Dog Training….Unraveled

Karma three toes

Karma had her surgery today, and is now minus one toe on her front left foot. Poor, poor pet. The surgery went well, and she should recover just fine. So now, we have six weeks of recovery ahead of us, and then hopefully, she’ll be back in the game. We’re greatly looking forward to being able to play flyball, frisbee, and go hiking again soon.
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Here’s wishing the collie a fast recovery, and let’s hope that we all survive the stir crazy madness that will ensue after she’s off the drugs.
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Everyone has checked her out since she’s gotten home – and you can see her thinking “If I weren’t so stoned, I’d kill these fucking cats.” Yay, doggie pain drugs!!

Posted on September 15th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Random run ins | No Comments »

Cone head pets

At one point or another, pretty much every pet around here has been stuck in a cone for one reason or another. Teak had nose surgery to open her little nares – a common procedure for pugs so that they can, you know, breathe better. She still somehow managed to flip Dyson’s ear over the cone and ram her face in and lick inside his ear. He is such a tolerant animal. Dyson had to wear a cone for weeks when he first came to live here, courtesy of the botched neuter. Do you know what a scrotal hematoma is? Because we do, and Dyson does, and it sucks big time! Poor guy – he didn’t seem to mind though and just rammed his way through doors and into crates. He eventually learned to use his cone as a toy, and would scoop up tennis balls and roll them around inside the cone. Hysterical, but you had to be there.
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Jester had his cone joy last summer, when he somehow managed to poke a hole in his eyeball – that was fun. It is, of course, impossible to sleep under the covers with a cone on your head, although he tried. Poor little man. The latest, and current, cone head is Karma. Oh the sadness. Karma somehow injured a toenail, and we are battling some sort of evil infection. The vet isn’t sure if the toe is cracked, has a bone infection, or what – we are waiting on results from the radiologist for more information. So for now, she has to have her foot soaked in epsom salts – oh painful, evil epsom salts, WITH THE WATER THAT KILLS COLLIES – and we keep it wrapped during the day to support the joint. And since Karma is gifted at ripping wraps off the nano second you are not looking, she gets to wear a cone.
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It is heavy for the little collie, and flattens the hair on top of her head. The first day she wore it she had a breakdown and could not figure out why she couldn’t kiss me through the plastic. Then she got in Dyson’s way and he wagged his tail against the cone and beat her head into the sides of it. It took her a while to actually move. She is not graceful with it, and when saying hello, she’s downright dangerous. Can’t lift her head high enough to get on the couch, and dear heaven’s the drama of trying to get in her crate for dinner. She literally bashed herself into the door three times before she heard me telling her to just “lie down!” I fed her on the floor and closed the crate so we wouldn’t repeat that fiasco.
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Having animals means caring for them, in sickness and in health. But caring for them can also mean laughing your ass off at them while they try to navigate the world with a plastic dish on their head.

Posted on September 11th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Random run ins | 1 Comment »

Marking time

37 weeks today, officially full term. Baby is settled in nicely and not coming out for the foreseeable future. *Sigh* So, now, we wait. It’s a bit unsettling to be fully on someone else’s schedule. Someone you can’t call and say “Hey, could you make it the 25th? Cause I’ve got the day free.”

On a brighter note, I am fully enjoying and taking advantage of these last days of blissful silence and blessed solitude. Never in my life have I had such freedom to just be. To do whatever I feel like, and spend my days following my whims. I realize how precious this is, and am absolutely reveling in it. Somehow, the summer did speed by, with last minute jobs to finish up, baby shopping to finish, all sorts of deep cleaning projects around the house. So so much to do, and now, finally, it is done. Yesterday, after weeks of air conditioning, it was finally cool enough to open the house and enjoy a lovely little breeze. Which makes me oh so very happy, because just around the corner is weather cool enough to allow for big fluffy blankets on the bed, and the rattlesnakes will go back to sleep and the dogs and I can head out to the canyon. I love the fall, winter and spring here in souther Cal. Perfect weather, I’ll even take the rain and it’s lovely freshness. It’s the summer I could do without.

While I’m a bit (ok, a lot) nervous about sharing my home and life with a small human being, I am looking forward to toting her up to the top of the canyon and sharing dog adventures with her. I am, for the first time in many, many years, looking forward to the holidays – and dressing my baby up to match my dogs for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and whatever holiday we’ll choose to celebrate this winter. Hey, I can make her wear whatever I want while she’s little and can’t talk. This is the payoff for the last several months of pain.

The dogs have settled in with me, and seem relatively content to hang around the house and just be. They are less stressed because there are *finally!* no extra dogs here, so for a bit, they have mommy all to themselves. A touch pent up, perhaps, as they are so used to the go go go of our life, but they are adjusting. Eventually, I’m sure we’ll get back to our life on the road, but for now, and for the next few months, it’s home we’ll be – and happy to be here.

