2nd Anniversary, PBJ and me.

Wow, I cannot believe that it has been two years.  Two years since my son Brad and I headed out across the country with our four dogs.  Jessie, who was almost 16, Tilley at 15, Luke 11 and little Miss Elsa who was only 4.5 months old.  Honestly, what was I thinking?  Both Jessie and Tilley were incontinent; they had been for some time.  Jessie was suffering from dementia which had gotten so much worse in the months prior to our trip.  Tilley was still feeling the effects from her Vestibular but was doing pretty good.  Luke was fine, much younger than he is now and Elsa, well she was just amazing.  

The day we left started early and we were off on our big adventure.  Little did I know at the time that we would arrive at our destination with only three dogs.  Only a few weeks after that we would also lose Tilley from an inoperable mass on her spleen.  It was a time of great sadness and much turmoil in my life.  A time that I look back on and see only darkness; although like everything else in life it has contributed to who I am today.  In a matter of four short weeks; so many lessons were learned.  Life lessons that, if given a choice to experience; you would opt out of.  No thank you, no one wants these type of life experiences.  But we all must go through them, it is life itself. 

There was a light, a glimmer that was Elsa; our little ray of sunshine in all the darkness of that time.  To this day I believe that she could not have arrived at a more perfect point in our life; she helped us all through a lot at such a young age.  Life goes on and I had a very young pup that needed my attention; that in itself was a great help for me.  Luke needed her more than he would ever know and the rest of the family needed her crazy antics that only a puppy can deliver.  

Thinking back to the trip we made and the experiences that we dealt with, leaves me shaking my head.  I do think about it often; it was a monumental time in my life, very much a turning point.  In the beginning, as the trip started to form into a plan; it seemed like an adventure.  Surely it would be tough but we could do it; we would just do it, get'r done as they say.  I was not flying my dogs so it was the only option and Brad would be with me to live through it all, and that he did.  He was my pillar to lean on; solid and strong.  He gave me strength when I thought that it all might just beat me. 

Aside from the many things that I learned in the beginning, during and at the completion of the trip; I feel lucky to have done it in some way.  I would never choose to drive across the country with four dogs; two who were well beyond their golden years.  We were sort of forced to do it; so by the pure need, we experienced something that not too many people do.  A trip across the country; Mother and son with four dogs and a crazy amount of emotional crap along with it. 

We don't talk about the trip very often; but every once in a while I'll ask "remember when?"  We will share a moment of head shaking and then move on quickly to a better time.  Life is all about learning; if you don't learn from walking through it, there's not much point.   What started out as a necessity was going to be a photography book in the making.  Things changed and it turned into a novel (PBJ and me) with another on the way.  It was also the beginning idea for a Traveling with Your Dog book.   Life can suck, it can be glorious but without walking through it all; experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly, we'll never grow. 

"Let me see."

                     Elsa listening intently to what I am saying.  She is an amazing listener.

 
"Let Mommy see," I tell Elsa as she steps aside for me to have a look.  She'd been doing her best to tell me that there was something under my night table she needed.  After my first look, I found nothing and got to my feet.  Once again she assumed her position; with her front legs stretched out as far as she could, trying to reach whatever it was she thought was under there.  Looking up to me to see if I was getting the message, she waited.  "Let Mommy see," I said again and gave it another look.  "Ahhhhhh, here it is," I declared as she lit up; she knew I'd found what she was looking for.  I pulled out the treat that had fallen behind the leg of the table and delivered it to the finder.  Finders, keepers as they say. 

Standing stiff at the office window; Elsa's tail starts to move like a flag in a gentle wind.  "Let me see," I tell her and she moves over for me to have a look see.   Ahhhh, a cat again.  "It's just a cat, we don't care about cats out there," I tell her and walk away.  She looks over her shoulder as if to say "really Mom?  It's a cat."  With my calm demeanor she decides to watch the cat outside in silence.  Nice. 

Do you communicate with your dog?  Our dogs are master body language communicators but when dealing with us they often have to rely on our verbal communication for guidance.  The more words or phrases that you teach your dog, the better you can speak and be heard.   Luke has always been a nervous type; not skittish but nervous in the worry sort of way.  If I have something in my hand and call to him; he will fret about what I'm going to do.  Fear of the unknown can be very powerful.  Being that I often  have to do something to him I started using "let Momma see," to calm him.  Immediately he relaxes because he knows that I want to check something on him and he trusts me immensely.  The trust that I have created over the years ends all the worry for him. 

Both Luke and Elsa decided one morning that there must be a monster coming into our yard as they heard a tree trimmer in the yard behind ours; loudly munching trees down.  They set up quite a display to scare it away and warned of impending doom until I showed up.  I immediately told them "let me see," and they quieted for a moment.  They watched with intense anticipation; waiting for the final word about the monster's progress.  "It's nothing, we don't care about that," I told them in a very calm and nonchalant manner.  One last warning from Luke and they both happily followed me into the house. 

Taking the step to be the one, the leader who is in charge is so very important.  Not only does it take responsibility off of your dogs; who can spin out of control if left in charge.  A small phrase like "let me see," can have a huge impact if associated properly.  After all, are we not here to scare away the monsters?  Reach the unreachable toy? Or see who is behind the door when the doorbell rings?  We sure are. 

I often check the front door when Elsa thinks that there is a stranger behind it.  Doing this often when I know that no one is there really helps to diffuse the door.  Someone may have dropped a flyer off so she alarm barks that there is someone at the door.  I will very calmly go to the door and say "let me see."  She backs up ever so slightly; allowing me room to open the door and check.  "Nothing, no one,"  I tell her and show her that there is no one out there.  I checked, I took control and I told her ahead of time that I would be there for her so she does not have to be in charge.  I am in charge; I am here for both Luke and Elsa and they know that. 

Control, under control.

           
                                                       Only under control.

"Heel, ahhhhh, NO, I said heel," was what I heard coming up behind us.  After having a quick look over my shoulder and noticing that there was a woman walking a Dalmatian, I heard this commotion.  I looked again to judge their distance and speed.  We had a few minutes so I calmly  moved Luke over to my right side.  Luke and I were just finishing up our walk when we were subjected to this ridiculous display of training gone wrong.  She continued with her useless words which obviously meant nothing to her dog.  Did she think that all the words made it look like her dog was trained?  Perhaps. 

