Going backwards?

We have some strange stuff going on here at the Regalbuto house.  Last week as I sat typing at the computer; Elsa nudged my arm, which is very common behavior.  I looked down and saw that she had a funny face on; and asked her "what?"  Typically she will look at me, then the door when she wants me to go downstairs.  She just drilled those little black buttons into my head; she was trying to tell me something.  I typed a few words and she nudged again.  Pushing my chair back I happened to glance to the right where Luke lay on the dog bed.  He had a mound of tissue in his mouth and was preparing for destruction.  What the??????????????  Elsa had clearly ratted him out.  The nervous look she had on her face was now very clear.  I threw the chair back and yelled "HEEEYYYY," which he didn't hear but he did see me coming and dropped it.  

Hmmmmmmm???????????? I asked him a bunch of questions; including one about knowing that he was indeed fourteen years old and not six months old.  Luke doesn't chew things and he doesn't get things out of the garbage; what was going on and where did he get this mound of tissue from?   "Crazy old man," I said to him as we passed in the hallway.  That afternoon I was in my bedroom when I heard some noise from the bathroom.  I looked up to see Luke's rear end sticking out of the door with his head stuck in the garbage.  Really?  What the heck?  Of course I am considering that this may be the onset of dementia; I am hoping that it is nothing but a little craziness from an old man.  I don't think I'm up to another round of dementia again; it is one of the worst things we gone through with our dogs.  But his behavior is strange.  

Since that first tattle tale moment of Elsa's; Luke has been in the garbage quite a bit.  So much so that we have had to now lift the bathroom garbage.  Luckily it is just this one and no others so far.  He has also displayed some other changes in behavior as of late as well.  Restlessness at bedtime is one; he acts like he's had several cups of coffee and takes quite a long time to settle, very different.  He has also decided that he would like to dig a spot in the backyard; something else that he NEVER does.  He will even sneak over to the spot hoping not to be caught.  When he is caught he just gets goofy and runs into the house.  

Nothing is really serious but knowing my boy like I do; I will keep a close eye on these new changes.  Hopefully like I said, it is just him being a crazy old man.  :)

One of those nights

  No doubt, they will be bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. 

Ever have a night that left you with little sleep?  A night when sleep is illusive and waking up in the morning is nearly impossible?  Well, that was me last night.   For some reason I woke up at 3:30 and getting back to sleep was simply out of my control; it wasn't happening, no matter how hard I tried.  I flopped from one side to the other; tried my hardest to think "nothing."  Ya, thinking nothing is easy right?  As soon as you try to stop thinking you think of something related to that. 

I heard Luke get up, well sort of get up and turn around, again sort of.  He has a very hard time moving around at night; so it is a good thing that he is on a giant mound of beds surrounded by pillows.  He repositioned himself and was back asleep, twitching within minutes.  Elsa watched me watch her for a bit and then joined Luke in blissful twitching.  Yep, I was still awake and trying my best not to be.  There was no noise keeping me awake; it couldn't have been more quiet.  I just could not fall back asleep.

So I think sometime around 4:45 I dosed off, thankfully.  Of course that was short lived as I was shot out of my bed at 5:13am by the sound of heaving.  I was still asleep but standing; Elsa wasn't in her bed so I assumed it was her heaving somewhere in the dark and yelled to her.  It was only when I flipped on the light that I realized that Elsa was still in my bed; where she had joined me just as I'd drifted off.  It was Luke who was doing the heaving but it was the strangest thing as he seemed asleep.  I looked closer and listened, he was heaving and finally wretched.  Nothing came out, he didn't seem bothered and went back to sleep, this is a first.  He didn't even lift his head up when he was heaving; was he heaving and throwing up in a dream like state?  I have never had a dog do this, so I'll keep an eye on him. 

He resumed his sleeping and was back in twitch land before I got into bed.  I just lay there wondering if I'd get back to sleep or just get up.  But I drifted off again and now I am so groggy that I can barely wake up.  My first coffee is gone and I'm suppose to head to the gym in a few.  It is hard to workout when you are asleep.  Of course Luke and Elsa are sound asleep as usual. 

Fear free?

This article was in my news feed yesterday. 

Fear Free Challenge

The title alone, caught my attention.  I clicked on it, read and listened.  There is much more to read and listen to via videos but I wanted to share it and discuss fear and handling pets at the Veterinarians office.  Many of you already know about some of my issues with Veterinarians.  I have had several situations that turned out very badly at the Vets. 

Losing my dog

Looking for a great Vet

Care, real care

So, if you've read the above blogs you will understand my stand on the whole concern over Veterinarian employees handling of my dogs.  I have recently had a few very nice Vet office visits, so it is not all the Veterinarian facility that I am talking about, just a few that don't get it. 

