Did you know? Who's in?

There are 161 AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized  breeds of dogs.

175 recognized by the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club.)

The UKC (United Kennel club) recognizes over 300 different breeds.

That is a whole lot of different breeds.

The Labrador Retriever has been named the most popular breed once again in 2013.  This is the 22nd straight year for this breed to receive the title.

The German Shepherd is number 2.

The Golden Retriever 3 and the Beagle 4; and my breed, the Standard Poodle is #8, really?

But from where I stand and walk I'd have a very different list.  Yes the Labrador would be up there but it would be battling it out with the Golden Retriever.  A clear second would be the ever popular Doodle, not a breed unto itself but very, very popular indeed.  The Doodle as I refer to is a mix of anything and a poodle.  There is just about every combination you could think of these days and they come in small, medium and large sizes.

The next would have to be the Puggle (mix of a Pug and Beagle) ; oh yes, these little guys are everywhere.

Hmmmmmm...........let me think.  I see a lot of Jack Russell's still, quite a few Lhasa Apso's and actually quite a few Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  I'm not sure if there is a local breeder of Ridgeback's around here but there are an awful lot of them.  I am surprised that I don't see more PWDs (Portuguese Water Dogs) or the President's dog around.  Typically when a dog breed is in the spotlight it is a doomed sentence for the breed.  Bad breeders jump on the band wagon and pump those babies out as fast as they can but the Doodle seems to at the top of the millers list right now.  Sad, very sad.

I see lots and lots of Pit Bulls and Pit mixes.  This is most definitely due to a high volume of Pit Bull rescues and rescuers.

What happens to a breed or mix of breeds that becomes popular is just what I said, doom.  No, I do not want my breed to become the "in" breed.  I see far too many breeds completely ruined by the bad breeders out there.  What becomes popular also fills up the rescues and shelters.  It is a life sentence to become the "in" breed.

Not only can a breed or mix become the "dog to have" at the moment.  But color and or style can become very popular.  I am seeing quite a few breeds with new colors becoming a problem.  I see it in my own breed and I worry.  Red has become the "in" color and now that is all we are seeing.  Is this going to become a health issue?  It most certainly could.  What happens when people are looking for something very particular is that they stay within a small genetic circle; never, ever good.  But if the "good" breeders put the focus on breeding healthy dogs then hopefully the new "in" color will thrive instead of weaken.

It happened with the Goldens; everyone wanted a Platinum color or dark red.  So yep, they were pumped out in numbers to meet the demand.  The prices also go up for those "high demand" colors.  As far as I am concerned, color is way down at the bottom of the list as far as importance.  Health, structure and temperament is important, more extremely important.  But color, no.

Being the "in" dog is not a good thing.  But as we humans do we ride a wave of popularity until it is saturated.  Then we toss push the past aside; making room for the next wave of "in."  Sad but true.

A wrench

Well there is officially a wrench in my life right now but I'm hoping that it will only be here for a short time.  I pushed my leg usage yesterday; I hate nothing more than being sick or injured.  Times when I cannot do my normal routine or whatever it is that I want to do, I get very cranky.  Luke and Elsa missed out on their walk yesterday of course.  But I am going to try today.  I spent a good long time in the yard throwing Elsa's ball for her and she was happy as a clam.  Luke doesn't mind missing a day; his walks are pretty small now, used more for an outing than a physical exercise time.  Of course the movement is good for him because he tends to stiffen up if he lays to long at a time.  But he does like to just get out; most dogs love to go in the car and go somewhere, anywhere.

I'm going to wrap my knee up to keep it stable and try to get on with my day.  I actually got quite a bit done yesterday, albeit at a much slower pace.  I'm a fast walker, my kids use to tell me to slow down all the time.  When Tilley started to slow down I found it very hard to adjust to walking slowly.  I had to so I did and I'm pretty good at it now.  Having lived with Jessie and Tilley through their golden years I learned to walk where you are almost not walking.  It makes you just slow everything down.  I'm not a fast walker because I want to get it over with; I'm a fast walker because I would prefer to get ten things done in a day rather than two.   When I walk my dogs I also walk myself but walks change and they become more of a shared zen time rather than shared exercise outing as dogs grow old.

