Calories

Calories, calories..... we've learned to hate them haven't we?  "It better be worth the calories" is a common phrase heard around the world.  Calories have become a bad word in our quest for the perfect body weight world.  Of course there are good and bad calories.  But calories are a much needed thing in the whole spectrum of running a body.  For our dogs it means energy.  We need calories and so do our dogs. 

Finding the perfect amount of calories all depends on quality of calories and movement.  Quality calories are made up of foods that a body can use; nutrient filled.  Those calories are eaten, digested and utilized as fuel for energy.  If you do not feed enough of the appropriate species calories then your dog will suffer in the energy department.  What our dog's bodies cannot use for fuel will be evacuated for you to pick up.  I remember seeing a National Geographic video on digestion years and years ago.  It made a huge impact on me.   Through the use of a tiny camera, food was followed through a body.  You could see how each step utilized the nutrition of the food.  It most definitely made me think about the fuel that our body needs to just run, let alone run well. 

Think of that when you put food down for your dog.  How much of that food will be taken and turned into energy?  How much will end up in your backyard as waste?  I'm not a numbers sort of gal; I am a visual person.  Calories for me are seen, not calculated.  I don't use a scale for myself; I rely on the tightness of my pants to remind me to cut back.  For my dogs, I go by feel.  I just noticed yesterday that Elsa has lost a few pounds.  With it being lizard season she has been constantly on lizard watch.  So, she needs more calories at this time of year.  Calorie intake requirements factor in dog size and activity level.  The link below is a great and easy way to give you a general range. 

Stombeck's Home prepared food - calorie chart

I see fat dogs all the time and I hear people saying "I don't feed that much."  They may not be feeding a huge amount but they are either feeding the wrong kind of food or their dog isn't moving enough.  The whole secret of losing weight is moving.  Often a reduction in food is not required; only more movement. 

Article on Weight Management from The Bark magazine.

Funny how we have been programmed to look at a piece of cake and think calories.  But we don't look at a plate of fish and a salad and think calories.  Calories are calories; there are good and bad.  But calories in the true sense of the word are not a bad thing.  Our bodies and our dog's bodies need calories.  The form those calories take is the important part.  Yes, you can have too many or too little; good or bad calories.  Finding the perfect combination of quality and quantity of calories can take a little while to figure out.  Calorie charts are a very general ball park as far as what your dog needs.  Movement and metabolism will factor in the rest. 

I remember as Tilley and Jessie got well into their golden years; having to cut back on their food intake a great deal.  Much more so for Tilley than Jessie though.  Tilley had always been a very active girl but she did have a tendency to carry a little extra weight.  So as she slowed down her food requirements became much less.  The food quality was not changed, just the quantity.  More weight on a old body is very taxing. 

Ohio State University - body conditioning chart

Calories are not the enemy, garbage food is the enemy.  "Empty calories," a body cannot use are just using up space in the backyard.  Go for the good ones that your dog's body will use in their day to day activity. 

Protein

As an avid weight lifter I know the importance of protein for muscle growth.  The other day I wondered what the actual numbers were for protein as far as dog are concerned.  What I found after much research is that there is no easy answer.   Much of the information out there is for protein in dog food which is measured by a percentage.  Whereas our protein requirements are measured in grams.  Measuring protein by percentage is assuming that all proteins are alike.  So I dug deeper. 

Much of what goes into dog food is unusable by our dog's bodies.  Of course the better the food you choose the better the ingredients.   But how do you know what is a good food and what is not?  Well, like I wrote yesterday, I'd stay away from the big guys first.  Next read the ingredient label.  This may sound easy but it is not.  Here is a great article on how to read the ingredient label. 

Reading the label

What I found after much reading was that dogs generally need 2 grams of high biologic protein per kg of body weight.  (Merck Veterinary Manual) High biologic protein refers to animal protein that can be used nutritionally.  Beaks, hooves and hair contain protein but are very low as far as usability.  They are not utilized well as they are digested.  They contain less value for a dog nutritionally. 

Trying to figure out the actual high biologic amount of protein in dog food is a difficult task.  There is the list of ingredients to decipher, moist content, actual protein ingredient to attempt to figure out and more.  Whereas the amount of protein you give to a dog fed in it's real form is a much easier task.  That said, most people feed dog food so when you do; do your research.  Do not take the percentage rates on the bag as a whole truth, dig. 

protein chart

Our bodies need protein to build and maintain muscle.  Of course there are other things involved as well, like exercise and other nutrients.  But protein is a big part of building muscle.  The more one exercises the more protein they require.  But even in quality proteins, they are not all alike.  The chart listed above will let you know what contains the most percentage per weight. 

The dog food project  This is a great link if you want to delve further.  About amino acids, protein etc. 

I could go on and on and get very scientific but I prefer to leave that to those who want to do the research.  I have listed several good links but there are more, you just have to dig.  There is much more to nutrition and muscle growth than just protein but protein is a big part.  Are we shorting our dogs?  I think much of the time.  Muscle will not grow without proper fuel and exercise, they go hand in hand.  We have been duped for far too long as far as feeding our dogs.  Time to look into it and see what you come up with. 

We eat what we eat and don't think much of it correct?  Yet when it comes to our dogs we must read the labels and try to figure out what is really in the bag.  Keep it simple, the fewer ingredients the better, just like your own food.  The big companies who are spending literally millions on advertising campaigns are not spending it on quality ingredients.  Next time you see a big ad on television for a new dog food or human food for that matter, think. 

You are what you eat

Yesterday's blog was a repost about toxic algae.  It is a post that I like to put out there every year in hopes I that it might save a dog or two.  Before I read about a dog losing it's life to it; I'd never head of toxic algae.  Please tell anyone you know about it. 

The rest of the week I want to round out with nutrition.  We are what we eat; is the saying right?  I was in Target yesterday picking up a few things and walked past the pet section.  Funny, I'm so into dogs; but that is one area I've only visited once in the past.  That one time was to read ingredients and since then, I haven't been back.  I don't check out the dog section in the grocery store and the only dog stuff I check out at Costco are the beds.  Why?  Because what they sell is crap.  Bottom line.

When I see an advertisement on television for a new food product I make a mental note, do not buy.  Yep, it goes against everything that those companies are planning but I am not buying what they are selling.  I have bought several dog food brands over the years that were scooped up by the big conglomerates.  Once they move to the big leagues, everything changes.  Quality goes down, quantity goes up and typically the prices goes down as well.  I see this in human and dog food. 

