Godfather Alex and the Reason

Today Silver was the chosen dog for our adventure.  We went to one of favorite spots where I can let her run free.  While on our stroll, I was thinking how both of our lives have changed.  From simply being Alex, Silver and my husband and I, to Brut and their litter of puppies to the current complexity of living with two packs of dogs.  How our lives have evolved and morphed into something I could have never dreamed of that started with Alex.  I think about how easy the years have passed as I watch Silver bound ahead of me without a care that her muzzle and toes continue to whiten with time while she scampers after a chipmunk.

Funny how you measure time with your dog's life.  This was Alex favorite spot too and I could almost see his big butt shooting down the hill, his long furry tail flipping this way and that.  He was such a shaggy mutt that walked with fun pride and without a care in the world.  He was just happy-go-lucky but with class.  He had a low, full bark that came from the bellows and would scare the holy right out of you, but he always did so with a wagging tail.  He was the one who got this ball rolling by coming into our lives.  You have got to love a dog who changes everything about you, because he knew who you really were inside.  I didn't know at the time when we got him if I was ready for a dog, but nothing prepared for the places he took me or heartache that still falls when I open my heart to the pain of losing him.

He is known as the Godfather to all his dog children.  For if it wasn't for Alex, there wouldn't be 24 Paws of Love.

Forever we love you Alex.

      

Monday Memories-Random Cuteness

Some Mommy Time

 What a day!

I had a very stressful week and today was particularly anxious.  The day has finally come to a close and while everyone has gone to bed, I have come to my favorite hideaway, where I can kick up my feet, have a few smokes and visiting with all my wonderful doggy friends.  I hadn't realize what a comfy spot this is and how much I have missed it the last few days.  My little home away from home.

The dogs have been so great through this time period.  I mean really who else would put up with only a minute here and there to get some attention?  We have missed quite a few walks as time has been so tight, but they have been such troopers through it all.  I have been tearing apart the house cleaning, so they have put up with many disruptions and the dreaded vacuum cleaner and they still love me.  I know I shouldn't laugh, but Chance puts on one hell of a show when the vacuum is running, darting and dashing every which way.  I can't help it, I think it's a bit comical.  :)

So here I sit, sipping on my pop, enjoying the gentle quiet of the evening and the wonderful fact that this nightmare week is almost over.  I feel like I can see the end of the tunnel.  I wasn't sure for a while if it was ever going to end.  Two more rooms to thoroughly clean and I'll be done.  Does anyone know what dog hair is going for on the black market??  BOL!  I think I have a fortune under every nook and cranny!  Amazing where you can find it.  Places that didn't seem possible.  You'd never know I just did a deep cleaning a month ago-geez!  Already Brut's tufts of fur are decorating the floor and couch.  I swear he leaves a trail every where he goes.  The job that never ends...SIGH...

Thank you for making this blogging space such a happy and wonderful place to call home.  It really feels good to be part of such a wonderful community and around such doggie loving friends.  I hope every one has a great weekend and for those of you in the US, Happy Memorial Weekend!   

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

How about these choppers??

We read a great post by Hawkeye over at Brown Dog about National Dog Bite Prevention week that we think is a must read.  Please stop over and check it out.   

Here's our two cents on Dog Bite Prevention:

You have the right to say "NO."  If you are like me it is hard to say NO to someone who may want to pet your dog.  I know I have done it myself when meeting strangers with dogs and falling instantly in love with their dog and wanting to pet them.  You as an owner have every right not to let someone else pet your dog.  Even friends and family.  If you are uncomfortable with a situation, you are allowed to deny someone from petting your dog.  Forget about hurting feelings, our dogs are our responsibility which includes not letting others touch him or her if you do not warrant it.

I think we as dog lovers sometimes forget that we have that right even when we are around other dog lovers.  Even the best behaved dogs still get stressed and overwhelmed at times and can snap sometimes out of fear or frustration.  Biting is not limited to just aggressive dogs.  All dogs have teeth and use them as a form of communication especially when their message isn't getting across.

Knowing how your dog responds under different circumstance can also help.  Understanding their behaviors and body language are usually clear indicators how your dog may or may not be feeling.  Different breeds react differently under different circumstances, such as guard dogs are more protective and may take time to become open and friendly.  Dominant and aggressive dogs may act differently out in public then they do at home.  Some dogs do not like to be touched, or will only tolerate being petted in certain areas and/or may have spots on their body that are completely off limits.  Some dogs are shy and will snap or bite out of fear.  Understanding your dog will help in prevention.

As much as I dislike the term, your dog is your property.  Just because you own a dog, doesn't give everyone the freedom to touch him or her any way they please.  By protecting your dog, you are protecting others of what could be a serious situation.  Understand and respect your dog's rights just as you would a child or any other human.  They are counting on you.   