I have no choice but to slow down now; my knee will just buckle and give out on me.  I've torn something in there; probably my lcl, not fully but partially.  So I'll skip the gym this morning (grumbling) and just go right to our walk.  I will wrap my leg up and brace it the best I can so that I won't further injure it and head out.  Probably driving is going to be the hardest for me as this is my right leg.  But at the moment both Luke and Elsa are enjoying the sounds of distant crows as the sun comes up.  Luke has his head propped up on a pillow and Elsa has just begun to growl and run in her sleep.  I wouldn't trade morning blog writing time for anything.

 

Slacklining

Brad wiping out again, much more difficult for we humans.  

Slacklining; every heard of it?  I hadn't until my son introduced it to me via the internet.  One of the coolest videos that he showed me was of an amazing Border Collie doing it.

Dog slacklining video.

Not only is this dog amazingly talented physically; the bond between it's human and he is extraordinary.  There is much more than training going on in this video.  For me the video encompasses the trust between the two; the human/canine connection at it's best.  Yes this is a difficult task for the dog to accomplish but far more difficult for the human.  I know only too well how difficult it is.

Brad (my son) bought a slackline; he'd tried it several times over the last few days stating that it was much more difficult than he had anticipated.  I told him that it was something that I would really like to give a try.  When I was much younger I was very into gymnastics and one of my favorite pieces of equipment was the balance beam.  He assured me that it was not like a balance beam.  So off to the park we went yesterday afternoon with his slackline.

Time lapse to this morning (Monday morning) and I am now just able to walk.  Yep, I took a spill and somehow did in my knee.  Eight years ago I had a skiing accident and tore just about everything there is to tear in a knee.  Last night I was shuddering at the idea that I had done it again but to the other knee.  But I am up and walking this morning; I am determined that this will not be a lingering issue but we will see with time.   I have videos and photos of the event and even the actual wipe out but they are on Brad's phone and he is at work right now, so you'll have to wait to see them.

But back to the dog.....................amazing.  This is truly a team, there is no forcing, no yanking, no pulling.  Just a shared communication and such a close bond that communications are easy, calm and constant between the two.    The human is filling a very important part in this dog's life and making sure that he has the very essential mental and physical stimulus.  (Especially for a Border Collie).  The dog is filling the companion role to perfection.  Together they are an unstoppable team; working together, the way it should be.

Silent Sunday's

Don't forget, no blogs on Sundays any longer.  But if you haven't read the last full 5 years of blogs then you have some catch up to do.  :)  Have a wonderful day and I will see you tomorrow.

Sherri

Have a wonderful weekend.

Something a little different this morning.  We will be heading to the park and/or the beach this weekend with Luke and Elsa; where and what are you guys doing?  I would love to see some pics of your dogs this weekend.  For you guys in the East it will mean snow shots right?  If you have rain great, if you have sun great.  I want to see all the pics of you guys having fun with your dogs this weekend.  I will post them all next week on a blog.

Doing something fun?  I wanna see.  Send pics to sherri@justdogswithsherri.com and give me a little detail about the images.  All dogs, shapes, sizes, colors and age.  :)  Have a wonderful weekend, now go have fun.

A few white hairs

It is amazing what a few white hairs can do.  Yesterday I grabbed a sweater from the top of my closest.  I hadn't worn it for sometime; it is one of those sweaters that I never really loved.  But it is long and was perfect for my chilly morning outing.  I held it up in front of the patio door so that I could see it well and sure enough there were a few lingering white hairs left on it, Jessie hairs.   Being that it is black I always thought twice before putting it on.  If I had to pick Jessie up for anything while wearing it; I was left with at least a half hour of picking out white hairs so it was one of those least worn.  I mostly opted for my white sweatshirt or fleece.  I hate concerning myself with minute details like that so white just worked better.

But those few hairs left in my sweater are now sweet reminders of my little girl.  My thoughts went to the little shedding fireball that once ruled this house with a steel determination.  A few forgotten hairs brought back many memories; I thought about her for the entire day.  Leaving to go for our walk to the beach I stepped across the front carpet where Jessie loved to dive off of the steps and roll around leaving a strip of tiny hairs in her path.  She didn't shed a bit, she shed a whole lot and oddly enough I miss those little white hairs.  Not having them around is another reminder that she is no longer with us but all it took was just a few to bring back a flood of memories.

