Getting cranky

                                      Off to visit people and dogs; Luke heads down the beach in CT.  Mr. Social.
                                              This image makes me smile; I remember it like it was yesterday. 

We were heading to the path; the small path that allows you no leeway for distance.  Just as we approach Luke decides to take a dump, nice.  Trying to pick it up in amongst the bushes, I did my best.  The poop bag was too messy to try to tie; you know those, I'm sure you've all had them.  So I had Elsa and Luke in one hand and the undesirable untied bag in the other.  I saw them coming, they were headed down the same path that we were on.  I also saw one of the little dogs lower his head and stare; great and I have my hands full.  I should have just dropped the bag and picked it up later but I didn't think about doing that at the moment.  I knew what was coming and it did; Luke lunged and tried his best to sound like a Grizzle bear. 

If I had not had a handful of poop that was looming to come out and touch me; I would have put Luke calmly on the other side of me.  But I didn't so he did a big bluster.  This is common for Luke and for many dogs.  Luke has slight leash aggression, it doesn't always happen but if he is feeling threatened or he considers the other dog to be offering rude behavior, yep.  It would never, and has never happened off leash.  Luke is the picture of Mr. Social.  He adores going to visit everyone, dogs and people. If someone growls at him he just  moves away; he is a lover not a fighter.   Even now as his hearing is diminishing I often have to run and gather him up as he goes on his visiting excursions. 

So why do dogs act differently on leash vs. off?  First let me tell you that it is very, very common.  Putting a leash on a dog alters their body language immediately.  Many dogs are not trying to give off a rude or aggressive display but because of their leash it looks like they are.  An all too familiar scenario is when two dogs are meeting and then one owner pulls on the leash to move away.  That is when everything changes.  The dog being pulled away can no longer speak freely and opts for aggression.   It is something that I have learned to try to avoid.   Use your voice not your leash if you can escape it. 

If you ever have doubts about another dog; err on the side of not visiting.  With each bad interaction comes a built in defense reaction from your dog.  Try to find those great dogs to meet and greet.  I was very angry the other day when a woman walking at the park let her very large Rhodesian come our way.  Luke is very frail now and I don't want him messing with anyone; it is my job to keep him safe.  I saw her coming from a distance; I also saw that her dog did not have a leash on.  I very calmly got off the path and walked across the park.  When I turned to check on the pair; her dog was heading our way.  I stopped as she yelled to me "he's friendly, gentle and older."  I called back "he does not like other males," just as her huge Rhodesian did some jump, charge play bow type things at Luke and Elsa.  Clearly he wanted to play and clearly this was not going to make Luke happy.  "Put his leash on," I called to her and she did. 

The whole humans reading humans always boggles my mind.  She saw us move off the path and go in a completely different direction; should that not be enough to let her know that I was not interested in an interaction?  Yes.  It does not take much to knock Luke on his ass these days.  Even a big bluster that he does himself can do it.  A romp around with a friendly dog can leave him very injured so I am constantly aware.  I am always scanning the area for dogs off leash with stupid people. 

If you have a dog with leash aggression; work on staying extremely calm and not giving one ounce of message to your dog.  Get some distance, that is the key.  Although of course there are those who will ignore this distance and keep moving in.  I work with dogs, people are another thing completely. 

Drive

The drive to retrieve is okay, as long as it is within a safe environment and under control.  

Drive: an innate, biologically determined urge to attain a goal or satisfy a need.

Prey drive, we've all heard the term and although it does come from the genetically hardwired behavior to chase a moving object; I prefer to call it just that, chase drive.  Many drives have nothing to do with prey as in animal killing.  Most of it is just the simple desire to chase something moving.  There are many different types of drive in our dogs today.  I saw this big difference when Penny was at our house.  Penny is driven by glimmers, it is becoming a problem.  She is most definitely obsessed and cannot stop unless she is physically removed from the room.  Every night when I would empty or fill the dishwasher as the sun was setting she would go off by the glimmers created.  I had to kick her out of the kitchen; obsessive drive is not something you want to fuel in any way, shape or form.

Elsa and Luke on the other hand are driven by things that they can get; lizards, crickets, balls, frisbees, etc.  Their desire to chase has not moved to the constant need to chase.  I had one of those and one is just fine with me.  Tilley, she had OCD and it was all about shadows.  She started very young; at four months of age we noticed her following butterflies.  Thinking that it was adorable we watched and watched until we noticed that it was not the butterfly that she was chasing but the shadow.  At the time I didn't realize that this was a problem; I thought she was a smart girl to find something that gave her a sure thing to chase daily.   No, it was a problem in the making.

OCD (Obsessive, compulsive disorder) is not a good thing; especially in dogs who we cannot sit down and explain to.  Her desire to chase shadows quickly moved to any shadow, anywhere.  It was not until one day that she chased the shadow of a crow into the street that I realize the dangerous implications of her problem.  So what do you do with a dog like this?  We transferred her desire to chase to objects; so that we could control the chasing.  She was given error feedback if she tried to chase a shadow outside of our yard and she learned quickly.  She became an amazing disc dog and would literally chase and retrieve anything that you threw for her.  We redirected her drive.

It may seem cute in the beginning but an obsession on something that cannot be caught is a bad one.

Obsession:  a persistent preoccupation, idea or feeling.  The act of obsessing or the state of being obsessed.

Not good in any form.  Obsession should be dealt with immediately.  Elsa cannot figure out what Penny is doing when she starts with the glimmers.  Penny cannot figure out what Elsa is doing when she is after a lizard; different, very different.  One is drive, the other obsession.  You can see Penny waiting for a glimmer when she stands transfixed, staring at the wall.  It needs to end there but it must also be redirected onto something else; something that is controllable.  Just ending it will be nearly impossible.

The extension crutch

This is the Yap Wrap that Jessie wore in her senior years.  No longer a pulling dog she enjoyed the comfort of this harness.  

Last week I wrote about dog parks being a crutch.  The easy "go to" place where we take our dogs maybe too much.  Today on the way home from the park I saw a woman walking down the street with her dog; he was all the way out at the end of her extension leash in full drag mode.  Of course he wasn't dragging her because when a dog is that far away from you the pull is much less........ahhhhh, the crutch.  This dog was pulling so hard that it was bent over forward and down; I would imagine it was horrible to walk this guy on a regular leash.  "The pulling doesn't bother me if he's on an extension," is what I hear often.  No need to train if you can just throw an extension leash on, right?  Wrong.

