Chew Til They're Two - Talk2thePaw's Blog - SacPaws.com http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw Life with a dog. Life with a dog. en-us Is This Training or Charades? http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/491 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/491 <p>Allie was very easy to train -&nbsp;very quick to understand and respond.&nbsp; She was a star in her training class for the Sit and Down phase.&nbsp; Sammy, on the other hand, is not so easy.</p> <p>There are times when she responds perfectly.&nbsp; There are times when she thinks we're playing charades.&nbsp;&nbsp; She and I struggle particularly with Down.&nbsp; How hard can that be?&nbsp; </p> <p>I know you're supposed to say the command only once, but time passes and Sammy is still standing there and staring at me, waiting for more clues to this game.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I say it again and give her the flat-hand-facing-down signal.&nbsp; She sits,&nbsp;tilts her head and squints a little.&nbsp; She's intent on getting whatever treat is in my hand.&nbsp; Her glance moves from my eyes to my hand and back to my eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p>Again I tell her Lie Down (which is what my husband tells her) and give the hand signal again, this time lowering my hand nearly to the floor (which is what my daughter does).&nbsp; She'll lie down, but not relax over onto one haunch, another requirement for getting the treat.&nbsp; When no treat comes she leaps back to her feet and we begin again.</p> <p>Now she's desperate for the treat so she's really paying close attention to my every word and action.&nbsp; She's thinking, &quot;Okay, I hear the word Down.&nbsp; She's moving her hand down low.&nbsp; Down.&nbsp; Hmmm,&nbsp; something is down.&nbsp; What would be down that would make her so excited?&nbsp; Ooooh!&nbsp; I get it!&nbsp; Prices are down!&nbsp; There's a sale at PetSmart!&nbsp; Yay!&nbsp; Let's got to PetSmart!&quot; and she does&nbsp;a happy dash around the kitchen.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p>I completely understand now why people pay to have their dogs trained by someone else.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Sammy is a Golden Cappuccino http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/477 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/477 <p>We've been confused about Sammy's breed(s).&nbsp; The family we got her from thought she was a Pitbull.&nbsp;&nbsp;So far only one adult and a couple of kids have asked if she's Pit.&nbsp; Every other person has immediately asked if she's Boxer.&nbsp; </p> <p>Her appearance varies widely.&nbsp; When her ears are down, she has a sweet little Beagley face.&nbsp; When they're up and she's squinting, she looks very Pit.&nbsp; Her coloring is golden fawn with a white chest and paws with some pale gray spots on her chest and belly, and dark eyes and nose.&nbsp; Because the of the fears people have about Pitbulls when people ask what she is, our answer depends on who asks.&nbsp; If they look calm and brave we tell them Sammy is a Pit/Boxer mix.&nbsp; If they look fearful we say she's a Boxer mix.</p> <p>The other day when I was getting ready to color my hair she was supervising the process closely.&nbsp; I asked her if she'd like to color her fur, maybe do a few highlights to frame her face, or would she like to do the same color as me - Golden Cappuccino?&nbsp; That's when it struck me what a great description that could be of her breed.&nbsp; </p> <p>Responses to hearing that Sammy is&nbsp;a Golden Cappuccino have been interesting.&nbsp; Two people just burst out laughing.&nbsp; One took a long breath, raised an eyebrow thoughtfully&nbsp;and said, &quot;Hmm, I've never heard of that breed.&quot;</p>


Title:
Caption:
Credit:


Title:
Caption:
Credit:

Sammy Joins the Family http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/403 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/403 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">A new dog has joined our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Our Allie ran away earlier this summer and was hit by a car and left us heartbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We debated about getting another dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Life is easier in many ways without one, but we missed the whole-body wriggles greeting us when we come home, plus, frankly, we&rsquo;ve gained weight without a dog to exercise with&hellip;</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Sammy is a 10 month old Pitbull, though so far everyone asks if she&rsquo;s a Boxer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Her former family had owned her since puppyhood but recently their older female dog decided she wanted to be their only dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It was a sad parting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They loved Sammy dearly and she adored them in return, but we are thrilled to have her join our family.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">It has been interesting having a new dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She looks remarkably similar to Allie, but is very different in personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Allie was a hyperactive chewer who loved to be outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sammy is our Pillow Princess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She loves to nap, indoors, on the couch with her little head on a pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Allie barked at visitors and occasionally in chorus with the neighborhood dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sammy is silent (we&rsquo;re not complaining!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She also does not chew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When her owners said she doesn&rsquo;t chew I was doubtful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Chewing is what puppies do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>But, so far, no chewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No destruction whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It&rsquo;s a beautiful thing.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Sammy is a sweet dog and already has us wrapped around her little paw.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> Allie's Final Dash http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/350 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/350 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Allie, who was known at the dog park for fast and endless running, has made her final dash.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Running was her source of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She ran so much that we never had to trim her nails &ndash; they were worn down to near nubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The few times that she slipped off her leash at a river or stream she would run away as fast as possible with a fierce intensity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>There was something desperately important that she was trying to reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Some unknown one she needed to meet. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">In our backyard she would check in with Baby, the tiny dog next door, then tear around the yard in wild dashes that we called her Psycho Circuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She&rsquo;d run back to the fence to talk to Baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Maybe to check her timing, maybe to find out how many circles to make on the next circuit, then she&rsquo;d be off again zooming around and around the yard, through her little pool, skittering across the patio, gripping the grass with her strong claws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Tuesday after work I came home to an empty yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Our six foot fence and locked gates could no longer contain her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>In a brief time while we were all away from home she went over the top and ran South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>We searched the entire neighborhood, talking to anyone and everyone on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>We checked the dog park and quickly made posters to put up.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">There are very kind people in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>We received an anguished voice message from a man who took the time to move her body out of traffic and placed her on the grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>By the time we got there her body had already been removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Someone had called Animal Control and they had taken her to a more peaceful place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;T</span>he staff at Animal Control was&nbsp;very kind and gracious to us in our grief.</font></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Stunned and sad as we are, it is a comfort to know she isn&rsquo;t wandering alone and hurt or scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;Before she came to our home, Allie had obviously been&nbsp;abused and she had some&nbsp;fears and memories that we were never able to soothe.&nbsp; But now, a</span></font></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">s in the poem &ldquo;High Flight&rdquo; Allie has slipped her surly bonds of earth to never again be afraid.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">High Flight</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Sunward I&rsquo;ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">You have not dreamed of &ndash; wheeled and soared and swung</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">High in the sunlit silence, Hov&rsquo;ring there,</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I&rsquo;ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">My eager craft through footless halls of air . . .</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Up, up the long delirious burning blue</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I&rsquo;ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Where never lark, or ever eagle flew &ndash; </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">And, while with silent, lifting mind I&rsquo;ve trod</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The high untrespassed sanctity of space,</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">- John Gillespie Magee, Jr.</font></p> <p><font color="#000066" size="2">&nbsp;</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> Rough Time at the Dog Park http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/343 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/343 <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">We have a usual dog park where we take our dog, Allie, several times a week.