FEEDING RITUAL - We Walk

I know I've typed it a jillion times already, but here it is again. We walk.

I see walking together before eating as a primal connection between my dogs and I. In another lifetime together, my dogs and I would migrate and hunt in a territory. We would have to work to find our food. In our life together now, even if it's a short walk, walking together before eating is a ritual within our feeding ritual. It just feels right.

FEEDING RITUAL

I've got a thing about food. I feel it is one of the most loving things I can provide for my family, and I enjoy taking care of my family by feeding them the highest quality food I can afford. Of course this includes my dogs. I have researched dry commercial foods, designed and implemented a home-cooked menu, as well as fed my pack a combination of commercial and home-cooked foods plus nutritional supplements. Through all of the meal plans, I have maintained the same feeding ritual. Meals, the assembly of them, and even the eating, all have a rhythm, and some rules.

Meal time at our house is exciting. Our dogs are highly food motivated, but it is also a calm, stress-free, manner-filled experience. I love giving my dogs exactly what they need, and I love the respect they have learned to show the humans who provide for them.

I've been using this food for nearly one year since discovering Luna's allergies are tremendously helped by feeding her virtually no grains. Foster likes it too!

SAFETY - The Heat

Warm temperatures make it seem so easy to get outside and be with my dogs...because they do make it easy! The only thing I put on my dogs is tea tree oil spray (for mosquitoes, fleas and ticks) and out we go for hours of walking, weeding, picking up sticks, whatever. My dogs still have needs though, and I think I'm prepared for the "whatever" of the outdoors in the heat.

Having Labrador Retrievers, I learned they are prone to heat stroke. I've had a Yellow Lab and a Black Lab. This does not mean they had to stay indoors in air conditioning. This means I had to provide ways to keep them cool and safe, and yes, sometimes limit their activity because they don't know when to stop!

Satchel was over 90% Yellow Lab and he LOVED to be outside for any landscaping activity. While he was severely car sick, and hated being in a moving car, he LOVED tooling around the yard in the John Deere cart. To safely be outside, Satchel needed just a little bit of sunscreen on his nose and some shade. To be happy, he just needed his Jason.


Adorable, right?

For Luna and Foster, a Black Lab and a mix of dark dogs, they need just a bit more cooling opportunity. We provide a pool for cooling off! Foster doesn't love the pool as much as Luna, so I put what is called a "Cooling Collar" on him. It has some kind of gel inside that when soaked and frozen remains cool around his neck for about 2 hours. We also keep the garage doors open so the dogs can lie down on the concrete in the shade, and that is where their outside drinking water is kept. They get to participate in whatever we're doing (we were setting up for an outdoor party on the day these photos were taken), and I know that they're safe from the heat.


Luna LOVES her Puppy Pool


The actual temperature was over 90F with over 90% humidity. It was HOT.

We are fortunate to have access to a lot of lakes and boats, and people know that I will want to be with my dogs, so we are invited to bring them with us. With boats, comes my boater safety training, and that makes me think of life vests. Yes, my dogs have life vests.


Once again, Luna is ready to go!

I have been told that my dogs, my Lab in particular, can swim. This I know. I also know that accidents can happen, and even dogs can be knocked unconscious, or our kayak could flip while out on Lake Michigan and it's a long swim to shore. We have life vests for our outdoorsy life, and I'm not embarrassed to wear one, nor to have my dogs wear one.

I will "confess" that when Luna and I canoe on the Crystal River we don't wear our life vests. We love canoeing there. People yell from shore that Luna should have a paddle, and we smile and wave. It's so easy and relaxing. I know that you can drown in inches of water, but the Crystal River is like 2 feet deep in most areas so even if we "capsized," the canoe wouldn't even sink. I can't find the picture of my sweet canoe mate right now, but here's one of my tired girl with her favorite life preserver after a day of wave jumping on Lake Michigan.

SAFETY - Winter

We like to be out in any kind of weather. Well, Luna and I like to be out in any kind of weather. Since meeting Foster, and divinely integrating him into our family, I've learned not everyone is like Luna and I. Foster doesn't love variations in weather. While Luna and I are barely fazed by rain, Foster sniffs the air and seems to say, "Um, you do know that it's raining, right?" With a few supportive gear elements, Foster has learned to enjoy the Winter.

Sweatshirts and Sweaters
I've never clothed my dogs. I do like a jazzy Halloween costume now and then, or a Christmas or Spring bandanna, but I don't dress up my dogs daily or anything like that. For those who do, I'm amazed at the products available! But we're kind of simple and minimalist and I flip quickly through that section in the dog catalogs I receive.

Having mostly Labs in my adult dog ownership experience, and outside dogs as a child, I wasn't familiar with dogs who actually require clothing to be comfortable. Enter Foster Dog. Fosse has about 4% or less body fat, and he gets chilly in the Winter. We keep our home pretty cool, and I noticed FD curling up particularly tight to have a nap, and I noticed him burrowing into a down comforter on the bed at night. It occurred to me I should feel his feet. My Fosse's feet AND ears were cold as he curled up in his Barkalounger in the house! A remedy was soon found.


Monogramming was free. Had to do it.

