2. I will remember to be silly more more often.

3. I will get enough rest.

4. I will get plenty of exercise.

5. I will eat healthful foods and make sure I get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. I will write more stories about my dogs, the ones I live with and the ones who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

7. I will love life with all my heart.

Thanks to all the dog lovers who uploaded their photos to photo sharing sites. The only photo here that is of our dogs is #6, showing our LarryDog as a young fellow; he is now 15 and a half. The little Basenji next to him was our Sunbeam, and she crossed the Rainbow Bridge some years ago. We full-timed in a large RV for a while, and in the photo they are fixated on my dinner.

New Year’s Resolutions, Dog-Inspired is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

I set out to write a post about not getting a puppy on Christmas Day if it’s hectic with lots of people, and then I thought, wait a minute, didn’t I do that once? Sure enough, here is my blog post on Puppies and Christmas. And here is one of the main tips:

If you are giving or receiving a puppy at Christmas, consider making the actual arrival of the puppy happen on the 26th or later. Christmas tends to be a busy day for many families, and it can be a day when you leave for Christmas dinner at another home. Of course, there can be exceptions to this, such as a gift to a lonely elderly person who will be home.

I did another holidays post too: Puppies, Dogs, and Christmas or other big events.

Happy Holidays to your dogs and to you!

Rosana

Your Dog or Puppy and the Holidays is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

This meant that our dog bed blocked the access to my office unless you like walking over foam all the time. I don’t.  This bed is a formerly-human bed, consisting of 3 pads that can fold up. I took off the cover, cut one of the 3 parts off and after recovering, put it in my office. Neither dog much cares about it.

The old bed was plenty large for both dogs, and they were often there together. Now the smaller 2-pad bed is the prime real estate. In this sequence, shot in about 20 minutes, senior LarryDog claimed it first.

Then he got up for a drink and Rottweiler Lola immediately came out of the bed in her crate–also in the living room–and took it over.

But the cat rules supreme around here! Neither dog will challenge this.

While I was on a roll with my camera, I followed Lola when she went outside. Ever since friends gave us this tall dog food and water feeder, Lola prefers to drink from it instead of the bowl in the house. (That should change when there is ice on this dish in our Colorado winter!)

I don’t think it would have occurred to me to buy one of these things, but it’s really interesting how much she likes it. You don’t see the food dish because I take it back in the kitchen after meals… no free choice feeding around here!

Lola inherited this dish from a very sweet dog, even larger than her, who recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Lola looked up at me and decided it was game on. She went and found a much-chewed ball that we got her when she was a puppy. Too bad I didn’t have my little video camera with me, as she went into wild and crazy mode only barely hinted at by these pictures, taken in rapid succession.

I totally missed getting a photo of the part where she dug deep into the sand, ball in mouth.

Ah, the ordinary, everyday fun we have together. Readers, any recent moments that you want to share?

Our Dogs Adjust to Smaller Bed, Lola Romps Outside is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

As for LarryDog, now 13, it seems that every day is an achievement in itself! He loves his morning walk but sometimes doesn’t have much interest in the afternoon one. Eating remains a favorite activity!

What about you? Do you have any special plans for the summer? Do they include your dogs? This is arguably the best time of year to get their weight down, if they need it. Us people too!

I want to improve Lola’s social life as well. We live in a quiet spot, with no through traffic. A couple of days ago I was out walking Lola when a convertible came roaring down the road. I recognized a friend of mine as the passenger, and her dog was in the back seat. Lola pulled me harder than she has in years, wanting to catch up with the other dog! So I’d better call that friend and see if her dog would like a play date. Yesterday at our weekly Farmer’s Market, there was a terrific part-Weimeraner young dog, and I invited her and her owner to come play sometime too. We have about a quarter acre that’s fenced, so Lola can have more fun, provided I get MY part of the job done.

What Are Your Dogs Doing This Summer? is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

At our house, here are the routines.

