All Dogs All Day

My Funny Valentine

2012-02-15T00:48:00.000-08:00

My sweet girl, Lili is in her 16th year. Hard to believe she was found starving on a golf course that long ago. She is my heart dog, and I think she is the boss of me. I am grateful for every day - have with her.

Mission accomplished for local rescue group

2012-01-26T21:24:00.001-08:00

Mission accomplished for local rescue group

Simon found his forever family!

SIMON GOT ADOPTED!!!!!!
Simon, my foster Basset for 9 months, took part of the 18 dog Basset adoption event in New York.
If you click on the article you will see his new little girl giving him a hug. I am so happy for him.
Anyone who has followed our travails, knows what a relief it is for me to know he is finally safe, and finally loved. He loves kids and will make his family laugh about his antics. God bless you Simon.

Conversation with Susan Blatz

2012-01-16T10:20:00.001-08:00

Exactly right!

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/01/deciding-when-its-time/

Watch This Inspiring Video

2012-01-01T19:50:00.001-08:00

This is a great video. It reminds us we can all make a difference.
Donate, volunteer, foster, adopt.
Anything you choose to do can help a homeless dog or cat.

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2011/01/this-year-save-one-foster-one-rescue-one-dog/

Crating Your Dog - My Choice; A Plastic Airline Crate

2011-12-28T22:34:00.000-08:00

Simon thinks a crate can also be a good look out.

A crate should be your dog's "quiet place".
A place for your dog to go to; to be safe, to feel safe,
to stay out of trouble, and to settle himself when overstimulated. It is good for him to get away from our hectic people world.
By the way, for all this to happen, the gate must be closed.

Dogs are den animals, and love the sense of security a plastic crate gives.
Crawl on in. It is comfy cozy. In fact, I have never set up a large plastic crate in a home with children, where the kids didn't get in there first!
   I'm not saying the first few days will be a breeze. Not unlike kids who are long overdue for a nap, the more overstimulated the dog, the less they are likely they are to want to leave "the party", and the harder it is for them to settle in the crate. Some dogs settle themselves more quickly then others.
As a rule, the crate should be in the master bedroom. Once safely ensconced, your dog should be "invisible". Always give your dog a treat for the "Kennel-up"
   The challenge will be in the first week, when your dog will test you, and look for loopholes and weaknesses in your technique.  Steer the course and if need be, buy ear plugs, but you can do this, I know you can.

Merry Christmas to my foster Tundy

2011-12-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

I am glad to spend this Christmas with you. I am glad you are safe and warm. You are a very dear and affectionate dog. I will be by your side while you go through heartworm treatments and neutering. I will teach you to play with toys and teach you house manners. I will brush you and kiss the places on your head, where they took out the buckshot. I will show you, you are not alone in the world. I will protect you. You are a good boy, and even though you ate a bowl of toasted maple pecans that was sitting on the counter, I will not hold it against you. We have a lot to learn about each other you and I.
Merry Christmas Tundy

AllDogsAllDay sent you a video: "Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer"

2011-12-23T18:34:00.001-08:00

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AllDogsAllDay has shared a video with you on YouTube: What a hoot! Happy Holidays to all the sweet dogs naughty or nice! Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer Hi folks. Thank you for all your warm comments and here are some answers to your questions: I shot this video on VHS-C in my backyard, near Ward, Colorado (8,700' elevation) during a blizzard in the late 1990's; a local weatherman said it was the most measureable snow (if memory serves, it was 54" in 48 hours) from the least amount of moisture ever. Cheers to dogs, and to all those that love them! Please be well and Happy Holidays!!!
© 2011 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Lovely Dogs In Unexpected Places

2011-11-30T16:44:00.001-08:00

Miss JR sporting a Dallas Cowboys jersey, can be found Monday morning quarterbacking at my local gas station, which is known for the lively discussions among the regulars.

Meet Tundy

2011-11-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Tundy plays dress up at his first foster home

Ahhhh silence.
My new foster dog Tundy has been barking in his crate for hours, he just stopped and settled himself.

Ahhhh peace.

So I repeat to my self, my own (foster mom) mantra; "He is just a dog and is just stressed out, he is in survival mode and needs my help to learn to be a pet. I am saving a life"
Tomorrow will be a new day.
Tundy was found running across I-20, and was almost hit by two dog rescue, women in a Toyota Tundra, hence his name.
They pulled over, put out a hand and Tundy came crawling over.
That sealed the deal.
    He has been at his first foster family for 2 weeks now. They have started him on a pre-heart worm treatment and have put some weight on him. They have shown him about living in a home, and how good it feels to get loved on. They saw him wag his tail for the first time. They love him, and I believe the feeling is mutual. This family was just the first part of his journey.
   Today he came to my house so I could get him used to being the crate, then get him through the heart worm treatments. He will not be able to go for walks or play until it is completed. He will have to be crated most of the time. This is very serious stuff.
However, he does not like being crated and is objecting vehemently, loudly and continually.

   "He is just a dog and is stressed out, he is in survival mode and needs my help to learn how to be a pet. I am saving a life"
Tomorrow will be a new day.

AllDogsAllDay sent you a video: "freerunning sleddogs"

2011-11-25T19:53:00.001-08:00

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AllDogsAllDay has shared a video with you on YouTube: What a beautiful sight. Love the passing technique, like minnows. freerunning sleddogs Heini Winter biking with his 16 sleddogs in town
© 2011 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

My Senior Dog - Breakfast

2011-11-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

I was with a friend and her foster dog at the local pub, having a pint, when we started sharing dog stories with the couple at the next table. The woman was talking lovingly about her senior dog. Her husband says, "You gotta see this", whips out his cell phone and shows us a photo of the dog standing in front of 5 plates of food, all lined up. He said incredulously; "She makes 5 different plates of food for the dog, twice a day, trying to get him to eat". I smiled, only because I am only using 3 plates for my senior.

My sweet Lili and her Dobie ways, have entertained me for almost 16 years. She is funny, affectionate, a little shy, very needy and persnickety. She is the dog in my profile picture, captured so perfectly by my friend and clever photographer, Chris Moseley [http://www.chrismoseley.com/] .
She is also, my heart dog.
   As she ages, I have jumped through hoops to keep her eating and get those pills down her uncooperative gullet. She will pretty much fall for something once or maybe twice, then "As God as her witness", she will never eat that food again. Don't try to hide it, don't try to mix it in, she knows. The only thing I have found, if she likes a food enough, she will eat it right away without giving it the sniff test. So, we did great for about 3 -4 months on the frozen raw nuggets, until one day she walked away and never went back. Then it was Chicken and Rice, using a whole roasted chicken from Whole Foods. As a long time vegetarian, this was a labor of love on my part, to be chopping up those birds, and pulling the meat off the carcass. After the fourth bird, she lost interest in her food and that was that. Now, I have been adding canned Salmon to some of her dog food [canned and kibble].
Knock wood, that this is a long term like for her, because I am running out of ideas.

Just need pants?

2011-11-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

They have them

Not That Innocent

2011-11-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

We came back from or our walk while Narcie was cleaning the boy's room. She had both dog beds on top of each other with the covers off, on the floor, outside the gate. Juneau lay down on top of both and sunk down into total comfort, reminiscent of "The Princess and the Pea. Jack, came round the corner, saw that and got on top of Juneau and sat on him.
Juneau pretended he didn't notice or care for a bit, but eventually got up and walked away. Jack stretched out and took to spot he stole from Juneau. He looked like the cat that ate the canary, quite pleased with his success.
However his success was short lived. Narcie came over with the newly washed covers and tried to make Jack move off the beds.
He wouldn't budge. She said "Oh, I think he is tired". I told her he took Juneau's place and doesn't want to give it up, and I helped her get him up and off.
Such is a dog's life.

Riverchon Park

2011-11-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

The boys were in high spirits today. Perhaps they knew how handsome they looked in their "I got groomed" bandannas.
Juneau seems to be better. He kept his head up on the car ride and most importantly he didn't have to walk when he pooped.
That is a big deal.
The highlight of our outing was not, watching the two suspicious looking women (who were looking to pick up pecans) or the strange men on the ground (who were doing one armed push ups), but on the way home, being almost nose to nose, at a long light with a dog in the car next to us.
Simple pleasures

Lovely Dogs In Unexpected Places

2011-11-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

Sweet Maddie a 5 year old rescued Doberman settles down so nicely on the patio of Oddfellows while her people have brunch. You know her people love her very much since not only did they bring her with, but brought her doggie bed to lay on, so she would be comfortable. How nice.

"Feed Me"

2011-11-09T06:40:00.000-08:00

Gus [black] and Ellie [parti], are my Havanese clients

Like the plant in Little Shop of Horrors, Gus was sure this Yucca was going to get him and made a wide berth around it, then looked in alarm at the next two ahead of us. We got past them all safely, but Gus had his tail tucked for the next two blocks.
What a funny fellow

Lovely Dogs In Unexpected Places

2011-11-04T19:57:00.001-07:00

Today I met "Uli" (short for Ulysses) at the laundry mat.
He seemed such happy dog! You smile just looking at him.
It just so happened I had a newly washed tennis ball in my basket and there was nobody in the place besides Uli, his owner and me, soooooo.
It is obvious he is well loved, and enjoys his life. He is a playful 6 year old total sweetheart. He sat for the ball without me even having to ask. Needless to say. I was impressed.
His owner told me, he is Uli's third home.
The first owner, got rid of him because he grew too big. His second owner became ill and could no longer care for him. Now, Uli has been with his people for about 4 years, and for sure, the third time's the charm.
I love a happy ending.
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Simon Makes An Upgrade

2011-11-02T21:44:00.001-07:00

Simon and his new foster brother investigate

Simon has gone to a new foster home.
The new foster family is home often, has two little girls, and a fun Basset exactly his size.
When I left him at the house, he and the family Basset were chasing each other around the house.
How perfect is that?
I first picked Simon up during the snow storm in Feb., where he totally charmed and aggravated me on a daily basis. I was crazy about him and he was driving me crazy!
I fantasized about doing therapy dog with him (he would be perfect for it), until I remembered I have no time. Oh yeah.

I brought a box of tissues with me on the drop off, as I had planned to be crying all the way home from The Colony to Dallas.
Funny thing happened. Not a tear.
Well, I figured the next day when it hits me that he is gone ....
nothing but a sense of relief, for us, for him.
This was not the best foster home for him, but at the time, I was the only one who could/would handle him. He came to my house as an adult intact male, who peed and marked in the house, and spent his spare time trying to run away. we went in for heartworm treatments and once concluded, he was then neutered, treated for worms, put on anti-anxiety drugs, and a Thundershirt. Everybody at the vet loved him.

A week with the Moseley family calmed him some and when he came back, he stopped trying to break out of my backyard.
We took it day by day and he has had good days and bad days.
I love him dearly and, he gets along with all the dogs in the house, and believe me he has his work cut out for him with the "Blatzenjammer Kids"
He was the class clown of the house.

However, it broke my heart that every time I lifted him into the crate before I left and his whole body would tremble. Hearing his daily distress baying as I drive away, made my stomach twist.
When I would come home, I always scanned the house, checking for broken windows.
When I came in, first thing I would do was check the crate making sure the gate didn't snap back on his neck during an escape attempt, killing him. Occasionally during my day, I would have a moment of panic and wonder if I had forgotten to strap him in the crate.
All these daily stresses gone with Simon.

