I have witnessed the aging process of many dogs. I personally had a Pitbull that was puppy for so many years that when asked how old she was, I would say, “five.” However, I had her since she was about two, and at least five years had passed. “Oh,” I corrected myself, “she’s seven or eight!” I believe that is because most of us want to deny our dogs are seniors even before they hit their early teens.
From the age of twelve to thirteen, it was evident there is truth to the concept that dogs age approximately seven years to our one. To me, it appeared she literally aged in a few months. Sure, denial played a part, but so did the fact that our dogs are proud creatures. They will rally and pull it together to please us at times when if they were human, they would be curled up in bed making certain we knew how bad they felt!
I have also learned that dog hours are very different than ours. Moby will assure me at 3:00 that it is at least 6:00 or 7:00 in dog-time. He comes to me asking for dinner, as I assure him, “it’s only 3:00 so you’ll have to wait, Bud.” Just to keep things interesting, some days, I will put the food down early. All it means to them is a full belly and nap time. When the real 6:00 rolls around and they look at me like I’m forgetting something, I remind them they already ate dinner according to human time.
It’s ok to honor dog-time. Some would encourage tough love - I say, “pick your battles.” If feeding a dog at 3:00 (actually 6:00, their time), is the most you give in to your dog, you’re doing great!
It is always wonderful to witness a dog that is in service to someone. They walk nicely (and honorably) side-by-side with their human providing some form of service, companionship, and/or support. The jacket they wear is an indication to other humans to not touch or pet the dog as it is working. These dogs are bred and trained for years prior to their being put into service.
I don’t have one of those dogs. I don’t need one either; however, my dog does provide a service. The service is to encourage you to smile. Zoe is always smiling. She is a Labradoodle (plus) mix and is always delighted to be out on a walk. When she walks by someone or even sees them approaching, she begins to smile, sometimes speak, and wiggle her body all to get you to smile. Is she begging? Perhaps. As long as she does it without invading someone’s personal space, I don’t get too concerned.
I have decided that dogs like Zoe should have their own jacket or vest. The inscription on it will read, “Exuberant Dog - Please Pet!” Zoe would also like to add, “oh please, oh please, oh please.” This way, if you see a dog wearing the Zoe vest, you won’t have to wonder if they are friendly. You will also know to brace yourself in the likelihood they will make you smile. So, if you are planning on being in a grumpy mood and you see a dog wearing the “Exuberant Dog” vest, you will know to look the other way. They can be real mood changers. Zoe will knead the floor with her paws in an effort to refrain from jumping, but every once in awhile, she can’t contain her enthusiasm.
Let me know if you’d like to have me interview your dog and make certain they are worthy of donning the “Exuberant Dog” vest!
p.s. The trainer in me has to add that rewarding a dog by giving inappropriate affection when it is overly excited is not good practice and can lead to a dog who is overly anxious and bossy (even if it is for affection). The “Exuberant Dog” vest is purely for comic relief and for those dogs that know if their human asks them to settle down or leave it - they will.
Here’s an interesting article about Gina, a military bomb-sniffing dog, and her experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Having witnessed this in many dogs, I know how long of a process it can be to help the dog be comfortable being a dog again. So, while the article is informative, I am greatly disappointed to read the dog is being rehabilitated so it can go back into service. I don’t know about you, but knowing that would be enough for me to be sure I didn’t heal completely. I wish Gina could make that choice.
Maybe your dogs are like mine and know the furniture is off limits. Well, unless they are invited. I can step out the door to water the plants or do laundry and return within minutes to this scene:
I, of course, look at them authoritatively as I sincerely ask them to, GET OFF THE COUCH! But, first, let me get the camera. They are so cute when they disobey!
While the disease of hoarding has been around for a very long time, it is now getting more press and there is even a documentary series. I think I caught Mac in the nick of time. This is a true story. I looked down to see the sad faces of a couple of dogs who had “lost” possession of their toys. I couldn’t believe it when I looked over at Mac. Looking somewhat bored and even a little proud, he didn’t yet realize the affect his hoarding was having on the rest of the family. It’s time for an intervention.
I can’t take credit for writing the following. Since you are reading my blog, chances are you will find some truth in it. . .
From time to time, people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or “That’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for “just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
No one wants to talk about over eating, yet most of us are guilty of it. We all know what excess calories can do to our bodies. I am not so sure that has translated yet to how we care for our dogs. Maybe there’s more that travels down the leash than our energy.