I remember walking the three dogs; Jessie, Tilley and Luke.  Jessie loved to walk under the poodles; it was what made walking a bit of a challenge.  Of course she was not content to walk under them once, she had to go between their legs, around and back through entangled them in hog tied fashion.  Later on in her life it became necessary to walk the girls separate from Luke.  After Tilley's bout with Vestibular she was slowed down to an old snails pace so the two old gals walked and then Luke and I walked at super speed.

Jessie was a funny little thing.  She was sweet and tender to humans; but quite the little bitch to other dogs.  Both Tilley and Luke were accustom to having their face snapped at if they forgot their manners and the rule that any food landing on the floor was the little white one's food.  To this day Luke just stares at food that lands on the ground.  Of course Elsa grabs it having arrived in the family after Jessie was well into her Dementia year.  I wish that Elsa could have known Jessie better, I'm sure that they would have gotten along amazing.  Everyone seems to like Elsa, even the grouchy dogs.

So I pulled on my sweater that held those few white hairs and set out to run early morning errands.  I smiled knowing that they were there.  My day was spent as any other; very busy, but my thoughts kept returning to those little hairs and the memories of my little Jack Russell Terror.  Although I had things to do, my heart and head spent much of the day alone with my little Jessie, now gone.  Memories are wonderful things.

And Back Again

If you look closely, you can see Luke and Elsa in the field.

I spent a good part of yesterday writing; I'm working on my second book of a two book saga.  The first book PBJ and me is about a cross country trip I made with my son and our four dogs.  We had to move from CA to CT; the details of that move are in the book.    But as most of you know I am now back in Southern California after only being in Connecticut for three and a half months.  Lots of question swirl around what happened, why and the trip back.  All of that will be in the new book And Back Again.  

It has now been ten months since I am back and working through the book is very tough at some points. It  has left me pondering.  With my head sitting in my hands, I stare at the pages and re-read it all.  It is mostly done albeit the 5-6 times that I have to read it and re-write much of it.  Writing is a funny thing; it is very personal and everyone has their own way of going about it.  For me if the writing is not coming then I should just go do something else.  Forced writing is just that, forced.  It is not enjoyable for anyone, including me.  

I really enjoy writing; when I feel like writing that is.  Just the other day I saw that in about another month I will have hit the 2000 blog point.  That is a whole lot of blogs.  But it has left me wondering if I should continue.  I really enjoy writing and I love feedback but again, 2000 blogs is a lot of writing.  I truly believe that you should do what you love and I really do love writing about dogs.  The human/canine connection is simply amazing to me and if I can help just one person; it makes it all worth while.  Sharing the knowledge and experiences that I've had might just give someone their own experience to pass on.  

A great deal of writing spun out of the whole trip to CT and back.  Having spent twelve solid days in the car with my dogs gave me a wealth of knowledge about traveling with your dogs.  Over the few months of the two trips I probably had more canine experiences than I will ever have and I draw upon those often.  There was the trip itself, the loss of two long time canine companions, the few months in between and the trip back.  Of course there is now everything after; perhaps two books will turn into three, who knows.  One planned book turned into two once life took over and changed what we had thought the plan was.  You really never know what lies ahead.  

Kibbles and bits......................fuel? I think not.

Elsa pictured here enjoying a treat when we visited Just Food For Dogs.  

Kibbles and bits?  Really?  They still sell this crap?  Let's have a look at this stuff.     Meat meal is the third listed ingredient; the first two are just fillers but what exactly does meat and bone meal mean?    It means scary; it is a generic term meaning that it did come from an animal but you are given no information as far as what animal, what part or health of the animal.  It is just plain scary food.  Meat is the most important thing for dogs and to even suggest that this food is good to feed or promote good nutrition.........well that would be a stretch.

Feeding dogs has gotten way out of hand I have to say.  It went from feeding table scraps in the good old days to quick and easy pre-made, pre-packaged and nutritionally correct (completely incorrect) for dogs food.  So now some dog owners are thinking about what they pour into their dogs bowl.  Of course not all are thinking about it; heck many people don't think about what they put into themselves let alone their dog.

