A Pet Nanny Plus - A Journey Back to Health

Business of the Month

2011-11-16T17:18:00.008-05:00

We at A Pet Nanny Plus have been nominated as the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for December. So exciting! We get a banner to hang in our place of business so we can show it off to all our clients. Unfortunately, my place of business is an office in my home, so no one will see the banner and be suitably impressed by it, so I decided to take pictures of it and plaster them all over the internet, newsletters etc. :)

I decided there needed to be a pet in the picture, after all, we are a pet sitting business. Oak got chosen as the model. And since it's December, he should be suitably dressed for the occasion.

So I tied the sign to the fence and started difficult task of getting a GOOD picture I could use.:) It took about 3 hours and 101 pictures (thank goodness for digital cameras!) but I think we finally got 1 or 2 I can work with.

First we had Oak being camera shy :)

Then the timer went off before we got into place! We look like we are admiring the sign :)

Then Oak decided the Santa hat was a great toy and he should pull it off and run away while I had my back turned setting the timer on the camera.

Trying to get the hat to stay on his head was a bit of work :) He was ok with the antlers, but he thought the hat was a lot of fun to play with!

Finally our a great shot I can use of both of us.

And a good one of just Oak too. Now I have to decide what to do with them!

What was Once Old is Young Again :)

2011-07-09T18:16:00.007-04:00

This post is an update to the last post about supplements for Zanara's hip dysplasia. I went to my nearest Global Pet Foods (Kim's Store, what a wonderful lady :) and tried to find the Hylaflex I mentioned in the last post. She didn't carry that brand, but she did have a product called HYALcare. It contains hylauronic acid, as well as Boswellis, Herring oil, Glucoation Hydrochloride, L-Glutamine, MSM and Shark cartilage. I wasn't sure about buying a product with so many things in it, but I discussed it with Kim and she called someone who had used it with fabulous results, so I thought, what the heck. Let's go for it. Boy am I ever thrilled I did!

CHASING OAK FOR A STICK :)

After only 3 weeks Zanara was running, smiling and chasing the kids. I don't remember the last time she did that. Probabely a couple of years ago! We went up to the cottage last weekend, she ran after the frisbee, caught a frog (spit it right back out) and swam all weekend.

She was definitely stiff on sunday morning, but after going for a bit of a stroll she was ready for action again. I would recommend this product to anyone (and I do) who's dog has arthritis. It is a life saver for our new "puppy" girl :)

No Hippy, Hippy, Shake, Shake yet :(

2011-06-13T13:10:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile and I'm doing a bunch of research right now, so I thought it would be a good time for an update on Zanara's hips.

The Dog Gone Pain did work, but not enough to justify the price and the reuslts weren't perfect. We want her to be pain free (not just in less pain). So we decided to keep looking. Next we tried a supplement called Wysong's Missing Link Canine Plus. Unfortunately, there was no improvement at all.

So we thought about it some more and brilliantly came to the conclusion to try Sasha's Blend! Afterall, Oak has been on it for 2 years now and he is doing wonderful! I know, why didn't we try it earlier? Really dumb I think :) Mandy put it in her breakfast on saturday and she did something she has NEVER done before in her life. She refused to eat breakfast! Unbelievable, Zanara eats everything! So I guess this isn't going to work either. Time to try something else, she's getting really sore again and we can't wait until she, hopefully eats the Sasha's Blend.

Back to google :) The last time we were at the Chiropractor, she suggested trying Hylauronic Acid. she said it has been used on horses for years, now it is also being used by people and pets. What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid (HA), also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate, is a carbohydrate, more specifically a mucopolysaccharide occurring naturally throughout the body. It can be several thousands of sugars (carbohydrates) long. When not bound to other molecules, it binds to water giving it a stiff viscous quality similar to “Jello”. In other words, it is a very important part of good joint function.

I found, what seems to be, a great supplement for pets (they also make one for people I will be trying at the same time). It is called Hyaflex. I haven't found this one in Canada yet, so I'm going to order it online. Wish me luck (Zanara actually). Hopefully this will be the one to help.

While I was searching for a good source of HA, I also came across a few more interesting sites pertaining to pet supplements that I will feature in upcoming blogs.

The Annual Humane Society Walkathon 2011

2011-05-29T13:11:00.015-04:00

An important part of being a healthy pup is to get emough exercise. So today we went on a 5 kilometre walkathon for the Humane Society of Durham Region and I thought I'd share a few pictures of our adventures!

We went up the hills (the others were much steeper!) ....

Jewels thought we were going a bit too slow! Are you guys coming?

A stop at the river to cool down and have a drink.

Maybe a bit of landscaping too. Oak decided there were too many rocks in the river, so he started to clean them out :)

The beavers made a mess of this tree! There were a few others in the area they munched on too.

Oak loved the treats at every drink stop :)

We found Lady Slippers ...

And Morrells...

And mud! Jewels got her feet all muddy and had to be dunked in the river :)

After the walk we had a yummy barbeque with hot dogs, pop and some doggie games.

And then for dessert cupcakes. Aren't they adorable?

Time to go home, on the way back to the van, we stopped at the bridge to look for fish. It was a very entertaining morning.

If you didn't make it this year, make sure to come out in 2012. Don't miss all the fun!

Arthritis and Zanara

2011-04-07T14:22:00.007-04:00

Zanara, if you don't already know, is our 12 yr old golden retriever. At 2 years of age, she was diagnosed with 3rd degree hip dysplasia. That was when we started researching dog foods, supplements and hip dysplasia. We decided at that time, that what we were feeding was not good enough for our babies and we switched everyone to B.A.R.F. (raw food) plus supplements. This has REALLY helped Zanara over the years, but now she is starting to slow down and show signs of pain. I've been taking her to the chiropractor, which has definitely helped as well, and she is a on glucosamine/chondrotin/msm supplement but I think she needs more. It is painful for her to get up and she is moving slowly, unless there is swimming involved :) She LOVES water!

So back to Google I went. What I found is a product called Dog Gone Pain or DGP for short. It contains alot of herbs that I already knew were helpful for joint pain, like: Feverfew, Boswellia Serrata, Bromelain, Papain, Cayene and Turmeric. There are also a few I never realized would be useful like: Corydalis Root, Wheatgrass and Celery Seed.

On their website they state DGP works faster and it contains ingredients that support the nervous system, gastrointestinal, skeletal and immune health.

I don't know if it works as well as they claim, but I do know I have an expensive bottle sitting in my purse and a sore doggy who needs some help, so we'll see how it goes. I'll let you know in a few weeks if there are any improvements. Cross your fingers summers coming and Zanara will want to get out there swimming again!

Changes ....

2011-03-30T14:07:00.003-04:00

I have decided it is time to change the focus of this blog. As I mentioned in the last blog I wrote, we have been having numerous health issues not only with Jewels, but with all our dogs. We have been researching and trying different things to improve their health and we have also been doing the same with our own. I would like to start writing about the things we are learning (and trying) and the things that are helping. So stayed tuned for a BRAND NEW BLOG :)

By the way, the rabbit still isn't here :(
Jewels was scheduled for her cataract surgery on Tuesday March 22. She had developed a heart murmur, so our vet wanted her to have an xray and possibly an ultra sound to make sure she'd be ok to have the surgery. They discovered she wasn't ok to have the surgery she has a tumour on the bottom of her heart. It is a condition called Chemodectoma . More research, more changes, a healthier bunch of furry friends :) Our Journey Back to Health is about to begin. Want to come along for the ride?

It Tea Time Again

2011-03-11T11:17:00.006-05:00

Once again we had a fabulous time, yummy food, delicious tea and a great atmosphere (it was at Vandermeer's Nursery again) My granddaughter and her friend really enjoyed the chocolate fountain and went back for seconds and thirds.

Once again this year we made our way to the Durham Region Humane Society Victorian Tea.

They also had a hat contest (my friend Corinne won last year) where everyone had to make their own hat. This is Mandy sporting her lovely hat with it's living garden. Yes, those plants are alive!

Julie went with an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party theme for her hat :)

They also had a few pyschics, tea leaf readings (by Corinne),

raffles, chocolates for sale and so much more. I came home with a few new plants ( a hyacinth that smells absolutely wonderful!) and a full tummy. Thanks for the great day! We'll see you again next year :)

When's the Rabbit Coming?

2011-03-08T13:25:00.006-05:00

In Chinese astrology 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. I read the motto is: "Let there be peace -- and let it begin with me". Last year was the year of the Tiger. It was supposedly a year of "roller coaster ups and downs." I think, around here at least, the year of the Tiger decided to hang on for a bit so that we would appreciate the calmness to follow. Hopefully that will happen soon!

One major thing I have learned so far this year is cat's claws and dogs eyes are a bad combination.

On January 5 our little Jewels was accidently scratched in the eye by one of the cats she lives with. She was rushed off to the emergency clinic in the area. Unfortunately, our local emergency clinic is not set up to handle eye emergencies. They weren't much help at all, except to recommend that Jewels be taken to see Dr Michael Zigler in Oakville. He was able to sew her iris back on and send her home with lots of eye drops and meds to be taken in hopes of saving her eye. We went back the following week for a checkup and then again 2 weeks after that. She was able to cut back the 4x a day eye drops to 3x and some even only twice a day. He was cautiously optimistic that she would regain some of her sight and keep her eye. Yeah she was on the road to recovery!

Well, things didn't work out quite the way we had hoped :( On Sunday February 13 we went for a lovely walk, then a bit of a nap (for the dogs) and some treats. Suddenly I heard a squeal from upstairs. Jewels came running downstairs very upset with liquid running down her face! Back to the emergency clinic (who were once again no help), then back to see Dr Zigler.. After a 2 days of tests he discovered a stitch had come out and her retina had detached. There was no way to save her eye. He did an enucleation of her eye on the Tuesday and we were able to pick her up on Wednesday. She had just been able to take her cone off once in a while, but now she was back in it for the next two weeks.

After lots of rest, relaxation, hugs, kisses and treats, she is healing wonderfully and looking fabulous. She does have cataracts in the remaining eye so can only see shadows. It does seem to cause her some stress especially at night and when a certain golden retriever starts bouncing around. So she will be having cataract surgery on her remaining eye (they did lots of tests to determine it was a perfect candidate for surgery). She has her cataract surgery. scheduled for March 22 and then she'll be done. Then maybe the rabbit part of the year will finally begin and fill the rest of her year with PEACE and CALM.

Dogs in Antlers :)

2010-12-13T20:17:00.010-05:00

It's the holiday season again! Do you know what that means? It's time to get out the antlers and take pictures of the clients (and our pets as well). Would you like to see some of our lovely pictures?

First we have Oak, looking very handsome and regal in his green furry antlers.

Next we took a picture of Jewels. Doesn't she look impressed? If looks could kill we'd be in trouble :)

We didn't want Lulu to feel left out, so we enticed her into wearing them next. She doesn't look any happier then Jewels did!

Now to try someone a wee bit harder. Max the golden puppy with the antlers in his mouth. then he tossed them about as I tried to get them back.

Then finally a picture with the antlers on his head and not in his mouth!

Off to the park, with antlers in hand, to get pictures of Zanara ...

then Beau. Big dogs just don't seem as peeved when we put the antlers on them. Beau even looks kind of regal!

Next we brought the antlers to the daycare. This is Miss Holly sticking her tongue out at us ...

Then Linus, with his big brown eyes :)

and his little sister Lucy ...

Tomorrow we are off to get some Christmas pictures of Twilight, Radar, Quincy and many more!!! Ha, ha, ha !

Dr Dodds - Part II

2010-11-05T12:32:00.005-04:00

"Wholesome nutrition is the key to a healthy immune system and resistance to disease."

This statement is so true! I have been researching the proper nutrition for my dogs for years and am still continuing to learn new things everyday. What did I learn at the seminar? I think the one bit of information that got me thinking the most was titled Nutritional Management for Aggression.

Oak can be aggressive with other dogs. He didn't used to be when he was a puppy (and he was socialized) but as he grows older, he has shown some aggressive tendencies sometimes while on leash, sometimes while off. He is also hyperactive after he eats. It doesn't matter if it is morning or evening, as soon as he eats his meal he runs around like a crazy dog for about an hour and tries very hard to get into trouble! So maybe making a few changes to his food can help. It's definitely worth a shot.

Some of the suggestions were:
- use a high quality-low protein food
- increase tryptophan (turkey)
- limit "hot foods" (beef, bison, duck)
- limit high copper foods (lamb)
We are definitely going to try turkey, I'll let you know how it goes :)

I did try a turkey based frozen food. I gave it to him for about 4 days (breakfast and supper) and I think he was more hyper after meals! Maybe I should have tried it for longer, but I figured we get tired after one meal of turkey, so 4 meals were enough of a test.