I’m speaking figuratively. While food doesn’t physically make its way from our hand down the leash, it can and does find its way from our hearts. If we feel sad for an animal that was once starving, we may over compensate by giving them too much food. If they are our dining buddy, we may give them food that would be better left on our plate (or in the garbage.) We “reward” them excessively because they are such good dogs!
When a dog becomes an extension of the human family, it may take on the habits and certainly the behaviors of the humans where it lives. Not all dogs can be free feeders in that if food is left out for them on a constant basis, they will overeat (a lot of humans can relate.) It’s not likely a dog living without human intervention would ever face the diseases and/or illnesses of what they experience from eating the doggy-junk food and from being over weight - even if that weight came from healthy excess calories.
Much like the Mother who tells a child to clean their plate, I witness as humans acknowledge feeling like they need to feed their dog proportions that are excessive because they feel bad that the dog was once starving. If their dog doesn’t eat what is placed in front of them, they add all sorts of goodies to entice the dog to indeed clean their plate. What if they were full? What if that particular day, they just weren’t that hungry. Of course, they will eat when tempted with what to us would be desert!
Below is an excerpt from an article about things our vets may not tell us. Why won’t the veterinarian talk with us about it? Talking about our dog being over weight is as sensitive a subject as speaking about it human to human. If you notice, there are isles in the pet stores dedicated to products that are equivalent to fast food for dogs. Unfortunately, it has the same affect on them as it does on us. Considering they age much faster than we do, the negative affects of a poor diet or excessive consumption shows up exponentially.
1. Your pet isn’t “extra-fluffy” or “big-boned.” According to Bernadine Cruz, DVM, member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council, it is estimated that 40 percent of pets in the U.S. are overweight. Obesity in pets can cause a number of health problems, from heart disease to diabetes to skin inflammation. “I wish that more pet owners monitored their pets’ weight,” says board certified veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser, DVM. To do so, Dr. Moser recommends visiting the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine website to help determine the presence or absence of body fat. Though ideal weights vary within breeds, there are general indicators of an overweight pet, including not being able to feel their ribs, seeing a pooch in their abdomen from the side, and panting and shortness of breath. After noting these factors, consult your vet to figure out if your pet needs to be put on a weight-loss plan.
If you have questions about a dog that is a picky eater or one who eats anything (and does), I am happy to assist in any way I can.
In an article by Jean Donaldson she addresses the question - are dogs pack animals? Studies show they may not be as pack oriented as we typically profess them to be. She concludes with this:
“If we are to support our contention that dogs are pack animals, we will need to account for these many populations where dogs, in the absence of the glue of human confinement and husbandry, simply do their own thing.”
Not being married, I would change or add to the title: What Pets Can Teach Us About Marriage and Relationships. I didn’t write the article, but liked it enough to share it.
Guess what? Dogs bark. This isn’t the first time you have heard it from me. This post is another segment in why dogs bark. Here’s the scenario:
You are walking down the street with your dog on a leash and working on having your dog heel. Your dog spots another dog in the distance and starts barking (and barking and barking). What is your dog saying?
Your dog’s bark could be saying:
“Look a dog! Hi dog! I’m a dog! Come here dog. We can play!” Or…
“Oh no a dog! A big dog! A little dog! I don’t like how that dog looks or smells. I need to get that dog - now before he gets me (us)!” Or…
“Look a dog! Get me outta’ here! That dog just said he doesn’t like me and to prepare to defend myself. Run!”
There is so much more than just a bark happening in these moments. Some dogs have more obvious triggers than others, and it takes time in learning those triggers and if your dog is being assertive and dominant, passive and frightened, or just wants to have fun.
To those on the other end of the leash, it appears that when our dog sees a dog it goes crazy for no reason and we either panic or get embarrassed. I have a vocal dog, so I have to tell people, “sorry, he’s vocal.” It seems like common courtesy to apologize for our dogs barking. Seldom do humans apologize for being overly vocal. Granted a barking dog can be annoying but for them it is not without purpose.
Observe and learn from your dog, watch their body language, and while you can’t remove their ability to communicate, you can keep them from escalating into panic mode. You can acknowledge what they are saying and they should trust and respect your request for them to be quiet.