When I am out in public with Luke; I am uber cautious.  He is old and frail and it doesn't take a whole lot to knock him over.  So the sight of an unleashed dog sends me into my protective Mother Grizzly mode; it is my job and I take it very seriously.  I certainly do not want to hear someone's measly attempts at getting control of their unleashed dog coming up from behind us.  But, there we were with exactly this happening; and I was growing angrier by the moment.  The owner of this poor dog continued to bellow orders which he clearly did not understand.  He most definitely was not heeling; I'm not sure if she even understood what the word meant. 

I talk about leash/off-leash a lot and this was most definitely one of those leash  moments.  The woman had no control over her dog.   They got close enough that Luke could now hear the woman yelling and he looked around to see what was going on.  He stopped for a moment when he saw the dog; but I coaxed him along so we could finish our walk.  I could literally feel my own posture changing as they got close enough to touch us.  Honestly, if you have no control over your dog KEEP IT ON A LEASH.  Bottom line, really easy to understand.  As they passed us her dog wandered closer and closer requiring a laser beam stare from me directed at the owner.  She brushed it off saying "I know you want to say hi to that dog, HEEL, AHHHHHHH, NOOO, HEEEEEEL."  Really?

They passed us and moved on towards the street.  Yep, she was crossing the street off-leash as well.  Her dog started smelling the ground as she headed across the street yelling "heel."  The dog finally lifted it's head and followed her across the street and onto the path on the other side.  Endangering your dog's life like this is just stupid.  I am never a fan of off leash on or nearby a street. 

When I was in Oregon recently I noted that many of the parks and beaches state that dogs must be on-leash or  under direct control, which means within sight and responsive to commands.  When we were at the beach I saw both on-leash and off-leash dogs under control, nice.  Off-leash does not always mean that your dog should be running around willy nilly, doing whatever they please and not listening.  Off-leash should mean under control unless they are contained securely in your own yard.  If your dog is not reliable off-leash then they should NEVER be off. 

If they are in training, then get the training accomplished before taking off the leash. 

Say what?

"You know, poodles don't shed," he said; filling me in on a wonderful thing about my breed.  He then continued to tell me their history and standard.  I smiled, laughing inside as he was getting it wrong but humored him as long as I politely could.  Funny isn't it, when people feel the need to educate you?  Listening is a great thing and I try very hard to be a good listener.  But when someone has the bizarre need to spew incorrect facts at someone; it can be difficult to listen.  Depending on who is doing the talking it may just be better to move on rather than try to correct anything.  If you do intend on doing any correction or interaction you may need a bucket load of tact.

Tact - a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

Discussion, debate and the general back and forth can be great.  It can also be very one sided and get ugly.  Let's face it, dogs are a sensitive subject.  No matter the subject, raw vs. dog food, grooming, sleeping arrangements, good number of dogs to have or training, interactions can become heated.  As a long time blogger, I know all too well about heat.  I am often sent very aggressive comments on my opinion.  The person may feel that I'm wrong and that it is there destiny to make me see the light, their light. 

I try to listen, but when someone gets rude, I shut them down.  Forcing, jamming or stuffing your opinion on someone else does nothing but turn them off.  People who jump on the rude and forceful wagon to deliver their message have yet to learn the art of sharing.  Sharing information is wonderful; but that is all it is, sharing.  You cannot make someone join in with your opinion.  People need to hear, assess, ponder and make their own opinions. 

Thankfully I have only dealt with a handful of very rude and obnoxious folks with regards to my blog.  In all of my years of training I only met one very obnoxious know it all; pretty good stats I think.  In my photography, I have never met any rude opinionated people yet.  Interactions and the sharing of learned information is wonderful; but it must be delivered in sharing format.  Once you get an accusing tone in your delivery; people tend to shut you off. 

Sometimes less is more; people will always ask for more if they want it.  But try to jam a ton of unrequested information at them and it will often backfire.  When asked I will always share what I can; but if no one asks, I will keep it to myself.  That is except for my blog and you have the option to just not read if you don't want to know. 

Have a great day. 

A few travel tips

                       
                               Meeting a friend on our trip; Luke and Elsa sit patiently in the back.
                                 

With the Holiday season upon us, many of you will be traveling more often and bringing your dog along too.  I've travelled with my dogs a lot and through it I've learned a few very important things to consider.  There are many things that you can do to make the travelling process go more smooth.  I think that these are a few of the most important ones.

                           
 1.  Train your dog to stay in the car until told otherwise.  Having Luke and Elsa trained not to jump out of the car is one of the most important things that I've taught them.  In fact when we were traveling just over a week ago I commented on how great it was while opening the back of the Xterra at a very busy rest stop.  It could save your dog's life.

2.  Keep a collar on.  As you all know, Luke and Elsa wear body harnesses to walk on.  But, while traveling it is imperative that they have a collar on for those "in case" moments.  Having a collar to grab in a pinch is important; so they wore beautifully soft collars made by Poodleit. Keep ID tags attached to the collars as well, you just never know.

3.  KEEP A LEASH ON.  Even if your dog is trained beyond belief and never wanders.  KEEP A LEASH ON.  I cannot say this enough.  On our recent trip I noted a dog playing fetch at a rest stop.  It was the busiest stop that we had made and right on the edge of the freeway.  I was driven to some major head shaking and shoulder shrugging as I watched this dog run around.  Not only was the location very close to the dangerous road but there were cars and trucks everywhere.  Keep a leash on your dog at all times when stopping on a trip.  It takes a minute to snap it on and that one snap could be the difference between a long and very short life for your dog.  Of course if you find a VERY SECURE and SAFE area that is fenced and far from the road; then that might be the time for a romp. 

4.  Water.  Bring water and a bowl with you.  On our trips we offer small amounts of water constantly.  Even if the weather is cool, traveling can really dehydrate you and your dogs.  Depending on the amount of time between stops, you may want to offer it every time or every second time.  Make sure to keep your dog hydrated. 

5.  Teach your dog to "go" on command.  Boy is this one of the most useful things when travelling.  I've always taught my dogs to "go" on my "hurry up" verbal cue but when travelling it really comes in handy.  When every new place you stop holds completely new smells; smelling can take over and they forget to "go."