I don't buy food or anything else in the big pet stores either.  I like the small stores, the ones who do their research and care what they sell.  Oh no, there are not a lot of them out there.  But they are worth finding.  I have one not far from me and it is where I go when I need dog food.  The owners research and have very high standards.  They can tell me just about anything I ask as far as food goes.  It's really nice to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about.  Think the kid behind the counter at Petco or Petsmart knows about nutrition?  I think not. 

The more you research the more you find, the more you find the more you have to research.  Of course that is only if you have an inquiring mind.  Not everyone wants to know, nor do they care what is good and bad in food.  A bag of dog food is a bag of dog food and that is all they need to know.  That's fine, but if you want what is best for your dog; stay out of the big box stores.  Don't buy food or treats there; because there you will not find quality.  Although you will most definitely find quantity. 

They wouldn't sell stuff that is bad for our dogs right?  I remember having this conversation with my son years ago about organic food.  He didn't see the reason to buy organic and stood strong on his belief that the FDA would not knowingly allow toxins in our food.  Well that son of mine is the biggest health food person that I know now.  With a little research, knowledge and more research he has discovered some truths about food. 

I am in no way telling you what to feed or buy for your dog.  But if you are concerned with health and nutrition, read the label.  What's in that bag of grub you've bought for your best friend? 

Tomorrow's blog will be on protein and muscle growth. 

There's a monster in the park.

             Canine etiquette; first you greet, then you play.  Skipping the greeting stage can lead
             to all sorts of misconception and trouble. 


Elsa and I were just finishing up our evening walk and were headed to the Xterra.  Up ahead I could see some folks sitting with their dogs and chatting.  A man with a dog was walking by and two small dogs came out to say hi to his dog and they looked to be having a nice time.  As we walked up the two dogs were called and I told them "she's friendly."  I wanted these nice little dogs to interact with Elsa.  So many small dogs are not friendly; and it can really leave an impression on a dog after being snapped at so many times.  The owners told them okay and I dropped Elsa's leash.  The three were interacting very nicely when a large black dog charged over that I hadn't even seen in the group of people.  With no greeting, hello or how are ya;s; she started to chase Elsa. 

At first it was just a very assertive approach to sniff and as Elsa tried to move away the dog chased.  Soon Elsa was running with the dog chasing her.  Elsa's rear end was about as tucked as it can be as I called out to her.  It is hard for a dog to hear anything when they are in a fear mode.  I continued calling her; I remained calm as there was no need to panic.  It all happened so fast that I find myself trying very hard to remember it all.  Then she screamed; Elsa let out a noise that I'd never heard before.  She was very scared.

Finally she turned and ran into the group of people for safety.  I walked over calmly and picked up her leash.  Everyone knew that Elsa was scared and I immediately made the decision to stay a while.  I asked again "she's friendly right?"  As it was difficult for me to read the dog myself.  Yes she had chased Elsa but it hadn't seemed aggressive; assertive yes but not aggressive.  They said "oh yes, very friendly."  Then they told me she just be charging around with some dogs; so I guess she thought that she'd just start up again.  But she hadn't even met Elsa before and I am sure that Elsa really didn't even know what this dog was.  It was a Bouvier des Flandres in full clip which means that she had no face and no tail as far as communication is concerned.  Elsa could not see the dogs eyes, or read her very short tail.  She was very full coated which meant that there was little other body language to read.  All Elsa knew was that this giant black monster was after her. 

So why did I not get on my high horse and head out after the incident?  Association.  I have worked too hard and too long to have it all come undone in one chance meeting.  The owner of the dog stayed seated, oblivious to there being a situation.  A very nice woman with another dog herself; grabbed the Bouvier's leash so that Elsa could get her composure.  I remained completely calm through the ordeal; surprisingly because I am a grizzle bear of an overprotective Mom.  But what Elsa needed now was; well thought out situational modification through precise manipulation indicative to creating positive association.  She did not need her Mother enforcing her fear by leaving in a panic.   We were not leaving on a negative, we had to stay for a while and the most important part was that I remain calm.  It may not be a warm and fuzzy moment but we had to stay.

I had Elsa's leash in my hand, we kept the monster at bay.  Once the monster realized that I had treats then she was happy to just sit and stare at me, waiting.   Elsa kept glancing at the Bouvier from the corner of her eye.  She was most definitely interested as she skirted around the woman and had a sniff of the monster.  It had all happened so fast that I'm sure Elsa was thinking "wt*."  She continued to have interested but was very wary if the monster looked at or approached her.  The Bouvier had very bad canine manners as did one of the other dogs there which I have actually written about before.  A very nice but oblivious Labrador.  She is very sweet but in your face and Elsa does not like in your face until she knows you. 

Elsa is one of the best dog readers I know.  When in doubt she hangs back; but this situation gave her nothing to go on.  Imagine you were on a walk and Sasquatch came charging out of the woods at you.  You'd turn and run, that's all you would do; well you might scream too.  Allowing your dog to do this is just wrong; if our dog's don't have manners we must teach them some.  That or keep your dog on a leash until it is okay to run and play.  Dogs with good communication skills would meet first, play bow or bounce; wait for a reciprocated communication and then charge off playing.  Elsa reacted very fearfully by running but; she could have very well turned and attacked in fear.  I am glad that she did not attack; it would have made the situation much more difficult to work with. 

Over the last two years I have sifted through dogs for interaction purposes.  I have tried to keep them all positive with a small amount of not so great just for learning sake.  This is the moment that I was working up to; the one that was not great.  With all the positive behind her, the hope is that this will not leave such a huge impression.  So we will head to the park again.  I will be ready this time and I will shout up ahead to keep the monster on a leash.  No doubt Elsa will remember.  Dogs simply don't forget.  One sniff and a dog has you in their memory bank.  We will keep it short and sweet and leave on a positive.  (Quit while you are ahead)  Maybe, just maybe the monster and Elsa will become good friends. 

Feel free to ask questions about dealing with a situation like this. 

BABIES

"You can see our puppies," the head of rescue said.  "What?" I replied.  When I arrived midday on Tuesday, to photograph some Greyhounds for Hemopet; I had no idea that I would be seeing Greyhound puppies.  I was shocked and so were they; when one of their rescues arrived pregnant.  A first for the facility.  A first but oh so amazing and wonderful.  Puppies.  

 

These beautiful puppies were born and raised at Hemopet.  After their Mother came in as a rescue they discovered that she was pregnant.  I'm thinking that these puppies landed in heaven for somewhere to start off.  Round the clock care and tons of socializing. 

Imagine my excitement?  I have never worked with a Greyhound puppy, never photographed a Greyhound puppy; heck I've never even seen one before.  At twelve weeks of age they resembled large, big boned Italian Greyhounds with very big feet.  

