It has been awhile!

Wow! My last blog post was in July, just before my third brain surgery. Yup! Three! It has been quite a year. Not a bad year, per se, but definitely a challenging one! After that last surgery I ended up back in the hospital for an undetermined stomach pain. Many doctors ran many tests and it finally seemed to clear up on its’ own and I was discharged. Radiation lasted six weeks, thirty sessions in all and I did quite well with it, managing to keep running and practicing yoga through it. And, of course, walking my dogs. Three days after my last treatment I had a bad fall and broke my hand and split my forehead open. I was quite hysterical and bled rather spectacularly  until we determined that there was no damage to the work my neurosurgeon had done.  Happily my hand did not require surgery, only a heavy duty splint. I am still able to walk my dogs.

As, I said 2014 has been a challenging year. But so many good things happened, little miracles that I really need to document in a book or a separate blog! I am so grateful for many things, not the least of which, that throughout my whole “adventure” my dogs were walked daily. Many people came together to help, hubby, friends and neighbors. I was happy and relieved that they were still getting what they needed for their well being. Sometimes, I would be lying on the sofa and they would be heading out the door without me, but it made my heart smile to watch them happily go. Slowly I would be able to join them and the friend or neighbor would walk me along with the dogs! What joy it was to get my strength back enough to walk them on my own! That was certainly a celebration.

My recovery would have suffered if I knew that they were not getting what they needed. I really do believe that all dogs need a daily walk and am truly grateful for everyone who helped us these past few months.

I wish everyone of you a Happy Healthy New Year with much love from Dawn, Dylan and Casey.

Bittersweet

Today’s walk was a little bittersweet since it will be the last one for a little bit. Going back in to the hospital for another brain surgery tomorrow. I anticipate that all will go well and my healing with go quickly I won’t be down for long! I took Dylan to Quakertown Park and met Terry and Sadie. We had a great walk and met other dog walkers for some practice with meet and greets. I will hold our walks in my heart till I get back out there! See you in blogging land soon!

Twice as nice!

Started today off with a pack walk out at the lake for a change of scene. My boys will be staying with Mary while I am in the hospital next week and she has two other furry house guests. This was our second walk altogether so they get to know each other before living in the same house for days! Sadie and her Mommy joined us so we were quite the pack!

Then in the heat of the afternoon, I loaded Dylan up again and picked Sadie and Terry up and we headed back out to the lake to swim! Well, the idea was for the dogs to swim. Sadie is a lab and true to her breed, gets excited as soon as she sees the water! Dylan actually knows how to swim – he just doesn’t know that he knows and he will not do it willingly. He has fallen into a pool and off of docks – he doesn’t quite get the concept that water is not solid! He swims instinctively like most animals. I want to get him comfortable in the water so I can paddle board with him! I brought him out to the lake yesterday and he only went in as far as his belly! I used hot dogs to bribe him deeper. He was having none of it!

Today, Sadie was the bribe! I was hoping her exuberance would rub off on him. It didn’t! He showed no interest in the sticks she was racing after! I finally threw hot dog pieces in the water! Luckily they float and he got comfortable putting his face in the water to retrieve them. I held a piece for him to reach and he actually floated a little to get at it! I figure today was successful even if he didn’t actually swim. Little by little I want to see him get comfortable and finally swim! Yes, I could just drag him in but I do not want to traumatize the poor guy! He is pretty sensitive, and he’d probably never trust me again! That would be sad. So I will take my time with him.

In Praise of the Well Behaved Dog

I have been a pet sitter/dog walker for over ten years now and have come across all kinds of people and their dogs. A lot of potential clients ask me what I think of The Dog Whisperer. I always smile inside because I know my answer will determine whether or not I get the job. Of course, I am always honest and tell them that I think he is fantastic. He teaches dogs and their people how to behave.

This honesty has cost me a couple of jobs but truthfully, I don’t want them anyways…………………the ones where the dogs rule the house. Where they are not even taught basic manners, like not to jump up on people. Those people think it is “mean” to teach their dogs anything.

How can it be mean to teach a dog to behave so you are not embarrassed or overwhelmed to take your dog with you? A misbehaved dog usually gets left at home, or locked in a room all by itself when company comes over.

Whereas a dog that is well mannered is a pleasure to have around. He/she can take part in most activities.

Imagine a dog that doesn’t rush through the door before you do……….one that walks nicely beside you – not pulling your arm out of its’ socket all the way down the block ……..one that waits when you open the car door to be invited out…………one that sits and stays while you move around the room. Wouldn’t this dog get to go more places? Wouldn’t this dog have a more interesting life?