A trip to the vet (good one)

I remember years ago when I was taking all three of my dogs in for titers.  They were having blood removed from their jugular vein and needed to be held up against the person with their head held back.  One of the technicians grabbed Jessie and began putting her in position; Jessie then started to struggle, the more she struggled the harder the tech held her.  It was a lose, lose situation and Jessie started to panic.  I immediately stepped in and very abruptly said "I'll hold her."  There was a great deal of shrugging and apprehension as I was accustom to so I just ended it there by making a statement of what was happening, I wasn't asking.  As soon as I took Jessie into my arms she relaxed and I talked to her while they drew her blood.  It was as easy as that.

Now, yes, I know there are people who cannot and do not want to hold their dog while they have a blood draw; but that is not me, I want to be there for my dog and I am more than capable.  I do not know if the above Fear Free Challenge also incorporates the art of dealing with owners being hands on but it should.  I will read further to see if there is anything about it or if it is just about how "they" handle the animals. 

When someone wants to stay with their animal, help, hold and assist; it should be given a chance.  Of course there are people who might want to help but are just more trouble than good.  Even if we can't do everything that is needed, we should be allowed to be present.  I know that if I could be there, my dogs would be much more relaxed.  The simple act of being taken away from their owners is very stressful; why is this not a consideration in most practices? 

The Veterinarian office that asked Tilley and I not to return was very bad with their handling of Tilley.  The techs did not take into account that she was 14.5 with Vestibular disease.  They man handled her into position, caused her to fall and generally made things horrible.  I hope that this challenge changes things, I guess time will tell. 

Quick fix

Our society is geared to the "quick fix."  We all want to know the one secret to make it all perfect.  A pill that will make us lose the weight we want to; a trick that will turn our lives from a day to day struggle into a dreamy reality.  We want to know the secrets that unlock the magic of wealth; we want it all don't we?  Unfortunately many people  make money from our desire to find the magic "quick fix."  I sat and watched a video last night, and the further it continued the more I shook my head.  It was a dog training video and the guy was claiming that it was a quick fix.  It was no quick fix and I saw all sorts of problem creations in the video. 

We are a funny bunch.  The fact is that there are no quick fixes in life.  If we want something to change we must change it, work hard at it, with a purpose to change.  Training dogs takes time, patience, understanding and knowledge.  Sure, you can't do it if you don't know what you are doing.  But once you learn how to; then the dedication in time and patience is what will do the trick. 

Want your dog to lose weight?  Cut back, don't feed them "low calorie" food; simply cut back on their "good food" and move them more.  Movement does wonders, if one never moves then their calorie needs are very few.  It is as simple as that.  Housetraining trick?  That is a biggy, everyone wants to know the trick to housetraining.  Well, it's no trick; it consists of supervision, feedback, time and dedication.  That's it folks, no trick, no magic pill, no hidden secret to discover.

People are always looking for a weakness in others to create a quick fix.  Quick fixes don't work.  A quick fix fills the pockets of the quick fix owner for a short time but that's it.  If you want to fix something, you've got to do it; dig in your heels and work hard.  Another common quick fix is to send your dog off to be fixed, trained.  I am not a fan of that; training your dog is an important part of learning, for both of you together.  If someone else does the work then you aren't learning about your dog at all, are you?  Also, I've heard far too many horror stories about dogs being sent away to be fixed and done my fair share of rehabilitating a handful of very sad cases myself.   

There is no quick fix, no pill, no magic secret; it's call life and it's not always easy.  But life is what makes us who we are. 

How did I get here?

 

Writing this morning, destiny. 

I did not grow up in a dog family; a little known and shocking fact about me.  We had one dog when I was growing up and he, Strawberry (yes I know, great name for a boy) was a toy poodle.  Not the best choice for a family with five children but he managed somehow.  I don't know when I fell in love with dogs but it was long before Strawberry arrived on the scene.  I clearly remember begging and begging for a dog; along with my brothers and sisters until my parents finally caved. 

I think it may have started because of Disney; remember the old days when Disney was on television every Sunday night?  Listening to my Mom prepare dinner ready while we watched Disney; it is a wonderful childhood memory.  But it was there that I first saw the human/canine connection and I was hooked.  I dreamed of a day that I would be just like the kids on the television, surrounded by dogs.  I was not going to be satisfied with just one family dog; no I wanted a bunch of them and my life would revolve around them. 

As a young child, I could never get enough.  I bought dog books as soon as I had a few pennies of my own.  I'd go into the book store and run my hand over all the different "Know your 'breed'" books trying to decide which one to purchase.  By the time I was a pre-teen I had quite the collection.  Know your Saluki, Doberman, Irish Setter etc. etc.  I had them all.  Anytime a show with dogs came on; I was there, front and center.  I recall the feeling I got when I watched humans with their dogs, I wanted that.  Of course on Disney it was always magical; enough so that I was convinced that dogs were about the greatest thing in the world. 

Flash forward to today and yes, my life does revolve around dogs.  It still amazes me that I did not grow up in a dog family yet I have a deep need to have dogs around me.  I have dabbled in a great number of dog related activities; from obedience, conformation, grooming, dog walking and finally landing on positive reinforcement, writing and photography.  Here I stay, juggling the three things that mesh together like milk and cookies. 

