next »

[infopri]

Thanks, all.  Apparently this kind of lunging behavior is also quite common in rescue dogs once they become bonded with their owner, and, I'm told, it passes.  Smartypants, thanks--that's kind of what I thought.  If I tense up, she'll feel that and get anxious herself.

We'll actually be visiting an old friend before Thanksgiving, and she has 2 dogs, so I'll be able to let Annie meet dogs (who are very well behaved) in a more natural, leash-free environment. 

Infopri, how is WhiteDog today?

He's hanging in there.  Today I've started slowly reintroducing his regular food into the hamburger and rice he's been eating since his crisis began two weeks ago, and the vet and I talked about what I can do (in terms of physical therapy) in hopes of getting him standing again.  We're also going to keep him on antibiotics (half-dose) for the time being to prevent a recurrence of the infection that was a part of this ordeal.  Right now he's whining, so I think his Serenity pad may need changing.  Thanks for asking!

It's good that Annie will meet two friendly dogs, simultaneously--not only for the experience of interacting with them, but also for watching how they interact with each other.  Like children, our dogs have to be socialized, and they learn a lot from observation.  Let us know how it goes!

[anthroid]

How's WhiteDog, Infopri?

Anniedog is being quite mischievous.  She has figured out that, once we're done with our morning walk and (if she hasn't pooped) I let her into the backyard so she can let loose, doggie jail kennelling can't be far behind.  So she, in great delight and apparent innocence, plays keep-away.  I wasted 15 minutes this morning trying to get ahold of her.  I can only think that, until she and I are more in sync training-wise, she will have to be on lead, even in the backyard, if time is limited.  I really have to get into gear with her training--I'm so beat when I get home that it's hard to do anything productive, including training.

I do have a dog trainer but I think I really need to ramp things up.  Sigh.

On the other hand, she is doing great in the car--she's learned how to leap in the backseat with agility.  I took her for a second Lyme disease vaccination today, and she's becoming an old pro.  I also left her in the car while I ran a second errand.  She seemed to do wonderfully on her own in the car!  That is very cool, as I would like to take her with me as I'm out and about on the weekends.  How long do forumites think you can leave a dog alone in a car (when the weather is cool but not cold)?

[kedves]

I found this tonight while looking through old files, on a newspaper clipping celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day.  I'm sentimental about dog poetry.


Dharma - Billy Collins

The way the dog trots out the front door
every morning
without a hat or an umbrella,
without any money
or the keys to her doghouse
never fails to fill the saucer of my heart
with milky admiration.

Who provides a finer example
of a life without encumbrance—
Thoreau in his curtainless hut
with a single plate, a single spoon?
Gandhi with his staff and his holy diapers?

Off she goes into the material world
with nothing but her brown coat
and her modest blue collar,
following only her wet nose,
the twin portals of her steady breathing,
followed only by the plume of her tail.

If only she did not shove the cat aside
every morning
and eat all his food
what a model of self-containment she
would be,
what a paragon of earthly detachment.
If only she were not so eager
for a rub behind the ears,
so acrobatic in her welcomes,
if only I were not her god.

[infopri]

How's WhiteDog, Infopri?

Not much change since my last report.  Attempts to reintroduce his regular food failed.  (Now that he's gotten used to hamburger and rice, he refuses to eat any of his regular food, even mixed into the burger/rice combo.)  Tonight I tried substituting some oatmeal for some rice (for the fiber), but he didn't like that much, either.

Anniedog is being quite mischievous.  She has figured out that, once we're done with our morning walk and (if she hasn't pooped) I let her into the backyard so she can let loose, doggie jail kennelling can't be far behind.  So she, in great delight and apparent innocence, plays keep-away.

Yes, I learned the hard way that I'd taught my dogs (especially White Dog, after we first adopted him) entirely different lessons from the ones I thought I was teaching.  Like, on the numerous occasions when I caught White Dog eating toilet paper off the roll in the bathroom and, thinking he was hungry, led him to his bowl, I thought I was teaching him where his food was.  What I actually taught him was this:  When I'm eating all that yummy toilet paper, if I hear The Woman coming upstairs, I should run fast to my food bowl!

She seemed to do wonderfully on her own in the car!  That is very cool, as I would like to take her with me as I'm out and about on the weekends.  How long do forumites think you can leave a dog alone in a car (when the weather is cool but not cold)?

I used to take White Dog on lots of errands, until I adopted Big Dog and Little Dog.  In fact, I took White Dog to Faraway State with me this past summer (when he was stronger and still able to walk), and I had to leave him in the car while we ate breakfast and dinner every day (wasn't allowed to leave him alone at the hotel, wasn't allowed to take him into the restaurants).  For both cold and heat, you don't want to keep Annie in the car too long unattended.  The number of minutes matters less than a consideration of what the car will feel like.  (Remember, for example, that a car in the summer sun gets much, much, much hotter than the air outside the car, even with the windows cracked open.)  Dogs' tolerance for temperature extremes aren't any better than ours are--and they can't tell you (in words) when they're suffering.

I try never to leave a dog in a car, unattended, for more than five minutes in the summer or deep winter (temperatures near zero), especially if I haven't been running the a/c or heat first (but usually I have been).  If the outside temps are reasonable and the sun isn't too strong, I might go to 10 or 15 minutes.  When I had to leave White Dog in the car during that trip this summer, I went out several times during each meal to check on him, give him water, run the A/C if necessary, etc.  He actually fared better than I expected, but not all dogs would be as tolerant.

