WW-Father and Son

(Brut and Zappa)

One Person

I used to think the value of my blog was by the number of comments I received.  I rated my success by how many people may or may not of commented.  And I remember in the beginning how I was happy just to reach one person.  A good friend of mine named, Mart the Fart.  Who stuck through that quiet time when we were just starting to roll along.  Oh, how time changes many things.  Mart seldom comments now but I know he's still out there listening to the tales.  

I remember how I couldn't wait to get followers and counted them as the numbers slowing grew.  We lost some then gained more.  Yet I found myself still counting comments to know where my blog stood.  Some days were astronomical and others it was like everyone left town.  But I continued to plod through trying to find our purpose.  I knew what the 24 Paws of Love stood for and the message I was trying to convey, but I was obsessed with the numbers, not fully grasping the meaning of those that did comment.  I was stuck by the ones that didn't.  

Then it just struck me tonight that all that obsessing was for nothing.  We may not be the biggest dog blog on the web, we don't stand for any one cause, and we're just a couple of kids out here on our own with our six dogs that we love more than anything in the world.  (besides each other)  Whom we share our relationship with everyday and with you, our dear readers.  And if you asked me today what the goal of our success is measured by, I would say, to reach one person.  Just one person.  To say I invite you into our world and if you feel the need to share back, then please do so.  To make a difference in one life, that is our goal and if we can do that, we have all that we need.  It's when I stop fighting for that one person that I am letting everyone down.

I've tried it both ways, blogging for everyone, blogging for myself, and now I find myself here.  Because one person can make the difference between so many things in life.  Like you do for me.  When I need a lift, I find it from one of you.  When I need a laugh or a good dose of sarcasm, I look for one of you.  When I just need to hang out and have some girl talk, I look for my dog blogging friends and when I need a dose of reality or a shoulder to cry I, I don't have to look too far.  Someone out there has just want I need for that day and I hope to aspire to that.  To be what someone else needs for that day.  Just by being me, just by being you, we come together through cyberspace and connect.  What an awesome gift.  A gift that keeps giving and a gift I hope to be to at least one person out there.  

Thank you to all of the "one persons" out there that have made a difference everyday in my life.  For changing my mind when needing it and for helping me feel a part of something bigger.  I hope all my friends in the US have a safe and happy Memorial Day and the friends across the way also have a safe and happy day.  

Life is just too short.  Be kind in your thoughts, for everyone is going through something today.   

  

Keeping Regular

Mom says I need to keep a regular schedule...

Whatever that means!

 I just like chewing on the bottle!

**and for those of you wondering, no, I don't give Brut prune juice.  It just makes for a good chew toy and a good funny! **

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

I disagree...

about the aggressiveness in a Alpha Rollover.   Now before you all start throwing darts at me or click off in disgust give me a minute to explain myself.

It is a natural response and reaction for dogs to use this on one another.  I've never seen a dog do it with an aggressive intent.  Not even my own dogs.  In fact I have only seen it done during playing and rough housing.

That's one of the main reasons I like it, because it is part of their language and they easily understand it.

I don't believe in the alpha rollover should be used as part of every day training.  I rarely use it but I believe it can be used as an effect tool during a dog fight.

Positive reinforcement isn't going to break up a fight.  But an alpha rollover is like a kill switch.

I've been through enough dog fights with my own dogs over the years that a calm steady hand with only pressure of my two fingers squeezing just above the shoulder blades can bring a fight to halt instantly.  I don't push or shove the dog to ground, I let him submit on his own.

And some of you might think YEARS of DOG FIGHTS using the ALPHA ROLLOVER???  Well no wonder you have so many fights, you are encouraging aggression.

If that were true, I'd have dog fights every day, instead of months and months of remissions.

I have one aggressive dog, that I manage every day with prevention and none of it involves an alpha rollover.  But since I can't change Brut's entire nature or be with him constantly or I don't move as quickly when an attack is imminent, fights do happen. At this moment I can't think of the last one that happened.  And I don't believe using the alpha rollover on such rare occasions creates a more aggressive dog.  In fact, in the case of Brut he has become less aggressive with his pack mates as time goes on.  Do I think that is because of using alpha rollovers?  No.  They are a last resort in an out of control situation that I only reserve for that purpose and even then I don't always use it.

I know many don't agree with it regardless of what I share from my experience.  The alpha rollover has been deemed an aggressive technique.  Since all I can share is what has worked for me, my experience with the technique and hope I don't lose all my readers who have made it this far through the post, all I'm saying that in some contexts I find the technique appropriate.

What do you think about the Alpha Rollover tool?  Do you have thoughts one way or the other?  Have you ever used it or would you never use it?         

    

Water off a Duck's Back

Have you ever witnessed the grace and ease of a duck in his element?  It is like a ballet.  Smooth and flowing like the water he plays in.

It soothes and calms my spirit and is one of the many pleasures I am able to enjoy in my own backyard.