These are just a very few tips for travelling with your dog but some that come to mind with a fresh travel behind us. 

 

Holiday time

The holidays are now upon us; that means that there will be more hustle, bustle and changes.  Decorations will go up, you will be out shopping, friends may be over and time may be at a premium.  This time of year can be tough on dogs so it is important to make them a major priority.  Dogs don't understand the holidays; they just know that things are different.  There are many dogs who just go with the flow; change doesn't bother them.  But there are those who are upset by just one change, let alone a whole pile.  So depending on who your dog is will factor in on how much extra you must take to assure their comfort in the whole holiday season.

Exercise is one of the most essential ingredients for a happy dog.  Take that away and you can have a dog with too much pent up energy.  It is important for a dog who is accustom to a great deal of energy outlet to continue to get that same amount.  This will eliminate the stress of energy build up and keep their bodies feeling the same as always.

Along with not enough exercise is too much stimulation.  Like us, dogs need their sleep and if they don't get enough; things can go very wrong.  Your dog can display fall out behaviors from not enough sleep.  Lack of sleep can cause all sorts of issues so make sure that your gets enough sleep and rest.  Especially if they are use to a lot of it. 

There will be all of that extra food that is around as well.  Some will be dangerous for your dog; make sure all the goodies are up and out of reach.  Things can get left out when you are super busy or have a houseful of people; so keep an extra thought to the goodies.  Check, double check and check again that everything is picked up.  Children are notorious for leaving things around; make sure that there is no chocolate of other things laying around that your dog can get into.

If you will be away or traveling; make sure to consider your dog is comfy and safe.  Spending the Holidays with our dogs is just the best.  Pre training and pre holiday planning are the best tips. 

This is my absolute favorite time of year; I love it.  Enjoy it with a dog by your side. 

Let the Holidays begin.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I am so very thankful to have met so many wonderful friends and colleagues; simply through our love of dogs.  Have a wonderful day today, sharing just being together.  Thanksgiving is for the dogs in our lives as well.   I am so happy to have Luke and Elsa in my life and that I can share the two of them with you all. 

Be happy and thankful today; it's a great day. 

Back home

                                                                  
                                                                      Snug as a bug in a rug.  :)

Back home and in my favorite blog spot; my bed surrounded by poodles.   We got in last night from a two day drive and we are all very tired.  While I was away, lots of issues arose and I saw many things to blog about.  So I have a good supply of blog topics for a while.  I also decided to start my Traveling With Your Dogs book.  It was an idea before but now after another big trip I've got lots of material; so stay tuned for that coming next year.

As we got closer and closer to the house, both Luke and Elsa stood up in the car for the rest of the trip.  With their noses held high in the air they took in what smelled to them, like home.  After pulling into the driveway and entering the house Luke and Elsa spotted Brad.  Luke spun and Elsa dove on Brad.  They both bounded around; so happy to be home.  No one could miss the joy that they felt being home.  As nice as it was for us to be home; it was even better watching Luke and Elsa so happy to be home.   

The first thing to get done once we got home was to get Luke into bed.  But before that he had a good dinner and a tiny bit of television watching.  As most of you know Luke loves to lay and watch t.v. at night.  It is one of his favorite things in life.  It is not the actual t.v. watching but the fact that we too are sitting on the couch for an good amount of time.  Each night he stands tapping his toe in the kitchen doorway; once he has eaten and we have had dinner he wants the next step to be, us heading downstairs.  So as tired as I was last night I headd down with a spinning Luke by my side.  He charged to his spot on the couch and dove up so fast he landed on his head.  His old legs don't work like they use to anymore.  But I helped him to get straightened out and situation just right and we sat and took a moment. 

Next was bedtime, it took but a moment to get him to his feet and he charged up the stairs and plopped immediately on his bed.  He got his night time treats and a drink of water.  So there he lays, in his bed, at home and happy as a clam.  Ahhhhhh, Home Sweet Home. 

Separation Anxiety

Constantly checking in on Mom for reassurance.

 

     Elsa has been an imperative essential for Luke in dealing with the loss of his lifelong companions. 

Well, I thought that I was going to be writing about dog washes this morning but it turns out that I'll be addressing separation anxiety.  I'd researched dog washes in the area; finding a good one and was about to head out with Elsa to give it a try when things changed.  We got to the bottom of the stairs and I was tying up my shoes when I heard it.  At first I wasn't sure if what I was hearing was in fact what I thought I was hearing.  A tiny whimper squeak sound; then a louder one as I listened closely.  It quickly turned into a heart wrenching, soulful howl.  I stopped mid shoe tie and looked at Elsa.  She was head turning at the sound and quite concerned.   I told her "we can't go, let's go see Luke." 

I unhooked her and we went back up the steps to the living room.  By the time we were at the top of the stairs Luke was full on howling; he was most definitely upset.  So, given this information from him I decided that it was best for him to stay home.  I had suspected that something like this might happen but I was still shocked by the immediacy of it.  We hadn't even left the door; Elsa and I were just at the bottom of the stairs but as far as Luke was concerned, we were gone.  We'd passed the baby gate which has been in place so that he does not fall down the stairs.  Once past there, we were gone in his head. 

The only other time that Luke has displayed this type of behavior was in Connecticut; after the loss of his lifelong companions.  Back then it was very sad indeed; as it was directly attributed to his sense of aloneness.  At that time Elsa was still in her ex-pen when we went anywhere so that quickly changed.  If she was out he was okay, not great but not suffering.  Then once we moved back to California he had a brief period of grieving; when he did not find Jessie or Tilley in the house on our return.  Since then he has been fine.  He is not happy when Elsa and I go out without him but he is fine.  He lays down in his spot and goes to sleep.  It is his house and he is comfortable there.  Where we are now is not home, not for Luke. 

As I ascended the steps to where my howling boy was; I quickly considered by approach.  I pushed the gate open and walked past him and into the kitchen.  He followed me quickly; pushing his muzzle against my leg over and over again.  He wanted eye contact but I did not give it to him.  I was doing my best job at making the moment a "non issue."  When a dog offers information like this; you must address where it comes from.  "Don't shoot the messenger," as they say.  The message is delivered via canine behavior display; take from that the information you need to work where the issue comes from.  For Luke it is aloneness is a strange place; sad, yes.  But I cannot relay that fact to him.

