Yogurt, peanut butter and strawberry filled Kongs.
The heat is on. The dog pool is full at all times. Frozen Kongs with peanut butter and/or plain yogurt are at the ready. And finally, after it was 92 degrees in my house well after the sun went down, I gave in and turned on the air conditioning. Today I took Captain with me while I drove out of town to meet and assess a few dogs for possible transfer from one rescue to another. Both dogs were well behaved and, though it took some time for them to warm up to this stranger, they really enjoyed the time eating treats on the grass and getting some sun. While handling one of the dogs I was about to re-enter the building when I realized a man had a 6 month old black lab bounding around the lobby off leash. I backed away from the entrance with the leashed dog, not knowing how he would do with other dogs. Then, the door opened and the young dog bounded out of the doors ahead of its person and jumped all over the leashed border collie in my hand.
"I do not know how this dog is with other dogs, he does not belong to me. Could you move your dog away?" I said
The border collie began to growl annoyed at the young dog and his rudeness.
"It's fine. He is fearless." The man said as he put some things in his truck. First ignoring his dog and then walking over grabbing it around the belly and hitting the border collie with his other hand. "Quit it!" He said to the dog on my leash.
Oh boy! Is that guy lucky that wasn't my own dog. If it had been I would have gone wacko on him! Sheesh! And boy is he lucky that this particular dog turned out to be very tolerant indeed. A shelter dog, stressed and confused, not knowing where he is exactly, or who his person is anymore, then rudely licked, jumped on and generally clobbered by a stranger dog and finally smacked on the head by a person! Biting could have been his next move! But it wasn't. Good boy!
So often people let their dogs, young or old, clobber other dogs. The dog whose space is being invaded may respond with a growl to warn the invader that his behavior is indeed very rude and unwelcome. This behavior, on the part of the growling dog, is appropriate! Learn more about how and why by reading this article called "He just wants to say, HI!"
After leaving the clinic Captain and I went for a stroll in down town Cedar Rapids. I had thought the farmers market would be on-but I was wrong :( so we just strolled around a block or two until Captain began to look tired. Then we stopped at the farm. Off leash, Captain took off out of site and had me looking all over for him! My mom found him and attached a bell to his harness so if he went out of site we could easily find the little investigator! He was only out of sight for a few minutes, but in that time had worn himself out again and was ready for a nap in the shade.
Comet enjoys sitting in the bay window.
Earlier this month(June has flown by!) Captain was my special helper in the strawberry patch in the backyard! The first time I went out with him, I set the first strawberry into a little container as I searched for more. That first time, there was only one strawberry and when I looked back at my container Captain was eating my one and only berry! Next time, he came along I kept my berry container very near, beneath my chest as I bent over the berries. Then, when I found a berry that had been pecked my birds I captured Captains attention and threw it into the grass encouraging him to "Find it!". He loves this game.
By now you all know that I save my peanut butter jars, then when I get 3 (one for each dog) I let the dogs lick them clean before I toss them out. Captain loves this, but the peanut butter jars (actually they are plastic not glass jars) are small and Captain can't get his smoosh face into them. Bugsy and Comet-the pointy faces dogs as they have now been dubbed- have no trouble.
Commence the saving of yogurt containers!
Perfect size for smoosh face dogs to stuff there whole smoosh faced heads into!
Another 'pointy face' breed I love is the Jack Russel Terrier or the JRT (or Parson Russel Terrier). I was lucky enough to hang out with one of my favorite JRTs at Camp Bow Wow while I was working there this week, his name is Rebel. He is a typical JRT with his high jumping and white and tan coat markings. In honor of the adorable JRT I thought I would share the Dogs 101 Jack Russel Terrier episode.
Here it is!
I'm pleased to announce I have accepted the position I was hoping for at the Raptor Center! Yahoo! I will start in July! Bugsy and I are kicking butt at trail running, attacking hills I used to huff and puff just hiking on. As well as our trail running, Bugsy and I are hiking trails carrying packs in preparation and in the hope that I can find a hole in my schedule big enough for the two of us to fit in a three day backpacking trip on the Ice Age Trail . AND, as you can see from the above video, Captain and Comet are two peas in a pod. I'm working lots of hours, this week close to 70(thank goodness for my dog sitting mother!). I'm gardening, and running and of course walking a certain 3 dogs daily, so you can see why I've been slow to catch up with my blogging!
