Luke doesn't like husky types

The other day my husband and I were out walking the dogs.  It was gorgeous out; it had been raining and was just starting to clear with a brisk wind.  The temperature was in the low 50s; my kind of weather.  Because of the low temps and the looming threat of rain there were not many people out.  But as we were walking down the path we passed a few folks out with their dogs.  We stopped to say hi; at only a year and a half it is still great if Elsa can socialize with other friendly dogs.  It helps to solidify her "dog friendly" attitude.  Not far down the path I saw a man coming with a Siberian husky.  I told my husband to watch Luke.  Typically I walk Elsa and he walks Luke when we are out together.

Why did I tell him to watch Luke?  I gave him a heads up because Luke does not like Husky type dogs.  He doesn't like dogs that lunge towards us or any rambunctious types upon greeting but he plain doesn't like Husky looking dogs.  The only logical explanation for this is the ears and tail.  The dog that was walking towards us had a calm and friendly body posture but of course his ears and tail were up.  To Luke, this meant a challenge or threat and he addresses it head on.  Passing the man and his Husky; Luke let out his customary and very scary lunge growl.  He said his peace; told everyone how he felt and kept on going.

I have had many people tell me that their dog doesn't like Goldens, or Huskies or Poodles..........wait what?  Not like poodles?  No that can't be right?   JK.   (wink, wink) What we see and what our dogs see can be very different.  I usually know when Luke is not going to tolerate a greeting.  Of course an on leash greeting displays much more dominance and aggression than an off leash one.  But our dogs have likes and dislikes and they can misread a message.  They are good but they too can get it wrong.  I have seen wrong readings within my own pack at home.

So what do we do about this dislike of Huskies?  We get our distance.  I know that he doesn't like them so we move away and remain calm.  I do not give off any panic signals; we simply get some space and keep on going.  The Husky dislike includes all breeds that are similar, Akitas, Jindos, Malamutes etc. etc.  They all have the same body posture so they are all dumped into one bin as far as Luke is concerned.  At the age of 12.5 he's not likely to change his opinion now.  In fact I'm not worried about it; he is far too slight to be wrestling with them any how so we don't need to meet them for any reason.  No Elsa on the other hand doesn't seem to show any dislike of particular dogs.  She isn't keen on dogs that come out swinging upon greeting but that is normal behavior.  She pretty much loves to play with anyone willing to play.

If you have a dog with a particular dislike of a certain "look" of dog, you can work on it.  You focus your socializing on dogs with the specific look and create a positive association to them.  Luke has singled them out because of their permanent threat image but we could change that if he was younger.  A couple of good romps with a friendly Husky and he'd probably change his mind.  He is very dog friendly but like us as we age we become less tolerant of many things.  For Luke it's Husky types.

When it just doesn't work

A wonderful close knit bunch of girls. 

Last week I wrote about a close knit pack and how wonderful it can be.  But what about when it isn't wonderful; what happens when it just doesn't work?  I'm not talking about those people who get a puppy and then change their minds after seeing how much work it is.  I'd like to discuss the fact that it sometimes doesn't work.  There are times when a pack is not meant to be together.  Often the humans that live with the pack do everything they can to no avail.  Constant fighting can occur which typically causes time outs or separations.  Soon the separations get longer and longer until the dogs can no longer exist in the same space; this is a very sad situation.

There are times when dogs fight; sometimes they have scuffles but with strong leadership it can be minimized.  I have never allowed fighting in my home; disciplining and communications yes but fighting?  No.  I run a very structured pack.  Having had a Jack Russell in our home for nearly 16 years I had no choice but to run a tight ship.   You need to be able to read body language and communications between the dogs and stop any problem behaviors before they escalate.  Once dogs start to fight it can be very difficult to create a peaceful and stress free household.

A weak leader can cause a great deal of damage within a pack.  It all depends on the pack and the leader which is YOU.  Whether you like it or not you must be a leader; if not then the job is up for grabs and someone in the pack will fill the position.  There is most definitely a hierarchy within a pack but all of the members within the pack should clearly understand that you are the supreme pack leader.  Sometimes just pulling in the reins a bit is all that is needed to fix issues within the pack.  But there are times when it just doesn't work; then what?

I know many people who live with dogs in all different rooms of the house.  They live a turnstile type of life.  Living and sharing their lives with many dogs but individually.  Sad, very, very sad.  Of course you understand that this is just my opinion; others will have their own opinion and do as they see fit.  But for me, a separated life is no life for a dog.  A life of neglect, having to live in a room alone until their  fleeting moment to once again join the pack is a sad life for a dog.  Dogs are pack animals; they deserve a pack.  If the pack that they are in is not working then they need to be placed into another pack that works.

In a wild wolf pack, members often clash.  The leader of the pack may banish a member to live a life alone until they either join another pack or create their own.  When we force dogs to live together who do not want to live together we create great stress.  Dogs who fight each time they see each other live a high stress, always on the edge type of life.  It is a horrible life, never having the chance to let down their guard, to relax and just chill in their home.

The best combination is always a male and a female; but even then their can be turmoil.  I have worked with two very dominant dogs of opposite sex who fought at every chance they were given.  This problem was rectified by stronger leadership and rule implementation.  The most common fighting issues are same sex; often actual siblings or littermates.  They can get along just fine for years until they reach maturity when it all changes.  It can be one dog that starts it all by pushing but with continual pushing the second dog finally retaliates and its on.

When you have done everything you can and it hasn't worked; then re-homing is the next consideration.  It is very sad to re-home a dog but sometimes simply unavoidable.  The whole idea of failure to our dogs is something we can barely live with but for the health and happiness of everyone involved; the best choice.  Making the decision is a very tough one and finding the perfect new pack for one of the members can take a very long time. But I have known dogs who lived horrible tumultuous lives in one pack and with a move to another pack lived out their days in sheer joy.

I also know of people who struggled trying to keep their dogs separated.  They lived for years having dogs in separate rooms until one day they got out and one dog was killed.  This end was far worse than having to live with a new family in  my opinion.  Life is not always great and there are times when we have to do things that we don't want to do; that we don't think that we can do.

