Goodbye 2010

I am very glad that 2010 is ending.  2010 has easily been the worst year of my life.

I am going to apologize in advance for any typos.  Usually I carefully reread to catch any, but I won't be rereading this post.

It all started in mid March when Lady got sick.  She had chronic diarrhea for two months.  She went to MSU (they wanted to do an intestinal biopsy), and Oakland (they wanted to try a new food, you can guess which one I chose), and finally, it stopped thanks to the food.  She lost fifteen pounds.
This was very hard for me.  This was the first time in seven years of owning dogs that my local vet (which I love) couldn't help me.  Having to go to MSU was traumatizing.  They took Lady from me at the door.  I met the a vet once and then waited for four hours by myself in a waiting room with no updates.  At one point, a tech walked her past the room on the way to get an ultrasound and I stepped out, asked her to stop, I was crying, I just wanted to pet her, see how she was doing!  The girl looked at me like I was crazy and kept walking.  I was frustrated and infuriated.  I was so relieved when I got her back from all of her tests.  When they all came back normal or negative, they wanted to jump into surgery.  By this time, Squeak was already at Oakland, fighting for her life.  I took Lady there for a consultation and thankfully a simple food change worked.
Squeak's gums started bleeding on April 14.  It was her fourth birthday, my twentieth birthday.  They bled for three days before I could arrange to go up north to my vet.  They bled so badly that if she set her head on anything, my lap, a blanket, the couch, she left bloodspots behind her.  My comforter was covered with bloodspots.  The night before the appointment, I noticed a rash all over her belly, chest, and legs.  The spots spread overnight.
By the time we got to the vet the spots were larger.  They said the spots weren't a rash, but bruises, pinpoint hematomas.  Though her platelet levels were normal, they suspected rat poisioning.  They injected her with Vitamin K, and gave me tablests and told me to monitor the spots.  After about an hour, they had started to swell, blood was leaking under her skin.  We rushed her the an emergency clinic in Saginaw at our vet's reccomendation, as she would be able to recieve a transfusion if her platelets dropped there.  She was monitored overnight.  We got a call in the morning that her platelet levels were still normal and we could go get her.
When we arrived, Squeak did not wag her tail, try to jump on us, she didn't even react to the resident cat.  The bruises were huge and black.  We said she wasn't herself, and they reccommended us to Oakland Veterinary Referral Services.  I though she was going to die in the car.  By the time we got there her platelets were down to 7,000.  30,000 is considered low.  She was on death's door.  She stayed at Oakland for five days.  They determined that she had immune mediated thrombocytopenia.  Her immune system was attacking her platelets.  The was probably due to a reaction to a vaccine she had gotten less than four weeks earlier.  When she left her platelets were up to 116,000.  We picked her up on April 21.
She lasted about a month.  She was on Prednisone, Pepcid, Metronidazole, and Karafate.  Denosyl, Lixotinic, and Sporocycline were added.  It seemed she got a pill every hour of the day.  It was just too much for her.  She wasn't reacting to the medications like she should have been, bruises kept showing up.  In that last month we went to two vets nine times.
During one bruise scare all she needed was a blood test to check her levels.  It was 11:00pm.  I called Animal Health Associates.  The vet would not do the blood test becasue Squeak was not a patient there.  My vet was on the phone with me two hours north trying to get hold of a vet down here, no one would take her.  I lost it on that vet from AHA, though.  I swore at him, I screamed at him, the asinine bast***.  I threw the phone, it broke, I ripped the phonebook.  I was screaming.  I had completely lost my mind.  I almost drove over there to take my anger out on him in person.  I was crying screaming sobbing.  My lungs were on fire.  I was just trying to save my little girl and this ass had the nerve to repeatedly tell me that he would not help me, with sick sarcasm in his voice.  I tell everyone I can about this incident.  And Dr. Imlay has and is going to lose clients because of it.  I ended up driving Squeak to the emergency clinic in Saginaw that night.  We got there around 2am.  We didn't get home until about 5am. 
The morning of May 25, Squeak would not eat.  Anything.  She had been getting pickier and pickier due to the many medications she was on, but theis was different.  She refused food.
I took her outside in the sun and she looked so haggard and worn.  Her four year old little brown face had begun to turn grey just in the past month.  But the sun was shining on her and the grass was so so green.  I looked down at her, thought about everything I was doing for her and said three simple words just to her, "I love you."  She looked at me.  Then she turned and vomited.  It was so clear to me that she was giving up.
I called the vet as soon as we got in.
We had just run a slew of tests three days ago to try to figure out why none of the medications were working.
The only thing the vet had left was a bone marrow aspiration to diagnose a hereditary disease that there was no treatment for.  It would have to be done at Oakland.  It was a harrowing procedure, there was no guarantee she would make it.  She gentley said that we may have to consider other options. 
By this point, I had been watching Squeak suffer for a month.  I mean, she was never the same dog once her gums started bleeding.  She wouldn't play, she growled at Lady, she slept and laid around all day.  She was not the bouncy quirky little beagle she had always been.
It was almost a relief to think about ending her suffering.
Almost.
I coudn't make myself put her through the procedure.
We drove Squeak and Lady up north.  Her appointment was for 3:00.
Once we reached my parents house I went in my old room and laid on the bed with her.  I was just beginning to second guess my decision.  I said again, "I love you."  It was almost like it was her cue.  She vomited again.  She wanted me to let go.  She was giving me a sign.
We all said our goodbyes, Chris, Dad, Lady.
Mom and I drove her to the clinic.
She laid in her little bed.  I held her head. 
She was so calm.  She knew what was happening.
She went calmly.   I held her the entire time.
We buried her down by the pond.  In a beautiful spot.

