Soulful Giants - Old English Mastiffs and Their Humans

A rainy evening equals a dremel evening

2011-03-15T19:22:00.004-04:00

Ahhh yes, a rainy, chilly Indiana evening. All the chores are done - the crew has been fed, the chickens watered, fed and eggs collected, and our dinner is finished as well. Ahhhh... time to relax in our warm and cozy great room. I have a good book I want to re-read, scan through my facebook, write in my blog ... yes, a relaxing rainy evening at home with the crew.

Well, that's what I was hoping for anyway. But then all the dogs gathered around my chair as I sat writing this blog. Each of them greeted me, giving me the customary mastiff paw. And that's when the evening changed from quiet and relaxing to Dremel time!

So why does this ruin my quiet evening? Besides the noise and dust generated from the dremeling, just think about the sheer number of nails to do. So let's figure this out -- 6 dogs with 4 paws equals 24 paws. 12 paws with 5 nails on equals 60 nails. 12 paws with 4 nails equals 48. So 108 nails to dremel tonight!

And remember, these are English mastiffs who don't all enjoy getting a pedicure, so the evening will also involve a bit of wrestling and fast movement and persistence. And it takes both Himself and me to get the job done. Even so, there will be no need for Zumba or yoga tonight - I'll be moving and using muscles and stretching and doing my best 'flex' moves just to get the job done.

But hey, let's look on the bright side here. I'm at home sharing time with Himself and the beings I love most in the world in a warm and cozy room. I have a pretty good evening ahead of me -- so I'd better wrap it up and get that dremel fired up.

6 Is Enough!

2011-03-12T18:25:00.002-05:00

Wow! It has been such a long while since I've posted on this blog. Feelings of shame and guilt are flooding me. But I do have an excuse -- actually I have 6 of them. Over the past two and a half years we have moved to the country and added 2 more mastiffs to our family. Yes, that's right - two more. We now have 6 dogs!

Some of you are horrified right now -- I get that. Some of you are shrugging your shoulders thinking, 6 ... that's nothing, we have ___ (fill in the blank with many more than 6). But that's not all. We also added 6 chickens to our family as well. And while they don't live in the house with us like the 6 dogs do, they are lives to care for, to love and to feed and clean and ... the list goes on and on.

Sound like I'm whining? Probably. Sound like I am making excuses? Probably. Actually, yes, I am doing both.

But I am back and have so many stories to share - so many thoughts, lessons learned, successes, sorrows to write out and set free. And so the new stories will begin tomorrow. Come on back and get to know us all over again.

Just One More

2007-09-13T12:40:00.000-04:00

The poem below represents the madness that is within dog lovers. I am not sure who the author is, but he/she captures the thoughts of many of us in the words.

Interestingly,I was just talking with Himself about this yesterday -- we can handle just one more - hehe. Please enjoy!

One Dog Is No Trouble And Two Are So Funny

The Third One Is Easy, The Fourth One's A Honey

The Fifth Is Delightful, The Sixth One's A Breeze

You Find You Can Live With A Housefly With Ease

So How 'Bout Another? Would You Really Dare?

They're Really Quite Easy, But Oh Lord, The Hair!

With Dogs On The Sofa And Dogs On The Bed

And Crates In The Kitchen, It's No Bother You Said

They're Really No Trouble, Their Manners Are Great

What's Just One More Dog And One More Little Crate?

The Sofa Is Hairy, The Windows Are Crusty

The Floor Is All Footprints, The Furniture's Dusty

The Housekeeping Suffers But What Do You Care?

Who Minds A Few Nose prints And A Little More Hair?

So Let's Keep A Puppy, You Can Always Find Room

And A Little More Time For The Dust Cloth And Broom

There's Hardly A Limit To The Dogs You Can Add

The Thought Of A Cutback Sure Makes You Feel Sad

Each One Is Special, So Useful, So Funny

The Food Bill Grows Larger, You Owe The Vet Money

Your Folks Never Visit, Few Friends Come To Stay

Except Other Dog Folks Who Live The Same Way

Your Lawn Has Now Died And Our Shrubs Are Dead Too

Your Weekends Are Busy, You're Off With Your Crew

There's Dog Food And Vitamins, Training And Shots

And Entries And Travel And Motels Which Cost Lots

Is It Worth It You Wonder? Are You Caught In A Trap?

Then That Favorite Comes Up And Climbs In Your Lap

His Look Says You're Special And You Know That You Will

Keep All The Critters In Spite Of The Bill

Winter Is A Hassle But The Dogs Love It True

And They Must Have Their Walks Tho' You Are Numb And Blue

Late Evening Is Awful, You Scream And You Shout

At The Dogs On The Sofa Who Refuse To Go Out

The Dogs And The Dog Shows, The Travel, The Thrills

The Work And The Worry, The Pressure, The Bills

The Whole Thing Seems Worth It, The Dogs Are Your Life

They're Charming And Funny And Offset The Strife

Your Lifestyle Has Changed, Things Just Won't Be The Same

Yes Those Dogs Are Addictive And So's The Dog Game!

The Couch

2007-08-01T15:03:00.000-04:00

In the not so distant past Himself and I decided it was time to buy a new couch. Our sons had moved out on their own, and it seemed that much of our furniture moved with them. We found ourselves with only 2 recliners to our names and no place for guests to sit when visiting but worse yet, no place for the dogs to be either. It was barbarism to have them lying on the floor for Pete's sake!

Buying a couch seems simply enough - go the the various furniture stores, find one you like, and buy it. Not so when you live with three large dogs! Because they are part of our family and live with us, they share space on our furniture as well. So we had to think about what type of couch, what fabric would suit them and be easily cleanable (for the slingers!), how high off the ground it sat to ensure that they would not have to jump up and possibly harm their joints or bones ... I could go on with our considerations, but I think you get the point. It wasn't a simply task after all.

After much investigation we decided to buy a leather couch. Leather is easily cleanable, their nails don't easily penetrate the softer leather, and it is cool to their skin. Aha! We had a plan for the couch!! Notice here that not once did we give consideration to our own tastes, the decor of our home, or our possible guests comfort -- it really was all about the dogs.

So, one special order and many weeks and dollars later, we had a beautiful new leather couch! Pru, Brin and Neo loved it- they pranced around it like they knew it was just for them, sniffing every inch and giving it a lick or two as well. Himself and I were so proud! We had made our dogs so very happy!!

And happy they were and are. So where's the story in that? Well, remember the reference to guests? That's where we have the problem. When we have guests, they naturally move to sit on 'the couch.' It is a natural behavior for humans to sit on couches - we have been trained to do so. But in our home, 'the couch' belongs to the dogs.

It goes something like this: The humans will sit on the couch and Pru, Brin and Neo become very confused. They begin to pace back and forth across the floor; they walk over to the humans to push on their legs as if to move them out of the way; they turn and look at Himself and I with eyes that say 'what's this all about?' Neo will try to climb up on the guests to find a spot for himself in the spaces between them - he's only 82 pounds after all. Brin will lay her huge head on any open spot and stare up at the human visitors and sigh. And Pru ... Well Pru is a bit more verbal. She will snort at the humans and then go over to lie on the floor and whine audibly. This whining is low, but drawn out and continues until the humans remove themselves from the couch.

The three lie in wait. Should one of the humans move from his/her spot on the couch
that spot is immediately filled by one of the dogs. Typically Pru is on it first, but I have seen Brin move very quickly in order to take the opportunity to reclaim her rightful throne. Neo at this point is typically on Himself's lap, so he rarely needs to run to the open space.