I also bought two books written by Monica Segal: "Optimal Nutrition" and "K9 Kitchen". Right now I feed a combination of some supplements, raw ground chicken backs and preground frozen veggie mix, but I'm not sure the combination is right, so I've been considering making my own from scratch. More stuff to read up on :)

The main topic of the day was thyroid disease. How. What. When. Why. We went through some of the signs (some you may know about already and some you may not). For example, I already knew some signs could be: weight gain, lethargy, mood swings, cold intolerance, chronic infections, aberrant behavior ( aggression, fear, hyperactive) but I didn't know about seizures, facial paralysis, "tragic expression", head tilt, slow heart rate, cardiomyopathy or corneal ulcerations.

Then she discussed the blood tests that should be done. It isn't good enough to do the basic tests (T4 & T3) we have been doing for years, these my not show a problem. It is very important to have a thyroid panel done. If you think your dog may have a thyroid problem go to Dr Dodds website and check out the fabulous information there. You can also have your vet send a sample of your dog's blood there to be tested. As I am writing this, I am saying to myself, "maybe you should take your own advise!" I have been wondering if maybe Oak has a thyroid issue. I had the blood tests done through my vet last march, but have never sent them into Hemopet. He has many symptoms and no other solution has been found yet.

If you ever get a chance to see Dr Dodds in person, jump at it. It was a fabulous learning experience.

The Canine Condition by Dr Jean Dodds - Part I

2010-10-18T11:59:00.006-04:00

I went to see a fabulous speaker yesterday, Dr Jean Dodds (maybe you've heard of her:). She talked about many different subjects, starting with a discussion on vaccines, then a bit about nutrigenomics for companion animals and finally autoimmune disorders with a focus on thyroid issues.

Vaccines: Should we vaccinate, should we not vaccinate, maybe just a few vaccines? What should we do? I think every pet owner is asking themselves the same question, but what is the answer. Well, I still don't know the answer for everyone, but personally, I choose minimal to none. Oak had his puppy shots following Dr Dodds suggested vaccine schedule and hasn't had any of the yearly boosters since. I have had his titers checked though and am happy to report he has more then enough antibodies circulating in his blood!
She spoke a bit about vaccine reactions, optimal age for puppy and kitten vaccines, the core vaccines, why vaccine should adjusted based on body mass and factors that increase the risk of adverse vaccine reactions.

One thing that did stand out in what she had to tell us is if your pet has had a severe vaccine reaction do not vaccinate him again! Another thing she brought up that I never really thought of before is to question as to why a 10lb chihuahua gets the same vaccine as a 90lb lab. Vaccine dosage should be based on body mass, shouldn't it? Does a small dog need the same dose as a large dog, it seems very unlikely to me.

Another thing I learned yesterday is that some breeds, even some colours of dogs, are more predisposed to vaccine reactions then others! Huh! I never really thought about that before. Did you know that white dogs are more likely to have a vaccine reaction then a black dog? Interesting...

There are even dogs who are nonresponders. You as a doting pet parent may give them their vaccines as you were told, thinking they are protected but when you get their titers checked, you find they have no antibodies! It is a genetic characteristic in some breeds or dog families. They can fail to develop an immune response!

I think one of the main discovers I made yesterday is that there is just so much out there that I want to learn about, I'll probabely be researching things to help my Oak for many years to come.

In my next blog post I will share with you a bit about nutrition and autoimmune disease.

We also got a few handouts that she said we could give to others (as long as we say where the information came from), so I'm going to be posting them here on my blog over the next few weeks as well. Sooooo much information! So fascinating! So exciting!

Tea at Primrose Donkey Santuary

2010-06-27T17:38:00.011-04:00

Today the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary held a tea for a fundraiser. What a great time we had! Rory ( my granddaughter ) came along and got to pet donkeys for the first time. When we first arrived we went over to the fence to meet Phillip. He's only a youngin', I think we were told he's about 8 months old. He just loved Rory.

A lovely black kitty came along and wanted her belly rubbed :)

Then we enjoyed our tea and sandwiches and dessert. Yummy!

Look there was even a chandelier, so elegant!

We asked to go on a tour so we could meet more of the donkeys at the sanctuary. On our way into the barn, we had to stop and pet Princess, isn't she beautiful with her lovely ribbon?

Rory asked if she could brush some of the donkeys. Cory was enjoying it!

Then little Goliath got a turn.

Rory even met Primrose :)

Bandit wanted to play with the straw, what fun!

And finally a tea leaf reading by Corinne!

A fabulous afternoon, if you didn't make it this year, be sure to come out next year!

Past, Present & Future

2010-06-03T11:34:00.005-04:00

Past:
If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you probabely already know that Oak got hip xrays done at the end of April of last year. They weren't great. The socket didn't go completely around the ball, or fit tightly enough. So after discussing things with my vet, I decided on a few things I wanted to do to help improve his hip joints.
First, I put him on Sasha's Blend, salmon oil and vitamin C. Second, he started going to the chiropractor and third, swimming.

Present:
Oak will be 2 years old on July 4, 2010. He has an appointment for July 5 to get his hips xrayed for the final time. He looks good, he moves well, his chiropractor is very please with his progress, so we'll see what the actual xrays tell us.

Future:
Definitely keep up with everything we've been doing and depending on the xray maybe make some changes and improvements. In the end, all that is important is a healthy, happy, painfree Oak.

Reiki is a Wonderful Thing!

2010-04-19T17:32:00.006-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted :( I will have to do better to keep in touch.
This past weekend I was again at Cedar Cove Wellness taking a Reiki course from my Reiki Master Susan Rouse. The course I took over the weekend was my Reiki Level II. It was fabulous! Saturday morning we studied the symbols, learned how to give distance Reiki and were attuned to Level II Reiki. Then we practiced our distance healing. Susan asked us to bring a picture of a person, or animal in need of healing and we used these pictures to focus our Reiki energy for healing. I choose my daughter's dog Zanara

Zanara had a sore and swollen right front foot about 4 months ago. The vet thought it may have been a small fracture and she had to stay off it for about 2 weeks. No walk, no nothing! Poor girl :( But after the rest, the swelling did go down and she felt much better. Well, she started limping again last tuesday. No more walks again :( She loves her walks and she gets very pouty when she can't go.

We also feel its very important for her to keep moving, in order to keep healthy (Zanara just turned 11 yrs. old in March and she was diagnosed with 3rd degree hip displasia at the age of two). So anyway, like I was saying, on saturday I took the picture of Zanara that I had with me, and gave her distance Reiki.

The change in her is nothing short of amazing! (in my opinion, at least). Mandy said she looked so much better on saturday, that she decided to go to the off leash dog park on sunday. She wasn't limping or showing discomfort anymore. Look Zanara is running!

and smiling:)

I can't believe how much happier and more active she is. I am soooo glad I decided to start on this Reiki healing path.

Victorian Tea for the Humane Society of Durham Region

2010-03-01T16:24:00.008-05:00

On sunday afternoon we attended the Victorian Tea for the Humane Society of Durham Region at Vandermeer Nursery in Ajax. What a great time! There was fresh brewed tea, absolutely incredible scones, yummy baked goods, a raffle and so much more. The tea, scones and petite fours were courtesy of Cup of Tea Bakery and Cafe in Whitby. I really have to get over there and buy some more scones. Fantastic!

We were asked to donate for the raffle, but came up with too many things to donate so we ended up donating 2 baskets!

A Cat Lover's Basket ...

And a Dog Lover's Basket.

Becca and Jacob were there enjoying the tea a atmosphere ...

Julie gave Mary a big hug and kiss :)

Kathryn and Carol enjoying a good cup of tea in a fine china cup.

Even a little puppy in training came by to enjoy all the hugs and cuddles from everyone.

Our friend Corinne made her own Victorian hat and won gift certificates to Swiss Chalet!

This is Corinne with Ruby:

The ladies from the Humane Society were dressed in Victorian gowns and looked amazing! What a wonderful event! We applaud everyone involved in the planning. Great job! Great tea! Great time!

Oak Finally Gets His Say

2010-02-16T13:19:00.005-05:00

Oak has been asked to be a guest writer for another doggie's blog! He is so excited! Finally he gets to tell everyone what HE thinks and they have to listen! Or at least read about it :) Thank you soooo much Bert for this fabulous opportunity! Everyone make sure to read it, www.fourleggedviews.blogspot.com .
He's got his thinking cap on and plotting his story. Let's see what he comes up with...

After a nap, of course.

UPDATE: Oak did such I great job, he now has his own blog. Check it out: http://www.itsmeoak.blogspot.com

A Lovely Winter Walk

2010-01-22T17:27:00.010-05:00

What a beautiful day for a walk! We decided follow a new trail through the woods that we have never been on before. Doesn't it look great?

The snow wasn't too deep and there were some snowmobile tracks to follow so it made the walking fairly easy. We decided it might be a bit too easy for Oak, so my hubby went to the top of the hill and I went to the bottom and we made him run up and down a couple of times :)

We saw alot of different animal tracks and traces during our adventures. Here are some bunny tracks...

a mouse home surrounded by tracks ....

turkey tracks.....

and my hubby said this was dug by a coyote trying to find a mouse to eat!

I think we've walked enough, time for a little break :)

One last run before we head back to the van.

Hopefully, it will be another nice day tomorrow, so we can do it again!

Your Guinea Pig Doesn’t Have to be a Sailor to get Scurvy

2010-01-14T09:10:00.003-05:00

Normally my posts are about dogs, usually Oak, but today I'm writing about something a wee bit different.
I learned something new the other day: guinea pigs can get scurvy! They can become very sick if they don’t get the correct amount of vitamin C in their diet.
Like humans, guinea pigs lack the enzyme necessary to create their own vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen, bone matrix and tooth dentin. Signs of a vitamin C deficiency may include: loss of appetite, depression, ruffled fur, weight loss, swollen painful joints, poor bone and teeth development, bleeding gums, and nasal discharge. Guinea pigs that are experiencing these symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian. Scurvy can be reversed through diet changes or vitamin C injections.
Although guinea pig pellets have added vitamin C, storage or exposure to sunlight can rapidly destroy it. The vitamin C added to the pellets remains stable for up to 3 months from the milling date. When storing your guinea pigs food keep it in a cool, dark place.
It may be necessary to supplement your guinea pigs food with fresh fruits and vegetables and/or a vitamin C supplement. Some excellent sources of vitamin C include: kale, parsley, sweet red and yellow peppers, broccoli, cabbage and guava. If using a vitamin C supplement it is best to use a chewable tablet as opposed to drops added to your guinea pig’s water. Hard water, metal containers and chlorine can cause the vitamin C to deteriorate and the change in taste may also put your guinea pig off drinking. Do not use a multivitamin because there is a potential for toxic overdose of other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C is a water soluble so it is excreted in the urine and will not build up to toxic levels in the body.
So remember, every morning when you take your vitamin C tablet, don’t forget you guinea pig needs some too.

The Art of Opening Your Christmas Presents

2009-12-22T12:51:00.009-05:00

Oak was so excited the other day. He got an early Christmas present! Yah! It was in a gift bag, so I set it on the floor for him to open by himself. He did a wonderful job! Took the paper out and grabbed the first toy he found.

Ohhhh! A stuffy, he loves stuffies!

They only last about 5 or 10 minutes, but those are the very BEST 5 or 10 minutes of the day :) He started running around and playing with the stuffy, then he lay down to tear it to pieces(yes, that is his favourite use for a stuffie).

I had to point out to him that there was another toy in the bag. Finally, he figured he's check it out and stuck his head in the bag to try and reach the toy and the bag got stuck on his head!

What a sight :) When he finally shook the bag off his head, he had the toy. Good job, Oak. Opening the present was almost as much fun as playing with the toys!

Santa Pictures

2009-12-20T07:35:00.007-05:00

The Humane Society of Durham Region have held Pet Pics with Santa every year for the past 15/16 years and we have gone every year. At the beginning we used to take cats, hamsters, rats, but now we just take dogs. (the cats are very happy with this arrangement!). This is Fluff and Tigger:

Don't they look impressed? :)

This is: Lite, Oak, Zanara and Jewels on Santa's lap

They look like they are sitting wonderfully for the camera, but in reality there is someone sitting behind Santa's chair holding on to Lite and Oak's leashes!

And this is Oak by himself.

He really doesn't want to be sitting there. He was scared of Santa :(

This was his picture with Santa last year:

He sure grew alot in 2009!

Merry Christmas to Everyone and your Pets! We hope you enjoy a Fabulous Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year

Dog Plus Snow Equals Fun!

2009-12-10T13:20:00.007-05:00

We had our first real snowfall yesterday, so of course we had to go to the park for a nice long walk!

The snowflakes were huge and very wet, so I had to sneak the camera out of the plastic bag and stand down wind to try to take pictures. It was quite the adventure.