If you got your dog from a great breeder then they will surely assist in finding a new home.  Perhaps your dog came from a rescue group; they too will often help to find a new more suitable home.  I have worked with people who had a very difficult time with the whole "it's not working" idea.  Their life became such a toxic environment to live in for everyone; but they still couldn't see clearly to a solution.  Once the dog was placed into a great new home with no other dogs everything was amazing.  The old family fell back into place with the pack and the new dog was happy as a clam with "one and only" role in his new home.

It doesn't happen often; there is usually a solution to a pack problem.  But there are times when the only solution is to break up the pack.  Our human emotions can get in the way and block the way to success.  It is very much a human trait to want to fix things but sometimes we just cannot.  It is a fact.   

Play time

This tiny purple scrap was once a great new purple octopus.  It wasn't a full octopus for very long but it has gotten smaller and smaller.  But no matter how small it gets, it still brings great joy.  Yesterday we skipped our walk in the morning and because of this Luke had some extra energy for playing.  Now at 12.5 the wrestling sessions are getting fewer so when he initiates one it makes me and Elsa very happy.  Of course I get the camera out.  

Elsa peeking between Luke's legs.

Tempting, she is always tempting.

An ankle bite; the only thing that will drop Luke like a brick.  The whole foot area is off limits.

A beautiful close up.  When the two play, they often end up in my lap.

Being nonchalant about the piece of toy.

The piece of toy is getting smaller.

A face chomp; often the toy is set aside for a bit for some body biting.  

Luke's turn to lure Elsa with the toy. Here he holds it low enough so that she can grab hold.  (Note the pieces of toy all over the carpet.)

Elsa does this a lot.  I don't know how many photos I have of her covering Luke's eyes.  

There is no telling what position Elsa will be in; she pretty much goes where her happiness takes her.  Playing with Luke is just sheer joy.

Shortbread

I make cookies; I've been a cookie baker for years.  When I lived in Canada I sold my cookies at a great Farmers Market every weekend.  I always sold out and quickly had a list of regulars who asked to have their cookies set aside so that they wouldn't show up and have their favorite flavor gone already.  So when I decided to make cookies for my dogs it was a very easy transition.  One day I opened up a box of cookies and when the smell hit me; that was that.  How can I expect my dogs to enjoy something that tastes like cardboard.  After all Luke (Mr. Fussy Pants) likes flavor; he likes really good flavor so I attempted to make him some yummy cookies.

I'm making cookies today; I have my regular peanut butter recipe ones that I make them but I'm going to switch it up a bit and make something new today.  Luke's favorite cookies are shortbread; our shortbread with the butter.  So Luke's new cookies will most definitely contain butter.  If you want baking to taste good you have to use butter, real butter.  Of course there are a few vegan bake goods out there that I have tasted that don't have any butter in them and they are pretty darned great but if you can eat butter, use it. Do not use that garbage they sell made to look like butter but is a butter impostor.

Cookies are a treat; they are not a training treat used throughout the day, they are a special treat.  So they are not the perfect food for a dog; but like us they are to be enjoyed in small amounts.  (wink, wink)  But I still try to make the dogs cookies pretty darned good, nutritionally compared to a regular type human cookie.   So I will be using very different ingredients while trying to make them taste great, have a bit of a shelf life and some nutrition as well.

The very first thing that gets the boot in my dog cookies is wheat flour; if I use it at all it is in a very small amount.  I use white and/or brown rice flour and other flours that are rich in protein.  So I will set off to invent a new cookie today; one that is to Luke's taste.  Because I use only human grade ingredients I will be tasting a long the way trying to discern if it will be to his Majesty's liking or not.  Elsa will pretty much eat anything but it still has to taste good.  I actually bought an organic treat for these guys the other day.  Made from a very well known organic company and even Elsa spit in out; literally.  She spit it onto the living room floor.  Luckily the store I bought them at took them back.  Good feedback for the company that made them.

Off to the kitchen now.

Here is a cookie I made a couple of years ago for the dogs.  They loved them but they are made with whole wheat flour.  If I made them again I would switch out one cup of for a cup of another type of flour.

The Great Pumpkin

We are family

We are aren't we?  Our dogs are most definitely family; but our dogs also are a family unto themselves, if you have more than one that is.  They are a dog family.  Of course depending on the closeness of your pack will factor in on the family issue.  My dog family which consists of only two now are very much a family; a very close family.  When I watch them interact with each other there is absolutely no denying it.  We now have an extended family member who is at this point just that, extended.  She will become a closer member as she matures but right now there is much for her to prove to become a full fledged member.

Watching Penny try to wriggle herself into the pack is very interesting.  It is wonderful to  watch Elsa trying to teach Penny things when she is messing with her family.  As I wrote before; Penelope is drawn to Luke.  Luke is not drawn to Penny.  So when Elsa hears Luke growling she comes charging from wherever she is and tries her hardest to get Penny off of Luke and then distract her.  Elsa gets quite frantic in her mission to get the puppy away from Luke; she's not quite sure how to do it but she manages.  She tries grabbing Penny's scruff but doesn't want to really grab it so it is more of a muzzle pushing away action, fascinating.

The other day when we were at the park walking with a big pack of dogs; one of the woman told us a story of her canine family of three working together.  She'd been to the dog park when one of her dogs became the victim of some aggression.   The two other members who were on the other side of the park came running into position.  Each took up one side of the aggressor and ran away with it.  This was enough to distract the dog and all was well.  Amazing.

I watched a pack behavior very much like this;  albeit more intense at a shoot one time.  We were done our shoot; it had been a great one and we were heading out.  As we prepared to go up the ramp to leave, a pit bull came out of no where; launching itself onto one of the dogs I'd been shooting and sunk his teeth in.  The attacker hung on as the victim tried to free himself.  Then the victims big brother heard the ruckus and flew into action.  He was a very big brother; a Saint Bernard or Akita mix breed.  He grabbed the attacker who then let go of the smaller dog.  The big dog through the pit bull to the ground and stood over him.  It was amazing to watch and I will never, ever forget it.

The dog who saved the day had been a street dog; saved from the streets of LA and brought in to be a family member with two Sloughi; (very much like a Greyhound with floppy ears) a female and a male.  They had bonded amazingly and at that very moment their bond was intense and unbreakable.   The big male did not use anymore force than was needed; he simply saw a problem and fixed it.  The pit bull ran off and we headed home.  The owner did take her Sloughi to the vet where he had needed several stitches.  No the owner of the pit bull did not pay; and he gave the wrong number to the owner of the injured dog.  Pretty typical for people who knowingly have aggressive dogs.