 

With the rarity of the event; these puppies were all spoken for before they hit the ground.  The puppies were temperament tested and placed in the most optimal home for each individual, nice.  They all go home to very excited families this Saturday. 

After photographing some of the adults; I got my chance to meet the babies.  It's a good thing that all of these babies have homes to go to on the weekend.  That is all I'm saying.  

Greyhounds all have different ear sets; some have both up, one up, both down etc.  This little one's ears just popped up.  

Of course there was much puppy play to watch.  

Lots of chomping on each other.

Someone needed a nap.

This bush in the middle of their play area seemed to be a favorite spot to hide.

Honestly, I mean honestly.

What a cheeky pup.

Just adorable.

Another adorable face.  It's almost unreal how cute these little faces are.  Greyhounds come in a huge array of color and mix of colors.  Within the brindle spectrum is a whole range of markings and base color.  It is very interesting to see the differences.  

As well as hiding under, bushes are good to have a chew on.  

 

Another day to remember.  :)  A special thanks to Betty for letting me experience and photograph the litter. 

 

Three years ago I photographed and published a book on the rescue Greyhounds of Hemopet.  100% of the profit from the books go to help the dogs of Hemopet.

 

You can see it here, Rescue Greyhounds

9/11

We will never forget.

Honoring the canines heros of 9/11

Positive reinforcement/association

Reaching down to grab the very wet and disgusting ball out of Elsa's mouth I realized how far she has come.  She never use to want me to have the ball because that meant that our game was over.  She would turn her head but eventually hand it over.  She of course still does not want the game to end but when I say "drop" she gently opens her mouth for me to take it.  Why the change?  Because she gets a treat.  That and because she knows that I might just start the game up again at any moment. Positive reinforcement is so vital to canine behavior and keeping it...well, positive.  It is all about association; the link between two behaviors.   I take the ball in the end, but she gets a treat for giving it up.  Plus I make sure that I throw the ball again at some point during our walk.  That way the game hasn't truly ended until we leave the park or as they say, the fat lady sings.  :)

Positive reinforcement or association can be added easily to your day to day.   Elsa trots along nicely by my side once she gets her ya ya's out.  She knows that when she walks by  my side that treats will appear.  They don't come out often but it is worth her while to hang out there for when they do.  This is positive reinforcement. 

Positive association is a bit different but the same, sort of.   I have used association for nails.  Neither Luke nor Elsa enjoy having their nails done;  not too many dogs do.  But when I bring out the grinder, both circle with excitement.  They know that treats follow nails and I will continue this always.  As soon as their nails are done they get treats; not just one, but a few to make good and sure that it remains a positive.

Positive reinforcement is the act of linking a behavior to a reward.  This, ups the possibility of the behavior being offered again.  Once the behavior is learned you put the reward system on a random delivery schedule.  Perhaps you wait for the best or fastest behavior that your dog offers to reward.   Then you cut it back further to just every so often.  Complete elimination is up to you.  Depending on the behavior is how I factor that in.   Some behaviors should be rewarded once every so often, others don't need to be.

Positive association is creating a positive feeling around a negative activity, like nail cutting or grinding.  There are many things that dogs can baulk at throughout the day so you need to choose which of those need a positive association to.  Positive association can be done with our own behavior; you don't need treats for all associations.  Sometimes your  positive behavior to a situation can turn it around.  Take a little yapper (small dog) for example; who is going off on yours as you walk by.  You can either fuel a negative by pulling your dog away and getting upset or you can create a positive by chirping away happily while you pass them.

Plucking ears (for those who have hairy ear breeds) is another negative activity.  Treats are a must for this one unless your dog is not into treats of course.  Teeth scraping, bathing and the weekly physical; when you have a good look see.  Almost anything can be turned from something your dog doesn't want to do; to an activity that they tolerate due to the reward at the end. 

Don't get frustrated, associate. 

Happy Anniversary - Elsa.

 

This was taken just moments ago as I blog.  How lucky am I? 

It is Elsa and our 2nd Anniversary; the Anniversary of when we she joined our family that is. Two years ago today my husband and I gathered our things and headed to LAX for a very special delivery.  With a knot in my stomach, I checked my watch again.  We didn't want to be late for our package.  I have to admit I was a bit flustered; I was very nervous about the flight and could not wait until she was in my arms.  With my toe tapping, the drive seemed to be never ending.  Of course as things go, we got turned around; ending up somewhere that was not where we were to be.  My anxiety level grew as we turned around and found our way to our correct destination.   As we pulled into the parking lot of a huge building set away from the airport; I opened the door before we were in park.  I remember thinking "all will be good when she is in my arms." 

Walking (more like running) into the building I went straight to the front desk.  "I have a package" I blurted out, "a puppy."  The woman checked over my paper work, and got on her radio.  Our package was on it's way and she asked me to wait; she would call me when it arrived.  Again, my toe tapped out of control.  This was no regular puppy delivery; no, this was my puppy delivery.  A puppy that I had waited for, for a very long time.  One that had been specially chosen to join our family; the family that already had three much loved canine members.   Two who were well into their senior years at 14 and 15 years of age.  Luke was the baby at the time but things were about to change. 

The woman behind the desk called me to complete the paper work.  She smiled and said "she's adorable."   "What?" I said, "you've seen her?"  The woman nodded her head and said "she's letting everyone know what she thinks, quite the confident little thing."  The woman asked about her color; she'd never seen such a beautiful blonde.  Funny, I had always called Luke my blonde beach boy.  Within minutes of completing my final signature she motioned for us to head around to the side door. 

We walked into a gigantic warehouse and stepped up to the "do not pass this line," mark.   Our puppy was in this warehouse somewhere?  I was a little taken back; I'd never picked a puppy up from a flight so I had no idea that they were delivered here.  A moment later a skid loader rounded the corner with a tiny crate on top of a skid on the front.  "Is this a joke," I thought.  They put this tiny puppy on a skid that was hoisted to us by a loader?  Honestly.  No matter, there she was and as I stepped out to grab the small crate off; I could see her, there she was.  After all the time waiting, worrying and wondering; there she was. 

I was close to tears when she finally came off the skid.  So much anticipation had finally ended with her arrival.  Elsa came to us the day after our wedding anniversary; so we celebrate two anniversaries together now.  Yesterday marked 29 years married for my husband and I.  Today we have spent two years with our amazing girl.  I remember that first day like it was yesterday.  From the moment she entered our home, met her three new canine family members and all the human ones too she made herself quite at home.  She was a very confident little thing; there was no mistaking her body language.  She clearly stated as she ran out into our yard "stand back;  I, Elsa, have arrived."  From that very special day; our life changed drastically.  Elsa has seen much in her two years with us; she has had a great deal of adventure already.  What a beautiful and wonderful adult she has grown into and I cannot wait to experience our future together.  To our amazing girl, Elsa. 