My own children grew up with dogs and even though they considered their Mother to be dog crazy when they were in their teens; they are all huge dog lovers.  It has continued into the next generation and I cannot see any of them without a dog in their life. 

Who knows where this dog loving thing comes from? Whether we are introduced to the unique relationship of a dog and their human early, late or just experience all on our own.  Perhaps there are dog loving genes that are passed down through the generations landing where they may fall by chance or luck would have it? 

I often wonder, how the heck did I get here?  I don't think I had a choice in the matter; it was dogs since I can remember, destiny.   

Simba, Lucy's new brother.

Introducing, Mr. Simba.  

You all know Lucy, Elsa's friend?  Simba is Lucy's new little brother.  Here she is teaching him about the ball; how it is hers and he is never to touch it.  

She does love her ball, especially a new one.  

 

Poetry in motion.  

The things we don't see unless stopped in time.  

Look Mom, no paws.  

 

Little man spots me crouched down with my camera.  

Living up to his name.

 

Some steps seem very big when you are only 8 weeks old.  

 

Prize possession.  

 

Following big sisters lead.  

Honestly, how cute is he?

Such a little man, but not for long.  

Simba with his new Mom.  

Small things tucker out little boys.

 A great dog in the making. 

National Dog Day, really?

As I stood in line yesterday, my arms overflowing with toys, poop bags and a new bed; the woman in front of me asked "are you getting all of that because it's National Dog Day?"  "It is?" I replied.  "Wow, I should know that" I said to her and then replied "isn't everyday dog day?"  Well isn't it?  It is in my house.  I don't need a special day to celebrate dogs but perhaps a day can bring to light some much needed issues regarding our canine companions.

The bigger a day gets the more exposure it gets.  The more exposure it gets the more celebrities jump on; giving the day more even more exposure.  Perhaps the day will shine some light on not buying puppies from pet store via puppy mills.  It would be great if the day could actually have impact enough to shut them all down.  It is mind boggling that people still walk into pet stores and buy a puppy.  But the most questionable aspect is they say that they didn't know.  How can anyone not know at this point?

So National Dog Day is a day for the dogs.  As more and more companies jump on the band wagon; it will perhaps bring to the forefront, issues that need addressing.  It is sort of sad that we need a day, sponsors, advertising and celebration to teach people.  But without it many don't listen; so with yet another day, it might bring with it, good.

In this house, we spent National Dog Day like any other day, together. 

Think before you stick

Ours dogs deserve the time needed to research for their health.

She almost died, my little JRT, Jessie.  She was only 6 years of age and losing her battle with an unknown enemy.  As I held her on my lap; wrapped tightly in a towel I struggled to let her go; when I didn't know what was taking her.   After all the tests, we were left with an autoimmune disorder.  At only 15 lbs, Jessie's body was turning on itself.  I have no doubt that vaccines were the cause. 

Read Jessie's story


I'm not going to go on and go about vaccines and the possible long term side effects.  I have added several links below to read and contemplate.  Are we over taxing our dog's bodies; creating diseases that might otherwise not inflict our dogs?  It is already a known fact that dogs do not need annual shots.  A simple titer test can tell you that.  They draw blood to see the level of immunity protection your dog has to diseases that the shots are for.  It is a simple test and readily available.

Are the pharmaceutical companies instilling fear in us?  No doubt.  More and more dogs are becoming ill, but could it be avoided?  I believe that many otherwise healthy dogs succumb to disease due to what their bodies are given to deal with.  Annual vaccinations, flea/tick treatment, heartworm medication, poor quality food and many new vaccines that some of the Veterinarian field are pushing.  Read before you stick. 

Natural Dog on over vaccinating - Dogs Naturally

2nd chance on vaccinations

Why I don't vaccinate my dogs - Dogs Naturally

Puppy vaccinations - Dogs Naturally

Creature comforts

There is nothing like waking up and feeling great after a wonderful sleep.  Yesterday while I folded laundry in the family room; Luke lay down beside me on the carpet floor.  After a bit he decided to get up; wasn't happening, he was basically stuck.  As he tried to get his old cricketing legs up under him I jumped up and gave him a hoist.  "You should not lie on the floor," I told him.  Old dogs should not lie on the floor and young dogs should only, by choice.  Comfort is important and has nothing to do with being spoiled. 

Years ago my husband and I bought a new bed; our first king sized bed to accommodate all the dogs.  I was so excited, we splurged and got a really great one, or so I thought.  After just a year our bed looked like a track for dirt bikes, with moguls and jumps on it.   I called the company where we had purchased it to complain; after all it came  with a 10 year warranty.  They would switch it out if the moguls were over 2" deep; and after the guy measured them, he declared that they were not.  Wrongo, they were deeper, his measuring tape must have been telling a fib. 