1. We let the dogs out first thing, into their small yard. During the day the gate from the small yard is open so they have the run of a much larger yard, but overnight they just get the small area so they don’t wake up our elderly neighbors. If we don’t get out of bed early enough, LarryDog is likely to bark to let us know that it is daytime already!
2. Once I get up, I wash my face and all that, and then I feed the…. cats! No, not the dogs first. Anyone with a Siamese or part-Siamese as ours is, may experience the incessant yowling that goes with a hungry kitty. Well, that doesn’t take long and then I do feed the dogs.
3. After Kelly has had his tea and read for a while, he takes the dogs out for a walk around the neighborhood, about half an hour. If it’s really cold and he decides to check his email first, there are sighs, groans, and other canine complaints. (While they are out, I play with the cats with a toy birdie that gives them some good stretching exercise. If I am late starting because I am already into my email, the cats take up their positions in the living room!)
4. The afternoon walk is my job, and I do vary the time. The dogs watch me like a hawk all afternoon, just in case.
5. We feed the dogs (again after the cats!) just before dinner. Whoever is cooking that night does it, so we both get watched closely.
6. Most evenings, specially if we are watching TV, I sit down on the floor and massage the dogs a bit. Lola doesn’t always let me stop.
7. Sometime after 9 PM, the dogs go out for their final pit stop.

The dogs can go out whenever they want, and we interact with them in a variety of ways all day, if we are home.

What routines do you have with your dogs? What have you noticed about their sense of time?

Our Dogs Like Their Seven Daily Routines is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

These were both our dogs, some years ago. At the time we took the photos, the Basenji was young and the Aussie elderly. I was on a Basenji email list which had the motto “Where it takes 100 people to outsmart one Basenji.”

(This short video is part of my learning process on the first Mac I have ever had. It was done in iphoto. Expect a lot more videos going forward!)

Basenji Outsmarts Australian Shepherd is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

Dogs have a different sense of time from people. They live essentially in the present. We have to go to workshops or read books to learn how to live in the present, as our minds are so full of past and future… So picture this:

A person (of either gender)  comes home after being out for several hours. There are remnants of chewed pillow strewn all over the living room, and the dog slinks away from the person.

“Look how guilty he is acting!” storms the person. “He knows he should not have chewed up that pillow! BAD DOG!”

Is that how the scenario would play out in your house? My husband Kelly and I had a chance to live a variation on this one some months ago. But it went differently… We had recently moved back to the US from Mexico, with our dogs and cats. We were settled  into our new house and were pretty much unpacked. We left one morning on our regular shopping trip to another town, and were gone about five hours. Both our dogs were loose in the house, and they had both been walked shortly before we went out.

When we got home, several books had been pulled out of a bookcase and torn up. Pages were strewn about. (Destroying books will get to me much faster than pillows, believe me.  After all, I am a librarian!)

Neither dog seemed “guilty” to us. Why not? Because we know that dogs have such a different sense of time than humans do. If either one of us had blown our stack at this moment, then the dogs would have learned that when their people come home, watch out. Humans can be quite erratic when they walk in the front door. The dogs would not have associated a human screaming fit with something they did hours earlier. This also applies if you are not quite finished housetraining a dog and come home to a mess.