If he has a chance to relax, not get crated, and live as a family pet, he may let go of the rest of his anxiety.
I have high hopes that he will soon be adopted.
He is such a great dog, and North Texas Basset Rescue is helping him find his way.

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Respect Your Dog's Comfort Level

2011-10-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

Wandering

I took my Lamb Chop to the Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas picnic/fund-raiser last week.
Being a Flat-Coated Retriever mix, she is the black sheep of the Golden crowd. A bit shy, but she likes the water, loves tennis balls, and has some Golden friends who were there. Actually the same goes for me.
My job was to make sure she had a good time.
We didn't find our niche right away. She tried swimming after balls thrown in the lake, but every ball came with at least 3 Goldens going for it as well, and when she saw them coming her way, she would swim away. So that wasn't working for us.
She liked our picnic lunch, I have never in my life given her a piece of my sandwich, but she scarfed down the 2 dog biscuits I brought so fast, I decided today, to brake the rule and we shared.

We wandered around the beach, but there were too many dogs running and playing and many either running up into her face, or trying to smell her butt. For a Golden it is just a way of saying a quick "hello", but it made Lamb Chop nervous and she would either lope away and I'd have to retrieve her, or she would submissively lick the other dog in the face, much to their surprise.
She just wasn't having fun.
Thank you to GRRNT volunteer Ashley who found some extra tennis balls for us to take to the quieter part of the event. That was very thoughtful and much appreciated.
So we headed towards the dock at the end of the beach, soon to be joined by Lamb Chop's friends Diesel and Sweet Pea, who she happily greeted.

Lamb Chop - needed to find a good spot

The quiet area and hanging out on the dock was a hit with her, and she likes being with dogs she knows.
However after a quick swim, Diesel and Sweet Pea went back to their spots at the check in desk, in the center of the action. Oh, well.
Now,"her" dock was starting to get popular and curious dogs came to see what's up.
Katie came on the dock with her crew, and I thought "poor Lamb Chop, she lost her spot".

happy dog

The next thing I saw was Lamb Chop jumping into the water off the end of the dock with Katie's dogs, and swimming pretty far out. My friend Pat and I were watching from shore, and Pat looked at me and said, "Can she swim?". My answer:" I don't know". But there she was, swimming with the "big dogs" and having a blast.
Katie's crew was the perfect match for my girl. They were fun but self contained, and Lamb Chop fell in to their activities as part of their pack.
Thanks Katie's dogs, for letting Lamb Chop join up. Thanks Katie for making me laugh watching you throw those wild pitches. It sure keeps your dogs on their toes as well as passersby.
Bottom line, we had a good time, as did all the dogs there and money was raised for Golden Rescue.
It was a good day.

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Celebrating Achievements, Big and Small

2011-10-30T21:31:00.001-07:00

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, Diesel, his owner, my friend Pat, and I, find ourselves celebrating on the outdoor patio at the Dubliner, by having a pint and a bite to eat. This morning Diesel passed, with flying colors, his therapy dog evaluation for a local hospital. He has come a long way with Pat's love and guidance.
Diesel was Pat's foster dog with Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas, for about ....... 10 minutes. It was one of those;
"You had me at "hello" " situations. A perfect fit.

Diesel is the king of eye contact,, and will, no doubt, be of comfort and good cheer to all who meet him. He is irresistible as well as unflappable.

Later that afternoon, I ended up at the White Rock Lake, with my senior dog Lili, listening to The Eastside Troubadours play beach music in front of the old Bathhouse. This was our reward for getting her nails clipped at Vhea's Laundrymutt. We are at the point now where she will not let me do it anymore and 16 years old, her nails grow alarmingly fast. It has turned into a trauma for us both, and I must say for an old dog that can barely stand up, she can sure put up a fight.
So now we turned to the professionals.
The guys at the front took good care of us, and the actual nail clipping was quick, and well done.
I am now officially relieved of duty.
Now that is something to dance about.

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Climbing Simon

2011-10-25T22:51:00.001-07:00

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

"Wanna play tug?"
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When walking dogs

2011-10-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

You never know what you may see
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Jurassic Park Dallas

2011-10-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

While walking back from the park with my Havanese dog clients, Gus and Ellie, I noticed, a mist drifting over the sidewalk, then saw the dinosaur in the garden.
Then we saw a many dinosaurs all over the front lawn. The dogs were not very interested. I was enchanted.
P.S. Needless to say it was a theme party
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AllDogsAllDay sent you a video: "SPCA of Wake County Lip Dub Video"

2011-10-08T03:51:00.001-07:00

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AllDogsAllDay has shared a video with you on YouTube: Brilliant! SPCA of Wake County Lip Dub Video Music Credit: "Take A Chance On Me," ABBA- Greatest Hits Just how crazy are we for pet adoptions at the SPCA of Wake County? The SPCA of Wake County would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who participated in this project! Project Coordinators: Darci VanderSlik Mondy Lamb Vanessa Budnick Chris Thomsen Becky Lembo Production donated by: POV Productions (http://www.povproductionsllc.com)
© 2011 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Dog walking Dallas

2011-10-06T11:08:00.001-07:00

While walking dogs to the park, we passed this VW parked outside HP City Hall. It made me smile.
I love old bugs, used to have an old VW '63 convertable with no floorboards in the back seat. My roomates's boyfriend called it "The Flinstone Car". It was a great car, and for sure one of a kind. Everyone recognized my car. People would see it parked somewhere and come in to find me.
I bet it is the same for this car owner.
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Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

I don't believe I will even attempt to redeem this gift card
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Who Could Do This?

2011-09-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

Who could tape a little dog into a box and put him out with the trash on a cold winter's night?
It is incomprehensible, and yet that is what happened to this little 14 pound Chihuaua mix.
Had he not barked when the box was being picked up to toss it in the compactor, no one would have been the wiser and he would be dead. Thank God the sanitation worker heard him and helped him.
This is his second chance at life and you can tell he wants to enjoy every minute of it. He loves to play, and he loves attention. He is curious about everything. What a great little guy.
He needs a family to call his very own and perhaps another little dog to play with.
You have to agree he is cute as the dickens.
Jack Frost is available for adoption from Animal Rescue of Texas animalrescueoftexas.org
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Calming Collar

2011-09-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

Ka-boom!
Finally, rain in Dallas. Not just rain, thunder, lightening, and hail.
Boy howdy, we needed it.
Now that my senior Doberman, Lili, is deaf, I only have to worry about Katrinka's, thunderstorm anxiety.
She, starts with panting, then combines that with some pacing and drooling. Then she tries to climb me. She cannot settle herself.
This evening, I knew a storm was blowing in and it was going to be a doozy. I remembered I had an extra Calming Collar (CalmingCollars.com) that the company had sent to me when Simon, my foster Basset Hound was at his worst. It fit her perfectly and better yet it is Extra Strength. After putting it on her, I had to shoo away all the other dogs that come over to smell it, which was also stressing her out.
But we all finally settled down and waited for the storm.
All lights are on, and the radio is turned up, and I am sitting in a chair reading out loud to my dogs.. The storm hits and Katrinka, although still panting, lays down on my feet and stays there. What a relief for us both.
So, next time a storm blows in, I will be reaching for Katrinka's floral Calming Collar ( the Calm Me Down Blend- Extra Strength). I am glad to have found some relief for my sweet girl.
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Moe is growing up and making friends with Mya "his" Boxer

2011-09-17T11:52:00.001-07:00

Mya's family sent me this picture. If you recall Moe is the little kitten they rescued and had to bottle feed every two hours. Although Mya the Boxer has a lovely disposition, she does love to chase squirrels, so we were hoping she would be OK with the kitty.

Seems like they are doing just fine.

Proper Greetings

2011-09-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

It is important when you are interested in greeting any dog you don't know, or any dog on leash, to make sure you;
1. Ask the dog's owner for permission to say "Hello", and
2. Ask the dog if he is inclined.

The other day, a woman stopped her car,while I was walking Jack and Juneau the white Boxers, and asked me if she could give the boys a hug, I said "No, sorry".
Jack, is totally deaf, and Juneau has limited (bilateral) hearing.
Although Jack no longer tries to drag me down the street every time someone approaches us, he is usually hesitant about meeting strangers on the street, as is Juneau.
My job as their "person" in charge is to make them feel safe when we go out, and let them know I got their back, so to speak.
But sometimes, if you take your time, get small, and let the dogs relax, they may choose you, which is exactly what happened when meeting Caroline.
Caroline did everything right. After chatting with me a bit about her dogs, these dogs and dogs in general she could see the boys visibly relax. She crouched down so as not to intimidate, and got a little closer. She turned to her side so as not to appear confrontational, and then, without getting any closer, she stretched out her hand to them.
The dogs ran over to her, which blew me away! First Jack, then Juneau.
It turned into the " mutual admiration society", with lots of face kissing, head rubbing and white hairs on Caroline's black top.
We ended the love fest when Juneau started blowing bubbles from his mouth, which is his anxiety "tell".
For me, this chance encounter was such a lovely sight to see.
I was proud of my boys, and pleased by the respect this woman had shown them. Truly, she is a "dog person" and now Jack and Juneau's new friend.
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Moe

2011-09-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

Our little foundling has decided;
"NO MORE KISSES"
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Q&A: Dog trainer Susan Blatz | Advocate Magazine

2011-08-31T23:56:00.000-07:00

My sister called me to say she saw my interview in the Advocate Magazine, and mentioned, she especially liked the picture with my Basset Hound, Georgia, and me.
I said I thought I looked wrinkled. and she replied; "Don't worry we're all getting older".
I answered; "I meant my clothes, but thanks".
Here is the link if you are interested, but kindly keep any remarks about my aging to yourself. Thank you

Q&A: Dog trainer Susan Blatz Advocate Magazine

They wait for me

2011-08-29T17:17:00.001-07:00

I tutor dogs during the day.
Yes, even in the summer, we go out for our regular scheduled outings.
Certainly our walks are shorter, slower and we stay in the shade.
Some days it is just to hot to go at all. Those days I feel so guilty, knowing there are dogs all over the city looking out of the window, or under the fence, waiting for me to show. Picturing those happy faces makes it kinda hard to enjoy an extra afternoon off.
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Oops, my mistake

2011-08-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

When - came home on day four of; "Simon can stay out of the crate while I'm gone for two hours", I found him snoozing in my bed, and my office - totally trashed!
I am one of those people that doesn't file, I pile. All the papers on my desk, shelves and counter tops all over the floor. Everything tumped out of both the training bags. A disaster.
Not good for one's reputation to have to email clients and tell them their file was eaten. Then again this is what makes me an understanding dog whisperer.
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Dog beds

2011-08-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

......... And this is why I often tell my clients to get a cheap dog bed when bringing in a new dog or puppy into your home.
Invest in the Orvis bed once you know you can trust your dog.

