Yay, Yogi is coming over

Yogi is Elsa's very good friend who is also her other very good friend Lucy's little brother.  We've been getting these two together for fun.  Yogi is almost 6 months old now and man do they have fun.  I love it and Elsa LOVES brawling with him. 
 
It is really good for him to get out on his own and experience life all by himself.  It did not take Elsa long to learn a new name; when I told her that Yogi was coming over she lit up and ran to the door to welcome him. 
 

Elsa loves Yogi, he is almost the same size as her now.  


Funny how their tails are often held the same way.


Thinking about a zoom.


Elsa's on her way.


Elsa is more than happy to take it down to the ground.


Elsa is clearly supervising Yogi's approach to Luke.  She is Luke's protector.  Yogi is completely changing his posture on approach.


More fun.


Preparing for the hit.


This is the first day that they have done the boxing thing.  They both seemed to enjoy it.


Ground chomping.


Awaiting an attack.


From Elsa.



Elsa supervising again.



Keeping Yogi away from Luke.



Just having a blast.  I could watch these two or three all day.  
 
 
Leave a comment, love to hear from you. 

Complications

 
A little nervous panting but pretty relaxed for the ex-Cujo Vet dog. 


I had Luke back at the Vets yesterday.  Recently I noticed that his eyes looked like they had sunken.  With his loss of weight I assumed that this was the cause, and I was correct.  Luke's face was getting quite furry and I couldn't see well enough to be sure what was going on.  He'd also been having goopy eyes so I shaved his face nice and close making sure to get the hair right around his eyes.  Luke has amazing eye lashes, although those gorgeous lashes grow so long that they go over his eye, so off they came.  Once I could see his eyes better I was sure that they had sunken.  In the next few days the shaved hair did not seem to help with his goopy eyes so we head to the vet.

I met a new vet which I really, really liked.  He was very kind, caring and gentle with Luke.  As are the vet techs out front; never have I met a nicer bunch of techs.  So the vet took one look at Luke's eyes, checked his chart and agreed that his eyes had sunken.  Luke is suffering from Cachexia which is the loss of muscle and fat due to his cancer.  This has caused the muscle and fat behind his eyes to deteriorate causing his eyes to pull back. 

After talking to the vet he said that Acquired Entropion is common in old dogs.  Entropion can be genetic and is common in many breeds and can seen in dogs from birth.  Acquired Entropion is different. Luke has never been a big and buff guy so his loss is bad.  He has always been light on the muscle scale which has nothing to do with his exercise but how he was built, light.  His loss of muscle and fat behind the eye has caused the skin around his eye to pull inward which is very irritating.  His bottom eyelashes are pushing directly onto his eye. 

Canine cancer link

So what do we do about it?  First we are trying lubricating drops.  It seems to have already helped; Luke looked much better by bedtime last night.  At this point I can try to keep weight on Luke by feeding him the great diet that he already eats but the loss will continue.  The only other option for his eyes are staples which are placed about 1/2 inch below the eye itself and pull the skin down to keep it off of his eyeball.  We'll see if we need that.  The Vet joked that it would be just like a piercing that humans get.  Luke already has a tattoo so it might be a good look.  :)  Just kidding.

Luke in general

So we now have an eye issue.  Luke is having more tired days but he is still very happy.  I'd have to say that this eye thing has been bothering him so once we get that fixed up we should be good again.  He has good days and bad, I hope today is a good one. His spirits are great and he loved the fresh batch of cookies I made for him yesterday, he chowed down. 

You can do it! Yes, you can.



"He just will not get in the car," she told me as we head out to the car.  "Oh yes he will" I declared, and yes he did.  "They don't like to wait," the woman told me when we were starting our door bolting work.  "Too bad!"

When we don't like a behavior that our dog exhibits, we can change it.  It may just need a little tweaking or the behavior may need an overhaul.  Can you do it?  Yep.  Many guardians feel powerless with regards to canine behavior.  They don't feel like they can change anything; especially the behaviors that are rooted with a high drive. 

Changing a behavior takes time, determination, commitment and desire from us. We must have the desire to change.  If we just shrug our shoulders and say we can't; well then most definitely we cannot.  You need to have a can do mind set to change something.  Do you hate that your dog dives all over your guests?  Do something about it.  Do you hate that you have to hoist your dog into the back of your car?  Do something about it.  Do you hate that your dog tries to attack every moving thing that passes you on a walk?  Do something about it. 

I have been working on wrapping up my newest book 'And Back Again.'  There are many issues that arise with my dogs and other dogs that I discuss in the book.  Many of the behavior issues with other dogs are shoulder shrug things.  Behaviors that owners claim are "yep, that what he does."  Creating a helplessness about the owner and a huge lack of control.  Control does not have to mean a collar, leash and tight rein.  Control can mean that you acknowledge a behavior that you want to change and changed it.  You are in control of the behavior. 