Please forgive me.
Check out this blast from the past.......
These pictures turned up recently and I just had to share. I sure do miss ole Harry Dawg.
(below)Here is how Comet is keeping cool. I have put a step stool next to the tub so Captain can choose to hop in easily but so far he is choosing to stay out of the water. We shall see as the temperatures continues to climb.
Captain, after his bath drying his handsome fur in the wind and sun
Wow! Spring is flying into summer fast and my planner looks like the aftermath of a tornado! Scribbles of plans, appointments, work schedules on every day! Busy, is a good way to be. Next week I will meet with the Raptor Center in the hopes that I might snag a job there(that I am TECHNICALLY maybe not 100% qualified for since I'm not a trained vet tech,so cross your fingers for me!), or maybe just a volunteer spot. Either the job or volunteering would get my foot in the door working with wild animals. At first thought to most folks, animals are animals, but wild animals and domestic animals are very different. Cows, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, pet rabbits, are all domesticated animals. All these previously listed animals I have worked with in some form. Wild animals on the other hand, like snakes, skunks, eagles, hawks, deer, and moles, are very different indeed. As a friend put it, volunteering at the animal shelter you see sweet faces that bond with you and you want to take them home. A turkey vulture is awesome, but you will never feel the urge to cuddle it or bring it home. So true!
Last Sunday Bugsy and I ran our 5k. We didn't walk a single step of the race. We ran! Bugsy did amazing! I was fully prepared to avoid all runners and dogs from a good distance should his herding drive urge him to treat the other participants like sheep. Just as we practiced on all of our training days before, Bugsy ran by my side or slightly ahead, never once exhibiting herding behavior inappropriately. I am one proud red tri-colored Australian Shepard from an animal shelter lover!
In the last week of our training Bugsy and I jogged by many compliments.
"Beautiful dog!" One power walker said as he strode by.
"What a good boy." Another walker said.
"Did you see that pretty dog?" A biker called out to her companion.
Good thing Bugsy can't understand all English! With all these compliments he might get a big head!(hardy har har.) On our very last training day a couple of women stretching in the same shade I was stretching in asked me if I always run with my dog. "Sure." I replied. "We have been training together for 2 months and run our first race tomorrow!" As the conversation continued I made sure to mention that Bugsy, whose behavior was being constantly complimented on(they struck up conversation after we jogged by and I had Bugsy jump over some obstacles and then balance on a horizontal post.), was adopted from the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter.
"Really?" One of the woman said unbelieving. "THAT dog came from a shelter!?"
I beamed with pride and told of Bugsy's transformation from a smelly unkempt dog who was barely leash trained to this wonderful running companion at my side.
Good boy, Bugsy!
This week Bugsy and I are increasing our training by trail running on the slopes and through the forest of the Wickiup Hill Learning Area. After rewarding myself for my 5k success with new trail running shoes we had our first pass at the trails yesterday with much success. I was amazed at my own ability to keep moving at a jogging pace up the hills over and over again. Bugsy loved it. I think we both enjoyed the change of scenery from the pavement and fields of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail to the forest foliage and shade of the Wickiup Hill Learning Area. Instead of cranking up the tunes like I had been on the last few runs at the nature trail, I opted out. Instead I listened to the birds and the rustle of wildlife in the greenery around us. The birds and wildlife are plentiful there and so are the mosquito, which I have found I cannot out run.