Jackets
Several years ago while walking in the woods with Luna and Satchel, I realized we needed to be visible to hunters who could be in the area. I purchased outdoor coats...and paid extra for monogramming. Had to do it.


Foster wears Satchel's hand-me-down, and I wear the jogger's reflective thingy that's in the middle

I chose these coats because they are waterproof, have some warmth, have reflective accents, and are bright orange. Luna doesn't need hers very often, but it was really helpful the last time we went to the kids' soccer game when it was POURING buckets of rain and the school wouldn't let us enter the covered area around the field.

Their Feet
There are booties with various names to protect your dogs' paw pads in snowy areas, rocky terrain, waterlogged areas, etc. I canNOT keep them on my dogs' feet. I have them, and I keep trying them, but usually we lose them within 20 yards of the car and have to turn around and pick them up.


It's hard for me to believe I still have a complete set



We buy Bag Balm at the grocery store

What does work for us is Bag Balm. There are several similar products available. Musher's Secret is a really nice alternative, but it's quite a bit more expensive. We have Bag Balm, and it works, so we use it. Bag Balm, or a product like it, protects dogs' feet from salt and de-icing solvents as well as from chapping. I put it on before we go out and I wipe off the residue with baby wipes when we return. It doesn't prevent them from getting a cut from an ice shard or something buried in the snow, nor does it prevent frostbite, but I hope I'm looking out for my dogs in enough ways that we will continually avoid those hazards.

SAFETY - Traveling

I've written about traveling with my Pack, and here, I'll mention a few of things I do to increase the safety of my dogs when we're traveling. They're easy to do, and even though I am once again teased about some things, I keep doing them because they help us enjoy our travels completely. This is what works for us.

Seat Belts
I seat belt my dogs whenever we get into the car. We may be going 3 miles down the road or 1300 miles across the country. Each dog has her and his seat belt and each dog waits patiently to be buckled in.


Luna is always up for an adventure

The comments that are made are generally about how the person doesn't need to do that for his or her dog because his or her dog is so well-behaved in the car. I generally don't respond because my dogs are very well-behaved in and out of the car, but I still seat belt them. I seat belt my dogs because I don't want them to become projectiles if we are in an accident or if we have to stop short to avoid one.

When driving 35mph, a 60-pound unrestrained dog can cause an impact of 2700 pounds slamming into a car seat, windshield or passenger. (Bark Buckle UP, the leading research team on pet travel safety. http://www.barkbuckleup.com) I seat belt my dogs whenever we get into the car.


Fosse nearly asleep as we wait for Js flight to arrive from SF

Microchipping
I'd never considered microchipping until Foster came into our lives. He runs a bit, and since he looks like a Pit Bull to many, I envisioned people being unsure about bringing him into their homes to call me. Kind people might call Animal Control who hopefully would scan him and reunite us. Ideally, we will build our relationship so he doesn't run, and so far, he's run into the woods and then back to his yard. Luna has run away once her life; the very first time I left her in the care of someone else. She hasn't walked further than 60ft from me since. Still, I asked my vet about microchipping and she told me this story.

A client of hers has two dogs. They are each microchipped with the owner's information as well as the vet's. The owner and her husband, and their dogs, were driving to a wedding and were in a terrible car accident not far from home. The restrained-in-crates dogs were thrown from the vehicle which broke the crates open. Accident witnesses saw the dogs run into woods adjacent to the highway. These Good Samaritan witnesses coaxed the dogs out of the woods and took them to a local vet who assessed their injuries and scanned them for microchips. The dogs' vet, who is also our vet, was contacted and the dogs were transported to their vet's office for further assessment and boarding. The owners were unconscious following the accident, but when they regained consciousness, they asked about their dogs. They were told their dogs were safe and being cared for at their vet's office. I walked out of our vet appointment with TWO microchipped dogs.


Foster LOVES being on the road

Meds
I always have a car first aid kit (jumper cables, fix-a-flat, etc.) and a dog and people first aid kit. For the dogs, I have wound care items and medicines like buffered aspirin, a prescription anti-inflammatory and antihistamines. We've only needed the prescription anti-inflammatory once when I let Luna overdo it on Lake Michigan, but I feel that if I'm prepared, we won't need anything!


I have the best traveling companions. Ever.

There was that time in our neighborhood when Luna and I stepped onto an underground yellowjacket nest...we needed the Benadryl out of the first aid kit that day...

SAFETY - The Basics

When I first thought about our most important safety item, I thought "leash," but then I thought, "No. Training my dogs is what keeps us most safe," and then I thought, "No. My energy, how I react to our surroundings and their behavior, and my ability to think ahead are really the most important ways I can keep us safe."

Leashes are really important though. Whether they are reflective or not, long or short, they don't just keep my dogs from running after deer. Leashes help me protect my dogs from other dogs that may be off leash. With my dogs attached to me, I can address an off-leash dog directly and block its approach to my dog.



Their collars and attaching flashers keep us safe too. Their collars have their identifying information so even if their tags fall off, a kind person could call us. The red flashers keep us safe during our early morning and nighttime walks highlighting our presence on the roads of our neighborhood.