Whether you want to stop a behavior, start a behavior or just intervene a little, DO IT.  Need help?  Ask for it.  Call in a positive trainer, read a book or get some online help.  A good trainer will sit and listen or watch then come up with a plan for you to implement.  A good trainer will give you the tools to get the job done. 

You can do it! Yes, you can. 



Food vs. nutrition

 
Luke and Elsa had Mackerel last night, a first. 
 
 
You've gone to the store and bought a big bag of dog food.  You went for the really big bag because it just made economical sense.  20 lbs of dog food for only 13.00, pretty good deal right?  Or is it?  Do you know what you are feeding your dog?  Do you care?  Many people don't really care what they feed their dogs.  Let's be honest.  Canine nutrition is not something that man people concern themselves with.  To them food is food and dogs are meant to eat dog food, end of story.

But that is not the end of the story.  What you eat makes a huge difference in how you feel.  The more nutrient dense a food is the more your body and our dog's bodies can pull from it.  Sure a dog can survive on poor quality dog food just like we can survive on a diet of donuts, hot dogs and mac'n cheese.  Will we feel great?  Probably not, nor will our dogs.

A dog's diet should be based around high quality animal protein.  That said, many dog foods have very little if any high quality animal protein in them.  Instead they are based on fillers; unusable stuff that simply fills the need of eating not utilizing nutrition. 

I have often seen people who have one or two tiny dogs that feed very poor quality food.  This always shocks me because they eat such small amounts that feeding really high quality food will not cost a lot.  Now if you have 5 Great Dane sized dogs; I can see the desire to go cheap, cut corners and stick to a budget.  But no matter what size your dog is; nutrition should always be considered.  Why should we not feed the best that we can afford?  Why do some people shake their head about good nutrition for our dogs?  They deserve good nutrition as much as we do.

There are so many dog food manufacturers out there now.   Many great new ones are popping up with different ways to feed our dogs.  There are also lots of websites where you can read about the quality ratings of each food and go from there.  I say "stay out of the big box stores when buying dog food."  The lower the quality the more chance they will be sold in the big box stores.  Hit the Mom and Pop shops, somewhere they are concerned with quality and your dog.  Online is a great place to buy dog food now.  Especially because many people cannot find a place close by them to purchase the good stuff. 

Don't stop your search at dry bagged dog food.  Canned food is a great option.  There too of course you need to weed through the bad to get to the good.  Great canned food is easy and often something more palatable for our dogs.  Forget the idea that dry dog food is good for their teeth when steering away from canned food; that is another myth put out their by the dry dog food manufacturers. 

The better the food, the less the quantity needed to fuel our dogs.  I am always surprised what a small amount of food is needed to keep a dog in peak shape.  If you feed real quality food, it is very little.  Nutrition is very important and it all started way before someone came up with the idea of dry food kibbles to feed our dogs.  Think about that. 

Perception


Enjoying his walk before it's buggy time.  
Yesterday we had a wonderful walk in our unseasonably cool temperatures.  We took both Luke and Elsa and the buggy.  Luke did really great, he probably walked 3/4 around the park before I decided that he'd had enough and got him into his buggy.  The sign I watch for is when his back legs start giving out or he slows to almost a stop.  That is when it's time for him to get into his buggy and ride.  As we rounded the parking area several people were watching us.  I could see the questions on their face as we got closer.  "Is your dog okay, or does he just like to ride?" One guy asked. 

I'm use to the questioning looks and being asked so I gave my customary response.  "He's old and can only walk a little way, then he rides" I told them while still walking.  It is so funny how people's perception changes in an instant.  It goes from "what the heck?" to "awwwwwwww."  We do have a tendency to jump pretty quick to an opinion of things, don't we?

 About a week ago a nice couple passed by and stated "well, that's the lazy man's way to go."  I jumped on this one right away; although I don't care what people think, I'm always up to educate the uneducated.  :)  Anyhoo I said "NO... he's old and can't walk far."  Immediately their perception changed from one of a spoiled rotten, very lazy dog to an old man being cared for.  

 I'm very used to people having the wrong perception of my dogs; heck I have poodles, you know those fluffy dogs that are just all beauty?  Hahhahahahahaha, got ya didn't I?  Well, many people think of poodles that way and again, I really don't care.  It keeps poodles down in numbers and that is just fine with me. 

 Perception is a funny thing; we humans tend to jump to our preconceived ideas very quickly.  We like to forgo the benefit of the doubt and assume, we are all guilty of assumption.  If I can share and change one persons mind about caring for an old dog; I am more than happy to share Luke's buggy with them.  So far people have loved seeing Luke in his buggy; when they know that he is old and can't walk far, they seem to melt and soften.  

 I am always up for questions as most of you know.  Ask and I will usually answer.  As far as Luke goes in his buggy, ask away.  ;)  

It's been a great one

 
We'll be bringing in the New Year nice and quiet. 