Oak absolutely loved it a the park, he ran in circles, tried to find out what those delicious smells under the snow were, chased sticks and tried to jump into the partially frozen stream! Happily he listened when I told him NO! The first snowfall is always so pretty so I thought I'd try to take a portrait of Oak sitting happily among the glittering snow covered fields. He didn't think sitting still was a great idea at all. Why should he sit there, when there was all this fun stuff to do? Silly Mommy! In this shot his head is swinging around like a bobble head.

Then I finally got him to sit still long enough to get a quick shot!

Oak was very disappointed to be leaving, but I was freezing and soaked, so we will have to come back another day when I'm dry!

The Class Clown :)

2009-11-27T11:18:00.002-05:00

We had our very last obedience class last night. The school we have been going to for 14 years ( 4 dogs ) is closing because the trainer has decided to retire. Oak made sure his last performance was very memorable! I'll just let the video speak for itself :)

I hope all our American friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. I am very thankful for my goofy buddy :)

Practicing in the Park

2009-11-26T14:06:00.007-05:00

Yamei our trainer was over yesterday for our private lesson and Oak did a fabulous job! He was very focused and even stayed in front of me not moving while Yamei was walking back and forth. He did move when she tried to run past, but considering what an excited little guy he is, I think he did wonderful!

So, today we decided to up the distraction level a bit. I took him to the park to practice his Relaxation Protocol.

First we went for a walk through the park and played fetch to expend a bit of energy.

Then straight onto the tasks at hand. We have moved up to Day 2 of the Protocol for Relaxation so everything is new, different and a wee bit harder. I had him sit in front of me and stay still for 10 sec.

Yeah! He passed with flying colours! Then I stepped back 3 steps. He still stayed. Yeah!

He was doing such a fabulous job. There are even a few other people and dogs in park. He looked around a few times, but mostly he just sat in a nice relaxed position and stared at me.

The next few steps were a little more active, I had to walk around beside him, then come back, walk to the side while clapping, then return. I think he's more relaxed when I move then when I just stand in front of him. After the moving tasks, he had to sit still for 10 sec. again and he got up and left. He went to grab the stick, obviously he was getting bored with all the sitting and staying, so I let him play for a bit again. He is supposed to be learning to relax and I didn't think he would be if he was bored and I had to try to force him to do the protocol. After we played a little longer, we went back to the lessons again. He was so relaxed this time around, that he decided to lay down, not just sit.

I'm going to have to ask if this is ok, since it does say "sit" on the sheet, not lay down. But from everything I've been reading about the Protocol for Relaxation, they did mention it is NOT an obedience lesson, so I figure that means if he's more relaxed laying down, then he should be allowed to do that. We never actually finished the entire list of tasks, but I'm still really happy with the progress.

Yeah Oak!! Great Job Buddy!!!

New Trainer

2009-11-19T13:51:00.004-05:00

We are trying out a new trainer who positive reinforcement training. She came last week for an initial consultation. I was really impressed with her methods, thoughts, and questions. She was here for almost 2 hours and had a full questionnaire that needed to be filled out. After she asked the questions, she did a little demonstration with Oak and a clicker. I hadn't really thought that a clicker worked that well but she had him touching her hand on command within minutes. It was all very interesting to watch.

At the end of the consult she gave us a small bit of homework and then was going to come up with a plan of attack for the next 4 weeks of training. Oak's main problem is jumping up when guests in the door. He just goes nuts, and doesn't listen to anything I have to say. I've tried telling people to ignore him, I've tried to get him to sit and stay by me, I've even tried treats. None of these things worked, he just wanted see the new person at his door. The only thing that does work, is to lock him in the basement while I answer the door, and if the guest is staying, I end up putting him on a leash to control him for the first 30-45 minutes until he calms down! The beginning step to help with this problem, was to get him to sit and stay for a few seconds. Each time he did, I released and gave him a treat(cheeiros are working really well!) We slowly started increasing the time he had to stay before being released.
When she came back this week, we showed off his new skill. She was really impressed that he stayed for 15 sec without moving.
She came with a plan of attack and we went through all the lessons we have to practice. We are back to concentrating on the basics. Teaching him to focus, leave it, sit and stay for short periods of time and an Orienting exercise. We are also expanding our skill at the door too. He sits and stays, while I walk over to the door and open it! He's catching on to them all quite nicely. A thousand more times and he'll be perfect :)
And to top it all off we are following a Protocol for Relaxation by Dr Karen Overall. It's a 14 step program to help calm and relax over excitable canines like my little Oak.

Like Julie says, by the end of the lessons and practicing he'll be Super Oak, ready to leap small buildings in a single bound, or at least calmly meet guests at the door :)

A Walk Down Memory Lane

2009-11-14T20:54:00.007-05:00

It was a beautiful day on thursday, so we decided to take the dogs for a walk at the conservation area. They were all very excited and running about like crazy puppies :)

There were trails to run down, fields to search, fabulous smells to investigate!

Oak, Lite, Dougal and even Zanara ran, played, ran some more, found sticks to play with, then ran some more. They were having an exceptional time! Then to top it all off, there was a river to swim in. Yeah! Now that he know how, I think Swimming is Oak's favourite past time. He is really going to miss it when the water all ices up!

About 4 or 5 years ago, we went on a similar walk down these same trails. At that time we had Finn, Phoenix, Zanara and Ebony with us. We stopped at a small hill to take a candid shot of them all sitting with each other. This is the picture, Finn is on the end(right side), then Phoenix, then Zanara and Ebony is laying down in front. Since that day all those years ago (actually in the past year) Finn, Phoenix and Ebony all died of cancer.

When Finn died, his owners (he was a client's golden) rescued Dougal. When Phoenix died I got Oak, and when Ebony died my daughter Mandy and her family got Lite. So we wanted to take another picture in the same spot as the older one. We took this shot of Oak(on the right), Zanara, Dougal and Lite is laying down.

They had difficulties sitting still that long, but I think we ended up with a nice picture in the end. And another happy memory of a special day spent with our best friends :)

Reiki

2009-11-07T21:27:00.013-05:00

In my search for alternative healing methods for Oak and his bad hips, I discovered the science of Reiki. It is a holistic hands on technique that uses energy to assist the body's natural ability to heal itself.
The first step was to take First Degree Reiki healing. Which we did from a great lady who owns Cedar Cove Wellness in Baltimore. I found it very interesting and informative and I learned facinating things about the world around me. The next step was the Animal Reiki Workshop. Finally, I got to learn how reiki could help the animals around me. We studied colour, crystals and animal chakra's. I learned other ways of using reiki energy for animals by energizing their food, water, homeopathic remedies, beds etc. Then it was time to practice on the animals. Our teacher took us to the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary to help out the pets there and encourage us to use our new found skills.

This is me giving Tabby some reiki energy. He just loved it! There was a couple of times I thought he was going to go to sleep!

At first, the other donkeys didn't want to have anything to do with us. So we let the energy flow to them from a distance. This is Charlie Brown enjoying the feel of the energy.

After about 10 to 15 minutes of our circle of healing, something amazing happened, the donkeys started flocking over towards us. They felt the energy Charlie was receiving and wanted some too!

Miranda was especially attentive. She was really enjoying the energy healing. She kept moving so we could place our hands on her hips. Obviously, she felt this was the spot that needed the reiki the most.

We had a marvelous day helping out all the donkeys, cats and even a pot belly pig and a couple of sheep.

By the end of the afternoon, the donkeys were feeling frisky and playful. This is Charlie Brown and Joey. Charlie Brown recieved alot of positive energy today and it showed!

This is Patsy kicking up her heels(or scratching her back, but I think the former sounds more exciting!)

I feel like this is the beginning of a great new adventure for Oak and I!

Howloweenie!

2009-10-29T08:40:00.010-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner! The kids are all excited, everyone is decorating their houses and carving pumpkins.

There are some things Oak is enjoying about this time of year, and some things he's not. Our daily walks, although still fun and enjoyable are also scary. He doesn't understand what those unmoving figures (scarecrows)on that guys lawn are. They probably shouldn't be there, so he barks, and backs away from them and looks nervously around for the next 5 minutes just in case they are going to follow us! Then there are those big white heads with the dark eyes(skulls), they definitely shouldn't be in that garden. Walks have gotten so dangerous!
Then on top of that, the funny costumes come out of hiding. This is his friend Jewels, her Mommy dressed her up as a Bumble Bee!

And this is Katie, she doesn't look to thrilled to be a pirate... Ahoy Matey!!

Last year Oak had to try on a few costumes (they were Jewels' and he was tiny, so he still fit in them).
Which was better, Oak as a witch!

Or, Oak as a clown :)

I'm pretty sure I have a cowboy costume in the closet that I used to dress Phoenix up in, hmmm, where did I out it:)
He'll be so much happier when Halloween is over and Christmas is coming. Snow and presents, his two favourite things!

The Pet Postcard Project

2009-10-25T13:37:00.010-04:00

The Pet Postcard Project is a really neat idea created by Nikki Moustaki. For every handmade pet postcard they receive, a shelter will get 1 pound of dog food. The site does not make any money from the project. It's all about raising food and awareness for shelter animals. Not only that, the postcards are entered in monthly contests to win prizes. You just can't beat it! You have fun creating a card, when your card is sent in to the Pet Postcard Project a shelter receives one pound of food, and to top it all off, you can win prizes! There are different categories to enter your cards in: your pet can be giving advice, confessions, wishes, excuses or "you know you love your pet when..."
So, I made my postcards, sent them in, and won three prizes! These are my winning postcards:

Now, since I'm in Canada and the sponsors are in the US, I was afraid I wouldn't actually get my prizes, but I did receive 2 out of 3, so that's not bad.
I won a Springer from Springer America. It is a device you can attach to your bicycle, then attach your dog to it, and he can run along beside your bike. It's already too cold for biking here, so the test run will have to wait until spring.

We also won a Puppy Pinata. This is Lulu:

Isn't she cute? She came filled with treats and the dog is supposed find the secret pocket, open it and remove the treats. Now Oak can be very destructive when it comes to stuffies, so I didn't figure Lulu would last too long in his paws. For this reason, I took her picture before I gave her to Oak.

This is Oak playing with Lulu.

This is Oak, trying to tear Lulu to shreds(he already has the treats out!).

This is the end of poor little Lulu :(

All I can say is Oak really enjoyed playing with Lulu while she lasted, and I really enjoyed making the postcards and winning prizes. Has anyone else sent postcards to the Pet Postcard Project? If you haven't, you really should. The shelter animals need the food and it's an enjoying way to pass an evening!

As a quick side note: Please use caution if you are not from the USA. I had assumed I would be asked if I wanted to pay customs and shipping any the prizes before they were sent. One company did phone and ask, I said thanks, but no thanks. Springer America on the other hand sent the item without asking first and today (Nov 19) I received a surprising bill for $25.82. Not a happy way to celebrate winning a contest :(

Dog Training 101 - From a Layman's Point of View

2009-10-22T21:20:00.002-04:00

As many of you may, or may not know, Oak and I have been in training since he was about 3 months old. We, as a family, have always (for the last 15 years) taken our dogs to the same school for training. I’ve used the same methods, followed the same rules, and came away with a well behaved dog. These methods don’t seem to be consistently working this time. Oak has some commands he will complete automatically, with no thought involved. And other commands he completely ignores. I didn’t want him jumping up and trying to steal his food from my hand before I was able to put the dish down, so from a young age I taught him to wait until I say “alright”. No matter how hungry he is, he sits and waits. One time, I accidently said “Hello” instead of “Alright” (which is our release word) and he looked at me like I was crazy, but he didn’t start eating his food. If I could just figure out the best method to get him to obey the rest of the commands everything would be perfect! So I decided to investigate other methods of training. Maybe they know something new that our trainer didn't know about. What I discovered is that although different trainers may have different methods, they still all follow eight basic rules:

Rule #1:
You are the alpha and you must make sure your dog believes it to be true. This of course is the most important rule and the basis of all other training.

Rule #2:
Training should be fun. A happy and excited dog is more likely to pay attention and learn.

Rule#3
You must first guide the dog through the exercise. It is easier for a dog to learn a command if they understand what you are trying to get them to do.

Rule#4:
A correction is needed if the command is not followed. The correction should not be harsh, but should catch the dog's attention and encourage him to listen.

Rule#5
A reward is needed for following the command. Whether is be food, praise, petting or to play.

Rule#6
Repetition! I have read some books that say you need to repeat a lesson a few thousand times before response becomes conditioned and automatic.

Rule#7
Consistency. You must be consistent with the body language, commands, corrections and even praise that you use.

Rule #8
You need to have a release word to tell your dog he may move.

Any training method you choose should work, if you follow these basic rules.