Seeing dogs act so instinctively and supporting their canine pack is really spectacular although quite a normal canine behavior. If a pack is a good pack; meaning that they truly get along it can be a force to be reckoned with.  But sometimes we throw dogs together that don't mesh and we force the issue which can then cause stress and an unnatural unease within it.  More on the wrong pack in another blog.

The perfect dog

What do you envision when you consider the perfect dog?  A big ole yellow Labrador by your side as you sit out on the porch?  A beautiful Golden Retriever laying at your feet in front of the fire?  Or a tiny pocket pooch snuggled nicely into your fashionable bag?  Perhaps the funniest looking, scruffy Disney rescue dog is your idea of a flawless canine.  But does the perfect dog exist?  Sure it does but not in the way that many people think.

I was sitting in the living room yesterday with my arms wrapped around both Luke and Elsa; we were enjoying one of our many group snuggles.  As life's day to day pass, we often get swept into the routine of it and the tiny joys can simply be overlooked.  I try very hard to enjoy the small things in life and a group snuggle is most definitely one of those things.  While in the thick of golden poodle hair it donned on me how very lucky I am.  I get to be Luke and Elsa's Mom; honestly, does it get any better than that in the world of dogs?  No.  Are they perfect dogs?  In my life they are but they are far from perfect; like me.

Perfection is a complicated thing. There really is no perfection; it is after all far over rated in my eyes.  Luke was a very challenging dog when he was young; he was head strong and reactive.  But I have never in all of my life learned more from a dog than from him.  Our relationship is as close as a canine/human connection can be.  It was love at first site with us and I would not have changed a second of our life together.

When we search for the perfect dog to add to our life we are really longing for a dream.  That wonderful Disney dream of a dog by our side.  But perfection comes with a price and that price is learning how to live with dogs smoothly in our human world.  It is no easy task for a dog; it is not the world that they are meant to live in but evolution has put us together and sent us on our journey together.    There are many obstacles to conquer in our life with dogs.  Some dogs have an easier time of it than others.  Many are dealt a lousy hand from the get go; giving them a much larger mountain to climb to get to their destination.  Who they end up with can either make or break that journey.

How much has your dog taught you about life with them?  About life in general?  Dogs have so much to give us in life and much of that goes unnoticed as life lessons until we really sit down and think about it.  Adding a dog to your life changes everything.  Occasionally life with dogs can feel like too much of a challenge; work that would otherwise be non existent without them.  Would that be a perfect life?  Not having to clean up poop, puke or walk them daily?  Not in my books.  Sharing our life with another species and doing it well causes us to be better humans.  Being compassionate, patient and understanding may not make us perfect but it is most definitely a step in the right direction.

When I hear about people who rescue dogs; those who save a broken life, rehabilitate it and welcome them into their family, I consider the connection.  The dog may be damaged and have huge behavior challenges; quite far from perfection in many eyes.  But that relationship in itself could just possibly be perfection.  As one life lifts another; the human helping the canine which in turn helps the human.  It really is amazing.

Life is not about perfection; there is no perfect dog and no perfect human.  But there can be a perfect life together; it is what you make of it.  From my vantage point right now, these two twitching, curly hounds that are snuggled in my bed are about as close to perfection as I will ever come.

My dog is REGISTERED

Elsa is not a show dog but she is registered and she did come to us from a very good breeder.  Her parents had all the necessary health tests, the puppies were born in the family home and given lots of external stimuli to help them be the dogs that they can be.  After much talk with the breeder she was chosen specifically for us after temperament testing was done and she could not be a better fit.  

"He is AKC registered," the owner boasts to me.  "What does being registered mean?" another owner asks me as she states that this was one of the big selling points of her new puppy from the man behind the counter.  Hmmmmmmmm......................it doesn't mean a whole lot.

What does being registered mean?  It means that your dog has been registered with a dog registration group.  There are many, but the main ones here are the AKC or the UKC.  When a breeder has a litter from two registered dogs that are the same breed they can register the litter.  Registering the individual puppies is a secondary registration.  Luke's litter was registered but I never registered him as an individual; I didn't see the reason for it.  I wasn't showing him in conformation and had no intention to entering him in any AKC sanctioned events.  A dog must be individually registered with the AKC to receive any titles in AKC events.

Elsa is registered individually because I thought that there was a good chance that I would be entering her in some sort of official AKC event.  So her name is Elsa but her registered name is Autumn Shades Elsa.

But registration is as far as registration goes.  There is no guarantee health or temperament wise from a registered dog or litter.  Most puppy mill dogs are registered dogs; yes and it makes me shudder that they use this as a selling ploy.  Unsuspecting puppy buyers think that "registered" means something good, they just aren't sure what.   Being registered simply means that they can tell you who the dogs ancestors are.

Registration is good in that you can look back at the past generations.  But again that gives limited guarantee on your individual puppy.  You want to find a good breeder and the list is a long one as far as I'm concerned when finding and choosing a good breeder.  Here is another blog I did on breeders and what to watch out for.

A few of the biggest points right off the bat when searching for a breeder is health testing.  Have they done health tests on both the Mother and the Father of the puppies?  If not, walk away.  Why risk breeding disease into puppies?  Because you wanted to save a buck, that's why.

Puppies are being raised in the house and give early stimulus and socializing so that they are well adjusted puppies.

Temperament testing is being done to best place puppies where they would best thrive.

Above are the three "first" questions I ask.  If these aren't being done then you can end your questioning there.

Below are some of the kennel clubs that register dogs.  Some are better than others.   Look into your kennel club to see what they offer other than registering dogs.  Many offer extended services and are attempting to promote good things as far as our dogs are concerned.  Others are simply that, a registration.

Canadian Kennel Club

United Kennel Club

American Kennel Club

Australian Kennel Club

UK Kennel Club

Learning appropriate behaviors

We had our little Granddog visit this weekend again.  I cannot believe how big she is getting.  Up until now Luke has skirted the whole "interacting" issue by just staying out of the way.  I did see some interest from him, just a speck though.  The fact remained that he had to get use to her so we took some extra time on Sunday morning for a one on one.  The problem with their interactions to this point had been that she had been interacting with Elsa when she spotted Luke.  Her and Elsa get very wound up by the WWWF type wrestling.  So she had a difficult time toning it down for Luke.  But she did very well Sunday morning while Elsa was out for a run with her Dad. 