Another year later we were dealing with giant trenches; moguls fit for only pro riders to tackle.  So again, I called them out and they measured.  Oh yes, the dips were deep enough; but alas the mattress manufacturer had gone bankrupt.  Did the mattress store step up and take care of us anyway?  Nope, they were willing to offer a 40% discount on a new bed though.   So it was deal with the moguls or fork out a ton more money, AGAIN.  We didn't have the money to dish out at the time so we waited.  One morning as I hauled my very tired body out of our mountainous terrain of a mattress; I realized just how sore I was, it had to be the bed.  After a weekend trip away I knew; it was most definitely the mattress that was causing all my aches and pains. 

New bed, new bod.  After a few days of adjusting to the new  moguless, mountainless and  trenchless  bed, I was a new woman.  This was about my bed and my aches and pains but it could have been about a dog.  Dogs need comfort, especially as they age.  But comfort should not be reserved for the old; aches, pain and joint issues can be caused by dogs sleeping on hard surfaces.  My house was once filled with dog beds; each room contained several in different places.  I had two very old girls of different size, one middle aged man and a new puppy.  We had a need for a great number of beds.  Now I have beds in all rooms but the family room; and that is because both Luke and Elsa spend their time on the couch with us.  But yesterday as I folded laundry, Luke joined me on the floor.  After getting him up to his feet I grabbed one of the big fluffy blankets that was just washed and folded it into four.  I lay it on the ground and Luke was on it before the blanket had settled.  He quickly fell asleep and I smiled.

My preference for dog beds now is foam.  A good foam slab or one made up of foam pieces.  Luke's bed that he sleeps on every night is made up of foam pieces.  It has give but always bounces back; filling in any spots that need support.  I regularly shake it up to keep it as flat as possible and flip it as well.  He is extremely comfortable on his bed and I'm thinking that he gets up feeling refreshed.   Before purchasing a bed; I do the step, push and crunch test.  Many of the big poofy beds look nice and comfy but flatten down easily; creating another hard compact surface.  So if you are searching for a bed, make sure it is a comfy one.  Dogs like comfort and like us it is not a luxury thing; it's about our body being on a hard surface.  Ever gone camping without a foam pad or air mattress?  I have and it takes just one night of sleeping on the ground to realize just how hard the ground is; and that isn't even a much harder patio or concrete slab.  No, our dogs deserve comfort as much as we do. 

Hard and uncomfortable sleeping surfaces create a lot of needless wear and tear on the body.  If I happen to be gardening with Luke in tow; he will attempt to fluff the lawn beside me before he lays down to watch the gardening event.  What a funny guy he is.  But he like all the other dogs in the world deserve a soft place to lay their head.     

A oneness

Do you have a oneness with your dog?

Oneness:  Unity of thought, feeling, belief, aim, agreement, concord.  A strong feeling of closeness or affinity; union. 

I was reading an article this morning on the difference between wolf packs and dog packs.  This made me consider the human influence on the whole scenario; which lead me to ponder our connection.  I have seen many people who consider their dog to be far from a partner or companion.  Their dog is simply that, a dog.  It is true, dogs are dogs but what is a dog in our life?  The answer to this question my friend is what we make it.

Life with dogs is more about connection than anything else.  Yes we have an obligation to educate and guide our dogs in life; after all we have placed them in a human world and expect them to thrive there.  But aside from that, it is all about our time together.  Give, take, listening, watching and sharing.  Sharing is a big one, sharing our view of the world and it's day to day with our dogs.  Every second you spend with your dog is a moment; a coming together of two species in a oneness, pretty cool eh? 

Oneness does not demand an outward physical act but more of a inner connection.  I often look at both Luke and Elsa and connect; a simple eye contact moment can create a oneness.  That said, many people never achieve oneness with their dog; for some, it is all about ownership and sense of we are the human and you are simply the dog.  But a human/canine connection is far superior than the two species standing alone.  A human/canine oneness creates something far more.  Oneness with another species promotes empathy, learning and compassion; something that may not have been achieved without connecting with a canine.   

Ego (one of the most destructive human flaws) can take a severe hit when we achieve oneness with our dogs.  Dogs don't care about money, a big house, fancy cars or diamond studded collars.  Dogs are happiest with simplicity, keep it simple.  If we as humans tend to let our ego build; our dogs can bring us back down to earth by moments of reality that make our dogs, dogs and us merely human.  No, dogs don't need humans to be amazing; they can do that all on their own.  But they do need us to achieve the amazing human/canine connection; just like we need them to do the same. 

Have you connected with your dog today? 

 

First buggy ride

Looks like a little tent.  

Honestly, how cute is he?

So, our first trip out with the new Luke mobile is complete.  It went much like I thought it would; although Luke was more relaxed than I thought he would be.  He in no way enjoyed his first trip; but merely tolerated what Mom wanted him to do.  He stressed a bit but not enough to not accept and eat treats which is a huge telltale for stress.  

When we got to the park I left Luke in the back of the Xterra until I got the stroller back together.  I told Luke as I struggled to put it together that I would get faster with each time.  Once done I let Luke out and we walked a good way with him out of the stroller.  He loves his walks, lifting his leg and smelling everything in sight.  But when he started to drag his feet (literally) I rolled the stroller onto the grass and began the "getting Luke in" process.  