Feeding dogs is actually very easy, the simpler the better.  But if you look at the list of ingredients on the low grade foods it's scary.  Check out the ingredients listed here on Beneful dog food, by-products if the third ingredient listed.  What exactly is a meat by-product?

By products 

As you all know I feed real food to my dogs.   When I was at the grocery store the other day I picked up a package of little pre-made cake things and read the list of ingredients on the back.  I wondered what had to be in the product for it to sit here on the shelf for so long.  Wow, there were a lot of ingredients. I had grabbed the package because they looked like Twinkies, but weren't.  Having never eaten a Twinkie in my life (yes I know, probably the only living human right?) I wanted to see that I hadn't been missing anything.  Scary.

So I am rambling.  Nutrition is a funny thing, it is a means of fueling our body.  I remember watching an amazing National Geographic video years ago which had a huge impact on how I thought about food.  Here is a very short version I found.    Our bodies, like our dog's bodies run on fuel.  The better the fuel that is put in the better our body can function.  If you fill the body with waste then there is nothing for our body to thrive on.  Since I saw the full length Nat Geo Digestion video I always picture food into the system and pulling what it needs.  If you give your dog poor quality dog food then there is nothing to pull from and it all ends up in your yard.

Sure, I eat things that I shouldn't eat; I love food.  I have a few items that are weaknesses of mine as does anyone.  But I try to eat them in small amounts and focus on nutrition.  My whole family are foodies we are always talking about food, even when we are eating we are talking about food.  As canine family members, Luke and Elsa are scooped into the loop as well; so I feed them the best nutrition that I can.  It just makes sense.

The things people do.

Canines are much more versed in appropriate behavior than many humans.  

After years of private in-home training, I've heard a lot of stories.  People tell me all the time about what others do to their dog and ask about how best to handle the situation.  Knowing how to deal with these folks can be tough.  But we all know at least one, or more realistically a handful of them.  You know the type; the people who do all the wrong things with our dog?  It could be your neighbor, your uncle or best friend.  But whoever they are they do not know how to act around dogs.

I've heard stories of friends or family members being bitten by dogs. They come over for a visit and upon hearing that a dog is fearful they proclaim "dog's love me."  Those of course are the last words out of their mouth before they get bit.  They take it upon themselves to show you and everyone else how much dog's love them, even the scared ones.  But the one thing they didn't realize is that they know nothing about dogs; but on top of that they are idiots.

 Idiot; an utterly foolish or senseless person.  

Then there are those who just act the fool causing your typically well behaved dog to misbehave.  You know the folks; the ones who amp your dog up sending them into an overloaded energizer bunny routine?   Physically roughing up your dog, shrieking and yelling about the dog being so cute or funny?  "I know, you are excited, it's so exciting.....................weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."  All this while you stand looking at your super charged dog who is otherwise a very well behaved pup.

From there you have the ones who push it even further, they do things that can have damaging and lasting effects.  They too consider themselves to be dog people; oh yes, they know dogs.  Even the most social and well adjusted dogs can become shaken by these folks.  They just do the strangest things.  The people who grab your dogs muzzle and hold it while they struggle.  They continue this even when your dog starts staying away from them.  If your dog happens to jump up they grab their feet and hold them tight; and then wonder why the dog is chewing on their hands.  "Hey?" they shout as your dog tries to free themselves from their grasp.

How about those people who stare; they just stare at your dog and even when the dog is clearly disturbed by this they continue.  Often causing your dog to bark uneasily at them and then they are puzzled by the dog's behavior.  One of the worst behaviors that a few humans tend to do it blow in a dogs face.  That's right, not just their own dog who may eventually bite them but a strange dog.  Dog's do not like to have their face blown in.  I know several people who have been bitten for this very reason.    Can you imagine your own response if someone did this to you?

People who are not dog savvy also tend to kiss strange dogs in the face or hug them.  Both are typically not welcome behaviors.  Again, even the best, most social and friendly dogs may object and act defensively in these situations.  These people who act strangely around dogs puzzle me. I do not understand why they feel that they can do the things they do.  I don't understand the reasoning in their own head that makes them do it.  But do it they will, so we then need to step in and save our dogs.  It can be very awkward to say something.  There are some things that you can let slide; but there will be times when you just have to say something for the safety of your dog.