I know that many people will immediately think "oh no, the puppy is going to get bit," when seeing this image.  A great deal of people will not allow this sort of behavior from an adult which results in the creation of a monster puppy.  Puppies are not suppose to receive 100% happy feedback all of the time. They are not suppose to do bad things and suffer no consequences.  It is an adults job to discipline and teach a puppy that comes into their home.  This of course has limits and the human must always be there to step in.  Some puppies don't listen well when told, so we need to support the adult dog with assistance.  

Penny is very drawn to Luke; being that he is the top dog in the house and elusive at that.  He has made himself very scary to Penelope by simply ignoring her.  His lack of interest is a sign of great maturity.  She often focuses in on Luke and will not give up her attempts to get to him.  I believe that the whole concept of "giving up" is not in the Bull Terrier dictionary.  In the above photo she got herself stuck; off the ground while she tried to climb up but she was not giving up.

If you look closely here, you can see that Penny is squinting her eyes and pulling her lips back.  Both are submissive signals along with the lowered body posture and flattened ears.  She is telling Luke that she is a lowly puppy and to please not hurt her.  This one on one gave them time to interact without the craziness.  

She is slowly learning about control.  It is not easy to control yourself when you are a puppy.  I sat with her on my lap on Saturday night.  We sat beside Luke who was sleeping.  She had a few temper tantrums about not being allowed to pounce on him but then she just lay there and watched him.  I would pet him and she wanted to smell my hand with Luke's scent on it.  She watched him intently and quietly after her few short outbursts.  

Luke was relieved to see Elsa return home from her run.  She slips into the "I'll play with her" mode immediately.  If Penelope tries to see and annoy Luke; Elsa does everything in her power to pull her away.  

Contemplating her next move.

This past weekend held a great deal of learning in it for the dogs and the humans.  Penny is continually learning to use her mouth softly.  Elsa is doing a wonderful job in this department.  With such a powerful jaw, this is a must for Penny to learn. 

When puppies become tired they get naughty, just like human children.  Penny is no exception; if she is getting tired her biting is much harder, the playing less fun for Elsa and she gets into everything.  It is best to have short and productive play sessions broken up with naps.  Puppies need a great deal of sleep, without they can get very bad.  

There were a few moments when Penny forgot her soft mouth and Elsa let her know it.  

No one can miss the sheer joy that they have from playing with each other.   But all of this play is a learning process.  Penny could not have a better couple of teachers.  Elsa is teaching her about the fun, sharing, feedback and patience.  Luke is teaching her respect and control.  

She is a cutie.

Even in the midst of a full on play session they are both aware of their surroundings.  Both hear a noise in the distant and stop for a split second to listen.  

Learning that playing is more fun than acquisition and guarding.

I mean really........how cute is this?

Elsa takes a break from the little "pig/shark," for some R&R (racing and retrieving).  

Getting so big.  What a difference a few weeks makes, compare the photos from this recent blog. 

One of Penelope's favorite people is Brad.   When he arrives on the seen she drops whatever she is doing to give him a huge greeting.  She just adores him and the feelings are mutual.  She is such a climber, here she tries to get to his face by scaling up the front of him.  

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.

Isn't it nice to see people you know?  Familiarity?  Having been in the East at the beginning of last year I missed familiarity; no place or face was familiar.  That is until I found my Trader Joe's; that made me so happy.  After a couple of months of hitting the beach there in CT; we started to recognize a few folks and their dogs.  I enjoyed seeing them each time and continuing our conversations from the days before.  Elsa and Luke love seeing their friends; there is a huge difference in their behavior when they see a friend vs. a new guy.

Yesterday we were out at the park when we ran into a friend; Oakley the Springer Spaniel and her owner.  She is the sweetest little thing and both Elsa and Luke really like her.  The week before we had been at the same park, when we pulled up they saw her across the park.  The two of them carried on; whining and crying until I finally released them to go see her.  Luke loves his friends and a friend for him is someone he's met once and got along with.  There are dogs that he has seen and known for years at different parks but they are not friends.

Friends get away with things that strangers would not.  At twelve and a half, Luke doesn't do a whole lot of rough housing other than with Elsa.  He is above all that nonsense now but he still likes to say hi and hang out with his friends.  Weeks and months can go by without seeing them and when we do meet again they get so excited; I love it.

If we hit a park, field or canyon that we haven't been to for a long time; the dogs get very excited.  Especially Luke, having been around much longer than Elsa now.  He has special places where we use to go with Tilley that we are just now visiting with Elsa; I love to see how excited he gets when we arrive.  He runs around hopping like a puppy; looking back at me as if to say "remember this place Mom?"

Last night Penelope arrived for the weekend; she was here last weekend as well.  It was a whirlwind arrival with the two girls diving into mad play immediately while Luke tried to avoid it all.  I could not believe that a second wasn't wasted on arrival formalities; Penelope was not even fully in the house and it began.  Elsa could not have been more excited to see her and their enthusiasm lasted a very long time.  No doubt it will begin shortly; Elsa is skipping her typical snooze routine while I blog and anxiously awaiting her puppy playmate rising.  She has her ear to the door and eye out the patio door to the yard.  She is ready to rumble and her toe is a tapp'n.

Rude?

"If I was running with Elsa and had ear plugs in; would it be rude?"  asked my son.  I stopped to listen as he further explained his question.  "It would be like she was there with me but I wasn't with her, right?"  Smiling?  Oh yes I was smiling as we discussed his question.  "Yes, it is rude, very rude to your dog," I said.  It is also a moment that you miss when you step out of it.  I told him that I had already blogged about this very subject and that not a week ago I almost ran someone's dog over as they text on their phone instead of watching their dog.  The same boy is always walking his dog; but that is all he is doing, he is not with his dog in any way.  Sadly on this day the dog didn't have a leash on either and the dog stepped out into the road right in front of me.  I jammed on my brakes and the boy got a very serious shock.  He yelled at his dog and hopefully got a lesson.