Speaking of itching, guess who got poison ivy?!?! Yup, you guessed it! I did! On a hike with Bugsy and Comet through Wickiup 2 weeks ago we found that trail maintenance was well over due (at many of the parks this year signs are posted apologizing for this and asking for patience. Infrequent maintenance caused by budget cuts, vote for trail maintenance people! and save me from poison ivy!). Luckily I had just recently looked up poison ivy to remind myself of just how it looks in order to be prepared to avoid it. I was smart to have done that, because that evil plant was creeping all over the trails. I found myself jumping and hopping around like a child pretending the ground was lava. I began avoiding contact with my dogs when I saw them rustle through the ivy leaves as I zig-zagged a path to my own safety. Eventually, we made it passed the worst of the problem and in the open meadow we continued on until a familiar sound of movement through dry leaves stopped us in our place. 4 feet away from me, to the west, was a creature moving above ground and scampering about the dry leaves. The animal was below a coverage of greenery. I struggled to identify this creature as I wondered why an animal would stay here so close to 2 dogs and a human. At this point I did realize that between me and this creature was a distance of four feet scattered with poison ivy. Holding tight to my leashes, I held my ground unable to deny my curiosity. I waited.
Eventually a gray creature moved its way through the underbrush and over a pile of decaying leaves before ducking back underneath those leaves likely to scavenge some bit of food or hunt for insect prey. It was a mole. Perhaps because the west wind was at its back it paid us no mind even as, when it's body became momentarily visible, Comet barked and lunged near to it, pulling me into the patch of poison ivy. A single leaf grazed my ankle. I, being highly allergic to that nasty plant, immediately hiked out of the park, and drove home to shower. I quarantined the dogs to the yard until I could properly wash them and put all hiking clothing as well as collars and leashes into the wash. Still, I developed a rash. But, with minimal exposure and a round of prednisone the rash is already subsiding and with diligent avoidance of itching did not spread much beyond my ankle.For this I am thankful.
Besides our runs Bugsy joins Comet and I on a daily walk that is a distance of about 2(+?) miles. We walk past the neighborhood and further into the country where we pass by a skunk den and sometimes its resident. We practice our obedience on the road. I ask for a sit or a down when we see a deer staring at us 100 feet ahead on the road. Comet will oblige me, but as soon as he is released he gives in with a loud bark and a lunge toward where the deer had been. Bugsy has more self control, but still becomes excited. We walk, then "Sit" I say and we pause to watch the pair of geese and their goslings move away from us. From one pond to the next they waddle on the banks of the ponds' connecting stream. The adult geese watch us closely. The dogs watch the geese closely as well.
When the pavement turns to gravel we turn around to avoid getting gravel in my shoes. We stroll by the purple flowers growing up tall in the grassy ditches. The dogs stop to smell each of the smashed down grass paths made by skunks or raccoons that come out in the night. The last leg of our walk we cross a bridge that hovers over a stream where minnows swim and the dry grasses around it sometimes are occupied by snakes sunning themselves. If I am lucky I see the snake before curious Comet scares it away. After this we move beyond the picturesque farm complete with white wooden fences bordering the green pastures where 4 large calves feed. If the calves are in one of the pastures near the road they come up to the edge of the fence to greet us and we stop to watch them watch us. The dogs put their noses in the air. I take notice of how quickly the cows are fattening up and hope to meet the farmer near the rode one of these days to ask him if any of that beef or beef bones might be up for sale(for me and the for dogs as well). How funny it might be to eat an animal I have greeted countless mornings in these green pastures bordering fruit trees.
Captain never makes it so far as the farm or the skunk den. Instead his big adventures come in the form of sniffing the wildlife paths made in the tall grass in the ditches near home. He sniffs and sniffs and covers himself in dew. I then give him a quick check over for ticks before we move onto the next path. Undoubtedly these paths are the highways for snakes, skunks and racoons the later 2 of which likely come into neighborhood yards at night to scavenge through left out trash or compost piles.
Believe it or not, at night I have a little "spare time" in which I am reading a great book I have got to recommend to you! If you haven't already read "In the shadow of Man" By Jane Goodall ,I am only at chapter 6 and already I think you all should read it! I'm having a lot of fun reading it. The part in the book when Jane starts leaving bananas around camp to attract the brave wild chimpanzees made my brain go "Hey look! Training! Positive reinforcement!" Training and positive reinforcement are everywhere. Has anyone noticed how I have been rewarding (positive reinforcement!) myself when I meet my running goals and adding incentives like music, new shoes or new locations to my running? I'm training myself!