Training my dogs to have leash manners, manners for meeting people and other dogs, as well as knowing the boundaries of their yard are all good ways to keep us safe outside and enjoy the time. Our neighborhood does not allow fences and I didn't want to utilize an electric fence so my dogs' learning the boundaries of our yard and not going into the road were, and are, essential to their safety. We're still working with Foster on not crossing the boundary into the wetlands because he has seen a family of deer.

I think my energy is the most important safety feature in our relationship. How I react to surprising sounds when we're outside, or how I react to Luna digging for acorns around the trees, or how I react to Foster darting off into the woods needs to communicate how I feel about it. I act like it's not a big deal when we hear gunfire from the shooting club. It would be terrible to have a dog that runs for cover any time there is an event at the club. When Luna digs for potentially toxic acorns, I need to react strongly to let her know I'm serious, and when Foster darts off to the woods, I need to be SERIOUSLY serious that running out of his yard is unacceptable.

Even better for my dogs' safety is my ability to think ahead. I can block Luna from digging for acorns to begin with by distracting her from the activity. I can direct her to another area or throw a tennis ball for a few rounds of fetch. I can keep Foster on a leash during the early morning and dusk to dark hours of our outside time so that he can't run into the woods after deer. These are just a few ways to keep us safely together because I love our outside time and want it to be smooth and stress free!

SAFETY

I do a lot of things for my dogs. They are my family members and they are pretty much dependent on me to provide them with everything they need. They are also very trusting of me and will follow me to any adventure I want to experience. And honestly, there are few things I want to do that don't include them.



For each adventure, and even for daily activities, I have safety gear. How I define safety gear is something I own or can do to ensure we are prepared for the calamities that can occur when you're experiencing the world with your dog by your side.

I have been teased and criticized for the amount of time I spend with my dogs. I'm not a weak person, I can take the hits, and I usually don't respond with an excuse or a defense. I'm not witty enough to respond with something clever, so I simply don't respond. It's not that I'm not annoyed by the judgments; they often hurt, but I've always been able to manage the critiques because I feel confident that I am doing what is right for me and my family. Look, I judge all the time. I judge what is right and wrong for my family. You do what works for you and I'll do what works for me.

The crack that irritates me more than any other is the observation that I am "substituting." Many, and I mean many, people believe that I am substituting dogs for "real children." Let me be clear: My dogs are not my children. They are my dogs. They are as much a part of my family as any human, and it is my choice to have dogs and not humans. Even if I had children living with me, I would still have dogs, and I would still take care of them as equal members of my family. Trust me. I've done it. I've lived it. I'm not "substituting" as if children are the pinnacle and I have sadly settled for dogs. I have dogs because I want dogs, and my dogs are essential members of my family.

I am not going to explain or defend my family's dynamic, but I do caution those who tell me I really need to "get going" and have some kids. I caution those who say, "I can tell you don't have kids! You're way too nice to your dogs!" or "If you had kids, you'd never pay attention to your dogs." You know nothing about me. Nothing.



The other criticisms that irk me are that I'm a worrier and over-protective. Yes, dogs live in the wild and stray dogs survive and your childhood dog never had a collar or a fence in its life and lived to be 17. I get it. My providing toys for my dogs when we go to someone's house increases the likelihood that the someone's dog's toys don't get eviscerated. I consider myself as being polite and thoughtful. My putting a jacket on my dog, who has 4% body fat, when it's below 30F ensures we'll be able to comfortably walk for an hour continuing my dogs' physical fitness while you and your dog never get out of the house for more than 2 minutes in December, January and February...Ok, that's it, I've got to stop letting these comments bother me.

So, ok, maybe you get what I'm typing. I care about my dogs' safety, and provide for it, maybe a little bit more than the average person. I am criticized and teased about it, but I keep doing it all, and most days, I do it with a smile because I'm out experiencing the world with my dogs by my side.

This week, I will show you a lot of the things I do to protect my dogs from other dogs, and from the elements of the outdoors. We are able to do a lot out there and we're limited only by me because my dogs are ready for anything!

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - Some New Lessons

I feel I am a fairly experienced traveler. I haven't flown in a year or two, but in general, I'm a good researcher, good planner, good packer, good go-with-the-flow-er, and I think my dogs are up for any adventure we might come upon in our travels. Since adding Foster Dog to our family, we've learned he is an excellent traveler and loves to be a part of any trip in the car. I've also increased my understanding of Breed Specific Laws (BSL) in North America, and I'm having to learn how to keep Foster safe and not break any laws that will have him taken away from me. It's serious.




A Breed Specific Law (BSL) is a type of dangerous dog law. It is defined as any ordinance or policy that pertains to a specific dog breed or breeds, but does not affect any others. BSLs were invented to regulate pit bulls and eliminate dog fighting. How "Pit Bull" is defined varies across North America, and can be confusing to dog owners. For example, Ontario, Canada defines Pit Bull as:

1. Pit Bull Terrier
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
4. American Pit Bull Terrier
5. A dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs.

If a person is found with a dog described as this, and is not "grandfathered" allowed to have it, or is participating in a specific dog show without advance permission, the dog can be confiscated and destroyed. If you have DNA proof that the dog is not a "Pit Bull," that evidence can be presented at a hearing.




