Category: dogs-puppies

Brush ME, no ME

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Rosey always loved being brushed!  Since we’ve had her she gets excited when she sees me picking up the brush.  I was given one of the “brush” mitts.  I wasn’t sure she would like it but it seems that she likes it just as much as the brush.  Whether I get the brush or the mitt out, she is so excited she can hardly stand it.  

She’s always first.  I begin to brush her and she stays still and soaks up all the attention.  When it’s Clarks turn it becomes very comical for us.  She runs around him; she tries to get between Clark and the brush and she rubs on the back of it (while I’m brushing him).  She dances around and around wanting to be brushed again.  No matter how much she’s brushed, it’s never enough.  It’s amazing how much energy this 13 1/2 year old dog with arthritis has when it’s brush time.

More “new dog” tales/tails

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It was last April that we rescued a sweet old girl.  She has great energy, no longer acts her age and makes me giggle every day. 

Well we rescued another dog.  My old lab passed last January.  I’ve had labs for about 40 years.  I love labs and I love big labs.  I’ve wanted another, although I felt it was more important rescue a dog that really needed a safe and loving home. 

I’ve been looking at many shelters for about 2 months.  I have certain criteria also.  Over 4 years old because I’m too old and my mother is way to old for a puppy or very young dog.  It must be good with other dogs and cats, as well as young kids because I still have young grandkids.  I also want a black dog.  Black dogs are my favorite but also they are often not adopted. 

We thought we found a dog that would fit our home well.  He wasn’t large but the same size as our Rosey who was adopted last year. This one to needed a safe, loving forever home as much as Rosey did when we found her.  As it turned out, they told us that he didn’t like kids  but had forgotten to mention it in his description.

As far as labs … I first had black labs.  Then when my kids were young we had yellow labs.  We had a beautiful 100 lb, (white) yellow, female.  Later I had a black lab again.  I also prefer the English labs with the stocky body, shorter nose and block heads.  My older son has only had and only wants chocolate labs.  I never imagined getting a chocolate lab but there they were.  If you know me at all, you know that when it comes to dogs … my preferences mean little as as soon as I’m face to face with them, I love them all.  The bigger they are the quicker I melt.

Two chocolate labs were at the shelter.  This big boy is 4 years old; good with other dogs, cats and little kids.  One of the labs was a beautiful 100 lb boy.  We were instantly drawn to him.

We went to see them, brought our dear old dog, Rosey and left the shelter with Clark.  He is the most lovable dog.  He is the biggest love.  He wants to be loved on constantly, which is difficult for me to resist because I melt.  He isn’t energetic.  He’s kind of a lazy boy.  The ball thrown 4 -5 times is good for him and he’s ready to roll in the grass or watch Rosey play.  Walks is how this boy will get exercise I believe.

Taking my own advise … or not

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I was an over-protective mother to my boys.  I have no idea how many times I’ve said, “Look both ways for cars; keep your head up when you walk; don’t talk to strangers; check in and don’t be lured by someone offering a reward to help look for a puppy; etc”.

About 12 years ago I went car shopping.  I was talking to the only salesperson at a small car lot.  He seemed a little … different but we are all a bit different to someone, right?.?   

At some point this salesperson mentioned there were puppies in a shed in the back.  Now if this were a movie, I’d be thinking, “Only in a movie”.  As the person was walking to the shed, I’d be saying, “Don’t you watch movies?”  “Leave now, RUN!”  Nope, I did it, I went into the shed to see the puppies.  I seemed to have lost all sense of reality and was memorized by the thought of seeing puppies.  

I came to my senses and left there.  What on earth was I thinking?  Thank goodness this car lot was on the corner of two very busy streets.  

Water Dogs?

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I’ve had labs (Labrador retriever’s) for over 40 years. They are water dogs, well typically they are. One of my labs was a beautiful 100 lb female. When it rained, she would not go out until the rain stopped. She would also avoid puddles. That was hilarious to watch her tip toe through the yard, stepping around the puddles.