Spring is butting up against summer! Rain and chill meeting muggy days with temperatures in the 80's. Today Bugsy and I ran further than ever before, and it almost made me puke.(no pain no gain, right?) The air was thick and the sun beat down on us. My new pact to myself, GET UP EARLIER! I woke up this morning, looked at the clock which said 7:45 and in my sleepy haze counted back from the time I thought I fell asleep. I deduced that I still had 20 more minutes before I achieved 8 full hours of sleep and went back to bed.....for almost 2 more hours! whoops.
I've been up late reading a book given to me by an awesome lady friend whom has just accepted a position at the Born Free Primate Sanctuary in Texas. I am so proud of/jealous of her! (seriously though, WAY TO GO RAYCHEL!!)She is an inspiration. The book I am so glued to is "Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers" By Amy Sutherland. If you enjoy not just dogs but all sorts of animals and if animal training is of interest to you this book will fill you with an intense realization of what opportunities there are for animals trainers and what it takes to be a good one.
It's hard to believe I have any time to spend reading at all. I am taking steps to begin college courses next fall, applying for volunteer positions with animals, taking two physical fitness classes now and hoping to add another 5k to my schedule, still working full time at the group home, planting in the garden, running daily with Bugsy and hiking every other day with Comet in the pull harness. Also, next week I will excitedly return to Camp Bow Wow to take a position as a "Camp Counselor". As a camp employee I will work with groups of dogs. I will monitor play, as well as do a far share of poop scooping, cleaning and feeding.
Comet and I have been hitting the trails as time allows. I attach his leash from his pull harness to the waist belt on my back pack and I hike hands free. Comets eagerness does not fade as we climb hills in the rain and neither does mine. As a matter of fact, if it is raining I'm harnessing him up and heading out because the rain seems to reduce the amount of ticks we bring home. When we are done hiking and arrive back at the car I work on Comets agility and encourage him to walk the wooden beams that outline the parking area with me(Bugsy and I also do this after our run). I remember in obedience class, both as a pup and later as a young adult, Comet saw the nearly 5ft high beam with ramps on each side and ran up then across it with ease and pleasure. At the park these wooden beams, only about 1.5 feet off the ground must bore him because he continually jumps off to sniff things. We are working on it. I can't help but think a trip to Penicon Ridge where the trails are not so well kept up and often we must navigate large fallen trees or leap over water ways might peak both our interests instead of these low flat beams.
Every day Captain surprises me by becoming more and more MY dog. He is continually opening up more and more.Wonderful on day one, 2 weeks ago, and even more so today. Dropping toys for me to throw instead of bringing them to me and circling around, tugging if I grab for the toy and not ever wanting to give it up. During our first games of fetch I kept 3 soft squishy balls in my hands because he wasn't bringing anything back to give up to me. Lately he brings toys to me and drops them near my hands. (of course, always the trainer, I am rewarding this behavior and ignoring the unwanted behavior) He sleeps, belly up, right next to me in bed if I let him. Or he sleeps on my feet and when not welcomed into the bed he makes himself at home on the dog bed, not usually the small one I bought just for him, but instead the matching one 3 times the size that is meant for the big boys. His joyous nature, somewhat reserved when he arrived is now peaking out more and more as he wrestles Comet, attacks a cat toy or launches himself 2 feet into the air to land on the bay window sill and watches the world outside. Each day I adore him and am glad I chose him for so many reasons.
Captain is a lazy bones and for this I am glad because if I had adopted a Jack Russel Terrier (I thought about it!) I would be exercising that dog to no end. My dear Captain, if taken on a walk to long will become so slow or just lay down that I have more than once now carried him home. This pleases him just fine. Busy, Busy me is pleased as well because when I leave him to run with Bugsy or hike with Comet he is as eager to take the piece of pig ear I offer him and nap my absence away as he is to greet me when I come back. Balance is being achieved with him in my home.
Here is Comet on a break from our hike (in his pull harness).