If he was a young dog, I would be addressing the situation in a much different manner.  Luke is now over thirteen and becoming more and more attached and needy.  It can happen as a natural aging process.  I have always been there for him and as time passes he needs me even more; he often just wants to know that I am there.  That said I will not indulge or fuel this anxiety by coddling him.  If he was younger, Elsa and I would have left and quickly returned.  We would have done it several times, showing him that we were not leaving forever. 

Separation anxiety is very real and needs to be addressed.  Creating a non issue about your leaving and returning is the first step to helping your dog.  If every time you return home; you create a welcome home party celebration because your dog is soooo happy to see you, you are fueling the fire.  Many times when I come home; I walk right past Luke and Elsa and into the kitchen where I precede to putter around. 

When dealing with separation anxiety you must repeat, over and over again.  Depending on the severity, tiny baby steps may need to be broken down into more baby steps.  In really bad cases, progress must be measured in the lack of getting worse.  Creating a 'no big deal' sense of your leaving is an absolute must.  This can often be enough to change it all for the better.

When a dog displays a behavior, we must look at that behavior as a message into how your dog is feeling and dealing.  Like I said before "don't shoot the messenger;" it brings us the information needed to help our dogs. 

A gift of time, giving yourself.

Yesterday Luke, Elsa and I hit a favorite park of mine here in OR.  It is very rural and quiet; and sits on the edge of the Willamette River.  As I pulled in and glanced toward "our spot," I noticed a car.  "Nuts."  There is a great open space to run the dogs there but it was already taken.  I pulled into a parking spot to wait it out.  After several antsy minutes of checking my rear view mirror I realized that it was going to be a while.  I pulled out of my spot and headed for a more treed area; not the greatest for the chuck it, but doable.  As we passed by the prime grass spot I had a better look at the dog who had taken up "our spot."  He was old, his face grizzled by time and his body degraded by many years.  His owner, who was an elderly man; sat in a small truck beside the dog.  He was sunning his old dog. 

I drove at a snails pace past the two and could not help but "awwwwwwww" to myself.  This man was giving his very old dog time; just time to spend soaking up the glorious sun that had appeared on a very chilly morning.  We pulled up to our destination which was not so far from the old dog and his man.  I kept a close eye on the dog as we were going off leash.  The old dog did notice us and seemed to have some great interest.  He struggled to his feet and positioned himself where he could watch Elsa and her antics.  After watching him move to a better place I realized that he was not going to be coming any closer.  It seemed to take everything he had just to turn around so he could watch us. 

I watched him watching us for a long while.  Both Luke and Elsa had noticed him but gave him no mind as he just lay there.  Elsa was too interested in her ball and Luke himself, is in that glorious "golden years" stage; when all he cares about are the good things in life.  The old dog that lay watching Luke and Elsa seemed to be maybe a hunting type mix.  He was mostly white with black splotches; perhaps he had been much darker in his younger years.  I thought about those younger years; him spending hours there at the park running, maybe swimming and chasing a ball.  But now the years had caught up with him and he had only enough energy to switch positions a couple of times. 

Not long after we started our fun in the forest; I saw the dog get up and move towards the truck that sat literally three feet away.  He moved slower than I've seen a dog move in a long time.  The man got out of the truck and stroked his dog's head and they shared a moment.  Seeing that they were leaving, I called to Luke and Elsa that we were moving on.  As I hoisted Luke into the car I watch the man and his old dog pull away.  He was rubbing his dog's head as if to say "there you go, how was that?"  The bond between the two was quite obvious and without ever speaking to him I could tell how much he loved his dog.  He was there for his dog; not for himself, no, just his dog.  But in giving this sunning moment to his dog; he most definitely gave to himself.  He awarded himself with the very special gift of giving.  Giving to someone else for the very selfless act of just giving. 

I had my camera with me and wanted so badly to go and talk to the man and his dog.  But I knew if I went over that I would be interrupting a very special moment.  Witnessing their time spent together from afar was enough and surely made me smile.  It truly is the little things, isn't it?  At this time of year, giving is the general theme.  It is so heartwarming to see people give of themselves; not a material gift, not money or anything that cost money; a gift of time itself, their time.  Not only did that man share a gift with his dog; but it was unknowingly shared with me as well.  A very nice gift indeed. 

Talking to dogs

Do you talk to your dogs?  I do, all the time.  All day long I talk to them and they listen very well; better than most humans I might add.  There are times when I just chat away knowing full well that they are only picking out a few specific words that mean something to them.  Then there are times when there is great meaning in my words.  When dogs understand a wide range of words or verbal cues, they tend to listen more.  I have always taught my dogs the meaning of many words and try to teach them new ones all the time. 

Over the years I have seen dogs that have a blank stare when they are talked to.  Nothing except the rare "cookie" or "walk" word means anything to them.  No one talks to them; at least not like they are expected to understand.  Repetition is the key to teaching new words.  I am in the process right now of teaching Elsa the names of her stuffed toys.  I say their name over and over and over again.  Why?  For the same reason that we teach children, it makes them smart and capable of learning more. 

Elsa has recently learned the joy of not destroying her stuffed animals.  For a while nothing was lasting more than a few fleeting moments.  Once Luke got a hold of the softy, made a hole and started to de-stuff; then Elsa would finish it off covering the entire living room in fluff.  Hmmmmmmm.  But after the arrival of Jeffrey, things changed, Elsa loves Jeffrey.  I have to make sure that Luke does not get a hold of them though and create the initial hole.  Elsa fully enjoys her stuffed guys now and is learning who is who. 

Along with teaching more words, switching the words up and using them in new ways helps the learning process.  Having been away from home for a while now; everything we are doing is new.  New, in that the environment is new.  We are still walking, sleeping and eating but the surrounding environment is entirely different from what they are use to.  Being able to communicate with Luke and Elsa with words that they understand really helps them to acclimate to it all very easily. 

We have a lot of steps here in OR which is a challenge with Luke.  Many times when I take them out to pee; it is easier to take one at a time.  So after taking Speedy Gonzalez Elsa out, it is Luke's turn.  I tell Elsa at the top of the stairs "just Luke," and her ears drop.  She clearly knows what that means.  She is not happy about it but waits patiently for us to return.   Once we get back into the house she gives Luke his greeting and all is good again. 