Animoto.com

2009-10-09T13:40:00.001-04:00

Calendar Contest Winners

2009-09-23T21:56:00.008-04:00

Our photo contest winners are in! We had lots of great entries and it was really hard to choose, but here are a few of the winners.
The next step is to make a 2010 calendar with all these pictures, then to get it printed and finally to make some money for the Humane Society of Durham Region when we sell them. This is our 4th year selling calendars for the humane society and hopefully it will be the best year yet!

Want to see some of our winners? Here they are:

This is Finn, isn't he handsome?

Fred is ready for dinner!

Run Rufus Run!

Harvey and Murphy enjoying the sun.

Sleepy Frankie :)

And that's just a few. Thanks everyone for the fabulous photos. The calendar is going to turn out amazing this year!

Adventures in Dock Diving

2009-08-27T15:23:00.012-04:00

Now that Oak has finally started swimming, he never wants to stop! He loves it in the water. It's great for his hips too, so I don't mind taking him as often as I can. Since he is enjoying the water and swimming, I've been thinking of trying dock diving. There are some classes around here that I can take him to so we can get started. I thought I'd try him out on a "real" dock first to see how it went and then sign up for a class. We have a friend who owns a dock, so we went up to his house yesterday to try out Dock Diving. The first task was getting him on the dock! He was very nervous about walking on the dock and it took about 20 minutes to convince him he wasn't going to fall in just because he was on the dock!

After that, we tried throwing a stick in the water so he would jump in and fetch it. I took a video of him.

As you can see the result wasn't quite what we were looking for! He's such a smart little boy :) Then we tried it with Jamie (hubby, too cold for me to go in!) in the water calling Oak. I took a video of his gracful entry into the water.

He must have gone at least 6 inches away from the dock! What a dive! He tried one more time after that and once again sunk under water. I don't think he likes the sinking part. More practice and we'll get those 20 foot jumps, I'm sure of it!

Fun on the Weekend

2009-08-24T16:45:00.010-04:00

This past weekend was full of fun and new experiences for Oak. The fun actually started on wednesday since he spent wednesday, thursday and friday in daycare playing with his buddy Lite.
On saturday I decided to take him to the river swimming, since we hadn't been for a few days. He had a great time in the water, swimming, chasing sticks, finding bugs, and running around in the tall grass.

He was very good about bringing the sticks back to shore, although not necessarily to me, so I could throw it again.

Sometimes they got lost in the current and floated down river so we went down there to find them. That's when we spotted these footprints in the water. There were none on shore, just in the river.
I think they were blue heron prints. Oak was really no help in deciding what they were :) To bad we didn't get to see the actual bird!

On sunday we went to a soccer tournament all day. He got to visit with the grandkids (who he loves),

meet some old friends, and some not so friendly acquaintances (Beau doesn't really like Oak) This is Beau and Zanara watching the game.

When we walked closer Beau started barking at him, so we stayed in our little spot, and they stayed in theirs. Zanara, on the other hand, will put up with Oak if she has to(she does, she is Lite's sister!). Not that she is ever too thrilled to have puppies around!

He was also interested in making some new friends. He was facinated with the ponies and goats(there was a petting zoo at the soccer tournament).

He decided the food the kids bought to feed the goats and llamas was actually quite yummy and he tried to find every little kibble that was dropped on the ground and gobble it up.

He was a very good boy over all and a very tired boy, by the time we got home.

Daycare on Saturday

2009-08-10T15:14:00.007-04:00

On Saturday Oak and I had to go over to the daycare/boarding house and take care of the dogs staying there for the weekend. Oak was very picky about who he wanted to play with. He spent the whole time playing with Lite only.

Maxie and Hobbs played with each other, although every now and then somebody, usually Lite, would grab something they all wanted, and they would all chase him around the yard. Mostly though, Oak and Lite wrestled(usually in the livingroom) and Hobbs and Maxie enjoyed a good game of tug of war.
They slept (sometimes in very uncomfortable looking positions!)

or just rested for a minute,

then they'd be off again.

Personally I wish I had just a teeny weeny bit of the energy these dogs have! Meanwhile poor Zanara spent most of the day napping.

These yougun's are just too crazy for her!

Oak and Lite

2009-08-08T10:44:00.006-04:00

Oak had Lite over again yesterday to play. They had great fun running around the yard, playing tug of war and chasing each other. We have 2 apple trees in the backyard and one of them has a branch that hangs really close to the deck stairs. Oak likes to take apples off the tree and toss them around like balls. He was doing that yesterday, when Lite came along and grabbed his apple.

Look at Oak's face! He wanted his play toy back! Lite didn't see any reason to play ball with the apple, when he could just eat it!

Finally, Lite dropped it, and Oak got what was left of the apple back. He grabbed it and ran!

Soccer Fun

2009-07-28T09:41:00.006-04:00

Oak and I went to my grandkids soccer game last night. He was a wonderful boy. He sat still(most of the time), and didn't pull me around.

He had a great time( see the big smile!), met some new friends,

and got to spend time at the park. Unfortunately, he didn't get to play with the soccer ball or the kids!

Introducing InThePink Dagda's Sacred Oak

2009-07-23T09:09:00.006-04:00

I just got Oak's registration papers from our breeder today and I'm so happy I got the name I wanted for him. There are reasons for choosing "Dagda's Sacred Oak" for his name and I thought I'd explain it here.
My last golden MacCartney's Phoenix of Dagda CD died in september 2008 after being my best friend for 14 years. When I decided it was time for a new puppy, I wanted to have his name connected to Phoenix somehow. So I started looking at names for the new puppy and decided to check into Celtic Mythology again. Another thing that figured into my name choice is his father's name, which is Leaf (Hyline's Branch of the Tree).
Dagda(part of Phoenix's name) is the god of life and death in Celtic Mythology. He is the Father of All Gods, also known as the "Good God" and the Irish Lord of the Land. During times of peace, the Dagda would play his living harp, also known as the "Oak of the Two Cities" or "Hand of Fourfold Music." As he played, the music would cause the seasons to process in order...Spring to Summer...Summer to Autumn...Autumn to Winter...and Winter again to Spring.
The Oak is Dagda's tree. The Oak was the principal sacred tree of the Druids, symbolizing truth and steadfast knowledge as well as the turning of the year. During this time, Druids would carve a circle in the tree for protection against lightning. The Oak was representative of the trials that individuals experience in life while changing and becoming who they were meant to be. This tree represented the soul which, in Celtic terms, was the "Eye of God." Doors made of Oak were believed to keep out evil. The word "door" derives from the Sanskrit "duir," Ogham for Oak and a word which symbolizes solidity and protection. In the realm of the forest, the Oak is the King of Trees, standing mightily solid with great branches, matched only be even greater roots. Often struck by lightning, the force of the strike and the heat bursts the sap and stem of the Oak apart, leaving the trunk gnarled and withered...yet, the Oak still manages to survive for decades or even centuries.
Also while I was researching I found that in Celtic astrology the Oak tree was my puppy's tree sign(July 4).
So everything seemed to fit together perfectly and he became InThePink Dagda's Sacred Oak.
He looks totally impressed with his name, don't you think? :)

My FIRST Birthday!!!

2009-07-06T09:01:00.016-04:00

Saturday July 4, 2009 was my 1st birthday, so Mommy is letting me tell you guys all about it!
The best part of it all was the fact that we were up a the cottage! YAHOO!!! It's only the second time I've gone in my entire life and I love it there. I get to run around free, go swimming, go for walks in the woods, did I mention go swimming, play etc., etc. etc.....
After breakfast we went to the pond for a swim. Mommy threw sticks in and I fetched them. She said I did real good. Last time we were here, I was too afraid to even try swimming, but this time I loved it.

While we were at the pond, Daddy drove up on the quad and we went for a ride up the Old Road(they rode, I followed). They kept stopping and waiting for me, cause I wanted to check out all the interesting smells.
When we got back to the cottage, Mommy gave me a BIGGEST, BESTEST bone ever to chew on. It was the yummiest!!

I chewed and chewed and chewed, then I got tired of chewing, but I didn't want anyone else to get MY bone, so I searched and searched for a great place to hide it. I finally found the perfect spot and buried it under a tree in the bushes. Nobody will ever find it there, I'm sure of it!
Then my new friend Cerbrus came over and we all went for a great, big long walk in the woods.

(This is Cerbrus)
We found so many neat things on our adverture! There was a turtle(I didn't actualy see it, Mommy said I walked right over it, but at least I didn't step on it!).

We checked out the tree stands. Daddy has bunches and bunches of them set up in the bush for deer hunting. I wish I could climb up there!

And speaking of deer, check out this hole they made in the ground. Daddy puts a salt lick here for them every year and over the past 20 years, they've created this great, big hole in the ground! The holes I dig never get this big, but that's because Mommy keeps filling them in. I had to climb down in it and sniff around to see why it was so special. It smelled really different.

Daddy wanted to show us all a rock he found the last time he was in the woods. He was looking everywhere for it, but we found it before him! He says its like a giant jigsaw puzzle and the pieces all fit together. Why would anybody want a rock? You can't eat a rock, I know cause I tried :)

I found lots of sticks on our walk. Too many to choose from, but some were just too big for me to carry :)

Then we got to the bridges! There were a couple of them, that we had to walk over. I wasn't sure I wanted too, but Cerbrus went right across, so I figured I had to "pretend" to be a big boy now and go across too. Mommy was very proud of me, and it wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be.

Then we saw a frog! Well, at least Mommy did, I was running around having too much fun and ran right by it! There are just too many things to see and no time to see them all!

We stopped at the pond and went swimming again. Even Daddy and Danny went swimming this time. They didn't fetch sticks like I did though. Don't know3 why, it's the best part of swimming!

We stopped back at the cottage so I could eat my me supper then, we were off again. Mommy and Daddy ate supper over a Cerbrus's house. I got to steal some of Cerbrus's food, then Mommy made me stop. I snuck back over to it again, but by then, there were only a few crumbs left. After supper Mommy and Daddy and their friends were going to play croquet, but I kept taking the ball. I'm sure they were throwing it for me, why else would it be rolling around on the ground? Finally they gave up and played soccer with me instead. Afterall, it's my birthday, everything should be about me, right?

After our soccer game, we had a fire and Mommy took this picture of the sunset. I'm not sure why, who cares if the sun is setting?

What a fabulous birthday! What a fabulous weekend! Now I'm going to sleep for a week(or at least an hour or two :)

Swimming ... Finally!

2009-06-16T15:58:00.006-04:00

At first he wouldn't go in deep enough to swim.
Then.... Yeah! He started swimming! And he loved it. He kept going in and swimming around, then coming back out again.
He also went in to fetch the sticks when I threw them(something he refused to do yesterday even). He was very hesitant at first, but when he realized he wasn't going to sink, he started to enjoy himself.
Now we'll go every few days to help build the muscles in his hips.
Yeah, Oak!

News From This Week

2009-06-05T06:49:00.003-04:00

On tuesday June 2 we went to the chiropractor for our 4th week in a row. Progress is being made! She said now that he is more aligned the muscles in his back are developing more and therefore will hold his spine straight which in turn holds his hips straight. Yeah! We don't have to go back for 2 weeks this time and we'll see how everything is then.

I have looked into massage, but have yet to find someone in the area who does it. I have found a lady who has classes on massaging your own pet, but she is about a hour away. I've talked to a few people I work with, and they are interested in learning massage for their dogs, so I'm going to see if the canine massage therapist will hold a class in our area. I've also looked for a book, but there were none in the bookstores around here, and my vet has already lent hers out! Seems to be becoming a more popular therapy for pets.

We had our first advanced novice class on tuesday as well. It started out great, then all hell broke loose. Lots of fun and laughter though :) He was doing really well until we started practicing the recall. There are 5 of us in the class and the trainer had us line all the dogs up in a row. Then in no particular order she would tell us to call our dog. By the time it got to Oak he had his leash back on(due to the fact that he thought his name was Nick and Stella and Rocky :). So I call him, he starts heading my way, but his leash distracts him and he grabs it and starts running around in circles swinging his leash! What a clown. He really hammed it up for the audience. Then it was time for the down stay. He stayed down, but he rolled around on his back with his 4 feet up in the air and managed to squiggle about 3 feet away from where he started! Life is never boring with Oak around:)

He also got a chance to try swimming(if that's what you want to call it). He was trying to get a stick out of a pond and he got in over his head. It was pretty much downhill from there. My daughter and I decided he swims like the titanic! or maybe a rock. Maybe I'll need to get him water wings to keep him afloat :)

Humane Society Walkathon

2009-05-31T13:41:00.008-04:00

This morning was the annual walkathon for the Humane Society of Durham Region. The sun was out (yah!) and it was nice and cool(no bugs). The walk is held at a conservation area, so it's really quite a nice 5 km trek. There was a fabulous turn out. I've never seen so many people there. This is the first time Oak has ever gone, so he was really excited! There were people and dogs everywhere, for him to meet. Even Mary was there! Mary is his favourite person in the whole world. Mary is my secretary and Oak just loves her.