Each morning I wake up and feed all the pets and myself as fast as I can. The sooner we can run together, Bugsy and I. An hour after our stomach's settle we drive to the trail. Me in my purple running shoes. Bugsy wearing his lupine green cow harness. I stretch and he pees on things. Bugsy has worked out at what marker on the trail we start to jog and he does me a favor and poops BEFORE we get to that spot on the trail. I bag his poo and toss it to the side of the trail where I will pick it up on our return trip. When we hit the marker we start to run. My ankles wobble with the first few strides. Bugsy struggles to ignore the smells rushing by us.By the time we pass the patch of purple flowers brightening the trail on the right of us, we are sailing smooth. We have doubled our distance since we started. We walk before, mid and after we run and we are making marked improvements. For a dog born to run Bugsy is incredibly patient with me. He runs just at my speed, which he could easily double, or triple. I am really enjoying myself each run, and if the days events don't give us time to hit the trail, I miss it. Could I be the same person who hadn't run half a mile in her life a few weeks ago? Still, the 5k is a marker yet to be hit, and I may do some walking (Lucky for me it's a walk/run so I wont feel bad about it if I do walk some) in the race, but I'm working towards not. On a hike today I found a flyer for another 5k and looking into running that one as well.
Not rain, nor thunder, heat nor wind has kept us from our run yet. There is something about running in the rain against the wind that makes me feel like maybe there is a little super hero inside me. Should I find myself weeks or months from now uninspired I hope someone might remind me to read this blog as reminder, because I am loving our morning jogs!
A jog with Bugsy. A walk with Captain-this is when the world starts to slow down. Captain slowly wondering down the road with me, sniffing every blade of grass, peeing on every mail box post. Both of us with the wind in our hair. Me searching the ditches for snakes, him searching for who knows what. Then, a hike with Comet.
Oh! A hike with Comet! I have been avoiding the trails for months. First for back pain reasons (which have mostly subsided hooray!!! ) then to save on gas. I'm living frugally, and while I don't skimp on buying organic milk for me, or the raw meat for the dogs food, some things have had to be cut from the budget. Gas is so expensive and a regular jaunt to the woods adds up. But, after reading an article in Backpacker Magazine (be still my wild heart, I will return you to the woods very soon!!!) about scientific evidence that hiking and camping, especially for 3 day trips, can actually make you smarter as well as calmer, I knew I had to break out. Comet and I hit the trail on this sunny day late morning when still no one else was in the park. I'm not sure who was more excited to be in the woods again, both Comet and I were ecstatic. Unlike Bugsy and I, who now-a-days easily find each others rhythm, Comet and I were continually raining on each others parade. Him launching himself forward in big happy romping leaps, getting ahead of me and choking himself. Me, decidedly slower then him despite my best efforts, continually stopping and waiting for him to remember that in fact I'm in the woods with him and my hand is indeed holding his leash. Despite this struggle, our happiness continued. Only a third through the hike I realized this, my dear enthusiastic Comet, must be my dryland mushing dog! Comet, so long as he is attached to me, stays to the trail, but yearns to move, move, move! By the time we climbed our third hill, I am dreaming about our future hikes together and any stress still on my shoulders slides away into the chirping forest. I can feel how much stronger my legs are since the last time I hiked here. The 5k training is paying off. Comet is much faster than me, but I am climbing the hills with greater ease than I remember. Once we reach the bench above the meadow I take a break to drink in the view. I sit on the bench and call Comet up to the bench with me. He sits up right looking out over the meadow with me. I see him fixate on this or that area, but can never see what he....smells? The clouds are fluffy puffs of white, the trees are green and I am in love with nature. I want to sing a song but can't think of any happy enough to turn our pleasure into sound so I stay quiet. As we hike down the hill I make a mental note to remove the rabies tag and dog park tag from Comets collar and to find a better way to store my car keys. With all this jingle jangling its doubtful we will run into any wildlife today.. I can just imagine the sun bathing snakes sliding away from us and our jangling. Just writing this makes me want to run back to the forest. But here, back at home, I've plucked at least half a dozen ticks off of Comet and a few off myself too. The regular ticks you often see, the bigger ones, and the tiny deer ticks too. I should probably wear a hat next time. Right now, I don't even care. Ticks be damned, I am adding hiking (and the gas$ to get me there) to my list of priorities and camping plans are forming in my mind.
