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Tag Archives: dog
8.16.12 The Bond & The Balance
My dogs and I are very close. Sometimes I think they actually grow out of my side. They are always with me when I am home, whether in my office, the kitchen, or the bedroom; shucks, they are even in the bathroom with me. If I get up to get a cup of coffee, Sofie is right behind me unless I tell her to ‘stay.’ We move as a pack. On the days that I put the dogs in daycare, like today, the first thing that happens is a child wakes up and says, ‘Where are my puppies?’ Then, around mid-day, I start to feel like something is missing: I don’t get my 1-mile walk when they are not home; I don’t go up and down the stairs a million times to let them outside (my StairMaster exercise); and, I don’t go outside to play. How silly is that? Part of having the dogs for me is to help me stay in balance. I am not very good about that. Working in the virtual world, I sit in front of this computer for hour after hour and sometimes forget to get up, to stretch, to take a break. My dogs help me remember to do that. They also make me a better human. They teach me tolerance and acceptance. They make me a better teacher and their existence has made me into a student of animal nature. I have less freedom because of their daily demands, but that is OK. They keep me grounded. They keep me, well…. human. I can not imagine my life without them.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
8.15.12 The DOGDAZ of Summer
How do you keep two young dogs busy in the middle of the day, while you are trying to work, and it is toooo hot out for them to really run around, but they are tired of all their toys and just want human interaction, of which you do not have the time or energy to give them? Louise has started doing something that she used to do when she was little but I thought that I had cured her of: she comes up under my mousing hand while I am at my desk and she keeps pushing my hand with her head so that I can not compute. Cute, but not cute. Sofie just whines at everything. Yes this has been a really long summer and I have been on the road a lot, which means, not home with the furries to keep them in their usual busy routine. I think everyone here is ready for fall to come so that we get back to a later walk in the morning (because it won’t be so hot) and more time for play in the afternoon outside (because it won’t be so hot). Though I play with them in the house in the afternoon, it is just not the same. I bought them new antlers and that seems to keep them occupied for a little, but you can only chew for so long. I guess we are in the DogDaz (pun on dog days – get it?) of summer.
Did you know that the term ‘Dog Days of Summer,’ which people usually relate to hot and humid weather, actually is about the ‘dog’ star Sirius. Sirius, is part of the Northern Hemisphere winter constellation Canis Major, which in latin means ‘greater dog.’ For us here in the north, Sirius is the brightest star in the winter sky. The Romans (you have to love these folks for all the wonderful stories they gave us) thought that Sirius actually produced enough heat to warm the earth because in the summer months it rises and sets with the sun, thus boosting the heat making of the sun and making everything much hotter. So, I am really glad to know that DOGDAZ is part of the ‘greater dog’ and has a really ‘Sirius’ connection to the universe. (Yes, I know puns are the lowest form of humor, but I thought it was funny,)
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.14.12 Would You Like Cheese With That WHINE!
Sign repinned from lol
I am sooooooooo tired of Sofie’s whining. I have been making a study of this, and she even whines in her sleep. This must be a Sheltie trait. Never having a dog with this breed mix before, I am not sure, but I have never had such a big baby like Sofie Bear. So I decided to do some research. I went to “Sheltie Planet: Your Guide to Everything Shetland Sheepdog,” to find out if this is a breed problem. And, it sort of is. They say you should ask yourself these questions to try to figure out why she is whining:
– Is she in pain? NOPE
– Is she simply bored or lonely? Could be, but we could be in the middle of a major play session and she will whine (or maybe dog talk), so I will say, MAYBE.
– Is she afraid or anxious? I don’t think she is afraid, but anxious, well of that I am not sure? I don’t really see her as an anxious dog, but I have Lulu who is pretty high strung, so in comparison maybe I am missing something. I will have to think on this.
– Does she need to go outside? Well if she asks, I take her, but that is super rare.