Posted on September 10th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Pregnancy, The Naked Part | No Comments »

Goody Beagle – The Book

In the way of blogs, somehow mine attracted the attention of author, Kim Pearson. She asked if she could send me her book, “Dog Park Diary, the social round of Goody Beagle.” Thinking it might be cute, I agreed to review it here.

Weeeelll, the first thing I noticed is that Goody Beagle needs to lose a bit of weight, and nothing bugs me more than a fat dog; so I may have been a bit prejudiced right off the bat. I myself, am not a little person, especially now at 9 months pregnant, but I’ve always battled with my weight so I am sympathetic to my chubby contemporaries. My dogs, however, have NEVER been fat and are always kept in tip top condition. There is NO EXCUSE for having a fat dog! So it irritates me that this entire book is about a fat little beagle’s daily visits to the dog park where somehow she is still not managing to get enough exercise to be in good shape.

The next thing I can’t quite figure out is who in the world is the intended audience for this book? I don’t think it’s appropriate for children – as there is way too much about the “sniff butt” game, pictures of dogs pissing all over, and even a money shot towards the end of a terrier taking a dump. Lovely…. There isn’t really a lesson, so I can’t figure out why you’d want to let your kids read it. Not that all these bodily functions are not part of the reality of owning a dog – but do we really need to see it in photos? I see plenty of dogs going potty, it’s not something I really want to admire in pictures. So, is this for adults maybe? Except that I can’t imagine a grown up wanting to hear about, let alone read about, what another grown up thinks is going on in her dog’s head.

The photography is not the greatest, honestly, given a few hours, I could have gotten pictures of equal or better quality. And I don’t claim to be a professional photographer.

It’s a cute little story, I guess, if you are a regular dog park goer and interested in making up little social dramas of the dog park cliques. Except that none of it is very realistic, and is more of a happy la la version of what people like to think is going on. I just don’t get it. Maybe I’m missing something, but I was really put off by all the photos of dog ass, dogs sniffing each other’s butts, and dogs going to the bathroom. Okay, it’s not a cute little story. It’s an attempt to cash in on America’s love of dogs and our desire to view them as little people in fur coats, which they are not. Best of luck though, I read some other reviews and apparently other folks just thought it was adorable, more power to ya.

I’m sorry that I didn’t love it, and I feel bad knocking someone’s efforts publicly, which is why I put off doing the review for so long. Those are my feelings however, I just can’t recommend this book as anything other than a waste of 10 minutes of your life that you’ll never get back, and surely the terrier pooping will be burned into your retinas for a very long time. Trust me, don’t bother.

Posted on September 9th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: Not my dogs, Random run ins, The Naked Part | No Comments »

Amplified

Karma is having to wear a cone on her head, details to follow later, but the amazing thing is that is simply amplifies her already horrific breath. And she is sad about the cone, so wants to cuddle and be close – with the steamy, yucky, smelly dog breath. Fun….

Posted on September 6th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Random run ins | No Comments »

Pets are Neat #2

So I’m standing by my bed last night, trying to decide whether or not I want to bother with clean sheets. They are getting pretty funky, but I’m planning on cleaning the bedroom today and tossing a lot of dust around so maybe I can wait one more night and then have a totally fresh bedroom all in one day.

Ya, let’s just wait one more night. As that thought crosses my mind, Teak gets up and vomits all over the middle of the bed. Damn, I guess we’ll change the sheets now. Oh well. Pets do the coolest stuff.

Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Random run ins | No Comments »

If you’re here

If you read this blog at all, it’s probably because you either know me or at least like dogs. If you are a fan of small flat faced beasties, as I am – I would like to direct your attention to Pug Rescue of San Diego.

Pug Rescue has been slammed this year with dogs. A few of them landed here earlier this year, and I helped get them on to their new homes. I fostered until I couldn’t any more – extra dogs in the house became just too much for me to handle. As soon as things settle though, we’ll foster more pugs, because it breaks my heart to think of any of these funny little dogs without people of their own.
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The folks at Pug Rescue are a great group of people, and one of the few rescues that I know of that will leave senior or medically challenged dogs on long term foster – meaning that the rescue groups pays for all of their medical needs and a foster family provides love and care for some of these little dogs that otherwise aren’t really too adoptable. Because seriously – have you looked at the poor little babies on the first page? Ladybug is 16. 16!!! Who the hell gives up a dog at 16 years old? That is so incomprehensible to me and makes me want to cry for her. If I had room, or a yard, I would absolutely be taking on at least one of these little old dogs and letting them live out their life in comfort. Old dogs are the best, and I can’t imagine giving Jester up now, he’ll be 11 next month, and abandoning him now? That dog has given me everything (see this post), and it just blows me away that anyone could walk away from a companion that has been with them that long. I have a hard time getting rid of sweat shirts that old, let alone a being that has depended on me for everything their entire life!

