Heart Like a Dog

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

Disbelief

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Did you ever have one of those days?

It started off fine, then a few harsh words from a co-worker and my mood had changed.

I went to my google reader to check out what my friends had to say and I found “Long Term Shelter Dogs : How Long Is Too Long?” at Talking Dogs Blog.  The post made me weep and I feel so sad for this beautiful dog, Hailey that I’ve cried on and off most of the day.

Hailey

Eight years old and she’s spent all but two months of it in a shelter.

I tried to leave a comment on the blog saying I was going to check with my friend at Labs 4 Rescue to see if they could find a foster home for her but I’m having trouble commenting on some blogs so the comment isn’t showing up.

I asked Hubby at lunch, “Please can I get another dog? I just want to try to find her a good home.”

He said no and he’s right, like many of you we struggle monthly to meet our obligations.  Another dog and all that goes with it just wouldn’t work right now.

But Hailey hung with me, darting in and out of my mind all day.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to take Delilah to Obedience Class tonight or not.  I waffled back and forth, finally desperation to see my friend and talk about Hailey pushed me out the door.

When I pulled into the Training Center the lot was full, we were the last ones in and it was packed.  Fifteen dogs all told.  And a number of them were new dogs.

I tried.  I really did.

First there was the new beagle (I think) mix that went at Delilah, who naturally caught me off guard and went right back at her.  The leash snapped my fingers and I lost my shoe trying to keep Delilah from chewing her up and spitting her out.

Then there was an excited pitbull mix that couldn’t seem to focus and kept going after other dogs around her.  Sarah had her in the center of the floor, helping her to settle down and not react to the other dogs.

Depending on which way we were walking I had to Boston Terrier type dogs in front of me and two yellow labs behind me and vice versa.  The guy working one of the yellow labs kept repeating his commands, “Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit” until I wanted to scream at him and say, some day you’re going to wonder why your dog doesn’t sit when you say sit!

There was a Doberman Pinscher who has been there before.  The first time she was there Delilah wanted a piece of her.  Just before the break the Dobie started getting vocal and I said to Delilah, “We’ll leave at the break and I’ll take you for a little walk.”

I know you get it when I say you could feel the tension in the room.

I’m sure it was me and my frame of mind, but I couldn’t take the chance of setting Delilah up to fail or lose the great progress she has made.  So I left.

Oh and yes my friend from Labs 4 Rescue wasn’t there, so I still haven’t talked to her about Hailey.

Can you say anything to me in the comments that will help me wrap my head around a dog in a shelter for eight years?

I just can’t believe it.

Free Dog

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Yesterday I wrote about the horrendous experience I had trying to get my dogs into the park amidst a crowd of people.

After being yanked across the road, we finally managed to make it into the park and I found my walking buddy.  We headed off down the paths that would keep us away from the field.

Delilah was close to me on her 15 foot leash, while Sampson and Brady were unleashed.

You can always tell when the dogs see someone or something, their ears perk up, they stiffen for a moment and then they’re gone.

We met a new friend on our Monday night walk, Flurry a seven month old yellow lab.  His dad was at the LaCrosse field and decided to check out the trails.  The dogs were all excited to meet each other and they wanted to play and run.

Oh and hump.  Brady kept trying to hump Flurry.

My friend suggested we take the dogs down in back where there was some area to run.  I wasn’t really sure where she was heading but I followed her anyway.   Down the cliffs to the little brook.

About a quarter of a way down in the middle of the picture, you can see the flat area she was talking about.

The area was relatively flat with some room to run, but there was lots and lots of small limbs and branches littering the area.  I couldn’t in good conscience let Delilah run through there dragging a 15 foot leash.

I let her go.

She did ok.  When she started to get too far away I’d say, “Delilah No!  This way,” and she would come running.  But then she crossed the brook and headed out on the trails leading into the park with little Flurry right behind her.

I had a panic attack and I know she could tell.  Duh! She could hear it in my voice, but after a few terrifying seconds she turned around and came back.

Then we headed for home.

Today I wanted to take them for their walk on my lunch in order to avoid the LaCrosse team.  It was raining but they don’t care and I throw a hat on so off we went.

We pulled up to the park and I noticed Hail on my windshield.  Yes you read that right, HAIL.

I figured no-one would be out in the rain so I said, screw it and took off her leash.

She did pretty awesome.

I leashed at the beginning of one trail, which is where one of the houses she likes to run off to is, but as soon as we were past the danger point, I took her off again.

Of course I never let her get too far away from me.   And yes, every time she checked back whether I asked her to or not, she got a treat.

And guess who walked out to the car next to her mother, without a leash.

See Mama, I can be a good girl.

She did very good today and I’m very proud of her.

Tomorrow is yet to be.

Book update: My book has 22,025 words.

Don't Talk To My Dog

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I’ve lamented over the loss of our field in previous posts. The LaCrosse team has commandeered it from now until June.

Not only do the dogs lose the use of the field, the presence of so many people at the entrance to our park presents severe challenges.

I’ve decided the best way to manage the situation is to walk the dogs on my lunch break whenever possible and make sure their Saturday walks are taken later in the day, after the team has vacated the field.

Last night I made an exception for my walking friend, who hasn’t been around lately due to work constraints.  I figured since the LaCrosse team’s schedule says 5:00 pm, I would be safe taking the dogs up around 5:30.

I read the schedule wrong.

It actually starts at 5:30.  Everyone was just arriving.

Mr. Social just couldn’t contain himself, he was casting summoning charms left and right trying to get someone, anyone to notice him.

As I was standing there trying to figure out I was going to strong-arm two dogs through the throng of people, he finally managed to get someone’s attention.

“Well hello” the woman said, and that was it.  I had two choices, run along behind Sampson or be dragged over and risk falling.

I followed Sampson and said to the woman, “It’s really better if you don’t speak to them, it keeps me from getting dragged.”

She chuckled and said, “I know.”

My inner bitch said, “Then don’t talk to my dogs.”

Honestly what the hell is wrong with people?  It’s not like I have two little Chihuahuas.  I have two full-grown labs!  They’re big, I’m not!  Well ok, I’m a bit bigger than I’d like to be, but you get my point.

Normally I won’t acknowledge a dog without first looking at the owner and asking.

Why can’t everyone do that?

What do you do in that situation?

Do you speak up and come across as a bitch or do you bite your tongue?

Inquiring minds want to know.

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