Letting your dog bite the person may seem like a "lesson learned" moment.  But you don't want your dog to bite someone, it is your dog who will suffer the worst fall out if they do.  Even when it is fully caused by a stupid human.  I have been in these awkward positions myself; many times.  You may be accused of being over protective or hovering when you do step in; I have been but I don't care and you should not either.  It is your dog, you have taken on the roll of guardian.

Guardian; a person who guards, protects or preserves.

Therefore it is your job, your right to guard.

When people act in ways that cause a negative behavior in your dog; stop it.  It may be a little something that can be brushed away or it may not be.  Some behaviors that humans exhibit towards our dogs can have lasting negative effects.  It can take a great deal of work to undo what a person does in a minute of foolishness.  Most people are not meaning to harm our dogs; they just don't realize that they are acting completely inappropriately.  But it is your dog; you make the rules and you enforce them.  Bottom line.

Game on

Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!

Actually they begin before Penelope is even fully in the door.  Action photography is a specialty and passion of mine.  Action plus interaction is amazing. 

She spends much time on her head; it is a pretty huge head so maybe that's the reason.  Or she just loves being there. 

It is so funny to watch Penny throw herself at Elsa.  She has no sense of self when she does it and often lands on her head or into a wall, fence or anything else in the way.

Could Elsa be any happier?

Just a cute moment.

Penny is learning to soften her mouth, but not always.

Quite different mouths in the two breeds.  Elsa is all teeth, Penny all gums with tiny razors at the moment.

On her head again.

This looks very scary but still all fun.  I just love this shot, I never realized how long Elsa's neck is but when you are after a Bull Terrier it is as long as you need it to be.  :)

I think that it is a mutual adoration.

Levitating Penelope.  She often hurls herself all four legs at once, it's pretty amusing to watch.

Getting her big girl face.

Elsa waiting for the attack.  Might I add that she looks pretty gorgeous here?  

Girls just wanna have fun.

Teeth competition.

I love this shot.  Notice Elsa in the background with her legs off of the ground anticipating the attack. 

Penny is not afraid of Elsa at all, she already trusts her completely.  Not so much the other way yet.

Look how adorable I am.

See I am just a cute little puppy.

Yep, your teeth are much bigger than mine.

Silly girls.

Some whole head chomping.

A fleeting tender moment.  

I said "fleeting."   The canine missile.

After two days of playing, she is going, going................going..........

gone.

Elsa gone as well.  She was passed out for most of the day yesterday as well.  MMA (mixed martial arts) all day long takes its toll on a girl. 

Call today to set up your own MMA shoot with me 

 @ Just dogs with Sherri.   

Dog friendly?

When you have a new puppy it can be a challenge to meet and greet other dogs.  Socializing being of the utmost importance; you must attend to it as soon as you can.  That means getting out and about to find some dog friendly dogs.  If you have friends with dog friendly dogs then you are very lucky.  You can have them over for a visit to play and help to socialize the newest addition.  But if you don't then you need to try to find some.  Lucky for my daughter who is the proud Mama of Penny, she has Elsa and Luke.

Not all dogs who are dog friendly are puppy friendly.  There is a huge difference between saying hi, having a little chat with a mature adult and dealing with the craziness of a puppy.  I remember just a little while back asking people "is she puppy friendly?"  Many are not but it really depends on the puppy.  Elsa was an amazing puppy; she was not the whirling dervish, in your face type puppy.  She was very astute at ready body language and if she was not welcome she knew it and acted appropriately.

It can be very difficult when your puppy is more of a hard head, the type that don't really get the message.  Older dogs must speak louder and take greater action to try to get the message across.  The type of puppies that don't give up easily and persist can get themselves into trouble.  That is where we come in once again.  You must step in and move your puppy away.  Of course canine feedback is essential but if they are young and very foolish you must assist in the learning curve.

Very few strange adult dogs will want a crazy puppy in their face so be sure to always ask.  Let the other dog owner know that your dog is a puppy.  It is really important to have as many positive interactions with other dogs as you can when your puppy is young.  Playing with the dogs at home is great but not enough to create your own dog friendly dog.  You need to seek out as many other dog friendly dogs as you can and have fun.

I am still looking for great dogs for Elsa to play with and when we have a chance meeting and fun romp with another dog, great.  Each and every positive interaction will help to ensure that when the ones come that are not positive, they will have less lasting effect.

