Good morning.  First let me say that I had an amazing sleep, no being wakened by the cries of someone who wants on the bed.  Is it that the new "alarm" rule has already set in or that she was very, very tired?  I would not be surprised if Miss Elsa already has the change of rules set but I guess a couple more nights will be needed to know for sure.

Today I want to discuss socializing.  Socializing:  to make fit for life in companionship with others.  I like this definition, it pretty much says it all.  I am very big on socializing and at 10 months of age we are still at it with Elsa.  Every day we are out looking for new dogs, different people, environments and general life experiences that she has yet to see.  There is nothing that can replace socializing.

As far as dogs are concerned socializing should start very, very early.  A good breeder will have their puppies out and about.  Of course they need to remain in a safe environment so that can simply be their own home.  A new room everyday, a different part of the backyard, a puppy pool, buckets piled up, dirt, sand etc etc.  They should be meeting different people too, small, big, gentle, rough, loud, you get the picture.  Puppies need a lot of different experiences.

There is a vast difference between puppies who have been given the opportunity to get out and explore the world versus those who remain in the whelping box until they go to their new home.  The ones who have been out and about will be able to adapt more easily in general.  Of course there are always puppies who don't thrive on lots of socialization and need a special home.  Some puppies will never be social butterflies, they are just different socially.  This is where the breeder needs to place puppies accordingly and NOT per color or birth order (this is another subject but one I am just as passionate about.)

Puppies who remain in a box or kennel during their first 6-8 weeks of life are most definitely handicapped as far as life experience.  You can make up for the lack of work that the breeder put into socializing by making sure you get them out and experience life.  But some puppies may have lasting effects of missing out.   I have worked with puppies who have come from many different back grounds and those puppies that get out and explore life are much more willing to continue.  They seem more confident and are ready to learn whereas the sheltered puppy is more apprehensive about life in general.

Every time we are out we see something new.  It could be how a person is walking, a whole herd of small children, a weird statue, loud and different noises and Elsa takes it all in.  Yesterday we had a great one on one time at the park.  I went to a park where I use to do frisbee with Tilley a lot.  I took Elsa here to another part for skateboard socializing when she showed some fear at a young age. When she was a puppy she seemed quite afraid of the loud things flying by.  We sat and watched for a couple of days until I saw that she could relax around them.  Yesterday as we walked towards the skateboarders her head went up along with her ears and she gave a small bark.  We haven't seen a lot of skateboarders in a while.  But she quickly calmed, it was almost like "oh, okay I know this."  I could see it happen very clearly through her body language.

We went on past calmly and hit the secluded field for some power retrieving.  It was great fun and when we were done there we made our way around the skateboard area again and out to a different field beside the skateboarders to do some more retrieving.  I wanted to be good and sure that she is fine around these very loud and fast guys or girls.

Elsa is the type of dog that doesn't miss a thing, I mean that very literally.  She is constantly aware of her surroundings, how people walk, the noises of life, everything.  But she also generalizes well, indicating that if she's seen a statue in a park that she has established is just that, a statue, then she's pretty good with new statues at alternate parks.  It is all about life experiences, associations and valuable social interactions.  With each new life lesson under their belt they are much more capable of taking on new experiences.

Along with giving your dog life experience comes your part in the whole process.  Your dog is watching you and when you react they are very aware of your actions.  Act according to what you want to convey in your life lessons.

Reprogramming

I've got some re-programming to do with Elsa.  When she came to us she seemed to have a built in clock that rose her at 4:30 every morning.  It makes sense, she came from the East so her inner clock told her that it was later than it was here on the West.  I thought that I might never be able to sleep in again, which for us is like 6:30.   Once she got a bit older she grew accustom to getting up to the sounds of my son's alarm clock.  She couldn't wait to race down to greet him every morning................AT 4:00 AM.

Then Elsa did a quick transition from ex-pen sleeping to not when we traveled across the country the second time.  Not wanting to haul the huge ex-pen in and out of the hotel every night we just stopped using it.  This meant that she now had free range in the bedroom and her sleeping spot of choice was our bed, of course.  Luke sleeps on our bed but we quickly discovered that she was not going to work out on the bed.  Not that we don't want her up there with us, it's just that she has to be across me.  When I say across me I am not exaggerating, she lies completely across me.  It boggles my mind how heavy she feels, it's like there is a magnet under our bed trying to pull her body to the floor.

So the place we are at now is Elsa sleeps on a bed on the floor beside me until she is invited up.  We started inviting her up as soon as we wake up in the morning but that has become an issue.   She wants up earlier and earlier and is waking me up for hours in the middle of the night in the process.  Not good, everyone needs sleep.  So, we need to fix this.  Being that this girl is scary intelligent I have implemented a new rule.  Elsa is not allowed up on the bed until the alarm goes off.  She learns routine at an alarming rate so this morning when the alarm went off my husband had not even got her whole name out of his mouth and she was up and across my back.

I don't mind the whole poodle on top of me thing in the morning.  I can drift in and out of sleep but I cannot sleep like this all night long.  We have tried to move her but she is like a lead weight.  Once she does come up she is so happy to see everyone that she licks my husband, Luke's feet and then my back, arms or whatever happens to be there for the licking.  Then she settles in across me and falls asleep, happy as a clam.

I am thinking that this "time" marker will give her a clearer image of relative time.  She will know exactly when it is time instead of sitting and waiting.  This morning she went and whined at my husbands side of the bed to get up, he looked at it was 4:58am.  The alarm is set for 5:00 am so yes, she is crazy smart.  She will get this whole alarm thing and when she does it will help on the weekend when we would like to sleep past 5:00 am because it just won't go off.

She will get a better sleep with the implementation of this new rule, because she will sleep until she hears the alarm.  I'm sure that in a couple of days she'll just be hopping up on the bed at the alarm and we will soon be able to sleep through it. That is my hope anyway, I need a good night sleep.

Controlling drive

Drive, some have it, some don't.  When you talk about drive in dogs there is a huge difference from dog to dog.  All the dogs I've had have had drive, some definitely more than others.  Tilley was probably my highest drive with Elsa coming in at a close second.  Mandy my Airedale probably had the least and Jessie my little Jack Russell had very high drive but a different type.  Being a terrier she was movement trigger happy, pretty much anything that moved was fair game.  But for all the others it has been the desire to chase and retrieve often going too far.