Extension leashes are not only dangerous but they also mask problems.  Dogs who are strong pulling dogs are encouraged to pull when using these; because the owner suffers no pressure.  Those who walk strong pulling dogs on them often use them for just this reason.  Walking their dog on a regular leash sucks; it is not enjoyable at all, so on goes the extension.  I really hate extension leashes in general; most people who use them do not have near enough control or common sense to be using them. The only time I ever want to see one is in an open field, with no others around; if and only if the person holding the extension can reel in fast as well.  Does the person know when to start reeling?  Not usually, so I pretty much hate them.

But as far as the extension leash being a crutch; take it off and give a regular leash a try.   Dog pulling?  Hate it?  Then work on walking nicely on leash.  Oh yes it can be a great deal of work; especially if your dog has been sled dogging for many years.  Teach a dog to walk on a loose leash is an effort but well worth it.  There are many harnesses made now that reduce a dog's ability to pull.  The Easy Walk Harness is one of those and my "go to" harness.

When dog's pull and are never offered another option then they just keep pulling.  Training is work, yes but it is work that will make spending time together more enjoyable.  Of course there will always be times when a dog wants to pull.  Fresh out of the gate Elsa has some major ya ya's; but we wait until she gets a grip before we move on.  Walking a dog that is pulling you down the street is not fun for anyone.  Just this morning an older gentleman passed us and asked "dogs taking you for a walk?"  I said "no, actually I am taking them for a walk,"  he smiled and continued on.

What do I use?

People regularly ask me about the stuff that I use for Luke and Elsa.  Grooming equipment, food that I feed, training leashes, harnesses and collars.  I am always happy to share this information as I've been sifting through a lot of stuff over the years.  I  hate to see people waste money so when I can help out and share what I think to be useful I like to pass that onto you all.  I'm a gear junkie, I love canine stuff that makes living with dogs easier. 

I have my standard "go to" items and that can change on a daily or weekly basis depending on my mood and requirements for the day.  Even though I love gear I don't love I do not like complicated.  So my favorite things to use are simple, easy and useful.  I've picked up equipment before and just stared wondering how long it might take one to put this onto their dog.  Not all companies that make dogs stuff think before they put things out there for the public; that much is obvious.  There is a lot of stuff out there that is useless or just a plain waste of money.

Sometimes I change my mind on something if I find a new and improved item that someone has come up with.  New ideas, constant improvements to dog gear; I love when there are new things to try.   I like companies who are always improving on what they have and actually want to make good products for dogs. 

My prerequisite for being a favorite of mine is quality and usefulness.   Cost factors in, I want value; to get what I pay for not pay a ton of money for garbage.  Customer service is way up there for me; if I find out that a company does not stand behind their product or care about feedback then they slip way down on my list. 

You will notice some changes to my blog; to the right side is now a couple of lists of things that I recommend.  I have all of these products and use them.  I will keep adding to these lists as I find new things that I like.  If you have a question about any of the products please let me know.  If you'd like to see something that I don't yet have on there let me know.   I love feedback.

As far as purchasing items online, my go to is Amazon.  They have crazy fast service, even when I choose regular 5-7 day delivery I have been getting my stuff in a day or two.  Almost everything can be found on Amazon but if not I will link to where an item I like can be found.  Of course these items are just what I like to use, my opinion. 



This is the harness that Elsa is wearing in the photo above.

Dealing with loss

                 
 Many lessons were learned from Tilley and Jessie; they are constantly in my thoughts and my heart.  Just thinking about them often brings a smile.  That is what it is all about.   

The loss of a canine companion can be life shattering.  For some, it will be the thing that changes their life forever.  Many opt to never do it again; having a dog means losing a dog and they just cannot live through it one more time.  Others will do it again and again; knowing full well that it means the devastating and inevitable loss.  But before loss there is life and that life makes our life a whole lot better.  I truly believe that each and every one of our dogs makes us a better human for the next dog.  I know that I am not the person that I was 30 years ago; much of the change was due to the dogs in my life. 

Each step we take with a dog by our side gives us insight.  Around every corner is something new; each day brings new lessons.  How can we not be better having lived with a dog?  Someone asked me a question that I am asked frequently, just a week ago.  How long is the normal time to wait?  Meaning how long should you wait before adding another canine to your life after a loss?  There is no answer for this question.  Grief must be dealt with first; after losing a companion. 

Grief:  a cause or occasion of keen distress or sorrow.

When you lose a canine companion there will be grief.  No matter how young or old that dog was; a loss like that of a dog leaves a huge void in our life.  You must give yourself time to grieve.  Now that time is where it gets confusing.  I have known people to add another dog to their life the next day and I know people who wait five years.  There is no right or wrong.  There is only what we feel we need to do. 

Adding another dog to your life when you have suffered the loss of another, helps us to move on.  Yes there is life after the loss of a dog; there is always another to love and fill a different spot in our heart.  Choosing to add another dog to our life is in no way disrespecting the life that you lost.  That life and those memories are in there forever and it is those thoughts that you will look back on often.   You loved that dog so much, so honestly that their is room for another.  A companionship so great and so powerful that not living with another dog is not an option. . 

Everyone needs time to grieve.  There can be fallout issues if you don't give yourself that time; and that time will vary vastly from person to person.  The life that you had with one dog will be like no other.  There is no replacing of a canine companion; each is very individual.  What our dogs give us is the desire to share our life with a dog.  When one leaves our heart and our life; another can help to fill the heartache.  Our dogs have so many lessons to give us in the time that we share.  I truly believe these lessons are meant for the next life that we will share with a canine. 

When you are no longer willing to be dogless, you will know that it is time. 

More on Dealing With A Loss(coming soon) and other topics on my website article store. 

Penny's sleep over

Penny is staying at our house for a week; never a dull moment. The day starts off with some teeth cleaning.  

My handsome man, watching the girls.

He decides to join in for a short romp.

Elsa is so smart; she starts cleaning Penny's face and then nabs the toy when she lets go.

Always a watchful eye.

Taken just this morning.  Penny crawled ever so slowly into bed with Luke and he didn't even growl.  Progress.  

A crutch, the dog park?

      At the beach and around the corner in Connecticut.  It was a very chilly day for the beach.   Elsa was about 5 1/2 months old here.