Simon says

2011-08-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

He can stay out of the crate now, for over two hours, while I'm gone, without a mishap. Good boy Simon, you are well on your way.
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She's in there

2011-08-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mitzy has been here over two weeks adjusting to life inside a house. She isn't doing so well.
She won't leave the crate except to eat, do her business on the potty pads or for an escape attempt.
She will not let me touch her.
She is in a panic still, poor thing.
Tawana is coming to get her tomorrow to take her to a super foster Mom, who has helped many other basket cases. Diane has a very firm but nurturing way and is willing to take the time needed.
This dog is young, and I am hopeful she can pull herself together. Time will tell
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Oh Man

2011-08-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday morning saying goodbye to my foster dog Jane.
She has been with us for a month polishing up on her doggy manners and waiting to find her forever home. During this time, she has won her way into my heart with her willingness to please, her intelligence, and her affectionate ways,
So, this morning consists of hugs, my whispering to her my hopes for her future, and tears.
I dropped her off at Highland Park Animal Hospital with a long note, some dog food, and her pink stuffed bear, telling her to be a good girl. She will be meeting her potential family there, later in the afternoon. More tears for me on the way to my trainings. I felt sad all day.
Later in the day, I get a call from HPAH. The family liked her but, they are going on vacation and won't be ready to take her for another week. Would I be willing to take her back home until then?
Two things;
#1. Of course
#2. Crap
I'm going to need more tissues.

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Sweet Jane

2011-08-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

I am packing Jane's bag.
Enough dog food for three days, her favorite treats, some bed time biscuits, and her pink stuffed bear.
Jane is a sweet, yellow Lab mix, hoping to find her forever home.. My friend calls her the Creamcicle dog because of her coloring.
Tomorrow she leaves us and goes to her new "foster to adopt" family for a trial run.
I have no doubt she will win their hearts as she has done mine.
In the month since she came here, she has not only learned to focus and follow commands, she has become happy go lucky and eager to please. A delight.
We have turned out to be friends, she and I.
I am really going to miss her.

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The Kitten, Now Named Moe

2011-08-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Thriving under the love and nurturing he is getting from his extended adoptive family.
He can focus on objects and is playful and affectionate.
Weighing in at 10 ounces., he thinks he is ready to take on the world.
There will be time for that.
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Mitzy Leaves the Vet

2011-08-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

She is scared

When the vet's nurse saw Tawana and I emerge victorious,with Mitzy in a travel crate, the first thing he asked me was;

"Did she bite you?", - "No".

"How did you get her in the crate, food?" - "No, tennis balls".

"Oh, she likes tennis balls?", - "No, we dropped them on her"

"Ohhhhh".

This was the second time at the vet clinic that day. The first visit we thought we could cajole the dog into a leash and lead her to the car. It became clear quite quickly we had under estimated her willingness to go with us. Food or no food, as far as she was concerned, she wasn't going anywhere. So we reassessed the situation, and decided Tawana would go home and get a crate and we would try again in an hour.
One hour later we met back at the vet clinic, ready for round two.
Tawana brought Mexican sausage to help lure the dog into the crate. I brought a few things in my bag, not sure what I would need, but feeling sure we would have to be tricky. One never really knows.
That clever girl ate all the sausage, but wouldn't be convinced to go near the crate, or for that matter, us.
     Did I mention this dog is a little scary? She has hard eyes that you can't read, and her nervousness becomes your nervousness. It was obviously foolish to try to physically make that dog do anything she didn't want to do. It won't take much to make her feel more trapped than she already was.
Tawana and I respected this dog's extreme anxiety and kept a safe distance.
We finally reached the end of the sausage, and Mitzy was no closer to getting into the crate, so we tried a different tactic.  I had Tawana go into the empty kennel next to Mitzy's and lob a few tennis balls over the top and into the kennel with Mitzy. I didn't want the dog to see they were coming from her.
Three balls, one at a time, come over the top of her kennel, and bounce around her. She doesn't budge.
It didn't work, but Tawana wants to try again, but now we are ball-less and someone has to retrieve them.
  Hmmm, there's a problem I hadn't anticipated.

   I start to slide sideways into the kennel, and reach my arm out and slowly lean down to see how close I can get to the first ball, when poof! Misty jumps in the crate.
   Just as quickly I shut the gate.
   After a very frustrating 40 minutes we have her contained and we can go.
She has been spade and has had her shots, and ready to learn what life is like inside a home.
    One thing I know for sure, it will be totally different.

Shy Mitzy

2011-08-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

Mitzy hasn't had a name for at least three years. That is because Mitzy hasn't had a home for at least three years. She has been running the streets near a middle school in South Dallas, trying to dodge kids throwing bricks at her and trying to survive, day by day.

What a surprise for her and me, that she now finds herself in a crate in my office surrounded by a moat of potty pads.
We are having a difficult time of it, since it is obvious Mitzy has never lived in a home and people have not been kind to her. I think she feels safer on the street, where she can flee the minute she senses danger. and all is familiar.
However, aside from the record breaking triple digit temps we are having right now, life on the street is a hard life. Scrounging for food, trying to avoid the speeding cars and running from the mean people.
So now, here we are.

A Family Steps Up

2011-08-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

On a hot summers day, a stray Mama cat moves all her kittens to a safe spot away from prying eyes. All, except one.
Many hours later, this little four week old kitten, eyes barely open, was stranded, left by itself and baking in the Texas sun.
Turns out, this was the little kitten's lucky day.
My client's son noticed this little one's plight, and picked her up and took her home.
The whole family has many rescues under their belt, everything from injured birds to dogs. They are the ones who found a young Blue Lacy mix, eating garbage and got him off the street and safe. He ended up being my dog, Barley.

Hey, where you going with that bottle, I'm not done!

This family has heart and they are not afraid to step up to the plate to make a difference. It is not always easy. Kitty needs to have a bottle feeding every two hours and the family has rallied. Everyone is taking turns nuturing this little wiggle worm.
I did a couple of mid day feedings and there were two things I hadn't expected;

First - Boy, that itty bitty thing sure can poop.
Once the flow starts, seems like it just keeps coming. Note to self - keep the tissue box closer.
Second - The three Boxers were miffed at the attention I was giving the kitten. They think I am just for them, and for the most part, they are right, but not always, apparently. I wouldn't have thought that little mite was even on their competition radar.
Kitty had her vet check up and is healthy.
Lucky cat.

Movie Review - Buck

2011-08-02T02:28:00.000-07:00

"A lot of times, rather than helping people with horse problems, I'm helping horses with people problems.", says horse whisperer Buck Brannaman.

This documentary is a 2011 Sundance Audience Award winner, and no wonder - it's great.
I saw the movie twice.

This film tells the story of a mistreated child who, grew up to be a gentle cowboy who has made it his life's mission to show people a different and more empathic way to train and handle the horses they ride and show.
The film seems to carry you along in that same slow, gentle way Buck has, not only with the horses he is trying to help, but with the riders as well.
What he does is lovely and amazing. How he does it is inspiring.
He is as Robert Redford said; "The real deal"

Locks of Love

2011-07-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

12" of hair to; Locks of Love - locksoflove.org

Haircut - Willie and Coote Salon - willieandcoote.com

Street Dog Rescue - Part 2

2011-07-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

It was decided, Tawana and I would return for the last dog, later in the day.

Came home from the "brunch with Tawana" adventure, totally beat and I was quite the sight.

There were twigs and leaves in my hair, I was sweaty, covered with scratches, dust and burrs, and even had burrs in my underwear!
I knew I was uncomfortable but couldn't pin point the problem until I took my clothes off.

A cold shower and a very long nap did me a world of good.

    Up just in time to feed my dogs, and take a call from Tawana. Am I ready to go again? She has a friend, who has a trap and is willing to help this evening.
   We found the little dog right away. Curious, lonely, but still skittish, she watches as we set up the trap, and steady it. Tawana, takes out a box of fried chicken and lays a trail from outside to inside the trap with the jackpot in the way back, past the trip plate. Then, the three of us get back in the car to watch and wait.
    From my seat in the SUV, I had a good view of what was about to transpire, and I gave a running commentary; "She's eating the chicken, she has gotten to the entry, she is looking in. She has backed away. Now she is going around the crate, she is smelling the chicken, she is going around again. She's stopped, she is trying to get the food out from the side with her paw. She's still working it. She gave up and is going around again, and now, oh, starting to walk away. She has turned around and is staring at the car. She is looking to see if we are going to run out and get her. She is sorta right. Still staring.
She is going back to the trap entry. She is looking at our SUV again. I think she is going to make her move ! She is following the trail of chicken in, she's going in. She's in! She is going - slowly- slowly, she is almost to the back. She stopped. It didn't trigger, shouldn't it have tripped by now?"

Yikes we were on pins and needles, and we were all aware the sun was starting to set, and time mattered. Waiting is hard.
And voila! The sensor plate is triggered, the trap snaps shut, WE GOT HER!
We all scramble out of the car, and head to the trap. The pup is panicked and stressed and we are cautious as we pick up the crate, carry it to the car, and manage it into the back of the SUV and secure it.
I will spare you the details of the ride home, and how we got the 5 foot trap out of the back of Susan's SUV, into Tawana's house and through to the back, with the dog in it. Suffice to say there were lots of; Oww!s, Wait-wait's, Watch!, and Got It's, uttered as we banged our way into the house. Once the pup was in, we got her out of the trap and safely ensconced into a secure crate. This little girl had no idea what was in store for her, but Tawana had a plan. The next day, she was to go to the vet, for a health check, get her shots and get spayed. Many dogs that come off the street in Dallas, are heart worm positive, so she may have to undergo harsh heart worm treatment. She will go to Diane, a foster volunteer with Society for Companion Animals, where she will be reunited with her BBF from the alley. Diane will teach them how to trust and love people, as well as how to live in a home environment. The plan is to have them adopted out as a bonded pair.
While Tawana, Susan, and I were sitting in the SUV silently cheering on our little girl, who was about to walk into the possibility of a new life, most of the TV's in Dallas were tuned in the NBA finals, and people all over the city, cheering the Mavericks on to their big win.
The juxtaposition was not lost on us.

Dogs In Need

2011-07-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

These two were found as strays, taken to the local shelter and put up for adoption.
   Through no fault of their own, they were not chosen, and because shelter space is always limited, they were put on the euthanasia list.
   Too many dogs, not enough homes available.

If this is not a picture of love, I don't know what is.
Someone would be lucky to get these two and share in their special bond.
    I always say I would like to travel, and I need more "me time", and when I have less dogs, I will keep it that way, but as long as loving dogs are in danger of being put down on a weekly basis, this house will always be at the legal pet limit, and our postal carrier will always brace herself a bit before heading up to my front steps.

Street Dog Rescue - Part 1

2011-06-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

I totally know better but forgot, which is how I found myself mid day Sunday, in a back alley in the bad side of town, wearing a pair of cute, strappy sandals and my white Irish linen shirt in 95 + degree heat, crawling around garbage and in the underbrush, trying to catch two stray dogs.

Friendly but skittish

I was; "having brunch with Tawana" (Society for Companion Animals). By now you would figure I'd catch on that every meal with Tawana ends with a dog rescue situation, and I should be prepared and dress accordingly, but, not so much.

Tawana had been driving past the alley one day, and had seen three little scrawny dogs, ripping up, and eating garbage by the street. She was determined to save them. She got the little white dog, who seemed more willing, but the other two were not as trusting. The lady who lived in the house behind the alley said she had seen one of the two get hit by a car. Tawana said she wanted me to look at them.
"Look at them or catch them?" I asked. "Whatever you think" was her reply. Well we all know what happens next.
Armed with a bag of melted pill pockets and a slip lead, we start to make friends. A neighbor had been leaving water for the dogs and Tawana had been coming daily with food, so these two girls were happy to see us, but wary.