I had another lab who also didn’t like stepping in anything wet. When we’d go for walks he would refuse to step in any wet grass because he didn’t like his ankles getting wet. If it was raining outside and I’d open the door to let him into the back yard, he wouldn’t go. If I went out with him and made him go out, he’d rush to go potty and then back to the door to get back inside. He didn’t like it if I let the grass get to his ankle height either.

Our newest rescue dog is similar. If it’s raining outside, she does not want to go out. I have to coerce her into the yard by pretending like I’m going to run out there. She start to run into the yard and of course she goes potty and rushes back.

What is it about me that my dogs don’t like being in the rain or getting wet?

Hostage Dog

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In the early 1990’s I saw a large dog roaming our neighborhood. This was concerning because we were/are pet lovers, had five of our own fur babies and years earlier out dogs got out of the yard when we weren’t home.

I got a long rope and got the dog to come to me. I tied it up in front of our house so hopefully its owner would see it. I gave the dog bowl of water, a couple of gnawing toys and of course a couple of biscuits.

I also looked at the dog’s tag. There was no phone number but the rabies tag was from the same vet that we took our animals to. I called the vet and with the rabies number they were able to give me the owner’s phone number.

I called the owner, told him who I was and that his dog was roaming our neighborhood and that I I had his dog tied up in our front yard. With an angry tone, the man said, “No you don’t! My dog is in my yard”! I asked him to go look because … I had his dog. He got back on the phone, very angry now and asked who I was and what I wanted. I told him who I was, where I lived and again, that his dog was wondering around our neighborhood and I tied it up in our yard so that he’d find it safe and sound.

This conversation lasted much longer than I ever thought it would. This man was convinced that I was holding his dog hostage because I wanted something from him. I finally told him to come get his dog and I wouldn’t even come out of the house so he doesn’t have to interact with me.

Yikes … someone had a guilty conscience.

New dog misunderstandings – Part 3

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Have you seen a video of or have had a cat that you put a harness or sweater on? Well, I put a harness on our new dog so there wouldn’t be a strain on her neck while she’s learning how to walk on a leash properly.

Much to my surprise, she behaved as though the harness weighed 20 lbs. She stopped moving instantly and acted like it was too heavy for her to walk. Once I did get her to start moving, she dropped to the ground and laid on her side, just like I’ve seen cats do in videos. Although I did my best not to laugh at her, it was hilarious! Did I mention that she is not a small dog.

She must’ve been raised with cats because there are a few things she does that I’ve only see cats do. For instance, when I point at something that I want a dog to look at, typically a dog will look where I’m pointing. When I do the same with a cat, the cat will look at the finger that is pointing.

Is this because cats believe they are more intelligent and superior to dogs and don’t want to look silly and a dog doesn’t care? Ha ha … who knows?.?. Our new, old dog looks at the finger not at what I’m pointing at. And to be honest, it makes me feel silly to keep pointing when she clearly doesn’t get it.

She also does this when I’m putting a treat in her dish. She looks at me like, “I just saw it in your hand. What did you do with it? Are you magic? Where did it go?” I can point to the dish where the treat is sitting and yet she will continue to look at my hand.

Other areas, she learns really fast so I know she’s capable. So much FUN!

New dog misunderstandings – Part 2

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If you’ve seen the movie, “BIG” there is a scene where Tom Hanks tastes caviar and doesn’t spit it out so much as lets it fall out of his mouth before he wipes it off his tongue. This was hilarious (to me) and one of my favorite scenes.

I know you might think you know where this is going.

I’ve always had canned pumpkin on hand in case my dog gets an upset belly. A few table spoons, a few times a day most often did the trick.

I had a dog that was on a non-chewable medication. I would use a plastic spoon to get a large scoop of pumpkin and put the capsule in the center. We had it down so smooth that the pumpkin (and capsule) would slide easily down his throat. He’d then get another two scoops to ensure it went down.