And there is no gaining back that spot for the human either. Guests take restroom breaks or get up for any reason, they have simply lost their spot. Pru and Brin will not relinquish that which they have conquered. Himself and I have ordered firmly, cajoled them softly and sweetly, and tried physically to move them, to no avail. They are firmly planted and planted they will stay! It is usually with very embarrassed and defeated faces that Himself and I lead our guests to the dining room table for the rest of the visit.

I know what you must be thinking- but these three dogs really are trained. They do obey us every single time they feel like it - and that is very consistent behavior from them. So, they do have really good control over us -lol.

The couch - such a simple piece of furniture. Unless you are owned by dogs...

Pondering Thankfulness

2006-12-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

On the mastiff board to which I belong someone posted a thread asking what we are thankful for. This topic is a ponderous one - ponderous in a most positive and thankful way. So, even though the idea is not directly related to my soulful giants, I want to share my thankfulness with you.

I am so thankful of many things.

I am thankful for God's blessing of life itself - all its ups and downs, its blessings and burdens.

I'm thankful for the sunshine and the rain, for the snow in the winter and the cool ocean on a hot day, for the budding trees in spring and the fall foliage bright with color, and for brilliant blue sky and the twinkling stars at night.

I'm thankful for feelings. Feelings of joy, sorrow, anger, happiness - each enriches my life and makes me feel alive.

I'm thankful for my family - for Himself who after 26 years shares my world and still makes my heart flutter when he speaks my name, who loves me, his sons and his dogs; for my sons who have grown into men of strong values, morals and ethics; for my parents -both Himself's and my own - who continue to offer their wisdom and love without boundaries; for my siblings with whom I can laugh and cry without judgment; for my friends who offer me balance and reality checks from time to time; and for my soulful giants who love me unconditionally and bring joy to my life every single moment I'm with them.

As you can see, I am very blessed - I am rich in love, in family, in friends and in nature. And for all these things I am thankful to the God above.

Has it been this long - Really?

2006-11-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

My goodness. I have been so very neglectful, haven’t I. In my defense, I have several excuses ready ...

1. – I have been overworked. This is simply not true, at least not in the sense that I could not have found 30 minutes to write for this blog.

2. - I have had nothing to write about. Fallacy. I’m simply full of it today! I have been blessed with the most ‘story’ worthy pets ever known to man so there is no shortage of material.

3. - I have no creativity left. This one could be true. Teaching composition & rhetoric often sucks the creativity right out of my very soul. Grading and lesson planning and researching are all things I love. It is the sheer amount of time commitment that seems to such the life blood right out of me.

As you can clearly see, I have no plausible excuse for the lapse in posting. I’ll strive to do better.

As a matter of fact, I have a dozy of a story about Pru – she keeps things interesting, that’s for sure. I’ll be writing about that soon!

Nonsense I say!

2006-08-22T08:53:00.000-04:00

Recently I watched a news report about blogging. The reporter outlined all the different types of blogs, the history of development, their uses, and their effectiveness. She spoke about the most read blogs - those that focus on controversial and/or political issues; she interviewed experts in the world of blogging -- those who are 'in the know' about the ins and outs of blogging. It was an interesting piece until she and the 'expert' began to degrade personal blogs.

Both the reporter and the expert indicated that personal blogs lack the attractiveness to build readership. They explained that blogging about one's dog or cat or family was too narrow a subject area to gain an audience. Such blogs lack content and credibility they said. They serve no purpose. Basically what I heard them say was that personal blogs are a waste of time for the blogger, for the blog companies and for any readers who happen across the blogs.

What a sad commentary. How sad that a reporter, someone who is suppose to appreciate the written word, would discourage others from writing. As an English composition instructor, as a writer and as a lover of language, I encourage all types of writing and reading. All writing - all practice of writing -should be encouraged. Does the writing have to be fancy - highfalutin words and sentence structure? Does it have to be provocative, controversial, and/or political?

For me, this blog (even though I don't write in it as often as I'd like) is therapeutic. It allows me to practice my 'voice' and my style. I also enjoy reading others' blogs in which they grow as writers, not taking political or provocative stands just to stand, but rather share of themselves. I grow as they grow.

So, is my personal blog a waste of time for me and for you the reader? Could be. But more than likely not. Time is never wasted when we use it to better ourselves and others.

My reply to the reporter -- Nonsense! I completely disagree and respectfully submit that such blogs are very worthwhile, necessary even. And, even though I disagree with her report, even it had merit. After all, it made me think and made me write. And, isn't that the whole point?

Did You know that ...

2006-07-20T10:12:00.000-04:00

Did you know that....
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor, I
f you can sleep without the aid of drugs, ...

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

Beautiful Sentiment

2006-06-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

He is your friend, your partner, your defender - he is your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. – Anonymous

Where to begin...

2006-06-12T18:06:00.000-04:00

So much has happened over the past several months -- so much indeed. It's hard to know where to begin. Do I start with the evil? The evil that lurks all around us - well at least according to Prudance. Shall I write about the evil rabbits, the evil new Dyson, the evil suitcases? No, I think I'll start with the evil tumor. For some time Pru has been 'showing' us her behind. You know the trick; you try to pet your pet and he/she turns and shows you his/her butt. Well, Pru has been doing this for some time. I read all types of information on this behavior. I asked those I trust on the message boards. I got the same information from both -- showing or offering the bottom is a sign of submission. Okay, it made sense; I could buy that.Then a few weeks ago, Himself noticed a growth on Pru's behind. It was a solid & red and on her left leg about three inches from her rectum. She was favoring the growth and starting to chew at it. I immediately called the vet who wanted to see her just as immediately. After a brief and if I must say 'hilarious to watch' vet visit (visiting the vet is a whole other entry - trust me when I say it's more than hilarious!), we found that Pru had to have surgery to remove the growth. Himself and I had so much guilt. How long had she had this growth? why hadn’t we seen it? Was she in pain? Could it be c. . . . . ? As if this type of thing could happen at a 'good' time, this was a horrible time for surgery. Himself and I were leaving two days after the surgery for Vegas - a trip we had planned for several months. Thankfully we have two fantastic, grown male species for offspring, and they were willing to dog/house sit & visit the dogs for us. We had it covered!

The day of the surgery came and off I went to take Pru to the vet. Before leaving I had to give Pru a sedative - she really freaks out in the vet's office so a sedative in this instance was absolutely needed. Once we were in the actual surgery room, it took me, the vet assistant, and the vet to hold a muzzled Pru so that we could put her to sleep. Finally, after what seemed to my untrained brain as a very long time, she was snoring away, tongue hanging out, in all her glory.
I digress. Our vet allowed me to be with Pru every step of the way. I was there with her when she woke up from the surgery. Being the verbal girl she is, she moaned at me, unable to lift her head. I rubbed her and sang to her and she calmed right down and rested. If I stopped singing, she’d moan – if I stopped rubbing, she’d moan. Clever girl!

Pru bounced back right after the surgery and all seemed okay for Himself and me to go on to Vegas. So off we went. Then on Sunday evening I got a call from my sons indicating that Pru had ripped out her stitches and that they were taking her to the emergency clinic. They called shortly after to report that once again Pru would have to be put under and have the incision cleaned and re-stitched. After a brief chat with the emergency vet, I gave the go ahead.

Boy, the guilt we felt at not being there.