Have a great weekend with your pooch, whatever age they might be.

Clean teeth and painted toes

What?  You were probably wondering when you saw this image weren't you?  This is what I did with an hour and a half yesterday while Luke and Elsa were chewing.  It was bone day and I had every intention of gardening; it is in much need of attention but when I tried to move that way Luke stopped chewing.  I thought that he might so I was ready for an alternative activity which was painting my toes.  I hate the time that it takes to do a good job of a nice pedicure but if I can multitask?  Great.

Before we talk about Luke and Elsa's chew I want to remind you that if you give bones THEY MUST BE RAW.  NEVER, EVER give cooked bones to your dog. Cooked bones are dry, hard and brittle and then splinter.  These splinters can cause all sorts of damage to a dog's stomach and/or intestines.  

Next, make sure that the bones are long enough so as not to be swallow or choked on.  Some dogs have a natural instinct to just swallow.  Jessie was like this and it took her several times to the the whole "bones are to chew" thing down.  I would always err on the larger size of bones for safety reasons.  I had to throw a whole box of bones out once because they were only 3-4 inches long.  Not long enough in my books not to be swallowed down.  6" is my minimum length.  

The day started a bit out of the ordinary; I didn't do the gym and we didn't walk; I needed a break and they could surely use a change of routine.  I had an early meeting so after my meeting it was bone time.  The dogs had been following me around wondering what was up because I hadn't done the gym nor had they walked, but they were very happy when they saw the bones come out.  Before they get the bones the preparation begins.  I get out the bone sheet which is an old bed sheet; which helps to minimize raw meat spread all over the patio.  It just happens to be the same color as Luke and Elsa which I didn't plan, honestly.  I got my nail stuff out just in case Luke wanted me close and put the phone and camera on the table.  The bones had been sitting on the counter for at least an hour; I like the dogs to have room temperature bones.  Once we were ready we head out for a good chew.

These bones had a lot of meat on them.

Elsa, well into her chew.

Good technique here with Luke, using his back teeth.

Look at those pearly whites.

Sometimes Luke swings the bone around trying to get a piece off.  I love those big ears as he watches it fall to the ground.

This was right after I cut into the meat for Elsa.  She is checking it all out.

As you can see, she did really well with the chew.

I wasn't sure what they were going to think of this chew; these were new and different bones.  Lamb shank; and although it took them a bit to get hooked they were a huge success.  They cost a bit more than I usually pay; $6.00 for two so at $3.00 a piece it is a very good deal for cleaning teeth.  Not only does a good raw bone chew clean their teeth; they love it.  These bones were covered in meat; so I was able to make the lamb shanks their breakfast.   Out on the sheet Luke gets his first, then Elsa.  I didn't even know if Elsa would chew it or eat the meat, she hadn't had a raw lamb bone before and she has just gotten use to beef bones.

Luke licked the lamb shank, tossed it around a bit but Elsa just gave it one lick and then stared at it.  She stood watching Luke and then paced.  I tried to coax her, then left her to attempt it on her own.  She seemed very unsettled as did Luke.  He kept looking at her bone then moved his bone right beside hers.  I typically do not allow bone swapping; I have always been super strict due to Jessie's "touch my bone and I'll kill you" attitude.  But these two have no issues and it was obvious that Luke thought that Elsa's bone was better.  She knew that Luke had not settled into his chew; she's pretty amazing at reading body language.  Until he settled, she could not.  She needed him to choose his bone and then she could have the other one.  So watching all this I allowed him to check out her bone; yep, that was the one he wanted.  He took it and began to chew.

That is when I headed for the garden but Luke was having nothing of it.  He left his bone to be with Mom, what a guy.  Back I went and pulled up a chair; nail time.  So I sat and did my nails while the dogs had a good chew.  It took Elsa sometime to get hooked onto her bone; she kept walking by and giving it a lick.  She'd do a circle then lick it again.  Finally after watching Luke eat his, she gave it a go and never stopped until it was clean.  Every so often I'd get up to take a photo of them chewing or maneuver someones bone.  I also grabbed a knife and fork and helped make some cuts into the meat.  The whole thing was covered in sinew so it was tough for them to get going on them.  They hadn't dealt with this before so they weren't quite sure how to handle it.  Once I made some cuts into them they were good to go.  They had a great chew, lots of tendon and sinew chewing sounds along with bone crushing.  I love the sound of teeth getting clean.