Dogs live in the present. A simple concept, but often overlooked by humans.

~~~~~~~

As for our destroyed books, we knew it was Lola, our Rottweiler, because some of the pages were in her crate and old LarryDog never goes in there. How did we handle the situation? We cleaned up quietly, said nothing to her, and the next time we did a shopping trip to the next town, we gave her an extra long walk first.

Unfortunately, she destroyed another book that time too. Okay, this was separation anxiety, not surprising as everything was still new and different in our new location — and she was a rescue dog who had been through several homes as a puppy.

The next time errands took us out, we crated her with a big Kong (link to my article about these great things) which was slathered with peanut butter. She loves her crate and already had a history of accepting being crated. And she adores peanut butter. We crated her with a Kong a few more times, even when we were just gone an hour or so, and then we gradually started letting her out again. Now we  leave her out.  We are careful to be sure she gets some good exercise before we leave, too!

A Major Misunderstanding People Have About Dogs is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

If you have an aging dog, you probably know the combination of celebration and poignancy that I feel. I have also developed a few habits to adjust to his changes. LarryDog can’t see as well or  hear as well as he used to. We don’t let him run loose anywhere except in our yard. We don’t want to have to get his attention if a car were to come down the street.  Just in case, though, I am getting him used to my touching him on his back, to have another way to get his attention.

He still goes for a pretty long walk on leash around our neighborhood in the mornings and a shorter one in the afternoons. I usually do the afternoon walks, and after he developed the habit of turning back at a certain point, I stopped walking him and our five-year-old Rottweiler together. I can use some extra walking (I carry a pedometer in my pocket daily to see how I’m doing) and it’s easier to walk them separately now. LarryDog goes first because if I take Lola he barks continuously till we return — NOT appreciated by my husband who is usually in his home office around then!

Three cheers for old dogs carrying on! If you have any experiences or tips about your own old dog, do comment below! (BUT I am fierce about deleting comments where the purpose seems to be to get a backlink to a site.)

As An Old Dog Gets Older is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

The holidays can provide some dangers to dogs. Here are several, and what to do about them.

Snow Globes and Antifreeze
There have been rumors for many years that snow globes contain antifreeze, and if they break and a dog licks up the liquid, they can be poisoned.

Antifreeze initially causes depression and vomiting within a matter of hours, however this is the least of your dog’s worries. In your dog’s body, the antifreeze is converted to a more toxic chemical, which causes kidney failure within a couple of days. If a dog develops kidney failure, they don’t usually survive.

There’s no real way of being sure that there’s no antifreeze in a snow globe, and if there is, how much there is. It’s safest to keep snow globes out of reach of your dog and clean up any spills if there is a breakage. If you live in a cold climate, you may use antifreeze in your car. If it leaks from the engine and your dog licks it up, he can also become ill.

Festive Foliage
Many people believe that Poinsettia is very toxic to dogs. There is, however, no need to banish these attractive plants from your home this Christmas. They’re actually not as dangerous as we may think, but they can make a dog quite ill.

The plant can irritate the mouth and gastrointestinal tract of a dog that chews on it, leading to drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s usually not very severe and dogs usually recover very well.

Mistletoe can also affect your dog, and this can be more serious. American and European species of mistletoe are available which vary in toxicity. So, how sick your dog will get depends on the species of mistletoe, and how many berries he eats.

Some mistletoe can cause an upset stomach, with vomiting; however others may lead to liver failure and seizures.

Holly is another popular Christmas plant. If your dog eats the berries, he can develop severe vomiting and diarrhea, and become very depressed.

Festive plants really do add to your home’s Christmas decor, but do keep them well out of reach of your dog.

Ribbon and Tinsel
Christmas gifts are often wrapped in pretty ribbon, and we usually drape sparkling tinsel over our Christmas tree. Both of these can lead to serious illness if you have a dog who likes to chew things.

If your dog swallows a string like object, it can become caught in the gastrointestinal tract, often in the stomach. The body continues move the other end of the ribbon through, and this can lead to the intestine telescoping in on itself, or becoming lacerated by the ribbon. Symptoms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal foreign bodies – your dog will vomit, become quite depressed and have a tummy ache.

This is a life threatening emergency, and your dog will need surgery to remove the ribbon or tinsel.
If your dog likes playing with ribbon or tinsel, supervise him well, and keep these things out of his reach when you’re not there. If you see your dog eat something string like, contact your veterinarian straight away – he may be able to make your dog vomit it up, and avoid the need for surgery.

Christmas Tree Dangers
The Christmas tree is one of the highlights of Christmas for many adults and children alike. It also poses a few hazards to your dog.

An enthusiastic puppy that tugs and pulls at the cord for the tree lights could pull the tree over on top of himself. Broken glass ornaments can cause cuts to the feet and other parts of the body.

It’s even more dangerous if your dog likes to chew, and decides to nibble on the electric light cord. He could receive a severe electric shock if the cord is plugged into a socket. This can cause severe burns to the roof of the mouth and tongue, which can ulcerate and slough. This will be really painful and your dog will have trouble eating.