Yesterday we were at the park where a guy was flying his plane, a toy plane.  There was a couple sitting off to the side with their two dogs.  One of the dogs was going off on the plane, it was shaking, whining and barking with drive.  It wanted so badly to chase that little plane.  Knowing full well that Elsa would probably love to chase the plane as well I kept a close eye on what she was doing.  We walked by the dog that was going crazy and she stopped to take it in.  I told her to never mind and we kept going, calmly.

As we made our way around the park the plane came close and then overhead, Elsa watched it and then looked at Luke.  Luke didn't give two hoots about the plane.  He use to, when he was younger he too wanted to chase it.  But now it was so mundane to him that he didn't bat an eye.  This was good because after looking at Luke, Elsa ignored the plane.  She gave it a couple of glances over the shoulder and then checked in with Luke again, repeatedly she saw him not caring so she didn't care about it.

Drive can quickly go from fun to trouble.  I have often told people to stop flashlight use, laser, or reflection after seeing how awful a game can turn.  I watch for shadow chasers having had one of the worst case shadow chasers.  Car chasing can be nipped in the bud if you see it growing, but sadly many people don't notice it until it is a full fledged 'issue.'  You can stop drive issues but you have to get in before it is in full force.  Trying to stop a dog from chasing something once they are in the thick of it is nearly impossible.  But, if you catch it at the pupil dilation stage you can.

Drive is something to keep an eye on.  Like I said, it can be great fun for retrieving and other canine sports but it can go bad quickly.  You must address overdrive issues before they go wrong.

Puppies connecting............."Not right now."

I have no idea how many times I have gone over non connecting issues with owners of new puppies.  The owner sadly tells me that they think that their puppy could care a less if they were even there.  They won't sit still, won't let them pet them without nipping and generally don't have time for their human companion. Let me say to you all, "this is perfectly normal."   Busy, busy, busy...........puppies are constantly on the go and if you have another dog or dogs then there is someone to constantly be tagging along after and connecting with.

When you get a puppy it is essential to start the bonding process.  What that means is time, quality time together.  If you have another dog that means getting your puppy away from that dog and spending some one on one.  This is something that I preach often, "do it or you'll regret it."  Of course dogs being vastly different, some will do fine never being removed from their canine companion but many will just never be all that they could be.  They might also never be the dog that you wanted.  That true bond, that amazing connection unobtainable due to an intense and overriding relationship with the other dog.

Spending one on one does not have to be long and drawn out; what it means is that you need to connect.  Training is a wonderful way to help that along, that is if you are using positive training methods only.  Guidance throughout day to day is also helpful in the connection.  Life lessons throughout the day no matter how small are connecting moments.  Being there as a pillar for your dog to look up to is a big connection.  Elsa is still young and when something scary happens she will run to my side.  I do not coddle her but I do stand strong and calm showing her the way.   If you simply go through your day together without ever connecting it could take forever.  Just being together in a room is not the same as connecting.

I see how my dogs react to different people, some people connect right away and it is typically the people who are interested in the dogs.   There are people we meet who don't have time for dogs and simple see them as sort of an accessory.   Not much connecting happens with these folks and they will never get a connected response from my dogs.

Connecting takes time but the process starts from day one.  The goal is to become the person that your dog turns to in need.  That means any need.  Puppies really don't care much about connecting, they are much like toddlers and have better things to do in life.  So believe me when I say we have all gone through the "my puppy doesn't even like me" stage, as your puppy runs to see everyone but you.  It is a  process and if you are spending good one on one and connecting throughout your day to day then it is happening.  There will come a moment, maybe months from now that you see that connection and realize you are now truly connected.

Having an intense connection with your dogs is amazing, there is nothing like it.  Yesterday as I gardened, Luke came out and nudged me as he often does.  In a bent down position he nearly knocks me over with his pushing but I lean into it and we have a long and very enjoyable snuggle.  Once done I ask him "is that good?"  He stands pondering, sometimes he is good and will lay down; other times he needs a bit more before he settles.  A little later Elsa joins in the gardening; at the time I was on the other side of a small fence.  She reached through the fence and I leaned in to connect with her as she kissed my cheek.  Honestly, does it get any better?


   

Smoke and mirrors

Yesterday we had a great time at the park.  We did our regular walk around, worked on some off leash recalls and then took a path out of the main park for some more off leash fun.  Luke was beat, Elsa was just getting started (she goes in the afternoon for off an off leash run too) but we head back to the car and headed for home.  Pulling out of the park road I noticed a little chihuahua type dog running towards us down the middle of the road. I immediately pulled over, stopped the car and jumped out.  I knew this dog, Elsa and I had seen it often on her afternoon runs.

The dog looked scared, it's whole body said "I'm lost."  I bent down in the road and called to it but there was no way this little guy was coming to me.  He was scanning his environment, tail tucked completely under, body hunched and running.  My attempt at coaxing him not only didn't work, he was growing suspiciously angry at me.  I tried again with no success as he ran down the road past me.

I watched and was just about to get in my car and follow him when he ran into a driveway and turned around.  He got on his biggest tough guy posture and let me have it.  He was home, it made me smile.  It was so clear that this driveway was his safe haven, there was just no way you could not see that this was his domain.  It had changed everything.  He now felt safe, ready to take on the world or at least this crazy lady trying to talk to him while out on his morning walk.  But this morning he'd obviously gotten too far from his safety zone and he was freaked.

This little dog had needed his home turf to bring on his big tough guy act but many dogs try wherever they happen to be.  The tough guy routine, Luke does it at the vets and surprisingly he is very convincing.  We have been asked to muzzle him several times which of course I will not do. But you have to be very dog savvy to be able to see through it.  If you pay close attention to the whole package you can see that it is an act.  Luke is a love bug, he pretty much loves everyone but at the vets he is very nervous and tries to keep everyone at bay by growling and carrying on.  Basically he tries to scare them and it works.  When I refuse to muzzle and tell them that he will be fine in less than a minutes once in the room, they agree.  And he is.