Then Lite showed up and he got to play with him.

Then we started the walk. There were stations along the route where they passed out treats and water. He got to run around in the mud and the swamp. Then to top it all off he got to play in the river at the end.

Better still there were barbequed hot dogs afterwards. Unfortunately for Oak, they were for the people :) But that didn't stop him from trying!

There's one tired puppy sleeping upstairs in the hallway. I bet he's already looking forward to next year. :)

Graduation Night!

2009-05-27T13:48:00.004-04:00

We finished our basic novice class(again) and we had graduation night. On gradutation night we actually go through all the exercises like we would during a trial. Oak did pretty good on all the heel exercises(although some of his sits were crooked and he did lag on the figure 8)but his recall and sits and downs were horrible. !

(On a side note, when he walks around the outside of the pile on, you can tell he isn't extending his hind left leg as he should. Hopefully massage will help enable him to fulling extend his leg.)
On the recall he sat, stayed and came running when I called. Unfortunately, just before he got to me he turned to the left and started sniffing around. She had me call him again, and he came running and sat (rather crookedly) in front.

He didn't stay at all for the sits or the down, but neither did half the other dogs. Only one dog out of 10 actually got a qualifying score!
Our advanced notice class starts in 2 weeks. That's when we begin heeling offlead, scary!

Learnt Something New :)

2009-05-25T09:22:00.002-04:00

I've been doing more research on hip dysplasia and have discovered something new. I been reading Cooper's diary. He was 6 months old when he had hip xrays done and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. The owner went 3 different vets for a diagnosis. Two of them recommended Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, the third said to wait and see how much worse the hips get. The owner put Cooper on Foster and Smith Joint Care and Solid Gold Yucca. She also took him too a physical therapist and did hydrotherapy(swimming - just what Oak refuses to do!). The therapist explained to her that the inside muscles of the thigh were tight. This was causing the hip joint to pop out even more and the muscles on the outer leg to not develop enough. The symptoms for Cooper were very tight inner thigh muscles, and a very tight back(Oak's spine was very tight the first time we went to the chiroprator). The therapist said that dogs have a lot of extra skin on the top, and that you should be able to roll and stretch the skin easily all the way down the back from the neck to the tail(I'm not sure I understand this). In Cooper's case it was very tight.The therapist recommended massaging the inner thigh to loosen these muscles and make Cooper use his out thigh muscles more. So, to make a long story short, after using supplements, hydrotherapy and massage for the next year and a half. They xrayed his hips again at 2 years of age, they looked fabulous! The xrays were sent in to be rated and he got a good rating!

After reading this story, I got to thinking that Oak is showing signs of tight muscles. He doesn't like to lay in a "froggy" and he's not too keen about laying on his back with his legs stretched out. Both things he wouldn't like to do if his muscles were tight. Now to check into massage.

Weekend at the Cottage

2009-05-20T13:04:00.008-04:00

Oak(Lite, Zanara and Jewels) all had a fabulous long weekend at the cottage! Lots of swimming, running, playing and adventures!
Oak would only go in the water up to the point where he could still touch bottom but Zanara wouldn't stay out of the pond. She was cleaning it out. She swam to any sticks she saw and carried them to the shore, then she went back for more. Not only did she clean up the sticks, but she also cleaned up the rocks on the bottom. The ramp into the water was littered with rocks and sticks that she had taken out. What a helpful girl!

Lite even got in on the action. After a few attempts(really funny attempts!) he was in there swimming like a pro.

Jewels preferred to keep to the shore running around and chasing bugs. Although she did try to collect some of the smaller sticks by the edge. And those frogs, she tried really hard to catch them, but they were too quick.

We went for long walks, had a bonfire and one night even had fireworks! The fireworks didn't even bother Oak, thank goodness, over the years I've come to hate long weekends and fireworks.

It was quite chilly at night, but other then a really rainy saturday the weather wasn't bad for the rest of the weekend. I was a bit worried about Oak overdoing it with his hips, but he was fine. A bit stiff at night(not just his hips, but his whole body) but that was the only sign of pain he showed. We went to the chiropractor on tuesday after we got home and she said his left hip was a bit low again, but he was much better then the appointment the week before.

The Hip Story Continues..

2009-05-12T14:21:00.003-04:00

I just thought I keep everyone up to date on Oak's progress(or lack thereof, since he's never shown any signs of discomfort). I started the Sasha's Blend on May 1. It has a very fishy scent to it. He gets 1 1/2 tsp. per day with his food. He didn't really like it at first, but he doesn't seem to notice it anymore. I also started him on salmon oil the same day.
On May 8 I picked up some Ester C. I gave him 1000 mg. that night, then 1000mg with both am and pm meals until yesterday, when I increased the am dose to 2000mg.
He had his first acupunture appointment on friday May 8. Everything went well, it didn't bother him at all.
This morning we went to see the chiropractor. She did find his hips were misaligned. The right side was high and the leftside was low. There was also a hot area in the middle just above his tail. His spine was a wee bit off too. She said it could be caused by regular puppy craziness or from the fact his hips are displasic. She adjusted him today and we have an appointment for next tuesday to see how everything is then. He may be really off, we are spending the long weekend at the cottage. This will be his first time!

Pajama Party (minus the pajamas)

2009-05-10T15:09:00.004-04:00

Oak is so excited he got to have Lite over for a slumber party on friday night. He made me take pictures, and he wanted to tell everyone about it.

On friday Mom and I were just sitting there watching TV and all the sudden the door openned and Lite came bouncing in. Mommy said Lite was here to spend the night! Yipee! I started chasing him around the livingroom, then he grabbed the sqeaky squirrel from one end and I grabbed the other. He pulled hard, but I'm much bigger and stronger, so I won. We asked Mommy if we could go outside and play (even though it was raining) Boy, what fun! We ran around and around the back yard. Mommy didn't seem too impressed when we wanted back in with muddy paws though. She made us stand still and get all wiped off with a towel. It was getting late, but we weren't tired, we were having too much fun! Mommy insisted it was time for bed though. Lite even got to come upstairs and sleep in Mommy's room with us.

Lite is a very early riser. Mommy and I were still sleeping when he decided it was time to get up at 5:30 in the morning! Who gets up that early!?! One good thing, we got to play some more. We started wrestling in the kitchen, then Lite ran to the livingroom, then back to the kitchen. What fun!

After breakfast Mommy said we had to go visit some cats, so we all jumped in the van. I called shotgun, but Lite didn't care. He still tried to sit in the front with me. My van, my seat!

We had such a great time. I hope Lite can come back and spend the night again another time.

Great Job in Class

2009-05-05T09:54:00.002-04:00

Well, class on tuesday was fabulous. I was very proud of Oak. He's worked hard and it shows. Even the trainers commented on his improvements! Yeah! His heeling was wonderful, his sits were a bit off though(someimtes beside me, sometimes in front). During his stand for examination, he didn't even move when the trainer went up to pet him! The only problem all night was staying!! He moved on both the sit stay and the down stay. He really hates staying still. Why should he just sit there when he's so cute and he's sure everyone wants him to come visit! Or better still, they probabely have a treat for him. Who could turn down this sweet smile.

Another thing I'd like to mention about class was how great all the other dogs are doing as well. A bunch of rambunctious puppies started this class and now its a class of well behaved dogs who listen to their owners. Great job, to all the handlers and the trainers.

No More Cone, Yeah!

2009-05-04T14:53:00.005-04:00

Oak's incision is healing wonderfully, so we are getting rid of the cone! Yeah!

Unfortunately that means he can get back in the mud again. :(

He really wasn't very good at wearing it. We had a 14 yr. old Border collie cross named Ebony who had to wear a cone for 10 days when she had her eye removed(glaucoma) and you could hardly tell she was wearing it. Sometimes if thnk she liked to use it to bring all the great smells in. Oak could not figure out how to maneuver it around. He'd bump into the door on his way outside, then just stand there cause he didn't think he could go any further. :) Poor little guy. I'd have to help him get around the door. He kept running into people too and Jewels(my daughter's boston terrier) was terrified of him when he was wearing it.

Now they can share the same blanket again :)

We are also back to our regular traing schedule, starting this morning. I think he forgot everything he had learned! (not really, but he was really hyper and happy to be out walking again). Alot of pulling and bouncing, but not much staying.

And we started the supplements in his diet. I've been adding the salmon oil and Sasha's Blend to breakfast and dinner. I'm not sure he likes the flavour though, as he's not really finishing his meals. It my be the antibiotics are upsetting his tummy a bit(razor burn from the surgery, so they gave me antibiotics just in case it got infected). We'll see, he really likes his food, so I'm sure he'll eat sooner or later.

Class again tonight. I've got my fingers crossed.

The Day After

2009-04-30T13:44:00.009-04:00

The neuter went ok yesterday. There was excessive bleeding, so the doctor was a bit worried about Von Willebrand disease, but the bleeding stopped, so she just wanted me to know to be aware if he needs any other surgeries at some point in the future. When I brought him home last night he was still a bit stoned, but he had no problems gobbling up supper. The nurse said to feed him a bit at a time, so I did. Oak was not impressed by the fact that he only got a wee bit of food, then had to wait! He was also not as tired as I expected him to be. He even wanted to play a bit!(I didn't let him, though) He tried to chew on his incision a couple of times and it started bleeding, sooo....now he has to wear a cone :( Poor little man.

This is him outside drinking from a flower pot:)

Now for the bad news. We had his hips xrayed while he was asleep, and they don't look good. I was really surprised by this, because I thought they would be perfect. We have never noticed him having any issues with them.

We'll take xrays again after he turns 2 years, and until then we will be concentrating on joint care. Starting tomorrow, I will be adding several supplements to his diet. My vet suggested Sasha's Blend and also an Omega 3 oil like Krill or Salmon.
Oak wil also receive occasional accupuncture and chiropractic treatments. I hope to find a place to take him swimming so we can increase the muscle mass in a nonjarring way.

Eight years ago my daughter's 2 year old golden (Zanara) was diagnosed with 3rd degree hip dysplasia. At that time we switched everyone to raw and supplemented Zanara with high doses of Ester C, glucosamine and chondrotin. She is now 10 and is still in great shape. The only time she is in pain is when we go up to the cottage and she runs around and swims for hours on end. Then my daughter makes sure to give her MSM as well and this helps out a lot.

So for now, we are relaxing at home so he can recover from his surgery, then back to training, hopefully regular swimming and for me, more research.

Neuter or Not

2009-04-28T17:21:00.002-04:00

Reasons to Neuter:
-eliminates the small risk of dying from testicular cancer

-reduces the risk of noncancerous prostate disorders

-eliminates risk of impregnating a female dog

-helps eliminate aggressive tendencies

Reasons Not to Neuter or at least wait until the dog is fully developed:

- if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a common cancer in medium/large and larger breeds with a poor prognosis.

- increases the risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 1.6

- triples the risk of hypothyroidism

- increases the risk of progressive geriatric cognitive impairment

- quadruples the small risk prostate cancer

- increases the risk of orthopedic disorders

- increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

I started this post over a month ago. I wanted to research the effects of neutering and not neutering on Oak. My last golden, Phoenix, was never neutered. He died at the age of 14 years from hemangiosarcoma. He also suffered from hypothyroidism for many years and developed geriatric vestibular disease not once, but twice(very unusual)! So it would seem not all the facts and figures I have are necessarily accurate.

Unfortunately for me(and Oak) at this point in time, I feel his newly developed dominating ( dog aggressive) tendencies out way the possible risk of disease and orthopedic disorders later in life. I have spoken to my dog trainer, the vet and numerous other people who know dogs and we all agree it would be best to neuter Oak now, instead of waiting until he is 18 months old(as my contract states). So... he's all set to go in tomorrow. I hope I made the right decision. I'm a bit nervous(ok alot), but I'm sure it all work out in the end. Everybody cross your fingers for my baby.

The Helpful Gardener

2009-04-26T14:38:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful day here in Oshawa that we decided to do some gardening. I had some trees in the front garden that I planted years ago and I wasn't really happy with the way they were turning out, so I decided to remove them. Easier said then done. Some of the roots were alot deeper and thicker then I thought they would be. Oak saw I was having difficulties removing the tree and he decided to pitch in and help. He looked at the root and decided the best was to begin to dig.

Then he jumped right in and stated digging and digging until we were able to remove the tree.

Time for a little break(after all that hard work).