It's been a great year; I surely can't complain after a few not so great ones.  Looking back there have been many canine moments shared here on my blog; both good and bad.   There have also been events over the year that have not been shared on my blog, good and bad.  All in all it has been a very good year and one that I will look back at with fond memories. 

We started the year at the beach.  

We discovered smelt, one of Luke's favorites.

I began my online consult service.

Our oldest daughter got married  :)  Their dog Snoop was the ring bearer.

Elsa was attacked and we are still dealing with the fallout of that.  

We had lots of great new humans to meet.  

Lots of play dates

Had many health tests done on Luke

Took lots and lots of photos

Luke got his wheels

Elsa turned 3 and Luke turned 14  :)

We talked about weight, exercise, mud slinging, stupid people, extension leashes, leash aggression, training, behavior and a whole whack more.

Enjoyed some meals out

We talked dogs, dogs, dogs and more dogs.

I finally published my training book.

My second novel, a continuation of the story PBJ and me will be coming out in January.  The book took most of my time this year.  I look forward to the release. 

Most recently our younger daughter (Penny's Mom) just got engaged which we are thrilled about and look forward to a wedding next year. 

It's been a good year and I want to wish you and your families a wonderful and healthy New Year.  See you then.  ;)

LEAVE ME A COMMENT, LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. 


Force feeding



Force feeding brings to mind a not so great act.  I have had to resort to force feeding several times over the years of living with dogs; it was done because it had to be done.  Force feeding is feeding when a dog is not willingly eating themselves.  But when should we or should we not force the issue of eating?  Illness or injury can cause a dog to not eat; they can actually go for sometime without eating but at some point they must eat.

Several times throughout Tilley's life I had to force the issue of eating.  When she was struck with Vestibular disease she would not eat for days.  I watered down and strained baby food; then syringed it into her.  Without this nutrition she may have become weak; perhaps so weak that she would not have been able to recover.  She had a bad time when she was spayed; I had to force feed her for two days until she felt well enough to eat on her own.  Another time when she became paralyzed in her front end and could not eat, out came the syringe and I got nutrition into her. 

Sometimes a little food can be all that is needed.  Over the holidays Luke was not eating well.  On the 23rd I had to go out for the day and we had a sitter coming over to stay.  Typically if Luke does not eat breakfast I will snack him all day long.  But with the sitter coming I couldn't rely on that.  Much like administering a pill I simply opened his mouth and placed a very small piece at the back of his throat.  Closing his mouth, I wrapped my hand around his muzzle so he couldn't spit it out.   I did this several times and it was enough to spark his appetite.  It is the first time that I have done this; but I knew that if I just got a bit into him that he would eat and it worked like a charm.  But you have to know your dog.

You have to know your dog and you have to know why they are not eating.  Not eating is a huge sign; sometimes not eating is the best decision.  If a dog just doesn't want to eat one meal; it could be because they have an upset stomach and not eating is a good decision as it will typically come back out again.  I listen to my dogs, if a good eater just doesn't want to eat, I don't force the issue.  Knowing when and when not to force the issue is important.  

Many dogs stop eating at the end of their life.  This is a very tough spot to be in; knowing if you should force feed or not is tough.  Are you helping them to get over a hump of illness?  When Jessie stopped eating it was huge; I did not force.  I coaxed but did not force; there was no eating or drinking and sadly it was the end for her.  Eating was her life, the only other time she had stopped eating was when she was struck with autoimmune disease.  I did force feed her then and I know if I hadn't we surely would have lost her. 

Force feeding can mean syringe feeding or simply a little piece in the mouth like a pill.  But it must be done very carefully and slowly so that no food goes into their lungs.  Not eating is a huge sign and should never go unnoticed or taken lightly.  Knowing when to force the issue is all about what the not eating means.  Dogs can stop eating when stressed, feel sick or are unable to eat physically. 

Force feeding simply means feeding when your dog is not eating on their own.  It can be the help they need to get over a hump. 

First half enjoyed





 I hope that you all had a wonderful first half of the Holiday Season.  We had a very nice few days off.  For a couple of days over the holidays we had 5 dogs in the house.  Penny was and still is here; Luna and Elsa #2 were here as well.  Luna is my daughters dog and she was taking care of another Elsa for a friend so she was here as well; yep were a full house. With a little juggling all went pretty smooth.  But I have to say that the whole 2 Elsa's was a challenge.  Two dogs with the same name is just confusing for everyone.




Elsa and Elsa

 I feel extremely lucky to have had Luke with us this Christmas although the actual day was not a good one for Luke.  He was very tired and slept through most of it.  He did get a bit of energy by late afternoon and opened his gift and enjoyed squeaking it for a good long while before feasting on a turkey dinner with the rest of us.   The few days after Christmas were the same with Luke sleeping most of the day and him being very tired.  But Saturday and Sunday he had more energy and was more like himself.