Freedom of a Walk

I've been working on and off with Chance and his leash training since he came to live with us two and half years ago.  I was one who always got frustrated with myself, gave up and went back to our old way of walking, which was him pulling me anywhere he wanted.  Not only is he a strong dog physically but mentally as well.  Out of all my dogs he is my worker dog and when he sets his mind to something he goes after it.  Now this is great if he's being given some direction, but without a solid command he figures he runs the show and I was letting him. 

When I finally got serious about not having my arm come out of my socket, I knew I had my work cut out for me.  I started in December 2010 with my first post of my decision and our first practice.  Pain has a way of being a great motivator and was the only thing that kept me from not going back to the old ways.  While I used the same basic techniques I'd used in the past, this time no matter what I was as consistent as possible.  My biggest falter besides my habit of giving up and thinking I couldn't do it.  Sometimes the walks were disasters, some were great successes, but the one thing they had was consistency and determination.  It is the longest time I ever put in for leash training my dogs and Chance made it seem like piece of cake. 

I never realized all the blessings that would come out of training Chance to walk on a leash.  Leash walking has always been a huge weakness for me and I have always struggled to overcome that weakness.  Our communication and connection was strong before we started, but what I didn't expect was the understanding of our communication and what it would mean on our walks.  I have always been so impatient trying to get from point A to B, that I could never considered stopping for five minutes while I waited for him to calm down or turning around and back for his attention, but now they are part of our walks. Mostly, I never considered the freedom that we would share on our walks and the joy of working as a team.  That was proven most to me with our walk at the park.  Now there was an ultimate respect that runs through the leash and a soaring in my heart because I am having the time of my life walking my boy, Chance.

Chance and I would also like to send out a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has encouraged us and stuck by our story along the way.  Your support has meant a great deal to us and we couldn't have done it without you.

Thank you!!

  Thank you for helping my Mommy!

Cause there was no way she'd make it this far on her own!!  

BOL!!   

Monday Memories-Snuggle Time

Come snuggle with us Mommy!

There's nothing like snuggling with a puppy.  That warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling with a new friend.  Now imagine four-three week old puppies that were sleeping with Mommy and their siblings come crawling over to you when you lay in the whelping bed.  It was the best feeling in the world.  A beautiful moment in that I will always remember of being loved.

RAINY DAY JOBS

We may look like we are having a lazy, rainy day nap, don't be fooled.  We are still working dogs with a job to do. 

Brut guards the toy box.

 No one is touching my toys!

 Fiona and Silver hold down the couch to contain the dust bunnies until Mommy gets to them.

Very...difficult...job...zzzzzz!



 Zappa protects the chair from another dreaded attack of the chair eating monster.

I'll get him this time!

 Blaze and Chance do their best to cover up Mommy's messiness with their big bodies.

Are we stretched out far enough?

We do our best to help out Mommy and put our best working dog skills to the test, so we don't understand what she means when she says it doesn't help having six mongrels and two mouse chaster when she's trying to keep up the house.

We thought we were doing a pretty good job.  Does anyone else get it??  BOL!

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Amazing Chance

Can you beat that smile??

Chance amazed me again.  I took him for a ride with me while I ran some errands and en route I thought, I'll take him to the park for a reward for being such a good boy.  We haven't been to the park since I started leash training him and I wondered how contextual this experience would be for him.  I was simply WOWed!

When I gave him the OK to get out of the car, he about pulled my arm off while I tried to shut the door.  He was rather excited and it took me a couple of minutes getting him to sit/stay long enough so I could close and lock the doors.  I walked him around the drive first, for a little reminder of loose leash walking.  I decided to skip the trails as we walked around the baseball fields.  I was stunned.  He did fantastic!  Then when we came to the back entrance of trails, I let him lead the way and again I was blown over.  I decided to jog with him the rest of the way through the trails so he could pick up the pace as he was doing so well.  Even with all the new smells and the intensity of them, he only pulled a couple of times that we had to stop and regroup, it was simply amazing!

I had really expected this experience to throw him off guard.  I thought he would be overly excited and completely detached from me.  I was so overwhelmed when he listened to me and we took our practice walks up and down the park driveway.  I thought I would be lucky if I could get him to walk the park road without any problems.  I thought for sure he would lunge and drag me everywhere with all the woodland creature smells.  I thought there was no way possible to be in a completely different environment and have any good success.  He has such a history of being in new places and literally dragging me all over the place.   I had no doubt that he would give me a hard time about being trained at the park when there were more interesting things than me there. That's what I get for thinking!  I was dead wrong and that was so cool!  I love the lesson he taught me.  I was prepared for the worst and he gave me his best, can't ask for anything better than that!!