Chance and the UPS man

Had an interesting day with Chance.  We were headed out for a walk and I was outside with Chance putting on his harness, when the UPS guy showed up in front of the house.  I thought, "Oh, great.  Chance is outside with me...what am I going to do to control him?"

When suddenly the driver was stuck in the snow trying to turn around in the cul-de-sac.

The light bulb flashed and I started throwing treats in the yard, near the house.

"Find It!"

Chance was confused for a few minutes, "What happen to our walk," his face said, but he followed my lead.  Gobbling treats and keeping most of his focus on me.

It was the first time I'd used "Find It," as a diversion in a real life setting and it was working!

When the truck driver finally freed himself and walked up to delivered the package, Chance was by the side of the yard, but wasn't barking or charging.  It was fantastic!

Confessions

I guess that is why I never really got into training my dogs tricks.  Most of the time I let them train me.  I believe in letting them evolve and grow into who they want to be.  Their true self.  Not a performed monkey.  There are no strings attached.  We work together, through and through.  They let me grow, change and fail, just as much as I let them.  And don't get me wrong, people who can teach their dogs to do tricks are great.  It's just not for me.  Even when I'm doing behavioral training I don't "tell them what to do."  They show me if they care or not, or whether they want to learn or not.  It is all up to them.  I am just a guide.  Not even that really.  More of a sounding board as they become who they are.  And that's when it becomes more than a relationship, a spiritual crossing if you will.  It isn't a matter of trying to talk to them, it is complete communication 24/7.  We are one.  The 24 Paws of Love are one.

Second Step of Integration-The Door

First I'd like to thank our readers and supporters.  You guys are terrific!  We wouldn't be this far in our dog journey if it wasn't for all of you.  So, THANK YOU!

I started a couple of weeks ago with step 1 of integrating the two dogs packs, which was separating them while fixing their food, because they were fighting at the door that divides them.  It is something that has went on for some time, on occasion, but since Brut's death and recently with Silver's passing the fighting (growling, snarling, snapping, teeth bared) has increased in frequency and intensity.  So I took them away from the door, by putting them in their rooms while I get their meals together.  Worked out great!

That same day after they ate for the first time without all that worked up anxiety, I started blocking the door with my body, making them back up from it to stop the barking at the door.  When I got one side settled I went to the other side and settle that dog.  And I just kept going back and forth until they gave up.

Now Chance has a habit of rushing the door when he comes in from outside and Zappa is always on the other side ready to do battle.  I couldn't figure out how to stop him for the longest time.  It took a couple of days before it dawned on me I could open the fridge door and block the hallway that leads to separation door.  Don't worry, hubby is making me a board to slide back and forth.  No need to pay the energy company more than they need!  So after Chance circles back after seeing the blockage, I give him a treat when he comes to me.  Then I go to the other side and make Zappa back up and sit then treat.  Problem he's caught on how to get a treat, bark and here I come.  So one time when Zappa was being a royal pain and wouldn't stop barking because I wouldn't give him a treat, I put him in his room, he shut up and that worked out great.

And for those times I don't make it in time to stop a debate, I have a shaker can and a cowbell to get their attention.  Thankfully I have only had to use them a few times, but they are nice to have around.

So far it is going good.  The first 4 or 5 days were a little hairy, but now they only bark at the door with each other, instead of fight. At least the ones I don't get to in time.  They are short burst of "talking."  Things have really calmed down this last week.  I doubt it is all over, given the chance they would do it again, but for now we are moving forward with our "plan" as it comes to me.  :)

Here's a short video of our progress:  (or on YouTube)

Forgive me if this post may seem a little jumbly, for some reason it was difficult to write.

STEP 1 of INTEGRATING THE TWO PACKS-Diffuse the Tension!

Please forgive my silence as I have been grieving again.  Two years ago in the spring we saw the first signs of Brut's tumor on his spleen.  Now that can only be seen in retrospect and I am remembering my dear boy and Silver.   I miss them so much.  Some days are harder than others.