A few hours later we got the call that Pru was out of surgery and up & walking – doing very well. We were relieved. And we’d be home in a day or so, and felt much better. Now we simply had to wait for the pathology report on the growth.

We got home in the wee hours of the morning and thought that once again Pru had ripped out her stitches. After a panicked call to the vet and a hurried car ride there, we were told that the stitches had held fine; that the incision was simply large due to the size of the tumor. We were glad that Pru wouldn’t have to be put under again, but had heard the word ‘tumor.’

The fear of that word was short lived. The tumor was benign. Again, great relief. So off we went back home to relax and enjoy being reunited with our babies.

The evil tumor is gone and the incision is all but healed now. You’d never know there was ever anything wrong with the girl. She’ happy and healthy. Well, healthy yes. Happy? As happy as Pru gets with all the evil that lurks around her. But that is for another post.

You Know You're a Mastiffaholic when...

2006-04-07T21:58:00.000-04:00

You call from a South Pacific island to see how your dogs are doing while you are on vacation--every day!

You get upset when you find one of your wife's hairs in your dinner, but routinely remove fawn, apricot, and brindle hairs without comment.

You know what a golden slumber (eye goober) tastes like.

Your beautiful hardwood floor is covered with multicolored "Kmart special" runner rugs.

Every room in your house is adorned with a disgusting-looking towel.

You buy an over-priced SUV "for the kids."

You are not afraid to wrestle the black bear at the County Fair because you have trimmed toenails and bathed a greater beast.

You pay more for a dog sitter than your siblings pay for baby sitters.

You go through forty pounds of "Solid Gold Hundenflocken" every week and drive twenty-three miles, one-way, to get it.

You regard all the spots and specs on your walls as Art Deco.

You take off your shoes and put on slippers with a rubber sole, or suffer soggy socks.

You carry pictures of your Mastiffs in your wallet, but no pictures of your kids.

People recognize your Mastiffs at Petsmart and know their names, but not yours!

Your son asks, "What's for dinner?" and you answer,"Frozen pizza," while adding fresh, organic fruit, veggies, and yogurt to your Mastiff's kibble.

You have to sit on the floor to watch TV because the sofa and loveseat are both full of Mastiffs.

You spend more time cooking for the Mastiffs than you do for your family.

You tell visitors that the slobber now all over their clothes is your Mastiff's way of saying "I like you!"

The mere sight of a Mastiff makes your heart beat faster than the sight of Mel Gibson.

You stay up until three in the morning reading all the posts on the Mastiff message board. (You don't want to miss a thing.)

You buy all your clothes to blend with dog hair.

You buy new towels for bathing your Mastiffs; meanwhile, the ones your family uses have holes.

You wake up in the morning with a backache from your old mattress, but the dog slept comfortably on his new one.

Your Mastiff shares your twin bed with you.

You no longer notice Mastiff slobber, no matter where it appears. It is a fact of life.

You shop for a new home the Mastiff would like better.

You show your clients pictures of your Mastiff but never have a picture of your spouse.

You spend more on dog food than you do on groceries.

You rush to the one-hour photo to develop several rolls of film that are pictures only of your Mastiff.

You expect everyone to put your Mastiff on their Christmas list since there are no grandchildren in the family.

You sign your Mastiff's name to any greeting cards you send.

You can't sleep without the beautiful music of the mastiff SNORE.

You have a house full of company, and the best laugh of the day is EWWWWWWW YUK! Ivan farted again!

You entertain your friends by making them look through your dog's photo album.

You bring new acquaintances home to meet the dog.

You go to a stranger's house, knock on their door and say, "Can I please meet your Mastiff?"

You and your spouse fight over who gets to take the dog with them.

You take your Mastiff to the vet for a hangnail, but you don't go to your own doctor when you know you should.

You remember the name of every Mastiff you've met, but sometimes can't remember your daughter's name.

You laugh about the slinger that landed in your mouth when your Mastiff shook her head.

Your nephews ask how their "cousin" is doing.

You design your new dream house with specialized indoor/outdoor living quarters for your Mastiff.

You haven't seen your sister in years, and spend the entire visit with her talking about how much you miss your Mastiff for the one day you are away from him. You don't even mention your husband.

You adopt a patronizing tone when you meet other people's dogs: "Ohhhh, he's soooo small!!"

You refer to your vet as "Uncle" or "Aunt," as in: "Come on, Ivan, we're going to see Uncle Michael now!"

Your love life shrivels up and dies because the sight of a Mastiff scares the wigguns out of every man/woman you know.

Your friends tell you you'll never get married until the dog dies, because your emotional needs are obviously already being met.

Your screen saver is a picture of a Mastiff.

You have Mastiff calendar hanging over your desk at work.

Your friends always greet you with "How are the dogs?"

Your friends know better than to ask you to leave your Mastiff home when they invite you to their country place for the weekend.

You remove the back seat of your truck so the dogs will have more room.

You save milk jugs, soda bottles, and cardboard boxes just so your Mastiff has something to amuse himself with for about five minutes.

You realize your brand new deck is a teething toy--and you don't mind.

You insure your new furniture and know you'll soon be collecting on the policy.

You don't go to family reunions because the Mastiffs are not welcome.

You want another one and you already have two.

You tell people who are turning green at the sight of drool that it makes great hair gel.

Your Mastiff sits on your head every night at three a.m. to let you know that he needs to go out. Of course, you go with him to keep him safe.

You drive for 500 horrible miles with a Mastiff puppy on your lap, worrying the entire trip about how happy he'll be in his new home. But when your daughter leaves for sleepaway camp, you know she'll be "just fine, children adapt so well to new situations...."

You trust fewer people to babysit your Mastiff than your kid.

You give up working out at the gym so that you can walk your Mastiff more often.

You don't go on vacation unless your Mastiff is welcome at the hotel.

You judge people according to your Mastiff's reaction to them.

You grunt irritably when your family tries to say good morning to you before you've had your coffee; but the minute you see your Mastiff, you grin ear-to-ear and shriek, "GOOD MORNING BABY GIRL!!!" in a squeaky, giddy voice.

You drop your sweet angel off at the vet's for testing, but won't go home because the house would feel "too empty." Instead you drop by a friend's house and call the vet every few minutes just to check on things. Your friend decides you are nuts.

You feel worse about your vet retiring than you do your gynecologist.

You put your Mastiff down as your beneficiary on your life insurance policy because no one else in the family deserves it.

You go into debt for a larger travel trailer, because "the baby" needs more room.

You won't buy a new truck unless it comes with a "Hi-Top" topper,because the crate must fit inside.

You buy special cuts of beef for "your baby", but serve the rest of the family tuna casserole.

You refuse to kick the mastiffs off the bed no matter how much your spouse complains or how tight of a ball you have to curl up into.

You have carpet installed in your new home instead of your life long dream of hardwood floors so your Mastiff won't slip and hurt himself. Of course, that is after you bring color swatches home to make sure your little darl'in will look good laying on it.

Now tell me - is this obsession or what!!

Thanks to all the contributors to this list - all the great mastiff folks around the world - we are a rare and wonderful breed of humans!

Why Dogs Don't Live Longer Than People

2006-02-08T08:39:00.000-05:00

Why Dogs Don't Live Longer Than People......

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

(a story copied from Mastiff MeetUP)

February Blues

2006-02-07T11:55:00.000-05:00

It never fails, every February I get the blues. I think it is the lack of sunshine and lack of time spent outside that brings on the blues. This year instead of thinking & dwelling on myself, I began to wonder if dogs have the same feelings - if they too get blue. So for the past couple of weeks I have been watching the crew and thought I noticed similar "bluesy" behavior in them. They were moping around, not as playful with each other or with us - definitly a case of the blues.

