Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

In Over My Head – Barks and Bytes

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Typically I don’t respond to comments left on my Follow-Up Friday post, but last week Genevieve left a comment that really resonated with me. It said, “I agree with Lauranne. You do need to be seen to be believed. Somehow, I picture it to look like Lucy at the chocolate factory. Not just because of the “chocolate” factor, but because of always being in over your head….”

“In over your head” has been rolling around in MY head ever since I read it. I can’t help but feel like that phrase really sums me up right now. Actually, I’m wondering if I should change my tag line from “The Good, the Bad and the Oh My God of living with Dogs” to “In Over My Head.” Let’s face it, our walks aren’t always fiascos, but when they are, they’re doozies, because yes, I’m in over my head. Fiascos

Once upon a time I really loved walking my dogs.

Back when Hubby helped out and could manage Sampson while I took Delilah.  Even after Hubby stopped walking with us and I was walking them by myself, I enjoyed it.

That was back when they could run off leash and I didn’t have to worry about Delilah taking off on me. Back when 99% of the people who walked in the woods let their dogs off leash. Back when my dogs weren’t reactive to other dogs on leash. Back then, I really did enjoy walking with them.

But things changed. Hubby stopped walking with us. Delilah started running off. More people with dogs started enjoying the woods, my dogs started reacting to other dogs.

But I still have two dogs that still need exercising. Besides the fact that I really do love walking (the exercising bit hasn’t helped me with my weight in the least bit), I made a commitment to my dogs, and so I continue to walk them despite some of the fiascos we end up in.

I used to love walking with my dogs, but truthfully, I don’t anymore. They are big dogs, that out weigh me (I won’t say by how much) ;-0, and when they see another dog and lose their freaking minds, I’m in over my head.

When I do write about our fiascos, I try to find the humor in it, because really, what else can you do? I could sit and cry over it, but that does absolutely nothing. And I’m not perfect (who is?) and I don’t always react the way I want to/should. So I get frustrated because I’m struggling to work with them both, I get angry because I have to do it by myself and I get discouraged because it seems no matter how hard I try, I just can’t make it work.

We had an incident two weeks ago (tomorrow) that I haven’t told you about because truthfully, I’m totally embarrassed with how it all went down. But I’m feeling like I must confess and cleanse myself of it, so here goes.

Sampson has a particular walk he really likes in the morning. It is the neighborhood one street over. On this particular street is a house where two Labs live. At least one of these Labs is reactive.

How do I know this you ask…because I’ve had the shit scared out of me when the dog jumps and scratches at the door while barking his fool head off as we pass the house.

Oh and there was that time they were out walking and jacked up on me all the while squeaking their dog’s toy to distract him.

So recently this couple started walking their dogs in the mornings, and I’ve done my best to avoid them. Except that Friday.

For some reason they got the drop on me. I was half a block from turning the corner onto my street when they turned the corner onto theirs. Which just happened to be the street we were on. Looking back, I could have turned around and backtracked far enough to avoid them.

In hindsight that’s what I SHOULD have done, but I didn’t.

I saw them tighten their leashes and keep walking and foolishly, I kept walking too. Everything was fine until they got directly across from me, when Sampson started jumping and Delilah started barking. Then both my dogs were barking and lunging at the end of their leashes. It sort of looked like this.

Gif courtesy of Giphy.com source Reddit

Gif courtesy of Giphy.com source Reddit

As they lunged they pulled me forward and I had a horrible thought flash through my mind of being dragged across the street into a full on dog fight.

And I panicked.

So I sat down.

In the grass..on the side of the road.

I looked like a chariot driver.

And then because apparently I’d lost my mind too, I started shouting at my dogs. “Sit, Sit, Sit.”

Well they didn’t.

But the other dogs passed us and we made it home.

I was so embarrassed and discouraged, so I contacted my trainer and said, I think we need some private lessons. But she can’t squeeze us in, so in the meantime, I bought Feisty Fido by Karen London and Patricia McConnell and we’ve been practicing look. I’ve also set my alarm for 10 minutes earlier so we can be out and back before most people and dogs get up. And yes, I’m looking for a trainer.

Maybe tomorrow will be the day I can chuckle over it, like Lucy in the Chocolate factory. Genevieve, I do believe you are right. I’m in over my head.

Heart Like a Dog

This is the Thursday Barks and Bytes Blog Hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog. Grab the badge and the linky code and join us! Please only link up blog posts and as a courtesy to the other hoppers, please add the linky to your post and/or link back to the hosts’ blogs.

Spice Up Your Walk – Walk Your Dog Week

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Way back before Sampson tore his ACL I walked the dogs once a day for about 35 minutes or so. On the weekends we’d often walk twice that amount of time. For us, it’s not about the distance, it’s about the time.

Once he tore his ACL that all went out the window. Recovery from the surgery required three smaller walks per day. Initially they were only for five minutes each, but eventually we worked our way back up. Of course, five minutes wasn’t enough for the D-Dog, so it took some juggling on my part, but we managed.

The dogs liked having two walks per day and they got used to going out, so now we walk twice per day, every day.