The dog park can become a crutch.  It is a place where you can socialize and exercise your dog without exercising yourself.  Most times you can get a great deal of exercise for your dog in a short time span.  So you go and you go and you go; day after, day after, day.  Your dog loves to go, they get lots of canine interaction and all is good right?  Maybe not.  The question is, do you also take your dog for leash walks in public areas.  Maybe downtown, a children's soccer game, the park or outdoor Mall?  If not, you should. 

When I was in Connecticut in 2011/2012 I had a young puppy.  Being that we were plunked in a place where I knew no one and didn't know where the great parks were I had opted for the beach.  A great beach that is only open for a very short time of the year for dogs to be off leash.  Being that I could hit the park at off hours; it made visiting the park a great place.  There were never too many dogs at a time and lots of room between each group of people and their dogs.  If you wanted  to interact you could but you didn't have to.  It was a great place and one that gave Elsa a huge boost in her canine socializing.  We visited a lot for the short time that we were in Connecticut an I loved it. 

Of course there were extenuating circumstances that made the park the place for us to be.  I had to bring Luke with us for every outing; as he was dealing with separation anxiety due to the loss of his two life long companions.  So I needed a place where Elsa could run her little butt off and Luke could meander; the beach was the place where it could all happen.  But when we weren't at the beach and leashes were required, it could be difficult containing Elsa.  Her enthusiasm to romp with every dog she met was becoming apparent.  "What do you mean I can't just run with every dog?" Was her clear dilemma. 

Once we were back in California we had work to do with on-leash canine greetings and walk bys.  She had to learn that life is not a dog beach.  I see this quite often; dogs get so use to being free that being leashed and controlled becomes a problem.  Elsa was very young so the dog beach gave us the most important thing that she needed, socializing.  But you also need life lessons, learning to walk nicely on a leash (which she does amazing I might add); seeing other dogs and not interacting with them and walking by all manner of people. 

When a dog is at a dog park and very involved with other dogs and the whole activity of interacting, not much concern is put into anything else. A great dog park or beach with nice friendly dogs can be a great place to socialize; but our dogs need  more, much more.  They need structure, control lessons and introduction to the life around them.  If you miss out on all the other stuff and opt just to hit the park all the time then your dog and you will pay the price. 

The more varied things that you offer your dog to experience in their early years the better.  Hit the street, go to the park, sit outside of restaurants; go to all the places that you might end up going at some point in time.  Teach your dog about revolving doors, automatic doors that open as you approach and shopping carts.  Elsa learned about automatic doors before she was 4 months old and it was very useful when she had to go in and out of many on our travel across country.  Go to a soccer game; this is one place where much can be learned.  The first couple of times that we walked by a soccer game; Elsa almost came unglued by the balls.  Of course, being the ball dog that she is she wanted them all.  With just a couple of visits and some age behind her she was able to walk by a ball field without losing it. 

People carry a lot of stuff at soccer games; they can look menacing to a dog who has never seen someone carrying a giant bag of balls.  Dogs need to learn what to concern themselves with and what can be ignored.  How about a tennis court?  Been by one of those with your ball crazed dog?  I have and it was......lets just say crazy.  So, we did it again and again and again until she learned that all of those tennis balls belonged to someone else. 

Yes the dog park or beach can be great; but they can also become a crutch.  Get out, experience life with your dog.  Take a turn down a street where you've never been.  Go to a new park or beach where leashes are required.   Yes leashes suck but they are a fact of life so you may as well do leashes well if you have to.  So get out and have a great new day with your dog today. 

Adopt, don't shop.

You've seen these signs everywhere.  It is written on people's shirts, stuck onto their bumpers and passed through the internet like wildfire.  Rescuing is a wonderful thing and as you all know I photograph rescue dogs and had a little foster girl here just last weekend.  But I also have two dogs that I purchased and care for with every ounce of nurture that is in me.   I have been scorned by some people who think that the term "shop" is a blanket statement; and that my friend is where they are very wrong.  I have pulled out my soap box to explain but alas it falls on deaf ears much of the time. 

It is the millers, don't buy from the millers.  The ones who have websites where you can buy one, two or more puppies right online.  The people who have kennels set up for multiple litters at a time.  Those who house hundreds of dogs; pumping puppies out like an assembly line.  Even when you see great, friendly websites who look like they care for their puppies; count the number of litters at a time.  I can see maybe two happening on occasion but anymore than two litters at the same time should tip you off.  When you see three, four or more litters at the same time or back to back litters then you need to move away from that breeder. 

I LOVE STANDARD POODLES; there I said it and I am proud of it.  I adore my dogs and care for them the absolute best that I can.  That said, I love dogs in general; I simply adore them.  I am not ashamed that my dogs are not rescues.  The only time you ever need to feel ashamed is when you have knowingly filled a filthy millers pockets.  By filthy I mean the type of human, not cleanliness.  When you purchase from them because you can't wait or it is easy; you have then continued the horrors that the breeder dogs live. 

When you start to look for a puppy with the intention of purchasing you must take extreme precaution.  You must ask, ask, and ask some more.  If you are going in blind you can be easily duped.  There are a great deal of dubious breeders out there.  They know what to say, they know how to get around the incorrect answers that you are looking for.  They know all too well how to push their goods and reap the benefits.  So you need to be well educated in what you are looking for. 

Over the years I have talked to many breeders.  When I've been looking for a puppy of my own, for someone else and for photography purposes.  I can weed through the BS and find the truth very easily.  When I am looking for a breeder I want someone who I mesh with; someone who believes in much of what I believe as far as dogs are concerned.  It is not always easy; good breeders can be very possessive of their goods as they should be.  A good breeder may put you through the ringer and you might end up on a very long waiting list.  This is also how it should be. 

You may even be told no; a good breeder turns people away when they don't feel that you are a good match for their dogs.  I have been told NO, that's right and I was indeed shocked; but it was only once.   Years ago I had been making plans to purchase a puppy and was then told that the very puppy I was planning had been sold to someone else.  That was a huge shocker; but again totally up to the breeder.  It is their decision entirely who puppies go to.  There was another puppy that I was told was available and while I discussed it with my family their decision to let the puppy go changed and they kept her.