Tales of a tail. #1

 

Laguna beach, never a bad place to be. 

Tales of a tail; experiences, memories, events that have been forever etched into my brain.  I have been working with dogs for over 37 plus years, so I have tales to tell.  There are so many dogs to talk about; I can’t remember them all or the stories.  But there are some that have stuck with me that I'd like to share.  I've decided to blog about some; others will be saved for hopefully a book down the road.   Names will be changed to maintain the dogs privacy but you will know who this is if it is your dog. 

I met “Rinaldo” at the Laguna Beach animal shelter.  After a beach training session I was heading home; but I had a strong feeling of being pulled in as I passed the shelter.  It was so strong in fact that I made an illegal U turn and headed back.  If you have never been to the Laguna Beach shelter it is very small; tucked back off the Canyon Road beside the Seal rehabilitation center.  It is surrounded by hills; think the opening scene of the show Mash (literally where it was filmed) and you’ll picture it well.  I pulled in and hopped out of the car; crossed the tiny bridge that leads to the entrance and went in.   There are only a few rows of kennels and an outdoor run.  I did the rounds of the kennels and spotted what looked like a purebred Gordon setter, weird.  Not only do you rarely see Gordon’s around anywhere; you never see them in the shelters.  He was adorable and young, maybe 4-5 months old.

When I finished the rounds; taking the time to stop and talk to each dog I came to the outdoor run.   There was the setter again; this time there was a woman with him who seemed to be smitten.  We had a casual conversation about this boy; and she told me that she was going to adopt him.  I told her I was a trainer and if she needed me, just call.  I got the call about a week later; I was going to work with this wonderful young man and his new Mom. 

Back down to Laguna Beach again; I got to meet Rinaldo cage free.  He was beautiful and every bit a Setter; full of boundless energy and happy as a lark.  His new Mom was well educated in the needs of Setters in general so this energetic young guy was no surprise.  Over the weeks that I got to work with Rinaldo; he grew and grew into a handsome exuberant teenage Gordon Setter.  He was spectacular to watch and a challenge to work with; the desire was there, we just had to direct it.  He tried very hard to be good but every so often his over excitement got the best of him; after all he was all Setter.

That boy made a big impression on me; one that I cannot forget.  His zest for the little things in life was contagious.  I felt like we were meant to meet on that illegal u-turn moment.  Of course there had been others; not too many on that particular day, who hopefully have their own amazing families now.  Funny how someone can give up a dog; cast it aside who then becomes the love of someone else's life. Sometimes thing happen for a reason and maybe that reason alone is just the way that it was meant to be.  I am happy for every dog that I get to meet and get a little glimpse into who they are.   

   

Rinaldo and his family have now moved away and the last time I heard from his Mom; Rinaldo was the love of her life.  From a cage in a shelter; discarded by someone who did not understand what they were tossing away to the arms of his new life and new family, a happy ending.  

The needs of a dog.

 This is one of my all time favorite companionship photos.  Taken on the beach in CT on a          very foggy morning.  I was about to leave and turned to see this woman and her dog.  A moment captured.

I was going to write about the things that we really need for our dogs this morning.  Once I pondered  the idea it quickly changed to what our dogs need.  That is entirely different from what we need for our dogs.  Dogs have very few needs; water, food and companionship.  That is pretty much it.  They are a simple creature with little needs but much to give.  There is a difference between a life and a life lived well.  Sometimes it's good to sit and think about the needs of our dogs; what they truly require  for a great life not just life itself.

Water - sounds simple right?  It is, but sadly many dogs don't have clean water.  I have four water bowls in my home.  I know that it is possible to forget to fill one occasionally so I have four.  Making sure that the water is fresh every day is easy for me.  Luke and Elsa won't drink it if it's been in the bowl too long.  They will stand with their head hanging over the bowl.  Pretty clear message if you are paying attention.  Or, Luke will come and stare at me until I ask him what he needs.

I bring a portable water bowl with me wherever we go so I'm always prepared to offer them a drink should they need it.  Luke makes me smile how much he loves his water after a walk.  I can barely get him into the back of the Xterra and he is digging around for the bowl.  Elsa is usually very thirsty as she is such an athletic girl.  They drink together and alone.  Elsa drinks for thirst; Luke drinks for the same reason but with a passion for a drink of water. 

Food - now there is a controversial word.  The whole idea around feeding dogs has changed drastically in recent years.  It is not just kibble anymore; no, food can be real food like what we eat.  My two eat real food just like I do , but different.  I try very hard to eat real food (meaning not processed) to stay healthy so I take the same approach when feeding Luke and Elsa.  As far as I am concerned we should feed the best that we can to our dogs.  Sure they can survive on low grade food just like we can but they will not thrive on it. 

Of course too much of a good thing is bad.  Being overweight can lead to all sorts of health issues for a dog so feed great food; just not too much. 

Resting - I didn't have resting on my list above of what dogs need.  Dogs can live fine without a bed, pillows or cushions.  The ground is where many dogs rest their head but it is not always comfortable.  Why not give them as much comfort as we can?  Heck just spend a night in a tent with no padding and you'll think differently about sleeping on the ground.  Many dogs choose to sleep on the ground; especially if it is hot out.  The ground may offer some coolness that a bed does not.  But on a regular day, toss a bed on the ground and see if your dog chooses the bed or the hard floor. 

I often hear people say "well, how spoiled are they?"  when they see a dog on a big cushy bed.  I don't understand this statement; why is giving a dog comfort considered spoiling?  They don't deserve to be comfortable because they are dogs?  I like my dogs to be very comfortable; as comfortable as I can offer.  As they age they need even more comfort.   I have beds in my bedroom, office, outside and in the kitchen.  So yes, a dog can sleep on the ground and never require a bed; but should they not have comfort?

Companionship - well I could go on and on about this one.  What is companionship, really? 

Companion - a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with or accompanies another. 

Okay, so if you hang our with your dog then you are their companion.  That said, there is a big difference in just being there and really being there.  That connection that I am always talking about.  Once you have it with your dog a life spent together turns into a great life shared.  A simple touch, a shared moment; maybe just a look lets you know that you are true companions.  The connection makes all the difference. 

You can lead a life by simply living the day to day or you can lead a great life.  The same goes for the life that you give your dog.  (Wow I sound like Oprah.)  Have a wonderful day with your dog.  :)

Decisions, heart, gut or brain?