(Please note all the dirt on my sidewalk that I had to clean up. He's not the neatest digger!)
Next he needed to lay down on the dirt just to make sure the hole from the tree was all covered and solid. There was also some leftover pieces of root that needed mulching! :)

A big smile for a job well done. What a helpful boy I have :)

Class Last Night

2009-04-21T08:45:00.004-04:00

At times it seemed like I had a totally different dog at class last night. The 2 hours per day of training we've been doing has made a HUGE difference! He wasn't perfect, but he is still learning so I didn't expect perfection. He even stayed for the down stay and the sit stay! He kept switching hips in the down stay, so I kept thinking he was going to get up, but he didn't! The trainer brought treats around as a distraction and set them about 4 ft. in front of the dogs. My little piggy did try to get up and get the treat, but when I put him back down he stayed! Yeah! I talked to the trainer about his bullying tendencies and she suggested neutering, so I'm going to have to call his breeder and discuss it with her.
I've been doing alot of research on the internet on dog training methods and I decided I wanted to buy a couple of books, so after class we took a trip to Chapters. I was looking for "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell and "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. They had "The Other End of the Leash" in stock, but not the other one. After looking at it and the other books there, I decided to try "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller. I remembered seeing her on Oprah a few years ago and after glancing through the book, I thought it might be of interest to check out her methods. I'll let you know what I think. I already know what Oak thinks ...

I found him ripping it apart this morning :) Obviously, I shouldn't have left it on the floor by my bed.

First Day

2009-04-16T10:10:00.007-04:00

Well today is the first day of our new program. We actually started last night with leash work during a walk. He did very well especially near the end of our walk. Unfortunately, he found it too hot! He was huffing and puffing and it was only 16 C out! When we got home he lay down under the deck, in a hole he made there, to cool off. Poor guy is really going to hate it when it actually gets hot!
We went to the park this morning and he ran and ran and ran.

He even went in the stream for a little drink and to try to grab a stick. Personally, I just wanted him to clean the mud off his paws!

Then on the way out of the park I put him on lead and we did heel work, sit stay, down stay and stand for examination.

I didn't make him stay for extended periods of time, but I think he did very well especailly with all the distractions in the area.

The only thing is, I thought he might lay down for a rest when we got home, he's not. He's definitely not as hyper as usual, but he's not sleeping either! Oh well, I guess you can't expect miracles on the first day!

New Routine for Oak

2009-04-15T16:20:00.004-04:00

Oak is inclined to be a wee bit dominating with both dogs and people and the older he gets the worse it is getting instead of better. He'll be playing with another male dog, they'll be having a great time and suddenly the other dog will be winning the play fight, so Oak will play harder and it turns into a real fight. We end up having to pull him off the other dog and put him down in a submissive posture. I think there may be a couple of problems that need to be resolved to help with him.
First, I think he needs more exercise so starting tomorrow we're are going to up training and up his exercise. We will go to the off leash park first thing in the morning(8am) to run off some energy, then do some training in the nearby park. I'm going to go through all his exercises 3x each.

Then at 11am, while I go walk Komo and Kyan, Oak will go to daycare for about 45min. to play with the other dogs.

On monday, wednesday and thursday we walk Ranger next for an hour. We either walk through a park on lead, or go to the tennis courts and I let them play off lead. Unfortunately, tennis players are starting to use the tennis courts! :)

Then in the early evening, we will walk onlead and practise heeling and go through the commands again. He will also have to sit before going outside and before coming in and I may make him down stay more often in the house ie: while eating supper, loading the dishwasher, making food etc. We have to focus on his stay. He is really bad at that. So we are going to keep this up for a week and I will let you know how it goes.
If I don't see a massive improvment in a month or so, I may have to talk to his breeder about an early neuter. It is in her contract not to neuter him until 18 mos, which I totally agree with( hormones are needed for proper growth ). I'll talk to my vet, trainer and check out the info on the net to see what I can find. Hopefully, upping the training will work and I won't have to resort to drastic measures.

Lite and his Antics

2009-04-11T16:12:00.006-04:00

I'm not sure if you all remember, but back in february we had a new golden puppy join the family. His name is Lite and he is my daughter Mandy's dog. I just have to tell you what the little guy did the other day. Tyler my 6 yr. old grandson was playing in his treehouse and Lite decided he wanted to climb up to see him. Now to get up there, he had to climb a wooden ladder(he'd never been taught to do this, and he'd never done it before)

Once he got up there he wasn't sure how to get back down, so Tyler tried tossing a toy down the slide for him to chase.

He followed the toy down the slide, then climbed back up the ladder to take the toy back to Tyler!

Lite wanted to be with Tyler and even the fact that he had to climb up a ladder didn't slow him down:)

Oak's Daddy

2009-04-08T17:51:00.003-04:00

Since the last post was about Oak meeting his littermate Cedar, I thought I'd write a bit about his Dad(their Dad). I was looking a pictures of Leaf(Oak's Dad) on his website and Oak is starting to really look like him. Check it out and see what you think. This is the website for Hyline's Branch of the Tree. Specifically his pictures. This is a picture of Oak at 9 months.

What do you think?

Family Reunion - Oak and Cedar

2009-04-02T17:00:00.005-04:00

Today we went to Greenwood Conservation Area in Ajax to meet Oak's sister Cedar. I think I was more excited then he was :)

I think they have the same facial features. Other then that, they are quite different. Cedar is smaller, slimmer and darker.

I got Oak weighed on the way there and he is now 73lbs! Cedar, on the other hand, weighs about 50lbs.

They didn't act like they remembered each other, but they did have good time playing together.

Yes, they are from the same litter. I think he takes after Dad, and She' more like Mom.

Back to Class

2009-03-31T07:48:00.003-04:00

Well we started our obedience classes again last night and Oak did a fabulous job. He still doesn;t like to stay though :) He also thought the other dogs cheese treats looked much better then his hot dog treats! The trainer told me Oak was getting fat, so I guess next time we'll have to go with chicken weiners!
We also found his sister on facebook and we hope to go meet her soon. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures.

Oak's Horoscope

2009-03-24T15:37:00.004-04:00

Cancer - June 22 - July 22

Element: Water
Modality: Cardinal
Ruler: Moon
Symbol: Crab
Healing Combo: Aquarius, Sagittarius

Most compatible with: Scorpio. Pisces, Taurus, Virgo

What a Cancer dog daydreams about: Rainy days and snow storms so you'll have no interest in going outside. AMC movie marathons, listening to the radio and watching you smoke your pipe or bake apple pie.

Keywords: sensitive, moody, emotional, intuitive, domestic, shy, touchy, nurturing, protective, needy.

The Personality Snapshot:

Cancer dogs need to be cuddled.
Cancer dogs need to be mommied.
Caner doggies say "home is where the heart is."
Cancers dogs need home-cooked food.
Cancer dogs need you to remember their birthday and your anniversary.
Cancer dogs have memories like an elephant-they never forget.
Cancer dogs are extremely sensitive to harsh words-so speak sweetly and softly.
Cancer dogs don't always like other dogs unless they're equally as sensitive.

Oak definitely loves to be cuddled and mommied. He loves other dogs, so that part does not fit.

In-Depth:

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore:
The most sensitive and nurturing of all dogs. They have a tough shell exterior but that's simply to protect their vulnerable little hearts. They want to take care of you but be babied in return. Like their symbol, the crab, Cancer doggies will never approach matters directly but will sidle up to you with subtle hints that they need something. They're home-loving pups and soooo keenly sensitive to their environment that if you live in a dump or austere flat then start decorating they'll be forced to run away from home. This domestic doggie needs to be treated like a true and cherished member of the family — not just some pet relegated to a dog house or crate. This dog is not only sensitive but borders on psychic. They feel when you're going to leave them for your vacation even if you leave no clues. They'll even run and hide when they feel a vet trip in the near future — even though you've given no indication that you've booked an appointment.

When Oak thinks I am leaving he goes and sits in front of the door. There's no way I'm going anywhere without him :)

C.D. (Cancer Dog) Phone Home:
This doggie is more than just a lover of all things domestic — they are fervently attached to their home. It takes a lot to convince them that there is anything worth leaving their little sanctuaries for. If they could live under a blanket away from all loud noises, people and other doggies they probably would. They'd hope you would share this home-loving sensibility and feel it utterly unnecessary to go out. They can't stand to see you leave the home, and wait anxiously for your return. Their favorite times are cozy nights spent at home with you. They love affection from you but can't stand stranger's touching them let alone grooming them — especially if they're rough or aggressive. Cancer stars are so shy and sensitive on first meeting and may surprise you by how antisocial they can be. Other than their immediate family, Cancer puppies really don't care for strangers all that much. They'll be utterly traumatized if you throw them into a dog run with a bunch of brutish types. They need to be around other sensitive and caring souls who approach gently and with caution. Overzealousness makes their fur crawl.

This part does not fit at all. He loves everyone, doesn't mind going to the groomers at all, and he's not the least bit antisocial. He thinks everyone is his friend and they should all want to pet him :) His friend at daycare is Barkley. There is nothing calm and quiet about Barkley. He is constantly running around and playing and getting Oak to play too.

Memories, Like the Corners of My Mind:
This dog has a memory like an elephant and expects you to have the same. Especially when it comes to remembering their birthday or the anniversary of the day you brought your baby home. Be sensitive to shower them with plenty of reassurance and make them feel safe and secure knowing that you'll never leave their side for long. They have an abandonment complex after all. They'll be unduly traumatized for life if you raise your voice or even yank their leash too hard out of impatience. Things that might just roll of another dog star's back will leave deep scars for life on your thin-skinned Cancer doggie. And they may forgive, but they never ever forget.

He does seem to think I am going to abandon him if I leave, but sometimes the only way to get him to listen is to yank on his leash!

Looney Tunes:
Cancer dog stars are ruled by the moon, which might explain their frequent lunatic-like outbursts. Your friends and neighbors will undoubtedly marvel at the odd ball behavior of your Cancer pooch — wondering where on earth you ever got such a loose-cannon creature. Just make sure they don't insult your hypersensitive pooch because the Cancer dog star's feelings are so easily hurt. You'll have to get used to the way your moon-ruled pup exhibits even stranger behaviors on the full moon. They may even start howling for no reason or suddenly start wolfing down their dog food on those nights. Or maybe they simply run around the house like a possessed little freak for no apparent reason. Blame it on La Luna.

I can definitely see this in Oak. He goes looney every night! Runs around, plays, wants outside, wants inside etc. Some nights he'll even start barking at nothing!

If the Cancer dog could talk, he or she would say:

That hurt my feelings
I don't want leftovers — I want the special people food that you're eating.
You forgot our anniversary!

He'll eat anything, anytime and I'm not sure his feelings would ever be hurt!

What a Cancer dog wants in an owner:

I want someone to treat me like their little baby and make me feel I am really the most cherished member of the entire family. If you have a baby already, I will be so jealous because I want to be the child of the family. I need nurturing! I want someone who hates to leave home for any extended period of time. And don't try to fool me by packing at the last minute, because I'll sense if you're leaving days before. Puleeez, don't abandon me or I could easily develop digestive issues. The more domestic and home-loving you are, the more my little Cancerian soul will feel assured. It's all about security lest my fur start falling out. I really need a sensitive owner who has the kind of loving care a doting Grandparent gives their favorite grandchild. I'd prefer if you wouldn't bring strangers around the house and expect me to interact with them in some extroverted way. Ain't happening friend — I don't like sharing my house or my owner with new people — my place my space! I want us to hide out together in our quiet little sanctuary — safely away from the battering of the cruel outside world. And why do you have to bring any outsiders in? It makes me way uncomfortable, I'll have you know. I don't warm up to others that easily. It takes time and I have to trust before I'll be willing to come out of my furry shell.

He definitely expects to be doted on and he loves being number one in my life. He gets upset if I pet one of the other dogs. He would never hide though, he expects to be in the forefront and the center of everyone's attention!

Healthy Pleasures:
Oh, and I'd like an owner who uses all natural cleaning and grooming products because I have a very delicate system. Chemicals make me ill. I prefer natural doggie food too as artificial ingredients could easily lead to major health issues because I just mentioned, I've got a sensitive constitution. I'm also a very finicky eater, so if I don't like my dog food, I won't eat it.

He definitely enjoys the natural food. He is fed B.A.R.F. - biologically appropriate raw food and he is blossoming. His fur is gorgeous, he is solid and very healthy. No chemicals for my baby!

Barking at the Moon:
I want someone who likes to go for long walks on the full moon and won't mind if I display my whacky lunar tendencies when the moon is full. If you're into moon worship or Wicca, you'll totally rock my world. When the moon is new, I'm usually at my lowest energy. When it's waxing, I may actually agree to leave the house once in awhile. When it is full, look out! I may need to do laps around the house and then bark like a psycho for the fun of it. When the moon is waning, I need my space and extra sleep time. Keeping in tune with the moon phases is key if you want to understand my whacky, lunar nature. My little doggie moods ebb and flow in accordance with the big silver ball in the sky.