Purchasing a puppy is not like going into a store and buying a pair of shoes.  No, there is a huge amount of work to do and their can be heartache involved.  It is never good to get your hopes up until that magical moment when your puppy is placed into your arms.  Although a good breeder's word should be golden; once stated that you can indeed have a puppy, only Mother Nature should revoke that word.  Things happen, life has a way of keeping us on our toes.  Not all litters are born with the perfect number that are needed for buyers. 

The bottom line is that if you want a particular breed of dog; do your homework.  Research like crazy and find a good, reputable and ethical breeder.  Someone who cares about their dogs as much as you will care about yours.  Do not pay for a puppy who is the product of a greedy humans desire.  When someone makes a living out of selling puppies; it can never end well for the dogs.  If waiting and researching is what you need to do to find a great breeder, do it. 

This and that

Good Saturday morning.  Anything exciting happening this weekend?  I've got Penny for a week so I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of shooting.  It really is adorable just how much Elsa and Penny love each other.  From the moment Penny is in the house they are inseparable.  Right now Elsa and Penny are on the bed sleeping; something I wasn't sure could happen when they are together.  But I am glad that they have figured it out.  Of course they had a bit of help from me in that department.  Making rules about the bed is a good one.  When you have no choice but to sit still you tend to fall asleep. 

Yesterday the girls had a bath and then had a blast afterwards in the yard.  Could Elsa get anymore charged?  Yep, give her a bath and set her free with Penny.  No doubt these two will be exhausted come the end of the week and will both need a vacation of their own.  But for now they will enjoy each other's company with my ever watching eyes supervising their shenanigans. 

Now for Mr. Luke.  Last night I was at the beach shooting my son surfing.  It was an amazing evening, beautiful sunset and there were dogs.  Lots of dogs; not on the beach as they are not allowed on this particular beach but right up to the beach.  So as I sat on my very hard rock photographing I shot a couple of dogs too.  One nice woman sat close behind me with her Rhodesian.  He looked old, really old.  He walked slowly, his legs shook when he stopped and his entire face was grey.  As I left my shooting place I asked how old he was; "10 years,"  she said.  "Wow" I thought to myself; "Luke is doing pretty darn great."  This thought alone made me smile.   Not bad for an old man f 13. 

When I got home Luke and Elsa were at the door waiting.  Luke is a little more clinging when Penny is around.  I got a huge love fest and then moved into the kitchen to add one more to the group fest.  I have to be very careful of Luke with Penny here; it doesn't take much to knock the old guy down now.  But with strict supervision and rules; everything will go to plan.  Have a great weekend; I'll be hopping for sure.  :)  Pics Monday. 

Tales of a tail - #2

Not one of the girls but an adorable young English Bulldog boy who is in my Dogs In The OC book.  

I met Prada (name change) many years ago.  She was just a pup when we met and she was one of the most expressive little things that I had ever met.  Prada was also one of the many English Bulldogs that I've worked with.  Not long after I met her I worked with loads of other English Bulldogs and fell head over heels in love with the breed.  They are most definitely characters.

Probably the biggest misconception about the breed is that they are stupid.  Even many owners think that their English Bulldog is stupid.  Nothing could be further from the truth; Bulldogs are crazy smart.  Smart enough in fact to convince you that they are stupid.  No, they are smart cookies; but willing to jump at your every command?  Not so much.  Prada learned absolutely everything that we taught her but whether or not she did what she was told was something entirely different.

Each week when we met for a training class; I knew that I was in for laughs.  When asked to do a behavior that she really wasn't in the mood for she would simply whip her head around and not look at me.  Believe me when I say; that it took a great deal of work to outsmart her.  But once I had her figured out; she was amazing to teach.  I truly hate when people assume that certain breeds are stupid just because they haven't figured out how to teach them yet.

Bulldog's have got huge personalities and are one of my favorite breeds to shoot as well as train.  With their expressive face and gestures they can keep you laughing on a regular basis.  A couple of years after I met Prada; she was joined by another house sibling, Chablis (name change to protect identity).  She too was an English Bulldog; different, yet very much a character as well.  I always looked forward to our weekly training session and got a kick out of the two girls and their interactions with each other and with me.  The two would compete for my attention and just loved their training session.

I always hated to leave; hanging out with them was a blast.  Being their private trainer was most definitely a privilege.  Although I worked with them so many years ago; they still hold a special place in my "great dog's I've known."  Those two girls were just a few of the amazing English Bulldogs that I had the opportunity to work with but two that left the some of the biggest impressions.

Pick up sticks

Dogs are so smart, far smarter than we give them credit.  Almost weekly, I have a "wow" canine moment.  This past weekend when we had our little foster guests at our home; Elsa was on a mission.  Her mission was to get this little, tiny canine to play.  As you all know Elsa loves to play; she loves to play more than anything else.  She doesn't care if you are canine or human; she's up for a good rough and tumble.  So when she was faced with a dog who wanted nothing to do with her, she had a big job in front of her.

First they had to get the "how do you do's" out of the way and then it was play time.  Each and every time Elsa tried to play the puppy sat staring at her.  If Elsa made a playful leap in the puppy's direction she went running for cover.  Sprout had obviously not had a great deal of play experience in her life thus far.  This was going to be a lot of work for Elsa; not only did she need to break through the fear factor of Sprout, but there was the huge size difference to consider.  If Elsa had been closer to Sprouts size it might have been a little less daunting of a task.

So she tried and she tried; Elsa tried everything she knew to get the little puppy to play.  She threw her toys in the air, across the room and down the stairs.  She shook the toys until I thought that she would give herself whiplash.  Elsa jumped and leapt around making it look like she was having the best time of her life; but the puppy wasn't buying it.  Sprout sat safely under a chair watching.

Before the first day ended there was a glimmer of play in Sprouts eye.  She was starting to understand what all this crazy behavior was from Elsa.  I had Elsa lay down so that she wasn't quite so large comparatively.  This really helped as Sprout came out from the chair and had a sniff; she even made an almost play bow but then ran for cover again.  By the next day things were changing; Sprout was not running for cover nearly as much.  Of course when Elsa came charging and pouncing in her direction, she hid.  But Sprout was following Elsa around and Elsa was quite enjoying being the boss; she's a pretty bossy girl. 