The second dog was fearful, but curious

Tawana and I sat on the ground and the dogs came up to us. The smaller one had a limp from being hit by the car, but did not seem to be in pain. She also allowed herself to be lightly pet, but not grabbed, and any sudden movement sent both dogs scattering.
   Both dogs took the treats from my outstretched hand, with the shy dog standing behind the bolder of the two. My plan was to catch the shy dog first since she became more confident around the bold one.
     As it happens, at one point I was under a bush, petting the bold dog while leaned against the chain link fence, when opportunity knocked, and I made my move.
I quickly slipped the lead from my wrist to over the dog's head, and yelled; " I got her!". Tawana got in there fast and got the slip lead the rest of the way over her head to her neck, while the little girl was thrashing about fighting the constraint . We quickly got her up the alley and into the car, aware that any false move could accidentally set her free again. Once in the car, she settled in Tawana's lap, nervous but resigned.
I wanted to go get the shy dog, so while Tawana got that pup cooled off with the car A/C, I went out for round two. I tried everything I could think of, using all my "dog whisperer" experience, but although I got close to catching her several times, she would always slip out of my fingers.
   We gave up after about 15 minutes of this, and decided to leave with the dog we had. As we headed out from the alley to the street, and started driving away, the little shy dog started chasing after our car.
   We decide to go around the block and come back and try for her, once more.
      Round three - I tried for another 30 minutes, but she was having none of me. Playing; Ring around the rosie, with the little stray was getting us no where, except overheated. It was time to leave her be and go home,
   I promised her before I left, "I'm not leaving you here."

Good News Bad News

2011-06-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Even car straps can't hold him in!

Bad news; Simon greeted me at the door this afternoon when I got in from training. He "Houdini-ed" out of his crate while I was gone. The crate is as you see it, still all locked up, but yet, here he is, wagging his tail, and happy to see me.
I'm afraid I can't say the same.
Good news; the German Shepherd staying with us is very Alpha and did not let Simon get out of control and break/shred anything, or run away. Thank you, Otto.

Simon needs a home of his own

2011-06-05T23:24:00.000-07:00

Simon has gotten quite comfortable at our house

Dear Simon,
You are so sweet and funny. You have come a long way in the short time you have been staying here with us. You have charmed everyone you meet and have made a great wrestle pal for my "Blatzenjammer Kids". What a lovely boy you are!
I would keep you with us, but we have to make room to foster and save more unwanted dogs. Also, I think you would be happier in a home where you could get some well deserved attention. You have a heart filled with love ready to share, and a gentle soul. I think you are ready to go, so now, we will find a family, just for you little one!

2011-05-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

It is official! Simon no longer tries to run away while someone is home, and, while he loves to look out the window, he no longer feels the need to break it. This makes me a very happy foster mom

Simon and Lamb Chop

2nd annual RISE Bash

2011-05-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day we had at Lake Grapevine. This was my first time at a RISE event ( riseadventures.org), and boy howdy, there was lots of activities for the participants.
RISE is a non profit group that provide activities for the disabled, and put on this shindig.

Here is a partial list of some of the events that took place today:
Fencing, Quad Rugby, Rock Climbing, Jet Skiing, Water Skiing,
Tubing, Face Painting, Golf, Archery, a Petting Zoo and much more.
They had all different types of hand cycles available, and it seemed almost everyone got a chance to make at least one loop around the park riding one.
What a full day! I bet every one there, will sleep well tonight.

We're Stuck!

2011-05-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

Since coming back from the Moseleys, Simon has taken two steps foward and one step back.
He no longer tries to escape on a regular basis, inside or out. That is a huge improvement for the better as well as a great relief to me.
However, his crate anxiety has worsened. He had been going into the crate on his own volition, and sometimes I would come home to a dry crate. No more. Now he hides when it is time for me to leave, and he and the crate are drenched when I let him out. He soaks the Thundershirt, as well as the Calming Collar, and walks out of the crate leaving wet paw prints on the floor. Quite a mess.
Very frustrating.
Once a day, I run a 20 minute errand, leaving Simon to have free run of the house.
Upon my return I can visually follow a trail of drool from the chair, to the window, to another window, and which ends in a puddle at the front door. Generally something is also tumped over.
It is time for Simon to find his forever home. He is getting too attached to me and the Blatzenjammer Kids, and since I work both days and nights, he is very often in the dreaded crate, which can't be helped.
I am honestly not sure what the next step is.
Yes, we are stuck

Simon Learns About Love

2011-05-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

Simon greets Chris

When I went to pick up Simon after a week with the Moseleys, he was upstairs with the children, while Chris was downstairs getting breakfast  ready.
Chris says, "Do you hear that?"
Yes,  it was a light banging sound.
"That's Simon wagging his tail".

Chris calls the girls down for breakfast, and we hear ka-thump,
ka-thump, ka-thump, as they slowly work their way down the stairs, while holding on to the railing .
At the landing, I see Simon, but he stops, and looks over at the children who are coming down behind him. The oldest girl says to him; "Don't worry Simon, I'm coming". In this week of living in a loving home, Simon relaxed, and learned what it was like to live with a loving family.
Chris Moseley [http://www.chrismoseley.com/] is a good friend, amazing photographer, as well as a dog lover. You have seen his work on my blog. He took my beautiful title page pic of Lili and I, as well as those fabulous pictures of foster dog Dottie that helped get her adopted [my post: Happy Dog Needs New Home on 6/24/09]
This time Chris and his wife Carey and their children, opened their home and hearts to Simon, to see if a certain amount of comfort, love and stability could help him.
Indeed it did. The Moseley family arranged their schedule so Simon was never left alone. Aside from his first day escape incident and two potty accidents he did well, and got better and better every day.
Simon loves those little girls, and in turn they included him in their games. Apparently, Simon even wore a tutu at one point. Chris taught him to chase a ball and bring it back [ for a Basset, that is a big deal as they are not inclined].
He slept on his dog bed in the master bedroom, all through night. He took car rides to school and back.
I came to visit a couple of times and its a delight to see him thrive in their care.
As they say; "all good things come to an end", and at some point Simon had to be left home alone, for a bit.
He didn't do well. Had several "accidents" in the house and chewed the wooden blinds.
  A family cannot revolve around one dog's anxiety. So, Simon came back to me.
   I want to thank the Moseley family for giving Simon a chance and me a break. We both needed it.
In the week he stayed there, Simon has developed a taste for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and little girl kisses, and he is a better dog for it.

Freddie Mercury - A dog of a lifetime - available for adoption from Highland Park Animal Hospital, Dallas

2011-04-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Happy
Easter!

from
Susan, Lamb Chop (shown)and the rest of the Blatzenjammer Kids

You Just, Slip Out The Back, Simon

2011-03-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

     So Monday finds me slowly driving around the neighborhood, yelling "Simon" out the car window, wishing I was one of those women who only had to worry about where to go to lunch.
   Simon was dropped off at a friends' house two hours earlier where he was to spend a couple of days practicing living as a family pet. An ideal situation with a family he already knew and liked.
Best of all, they like him, and someone was going to be home, so no crate.
   Yea, well the best laid plans.

Simon squeezed/pushed his way through a crack in their side gate. A sliver to us, but to Simon, an opportunity. Someone was out there with him, but that Basset is like quicksilver, and by the time you realise you don't see him anymore, he's already gone.
Believe me, I've been on the back end of him (hanging on to his back legs)  as he is trying to slip away
                            This time there was back up.
Both my friends; Chris and Carey, and a friend of theirs, were scouring the hood as well.
   Turns out he ran up to a lady with a stroller, and I'm guessing, with wearing his Thundershirt,
red herbal Calming Collar, a Basset Rescue Collar, and an "adopt me" collar with my phone number on it, the woman figured he must belong to someone.
She stopped by VCA Lakewood, and they called the rescue number. She then took Simon home, put him in her yard, and put a "found dog" sign on her lawn, and left.

     My friend Chris saw the sign, rang the bell, no one home, checked the gate, locked.
He went up to the second gate and called for Simon, then had him exit the way he knows best, by cracking just enough space for a Houdini Basset to squeeze through.

Simon Says - Relax

2011-03-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

Simon sunning, wearing his cute red Calming Collar

   A collective sigh of relief has hit the Blatzenjammer household, as Simon's anxiety has lessened, and we are all enjoying the lovely spring weather, without incident.
  Since Simon started wearing the Thundershirt he stopped peeing in the crate. Happy Days!
Now we are ready (OK, I'm ready), for yet, another upgrade in the form of a product called a, Calming Collar. (www.calmingcollars.com).
The Calming Collar is made from cotton material and filled with a blend of relaxing type of herbs (Simon has the extra strength). Although Simon has been doing well, he needs all the help he can get, and I wanted to wash theThundershirt, so it was time for a switch.
      Tentatively, I took the Thundershirt off, and put the Calming Collar on.
    Simon promptly went out to the back yard, puttered around a bit, then went to sleep in the sun. Works for me! It is hard to tell which is is working on what since I am layering, behavior training, with different calming products in his food, on his body and around his neck, but he has a serious case of anxiety, which, until now has made him unadoptable. So I am grateful to be able find and use as many solutions or products as it takes to help him stay stress free, because our goal is adoption.
I like the collar, I think it helped. We will continue with the Thundershirt for another week, then see if we can ease off. We will continue with Pet Naturals Calming Formula in his food. Then eventually, we will use only the Calming Collar until he either gets adopted or doesn't need it, which ever comes first.

In the meantime, I going to try a Calming Collar on my dog Trinka who, can't wait to go for her walk, but once out, gets so stressed, she tries to run me home.
My new motto; "Calming Collars for everyone!"

When The Wind Blows - Thundershirt!

2011-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Thundershirted Simon relaxes

I came home Monday night to find a guardian angel had dropped off a Thundershirt, size M, at my front door.

Wow!

Timing couldn't have been more perfect since Tuesday, the wind was blowing like crazy and my old house with it's 25 double hung windows, was doing the merengue. There is a reason my Dad jokingly named the house; "The Wind Blows Through It" [which is even more apt since Simon arrived].

Simon was stressed, and doing the whine/search - fixin to blow routine, so I crated him.
This time, no fussing in the crate, and better yet, no peeing or copious drooling in the crate. Oh, yes, I hope you appreciate that have spared everyone the details of the river of pee I clean up, each time I crate him.

I have kept him in the Thundershirt for three days now, and his crate has been dry every time I have let him out.! That my friends is HUGE!
In addition, he has become affectionate rather than needy, and even licked me once.
Three days of Simon acting like a normal dog, has given me enough confidence to make a bold move.
I opened the drapes on the front window today.
Woo-hoo, look at me living life on the edge!

P.S. My guardian angel turned out to be Tawana Couch with Society for Companion Animals.
Thanks Tawana, I am lucky to have a friend like you.

Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment - Gray (Large)

"Simon, Kennel-Up"

2011-03-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

Getting Simon crated so I could leave the house or to keep him from another escape attempt, was a daily strength training exercise for us both.
He would get in a position only seen in a Cirque du Soleil performance. I hold his back feet up in the air, while sliding my foot under his chest and trying to lift it, while he would wrap his front feet around my legs and hook his neck on the crate entry. The crate is his enemy and he acts accordingly.

Simon wearing a Thundershirt

Then, the other morning, I said "Kennel Up", threw in the treat, and he went right in after it. I was totally gobsmacked!
Ever since then, that is how it's been. He goes in like a regular dog.