Two weeks later I adopted Ruby.
The very scared little basset beagle mix captured my heart.  All the workers assured me that she just needed to get out of the shelter and she'd be fine.  So I adopted her.
She did not get along well with Lady.  The workers told me that if I gave her a week and she still was not accepting Lady, I woudl be able to bring her back for a full refund.  At the end of the week it was not going well still, but I coudln't bring myself to take her back.  My wonderful mother agreed to take her.
She bought her a new bed, collar, leash, food, treats, bowls, toys, everything.
Mom got her home and she got her in the house, fully ready to love the scared right out of this little dog.
She opened the front door to grab the dog food off the porch and that was it.  Ruby bolted.
My parents live in the middle of farm country.  We weren't worried.  She'd come back.
I drove up as soon as mom called to tell me what happened.  By the tiem Chris, Lady,a nd I got up there she was long gone, but we tramped through cornfields and down the road for hours.
Three days later they found her body in the middle of the highway six miles away.  They buried her in a beautiful spot, too.
On July 18 I got Bentley.  He has been the perfect puppy, as calm as can be.  By far the easiest puppy.  He has brought joy to my life again.  He is the happy ending to this terrible terrible year of loss and sorrow.
Oh yeah, and Lady had TPLO surgery in August for her torn ACL.  Followed by 16 weeks of crate rest.  Talk about hell.
One of my aunt's beloved Rottweilers, Kuffs, died in November at the young age of 8.  Cancer.
But now, the day before New Year's Eve, Lady is free from her crate.  We walk an hour a day.  Bentley has passed puppy obedience and is taking beginning obedience in january, canine good citizen class in april, and will hopefully be Delta certified as a therapy dog in June.
He was born on May 31.  Just 6 days after Squeak passed.
I know this has been a long, weepy, depressing post.  But it has been a long, weepy, depressing year.
2011 has to be better, because, frankly, 2010 was the worst. 
To the New Year.  To Happiness.  To Comfort.  To Hope.

Leftovers

Chris doesn't like leftovers.  The only leftover that he is willing to eat is Pizza Hut.  I on the other hand, love leftovers.  Especially Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner leftovers.  So usually I make small meals where both of us are going to eat most of what I prepare, and maybe a few leftovers for me for the next day.  It works out pretty well.
I realized today that all dogs get to eat are leftovers!  And no, I'm not talking about people food, that is BAD, I'm talking about dog food!
My poor dogs have to eat the same thing every day!

Lady:
What's for breakfast? Science Diet Large Breed, alright!
What's for lunch? Science Diet Large Breed..okay.  I'll go with it.
What's for dinner? Science Diet Large Breed.  Really?  Whatever. 
NEXT DAY
What's for breakfast?  Science Diet Large Breed.  Seriously? Didn't I have this yesterday?
What's for lunch?  Science Diet Large Breed.  You're joking, right?
What's for dinner?  Science Diet Large Breed.  You know what?  Its food.  I'm gonna eat it.

Bentley:
What's for breakfast? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!
What's for lunch? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!
What's for dinner? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!
NEXT DAY
What's for breakfast? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!
What's for lunch? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!
What's for dinner? Science Diet Large Breed Puppy, alright!