There are so many decisions to be made in life.  Some should be made with your heart, others with your gut and then there are the brain decisions.  Most decisions concerning our dogs should be made with our brain.  Far too often our heart gets in the way of brain decisions; which is when you must sit down and think clearly; leaving your heart in the other room.  Just recently we have been discussing the idea of having Luke sleep on the floor now.  We have modified our bed several times to incorporate safety for him.  We put a long body pillow at the end of the bed to keep him back from the edge.  We removed our box springs to lower the bed just in case.  But as he ages and becomes more wobbly I have feared that he might just fall off the bed during his move about time during the night. 

Lately he has become more restless; he seems to find it harder to get comfortable.  Which means that he is up on his feet way to much for my liking.  I wake up each time to ensure that he doesn't tumble off so I'm not sleeping great either.  Leaving my heart in one room I sat and made a brain decision.  It was time, time for Luke to sleep on the floor.  No, it's not an easy decision; it hurts like hell actually.   But as much as it hurts; it is the correct and intelligent decision.  With my heart and brain back together I thought about where to start the transition.  What would be the easy for Luke? 

We have two huge dog beds in our room; which are rarely used.  Although Luke has taken to sleeping on them during the day as getting onto the bed is so much work for him now.  I decided that he must be right beside me; otherwise I couldn't see it working.  So I took one of the beds and put it right beside me.  In fact it is in the exact spot where I put crates with new puppies in them (Elsa).  This enables me to reach and touch when needed.  Both new puppies and now old Luke need a hand of reassurance.  He always wants to know that I am there.  If he knows that one fact; it is enough for him. 

Tuesday night was our first shot at floor sleeping.  I worried as I had not been sleeping well that I'd have another sleepless night.  You can only go on sleepless nights for so long before something crashes.  I am happy to say that it went amazing.  I slept, Luke slept, we all slept great.  When we first went to bed we had a few "I need on the bed" moments.  I firmly told him "no" and asked him to come and lie beside me.  "Lie beside Momma," is a phrase that he is very familiar with.  He is the ultimate "beside Momma" dog so this worked in my favor for the transition.  That night I only heard him up once; he was up and got a drink which may have been quite novel for him.  :)  When I woke up, there he was; on his bed where I had hoped that he would be.

Last night was even better, no stirring at all.  We did have a little issue at bed time as he ran and threw himself up onto the bed.  I immediately told him "no" and lifted him down to his new bed.  He got up once more on the bed (determined little guy) and I again lifted him down.  As I write this blog he is still asleep by my side.  He has checked in on me several times but looks too comfy to move anywhere soon.  Watching him get up yesterday morning and try to get those shaky legs under him made me more clear of the correct decision.

Now Elsa must learn that she is not allowed on the bed until I get up.  Typically she is up very early in the morning; like 3:00-4:00 early.  I don't want her upsetting this new thing so she needs to wait until I get up so that if Luke wants up as well they will both be on the bed.  Right now she is on the bed and he is still sleeping happily on his new spot.  A few more days of this and we will be into our new routine. 

Some decisions need the full attention of our brain; the heart can join in later, once the correct decision is made.  Not easy but right. 

Wordless Wednesday, well sort of.

Much too hot so the games moved indoors.  Things did not slow down.  

Bull Terrier tasting.  

This goes on and on and on and on.

Fun and games, lots of teeth.

A little elbow chomping.

Sharing or trying not to share is the most fun.

Love Elsa's expression in this one, "so short one, you want the bone?"

Girls.

Playing in the blankets is fun.

Checking out tired Elsa.

I don't think that Penny can believe that Elsa is napping.  

Hmmmmm, the realization face.  Now what is she going to do?

Yay, Grandpa's not napping.

Maybe Luke wants to play.  Nope.  

Just chill'n.

She gives in to nap time.  

When others fuel the fire.

How many times have you run into a stranger or friend who bring out the worst in your dog?  Thankfully I don't too often anymore because most of my friends know my rules but strangers are a different thing entirely.  Of course people don't mean to create problems but their lack of understanding as far as dogs are concerned is the real issue.  We met a few of these folks on the weekend; they were really very nice but my gosh.  Trying to undo what they are doing can be a challenge.  Being direct, calm and polite is the best route to take. 

It was another hot weekend here is Southern California.  When I woke up yesterday morning I really wanted to hit the beach.  Being that it is still closed to dogs during midday hours we had to leave early.  At least we are allowed on the beach early in the morning or in the evening.  I really hate when dogs are simply not allowed at any point.   So we were up and gone early and as we got closer to the beach I could see the fog; there was a very heavy marine layer at the beach.  It is always interesting to drive out of pure sunshine and into engulfing fog.  Standing on the beach looking inland you can see the blue sky; but the fog lingers over the ocean and beach.

They are excited before we even get out; both Luke and Elsa know where we are.  As soon as they are out, the two turn towards the water and want to go.  Luke puts his head down and pulls with all of his 13 year old body.  Elsa on the other hand runs tries to run to the beach; she can barely contain herself.  I love seeing how happy they are to be at the beach.  It makes the trips so much better knowing that they love being there. 

We were only on the beach a moment when we ran into people wanting to know what Luke and Elsa were.  Then we stopped to chat to a woman with a doodle who was quite shy and reserved but adorable.  He matched Elsa's color exactly; but the 10 mos. old never left the safety of his Moms' legs.  A little further down the beach we ran into the folks who pushed the behavior button for Elsa.  Even Luke had a hard time but being an old guy he contained himself. 

"OH, MY GOSH.......................HOW BEAUTIFUL,"  she shrieked.  At this point Elsa was watching some kids in the surf so she didn't notice.  Once we stopped she did notice and was immediately airborne.  The woman was very nice but a little over the top with her greeting which sent Elsa along with her.  She gushed over both Luke and Elsa while asking questions and waving her arms.  "OFF," was my immediate response and the woman actually heard it.  Most times when this happens I am saying "off, off, off," while the person continues to promote the unruly jumping behavior.  They state that they are fine with the dog jumping on them; "it's okay, I don't mind."  But they don't realize that "I" do mind.

If having your dog jump on others when they fuel the excitement fire is not something you like, don't allow it.  Be direct, let the person who is causing the commotion understand that it is not okay.  You can throw out words like " training, OFF (which I use)" or pause.  Try to get your dog's attention and have them sit.  This makes most excited human greeters take a moment; maybe even realize that you don't want your dog to be out of control.  Of course it all depends on your dog and the particular individual.  Elsa happens to love meeting new people and if those people are as excited as her, things can get a little carried away.  She rarely jumps on people now but if a human pushes those excitement buttons; then she's more than happy to join in. 

Stay calm and address the situation.  After all happy jumping is a good problem to have. 

