The Humane Society Shares Good News!

The news media isn’t known for being positive and uplifting.  I think of what it would be like to have the news tell only “good” stories or stories that didn’t appear to bring anything good, but ultimately did.   Beyond or within every disaster, we hear amazing stories of strength, hope, and the willingness to help others.

It’s a great feeling, an honor, and our duty to help someone (animal or human) who can’t help themselves.  Thank you Humane Society and all those who contribute for making 2008 so memorable!  Here’s a wonderful video of the lives that were saved and changed forever through the work of the Humane Society.

Humane Society in 2008

Are Dogs Afraid of Rain?

You have a new dog and they are housebroken and using the dog door or going out to potty just as they should. One rainy day you come home to find they chose to go “inside.”

What’s different today? Rain! It doesn’t seem right they would be afraid of rain, does it? They are, after all, dogs. Setting aside that they are dogs and being afraid of rain may not make sense to us, they should be introduced to this phenomenon – some more than others.

Water-type dogs may act like someone just blessed them with water coming from the sky.  Other dogs, like my Pit, Olive, would hug the wall under the eave and find the closest place to go whether it was concrete, grass, rock, brick, etc.

Considering that some people use a spray bottle to deter their dog from barking or doing something it shouldn’t, why would they willingly walk out into the line of fire, i.e., rain!

So. . .when a storm is coming or something that your dog has not yet experienced (extreme wind, cold or hot temperatures) be prepared for a little insecurity or reservation on their part and a little more time and patience on yours.  It will help their confidence if you go out with them and let them see that it is all ok.

Everyone Loves Dogs – Right?

Here’s an article of mine I thought worth sharing on the blog.

“Everyone Loves Dogs!”

Did You Just Hit Your Dog?!

It is considered “old school” to hit your dog.  I think the new thought followed the realization that children could be corrected and taught to respect us and others without inflicting physical pain.  So, what do we do with our dogs when they DO NOT listen?

Most trainers use a form of a physical correction.  We don’t promote hitting for a number of reasons:

• It can make your dog hand-shy, and it will pull away from you when you reach to give positive affection
• It can scare the dog and contribute to submissive urination and/or aggression
• There are other options which are far more positive and effective!

While a correction with some form of a collar or a hand signal or movement is physical, it is not the same as hitting. If done correctly, it is a quick response much like another dog would do.  Your intention and presence at the moment of the correction is more important than the use of a collar.

If your dog doesn’t listen because the only relationship you have is when you are correcting them, you need to work on building a better relationship.  A relationship with your dog is no different than any other – it won’t exist or at least in the way you want, if you don’t give it time and attention.

What to do when the leash is off?  Patience and consistency with leash/collar training prior to expecting the desired response when it is off.  Until your dog is mature and responds to you, you might want to either crate or kennel/confine them when they are not being trained.

There are off-leash options for training, and I will cover those later or feel free to send me a note with your questions.

An Apple for the Teacher?

In most relationships – dog with human, human with human, someone is being a teacher and the other a student.  Even when we don’t realize it or choose not to pay attention.

In a lot of instances, the good teacher would receive a dog biscuit rather than an apple.  Our dogs are teachers.  They are constantly showing us who we are – short tempered, easily amused, unconditionally loving, unaware.  Good or bad, they are a great reflection of our emotion and mood.

On one occasion, the Great Dane was acting very unsettled as she paced back and forth from me to the living room.  My patience was running out!   I would ignore her and tell her to go as I focused on my writing.  This continued until I, the student, realized that she was letting me know there was nothing for her to lie on.  As soon as the bed was supplied, she relaxed and so did I.

The “lessons” may be brief and some uncomfortably long!  Get ready for class – recess is over and a new lesson is soon to start.  Apple or dog biscuit?

Things I Learned From A Dog Named Moby

• Get overly excited when an attentive human approaches
• Jumping on the above human is appreciated and adored
• Bark when you think you may have even remotely thought you heard something
• Jump on the furniture and wait to hear “off!” before relocating
• Don’t share
• I am all that matters

Words of wisdom from Melody (foster Yorkie).   Her coach is her “big” brother a Yorkie-mix, Moby.

If Your Name Is Not Melody – Step Away From the Food!

Oh, the dynamics of dogs and their food.  I think if dogs were allowed and capable of snacking throughout the day on whatever was in the refrigerator or pantry, they would be less overtly protective of the one (or perhaps two) meals they are allotted each day.

Melody, the little foster Yorkie in the home, learned quickly which plate is hers and when the chef (that would be me) announces who is being served and where, she promptly goes to her place.  I have been feeding her more often as she could use a little more weight.

Today, she stood up for herself.  As the declaration was made, “Melody, here’s your food” she hurried to her place as the others watched in angst as they were missing out on a small portion of softened kibble.  Try though they might to take a morsel from her plate, she let them know that if their name IS NOT Melody, step away.

I am in charge of the food and make certain that the dogs know who controls their tasty meals.  Just today I traded a small dry dog cookie for a recently killed squirrel.  The power I have amazes me.  I guess I should say – “if your name is not Melody or Gayle – step away from the food!”

Gratitude is for the Dogs

In the midst of the ideal for the perfect dog, it’s good to stop and be thankful for the dog (animals) in our lives for who they are.  The thankfulness may be short-lived as they track in yet more dirt or find the TV remove tasty, or the new leather sofa extremely comfortable.

It’s difficult not to make a comparison with our human family.  They are probably allowed on the couch and aren’t at risk for eating the remote, but our gratitude may be short-lived as soon as they do something we consider annoying.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  Our thanksgiving should exist every day if even for brief seconds as we find humor or enjoyment in our animal and human families and friendships.   So, catch it quick!  Don’t let the opportunity for gratitude be missed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How Many Dogs Do You Own?

My guess. . .you don’t own any.

Maybe it’s just a “pet” peeve of mine, and something worth mentioning (or not).  I don’t believe we own our dogs any more than we own another person, place, or thing.  If we have pets, we are also given the opportunity and responsibility for taking care of them.  That is different than owning them.

It may sound like semantics, however, there is a subtle yet important difference in basing our expectations for our pets on our right as their owners rather than what we owe them.  As soon as we decide to bring them into our families and homes, we also “adopt” a responsibility for their care.

Dogs live in the realm of subtlties.  Our response to them should be in that same realm.  There’s nothing wrong with referencing dog ownership, as long as we know that we don’t truly own anything – our dogs are no exception.

Spa Day for Dogs?

I finally had to submit to the fact that some dogs need or at best should randomly be groomed.  The problem was I couldn’t see taking my dog for a “spa day” while I was in dire need of a little grooming myself.  I don’t know if dogs all over the world are groomed on a regular basis or if I live in an area where it’s more a necessity because of the types of dogs most people have.

I was so hoping to get by without making this sort of a commitment.  Prior to their “spa day,” I wasn’t sure who needed something to relax them more – the dogs or me!  My little guy had never been near a groomer and scissors are his nemisis.  Now, that I am fostering a little yorkie, it was becoming less and less of an option on whether I’d become one of the many who take better care of their dogs than they do of themselves.

The dogs do look and smell great, but I think some of their free-spirited personality was removed along with their free-spirited hair.  Their hair is as much a part of how I saw them as my hair is for me.  Who knew?!?  I guess I’ll have some time as their hair grows to see if their spunk grows back with their hair.  Maybe mine will too!