Doggies get a Vacation from us.

Too Cool!

Our big music event is coming up this week. We spend ten glorious days in the mountains of West Virginia, playing our favorite music with lots of good friends. Dogs are allowed there but, to me, it would be like taking two newborn babies camping, a full time job! Jake and Gillie will “vacation” at home with aunt Jane. They are used to long weekends with her and Gillie had the long vacation last year with Brandy and did just fine.

Since there is WIFI out in the wilderness, I will be in constant contact with civilization and my pups, if needed, and I haven’t needed it in twenty years of attending this festival.

Jake Update:

Jake wore his Thundershirt during our last bad storm, I can’t tell if it helped but he didn’t seem to mind it until it was time to take it off.  The Velcro ripping sound freaks him out, so I just try to not rip it off in one loud swipe.  He’s getting used to Velcro little by little.

Too Much, Too Soon

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Well, I’m back at home with Jake and Gillie.  We escaped late last night due to Jake being unable to cope with all the stress. I almost sent the dogs home with Tony on Friday morning when Tony went home … Continue reading →

Leash Walking, There is Hope!

Last night, during the occasional fireworks crackling on our last walk, I tried a method of training that I used in the past but just gave in too quickly. I got so tired of Jake lunging ahead of me that I must have just shut down. It was hot, I was tired and I just said “No!”. Every time Jake pulled, I stopped. I waited until the leash went slack, this took some minutes, and then we continued, only to stop again in an instant. Most of the methods I tried with him, like changing directions and jerking the leash, didn’t work with Gillie with us.  Gillie is a shopper, she likes to browse and sniff and wander. I don’t like to put many limits on her as she enjoys her walks so much and she is so different from Jake and she rarely pulls.  This method seems to be working because when Jake and I are at a stalemate, she can go and do her thing and not interfere with what we are doing. If she gets intensely stubborn, I just pick her up and carry her for a bit. Tony wondered what happed to us, it took so long to walk them.

Well, today on our walk I did the same routine right from the start. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jake would stop after pulling and in a couple seconds he would turn and look at me. At that look I would say “good boy” and the walk would continue. There was still some pulling but I finally got through his thick, little scull! Jake is not treat driven so carrying treats around for good behavior never worked for us.  He loves praise and is rewarded by what he wants to do.  So, if he wants to walk, he can’t pull on the leash!  So simple for the dog, tougher for the human.

Upcoming Holiday Weekend Thoughts

With the upcoming 4th of July festivities, I am slightly anxious about keeping Jake calm and relaxed. He has already been upset by the random bangs in our neighborhood. (There’s always someone who can’t wait to fire off a rocket.) We will be camping on a friend’s property in Maryland for four days and our dogs will be with us. Gillie is a pro at this.She went last year when Brandy was still with us and they were fine.  Gillie stays near my side even without a leash but I won’t be trusting Jake to do that.

I wish I could utilize Melatonin more. It should be used on a regular basis to build up in the system but Jake has had an upset stomach from it. I cut down to a half pill and sometimes it stays down and sometimes he throws up. I tried with a meal and between meals.  I still would like to try it for this weekend.  Maybe I’ll try a quarter of a pill.

Tryptophan biscuits are ok with him and I’ll give him one or two before an “event”.  An event would be people coming over for a visit or party, etc. Jake is not a foodie dog so sometimes he turns his nose up at a treat. I find if I throw it on the floor, he’ll eat it just so Gillie can’t get it.

I also have thoughts of taking the “Thunder Shirt” with us. I have not really put this to the test yet. I will probably take my whole arsenal of tools to try on Jake like the “Gentle Leader” head harness. I haven’t been using this on his walks recently because he really doesn’t like it, but it works and maybe in the fall I’ll try again with it.

On a step backwards for Gillie, she peed in our bed last night. She hasn’t done this for a long while and I was shocked to find wet spots.  She just can’t have water after her last walk of the day, no matter how hot it is outside.Gillie came from a puppy mill type breeder known as “back yard” breeder.  The only difference between back yard and puppymill is that back yard breeders give the dog some personal contact.  They still live in outdoor pens, all year, and have concrete under their feet. Food is pretty much slop, no toys or things to chew on, no socialization, I could go on and on.  Things we take for granted are denied for these poor dogs. When we first got Gillie and went for a walk it was late summer and everytime a leaf would blow past, Gillie would run after it like it was the greatest toy ever.  I think that was the extent of her toys when in the kennel.  She now has an arsenal of toys to play with and she sure does!

Anyway, about the peeing. I was advised when we were potty training to keep Gillie very clean and take her out often.  It’s been two years for Gillie and she has improved a lot.  I was told that she may never be housebroken, and she still will pee in the house when she get excited from playing indoors. I have to watch her body language as it is very subtle. We have not used the diapers in a long while, but I may start using them overnight. I hate pee in my bed!!!