Sofie is a very vigilant dog, she can hear a fox outside 200 feet away. She will bark at noises that we human’s just don’t hear, but I figure that is vigilance, not anxiety. Shelties are bred to guard the flock and warn when intruders are around, so it is in her DNA. I guess I am more tolerant than other people when it comes to innate traits. A dog is a dog and you have to allow them a bark or two or an occasional whine. Poor Sofie definitely has reasons to whine: (1) When she wants Nine to come out of the cat room and play with her; (2) When she wants Muffin to stop helping me make dinner, especially when it is the dog food kind; (3) When she wakes up and wants me to let her out of her kennel (but I can tell her to go back to sleep and most of the time she will), and, for sure; (4) When she wants a toy that Lulu has. The family says she whines all the time, but maybe I just don’t hear it. I have been told that she whines terribly when I leave, which is something I really need to figure out how to help her stop. The Sheltie website said basically to ignore the whining, but that sure doesn’t work around here. When she was a puppy I tried to give her positive reinforcement for not whining, but that was really hard, since it is not a predictable thing. A lot of times I think that Sofie is just dog talking to me though. She likes to sit there and have this whole conversation. I am not exactly sure what the story is about, but I know that she likes when I make eye contact and tilt my head as if listening. “Well, Sofie my love, would you like a little cheese with that whine?”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.12.12 Mojo, All Better
The dogs have been really missing their best friend, Mojo, because he had bone surgery on his leg and was not able to walk with us or play for what seemed like forever in dog days. But Mo healed quickly and he is now back to himself. So the girls and I went over for a little romp around the yard; but, no jumping and catching frisbees until we are sure that Mojo is all healed up. I think I have mentioned this before, but Louise does not smile for many other dogs (or people for that matter), but she always has a big smile for Mojo. I just love it when the dogs are content. It is so hard when an animal is hurt or sick for many reasons, but it is also frustrating because there is no way to explain to them what is going on. But I never really thought about the fact that there is no way to explain to my dogs, Lulu and Sofie, why they could not go over to play with their friend who they have walked and played with constantly their whole lives, until this event. They knew he was still there because they heard him bark from across the street and they saw him a few times when he came out his front door for a moment or two. It was kind of a funny waiting time until he was better. They missed him. We are all happy that Mojo is all better now.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.11.12 Good Work, Girls; You Make Mommy Proud
I am so proud of the dogs. This week I have left them alone twice for increasing longer periods of time in the house, out of their kennels. First it was for about 2 hours. But today I had to go visiting and to dinner, and I knew that I would be gone a long time because I had to drive over an hour away. I locked the kittens and crazy Miss Kitty away so that they could not get into trouble; I gave everyone a really good snack (because I knew that I would be late for dinner); and I left (I don’t believe in making a fuss or they will fuss). I was gone 5 1/2 hours. This is a first for me 
and for the dogs. I have never left them unsupervised, out of their kennels for that long. On my way home I was envisioning shredded couch pillows, ala Wonderbutt, or chewed up pens with ink everywhere, or a dead cat (though Noel would more likely kill them before they would get her or Muffin). But, other than mauling me at the front door, they were great. This is so exciting. I hate to go out for more than maybe 3 hours when I have to leave them in the kennels, though I have left them as many as 6 hours. They probably just sleep, but I worry about stiffness and such, even though they can stand and turn around. I really want them to be able to be out, except at night, and that really is because they like to wake me up to play at weird times (which I attribute partially to the fact that they are not usually out at night when I am sleeping, but also because they are not allowed on the bed, so they need to get close to me somehow). This is a new phase at the zoo. Free roaming canines. I like it and I hope they keep up the good work.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.10.11 Get Off The Treadmill: Lessons From The Dogs
I don’t know about you, but some weeks it feels like no matter how far you think you are getting, you end up in the same place, This was suppose to be a quiet week at the zoo and I thought I could plow through work tasks, clean the house, take care of all the outside work, see some friends, but it has turned out to be anything but that. I know that I have been really busy, but I don’t think I am making any progress.
Everytime I finally get started with anything this week the dogs or cats are pestering me. I feel really bad because I wish the dogs would just settle down and not want to play and play and play. “Louise, Mommy has work to do, can’t you go play with Sofie in the back yard!” You know how well that works. I would think the dogs are over the we missed you so much thing already, but they are sooo needy. So it is up and down the stairs, inside and outside, snacks and treats. They are just wearing me out. And the cats, oh my goodness, I almost can not type this because Noel is in front of the screen chasing the cursor.
Maybe it is this head cold that I have and the animals want me to rest instead of work, I am not sure. But I really need to get something done. The truth is however that I should listen to the animals because they are wiser than me because they would never get stuck on life’s treadmill. They don’t worry about what they accomplished in the week, or the day, they just plain enjoy the moment. “OK, who has the TV remote? Enough with trying to get all this stuff done today. I am getting off the hamster wheel!”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.8.12 “In A Perfect World Every Dog Has A Home”
I stumbled upon this great animal pop artist, Dean Russo, on Facebook. Not only is his work incredible but the messages that he adds are just so on the mark. This piece, ” In a perfect world every dog has a home,” is such a wonderful battle cry. When I contacted DeanRussoArt, Megan told me that “amongst other ways he contributes to animal charities, Dean has a program of Affiliate Rescues that he closely works with and contributes to on a monthly basis since he has way too many requests to take on all of them.” Check out his colorful creativity and brilliant imagination.
Did you know that according to Angie’s List (Baltimore Edition August 2012), “5 million companion animals enter animal control facilities nationwide every year, and more than 60 percent die there.” At times, it seems like such an overwhelming problem, but I know that so many people and organizations are doing such good work to try and stop the tidal wave.
What do we do about the homeless, the abandoned, the abused? What can we do about the millions of dogs that are not properly taken care of, both pure breed and inter breed, that end up without someone loving them? This breaks my heart.
I guess you can see why the DogDaz zoo has 5 cats and 2 dogs currently (down from our high of 11 animals). I want to thank all the animal rescue organizations out there, all you tireless protectors, and voices for the voiceless. Thank you MJ’s Sanctuary for Louise, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue for Sofie, Last Chance Animals Rescue through the PetSmart Charities for Noel, Constance Kitty, Nine, and Stella, and thank you to the Anne Arundel County SPCA for The Muffin Man.
I wish I could snap my fingers and give every animal a home (actually I wish I could do that for humans too) Please remember that even $1 makes a difference. Really, it does. Ok, I will get off my soup box now. See what a picture like that can do to me.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 