Elsa is an intense listener; Luke was also but his hearing is bad now and he misses a lot of what I say.  This is why signal communication is so important (past blog).  In his younger days, Luke was an amazing listener.  As you all know he is a fussy pants when it comes to eating.  But one word alone would get those giant ears of his up and interested.  That word is "butter,"  oh yes, he loves him some butter as does his Mom.  :)  He would turn his nose up at his meal until I said "do you want some butter on it?"  He would immediately change his tune "okay, I'll eat it if there is butter on it."  What a guy.

I am constantly searching for new words to teach Elsa.  It is all about repetition and association.  Association must be there for a dog to "get it."  That is our job; create the association that our dogs will understand.  The association must be meaningful and useful for a dog.  Elsa's favorite stuffed guy right now is Jeffrey, she adores him; although I started the naming with her pink monkey which was her favorite before Jeffrey arrived.  I would cheer each time she had her pink "monkey" in her mouth; repeating "monkey" over and over.  Before too long I could say "go find monkey" and she would. 

"Find" is another word that is very useful.  It is a word I used with Tilley all the time.  Being an intensely driven retriever; we often lost whatever it was she was retrieving.  She may have missed the throw or it landed somewhere that it shouldn't have.  I would tell her to "find" it and her whole body changed.  She would put her nose to the ground and begin the "finding" process.  Elsa has now learned what "find" means as well.  I love it.  The other day we were out doing some retrieving and she missed the throw because she was watching some dogs in the distance.  I told Luke to find the ball as he had been watching and he ran and got it; much to Elsa's displeasure.  She had begin to look for it as well but Luke already knew where it was when I asked.

Talking to your dogs is never a waste of time.  Not only is it nice as far as having a great listening companion but they learn.  Sometimes it may seem that they are not getting it; but if you watch closely you will see some signal letting you know that they understand.  Of course there are times when they will simply ignore; just like we tend to do.  I love those sideways eyes they give us that let you know they are actually listening.  Luke is the King of sideways eyes.  Talk, teach and use verbal cues; the more the merrier.   

Poop bags

This is the sign and dispenser just outside my door.  Obviously not enough.  

Poop, crap, feces, dung, excrement or shit; no matter what you call it, it's poop.  Frankly I'm sick of it; tired of it laying on the ground that is.  Left by the inconsiderate idiots who don't pick up after their dogs.  I have written about these humans before and I'm sure that I will write about them many times into the future.  I just don't get it; I truly don't.  I understand that some people have a difficult time with it but if you have a dog and walk them in public places; then you pick up poop, bottom line.  Luke, Elsa and I are in OR for a couple of weeks.  We are staying at a very nice townhome in a nice development.  The place is surrounded by green space and it is very dog friendly.  BUT, and this is a big BUT; it is very shitty, in that there is shit everywhere.  Not cool, not cool at all.

I'm appalled by all the people who turn a blind eye to their pooping dogs.  They let them poop and then walk away as if nothing just happened.  What I don't get is that they will be returning to the very same spot, day after day after day.  So, this means that their dog will very likely step in their own poop from the previous days; then track it into their home, nice right?  When we first looked at this place; the green space in close proximity was something I saw as a bonus.  Now I'm not so sure.  We can't use it, that is unless we want to walk through shit. 

All dogs crap, fact.  If you live with dogs you must pick up crap; it is as simple as that.  Of course you might have hired a service to pick it up at your home but if you go anywhere in public with your dog you are going to have to pick it up at some point.  Don't want to?   Well, no one wants to pick up poop.  After all the bags are thin and you can feel that shit right through the bag but it has to be done.  Fact.  Get the drift of this blog?  Pick up after your dog.

Hey, you people who don't pick up after your dog; think you are too busy?  Think you're too important to stoop and scoop, wrongo.  You got a dog?  Then you scoop.  What is so hard to understand about that?   This is not an exclusive club; no these non scoopers are everywhere, everywhere I've been anyway.  Anywhere there are dogs; there are not scoopers.  But for every non scooper, there are scoopers.  But we need to spread the word and call out those non picker uppers.

Here in OR, it rains; much more so than Southern California.  The great thing about that is that rain washes stuff away.  Of course it can only wash so much away; it cannot wash a full sized dog crap away.  No, the rain just turns a firm poop into a pile of mush.  If the poops are picked up as soon as they drop then the rain can do it's job and wash away the residue.  Residue is easy to get rid of; a bit of rain and it's gone and forgotten about.  But leave a big old crap on the ground and it just gets worse.  What are these non scoopers thinking?  Other than not thinking; maybe they are under the assumption that a magical poop fairy will appear and pick up after their dog?  The only poop fairy I know is named Sherri; and she only picks up after other dogs when she's about to fling it at someone.

The whole idea of it being bad to leave poop on the ground is not the only issue here.  Those non scoopers give us scoopers a bad name.  They ruin it for many of us when they fail to clean up after their dog.  Many events and facilities do not allow dogs at all because of this very reason.  I don't care who you are, where you live or what you do; if you have a dog, you pick up after them.

Having bags available everywhere is wonderful.  The fact that cities and facilities need to posts signs telling people to pick up after their dog is surprising.  Imagine having the bags right there in front of your face not being enough?  No, they need to ask us "please pick up after your dog."  Then those non scoopers don't.  Imagine.  They walk around the signs, around the bag dispenser and simply walk away.  Idiots.  Harsh?  Yep, and sad.  Honestly!!!!!

In search of the green

I remember when I first moved to California; that was a longtime ago now.  Way back then, there wasn't google maps like there is now.  I remember opening my Thomas Guide map book to find some green; green as in green space.  First I look for the green, then I look for the park symbol.  Well, that's what I'm doing now but with Google maps.  Each morning and afternoon I google my location and look for the green. 

As most of you know I'm not a big 'dog park' fan.  Too many dogs in too small an area; added with dogs that should not be there in the first place.  But I have to say that the dog parks here in OR seem to be much better than the ones in CA.  Many are larger which is always a bonus; but I still don't trust humans enough to supervise accordingly and know when they shouldn't be at the dog park.  That and the fact that Luke is old now; he cannot take a hit, not even a small one.  So we search for the elusive private green space.  Of course here in OR, there is a whole lot more green than there is in CA.  Not only in color but quantity. 

