I have a friend who had a very sick dog, who wasn't eating much and had to be carried outside to go to the bathroom. She made the decision to put her dog to sleep. Now, I've known my friend for several years and we've become closer in the last couple and I know, by the way she talks about her dogs, that this was a decision she did not come to lightly. Dogs can't tell you where they hurt or even if they hurt. Dogs can't tell you if they feel sick or sad or if they feel nothing. Rikki (my friend's dog) went to the vet yesterday because she was lethargic and dehydrated and just not herself. My friend later found out that Rikki had a large tumor in her lung and blood in her urine which is not good. During the night, Rikki woke up several times gasping for breath and had to be carried outside because she was unsteady while walking.
Earlier today, Rikki ate and drank but my friend wondered if it she was getting better or if Rikki wanted to show Mommy that she was better even if she wasn't.
I got a text from my friend that she was going to let Rikki rest this afternoon and I know how hard that was to do. In an earlier post, I told of how Maddie bit me after I carried her out one evening and I knew she was in pain. I knew then what I had to do just as my friend knew what she had to do with Rikki. All of this reminded me of the day Maddie died and all of those feelings came flooding back. I was instantly taken to that day and time. I could see everyone who was there with me and could feel my heart become heavy again with the decision I had made. But in looking back, I was able to see that I had done the right thing. Maddie was suffering, just like Rikki, and it was up to me to ease her pain and help her pass. She only wanted to please me and would have gladly stayed in that same spot for as long as I would let her. She would have continued to let me carry her outside to the bathroom and back into the house. She would have wagged her tail every time I came into the room or when I came home. She would have tried, without success, to crawl toward me if I wasn't in the same room and barked and bayed when I moved her because she was in pain.
Do we want our loved ones to stay because we are going to miss them? In some cases I think we do. My mother was taken to the hospital a couple of months before she died and since I lived so close, I was able to beat the ambulance there. They were working on her and my mom had a DNR and a living will but my dad hadn't arrived yet and I didn't want to make that decision. Was that because I was scared? Maybe. Or was it because I was selfish and didn't want to let her go even though she was in pain and suffering? I think that is the correct answer. I couldn't handle the thought of my mom not being there even knowing how bad she felt and that she was tired of living like she was and was ready to go on. Two months later, six years to the day before Maddie passed my mom died quietly and this time I let her go. No heroics, no drugs and no fanfare. Just peace.
Compassion is one of the traits that sets man apart from the brute animal and, in my opinion, is our greatest of emotions but one that is so infrequently used when it comes to death. Have the compassion to let your loved one, be they human or furry, pass to the next life leaving this one in peace. Death is for the one dying not for the living therefore should be about the person or animal experiencing that death. I believe you are on this earth for a certain period of time and to accomplish certain things and then you leave. You keep coming back until you get "it" right, then you pass into Heaven or cross the Rainbow Bridge. In the end, we all obtain our reward for the life that was spent be it a well spent life with service to mankind or the misspent life with service only to yourself. The number of times you come back is in direct proportion to the good that you accomplish in the last lifetime. Do good unto all, recommended more especially to the household of the faithful. Live in peace and may the God of peace and love delight to dwell with and bless you.
Have compassion. Use that compassion to guide your heart in times of trouble and have the strength to let go because, at times, you are only holding on for yourself.
To my friend: Rikki, although I never met her, loved you very much. All of our dogs love us without restraint and without bounds. You had the strength to love her and the strength to let her go and please know that you did what was right for Rikki. You said, "greatest gift I could give her was peace" and you are so right. We give our dogs many things when they take our hearts and you saved the greatest gift for last and that is the gift of peace. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
The adventures of Pickles, Nea, Piglet and Opal! Our Deaf Bully Bunch!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Some Thoughts of the First Week
Well, more than a week has come and gone since we got Pickles and I just figured I'd get down some thoughts. I wasn't sure about a deaf dog, at first, but now I know there is no other dog for me. She's sweet and lovable and likes to be the center of attention and somehow that reminds me of someone but I just can't put my finger on who! Pickles loves to play at the park and to chase her ball albeit for about two minutes and really likes the Bark Park. Pickles has learned to sit when she comes in from outside and most of the time when we get ready to cross the street and has started to learn "down" and does pretty good with it. Pickles loves her food and at first seemed like she was eating twice as much for her size. I think that was because she wasn't sure if the next meal was going to be there or not but now has learned she eats twice a day and has snacks in between. Pickles has toys that she takes to bed every night: her white rope toy, the squeaky toy that she ripped the squeaker out of and her Kong (or in lieu of that, the blue squeaky toy Ben and Marshall gave her). She loves to play tug-o-war with just about anything you can tug whether it be a piece of rope, her rope toy or a stick. Pickles is having a great time jumping on the couches and wedging herself in places where a dog won't fit sometimes. She doesn't like going to bed if ANYONE is downstairs and barks a bit if she's not tired when it's MY bedtime and not hers. She likes to get up at 0530 hours to eat breakfast and go to the bathroom. I have a day shift dog and that's good, I guess, except for the weeks I'm on evening shift. She doesn't like the squirt bottle sprayed at her when she bites someone so that biting thing has cut way down which is good because I was wondering how I was going to stop that. She likes to eat plants, rocks and sticks. Now, I'm not a country boy so I don't know which plants are dangerous and which ones aren't so I try not to let her eat any of them. I know dogs eat grass when they're sick (as I've been around dogs all of my life) but this one isn't sick. She just likes to try things so she tries EVERYTHING!