Captain is officially a raw eater! He's come a long way, from starting by nibbling on boneless ground beef to devouring a meaty lamb breast bigger than his own head! The lamb breast bone took an hour for him to finish, and I didn't feed him much the next day to make up for his gorging. I'm so proud of him! In the last few weeks Captain has eaten buffalo tripe bone in ground chicken and beef, chicken gizzards and beef liver. Captain has chewed and eaten all or most of his lamb trotters, lamb femurs, lamb breast bones and beef chunks. Captain no longer looks at his food as if it is a puzzle he is too lazy to solve, instead he excitedly chews, pulls, drags and chews some more. Good boy, Captain!
To the left:
A meal for Captain-chicken necks and the last the of spinach and berries. He chewed and chomped like a champ!
Today Bugsy and I went for a jog! We are planning to participate in the Furry 5K and while Bugsy is a pro at high speed foot work, I on the other hand have my work cut out for me. 3 cheers to setting goals and working towards them!! Woof !Woof! Horay! I have been stepping up my personal routine this week, and planned to begin my jogging when the new running shoes arrived. Today, the shoes arrived( I love them!!!). Along with the shoes I ordered a Skijor harness which I am super excited about. The plan was to have Bugsy wear the new harness when we run so he can give me an extra boost, and because I know he longs to go much faster than I am physically capable of!
I should back up,...Skijoring is the sport of skiing while attached to your dog who, wearing a harness, pulls you along. I recently read an article in BARK magazine about Dryland Mushing which follows the same principle, but in this case you are running on dry land not skiing threw snow. Upon receipt of the skijoring harness I realized in my haste and excitement I had overlooked some not so minor details. The harness does not provide the control it requires for us to navigate a narrow path with traffic, such as the bike/nature trail on a busy day, or the Furry 5k. I also will need some more equipment, BUT hey, this turn of events means that running with Bugsy may just be a regular part of our future, and less likely a passing single event with the Furry 5k.
After today, running on the trail together, Bugsy and I are both excited. Bugsy was so clearly thrilled to get one on one time outside, moving fast. He had a look of pride to him as we made our way home. So did I! Bugsy ran right beside me the whole time, keeping pace with me and never darting off. A passing walker even commented as she strolled by "What a good dog!". That's when the look of pride grew onto my face.
On a good night, if you peaked into my window, you might see me running circles around my living room, playing tug of war with the dogs, dancing and singing to this song................sing it with me!
"I hope you could hear all the screams from the forest, all the ghosts in the trees and the love of a dog"
A film to watch for....Street Dogs of South Central.
Captain has made some strides in raw eating this week. He chewed on a lamb bone in the yard, and he ate salmon which was served in a 5 inch long chunk! The salmon he first knocked around, and then ate some but didn't finish it all. After 20 minutes in his crate with the salmon I took it away and fed it to Comet. The next meal was also salmon and this time he gobbled it up! The lamb bone he jumped at the chance to get into his mouth, but then wasn't sure what to do with it. He held it for a minute, then dropped it. Then walked around to see what the other dogs were doing with their bones. Below is a picture of him watching Bugsy chew on his bone. Can you just see the thought bubble above his head....
"So that is how this is done. I see."
Captain looks over at Bugsy chewing on his bone. I have a theory that he is learning by Bugsy and Comets example.
Captain gives the bone a try as Bugsy chews away on his lamb 'trotter'
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'Tilda update!
I hear Ms. Matilda was recently spayed and is currently wearing the "cone of shame".
Geez! She sure is cute, isn't' she?
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Captain and I took a walk around the block just the two of us, and half way around he laid down. I coaxed and coaxed but he was done. So I carried (yes, yes I carried my dog. This is a new Jeni/dog relationship!) Captain the half block home. Naturally some neighbors slowed there truck while passing by to yell "Now, that does NOT count as walking the dog!". All in good fun. We both had a laugh and I certainly hope neither of their two dogs ever decide to quit while walking with them as these particular neighbors have a very large German Shepard Dog and a Great Dane.