Over the last week Luke, Elsa and I have hit a great number of parks.  We have a wonderful open field right behind the townhouse here; but, I've also discovered that many of the dogs here are very unfriendly.  (more on that topic in another blog)  So we search, drive, explore and discover.  Getting out and about is essential; no matter where you are located.  It has been a tad difficult with Luke having a hard time with distance and Elsa needing a great deal of exercise.  It is nice when we are home in CA for that reason alone.  We can leave Luke in the comfort of his own couch and head out for some intense exercise.  But here we all go together so the search is on.

We met a very nice woman and her adorable Golden Retriever (Penny) the other day.  Elsa and her just wanted to tear it up while Luke was happy to just hang with Mom.  Reading body language is so important when you want to find the friendly dogs to play with.  As soon as I spot the signs I call out, friendly?  We then make a b-line to the owner and their friendly dog.  Looking over our shoulder we can then unhook and let the fun begin.  It doesn't have to be long and drawn out; a short rip with a new friend brings a plethora of good things with it.

Over the weekend we found some wonderful places to take Luke and Elsa.  Having Dad with us sure makes the whole age difference thing much easier.  We also found a great farm/feed store called Wilco, where Luke and Elsa tried on a bunch of very cool raincoats.  Sadly I forgot my cell phone in the car so no pics but Luke looked smashing in the camo design.  We may go back today just to enjoy wandering around in the store and maybe get a raincoat or two.

So the search continues; where will we be today?  Not sure but I do know it will be green and it will be an open space.  Of course being in the middle of wine country; it could be a vineyard which is never a bad thing. 

Luke and Elsa hit the Wineries

 

Yesterday Luke, Elsa and I headed out to sight see.  We drove south to the next town and wandered around looking for a great park.  I actually found a park but didn't want to make yet another U turn so we kept going onto the next town.  What we did come across was a favorite winery of mine.  On my visit back in the summer we hit a lot of wineries (dogless).  Duck Pond had left an impression with me as a warm and friendly place and I wondered as I pulled off the main road if Luke and Elsa would be welcome. 

I remembered seeing some really great dog items in their store and photos of dogs in the entrance so I thought that they might be.  Sure enough, they were more than welcome on the patio.    With my wine tucked away in the car I leashed up Luke and Elsa.  The walk to the entrance is beautiful with the vines hanging through the trellis from above.  Along with the few lingering fall leaves; it looked much like a postcard.  Being that it is not exactly prime outdoor weather; the place was quiet and we had outside to ourselves.

There is something amazing about being in a vineyard.  There was a chill in the air; hinting of the colder and wetter weather to come.  The rows of grape vines made me think just how much fun Elsa would have charging up and down them.  Oh how I would have loved to bring my chuck it along and entertain her in the vineyard, while Luke watched the Koi in the pond.  As soon as we approached the pond Luke spotted the fish, but not Elsa.  I don't know if it was the glare or what but she did not see them as they all charged over with their mouth open wide.  Luke surely did and I think he would have loved to go into the pond for a while with them, imagine. 

 

After touring the grounds we head back to the car while Elsa took in the sights of the vines overhead. 

 

Being in OR we are thoroughly enjoying the green.  Lots and lots of green, even in November.

 

 

Back home, time for a nap and a glass.  If you're ever in the area, check out Duck Pond Cellars and tell them Luke and Elsa sent you.  :)

 

National Adopt A Senior Month

November is National Adopt A Senior Month.  Would you consider adopting a senior?  Honestly, how sad is the fact that senior dogs need adopting?   There are many different ways that a senior dog can end up in need of a new home. 

1.  Owner has died and no family member steps up to give the senior a home.

- This is extremely sad.  Of course just because we want a dog or dogs; does not mean that any of our family members want them.  Yes, it is amazing when a family member steps up to give a family members dog a home but it does not always happen.  I have heard of many stories where family members have told an owner that they would take their dog if anything happened; but when the times comes, they do not.  That my friends is one of the saddest acts. 

2.  Owner decides that a senior is too much work.  I cannot imagine this; my mind just cannot grasp the idea.  Dogs give us so much throughout their lives and as they start to slow and need more care we dump them?  Yes there is more to caring for an old dog but when you love a dog, it is not work but the loving act of care. 

3.  Medical costs.  This is a sad one.  Many people when faced with a big vet bill of an old dog; opt to rehome a dog.  There are options and ways to pay for the high cost of medical treatment.

4.  Moving...sometimes people move and feel that they cannot take their old dog with them.  Of course this happens with young dogs as well.  Look harder and find a place that will take your canine family member. 

Old dogs have a very difficult time being rehomed.  There are not many people that want to take on the task of caring for a dog in their senior years.  Having lost two very old girls a year and a half ago, I know all too well how much extra care they need.  But never for a moment did I consider it to be work; it was just what you do when they need you.  Now Luke needs more care; his body is slowing down and he needs time, an extra hoist now and again and patience. 

Patience, this is what old dogs need.  There is nothing more important than understanding when an old dog is slowing down and incapable of doing what they use to do.  Old dogs are easy in the sense that they don't need a ton of exercise or training.  They simply need a comfy spot to rest their head and body (very important, just try lying on the floor for a night), good food and a loving caregiver. 

Caring for an older dog, whether it is your older dog or a newly adopted one is all about giving back.  I remember watching Tilley sleep so soundly that I could come and go unnoticed.  It made me happy that she felt comfortable and safe enough to do this with no concern. 

Some great senior links below.

Sanctuary for Seniors

Old dog haven

The senior dog project

Of course there needs to be care when placing an old dog.  If a perspective adopter has other dogs, they must be matched for everyone to be happy.  Most old dogs mellow with age, I know all of my dogs have. 

Consider opening your home and heart to a forgotten senior?

Communicating with old dogs - signals

There is no end to how much dogs communicate with each other.  Likewise their communication with us is as much, if not more.  When they communicate with one another; their signals are noticed much more quickly.  We on the other hand can take forever to "get" a message; even miss them completely.  But if you take the time to learn how your dog communicates with you; the whole world of canine communication will open up. 