No sleeping yet, maybe when he gets older :) He is defintely a whacky puppy though. He loves playing, eating, going for walks, going to the dog park, playing with other dogs or people and even going to the groomer!

What's you dog's horoscope say?

Toy or Not ... ?

2009-03-21T15:27:00.003-04:00

Last night Oak was outside and I heard this strange noise coming from the backyard. I went out on the deck to see what was going on, and this is what I saw....

Oak had decided the lid for the garbage can made a great toy and he was carrying it around the backyard and swinging it back and forth! He even brought it up on the deck to show me, but he ran back down because he was afraid I was going to take it away.

Puppies can turn anything into a toy :)

Sleepy Boy

2009-03-20T17:06:00.003-04:00

I love the days Barkley is at daycare. This is what Oak looks like for the rest of the night :)

Practice Graduation

2009-03-18T16:40:00.005-04:00

So last night was graduation for our obedience class. I call it our "practice graduation" because I knew we were't going to pas the first time round! Oak was his usual playful self. During the heel exercise he spent the whole time jumping up and trying to grab the leash(of course he had a big smile on his face the entire time).
When the instructor said halt, I would stop and Oak would sit(as he should) but not neccessarily beside me. Once he was behind me, once in front, then once sort of beside.

Next came Stand for Examination. He has never stayed during this exercise, except when we are at home of course. This time he actually stood and stayed when I told him too! The instructor went over, ran a hand down his side and I rushed back over to him before he moved. Yeah! He's getting there!

Don't forget we are doing all these exercises without treats tonight, so I was rather pleased with him. He didn't stay worth a hoot for the sit stay or the down stay. He is obviously not to keen on the "stay" word :)

He is supposed to be seated on the floor behind me, not following me!

But, he was happy and so was I. Class is always alot of fun with my little Oak around. : )

Class

2009-03-11T09:04:00.002-04:00

Everyone always gets a big laugh out of Oak at class. He wants to say Hi to everyone and sees no reason why he should Stay even when I tell him to. He always has a big smile on his face and a waggy tail, actually quite often his whole body! Next week is graduation night(or in our case practice for graduation, since I've already signed up for novice again) and Julie is coming to take pics. I'll post them next wednesday. Maybe she'll even get a shot of him staying in one place for longer then 2 seconds. :)

Just A Dog

2009-03-10T08:44:00.008-04:00

“Just a Dog”

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to over come the day. If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure
unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a Woman/Man.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”

For Those Furry Friends who are no longer with us ....

Please note I did not write it, I just thought it was lovely, so I posted it here.

Muddy Days

2009-03-09T15:35:00.004-04:00

Mild weather and rain makes for muddy paws, bellies, heads, tails, floors, carpets etc. The only solution I can think of is to make sure you have lots of towels :) It's also a good time to practice standing on command so you can clean the muddy bellies, feet etc. Although, when doing the back feet you may end up with a wobbly puppy! Oak ended up sitting not standing by the time I was done :)

A New Thought for the Door Problem

2009-03-05T08:16:00.003-05:00

Well, I've tried something new for the door problem and so far it seems to be working. I put a baby gate leaning across the door. He just stands behind it and looks a bit confused as to what to do. I just started this morning, so we'll see what happens.
The last two mornings, we've had to get up and go walk Bali. She is an adorable goldipoo. They are both always so happy to see each other, but it has been really cold. So I lent Oak my hat. Doesn't he look thrilled? :)

PS I got a teenie,tiny ball of fur from Oak when I brushed him last night. He May start shedding now that the warmer weather is here.

The Proper Way to Knock

2009-03-02T18:51:00.003-05:00

Oak goes to daycare alot( a couple of hours every day) and he has learnt a bad habit from the other dogs. When they want into the house, they jump up on the door. So now, he does this at home too. I am trying to break him of this habit before summer and he starts ripping apart screens instead! Before I let him in, I make him sit. The hope is he doesn't figure he is ordering me to let him in by jumping on the door. He does what I tell him too, then he gets in the house. I'm not sure this plan is working too well, so I went on the internet for suggestions. I found this website when googling "dog jumping on door" http://hubpages.com/hub/Unwanted_Dog_Jumping_Behavior There seems to be alot of good ideas on it. We are going to start trying the "Off" command and maybe get doublesided tape. I'm just afraid it will be too hard to remove when the time comes.

I Hope We'll Win a Dyson!

2009-02-26T10:10:00.004-05:00

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION - It would seem the manufacturer's of the Dyson Animal Vacuum cleaner are putting on a contest. All you have to do is video tape your pet doing a trick and send it in to this website http://www.dysonanimal.ca/contest/default.aspx Then the viewers vote on which one they like the best. Hmmm... What kind of tricks can Oak do? I've been trying to teach him to roll over(Jewels does it beautifully), so maybe we''l try that. Although he is great at carrying laundry around, and maybe I could teach him to put it in the washing machine( or fold it would be even better, then I wouldn't have to do it!). That would be a cool trick :)

This is his houdini trick. How to get through a cat door :)

Still Not Shedding!

2009-02-25T09:02:00.004-05:00

He's such a giant furball. He's decided I make a good doorman. I want outside Mommy, I want in now, back out, enough, let me in. The door is going to stay shut for a bit!

Furry Oak

2009-02-19T07:41:00.003-05:00

Oak has been having a bit of a problem. It's a really strange problem and I haven't been able to find a solution other then just waiting. His adult fur has grown in and his puppy fur is still there too. He is a giant ball of fur! He's not shedding and he's really hot most of the time. He has taken to sleeping outside on the deck, even yesterday when it was snowing! After supper, when its time to sleep, he asks to go out and stays there until bedtime, curled up, sleeping. I brush him every few days and get a teeny, weeny loonie sized pile of fur(sometimes). Strange as it may sound, I hope he starts shedding soon!

More Training

2009-02-18T08:20:00.003-05:00

We went to class last night and Oak did very well(in most cases). He's not so great at the stand and stay. I tell him to stand, walk to the end of his 6 ft leash, turn and face him, then the trainer walks up and pets him while he stands still(no moving of the feet). There's the problem, he wants to go say Hi, not stand and wait for her to come to him. She ended up putting an orange cone on the ground int front of him and that made him pause. I'm supposed to use a chair to block him, but the only problem is, he usually does it fine at home without new and interesting people to visit!

I also asked her about the counter surfing problem. She suggested tin pop cans with a few pennies in them, tried together with string. He gets caught on the string, while trying to get the yummy treat you have placed up there, pulls the noisy cans down to the floor. While he's standing there wondering what's going on, yell "wrong" or "leave it" from the other room. Do this for about a week. Then you take the cans away and place what he thinks is a yummy treat on the counter. You melt some margerine add hot sauce to it(quite a bit), then soak a piece of chicken in the mixture. He'll probabely jump up and grab the chicken, he'll chew it a bit, then this horrible sensation will start in his mouth. Make sure there is no water down. Poor guy shouldn't try it again, but I'd test him a few more times to make sure.
I know this last bit sounds cruel, but consuming chocolate is poisonous to dogs. He could have died it he's gotten enough of it. He has to stop jumping on counters and tables and taking what he wants.

Oak had a Ruff Family Day

2009-02-17T08:39:00.002-05:00

Oak has taken up counter surfing and unfortunately he got into some chocolate treats(cookies, squares) on sunday afternoon. He had a bit of a rough reaction to his snack. It was like he had drunk one too many coffees that day. He couldn't lay down and rest. He's lie down for a few minutes, then be up and moving to a new spot. He did have a little nap, on sunday night, outside on the back porch, but when I brought him in to go to bed, he kept waking me up and asking to go outside. Once he had diarrhea, and the rest of the time he just wanted to lay on the porch! When he woke up monday morning, he was still antsy and over stimulated, I look him for a walk, hoping to tire him out a bit, but it just made him hot again! Finally he went outside on the porch and slept for about 2 hrs. He was starting to feel a bit better, yeah! Last night he slept like a baby, and so di I. He seems to be back to his normal self today.
So now, we need to do a bit of training, so this never happens again! I read on the internet that you should create a bit of a trap that you can "save" you puppy from. Put a treat(or something yummy and smelly) on the counter. Cover it with a precarious pile of noisy items - cookie sheets, pie plates, tin cans with a few coins in them - nothing that would hurt, just items that will make a big noise when they fall. You also have to make sure they will fall. When puppy jumps on the counter to get the yummy smelling item he knocks the really noisy stuff to the ground and scares himself half to death! You run in and save him from the bad cookie sheet! I haven't tried it yet, but will definitely set it up tonight and let you know how it goes. I figure I will probabely half to do it a few times, before he gets the hint to stay off the counter.

First Grooming

2009-02-10T16:01:00.003-05:00

Today Oak went to the groomers for the first time! I was a little worried he'd be freaked out by the blow dryer, because he hates the vacuum cleaner, but Erin said he was like an old trooper. No problem at all. Oh my god! You should have seen how fluffy he was when I picked him up! He looked so adorable! I took pictures, but they just didn't do the "fluff" justice. The fluff has flattened a bit now, but he is still soft and cuddly.

Durham Humane Society Fundraiser

2009-02-07T12:38:00.004-05:00

Today we went to Harmony Off Leash Dog Park for the Pets Helping Pets - Doggie Day Fundraiser in support of the Durham Region Humane Society. Oak and I brought Lite along for his first visit to the park. They both had a ball, although Lite was a bit nervous of the big dogs we met.

We checked out the woods and the rivers, played in the snow, got trampled on by Oak, met people and dogs and they got video taped! Maybe they are going to be stars :)

Now they are both a pair of tired puppies.

Before and After

2009-02-06T14:41:00.005-05:00

I just had to post 2 more pictures of Oak. I know what you are thinking, don't you have enough already? In my opinion, there are never enough!
The first picture is Oak sleeping in Jewels bed the first week I got him.

And the second one is a picture I took the day before yesterday.

He still fits! He decided it would be a great place to lie down and rest. Silly boy!

Training Last Night

2009-02-04T08:08:00.002-05:00

Well, I was nervous before class last night. I was afraid we'd have a repeat of last week's fiasco, but Oak did an excellent job! He heeled very well, no jumping and going crazy. I had to correct him a few times, but I was very impressed with his performance. He did an absolutely fabulous recall. I called him and he came running up and sat right in front of me. Yeah!! What a great boy!

Heel Work

2009-02-03T08:20:00.003-05:00

My little fuzz butt is being a bit cantankerous about heeling! Life is too exciting out there to stay by Mommy's side like a good boy! He's not even interested in the treats when we are walking down the street, so I've had to start using a martingale collar. It seems to be working quite well. The collar is worn at the top of the neck, just under the ears. This way you can control the head. If you control the head, you can control the rest of him. He is also resisting sitting when we stop! He knows when he is at heel and we stop, he is supposed to sit, but he wouldn't do it consistantly last night! I think he has decided to hit the teenage years early! We are going to keep working on it and I'll let you know how it goes. We have class tonight, and hopefully it won't go as poorly as last night. I'll let you know how it goes!

A New Arrival

2009-02-02T09:51:00.002-05:00

We welcomed a new golden retriever puppy into the family today. Treeverwood's Chrysolite arrived at my daughter Mandy's home. I think Oak's only concern was that I wasn't replacing him! When Lite gets a bit bigger, I'm sure he'll be more fun to play with.

Friday Play Days

2009-01-30T20:56:00.003-05:00

Fridays are a bit different at daycare. They involve playing with Hrothgar! Hrothgar is a great dane puppy, huge, gorgeous, but an absolute sweetheart.

And here I thought Oak was getting big!

Our Second Class

2009-01-29T08:54:00.002-05:00

We went to our second training class on tuesday. Oak had plenty of exercise(it was a Barkley day, then we played with Ranger, then we walked and played with Hudson) but he was still very hyper. He did absolutely horrible on the heeling section. He was bouncing around, jumping up, tried to steal the trainer's treats :), and didn't listen at all. More practice is obviously needed, for me and him! The rest of the night went well. He was more focused on me, stayed when he was supposed to and did pretty good on the figure 8 at the end of the class(first time we tried it). I think he's doing quite well and I'm happy with his progress so far. Unfortunately, he is still better at home then he is at class! Practice, practice, practice.
More news, Oak will have a new friend to grow up with. My daughter Mandy is getting a new golden puppy this sunday. He was born on Nov. 29, so he is about 5 mos younger then Oak. His name is Treeverwood's Chrysolite, Lite for short. I'm sure they'll be best buddies in no time.

Pictures!!

2009-01-27T16:42:00.004-05:00

I remembered to bring the camera today. Yeah! Oak and Hudson had another great walk this afternoon. I got some great shots. Have a look.

This next one is of Hudson climbing every snow bank. No easy walk on the road for him, he thought plowing through 5 ft. snow banks was a better plan!