I am not going to criticize or defend dangerous dog laws, animal control officers, good dog owners, bad dog owners, good dog breeders or bad dog breeders. BSLs are a controversial topic with nearly everyone having a strong opinion. I have my own, and you can ask me about it if you'd like, but here, I am going to tell you about how I'm planning to travel with my Foster who is a mix of 9 breeds whose DNA test shows he is 6% Staffordshire Bull Terrier and 5% American Staffordshire Terrier. Everyone who sees him, even if he or she doesn't want to say it, thinks he's a Pit Bull. I'm not sure what 11% makes him, but I am sure he is mine, and I will protect him by training him to be an ambassador for whatever breed anyone thinks he is. In some states, that won't be enough.


I do not minimize the life, and often appearance-changing, experiences people have
from being attacked by any dog. These sweet photos of Foster are not meant to make anyone believe all dogs are safe. I do hope these photos illustrate that a deeply loved, diligently trained, family, mix of 9 breeds, dog can be identified as a Pit Bull, confiscated and destroyed, for being in the car with me.

I am taking My Pack to Florida this year and we are driving. I've never been to Savannah, Georgia and I'd like to stop there for the night and take a walking tour of the city in the morning before heading out for another day of driving. Upon reserving a room at what appears to be an absolutely adorable Bed & Breakfast in Downtown Savannah, I told the innkeeper that I have two dogs. She never asked me the size nor the breed of either of them, but told me we would have our own gated entrance into the courtyard for the comfort of my dogs, and that I would be in nearly sight distance of the largest greenspace in Savannah if I wanted to walk my dogs. She also sent me information on dog friendly restaurants in walking distance from the Inn. So sweet.

After doing some research on walking tours in Savannah, I sent an e-mail to the company I thought I'd like to walk with asking if I could bring both of my dogs on their walking tour. The response was "You are welcome to bring your leashed, well-behaved dogs on our tour. Savannah in general, and our walking tours especially, are very dog friendly." Another sweet experience.




As we mapped out our route, I realized we would be driving through some BSL states and decided I needed to do some additional research on individual state's tourist policies. Some counties, villages, cities, etc. have different laws than others. Some apply to residents only, such as residents of the county are not allowed to own a Pit Bull, but a person can drive through the county with no issue. Some areas are less accommodating, and there are no exceptions made for tourists or state residents traveling through the county. I discovered we could encounter an issue in a few locations and started to feel a bit stressed. Though there is no reported enforcement, some states have a BSL with no exceptions: If you have a dog an officer (police, sheriff, animal control) identifies as a Pit Bull, the officer can confiscate your dog, and is authorized to have it killed. Those areas are serious about not having any kind of Pit Bull in their jurisdiction.

I haven't made it through each state's BSLs, but I have read that any issue reported has been complaint based, and individually evaluated, with a majority of people being issued a warning to not let their dogs out of the car in that jurisdiction. I pray we don't have to pee very badly in some states along the way. Mapping a route to avoid BSL states was suggested more than once. We're not planning on adjusting our trip to that extent, but we have discussed a few accommodations.

In the states with the most widespread and confiscation BSLs, we plan to not stop unless absolutely necessary. When necessary to stop, we are going to stop at Rest Areas only and go into the truck, trailer, RV area where there should be less people watching. We bring our own food whenever we travel, so we won't need to leave our dogs in the car unattended to enter a restaurant. As it gets dark outside, there should be less issues with stopping. Both of our dogs are black and less visible at night.

With preparation and awareness, I assume we're going to have a smooth trip to Florida and a smooth trip home. Foster has taught us an entirely new way to be prepared. While I'm sad to have these new lessons, I'm thankful to Foster for increasing our awareness.

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - Bin Packing

Luna is ready to go!


When I pack for the dogs, I usually need two shallow bins. One for food and supplement things and one for gear. I like shallow bins because I don't have to dig too deeply to find what I need. It seems like everything we have is dark. I think it hides the dirt...

The Food Type Bin:


I like to have a rug to put the dogs' food and water bowls onto. Luna in particular is such a messy eater and drinker. I make packets of food for breakfast and dinner. It just makes it easy and I only have to bring the amount of food we need. I pack a few extra packets to be prepared and because some days we're really active and the dogs will need a few more calories. I know not everyone has figured out how many calories her dogs need and measures out food accordingly, but I do. It's not because I'm an eating disordered person and have that playing out in controlling what and how much my dogs eat. It is because "even moderately overweight dogs (are) at greater risk for earlier morbidity and a shortened lifespan." (Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220:1315-1320.) Also, blood and joint disorders are limited when food is measured and caloric needs are properly met. (Kealy RD, Olsson S-E, Monti KL, et al. Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc1992;201:857–863). So I measure.

Because how we travel together is by car, I like to leave a few things out of the bin so there is even easier access when we stop at a rest area. I don't provide Diet Mountain Dew for my dogs to drink, but I do put water into a cleaned 2-liter bottle! Luna doesn't like "Rest Area Water" for some reason, and she really doesn't drink much on the road, but Foster likes to have a drink during a stop, and providing their stomachs with water they are familiar with - we have a well - is just another way to make traveling easier on them.

