We Survived!

For some people, surviving a visit from your in-laws is all about putting up with their personalities and sharing space with them in your home.  As I thought about my in-laws upcoming visit I was stressed.  It wasn't about what they would think of our home, them staying in our guest bedroom or any human personality conflicts.  It was all about mixing their 2 puppies and our 4 adult dogs into one house for 4 full days.

Incoming! ~ Lexie & Annie (Left) with Franky & Curly (Right)

Years ago, when we were fostering Rat Terriers, I didn't really think too much about how our dogs would feel about the new addition(s).  We fostered over 20 dogs over a 2-yr period.  They ranged in size, age, personality, behavior/training challenges and health.  At one time we even fostered an entire family (mom + 6 puppies)!  Some of the fosters stayed a month or two and on a rare occasion 6 months before being adopted.  It was like operating a Rat Terrier Bed and Breakfast during that time.  

Sadly, we had to make a tough decision to stop fostering.  The unexpected toll it took on our own dogs was causing behavior issues including dog-to-dog relationship issues.  I'm still amazed that with the amount of stress we put on them there weren't more fights on a regular basis.  The last 2-yrs of not fostering have been spent rebuilding confidence, relationships and trust.  Thankfully, I can say we've all come a long way!

The fact is bringing together dogs needs careful consideration.  The dog's stress level needs to be taken into consideration at all times.  The stress isn't good for their health and it can lead to ugly fights that can be challenging for us humans to recover from, too.

I can happily say all 6 dogs survived the lovely family visit this past weekend.  There were zero fights, no injuries and stress levels seemed to be in a safe range based on the results.  I'll share in my next blog what we did to keep it this way and why such care was taken this time.

  "Did somebody say tacos?" ~ Annie, Curly and Padme

Hint: The previous visit wasn't so stress free.

Who's that in my bed?

"Do you let your dogs sleep with you?"  I get that question from time to time.  People are seeking an answer from me because they want to know if it's "okay" to allow your dog to sleep with you.  I answer the question honestly "No, my dogs don't sleep with me."  This isn't because I think they would be come "dominate" over me or cause a conflict.  

Honestly, I prefer they not sleep with my husband and I because I like my sleep!  We have a queen size bed for 2 people that doesn't allow much room for 4 dogs, or even a few of them.  From time to time we allow one to sleep with us, but it's not every night.

I think each person/family need to make the decision to allow dogs in the bed or not.  Some questions to ask:

   1. Would the dog(s) like to sleep in the bed?

   2. Is there really enough space for the dog(s) and people?

   3. Do the people that will potentially be sharing the bed want the dog(s) in the bed?

   4. If there are multiple dogs to consider, would each of these dogs be comfortable sharing the bed with each other?

   5. Will the dog(s) be okay with the people in the bed moving around while they sleep?

   6. Will the dog(s) be able to safely get on and off the bed on their own?

If you answered "No" to any of the above it might not be a good idea for that dog or dogs to join you in bed.  When kids are involved there are more things to consider since their safety is the most important.

Does your dog(s) sleep with you?  What helped you to come to that decision?  

They are each special...

I have 4 Rat Terriers.  They are all different sizes, ages, personalities and have unique interests.  I'd imagine it's much like people who have multiple human children.  I'll admit they each have a different place in my heart, too.

That being said, finding what each dog's interest or strength is has changed that place in my heart.  It has also strengthened our relationship.  When you have multiple dogs (or kids) I think it's of high importance to discover what these special activities are for each of them.

Curly, my heart dog, really enjoys working on tricks, Rally Obedience and just getting out and going somewhere.  I found it easy to discover his "hobbies" since I am naturally more drawn to him.  There is just something about him that connects us to each other.  Curly also really enjoys lots of physical contact from me like petting, hugs, kisses and snuggling on the couch.  