It is important to take charge of any situation that involves your dog.  You can be very direct without being rude and you might even teach someone a thing or two about greeting dogs.  Usually as soon as "OFF" is out of my mouth the greeter takes a step back and watches.  They usually see that I like orderly conduct immediately; but not always of course.  Sometimes you run across someone who will never get it and will continue to squeal and wave their arms around; winding your dog into a happy greeting frenzy.  For these types you simply smile and walk away. 

What's your favorite?

I love my mornings; sitting here as the sun peeks over the trees as I blog.  Luke and Elsa deep in sleep and dreams.  It is one of my favorite times of the day; the part before my day actually starts.  Sometimes Elsa is watching the yard for anything that might need her attention; like doves who think that they can land here.  Another of  my favorite times is our t.v. time.  I enjoy sitting on the couch with the dogs; relaxing at the end of the day.  But what makes it even more special is that it is Luke's absolutely favorite time of the day.  Each  night after dinner he waits for the smallest of signals that we are heading down to the family room.  He spins at the top of the stairs, spins at the bottom and spins until he is situated in "his" spot beside Mom. 

What is your favorite?  Of course almost every moment with our dogs are great but there are favorite times that you spend together.  Perhaps it is on a cool morning walk.  Up and out before the rest of the world; enjoying the peace before the day gets under way.  Maybe hitting the dog park or beach is your favorite?  Yesterday afternoon I was spent from the heat; I am not a fan of the heat we've been having and I plunked down on the couch.  Both Luke and Elsa stood looking at me.  It is rare that I sit there in the middle of the day.  They watched for a moment to see if I was going to stay there or move.  Once they saw that I was there for a bit they both joined me, nice. 

I truly love so much time spent with my dogs that it is hard to decide what is my favorites are.  Although I think that hiking is at the top of the list.  Meandering through the forest watching them rip and tear in all directions is about as good as it gets for me.  It has been my favorite since I had my very first dog, Mandy.  My Airedale Terrier who was an amazing dog and my constant companion.  We went everywhere together and our favorite activity was walking in the woods.  Back then we could walk for hours without ever seeing anyone else.  That is pretty special.  Every so often I'd sit and just watch her; there is much joy to be had in watching a dog have fun. 

The more time that I spend with dogs and the older that I get; I realize that just time is joy itself.  Sure there are good times, great times and not so great times together.  But some of the best are just time and nothing else.  Like this very moment; we are all piled together just enjoying. 

Great joy can be got from giving to our dogs.  Preparing for an outing strictly for them turns a moment into a great one.  Those moments are the ones that would not happen were it not for your dog and I have to say that many of those turn into the most memorable.  Taking a trip to the beach early in the morning for Luke and Elsa is never a bad idea.  If it were just me here; I'd hit the gym and then get to work.  But instead I opt for the beach walk because Luke loves the beach and of course so does Elsa. 

So what is your favorite time with your dog?  Do you have a favorite or is every moment with your canine as great as the next? 

Whatever it is,  have a great day today. 

What are you teaching?

It's going to be another scorcher today.  Thankfully I spent much of yesterday in San Diego where it was at least 8-10 degrees cooler.  Still hot but not scorching hot.  When it is as hot as it's going to be today we spend much of our time indoors.  We will head out nice and early before the searing heat hits for a bit of exercise but then we'll be in the AC.  Because today will be another "inside" day I've decided to teach Elsa to go through my legs.  She already knows how to go through; but it is sort of willy nilly style.  She runs through getting all excited but now I want to fine tune the act. 

The other day as I was putting both Luke and Elsa's harnesses on when I thought about the lesson.  Hmmmmmm, I'd like Elsa to come through my legs from the back and slip into her harness.  She already does the very cute and adorable 'latch on' exercise before we leave; which is much like a seeing eye dog does for their owner.  I go to the place where the open button for the garage door is;  she pushes under my hand until I grab her harness.  Then the button is pushed and we can leave, but not until then.  I love it, she is so cute pushing under my hand trying to get me to grab a hold of her harness. 

So now I'm going to teach her to go through my legs and into her harness.  Luke and Elsa both where the Easy Walk Harness by Premier.  This harness is perfect for the exercise because the action required to get it on is exactly what is needed.  She will have to come from behind me; go through my legs, putting her head into the harness.  From that point she will be asked to continue moving forward while I do it up under her chest. 

Elsa gets very silly and overly excited when we are learning new behaviors.  She wants to cut to the chase and get the treat.  Being treat motivated is wonderful for learning new stuff.  Dealing with her over zealous behavior takes calm and cool behavior on my part.  I need to create a black and white scenario, no gray tones for this girl.  If she is on the wrong path I will mark that with a vocal error marker and stop.  Then we start again.  (More detailed instructions on working with over enthusiasm on my website soon).

So while the sun is at it's fullest and the heat is on; we'll be working hard on learning a new behavior.  It doesn't matter what you teach your dog; any new behavior or exercise is a good one.  Many dogs who have never been given the chance to learn have a difficult time with the concept.  Once a dog understands the premise behind learning; they are typically on board for more.  What are you teaching today? 

Designer dogs, the imfamous doodle.

Standing in the park; watching Elsa charge after her ball again and again, a man shouts over to me.  Is that a "doodle?"  I am very use to the question and call back "nope, a poodle, just a poodle."  He stood for a long while watching.  He said he had two doodles at home and continued to watch.  I know he was thinking "this is a poodle?"  Most people have an skewed image of a poodle.  That of a fluffed up, pampered pooch eating bon bons on the couch all day; the type of dog that doesn't get dirty.  This of course is completely wrong, but it is what people think due to the "dog show" poodles that they have seen. 

Doodles are very popular and it seems that they are getting even more so.  There are everything from maltipoos, schnoodles, labradoodles, goldendoodles, aussiedoodles, bernoodle, boodles and the list goes on and on.  So when someone asks if my dogs are doodles, it is because there are so many doodles out there.  With the absence of Luke and Elsa's typical poodle pom poms; people don't recognize them as a poodle.  Does it bother me that people think that my dogs are doodles?  Not in the least, I don't care what people think they are.  To me they are amazing, curly coated retrievers who happen to love doing anything as long as it's with a family member.  I'm sort of smitten with the breed I'd have to say.  

So what is my take on the whole "doodle" thing?  It is not a yes or no type answer, there is much to consider.   First off there are probably less than a handful of good doodle breeders.  Good, meaning that they do all the health tests on their breeding dogs, socialize the puppies, have only a litter or two a year and temperament test.  The rest?  Greed, sheer greed.  With the misconception that the doodle dog is somehow enhanced with a sort of super amazingness, it became the dog to have.  People were scrambling to get one of these amazing dogs.  They believed all the hype and as people
do, they desired one. 