So as I always do in these situations, I came up with a plan. I would 'work out' the blues in all of us - Yep, that was my goal!! The weather was mild and cooperative, so Himself and I, along with the crew, took long walks around a new local state park ( a very nice park I might add!). We walked and walked. Himself and I exercised in the evenings (still doing that part). We all spent time in the yard playing and romping. All was grand in the world.

Then winter came back. Temperatures dropped and there was snow and ice on the ground. Determined to continue, this past Sunday Himself and I bundled up, put the jackets on the dogs, and headed out for a walk. We went about 50 yards or so and turned quickly and headed back to the car. It was 21 degrees out with a fairly strong wind. My eyes were freezing, Neo was shaking even under his new jacket, Pru was snorting, and Brin... well, she just looked at us as if we had lost our minds - she was going to follow along with us, but she had a very puzzled look on her face.

Later that evening and for the past couple of days the dogs have to be coaxed to go outside. Pru, who is always at the ready, moves causually toward the door, Neo hem-haws around and sighs heavily as we push him out the door, and Brin simply won't go out unless Himself or I do. It's as if she's saying, "hey, if I have to go out there, so do you!" As I have stood out there encouraging them to hurry a bit, I have considered their point of view. And, I must admit that I wouldn't like the idea of having to go potty outside in these freezing temperatures. But until I can train them to use the bathroom facilities instead of the floor, outside it must be.

When we all return to the house, it's a mad race to see who gets the warm, comfy spot on the couch. And last night as we all settled into our 'places' to get warm from the cold outside I realized that my intial diagnosis had been faulty. The dogs did not have the blues at all - I had misread the signs. The crew does not have the blues - they have the 'loves.' The love for Himself and me, the love of being close to us and being everywhere we are, the love of sharing tight spaces with us and each other, the love of doing whatever it is we are all doing as a group. While the initial thought had been wrong, the plan was actually right on target for all our needs. The plan emphasized togetherness- the basis for the 'loves' of the crew.

And as I have pondered this, I think I've come to believe that it will be their 'loves' that bring me out of my blues. So instead of me working the blues out of all of us, it is they who will work it out of me. Can hardly wait to get home for our evening group hug!!

TO: GOD: FROM: the dog

2006-01-17T14:17:00.000-05:00

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?

Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beeper s, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3. I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.
4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
5. The sofa is not a 'face towel'. Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.
6. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
7. My head does not belong in the refrigerator.
8. I will not bite the officer' s hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and registration.
9. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
10. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying "hello".
11. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.
12. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
13. I will not throw up in the car.
14. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
15. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch when we have company.
16. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually
not a good thing.

And, finally, My last two questions . .

Dear God: Why do humans only have 10 Commandments and dogs have 16?

P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

Our New Year's Promise

2006-01-09T12:13:00.000-05:00

Himself, the three fur babies and I have joined the millions of others out there who have promised to loose weight and get into better shape this year. We, himself and I, have made this resolution before so what's the difference this time? I have truly pondered this over the past few days ... . And, the difference this year is our committement to live a loving and healthy life -- a long life, together. Himself had a health scare this past fall, and it made us realize that our 25 years together (almost 26 years now) is not nearly enough time. We want more time, simple as that.

After that revelation we also noticed that the fur crew was completely out of shape as well. So, we, as the responsible and loving parents that we are, have made the promise for them too!! Just when we wanted to get started, wouldn't you know that we all came down with some form of a cold/flu bug. It has been great on the weight loss as we have not wanted to eat, but on the exercise front, well, there was no energy to be physically active.

But today is a new day and the beginning of our promise. That's for all of us. Yesterday the crew spent a great deal of time outside. They then spent the entire evening in one position on their doggy bed sleeping. It's so hard to believe that the three of them are so badly out of shape that an afternoon of fresh air and frolicking could be so waring on them. It's back to daily activity for them!!

And as for we humans, Himself has planned out our exercise routine for each evening. We'll see if I can even move after a couple of days or if I'm so warn out that I too just lie down and refuse to move for hours upon hours. I guess I'll just keep thinking about our trip to Vegas in May as a motivator for being in better shape - can't go to Vegas all frompy and fat!!

Cabin Fever

2005-12-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

Is it too early in the season for this phenomenon to hit? My crew certainly has the beginning signs of this invigorating virus!! Any thoughts of settling in for a long winter’s nap are hardily knocked from my head as Neo, Pru and Brin romp through the house.

This summer we installed laminate flooring throughout the main rooms of the house. This cut down on the amount of running as the dogs slip and slide when they attempt to do so. Our first floor design includes a rectangle that the dogs can run around, playing catch, tag, and ‘where’d they go?.” These games, gone for these last few months, have now come back with vigor. And what a good time they’re having!!

To brush off the doldrums of the season, I have been joining in the fun. We have been playing tag around the rectangle, playing keep away around the dining room table ( this is a hoot!!), and our all time favorite game – hide-n-seek!!!

All the games go well, except hide-n-seek. It is our favorite – all three love the challenge of finding me. But, the girls have no sense of smell at all and are not able to sniff me out of my hiding spots. That means that Neo seems to win the game more often than not. He loves winning – he prances around with that big smile on his face. The girls try very hard, but unless I use sound clues, they have a very difficult time trying to find me – well at least that’s what I think it is. Himself thinks that they do not like the initial scare that comes from me popping out of my hiding spot and therefore let Neo win. But I beg to differ with him. Both Pru and Brin just and throw their heads when they find me – prancing and smiling just like Neo.

Our once quiet home is once again full of activity and laugher and barks. It is a happy place to be. So, if you plan a visit to our home this season, you’ll need to be up for a game or two with the crew.

It's Been A Long While

2005-11-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

It has been such a long while since I have written anything for this blog. I must blame work and life for the lapse. I promise to be back reviewing the book "The Culture Clash" soon.

I have been reading and have a couple of entries planned. Just finding the time to commit to a full blown blog entry is out of my capabilities at the present.

Be back soon all!!

Chapter Two: The Culture Clash

2005-10-17T12:17:00.000-05:00

Chapter Two: Hard Wiring discusses just what the chapter title indicates - the behaviors dogs come with. The focus is on educating humans about the predisposition of the predatory nature of all dogs. Specifically, Donaldson points to two behaviors -- dogs are highly social beings who establish strong bonds with others (dogs and humans alike) and -- dogs are predatory beings whose mission is to search, chase, grab & hold, dissect, and chew. With these two dispositions I can concur. All three of my dogs are highly social with either humans or other dogs -- each one has its own limitations of socialability. And having watched my three terrorize a few stuffed animals in their time, I can say that the predatory gene is alive and well.

Donaldson goes to great lengths to explain and describe retrieving behavior -- what it is; its historical relevance for dogs, how to train for proper retrieving, and how to rehabilitate a hesitant retriever. While all three of my dogs play the retrieve game, Neo is the one who loves the game best. Through this chapter I have learned how to make his presentation better and tips on encouraging both girls to enjoy the game more.