I was thinking our newest dog might have a belly ache within the first week of rescuing her. I got out the plastic spoon, loaded it with pumpkin and THOUGHT she’d open her mouth to take it. She didn’t so attempt number two.

I didn’t make the airplane sound or gestures but did try to get her excited about it. She opened her mouth and in went the pumpkin. She opened her mouth, tipped her head downward and out plopped the pumpkin. She wouldn’t even lick it off the floor. I have NEVER seen a dog do that before. It was hilarious.

A while later we tried it again and, yup … had the same results. The next time, I put it in with her food. Yay! Success

New dog misunderstandings – Part 1

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We rescued a senior dog from a shelter 10 days ago. She is 12 years old and it doesn’t seem that she’s had the greatest life. She doesn’t know what a toy is and doesn’t know how to play, other than what appears to be how she played with another dog. She isn’t house-broken and doesnt know any command either.

She’s turning out to be an amazing dog. She is kind and gentle. She doesn’t make a sound and we were sure that she must’ve had her larynx removed but a few days ago she heard something and barked. Yay! In this short time, she has come to trust me, which at times takes awhile for a rescue animal.

She’s doing great at learning to potty outside and head for the door when she needs to go. So I thought the next thing is to learn something new.

I decided to teach her to fetch so we got a couple of toys that belonged to my other dog. We stood at each end of the hallway and tossed a ball and a toy back and forth. My hope was that if we acted excited about the game, she would join in. I could swear that each time we tossed a toy, she’d look at me as if to wonder why on earth we were doing that. I think I caught her rolling her eyes at us too.

Ok, so that didn’t work. She had absolutely no interest in the toys, any of them. A couple of times she got excited and began nibbling at a cushion and a throw blanket. This got me thinking, she needed something to naw on and she didn’t like what I had out for her. I got 5 old socks that were in a bin to be used for dusting, (a couple of them were heavy winter socks). I tied two knots in each of them. Years ago I had dogs that loved to play tug-of-war with old socks with knots. I did my best to encourage her to play with it but she wasn’t interested in them. The next day she’d occasionally pick one up and naw on it a bit. The next day she’d pick one up and carry it to the couch with her.

Yesterday she brought three of them to the couch, one at a time. YaY! She has something of HERS that she loves. Here’s my chance to teach her to play fetch, right.!?

I took the heavy sock that she seems to like the most and threw it a couple of feet. She ran to get it! I cheered her on and encouraged her that this was a great thing that she just did! She came running to me and I cheered her on again! I took the sock from her and threw it further. I cheered her on as she got it and started running back towards me! I was so excited, we were playing fetch … but oh, I guess we’re NOT. She ran by me and went into the other room with her sock.

Today I attempted to play fetch again with the same results. I know, I know the same thing will produce the same results. Clearly she did NOT understand why I’d cheer her on and then take it away from her.

One day we’ll get it down, I’m sure of it … really I am.

Guard dogs? The mom dog

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There was a time, many years ago when we had a small dog (terrier-chihuahua mix) and large labs. When the doorbell would ring the dogs would all bark like crazy. The small dog would jump up and hit the door at about 5 ft high. With the combination of barking dogs and the thump of the door being rammed, the person on the other side would have no idea how many beasts were ready to pounce on them.

We could see out the peep-hole that often times the person on the other side was wide-eyed and had backed up, 10 ft from the door. What they didn’t know was that the little dog was the biggest threat. She wasn’t as loveable as the large dogs.

One time, a cable person came to install or adjust something (I really can’t remember). As he was tinkering behind the TV, this little dog sat and watched his every move. He asked me if she was going to bite him and I said, “I don’t know, I suggest no sudden moves”. What a great little guard dog she was. I was sure she wouldn’t bite him and would have felt awful if she did. What I did know was that there was no way he was going to get to close to me.

When this little dog was younger she wasn’t very friendly with strangers and did not like kids running and yelling. She was the second mom in the house. When my youngest son would run through the house, she would nip at his ankles to tell him to slow down.