We are on our way.

Simon Takes a Break

2011-03-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

I made more changes; a large fan in the living room blowing at full speed to act as white noise, and move some oxygen about the room, Simon is now taking Pet Naturals - Calming Formula with his food.
City Pet was out of Thunder Shirts in Simon's size, so I bought him a doggie sweater until the next Thunder shirt order comes in.
I am giving lots of body hugs and lifts, but no petting, and lots of eye contact but no verbal reassurance.
On Friday, we woke up to a new and improved Simon.
Huh? What? Go figure.

OK so, not only is he not pacing around looking to make a break, he is hanging out. Not only is he hanging out, he is hanging out by me. A couple of times I looked around, didn't see him and yelled "where's Simon?", only to see he was at my feet. I accidently stepped on him twice today, because he was under foot. What dog is this?
It has only been three days but I am relieved and hopeful.
But, as they say;

Just Because You See A Robin Doesn't Mean It's Spring!

I Will Not Let Severe Anxiety Ruin Simon's Life

2011-03-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

   Dr. Carter and the staff at Springhill Veternary Clinic have taken a shine to Simon.
We went in yesterday, to get his nueter stitches taken out, and he sure got fussed over.
They are hopeful he will come around and are so caring.
   Dr. Carter thought perhaps Clomicalm might be the next drug to try since I have seen no changes for the better with his behavior using Alprazolam.

    Simon's anxiety seems to kick in at quiet or relaxing times, or after some excitement. Around here, that's often.
I have started working with him using all non-verbal signals, and eye contact for correction, keeping everything calm.
    Really, I'm stalking him. He thinks I'm everywhere, and I am. I make sure he sees I am staring at him. When he heads for the back fence, I make all the dogs come inside, not letting him make his move.
When he looks at the window [ I can see him assessing the possibilities], I make all dogs SIT for a treat. I watch all his signals and direct all the "Blatzenjammer Kids" accordingly, thus interupting his ability to act out when feeling the panic that overtakes him.
Like Oprah says "Never let them take you to a second location". She was referring to robbers/kidnappers, but lately I have been feeling like a hostage in my own home, so if the shoe fits .....
     Now,when he starts the high pitch whine which means "I gotta break out", I redirect him to a SIT. He wasn't able to refocus to a SIT last week, but we are having success with it, this week.
   An inch of improvement is better than none. I'll take it!

Working My Last Nerve

2011-03-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

My nerves are shot. I was on the back porch putting some newspaper in the recycling bin and I heard the sound of breaking glass. I literally dropped everything, and flew inside yelling "SIMON" at the top of my lungs. False alarm. Turns out, the guy across the street was taking out his recycling as well and he had bottles he was throwing into the bin. Geez.
Here I am a few days after Simon's last "break-away", outside cleaning up the broken glass and, prepping and priming the window frame. Simon is in the crate banging about and howling, and occasionally, I verbally remind him I am right here.
Then I heard him screaming, so I drop everything and go running in, to find, that he had tried to escape the crate by pushing his head against the gate. He had gotten his head through, but the gate snapped back on his neck and he was being strangled.
I had been using bungee cords to double secure the gate after the last time he broke out of it, but he bent and chewed through three already, and I didn't remember to go to the store for another replacement bungee.
So I guess I'll go now, save window repair, for later.

out with the bungee in with car straps

I figured a way to upgrade - car straps!
The thick rubber with steel hooks will make it harder to chew through or bend. I think.
In the meantime, I have started having an evening gin and tonic before dinner.

Dog Gone

2011-03-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

Barley & Simon

My sister, who is also a Rescue volunteer, says it is all about the love. I say it is about stepping up to the plate to help animals in need. I suspect it is a little of both, and then some.
Simon got out again this week. this time before breakfast which is unheard of, for a Basset. He broke another window pane and used the drapes as an exit chute, as well as a silencer. I was home at the time but unaware until Barley [the tattletale], started whining.

I walked into the living room, to find Barley and Lamb Chop staring at the window which had the drapes pulled through to the outside. Simon long gone.

So, 8 AM finds me driving up and down the streets and through the alleys desperately calling for Simon. Oh, I find him all right. He was sitting in someone's backyard smiling and waving at me through the chain link fence. Nobody at home. I finagel him out of the fence and got him in the car.
He came home to a hero's welcome from the "Blatzenjammer Kids". I on the other hand, was extremely aggrivated.
This is his third break and exit. Twice, neighbors have gotten him, once I caught him booking it down the driveway next door. Unbelieveably, each time, he never had a scratch on him.
The next day I fill Simon's new perscription for Zanax.

Separation Anxiety - Step By Step - Inch by Inch

2011-03-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

With Simon's separation anxiety being so severe, I have to look carefully to see if, how I am handling him, has had any impact on his little pea brain,what so ever. Sometimes it seems not, as he is still peeing in his crate, and trying to escape from the house and yard. However, it is the little things that are the indicators of his mental health. For instance; he eats in his crate, and last night for the first time, he got in it and waited for his dinner to be delivered. That for him is HUGE.
This morning, there was no puddle of drool in his empty bowl when I let him out of the crate
[so he could go out for his after breakfast escape attempt].

Good Choices

In the last week he had only knocked down the doggie gate down once, and I no longer have to double gate all the doorways.
Best of all, twice this morning he started his panic whine [which means;"I'm fixin to blow!"], then settled himself in the living room and went to sleep, all on his own.
It may not seem like much to you, but for Simon to think instead of react is unprecedented.
Good choices, Simon.

Saints Preserve Us!

2011-03-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

Today, for the first time in the three weeks since fostering Simon, I came home from work to find a dry crate. No pee on the inside, no pee on the outside, no drool. I did a little jig and kissed the top of his head. We did it!
I had about an hour to eat lunch and get everything ready for my evening training,
About 5 minutes before I was fixin' to leave, I hear a strange noise and look into the living room to see
Lamb Chop and Barley looking at a broken window pane, Simon, not in sight.

Lamb Chop pondering broken window

I rush to the window and see that little Basset, blowing down the next door neighbors driveway.
Running out the front door, I catch up with him at the sidewalk as he is trotting away. It only took a few minutes of acting like I didn't care before I was able to catch that little stinker and get him back inside.
Apparently, the couch had been pushed back towards the window, while the dogs were playing or perhaps Simon pushed it back on purpose to get height leverage. I wouldn't put it past him, but one will never know.

So now, I have made one more of many adjustments to my house to keep Simon in. An X-pen, stretched out across the bay window.

I am not a happy camper.

Climbin' Simon

2011-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

In an atempt to ameliorate Simon's escape efforts, I have moved all furniture into the middle of the room and away from the delicate window panes.
It looks like I am moving, but what the hay.
Simon continues to search for escape options.
The thing separation anxiety dogs need most is structure and consistency, neither of which Simon has. He was found as a stray in Marshall, Texas, picked up and put in a shelter. North Texas Basset Rescue tagged him, so he was then transported to Dallas to his new foster home. Well, then he is in a new home, new people, and new dogs - a big adjustment. There is vetting to be done so he goes to the vet, gets his shots, worming. A week or so later he has to stay overnight at the vet for heart worm treatment. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Panic sessions, running away and general destruction. Too much for the foster Mom, so I volunteer to take him. New home, new foster Mom, new dogs, new rules, another adjustment. Back to the vet, for an afternoon stay, more worming and more heart worm treatment. Thursday, he goes back to the vet for neutering [thank God!], and will stay over night. Stressful situations and anxiety go together like a horse and carriage. No wonder he is in overdrive.
Still, I've seen worse. One of my previous clients dog, ate a hole through her front door to escape and used to climb her, and try to sit on her head. It wasn't a small dog.
Maybe I shouldn't say that out loud

Separation Anxiety - One Step Foward, Two Steps Back

2011-02-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

Dog tired

Ahhhh, sweet Simon, he is falling out of the chair tired.

Well he should be, he spent a good part of the day, breaking out of his crate, then breaking a window and running away.

    This may sound shocking, but this is not unusual for a dog with severe separation anxiety.
Simon is a behavioral challenge, as, no day is the same for him.
   This is how separation anxiety looks for Simon when I leave;
Peeing in the crate, and peeing outside of the crate from inside. Panting and copious amounts of drool while whining and trying to break out of the crate.
    Not ideal for a dog undergoing heartworm treatment.
He is not neutered, and does and will mark in the house, so crating is not optional. One day I was only going to be gone a little over an hour, and he was sleeping so nicely with the other dogs on the couch, so I "let sleeping dogs lie".
Huge mistake!
When I came home, what I saw was discouraging. He had trashed the house, broken a favorite bowl off the buffet, and popped out a window pane.
My bad.
I didn't see today's event coming, and in fact had told a friend earlier in the afternoon, that he hadn't tried to break out of the yard in four days and I thought perhaps we were on an upswing. HA!
   Luckily a neighbor saw him coming out of the alley five blocks away, got him and called the number on his tags, then the rescue group called me. Not before I walked, then drove the neighborhood calling for him.
Sheesh.
So for now, we have upped his anti-anxiety meds, he will be neutered next week which may help, and I have taken him to day care, so I can relax when working.
I am determined we can beat this and he will be adoptable soon, but he sure isn't making it easy on me.

Simon

2011-02-19T23:44:00.000-08:00

Sweet isn't he?

My foster dog, Simon with North Texas Basset Rescue is looking for his forever home.
One little problem: Simon has severe separation anxiety.
Yes this usually "happy go lucky" fella, totally goes into a panic when he is left without human companionship.
He has been staying with us for about two weeks and although I have seen a little bit of improvement, our progress is slow. Tonight when coming home from training, I went over in my head the check list of all routines needed to help Simon overcome his anxiety. I am doing all the steps. I have to remind myself like I remind my clients, it took him a while to get this way, and things don't usually change overnight. In the meantime I continue to persevere, and make training adjustments depending on how he is doing. He deserves a chance to live in a loving home and to feel safe, and if I can help him achieve that, it is worth the challenge, but, boy howdy.

Obedience Class Schedule

2011-02-16T23:20:00.000-08:00

Susan Blatz - All Dogs all Day

Sat., March 5 at 10 AM will be the first of 5 classes for;

Your Well Mannered Dog (basic obedience)

Thurs., March 10 at 6:15 PM will be the first of 5 classes for;

The Mighty Mites - Small Dogs and Puppy Class ( beginning obedience)

Both classes will be taught in the facility of and arranged by;

Canine Country Club Day Spa (dallasdogandcat.com}

214-526-2033

Praise, games and treats will be the rewards for the challenges that obedience brings.

Be prepared to cheer your dog on and have fun while we learn.

For more detailed information check my web site at;
alldogsallday.weebly.com

Soft toys

2011-02-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Look what Luke and Otto's owners gave the "Blatzenjammer Kids" for Christmas!
My dogs were in hedgehog heaven.
We got a full 12 minutes of fun, after which I confiscated the toys before they got ripped up or argued over. These toys live on top of the wardrobe in the living room and come out to play every once in a while. Occasionally, Barley will stand nearby and look up at them, at which point I can take a hint and bring them down for play
This way these toys become a special treat and will live to see many a day. My dogs have an indoor toy box and an outdoor toy box and now hedgehogs on the ledge. Fun will be had from this great gift.