Communications between dogs and humans is done through vocal sounds, words, body posture and signals.  Signals are very easy for dogs to learn; this is because they are all about visual body language.  Implementing hand or body signals when your dog is young will prepare them for their senior years.  Almost all dogs loose their keen sense of hearing to some degree as they age.  Some lose it early, others may keep their hearing long into their old years.  When a dog starts to lose their hearing; signals are a wonderful option to be able to fall back on.  I'm there with Luke right now. 

I remember signaling to my old boy Clyde (the man in my life before Luke) like it was yesterday.  When his hearing got so bad that I could no longer use sounds or words I resorted to hand signals.  They quickly learn to adapt and look to you for signals, rather than listen.  Just this morning Luke and Elsa were out with their Dad.  I leaned over the balcony to say hi and Elsa wagged like crazy at the sight of Mom.  Luke on the other hand had no idea I was even there.  I whistled and he did hear that but could not locate it's origin.  Then I clapped which he also heard but it was my waving arms that told him where I was. 

Signaling can be difficult if you don't already use it at least partially.  If you start teaching hand signals when your dog is young and has their hearing; the transition as they age is much easier.  You can use whatever signal that you'd like, just keep it consistent.  I use a lot of signaling when my guys are young so that move to more and more signals is easy.  It is also much more pleasant than yelling; I hate yelling but often there is no option.  Teach signals and you won't have to yell quite as much. 

Physical boundaries

                                                 Greeting Mom after a grocery shopping trip.  

      As I go back and forth from the car to get the groceries, Luke and Elsa wait calmly and patiently. 

Boundary training is one of the best things that you can ever teach your dog.  No matter where the boundaries are, you can use them to help teach more.  Once a dog "gets" the idea of not crossing an invisible boundary; their capacity to learn other boundaries goes us.  This type of boundary training that I am talking about is about not going into certain rooms, going out doors and gates or whole areas. 

Teaching a boundary like the door above will NEVER, EVER be a waste of time.  Once your dog is solid on a door boundary it is very easy to move to other doors.  Many dogs generalize well and will hesitate before going out any door.  Some need a tiny reminder of an error marker; a simple ahhhh as they consider going through. 

Door boundaries can take time to teach; especially if you have a guaranteed bolter.  But by simple rewarding them for NOT going out the door the learning curve can be achieved quickly.  When you start teaching a boundary you must leash your dog, in case. 

Learning boundaries does not mean that your dog will never be able to go a particular area but that they must wait for a release word.  Your release word can be anything; something that comes to mind, you can remember and is saved for that specific reason.  You can use the same release for feeding, stay and many other things where a release is needed.

Just yesterday, I needed to use a boundary as we have come to a new house for a couple of weeks.  Elsa quickly realized that running out is not an option and she must wait until told that she can.  I only needed one ahhh for her to understand that this too was a boundary. 

You will NEVER, EVER regret boundary training. 

A dog problem

There is a dog problem; without a doubt there are too many dogs.  The other night my son and I had a very in-depth conversation about the problem of too many dogs, rescuing and breeders.  It all started over Elsa's tail; as a extremely compassionate person with regards to animal welfare he just cannot understand why?  Why would anyone cut off a dog's tail.  "Why do they do it?" He asked me and I tried to explain where the practice all began.  He then asked "why do people still do it then," and I tried to answer that one. 

We then moved onto breeders, being that we were talking about those who do and those who do not amputate tails.  He took issue with people breeding dogs in general; it was an across the board statement so we discussed breeders across the board.  This is a common opinion for many people; I have been told before that I don't deserve a dog because I want a particular kind.  So I explained to him my point of view on the whole 'dog problem.'

There are too many dogs; the shelters and rescues are filled to the brim and then some.  But where do these dogs come from?  Breeders, yes, but not good breeders.  I explained to him what my list entails to be considered a good breeder. 

Breeder - has one or two litters a year, not a page long list of available puppies at any time.
  -dogs and puppies live in the house as family.
 - rescues when they can.
 - will take back a puppy or adult dog at any time to replace. (Things happen in life)
 - only breeds dogs who have been completely health screened.
 - breeds only dogs with sound temperaments.
 - breeds to build a sound dog, doesn't follow a trend.
 - breeds with a passion for their dogs; is not driven by the lure of greed.  (This shows up in  many different ways)
 - temperament tests puppies and places them in homes accordingly.  (Not picked at 2 weeks of age by the prospective owner)
 - offers the puppies external stimulus and socialization early on.
 - does not breed for what is "in."
 - will never breed an iffy dog either in temperament or structure due to anticipation, time and effort.

I could go on and on but this is my base list.  He then asked "how do you make breeders do these things?"  The answer is, you don't.  If you have to make people do all of these things then they aren't doing it for the right reasons.  I want someone who wants to do all of these things. 

We then moved onto Millers.  There lies the problem, right there.  Millers are the problem, they rely on quantity not quality to fill their pockets.  They let impulse buyers buy their goods and don't care who takes the dog as long as they pay.  Millers are the problem and that is where animal lovers should direct their attention for attack.  Shut the mills down and we will be almost there. 

I then explained about random people who want to have a litter of puppies.  They too will sell to whoever will buy.  They don't want all these puppies; they maybe wanted just one or to turn a quick buck.  They have no idea of what they are selling; there were no health tests, no temperament tests and they will give one to whoever will pay. 

Support the good breeders and go after the bad; it is that simple.  There are very, very few amazing breeders out there.  The solution to finding those is to educate the public.  But then again many of the public are not listening; they don't care as long as they get the puppy they want.  Even if it means that 2 months down the road they don't want it anymore and just dump it down a long and abandoned road. 

The topic is vast; there are many things to talk about.  But if for one minute you think that all breeders are bad, think again.   Out of all of the dogs in rescue and or shelters; a very low percentage are from the people who care, the good breeders.  It can happen but the problem is the mass producers and those who will sell a dog to anyone for money. 

The conversation will continue.....

The sock monster

I was being sarcastic when I said that Elsa was not excited.  She'd been spinning right before she stopped to have an scratch.  

