A Special Kind of Heart

Has anyone wondered why so many foster dogs are returned?  Or why they "act out" with potential new owners?  They have already been through the "system" and then they finally find a home, only to find themselves shuffled through other families who bring them back.  I am sure there are stronger and deeper analogies, but I keep coming back to what I know about plants and what I have witnessed with them. 
When a plant is uprooted, it goes into shock.  Even when you transplant it into a bigger pot with fresh soil, it reacts as if in foreign territory.  It takes two to three times the amount of water to begin to re cooperate from the trauma it has undergone and may takes days or weeks to settle in and finally begin to root.

Imagine the shock that would occur if this same plant was uprooted over and over again, only to find it isn't fresh soil to root in, it is rocks or sand or clay without the right amount of water to recover from this shock.  Now imagine this upheaval every couple of days, weeks or months.  Over and over without receiving the care and nurture it once knew before.  Eventually the plant would never recover from the shock or the traumatic changes to it's environment and would die.

Now imagine that traumatize plant after all everything it has been through finding a home full of love and other dogs just like him to share their experience and struggles with.    That the dogs feels the warmth, love and security that they may even feel comfortable to root themselves with a sigh of relief that they are finally safe.  A dog knows what love is and and the last thing it wants is to loose it, even if they are a good family.  

I have to commend anyone who fosters, I don't know how you do it having all those special dogs in your home only to let them go.  Personally I couldn't do it.  I would just end up adopting them all.  It takes a special kind of heart to care for foster dogs and find a new home.  Maybe that is why so many dogs want to come back.     

Monday Memories-Tidbits of 3 week old puppies

Monday Memories-out little trip down memory lane.

Milk Madness

Mommy, Mommy, can I have some more??

No fair, Mom!  

You didn't have to invite my brothers too!

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King of the Hill

I'm Zappa and I'm the King of the castle...

and you're the dirty rascals

It's tough being King every day.
Sometimes I just need a few moments to myself
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Down for the Count

Here's the line up and they are finally down for the count

I didn't think those little buggers would ever quit!

Finally some me time!

This week's episode of Monday Memories was brought to you with warm snuggles, puppies breath kisses and all the oooohs and awwww you need to get you through your Monday.
 Any day with puppies is better day!  
So just soak in and enjoy!

Are you prone to finding strays?

For some reason all of my life, I've never found a stray or lost animal.  I have no idea why, but it has never happened.  I've read stories and have known people who come across them all the time, but have never had this unique experience happen to me.

These are my closest encounters with strays: 

I couple of years ago a stray Pointer ran across the back of my neighbor's yard, the dog never stopped moving and seem to look right through me.  They were some of the most haunting eyes I'd seen.  This dog had been on the running on fear for some time, it never even saw me.  I tried my best to stay with it, I made a few calls on the dog's behalf, but I never saw it again.

About three winters ago, we had a stray cat live in our garage attic.  Have no idea how it ever got in there and never once saw it.  But there was no doubt it was a cat.  I left food and water on the work bench for it.  In the spring it left and never came back.  

Then last summer, Blaze and I ran into a young kitten, maybe a couple months old or so.  It ran right in front of us and Blaze scared it up a tree.  I took Blaze home and being the idiot human I am, was afraid the kitten couldn't get down from the tree.  I tried coaxing it with treats and trying to get high enough to reach it, which only made it climb higher.  I was like a 6-year old who had finally found a kitten to bring home.  My husband was rolling his eyes later when I told him.  Like I needed another animal in our household.  :)

Later that night sitting out with the dogs, I heard the kitten crying.  Like the looney tune I am I tried to find the kitten in the dark by the sound of those cries.  When I must have been too close for the kitten, it stopped crying.  So I set out some food and water.  It came back the next night and I named it Song for it's distinct voice, then never heard from it again.

So how about you, do stray animals seem to find you or you find them?  Or are you like me and just hear the stories and rumors that this happens? 

The simple power of a fence

I don't know about where you live, but around these parts people don't believe in fences or tie outs for their dogs.  Instead they would rather leave them loose in their yard so that they can charge us when I'm walking the dogs.  It is beyond ridiculous.

