teaching your dog to retrieve is a very helpful exercise for those dogs who pick up everything.  Tilley use to be a big picker upper.  I was afraid that she would destroy socks, clothing etc so taught her to bring her picked up treasures to us.  She was a quick learner and was soon picking up things that people left on the floor for a reward.  Your dog may pick up more things but 1.  They won't be destroyed by the dog taking it away and chewing on it and 2.  They are much less likely to eat the object because you can't retrieve it and eat it at the same time.  :)

The new association of the word "drop" is a good one.  If your dog likes to retrieve they start spitting out the object faster and faster because they learn that dropping means retrieving again.  This action brings that time when you need a quick expulsion closer to a reality. 

This is a shortened version of a very long exercise.  The more you break a behavior down into tiny steps the easier it is to achieve your final goal and avoid frustration.  I will be having a series of e-books coming out in the near future for the long version.




**Of course there are times when it is of the utmost importance to get whatever your dog has in their mouth away from them.  These times do arise and yes you must do what you must to get it away for your dogs safety.

Strap'm in

Thank you everyone, I got quite a bit of feedback.  It came in via the comment section, email, my Just dogs Facebook and my The Standard Poodle Facebook.  I will put all the "issues" down to write about in future blogs.  The general consensus though was keep doing what I'm doing so I'm glad you all enjoy the blog.  And I will keep blogging away.

Jessie is wearing the Yap Wrap harness.

Now; yesterday we were headed out to Home Depot when we were stopped at a set of lights.  I saw a white flash in my peripheral vision and turned to see the cutest little munchkin sitting in the car next to me.  It's face was so small that you could fit it's eyes, nose and mouth into a golf ball sized circle.  Sadly it was on the owners lap, in the drivers seat.  I know it was cute and I'm sure it was loving riding up front with Mom but it was also extremely dangerous.  The drivers seat is one of the most dangerous places for a dog to ride.

Just imagine for a moment, not that this would ever happen in Southern California traffic, noooooooooooo.  Okay, you are driving along and someone several cars up from you jams on their brakes.  Immediately a chain reaction occurs until it is your turn and you hit the brakes throwing your body forwards.  Inevitably the guy behind you jams on his brakes and slams into the back of you sending you back and forward again, perhaps locking up your seatbelt.  What about your dog?  Depending on how tightly your belt was on, where they were positioned and whether they are thrown or not will be the outcome of the damage.  But your dog will be injured, likely gravely or fatally.  On top of this what if your airbag goes off?

They should be in the back, it is safer.    If you must ride your dog in the front, seat belt them in.  Shorten the leash to belt ratio so that they cannot hit the dash.  Same in the back, the safest place is belted in.  There are harnesses and straps galore to choose from these days.  I actually stumbled upon a very cool set up that I am looking into trying out.  It is a strap for the back of the suv, will let you know if I give it a try.

Save your lap for couch time, not driving time.    The driver seat is strictly, for the driver.

Light Monday

We had a pretty quiet weekend with the hounds.  We had a nice little walk today and yesterday, although yesterday there was a situation that I will blog about in the near future.  I'd noticed yesterday that Luke was a bit stinky, he smelled sort of like grass, dirt, beach and dirty dog.  So it was bath day.  Its always fun deciding who will be first and I swear that Luke can read minds.  He was stressing before I'd even gone down to the bathroom once, it blows my mind.  Although I had said earlier that all the dogs were having a bath today, perhaps he'd been listening.

It was warm out today so that means a drip dry, nice.  Jessie went in first and although she is the quickest wash she kills my back far more than the big dogs.  One of the these days I will invest in a raised tub, I think I deserve it.  So it was Jessie, Luke and then Tilley.  Even though Tilley is by far the best behaved dog we have ever had, she is the biggest challenge to get into the shower.  Once she is in I have to be quick, standing for a long time is tough on her.

Luke stresses before his turn and trembles for a few minutes in the shower normally but today he didn't.  He did tremble after Tilley was done, he always thinks he has to have another bath.  That is until everything is put away and we head to the drying phase.  After everyone had their bath it was outside in the sun to dry.  Just when the poodles are almost dry I bring them in for a forced air dry, it gives them a bit of fluff and helps the complete dry.  As I was finishing up the drying I thought about my blog and wondered.