I see people disconnected when out with their dogs all the time.  My son was just asking about listening to music; he had considered that it may be rude to be zoned out when being with Elsa.  I love music just as much as anyone but when I am out with my dogs, I am out with my dogs.  When I'm at the gym I am zoned out; this is purely intentional.  I'm at the gym to workout; I do not want to have to listen to those who are there for social hour.  Many people walk up to me and start talking; I can't hear them, just the way I like it.  But with my dogs?  No, I am there, we are there together.

Let's say you decided to go running with a friend.  Would you put your ear plugs in and tune into your favorite music as you started out on your run?  No of course not, that would be rude.  Our dogs don't talk, they don't carry on a conversation but they are there with us.   Listening to music while you walk is not a bad thing but it is a missed opportunity.  What it does is take you out of your oneness with your dog.  You cannot hear their breath; the small noises that they make or anything else around you for that matter.  Our dogs deserve more than being on the end of a leash; that leash can be a connection or simply a leash.  It is a choice that you make.

"She'd look up and I'd be..........not there," he added to his pondering.  "That's right" I told him.

Our lives are very busy with the daily hustle bustle.   The time we spend with our dogs can be hugely connecting or just something more time spent on daily tasks.  When you head out for your walk, turn your phone on silent and leave the music at home.  Connect with your dog at least this one time during your busy day.  It is amazing how this one thing can open up a whole new meaning to taking your dog for a walk.  The walk can transform from a daily task to your time off together.

The human side of frustration

How strange that I am writing about frustration when this is the SECOND blog this morning.  I finished my blog, posted a photo for it and poof, gone.  Talk about frustrating.  So here we go for a second time.

Dogs get frustrated as do we but when we get frustrated about something that our dogs are doing we need to look into the mirror for the answer.  The other day Elsa and I were out enjoying a walk.  We were working on our walk as she has hit the "ignore" button too many times lately.  She has reached that age where she is giving me the finger when I ask her to do something and I don't like it.  So we work, we implement a few more rules as well to keep her on her toes and we do not let ANYTHING slide.

As we finished up our walk and were heading to the car I spotted a dog entering the park with his owner.  The dog was very large and looked from a far to be a Neapolitan Mastiff/Labrador mix.  They seemed to be having a good time; a nice relaxed walk like Elsa and I were enjoying.  That is until we got a bit closer and the truth was revealed, frustration.  The owner had a pinch/prong collar on the dog and was yanking and yanking.  She was clearly frustrated, you could see it in her body posture.  Each time she yanked, her shoulders would drop as if in despair.

I watched them go down the path; the dog was really dragging the young woman but she kept yanking to know avail.  Finally she waved the leash around in total frustration as if to say "is this thing even doing anything?"  Her dog turned to look at her and then went back to pulling.  It is truly sad when owners just don't know.  They just don't know that there is a better way; a way to stop the behavior.

When a dog is doing something that we don't like; frustration is often our human response.  But what we should do it to look in the mirror and ask ourselves "have I done everything I could?"  Probably not.  Undoing or fixing a problem behavior takes time.  It takes think time and then once you figure it out; you need to unfold the solution in baby steps.

For the beastly pulling monster; she needs to get his attention, keep his attention and reward the baby steps.  When you reward baby steps the rest follow and the new better behavior grows and grows.  But it takes patience and it takes knowledge.  If an owner cannot figure out how to solve a problem then they need to either buy a book or call a trainer.  A trainer who will think it through and come up with a solution that does not involve alpha rolling or yanking.  The bigger the dog the more thinking that needs to be done.  There is no way you are going to win a wrestling match with a monster sized dog.  So you want a positive reinforcement trainer, a thinker.

So yes we all get frustrated but what you do with that frustration is what sets us apart from our dogs.  Now go fix it.

No blog today

Sorry everyone, no blog today.  I'm having a hard time shaking this cold.  My head is so stuffed up I can't think straight.

See ya tomorrow.

Sherri

Art

This shot makes me very happy; it may need to go on my wall.  If there are clouds out, I'm out shooting.  Taken at The Laguna Montage.

Art::  the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing or of more than ordinary significance.

I love the emotion shared between these puppies and their Mom. 

Art is a very personal thing.  What some may consider to be magnificent, others may shrug their shoulders at.  Being a photographer teaches you this right from the get go.  There are subjects or moments that I have captured that thrill me but when I show others they simply say "oh cute."  "What?"  "cute?"  You have to get use to this and learn to let it slide off of your shoulders.  What makes me happy to look at is not going to be what makes everyone happy.

This photo represents the innocent and oblivious adorableness of a puppy to me.  

Just visit an art museum to see this human response at it's finest.  Much of the work at a museum leaves me cold.  Sure I can see that sheer and unbelievable talent but that is as far as it goes.  Obviously I prefer dog photography but my preference is not that vast.  Even in dog photography there is great deal of shoulder shruggers for me. I like real life photography above all else.  I do not like portrait type photography unless it is a natural moment captured.  This is why I am often on the ground, standing on the arm of a chair or teetering on the edge of a wall.  I don't set up, I capture.  But that is just me, my personal taste.  I know lots of people who have had portrait type shots done and love them.  You know the ones where both the owner and the dog are smiling at the camera?  But they leave me very cold and offer nothing as far as emotion.  No interaction between the subjects in the image, no emotion shared.

I have over the years had to follow my heart and forget what others say as far as personal taste goes.  Sure I have learned the techniques of a good photo but I probably break the rules much more than follow them for a good shot.  A photo should move you.  It can move you in many different directions but it should do some moving.  If it doesn't move you then what is the point?

This image is from my handful of all time favorites.  I took it a very longtime ago but it remains a special capture for me. 

Over the years of doing photography I probably only have a handful of breath takers, for me personally.  Sometimes I know it immediately, often they are a wonderful surprise.  A great photo can come from a cell phone or disposable camera; you do not need to be a professional nor do you need a big fancy camera.  I am often asked what type of camera I use; but my camera in someone else's hands would yield immensely different images.

I like to capture life as it unfolds before me.  Of course I prefer if there is a dog in that life but there doesn't always have to be.  Some of my all time favorite images have just a speck of a dog that you can barely see, having working to find it.  It is the mere presence of that dog in the image that does it; not the size or what the dog is doing.

So when you pick up your camera, shoot what makes you happy.  When you buy artwork, buy what makes you happy.  You may have people looking at your photo with a blank stare but if you smile when you look at it; then it is a great image.  If it makes you happy to see it on your wall everyday; then it is a masterpiece.

