Siamese Twins

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yeah.  How did this happen?

Monday Memories-Silver's Chocolate Scare

That doughnut was t-h-i-s big!!

Like many we had heard that chocolate was fatal for dogs.  Silver was about 12-16 weeks old and was traveling with us.  My husband and I were on our way home and had bought a box of chocolate glazed donuts.  Neither of us thinking we ran into the gas station for our last potty break while leaving our box of goodies with a scrounging puppy before we were to head onto the highway. 

As we got back in the car, I caught Silver gulping down the remains of one of the donuts.  She was our first puppy and I panic.  All I knew at that time was chocolate=death.  So we ran her to the nearest vet office, where the wonderful vet calmed our fears, while giving Silver a shot to help with any nausea and diarrhea, as we had a four hour ride ahead of us.  The vet informed us that for Silver's weight, (about 25 lbs) she would have to eat a full chocolate bar in order to be fatal.  My husband and I both breathed a sigh of relief and Silver slept all the way home with no ill effects from the chocolate or sugar buzz she could have incurred.

The whole experience was quite a scare, but it was nice to know that our mishap didn't turn into a serious matter.  I don't know what we would have done if something were to happen to Silver because of our negligence.  As a result we are always careful about any chocolate around the house and have a special drawer just for it, along with other no-dog goodies. 

Here are a couple of websites that give a little better sketch about the different levels of toxicity of chocolates and what symptoms to watch for if you think your dog has ingested any.  While it depends on the weight of your dog and the type of chocolate and amount, all chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Notes on Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

Dogs and Chocolate Toxicity

While these are only guidelines, if your dog has eaten chocolate or exhibits any of these symptoms, please do not hesitate to call your vet, who can help you determine what treatment your dog may need. 

 Let's keep all our puppies safe!

FOOD FANTASY

Na, na, na, na!  I beat you!  I beat you!

Every time I feed the dogs I have this crazy notion that they are actually "sitting down" to a meal and I suddenly have a half hour to myself while the dogs have "dinner."  You'd think after setting each bowl down and practically turning around to pick them back up, this fantasy would die a slow death.

   **SIGH**

Nobody said being a dog lover meant having all my marbles and well, after living with six dogs I'm entitled to have lost a few along the way!!

p.s.  special Paw Prayers for all of friends in the wake of Hurricane Irene.  Our paws are all crossed for you!!

Join the rest of us crazy animal lovers on the Saturday Blog Hop!!

Hosted by Life with Dogs, The Two Cavaliers, and Confession of the Plume.

My Kind of Baking

Zucchini, Peanut Butter and Wheat Dog Treats

When we just had the Back Dogs, my husband kept talking about making our own dog treats.  While I can bake, it isn't my favorite thing, but I found a recipe, got the ingredients and even bought a new cookie cutter as I didn't have one and whipped up a batch of dog cookies.

All of the dogs turned up their noses at these treats that I had slaved over, just for them.  They wouldn't even take a bite.  That said I never baked for those mongrels again!

So when I went to the Farmer's Market today, I found a young girl who had made these mini muffin-like dog treats.  6 for $1.  How perfect is that?  Three dollars to taste test and no mess or fuss.  That's my kind of baking!  AND the dogs loved them. :)

The Greater Lesson

Today I was in a funk.  By early evening, I felt like a failure as a dog mom.  Somehow all of my best laid plans and good intentions were washed down the drain.  The world seemed to crash down hard on top of me.  I saw no hope in being able to make any changes for the evening hours as I sat with Chance and it began to sprinkle.  I had nothing left to give as I hung my head and shook a weary fist at this world.  Defeated.  I sat as the drops kept falling.   

 Come on Mom, is that all you got!!

Chance was my healer today.  As we sat in the rain, I'd left the hose running, his greatest love.  I watched him run to and fro with it, twisting, pulling, all around the yard.  I was almost going to go in and take my misery with me, when something stopped me and I picked up the hose and began to play tug-of-war with him.  Pitting all my strength against his.  In this friendly but competitive challenge,  I channeled my negative energy through that hose to hold my ground.  And more times than not I surrendered to this white warrior.  As the tension in my brain began to break and rain fell harder, the challenge was taken to the next level.  To get the hose from Chance and not let him get it by swinging it around while he did some of most acrobatic twist, jumps and moves I have ever seen a dog do.  Phenomenal!  I was in totally awe.  Astounded.  That boy is something.

When I finally came in, I realized I'd only felt a temporary release and that my feelings of failure had come rushing back.  I had devoted all of my available energy to one dog and there were five others that had been left out and it was pouring.  Eventually I found myself in front of the computer, searching for something and then I found a video I had saved:  GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco.

And suddenly it all began to make sense. 

I came to realize that I am extremely blessed with not just one, but two "Heart Dogs."  Brut is one and it just dawned on me tonight that Chance is the other.  I have always known that both Brut and Chance are my spiritual leaders and there is a reason they are both leaders of two equal packs.  Which had lead me to the realization that I need two leaders in my home and could not be done if the dogs were all united.  There is a reason that is deeper and stronger that can not be questioned and brings a greater peace of mind just knowing.

That is what I was suppose to learn today from Chance and because the communication between the two packs is strong and viable, everyone already knew that Chance was the only one who could teach me this lesson.  The agreement had already been made between all of the dogs and my feelings of failure were wiped clean.     

Brut Therapy

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!

For those of you who don't already think I'm a bit on the crazy side when it comes to my observance of my dogs and their relationship to me, this next story will seal any doubts you might have had  :)

I was walking Brut, it was practically dark and we came up on the main road that runs to town.  There are a few businesses that were closed and a couple of restaurants that were just getting ready to close up, when Brut and I started down the road.