Inquiring minds want to know, well at least I'd like to know.  I'd like to know what type of blog you guys like to read best.  Do you have any pressing issues that you are hoping one day I will write about?  I'd really like some feedback so if you will, send me a comment telling me what you like to read about best or whatever else you'd like to tell me.

Light Monday

We had a pretty quiet weekend with the hounds.  We had a nice little walk today and yesterday, although yesterday there was a situation that I will blog about in the near future.  I'd noticed yesterday that Luke was a bit stinky, he smelled sort of like grass, dirt, beach and dirty dog.  So it was bath day.  Its always fun deciding who will be first and I swear that Luke can read minds.  He was stressing before I'd even gone down to the bathroom once, it blows my mind.  Although I had said earlier that all the dogs were having a bath today, perhaps he'd been listening.

It was warm out today so that means a drip dry, nice.  Jessie went in first and although she is the quickest wash she kills my back far more than the big dogs.  One of the these days I will invest in a raised tub, I think I deserve it.  So it was Jessie, Luke and then Tilley.  Even though Tilley is by far the best behaved dog we have ever had, she is the biggest challenge to get into the shower.  Once she is in I have to be quick, standing for a long time is tough on her.

Luke stresses before his turn and trembles for a few minutes in the shower normally but today he didn't.  He did tremble after Tilley was done, he always thinks he has to have another bath.  That is until everything is put away and we head to the drying phase.  After everyone had their bath it was outside in the sun to dry.  Just when the poodles are almost dry I bring them in for a forced air dry, it gives them a bit of fluff and helps the complete dry.  As I was finishing up the drying I thought about my blog and wondered.

Inquiring minds want to know, well at least I'd like to know.  I'd like to know what type of blog you guys like to read best.  Do you have any pressing issues that you are hoping one day I will write about?  I'd really like some feedback so if you will, send me a comment telling me what you like to read about best of whatever you'd like to tell me.

Greenies

I was in a petstore the other day. There was a woman looking at all the Greenies and the salesperson was explaining the differences between all the different types. Satisfied that she had learned all she could about them she grabbed a pack; I held my tongue.

There are so many articles on the dangers of Greenies yet people still keep buying.

#1

#2 (VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES)

#3

These are just a few that I pulled up quickly on the ever popular Greenies. I do not feed greenies to my dogs; never had and never will. Anything that can be consumed like rawhides, pig ears, greenies or those other dental chews by pedigree should in my opinion never be used. There are lots of things out there for dogs to chew on that do not breakdown in size possibly causing choking or blockage issues.

I use real bones; and I use the tough Nylabones. I do regular inventory of all bones and toss any that are small enough to ingest. Poor Jessie has to use the wolfsized bones because of the larger dogs in the house. But at least she is safe from choking.

Please do your research and if the petstore owners are not going to be ethical about a product and the manufacturers are still pumping them out to get a piece of your hard earned money; then you have to do the work for all these people and research like crazy before giving your dog anything.

DON'T stop

DON'T stop!!!!!!  Have you got a dog with issues?  You know the type of issues that concern walking past other dogs, people or perhaps just objects?  Don't stop.  It has long been the protocol to stop and sit your dog.  At that point you are to gain control, wait until the trigger object passes and then move on.  What are we telling our dog when we stop?  "Issue, something is up and we need to stop."  Movement is huge in dog terms; a simple stop can mean many things and it can mean something bad.  It definitely says "there is something we need to stop for."

What you want to convey to your dog is that whatever their issue trigger is, does not call for stopping.  Not only do we not need to stop when we see this thing but we don't even need to acknowledge it.  As you all know my boy Luke is quite the nervous ninny, there are lots of things that are "issues" to him.  Yesterday as I sat typing away my door slammed shut with such velocity that I nearly jumped out of my skin.  It was wickedly windy out and I had unfortunately not tucked the door behind the stop like I normally do.  It is something we have tried to ensure because Luke has had several seizures because of slamming doors.  Once I had my initial startle I realized that Luke had been on my bed sleeping, he was off in a flash.  He stood wide eyed staring at the door, I never flinched.  I purposely kept typing.  I could see out of the corner of my eye that he kept looking at the door, then me, the door, then me.  I did not acknowledge what had happened.