I know that rescues all over the country are being hit hard right now, people are losing their homes and pets get shuffled to the bottom of the list and end up with no place to call home. I know that we’re all stretched thin and battling gas prices and the horrible ripple effect that has had on EVERYTHING else. I know this. But if you’re here, and you’re reading this, I’m hoping that you just take a look at Pug Rescue’s website and think – is there any way you can help? Can you foster a dog? Can you help with fundraising? Can you send $5?
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If nothing else, please go hug your own dog and promise them that NO MATTER WHAT, you will care for them until the end. That they won’t ever have to worry as their bodies give out and their eyes get soft that no one will be there to help them up the stairs or find their way in the dark. That their precious old face will never be up on a website somewhere with a plea going out to the world to help them. Promise them that YOU will be there. If you can’t help any of these little pugs at all, I understand, but promise that you’ll never let your dog end up here. And if you can help, well, all those little dogs will appreciate it more than you know.

P.S. All the dogs pictured in this post at dogs that I have fostered and have been helped by Pug Rescue of San Diego – they are some of the faces that are grateful for your help.

Posted on August 29th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: Random run ins, The Naked Part | No Comments »

Silly Squeaker

So, I took the doggies to the local school yesterday to play ball. No, we don’t trespass, we play on the grass that is out front and not fenced. Yes, we pick up our poo. Yes, we wait until all the kiddies have gone away so as not to bother anyone.

Anyway, it’s one of our favorite places because it is situated next to lots of great big emptiness, and it’s behind the school so not close to the street and we only rarely see other people or dogs there so I feel mostly comfortable letting the maniacs run free. I gave them all their “fix” cause chasing the ball is like crack to these weirdos and started heading to the van to load everyone up. Teak raced ahead and jumped into the back of the van, when I got there, she was standing on the ledge with a bright pink frisbee around her neck and a ball in her mouth. It’s one of those plastic things with the hole in the middle, and apparently when she dove for another ball she managed to get it stuck on like a collar. It was hysterical and she looked like a goon, but she was pretty pleased with herself. My dog is a nerd.
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It is these tiny silly moments that keep me marginally sane. If laughter truly is the best medicine, I’m sure glad I’ve got that strange little dog, cause her brain is looney.
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Posted on August 28th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: My dogs, Random run ins | 1 Comment »

Heavy feet

It baffles me that we have two cats who weigh very close to the same and yet the difference in how they walk is huge. When Lacey walks on you you can barely feel her there. She ever so lightly creeps up and snuggles with you and you would barely notice her except for the small fact that she usually rams her head into your face, in case you were thinking of ignoring her. Now Coal, who might just weigh a half a pound more, when he walks on you, it’s like you are being trampled by a herd of horses. I don’t know if he’s tries to stomp on us, or if he just lacks any sort of cat like grace, but every foot he plants is like being punched. He’s not subtle in the least. Cats are weird.

Posted on August 27th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: Non dog cuteness, Random run ins | No Comments »

35 Weeks

Today. Only 5 weeks left, give or take, before the newest member of our family enters the world. Terrified? Yup. Excited? Maybe. Wondering what in the world I am going to DO with this baby? You betcha.

I think that my life will never be the same. Not sure if that’s good or bad. I worry about everything, cause, well, that’s what moms do. Got that part down.

She’s been mine, and only mine, all these months. Part of me aches to put her in her daddy’s arms, and let her kick him in the ribs for a while. Part of me wonders if I’ll be capable of letting go of her for a minute. It’s bizarre, this bond you create with the unseen in your belly. I so want my body back, but I wonder what I’ll have to trade for it. Sleep? Sanity?

I’m trying so very hard to enjoy these last few weeks where I can take baths in the afternoon, nap all I want, and can still work my life on my schedule. I find I’m impatient though, and ready to get on with it already. I think the baby is ready too. She is forever kicking and stretching, and seems unhappy about her rapidly decreasing bedroom space. Really, baby, I agree.

I hope she loves the dogs, I know they will love her. They love everyone, low standards, what can I say? I hope she inherits her daddy’s joy for every day, and not my eternal crankiness. Cause two of us, that wouldn’t be good.

I’d write about dog adventures, but really, I’ve finally cleared out the house and since it’s just my dogs here now – oh the blessed peace – they don’t do much that inspires writing. Unless you count projectile vomiting, but we’ve done that already. Our adventures have been limited lately, with the heat, humidity, and Karma’s broken toe nail, we’ve been couching it a lot these days. They seem quite content. Enjoy these few weeks of not having to share you mom, guys, cause you’re all in for a pretty rude wake up. If only they knew…

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by michelle
Filed under: Pregnancy, The Naked Part | No Comments »

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