Rain, Rain Go Away

Posted on February 21, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Windy, left, and Hope saying they want a walk.

Before stepping outside this morning, Hope, and later Windy, saw the drizzle and did a lightening-fast about-face from the back door.

Sigh.

I herd Hope out and tell her how wonderful she is as she walks down the ramp. Windy is easier because I can pick her up and put her on the ramp. She marches down it as I also tell her she is a good girl. After talking with other dog owners, I have learned my problem is not unique. And to think these furkids are descendants of wolves.

Jake, on the other hand, can be trusted to go out the front door. He knows he can pee on a shrub next to the porch, which is protected by the soffit’s overhang. Jake comes when called, so he has this privilege.

The piddle pad is on the hardwood floor by the back door. Starting the countdown to time to change it.

 

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Shows On Puppy Mills, Animal Hoarding Tonight

Posted on February 18, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Hope, free from the Amish puppy mill for more than two years, gets excited when she hears the word "walk".

If you will be home tonight, or have a DVR, you might want to check out the following shows.

First at 10 p.m. on Animal Planet is a story about dog hoarding. I realize shows like these hurt us to watch, but one of the dogs removed is in foster care with a friend of mine associated with Schnauzer Rescue Cincinnati and Florida. http://www.schnauzerrescuecincinnati.org/ The dog’s name now is Candy, and my friend says she arrived nearly bald from flea allergies. She is recovering.

At 11:35 p.m. on ABC’s Nightline will be a story about Amish puppy mills. If you miss it, you can view episodes on the website at http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/.

Puppy mills are evil. What surprises many people is mills are big business for the Amish. The Amish treat dogs worse than livestock. Dogs are warehoused in cages, receiving little medical care. Many never have had their feet touch the ground.

Regular readers of this blog know about Hope, who spent five years in an Amish puppy mill. When she could no longer produce litters, she was to have been shot and thrown into a ditch. A wonderful woman from Schnauzer Rescue Cincinnati saved her.

Hope has been in our care since September 2009 and is improving. She has trust issues, and I am afraid those won’t go away completely. We love Hope but some day would like to see puppy mills gone forever.

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Westminster Dog Show Crowns Champion

Posted on February 16, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Jake had problems staying awake through the dog show.

The schnauzers struck out at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night.

None of the schnauzers, giant, standard or miniature, won in a group. Hickory, the Scottish deerhound, won best in show. While watching her trot around, I thought she had that something special. Grace and personality came through. Complete results are at http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/.

Watching all the gorgeous and lively dogs was delightful. Of course, now I want more dogs, but that is not possible right now.

As for Jake, Hope and Windy, they are winners to us.

 

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Best In Show Set For Tonight

Posted on February 15, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Windy, left, and Jake stand watch on a sunny day.

The wiener dogs didn’t walk away with honors for the hound group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night.

Neither the smooth-, long- or wire-haired dachshund placed in the top four. They were beautiful furkids, and the wire-haired guy was quite playful.

Jake and Windy snoozed through the competition while on my husband’s lap. Hope was content on her bed. The show’s complete results are here http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/.

Tonight we will be cheering for the schnauzers. The giant schnauzer will be in the working group, and the standard and miniature schnauzers will be with the terriers.

The sporting group will start the evening at 8 on USA Network with working, terrier and best in show to follow. Last night after the first hour, the show was switched to CNBC. This has been done for the past few years and is annoying; however, tonight the show will remain in USA. But the most annoying was announcer Mary Carillo. Please Westminster – I’d even take Kathy Lee Gifford next year. Dump Mary Carillo.

GO SCHNAUZERS!!!

 

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Westminster Dog Show Begins Tonight

Posted on February 14, 2011 by daysofourdogs

From left: Jake, Hope and Windy will be cheering for the dachshunds and schnauzers.

In addition to today being Valentine’s Day, it is the start of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, or Westminster as we call it around our house.

Six new breeds will be welcomed this year. We love to see all the different breeds, but we cheer for all the dachshunds – long, short or wired-haired, standard and mini, and the schnauzers – giant, standard and mini.

More information than you may care to know may be found at http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/

Westminster will begin at 8 p.m. today on USA Network.

 

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Must Love Dogs

Posted on February 11, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Jake enjoys a frog toy he received for his birthday.

Ah the little joys of living with furkids, which ran through my mind this morning as I was piercing a fish-oil cap that squirted onto my face.

Dog lovers put up with things many people would find objectionable.

If I’m not looking, Windy likes to use the ottoman as a napkin.

Unless I’m watching him and yell “No!”, Jake will try to pee on the porch instead of the snowy yard.

Hope, who still has anxiety issues, always needs something appropriate to chew, or she will attack the expensive orthopedic dog bed. So far the bed has not be torn open, but we have several holey dog blankets.

With all the awful weather, we have been going through piddle pads like a college student runs through dead grandparents during final exam week.

Of course my friends who have cats can be smug, but our dogs don’t jump and walk all over tables and kitchen counters. And I would rather pick up a yard than clean a litter box.

 

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How Smart Is Your Furkid?

Posted on February 9, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Hope, left, and Windy don't worry about vocabulary tests.

On the Today show this morning a border collie displayed some amazing language recognition http://tinyurl.com/4tl4nda.

Chaser knows more than 1,000 words and understands small sentences like “Fetch ball”.  This made me inventory my furkids’ vocabulary.