[anthroid]

Thanks, Infopri.  I kept Annie on-leash this morning, even in the house as the time drew near for me to come to the office.  I did let her out in the backyard earlier in the morning; presumably she did what every dog must do for herself, since she didn't do it on our morning walk or when I took her into the backyard again afterwards (on leash).

Another new issue has arisen--she actually lifted a paw at one of the cats this morning, which I took as aggression.  This dog ownership stuff is hard.

[pink_]

Thanks, Infopri.  I kept Annie on-leash this morning, even in the house as the time drew near for me to come to the office.  I did let her out in the backyard earlier in the morning; presumably she did what every dog must do for herself, since she didn't do it on our morning walk or when I took her into the backyard again afterwards (on leash).

Another new issue has arisen--she actually lifted a paw at one of the cats this morning, which I took as aggression.  This dog ownership stuff is hard.

It might not be aggression.
My dog (I'm not entirely sure what breeds she is, but it's a good guess that boxer and pit are in there somewhere) actually bats at other dogs with her paws when she plays.  She's tried to do it with the kitties here too, and it never goes over very well.  But the point here is that it could be play.

I mentioned this on the other thread, but a good behaviorist is worth her weight in gold.  I've learned a lot about my dog and dogs more generally since I began working with her a year ago.  I found her through our local humane society.

[jossi66]

My Crested does the paw thing when she wants something from me---play, a cuddle, food, etc.  It does not strike me as a particularly aggressive move.

[venerable_bede]

I agree, this isn't aggression. Watch a lot of dogs at the dog park and you'll see this move all the time--it's pure play. They raise one paw and shove another dog in the face. They seem to think it's hilarious.

Paws aren't good fighting weapons for dogs, but teeth are: when it's aggression, it involves the mouth.

(Let's not quote that second part out of context, shall we?)

[anthroid]

Thank you so much!  Yes, she lifts her paw when she wants something.  Phew!  Not agression unless it's mouth.  Got it.  And, I do have a behaviorist--we've had one session and she'll come over again next Monday.  My little cat is getting braver--and running around the house, almost as though (ya think?) she is trying to egg the dog on.  Big cat still remains very nervous around the dog.

[prof_smartypants]

Thank you so much!  Yes, she lifts her paw when she wants something.  Phew!  Not agression unless it's mouth.  Got it.  And, I do have a behaviorist--we've had one session and she'll come over again next Monday.  My little cat is getting braver--and running around the house, almost as though (ya think?) she is trying to egg the dog on.  Big cat still remains very nervous around the dog.

My sister has a great dane and a cat. The cat taunts the dane all day. It sits above the dog's food bowl and dangles its paw, swiping at its poor nose when it comes near the food. The dane is a nervous wreck.

Cats are sinister, I tell you. They are sneaky. Then the dog gets in trouble for barking, chasing, etc., and the cat sits there looking at you like, "who, me?"

[infopri]

Thank you so much!  Yes, she lifts her paw when she wants something.  Phew!  Not agression unless it's mouth.  Got it.  And, I do have a behaviorist--we've had one session and she'll come over again next Monday.  My little cat is getting braver--and running around the house, almost as though (ya think?) she is trying to egg the dog on.  Big cat still remains very nervous around the dog.

Chime with the others.  Your dog is being playful and/or curious.  You'll know when (if) she gets aggressive.

Cats are sinister, I tell you. They are sneaky. Then the dog gets in trouble for barking, chasing, etc., and the cat sits there looking at you like, "who, me?"

There was a great commercial awhile back (probably for the camera, although I can't remember): Mom-type woman yells at dog for getting into kitchen garbage.  Mom goes out.  Cat makes mess of kitchen garbage.  Dog takes photo of cat, catching him in the act.  Mom finds photo.  Dog lives happily ever after (presumably). 

Hee!  I love that commercial.

[bumbleflea]

How long do forumites think you can leave a dog alone in a car (when the weather is cool but not cold)?

With some regularity, I leave my dog in the car for an hour at a time.  She feels very secure in the car -- usually sleeps while I'm gone (and driving, for that matter), and she has a thickish coat and a pretty wide comfort range.  If I'm concerned about temperature (high or low), I go out and check.

[infopri]

How long do forumites think you can leave a dog alone in a car (when the weather is cool but not cold)?

With some regularity, I leave my dog in the car for an hour at a time.  She feels very secure in the car -- usually sleeps while I'm gone (and driving, for that matter), and she has a thickish coat and a pretty wide comfort range.  If I'm concerned about temperature (high or low), I go out and check.

Bumbleflea reminds me that I should have added similar information about White Dog.  He loves being in the car.  (In fact, part of the reason I was able to take him with me to Faraway State was that I knew he'd regard the 800-mile drive as a once-in-a-lifetime treat.)  He's the perfect size for the passenger footwell, and he loves to curl up and sleep or just hang out.  He never seems to mind being left alone in the car, although, wherever he is, he always prefers company to being alone.  And, like bumbleflea's dog, White Dog has a long, thick coat and a wide comfort range.  Annie's mileage may vary.

(BTW, in case I wasn't clear earlier, White Dog was in the car for up to an hour during the meals (in Faraway State) that I mentioned, but I checked on him often.  Ordinarily, I would never leave a dog in a car for that long, even checking on him, but I had no choice--and, as it turned out, he did fine, thank goodness.)

[john_proctor]

I wouldn't leave my brittany spaniel alone in the car for five minutes. 

I've mental images of him, wearing my sunglasses, crusing around with his arm out the window and "Radar Love" blaring from the CD.

[london1]

LittleLondonTerrier HATES the car.  He actually gets car sick unless he is held up high (not on the lap, but in the arms by the chest).