When I heard about Walk Your Dog week, I knew it would be something we could easily do because we are already doing it.

I work full-time (as I’m sure many of you do as well) and squeezing in almost an hour of walks a day can be hard. Because of time limitations, we sometimes have to be creative. I don’t have the time to load the dogs in the car and drive some where to give them a different place to walk. But walking the same path, day in and day out can get boring.

I thought I’d share a couple of ways to spice up your dog’s walk to help change things up.

I mean, you wouldn’t want to travel the same path, twice a day every day for your entire life would you?

If your walking area is limited, you can try leaving a few minutes earlier or later, or even walking at a different time of day. First thing in the morning gives your dogs all the smells of the night animals, while later in the day will give them the smells of other dogs and people.

If route options are limited, try going in the opposite direction of where you usually start. We always walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic, so when I switch direction, we are on the opposite side of the street, which means there are different things to investigate.

Bring some treats with you and throw them ahead of you when your dog is not looking and let them use their nose to find something yummy. If your dog is not motivated by treats, bring their favorite toy along and stop along the way for a quick game of tug, or if room allows a bit of fetch.

Work on your obedience commands while out on your walk. When you stop to pick up poo, have your dog sit, stay or down, or as you’re walking along ask your dog to touch your hand, heel or watch you. Keep switching things up, keep it interesting.

Those are some of our tips to spice up your dog’s walk and here are some of our favorite reasons to get out and walk.

  • Get the weight off.  If you’ve got a pup that’s getting a little thick around the middle, you’ll be doing them a favor by helping get that weight off. Extra weight puts stress on joints and organs and can really shorten your dog’s life.
  • Mobility. Keeping your dog active keeps their joints and muscles active as well. Active muscles and joints will help your dogs stay mobile as they age.
  • Bonding. The time we spend walking (and training) together, helps strengthen our bond.
  • Stimulation. Most dogs spend a portion of their day alone. Getting them out of the house where they have an opportunity to smell other dogs, encounter new people and experiences helps keep their mind active.
Hot on a trail.

Hot on a trail.

A physically and mentally stimulated dog is usually a pretty well-rounded, happy dog (and tired too). And a tired dog is a good dog. And a good dog makes for a happy owner.

Do you walk your dogs every day? Tell me what kinds of things you enjoy with walking your dog.

We’re joining our friends at Wag ‘N Woof Pets, Cascadian Nomads, and Dolly the Doxie for Dog Walking Week. Stop over and see what our hosts are up to.

Dear Kitty – Barks and Bytes

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Dear Kitty,

I don’t dislike cats and I don’t dislike you yet. You’re a very cute kitty from what I can see.

You seem to have fairly good survival skills as you’ve managed to survive for at least a year in a neighborhood that has its fair share of wildlife. Thus far you’ve managed to avoid being killed and eaten by Coyotes and Fishers as well as Sampson and Delilah.

I don’t know you by name, and you certainly don’t know me by name, in fact, we haven’t ever been formally introduced. Mostly we know each other on sight.

Look at that cute little kitten I thought as I watched you stalk Sampson and Delilah from your yard.  He mustn’t be fixed yet, ’cause that cat has balls. There he is stalking these two big dogs who could eat him up in three bites, (well maybe Delilah could do it in less, since she doesn’t chew her food) was my thought the first time I caught you stalking my dogs.

King of all he surveys.

King of all he surveys.

You might remember I was the one at the bottom of the tree, shaking the food box, trying to coax you down after Delilah chased you up there. (You sure have moxie, walking casually into a yard patrolled by two snarling beasts.) Do you recall, I was also the one peering up that tree what seemed like ten different times before I went to bed that night? I was so worried something would climb the tree and eat you or the crows would carry you off. I was so disappointed when you were still in the tree the next morning, but pleased when I went home at lunch and you were gone. Then I worried for weeks because I didn’t see you again and finally breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted you staring at us from your yard.

Delilah likes chasing cats

I’ve heard cats have a warped strange twisted unique sense of humor.  Perhaps it amuses you to watch me struggle to restrain the dogs when you pop out mere yards in front of them, chasing some small creature running for his life. I realize you’re in the heat of the meowment chasing this small creature, but perhaps you could paws to check, before bopping out into the street.

Maybe you just live by the premise that cats have nine lives and until you starting topping out at about eight, you’re going to continue to live life on your terms. If that’s the case, feel free to disregard this letter.

If not, and you really do have regard for your life, I’d like to suggest you find a way to avoid interacting with me and my dogs.

It is my duty to inform you, I am not Hercules and I can only do what I can when the unexpected happens.

Given the choice of sliding down the road on my face or releasing the hounds, I’m dropping the leash.

I mean really, beef lung only goes so far when the temptation of fresh meat pops out in front of you.

Sincerely and with no malice intended,

Me

Heart Like a Dog

This is the Thursday Barks and Bytes Blog Hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog. Grab the badge and the linky code and join us!

Please only link up blog posts and as a courtesy to the other hoppers, please add the linky to your post and/or link back to the hosts’ blogs.



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