I also have treats, bowls, towels and baby wipes. Have you ever walked your dog around the "Dog Run" area of a Rest Area? Uucchh. Sooooooo many people do not pick up after their dogs. I like to be prepared with baby wipes in case my dogs, or please-let-it-not-be-me, step into something icky.


The Gear Bin: Backpacks and toys and jackets and just stuff we need for being outside.


It's good to be prepared, and things fit better and better as we use up the food packets. I don't remember everything fitting into one bin, but if I had to do it, I'm confident I could find a way. It's better to have room for my dogs than to go anywhere without them!

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK - The List

Luna's Perch in the car


I have a list of things I like to pack for my dogs when we take a trip together. It is seasonal, but generally has the same things on it for any time of year. Here is the list I made for a big road trip to Colorado in early Fall:


•Luna's needs:
>First Aid Kit supplies: include Benadryl, rubber gloves, tweezers, matches, thermometer, buffered aspirin, Deramaxx, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil
>Tick protection: Tea tree oil spray
>Food packets
>Lots of treats
>Otomax
>Eye drops
>Supplements
>2 bags marshmallows
>Collars
>Recharge set up for flasher
>Seat belt harness
>Service Dog Vest
>Leashes
>Backpack for Me
>Poop bags
>Plastic grocery bags
>Bowls
>Rug
>Small towels
>Big towel
>Toys
>Gulpies
>Bed
>Orange fleece
>Blanket
>Carabiner
>Pepper spray



And the car is packed up!
I often use a Rubbermaid bin for the dogs' things.
A suitcase works well too - usually the carry-on size - but Rubbermaid bins stack so nicely.

TRAVELING WITH MY PACK

If you were born into my family, one of your lifetime assignments is to travel. You are required to experience life in other states, countries and continents. As far as assignments go, I think this is an Excellent one! The greatest challenge in this lifetime job for me is that I cannot always bring my dogs. Wherever I go, whether it be to run errands or to walk El Camino, I want my dogs with me. To do this, I feel I need to plan for their every possible need. To some, I may be seen as a worrier, an over-planner, but to me, I am a thoughtful caretaker, and My Pack and I are always ready for any adventure.

This week, I will share my lists, my suitcases, and some of our adventures. Traveling with My Pack is a gift, and I wrap it up very carefully so that we can rip it open with zeal on the road.



Foster Dog Loves a Road Trip

AN EDUCATION - Dog Breeds, Dog Care, Dogs Dogs Dogs Dogs

I have many many books on how to care for dogs, how to care for your senior dog, how to cook for your dog, and I have many many books on dog breeds, dog encyclopedias, and even a dog "bible." I love each one of these even if each one has information the others do. It's fun to look at the pictures and dream of the dogs I have had and the ones that will be my family in the future. Here is a tiny collection of my "Dog Books."




"Planet Dog: A Doglopedia," by Sandra and Harry Choron
2005

This book is packed, I mean Packed, with quotes about dogs, lists about dogs, lists of dog care information, tips about being a dog owner, and tons and tons of fun and useful trivia. It's just fun.

Some fun bits from "Planet Dog."

"A dog's whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes, and below the jaws and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow."

"A List of The 10 Gassiest Dogs"
1. German Shepherd Dog
2. Mixed Breed
3. Labrador Retriever
4. Boxer
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Poodle
7. Cocker Spaniel
8. Rottweiler
9. Beagle
10. Dalmatian

"Highlights of the Iditarod" gets 3 whole pages.

"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Unknown


"Dogs 24/7: Extraordinary Photographs of Wonderful Dogs," created by Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen
2005

187 pages of photographs of dogs being dogs. Going to the vet, being in their yards, working, and sleeping. It's just a beautiful book, and each photo can start a conversation.


"The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs, Dog Breeds & Dog Care," by Dr. Peter Larkin and Mike Stockman
1997

A concise compilation of not just dog breeds in the Hound, Sporting, Utility (Non-Sporting), Terrier, Working and Toy groups, but of information on choosing the right dog for you and how to feed, train and care for it. The pictures are really good of each breed presented and it's fun to have a little bit of information on a lot of different dogs.


"The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source For All Things Dog," edited by Kristin Mehus-Rice
2005

A huge book with sections describing Dog Genetics and Development, Dogs in Religion and Folklore, Dogs and the Law, Activities You Can Do With Your Dog, Diagnostic Tests and Techniques, Socializing and Training Your Dog, and many many many other topics. It also has 207 pages devoted to various dog breeds.

When the kids in my life were younger, we looked at this book nearly every day. We read about different dogs we'd seen during the day and guessed about their breed make-up. We talked about what dogs we'd had and what dogs we might like to have and what would be a perfect mix of dog. It inspired many wonderful conversations. Plus, when neighbors' dogs were diagnosed with an illness, we'd look it up for them and they could read what the prognosis and treatments might be. We were the hub of dog information because our Dog Bible was always at the ready.

I don't look to the Dog Bible as frequently as I've needed to in the past, but I love knowing it's available on the shelf, and when a new edition is published, I have a feeling some kids I know will be wrapping it up as a present for me!

AN EDUCATION - Cesar Millan

CESAR'S WAY: THE NATURAL, EVERYDAY GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING & CORRECTING COMMON DOG PROBLEMS, Cesar Millan
2006

I love Cesar Millan. I love him. I love him. I love him. In some circles, I am very alone. I don't care. I love him.