Jake, Hope and Windy know their names, but I’m not sure they know each other’s names. We have had Jake the longest, close to six years, so his vocabulary is larger.

All three dogs know “outside” and “walk”. Jake knows to come when called. Windy knows she should come when called and does so about 70 percent of the time. Hope, on the other hand, doesn’t get the concept of coming when called. Because of her years in the Amish puppy mill, even approaching a human is a small miracle.

Jake knows the words “toy,” “snack” and “daddy”. When he sees car lights he knows a human will be around, so he must bark an alert in case trouble is approaching.

Jake and Windy know the cues for bedtime and go into the bedroom. Hope, on the other hand, only goes into the bedroom when you say, “Hope, go to bed.”

Jake knows what a suitcase is for. When he was my father’s dog, he would see suitcases, tote bags, duffle bags, etc. coming into the house and leaving the house. After my father died and Jake came to live with us, we let him travel back and forth while I was dealing with the estate.

Somehow Jake knows the difference between the purposes of a briefcase or tote bag and a suitcase or duffle bag. He doesn’t react when he sees me pack my briefcase or a tote bag, but when he sees a suitcase – he gets excited. He loves to be in a car. The problem comes when we have to start packing for a vacation a few days in advance. He doesn’t get why we aren’t leaving right then. When he sees us packing his toys, food and treats he can’t stand it. Little does he realize he will stay with a trusted friend while we go catch a plane.

How smart is your furkid? I’d say that border collie won’t be having much competition from mine.

Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, Puppy Mills, Schnauzers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Puppy Mill Girl Gets Bold

Posted on February 7, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Windy, left, watches Hope play with a Christmas present. A year ago, Hope had no idea how to play with a toy.

Hope, who had been in an Amish puppy mill for five years, struggles with trust issues. Free from the mill for a little more than two years, she has made progress. Yesterday she surprised me again.

If you have at least one dog, most likely that furkid follows you around the house. Ours are no exception.

Windy and Jake were napping while I went to the bathroom. I must admit, if no one else is home I don’t shut the door. A few seconds after I was in there, Hope came to the doorway alone.

That was surprising. She started to bark for a walk. Jake and Windy did not roust from their naps. Then Hope walked into the bathroom.

Hope marched up to me then smacked her nose on my shin. She didn’t delicately touch my shin or tap it. She smacked it then looked at me and barked more. She stamped her front feet. She let me pet her on the head. I told her she was a good girl.

This may not seem like much, but when we brought her home in September 2009 she would not come out of her crate.

If you are interested in rescuing a puppy mill dog, you must have patience. You celebrate small victories. It helps to have at least one normal dog to teach your puppy mill dog how to be a pet. If you have doubts – don’t rescue one. It would be worse to take it back to its foster home, and then the dog starts the process all over again. Plenty of organizations can help you find a dog that has been a pet.

As for Hope, she got a walk while I had a song in my heart.

 

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Weather Woes And Walking

Posted on February 4, 2011 by daysofourdogs
 

 

 

 

From left: Windy, Jake and Hope enjoy the sun from last Fall.

Angel dog Duffy, West Highland white terrier, had superior waste management skills.

Angel dog Justin, mini schnauzer, had ears that stood straight up.

Ice and single-digit wind chill are not making walkie time worth it.

Hope and Jake want walks. If either sees me putting on outside shoes, I get the barks. When this happens I herd them to the back door and open it. Sometimes they go out to take care of their business. Other times I get them standing there staring at me. I assume they think I am not too bright because I am not getting their coats and leashes.

We still have a few inches of snow with a thick coating of ice. Sidewalks and streets are not bare concrete. Of course the furkids don’t understand this, but that still makes me feel a bit guilty.

I think a shopping trip is in order to get them out of the house. Perhaps we should make the rounds to two or three pet stores. We could use some food and piddle pads.

When we had our first miniature schnauzer, Justin, we would take him and our West Highland white terrier, Duffy, shopping. Justin always would poop somewhere in the store. My husband liked to find a clerk and announce loudly, “My wife’s dog pooped on the floor.” Duffy never pooped in a store, and my husband had to have Duffy’s leash in hand when he made that poop pronouncement.

So, with poop bags in my coat pockets, we will go shopping tomorrow.

Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Behavior, Schnauzers, Uncategorized, Waste Management | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

No One Wants Doggie Dentures

Posted on February 3, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Jake doesn't worry about his dental health.

February is National Pet Dental Month. I’m not sure who decreed that, but it may get you to thinking about your furkid’s teeth.

A small percentage of owners brush their dog’s teeth daily. I know of a friend who brushes her dog’s teeth. I confess we do not, but we do get yearly dental cleanings for the furkids and give them treats that are supposed to help remove tarter.

Dental hygiene is important to your dog’s quality of life. I know of an instance when one dog had to have 6 teeth removed then a sinus infection drained out. The poor girl started to feel much better. Can you imagine what could have happened if that dog did not have a dental exam?

Yes, anesthesia is needed for getting a dog’s teeth cleaned. Pre-surgical blood work is important in case there could be an underlying problem condition.

Windy and Hope had their cleanings not long ago. Jake will have his chompers checked and cleaned this month. Last year he needed a tooth pulled. Hope I don’t have to call the tooth fairy this year.

 

Posted in Dachshunds, Dog Health | Tagged , , | 18 Comments