I tried just asking him to get in, wasn't happening.  I tried coaxing him with treats that I tossed into it, wasn't happening.  He was not going to get in himself; as I already knew would happen.  I zipped up the back section and opened up the front.  He was going to have to be put in; not something I wanted to do but at 14 years of age he's pretty set in his ways.  I scooped him up and backed him into it and lay him down.  He let out a few stressed huffs and I told him to stay, which he surprisingly did.  I thought that he'd be on his feet and trying to get out immediately.  

I zipped up the screen and off we went.  The stroller wheels and turns beautifully.  I stopped many times to give Luke treats while he tolerated his ride.  He was slightly stressed; but mostly miffed by the whole thing.  He didn't enjoy it at all.  At one point he sat up and stuck his head out the window; which made me happy to see him moving around inside.  I kept the first outing short and sweet; well maybe not so sweet but short.  

Back at Xterra I very calmly let him out the front and he got very goofy; huffing with happiness to be out of the stroller.  Our first excursion complete; he survived and I was happy that he didn't freak out.  I had thought the minute that I started to move; he'd freak out, but he didn't.  He didn't even care when I had to lean the stroller back a bit to go up the sidewalk.  All in all a good first trip out for Luke.  I got an injury on our first trip; I pinched my finger a good one when putting the stroller together and was bleeding everywhere.  I'd got a really hard pinch which created a blood blister that burst.

I'll get better at this, it's just going to take some time.  

Begging 101

How many times have I heard "bad dog, no begging?"  The human perception of begging is an odd one. 

Begging - asking for something, typically food or money, as charity or a gift.

Begging as we call it is quite normal in the canine world.  When a dog wants to acquire something; either food or material object they make their intentions known by staring at us.  This is what we call begging.  Like any behavior there is a wide spectrum of begging behaviors; from the totally acceptable to the not so acceptable at all.  

What I call not acceptable is pawing, barking, sitting one inch from my food or drooling on my leg.  What is acceptable is sitting and looking at me from a good distance.  If I say move away, they need to move away. Better still, they can go sit on their bed while I eat.  As long as my dog is not attempting to physically get my food from me, I'm pretty good with it.   

Think about this.  Most of our dogs are quite capable of simply taking our food.  The big ones can out muscle us and just take it.  Can you imagine having a dog that you had to hide from to eat?  Dogs need to learn that we are the top dog; when we eat they can watch but they cannot take.  Picture a pack of wolves; think the alpha wolves allow stealing?  Not a chance.  But there is what we call begging going on.  All the subordinate wolves are sitting as close as legally possible in attempts of getting a piece of the pie. 

Begging is a behavior that can lead to other behaviors.  If a dog has pushed the begging to an unacceptable stage of moving in; then stealing can follow closely.  It is important to make it very clear what's yours is yours; sharing is an option left solely to you, the human.  When it comes to sharing, you can do it but not always.  Your pooch should not assume that they will have some of what you are eating always.  I have to remember not to share, because Luke and Elsa can eat most of what I do.  

When I do share it is very structured.  Can you leave your plate of food on the coffee table and leave the room?  You should be able to.  Of course it can take a great deal of practice to get to that stage.  The message you deliver and how serious you are about food belonging to you will factor in on how much work it would be to get to the walk away stage. 

You must imbed the "this is mine" message into your own head before trying to teach it to your dog.   They must clearly understand that it belongs to you, until you say otherwise. 

Begging is  not a bad thing; in fact it is quite normal.  Watching and wanting is normal, acting on that requires feedback and strategic training. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't push

"Push your dog's rear down" the teacher belted out.   We all reached down and pushed and pushed and pushed.  Some of the dogs buckled under pressure while most resisted, pushing back.  This is the old conventional way to teach a dog to sit; just push them into it.  Unfortunately whoever decided that this was the way to do it was sadly mistaken.  Dog mechanics is as such; you push, they push back.  So just imagine what happens when you attempt to push them into a sit?  Yep, tons of pressure on those hips and you can end up in quite the struggle; depending on how big and strong your dog is.  

Same goes for a down; start pushing and you may find yourself in the middle of a wrestling match.  Our natural instinct to physically maneuver a dog into a particular position goes against canine mechanics.  I remember in my conventional training class many, many years ago when owners would be literally on top of their dog trying to get them into a down position, pretty crazy.  

Mechanics:  the branch of physics that deal with the action of forces on bodies and with motion, comprised of kinetics, statics and kinematics.  

Pull, they pull; push, they push.  

The funny thing is that dogs are sooo very easy to put into different body positions when you lure them with either a food treat or some sort of toy.  I have taught tiny little 6 week old puppies to sit within minutes, just with a cheerio.  It is much easier to move dogs if you don't try to man-handle them.  Moving them just by training position and teaching the point tool is really much less work.  

Many dogs who have never been taught about moving around, sitting, downing or staying get very anxious when you begin to move them physically.  The more they struggle the firmer we get which then makes them struggle even more; it is a lose, lose situation.  