Franky, my husbands heart dog, is crazy smart and loves to learn whatever you are willing to teach him.  If you don't spend the time teaching him something he will find something to learn on his own.  Ha!  He was the first Rat Terrier for my husband and I, so we had a little extra one on one time together initially.  His favorite things include K9 Fun Nose Work (R), going for long walks, going for a car ride and learning new skills.  

Padme, our eldest at 13yrs of youth, was an acquired taste for me.  I'll be honest in that I didn't really want to adopt her initially.  At the time we had 4 other dogs, fostered Rat Terriers and our personal dogs were much younger and bigger than her.  My husband couldn't stand the thought of her living with someone else.  She also got along really well with Franky.  Padme really isn't into snuggling, finds it challenging to learn new skills and can be cranky.  She grew on me over time and is now a great office assistant.  Her main job is to keep me at my desk.  Ha!  While it takes her awhile to learn new things, she's a foodie and knows it might require some work on her part to get the food.

Molly, the Nose Work Queen, was not always a queen in my eyes.  She had a nasty attitude at times that was a turn off for me.  For a time, she seemed to cause fights among our other dogs.  Then I learned she wasn't a confident dog.  We started working on her confidence and our relationship through group classes.  The key to success ended up being K9 Nose Work (R).  It's her thing!  Molly turns into Ms. Confident when she knows she gets to do Nose Work.  Our relationship went from almost non-existent to strong in about a year. Finding her interest really changed everything!

My purpose in writing this blog entry today was to inspire those with dogs (or kids) to really look for the individuals interest or strength to better the relationship.  Dogs need more than just love, food, medical care and a place to live.  They need physical and mental exercise, too. But they also need individual attention doing something they find enjoyable.  As I drove to Nose Work class tonight, with Molly, I smiled realizing this is our special time.  It's just her and I doing what she loves (I love it too!).  

Why Fire Drills?

I've been partaking in fire drills since I was in grade school up to last year when I worked full-time in an office building.  These drills were almost always a surprise to simulate what it would be like if there were an actual fire.  In school and at the office they timed us.  They wanted to know how quickly we could exit during the drill and provide feedback on how we could improve the next time.  Have I ever been in a building that was really on fire?  No.  So why keep on practicing fire drills?

This thought came to me as I was walking 2 of my dogs.  I'm regularly practicing recall while out on our walks in different places while on leash, at the dog park, in the house and at the dog training facility.  The skill of coming when called, to me, is the most important behavior of all.  Let me say that again.  The skill of coming when called, to me, is the most important behavior of ALL.  

To me it's a life or death skill.  It could mean your dog crossing a busy street or coming back safely to you.  It could mean getting in a dog fight at a busy dog park or coming to you and staying out of trouble.  It's not about IF your dog will get away from you, but WHEN.  They will sneak out the door, slip their collar or exit the car before leashed up.  If you have a dog, it will more than likely happen to you, if it hasn't already and could happen again.

This has happened to me recently and it really got my blood pumping.  Out on a walk with friends and their dogs at a nice park my dog Curly got away from me.  I'm not exactly sure what happened, but the leash was out of my hand and he was running at full throttle away from me.  Inside I was freaking out!!  A young person in the group started running after him not realizing that a dog can consider this scary or fun (depending on the dog) and isn't a reliable way to get the dog back.  Once she stopped running after him and I got Curly's attention I recalled him "Curly, come!" he shot back to me.  I picked up his leash, paid him a few treats, told him how awesome he was and kept walking.  Whew!  

Why was he so good at coming back quickly?  I'd practiced with him often.  The practice was always fun.  It was also very rewarding.  As I always encourage students to do.  You never ever want to punish a dog for coming back.  They should always see coming back to you as a really great game that pays well.  

This is exactly why we have fire drills in schools and office buildings.  You never know when a fire could occur.  It could mean life or death for everyone in the building to exit quickly, in an orderly fashion and follow further direction.  The same is true of recall.  You never know when your dog(s) will get away from you.  They will need lots of practice to come quickly to you no matter the situation they are put in.