What I found most interesting in the chapter was the section on pack theory. Donaldson clearly dismisses this as a theory of the past that should be long forgotten. She asserts that when a dog misbehaves, fails to execute a command, or plays too roughly with other dogs/humans, that these are issues of under training, not issues of dominance, stubbornness, boredom, or laziness. She discusses the criteria for judging whether a dog has 'learned' a behavior - truly learned it through repetition and true testing (in and out of distracting environments). I must admit that I have fallen for the stubbornness trap -- thinking that my three just don't want to obey my commands. But when revisiting the issue I believe that I have not fully trained them - I have not focused on ensuring they understand the command fully, that they have sufficient motivation/reward for obeying, and that the command is "proofed" in any and all circumstances.This is an area that I will be focusing on for the next few months!!

Chapter Two also discusses ear pinching as a method of training. Donaldson feels that it is a cruel and ineffectual method often implored by uneducated trainers. It seems like abuse to me!! Enough said on that!!Among the other topics, Donaldson talks at length about the Tug of War game. She describes the benefits, the controversy over its use, and the proper way to train a dog to play the game. As this is one of Neo and Pru's favorite games, I found the game rules and procedures section particularly helpful. I was not aware that dogs have such precision over the use of their mouths - now that I do, I'll be expecting more from all three!!

Other topics covered concern chewing, organized dog sports, separation anxiety, and alone training. Each of these topics is lightly covered as the book has full chapters dedicated to each issue.So, for now I plan to focus on training - full training that can be 'proofed.' More to come - I'm already on Chapter Three and very much enjoying it!!

"Culture Clash" A book discussion....

2005-09-26T10:27:00.000-05:00

"The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson is the latest book in my attempt to better understand canine behavior and communication systems. Over the next few posts, I'll share my thoughts and experiences putting some of the theories into action with my pack. Feel free to comment about your own ideas, opinions and experiences.

CHAPTER ONE: Getting the Dog's Perspective (Dog Intelligence & Morality)

The very first premise here is the Walt Disney dog VS the B.F. Skinner dog. Without going into the entire theory, here's my take in a nutshell. The Disney dog is a manipulator and problem solver -- knows right from wrong, does not do wrong when owner present, does wrong when owner's gone because it want to punish owner for leaving, and behaves apeasingly when owner returns. The Skinner dog is primal in nature -- does not do wrong when owner is present as punishment will follow, does wrong when owner is gone because it feels good (fulfills some need), when owner returns dog does not know why it is punished - cannot connect wrong behavior with delayed punishment.

Donaldson asserts that Skinner is actually correct. She furthers this by indicating that dogs are simply input/output natured. Dogs are not like us -- they are not, as she calls them "honorary humans, " not our substitute children, best friends, surrogate family members, etc.... We have created the above relationships with them - and much like a Disney theme park, it is an exaggerated, perfected facade. Donaldson continues by indicating that in fact we must begin to acknowledge the differences between humans and canines and that we have a responsibility to the species to know the basic needs and how to train them to live in our world "so that they fit into our society without totally subjugating their nature" (p. 11).

Now Donaldson is not saying that dogs are not intelligent or worthy of being "honorary humans." She is simply indicating that we are unfairly comparing them to humans and holding them to human standards. Dogs do not think the same as we do -- do not have human morality. But we base our interactions and relationships with our dogs on our human expectations. We love them like humans, reward and punish like humans, and talk to them like humans. Donaldson reminds us that dogs are not humans - not equal to us in intelligence, emotion or in spirit - and that we are doing them a disservice by attempting to mold them into our "tribal society."

Then there's the "Eager-to-Please" theory. Donaldson says this is a fallacy - that there is no such dog out there who lives solely to please his human(s). She goes on to explain and tie back to the operant theory -- dogs learn from immediate feedback -- this action gets this result. For example, dog sits, dogs gets immediate praise and/or treat from owner. If the dog does not sit it receives a correction. Dog learns to sit after much repetitive practice. Does the dog perform the sit action because it wants to please the owner? Donaldson says no; the dog actually learns how to avoid correction. It learns to associate events that happen together in time. Perhaps this is why Clicker training is so successful!!

Lastly, Donaldson discusses "Pack theory." Through a series of anecdotes, she dismisses the dominance issue completely. She explains that no amount of "flipping a dog on its back" will improve behavior. Only proper training -- operant conditioning -- will bring about the wanted behaviors. Overall in this first chapter Donaldson indicates that dogs have no concept of morality (right VS wrong), that they do not desire to please (it's all about their immediate needs), and that they have simple thought processes and learn through operant conditioning.

I must admit that I have fallen into the Disney model. I want to think that my dogs are part of my family and that they are loyal to me at all costs. But as I am reading more and more on dog behavior, and from what I recall from my psychology classes during college, I'm finding Donaldson’s assertions are ringing true. I plan to begin paying closer attention to the true behaviors my three are performing -- what lies behind them, and what their motivations are. I am finding this to be very mind opening!!

Whose Happiness Matters?

2005-09-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

Well, let me just say that I now realize that our lives completely revolve around our fur babies!! Last week we were on vacation -- tried to go camping for a week with the dogs. It did not work well at all. Let me start at a near beginning.

When we got Pru and Neo almost 3 years ago we were a boating family -- we boated every weekend, traveled and spend weekends on the boat. But, neither Pru nor Neo liked the boating, so we stopped and sold our boat.

We then thought we'd go back to camping on weekends. We've tent camped for all 25 years of our lives together, even camped on the boat, so we knew we'd enjoy it. But alas, that plan too was altered. Pru and Neo would not go into the tent. The wind blowing on the awning and the sound of their paws on the flooring scared them, and they wouldn’t go in. So we bought a travel trailer.

At first we thought this plan would work. The three like the trailer - and actually prefer to be in the trailer rather than out by the fire! Brin (not two years old yet) has always been fond of being where ever we are, so camping is fine with her. But Neo and Pru just do not like it. They are nervous the entire time -- have those worry wrinkles on their foreheads. Neither of them relaxes the entire time we are away. Pru cries to go into the camper; she’s quite happy in there as long as she can see where we are. Neo is on constant alert – guarding every leaf that falls and every sound that echoes through the woods.

This past week we gave the experience one last try. We set out for a week long camping trip around Indiana. We hoped that the longer time frame would allow the dogs to become more comfortable with the experience. Nope!! On day two, Brin began limping after our first hike (so we knew that hiking was out of the picture), Pru begged constantly to stay in the camper and Neo, well, he simply growled at everything. So, we took them home. We then went ahead with our camping for the rest of the week. Both Himself and I were miserable without our dogs. The guilt of leaving them at home (they had our youngest son to care for them, but he isn’t us, you know?!) was more overpowering than the experiences we were having.

After much thought we have decided to sell the camper and find another activity that we can all enjoy – humans and K9s alike. Strangely to others, we are very pleased with our decision. We love spending time with the dogs – quality time when we are all relaxed and all having fun. Some say this is too great a sacrifice. We say, no – this is simply a choice – whose happiness do we value? Our own and theirs is the answer. We were not happy without them, and they were not happy camping. The decision seems logical to us.

We choose everyone’s happiness!! Don’t you just love win win situations!!!

A Fun Weekend

2005-08-29T10:07:00.000-05:00

We really didn't do anything special this weekend. We all slept in late on Saturday -- all five of us in the bed until 9 AM -- too comfy to get up!! We all took a nap when it started to rain -- I just love taking naps when it rains. So we got lots of rest on Saturday.

In between sleeping, we had lots of visitors -- folks stopping by, phone calls, conversations. We bought a new phone - land line. We got new cell phones as well -- not as much fun and I'm still trying to clear up issues -- but the phones and service are great.