With that said, their spirits haven't left me and Silver in particular guided me through this next experience.  The beginning of the integration of our two packs starts with:

  

Diffusing the tension!

Two packs of dogs, each with their own side of the house and a door that separates them. The boys, Zappa and Chance only fight/talk with each other, while the girls, Fiona and Blaze keep to each other as well. Most of the time Zappa is the instigator, but Chance has gotten many digs in as well. 

This door is the focal point for the two packs.  Most of the time they "talk" to each other, but there are other times when there are "fights."  Growling, snarling and just being nasty to each other at the door.   And mealtime was the worst!  I used to have their dinners prepared so there was no time but to bark and be happy about food.  As they've aged I've added to their menus, which takes more time which in turn has grown into an all out riot while preparing their food!

I have never known how to stop this behavior.   I could never figure out how to be on both sides of the door.  

The light bulb.... I put Chance and Blaze in their room and Zappa and Fiona in theirs and then I got their food ready.  Cutting the tension in half, theirs and mine.  They ate a little slower and I notice a huge differences in their demeanor.  All that pent up anxiety, fear and anger was diffused.  Finally!

I finally had made a breakthrough.

It was a step in the right direction.

I hadn't realize until that first time of putting them in their rooms, just how much tension there really was and the impact it was having them.  This is a sort a new thing with the food since Brut and Silver died, with each death it increased.  It's not like I am oblivious to the strain and tension between them, their behavior at the door has been going on since Chance and Blaze first moved back with us, I just hadn't found a solution.  It's not in any book I know of, so we just keep plugging along until the next light bulb goes off.

I'll tell you more about the next step of diffusing the situation in my next post and I will try to have some video too!  

Brut Thursday-The Fight Within

Brut Thursday, a day late, but not forgotten.

I was thinking about Brut today.  My husband, Mark and I were a little huffy with one another and I my boy came to mind.

Nobody really understood Brut's anger issues.  I don't even think Mark could fully comprehend them, but I got it.  It made total sense to me once I discovered his puppy hood before us.  I knew what it was like to be betrayed and to fight for yourself by yourself.  From a depth that is scarring and sacred, you hold on to survive with that last breath.  Because it is all you have.  It becomes all you know as the fear swells in you, fighting to destroy everything you have, your heart and soul.  You become the fight you feared to save them.  Only to find you are killing yourself in the process. So you thrash harder not understanding why it hurts so.  But it is the only way you know.

I don't know how Brut and I ever picked apart all those needles in our gut, but we did it together.  I don't know that either of us "healed" right but learned in each other that we were not alone in our fight.  In fact Brut taught me how to fight and stand up for myself turning that turmoil inside out.

Brut had a way of calming me because I was understood.  Something I hadn't found in my journey until him.  I witnessed first hand the "home" life he had before me.  Vicious.  Daunting.  Many angry dogs all living on survival mode.  Scary.  It was no wonder Brut scared the crap out of me from a young puppy.  The boy was crazy with fear.  And hurting so deep.  Was it any wonder we bonded so deeply?

To say I was blessed with Brut is an understatement.  I don't know that there is a word for it that would do our relationship justice.  I miss my boy every day.  If I didn't know his spirit is right there for me, I don't know what I would do.  Connecting with Brut is my strength.  Knowing and healing with him brings me right back here.  To this blog to share my story of the greatest dog I have ever known.

 

Would you/ Do you own a slobbery dog?

The closest I've come to owning a slobbery dog is having a slobbery cat!  He wipes drool all over my hand when he rubs his head on me. It completely grosses me out.

Our dogs might foam or drool around food or if they are hot. Even though it only happens once in a while and I find it disgusting, it is within reason. 

Some breeds of dogs does drool continuously...I don't think I could handle it.

Could you?

My gag reflexes go on overload when I see a drooling dog.  I don't think it is something I could get used to over time or for my love for a dog.  It is just one of the things that puts me off about dogs and I don't see it changing any time soon.  

So how about you?  Could you live with a breed of dog that slobbers all the time?

 I do not slobber!  It is my love juice.