Sadly much of the labradoodle and goldendoodle hype; comes from a misconception of the poodle which was also created by humans.  Many people, especially men do not want to be seen walking own the street with a poodle; it's an image thing.  But throw a Labrador or Golden Retriever in there and they never have to admit that they have a poodle.  Whatever floats your boat.  But sadly it is the dogs that are suffering.  My issue with doodles is not the mixing of breeds, I LOVE DOGS, ALL DOGS.   What I do not love are the horrible beings who breed for profit.  The people who pump out puppies so that they can have their piece of the pie without any regard for the health or well being of the dogs. 

I was on a doodle site just last night.  The site was filled with poodle mixes of all kinds.  The list and number of puppies available was mind numbing.  This is the problem.  A miller, most doodles come from millers; big and small but they are millers.  With the big thing being doodles, of course they all jumped in; they all want a piece of the action.  It is all marketing and hype and yes we humans tend to buy into that stuff.  Stupid?  Yep.  If it's new we want it.  If they say that it's great, we want that too. 

Let me just say that doodles are not super dogs; they are not healthier than a purebred dog.  It is all false advertising.  Just because you take two different breeds and breed them together does not give you a healthy dog.  Far from it.  You could be breeding two non healthy dogs of different breeds together and sadly with the doodles; this is typically what is happening.  Unfortunately many of these supposedly healthy doodles are plagued with serious health issues.   The general public does not understand the depth of what goes into producing healthy dogs.  They've been told that the simple act of mixing a Lab and a Poodle will produce stellar health.    Wrong. 

I have worked with several people who desperately wanted a doodle because of the hypoallergenic aspect of their hair.  Two families had their hearts broken after discovering that their children were indeed allergic to them.  When you breed a Labrador to a Poodle you lose the non allergic factor of the poodle coat.  Sad.  What is even more sad is that the shelters and rescues are filling up with these very same doodle dogs.  People get them thinking they are wonder dogs; only to find out that they are dogs, just dogs who poop, pee and puke on the carpet.  They chew things and jump on you just like normal dogs. 

There are many different opinions on the whole "doodle" thing.  My opinion lies with the dogs.  Bad people breeding bad dogs; it is very sad.  These bad people dupe prospective puppy buyers into thinking that they are getting a miracle dog.  When all they are getting is a dog from a puppy miller.  Someone who cares far more about lining their pocket than a puppy or puppy buyer. 

It all started 22 years ago and if Wally Conron had known then what he knows now; the doodle would never have existed. 

Creator regrets ever creating the doodle

Do I shun a doodle when I see it?  Do I think that it is an abomination of nature?  No of course not.  I probably bend down and tell it how adorable it is.  It is after all a dog who is the product of the greedy, heartless person that bred it.  It is the not the fault of the dog at all.  Would I shake the hand of the miller who pumped out the puppy and lied to get a few bucks from a nice family?  HELL NO.  I am appalled by anyone who pumps dogs out whether they are mixes or purebreds.  Those who breed dogs several times a year; using them simply as a puppy machine.  People who keep their dogs in kennels and have a breed facility whether it is clean or filthy.  Millers, they are all millers and deserve to be thrown in prison like the dogs that they keep.

The "doodle" dilemma runs far deeper than mixing two breeds.  It is all about life; disrespecting it, cheating, robbing and the cruel treatment of.  The doodle millers would not succeed if it were not for the humans always seeking the new and improved.   

Giving negativity the boot.

I gave up negative dog training a long time ago.  I try very hard to keep positive in my day to day with Luke and Elsa.  Finding the positive way around an issue is not always easy but it is always best.  Being positive builds strong bonds and makes us look at things differently.  Negativity is all around us and I am quite frankly giving it the boot. 

I have a few Facebook groups; I love them and I take great enjoyment in meeting and hearing from all the members.  But like anything else; there is always one in every crowd.  As my groups grow I am running into some negative nellies; and I'm not a fan of any of them.  In the beginning I tried to explain my stand, what I meant etc. etc.  But now, they get the boot.  Just yesterday a member threatened to "UNLIKE" my page because I said I'd seen oodles of doodles on our walk.  I was shocked at how many I'd seen in one place and they were all the color of Elsa.  A doodle is anything mixed with a poodle.  The negative person stated that if I agreed to the mixing of poodles and other dogs that she was going to have to 'unlike' my page.   At first I got angry but then after some consideration, she got the boot.  (More on designer dogs in another blog)

Managing all my groups takes a good amount of time to do it right.  My time is valuable like anyone else's.  The more I weed out the negative the better everything is.  This person who threatened to 'unlike' my page (like I care) knew nothing about me and yet still found it to be her prerogative to accuse.  I have very few rules on my pages but one is that it must remain positive.  So that old saying that your Mother told you a million times as you were growing up has been instilled.  "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  Mean, rude or disrespectful comments are deleted immediately.  If I think that comments are too disrespectful then that negative person is given the boot. 

Thankfully I have had to only boot 3-4 negatives so far.  But as my groups grow my patience diminishes.  I don't have time to let negativity hang around.  So I am much more free with my delete button.  Being positive not only makes you feel better but creates a positive atmosphere around you.  Dishing out negativity creates more negativity. 

When I am faced with a new canine behavior to deal with I look at solving it with positivity.  If you look at the same problem and try to fix it through negative actions the impact with be vastly different.   Positive versus negative; there is no comparison.  My act of deleting negativity from my groups is a positive one; removing the negative to make room for the positive.  It is a stand I take and one that I will not waver on.  Really, if you cannot play nice with others, then don't. 

I work very diligently to keep my canine interactions positive.   Keeping my human interactions as positive can take more work but with a bit of weeding I keep pretty much on top of things. 

Have a wonderful positive day.  :)

Dirty dog?

Yesterday I uploaded this video of Elsa to several of my FB sites.  Most people loved it; they thought Elsa was a great baking assistant, and of course she is.   But a few folks commented that they hoped that the knife she was licking was just a dog knife; or that it was going in the garbage afterwards.  Of course this left me pondering on how different we all are.  I never gave Elsa's knife licking another thought after she had enjoyed the almond butter.  I did what I always do and rinsed the knife and placed it into the dishwasher with all the other dirty dishes. 

I am not one who spends hours and hours scrubbing an disinfecting, let's say a cleaning fanatic.  No I  prefer to spend time doing things that I love. I for one think that my home is pretty darned clean; not spotless but perfectly livable and I've had a lot to compare it to.  I've been inside a lot of dog houses and I could tell you some stories of what I've seen.