If you do have to physically need to move your dog; do so with the least amount of touch possible.  Do not rely on the collar; that too can backfire.  Learn how to move and position your dog without having to muscle them around; it is much easier after all.    

A big birthday

Fourteen years ago today, a puppy was born that would change my life forever.  Little did I know he would single pawedly have such a huge effect on myself and all the humans in his life.  Luke is one of those dogs that comes into your life  if you are lucky.  We met completely by chance; and from the moment our eyes met, that was it.  It was love at first sight and there was no going back.  For nearly fourteen years now, Luke has been my constant shadow and teacher.  There has never been another dog that has taught me so much about the complexity of the canine species. 

He is special, if there was one word to describe Luke, that would be it, SPECIAL.  There is a quiet confidence in his very being that both human and canine alike are able to see.  Luke has been through a great deal over the years; with the biggest life transition being the loss of his lifelong companions.  But with Elsa's help he overcame that and kept on trucking.  Today is his day and I on this Saturday, August 16, 2014 we celebrate his 14th birthday with great excitement. 

How lucky we are for that fateful day we met. 

Marketing to dog owners

Have you ever stopped and considered what you are buying for your dog?  Those adorable little cookies in the shape of bones; your dog would love them right?  Maybe, but not because they are cute bone shapes.    Our dogs have absolutely no preference as far as the shape of their food is concerned.  Companies that make food into shapes and colors of chicken legs, veggies and bones; make it strictly for the human who is in charge of the money.  Dog food with green and orange pieces in it; must be healthy, it is the color of vegetables.  Plus the bag is covered in pictures of vegetables; it's got to be highly nutritious right?  Wrong.

The pet industry as a whole is a huge one.  Many companies play on our desire to give the best to our dogs; but sadly most of them miss the mark as far as accomplishing that.  Instead they spend much of their profits on marketing tactics and less on quality of product.  The whole "how can we get people to buy," becomes far more important than what they are actually selling.

Dog food and treats are some of the worst products that are highly marketed and poorly made.  As far as I am concerned, if there is an advertisement on television for a food or treat; you should not be buying it or giving it to your dog.  Think WOLF when you consider what to feed your dog.  Yes dogs have been domesticated and they have evolved from a wolf but they are still wolves inside.  From the wolf in the forest to the dog in our living room; our relationship has evolved.  Of course we are not going to send our dogs out to run down a deer for dinner but we need to fulfill their nutritional needs to best of our ability.

Dog's simply do not care what shape or color their food is, bottom line.  Most dogs will eat anything so it is up to us to do our best in offer them what is good for them and not what the marketing agencies tell us.   That is because all the advertising agency is concerned with is that you buy their clients product.  Keep it simple; fewer ingredients, less packaging, less advertising and a better product.

I see many people with whole wardrobes for their dog; beautiful collars that cost a small fortune and oodles and oodles of expensive toys who still reach for the cheapest dog food.  Many believe the advertising that is put out there to trick us into thinking that it is the best for our dogs.  Dogs don't care about clothing, they don't care about fancy collars or expensive toys; but they sure love a great meaty meal.

Don't get me wrong, I love dog products that make the life we share with our dogs, better.  But those products are few and far between.  As far as food and treats go; well, there is just way too much crap out there.   Don't buy into the big cloak and mirror routine; get the goods, the real goods on what you should be feeding your dog.  Think good food is too expensive?  Spending less time at the vets will save you a bucket load in the long run.  

What kind of dog is that?

"What kind of dog is that?" the woman asks as she walks past us on her way somewhere.  "A Standard Poodle," I tell her; and I wait for the inevitable "really?"  I'm asked almost daily what Luke and Elsa are as far as breed or mix.  One woman walked by us and proclaimed that they were "very interesting mutts."  Am I offended that people don't know what kind of dogs I have?  Not in the least.  Their lack of knowing what they are doesn't take anything away from Luke and Elsa's amazingness and perhaps keeps the poodle out of the spotlight just a bit.  Yes, Luke and Elsa do resemble the doodles that you see all too often now.  Doodles have been and still are advertised as the perfect dog but now those perfect dogs are filling up rescues and shelters.  It is what happens when a breed or mix of breeds becomes too popular.

It was many years ago that I decided to take off the poodle cloak that surrounded my dogs.  After all the whole idea of what a poodle looks like is man made.  They are not born with pom poms on them; nor do they have fancy hairdos.  Nope, left unaltered by man; a poodle would be a giant mop like dog.  The poodles hair is constantly growing so it must be clipped; I choose to just simply shave it all off.  Less work for me and much more enjoyable for both Luke and Elsa.  How long I leave the hair depends mostly on weather and what activities we will be participating in. 

Over the years we have actually been asked by poodle people "what kind of dog?"  Many people are completely surprised by my answer and then there are the ones you reply "are you sure?"  Imagine, someone asking me if I'm sure that my dog is a poodle.  Imagine saying that to any stranger that gives you a reply you think to be odd?  Imagine. 