We played and spent lots of time with the crew. They were so tired by last night that they started putting themselves to bed around 9:30 PM. When they want to go to bed, they stand in front of us and stare at us -- they have this real sleepy look on their faces. If we don't pay attention, Neo and Brin will just go into the bedroom and go to bed. Pru, on the other hand, will continue to stare and whine until we get up and retire for the night.

Why was this weekend so much fun? I'm not sure. I just know that I feel refreshed and happy today. Maybe it's also because next week is vacation!!!!! Yippy!!!

The Summer of Family

2005-08-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

Himself and I were chatting about how fast the summer has gone and reminiscing about all the wonderful events and activities and decided that this was indeed the 'Summer of Family.'

It really started with Memorial Day. We had the big (BIG) family cookout (both sides and my new daughter - in - law's family too). Then came the bridal shower. Then my eldest son's wedding. Then himself had surgery (lost 4 weeks there). Then in there somewhere was a July 4th family picnic. Then the Warren Dunes-Beach trip with my family. Then a 50th Wedding Anniversary weekend for my Aunt and Uncle.

Then this past weekend we went camping with himself's sister's family. With all the above events, this was literally the first opportunity we had to go camping. Take in the picture:
Himself, me and our three dogs.
**** please remember here that I have very large dogs.
His sister, her husband and four daughters under the age of 10.
**** all of the girls are very frightened of dogs!!!

Well, needless to say with the girls having so much fear of dogs, we were very careful to keep our beloved pets on our own site. This plan worked most of the time -- except when the girls wanted to be with Auntie Lisa -- that's when the two would get camps would get a bit fuzzy. I purposefully stayed on my site for two reasons -- first, my dogs really are our family and we spend most of our time with them; and second, I really wanted to girls to become more comfortable around dogs and to learn that not all dogs are bad!!!

As it was our first camping trip (new sights, sounds, smells) and as there were so many children running around (we don't have any small children around on a regular basis), the dogs were not as comfortable as normal. Neo and Brin did okay -- they really like children and wanted to play with the girls. Pru, on the other hand, did not do well at all. She was very afraid of the children -- they were running around too much - darting here and there. She then became nervous and afraid of almost everything. Bless her heart, she really did not have a good time at all. As soon as the girls had packed up and gone, all three dogs were back to their normal selves.

The Summer of Family is nearly over. But then we will head into the time of year when we spend most of our time out and about and with family. So, maybe this was just a warm up!! I have truly enjoyed all the family times - such strong memories and bonds have been deepened. Maybe such memories could be made in times much more spread over time -- what's that old saying? 'Too much of a good thing........"

Next year? We're already planning a trip to Vegas for Memorial Day! Next summer will be the Summer of Travel for us!!!!

Wow! Much too much time has passed!!

2005-08-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

It has been nearly a month since I posted. Bad, bad me!! - but then again with the wedding, family trips, Rob's surgery, etc... I've been overly busy. So, after all excuses ........ ......

The girls and Neo are well. We had a toilet paper incident - Brin and Neo had a TP party. Pru was not involved. She came and tattled on Brin and Neo - letting me know that they were doing something inappropriate (she does this all the time). So of course I grabbed my camera!!
( This is the three of them - Pru in the front(totally innocent), Neo and Brin in the background with the evidence all over them!!)

Rob had surgery and has been recooping for the past month. He's back to work this week and seems to be doing well. Stamina is back and so is his positive attitude (very glad about that!!). Men, (and yes I'm generalizing), are not good at being sick. Nor are they good patients. So, it is a wonderful thing that he is back on the mend.

We went to the lake this past weekend - the girls went for a swim but Neo was too fraidy dog to go in -- the boats were making waves and the water was moving - very scary to Neo - LOL. All in all a good day for them and us.

Now I'm just gearing up for the start of school. Students should be coming back in next week - our international grad students are already here - so much fun working with them!! So, I'm trying to get ready for the onslaught!!!! It's almost time to BOILER UP!!!

Nope - I won't do it!

2005-07-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

Saturday Rob and I decide to visit our son and his new bride at the campground at which they were staying. We wanted to do some hiking - great trails at Raccoon State Park. We get there and the newlyweds were so (and I mean SO) happy to see us. They were rather bored as they explained it.

Well, we set out for a hike. Down to the lake we go and the dogs go for a bit of a dip in the lake. Brin is really the only one who will get deep in the water. Pru and Neo stay ankle deep. We then decide to head to the ramp to watch the boats launching (this can be an entire afternoon's entertainment in itself - all the newbies attempting to launch and/or pick up boats - always good fun!!). Out of nowhere and with the sun shining, comes this rain. We all stood under the trees for a bit thinking it would pass. But alas, the sun disappeared and the rain got steadily harder.

We then decided to head back up the hill to a shelter house near by. So, I take off up the hill - not really in a run (for those who know me this should be a great visual :)) with Brin right by my side. We reach the top and I then attempt to run to the shelter.

That's when Brin put on the brakes. Nope, she was not about to run. The water wasn't ruining her hair, she wasn't concerned about her clothes getting soaked (I was wearing a white shirt - grrrr). Oh no. She refused to speed up - barely a trot is all I could get from her. All the others and their dogs were well passed us - and we had been the first up the hill.

Needless to say, I was soaked, hair was soaked and Brin, well she went and rested - raising her head and smiling at me every once in a while. The girl just cracks me up!!!

Oh the joy of .....

2005-07-15T13:59:00.000-05:00

Walking - yep, that's right - Walking!! As noted in an earlier posting, we have begun walking our precious pack each evening after work. Well, I have added a 2 mile walk to my lunch routine. And, I am loving it!! I even walked in the rain this week. You read it right - in the rain (well with an umbrella :))

The babies are enjoying their evening walks too. I must say that I am amazed at how much faster they can get back into shape than we humans. After only a week of walking they are ready to run. So, now is when the training becomes invaluable.

I have it so much easier than Rob. Poor guy must walk Neo and Pru, so he has double the training to do. But, in my defense, Brin is quite the handfull. She is going through her 'bullying' stage and feels that I am NOT the Goddess of her world but rather her play thing. So, I am working hard on retraining her to obey and respect. She has even begun to refuse to sit when I give the command -- I have to physically force her into a sit. We'll see who wins this war of wills!! So, as you can clearly see, I have my hands full just walking and training the one!!

But regardless of the trials, the walking is fabulous. Rob and I have wonderful chats and so enjoy the time together (even after 25 years together!!). The dogs are getting exercise and socialization. And we are all getting the training so badly neglected (shame on us :( ) So, this is a WIN WIN situation. And we all love those!!!

Morning Kisses

2005-07-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

Remember when you were first married - or were in that special relationship - and waking up with that someone special and those wonderful morning kisses? Well, I can top all those feelings and memories!!

Picture yourself awaking to the kisses - the wet and slobbery kisses of a 150# plus English Mastiff. That is how I was awakened this morning, and I must say that I very much enjoyed it!! I'm not sure there is anything better than for the soul than to be loved so purely. And of course (for those who really know me well) there is nothing better than giggling as you awaken. I am a morning person anyway - and to come into the morning with kisses and giggles - -

Well, does it get any better than that?

Fat Owners = Fat Dogs

2005-07-06T11:47:00.000-05:00

Yep - that's right - Rob and I are officially fat AND so are our dogs. Well, Neo and Brin are overweight (more politically correct than 'fat'); Pru is trim as always. So, with this realization in mind we have decided to get back into shape - all of us!!.

