Monday Memories- BFF's Zappa and Fiona

There was a very special bond between Zappa and Fiona that is still stronger than steel.  When rest of the litter had left the nest, they were glad to have each other.

 I'll always watch over you little Sis.

And I will protect you Big Brother.

                                                               

     I may get a little crazy, now and then.

But just remember,

                                       

You'll always be my very best friend!

Oh, to be a Dog!

Have you ever really witnessed the joy of a dog when they are running?  The freedom of zooming at speeds you could never dream of?  The thrill of leaping, jumping, twisting and bounding forward in a heartbeat.

I have always wanted to be a dog and know that feeling of effortlessness of movement.  Being able to run free on a whim.  No thinking or training involved, just being able to take off when you wanted to.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?  There's has got to be nothing better than running at breakneck speeds with such grace and ease.  When you think about it, it almost cruel to slow them down to our speeds.  There is nothing better than watching dogs play, with moves that out champion any athlete.  The agility and flexibility of being able to bend and twist on a dime with so few injuries coupled with an energy that would makes us millionaires if we could bottle it up.  It is a beautiful thing watching dogs run and play with such spirit and freedom.  Oh, what I wouldn't give to be a dog.  Until then I am blessed to live vicariously through them. 

 Here is a taste of that freedom with Silver and the boys.  Fiona was gone with Daddy, so Silver was lapping up the attention!

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We Are Still Walking!

I started last December to work with Chance on pulling while leash walking.  Chance is trained to pull sleds and bikes and thinks pulling on a leash is the same thing.  While it was comical and I got a good laugh out of it, being jerked and pulled on a regular basis was no fun.  So I began by walking him around the yard in a heel position.  Taught him to walk out of the gate, not shoot out of it, until we reached the end of the driveway, then the road.  I kept him in the heel position, teaching him turns and constantly changing directions.  Stopping each time he pulls and waiting for him to sit and make eye contact before continuing.  I only let him on a loose leash every so often along the way to stop and sniff.  This where I left you last and we were having great success.

I wanted to incorporate loose leash walking, but was waiting for the opportunity.  The other day, I tested it out on him with great success.  The dog that used to yank me left and right and drag me around, was staying within his end of the leash!  It was a miracle!  So I went back and forth throughout our last couple of walks between the heel position and loose leash walking.  He did fantastic!  There were still small pulls and tugs, but nothing compared to our pre-training walks.  Chance is also teaching me grave amounts of patience.  When he pulls I stop and wait for him to sit and make eye contact.  Not just a quick wavier, but a connection, this tells me he is ready for my instruction.  The scents he is after may have total control of his brain and it takes him a few minutes for him to come back into focus.  And I found, I have time.  I'm not going anywhere without him, so I've been giving him that time to readjust and that we aren't moving in any direction until he's fully engaged with me.  This is quite a revelation for me as walking has always been about getting from point A to B.  I also have accepted that turning around and changing directions is also part of our walks.  No matter how much the neighbors laugh at me.  This acceptance has made our entire walking experience much more relaxed and enjoyable.  I am loving it.

On our walk tonight, I stepped up the challenge a little more by walking in a heel position through a wooded trail.  I had tried this earlier in training and it was something Chance wasn't up to yet.  Today he flew through it with flying colors.  He was spectacular.  This whole experience have given me a sense of freedom with walking Chance.  I have been testing him, but he is also testing me.  It is the longest I have went with any sense of consistency.  He knows what to expect and understands what I am asking of him, because I asking the same thing every time.  What a difference!  I am seeing improvement with both of us and there is a real feeling of accomplishment.  My husband's way of walking Chance doesn't seem to having any effect on his walking with me.  BONUS!!

I thought for sure the last time I tried and failed at these attempts of walking Chance, that was it.  I was never going to try again.  I was doomed trying to keep my arm in one piece every time I walked him.  I think sometimes it is all about timing.  I have found this in many areas with my dogs about training that I have tried over and over.  Sometimes the timing just isn't right, whether it be for them and for me, but when you finally click together is one of the best feelings in the world!  Now that Chance is such a great walking companion, I don't want to even think about walking the other five who are all in desperate need of the same training.  LOL  I can't even imagine all the challenges that are awaiting me for the next few years...except that some day it will all be worth it!    