As far as those who feel the need to live in a perfectly disinfected world?  Well, I believe that those disinfecting spray and wipe things are actually bad for you.  Not only do they add a bucket load of chemicals to your life but they also take away good germs and bacteria.  Our contact with common germs on a daily basis is how we build a great immunity.    There are many studies being done on babies, immunity and animals.  Just being around dogs is good for your health in  more ways than one.  Dirt and germs from our dogs help to keep us healthy.  Of course I'm not talking about filth; just good old normal dirt that is life with dogs. 

Everyone is different, we all do in life what we see fit as correct for us.  I've been in dog owners yards which were filled with poop from fence to fence and yet they see  nothing wrong with this.  I for one am mortified that it is not picked up and clean but hey, it's their house right?  Other homes allow their dog or dogs to constantly counter surf; helping themselves to whatever they like.  Again, not in my house.  I have also seen people soak up a pee accident with a paper towel and then walk away.  That is their way of cleaning it, just soaking it up.  Not me, I'm down scrubbing.  But to each his own. 

I love gardening in the dirt; it makes me happy.  But I know lots of people who hate getting dirty; dirt on their hands if far from enjoyable.  Everyone's idea of clean is as different as each individual.  The fact that Elsa licked my knife was just fine with me.  I was licking it after her; it was going in the dishwasher where it would be thoroughly cleaned after I rinsed the remaining almond butter off.  I take a very common sense stand as far as life with dogs and cleanliness.  But of course this is my own opinion and there are as many differing opinions as there are dogs and people. 

But don't forget that there is good dirt and in the long run it could boost your immunity.  :) 

Just Luke

"Just Luke" I said and her ears dropped.  Yay, she completely understands now.  I was going through my normal morning routine which Elsa has known for eons.  She figures out routine way too fast for her own good.  But this morning was one of the "different" mornings.  I really wanted to take Luke out on his own.  He is slowing down and taking his time; making it more difficult to walk both Elsa and Luke together.  It is good for both of them and me as well.  I get to enjoy everything about each one as an individual; not that I don't enjoy them as a pair.  They are after all a pretty adorable pair.  Any hoo, it was one of those "just Luke," days.

Every second of the day Elsa watches me like a hawk; morning time is walk time, especially in the summer.  She watches my every move; constantly anticipating the sock move.  She knows whats coming and doesn't leave my side.  When I reach the top of the stairs, her eyes are glued on mine.  As I take the first step down the steps she is already at the bottom spinning.  So I tell her then; before she gets too excited "just Luke."  Every molecule of her being sinks.  Her ears go down and she gets her "did I hear you correctly?" face on.  I tell her again so that she is perfectly clear, "just Luke."  The degree of her understanding is amazing.  Her whole reaction is complete realization.

Luke also understands and his ears perk up.  I've been using the "just" term for years and years.  It always precedes someone's name.  I use to use it much more often when there were three and then four dogs in the house.  Now that there are only two I don't use it quite as often.  But even using it very infrequently; Elsa has got it like everything else she gets.  She clearly knew what I said this morning and when I went to the garage door she was not chomping at the bit.  She knew she wasn't going and stood to the side; allowing Luke to go out the door without any hindrance.

Not only does she understand what "just Luke," means; she is much better with the whole idea of "just Luke."  She use to come quite unglued being left at home.  Of course she'd rather not be left but she is fine with it which is so very important.  We had a few life issues in her first year with us that sort of put the, being left at home alone on the back burner.  With the loss of Jessie and then Tilley just three weeks later Luke suffered from some separation issues in Connecticut and then again when we returned to California.  When we arrived back home in Southern California and to our old house; I am sure that Luke thought they'd be here.  When they were nowhere in sight he had a few issues to deal with once again.  Sad but part of life and we got through it.

So not only is Elsa good with being left alone; Luke can also be left alone now.  It is so very important.  If you have multiple dogs and are not doing alone time, you need to start.

Coyotes, a real threat.

Coyotes are a real threat; if you have small dogs then you need to be aware.    The species lives just about everywhere throughout North America, Central America and Mexico.  It is an opportunistic hunter and will eat anything from vegetation and nuts to larger animals such as chicken, sheep, cats and dogs.  They have been very successful with the integration of their species into populated areas and are commonly seen running down streets.   I have seen many here in Southern California; while out at parks or driving around.  Just yesterday morning one ran down the street in front of me on my way back from the gym.  I had been to the gym later so it was surprising for me to see at around 9:00 am.  I first thought that it was a German Shepherd mix running off leash with it's boys.  But when it turned to look over it's shoulder at them I realized that it was a coyote; and a big, well fed coyote at that.  I followed it for a bit and then headed home to make sure that Luke was not out.

I have heard many stories of dogs being taken by coyotes.  I can't imagine, it was one of my greatest fears and a constant worry when I had Jessie.  I have heard of more Jack Russell's being taken than any other dog.  Perhaps it is the tough attitude that a JRT has the gives owners a false sense of security.  Whereas most people who have tiny Chihuahua type dogs know that they are vulnerable.  But it is not just the tiny ones who are taken.  The largest dog that I know taken was a Brittany Spaniel; they are a substantial sized dog.  This dog was taken out of it's own backyard by a pack of coyotes.  She was old and didn't stand a chance against a healthy young coyote pack.  Such a sad way to go. 

Am I an alarmist?  No, not at all.  I love all wildlife and have great respect for it.   Yesterday's spotting was simply a reminder to me that they are around.  Sometimes I forget now that I don't have any small ones around.  Of course Penny visits often but I'd like to see them try to take her.  One snap of that powerful jaw of hers would have them realizing that they were after the wrong dog and head for the hills.  If they are in your area you should be aware.  While photographing a couple of Kuvasz several years back we were graced by a coyote on the scene.  It was perfect timing and gave me the shot I needed to make the cover of the magazine.  Kuvasz are bred to protect their heard and when the coyote showed up they kicked into gear.  It was very interesting.

Just recently I heard of a family losing their small dog to a coyote.  This was more east of us and a known place for lots of coyotes.  It takes but a  moment for them to snatch a dog.  They grab and run; they do not stand and fight to the death there in front of you.  Another woman with a Jack Russell who I know had a tug-o-war with her dog and a coyote.  Lucky for her the dog was on a leash and she was able to fight back.  She got her dog back with huge punctures in it's rib cage.  She head straight to the Vet and the dog was saved. 

Coyotes are opportunists so if we humans fail to keep our dogs safe; they will take the opportunity.  As far as cats go?  Don't even get me started there.  I've been witness to cat deaths by coyotes far too often and do not understand cats at large with the threat of coyotes around.  I just don't get it.  But then again, this is about dogs.  Keep yours safe.