There is a fine line between bluff and being bitten.  No one wants to be bit, not even me.  Being bit can bring with it a great deal of fall out behaviors for the bitten, aside from the actual bite.  So avoiding it is of course the goal.  I've come close a couple of times, it was scary and touch and go at one specific juncture.  As hard as a dog may bluff if you know what you are seeing you will know whether or not that dog is displaying an act or real behavior.

Dogs don't lie, but they sure do try sometimes.  This is why it is so important to read a dog's body language.  Dogs can seem like they are an aggressive monster when in fact they are simply playing.  They can also seem as sweet as can be and bite as soon as you cross their invisible line.  I was just telling my daughter a story about a Dalmatian at the shelter when I volunteered there.  I had approached the kennel and the dog froze and gave me a hard stare.  I went and told the official people there that the dog should only be walked with two people and to be very careful, it was aggressive.  Of course they didn't listen and let a pregnant volunteer take the dog out alone one day.  She had taken him for a walk and sat down on the curb beside him to chill, he took that as his opening and attacked her on the head.  Pretty scary and something that could have been avoided completely.

The little dog running down the street was not a scary guy, he was trying very hard to look that way but his body held the truth to his true feelings.  It can be tough but the more you watch the more you will understand.  Much of what you see is smoke and mirrors.




  

Just how smart are they?

I have heard many people over the years say that their dog is not the brightest.  I love to meet these dogs because it is typically not the case.  It has long been a common consensus that Greyhounds were not intelligent.  After much research I discovered that this label was put on them after attempting and failing to use conventional harsh training methods.  They basically shutdown during the process and those less experienced in true canine behavior consider this dumb.  Hmmmmmm.    Many folks think that because they have a Bulldog the chance of training their dog to comply is diminished.  Hogwash; dogs are dog and like I always say, they are different.  Some of the smartest dogs I've worked with are Bulldogs.

Dogs are simple creatures; yet they hold within them a complicated collection of puzzle pieces that humans are often at a loss putting together.  When I am out with my own dogs or in the presence of a dog pack I will often commentary what is going on.  People are regularly surprised by what is really going on.   I have often been witness to a loud and demonstrative greeting between dogs where one of the owners is appalled by the behavior.  When a dog growls, snaps or lunges at another, many people immediately jump to the 'aggressive' dog mode.

My dog does this..................why?  That is the question and normally there is a very simple explanation.  Elsa quickly figured out, I mean within a few trips outside that if she does indeed go outdoors that she doesn't have to wear her underwear.   So there she stands at the door much more than normal just wanting her underwear off.  She also understands that when she comes in they must be placed on again and so she stands with a not so happy face.  She'll be happy to see the end of this.

Dogs who have been taught, basically given an education from an early age do learn faster.  The whole concept of learning must be taught.  I've worked with older adults who have never been taught anything and it takes a great deal of patience to get to that first light bulb moment.  Dogs are extremely talented in reading our signals and even the smallest of motion can give them a heads up.  Most owners are astounded that the simple application of a particular shoe lets their dog know that they are going for a walk.  This is association and repetition at its best.

Dogs are masters at communication, we are not.  Within a 1/2 of a minute dogs can say a great deal without ever muttering a sound.  We humans get lost in all the 'what ifs' and 'between the lines' crap. Dogs learn at different speeds and through different applications, just like people.  Some dogs are bold and willing to offer new behaviors, others have a tough time just throwing out different behaviors at an owner.  Luke is one of the smartest dogs I know but he does not offer new behaviors.  Elsa offers whatever she can think and I find myself undoing things all the time with her.

All dogs are smart, just different in their own way.  In all my years of training and educating canines I have only ever met one that was an impossible case.  The owner told me that she thought that he might have brain damage due to the fact that he died on the operating table when being neutered and was brought back several times.  I assured her that he did have brain issues.  Even still he was sweet and a wonderful pet, just unable to learn or at least within the range of human patience time span.

Bath time

It's bath time for Luke.  Elsa had a bath about a week ago when I decided to do some touch ups on her grooming.  I don't often bathe two dogs in one day, its a lot on my back.  One day, oh yes, one day I will have this amazing tub.   But for now I hunch over to get the job done and no matter how hard I work out at the gym, it kills my back.  I try bending at the knees instead of hunching over but it still hurts.  My lower back is wrecked since my three kids, oh well.

I have moved bath time now to the bigger shower, in my room.  It gives me much more room to turn around and once they are done their bath they go directly out to the balcony for a good shake.  They have their first initial shake off and tiny rip out there and get the bulk of the water out.  Taking steps to minimize the work and hassle of bath time are well worth the effort.  We then make our way down stairs and straight outside for more shake, rattle and roll business.  They typically have a zoom and then intermittent towel drying.  Luke loves the towel dry time, he is always attempting to escape and it has now turned into a tackle and bite the towel time.  He loves it as much as I do.

Check out those bold eyes.   

Being poodles, they don't tend to get that strong doggy odor like the shedding breeds.  Jessie was a little stinker that often smelled like she had been rolling in something rank.   Even still poodles get dirty and they get stinky.   Luke is at that point now, he smells sort of like a dirty blanket.  Funny my boys have always been smellier than the girls, I guess it's the same as humans right?  ;)  So as long as the sun is out, he's going in the shower this afternoon.  I've decided that I'm going to let him air dry today.  That means that he won't be fluffy but will have tiny little ringlets all over.  It's a very different look than the forced air dry that they get when it is chillier out.

I don't my dogs more than I have to, it's not good for their coat.  If they are dirty they get a bath, or if they are going to be groomed.  It is much easier on my clippers if their coat is clean before we do any work.  I do not have a weekly bath schedule; you'd be surprised how long we can go without a bath.  If a dog stinks then they need a bath, bottom line.  If we hit the beach I often just blow the hair out with my forced air dryer.  As you all can see I'm not a fussy type groomer, I'm more a wash and wear gal.  Of course when Elsa had her puppy coat there was a large amount of fussing to do with that but now that it is gone we are good to go.

Once the bath itself is done with the fun begins.  I almost always bring out the camera for the event, great shots are always there for the taking.  That is if you are fast enough to capture them.  Have a great hump day everyone.