My only regret is that I don't a have a bigger and real pond for Luigi to splash and swim about.

It's so easy on the eyes, quiets the mind and caresses the soul every time I watch his graceful moves.

And I never tire of it.

I love my little ducky and the good feels he gives.

(or watch on YouTube)

Luigi, the king of swim

Breaking Our Wills

Brut is aggressive.  It as simple as that.  And while he we have less and less incidences with him lashing out on the other dogs, he will always be aggressive.  It is his nature.

As painful and scary this demeanor is, I also love it about him.  When he uses his dominance in a way that is productive, it is an awesome sight, that only takes the power of his death glare to make the room his own.  

I love that fight.  I love that spirit in him.  And I wouldn't break him of it if I was paid to.  

It is what makes Brut, Brut.

In my life I've been pressed to the ultimate limits of my will being broken and it is that last scream of innocence that has kept me alive another day.  And I could never force that onto Brut to contend to my will or anyone elses.  I have live too long that way, I could never put those screws to his head.

In fact it is his aggression that I understand the most.  The feeling of being boxed in corners you can never get out of, but you fight because you have to.  Somehow, someway you must fight.  That is what I see in Brut.  That's what I see in myself.  And that is what has caused me to think way outside of the box, especially with Brut.  Brut's uniqueness is just that.  He forced me to make that tiny crack and peek outside the box.  Then we worked constantly on breaking it down, even the ones I built back up because it was scary and awkward, we broke those down too.  And we are still cracking and crashing through walls due to our very nature of fighting for what is right.

 When I harness his energy, I harness mine as well.  

They wanted to break our wills, but they couldn't.

This time around I've got a partner and so does Brut.   

  

I Gotcha Your Back

Have no fear, Brut is here!

Have you ever had your dog help you in a way that you never thought was possible?  All my dogs are my personal therapy dogs, but Brut and I are like twins, and we usually always know what the other needs.

Mark is walking Brut and I'm following behind on the trail getting ready to hit the open field.  I have a huge fear of people so when I saw there are a couple of people out there walking, a little shot of fear rushes to my brain.  Brut who is always in tune with me knows this and our surroundings turns around and drags Daddy back a little ways, sniffing this way and that, stalling a bit, before finally moving forward.

We take the next length of the field with the woman slightly ahead of us and far out of any threat zone.  And when we turn down the path back into the woods.  Brut made a big, long paw scrap looking right at me as he pumped each leg back, as if to say "and that's how we do it!"  I gave him a bite of my apple that he had no interest in the entire walk, but took my gift of thanks willingly.

He has done this with my fear of people before when I've been walking him.  When a car, people or bikes go by he will pause and start sniffing around while looking at me out of the corner of his eye.  I keep my eyes on him and when said "threat" passes, he moves on.  I just have to follow his lead.

It's like a game and it works wonders.  And it's so cool to understand each other and play.  Where nobody knows or is watching or anything looks out of the ordinary.  I truly believe it is one of the many special ways Brut shows me he loves me and he is grateful for all I have done for him in dealing with him.  And he shows a special side of himself in those moments.  A very caring, cajole dog who saves me every day.  

He's taking care of me, like I take care of him.

    

Thank you for asking

Several of you have asked how I am doing since the incident with Brut and vet and I am OK.

I finally got something that Brut has been trying to teach me.  Lord knows I'm a slow learner, BOL! but Brut is always a patient teacher.

He has been trying to show me when he doesn't want to do something and to trust him with the why.  It happened the day the vet came to our house for heartworm test and shots.  Brut paused quite dramatically while I dangled a leash in front of him.  Just the sight should have made him do cartwheels.  He made the pause noted and then came when I called him to go out to the driveway to see the vet. He growled, then made a grab for her face while she started to draw blood.

I remembered the pause that he gave me before coming when called later while relaying the story to hubby.  But it was what happened later that night when Brut wanted a head rub from hubby, hubby kept insisting he get on the couch next to him.  Brut refused, still vying for a head rub.  I told hubby, Brut doesn't want on couch, he wants his head rubbed."  I knew the position Brut was being put in was going to have a bad outcome.  But hubby didn't listen, kept coaxing him up and so Brut finally gave and within seconds was snarling and growling at Fiona across the room in the next chair.  All Brut wanted was some attention and then go to his room.  He had no intentions for wanting to stay.

It was this pause that made me see the light of the situation that happened with the vet that day.  I wasn't angry with Brut, but I was having a hard time hearing what he was trying to say.  And he taught me something very valuable that day.

I've even see him pause in the middle of dog fight, trying to get my attention and not to react in the same manner.  And of course I did and he kept on fighting.  Like OK, if this is what you want.

Brut is molding me to what he needs.  And I am doing the same with him.  And the more I realize he is listening to me, the more I'd better start listening to him.

We bonded a little bit more this past weekend.  Another secret into the world of Brut unlocked.  I am always awestruck when I realize he's trying to get my attention, and I finally "get it."

   Changing lives two at a time