We took Luke and Elsa out for a glorious walk on Saturday with the temperatures in the mid 60s and a crispness in the air, it was wonderful.  Penny and Elsa played for hours in the afternoon and then it was dinner time.  They all had a wonderful but final turkey supper which finished up the leftovers that they have enjoyed.  Then it was movie time; we watched the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.  Penny entertained us for a longtime watching the movie herself.  It only took her a few moments to notice the apes and action; she sat mesmerized until she got scared and started barking ferociously.  She watched on and off for most of the movie depending on what was happening.  She is a very funny girl; she sits directly in front of the television following all the characters as they move around. 
 













Yesterday Luke spent much of the day following me everywhere which was very nice to see again.  He had much more energy than the previous few days.  We spent time outside on his favorite lounge while Elsa retrieved and Penny chased Elsa chasing her ball.  After dinner it was movie time again; with Penny curled up on my right side, Luke on my left and Elsa snuggled up beside Penny we enjoyed the movie; that is up until about 15 minutes till the end when Mr. Luke decided it was bedtime.  He got off the couch, went outside and then came back in.  Positioning himself on the opposite side of the coffee table from us; he stared at me, shifting in place.  I told him several times that it was not time but he was determined and let out a huge and very deep bark.  It startled all of us and he continued to bark at me until the end of the movie and I finally got up and we head to bed.  What a crazy guy he is; when he saw me get up he ran to the dog door with excitement.  When it's bedtime, it's bedtime. 

Leave a comment I'd love to hear what you did over the holidays.  

A dog's wish list



                            Give your dog you for Christmas. 

What do our dogs want for Christmas?  Do you put out a stocking for your dog?  Is there wrapped gifts sitting under the tree until the big day for your dog?   There are at my house, both Luke and Elsa will unwrap gifts along with Penny and Luna.  But what if there was a way to ask our dogs what they'd like for Christmas?  What would they want?  Being that each dog is an individual; I'm sure that you would get a plethora of replies.  But I think the most wanted thing for Christmas would be our time. 

My husband and I spent the day cooking and baking yesterday; Luke and Elsa moved around different locations to be with us.  They went from the lounge just outside of the kitchen door; to standing staring at us, lying on the carpet runners, then lying on the bed in the kitchen so they could be with us.  No matter where you go, your dog would love to go as well.  Do you give your dog enough of your time?  I think time is one of the greatest gifts you can give to both dogs and humans. 

Time is an amazing gift because it can come in so many forms.  It does not have to be a monumental show or action; it can be a quiet moment spent together enjoying time itself.  One of my favorite things to do with my dogs is sit; the time spent together just enjoying a moment.  Of course I also love going for walks, training, playing and everything else having to do with spending time with them. 

Time is a wonderful gift when given with just our dog in mind.  Planning a play date, hitting the park for some much loved running and/or retrieving, going to the beach strictly so that they can get their toes in the sand or simply doing what they want to do.  Dogs don't need much; their wants are much smaller in proportion than our own.  If we could ask them what they'd like for Christmas, I am sure that many would say time.  In these days of little time; time itself can be the most wonderful thing to give our dogs. 

A sad reality for many seniors




Old dogs have so much to give.


Senior after senior comes across my Facebook page every morning.  Old dogs dumped simply because they are old.  How many stories have I heard about old dogs being dropped off at shelters, rescues or being rehomed.  "Too much work," "I don't have time," are some of the reasons people claim.  Having an old dog is a gift.  Do you know how many people lose their dog at a young age and never get the gift of sharing an old dogs life?  A canines golden years are truly golden. 

Each dog is different but almost all deal with something as they get into their most senior years.  We've dealt with spine issues, vestibular, dementia, tumors, poor eye sight, loss of hearing and more.  I remember when both Tilley 14 and Jessie 15 were both incontinent.  Every bed in my house was covered with an absorbent pad and then a fleece blanket.  There was more laundry to do than years before but then I had little kids then which meant more laundry as well. 

I for one am so saddened by all the old dogs who lose their home in their golden years.  Old dogs have a tough time being adopted; everyone wants a puppy or young dog.  Thinking that old dogs are too much work and dumping them off for someone else to deal with, boggles the mind.  After a life of love given to us by our dog, we dump them?  Our day to day is full of changes, growing old is one of them.  We are all going the same way; our dogs just get there sooner than we do. 

Many things can happen to an old dog; but often their needs are simple.  Good food, a soft and warm place to lay and a gentle loving hand.  How hard is that?  Life slows down for an old dog; it is a time for us to learn to stop and smell the roses.  I remember trying to adjust to Tilley's slower than slow snail pace when walking after she recovered from Vestibular disease.  It was a conscious effort but when I got it, it was wonderful.  We would snail around the park, just enjoying being there.  I remember thinking how lucky I was to be able to snail pace around with her. 