The first

Looking through old photos last night I came across an image of my very first dog.  Not my first dog as an adult; that was an Airedale named Mandy.  I got Mandy when I was eighteen years old.  I had a dog as a child, just one and I was lucky to have that.  I didn't come from a dog family; I know, weird.  I have four brothers and sisters and we begged for years for a dog.  Finally we got this little guy in the photo, Strawberry.  Yes he was a boy with the name Strawberry.  We didn't name him, he came that way at the age of 18 months old.  Am. Cdn. Ch. MaGriffe William Strawberry.

My parents had snuck off to look at him as a possibility.  Not being a dog person at all my mother  considered this little non shedding tiny guy to be the perfect solution.  Not the best choice for 5 kids who have never had a dog before; we bombarded the poor little guy with instant and abundant affection.  But he fit in quickly.  It was amazing how well he did because he came from an adult only home and had been a show dog for his entire life.  When he came to us he was a Canadian/American Champion; of course as a child this meant nothing to me.

I spent many long hours with Strawberry, I'd dreamed of the day I would have my own dog and it had finally come.  I'd been in love with dogs years before his arrival.  I had imagined a gorgeous Irish Setter as my first dog.  The idea had been ingrained since I watch the Disney movie Big Red one Sunday night.  That was it, I was hooked.  But how much did Strawberry add to my love of dogs?  A great deal.

Having the chance to get up close and personal is essential.  If you only get the chance to love dogs from a far you never really experience 'a dog.'  I remember into my teenage years as Strawberry became a little old man, carrying him around zipped up in my bathrobe.  I adored him.  The first is always a huge learning experience.  I've worked with so many people who have never had a dog before and the range of canine knowledge is wide in first timers.  Some people get a dog having no idea of anything canine, others have done their research but still have yet to lay hands on the real deal.

Not until you live with dogs can you completely understand what it is like.  That is if you allow yourself to go into the world of dogs.  Some people live with dogs for years without ever leaving the surface type of relationship.  Each and every dog that comes through our lives prepares us for the next.  We all make mistakes, heck I've made a load of them but it is all a learning curve.  Life is an evolution of oneself if you allow it to be.

Looking back is nostalgic, often it makes us long for a life we had back then.  But one of my favorite sayings now is "don't look back, you aren't going that way."  I try very hard to live life facing forwards. Everyone has a first, that first has usually altered your life drastically.  I know Strawberry sure helped to catapult me to where I am today.  Since that little guy, there have been many who have been involved in my evolution.  But Strawberry was the first.

Monday this and that

Good Monday morning; I hope you all had a great weekend, I did.  I spent the day with my oldest daughter and hubby yesterday which was wonderful.  After the humans worked out it was dog work out time.  Luke went with his Dad and I took advantage of a very quiet park.  All the Mom's were out for brunch so we had a nice long time with an open field, just Elsa and I.  Boy can this girl fly.  We met up after with Luke and Dad in the park, then it was home for some chill'n time which is about an hour and then breakfast.

At the park we were in an out of the fenced area in record time.  With the chuck it, exercise time is concentrated.  I can throw the ball from one side of the field to the other.  Elsa runs like a torpedo shot out of a cannon after the ball and slows only a bit on the return.  It was starting to warm up so we did this about twelve times before heading out.  Always keeping in mind my motto in life "quit while you're ahead."  

On the way to the park we met a really nice lady with two dogs.  She asked immediately if Elsa was a poodle, then told us all about her past dog who had been a black standard.  She said that her dog was so fast that even the whippets couldn't catch her.  We compared athletic stories and she was smiling as she elaborated on hers.  Nice to see such fond memories people hold of their dogs gone by.  

Saturday was a puttering around day, a few errands and lots more gardening.  I love when I garden and the dogs enjoy just hanging with me.  We are wrapping up week two of Elsa's heat and this week has been tough on Luke.    I have to say that he has been very good about it all.  Being his age has probably helped.  He sleeps most of the day, even snuggled up with Elsa without any issues.  It seems to be right before and after dinner when the issues arise.  He gets..........well..............let's just say randy then.  But his poor old legs don't do him well in this situation.  But there is no lack for trying.  She is still bleeding so sporting her ultra snazzy undies.

This week should be a good one, my other daughter is home for a nice long visit so we'll be hanging out a lot. For sure we'll be hitting the beach with the dogs several times.  The end of midday beach visits is quickly coming to an end until mid September.  We can still go on the beach with the dogs but it has to be before 8am and after 6:00pm which in the summer is just fine.  It makes it a little tougher to get there that early and typically after 6 it's still crowded with the summer array of visitors.  So once the Memorial day is over I'll just have to switch up my own routine and walk the dogs before hitting the gym.

Have a wonderful week, and give your dog a big squeeze for me.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there.  Being a Mom is about the best job there is and that includes being a Mom to our dogs.  My dogs know me as Mommy, Momma or Mom; it's who I am.  After coming into this world of course by their actual Mom and being cared for by their first human Mom, I stepped into the picture to be the main caregive, Mom.

What is a Mom?  A Mom is someone who loves you unconditionally, takes care of you, worries about you and has hopes and dreams for you.  I know a whole lot of amazing dog Mom's out there.  Woman who open their arms and keep their furkids in the safety of a Mother's realm.

A Mom can be patient, gentle, caring, fierce, affectionate and kind.  I could go on and on; a Mother is just there, always.    Be proud on this day that you care for your dog the way you do.

A big Happy Mother's day to all you Fur Mom's.  Me; I am my dog's Mom.

Opinions

Opinion - a belief or judgment that rest on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.  A personal view, attitude or appraisal.

Opinions are funny things, many people offer up theirs quickly, some hold their tongue and others share when asked.  I like to fall into the later category but often cannot help myself.  Heck I share my opinions with you all everyday here on my blog.  An opinion is just that; a personal assessment, never positive or certain.  But I often deal with people who state their opinion as factual, the only option, their way or the highway so to speak.

Dog behavior is not a perfect science.  As living, breathing creatures they are all different.  This is where lies the problem with the 'only their way,' folks.   Even within feeding, housing, caring, grooming etc etc. there are many different ways.  When asked I will always give my opinion; you may not like it or agree but that's okay because it is my opinion, not yours.