A Few PET Peeves

Having eight animals in the house at the same time entitles me to have some pet peeves and a reason to vent.  Six dogs and two cats is enough some days to send me over the top.  Well, I've had all I can take and I'm laying down the law.  And it's about time!

1.  Any dog that chews on another remote will be sentenced to becoming our personal slave for manually turning the TV on and off, changing channels and adjusting the volume to our desire.  All of this will be done without the luxury of treats.  That's right.  You heard me.   And for your information, Fiona and Blaze  the 'remote fairy' does not exist!

2.  For any dog going in or out you will all be entering and exiting at the same time.  I am not your personal door person for this intermittent parade that you continue to put on.  If I have to miss one more twist on Law and Order because of getting up and down to let you in or out individually you will all be tied together on one line.  That way you can all go out and come in at the same time.  And we all know, nobody wants to be THAT close to Brut!

3.  The fact that we have a dirt yard does not give you permission to roll in as much dirt as possible to bring in and leave on my bed.  That's right MY bed.  Are you back talking me Zappa?  The fact that the bed is left unmade all day isn't the issue!  Opposable thumbs or not the next one who showers my bed with dirt will learn how to use hand held vacuum to clean my bed every night.  ALONG with washing all your pack mates paws and will receive a BATH!  And here's the real kicker,  A BATH, WITH THE USE OF THE HAIR DRYER!!  You have escaped this horror of machines many times, but this time you will be blasted!!

And this is only the beginning...HeHeHeHe

  

Zappa Roars!

Zappa has always been Daddy's dog and Brut has always been mine.  With Daddy walking the dogs on a regular basis, Brut has taken to possessing Daddy which gives me an opportunity to give Zappa some extra attention that he has been missing out on. 

The bond between Zappa and I is sort of under the table.  We are like a couple of spies stealing time throughout the day.   We are having more eye contact Zappa has decided in the last few months to start mouthing off to Brut at random moments.  Once we connect he begins to settle down.  Zappa can't seem to get over the fact that he isn't top dog but likes to act like he is.

We took a walk today and we had a blast.  When Zappa is walking with Daddy, he is more relaxed, bouncing side to side on the leash, but with me he is all business.  We have a mission.  Getting from point A to point B and back around again.  We walk swiftly and with a purpose.  There's no messing around when we are together.  There is serious concentration happening here and focus.  He had me busting up at the difference in the walks as he picked up speed on a scent and I tried to stay up with him.  I hadn't thought of it until now, but he reminded me of Chance and his work ethics attitude.  Just give him a job and he will execute.

He still brings smile to my face as this dopey eyed dog, so sweet and loving can become like a lion when given the chance to show himself.  All he needs is the right opportunity and then WATCH OUT!!

ROAR!!

        

Comments on Monday Memories-Regret

Can you believe the great blogging friends we have Blaze?

I would really like to thank everyone for their comments for yesterdays post about my regret for not acting on Blaze's instincts and without knowing it sent her to an abusive home, until we got a call for her return. 

I know that there was no way of knowing even with the best screening, but what struck me the most were your comments about the follow ups we did with each of the dogs and how that was probably the reason these owners called us to return Blaze and Chance.  My husband has told me the same thing a hundred times, but I just couldn't see it.  (besides the fact it was coming from him.  LOL)  But you all said the same thing as I repeated the story.  That made it powerful.  Visiting the dogs their first year was part of our contract with the new owners.  It was important to us to see how the dogs were adjusting, how the families were handling things and most important to know if anything was ever wrong they always had a place to come back to.  We believed in that 100% and it looks like we are not alone.  We had watched these little puppies be born.  We had nurtured and cared for them as if they were our own children.  We just couldn't drop them in strangers hands and never know what happened to them or how they were doing.  It also helped us in letting go of them to their new owners.  We had become quite attached to all of the puppies and if it were up to my husband we would have never given a single one up.  :)