I had a dog like this. I was able to take him anywhere……….and did! He was a very large dog, so I started early to teach him not to jump on people. I am glad I did since he grew to be over a hundred pounds! He could have knocked anyone over! I rarely left him at home and when I did, people would ask for him. He was welcome everywhere…….my hundred pound gentleman. Sadly he passed away in 2009 but I am happy to have another big dog to teach.

If you have a dog, you owe it to yourself AND your dog to teach him manners. Start young – as soon as you bring that puppy home. It might be cute now, when he jumps all over you when you walk in the door. But that behavior gets old really fast when he is all grown up and jumping up with muddy paws or knocking the kids over or ruining your work clothes. It is much easier to PREVENT a behavior than it is to CORRECT a behavior. And patience and consistency is key. If you let your dog get away with it once, don’t expect him to all of a sudden behave the next time you want him to!

There are ways to teach dogs that are not “mean”. Dogs live to please and most WANT to learn new things. They thrive on routine and consistency.

So, if you do not like the Dog Whisperer or agree with his methods of teaching, then find a trainer you do agree with. I am not a trainer but help clients occasionally with behavior problems. Their faces light up when they see their dog respond and listen. And the dog? They LOVE the attention and learning new things! You can make it fun for all involved. So find a trainer or training system you like and teach your dog. Everyone will be happier for it!

 

Gorgeous morning

A wicked thunder storm blew the humidity out of the area last night making this morning perfect for walking! Met the neighborhood people and dogs for a pack walk at Benner Hall! A great time was had by all! I even mustered up some energy to “wog” a couple of laps, making Dylan very happy – Casey, not so much!

All in all, a glorious way to start my day. I love watching the dogs run and play with complete abandon. We could learn a lesson from them!

Where has the time gone?

Wow! I cannot believe I haven’t written since May! I continued to walk my dogs daily, but obviously haven’t kept up with writing about it! My energy just hasn’t come up to what it used to be! Instead of focusing on it, I focus on being grateful that I do have the energy to walk each day. It has been hot lately so we go out early! Within the last couple of weeks though, we had a cool spell which was nice for all of us! The walks have been varied, some neighborhood pack walks with Sadie and Piper; some walks at Lake Nockamixon which is gorgeous this time of year and some walks at Quakertown Memorial Park. And I have been adding in a little running……………….or wogging – a cross between walking and jogging, which makes me very happy. Progress has been steady and I am very careful to not overdo it. It is almost a shame that I am going back in for another surgery on Monday! It will start my recovery all over again! At least I know what to expect this time around! I did it once, I will do it again! With one difference – I will come back quicker and stronger! I just know it!

Lucky dogs!

I had a follow up appointment with my neurosurgeon this morning so got the boys out early for a short walk before we left. I got cleared by my Doctor to start exercising more and I took the boys out for another walk when I got home so they got two walks today! It was quite hot this afternoon so I worked up a bit of a sweat. Casey was not happy in the heat and when I put him back on leash, he plodded and pouted all the way home! He is so funny with his terrier attitudes!

It is supposed to cool down a bit for the rest of the week and I am sure that will help with getting us all moving!

Just the three of us!

Got a late start today. Hung out and had coffee and caught up on some emails early. By the time we headed out, it was pretty hot!

I decided that I need to remind them of their basic obedience lessons and made them sit and wait! I took the leashes off and backed away. Then gave the “release”! They took off! We were already at the back of the path and close to the water. They both headed there. Casey flattened out in the water and pulled himself along with his front legs! Army crawl style! I guess he wanted to cool his belly off!!!!! He got pretty wet in only six inches of water!

Hot dogs!

Had a cat scan schedule for this morning so waited to walk the dogs. Called Terry and Sadie when we got home and we all headed to Benner Hall. It was quite warm and I could see the black dogs were feeling the heat! They couldnt wait to hit the water! And Sadie led the way, splashing into it to cool off! Dylan was right behind her! They were having so much fun, splashing and chasing each other that they missed the little family of ducks hurrying out of the way!!!!!

Got Sadie to sit long enough to get a cute picture of her!

     

Nice start to the day!

Slept well last night so after morning coffee, I leashed up the boys and we met Terry and Sadie for a jaunt over to Benner Hall. We had it all to ourselves and let them run! It was fairly warm when the sun came out so they were glad to hit the water on each lap around the park! We brought home three tired,  wet, happy dogs!