I used to have two copies of "Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide To Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems." I now only have one. I don't remember who borrowed the other, but I can understand a desire to keep it forever. It is a book that enhanced my life in such a bright, loving way, I cannot express my thankfulness.




The people who find it an insult to be called "a dog whisperer" (Mr. Millan's long-running television show, now on NatGeo Wild, is called 'The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.'), have reasons usually centered around what they believe to be Millan's 'antiquated' concept of "Pack Leader" and using physical touch and "leash pops" to communicate with dogs. I can understand the detractors' concerns, but I feel they are highlighting a small portion of Millan's techniques. When I read "Cesar's Way," I recognized my pre-teen and teenage self walking through the woods on the nearly 7 acre island on which I grew up. I am no Dog Whisperer, but the relationship I had with my dog Woof, was rooted in the Pack Leader concept. I didn't know that then. I was just teaching my dog, who lived outside year-round, to not swim across the canal unless I told him he could, and to not cross the bridge over the canal without me. Woof was the best behaved dog anyone had met - that's what anyone who met him said - and I think it was due to our respect of each other. Woof respected me and wanted to do what I wanted, and I respected Woof and his needs, adored him to no end, and had to teach him how to be safe out on those 7 acres surrounded by water. I was following Cesar - who credits Mother Nature and his grandfather as his greatest teachers - and I didn't even know it!

How I interpret Cesar Millan's philosophy is that my dogs are a mirror. If I am a confident, secure person and reflect that in all areas of my life, my dogs will reflect that back to me with their own confidence and security. If we live in balance - physically and emotionally - we will live together in balance. As I remind my dogs of the rules, boundaries and limitations in our life together, they will remind me if I go out of balance. Their "faults" are my faults and together, we can inspire balance in each other.

Cesar's formula for a content and balanced dog is simple: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection, in that order. Cesar describes himself in this way, "I rehabilitate dogs. I train people." It is people who need to make changes and their dogs will follow. "Cesar's Way" touched me by placing the responsibility of dog behavior where I believe it should be, on the humans. Of course our dogs are their own unique selves, but it is we humans who have invited dogs into our daily lives. While dogs definitely benefit from being in our lives through ease of food and shelter, many have been denied their natural animal needs. "Cesar's Way" highlights the needs of a dog and helps define the world through your dog's eyes.

One of my favorite quotes of Cesar's is, "You don't always get the dog you want. You get the dog you need." Whatever 'issues' our dogs may have, they are a reflection of us, and helping our dog resolve his or her issue actually helps us resolve that same issue in our lives. Dogs are so great.

Some quotes from "Cesar's Way"

Page 206:
"The walk is first to bond the two of you and show your leadership, second, for exercise, and third, for your dog to explore."

Page 215:
"Nature doesn't view discipline as a negative thing. Discipline is DNA. Discipline is survival."

Page 218:
"When you try to correct your dog out of anger, you are usually more out of control than your dog is. You are fulfilling your own needs, not the animal's - who will sense your unstable energy and often escalate the unwanted behavior."

Page 231:
"A dog's life is fulfilled if it can live comfortably in a pack, feeling safe and secure under the guidance of its pack leader. A dog is fulfilled if it has frequent primal exercise and, in some way, feels that it is working for food and water. A dog is fulfilled when it trusts its pack leader to set consistent rules and boundaries for it to live by. Dogs love routine, ritual, and consistency. They also love new experiences and the chance to explore - especially when they feel they have a reliable bond with their pack leaders."

Page 269:
"...we need dogs more than they need us."


I love him and I have the full Cesar Collection.



I'll buy every book he ever writes!

AN EDUCATION - Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH: WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AROUND DOGS
Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.
2002

When I read "The Other End of The Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs," I felt like I had met someone who understood my dogs, me, and the importance of our relationships. Patricia McConnell writes as a formally educated Animal Behaviorist, and real-life educated dog owner and dog trainer. Through her writing, she shows her smarts, and she shows her insecurities and mistakes. I love her.

I read this book 9 years ago, so this isn't an actual book review; none of the entries in this week's topic will be. Some authors have touched my heart while they've taught me, and they've inspired me to learn more. Even after 9 years, I feel Patricia McConnell's writing still teaches and inspires me.

These are some of the passages I highlighted while reading "The Other End of the Leash." I hope they reflect why I admire the author so much.


Page 4:
"...dogs are more aware of our subtle movements that we are of our own...it's very much to our own advantage to pay more attention to how we move around our dogs, and how they move around us, because whether we mean to or not, we're always communicating with our bodies. Sure it'd be a good thing if we knew what we were saying."

Page 41:
"Happy, well-trained dogs understand a wealth of information from the sounds that their humans make...But if you analyze our behavior carefully, sometimes I think it's a miracle that our dogs understand us at all."

Page 55:
"Professional animal trainers, who should know as well as anyone how to use sound to communicate to their animals, distinguish themselves from dog owners in one consistent way. They are able to separate their own emotional states from the sounds that they make, making sounds that elicit the response that they want rather than sounds that represent how they are feeling inside."