Peke N Chin told me that Captain had a reputation for being a bit of a wonderer. So until this week I hadn't attempted to do things off leash outdoors whatsoever . However, this week, after much time with him on leash and him never showing particular interest in leaving my side, I have begun to do off leash work with him. First I (with treats in hand) let him walk with me from the front door to the cars few times. Success! Then I walked out to the back yard (which is not entirely fenced) with Captain. He learned quickly that staying right next to me and looking up at me got him bits of roasted chicken. He never so much as peed on a bush he was so focused on me! We have done this 4 times now, once with me pulling some weeds between treats, and twice with Comet along with us on leash. Each time his focus stayed with me. I'm one proud pekingese person. They, pekingese, are notoriously difficult to train, says the literature.
"What made you go from big dogs to little dogs?" One neighbor asked me. Oh, I've got all sorts of reasons, such as: this particular dog was just the perfect fit for me(and Bugsy, Comet, Quimby and Purr-C too). Captain eats a whole lot less than Comet, so I could argue for cost effectiveness. I have two high drive, high energy dogs who, being herding dogs, like to bark....and although I was very tempted to adopt an Aussie, Sheltie, Border Collie, English Shepard ( I could go on) it did not seem wise to push the pack further into a reactive bark at anything that moves, high drive, high energy, flurry of flying fur. Now if I lived on a farm and had sheep to herd this would be a different story, but I live in a sort of rural, country-suburb hybrid. I do not have sheep but I do have neighbors.
I also considered hunting breeds, maybe a bird dog. Oh English Setters, you are so handsome a breed of dog!. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has also long been on my list of dogs I simply must have in my lifetime. But as much as I yearn for my Aussie to herd, I would yearn for my Setter or Griffon to hunt and until I learn to shoot a gun and hunt something, maybe those dog breeds would be putting the cart before the horse? Future hunter or not, these breeds have plenty of energy and I'm not sure I'm ready to add that much size AND 'spirit' to the pack at this time.
You have read the many goings on of this dreaming blogger and all the breeds I fancy. When I was on my search for the right dog for me I kept an open mind big dog, medium dog, small dog it didn't really matter. What I missed when Harry passed was that clam center asleep on the couch. A dog who might bark and become aroused at this or that, but not at everything. A dog who might be lazy enough to enjoy being by my side outside even if I was not moving. Captain has all the qualities I searched for. Captain is no Harry, but I did not look to replace him! No dog ever could! Still Captain has filled an open spot on the couch and a lazy piece of my heart. I love him more every dog gone day. <3
Comet has dealt with me putting drops in his ears, and on his paw twice daily for a week now. Poor guy, when he sees the medicine dropper he walks quickly away and plops in a pile on the floor. The first vinegar/water foot bath went terribly. I should have known to positively reinforce him through-out the steps instead of putting the pot of water and vinegar on the floor and then bringing him to it. He pulled away and fought me. Me stubbornly trying to get him to hold still and Comet probably thinking something like "what the $*#%!". Poor guy, what the heck was I thinking? Man handling him into a foot bath like I don't know how to handle dogs? Day 2 I brought out the roasted chicken, placed the footbath on a towel and put the other animals out of the area. It took a minute or two for him to come near the "evil pot of doom foot bath", but once he realized it was me, his loving, chicken treating person and not the evil footbath forcer he came over and reluctantly let me handle his foot, chicken, place his foot in the footbath, chicken, chicken chicken, then I petted him and waited a few seconds, chicken, petting, waiting, chicken, "goodboy" petting,waiting, chicken, and on and on for a few minutes as his foot soaked. The rest of the weeks baths went easily and with some but less chicken. The last bath putting Bugsy and Captain outside backfired because the neighbors were playing a rousing game of fetch and Bugsy could not contain himself. I brought the two of them in and Comet stayed in position, chicken, Bugsy "down" chicken, Captain "cabin" (cabin is code for crate) chicken, and so it went the entire footbath. Oh what fun! I'm glad it's done. :)
Oh! I keep forgetting! Captains previous people, his loving foster home, have a face book page for him and are still keeping it up(at least so far.)Check it out and Feel free to friend him! Lisa, Captains foster mom, clearing has skillz with the pics! To avoid confusion I will share the knowledge that before he was with me Captain went by the name Ben. I still find myself calling him Captain Ben now and then, but honestly more often than not, I call him "Cappy"