Taking care of our old dogs is what should be done.  Doing what is right sure teaches us about what is important.  Being given up when you most need your family is horrific and I cannot believe that humans can be so cold and uncaring. 

Having an old dog is a time to cherish.  Take time to enjoy the quiet times, see through old cloudy eyes, lend a helping hand when needed and just be, together.  There should be no expectations; it is a time to just be in the moment.  If you are one of the lucky ones; you will be gifted several years of life with a senior.  There may be more cleaning, lifting, balancing and general care needed but what a gift.  Caring for an old dog is work yes, but we took that on when we let that little wriggling puppy into our heart. 

Leave a comment, I love to hear from you.  

Teaching the ropes



I finished what I wanted of my morning oatmeal/quinoa and almond butter and placed the bowl with the remainder on the floor for Elsa.  This is different than the typical in bed bowl cleaning that she does so she looked up at me first.  "Can I eat this?" her eyes asked.  "What a good girl she is" I thought to myself and gave her the "okay, you can eat it."   This is how it should be.  Yes, Elsa is very polite; she has had a great deal of training and education in the manner department.  No she is not perfect, but she is very good, usually. 

"Leave it," is one way to start the manner education.  That said the manner rule must go beyond "leave it."  Dogs should learn that not everything that is dropped on the floor is fair game; even when they aren't told to "leave it."  This is done by consistent education and a solid rule that is clearly understood by your dog; that all the food belongs to you.  This of course does not mean that Elsa or any other dog will not sit and drool by your side as you eat.  They will eyeball the food and long for it; but longing and taking are two very different behaviors.  

 Some dogs will steal food when you turn your back; leave the room, or are not paying attention.  This does not mean that they do not understand that the food belongs to you.  They have simply learned when it is safe to take it without consequence.  This is why you must teach your dog that even when you are not watching, you are watching and the food is still not to be touched.  Dogs are all different so what may be easy for one may seem almost impossible for another.  

 There will always be a moment when food or something has been left for so long that any dog will figure that it has been left and forgotten.  Dogs can teach each other not to touch their stuff; why should we not have the same if not more power?  We should, and if you are not the ruler of the food, who is?  I love when dogs have manners and I love being able to sit on the floor with a bowl full of food without being accosted.  I expect my dogs to sit politely and wait their turn without taking any food from the main food source.   Each dog that spends time in my house must learn this.  

 Manner training is something that is constant; different from behavior training that you ask for and is given by your dog.  Manners are learning what is and is not acceptable.  No it is not acceptable to jump up and snatch the food from my hand.  It is acceptable to go sit and your bed and hope that I will toss you a piece.  That decision is entirely up to me of course, the boss; the owner of the food.  It is not mean or cruel to be the ruler of the food; we surely do not want our dogs to be the ruler of the food.  Guess how that would turn out?  Not so good for us.  

Travel - three years ago today.


I have been doing a great deal of remembering lately.  As I finish up my second novel And Back Again I have been going over many incidents from my life three years ago.  That time is often on my mind but because I have been writing about it; of course it is in the forefront these days.  This morning I wondered what my blog was three years ago today; this is it.  I decided to repost it as my book will be coming out very soon. 

______________________________________________

As you all know my son and I just finished a road trip across America.  We left sunny Southern California and drove to South Connecticut.  We stayed at 5 hotels that allowed us with our dogs so I have a good feel for where to stay and what to ask for now.  When we began our trip we had four dogs, not an easy number to tell the reservation people.  We didn't want to pay an exorbitant fee for having our dogs but understand that there would more than likely be some fee.

We discovered that almost all La Quintas allow dogs of any size and any number with no extra fee.  We stayed in 3 La Quintas.  One was nice, one a bit run down and dirty but with great outdoor grounds and the last very nice.  We actually stopped at a fourth; brought our bags and "dog stuff" up to the room only to turn around and leave.  The girl was nice at the desk and understood.  The whole hotel stunk of cigarettes and cheese (says my son).  It was run down and divey, not somewhere I wanted to stay.

Cost per night for the La Quintas was 70.00-90.00 with no extra dog fee.

We took a quick trip up the road and stayed at a Drury; my favorite hotel on our stay, easily.  When we got to the Drury Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee I was pleasantly surprised.  They also gave us the most convenient room and had lots of "grassy" area for the pooches.  We had complimentary snacks and wine on our arrival which was more than welcome after 4 solid days of driving.  Their breakfast was great and they were very friendly.  The hotel was clean and very accommodating.  Even though when we were originally looking for a hotel to stay in at all of our stops we were told that the Drury had a 2 dog limit they allowed us in with our 3.  Sadly we didn't stay at other Drury Hotels because we thought they had a 2 dog limit.

Cost per night was 119.00 with no extra fee for dogs.