This and that

I love this shot.  She was in the midst of her play when she noticed me shooting them. 

Good Monday morning.  We had our little Granddog here this weekend and boy has she grown.  Being a Bull Terrier she is growing very differently than my Standard Poodles did.  Standard Poodles grow to their full height and then beef up or fill in.  She is becoming a little tank; a small version of her future much larger self.  It had been about three weeks since she was here so I wondered if Elsa and her would just pick up where they left off or have to become reacquainted.  But as soon as they saw each other it was like she'd never left.  There was no feeling things out, they bounded around like long lost friends.  It is so cute watching dogs see their friends.

 When Penelope (Penny) comes to visit Elsa obsesses over her.  They don't have the time to lose the novelty of each other so it is very exciting and stays exciting for Elsa the whole time.  If it was up to Elsa, neither would sleep.  They would just spend the entire time that Penelope is visiting, playing.  She adores playing with her little puppy.  She is amazingly patient and has been a wonderful teacher for Penny.  She is teaching her about playing, using her mouth softly and not losing patience.  These are all essential tools in being a dog.

Elsa has an extremely soft mouth when playing with Penelope.

Luke does not like Penny; not that he hates her, he just wants nothing to do with her.  At 12.5 he has no desire to interact with the newcomer and her advances have received some very gruff feedback.  She of course is completely drawn to him.  After all he is a big scary male who is clearly the boss of the canine pack so she wants to get in with the guy at the top.  She has been a bit relentless in her attempts to become Luke's friend but we have done our best to distract her and keep her away from him.  It is very important that he understand that we will do this for him.  Although they must have some interactions so that he can also let her know how he feels.  But she is a determined little thing; very hard headed, literally and figuratively so there is much human intervention.

I love this shot too.  My daughter trying to get Penny's jacket on to show it to me and Penny trying to bite Elsa while Luke watches the whole thing.  She is a very chilly little thing and cries if she doesn't have her jacket on; when she's not playing that is. 

Elsa's never ending attempt to play.

Elsa enjoys chewing on Penelope's arm while Penelope chews on Elsa's toe.

Much of the tug time Penny just drops to the ground as Elsa drags her dead weight around.  A very typical terrier behavior.

The teasing worked, Penny is after the toy.

She's a cutie, with so much to learn.

Elsa and Penny spent most of Saturday just wrestling.  So Sunday we had some socializing to do.  First they went to a field to run around for some fun while Luke stayed home with Mom.  Then we visited the beach where there were lots of people and other dogs for Penny to meet.  She did great, she adores people and other dogs.  I cannot stress how important socializing is when a dog is very young.  The prime socializing period is before the age of 16 weeks.  Once that passes, you can do more most definitely but the socializing done before that period has much more effect on the dog.  Socializing is everything from meeting new people, dogs, places, different environments etc. etc.   Even walking on the sand or rocks is new to a puppy that has never seen them before.

Penelope learned how much fun sand can be yesterday.  She watched Elsa dig like a fool and did a bit herself.  She watched Elsa some more then joined Brad in a little dig session of her own.  Beaches are much more than just a great place to walk.  If you missed out on the peak socializing time you can always get more in.  I am still socializing Elsa at 1 1/2 years old.  There are things out there that she has yet to see and situations that we have not come across.  Out, out, out...........get out and let your dog experience life.  It will make them a much happier dog and well adjusted dog.



 

A difference of opinion

Dog lovers congregating on the beach in Connecticut. 

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

The world of dogs is a controversial subject.  Depending on what is being talked about things can get pretty heated.  Bring up nutrition, vaccinations, rescue vs. breeder or many other things and people can go from very friendly to angry in a matter of moments.   We love our dogs don't we?   I love a good canine conversation.  I like to keep an open mind and take in what others have to say.  That is unless what they are spouting is utter nonsense; but even then I try to exit the discussion politely.  It is wonderful to see passion for dogs but if you really want to share you must learn how to deliver a message so that people want to listen.

I have been a dog trainer for a very long time.  Being a positive trainer is often questioned.  I remember one woman in a group class years and years ago asking "can't I just hit her?"  This was about her dog jumping and she had decided that hitting and kicking was the way to go.  She was an angry woman and sent me a red email (she had made the background red) letting me know that she was not returning to the class and wanted her money back.  The red email pretty much summed up the woman in general.  She was angry, thought she had the only opinion worth listening to and everyone else was pretty much a fool.  There is no conversing with people like this, so try to just walk away in this sort of situation.

Over the years I have learned how I best deliver a message so that an owner will understand and not become angry.  If I tell someone that they are an idiot and doing everything wrong they are just going to shut me out right?  You must use, kindness, tact and have a sharing of knowledge attitude.  Not I'm right and you are wrong.   Of course I can always learn more improved and better ways; you never stop learning.  Dog behavior is not a science; each one is different and each guardian is different.  So the approach is different for every one.

I have often been asked to teach children that they are going to be bitten.  When I arrive the Mother is telling the child that if they continue doing what they are doing that the dog will bite them.  This is probably true so I set to explain to the child and the mother what needs to be done.  I have sat at a kitchen table with a crying Mother more than once as the lack of supervision sinks in.  I make it very easy to ask questions and have an open discussion.  If they have a difference of opinion we discuss it.  There are times when I give way to the owners opinion and we work around that.  After all it is their dog, their house and their child.

This blog is my opinion; feel free to give me yours, but do not tell me that I am wrong or stupid.  I love nothing more than learning new things but when someone attacks an opinion in an angry manner; all learning ceases.  I share what I want and what I feel is important for others to know in the world of dogs.  Having just been through the puppy stage gave me a great wealth of "what I was going through" to share with you all.  Even if it was something very little (because Elsa is perfect) I shared.  Wink, wink.

Sharing knowledge is never a waste of time.  Perhaps the knowledge may fall upon deaf ears; but just maybe some of it will sink in.  My biggest goal is to get people thinking.  Don't just do because it has been done the same way for years.  Think, ask questions and research.  There are two types of people; thinkers and non thinkers.  Question everything, ask and listen.  But in the end it is your dog and you will do what you feel right for you and your dog; but don't just do, think.