Puppy Play

2009-01-26T16:18:00.002-05:00

We have a client whose new puppy doesn't like to go for walks, so today Oak and I met Hudson and his walker to see if he might enjoy walking better with another puppy for company. It worked perfectly! Hudson loved chasing after Oak. They walked, they ran, they played. I even brought my camera to take pictures. There were alot of photo opportunities. Lots of great shots. Unfortunately, I forgot to put the memory card back in my camera and I couldn't take any pictures at all!!! We are meeting them again tommorrow, so I'll be sure to take may camera again, with the card!

Snow Play

2009-01-23T16:37:00.004-05:00

So we are supposed to practice twice a day for 10 minutes. Well, we've been practicing once a day for 10 minutes. That's a start, right. :) He was starting to get bored after the 10 minutes, so I can see why you're supposed to keep it short and sweet. Also always end on a high note. That way he feels good, he enjoyed it, and he got treats. Let's do it again! Puppies have to enjoy what they are doing, or they will loose interest. I think will try some practicing at the dog park. We did this when he was going to puppy classes(the whole 2 he went to!) and he did really well. Lots of distractions there!

Today when we took Ranger to the park at lunch, we decided it would be fun to make a snowman. The snow was really packy and easy to roll, but boy was it heavy! I was rolling the snow, Ranger was crashing into it and trying to eat the snow, and Oak was just ignoring the whole process! We had a great time! They really love playing in the snow.

Obedient or Not So Very Much :)

2009-01-21T07:54:00.003-05:00

Well, class last night was defintely fun, very entertaining, and a learning experience for me. My puppy who does everything wonderful at home where there are no distractions, tries to listen to what every other owner is saying to their dog and not to what I am saying! He didn't do too bad for the first class, but we really have to work on his focus. At home his eyes don't leave my face, at class, there are too many other facinating things to check out! He did do an absolutely wonderful recall though. The trainer called him from the other side of the room, I let go of his leash, and he went running straight to her as fast as his legs would take him. He also came running back to me when I called. His enthusiasim is so cute to watch.
Once again, we found out he is just to beautiful! Everyone thought he was the most beautiful GIRL they've ever seen. My handsome boy is going to get a complex :)

Back to Class

2009-01-20T14:13:00.004-05:00

Tonight is the first step on the road to my perfect, obedient, wonderful dog :) We are going to our first Novice class at 6:30pm. We have been practicing (a bit) and I think Oak is coming along quite nicely already. In fact, last night he made me very proud. Dishwashers are great! Puppies are great! Dishwashers and puppies together, not so great (unless you like your 60 lb puppy climbing onto the dishwasher door to clean off the plates!). So last night we tried something new. I put Oak in a down stay while I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher. This was the first time we had tried this, and I thought he did really well. He did attempt to get up twice, but considering the job took about 10 minutes to complete, I was still very proud of him. Even my hubby thought Oak did a good job.
My plan, assuming I practice with Oak on a daily basis, is to enter him in obedience trials and get his Companion Dog before he turns one. Fingers crossed, that I keep the practice up! I'll let you all know tomorrow how well we did.

Today was also Barkley day at daycare :) Barkley is Oak's best friend and they play together constantly when they are together. Then Oak comes home and sleeps for 2 days :)

He's Growing Up!

2009-01-19T06:45:00.003-05:00

On saturday January 17 we went to the off leash park for a walk. It was the first time Oak has ever lifted his leg to pee. My baby is growing up! :)

A Little Bit of At Home Training

2009-01-16T19:49:00.005-05:00

One thing Oak has learnt is to wait for his food. He loves eating, so can be very eager to munch down. To slow him down a bit, I have taught him to wait before he can eat. Since he is fed raw chicken, he eats outside, so I take him outside, tell him to sit and wait, then I set his dish down. He'll sit in front of his dish, then he'll look at his dish, look at me, look at his dish, look at me etc. back and forth until I give him his release word and tell him it is "Alright" to start eating. He always has such a hopeful look in his eyes when he looks at me. I always make sure to tell him he is a fabulous boy. Praise is very important when training a puppy. That and repetition! We are starting to do this with his treats too, because he can get grabby, especially when the other dogs are around.

One More Little Puppy Health Problem

2009-01-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

Oak was enjoying puppy classes(we had been to 2 classes), he had a great time at daycare and he loved going to the dog park everyday. Then on Thursday November 7 he got a runny nose. It was just a bit of a runny nose at first. Clear fluid and out of the left nostril. I called my vet and she said to keep an eye on him and if it wasn't better by Monday we'd put him on antibiotics. She also suggested that I keep him isolated from other dogs until it cleared up in case it was something they could catch. Poor Oak, no park, no daycare, and no puppy class! I also started him on 1000 =mg of vitamin C per day and gave him warmed up chicken broth a few times a day. Over the weekend his nose started to run even more, and the mucous turned green. He was so uncomfortable in his crate, he couldn't seem to get his head at the right angle to breathe, so I let him sleep on the floor beside me(he hasn't been back in the crate since). We'd have to get up a few times during the night and wipe his nose. He started running away from me when he saw me with a washcloth in my hand! Poor little guy! We decided on Monday that it was time for antibiotics, so I started them monday morning. By wednesday he was worse!
He slept all that day and his head was so sore I couldn't even touch it. He wasn't chewing anything(toys, my hand etc), although it didn't stop him from eating. I checked out his gums, and they were really red and swollen. So I decided to try an old remedy my Mom used on me and I used on my kids when they were teething, I put some rye on my finger and rubbed it on his gums! I think it helped alot. It seemed to soothe the pain. I did it a couple of times per day for the next few days, then his gums started to turn back to pink and not look so swollen. Most of his adult teeth were coming in and most of his puppy teeth were gone(I managed to get 4 :). He also started to get his regular old exuberance back. Finally, he was starting to feel better. Unfortunately, his nose was still running a bit by the time saturday rolled around, so still no puppy class.
The following wednesday he was finally healthy again and could go back to the park, and back to daycare. Yeah! He was so happy to see his friends again. Unfortunately, on thursday he came in contact with a dog who came down with Kennel Cough the next day. Oh no! I was afraid he was going to get sick again! And he had to go into isolation again. No daycare, no park and no puppy class for 5 to 10 days, or until we're sure he's not going to get the Kennel Cough. I contacted the dog trainer and she said she would give us a credit for the Novice class in January, since he was going to miss the last 2 classes.
Luckily for us, Oak's immune system was finally up and running. He never got Kennel Cough at all. He just got really bored! :)

Puppy Class

2009-01-15T11:55:00.006-05:00

We started puppy classes on Saturday October 25, Yeah! We were so excited! Oak made friends with Kiwi, a 4 month old pug. Before class the puppies get to play and expend a bit of excess energy. Oak was the only puppy calm enough to play with tiny little Kiwi. All the other puppies were big and boiterous and might hurt her, but Oak was very calm and they had a great time together. Oak was sitting, heeling and staying, but he needed some work on the down. I had entered obedience trials with Phoenix and we had gotten our Companion Dog and I was considering doing the same with Oak. Our trainer actually said she thought he'd be fabulous, because he is so focused. So, I guess the decision is made. We better start practicing!
We were still going to the dog park everyday and meeting new friends. We also practiced our recalls at the park. He'd come running every time, even when there other puppies to go see!
We would also head over to the daycare on occasion and play there. Being a puppy is such fun! :)

Friends

2009-01-12T09:33:00.004-05:00

You know, I figured having a puppy would mean less visits to the vet. I think it means more! Especially during the first few months! My vet told me she sees it all the time. She compared puppies to little kids in daycare, they catch every germ around! After the first few months a healthy puppy's immune system will kick in and he'll be able to fight the germs off on his own.
Once the worms cleared up, I found a flea on him! Just one, but that's all it takes. I figure he found it in my backyard. So, we called the vet again. Flea meds for everyone! That took care of the problem quickly and easily.
He had his final shots on October 1, then we had to wait one week, then he got to go to the dog park and meet lots of new friends! Yeah!

He loved running around the park, but this playing with other dogs, was a bit intimidating. We went everyday for about a week until he met Sam. Sam is a yellow lab puppy about the same size as Oak and they had a fabulous time playing together. The next time we went, he met Scout(a black lab puppy) and that was it. He loved meeting new friends and playing.

He also got to go to the daycare we run. Everybody was so BIG and BOUNCY! It was kinda scary at first, but then he made friends with Herman and it was ok. Herman is a cocker spaniel and just the right size for puppy Oak to play with.

The Continuing Story

2009-01-09T20:18:00.001-05:00

The breeder I got Oak from believes in a more natural way of raising a puppy(as do I). She required we just give him the minimum vaccinations, top quality food and he will not be neutered until he is 2 yrs old. He was on a high quality kibble when he came home, but we have fed our dogs BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods) for 7 years, so that is what Oak would be fed as well. So I tried changing his food, but his stools were not "perfect". Sometimes they were soft, then sometimes they were solid. They also weren't very regular. Most days he would go 3 times, morning, midday and right before bed, but sometimes he'd miss one or go more often. I thought maybe it was my attempt to change his food, so I stopped and fed him the kibble he had been eating. Then one saturday night about 5:30pm he started having a problem with diarrhea. Puppies are notorious for getting diarrhea easily. I think it is because no matter how hard we try to stop them from eating everything in sight, they always ingest something that upsets their little tummy. He would ask to go out every 15 min. and he went each time he would go poo(very liquidy poo). This went on until about 10 pm, when I decided it was time for a trip to the emergency clinic. He got weighed(20 lbs!), and checked out. He was eating, drinking and alert, so the vet was not too worried. She gave him a shot for his poor tummy and gave me some metronidazole pills to give him. I had to give him 1 every 12 hours starting at 2am. It was also decided he would be fed cooked chicken and rice until his tummy settled down( my hubby complained that Oak was getting better meals then him :) He continued to have to go out until 7:30 am the next morning, when finally we both got to go to sleep! Amazingly, he never had a single accident in the house all night! He's always go to the door and we'd go outside. He was such a good boy. I gave him the pills for the 3 days and his stools never got back to "perfect", so my vet decided we should try another stool sample(we had done one about 10 days earlier). Well, we found round worms in the stool. Finally, a solution to his problem. We gave him the deworming meds and holy crap, alot of worms came out over the next 2 days! I don't remember whether Phoenix had worms as a puppy, but it is highly likely. Puppies are notorious for getting worms, they can catch them very easily from the different things they pick up off the ground! When that happened, I decided to switch his food completely to a premade B.A.R.F. product called Healthy Paws and I'm so glad I did. Of course, we had to deworm the rest of our dogs(nothing showed up in their stools), but since Oak had worms, everyone else could have gotten them too. Puppies can be very stressful!

Shall We Begin

2009-01-09T15:57:00.003-05:00

I think the very beginning was on Friday September 5, 2008. I lost my best friend of 14 years to hemangiosarcoma. It was very sudden and the house was just too quiet. Phoenix used to go with me everywhere. We walked dogs together, he'd be beside me when I worked in the office, he loved going for car rides. After about 3 days I couldn't take the loneliness anymore and I started looking for a golden retriever puppy. My search lead me to a wonderful puppy that I decided to name Oak. I picked him up on thursday September 11, 2008 a cute, tiny 12 lb ball of fluff. Oak had arrived and our journey of learning and laughter and absolute craziness had begun!

The first step was house training. It wasn't too bad. As long as you never left him alone, never stopped watching him, and could tell by the subtle movements(standing, sitting, any movement really :) that it was time to go out, you could get through an hour without an accident in the house! (Like every other 10 wk old puppy!) He wasn't a typical puppy as far as when he had to go. Most puupies need to go out as soon as they eat. The food goes in one end, and out the other! You could not guarantee he would pee or poo right after he ate. In fact, he usually only pood 3x a day. Morning, midday and right before bed. He'd eat, we'd go outside, he'd play, we'd go back inside, he'd pee! It had been so long since I house trained a puppy that I was a bit rusty. The first few weeks were very tiring and very interesting and I wouldn't change it for the world! Finally after we got a bit of a rountine going and he stopped having accidents in the house. Yeah, Success :)

Another important lesson to teach a new puppy is that his crate is his home. It's a great place to sleep and relax when the rest of the family can't play with you. Oak was very easy to crate train. He didn't put up much of a fuss even on the first night. We had to get up at 2am the first few nights to go out and pee, but after that I'd take him out at 11pm every night and he'd sleep until we got up at 5 or 6am.

We had our first visit with our vet on Monday September 15. He was perfect. (As I already knew :) His eyes looked good, his teeth looked good, his skin looked good, he had lovely puppy breath, he passed with flying colours! We also got a stool sample checked and it was perfect as well. We set up an appointment for him to get his final shots in October and off she went(I have a mobile vet, so she came to my house).