Obviously I have a lot of opinions, I've been writing this blog since 2007. But much of my opinions are backed by experience and research.  Again that is NOT to say that they are correct opinions, just mine.  So when someone comes to me attacking one of my opinions with their own claiming that I am wrong and they are right, I'm not a fan.  "How dare I say that choke collar training is bad," is what one guy who remained anonymous said.  How dare I?  I do dare.  It is my opinion and yes it is based on experience.

If you read something that you don't like, that's okay.  I don't mind if you don't agree but allow me my opinion.  You can have yours and I will have mine.  I think that everyone is entitled to share their opinion, in fact it is a great thing when people do.  As we go through life we learn a great deal, almost something everyday and if you share just a fraction of what you learn and how you feel about it you can help many others.  Sharing is different than ramming down someone's throat though.  Taking the I'm right and you are wrong stance is a good way to have people never listen.    

Just grass

This photo was taken last summer.  Tilley loved the grass and spent many hours soaking up the sun on her back just outside the kitchen window where I could watch her.  

Sitting at a clients kitchen table, I glanced outside to see her two pit mixes soaking up the sun.  They were sprawled out on a nice outdoor dog bed and looked very comfy, nice to see.  But in an instant the owner was up and yelling at one of the dogs, "OFF THE GRASS."  "What's wrong?"  I asked.  "I don't want them on the grass" she explained.  What?????????  "Why?" I asked, not understanding what the heck was going on.  She explained that she didn't want the dogs peeing on the grass.  "Okay, where do they go?"  I asked her.  She told me that they only are allowed to go on walks.  Really?  I was shocked and a little disturbed.

To me grass is grass.  Yes I like to have a nice lawn and I actually work hard at keeping it semi green.  Do I care if the dogs pee on the grass, no.  I cannot even imagine the inconvenience of having to walk the dogs for them to relieve themselves.  I truly enjoy being able to just open the door.  I mean not allowing your dogs to go on the grass would be much like living in an apartment.  What if someone has an upset stomach? Then what?  The joy of grass and dogs is the fact that you can hose.  I have the hose going all the time, especially first thing in the morning when their pee is the strongest.  I'm not out there every morning of course but if I happen to be out when they pee then I hose it off.

I like my yard to be usable so I also pick up after them regularly.  If they go when I am out there then it is picked up immediately, no poop lying around for days.  My yard is small so if I don't pick it up, it is likely to come into the house at some point, more work for me and gross.  I also find that there is no lingering smell if you hose the grass off frequently.

I love to garden so when I'm in the back so are the dogs.  We spend a good deal of time out there in our backyard.  I do not allow chemicals in the backyard on my grass.  No, my grass does not look like the gorgeous rolling greens on a golf course but it is healthy grass that won't hurt my dogs if they eat it.  I also like to keep baby fresh grass growing in a pot for those time when they feel the need to snack.  They love to nibble on grass and are constantly looking for the good stuff.

There is just too much chemical fertilizer and weed killer out there now.  Who knows what long term effects it will have on us all, including our dogs.  I know that several times when we've visited a park that is clearly over fertilized that Luke has had a seizure shortly after.  We don't visit those parks again. If I feel the need to give my lawn some nutrients, it gets a dose of organic stinky stuff and is quickly hosed in and gone.  But that is a very rare occasion.

Just yesterday as I was putting in some new flowers, both Luke and Elsa were sprawled out on the grass beside me.  They were soaking up the sun and enjoying the sound of the birds at the feeder.  Watching them as they relaxed and enjoyed the day made me smile.

It's grass, just grass.  There for all to enjoy and use.

In the hands of a stranger

It can happen and it does, dogs die when left in the hands of a stranger.  This is not a blog to scare you but to let you know what can happen.  Like anything in life, before you do it; research, research.  I'm talking about groomers and doggie daycare/boarding facilities.  The fact is that dogs have died while in the care of these facilities.  First let me say that I know lots of great groomers and daycare and obviously this is not about them.  After surfing the net for just a short time this morning I found many sad stories of dogs dying at both.

I met Kera, a bouncy and full of life boxer girl when she was just 4 months old.  Not long into our first training session I discovered that Kiara was not the first dog in this home.  No, Kiara was the second boxer for this family as the first had died at the groomers.  The dog had been left at the vets to be groomed, she had died at the age of 6 months old in a cage due to heat exposure.  A boxer left in a cage with a cage dryer on too high for too long which is a common cause of death at grooming shops.    So many things done wrong and the result was the death of the dog.  So sad and careless.

Being that I have poodles and a huge group of poodle friends I hear about lots of groomer stories.  It is hard to find a good groomer, much like finding a good doctor or hairstylist for yourself.  But the difference is that we leave our dogs in the hands of these people and hope for the best.  Are they kind, do they like dogs, are they experienced?  There are people in the field who would have to answer no to all of these questions and that groomer or daycare might just be yours. No, it is not easy to find a good groomer or daycare; one that you can put complete faith in.  Pretty much anyone can put out their grooming or daycare sign and get to it.

Doggie daycare is popping up everywhere, for many it seems to be an easy way to make a quick buck.  If you have some space, presto a dog care facility.  Grooming is a bit tougher to get started into as there is more equipment needed and specialty this and that.  How can you know, I mean really know where your dog is safe?  Reviews, recommendations, experience (length of time in operation) and a visual.  That's right, have a good look around and if anything just doesn't seem right, leave.

That goes both for grooming facilities and daycare/boarding facilities.  There should be lots of friendly people there, watch how they interact with your dog.  Do they have training, do they have "official" certificates out where people can see them?  Can you hang around for a bit or is it a drop your dog at the door and leave sort of place?  Research, research, research.  It doesn't take long to find out what people think of a place and a facilities safety history.

Both industries are plagued with deaths and injuries that you can find on the internet.  Dog owners who left their dog happy and healthy and returned to an injured or dead dog.  It is simply a dog owners worst nightmare come true when this happens.  Unfortunately not a lot can be done when this does happen so it is up to us, dog owners to make sure that we are leaving our dogs in the best place possible.