During the chew Luke decided that he was not close enough to me.  He stood staring at me and I knew right away.  I grabbed a towel that had dried Elsa off a few days earlier and lay it down right beside me.  He immediately grabbed his bone and took up his place by my side.  What a guy.  Elsa was fine on the sheet, it was after all only about 4 feet away but for Luke that is like a mile.  The dogs enjoyed their chew and I did my nails while enjoying the sounds of teeth being cleaned.

Call me crazy but I think I love bone day as must as the dogs do.  :)

The dogs we love

Crazy dog lady, eyeball rolls, those judgmental looks and comments; I'm quite use to these although they are becoming less and less as we become more of a dog society.  "It's for my dogs" I tell the cashier after she asked if we were having a barbecue.  "Really?" she says, "geesh, your dogs eater better than I do," she tells me and they probably do.  My dogs eat very simple real food and the fact is that many humans have very poor diets; not my problem if my dogs eat better than you do.  But do not look down on me like some crazy person because I want good nutrition for my dogs.  My dogs don't eat better than I do; although they eat very differently than I do.

Years ago dogs were dogs; most lived outside and got a pat on the head every once in a while.  There were of course those who never got any attention and lived a life alone; never knowing the joy of companionship.  A few lucky ones were welcomed into the home of a true dog lover.  More and more people are becoming dog lovers.  For those who have not yet been bitten by the dog loving bug; they don't quite understand.  "I don't get it?" many say when they see people putting their dog's needs before their own.  Spending hard earned money on their "dogs?"  Loving dogs is more than simply saying that you love dogs; it is having known and cherished the human/canine connection.  It is more than buying fancy coats, expensive beds or shiny collars.  I'm talking about care and concern for our canine family.

Ahhhh family, there I've said it.  Dogs are family members and if you don't think that they are then you are quite there yet.  Is your dog still the "token" dog filling the "dog" spot in the family?  Although they should most definitely be family members; they are not human family members and there in itself lies a big difference.  They are a part of our family and as such they deserve the same love, care and respect that we give each other.  It does not mean that they should pull up a chair and eat beside us at the table or wear fancy clothing.  What it does mean is that they should not be considered a piece of merchandise.

 I am not talking about people who plain don't like dogs or don't choose to live with dogs. (I assume they aren't reading this anyway.)  I am referring to those who live with dogs but have yet to consider "the dog" as a family member.   People who buy a dog because they feel the need to have a dog.  Okay so they have a dog but the dog is not given the opportunity to become a family member; it remains "the dog."  Sadly many dogs still live a very lonely life stuck out in a backyard; hard to believe but true.  Then there are dogs who live in the house but are still considered "just the dog."

Being involved with so many dog people; I come across so many different types.  I am often startled by comments made about the appearance of dogs and the insults tossed by those who would call themselves dog lovers.  If you love dogs; you love dogs.  I think the biggest thing when you are a dog lover is that you have a deep appreciation of others and their canine/human connection.  You "get it."  It's not about what breed or mix, its about "the dog."   You may not choose to live with a pocket pooch or giant slobbering monster of a dog but you can view them with admiration because they are dogs.  A dog is a dog; to their very core they are all dogs.  It is we humans who have designed the difference in their exterior but inside they are all dogs.

Loving dogs does not factor on a number; you do not need a bunch of them to be a true dog lover.  You can have one tiny little 5 lb munchkin who you consider to be a family member.  Perhaps you do have a good number of dogs; but do you consider them to be family members? It is all about what you do with your dogs; the care and love that is given that means you are a dog lover.  It is not the size of the dog, the color or texture of their coat or where they came from that makes one better than another.  They are all dogs.

To never get to know your dog's very personal uniqueness is a very sad thing.  We are a society of people who want; many think they want a dog but have no desire to truly add a dog to their family.As my husband always says "if you're going to do it, do it right."  I could not say it better myself.