If the shock is severe enough, it can cause unconsciousness, and may be fatal. Electric shock can lead to fluid build up in the lungs, and severe difficulty breathing.

Many people with live trees add chemicals to the water in the tree’s stand to extend its life. If your dog drinks this water, he may become ill. It’s a good idea not to add anything to the tree water.

Keeping your pup safe around the Christmas tree isn’t too difficult. You may be able to put a decorative fence around the tree and keep your dog away. Alternatively, crate train your dog so he’s safe while you can’t directly supervise him.

It’s also a good idea to put PVC pipe around any electrical cords to stop your dog chewing them. You can also buy bitter sprays to deter dogs, but I’ve found them not always very effective.

Christmas Treats
Christmas is always associated with lots of yummy things to eat. Your dog will also enjoy treats, but some aren’t so good for his health. Chocolate contains theobromine which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and hyperactivity in your dog. Symptoms start within 6-12 hours of your dog eating the chocolate, and in severe cases, may lead to coma and death.

Different chocolates contain different amounts of theobromine, with dark or cooking chocolate being the most toxic. Half of a 1/2 lb block of dark chocolate contains enough theobromine to be dangerous to a 20lb dog.

Those delicious Christmas cakes we enjoy are often made with raisins or sultanas. These too are toxic to your dog. Some dogs can eat raisins and sultanas with no problems, yet others become very ill, and it’s not really known why. It also appears that there’s no relationship between how much is eaten and how sick your dog will get.Raisins and sultanas can cause kidney failure, and if it’s not caught early enough, it may be fatal.

Do your dog a big favor and keep the chocolate and Christmas cake for yourself!!

If you share a turkey at Christmas, be sure not to give your dog the leftover bones. Cooked bones are a big no-no for dogs, as they can splinter and scratch the gastrointestinal tract.

Recreational Drinks and Drugs
One of the nice parts of Christmas is the chance to relax and share a drink with family and friends. However, your dog may also enjoy a nip!

Dogs have been known to steal a drink from unattended glasses. Wine and beer don’t seem to be very attractive to them, and they also don’t contain a high enough percentage of alcohol, so they’re not likely to cause a problem. Stronger stuff is more of a problem – dogs seem to like the sweet and creamy liqueurs.

Alcohol has the same effect on your dog as it does on you. He’ll be wobbly on his feet, a bit slow to get around and maybe a bit depressed. It may seem a bit funny, but if your dog has drunk enough alcohol, he may fall into a coma and have a cardiac arrest.

Marijuana is a popular recreational drug. Dogs appear to be much more susceptible to the effects of the drug than people, and are more likely to show severe symptoms.

Dogs usually become affected when they eat cookies made with marijuana. Within an hour, they are vomiting, agitated, and yelping or barking. They also often lose control of their bladder. This can last up to two days, and if your dog eats enough cookies, he may develop seizures and die.

Your veterinarian can treat both these conditions with activated charcoal, fluids and sedatives if necessary and the outcome is usually very good. However, it’s better to prevent your dog becoming ill in the first place, so be sure to keep your goodies to yourself.

Cold Weather
In many parts of the world, Christmas brings snow, ice and harsh weather. If your dog is an outside dog, and you don’t want to bring him indoors, make sure he has shelter from wind and rain, and warm bedding in his kennel.

Keep an eye on your dog’s outdoor water bowl and make sure it doesn’t freeze solid.

Some dogs don’t like to go for walks in the snow, and he may appreciate some little booties to protect his feet.

Lastly, don’t bathe your dog unless you absolutely have to. There are some powder shampoos which can help keep him clean, and you may want to add omega fatty acid supplements to his diet to prevent his skin and coat from drying out.

Holiday Season: Dangers to Dogs is a post from: Training Dogs Blog

Okay, take a deep breath, then another. She hasn’t been loose since we moved here. In fact, she has never been loose in the nearly four years we have had her, other than when doing a little off-leash work in the neighborhood.

My husband took our car and began cruising our neighborhood. I grabbed a flashlight and a warm jacket and went back outside to resume calling. “Lola! DOGGIES! Lola! DOGGIES!”

“Doggies” is our magic word. When I use it, she and LarryDog always come running, and they always get tons of praise and a treat. Usually she comes at full speed, but this time I wasn’t hearing anything.

I knew her dog collar had my cellphone number on it, so I dashed inside to grab it.  Called a neighbor who also has a Rottie girl about Lola’s age. We get together now and then for them to play. My friend promised to go outside and call Lola too.

“Lola! DOGGIES!”

No, don’t worry, I said to myself. It hasn’t been long. She’ll be back. Still, ideas for other neighbors to call and other ideas ran through my head.

I walked down the street calling, but staying close enough to the house that Lola would find me if she came back. My husband came back and said he hadn’t found her. He went off to make a larger circle. I went into the back yard and called again and again, by the still-open gate.

Did I hear something? Was that the sound of a dog running? YES!

Lola ran straight to me,  running so fast she almost knocked me down. Not that I would have cared! What a moment. Kelly got home a minute later and he got the royal greeting too. Where had she been? Who knows? It was about an hour, we think. So glad to have her back.

Kelly tightened up the gate latch the next day. Best we can figure out,  it hadn’t caught and the wind had blown it open.

(If you’ve missed the blog, I’m back to it. Lost my password while I was concentrating on something else and just now got reorganized!)

When A Dog Gets Out is a post from: Training Dogs Blog