She was also the boss of the labs. When they’d do something she didn’t want them doing (like playing too rough), she would nip their bottom lip (probably because at a quick jump that’s what she could reach). They would lay down and stop what they were doing.

When one of our labs had puppies, she wasn’t completely interested in attending to her pups like I believe most moms would. Our little dog again stepped in. Although she couldn’t feed them, she would be close by if they needed anything. She was very attentive to those nine puppies. At five weeks old, they were the same size as she was.

As she got older, she learned from the labs that the nicer you are, the more strangers will want to pet and give attention to you. Her name was Sugar, although Spice would have been more fitting. We had a cat named Spice that we had adopted as a kitten close to the time that we adopted Sugar as a sweet little ball of fluff.

Irresistible Rescues

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Warning: This may start off a bit emotional. If you want to skip that part, go down to the fourth paragraph.

I love animals large and small, large like bears and lions; small like pet (domestic) rats. When I was young I wanted to be a veterinarian and even had the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship of sorts when I was 14 years old. I found that I couldn’t handle watching animals who had to be put down and I never returned.

We had a few pet rats when I was a kid. They were very friendly and sweet. They would cuddle and lick and never nip or bite. We had dogs and cats I loved them all. My weakness is the baby animals.

From the time I was a young adult, I always had rescues. My first as a young adult was a black lab pup that was found. A work colleague called and asked if I wanted it, knowing the answer of course. Unfortunately he died when he was only six months old. When my boys were very young my husband and I got a black lab. When he was about 4 years old he had a neurological issue and became vicious and eventually had to be put down.

When my boys were still pretty young we got a lab pup from a nice small kennel. She grew to be a large lab. This was my third lab. She was a beautiful yellow lab and almost white. Her AKC name was Accents of Ivory Jasmine.

I had never had a small dog and thought it would be nice. My husband went to the pound and found a half-chihuahua/half-terrier. We named her Sugar.

One day (while Sugar was still a pup) the boys and I went out garage sale-ing. My oldest boy needed a bathroom so we went to a former baby-sitter’s house. She was happy to see us and told my son to use the bathroom in her bedroom.

Only moments later my son was making all kinds of strange noises. He yelled for me to come and I bolted into the bathroom only to find a litter of kittens. The garage sale-ing stopped because we needed to go to the store and buy whatever our new kitten could possibly need. Her name was Spice. (Her name was Spice because I was starting a theme, not because I baked a lot).

Next we bred Jasmine (a one time thing and we gave away most of the pups to our friends). One of the pups had to be resuscitated shortly after birth. We kept her because her feet were huge and we knew she’d be a big girl. Thank goodness we kept her because she was developmentally challenged. She was such a sweet dog but much like Odie (of Garfield) and was like a 4 month old puppy her entire life. My husband named her Comet. Comet? After a ball of fire in the sky or a cleanser? Who knows. Obviously there was no respect for my pet-name theme.

Our next pet came to us, much like all the kids selling whatever. There was a sign above our door that read “Sucker” or “Softy”. Regardless it seems that we were the only ones that couldn’t see it. There was knock on the door one evening. There was a person with a kitten. I melted and my husband (standing behind me) said, “No” before this person even spoke. The person pleaded and said they were moving and that the mother cat was hit by a car and … oh my what a story. Who knows if it was true or not but my husband still said no. And me, well I don’t need a story.

The next morning, my husband left for work and within 15 minutes there was a knock on the door. It was the same person with the kitten again. I can’t even remember what was said, probably, “Please”. I, of course took the kitten. The boys went off to school and I went off to get kitty stuff. I’m not sure why I wasn’t at work that day but thank goodness.

When the boys got home from school I told them not to say anything to their dad when he got home. Ha! He walked in, the boys were standing there with grins as wide as their faces and he knew. He said, “You got the kitten didn’t you?” His name was Cinnamon.