We began our walking regimen this past weekend. We have a one mile track that we have plotted and we have been faithfully walking this each day (four days running -- well, walking :) ). And man am I sore!!!!!!! Not from the walking but from walking the dogs!

Rob usually takes two of them and I take one, Brin. As a reference point let me share that Brin must be touching me at all times; so, walking her means walking with her constantly rubbing/pushing on my legs/hips. She does not pull - or run ahead. Nope. She stays right with me - right at my side - pushing against me with her 150# + body. To counter this pushing I have positioned the gentle lead on the opposite side of her face so that I can direct her away from my side a bit. But, she's a stubborn one and pulls her head back and cuddles up by me once again.

I now have pain in my hip and cramps in one foot from pushing back against her for balance! And my shoulder is sore from trying to pull her head away from me to give my body a break from the pushing. Cracks me up!!!

Now for Neo and Pru: Neo does not like his gentle lead and spend the first few minutes doing acrobatics trying to get free from the lead. Rob has been watching and paying attention to Ceasar's show (The Dog Whisperer) and is now training Neo to accept the lead. So, Neo has been progressing each day and now only fights the lead for a few seconds and then walks right beside Rob as trained. Neo is such a good boy. Well, that is unless another dog comes our way. Then we have all out war! We're working on that too.

Pru does not fight the lead, does not pull, does not push. She walks just perfectly. Her only issue is also with any other living animal. So, she spends her walks ever on guard - watching all around for any 'intruders' into 'her' space. It is truly humorous to watch her eyes as we walk. She has appointed herself protector of the pack.

Yesterday must have been National Rabbits Day. We saw too many to count and so did the three dogs! Needless to say Pru alerted all of us to their presence and then began prancing (she looked like a show horse; she was high stepping!!); Neo raised his hackles and went on attach mode; and Brin bounced around at the thought of a new playmate.

It is all worth the effort. Rob and I both feel better and the dogs are sleeping and eating better. And the humor in the memories -- well, that's the icing on the brownie we eat when we finish the walk!!

The Wedding is over and life goes on ....

2005-06-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

That's right - there is life after a wedding!! Our eldest son, Robby, was married on June 25th to a wonderful young lady, Lara. After a five year courtship, their life together has begun. And ours (mine and DH's and the bride's parents) can get back to some semblance of normalcy!!

Let me postpone that however until the newlyweds return from their honeymoon as we (DH and I) are dog sitting for the happy couple. Layla Ali, a black boxer puppy, is a joy to have in our home. There is just one little catch - she's a boxer -- and she's all that boxers are known to be: hyper, happy, hyper, intelligent, hyper, loving, hyper ---- you get the picture :)

Our pack - being English mastiffs and a Staffie and being in the non- puppy stage - has had some adjusting to do. Their usual evening routine has been somewhat altered by the random activity of Layla. Prudance (our less social girl) lies behind a chair and watches ever so closely all the activity. Brindelyn seems to be amazed at the energy and has these looks of disbelief on her face at times -- she will watch the pup and turn to me as if to say "is this for real? Do some dogs really behave like this?" And Neo, well, he loves the pup's energy and enjoys romping with her, but even he gets tired out and needs a break (which he takes on one of our laps).

All is going well and Layla is learning to respect the signals from the others. I figure just about when they are all one happy doggy family, the newlyweds will come and take my grand-doggy home.

Oh the joys of family -- skin and fur!!!!

Dismayed Again!!

2005-06-21T08:09:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, June 19th the National Geographic Channel had a special on Alaska. The show's premise was to give the audience "secret tips" they would get nowhere else. The show was very interesting UNTIL they focused on the sled dog teams. This is when I became upset (and I might add here to strengthen my credibility - my husband also became upset). The narrator began by showing these sled dogs outside running the sleds. Then the focus switched to the kennels that breed these dogs.

Let me set the scene:
30-40 dogs in a fenced area devoid of grass; small wooden boxes maybe 2' X 2' for shelter; dogs attached to 3 foot chains; interaction with humans only when fed or when training.

The kennel owner went on and on about the wonderful diet the dogs are fed - how she cooks for them each day - most of the meal was rice - very little meat. THEN, the show focused on Alaska's National Park service sled dogs. They were kept in the same manner - small shelters, 3 foot chain, little contact, etc.....

I have not been able to get this out of my mind. I know that these dogs are working dogs - that they do enjoy pulling the sleds. But, I find it negligible that these owners have so little contact or care for their dogs. It was clear from the show that these dogs craved attention.

I simply feel sad for these dogs. I want to hug them and give them a warm place to sleep. If only I could ....

New Pics of our fur family

2005-06-16T14:02:00.000-05:00

This is our Neo - he is my prince - he wakes with a smile and maintains that smile all day.

This is all three babies - Pru is on the chair (ignoring the picture process), Neo is on the right, and Brin is on the left.

Prudance is pouting - she lost her chew toy to Brin :(

Neo - jumping on command. This is on the way down - he can jump nearly 6 foot high from a sit (honest truth!!)

Brin winking at me - "Don't tell Pru I'm laying on her favorite bone, okay mom!"

And one more of my Pru's precious face

SHHHH ... I'm hunting...

2005-06-13T15:10:00.000-05:00

Is it rabbits? Nope - Pru is hunting frogs (or fwogs as Elmer Fudd would say). This is her sole purpose in life these days. She is on constant alert - any sign of movement and she is all about the hunt!

Pru will see the frog, move it with her paw, then pick it up in her mouth. She doesn't kill them; rather, she plays with them in her mouth and puts them back down.

The frogs emit some type of slime which must be nasty tasting because Pru really shakes her head and foams at the mouth when she gets slimed. But she keeps going back after them.

For those of you concerned, I have contacted my vet who indicated that these frogs are not poisonous. They may make her sick from the slime, but will not poison her.

Crazy girl just cannot stand being in the house in the evening. She constantly begs us to let her out - totally cracks me up!!!

So, if you happen to come by some evening, shhhhhh, Pru's hunting fwogs!!!

Slingers Galore!

2005-06-10T07:51:00.000-05:00

As I have said before, my oldest son is getting married on June 25th. And as we all know with such a happy event comes home remodeling. These really are correlated events - I even believe there has been scientific research conducted on this phenomenon.

Anyway, we are in the midst of major renovations - actually we will be finishing tomorrow and then I am hosting a trousseau shower for his new bride on Sunday. And in a walk through of the house last evening (I was making mental notes of my cleaning needs) I noticed that we have SLINGERS EVERYWHERE!!!

We are talking about in the hallways, bathrooms and especially the master bedroom. All the other walls have been freshly painted so we are safe there. BUT - I don't have time to paint the other walls!!!!!

So, guess what I'll be doing this afternoon - that's right! Washing walls - well scrubbing is a more exact term - LOL.

What I find amazing is that I have been living with these slingafied walls and had not really noticed. This is amazing as I am a really good house keeper - I like clean and like to live in a clean space.

So, my ponderance then is .... has my love for the girls (Pru and Brin) overcome my need for cleanliness? Have I become blinded by their charms enough to blindly ignore - I mean, to not even see these slingers on my bedroom walls?

Now I wonder as I approach what I fondly term as "Grannyness" if I will become so enamored with grandbabies that I will break other life long habits? Will I actually allow a grandbaby to drink from my cup? (my father taught me never to allow anyone to drink from my cup and I never have - not husband, children, best friend - NOPE).

But if I can blindly ignore slingers on the wall, what could possibly be next??? ...