&nbsp;She has her favorite dog buddies that she loves to play with.&nbsp;We also really enjoy hanging out with the other owners.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s a very interesting and diverse group of both dogs and people.</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">One of the regular dogs is somewhat overly aggressive.&nbsp;She and Allie sometimes play okay and sometimes the other dog will pick a fight.&nbsp;The owner is apologetic and really wants her dog to be good. We all keep an eye on them and separate them when necessary.&nbsp;Not the best one would wish for, but you do the best you can to make it work.</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">Last night the dog quickly dove into Allie. The owner and I separated them and they ran off to play with other dogs.&nbsp;A new guy to the dog park walked over and said &ldquo;When dogs fight you should take them by the collar and put them nose to nose.&rdquo;&nbsp; The other owner and&nbsp;I were horrified at the idea and said NO!&nbsp; He insisted it was a good idea so I asked him exactly what good he thought that would do.&nbsp;He said putting them face to face they couldn't fight and they would become friends. </span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">I said, &quot;No! Not with my dog. You can try it with your dog, but NOT with my dog.&quot; He asked why.&nbsp;I said, &ldquo;There is too much potential of them ripping each other's ears or face off!&rdquo; The other dog&rsquo;s owner agreed.&nbsp;Frankly, I can&rsquo;t think of a worse thing to do with fighting dogs than to hold them in close proximity to each other.</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">We stood there silently for a minute or two watching the dogs run around.&nbsp;Suddenly he grabbed Allie's collar, dragged&nbsp;her over&nbsp;to the aggressive dog and shoved her into the dog&rsquo;s face.</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">I went HYSTERICAL, grabbed Allie by the collar, yanked her back and went totally hysterical yelling at him.&nbsp;He started yelling too, defending himself and saying it was a good idea.&nbsp; </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">I reminded him that I'd said, &ldquo;No! Don&rsquo;t touch my dog.&rdquo;&nbsp;He kept defending himself over and over.&nbsp;</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">It ran through my mind to call 911 but we decided to just take Allie home.&nbsp;When we were walking out of the park&nbsp;a guy walking in said, &quot;Sometimes other people have to separate dogs that are fighting.&quot; (There&rsquo;s always someone who has no idea what&rsquo;s going on but feels they are an authority.)&nbsp; I said, &ldquo;He didn't SEPARATE them.&nbsp; He shoved my dog INTO a fight!&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">&nbsp;</span></span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #444444">The audacity of a stranger to grab my dog and shove her into an aggressive dog&rsquo;s face is just beyond my comprehension!</span></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> Chew Til They're Two http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/222 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/Talk2thePaw/222 <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Five more months.&nbsp;If it&rsquo;s true that dogs chew til they&rsquo;re two (and shed til they&rsquo;re dead) then we have five more months of destruction.</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Jawzalynn.&nbsp;Jaws O&rsquo;Destruction.&nbsp;Allie has many nicknames.&nbsp;When the man from the rescue group was checking out our backyard before letting us have Allie, he looked at the white plastic chairs and said, &ldquo;Oh, she&rsquo;ll eat those!&rdquo;&nbsp;So far those chairs are pretty much the ONLY things she hasn&rsquo;t chewed up.</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Not only does she chew things up but she also scatters the remains all over the yard. </div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The very center of the backyard is the usual spot for her destructions. We soon learned to look for missing items in that area &ndash; her Altar. </div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Stuffed animals &ndash; gutted </div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Any plywood that blocks her path &ndash; gnawed </div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Tennis balls - defleeced and peeled</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Leashes (3 so far) - bitten through</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Slippers, couch pillows, roll of toilet paper - chewed and spitty bits scattered</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Doormat &ndash; chewed edges, flipped through the air like a Frisbee</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Concrete chunks from the patio &ndash; she enjoys rolling these around in her mouth like gum</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Wicker flower basket &ndash; it was old and so brittle that it shattered into hundreds of pieces </div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Concrete flower basket &ndash; it weighs at least 15 pounds but we found it in the middle of the yard with tooth marks in the terra cotta glaze.</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I bought a new carpet runner for the mudroom, laid it down and left home for about 90 minutes.&nbsp;It was a very stiff carpet about 2 feet wide and 6 feet long.&nbsp;Unfortunately it went right up to the steel security door to the backyard.&nbsp;In those 90 minutes Allie reached her head through the cat-size hole in the door pulled the whole rug out and utterly destroyed it.&nbsp;I couldn&rsquo;t pull that rug through that hole if you gave me three hours!</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">It sounds as though we leave her alone for hours with access to the entire house, but many of these things have happened in seconds.&nbsp; You turn around and your pillow is gone.&nbsp; We look at birds in the trees and the leash is in pieces.&nbsp; Mere seconds!</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Rawhide chewies have become a staple in the grocery cart.&nbsp;Friends at the dog park have suggested pig ears but the thought of ears scattered all over the backyard is too awful.&nbsp;I like the anonymity of plain rolled hide.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s best if you can&rsquo;t clearly identify what kind of animal it was.&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</div> <div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I&rsquo;m thinking of making an album of things she has chewed.&nbsp;Of course a corner of it will be bitten off.</div>


Title: Allie ready to play
Caption: Allie loves to run in crazy circles, especially when she's carrying a toy or stick. She'd rather play Keep Away than Fetch.
Credit:


Title: Allie ready to play
Caption: Allie loves to run in crazy circles, especially when she's carrying a toy or stick. She'd rather play Keep Away than Fetch.
Credit:

Allie ready to play Allie loves to run in crazy circles, especially when she's carrying a toy or stick. She'd rather play Keep Away than Fetch.