If you ever get that second thought feeling about a place, please listen to it. All of this goes for veterinarians as well.  I almost cut Tilley's life short by not listening to that inner warning voice.  

Knowing your dog

Knowing your dog is so very important, but many people go through life without fully knowing or understanding them.  Yesterday when I was at the park a man walked by us with his two cute little munchkins and gave us a heads up.  "There is a guy with a black dog around corner that went after my dog," he told me.  I asked if the dog had been on a leash?  He said "yes, they were just saying hi and it attacked my dog."  I thanked him and we went on our way.  Needless to say I kept my eye open for the black dog but he seemed to have left.

This got me to thinking that many people really do not know their own dog.  Had this guy known his black dog he would have passed on the greeting.  Of course I didn't see what happened but it's a good guess.  I used to tell people from far away that Jessie was not friendly, it just wasn't worth all the bluster from her and shock from other people.  She was the ultimate "alpha bitch," and went through life wanting everyone to know that fact.

Another park encounter of ours was averted because I know my dogs.  We were walking down the path and saw a young looking, very friendly lab.  He had a spring in his step and was growing increasing ly excited when he saw my guys.  I knew in an instant that Luke would not like this dog, he's not a big lab fan.  I told Luke and Elsa "this way," and we veered into the field a bit just as Luke mustered up a gruff sounding exhale.  He'd been watching the dog and had his warning already when I made him change course.

At the moment Elsa likes everyone, she is still young and social.  In fact she will be 10 months old tomorrow and I love how social and dog savvy she is.  She has had so much socializing with a wide range of dogs that her skills have been becoming more and more fine tuned.  So far there is nothing that I have to steer away for due to her likes and dislikes.  Although if I do see trouble coming or stirring I will remove us.  One bad altercation can be enough to start a problem that was not there in the first place.  She has now met some grumpy dogs and we quickly find a nice one afterwards; a sort of back on the horse thing so there is no lasting impression, just a life lesson.

But knowing your dogs ins and outs takes time; it takes a great deal of watching and paying attention. How many times have I heard people say to me "I don't know why he does that sometimes?"  I say all of the time "Luke's not going to like this or that."  I know my boy and he is an extremely complicated yet simple guy.  Watching is so very important, not only watching but taking in and learning.  Why is your dog reacting the way they are?  Almost everything in a dogs life is caused by association whether it be positive or negative.  Our job is to make it mostly positive and help them through our human world.

When you go out with your dog, watch.  Don't be talking on the phone or in your own world.  Watch how they are dealing in your world.  Get to know them on every different level.  Learning how they see the world will help you to know how they feel about situations that you can then avoid if needed.  It's all about knowing your dog, do you?

Scent work

Scenting for dogs come very naturally.  That said not all dogs use their nose as much as some.  Over the years I have seen a big difference just in my own dogs and when you look at all the different breeds and their anatomy there is a big difference in their ability.  Dogs can smell far more than we could ever hope to. Their nose contains over 195 million more scent receptors than ours so it is fairly easy to understand why they can smell much more than we can.

I love to watch dogs while they are out for a walk, they smell everything.  Elsa is quite the scent dog, much like Tilley was.  On a walk I often feel like I am walking a scenting hound dog.  Her nose rarely leaves the ground until we've been out for sometime or if something happens to catch her ears, then eyes.  If we happen to be walking behind another dog you can see her following every footstep that the dog ahead of us has taken.  When at home she often scents to find us.  It amazes me how dogs can differentiate between 15 min. old foot steps and the most recently placed ones.

Hide'n seek has always been a big game in our house.  Tilley played by scenting out the hider, Luke and my now past boy Clyde would look more than scent.  Elsa is the same as Tilley and uses her nose a great deal.  So I have been thinking that scent work might be a good activity to give a go.

I have been looking into scent work and found The National Association of Canine Scent work 

They have created a group that has opened the door for all dogs to participate in scent work for fun at k9 Nose Work

I think that this would be a great way to channel much of Elsa's natural ability while allowing her to partake in a very natural canine behavior.  Allowing our dogs to do what comes naturally while using their brain and their body is a great outlet for them.  I am going to start some very beginning scent work at home to see how she enjoys it.  Unfortunately scent work training is not offered everywhere so there can be a short to very long drive to get to classes.  But if this is something a dog seems to excel at then who knows where it will lead you?  Follow the nose.

Maiden voyage

Autumn Shades Elsa

Elsa at only 3.5 months old with her Dad.  His new running partner but not for many more months.

Yesterday was a big day; it was kick off day to years of a great running relationship.  Although the day was a bittersweet one, celebratory for Elsa in her new partnership with Dad but a day marking the end of years of running for Luke and his Dad.  Luke has been retired from running for about a year; it was a very difficult thing for Steve (my husband) to do.  The cutting back process was much more mentally challenging than physical.  The idea of not taking Luke out for a jog was just not an option so it was a very, very slow process to where we are today.

First thing to be cut out of Luke's runs were hills.  The hills were too hard on his back legs and even though he could do it, he was very sore later that night.  So running on flats, then only running occasionally to walking, then less walking to small walks.  When Luke could not run any longer my husband said to me "I'm going to need a new running partner."  Even though he had a tough time thinking this let alone saying it.  He loved jogging but not alone, it's not the same running without a dog.  He really enjoyed jogging with a canine partner.

It seems like it was just yesterday that Tilley had gone through the same cut back until finally ending the whole jogging thing completely.  It is a sad and difficult thing to do.  They quickly learn to love the outing as much as we do and when you have to leave and shut the door behind you looking at those wondering eyes, it can be almost too much to bare.  But we do what me must and these type of things must be done with your head and not your heart.

So it had been Luke and Tilley and then just Luke for sometime before Elsa entered the picture.  Knowing full well that Elsa could not be a jogging partner for months it was pretty much perfect timing to slowly wean Luke out.  His walks have gotten shorter and more of a sniff fest, he is 11.5 years old and showing it now.  Yesterday was the big day, and as exciting as it was it was also a strategic moment.  Steve was still not ready to hook up Elsa and walk out of the house without Luke so he took Luke out and Elsa and I went in my car.  Luke went for his normal walk with Dad and then we met up in the park and switched.