The Theory of Mimetic Desire

So in my Shakespeare class this past semester, we read The Winter's Tale, which is one of his late plays, obscure, and makes no sense.  His later plays are renowned for having too many ideas, theories, and storylines tied together.  For example, a guy is eaten by a bear onstage and a long dead wife, who has been carved as a statue, comes back to life.  Crazy stuff.
The story is about a king who grew up with another king.  When they were children they were 'innocent rivals' but now things have taken a turn for the worst.  The first king accuses the second king of having an affair with his wife.  But the first king doesn't really like his wife until he became suspicious of the other king sleeping with her.
Thus we discussed the Theory of Mimetic Desire.  Rene Girard came up with this.  Anyway, mimetic desire is when you only like something because somebody else likes it.  In order for this to work, though, you have to like the other person enough to want to be like him.
For example: Basically every guy on the planet likes James Bond, wants to be James Bond.  Say a guy sees James Bond in Walmart, at the tie rack, and James Bond picks out a nice red silk tie.  The guy automatically wants that tie becasue he wants to be like James Bond.  But he really wants that tie.  When does a harmless 'man crush' turn into becoming rivals?
Of course, with Shakespeare, this is turned into a homoerotic subject, hinting that the first king and second king were more than just friends and that the first king loves the second king more than he does his own wife.

This is apparent in the world of dogs as well.  Just tonight, I poured water in the water bowl.  Bentley looked at it, and turned away.  Lady, on the other hand, heard the water hit the bowl and came running to drink it.  Only when Bentley saw that Lady wanted the water did he want the water.  Bentley thinks Lady is cool.
I just tied Girard, Shakespeare, Homoeroticism, and Dogs all into one post.  Eat your heart out.

Vacations

Vacations confuse dogs.
Well, my dogs at least.  Especially Bentley.  Lady's been through this a few times now, but Bentley has no clue what's going on.

When we got Bentley it was July, and we were with him every day for about a month.  At about 12 weeks, he had to stay crated for a portion of the day because Chris and I were in class.  I think Bentley thought his world was ending.

Now, we are on break!  He just keeps expecting us to leave again.  Don't get me wrong, he likes us being here all the time, but now we know that he really does sleep while we're away, because he sleeps all day while we're here anyway!  I can't believe he's over 6 months old!  He's eating 5 cups of Science Diet a day, and is weighing in at around 50lbs already.  He's as tall as Lady, but he's still so skinny and lanky!  He hasn't even begun to fill out yet!  He is going to be a HUGE dog.  I love big dogs.  He's going to be so great!

Lady is doing well.  We've lifted pretty much all of her restrictions except rough play with Bentley.  She's been doing great!  We still haven't seen a limp since week 4 post op!

This has been such a terrible year, it would be great if it could end on a high note!!!  I'm holding my breath....

Bentley's Friday

Bentley had an interesting day today.

He got up really early, but didn't get any breakfast.
His mom took him to the pokey place where he gets poked by pokey things, where he expected everyone there to have his breakfast, since he did not yet get it.
He was then poked.  He was poked again.  He fell asleep.
When he woke up he felt all loopy.  A nice lady (who did not have his breakfast either) took him back to the other room to his mother.  (Who was not waiting with breakfast, as he thought she would be.)
Mom drove him back to a house where he decided to sleep in the bathroom for a couple of hours.
Then mom drove him for a long time back to home.
Then he fell asleep some more.


I had an interesting day today.

I got up really early, and couldn't feed Bentley breakfast because he was about to under go general anesthesia.
I drove him to the vet's office where I tearfully handed him off, signed a few papers, and tearfully drove off to my favoritest place in the whole world, Baker's Animal Boutique.  Lynn always makes me know how to feel better.
I couldn't take it anymore, and by lunchtime I called to check on him.  They told me everything had gone fine, he'd just woken up and I could come get him any time.
I quickly drove back to the vet's office and shelled out $166.00 to get Bentley back.
He came walking out a little loopy, looking for his breakfast, of course.
We went back to my parents house where I finished up my laundry while Bentley slept in the bathroom.  I'm still not sure why he chose to sleep there, but it was good for him to sleep off the effects of the anesthesia.
Once I finished my laundry, I gathered up the still-loopy Bentley and we drove back home.  When we got here, he fell asleep again. 
I still don't think he realizes his balls are missing.

For Jenny :)

So Thanksgiving was a disaster.
I went home.  With my two labs.
I hadn't been home since September.
Lady hadn't been home since July due to her surgery...slippery floors and steps were no-nos for 12 weeks. 
Bentley hadn't been home since I'd been home in September.
It was interesting to say the least, as it was the first year my mom had her own puppy terrorizing the house waiting for us.
However that little puppy, Chip, (Mom was a corgi/shi zhu/poodle mix, Dad was a plott hound/ bluetick hound cross, he looks like a black terrier) had gotten neutered on Wednesday.  He was restricted to the crate.  He barked the entire (and I mean the ENTIRE weekend).
Lady hit the slippery floor like it was no body's business and had me freaking out that she would start limping at any moment.  Not to mention there is a step going from the 'old' part of the house to the 'new' part.  Lady hadn't done steps since who knows when.... So needless to say, she was also restricted to her crate.  She barked the ENTIRE weekend as well.
Bentley had the run of the house for most of the weekend, and was a very good boy.