German Shorthaired Pointer Love

2011-02-07T22:36:00.000-08:00

Today, while walking a client's dog, I saw a woman jogging with her GSP. The woman and her dog side by side perfectly in sync. A sight that made my heart skip a beat, for this is exactly the life I would wish for Kass. German Shorthaired Pointers need aerobic exercise, like to keep busy and are happiest when with their people. Kass walks well on lead and will play a bit of fetch. She will head out the doggie door to the yard to flush birds out of the shrubs and chase them as far as the fence. She is a busy girl and will need her new adopter to spend lots of time with her having fun! Tomorrow she goes back to Jason her foster Dad. I will tell him I found her "sweet spot" [underneath and behind her right ear], that she can now SIT with the other dogs and wait her turn for a treat without trying to grab it out from under everyone[ using the WAIT command], and that she is doing better on BACK, when I am eating dinner. Her counter surfing attempts are few and far between. Kass is learning to be a family member of a household. She now crates well and sleeps through to the morning when it is time to get up and go check on the birds. I will tell him, she doesn't play well with other dogs, since she always tries to win or be first. This morning she pinned Simon the Basset to the dog bed by sitting on his head.

She likes toys she can shake, she likes her Cuz ball and will pick toys out of the box to play with. She likes chase games and she is fast. She has a gentle spirit but is oblivious to anything in her path when she is on a "mission". She is lovely.

Simon Says "Let it Snow"

2011-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

What a sight to see! Simon running around in the snow with such glee, then running back to me as if to say, "Come on, let's go!" He waits just a second before he is off and running again.
And then I forget about the pile of pee towels that need to laundered, and the howling that's driving me crazy, and the marking, and I know why I foster.
This little guy deserves a chance to have many days of joy, and I have to help him so he can be adopted and loved the rest of his life.

Kass the GSP - Poetry in Motion

2011-02-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

We are all housebound right now due to the weather, but Kass, my German Shorthaired Pointer, foster dog [texasgsp.org], is finding ways to keep herself busy. Usually you will find her in the shrubs, flushing birds, but there is no bird activity outside, so she is sneaking into Simon's empty crate, and stealing the shredded newspaper to surreptitiously take outside, through the doggie door, bit by bit. I think there may be some food crumbs or smells stuck to it. I am amused and glad she found something productive to do.

Kass, rolling

OK, so truth be told I am totally charmed by her! My dogs, not so much.
This sweet girl is in constant motion. Her tail goes a mile a minute even when drinking water. She wants to be first at everything.
She is all in and she plays to win. She is too much dog for my dogs!

A little bit excitable with people as well but she is so eager and she tries real hard to please. She knows her obedience commands, and a wonderful quick SIT which always earns her a treat.

    She likes to check in with me if there is something exciting going on somewhere [usually a bird in the shrubs] and she likes me to follow her, so she can show me.
   Her favorite toy right now is a large Cuz ball, which she has eaten the feet off of.
Loyal to the end, the Cuz ball [sans feet] is the toy Kass will seek out, and she looks so happy when she finds it again. I am teaching her find it by name.
     She likes to keep busy and knowing how smart she is, I like to keep her challenged.
At the end of the day, she curls up into a little ball and we snuggle together on the doggie bed, while I tell her how special she is.

This is a companion dog for a lifetime!

Separation Anxiety Dog - Day 1

2011-02-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Simon jumps on Kass's crate looking for an escape route

Simon was a stray found in Marshall, Texas and was sprung from the pound by North Texas Basset Rescue [bassetrescuedfw.org].
We don't know what travails Simon has experienced before he was found but one thing is for sure, Simon has separation anxiety.

I couldn't help but notice, Simon tries to mark everything in his path, so our trips through the house to the back door and into the yard, involve me running behind him yelling; "Go, go - outside, outside, move!" Actually this works, as I see him slightly hesitate at the vacuum cleaner, but he keeps moving. OK, there we go.
He will be neutered after he finishes his heart worm treatment.
Although not ideal that he is in the crate flipping out, during his heart worm treatment, I can't have him loose in the house due to his marking everything.
The crate is a stressful situation for him, as it is for most separation anxiety dogs. If the crate is stressful for him you can be sure it is stressful for me.
He handles being in the crate, by barking, scratching the crate, whining, howling and peeing.
We started out with a dog bed in the crate, then switched to towels, now it is newspapers. He has soaked them all. I had to go to my neighbor's house to get more newspaper, and I must say, it was a great relief to get out of the house for a bit.

Oy vey, what have I gotten myself into?

Meet the Fosters

2011-02-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

Kass & Simon await a treat for a good SIT!

Kass a 2-3 year old German Shorthaired Pointer from;Texas GSP Rescue [texasgsp.org] and Simon, a 3-4 year old boy from; North Texas Basset Rescue [bassetrescuedfw.org, are my new foster dogs. Kass is a lovely high energy sweetie pie and I have her temporarily while her foster Dad takes a trip. Simon will be here for a while. He is a nice dog but a little needy and has separation anxiety, so we will be working on building his confidence,

Today Simon was sleeping on the dog bed and Kass stepped up on him so she could get a boost and see if there was anything she wanted on top of the buffet. Simon just gave me a very sad look and waited for either her to get off of him, or for me to save him [it was the latter].

I think that just about sums up both their personalities in a nutshell.

I also think our lives have just gotten more interesting!

Greetings and children

2011-02-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

Lola takes a break

My pupil Lola and I often head for her favorite park to walk/train and play fetch. We never know what adventures await us there.
On this particular day, what awaited was an inadvertent fan club.
   Off leash dogs on our favorite hillside had us redirect our play to a side area near the playground. With Lola on a 30 ft. long line and me holding her ball, I turned to see 6 children ranging in age from about 13 to 4 headed, well actually running towards us.
   Lola loves attention, but being rushed by a gaggle of yelling kids is not an appropriate way for any dog to be approached.
So I hold up my hand toward the kids, and tell them "WAIT".
The "WAIT" hand signal and command when used properly is very effective for dogs as well as children.
I always make children ask their mom if they can say hello to the dog, before any interaction. In this case the mom was on a bench across the playground on her cell phone, vaguely watching them.
It was clear they had permission by default.
I showed them how approach a dog, with an outstretched arm and downward facing fist. Because the kids were eager to interact with Lola, I told them she would fetch the ball if they would throw it, but she had to SIT for them first. So for the next 10 minutes, Lola would SIT for each kid as they threw the ball. I was in charge of collecting the ball back from Lola and giving to the next kid in line.
The kids were delighted, Lola was eager to please, and went after every ball no matter where it went.
   I think this was a great experience for everyone. Lola had fun, waited for each child's turn patiently, and let me handle the way the game was played. The children learned how to meet and play nicely with dogs.
We are always open to a spontaneous teaching experience!

Your Dog's Nose Knows

2011-01-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite teaching books is called Fun Nosework for Dogs by Roy Hunter.

This book starts with some basic challenges and ends with teaching us some serious tracking skills.
I make a point of using scentwork when I am working with an excitable dog that needs to learn to settle and focus, or a dog that is too smart and is bored.
Scent work can also be turned into a game to play casually with your dog.
The two of you will learn together, how to work as a team and have fun while doing so.
At one point I looked into tracking with my Basset, but then I found out how early in the morning the tracking groups meet, and it put me off.
So, for the most part we've played around with some of the challenges up to about page 30, where the instruction starts to get serious, but the book is an interesting read, even if you don't do any of the exercises.
It will make you see your dog in a different light when you are on a walk and see his head lift up, his mouth part and his nose twitch.
You will wonder, what does he know, that you don't.

"LOOK" command

2011-01-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

"LOOK", "WATCH", or sometimes just plain "HI" is a great way to check in with your dog, as well as to teach your dog to check in with you.

Alex, [a future service dog for CCI]
demos the "WATCH" command

It goes both ways.

When practicing around the house, it should be a command given casually with verbal praise as the reward.
Here are the "LOOK" steps.

When approaching or passing your dog, stop and make a sound with your mouth (anything like a clicking of your tongue or kissing sound),
At the same time, wiggle your fingers by your eyes or you can use the traditional V signal ( See Robert DeNiro in "Meet the Fockers")
Then quickly capture your dogs attention by;
Using a carefree tone - say your dog's name, combined with the command (such as "Howard, LOOK", "Ruby, WATCH" or "Ziggy, Hi")

* Now, here comes the hard part;
4. You have to smile. Hold the smile and eye contact for 1-2 seconds. Yes, smile, yes 1-2 seconds.
5. Now, you say; "OK" or "Thank You" or both or something else of your choosing, and just as quickly;
6. Walk away.

All in all this practice should take 3-4 seconds from start to finish. Easy, no?
You are just checking in!

I might add, when working outdoors, or with puppies, deaf dogs, or recalcitrant dogs; you may use a small treat held up by your eyes to direct your dog's attention.
When teaching my foster dogs this command, I use a "HI" command, knowing that at the meet and greets, that is a common word used by a potential adopter when greeting a adoptable dog.
Making eye contact is the first step to making a love match.
Making eye contact is a good way to stop a dog before they a bad choice.
With dogs and people the use of eye contact is a powerful tool. Dogs know this, people do not.

Checking in on Clifford

2011-01-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Clifford and me - a reunion

-
The last two years on New years Day, I have been marching in the Cotton Bowl parade with Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas. This year the parade had no sponsor. No sponsor, no parade - bummer. I loved being in the parade with the rescue Goldens.
I love that folks could see 20 or so beautiful, happy dogs and realise this is what a rescue dog looks like. Maybe someone, when ready for a dog, would think about getting a rescue dog because of the dogs they saw in the parade
Instead, I went to visit Clifford at his foster home to see how he was getting on.

When I last saw Clifford, I had picked him up from Dallas Animal Services for Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas, and had dropped him off at the vet to be taken care of. He was cleaned up, put on meds for his ear infection, dewormed and neutered.
Later in the week, as his health progressed, it was determined that was ready to be placed in a foster home. His foster home would help him get healthy, show him what it is like to live as a valued family member and to put on a little more weight on that skinny boy. Then he can start the the next step, the harsh heartworm treatment, which takes about three months. Clifford is doing great at his foster home, and is almost ready for the heartworm treatment.
The last time we saw each other, he was scared, stressed, ill, and he stank.
It was wonderful to see him thriving under his foster Mom's loving care. He looks happy, has found his spirit, and runs with all the household dogs.
Soon, Clifford will be ready for adoption from Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas. He is a low key kinda guy, and I believe his motto is;
"If you need me, I'll be right here next to you".
Truely this boy wears his heart on his sleeve [so to speak] and is ready to love.