How many times have you chased your dog around the house after a sock?  Found your socks on the floor half eaten or pulled one on to see your toes stick out the end of it after your dog is done with them?  Socks are a big draw for many dogs; puppies can't seem to stay away from them.  Why?  First, the used ones smell like us; even after a good washing they still hold our scent on them.  Dogs like stuff that smell the most like us.  Plus they are a great size to wing around and destroy, right?  But socks can be very dangerous, deadly even; so getting rid of a sock monster can be a challenge. 

I live with Standard Poodles and that means that I pretty reliably have  very intense retrievers.  Many retriever type puppies are mouthy and love to pick up stuff and yes, wreck it.  Tilley was my first to display very intense retrieving or drive which showed up in her sock behavior.  It was also Tilley who taught me how to turn it around quickly. 

The first rule of teaching a dog not to pick up things that they should not pick up is to NEVER, EVER, chase.  The turn around starts with bribery.  That's right, bribery; which means that you must be armed and ready, always.  Food, good food, good enough to make your dog drop whatever it is in their mouth that they have picked up.  Depending on the type of dog you have, their drive and their smarts will factor in on how long the transition takes.  With Tilley it was a matter of a day or two. 

Teaching drop is essential.  If you yank whatever your dog has in their mouth and yell at them I can guarantee they are going to do grab something else.  That grabbing and prying to get the item away is attention.  Dogs love attention, even if it's not so great attention.  The problem with picking things up and simply reefing them out of their mouth is the swallow potential.  Some dogs swallow objects when faced with the potential loss of that item.  Teaching them that they will be rewarded if they give it up is key.  If you give me that I'll give you this, scenario.  Of course a puppy mind is easily pliable so the sooner you start the better. 

Rewarding your dog for giving you items creates a higher degree of them picking stuff up, at first.  But as they get older so does the constant retrieving of items that they should not have.  Seeing that you have a retriever, you should then move to retrieving "legal" items to fill that need.  You will also need to supervise so that you can stop the picking up of "illegal" items before they happen.  This helps to refine the retriever instinct to only retrieving "legal" things. 

The day that solidified the lesson for Tilley made me smile.  I was doing the dishes when she came into the kitchen with a sock hanging out of her mouth.  She stood looking at me waiting; waiting for her treat.  She'd brought  me another sock.  She had no intention of destroying it or eating it; she had quickly learned that it was most beneficial for her to bring it to me.  Never have I met a dog with more retriever drive. 

Luke was an underwear guy, not socks.  His problem lasted a bit longer; but he finally got it at well.  Even though Elsa has amazing and intense drive she has never been one to pick up stuff that she shouldn't.  Even still I have driven the message home that socks are not for eating.  For her, socks mean that we are going for a walk and she is happy to make sure that they get on my feet. 

Maintenance

Today is maintenance day.  With the cooler weather upon us both Luke and Elsa will be keeping a bit more coat than they do throughout much of the year.  But they will still have their feet shaved clean regularly and their adorable faces.  I like a clean face, I like the cleanliness of it; having had an Airedale for years who sported the typical furry terrier face. (Messy, messy)  Luke grows a goatee now and again but gets it removed if it starts getting too dirty.  Not only is a clean shaven face easier to keep clean but it keeps all the hair away from their line of vision.  I cannot stand when dogs have hair in front of their eyes; just imagine how they feel when they cannot move it? 

My rule of thumb for hair in front of eyes is; if you cannot see your dogs entire eye by holding up their face right in front of your at eye level, trim it.  Not just the hair right in their eyes but over the top of their muzzle too.  It all gets in the way of seeing.  I have seen dogs who have full furry faces who are easily startled due to their lack of vision.  There have been times when I have held a client dogs face up and shown them where to cut after their dog didn't see the treat in front of him.  A full furry face might be cute but you need to create a clear path of vision for your dog.  Do not handicap them by limiting their visibility, either out front or peripherally. 

Feet will be next.  Clean feet is also done for several reasons.  First and most obviously to keep the dirt down.  It helps to limit the amount of dirt, mud and other crap that they collect on their feet and bring into the house.  It also helps to keep nasty pickies or stickers out of their feet.  If you have a dog with big furry feet; be sure to check the bottom of their feet and between toes daily.  A picky thing can get lodged between toes and work itself into the dogs foot causing a great deal of pain and problems.  Next, keeping the underfoot nice and trim helps with traction.  Luke slips easily with his loss of muscle mass so keeping the bottom of his feet clean is essential.  After the foot is nice and clean I will give it a good going over visually; making sure that there are no injuries or foreign bodies in there. 

While I am there I'll do nails.  Nails are done about every two weeks here.  A dogs nails should be short enough that they do not touch the ground when the dog is standing still.  But not so short that they cannot use them efficiently.  If you keep them up it is easy to see the little point that grows and either cut it or dremel it off.  Letting nails grow too long can create an altered gate on a dog as well as causing a dog pain just by walking.  Some nails may need trimming while others don't.  Elsa rarely needs her back nails trimmed as she has such power in that rear of hers that she wears them down on her own.  Typically her front two middle toes need more attention as they don't get as much impact. 

I will check their teeth and scrape any tartar that needs addressing.  With their constant access to chewing raw bones; tartar is not a huge problem.  But old dogs build up tartar much more quickly so need more attention.  After teeth will be ears which were just done a couple of weeks ago.  I pluck a small amount of hair out of their ears; enough to let the air in there.  If you pluck too much you open up the ear leaving it raw and ripe for infection.  Not enough plucking and you can create a problem as air cannot get into the ear.  So just enough to let the air in.  (This is obviously only for dogs who grow hair in their ears.)  Ears need more than plucking; even dogs with no hair in their need ear cleaning so have a look and clean out any muck in there.  Only clean as far as you can see, never dig further down in your dogs ear than you can see.  Be careful. 

Then comes the full body physical.  Everything is checked and noted for things to keep an eye on.  With Elsa, anything found is address more quickly as she is young and should not have any growth type things on her.  Luke on the other hand is old and has tons of bumps and lumps everywhere.  Any new ones are checked and we watch carefully.  Bumps of concerned are checked out by the vet. 

Maintenance is important; have you had a look lately?  So many people just leave it up to the groomer and never look or concern themselves with any of their dog's parts.  But you should know every inch of your dog, do you?








I have one of these Li'l pal brushes and it was a great puppy brush for Elsa.