But I haven't told you the worst part....
Not two and a half minutes after we'd all (Me, Chris, Lady, and Bentley) gotten through the door, but we were all made witness to a major accident.  Bentley was still onleash, the leash being held, of course, and he was on the upper half of the step.  He leaped to jump onto my mom to say 'hi' when he hit the end of the leash and was pulled back by his own force.  It wouldn't have been a big deal, but when he landed, his head came down right on the edge of the step.  The noise it made was so loud.  And then my heart just about broke. 
He locked eyes with me, and was just sooo slow getting up.  And when he finally did sit up, he was holding his front right leg off the ground and was moaning in pain.  It had hit hard, too, at an odd angle.
I almost started crying.
After a few steps he started putting his leg down and he turned out to be fine.  I was worried about a concussion, so I woke him up at least every two hours that evening.
He's fine now, but the vet almost had an emergency call the night before Thanksgiving.  It's a good thing he's insured!!!

The Meet and Greet

For whatever reason, all of the dog owners that live in my complex think that their dogs have a right to walk over and 'meet' and maybe even play with any other dog who may be outside at the same time.  I encounter this almost every day with a smallish terrier named Sophie.
Back in August, with a new puppy and a dog recovering from major surgery, neither one could meet dogs when we moved here.  I could not believe how many people would come walking over with their crazy, unstable, out of control dogs to 'meet' either my not completely vaccinnated puppy or my dog holding one leg off the ground!  Are you people stupid?  As soon as they'd get into earshot I'd yell out to them, "I'd rather they didn't meet!"  Well, apparently 'rather' wasn't a stong enough word on some occaisions, as I then had to follow with, "KEEP YOUR DOG BACK!!!" when they kept walking directly at us. 
Once I was walking Bentley and a guy comes up with a Chihuahua and says, "Oh, look at that sweet puppy!  Here, Lena, say hi to the puppy!"  I said, "I'd rather they didn't meet, he doesn't have all of his vaccinations."  And I picked Bentley up as HE KEPT COMING AT US WITH HIS RATTY LITTLE DOG!  I was talking to the property manager, holding a squirming 18lb pup and couldn't believe my eyes when the guy picked up his Chihuahua and attempted to put her NOSE TO NOSE with Bentley.  Then he told me that the dog was just submissive.  I could tell it was a fear biter.  She was pulling her lips back as he was coming closer.  I left. 
Now when people say their dogs have all their vaccinations, they are probably lying.  Most owners just get rabies done, or just get what their vets recommend, and that may leave a couple.  The really bad ones take it upon themselves to buy their own vaccines and vaccinate their own dogs themselves.  TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE 95% OF THE TIME!  Only licenses vets or techs have the knowledge to do that!
Sophie has issues, to say the least.  Her first time 'meeting' Bentley she growled at him, bit him, and tried scratching his eyes out.  All of that happened in less than half a second before I could tear him from her.  I felt so bad.  Ever since then we are wary of Sophie.  The other night walking we passed Sophie and her owner.  Sophie's owner just assumed that my dogs wanted to play with Sophie.  Wtf? Well, Lady'd never met Sophie and needless to say was completely overwhelmed by all of the biting and growling and high unstable energy.  Lady had a look on her face I'd never seen before.  All of her body language said she was about to lose it on this dog.  I said, "You need to move Sophie, Lady is going to do something."  The owner did nothing.  I said to Chris, who had Lady's leash to get her out of there.  It pissed me off that the stupid owner couldn't read her or my dog's body language.  Or didn't do as I asked to keep her own dog safe.  Lady was going to bite her because she was totally ignoring all of the formalities that dogs go through when they properly meet.
On the way back I witnessed a dog yank her leash out of her owners hand while 'playing' with another dog onleash.  Then there's the girl who just lets her dog offleash whenever she sees a dog coming so they can 'play' without getting tangled at all.  She's been fined for having her dog offleash multiple times, but she does it every day anyway.
In puppy class we covered socialization.  No growling, biting, humping, jumping, or ganging up on a puppy.  They were all onleash and if any of those things happened they were removed from the circle until they quieted down.  And even so they only got to 'meet' another puppy for a maximum of 3 seconds.  Give them much longer and they're going to start something at that age.
Now I'm not saying make your dogs antisocial, but beware of other people and their dogs.  Most of them are uneducated and have no idea what they are doing.  If you don't want your dog to meet every single dog out there with heartworms, worms, and God knows what else, you don't have to. 

Halleluia!