My Observation-Blaze's shift in the pack

Before Blaze was spayed two years ago, she was driven by her hormones.  Her purpose was to reproduce, be a mother and carry on her genes.  Because of this drive, she never cared much for treats and food wasn't a priority as her meals were provided. This left her to focus on other things in order to seek out her purpose.

Then we had her spayed and her role in the pack changed.  Blaze became a foodie.  

Our vet has made this reference a few times about "her role in the pack changing," and I didn't totally understand what she meant by that.  

It has taken a year of Brut being gone to start to grasp this change and how spaying Blaze at seven years old changed her role in the pack.

When Brut died, all the dogs went through changes in their packs and as a whole, but the one that stuck out the most was Blaze.  She thought she still had that same purpose, that hormonal instinct because Brut was still intact when he died.  With Brut still able to reproduce, Blaze still had her same drive only it was weakened by the drastic change to her hormone levels and she still went through the motions of having her heats.  It was when Brut died that Blaze lost that "hope" of being a mother and having a family, the only thing she knew she was born for, to reproduce.  Her soul purpose was eliminated and so the her role changed from Alpha dog to Beta dog where getting food became her soul purpose.  So it wasn't just Brut's attitude and snarls that kept the order intact, it was that hormonal flow that permeated the packs. It was biological.  

Funny thing is, Brut's happiest year, was the year before he died.  The year that Blaze was fixed.  

It was Brut's death and my grief that led to her gaining about 6 pounds last year.  Six pounds is a lot for a dog who should only be about 63 pounds.  

My grief crippled me those first few months and instead of walks, I played treat games so as not to have to leave any of the dogs. I needed them as a group to help with the loss of Brut.  

I might have noticed the weight gain by fall, but still stayed in denial about it.  It wasn't until this spring that I noticed how heavy Blaze had gotten and the vet made that observation about changes in her pack role when the light bulb went off.

Spaying Blaze changed her purpose.  She went from a hierarchy position where we felt equal with each other to second in command.  THAT'S what was so amazing for me having  dogs that are intact, there is an equality between you and them, especially emotionally and spiritually.   They are no different a species as you are and I find it kind of sad that it is so quickly taken away from them by one trip to the vet because people are so irresponsible.  There is nothing better than that feeling of being on the same level with someone, but it is quite special to be one with your dog.  It is probably why Brut and I were so keen on each other and understood the other's moves.

I know there is more to this role changing than Blaze becoming a food obsessed dog.  This change didn't effect her personality or our relationship, but it is like an invisible shift that took over my sweet girl and now with Brut gone it is even more noticeable.  I am intrigued with the changing of Blaze's role in the pack.  I will be observing further into what this means for her and if there is more to this story.

Fascinating stuff! 

Chance and Zappa Socialize-2nd meeting!

Watch here or on YouTube

So the video may not seem like much, but if you've been a long time reader you know how exciting this is.  It has been a long time coming to try and blend the two dog packs.  Here is our first meeting.  They were pretty scared that first time, but were relaxed and happy the second time.   

As you might have noticed I'm not spending a lot of time on Zappa's entrance, just trying to keep him from being out of control.  I just want to get to the 'meeting' between the two of them and I'll work backwards from there.  

Zappa being Zappa is the mouthy one of the two.  He did pretty good for the most part.  The fact that nobody is holding the leashes while Chance and Zappa 'hang out' helps to keep any emotions that may be coming down the leash and making them more reactive.  

I actually can't believe how much they calmed down once they found they couldn't get to each other.  Just like that their squabble was over.  

Other than just getting them together, I'm trying to show them that I do not favor one over the other and that they are equal to me.  My reasons for eating and sharing the pear with both of them.  

I think I'm on to something.  :)

Now where to take it from here.....hmmm

and then there is Fiona...

If I had any thoughts that Brut's leadership wouldn't live on, I was very, very wrong.  ☺

It should have come as no surprise to me that Fiona would naturally slip into Brut's position.  She is a natural born leader who thrives on keeping order and the hierarchy.