But there is one house on the corner that has one of those invisible fences with three dogs.  Now I don't care for the invisible fences, too many chances and risks, but so far these dogs have proven themselves again and again to stay behind the line.  So what I treat it was when I walked Brut down past their house, all three dogs barking and such and Brut is just strutting like a peacock past them.  He didn't fight or lunge or pull.  As soon as he realized he wasn't going to be charged he paraded himself in front of them like King Tut!!  What a joy!!  He actually walked in the heel position without an qualms.  It was so great!!

Far too many times and for far too long dogs have been charging Brut.  He is so well rehearsed that he will just sit there and let them come as close as possible, getting them in striking range.  I have been so blessed that there hasn't been any physical contact with any of the dogs we have encounter, but there have been some close calls.  And that just isn't a fairness my dogs and I should have to live with.  Maybe Brut wouldn't be as dog aggressive if he didn't always feel like he was under attack when walking.  Would it change the his nature.  I doubt it, but it might have helped to take the edge off.

Sometimes I get so tired of accommodating for such asinine human behavior or beliefs.  What do you think? Have you struggle with walking your dogs because of loose dogs?  Do you think there would be less aggressive dogs if they felt protected from other dogs on your walk?

Early Monday Memory Edition-Happy Father's Day Brut!!

Brut's favorite place to sleep, the puppy blanket

In lieu of Father's Day today we decided to celebrate Daddy Dogs all over the world with an early edition of Monday Memories by honoring one in particular, our own Daddy Dog Brut!

Since Brut isn't your average dog, it stands to reason he wasn't an average father by far.  :)  When Brut was with his puppies, I couldn't carry a camera because I was so busy keeping watch that Big Bad Dad wasn't getting too rough or overwhelmed with all his kids.  So I don't have any still pictures of the proud father and his pups.

No matter how nervous or cautious I was when Brut was out, I was surprised over and over again how calm and gentle he was his puppies.  Brut's eyes would lite up as he tried to comprehended all the love that was pouring from these ten puppy hearts, in a way that said, "For me?"  The love he was never able to receive in his own puppy hood he was absorbing ten fold through his own children.  They gave him everything he needed: the puppy hood he never had and to be a dad all at the same time.

Can you feel the love? 

  Watch how Brut never steps on one puppy!
 (I've posted this video before, but it is one of my favorites and I thought quite fitting for today)

To watch on YouTube go HERE

Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there!

Brut Discipline

I am having this amazing experience with Brut!  He is helping me discipline Fiona not being so rough with Boxer, our cat.  Is that cool or what??

Boxer our cat is allowed on the patio when I go out with the dogs.  Well, Fiona is good with him in the house, but seeing Boxer outside makes her loose her marbles.  She gets pretty crazy trying to pounce on him and she automatically loses her hearing as well as her brains, for nothing I say has any impact. 

Well, there I was with Boxer and Fiona having a bit a face off, and Brut was at my side.  I told Fiona a stern, “NO” and the second she started to move towards Boxer, Brut growled a warning at her and she backed off.  IT WAS SO FREAKING COOL!!!  I was completely stunned.  Boxer and Brut have come to some kind of mutual respect being the “top dogs” of the roost, but I also think Brut liked teaming up with me to help out.

It happened again today.  Boxer was outside, Fiona was next to him and I was further back from them.  Here comes Brut up to the patio, he greets Boxer with his nose, then turns to Fiona and noses her with a glare in his eyes and then comes to greet me.  Fiona didn’t make any effort to go after Boxer.  She kept herself in check and didn’t mess with Boxer at all.  It was so great!! 

I mean why not let Brut do what he is good at, discipline!  He has no trouble getting others to do what he wants.  Why not harness his power to work for me?  I wouldn’t have or need Brut for the normal every day stuff but this crazy Fiona that comes out when Boxer is outside seems to trigger something off for Brut.  Not in a nasty or threatening way, but more like saying. ‘this is what I’m good at mom, let me help.’  It made me wonder if I should use a signal or let nature take it’s course, but after this second encounter I think I’m going to let it happen naturally and see how that plays out.  I mean really, why should I have to do all the correcting ? And who listens to Brut better than the rest of the dogs!!  Can you imagine what this could mean??  I mean how much bigger could Brut’s head get??  BOL!!