I tend to get nervous around people in general, so when I saw that the street was busier than normal, I began to stiffen up.  There was a guy on bike coming down our side of the road, before he was close, Brut stopped and began sniffing around.  Now if I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes, I would have balked at what I'm about to tell you.  He was looking at me out of the corner of his eye!  I kept this sideways gaze while thinking, What is Brut doing?  He looks like he's pretending to sniff.  Brut would be the first to tell you when he stops to sniff, all of his focus and concentration is on that scent.  He doesn't pay any attention to me, so something about this was different.  As the cyclist neared into sight, Brut nonchalantly started walking very casually forward without one inclination towards this cyclist, which in itself was amazing and we carried on.

Taking care of humans all day is exhausting!

 
Now if that had been the only incident, I would have called a fluke, but it happened two more times with a skateboarder and some people coming out of the restaurant. I kept my focus on Brut "sniffing" as these people approached and he kept me in his eye sight, and when I began to relax, he started moving forward.  I was enjoying this game while completely trusting in this big lug, as he lead me down the road.   

When we turned the corner to head home, I wanted to scream with joy!  Brut silently took the lead and was teaching me how to relax around strangers.  To someone else it looked like a girl walking her dog, little did they know it was that my furry friend that was leading the way.  I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face every time I think about it.  I was so proud of both of us.  He actually helped me to face my fears, in a way I couldn't have done without him helping me.  It was just that simple.  It had been a really bad day, I was in no mood to walk, but he kept insisting that it would be good for us and it was.  It was one of the best walk ever.

So what do you think?   Active imagination?  Or the will of dog who knows her owner all too well and was carrying out his angelic mission?  And you can't hurt my feelings, I already know I'm crazy, dog crazy that is!!  :)    

Daddy's Monday Memories-Who Says a Cat Can't Teach a Dog New Tricks?

I'll never forget the day I discovered that cats can teach dogs new tricks.

A long time ago I once had a kitten, who was about two months old who we'll call "Kitty," because I can't remember her name.  After about six months, I saw a puppy who I just had to have.  I really can't say for sure what kind of dog she was, I think she might have been a white lab.  When I first saw her, I looked into her eyes and she was telling me, "take me home, take me home."  Well, I wanted to get a playmate for Kitty, because I hated leaving her home all alone when I went to work.  So when "Melanie" gave me that look, that was the icing on the cake.

I took her home and didn't know how Kitty would react.  Well they got along just fine.  After a few days it was like they were Siamese twins.  After about a week or two went by I began to notice something, the bed was sprinkled with kitty litter.  The litter box was in my bedroom, at the foot of my queen sized mattress that I had on the floor yet I never had kitty litter on my bed before.  Kitty had always used the box with no problems.  Then as time went on I began to notice the bed had more and more litter on the sheets.  I kept thinking, What the heck is going on with that Kitty?  

Well, one night I got in late and I took Melanie out for our walk to do her business and the three of us went to bed.  The next morning I decided to sleep in, something I rarely do, but it was Sunday and had been a long week.  The next thing I knew I was being woken up by a raining hail of kitty litter in my face!  I tried dodging the spraying pellets while I staggered to sit up to see what that crazy cat was doing.  As my eyes began to focus, I was shocked.  There in the middle of the litter box was Melanie in serious concentration as she flung the litter left and right covering up her recent business.  I tilted my head, with a smirk and asked, "What are you doing?"  She stopped dead in her tracks.   I could barely contain myself before I busted out laughing. She'd been caught! I didn't want her to think she was in trouble, so I praised her and Melanie's startled look soften as she bound out of the box and on the bed to cover me with sweet puppy kisses and a trail of kitty litter.

It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen in my life and still cracks me up to this day.  I'll tell you one thing, cats ain't got nothing on a puppy in the litter box!!  The speed and thrust in those paws would put a cat to shame!!  There was nothing cuter than Melanie in that litter box.  She was one smart puppy taking care of business just like the cat taught her to.  Now I'd seen it all.  :)   



 

Where Do You Want to Go?

I accomplished a feat I have never tried before:  I walked all six dogs in one afternoon!!  (Individually, of course.)  Lord knows we are no where near The Thundering Herd's level.  BOL!!  But we keep working on it one dog at a time.  We were having one of those all day rainy days that no one but this crazy dog lady would be out and about in the neighborhood.  So I took on the challenge.

Chance was my ice breaker, just in case any loonies did happen to be out.  We sailed through perfectly.  Blaze was doing so good, I almost didn't want the walk to end.  When I got to Silver, I really began to relax.  Next was Fiona.  Fiona was fun.  At this point I was letting the dogs chose where they wanted to go. I told her she could where ever she wanted as long as we were on a path.   The wooded area near our house has all kinds of deer runs and with Fiona's nose she found every single one of them. 

When I took Zappa I became aware of a difference I hadn't noticed before.  He barely put his nose to the ground and he either he didn't want to follow the same paths or he was after something else.  I think he is more of a sight dog.  Unless he just didn't want to get his pretty little nose wet.  We traveled up, down and around the woods just as Zappa pleased.

I was lucid by the time I got to Brut and he took me on one of wild and crazy adventures.  Brut is fun because I can just let him drag me along and since he was in the drivers seat, he did just that.  I don't know what he was after but we circled the woods twice.  Brut has a way of get me giggling because he is so serious and comical at the same time.  I had such a great time "letting go of the leash" so to speak and letting the dogs take me on their explorations.  So loose and free, it was intoxicating.  Have you ever tried doing that?

 Follow the lead dog, HA!

She just needs me to drag her along!!