Fiona was the only dog who submitted to Brut, getting low to the ground, even rolling over on her back, but would take his place when he wasn't around.  Now that dominance is coming to the surface when there are treats out.  In fact, I got rid of the treat jar that was next to my chair, because Fiona would start to snarl and scare Zappa and Silver away.  Another Brut Jr. in the making.

To be honest I haven't gotten over the shock of Fiona taking Brut's place and claiming her own.  She could sometimes get a little snarky when treats came out, but now it is every time.  She is ready to lunge if needed to get what she wants.  Oh what happened to my little girl?  In a way it is very disappointing, hurtful and I really wasn't expecting it. It was a very gradual thing, even though she's been acting like this any time Brut was away.  I'm having a hard time accepting it, in fact I haven't, which makes things even more difficult, because I keep getting 'surprised' each time her wrath surfaces. I don't want to deal with it.  Eight years of Brut was enough!

Somebody gotta keep these guys in check!

Another problem is Brut's aggression/possessive resource guarding was going on when we got him, so we were able to work with him early to curb some of it.  Fiona listens to me, but I'm still struggling with how to handle it because I don't want to go through this again.  I know, I know, they are Brut's kids and I should expect it, but honestly it caught me off guard.

Thank goodness it mostly with food and only certain circumstances, like training time, so that is a good thing.

So now it seems we have two Queens, Silver and Fiona. and the 24 Paws go marching on.

Brut Thursday- I Was Never Disillusioned

The first time Brut ever came face to face with another dog was with our part-time neighbor's dog.  Brut was just six months old, full speed into puberty when the chocolate lab ran up to the road to greet us.  Brut became fully charged.  Barking, lunging, pulling like the devil to get at this dog.  I wasn't too shocked, but I didn't know what to do but stand and hold Brut away from this dog who all but just stood there.  Finally, someone called the dog's name and he took off.  I was shaken, but OK.  Brut on the other hand was on ready to take on the world and anybody else that got in our way.  I don't know if he ever did settle down as we continued on our walk, but I was glad when it was over.  At the time I didn't think anything of it really, Brut had already shown me with Silver that he had a problem with dogs, I just knew I'd have to be very cautious on our walks from now on.

Brut never gave me the option to be disillusioned that he might be friendly with another dog outside of his pack.  Heck, he had enough issues within his pack, he wasn't going to take kindly to any dogs outside of it.  There was no guess work when it came to Brut.  He wasn't kind of friendly then not, or friendly with some and not with others, he disliked them all and he made no bones about it.  Brut wasn't afraid to show how he felt and his intentions and reacted as such.  As much as I didn't like this 'quality' Brut made it quite clear and for that I am grateful.

Why am I grateful that my dog aggressive dog made his actions loud and clear?
 I think the most important thing I learned was that Brut didn't lie.  Brut went over the top with every emotion he was feeling from day one, in a language I could understand.  He never faked it. Whatever he did he was real with it and was big with it.  He really felt and expressed himself in such a huge way that it couldn't be missed.  And I really miss that about him.  I really do, including his ornery ways that made him really stand out from any dog I have ever known.  

WW- And a 1, and a 2, and a 3...

It was never his time...I didn't know

I've been afraid to write this for fear of it being misconstrued by some who might say that we didn't do the right thing with Brut.  I won't apologize for any of what happen and last I knew, Brut was our dog, not yours.

So with that being said, I share my experience, strength, hope and weaknesses of how I didn't know.

******************************

Brut changed my line of thinking about everything that was dog.  He challenged me to think outside of the box.  He wanted me to open my mind to the possibilities that existed, like how they think and see the world, but mostly he wanted me to understand him.  Brut insisted that I learn how to communicate with him on his level, using non-verbal expression and he wanted me to learn how to interpret that line of communication by listening to him.  He even did this until his death this past summer.

Brut taught me of his moods and how to read his body language.  I'd give you an example but I am horrible at translating them to another human.  I just needed to be able to understand his dog language.  It didn't matter if anyone else understood it, it was just important that I did.