Okay

Yesterday my neighbor came to my door.  Elsa ran ahead of me barking at her arrival.  I answered the door and remembered that I still had a treat stuck in my top which I was very happy about.  This is the type of moment that all the boundary training practice is for.  I didn't ask her in because I'm sick as is my son who gave this to me.  So she stood just outside of my door while we chatted.  Having a treat in hand I rewarded Miss Elsa for not going out the open door.  It is tough for her, she loves people but because of all of our work she sat and seemed quite happy to just listen.

Only two times during our conversation did she flinch.  All that was required to remind her was a calm Ahh from me.  That is until my neighbor said "okay, I'm going to go."  "Okay" is Elsa's release word and when she heard it she got up but I quickly responded and she learned that it is only Mom's okay that releases.  I was very proud of her; she did amazing, not going out the door and sitting quietly while we talked.  The outcome would not have been as good if I had not had treats on me.  One treat was all it took to convince her that doing what she had learned previously was the best choice.

I did not ask her to sit; she chose to do that on her own.  But it made watching her movements easier.  With a little error marker of "ah" as she moved closer to the door was all that was needed and she sat her butt down again.  Elsa is extremely intelligent with a high level of comprehension of both body language and vocal sounds.  Typically I just utter a deep mmm without even opening my mouth when I need to give her an error marker.

Once I closed the door I gave her the "okay," and she hopped around happily.  We had a giant group snuggle and went on with our day.  The word has great power.  I had considered changing it for our newest puppy (Elsa) but it just came out naturally as we started on our relationship.  I've been using okay for over 37 years; hard to change now.  "Okay," is my release word and it is this word and only this word that gets her out of the car, free to eat her food that is placed on the floor and many, many other things.

I proof my release word often.

Proof:  the act of testing or making trial of anything,; test; trial.

Proofing creates a more solid understanding of the word "okay."  When we arrive at the park Elsa is required to sit in the back of my Xterra until given the word.  She is chomping at the bit causing her to anticipate often.  So with several different words said in the same tone as her release; as well as arm gestures that might be mistaken for releases she is learning that it is only one word that is the key to enjoyment.  If she should make a mistake then we start over.  It is very important to stop and start over if a mistake is made with a release word.

Very early this morning at about 4:30 am I could hear my son up and getting ready for work.  Elsa heard him too and with that she wanted up to sleep with Mom.  With my throat feeling like I had a handful of razor blades down it I whispered "okay."  That is all it took and she was up and snuggled in within a fraction of a second.  I smiled thinking what power the word has as I drifted back asleep under the weight of my live comforter.  :)

Mani/Pedi

I am not one to paint my dogs nails; this photo was done as a special assignment for a magazine request.  It is my little Jessie girl who was beyond patient for this shot.  

Rain again this morning, we are going to have a very green spring here in Southern California.  We are in for some cold rainy weather in the next few days so you know what that means?  I'll be out in it with Luke and Elsa.  Seeing that we were to have more rain I focused on feet a couple of days ago.  Many dog owners never have to think about shaving feet; if you have a smooth coated dog they don't normally need trimming.  But even our little Jessie needed a trimming between the bottom of her pads once in a while.  Not often but if it were going to be especially wet I'd trim them to help them dry faster.

I shave my guys feet regularly.  It is purely for cleanliness and care.  They easily pick up stickers when their feet are very furry which can be very painful.  Feet are much easier to keep clean and dry when they are shaved nice and short.  With my breed I have to shave between the toes on the bottom of their feet as well as the top.  All dogs are different so some have huge furry slippers under there and some don't get much growth at the bottom.  Having done it for years and years now it takes me just a few minutes to shave their feet.

This also gives me a good chance to check on the health of their feet.  Yes, you should be looking between toes; above and below the pads.  How do the nail beds look?  While you are down there looking around, check out their dew claw if they have one.  Both of my terriers had a remnant piece left from having their dew claw removed improperly.  I had to take great care that these little straggler pieces were kept short as they tended to grow at odd angles.  Jessie's was a very tiny piece that grew straight out towards her other leg.  Mandy's grew up and around like a curly sheep horn.  Check on their nail condition and length as well.

Our dogs feet are put through a lot.  We subject them to all sorts of surfaces and rarely think about them until there is a clear an obvious problem, limping.  Feet need care like anything else and they should be checked on weekly.  Dog nails need to be trimmed or ground down to keep them at a nice length if a dog is not wearing them down on their own.  Elsa rarely needs her rear nails done as she has such force behind her running with that rear of hers.  She wears them down quite nicely with all of her power take offs.  But she does need her front feet done weekly.  I use to only use clippers but now I prefer my dremel tool for the job.

Strictly leaving feet up to the groomer is never a good idea.  Sure they can touch them up but they typically need more attention than every 5-6 weeks.  The longer you leave trimming the more that needs doing.  If you let them get too long it can take quite some time to get them to a good length again.  Leaving nails to get over grown can cause a great deal of discomfort for your dog.  It gets hard to walk when their nails are too long causing each step to be painful.  Have a look at your dog's nails; they should not touch the ground when they are standing still.  If they are then you need to take a bit off so that your dog can walk in comfort.

Many dogs do not get out for daily walks.  Some never walk on pavement and only get grass walks so that their nails never have a chance to wear down.  So we need to attend to them.  As dogs age their nails typically become harder making it a longer process if you are using a dremel.  If you are using clippers, make sure that they are sharp or they can damage the nail.  Dull trimmers can also cause pain by creating a crushing sensation instead of just quickly trimming off the nail.  Luke has extremely hard nails so a bit off every couple of days works great for him.  But Elsa's nails are still soft and done in a flash.

Today might just be a good mani/pedi day right?

Are they happy?

This is one of my all time favorite photos.  I took it while I was in Connecticut last year.  At first glance it may seem like a vacant photo, void of much information.  But for me it holds a great deal of emotion and each time I look at it I love it more.   I remember the day like it was yesterday.  There were very few people on the beach that day; it was quiet and still.  We were all there for one thing, to enjoy our dogs.  

Nothing makes me happier than an off leash walk with my dogs.  It has always been one of my absolute favorite things to do.  When I had my very first dog Mandy, an Airedale; we use to walk for miles and miles without ever seeing anyone else.  We would often stop at the edge of a huge canyon and just sit, enjoying each other's company.  Enjoying dogs enjoying their life is pretty amazing and just like us different things make different dogs happy.  So what makes your dog happy?