There Is No Place Like Home for the Holidays

2010-12-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

I as I was walking over to the pet store I saw an excitable yellow lab looking dog, walking a guy down the street. The guy was smiling and the dog's tongue was hanging out and they both seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Then I turn the corner, and saw a young couple walking a cute puppy, and every few feet, they stopped, kissed the pup on his head, and ruffled his neck, then continued walking. On my side of the street a few feet ahead was a young woman with a cute little dog, and she was bent down over him and was kissing the dog on his head as well. So when I came up to them I asked her; "Is this kiss your dog day?" Turns out these people were all volunteer dog walkers for Metroplex Mutts [http://www.metroplexmutts.org/] and there was an adoption day in front of the pet store. I spent a little time talking with the volunteer and learning about, Kaiser the charming Schnauzer mix she was walking. Of course I went over to see the other dogs, and I must say, what a variety of pups available to some lucky family. They had lots of dogs,everything from Chihuahua mixes, to Labbie mixes to a Great Pyrenese mix. I fell for a matched pair of two light colored Basset/Beagle mixes, charming. There was a beautiful Siberian Husky- ready to go.
I'm not sure how many dogs there were but I would guess about 10-14 dogs all saved from the Dallas pound or from the street.
Someone for everyone to love. There are not enough foster homes for all these "fur babies", so some have to be boarded. All need homes. All appreciated the attention and kisses the volunteers gave them and responded in kind.
Metroplex Mutts does such a great job and like every other rescue group depends on the kindness of strangers. If you are inclined they need money to help with medical and boarding expenses. If you are willing, they need people to transport dogs, walk dogs or help in various other ways. If you are looking for the love of a good dog, search no more, they are here waiting for you to take them home.
Check out their web site, check out their dogs. I think you will be inspired,

Hyperbole and a Half: Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving

2010-11-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

Sara,
Thank you, for turning me on to thiswell crafted and oh so funny story.
I'm sure most people can relate to some if not all of these dog situations.
The pictures are charming.
Susan
[for a good laugh, click this link]

Hyperbole and a Half: Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving

Antlers for the Holidays

2010-11-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

As I was wandering down Greenville Avenue, I stopped in at a little shop called;
    Avenue Barket [http://www.avenuebarket.com/].
A charming little shop with everything your dog could need or want.
   When what to my wondering eyes do appear - a wall of deer antlers by the front counter. ALL SIZES! No worries, they are naturally shed so there are no deer heads attached. Cindy says they can hardly keep them in stock.
Do you know why?
     Because dogs love their deer antlers!
Owners love that they are a clean chew and they keep the dog busy.

  When buying for your dog, make sure the antler is large enough so it is not a choking hazzard.
Keep an eye on your dog while he is chewing the antler.
Personally, I would not give antlers to dogs in a multiple dog household, unless you are quite sure there will be no guarding or stealing issues.
           That means most of my client's multi dog households as well as mine.
                             Oh well!

Doggie Toy Box

2010-11-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

It is a wonderment to me, how often my dogs go to their toy box during the day, to choose, and I do mean choose a toy. They dig through, shove things over and finally pick something.
Some dogs have favorites, some dogs just want what the others have.
    Little Toto, terrier that he is, actually gets in the box and roots around, and almost always picks out the biggest chew bone.
    We take our toys quite seriously at this house. We have inside toys, outside toys, and game toys.
Our inside toy box is a wooden wine crate. The perfect size, and very accessable to all dogs.

The criteria for what toys I keep in the box are this;
1. It has to last at least two weeks
2. I must be able to get multiples
3.The dogs like them enough but not too much

I like to have a mix of chew toys and tug toys.
CHEW TOYS - Large is better than small [no choking hazzards].  The chews we use are hard plastic
I always buy one to start and if at least one dog likes it, I keep two out.

These are just a few of our favorites;

Nylabone - Dura Chew- Knot,
Nylabone- Double Action Chew                                                 Nylabone -Galileo Bones.

Fido- BowserNylon Tuff
Fido - Bowser Extra Tuff
Fido - Grenades

TUG TOYS - Large enough so there is enough space between the dogs for some give and take.

Tuffy's - Mega Ring Tuffy's - Tug-O-War
Booda - has a nice line of sturdy rope tugs.

We also like those bungee soft toys [ we get the duckie]

Use what works best for your dog.
Keep an eye on your dog to make sure the dog is playing safely with the toy.

I keep my toy box rotated with old and new toys. When I bring in a new one, I slip it into the toy box so there is no fuss, and I also throw a worn one away. This keeps the dogs interested, and we all could use more nice surprises in our lives.

Have fun!

Handsome Boy - follow up

2010-11-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

Our "Handsome Boy in the Woods" has been named Peyton. He is safely ensconced in his foster home and is playing with all the other dogs there. To see his profile, or to adopt Peyton or one of the other lucky dogs that are happily waiting for a forever home, or, to donate a little something for their care and up keep, contact;
Texas Little Cuties [texaslittlecuties.org]

Let's get Peyton a home for Christmas!

Another Happy Ending

2010-11-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

Buckley the whining Basset [not], from North Texas Basset Rescue has been adopted to a nice couple with an older female Basset. Congratulations to Buckley and his new family!

Clifford

2010-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

     I am at the front desk, behind someone looking for their lost dog who is waiting behind an irate woman with some sort of indiscernible problem.
   When it is my turn, I tell the Animal Control Officer I am picking up a dog for Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas. Oh yes, she pulls his card. She knows the dog I am here for, and has me follow her to the back to get him. He sees us approach the cage and cowers into the interior. The officer goes in after him, and talks to him quietly and gently touches him. He flinches at her touch. I hand her a collar and she snaps it on him, then slowly leads him out from the back, and just as slowly slides that door shut. Then she asks for the leash, clips it on walks him out of the kennel and hands the leash to me.
All very professional, and very compassionate. These seemingly simple movements are all about saving a life
I am already aware this boy has an ear infection, so I am careful not to touch his head. He is a big Golden [82 lbs], and terrified. He leans the whole of his body weight on me successfully pinning me to the wall. I have to cajole and push him with my knee to pry him off of me.
   There is paperwork to sign, before we leave, but in no time we find ourselves in the parking lot in the sunshine. I am using my happy nanny voice; "There now, you did well, now we just have to get in the car and go, what a good boy you are, a very good boy". The Golden is trembling like a leaf and is not convinced.
Can one large, fearful Golden Retriever fit into my little Petunia? Yes, but only if he wants to.
   There in lies the rub.
I used all my usual techniques to no avail. I tried the harness, I tried treats, I got in, and, I got out,
I opened a few doors, I opened all doors, I moved the seats up. I jollied, I begged.
He just stinking wasn't going to get in. He didn't know me, and I didn't know him so there was no way I was going to manhandle him in. I decided to let him get to know me. I sat on the running board next to him, petting him and he lifted up a paw for me to take.
We made a connection.
Then I whispered sweet nothings into his ear; "Sweetie you got to get into the car, rush hour is starting and traffic is backing up." "We have to go through downtown, and then on Central to 635, and it is going to get bad really soon, you gotta work with me sweetie".
  My final trick which I use often with one of my client's Goldens is to back the dog away from the car, 10 paces, turn him around, then run him in. Momentum usually does the rest. In this case, this Golden pulled his front feet up when we reached the car, so they didn't touch. Then I knew, that was his "tell".  If I could get his two front feet on the inside of the car, he would have go in. So I lifted him up as best I could using the harness and pushed his front legs into the car with my foot, and in he went!
Time: 20 minutes.
   We were off to the vet. This boy is heartworm positive, had a fever, an ear infection, and wounds around his neck and face. He will have to neutered as well. Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas saved his life, and now will care for him and help get him well. The heartworm treatment alone is very expensive, dangerous, and takes three months, so he still has a long road ahead, but he is well on his way.
As we speak he is in his foster home, surrounded by other Goldens, and sleeping on a big soft bed.
Good night Clifford, sweet dreams.

It Takes a Village to Save a "Handsome Boy"

2010-11-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

He was the neighborhood dog, a brindle, Boxer/Pit mix [?] who was living near the woods, but would join dogs and owners on their walks, and was sweet and playful. Many of the neighbors were feeding him, but there were a few who were not comfortable having him around and had called animal control to come pick him up. As a dark colored muscular adult dog, odds are, once he goes in to the pound it is unlikely he will be adopted out.

Tawana Couch [SocietyforCompanionAnimals.org], really liked this fella, so she put the call out to everyone she knew to see if anyone could/would take him into their rescue group. Larry Powell mentioned her plea on his online writings [readlarrypowell.com], on behalf of this dear boy.

A woman emailed Tawana and said she knew of a rescue group
that may have an opening and then contacted that group to tell them about Tawana's stray.

Time was of the essence to get this dog off the street and in a safe place.

Melissa of Texas Little Cuties [ texaslittlecuties.org ], called Tawana and agreed to take the brindle boy, as one of her foster dogs is getting adopted and she will have space for him.

Brilliant! Tawana gets the dog to her house, by taking her two dogs for a walk, and leashing the stray when he joined them, then before he knew what was happening, Tawana started running as fast as she could with all dogs in tow, and she ran them all into her house. Clever girl.

Tawana and Melissa with our boy!

Next step; a car trip to drop our boy off with Melissa at the Texas Little Cuties "meet and greet" at Petsmart in McKinney.
Tawana discovers our boy is afraid of cars and will not get in.
     Tawana calls me and invites me to "lunch", which has turned into our code word for "Dog Rescuer needs assistance from Dog Whisperer".
I load up some donated crates and head her way the next day.

First thing I notice about this dog is, how scared he is, the second, how handsome he is, third how much he loves Tawana.
It's all good.
  He is nervous, but allows me to put a harness and leash on him, then we slowly, slowly follow Tawana out of her house and once out front, go potty. So far so good.
   I have Tawana get in the back seat of her car, with the box of Churches fried chicken. The dog and I go around to the other side and open the other side door and we wait. Our boy smells the chicken, but is unsure. He looks around. I wait, loose leash, and let him assess the situation, and let him get comfortable. I say nothing, I see who he is, and I just let him decide.
He decides. He jumps in to the back seat with Tawana [and the chicken]. "Did he just jump in?" asked a surprised Tawana. "Yup, close the door", I said.
Tawana pulls shut her door, I close the door on my side and run around the car to their side.
Tawana holds our boy while I slide in, then I hold him when she slides out and gets into the drivers seat. She's got hold of him while I belt him in, and, away we go.

He is scared and spends the whole trip north on the floorboards.

We arrive safe and sound, see the meet and greet set up outside Petsmart with all sorts of lovely dogs, and go inside to find Melissa.
He deals with the automatic doors, the crowds of people, and butt sniffing dogs on every aisle, with aplomb.
Melissa sees him and says "What a handsome boy".
Exactly.

His new life is just beginning. He deserves a chance at being the love of someone's life. This boy is something special!

Melissa crated him at the end of the line of other crated dogs, away from the hub bub.
He just sat and took it all in with a Buddha like essence. I watched as every single person who passed his crate reached in and rubbed his head, sometimes three people at a time crowded around him.
They can see who he is as well. Yes, this dog is something special.

Personal Space

2010-10-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Barley after getting his face washed and teeth cleaned by Winston

Barley is the foster care director at our house. He introduces all new foster dogs to household routines, the doggie door, and sometimes serves as bouncer or herder to a rambunctious dog.
He will also tell on them.
These. responsibilities weigh heavy on him

Barley is tired of the hub bub and wants to take a break from having to share his stuff, his yard and share his time with me.
So for a bit, it will just be me and the Blatzenjammer Kids living at Wind Blows Through It; working in the yard, doing home repairs, and playing ball.
Saving dogs is important, but sometimes we all need a little personal space.

Winston's Big Day

2010-10-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

It seemed like just another ordinary day. Wilson gets up, goes out for his poop and a pee, followed by breakfast, then a couple of games of chase with; Buckley the Basset, Samantha the GSD puppy, and Lola the Cockapoo. As usual Winston is always "it". He had everyone zooming around the yard, in and about the garden and through the shrubs. A jolly good time was had by all.