Our last night away we stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn; there was nothing else that would accept dogs in the area that night.  It was a really nice hotel but although they allowed our dogs they did not seem "dog friendly."  We were told not to bring the dogs through the lobby and were given an end room on the third floor.  I asked for something close to the elevator because of Tilley and hauling all of our stuff but we were told that they were completely booked and that this was the last room.  Neither I nor my son bought the "full" line as the parking lot was nearly empty all the way around the hotel.

Cost per night 169.00 plus 100.00 dog fee.

The girls at the front desk were very friendly and the hotel was beautiful.  It was a king suite with a full kitchen, a great place if you are staying a while.  We were also told that they had a very strict barking rule as there were so many "business" people staying at the hotel.  They charge a flat 100.00 dollar fee to stay with your dogs which is non refundable.  Nice hotel but didn't receive a warm and fuzzy about the dogs which were down to three at that point.

When you stay at a hotel with your dog think about location, both in regards to the room and the hotel.  If your dog is not accustom to staying in hotels then you will not want to leave them unattended in the room for more than a very short time period.  Luckily there were two of us so when we arrived and got settled Brad went and got our dinner for the night.

Location of room was very important for us, we had a 5 month old puppy and Tilley who has a tough time going a long distance.  Plus she is so slow that it can literally seem to take forever getting anywhere.

All in all it was a great experience.  Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat for my dogs.

 Leave me a comment, I love to hear from you!!!

A needle? Yikes



A week ago Sunday I gave my very first needle.  Never in all of my years of raising dogs and children have I ever had to administer a needle myself.  I know that many people do it daily; both for other humans and dogs, but not me.  When the Veterinarian recently said to me "you will give it to him," about Luke's weekly B12 shot, I wondered how difficult it was going to be for me.  As a caregiver, the idea of sticking a needle into skin made me shudder.  I care for, tend to, fix, mend, medicate, lift, support and anything else that requires care for my dogs.  Being a VERY hands on caregiver, I knew it was my job to do it but my head had other ideas. 

I've just never been required to do it.  I am the type of dog guardian who prefers to do anything that can be done by me myself. But needles?  This needle only needed to go under the skin so I didn't have to be worried about the air bubble in the needle; which I was worried about before hearing that I did not have to worry about it.  It was mostly that moment when you push the needle through the skin that was bothering me.  My husband said "I'll do it, I don't care at all."  That would definitely have been the easiest route to take but it was not in my plan to take the easy way out.  I was doing it.

 I had a knot in my stomach, strange I know.  Many, many people do it all the time; both in humans and dogs. I prepared the needle like the vet tech had shown me.  I didn't want a huge air bubble but a speck of air in there was okay because it was just going under the skin.  I was of course all thumbs the first time; trying my hardest not to stick myself in the process.  Fill the syringe, take off the first needle and then replace it with a new one.  I liked that idea when the vet tech had told me.  She said that once a needle had gone through anything that she considered it dull and would not stick it into a dog.  Sounded like good advice to me.  

 Old needle off, new one on and air pushed out.  Time to stick it into Luke.  I was nervous for sure; but I had to do it knowing full well I may have to do it again at some point in my life, right?  I grabbed Luke's scruff and prepared it for a stick.  He flinched a bit but was far less bothered by the process than I was.  He did look at me with those "why did you hurt" eyes.  But he was over it within seconds and back to sleep.  

 I just now finished giving him his second shot and it was much easier for me.  It has to be done so I will do it.  He didn't even flinch this time and nerves did not cause me to feel rushed to get it done.  He will be getting a shot for six weeks and we'll see if it makes a difference in his general energy level.  We will discuss further shots then.  I for one am very happy that I had to do it and now feel like I could actually stick someone with a needle if I was required to do so.  

Perfect? None of us.



Have you made a mistake or two in your life?  If you are a normal human, you probably have made more than a few.  I know I have.  Looking back at my life and some of the mistakes I've made causes me to shake my head in amazement.  What was I thinking?   Would I make those same mistakes again?  Heck no, I'll make new ones.  :)  Mistakes are lessons, but that does not mean that everyone will learn from their mistakes or own them.  Plus, there are those who don't see their mistakes as mistakes, so those folks will never learn.

Our dogs make mistakes regularly, just like us.  They are given reactions to their actions and like us; some will learn, others will not.  Dogs use feedback to learn; it is all about association.  Jump up onto the counter and grab some turkey while no one is watching, score.  Lesson learned.  Do it and receive an serious HEYYYY!!!!! and learn what the mistake was.  But then you must go further in the education of counters and seem to be absent; hiding around a corner and then deliver feedback when your dog thinks that the coast is clear.  Dogs learn much more easily than we do and they don't point fingers.

I blog, post and write; I share my opinion on many things canine and more.  This of course opens up the chance for people to dive on me, point fingers and pull out their soap boxes to declare me wrong.  That is fine, I have my opinion and you all have yours.  What bothers me is when people go on the attack.  They read or see something they don't like or don't agree with and go off the deep end about it.  I have learned to let those folks rant, arm flail, name call and throw a fit all on their own.  I will only reply to these sort if they personally attack me, my friends or family.  (That includes my wonderful FB groups)  Typically these folks show their true colors all on their own and people others will sidestep around them from that point on. 