So I've been living in this complex for about six months and the weirdest thing happens.  No one picks up their dog crap.  Now, I've always had a sneaking suspicion that it was due to the fact that for some reason even though the complex has nice posts with bag dispensers and trash receptacles, there are no bags in the dispenser.  Haven't been for six months at least.  And so no one picks up the crap because they say, "Hey, if the city requires me to pick it up but the complex doesn't supply me with a means to pick it up, why should I?  They're the ones who need to make the first move."
Now, I totally disagree with this.  I think that if you own a dog and live in the city, getting doggie bags is your responsibility.  You got the dog.  You live in the city.  You should be responsible and pick up the crap.
So now that there are bags, we'll see if there is a decline in 'land mines' in the field.  I personally went out tonight and picked up four bags of other dogs' crap that we've been dodging for months.  Not that I'm okay with picking it up, but at least I don't have to waste my own bags on it.

Herpes or Bentley?

So today Bentley gave me a fat lip.
The last thing I do at night is put Lady to bed.
The first thing I do when I wake up is let Bentley out of the crate and feed him.
Well, last night Lady left a toy out that Bentley's not supposed to have.  A 'puppy' Kong that he likes to try to eat through instead of strategically maneuver it to get the tasty treats.  So this morning as I stumbled around trying to get his food ready, half asleep, the first thing he did was go for the Kong.  I came up behind him and reached from above to grab it before he could destroy it any more. 
Apparently, this startled him beyond belief.  He reared his head back and caught me square in the mouth.  I thought at first that he'd knocked a few teeth out!  Luckily, no, just split my lip pretty good.
I tried to hide it as best I could, but when I got to class I was sure someone would say something, ask how it happened, or whatever.  Well, no one asked.  All day.  So I assumed it wasn't as bad as I thought it was.  Not even during my meeting with an academic advisor did he say anything about it.  Even though I couldn't really close my lips or smile completely. 
Tonight at rehearsal I apologized to the student director 'about my lip.'  I was told that she just thought it was herpes and the other actor agreed.  I felt so embarrassed.  So everyone thought I had this huge nasty infected cold sore that was deforming my lip all day!  I guarantee you, it is not.  I'll admit it looks pretty gross, but it is definitely not herpes.
It probably doesn't help that my stress has kicked in, along with a crappy immune system, and a skin condition, pityriasis rosea has flared up.  It looks like ringworm, but its not, it's just a rash.  Unfortunately it is creeping up my chest to my neck and looks like hickeys all over my neck.  It's not.  Its just a rash.  But this probably added to the whole herpes thing.
So, just to let everyone know, it's not herpes, it was Bentley.  And it's not hickeys, it's just stress! 

Opening Day

Today as Chris and I stepped out with the Labbies for their evening walk, they were sporting something that got us a few weird looks....
You see, I live 'up north' where we get school off for opening day.  You don't walk in the woods without orange on for months.  People take it seriously.
So tonight, since it is Opening Day, I put a hunter orange vest and bandana on Lady and Bentley, respectively.
You shoulda seen the looks we got!  People stared, laughed, giggled.  "Stupid Rednecks" I could just hear them saying.
Yes, I realize I live in an 'urban' area.  And that we walk in the suburbs.  And that most people in the city don't hunt.  But it's habit.  Its safety. 
No, I'm not worried that we're going to get shot on Broomfield.  But I do worry that if (God forbid) one of them got away from us and ran into the woods, that they would have orange on and not get shot, since they happen to be a lovely shade of fawn.
So if you see me walking with two labs with hunter orange on, don't judge me.  I'm a dog lover, damnit.

Positive Reinforcement

**If you've been one of my actors, please don't read too much into this!  It really is a good thing in this case!

I treat my actors like dogs.  I'm in the second directing scene for my class and I'm working with my second set of actors.  In class we started talking about what we'd learned about ourselves as directors.  I said that I learned that I was a very positive director.  The professor said he called that style the 'cheerleader.'  In rehearsal I started thinking about this, and I realized that I was using positive reinforcement dog training techniques on my actors, and it was working!!!

For Lady and Bentley I use positive reinforcement.  This means that I reward them for good behavior and ignore bad behavior.  It is also a very simple form of trianing for things like 'sit' 'down' and basic obedience commands.  I taught Lady how to 'bow' using this method and all her other tricks.  Simply, whenever she was sitting, I'd say "Good Sit!" without having commanded her to do it.  She learned to tie the word 'sit' with the action of sitting.

In rehearsals I've been pointing out all of the good things that my actors have been doing, and unless there is something I want to change, I don't point out anything negative.  I love my actors and thank them for doing this scene for me voluntarily!  Thank you so much, and I hope we rock it on Tuesday!

Woof?

