Pionus Parrot Tells Yorkie How It Is!

A Ticklish Dog?

I took Melody to the vet (he is wonderful!) and I told him how she is better but because of her past, still pulls away from being touched. She had a heart murmur and was being checked for that condition. As he was palpating (touching) her, she flinched and made a purr-type sound. He said, she is ticklish. I love that!

I have to admit, I had never heard anyone put it that way. She is ticklish! As a dog used for breeding in a puppy mill, she most likely didn’t receive any affection as a puppy or as an adult for that matter. She has grown to love being touched and being held. AND, she is ticklish!

If there is a medical term for this, I prefer to let it go with calling her ticklish. Her nervous motion along with the sweet “giggle” she makes, brings a smile to everyone around her.

Is your dog ticklish?

Snoring Dogs

I conducted a sleep study on dogs, and the outcome was amazing!  One of the dogs has sleep apnea - I’m sure of it!   Knowing several humans with this condition,  this is not to make light of it. During the study, his snoring and intermittent gasps were so loud I was torn between laughing at the sound emitting from this little guy and telling another dog to dial 911.

I am going to contact a veterinarian to see if there is a very petite C-PAP mask available.  I will let you know what I find out.  I am assuming he is not the only dog with a snore and restless sleep patterns.

Another interesting finding is that a snoring dog may be referred to as cute or funny, while a human making the same sounds was found to be annoying.  Isn’t that fascinating?

The video below is of Schlappie, a Great Dane, that found my company less than stimulating!

How To Make A Dog’s Bed

I am taking the liberty of writing on behalf of my dogs. On a daily basis, I observe how to make a dog’s bed. Follow these simple instructions:

1. Stand in the middle of the dog’s bed (sofa, pillow, blanket, etc).
2. Using your hands, dig at the fabric of the bed as described in steps 3 and 4.
3. Make two complete circles in a clockwise motion.
4. Abruptly turn and repeat the maneuver in a counter-clockwise motion.
5. Lay down.
6. Get back up and repeat steps 2 - 5.
7. Act slightly annoyed that for all of your effort, the bed has not appeared to change it’s shape.
8. Repeat steps 2 - 5.
9. Curl up, sigh, and feel satisfied that you have now learned how to make a dog’s bed.

Dogs Being Silly

Are your dogs ever silly?  I don’t know what the term would be in dog world, but in human language, it is best described as silly!

I have written previously about Melody, a tiny Yorkie with a horrible past.  If she never exuded a moment of happiness or silliness, it would be understandable.  She, however, is beyond animated when she sees me approach or is ready for a meal.

She crab crawls, wiggles, spins, rolls and turns in excitement.  She reminds me that regardless of how someone appears or what their past experiences have been, inside there may be a little silly waiting to express itself.

We expect puppies to be silly and on some days look forward to when they grow up.  Melody, on the other hand, is far from being puppy age and is getting her silly on later in life.  She shows us that it’s ok.  I think I’ll join her.

Dogs and A New Year

I tried and tried to get the dogs to stay awake to help celebrate the coming of the New Year 2010.  As their heads bobbed and soft snoring could be heard around the room, I decided to join them.  This year, I would celebrate like dogs do.

They go to bed every night and wake up every morning without a care.  They sleep when it’s night (and day) and don’t complain when they wake up - whether it’s in the middle of the night or at the dawn of a day.  They don’t get anxious or worry that they didn’t do enough last year or what they will do in the coming year.

While it is not exactly how I see my life going this year, it’s a great way to start every day.  Every day is a new day and every new day makes a new year.  I looked at the dogs and said, “Thanks for that awareness.”  They replied, “What the heck are you talking about…where’s our breakfast?”  Enough said.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dogs Expressing Emotion

It is fascinating to read the studies on the analysis of dogs and their expression of emotion.  We, of course, refer to emotion in the sense that we experience it.  Dogs; however, live in the moment so their emotion may be more raw than ours.  I don’t think they are capable of deceiving us by expressing an emotion they aren’t really feeling at the moment.   They don’t pretend as well as we do!

There are fun photographs of dogs smiling.  And they do!  Some more than others, but it still qualifies as a smile.  I also have seen more than my share of grumpy-doggy face.  The “it’s you again” look on some dogs when I (the trainer) show up for another training session can be very comical - for us humans more so than the dog.

With the cooler temperatures, the dogs seem quite content to cuddle on their beds a little longer than normal.  And, some days, I think they get up on the wrong side of their cedar-chipped, double-organic-fiber-stuffed, memory foam dog beds!  Perhaps they have bad dreams and restless nights too; so, I will cut them some slack.

Regardless, I think it’s fun to notice that much like a little child, a dog’s expression of “emotion” shifts in a nano-second.  In a flash, they go from grump-dog to tail-waggin’-ready-for-a-walk dog.  I wish it were that easy for us two-leggers!  Once again, we learn from our dogs how blessed it is to live in the moment.

Thank Dog It’s Friday!

Friday at last!  After another week of being the watchful eye and keeping the household safe, Moby can relax. . .

Cesar Millan Trains Goldendoodle

Lola, a beautiful Goldendoodle belonging to a friend of mine living in Arizona, has been trained by Cesar Millan!  While I would like to receive a little credit for her obedient behavior, I have to admit the credit goes to Cesar, the Dog Whisperer (as if I needed to add his title).

The amazing aspect of her training is that she never met Cesar!  I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.  The photos below tell the story and show that she is smarter than your average Goldendoodle!  Here is she is being “personally” trained by Cesar Millan.

I like to carry my leash but this dog looks like he is trying to play tug-of-war with Cesar.  Even I know that’s not a good idea!

Forget that loser dog, Cesar - look at me!  I’m Lola!  I luff you!

You say it, Cesar, and I’ll do it!  I’m a good girl!

Sicker Than A Dog?

As my dog ran inside eating something not intended for dog consumption, I said, “drop it!  You’ll be sicker than a…..a…..a dog?”  I quickly changed it to sicker than a human.  Generally speaking, I believe dogs are much healthier than their humans.  Considering the amazing food they have for dogs and that the requirements for food-quality are higher than on human food, dogs aren’t what I think of when someone is sick.

A dog can’t be a hypochondriac or feign a soar throat to get out of obedience class.  They may drink their water too fast, but they don’t typically over-indulge and regret it the next day.   We may quickly use antibacterial wipes after petting a dog, but I would imagine that the medicines in the cabinet are not for the dog.

Next time someone tells you they are sicker than a dog, I wouldn’t worry too much.