I’m so utterly amazed how Brut and Boxer have come to some understanding like they are equals, except when it comes down to a challenge of their power between each other.  Then Brut trumps Boxer.  But I would have never thought in a million years that Brut would help Boxer out of that respect and actually be placed above Fiona!  Other than the fact that I placed Boxer’s safety above Fiona rambunctious behavior with him.  And the knit between us just keeps getting tighter and tighter.  HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!

Has anyone else ever had your top dog help take care of matters with your other animals?

p.s. sorry for the lack of photos or video.  I was so enthralled in the moments it totally took me off guard.

Sharing is Caring (and it taste good too!)

Ever done a complete 180 on something you were taught or believed in?  Holy crap!  I’ve done it!  It has been a slow turn over the course of many years but I’ve finally found what I was looking for.

I come from a background of no dogs in the kitchen and never, ever feeding them human food.  I just barely loosened my grip on my husband when the Front Dogs came back and he started a tradition of sharing the last bits of his meal with them.  My rule was that he could only feed them after he was done eating.

How things have changed.

  (to watch on YouTube go HERE)

Some of you were surprised giving the dogs Jello in this post.

I just happened to be eating it and said what the hell!

Before I ended up in the hospital, I was struggling to eat.  I mean I could barely swallow baby bites of food.  Eating became a difficult but necessary chore.  While I tried to gag down my lunch with the Front Dogs at my feet, I began feeding them part of my sandwich.  One bite for me, one for them.  And suddenly eating became a fun game and took the edge of feeling forced.  Not only did I enjoy the company, but I was able to enjoy my meal as well.

Now that I’ve been home and my medication is working, I’m having no trouble eating again, but I’ve continued to share my food with the dogs.  See, I’m a nervous Nelly and tend to eat rather quickly, but splitting my meal with the dogs, helps me to eat slower and really savor the flavor.  I’ve also noticed that I’m eating more veggies, because I want the dogs to eat healthy.  I find when I get an attack of the munchies, I’m reaching for carrots and a pair of dogs to share them with.  :)  I am also eating less as I’m paying attention to the dogs instead of how much I can shove in. 

I know this would cross a line with some and that’s OK, but it helped me through a difficult couple of months and it was fun.  I was able to teach the dogs some manners, sharing between the two of them, how to eat off a spoon and how to only take a bite off my sandwich.  I don’t do it for every meal, which also teaches them patience, but I do save a bite for the end or will share a snack with one of the pairs.  And no matter what, dinner time is Daddy time.  He will actually fixed a small plate for the Front Dogs of anything that is part of his meal.  Even if he has to eat a piece of bread to give them a bite of something.  :) 

This is the kind of freedom I’m living as part of my life and enjoying ten fold by throwing away what are very rusty rules to me.  I’ve had to battle my way through what I believed I could do and what I can do and how it works for this family.  It isn’t just a saying that the dogs are our family.  With a little give and take we continue to heal and grow into what we believe our family should be and there’s nothing like experiencing this journey with all the furry love to take us there.  :)

Monday Memories-Just Ducky

Monday Memories-our little trip down memory lane.

Today stars are Luigi and Mojo.  Eleven years ago, we picked up our first two baby ducks at the local feed store when they were about 7 weeks old.  They were little pooping machines made of fluffy feathers and they grew like weeds.  You could literally see them change day by day.  One of these days I'll have my husband explain how he convinced me that we needed duckies in our entourage of pets. :)

Here is Luigi and Mojo two days after bringing them home.

We weren't around very much during this time period and they bonded tight with each other instead of us.

This is about 8 weeks old making a mess in the bathtub.

At about 9 weeks they hit that ugly duckling stage as there feathers started to come in.

You can see this especially on their tails.

Still best friends at almost 10 weeks.

Here they are just over a year old.  Luigi on the left, Mojo on the right.  It would be a year later that we found Mojo killed by a predator and Luigi walking in circles around her.  

If you have never seen ducks while they are courting, thank your lucky stars.  They are quite violent in their ritual, so much I felt like I was watching a domestic abuse case.

So while I was sad for Mojo's demise, there was a sense of relief as well.

Still it was difficult seeing one duck and Luigi seemed pretty lost for a while, but once he realized he was still king of the roost, he eventually came around.

Now he's the magistrate between the two packs of dogs and lives the life of King Duck.

Not bad for a little baby ducky.