Of course no morning outing is complete without he and Toto vying for the unstuffed bunny head. Usually Toto picks it up first, then wanders the yard trying to find a spot to hide it.
Winston dogs Toto's heels while maintaining a respectable distance.
Eventually, this makes Toto nervous, so he drops the bunny head, but not wanting Winston to have it, backs up and pees on it, before leaving.
Winston waits a minute, approaches and assess the situation, and if it smells OK [Toto, doesn't have the best aim], picks it up runs around the yard, showing off his trophy. A good routine for sure!
All dogs come in, Winston is crated, everyone else settles down while I have my breakfast and get dressed before "round two".
Today was a little different since we had a visit planned for the afternoon, to a family had been waiting to adopt Winston.
I had needed more time to work with him on his potty issues, and the family was sharing the flu between each other, and not quite ready for company.
Now, it was time. They were well and Winston was ready.
Right at the get go, Winston walked in the house liked he had always lived there. He was followed around by a 16 year old Pom, named Prancer, who was quite curious. As hoped for, the family was delighted by Winston and his jaunty attitude. They were on board and ready to continue with Winston's potty program and also ready to handle any mistakes. They said he very much reminded them of their Prancer when young. I felt good about the family's ability to handle Winston, and I knew they would love him, but for me, the magic moment was when Winston got on the couch with the husband, who started rubbing on him, then Winston sighed and rolled over, totally giving himself up to being loved.
This was the moment he has waited for his whole life.

Go Fast

2010-10-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ruby, the Boxer puppy

If you have a smart and lively dog, it is in your best interest to direct his or her mind, and help release their energy with directed play. Daily owner and dog aerobic playtime is a must. Redirecting your dog from unwanted behavior, before they make a bad choice is crucial. Owners that use these two good habits, combined with crating are well on their way to a well mannered dog. Your dog wants your attention, and is eager to please, but may get bored, and may have too much energy to burn, thus may challenge your authority.

Nothing personal. It is the way of the dog.

I love the Air Dog product line. The squeaky tennis balls are brilliant and so much fun. Get a whole bucket of those balls and take them out in your yard with your dog and keep those balls rolling and squeaking. Your dog will be happy, your neighbors, curious.

Sometimes, sleep is lost

2010-10-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

    I woke in the middle of the night, to my dog Trinka, leaning over me, and panting so hard the whole bed was shaking. Still wishing I was sleeping, I tried to get her to settle and lay down. No dice.
Seconds later I heard a low rumble. Some kind of weather was rolling in. I did have laundry on the line in the yard and since there was no calming Trinka, I get up and take a few dogs out with me to see if I can grab the laundry, and let the dogs "go potty" before the rain starts. We are headed in as drops started falling, so at least that was good.
  Trinka is still where I left her, sitting on the bed, panting fast and shallow. Well, I need to sleep, and am determined to ignore her, but Toto can't, the moving bed has annoyed him and he starts a swan dive off the bed on to sleeping Lili below.
Yelling; "Noooo..... Toto, WAIT", didn't help. He lands on Lili and wisely, keeps moving.
   Lili now up with a start, looks around and feels the weather change, and sees a flash of lightening through the parted curtain. She had bad storm anxiety, until her old age. Now she often sleeps through it.
Not tonight though. I'm guessing no body's sleeping tonight.

Lili is up, gets a drink of water, she pushes the bowl. She's pacing, back and forth around the bed.
She rocks the rocking chair with her foot, and pushes books off a small table. This is seeming more like a haunting than a nervous Doberman acting out. All this anxious activity has now scared Trinka, who squeezes into a small dog bed in the corner. Lili tries to sit on top of her.
What does a dog behaviorist do at a time like this? I go with the flow.
I go to the kitchen, make a cup of herbal tea, go back to the bedroom, turn on all the lights and the radio, pick up one of the books off the floor and read. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Buckley shares his concerns

2010-10-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

THE SUBJECT;

Buckley a handsome Basset boy about 4 years old, with a nose when stroked, feels like velvet

MY MISSION [if I choose to accept it], Teach Buckley in one weekend, to stop his constant whining.

I pick him up Thursday evening, take him home, and we go out to the yard to potty and become familiar with the new sights and smells. I then settle him down in a comfy dog bed, inside a big crate, in the back room. One more potty before bed, then it is a large dog biscuit and lights out. Tomorrow I will see what we've got.

Well first thing, we've got is an early riser. Buckley is up and ready to be let out 6 AM. Soooo, much earlier than I am used too. Oh well, I can always go back to bed after potty [yawn].

Friday is my day to observe and direct. I see Buckley's whining is always in response to outside stimulas. When outside in the yard; a dog barking from afar, a child's voice from across the street, watching a stalking cat, and general urban noises. He whines when he wants us all to go inside, and sometimes he forgets I am right behind him, and gets distressed. He whines as I dish out the dog food, perhaps anticipating his meal, and paces and whines for no apparent reason. Oh yes, Buckley is a whiner, no doubt about it.

Saturday we start a three point training program.

#1 - A crate is Buckley's safe place. He will eat in it, sleep in it, go in when I leave the house, and go in when I think he is getting distressed [preferably before he starts whining].

#2 Train his brain waves to be able to refocus to the commands; COME and SIT

#3 Let him know I got his back, before he starts fussing.

Luckily the weather was beautiful, so we spent much of the time in the backyard with the other dogs.

Easy, no. Each time Buckley heard a noise, or looked to the fence, I either told him "I got it" or called him to COME and pet him for the COME. If he couldn't refocus, I had him "Kennel Up" for a treat.

Once in the afternoon, and once in the evening we had a group "SIT for Treat, round robin.

My dogs were happy with the extra practice, Buckley struggled, sometimes immediately offering and sometimes hesitating on the SIT. He just wanted the treat and thought he might wait me out for it. Patience is a virtue when training a Basset Hound.

By Sunday he started checking with me first when he felt distressed. He came to my COME command quickly. And, better than anything a few times he went back into the house, and when I went looking for him, he was curled up in his crate. He just needs a break from thinking. Really don't we all.

OK so, yes Buckley has for the most part stopped whining, however his foster family and his "forever" family will have to continue to direct and protect him. Eventually he can be weaned off the crate.

Ideally his new family will teach him more obedience commands to help him focus. He should not be left out in the yard without his owner, who will be there for him to handle any causes of distress.

Buckley is a funny and sweet dog. He got along with the dogs here, and had joined in their chase games around the yard. I would get on the floor with him, and he would sit in my lap and melt as I gave him a head rub. This great dog, is available for adoption from North Texas Basset Rescue.

I am so happy I was able to help Buckley. Now he will be able to be adopted to a wonderful family who will enjoy this wonderful dog, because as my mother always said "Nobody likes a whiner".

Winston - Eager to please

2010-10-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

Winston says "hi", and wants everyone to know he is catching on
and trying really hard to be good.

Today we went to the park on the 30 foot training lead. What a hoot! Winston trots ahead like he owns the world, his tail waving in the air announcing his arrival. He was really curious and stuck his nose in and under everything. Ignored the kids, barked at dogs and tried to follow the joggers home. At one point I tripped and started to stumble, but caught myself. Without me even saying anything,Winston ran back over to me.
I didn't think he was even paying attention. What a good boy!

Winston - One Week!

2010-10-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

     Well things have taken a turn with Winston. Barley is play/herding him in and out the doors, as Winston jumps up and licks him in the mouth, much to Winston's and my delight.
     Toto and Winston have become competitors. Each tries to beat the other to the "kennel up" treat.
On the run they are very similar in size and color. So far I have mistakenly put Toto in Winston's crate, and Winston in the bedroom [Toto's space], only to turn around to find the other one standing beside me.
I am seeing double!
    This evening the whole gang was playing chase in the yard with Winston as "it". Wow, nice.

Multiple dog households

2010-10-03T01:53:00.000-07:00

The challenges of living in a multiple dog household, many. The joys, tremendous!
  However it is nice, on a daily basis, to remind your dogs who buys the dog food, so to speak.
A fun way to do this is; SIT for TREAT.
Your dogs can be taught to all "SIT" at the same time, then "WAIT" their turn.
This routine is bases on a SIT command, so each dog should know the SIT command first.
We are using treats, so no food aggressive dogs allowed.

First; direct all your dogs to "SIT"
"Vi, SIT -   Gator, SIT    -    Lady Bird, SIT    -      Edward, SIT".
Say the command one time only, but you can reuse your hand signal.

Then; wait for all bottoms to go down. Timing is everything, since the dog who sat first may get bored waiting for the last, and who can blame him. So, the second the last dog's bottom hits the floor, get ready to dole out the treats.  Call each dog by name before you give him a treat. Space the dogs out, and make sure everybody is minding their manners and staying in their own "personal space".

The treats are given on an outstretched open palm [ no snatching, thank you very much], with a verbal "Good SIT', given at the same time. You may repeat a few times, but end this game before the dogs get over excited. I like to use these Zukes mimi naturals. They are small, yummy, healthy, and only one calorie. Perfect!

So, the next time things seem to be getting of control, hit the doggie reset button and SIT for TREAT.

Pet gates - a review

2010-09-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pet gates can make your life so much easier, Especially if you have a multiple dog household. I love my dog gates, my plumber loves the dog gates. I use them so I can use the vacume without getting attacked by Toto. I can make a bed easily without that bothersome lump of dog that always seems to find his way between the sheets, before I'm done [Barley]. During feeding time, each dog gets to eat in peace behind a gate. My 15 year old Dobie always waits to hear the gate "click" before going to her bowl.
Try cleaning one uncooperative dog's ears [Trinka] without a gate. You end up with more ear cleaner on you than said dog, while all the other dogs crowd around trying to see what's going on.
Really we are talking boundries and personal space on a daily basis.
I have found the metal walk thru gates to be totally brilliant. Easy in, easy out.
I have both the tall and regular height gates.
The pressure mount makes it easy to remove if need be. I highly recommend it.
The metal bars assure you that your new foster dog won't be scaling the gate [ Lulu].
Beware; some small dogs; around 10 pounds or under, can pass through the bars [Coconut, and Ellie for sure]. Extensions are also available if you have a doorway wider than ususal.
Easy breesy.
How do you use your gates?

Winston -day 4

2010-09-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, look who was in my chair when I got back from getting a glass of water. I do believe our little boy is getting comfortable.
   He has been trying to get my dogs to play with him, but they are put off by the jumping up on, and barking at, style of invitation and all have a declined.
We have had four days accident free, due to my diligence, his willingness to please and the doggie door.
   Winston is a good boy, but needs an adoptive home where the people are willing to go out with him and wait until he goes. At this point he is still limited, but since he went out on his own last night, I will give him more time loose in the house, while keeping one eye on his where abouts. That does mean however that I am taking a chance, not only with my carpets but also of his new good habits backsliding if he makes a mistake. If I see him even sniffing at anything too long, I will be up and he will be out. I'm just saying.

Winston - Day 3 - Evening

2010-09-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Winston and I were working on our after dinner SIT for Treats routine, and we added DOWN, which it seems he knows, the he added a ROLL OVER. So I am curious to know what other tricks and commands he knows. He is a lively little guy and is slowly coming out of his shell.
Tonight while I was doing the dishes, he let himself out of the doggie door and was gone for a few minutes. I think he went potty on his own. Now that is something special!
"Good Potty, Winston",