I told Steve to be careful and not to break an arm as they turned to leave. It takes a while for running teams to get in sync with each other, tripping is common.  As they head in the opposite direction Luke looked back and my heart ached for him.  I tried to make it fun by giving lots of treats and going along a path that he loves to sniff on.  I looked over my shoulder several times and saw Elsa doing the same, she kept looking back.  This was the very first time she'd gone off alone without Mom, another tough moment for me.

I was anxious to hear how it went when they returned.  "So, so how did it go?"  Elsa did great, she made a few instant stops which tweaked Steve's back a bit and dove out only once to say hi to another dog.  Other than that she had done amazingly well.  "I know she's going to be great," Steve said about his new running partner.  How could she not be great, she is one of the most athletic dogs that I know.  I would have to even go so far as to say "a match made in heaven."

The ride home had been difficult for her, once in the car and not running; the change of everything seemed to hit her.  Steve said that she was upset, wouldn't settle.  She seemed to be looking for me and was not comfortable in the car.  She'd driven across the country in this car so it was not the car but the situation itself.  This only meant that the change that had begun was a good one.  More time spent with Dad to build and grow their relationship was needed.  Time standing on her own four feet away from Luke was also good.

The last several months of our lives have seen great change and daily activities were done differently due to all the change.  This latest change like I said is bitter sweet but in the long run will a win win for all involved.

Canine groups and social media

These days Facebook is a big part of our lives.  I have met many people who are still not a part and do not want to be a part of FB.  It took me a while to get into the swing of it and even then I joined and didn't participate for a very long time.  Then I had another look see and liked what I was seeing.  Sure there is some bad stuff that comes with it but that is life in general, nothing is all good.  But there is so much good that has come out of a group like this.

Over the years I have been a member of many training, breed specific and dogs in general groups.  I've since left them all and now only use Facebook.  The other groups had drama, arguing and rudeness, more than I could tolerate.  What I've noticed is that Facebook doesn't have near the issues with rudeness.  For one I would never put up with it on my own groups but the groups that are not mine are just as nice.

Social media has give us a means to share information fast and wide.  I have gotten so much news via FB that I would have a hard time not having it.  I feel like our world has gotten smaller and smaller and I love it.  I have started several groups, one of which is nearing the 4700 member mark.  I just love it, I have met people around the world with common interests.  As a group we share news, bits and pieces of our lives and learn a great deal from others.

When a piece of important news is shared it is shared with speed across the word via Facebook.  The recently announced new dog food recalls is big news this weekend.  If you are not on Facebook or some other media outlet then it may take a while to get to you.  Our world is ever changing, years ago there was no Facebook and I for one am glad that it is here.  I enjoy meeting all the new people who I get to talk to and who have become a part of my daily life.

When I traveled across the country I felt like I had support throughout the travel and I did, my Facebook family was following us every step of the way.  That is amazing.  I will never forget the feeling on being connected to so many great people.   I for one think that it is a great way to connect with others.  If you are not a Facebook fan yet you should give it a try, you can always leave it you hate but I bet that you won't.

My groups on Facebook include

Just dogs with Sherri
The Standard Poodle
Sherri Regalbuto Photography
Bloat
Shutting down puppy mills
OC Standard Poodles
Poodles in need around the world

Give it a try, I'd love to meet you there.

Out of April and into May recap

First let me share that there has been another big dog food recall.

Dog food recall

Wellness food recall 

Please share these recalls with all of your dog friends.

It's been a busy week.  This week was pretty much gray here in Southern California, I think I saw the sun peek out only once.  We had several days of drizzle and one of actual rain.  When it rains I am out, rain typically keeps a good percentage of the people in with their dogs so that means more chance of a free run for us.  We met a labrador friend of Elsa's and they played and ran like crazy in the rain.  It was this friend of hers that let me know that she was indeed coming into heat.  Poor guy, at six months of age he didn't know what hit him.

Luke has had a very bad eating week, I mean worse than normal.  It could very well be the fact that Elsa is in heat or just Luke being Luke.  He's has decided that he does not eat out of a bowl at mealtime but enjoys eating sporadically throughout the day.  When he does eat it is at a snail pace so a time consuming event to say the least.  He did just finish two whole pieces of cheesey turkey meatloaf that I heated up for my breakfast.  When he eats we go with it and give him as much as we can get in.  So he enjoyed most of my breakfast.

Over this week Elsa has also learned the joy of staying in bed and rarely gets up with me when I go down to get coffee and/or breakfast.  She gets up when I get ready for the gym but goes right back to bed with Luke when I leave.  When I get back from the gym the two of them are snuggled in my bed.

We have been working on the dog door lately with very little success I'm afraid.  Elsa really doesn't like it.  She is fine with pushing it but does not like that it hits her in the back as she goes through.  At this point with her in heat, I'm glad that she is not wanting to use it.  I frankly don't want her out there when I'm not home.  There is no fence high enough for a male after a female in heat.

We will be heading to the beach probably tomorrow and enjoy a day puttering around at home.

Happy Cinqo de Mayo everyone.  Get out those avocados and tequila, of course for the humans.

What to expect when your females comes into heat.

She is not impressed with the underwear situation.

It is a rare occurrence these days to hear that a dog is or will be coming into heat.  Elsa just came into heat yesterday and as such I figured that I'd write about it for those who want to know.  It is now customary to alter our canines on or before they reach six months of age.  Many rescue dogs are spayed or neutered at an extremely young age. This is due to the fact that the people in charge don't want the dogs that they are saving to have a litter of their own.  I know of many dogs who were altered before they were seven weeks old, way too young in my books.

There is now a move to waiting, but with waiting comes a great deal of precautionary measures.  No dog should ever be bred on a first heat, you can read about the reasons why in the articles listed below.  But to keep as simple as possible, they are still babies themselves.

Canines can come into heat anywhere around six months of age.  It can be sooner or much later depending on the dog.  Tilley had her first heat at the age of 14 months, late.  Elsa will turn 10 months old on May 10th.  Elsa's Mother had her first heat at the age of 7 months so they are all different.  Heats last much longer than most people think and they can be confusing.  Many people think that when a dog stops bleeding that they are safe to be out and about.  Big mistake.