As I went through my own adjustments to interpreting Brut, something started to sink in that he had his own way of thinking and ideas about what he wanted.  And that included his death.

Brut told me everything how he was feeling, what he was thinking and whether I got it all or not, I practiced with him to get better at delving into his soul to understand more.  The conversations we could have with just his ears alone was mind boggling.  There was so much more to it than Brut showing me he was angry or happy.  We were able to converse about what we were seeing and doing together.  I thought I knew that boy almost inside out.

So you'd think with this bonding connection that I would know when it was 'time.'  In fact I swore up and down I would know.  How could I not?  Hubby, Brut and I made a pact that the three of us had to be in agreement on the timing.

Whatever happened we would all decide together.

You'd think that with all of the secrets we have shared together, Brut and I, he would have let me in on this one, but Brut, being Brut, had his own agenda.

See I let go of Brut sometime after seeing the x-ray, about two weeks before he died.  I knew then his time was short and it confirmed what I felt.  Brut was dying.

After letting go, I don't know why, but I came to realize that the final decision was between Brut and Mark.

Mark was still hanging on with all hopes and prayers that there was still a chance to save him.  And Brut made it clear he wasn't going any where until Mark was ready.

They slept the last five nights together on the living room floor.  Two nights before his death Mark told Brut through a flood of tears, "If you want me to let you go, I will."

The next day Brut's breathing was short and shallow.  He was also the most alert I'd seen him in a long time.

And for some reason even with this knowledge I still didn't 'know'.  I knew it like a math problem and that it fit together and made sense that it was his time, but Brut never told me and so I didn't know.

And when we called the vet to come to the house the following day, I still didn't know.

And for several days after that I kept asking Mark, "Did we do the right thing?"  He always answered yes and I trusted him.

I would have never believed if you told me I wouldn't know when Brut's time was.  It would have a ludicrous for me to even imagine.  The dog who told me everything, told me to trust Mark.  And that was all he whispered.  

Blaze and the kitty-kitty Update

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

HERE I told you about my experiment with Blaze getting to know the cats.  Her high prey drive and previous owners have made it quite a challenge.

I've been sitting with Blaze in front of the cat's door, while she lies down and feeds on cheese pieces.  Then I will open the door and see if the cats are out and about.

This is really a good time to try, because the cats hibernate from the dogs during the winter months which makes for good practice to have the door open.  Although most of the time we just saw this:

An empty cat room, as the cats were snug in their bed.









Once Boxer was in front of the door with his back turned to us and stayed that way for a few minutes before leaving.

Come here, doggy, doggy, doggy!!

And the other time Boxer was on the desk looking down at Blaze who was doing a very good job of being calm and in control of herself.

I try to do it at least once a day, but I've been lacking these past couple of weeks.  No problem, we'll just try again.

I've been very impressed with my little girl.  She has stayed lying down, which is HUGE, and she's been staying calm and in control.  HUGE!!

So while it may not seem like much, Blaze is making great headway so far.

We will keep you up to date!

Your dog's behavior-Emergency Rescued

I caught on the news the other day about a couple of dogs who got out of their yard and ended up stuck on brokekn ice chunks in a body of water.  The smallest dog barked and snap at the rescuer while the other just sat and waited patiently to be saved.

It got me thinking about my own dogs and how they would act if they ever had to be rescued.  Most importantly, how they would react to the people trying to save them and the situation going on around them.

Brut can be very friendly when he's not being territorial, but if was scared as well, I could see some real problems with him snapping, growling and biting.  Brut could be a real challenge to be saved. If we were able to be close, it might help, but I don't know.  Brut it is too ify.

Chance would probably be terrified of the whole ordeal and might snap at the rescuers, but I think would have a good chance of being saved.

Silver, Zappa, Fiona and Blaze I think would all do well in the same situation.  They would be grateful for the help, even though they would probably be scared to death, but they would be OK.

So how do you think your dog would rate in rescue situation waiting for rescuers to come and save them? Or have you been in a situation when your dogs had to be rescued?  Who would be your star or problem child?  Tell us in the comments!

Save me from falling off the couch!