Charles loves a good chew. Every night I gather up all the dog toys and put them in the toy basket and every day he takes them out one by one. He is very partial to anything that Louise prefers. I think it is important for all dogs to have time each day for a good toy chew. Charles’ daily gathering of soft toys to chew on isn’t a problem but marrow bones, antlers, nylon bones, high-value treats, and of course, dinner, needs to be carefully orchestrated or things get snappy and dangerous very fast. Keeping the peace when you have multiple animals and multiple resources guarders* is a challenge.
*”Resource guarding refers to a dog displaying behavior (growling, snapping, etc.) intended to convince other dogs or humans to stay away from a particular treasure or “resource.” The resource can be food, treats, toys, a place (a bed or favorite chair), or occasionally a person. Basically, a resource is anything that is considered by the dog to be of high value.” –YourDogsFriend
Separation is the key with 7 animals. The cats and dogs have always been separated at the zoo when it comes to where they eat but now it is more important than ever. Sofie charges cats near her toys or food, but it never got dangerous until Charles came. The cats usually just laughed at Sofie and jumped up on the counter where they eat. Since Charles and Sofie get into scary dogs fights over resources the cat charging has escalated. This is a concern and something I am dealing with.
Louise has no problem around food or other resources (she’s so easygoing in the house). And, in almost 7 years together, Louise and Sofie never fought over food, toys, or bones (though Sofie has been known to stare/whine at Louise until she gives up just to shut Sofie up). I can pick up the food bowl while they are eating or take any toy or bone from them without any trouble. I trained them this way since they were puppies. But Charles is new here (and almost 9 years old) and he came with some bad habits so now dog separation is a must.
Both Sofie and Charles have resource guarding issues. Sofie has attacked him several times around dinner or treat time, even before I started preparing anything. I think she starts it, but he won’t back down either and fur flies.
My answer – keep as much distance between them when food or treats are involved.
Charles only gets his meals and his snacks in his exercise pen. He is not allowed out until the other animals finish eating or having their treats. Charles has charged the cats from the other side of the room, especially if a human is eating and he is in proximity. I now have strict rules about feeding him outside of his pen because he is just too unpredictable.
As I said, separation is the key around here. As long as there is space, gates, and doors, everyone can have a good chew.
What kind of mischief did you get into today?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, blog hop, chew toys, Chihuahua, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, pomchi, pomeranian, postaday, resource guarding
Day 58 of Mom’s recovery from foot surgery. She went out to get the newspaper and the mail. That is a big walk for her. We anxiously waiting at the door in hopes that maybe she was ready to take us for a walk. But no! She just went inside and lied down again. Mom says that taking pictures of us at the front door is the only way she gets the three of us looking forward. Have a wonderful Sunday.
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday, three dogs
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, caturday, diluted torte, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday
Summer time, summer time, sum sum summer time. Summer time and the living is easy. Have a wonderful day whichever way your solstice takes you. Summer or Fall, we love them all.
This is a Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. Thanks to BlogPaws for the hop. Head over there and see what they are blogging about.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Best Friends, Blog, blog hop, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, postaday, solstice, Summer, Wordless Wednesday
As the days go by with Mommy stuck in bed because of her foot surgery, I amass a larger and larger stash of cat toys next to her. I love all my little toys. Mom says that I like ‘catnip’ tea, because I suck on every cat toy in the house. Sucking on things makes me feel much better and I figure since it makes me feel better, I will bring them to Mom to make her better.
The Zoo is kind of funny when it comes to toys. Charles steals the biggest toys in the dogbox to play with (sometimes they are bigger than him). Louise likes Charles little tiny tennis balls to chew on (which freaks Mommy out so she watches very carefully to make sure nothing is swallowed). I prefer small soft toys – the smaller the better. Mom says “to each their own,” whatever that means.
Your reporter – Sofie Bear
What kind of mischief did you get into today?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, blog hop, cat toys, dog, dog toys, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, postaday
I know this is a Black and White Sunday but I felt this moment looked better in Sepia tone. Louise and Sofie were relaxing on a sunny morning. I can tell it was morning because the sun is coming from the east. It doesn’t stay long before the trees block it and the yard becomes shaded.
Louise (and Charles) love the sun on their black fur. Sofie, the blond, stays to the shade. When Louise comes inside she feels so warm to the touch I just have to cuddle her.
In the summer, I worry about sunburn with the dogs, so I don’t let them lay out in the sun very long. Dogs like Louise, with thin short hair, are more susceptible to sunburn than long haired dogs, but all dogs can get burnt. Just like my human children during the summer, I apply child-safe SPF 30 to 50 (following the instructions on the bottle). I make sure to cover their noses, earflaps, and tummies, and any places that they are bare. And, I reapply after they go swimming.
Enjoy your Sepia Sunday!
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, cute dogs, dog, dog sunburn, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday, sepia tone, sunscreen
Sometimes I am amazed at Sofie’s coat. It swirls and twists in amazing ways. She is a visually beautiful dog. But dogs don’t know how beautiful they are. They have no sense of vanity or visual beauty, those are complex human emotions. If Sofie was a human she would probably have mats in her hair and be unkempt if left to her own devices. I probably would be constantly putting her long blond hair in a braid or pigtails. Dogs don’t get caught up in the visual differences of their species. With no sense of visual beauty, what they see is valued on a different scale than ours.They lack the aesthetic sense of things. How different it would be to not know visual beauty. To experience a sunrise only as an astrological event, not as the deep oranges and reds that bring a new day. To look at a painting that moves you, and not feel moved. Ok, so now I have made myself sad.
But some define Beauty as Happiness. And I know that my dogs experience happy. So then, by this definition, they must be experiencing beauty. I like that. Beauty in the deepest sense. Beauty felt. I know this was a lot of words for a Wordless Wednesday, but do you think dogs experience beauty?
This is a Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. Thanks to BlogPaws for the hop. Head over there and see what they are blogging about.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Best Friends, Blog, blog hop, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, postaday, Wordless Wednesday