The female dog's vulva may start to swell from two weeks before they start their heat or just a day before.  Elsa was just a day.  Once they start to bleed which for Elsa was yesterday it is considered day one of their heat.  Heat can last up to 21 days, yep that's right, 21 days.  It can be much shorter or longer depending on the dog but you must take great care that they are not accidentally caught by a male.  Luckily there are not too many intact males out there these days, most have been altered at a young age.

It is the Estrus stage when they are ready to breed and can become pregnant.  This can be anywhere from 5-12 days after the beginning of the heat.  But can very from dog to dog.  It can be sooner or go much longer that their receptive stage hangs around.  So like I said, great care must be taken so that an "oooops" doesn't occur.

Elsa is in the proestrus stage right now, this means that she is showing signs, bleeding but is not receptive to breeding or at the stage when a breeding would result in puppies.  That said if you have a female who is bleeding, keep her away from any possible "oooops."  Males can be very persistent in their attraction.  Luke has already noticed the change and has been extremely.............lets just say randy.

From a great deal of research and my own past experiences with unaltered females when the time comes that they are at the point of conception everything changes.  They may have been quite adamant about keeping males away up until now.  But at this point they will typically, of course not always be persistent themselves.  I clearly remember Tilley back it up to my male at the time who was a senior brown boy.  He was attempting to do the deed but when he did not perform to Tilley's liking she got quite angry with him.  Clyde had been long neutered so don't think that being neutered means that they lose interest.  She gave this same routine to poor young Luke which was when we decided to have Luke neutered at 10 months of age.  Looking back now, I would have dealt with it and waited another 8 months to a year to have Luke altered.

Reproduction article #1

The heat cycle

How long does it last?


We eventually had Tilley spayed at the age of five years old and I would not wait that long again.  It was much more difficult for her to recover.  That said I believe strongly that dogs are being altered at too young of an age.  There is much research being done on the subject, and like most things that are in the fledgling stages of change, is at a very controversial phase.  


Article on when to alter by Dr. Karen Becker

Dogs Naturally Magazine - long and short term benefits and health risks of altering

So; after reading this I am sure that many of you are wondering "is Sherri going to breed Elsa?"  Are there going to be little Elsa's up for sale in the next couple of years?  No.  I know that being the wonderful and very public dog that she is that I would have no problem placing her young but it is not something that is high on my "to do" list.   There are a great number of things to consider before even thinking about breeding.  Far too often people just want a puppy from their wonderful dog.  You can actually come closer to getting another great dog like yours by going back to the breeder where your dog came from originally.

There are a great deal of risks involved in breeding, for the puppies and the Mother herself.  Most people don't consider this when they dive in.  There is a huge financial obligation, vet bills, feed, health test costs etc. etc. etc.  The list goes on and on.  The biggest one for me that many people don't consider is taking back puppies who just don't work out or need to be pulled.  If you breed your dog you need to step up and care for those puppies for the rest of their lives.  That is huge.

The next couple of weeks at my house are going to be fun to say the least, poor Luke.

Feeding a non eater

"He's not going to starve himself."  Well maybe not but he's going to get so skinny that if he is hit with any sort of illness his weight will be a huge issue.  As you all know I do not like when dogs are allowed to get overweight.  Being overweight can cause a great deal of health issues; diabetes, heart disease, severe joint issues, liver and or kidney failure, problems breathing, decreased mobility and more.

Article on obesity in dogs

But today I'm talking about the extreme opposite, skinny, underweight or Luke.  Luke is skinny, really, really skinny.  He has always been skinny and he has always been a very poor eater.  He grew up on real food and has over the years been sporadically fed dog food as well.  He is a tough customer, very complicated and emotional.  Many people may think that his lack of eating like a normal dog is something that I may have caused but I can assure you it is not.  I have had dogs for thirty years and Luke is my very first non eater.  His much younger housemate Elsa eats like an eating champion at an eating competition.

After years and years of trial and error I am finally figuring Luke out a bit. But mood has much to do with his desire to eat or not.  He is by far the fussiest dog we've had, he likes things a certain way, his way.  Even then when you do it his way he might not be in the mood.  He will eat like a hog one night on a homemade beef meal and the next night, forget it.  It can be frustrating at best, many nights I've thrown my hands in the air saying "fine, whatever."

Naturally dogs hunt, stalk, kill and then eat so for many of them the idea of a boring bowl of food placed in front of them is just that, boring.  Luke is not a big bowl eater, he likes to eat on the go.  We learned quite sometime ago that we can get a great deal of food into him on our walks.  He loves to snack, it is his favorite way to eat.  He also enjoys when I take food outside and toss it around.  This makes him work for his food.  I have also used a kong to feed him with, this is very similar to the instinctive way of eating.  I fill the kong with his food, partially freeze it and offer it up.  He has to work for his food and he likes that.

But to get enough calories into him I need to be constantly feeding him throughout the day and he is not always in the mood.  I don't know how many times my kids have asked "what kind of dogs turns down meat?"  Luke is the kind.  I can offer him up some great meatballs; one day he will eat 5 and the next day, he will turn his head.  If he is not in the eating mood and I try to force the issue he will literally get up and leave so there is no force feeding.

If sadly you have a dog with eating habits like Luke you have your work cut out for you.  First let me say how sorry I am that your dog eats like Luke, it is not fun and a constant worry.  I am not a big fan of store bought dog food but it has surely worked to get extra food into Luke. All throughout the day I offer it to him, sometimes he eats it other times not.

I have found a cookie that Luke loves so I make them often and he never turns them down.  He likes really tasty food as well.  I hate the term "people food," and do not like to use it with regards to real food.  Real food is just that, not our food that we've laid claim to, it's just real, fresh food.  But, Luke does like people food.  He likes flavorful, sauteed, barbecued and slow cooked.  He loves good food.  He would much prefer a savory marinated steak over a raw one.  So the boy has taste, but he also has a bad case of the fussies so the whole eating ordeal is a constant one.

So far we've done pretty well, his birthday is in August and he will be 12 years old.  I always have food on me, stuffed into a pocket, pouch or my top.  So if you ever meet me and when I bend over  to tie my shoe, food falls out of my clothing, you'll know why.