We have also been snubbed by poodle people who don't know that  Luke and Elsa are in fact poodles.  That one left me quite amused to think that the people holding the other poodles didn't know what their own dogs looked like under the puffs.  When people act aghast at the idea of shaving it all off; I am always amazed by the importance put onto the exterior by some.  Who cares?  There are a whole lot more important things in this world to worry about and put importance on, other than poodle puffs. 

When I decided that enough was enough; I just took it all off.  Many, many years ago I began shaving my poodles strictly for ease of grooming.  I had three little children and keeping my poodles in peak condition, coat wise was just too much work.  Years later I began shaving them again; but then it was fueled by misconception.  As my girl Tilley flew through the air, appeared on television and attended after screening parties to exhibit her amazing Frisbee talents we often heard "I didn't know poodles could catch, jump or do Frisbee."  All sorts of things were said about the fact that she was indeed a poodle.  But the poodle tag was not one that complimented the dog; but one that took away from the dog by way of poofiness.  No more, Tilley was far more than just a poodle; so it came off and her amazingness was able to stand on it's own.  People didn't know what she was anymore; they simply stood in awe of her athleticism.   She was no longer weighed down by the cloak of a poodle. 

Everyone has their own opinions out there; some like their poodles in full fluffiness, others choose modifications of some sort and then there are those who like me, shave it all off.  To each his own, right?  Poodles can be clipped however you like; the sky is the limit.  Someone once said to me "you don't deserve poodles if you don't want them to look like poodles," really?   Silly isn't it?  To put that much importance on a man made idea?  Yes, all of our dog breeds were designed by man.  The poodle was designed by man inside and out.  I choose to take the man made perception off and let my dogs stand on their own.  My dogs,  my choice. 

For anyone who knows me, they know that I adore poodles.  But my adoration has nothing to do with the hair.  I do adore that they don't shed all over my house but what I love about poodles is in fact the poodle; which has nothing to do with their hair. 

I am just fine going about my day to day with my poodles in cognito.

Grog and design mode.

I'm tired, really tired.  Luke had me up at 3:00 am; he needed out which is rare for him.  Elsa of course was up in a flash as I approached the door and charged ahead as I held Luke back.  With him on my left I put my left hand under his neck as we make our way down the stairs.  It is enough to ensure that he doesn't fall.  If he should take a misstep I already have a hand on him for safety.  He did trip on the last step but made it safely past.  We head outside where the moon was beaming; the whole yard was lit up like daytime.  It was beautiful and I was almost happy that he'd waken me up to enjoy it.

Typically I wait in the kitchen for Luke and Elsa to do their thing but decided to go out and sit on the lounge.  When Elsa returned and saw me on the lounge she got all silly; even offering up one of her Elvis smiles.  I guess I surprised her, in a good way.  Luke was also surprised to see me sitting on the lounge; he huffed and flung his head around in excitement.  Funny the little things that make them happy and us as well; they both gave me a good smile, even though it was 3 in the morning. 

We head back upstairs and back to bed; but alas, not back to sleep.  Not for me that is, Luke and Elsa drifted off quickly; I on the other hand lay awake thinking.  It's always the thinking that gets me; but try as I might, I can't stop so I lay there until at least 5 AM in the morning before drifting off.  So I'm groggy having only had a quick cat nap after my awake time.  So while I lay there awake I was thinking about a wrap of sorts for Luke.  Something very comfortable that he could wear and I could grab onto for safety.  He makes his way up and down the stairs pretty well but since his episode I want to have a hand on him in case.  So I thought and thought and didn't sleep. 

I will be making mock ups today and trying to figure out what will be best for him.  I know that there are lots of harness type things out there but with his frail frame it has to be something very soft if he is going to have it on all the time.  I already have several ideas; having been awake and inventing in the wee hours.  So I will put into motion some of the early morning thoughts and work with expanding and perfecting them for my old man.  For now Luke is sound asleep on the bed while Elsa watches the morning out the patio door.   I need another cup of coffee to wake up enough to be functional. 

Show me the money

I want to talk about deposits this morning.  You searched forever to find a breeder who you liked and one that was going to be having puppies.  You found the breeder of your choice; paid your deposit that will hold a puppy for you in the upcoming litter.  How exciting?  The puppies are born and your puppy is one of them.  You watch as they grow and wait with anticipation.  As the weeks pass something changes; it could be a feeling or something in your life.  Perhaps you start to feel anxiety; it may not be the right time for a puppy.  Maybe the breeder has done something to get you to start second guessing your decision about one of their puppies.  Whatever the reason, things changed and your mind is made up; it is not the time for you to add another puppy to your life.  You call the breeder to let them know and ask about your deposit.  "No, oh no, you signed a paper, you don't get it back."  Legal?  Yes.  Right?  No.  At least not in my opinion.

When you decide to breed dogs; you take on a great deal of risk.  There is risk in many things along the way; from conception, whelping, sales and placement.  Much can be lost but you should have known that when you decided to breed dogs.   Prospective puppy buyers will come and go; it is your decision alone whether to or not to sell a puppy to specific people.  You can say no if you want; they are your puppies up until they are fully paid for and handed over.