Then the breakthrough moment appeared.  Elsa stood staring, watching Sprout intently; as she had done since her arrival, she got an idea.  We were all sitting outside under a tree.  Luke was laying peacefully in the shade; Sprout was sniffing around with Elsa watching.  Sprout picked up a stick, a tiny stick; fitting for a very tiny puppy.  I took it away as she started to chew it.  That was Elsa's moment; she saw what the puppy wanted and knew then what to do.  She immediately picked up a stick and brought it over to Sprout.  Backing away as Elsa loomed over her; Sprout stared at the stick.  Sprout looked shocked that Elsa had brought her a stick and when she reached out to get it, Elsa grabbed it and ran off.  She immediately brought it back and tried again.  She reached down, offering Sprout the stick in her mouth and she took the bait, finally.   The game was on.

The whole process was amazing to watch as it unfolded.  Elsa was beyond dedicated in her pursuit of a game.  Her thought process was undeniable and her ability to teach another, impeccable.  The two shared a stick moment; with Elsa picking all the sticks up and offering them to Sprout.  Finally Elsa lay down beside Sprout as they enjoyed a bit of stick chewing together.  A tiny stick had been the key that would break down the wall.  Elsa saw the tiny stick as an opportunity and took it. 

They are truly amazing; aren't they? 

   

Put a muzzle on it.

On the way to the park yesterday, we drove past a woman walking her Pit bull down the street.  I actually did a double take as the traffic slowed for a red light.  The dog was wearing a muzzle and I wanted to be sure that it wasn't just a face harness; and sure enough it was not, it was a full on muzzle.  You don't see dogs wearing muzzles very often and it got me to pondering.  I was impressed, very impressed that this woman was responsible to this degree.  Not only was her dog on a leash but she took the next step and had her dog wear a muzzle.  Obviously the dog is not friendly; I have no idea if it is just a dog issue or perhaps it is not people friendly either.  But nonetheless she was  not taking any chances. 

My mind wandered to the other end of the spectrum as far as safety.  The people who meander into dog parks and beaches with their dog; knowing full well that they are not friendly.  One of the dogs that I was shooting for a magazine was attacked by one of these as we were about to leave a beach on day.  As the scuffle finally ended and we were heading out; the same dog turned around and made a b-line to attack another unsuspecting dog.  They are out there and sadly these dogs live with very bad dog owners. 

It is a dismal thing when a dog is aggressive.  Aggression can stem from many other behaviors, fear, dominance, guarding etc. etc.  But the aggression is the problem, not where it comes from.  There are different levels of aggression; everything from just hating others and trying to keep them away to full on wanting to kill other dogs.  Dogs who growl and snap are common; it can be the dog itself or leash aggression.  But what I'm talking about are the dog who will inflict damage on another dog or human. 

Life is a day to day unfolding of events; many of which we have no control over.  So if you have a very aggressive dog who will grab any dog within grabbing range; then a muzzle is a great thing.  Yes, dogs are suppose to be on leash and yes any dog off leash should be under control but come on.  We all know that people who have unruly dogs let them off leash.  Those people who say "no he won't come," as you yell at them to leash their dog.  It happens far too frequently. 

There will be many people who see this woman with her dog and be angry.  But when you look at it and assess the entire spectrum of what she has done they may change their mind.  She could have been out walking her dog without any regard for others.  Knowing full well that her dog will bite if given the chance and ignored the safety of people and dogs around.  But instead she muzzled her dog for the safety of others.  First off, the muzzle let's people know loud and clear.  She does not need to say "MY DOG IS NOT FRIENDLY," to anyone.  She is hopefully trying to rehabilitate the dog to some degree.  She is not making the problem worse by locking her dog away.  She is thinking of other's safety by putting that muzzle on her dog.  The muzzle that the dog was wearing looked to be a very well fitted one as well. 

I know too many people who have very aggressive dogs who will inflict serious damage to another dog who let their dog off leash.  They know what their dog will do and yet they are so careless.  Many people with dogs like this become angry people; some get a "my dog deserves," attitude.  But I'm sorry, if your dog will hurt another dog or human for that matter; they can never be off leash, bottom line.  No, they cannot.  Not in the back forty, not down a hopefully secluded path or a quiet forest, never.   If your backyard is entirely escape proof then yes but that's it.  If you have a dog like this then get a very well fitted muzzle.  Be sure when you walk your dog that there is no risk of, simply letting go of the leash.  When you know your dog is dangerous; you cannot be willy nilly about it.  You  must take great precautions so that your dog does not hurt someone.

If you do not take extraordinary precautions then it is your dog who will lose out.  A dog can only attack so many dogs or bite people so many times before their life is ended.  Maybe considering the alternative will shake some sense into these people who are careless about their dangerous dogs.   Yes, your dog has a right to enjoy life; but enjoying means creating a safety net for others out enjoying.  Like this woman who had her dog completely under control and safely muzzled.  

I have no tolerance for stupid people and in the end it is the dogs; who will pay for their human's stupidity.   

New information

When you get new information, what do you do with it?  Do you keep it to yourself?  Share it immediately?  Information or something new is an interesting thing.  Unless we have scientific proof to back up the information then it is just that; something new that we have heard.  Of course it is nice when you can back information up with scientific proof but even then it is something that you can agree or not agree with.  Let's face it, over the years there have been many tests done on different things that have misleading and/or completely bogus.   

"Sherri, what would you do?"  This is a question that I have heard many, many, many times.  When I talk with dog owners; whether they are a client, someone I just ran into or a friend, I like to share.  Over the years I have dealt with a lot of dog people and I learned very early on that you cannot force information on people.  When I offer information I do in tiny pieces.  I give a little and if that person wants more, they ask.  If not then I am not making enemies by forcing information down someone's throat or wasting my time.  If someone wants to know what I would do, I will tell them straight up.  I will never tell someone else what to do but will share what I do.  Just because I do it does not make it right or wrong; it is simply what I do.  I feel good about my decisions and if I make a wrong one then I own it. 

Through the years when I have given my opinion on certain subjects; there have been times when whoever I am talking to says "oh my friend says this."  Their friend has had one dog and is giving their opinion as the one and only way to do things.  They ask me what I would do and as I explain they cut in to tell me what their friend says again.  That is when I know that I am wasting my time and shut up.  Sharing information with people who aren't listening is a waste of time.  They don't have to agree but if they are not open to listen and ponder then why waste your breath?   