Bentley:
Grrr grrr grrr!  Woof! Woof!
Grr grr grr, ruff.  Woof woof, grr grr grr.
Grr woof, woof.  Ruff ruff, grr, woof?
Grr, grr ruff, woof, grr.
Woof!  Grr. Ruff!!

Translation:
Hello everyone!  I'm excited to meet you!  I love toys!
There is a big squirrel outside.  It wants to fight.  I like barking at it.
Do you ever find yourself distracted by big squirrels outside?
Oh, well.  It's nice just to bark at it sometimes.
Goodbye, goodnight, Ruff!!

Fun Facts

Ancient Egyptians revered their dogs. When a pet dog would die, the owners shaved off their eyebrows, smeared mud in their hair, and mourned aloud for days.

A dog’s shoulder blades are unattached to the rest of the skeleton to allow greater flexibility for running.

The shape of a dog’s face suggests how long it will live. Dogs with sharp, pointed faces that look more like wolves typically live longer. Dogs with very flat faces, such as bulldogs, often have shorter lives.

The most popular male dog names are Max and Jake. The most popular female dog names are Maggie and Molly.

In Iran, it is against the law to own a dog as a pet. However, if an owner can prove the dog is a guard or hunting dog, this restriction doesn’t apply. Muslim reticence concerning dogs is perhaps due to the fact that rabies has always been endemic in the Middle East.

Dachshunds were bred to fight badgers in their dens.

Laiki, a Russian stray, was the first living mammal to orbit the Earth, in the Soviet Sputnik spacecraft in 1957. Though she died in space, her daughter Pushnika had four puppies with President John F. Kennedy’s terrier, Charlie.

One of Shakespeare’s most mischievous characters is Crab, the dog belonging to Launce in the Two Gentlemen of Verona. The word “watchdog” is first found in The Tempest.

Eighteen muscles or more can move a dog’s ear.

The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world. France has the second highest.

Petting dogs is proven to lower blood pressure of dog owners.

Dogs have lived with humans for over 14,000 years. Cats have lived with people for only 7,000 years.

Zorba, an English mastiff, is the biggest dog ever recorded. He weighed 343 pounds and measured 8' 3" from his nose to his tail.

The most popular dog breed in Canada, U.S., and Great Britain is the Labrador retriever.

The oldest dog on record was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived 29 years and 5 months. In human years, that is more than 160 years old.

Some dogs can smell dead bodies under water, where termites are hiding, and natural gas buried under 40 feet of dirt. They can even detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor and can find lung cancer by sniffing a person’s breath.

The Beagle came into prominence in the 1300s and 1400s during the days of King Henry VII of England. Elizabeth I was fond of Pocket Beagles, which were only 9" high.

The grief suffered after a pet dog dies can be the same as that experienced after the death of a person.

One survey reports that 33 percent of dog owners admit they talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages on answering machines while they are away.

For more fun facts, go to http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/02/15_dogs.html

Silly Labbies

So Bentley's got this thing.
He likes to carry sticks in his mouth on walks.  He'll find a stick at the beginning of the walk, and will carry it for most of the walk, or until he finds a better one.
This is a good sign, not to mention adorable!
This means that he is looking for a job.
This means that he should take to therapy work like a lab to water!
He's getting great at his walks and 'sit'.  We've got a good basis in everything else thanks to puppy class.
I'm excited for his firsts.  First Halloween, first snow, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas!

Lady, as far as I'm concerned, is a therapy dog.  My therapy dog. 
She's perfect just the way she is!

My Dogs Are My Life

When it comes down to it, there are choices I make that I base on my dogs.  And every decision is worth it.  The choice to get Lady.  The choice to get Squeak.  The choice to let Squeak's suffering end.  Adopting Ruby.  Letting go of Ruby's memory when she died an untimely death.  Adding Bentley.  Having Lady's surgery done.  Going to obedience class with Bentley.
I'm a full time student pulling 15 credits with a part time job.  I am in a relationship and I have two dogs, 5 months and 7 years.  Someday I'll look back and say: what was I thinking?  or how did I make that work?
What you love, you make time for.
Bentley is going to be a Therapy Dog someday soon.  Hopefully in June or so.  I've planned my spring semester to fit those classes in two nights a week.  This will pay off, though.  Bentley is the dog that I will have when I (hopefully) have kids.  He's going to be the one there if my parents have to go in the hospital.  He's going to be there for me.
Squeak was my little girl.  I originally got her for my dad, but once it was clear he wanted no part of her, she became mine.  I was her safety.  I was her love.  I was her reason for living.  Having to say goodbye to her was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.  And will be until I have to do the same with Lady or Bentley or anyone else I love in my life.
Lady started it all, though.  I spent 12 years begging for a puppy every birthday and Christmas before my dad relented.  She started it all.  She is my constant.  My companion.  My friend.  My teacher.
I love my dogs.  My dogs are my life.