Oh those little heads

Yesterday started out differently than most, but ended much the same as others.  Dogs being dogs; Luke and Elsa assumed that the day would be much like all of the other days.  Of course I try to switch things up regularly, especially for Elsa as she is like a machine with routine.  We were not going out for a walk in the morning; but my husband and I were going out.  Luke an Elsa are very use to me going to the gym very early so when I returned very early in the morning they started to follow as they always do.  After a bit I grabbed my keys and my purse and Elsa spun in front of me with her typical "yay we're going for a walk" enthusiasm.  I then told her "I'll be back," but she did not relent.  Luke clearly understood that I was leaving without them but with her over the top excited self; she could not see that a change was in the works for the day.  Of course the door closing with her behind it gave her a tip that she was not joining me.

Dog heads are funny little things.  I often say "who knows what's going on in that little head."  It is true that much of what goes on we don't know but the more you learn about dogs and their behavior the easier it is to figure out.  They have good days and bad like we do.  Some of them have large mood changes while others can be difficult to read the good from the bad days.  Luke is in one of his very happy and feisty moods these days.  I can tell that by his very active following, big time desire to snuggle, his awakeness versus sleeping hours and his interest in wrestling with Elsa.  He is an extremely happy dog as is Elsa; they are probably two of the happiest dogs that I know.  If either have a bad day or bad mood moment it is very small and very rare.  They are the perpetual optimists, a very nice trait in a dog.

Last night Luke came to bed and was acting out of the ordinary.  Usually bed time is a calm time when he settles quickly, gets a before bed snack and it's lights out.  But he did not settle and I found myself asking him "what the heck are you doing?" as he circled the blankets looking for "the spot" more than a dozen times before leaping off of the bed.  The circling was normal but not the speed or the jumping off the bed.  He is not allowed to jump off of the bed but made a run for it and immediately turned to get back up again.  Sometimes he just gets something in that little head of his and who knows what the fuel for his actions are?  Once back on the bed he continued to stomp around and finally flopped in the chosen spot.  I wrapped his head in my arms and could hear his stress breathing.  He'd gotten himself worked up about something.  I held him for a while until he settled, he had his snack and was covered up for the night.  What a guy.  He is a simple yet quite the complicated guy.

There was no figuring out what was going on in that little head of his last night.  The out of the ordinary behavior was fleeting; different for Luke but not hugely strange.  He has these moments now and again; after all his is a nervous ninny sort of guy.  Sometimes things just hit him and he displays behaviors that are quickly over and done with.  There isn't much that I cannot figure out if I sit, watch and ponder for a while.  But there are those shoulder shrugging moments.  Of course if it was a behavior that needing attending I would figure it out but his unusual behaviors are typically fleeting, quirky and inconsequential moments in time.

There are many things that our dogs do that leave owners perplexed.  At the beach the other day the owner of a dog that was playing with Elsa was puzzled by a new behavior.  Elsa loves to dig at the beach, she loves the feel of digging in the sand.  It is obvious from her behavior that she is not digging for anything but the sheer joy of digging in the sand.  Luke was much the same when he was younger and still loves to dig albeit at a slower and more mellow pace than Elsa now.  Elsa showed her new friend Cali how to dig and when Cali started to dig along side Elsa the owner said "what are they digging for?"  I said "nothing, Elsa just loves to dig."  He didn't get the whole "just digging for nothing idea," and asked his dog several times what the heck she was digging for.  I'm not sure if it was all of the flying sand that made him grab for his dog or the inability to comprehend this new activity.  As he grabbed her collar he said "there is nothing in there, no treats" and pulled her away.  Funny human behavior.

Our dogs often display behaviors that we cannot explain.  There are behaviors that can lead to other more serious issues and for those you may need a professional.  As an avid and dedicated behavior watcher I have often seen a dangerous behavior in the fledgling stage of disaster.  If possible I will try to enlighten an owner; if they are open to listen or I have been asked.  Funny little quirky behaviors can go wrong quickly and it can be difficult to distinguish between one that will, might or won't go bad.  Things do go on in those little heads that we cannot explain but many of the odd behaviors that our dogs display can be explained.  Don't ignore odd behaviors, whether they are out of the ordinary or something your dog displays regularly that you cannot figure out.  There could very well be an easy explanation that has gone undetected by you and your family but it could also be one of those weird little things that has no explanation.  The resulting fallout behavior is what must be addressed.

Oh those little heads.

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.