Humans are funny, aren't we?  There are some who are just happy living with the knowledge that they have at the moment; they are  not interested in new and improved sort of ideas.  There are people who are nay sayers and those who want to find the truth.  When people try to ram their opinions down the throat of others, it typically backfires.  I know when I run into a person who thinks that their opinion is the only opinion I tend not to listen.  People who puff up their chest and spew facts like they are a walking encyclopedia do the whole sharing of knowledge an injustice.  

Sharing is a great thing.  When you find some new and interesting information, share it.  Ask questions and debate over it but don't force.  I blog, which means that I share a great deal of information.  There have been times when someone has felt the need to attack me and/or my opinion.  That doesn't go over so well with me.  In no way do I think that I have all the answers, nor do I think that everyone should think the way that I do.  But do not try to smother my opinion with yours.  When people try so hard to show that you are wrong, they tend to alienate themselves.  If instead, they asked questions and debated something that they felt strongly with, we all learn.  Right?

Nothing is guaranteed; life unfolds as we live it and experience comes with age.  Each and every day we learn something new; even if you think that you don't.  Sometimes the smallest of things that come to light are the most important.  Sharing to those who are willing to listen is a great thing.  I can't imagine finding out some new canine fact that I think is extremely important for others to know and deciding to keep it to myself.  So I share and you should too.  Knowledge is a gift, share it. 

A tiny moment

Saturday morning I hopped in the xterra and head out to pick up my little foster.  I melted as soon as I saw her little face.  She wiggled on her side, squinting and wagging; she was tiny, so very tiny.  Pulling the blanket she lay on closer to me I was able to pick her up and hold her in my arms.  It had been a very long time since I'd held something so small.  We got her things together and we made the trip back to my house.

It is strange when you know nothing about a dog; no background, nothing about the life before she found her way into the rescue group.  I wondered where she was born, if there were more than her in the litter, where her Mother was now.  But when you don't know all that you deal with what is before you; and that was a very tiny and adorable little puppy.  She had what I call a Disney face; the kind that no one can look at without saying awwwww.   A little face filled with tufts of wiry expression.  With the scruffy little face that she had her body was so tiny.  Her two front feet looked like they had been dipped in white paint.  She was a doll for sure.

She took quite a while to warm up to Elsa.  Of course there was a 42lb size difference.  Luke was pretty much as non issue as he was only momentarily interested in her.  At 13 he is so mellow that he pretty much just goes with the flow.  After a while she seemed very comfortable to just lay beside his warm and furry body.  Her day with us was an exhausting one.  From one home to another, to meet new dogs and new routines but she was a trooper.  She stuck to me like glue from the moment we met. 

Watching her tiny 4lb body run around the yard was so different.  She could go where my dogs would have never even considered going.  Tiny crooks and corners she investigated; there in the the tiny world that was hers.  Watching her and Elsa together; I considered how large a person would have to be to me to match their ratio.  A person the height of my house would be about right; can you even imagine?  But Elsa was not going to let size interfere with her fun; no she had plans of her own and they were filled with fun.  Elsa was amazing with this tiny puppy.  She tried her very best to show her how to have fun and do things that only dogs can do.  She was patient and forgiving; relentless in her quest to play with our new house guest. 

By the second day the puppy was starting to quite enjoy Elsa and followed her around the yard.  She was still understandably apprehensive as she should have been.  She was becoming a pack member albeit a four pound one.  Her time with us was short; a mere moment and she was gone.  She found her new forever home with a wonderful family who truly need her in their life.  It doesn't take long to mesh a tiny life into your own.  But she was not meant to stay with us long; no she was here for a tiny moment.  Tiny in every sense of the word but leaving a huge impression in her wake. 

Eye contact

Eye contact -  a meeting of the eyes of two persons, regarded as a meaningful nonverbal form of communication.

There are all different degrees of eye contact in dogs.  Eye contact is a powerful means of communication and it is something that I look for in puppies.  I love eye contact; looking down and seeing my dog looking back at me.  Eye contact is a funny thing; it is much more than a connecting of the eyes.  A lot can be said with a simple contact; that is depending on who the target contact is.

Elsa is a big eye contact dog, as is Luke.  The difference in the two now is simply age and experience.  Yesterday while Elsa and I were at the park; we passed by a dog who was giving Elsa a lot of eye contact.  She didn't like it; and it is quite understandable.  As we walked down the path and nearer to the dog; it just stood frozen staring.  The owner had it out on an extension and was not reeling it in at all.  I assessed the dog as best I could.  It looked older, maybe a Siberian/Cattle dog mix.  I knew immediately that Elsa was not going to like this as we got closer.  I kept my pace exact, my demeanor was calm and confident.  As we passed the dog, it continued to stare as I gave us some space by unnoticeably moving away ever so slightly.  

Just passed the dog and Elsa let out a huge snort.  She's a snorter and her snorts mean something.  They are typically when she is stressed or anxious; when she feels the need to say something.  Much like us saying "holy sh*%, what the heck or really?"  So when she snorts I listen; and I always look around to see what she is snorting at.  As we passed the man and his dog he said "she just likes to smell," but her smelling was an unnerving behavior for Elsa; who happens to be a reader.  It is what she does and she doesn't miss a thing. 

We could walk right past a dog with only inches apart and if the dog was minding it's own business, all would be fine.  As soon as that dog connects eyes, everything changes.  That is, it changes for Elsa; not all dogs.  Many dogs are oblivious to eye contact or they simply don't care.  Elsa doesn't dislike eye contact; she simply has a heighten awareness when it comes to it.  It is not just dog eye contact that she is aware of; she watches humans and their eye contact as well.  If someone stares at her she gets quite antsy.  She tries so hard to figure out what they are saying and if they are just staring and really saying nothing, it's just plain weird to her.  

Most dogs are very aware of eye contact; but like I said some are not.  When dealing with dogs, it is a good idea to be aware of your own eye contact.  Each and every time I walk into a new training clients house I will give no eye contact. Not until I see that the dog is completely comfortable with me and me moving around in their house do I give eye contact.  Even then I am careful and do it a bit at a time. 

We recently had a party at our house.  They were both loving everyone until; one guy who had a hat on startled Elsa.  He then tried very hard to be her friend by holding his hand out and staring at her.  Humans just don't get dog language.  How many times have I said to people "just don't look at her?"  Dogs care much more about eye contact than we do.  If you meet a dog who is shy or fearful; the worst thing you can do is to look at them.  You can look past them but not at them.  Dogs are very highly tuned to direct eye contact.  Even if I'm trying to round up Luke or Elsa for a bath, I will not look at them.  Once I do they know I'm coming for them. 