Deposit amounts fluctuate from breeder to breeder; it can be anything from 100.00 - 1,000.00 with the final payment due before the puppy goes into the puppy buyers hands.  Is it justified to keep someone's deposit money if they change their mind and decide not to take a puppy?  Is it right to keep someone's money when they get nothing in return?  After the entire litter is sold and you have the cost of each puppy and then some in your pocket; shouldn't you return the extra?  One risk when you breed puppies is that you may end up with a couple who take a bit longer to place.  It just goes without saying that this can and will happen from time to time.

I unfortunately know people who have taken a puppy so that they will not lose their deposit.  How sad is that?  Once a puppy leaves the breeders home; the breeder has no guarantee what will truly happen to that puppy.  That puppy will hopefully have a wonderful long life; but what if someone just went through with acquiring the puppy so that they didn't lose their deposit?  There is a good chance that they are going to resell that puppy or at least try to recoup some of their loss.  Yes, even if they have signed a contract saying that the puppy must be returned to the breeder if they cannot keep it.   People will do what they like; not everyone is ethical.  They may think that they'll be able to resell it easily but when no one steps up to pay big money for their puppy they turn to the shelter.  How awful is that?  If someone changes their mind and decides against a puppy; I say return their money and sell the puppy to someone who does want it.

Money is tight for most people these days; losing a deposit can be an additional hardship.   Why keep someone's money when they get nothing?  I truly believe that asking for a deposit is enough to make people consider; before actually buying a puppy.   Keeping it when they change their mind is another thing all together.  If a prospective puppy buyer hands over their hard earned money because they are sure at that moment that they want a puppy, great.  But life happens and keeping someones money who has either changed their mind or had something change in their life is just not right.

Recently I was interviewing Pet Sitters when one told me that if I cancelled two weeks before the booked date that I would owe the entire amount.  I stood in shock and made sure before she left that there was no booking made and I'd let her know.  If someone hired me as a trainer or photographer, paid and then changed their mind; I would not, could not keep their money.  Even if I was miffed about it; I could not keep their money and feel okay about it.  Puppies are far more important than a service that I would offer; that makes it even more important that they go to someone who truly wants them.  Even if someone thought they wanted a puppy and then got cold feet about it.

As a breeder, you might want to hold onto a deposit for a while if someone backs out as hopefully "a lesson learned" point.  This of course is my opinion as is the right to pull a sale at the last minute on the breeders side.  Yes, I think the breeder has the right to stop a sale if things change.  They may find out something that they hadn't known before and now they don't feel right about letting a puppy go to a particular home.  Make the decision before the puppy is in the wrong hands; it is tough to get a puppy back after it is placed.  But that is a topic for another blog altogether.

Every circumstance is different so there would be times when my recommendation would be to keep a deposit.  But it would only be in a very rare situation that keeping someone's money would make sense when they did not get a puppy in return.  I have read a great deal on both sides of the argument before writing this blog.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as am I; mine is to give it back; ethical dog breeders don't take money for nothing, in my opinion.

The infamous saying "I don't do it for the money" isn't always the whole truth. 

Don't assume

It always shocks me when people are oblivious and don't ask before approaching a dog.  I don't care what dog it is, ASK!!!!  Yesterday I was out with my daughter and Penny for lunch; Penny was being extremely well behaved lying quietly beside the table.  Several people came by with their dogs on EXTENSION leashes, EXTENDED; and allowed their dogs to just wander up to Penny.  Lucky for them, Penny is fabulous with other dogs, but what if she wasn't?   One woman had a little micro dog on an extension leash that ran right over and gave Penny a blast, all three pounds of it.  Penny just looked at it like it was crazy. 

Do we expect our children to interact with all other children?  Do you want to interact with all the people who are passing by us at the beach, mall or restaurant?  NO!  Just because I am out in public does not mean that I want to talk to the people sitting at the table beside me and just because our dogs are out with us does not mean that they want to talk to any other dogs.  If your dog wants to talk to all the other dogs that they come across, fine, but ASK first. 

The same rules apply for children and dogs, ASK first.  Just because a dog looks like a big friendly fluffy guy; does not mean that he is friendly at all.  He may be friendly with some people but not others; perhaps he likes dogs but isn't keen on people, you never know.  You should NEVER assume anything; especially approaching, interacting or touching a strange dog. 

All dogs are different, just like us.  Even when you do ask, you might not get the correct information.  I don't know how many people say "oh yes very friendly" right before the dog snaps.  Along with asking you have to read yourself.  From a great deal of experience comes the realization that most people have no idea.

Pieces of my heart.

Ballerina girl.

Amazing intensity

Helping Grandpa with some minor repairs.  

Bubbles are just plain fun. 

Reach

High and low, everyone loves bubbles.

Some more than others.

The quest for bubbles.

Did I say fun?

Tugging fun with Grandpa.

Catching and chasing.

Penny wondering why I am lying on the ground. 

Miss Elsa.

Sir Luke, handsome devil.  

Being tall is good. 

Keep away.  

Being strong is good.  

And, being weird is good too.