I know when I am contacted by someone who is "one of these" I will end it short or cut off contact immediately. Know it all folks are always behind attacks on others.  So there is no point in trying to discuss anything with a no it all; because they already know everything and cannot learn one minute new piece of information.  Everyone makes mistakes; what you do with that mistake is the important part. 

Dogs make mistakes like us, but they forgive both other dogs and us for making them and move on.  Why do some people like to focus on other's mistakes?  They grab them and make a run for it without considering that everyone makes mistakes throughout their life?  All they know is that they are going to right the world. 

Mistakes are lessons, that is if you learn from them.  We all make them and if you think that you don't, that my friend is a mistake. 

Life is an evolution of oneself, through life lessons and yes, mistakes. 

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Little furry humans?


In the raw and gorgeous


Nope, our dogs are not little furry humans but many people sure treat them as such.  Dressing them up and creating the idea that their dog actually talks seems to be all the rage.  There are advertisements and movies that feature talking dogs.  I am not a fan of talking dogs or having dogs dressed up.  It is my opinion that dogs are amazing as dogs and I do not feel that they need to be transformed or thought of like us to be any more wonderful than they already are.  I want to know more about dogs as dogs; their behavior and everything about them fascinates me.

Social media seems to have transformed many canines into little talking furry humans.  So why is it that we feel we need to give our dogs a human voice?  Dogs can talk, but it is not like we humans do; the have their own language and it is quite fascinating if you take the time to learn about it.  They can communicate far better than we can in many circumstances and have the ability to tell it like it is.  They most definitely do not need us putting words in their mouth.

What about fashion?  Those who dress their dogs as little furry humans.  Nope, dogs don't need a wardrobe.  Although I do believe that they need clothing when they are cold or to protect them from the elements.  Luke has a pair of pajamas that he wears when the tempts drop down low overnight.  Yes, it is our job to make sure that they are warm and comfortable; but dressed when they go out for the sake of fashion?  No. 

Humans seem to enjoy creating a human like image on many different animals, not only dogs.  I don't get the need to dress dogs like humans.  I adore dogs as dogs and don't think they need to resemble us at all to make them any more appealing.  Many of the smallest of breeds and mixes are the ones who get dressed most often.  Is this because we see them as adorable tiny little things made even cuter by dressing them up? 

BBC article - Why humans dress up their dogs.

I feel the same when it comes to photography; I like dogs in the raw.  I do not use gimmicks, accessories or props when shooting dogs.  They are amazing in their own right without anything man made added.  As far as talking?  No, I am not a fan of "talking dogs" for the simple fact that they do not talk as a human.  They talk dog and it is nothing like the way we talk, so let's allow them to be a dog and we can adore them as such.  

Shock collars, yes or no?



                                
                                                   Their lives are in our hands, to protect. 

A shock collar study showed up on my Facebook feed; so I thought I'd share it for those who might be interested in reading it as well.  The test was small and has left many people needing more definitive results.  Shock collars are used for many different things; outdoor perimeter, barking, general training and high level intense training. 

Shock collar test - Is it okay to use a Shock Collar?

In my opinion do we really need tests to know whether or not a shock collar should be used on a dog?   There are those of us who would never resort to strapping an electric shock collar on a dog and those who think nothing of it.  So perhaps a test is needed to scientifically prove that we should not zap our dogs is required. 

Shock collars are commonly used on hunting and police dogs.  The shock comes from a manual switch that is used by the handler.  These dogs are often in a state of high arousal or drive which is why the handler feels the need for a shock collar.  Push a dog to the point of no return and then zap them to bring them down again.  But not everyone uses shock collars for these dogs; there are many amazing dogs who have been trained without them.  In my opinion these dogs who are trained without a shock collar are much more reliable; due to the fact that they listen rather than wait to be shocked.

When we moved to Connecticut we soon discovered that the use of shock collars was the way that people kept their dogs on their property.  Almost no one had an actual physical fence; they relied on the electronic fences.  I was shocked to see how it had become the thing to do and that so many people just complied.  The invisible wire that is underground is where the shock is triggered.  The owner does not need to be present for the shock to happen.   

There were a few people who obviously were not okay with having their dog zapped or relying on a shock to keep their dog safe.  Those people had erected a fence around a backyard which kept their dog inside, lucky dog. The whole 'no fence' thing had me so puzzled.  There was a huge tick problem in CT; so keeping the deer out of your yard would be a good thing.  We had no fence around the rental house that we rented but we did put up a small fenced area so that the dogs could go out without being on leash.  The deer were free to come and go anywhere else on the yard and bring ticks with them.  It made no sense at all.  Sure deer can jump fences but they will walk around one before jumping one. 