Page 102:
"...dogs and people both 'self-handicap' and are pretty good at moderating their power if they're playing with someone weaker and smaller than they are. A dog's ability to control the pressure of his jaws, even in an excited frenzy, is truly amazing. But still, mistakes can and do happen, and they can be so serious that it just doesn't seem worth the risk."

Page 119-120:
"Perhaps we, too, reach out to dogs not just to calm them, but to keep their distress from distressing us. But touch doesn't always calm the ones who receive it, not if they are pumped-up and agitated...dogs are as varied as people in how they like to be touched."

Page 148-149:
"Aggression is not a necessary component of dominance...A hierarchical social system allows individuals to resolve conflicts without having to fight. Any individual who truly has a lot of social status has enough power that he or she doesn't need to use force."

Page 165:
"If you have a young, healthy dog, especially one who sleeps in a crate all day long, then either get yourself outside and exercise with your dog or find someone else to do it for you. I say this because a large number of the behavioral problems that I see have their origin in boredom."

Page 166:
"If you want your dog to stop pestering you, then give him what he needs before he has to pester you for it."

Page 170:
"Teaching manners to dogs at the door has become controversial in the world of dog training. Who goes out the door first is significant in human social interactions, and some people think that it is for dogs, too, while other trainers and behaviorists don't. We do know that doorways are significant to humans: we tend to let those whom we hold in high regard go through them first. My own guess, having heard hundreds of clients describe dogfights at doorways, is that there is some social relevance to dogs. What I am sure about is that doorways are another situation in which dogs can either learn to manage their excitement or let their emotions get the best of them."

Page 177:
"Dogs seem to love people who are quiet, cool, and collected and prefer sitting beside them over sitting beside others. We humans, too, are attracted to those rare individuals who have a dignified and quiet sense of power about them."

Page 181:
You may get obedience out of a dog by threatening him, but mostly you're going to get a dog who is afraid of you. Far too often, you'll get a dog who learns to defend himself by getting aggressive back. Aggression leads to more aggression, and many of the dog bites that I see were made in self-defense."

Page 193:
"So much of whether a human and a dog get along, and whether the dog is perceived as being 'obedient,' is based on how their individual natures combine."

Page 212:
"...love isn't always enough. Every dog is different, and that means that, just as with people, every dog needs an environment that brings out the best in her."

Page 213:
"I've come to believe that when an animal comes into our lives, our responsibility is to use our resources and intelligence to provide him with as good a life as possible. The trick is to learn enough about the dog to know what he needs to be really happy and to get our own ego out of the way."

AN EDUCATION - Books, Behaviorists and Teaching Myself

My dogs are one of the best gifts my life has given me. I feel so lucky to have them in my life as I do. I also feel it is my job to give them a lucky life. They need care and safety and jobs and love and limits and fun!



Luna IS a present!


Foster Dog is a Wise One


While it is my job to lead our life together, my dogs often teach me how to do that. Lately, Perfect Luna has been a little sassy and I've been concerned her Role Model status might not be as ideal for Foster and I'd been thinking... I don't see her lack of listening to my command to come out of the woods as completely her fault. My dogs have taught me that their "faults" are also my fault, and together we'll figure out how to be "perfect" again. Usually, we figure it out by me going back to the books. I love books. I have a few.



Two shelves of devotion


A Picture of Satchel rests on top of these precious books


A set of very valuable guides


Two more shelves devoted


A magazine article can be read faster than a book & still make me feel I've learned something.


I learn something from every book, but I do have some favorites. I will spend the next week reviewing some favorite authors, books and resources that have enhanced my family and helped guide us to great places.

THE WALK - Luna and Her Treadmill

Sometimes it's too icy to walk outside, or for a few days in Summer, it's just too hot during the day for a dog. We have a treadmill. Luna LOVES it. Luna never misses a walk.



If you put it on mute, you won't have to listen to my sing-songy I-love-you-Peanut voice.


Foster is learning to walk on the treadmill too. He still needs me with him, and I hope he grows to love it even a little bit like Luna.

If you want to know how to help your dog enjoy a walk on a treadmill, let me know, I'll show you!

THE WALK - The Gear

There a few days each year that are too cold or too hot to walk. I have the gear to protect my skin, but sometimes all the right gear isn't enough to protect my dogs' and they lift their paws telling me it's too cold or too hot for their precious pads. We have a lot of gear. I mean A LOT. I suppose it is my extreme discomfort with cold that is part of my obsession with coats. I have many many coats and accessories for myself, and a few for my dogs...but really we have all kinds of gear for all kinds of weather and all kinds of walks.

The Basics

The Basics are what I consider collars and leashes and poop bags. These are the essentials for a general walk. There are a kajillion kinds of collars and leashes with labels for various needs and sizes of dogs. We are a basic kind of family. We have slide buckle collars (I get the collars that can be embroidered with my dogs' names and my phone numbers) with a ring for tags, and cloth leashes. Santa brought us new leashes with special features - embroidery and reflection!

I'm frequently asked about what kind of collar and what kind of leash I use. I can't believe how much of an opinion I have about them!