It really hurts

If you are someone like me who is rarely in pain or gets a cold it's hard to believe there are people who live their daily life in pain or sickness and can still be pleasant to be around.  I can honestly say I don't know how they do it.  I'm pretty much a happy-go-lucky person who loves life.  But when I am in pain you better watch out because you might not recognize me!

The behavior changes you might notice: less talking, less laughter, slower movements and declining a social interaction.  If I were a dog you might notice: less chasing after squirrels, less of an appetite for my favorite meal, growling when you come close and keeping my distance.  Our dogs cannot do as I can and let my friends and family know I'm not feeling myself through our common language.  Dogs can only do so through body language.  The challenge is their body language can sometimes come across as harsh.  So much so the human might take it as a true threat rather than communication.  When we don't listen we get even bigger communication.  For example, they might go from a hard look to a growl to a bite when we don't listen or understand.  If you don't listen to me I might yell at you or say things I don't really mean.

It is important we listen to each other's communication and as best we can our dogs all the time, but even more importantly when their behavior changes.  Our dogs cannot drive themselves to the vet to get that shoulder that's been bugging them the last few days looked at.  They can't even point to the spot that hurts!  What they can do is communicate via their behavior so as to clue us in.

A parallel example is with my own Rock Star dog Curly.  He's pretty social with people and a variety of dogs, but I had noticed he would yelp if people would pet his chest when he was first meeting them and overly excited.  I also noticed that when a new dog would come sniff his butt (I call it getting a business card) he would turn quickly to get them to stop.  This went on for some time, but I just thought he was excited or less friendly in those scenarios   It turns out he needed a major chiropractic adjustment!  Curly's rib cage and shoulder were out of place.  The transformation after he'd been adjusted was amazing.  He's more willing to let a  new dog take their time "getting a business card" and doesn't yelp when petted on the chest.  It made me sad to think all that time I thought his behavior was just his personality, when it really was in relation to his pain or discomfort.

Waiting for his chiropractic adjustment at Georgia Vet Rehab

As I sit typing this, in mild pain, I think about how many dogs get a label for being "bad", when in reality they just aren't feeling themselves for whatever reason.  I encourage you to ask your dog how they feel when they display behaviors that are out of character or are not the typical happy-go-lucky dog.  Their behavior could be telling you more than meets the eye.

Paw Lickin' Good Baking

I love to bake!  I found a healthy dog cookie recipe that my dogs and dogs who've been gifted these snacks love, too!  It's super simple, healthy and inexpensive.

Slightly Cheesy Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons dry milk

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

                2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2-1/2 cups brown rice flour

1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth.  Stir in dry milk, sea salt, Parmesan and dried parsley (if using, optional).  Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 - 1/2" depending if you want a crisp or slightly chewy cookie.  Use biscuit or other shape cookie cutter to punch shapes gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go.  Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary.  If desired, press fork pattern on biscuit before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough.

Bake 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.  Allow to cool completely before sharing with your pup.  

The pumpkin will be great for your dog's tummie should they need a little extra fiber in their diet.

Walk the Dog

Taking your dog(s) on regular walks is important to their physical and mental health.  They learn so much about their world through their nose that getting out and smelling the world on walks helps their all behavior, too.  It's also a great bonding experience with the person walking them.  That is of course if you work on the relationship on the walk.  That's a whole other story...

Many people find it a challenge to find time to walk their dog(s) or don't find it enjoyable because of their pulling or other bad behavior.  For me personally, I find making time the challenge.  I go through phases of good walking schedules, but I'm never consistent.  What to do?

Well, knowing I am a social creature who enjoys spending time with my own dogs, people and their dogs I decided asking others to join me was a possible solution to consistency.  That's exactly what it's become!  Since my schedule is pretty crazy I've set aside 3pm on Sunday afternoons to walk my own dogs with folks I've invited with their dogs.  We meet at different parks and just enjoy ourselves walking, talking and letting our dogs make some new friends (human and dog).  It's really been a blessing to all of us!