The question remains; should a shock collar ever be used?  Perhaps if a dog is to be euthanized; then and only it may be the only way to save a dog.  But quality of life is so very important in dogs; being shocked constantly is in no way, quality of life, it is simply life at that point.  So it would really depend on the severity of the behavior issue and what the collar would be used for.   If the issue is that the dog is dangerous to others, so much so that a shock collar is needed; then we rely on the human to be there 100% of the time to save others from the said dog.  That is another debate altogether. 


The Shocking truth - from APBC

 Hollys Den - Why you should just say no to shock collars.


As far as I am concerned, the use of a shock collar in training is a big NO.  There is no need for tests for me to know what is right and wrong as far as inflicting shocks to our canine companions. 


Five words - who is your dog?



              Five words is tough, but a picture is worth a thousand.  At the park with Elsa yesterday. 

If I asked you to describe your dog to me in just five words, could you?  Only five single words, could you give me a good idea of who your dog is?  I thought about this for a long time myself and considered what words would best describe Luke and Elsa so that you could really get an idea of who they are.  Of course those of you who are on my Facebook groups or instagram, probably already have a idea because you see them constantly.  ;)

Luke - Funny, focused, devoted, emotional and heart.

Dogs change throughout their life, much like we do.  As they age they often mellow.  Five years ago I might have changed a word or two for Luke.  Things that use to be important to him are no longer a concern; he enjoys the simple things in life, like we all should.  When you look through the eyes of an old dog; life becomes quite clear. 

Elsa - Enthusiastic, intense, brainiac, loving, joy

Elsa has been Elsa since the moment we met.  She came out of her crate at the airport ready to take on the world with an exuberance for life that is amazing.  I sat and looked at the five words for a long time; changed a few and stared some more.

It is not always easy to describe something with just a few words.  Sadly I know some people couldn't come up with even one as their dog is simply that, a dog.  But when you have 'that' connection; the kind that we can all achieve with our dog, you can do it.  It might take a bit to think of only five words; it is hard sifting through all the words that could describe your dog.  I could go on forever about both Luke and Elsa; both are very individual and distinct. 

All dogs are individual, how many times have I said this over the years in my blogs?  As a whole dogs are simple yet complicated.  Once you know how dog's think, it becomes simple to figure them out.  Although the deeper you get with your dog the more complications you find.  Complications come with their individuality; they are all extremely interesting creatures.

Tell me who your dog is, only five words. 

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Stress effects


                                                      Even fun can be stressful if there is too much. 

Stress is a huge part of day to day life.  Humans deal with stress in their own individual way as do our dogs.  All dogs are different so what one dog considers to be a stressful event, another will not.  Even when they are put into a stressful situation; they will all deal and suffer different levels stress itself.  Stress is not a good thing.  A dog's body can deal with small amounts of stress and move on past it but if there is too much stress for too long, it can be detrimental. 

Psychology today - The effect of training methods on stress levels in dogs.

There are many causes of stress in life.  Training can offer a stress response; I have witnessed dogs repeatedly squat in attempts of appeasing a human.  The dog who is trying to continual submit is in a highly stressed state.  This triggers a huge stress response in the body.  Going to the dog park can be a very stressful event; too many dogs or too much interaction.  Many dogs do not like dog park situation even though their owners drag them to the dog park every day.  They may seem okay with the whole thing until someone in the know observes them. 

Too much highly intense activity can trigger stress.  A dog that is continually "on" will suffer stress.  Some dogs are stressed by simple day to day activities; many rescues fall into this category.  They may have lead a sheltered life; received very little early socialization so dealing with the day to day is stressful without any huge stress triggers. 

A Veterinarian visit can cause a huge amount of stress.  So what can we do to help our dogs?  Get into your zen zone and stay with your dog for as long as you can.  Stay calm, the calmer you are the more your dog can stay calm themselves.  All Veterinarian facilities are different, find one that will offer what you feels comfortable with; one that focuses on your dogs needs. 

Whole Dog Journal - Easing your dog's stress

Stress can be created by a new environment, too much anticipation, over exercise, over stimulus, fear and many other different things.  It all depends on the dog; that is what we need to clearly understand, no two are alike.  

Down time is huge for dogs.  I remember when we moved to the house in CT for several months a couple of years ago.  The house was filled with floor to ceiling windows where Elsa could see squirrels all day long.  I literally had to put her away for naps throughout the day due to the ability to watch them.  She needed downtime and was unable to get any with the squirrels running about within her vision.  Without the physical removal of her from the prey trigger, she would become wired and out of control.  She was unable to rest which caused her body to stress.  So I had to take her away from it.  Being "on" all the time is very stressful. 

Moderation is important; the "more is better" is not always true.  Often more is too much.  Watch your dog, know your dog, so that you can see the small signs of stress.  Remember downtime is essential; your dog may need a little or a lot of downtime.  We often push our dogs thinking "this will be fun," but is your dog having fun?