More on Responsible Pet Ownership

2005-06-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a fair bit of research via the internet to determine just what information is out there concerning "Responsible Pet Ownership." I have been pleased to find a plethera of information - many great web sites offering what I consider to be quality info.

Some sites I recommend:
http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/LCC/residents/animals/petchecklist.htm
http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/LCC/residents/animals/petownership.htm
* http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/heb/archive/9899/Prog9/ (a favorite)
http://www.dogsaver.org/noahsbark/responsible.html
http://www.akc.org/public_education/responsible_dog_owner.cfm

Basically, all these sites, with the exception of the third, give information about proper care, feeding, environment, training. The one thing I find that seems lacking in all the information is "bonding." Only the third site - "Responsible Pet Ownership with Dr. John R. August" even approaches the topic of pet as family member. Not a single site I surfed discussed the emotional care and responsibilities for our pets.

For me being a responsible owner means so much more than feeding, providing shelter, and proper health care. For me, being responsible means caring about and bonding with the whole dog - mentally, emotionally as well as physically.

I take great pleasure in my dogs - fur babies as I refer to them. I sing to them - which I tell myself they like - a lot!! I talk with them and enjoy seeing the looks in their eyes - looks of understanding, patience, excitement, love. I look into their eyes consistently - having that bond allows me to see when they are or are not feeling emotionally fulfilled.

Mentally caring means that I provide challenges for them. We play together - games like hide-n-seek (they love that game!) "Where's _____?" (daddy, Robby, etc...) "Find it" and of course training falls into this category as well, etc....

As much as possible, more so in the mild months, I ensure that they are physically active and fulfilled as well. Walking, playing ball, chase, and any of the challenge games mentioned above ensure they are each getting what I consider to be proper physical activity. (I must note here that Pru and Neo are much better at activity than Brin. Brin prefers to stand by me and watch the others run and play. I work extra hard to play just with her so that she too is active).

I guess what I am saying is that in researching and in asking myself the question: "what is responsible pet ownership and am I living up to those responsibilities?" -- I have discovered that I am a good dog owner - better yet I am a good companion to my fur babies and in turn they are my companions as well.

And I realize that all of this was my way of justifying my criticisms and judgements of others in their treatment of pets. So, now I can grouse all I want - well, at least I have given myself permission to do so!!

What is responsible pet ownership?

2005-06-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

After reading today's entry on my favorite Pit Bull blog (http://spaces.msn.com/members/nkbapbt/PersonalSpace.aspx?_c=) I got to thinking about responsible dog/pet ownership.
(I do have original thoughts of my own - this one really sparked me!)

Responsible pet ownership

What is it? What is the criteria for being a responsible owner? Are there levels of responsibleness (is that really even a word?)?

I consider myself to be a responsible owner - loving my dogs, living and sharing my home openly with them, socializing them, ensuring proper health care, and the list could go on.

However,

Would the fact that I tend to allow them to be overweight, that I do not train them consistently, that I do not ensure proper daily exercise -- would this make me an irresponsible owner?

I tend to be quick to judge those that I feel are not treating their dogs humanely (ie: dog living outside -partially or totally ignored and or chained, untrained, unloved, etc....) But, should I be more focused on my own irresponsibilities?

I am eager to hear what your thoughts are on this subject. Be sure that when given a bit more time I will be researching this topic and posting again. For now, just let me know your thoughts on responsibilities of pet owners.

A Dog's Soul

2005-05-25T14:39:00.000-05:00

A Dog's Soul

Every dog must have a soul
Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
Are buried with his pride
Where he decides the good and bad
The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully
Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for
Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho he is unloved,
And he'll serve tho badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
An understanding Soul!
Anonymous

Thanks to Lisa Hartman for this forward!

Fantastic Blog for Staffie lovers

2005-05-24T09:17:00.000-05:00

I discovered this blog (permalink below) yesterday and am very impressed with the level of information and the just plain funness of it.

Today's entry is fantastic. There is a plethera of information on dog attacks (great statistics!), breed banning, and responsible (and irresponsible) breeding. Click the link below to visit the blog:

http://spaces.msn.com/members/nkbapbt/Blog/cns!1p7bcHLh2LrtNds-vOXM-awQ!605.entry

I am pleased to find that we (the blogger above and me) share a common idealogy in what constitutes good breeding, good dog ownership and the consequences of breed banning.

So, if you're interested in Staffies (or Pit Bulls as she calls them), then link to the site and read away! Let me know what you think!!

The joys of ear cleaning

2005-05-23T15:49:00.000-05:00

Brin has dirty ears. She has always had dirty ears. Our vet says she will simply always have dirtly ears. So, like the faithful human I am, I clean her ears frequently (our vet says to do it at least 3 times a week). Brin loves having them cleaned -- so much so that she comes to me on 'non-cleaning' nights and flapps her ears at me.

Well, now Pru -- who has pristinely clean ears -- also wants her ears cleaned. I have tried to fake it with her and just rub her ears, but she knows I use a bottle with Brin and will sniff at the cabinet until I give in to her.

Question: Since her ears do not need cleaning and I do not want to use the cleaner on her, will water cause any harm to her ears? The vet's office said no. But, I want you folks' thoughts on this one.

And by the way, neither will settle for a simple ear rub. They really like the cleaner and tissue procedure. Too weird, huh!!!

One of my favorite things in life

2005-05-23T09:26:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things in life is cuddling with my girls (and Neo too!). It gives me great satisfaction to be close to them. Rob and I were sitting out on the swing, enjoying the evening last evening and (one at a time) the girls climbed up and sat between us - resting with us for a bit of time and then going off to do their own things. We both agreed that these times must be a little piece of heaven on earth.

This morning, around 3 AM, I awoke to Brins breathing in my face. She was (as she is every night) sleeping between us - head on my pillow and back facing Rob. I look around the bed and there too was Pru, down near my knees with her head resting on my legs. Thank goodness for a California King bed!!! If you're wondering where Neo is - he is too well behaved to come up on the bed without permission. He lays over on our pillow shams and waits until the alarm goes off in the morning to get up. He's such a good boy!!!

I wonder: Do these dogs also treasure these cuddly times? Do they have the feeling capacity to understand and cherish the smells, touches, and movements of these times? I do so hope they do!!

Do they really seek revenge?

2005-05-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, so my oldest son has lived with us for the past few months - getting married in June and wanted to save up for a new home - brings home a beautiful boxer female puppy. Brin and Neo did very well adjusting to having a pup in the house (man boxers are hyper!) but Pru, who does not do well with new situations and/or others, did not care for the puppies antics. Pru would lunge at her - never biting her though.

Okay, so son moves out, but returns home almost every evening for supper (lol!!) and of course brings the pup with him. Well, Pru was in a bad mood last night and lunged and snapped at the pup when it jumped up in her face (pup usually avoids Pru). So I put Pru in the house so that the rest of us could relax a bit.

Pru went in to my bedroom and went pee on my side of the bed! I'm serious - right in the middle of my side!!! Do you really think that she was getting revenge for being put in? Totally cracks me up!!! I hate changing bed linens at 11 PM. And of course, Pru hung her head in shame and was remorseful, so I couldn't really be mad at her.

But revenge, really????

A new conversation place

2005-05-19T10:37:00.000-05:00

I cannot put into words how excited I am to begin this blog - a new place to converse with one another about the wonderful breed of English mastiffs.

It is my sincere hope that we will create a community whose culture is based on love of the breed, on truth, and on knowledge.

With that said, let's start the conversation!!