Every Day is Friday

To dogs, every day is Friday.
No, take that back, every day is Christmas.
Each tree is the best tree with the best smells.
Everything to eat is something good to eat.
All pettings are good pettings.
All naps are the BEST NAPS EVER!
All love is welcomed.
With dogs, there is no rejection, no judgement, no "you shouldn't really eat all of that ice cream."
Dogs are the only things that love us more than we do.
My dogs know when I'm having a crappy day. 
When I cry, they do funny stuff to make me laugh.
When I'm sick, they curl up with me.
When I'm cold, they heat me.
When I'm warm, they heat me anyway.
I love my dogs.  My dogs love me.
May I always strive to be the person my dogs think I am.

Dogs are Procrastination Tools

I am a huge procrastinator.

Unfortunately, my dogs give me lots to do while I'm procrastinating.
Well, they could use a walk......
Well, they would like it if I threw the tennis ball a few times....
Well, maybe a few hundred more.....
Lady and Bentley do need their nails trimmed, and their feet trimmed, and brushed, and bathed, and blow dried, and their teeth cleaned, and their ears cleaned, and some massage, and they need homemade treats.......
Oh, what's this?  My directing scene goes up in less than two weeks?  I should really work on that.....

Or I could pet Lady since her head is nudging my hand away from the mouse.....

Dog Lovers Unite!

If you rely on your dog for happiness in your life, unite!
If you talk to your dog like it is a person, unite!
If you sleep with your dog, unite!
If you use your dog as a heater or vaccuum cleaner, unite!

Dog lovers unite!

If you can't stand it when other people don't pick up their dog's poop, unite!
If you hate it when other dogs are off leash in an area where there is a leash law, unite!
If you can't stand irresponsible dog owners that use flexi leads, unite!

Dog lovers unite!

Yes, it does bother us more than people who don't like dogs when we see other owners being irresponsible or not following the rules.  It gives us all a bad rap!  Here's to furthering education on responsible dog ownership!

Mount Pleasant City Ordinance requires:
a. dogs to be licensed
b. removal of excrement on private and public properties
c. rabies vaccinations
d. only three dogs and/or cats are allowed in any residence in the city
e. dogs may run loose in fenced yards, otherwise they MUST be leashed at all times
f. dogs that run or bark at pedestrians or vehicles, destroy property, or bites any human being are unlawful
g. dog walkers are REQUIRED to carry "devices for IMMEDIATE clean-up of animal waste"
The penalties for failure to follow any of the above is as follows:
First Violation: $20
Second Violation: $100
Third Violation: $250
And $250 for every violation after that.
LEASH YOUR DOGS, PEOPLE!

Za Good Boy?

Who's a good boy?  Huh?  Who's a good boy?  Za good boy?  Bentley is!
This is the most common thing that I say to Bentley.
Who's a good girl?  Huh?  Who's a good girl?  Za good girl? Lady is!
This is the most common thing I say to Lady.

Whenever Bentley is sleeping, "He's a tired Gus!"  His name isn't Gus.  We just call him that when he's sleeping. 
Whenever Lady is sleeping, "Za tired girl?  Oh, goodness!"
And whenever either one of them stretches they do what we call "Big Stretchers."

Bentley!  Bud!  Bentlers! 
Lady!  Lady Lou!  Lady Annie! Ladybug!

My dogs have a huge vocabulary.  And they understand every word I say.

Dog Mom

Some dog owners refer to themselves as 'masters.'  I refer to myself as a 'dog mom.'  I do not have fur babies, but my dogs are my kids right now.  I don't believe in dressing dogs, except for the purpose of warmth.  I do like bandanas, but as far as pajamas, booties, and tutus go, no way.  It is an animal, and probably does not appreciate the extra layers.  Pretty collars?  Fine!  Nail polish?  As long as it's pet safe!  But skirts?  Shirts?  No way.
Squeak had a sweater.  She didn't have any undercoat to her fur and got cold on walks in the winter.  Lady has a coat for the winter as well.  Bentley doesn't have anything yet.  We shall see....
My dogs sleep with me.  In my bed.  Well, at least they are going to a week from tomorrow when Lady can jump on the bed again!  I haven't been able to forgive myself for letting Bentley into bed when Lady can't, so for now, the bed is a lot colder than it was last winter.  Last winter I had Lady on the covers next to me, and Squeak under the covers acting as my personal space heater. 
An electric blanket just doesn't cut it.