Luke use to be quite the guard dog.  But everything rested on body direction and eye contact.  When he was in the car; people could walk by just fine, even bump into our car.  But, if someone did the same thing and looked into the car at him, everything changed.  At 13 he doesn't care about a whole lot; nothing much gets him flustered.  But in his day he was very much an eye dog. 

When we meet new people each day, Elsa pretty much becomes a wiggle monster.  She adores people...but; if they look into her eyes when they are petting you can literally see her pull back.  There is a tiny message in those eyes; she is sure of it, even if the person means nothing by it.  For dogs, eye contact means a lot. 

Do you have an eye contact dog?  Watch them watch other dogs and people to see.  Eyes say a great deal, if you're paying attention. 

  

 

Books

 I had Brad in my car last night which is a rare occasion.  Every time he sits in my passenger seat I cannot help but flash back to our trip across country.  Of course my book came to mind.  I decided to talk about my books this morning. It's sort of a walk down memory lane so bear with me a bit.

My very first book was Dogs in the OC.  After watching Housewives of the OC I decided that there should be a Dogs in the OC; offering a more realistic look at living in the OC.  The beauty and the places where people walk their dogs here in Orange County, CA

Before I even got started shooting I had decided to shoot real dogs in real places.  So I put out a call for dogs; any dog, big or small, furry or hairless.  The only stipulation was that they had to live in The OC.  Then I scoured the place for great dog walking sites and shot the dogs there.  It really opened my own eyes as to how many gorgeous places you can walk your dogs there are.  I loved meeting all the dogs and their owners.  Hearing all their individual stories.  So that was book one.

Dogs in the OC - on Blurb.

Book #2 was Greyhound Rescue.  I heard about Hemopet and Dr. Dodds years before.  She had done some very kind things for me and my dogs so I wanted to give back.  I couldn't rescue a Greyhound at the time so decided to do a book where 100% of the profits go to the dogs.  The whole thing, from start to finish was amazing.  Meeting each adopter, getting a glimpse into each individual dog's story to the whole rescue  procedure.  I fell in love with each shoot; rescued Greyhounds are amazing dogs and the people who rescue them are just as wonderful. 

Greyhound Rescue - on Blurb

Then came PBJ and me.  This book started out an idea of doing a photo journal across country.  My son and I were driving from CA to CT with our four dogs.  We had Jessie who was nearing 16, Tilley who was 14.5, Luke 11 and Elsa 4.5 months.  Crazy yep.  It very quickly turned into just a story about our travels.  It is all about lessons learned, things endured and what life is like in a car for 6 days.  There are a few very sad parts which are now memories stored on pages and my heart. 

PBJ and me - Two people and four dogs across the country. 

Next was the very unexpected When Luke Met Elsa.  I don't quite remember the moment when the idea struck me; but a children's book had not been in the plans.  But with so many images of Luke and Elsa while Elsa grew up it came together nicely.  She was such an important part of pack shift that the book illuminated her integral part in our life today.  Luke and Elsa are quite the pair.

When Luke Met Elsa

Then came The Standard Poodle.  I have lived with Standard Poodles for nearly 30 now; so this was the no brainer choice for a first breed photography book.  It was three years in the making and many, many hours of work.  Travelling, scheduling, shooting, working up the photos and putting the book together was a ton of work but I loved every second.  Again, meeting each and every Standard Poodle for the book was wonderful.  I love seeing the connection between a human and their dog; it is very interesting.  Each dog, although all Standard Poodles was very individual.  Work on a second Standard Poodle book is already underway but don't hold your breath, it'll be a few years.

The Standard Poodle - on Blurb

The last book to be completed was another Children's book.  Someday She'll Fly.  The book revolves around Elsa's desire to fly.  The idea came easily after seeing all of the "air" shots I got of her growing up.  She spends more time in the air than on the ground.  The story is about never giving up; when you want something bad enough you just keep trying.  I love it and it is the second book in the Luke and Elsa series.

Someday She'll Fly

That's it for my completed books to date.  I have several others in work as we speak.  I never work on one book at a time because I get bored; I like to jump back and forth.  So I have a third Children's book, a new puppy training book, a second novel and several photography books in front of me.  More to come.  :)



 

Snacking

Last week's blogs were all about nutrition.  One thing that I didn't touch on was treats, snacks or cookies.  Snacking happens to be one of Luke's favorite things to do; that is if the snacks are presented at the appropriate time.  Try to give him a snack when it is nap time midday and it is not going to happen.  But when it is snack time; during a walk or tv time at night, then stand back.  So what is a snack, treat or cookie in our house?  Anything can be a snack; from turkey, cheese, homemade cookies, store bought treats etc. etc.  But the one thing that does not fall under the snack or treat department is preservatives or chemicals. 

My go to snack that is carried with me when we walk is the organic chicken and rice sticks from Trader Joe's.  I often grab a cheese string, a bag full of chicken or homemade cookies as extra snacks.  Luke literally wants to snack the entire time we are out; which is a great time to get calories into him.  When he does decide to get snacking I try to get as much as I can into him while he's on a role. 

For me, snacks should be healthy.  One thing that I stay far away from is anything advertised on television.  Last night I saw that ad for Begg'n strips again.  It is probably one of the most annoying ads that there is on tv and worst things that you can give your dog.  Read the ingredients.  I often find myself on a reading mission.  Of course I do not buy treats from the big box stores; the treats they carry which are specifically made for dogs. 

Begg'n strip ingredients

Bacon & Cheese Flavor
Ingredients: Ground wheat, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, ground yellow corn, water, sugar, glycerin, soybean meal, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, bacon (preserved with sodium nitrite), salt, bacon fat (preserved with BHA), meat, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), dried cheese powder, calcium propionate (a preservative), natural and artificial smoke flavors, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1).

Milkbone is another one that you want to skip in the cookie/treat department.  Many of the low grade treats and snacks are preserved with BHA.  Read about it here on a great article:

Dog Food Advisor - BHA A Time Bomb? 

The above ingredient list tells a story of garbage; not something that our dogs should be eating. 

Luke and Elsa love bacon but like us, they only eat the kind that is not preserved with nitrites.  Real food is good for us and good for our dogs.  Don't buy into the whole "people food" idea that many vets and dog food companies try to brain wash us with.  Real food is real food, for us and for our dogs.  Snacks or treats can consist of just that; a piece of chicken, cheese, liver or anything else. 