My body language was telling Luke "we don't care about things like that."  He soon lay down beside the bed and was calm.  About 20 minutes later I got up, opened the door and closed it quite hard very nonchalantly.  Then I moved about the room a bit and opened it up and propped it open.  It is just the same when you are out, keep moving, do not alter your movement.  Altering your movement is a cue to your dog that something is up, whether it be good or bad.  Dog's pick up the most minute signal, one that we humans would never notice.

It is important to learn to treat on the go, while you are moving.  It can take a while to get it down.  Holding the leash in one hand and the treats in one hand and delivering a reward while not stopping.  This helps to keep your dog's mind on you and off whatever it is that is trigger an issue response as well.  Giving the "we don't have time for that stuff" feeling.  Instead of sitting and focusing on the trigger object, you just take it in stride and keep going.

Move it, move it, move it.

Another Great Leash

My test group recently received two new leashes to test and review.  We sent one off to Bentley and his folks to give a try and I tried out one on Luke (aka sled dog in diguise).  Luke and I tried out the L-Fa Lead.  Of course I love the look of the leash to start with, red and it has a carabiner.  I love carabiners, not sure why but I think it is the multiple utility uses for them.  I thought that this carabiner might be to big for Luke's connection but it didn't bother him at all.  It might bother a small dog when hooked to the collar as it is quite large.  But it looks very utility and tough, which I love. 

                                          To order or view d-fa dog gear click here.

The handle is padded for extra comfort.  The whole leash was very comfortable to use.

In the middle of the leash is a shock cord section which worked magic on Luke's pulling.  After he initially tried out the new leash he fell into place without so much as a small tug.  I walked as usual so I could get the full read of the leash working on it's own.  I do not like to pull on my dog, if anyone is pulling it's him.   Great leash, it looks very durable. 

Now onto Bentley's test, this was the true test. 

Below review written Bentley's Mom.

Photo courtesy Bentley's Mom (Chelsea Gilbert)

I pretty much had given up ever trying to get my 90lb Labrador to stop taking ME on a walk, until I tried the d-fa “Gandhi” lead. What a perfect name for a lead that truly turned our walks into a peaceful experience. One of the first times out using the lead; it proved to be my saving grace! A cat darted out in front of us from behind a bush and sadly enough; my boy isn’t such an angel and tried to lunge after the cat. Quickly, we both looked at each other in shock. To his surprise had never been flung back into shape so quickly and I was speechless by the mere fact that my arm was still attached! So, needless to say I knew that this lead was something special.

A feature that makes this lead so unique is that the entire lead is not made of shock cord; but rather just a portion which allows for just enough pull. I’ve noticed that without even trying the shock cord is doing its job by allowing quick pulls on the collar if he begins to tug.

The heavy duty carabiner is my favorite feature. It has a swivel motion which allows for easy circling or motioning without the leash getting all tied up in weird sort of ways. In addition, the locking mechanism and sheer size of the carabiner makes it easy, and secure to use during any type of outdoor adventure.

The “Gandhi” lead has the ability to shorten to a shorter traffic lead in seconds with a quick snap of the buckle. I honestly had no idea how useful such a tool actually was; until I used it with this leash. Passing by another dog; a crowded street or for quick rides on the bicycle the ability to shorten the lead has proven to be a necessity for us now.

                                                    Photo courtesy Bentley's Mom (Chelsea Gilbert)

So, as if this weren’t all good enough; the d-fa lead has a special pouch where it makes storing poop bags; keys; money or even that Starbucks card, easy and secure. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to discover the d-fa “Gandhi” lead. Now, I am confident that I will be able to control my dog; enjoy our peaceful walks and can rest assured that my arm will remain attached!