I wrote up little puppy book for each owner containing things like when their shots were due, their feeding schedules and amounts and basic things about owning a puppy for the first time.  I had cards of each puppy with a photo of the owner's puppy at four weeks old and a little birth certificate.  As the litter got smaller and smaller, it became more difficult letting them go.  Ten puppies reduced to about four in a matter of three weeks was significant.  It was more relief on my part, as I had done most of the care, but my husband had a very traumatic time with it as his work schedule suddenly increased just after the puppies were born.  It was a very trying time for him.  So when we were able to visit, it helped both of us with the adjustment of the puppies being gone.  Most of the puppies were doing fine including Chance and Blaze.  It wasn't until after the third visit with Blaze that we starting noticing a difference with her and knew something was up. 

Blaze was telling me long before that she wanted to stay with us.  I do believe that.  Yes, hindsight is so beautiful and much easier to see then at the time, but it was our love of those little creatures that came into our lives and a need to protect them even though they were part of someone else's family.  It was out of love that we needed to see that they were taken care of and be able to reunite for a few minutes with our 'grandbabies.'  Thank you for understanding that passion, not judging and helping me let go that regret knowing that you believe we did the right thing.  Your comments mean the world to us.  Thank you for everyone sharing our thoughts and acknowledging them.  I guess like dog minds think alike.  :)     

Monday Memories-A Regret

Looking back at my time with the litter of puppies, I have little regrets, but there is one thing that always lingers in my mind wondering if I should have done something differently.

Blaze at four weeks old

 
Part of the agreement of picking out a puppy was visiting at least a couple of times so that the new owners weren't a complete stranger to the puppies.  Blaze was the first picked at about three weeks old.  She met with her new owners several times as we would not let the puppies go to their new homes until they were about nine weeks old. 

Every meeting between Blaze and her new owners repeated the same cycle.  Blaze kept running back to the whelping box during their visit.  She didn't seem to have any interest in them.  Feeling somewhat out of tune with why she was acting this way, I didn't know exactly what to do about it.  I should have seen it as a sign of something.  I thought maybe she just was too shy or would rather be with her brothers and sisters.  Secretly I was smiling on the inside because I took it as she really didn't want to leave and even though she was quite the terror of the group, we were having a hard time with letting any of the puppies go.

When the time came and Blaze was the first to leave the litter, I was relieved.  Ten puppies that were all teeth and running around the house, I was ready to say goodbye.



Blaze saying goodbye to Mommy Silver

If I knew then what I know now.  We visited about once a month to see how Blaze was doing and get pictures of her growth.  It didn't take long to know something was wrong.  It was nothing we could ever prove, but something wasn't right.  When we saw her at six months old she jumped into our car before we could even get out.  It was obvious things for her were intensifying.  A month later we got the call that they wanted to return her and we jumped at the chance to save her.  The horrors she had lived through shown in her quiet demeanor.  She was a shell of herself and haunted with every move.  We were ever so grateful that they had returned her.  It was the only good thing I think they ever did.

We never knew the abuser of the family existed until after they took Blaze home.  He never came to any of the visited and was never spoken of.  It was he who made the call.  A call we are forever blessed with as it could have ended so many different ways.

Chance and Blaze (3 mos. old) at their new homes

I still wonder as I look back at those visits what would have happened if I had intervened and told the new owners I didn't think this puppy was for them .  As difficult as these thoughts are, I also believe everything happens for a reason.  Chance's new owners were related to Blaze's and they basically grew up together.  If Blaze's owners hadn't of made that call to return her, then there was a chance that Chance's owners wouldn't have made the call to give him back either. I suspected that once Blaze came back, it was only a matter of time before Chance did and that's exactly how it happened.  For the last three years I have struggled with the "what if" and the regret of not listening to those puppy instincts.  Today whatever the reasons are, I am glad they are both back, safe and sound and part of the 24 Paws of Love.  For I have no doubts about that.

Chance and Blaze home with us.

         

Is it the Weekend Yet??

Fiona's Tough Day at the Office

I don't think I can take one more ring.

Thank goodness it's Saturday and time for the Blog Hop!

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