As far as I'm concerned you shouldn't buy any processed treats, snacks or cookies for your dog at the big box stores.  Before you head to the cash with that bag of treats in your hand, read the label.  

It's too high

We got a new bed recently; about a week and a half after Luke had made the transition to the floor.  His transition turned out to be perfect timing as the bed that arrived was much higher than our previous one; do to taking the old box springs out.  Our bed has a high frame so when we were calculating whether we should get the high or low profile box springs we chose the high.  I wasn't sure that the box would clear the frame; enabling me to make the bed easily.  The bed arrived and it seemed high.  It turned out to be about as high as our last bed with the box springs.  But, I found it just a tad high for Elsa to be jumping off of.  Funny how just a few inches can make a huge difference. 

I watched as Elsa flew onto the bed and then carefully assessed as she jumped off.  Most of the time I lift her off; I'm very use to lifting dogs off the bed.  But, I cannot always lift her off so there was going to be a lot of times that she was jumping off herself.  The two box springs were only 4" apart, so I wondered if that would make a difference.  I thought about high heels; there is a fine line in heel height.  A point where you have weight on both the front and back part of your foot; then just a fraction higher and all the weight goes to the front making the shoes horribly uncomfortable. 

With the high profile box, Elsa was having to jump straight down which I was not comfortable with.  Not when I thought about how many times she was going to jump off of that bed.  So I made the call and had the box springs switched out.  They arrived yesterday and yep, 4" makes a huge difference.  It has changed the angle in which she is jumping; making it a much more acceptable jump off. 

Great article on shoulder in Working dogs. 

Four inches changed the jump angle drastically.  She went from jumping straight down; which put most of the impact on her shoulder to jumping out and off normally.  The jump now is more outward.  After pondering about the bed height; I of course set off to research shoulders.  I found this very good article on rehab of agility shoulders and the one above. 

Canine shoulder rehab

Dogs are born to run, jump and dive.  But you must always take precautions on everything that they do.  4", who'd think that it would make such a difference?  Well, Luke sure did.  Last night he charged into the our room and right up on the bed.  He had not been jumping on the bed with the other box springs; he just stood looking.  I was surprised that he was able to judge the difference when it was barely visible for me.  Dogs, they are truly amazing. 

Fall weekend

 

The weather finally broke giving us a great first day of fall.  Penny was over for the weekend so, here you go.  Let the games begin. 

Sunday morning Luke lays on the couch with Penny's Mom as the girls carry on.

 

Both Penny and Elsa love the keep away games.

 

Pursuit of the bone.

 

The agenda is...just fun. 

 

Both chewing the bone.

 

A tennis ball is entirely different, Penny is only slightly interest.  Elsa on the other hand is a ball fiend.  Penny didn't have it for long.

 

 

Luke wants no part of the crazy games. 

 

Happy ball girl. 

 

What a face.

 

Sometimes doing nothing is just beautiful. 

 

Saturday evening the bubbles came out.  Elsa was hooked on the game very quickly.  Penny?  She ran from the bubbles. 

 

A fraction of a second before the bubble was burst.

 

Post burst. 

 

A great Sunday morning. 

 

Have a great week. 

Water

Water?  Duh, of course our dogs need water.  But are they getting enough water, maybe too much?  Both of my dogs are good water drinkers.  Luke likes to drink, you can just see that he enjoys and nice fresh bowl of water.  Elsa, is more a drink for a purpose sort of gal.  Drinking is good; Tilley was a horrible drinker.  That is if we were out somewhere; she only liked to drink at home which just wasn't enough when we were out frisbeeing or doing some other sort of activity .  We did several events where I actually had to leave because she just wouldn't drink.  That turned around quickly; with a few firm words she learned to drink when I asked her to drink.  It is very, very important. 

Dogs need approximately 1oz of water per pound of body weight each day. 

The importance of drinking water goes up a huge degree when your dog eats dry kibble.  Why?  Because your dog is not getting any moisture from the food that they are eating.  A dog's vital organs need water to help them work properly.  The more dry food they eat, it stands to reason that they need more fluid, right?  The difference in water consumption between a dog who eats dry kibble vs. canned or real food is astonishing.  Our dog's bodies  need water to help their food go to where it needs to go in their body.  Water is also used in the elimination of waste in their body; without enough water wastes can build up and organs can become damaged. 

Water - Pet Md

Luckily most dogs like to drink.   But if your dog does not drink enough you can slip it in here and there.  If my guys eat dog food it always has water on it.  Always.  If we are going out for a walk where there will not be a water source then I bring my own.  I have four water bowls around the house and try to keep them changed at least once or twice daily.  The kitchen bowl is used the most as that is where I'm at most of the time.  It is changed several times a day; Luke and Elsa like very fresh water.  They get water after their morning walk once they are in the car and look forward to it.  Luke looks so forward to it that I can barely get the top off of the water bottle quickly enough for him. 

If you do carry water with you when out and about with a portable bowl; make sure that you offer the water low enough.  I see so many people giving their dog water up in the air.  You can literally hear the air going in and gurgling around in their stomach.  Hold it down near the ground or just a few inches up.  You do not want a ton of water and air in your dog's stomach. 

Water - the most neglected nutrient (dog food advisor)

Like anything else in life, moderation.  Do not allow your dog to over drink; some dogs can be compulsive with their drinking.  Spread it out over the day.  The reason you hear not to feed your dog before or after exercise is the water consumption.  With too much water going in; it can quickly turn a bowl of food into a huge stomach full of water and kibble soup in your dog's stomach, not good.  

I highly recommend not allowing your dog to drink from public bowls.  Yes it is nice to see when shop owners put out bowls of water for our dogs but they can quickly become germ filled offerings.  The same with the dog park, beach or anywhere else that other dogs are drinking.  Shared bowls is never a good idea.  Have you seen the water after your dog has just one drink out of clean bowl of water?  Backwash, big time. 

Teach your dog to drink when you are out and to drink out of many different containers.  I have a collapsible bowl that goes with me on walks; a fabric folding one in the car and both Luke and Elsa will drink out of my hand if needed. 

If you feed raw, real or canned food then your dog's water needs will be less that those eating kibble.  But all dogs need water; is yours getting enough?