Collars - As I already typed, I like the collars that can be embroidered with my dogs' information. Tags can fall off or the information can wear away, but if a collar is properly sized, it should remain on your dog through jaunts through woods and rivers and swamps and alleys... My dogs have tags also; license, microchip company number, proof of rabies vaccination.


Prong, Buckle, Martingale, Cloth Choker, Slide Buckle (Luna's actual collar)

Leashes - I do not like Flexi-style leashes. Their extension and retraction features don't fit with my walking philosophy, but it's really their user un-friendliness and how they compromise my ability to protect my dog if necessary that has me using the basic loop handle leash. With the loop handle, I can easily walk multiple dogs by inserting my arm through the loop. Also, when I need to pick up dog poop, being able to rest the loop up my arm provides me with the use of both of my hands. For dogs without leash manners and/or with a lot of strength, loop handles can easily be turned into a waist leash for more stability and less length to help with reducing criss-crossing and pulling.


We received all three of these as Christmas gifts this year!


Here's how I use the loop handle leash for shortening the leash and increasing my stability, as well as my ability to be hands free.

Poop bags - There are all kinds and I try not to beat myself up about environmental harm. I reuse plastic shopping bags when I have them, but clients often give me rolls of plastic bags or boxes of handled plastic bags. They all work, we always have extra in my pockets because someone will try to say he or she forgot one as if that would make it acceptable to not pick up after his or her dog...What. Ever.


I still can't believe how many people don't bring any of these with them on a walk.

Extras - We have backpacks and dog poop bag carriers too. Backpacks add to the fun for my dogs, giving them a job. We've received the bone-shaped poop bag carriers as gifts and they give a good supply for a while.


The top one is for daily walks. The bottom one is for our days in the woods. We need lunch, lots of water and maybe even a book!

Harnesses, etc. - Some people are concerned about their dogs' necks due to how much pulling the dogs do on a walk. There are products like the "Easy Walker" or "Halti" that are designed to prevent pulling. I worked a long time with Satchel (our almost 16-yr-old Yellow Lab who died in 2010) on how hard he pulled and learned a lot about Haltis and harnesses and prong collars. The Halti strengthened his neck and he kept pulling. The harness created a sled-dog type experience allowing him to pull even harder. The prong collar worked fantastically - one trainer I met called it "power steering for dogs" - but I noticed people reacting negatively to him while wearing it, as if he was a menace and needed a menacing type collar. After reading a few books, working on leadership, and making Satchel nearly dizzy with the "This Way" approach (ask me if you really want to know what it is), Satchel and I became the models of the neighborhood. I would hear, "Hey! He used to walk you!" While I didn't love that people had noticed us so much, I did appreciate that they noticed our improvement!


These are examples of harnesses. They are actually seat belt or walking harnesses. We use them as seatbelts. And the flashers are for our dark walks.

With my experiences with Satchel, to walk, I now only use the slide buckle collar, the basic loop handled leash, and I remember to bring poop bags just in case. Here is Foster modeling the leash accommodation I use for dogs who pull. The loop leash is great for so many things!



My job does not provide the same schedule every day, but we still follow the same schedule every day. We get up, I get dressed, we walk. I don't think I would walk just because it's good for me and I enjoy it. I think I'm disciplined about it because it's good for my dogs. A few days each week we have to get up really early to get our morning walk in. Foster does not enjoy the 5:45am alarm, but he does stretch out of bed and find his way to the mudroom where Luna is wagging her tail and ready to go. Because we do it every day, even when it's what I call "Dark O'clock," the dogs know it's time to go, and once we're out there, everything feels right. We also walk in the evening, though this time is never the same. Still, the dogs know it's time for our evening walk and they follow me into the mudroom to get suited up!

My Suits
I have warm weather gear and cold weather gear and wet weather gear.


I have coats and jackets and vests for all weather, but these are for the extremes when people think it's too cold or wet.
Down Jacket & Snow Pants, Triple C Full Length Down Coat, Gortex Rain Gear Jacket & Pants


The Best Ever - The Shugga Suit


Waterproof Bogs, Tested to keep my feet warm to -40F Baffins, Waterproof Slip-on Bogs


Their Gear

A Selection
Full Body Fleece, Sweaters, Waterproof Fleece handed down to Foster from Satchel and Hooded Sweatshirt
I can never keep those bootie things on their feet, but we have those too.

Time
I know tired and cold and overworked and overstressed, but for me, I'm "off" if we don't walk. It's like a cure for anything that's bugging us. We get up at "Dark O'Clock" a few times each week, and on those mornings, our walk might only be 20 minutes, but because we walk every day, multiple times per day, my dogs are not resisting when it's time to head home. They know we'll be out again, walking together, later.

I've had the flu or mouth surgery or a migraine or something that has kept me from walking with my dogs. They may seem a little "off" - maybe it's confused, maybe it's waiting with anticipation of when - but because that need to get outside and explore is met so frequently, my dogs don't chew up a shoe or get into the garbage to occupy their minds and bodies. Thank You God! And my dogs are socially strong. Their skills are in great part due to the daily exposure to multiple people, but I think their skills are also due to the variations in environment they experience. We explore a different route and encounter different smells and sounds every day. I wouldn't walk just for myself, but I'll do it for my dogs and I think their wonderfulness is like a Thank You.