The Alpha

A good sign that you are the Alpha of your pack is that your dogs need to be near you. 
For example, both Bentley and Lady prefer to be near Chris and I rather than further away from us.  They are notorious "Kitchen Dogs" becoming hazardous obstacles in front of the sink, stove, or just lying in the middle of the floor.  I cannot go into the kitchen to butter a piece of bread without a Labby following me and laying down, perhaps to block off my exit. 
If I go to take a shower, they prefer to be in the bathroom rather than outside of it.  And it is not a rare occurrence for one of them to decide that simply being in the bathroom with me is not enough.  They need to actually be in the shower with me.  Yes, I shower with my dogs regularly.  It helps to keep them clean and cuts back on the shedding.  When I had one Lab and a Beagle, they would both fit at once, but now that there are two Labbies, only one at a time, please.
Another sure sign that you are the Alpha of the pack is that you cannot possibly get a Labrador off of your pillow in order to go to sleep.  Or you cannot rearrange their slumbering pose from horizontally across the bed, cutting it in half lengthwise, to a more parallel to a more conventional human sleeping position.  Or when you go to lay on that newly sieged pillow, that it smells like dog feet.  Which, by the way, smell remarkably similar to Fritos.
It is also a good sign if a dog likes to sleep under the computer desk while you are working.  They don't mind if your legs are cramped.  All they care about is that you never, ever, under any circumstances, feel that you may be alone. 
All of these signs say "Yes, you are in charge!"  Or so I tell myself.  I count my blessings.
Its all about the pack.
Be the pack.  And try not to loose your sanity.

Rainbow Bridge

I promise all of my posts won't be downers. 
When I lost Squeak, I found this.  I believe it.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

Saying Goodbye

Tonight I had to do something very hard, but something I am definitely not a stranger to.
My Aunt's Rottweiler, Kuffs, has osteosarcoma.  She just found out yesterday.  They thought it was just arthritis for a long time, but this new discovery explains all of the pain he is in.  She is having him put down on Monday.
Tonight, Bentley and I made the drive over to say hello, and goodbye.  Bentley has never met "The Boys" (Kuffs and Sole, her two Rottweilers).  We got there and despite Kuffs being in pain, they played and played and played.  Kuffs did tire out more quickly than usual, but he still seemed to be himself.  Other than limping on the bad leg, he acted a lot better than I was expecting.
For me, it is important that our dogs carry memories.  It is how we stay connected.  My Beagle, Squeak, whom I lost in May, is remembered by Lady, my Lab.  Lady passes her memories and legacy to Bentley, who knows both Lady and Squeak, through Lady's memories.  There is a connection.  They all know each other. 
So when I heard that Kuffs was not doing well, I knew Bentley had to meet him, had to make that connection before it was too late.  I was hesitant to take him along at first, dogs in pain can be unpredictable, but Kuffs has always been as gentle as a kitten.  My Aunt agreed that it was a great idea for them to meet before Kuffs was gone. 
She said she hasn't seen Kuffs play so much or seem so happy in weeks. 
It was the right thing to do.
Bentley made a new friend and memories.  I got to relive mine.  I've known Kuffs for all of his eight and a half years.  I was there when he was a puppy, I was there when they got Sole, I was there when "The Girls" met "The Boys" and all played together in the pond for the first time.  Kuffs always made me feel safe.  Saying goodbye felt so premature, but at the same time, relieving. 
I was relieved that he was still himself.  That he hadn't lost his dignity or lost himself to the pain.  He was still pretty normal.  I think that is important for dogs to keep before they go.
We left with heavy hearts.  Bentley slept all the way home.  But I know that my Aunt is doing the right thing.  The greatest gift we can give our dogs is to relieve their suffering.
Take it easy, boy.  We all love you.

One Simple Pleasure

I was recently sucked in by yet another Lifetime movie on late at night.  I can't for the life of me remember what it was called now, but it was actually a really good one.  It was about a woman looking for the perfect man.  She made a list and vowed not to date another man unless they met all of her requirements.  Of course she meets two men on the same day, one who fits to the letter, and one who does not follow a single one.  In the end, she chooses the man who didn't fit the list.  He says something in the film.  "Every day I indulge in one simple pleasure, like a good burger."  Or something like that.  I really liked this idea.  Life is too short. 

Why not indulge a little bit?

The great thing for a dog is, that EVERYTHING is an indulgence.  EVERYTHING is not only a simple pleasure, but THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO THEM!!!  Even though a dog might expect a walk every day, each walk is better than the last because it is happening right now.  Dogs live in the moment.  They don't care that today you just walked around the block when yesterday they got to walk in the park.  They don't think that you're being stingy on them.  They love it all! 

I'm taking a page out of my dogs' book this week and looking at everything as if it were the only thing in the world that mattered.  Live in the moment. 

Life is too short to be unhappy.