One of Luke's favorite things in the world is watching television in the evening.  It's not the T.V. part that he cares about; but the fact that we sit in one place with him.  He has his spot on the couch, the spot that is known by everyone as his and I sit beside him 95% of the time.  He loves it so much that after dinner he stands waiting in the kitchen door way for a sign.  A sign that I am heading down to the family room and once I take that first step he charges to the top of the stairs.  He circles several times with excitement and then races down to his spot.  I get his spot ready with his special pillow and then we sit and chill.  It is just as enjoyable for me as I watch him huff happily with his open mouth; a true sign of happiness for Luke.

Dogs love to be with us and it can be mutually beneficial; that is if you take the time to enjoy just being with your dog.  Far too often I see people walking down the street or park with their dog while they chat or text on their phone.   Being on the end of the leash is far different than being with your dog.  If you don't participate in the walk then you are missing so, so much.  Watching that wonderful dog on the end of the leash can brighten your day if you allow it to.

All of my dogs have loved different activities but they each and everyone of them have loved going for a walk.  Off leash they walk by your side; enjoying the simple act of being with you.  It doesn't take much to have fun with a dog, just time.  Finding out what your dog loves to do and doing it with them; sharing their love is joy itself.  Tilley loved nothing more than catching, it was without a doubt her favorite activity.  Throwing for her and watching her soar made me just as happy as she was doing the catching.

There are so many ways to make a happy dog.  Sometimes it is just sitting beside them and sharing a moment.  Yesterday I was enjoying the warm sun on a cool morning out in the yard.  Both Luke and Elsa were outside with me and watching to see what I was going to do.  When I sat on the double lounge they both came wagging over and hopped up.  We sat enjoying the sun for about 20 minutes and then moved onto something else.

Nothing is a more precious to give than your time.  When you give your time you receive so much more in return.  When you are with your dog, be with your dog.  Put the phone away and think "dog."  Take those few moments to share your dog's life; it can only improve yours.

Vaccines

Time for change.

Last night my son and I sat discussing the human flu shot over dinner.  I am not a fan of the flu shot and think that they actually do more harm than good as does my son.  The discussion went to dogs and back to humans several times as we talked about the similarities with vaccines, over vaccinating and the role that the big pharmaceutical companies play in it all.  We talked about how many dog owners are so brain washed that when the day roles around each year for their annual vaccinations that they quickly rush to the Veterinarians for that shot so that their dog doesn't get sick.  Yes, another blog on vaccines and what you should know about them.

This is a controversial subject, I know that.  But if no one ever talks about it publicly so many dogs may needlessly become ill and/or die.  There are several ideas of how much our dogs should receive.  The conventional thought is lots when they are puppies and then a yearly booster.  There are the minimalists and then there are the folks who think that no vaccines are required.  So I research and I research, you can never research enough.  New information and studies are coming out daily so staying on top of it all can be daunting.

What I am doing is following Dr. Jean Dodds vaccine protocol and then running titers.  

I know that many of you who are reading this are thinking that you feel vulnerable not giving your dogs their annual shots.  I am just recommending reading and researching.  I am in no way telling you not to, just giving you some information on the dangers of over vaccinating.  For far too long we have been told that our dogs needed shots yearly, while we ourselves have shots when we are children and then never again.  I've had titers run on myself and was actually amazed that the health facility offered it for me.

Funny how we do things without thinking.  When things have been done for so many years it just becomes something that we do.  Humans or dog owners need to be thinkers.  Even in our own lives, there are many things that we do just because it's what has been done for so long.  But we are now into 2013; time to start considering each and every step we take in this world.  Whether it has to do with us, our environment, our health, our dog's health and doing the best we can for the canine species as a whole.  Just because we've been doing something for years and years, in no way makes it the right thing to do.  Far from it, so many things we've been doing are very, very wrong; but it takes some thinking opening our mind to other ways to change.  Change can be scary but it can also be something that is long overdue.

Back at it and soft toys

Here Luke shows Elsa how to open a present.  Also note Elsa's very appropriate eye squint as she moves into to give it a try.  This is a submissive behavior.  

Okay, this week we are back at it.  With all the short weeks, Christmas, New Years and festivities life gets pretty crazy at the end of the year, doesn't it?  But now we are back to a full week and life back to the same ole.  We will be heading out for our walk a little later this morning but first I'm off to the gym. This Christmas marked the re-entry of soft toys into our home.  Over a year ago we had baskets full to the brim with soft toys but with the addition of Elsa I had to clean out.  First I cleaned out anything that wasn't in peak condition.

We went from a huge basket full of toys to a half basket and then with further culling we were down to only chew toys.  With a strict eye for supervision it was obvious that Elsa as a six month old was going to rip, tear and eat the stuffing and pieces that came off.  Not every piece but by the looks of her poop she had consumed quite a bit.  So that meant no more soft toys, sad but true.  I headed out to the store regularly to buy new chew, bouncy, rolly/polly type toys.  The two toy baskets that I had looked sad; they now held only a portion of the joy producing toys of the old days.   But like anything else this soon passed.

Elsa doing her best tempting to chase.  

For the last couple of weeks Elsa has been very joyfully been destroying toys.  She takes great pleasure at dropping the toys onto Luke's head so that he will chase her.  Their game is a predictable one but absolutely adorable.  She tempts, he takes the bait then gives her back the toy to tempt him again.  They are very cute together.  So we now have two baskets overflowing with soft toys.  I will be keeping a very close eye on the "stuff" consumption and if Elsa decides to start eating the results of her ripping and tearing then we will be back to only chew toys.  But so far so good.

I've spent quite a bit of time over the last weeks picking up fluff and pieces of toy.  But ripping and tearing is a very natural dog behavior, it is good for them.  So with a bit more cleaning to do and more supervision once again we will all reap the benefits of a soft toy once again; and before long there will only be carcasses left.  Carcasses do not require as much supervision although they are still wonderful for putting onto Luke's head.  :)

As a side note:  if you have a dog that consumes toys; please take extra precautions.  Tiny bits and pieces are one thing, they typically end up in the yard.  But whole toys swallowed down can be life threatening.  Make sure that you teach your dog they are for playing with and not consuming.