Well, that's about it for the flight of ideas and Pickles' first week. Stay tuned for more about Pickles.
Well, that's about it for the flight of ideas and Pickles' first week. Stay tuned for more about Pickles.
The Dog Park
So, last night, before I went to pick up Donna at work, Pickles and I went to the dog park, AKA the Bark Park. (For those of you that don't know, the Bark Park is behind Chimborazo Park, in the lower part of the park. It's an excellent use of that area which has been closed for many years before the park was built.) Pickles had a great time eating grass, trying to eat rocks and generally smelling every spot in the park. We could only stay a few minutes because we had to pick up Donna but Pickles had a great time and went right to sleep as soon as we got home which is a shame because she, basically, took a nap before she went to bed for the night...which was not good.
Later that evening, Donna had some Italian Wedding Soup on the arm of the sofa. Please notice I said "had" because Pickles saw something new, jumped up and knocked it all over Donna, the laptop and the sofa. I don't know how many of you know what's in that soup but I do and it's none too easy to clean up. And yeah, that was after her nap. Then it was time for bed and you can only imagine how that went. She got her peanut butter (along with the toy Ben and Marshall gave her) and when she was finished, she squeaked it until she got bored...which was about 20 minutes. Thanks Ben and Marshall!
This morning, we got up and I took the kids to school but as we were leaving, the power went out. Okay, I'm not home and how long would it be out? On a clear Monday morning? Well, about two hours! I saw the Virginia Power guys and they didn't know what was wrong or where the problem was but in their defense, it was on within 20 minutes so not too bad. After I got back home and some play time, we both took a quick nap (I'm on evening shift this week) then went to the Bark Park again.
This time, I took a ball for her to chase but that lasted for about two minutes until she found rocks to chew and grass to eat. I realize she has to have another way to use those senses to compensate for the deafness but why not just look at things? She sniffed about, ran around and then chased me and the ball for about an hour. As we were leaving, a couple of dogs in the big dog area saw her and ran up to the fence and I'm glad she's deaf because she was looking the other way but when she saw them, she tried to jump into my pocket! They were behind the fence and about 30 feet away but that didn't seem to matter. I made her stop and look at the other dogs because she's never seen one bigger than her since she's lived with me (only Nola who is much smaller). Pickles had her hair up on her back and growled a bit but then shot for the stairs and pulled me up them to the car. We stopped by Captain Buzzy's, looking for Mary Ann, but she wasn't there (at least her car wasn't there) then went home.
Pickles then took a well-deserved nap. Being a puppy is tiring!
Later that evening, Donna had some Italian Wedding Soup on the arm of the sofa. Please notice I said "had" because Pickles saw something new, jumped up and knocked it all over Donna, the laptop and the sofa. I don't know how many of you know what's in that soup but I do and it's none too easy to clean up. And yeah, that was after her nap. Then it was time for bed and you can only imagine how that went. She got her peanut butter (along with the toy Ben and Marshall gave her) and when she was finished, she squeaked it until she got bored...which was about 20 minutes. Thanks Ben and Marshall!
This morning, we got up and I took the kids to school but as we were leaving, the power went out. Okay, I'm not home and how long would it be out? On a clear Monday morning? Well, about two hours! I saw the Virginia Power guys and they didn't know what was wrong or where the problem was but in their defense, it was on within 20 minutes so not too bad. After I got back home and some play time, we both took a quick nap (I'm on evening shift this week) then went to the Bark Park again.
This time, I took a ball for her to chase but that lasted for about two minutes until she found rocks to chew and grass to eat. I realize she has to have another way to use those senses to compensate for the deafness but why not just look at things? She sniffed about, ran around and then chased me and the ball for about an hour. As we were leaving, a couple of dogs in the big dog area saw her and ran up to the fence and I'm glad she's deaf because she was looking the other way but when she saw them, she tried to jump into my pocket! They were behind the fence and about 30 feet away but that didn't seem to matter. I made her stop and look at the other dogs because she's never seen one bigger than her since she's lived with me (only Nola who is much smaller). Pickles had her hair up on her back and growled a bit but then shot for the stairs and pulled me up them to the car. We stopped by Captain Buzzy's, looking for Mary Ann, but she wasn't there (at least her car wasn't there) then went home.
Pickles then took a well-deserved nap. Being a puppy is tiring!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Pickles' First Thanksgiving
Well, today was Pickles' first Thanksgiving and she made the most of it. We got up and ate and then off to the park before everyone got up. We played in the park for a while, until she got tired, but there was a small issue. There was some strange guy walking up and down the alley doing nothing other than walking back and forth. I'm not really sure what that was about but Pickles couldn't stop looking at him. He finally went away and we went home.
At home, there were smells everywhere! There was turkey, ham, macaroni, green bean casserole and rolls! Pickles didn't know what to smell first and her little tail was just a-wagging. As you can imaging, it was time for a nap. Then she woke up and time to play...again. After a few more cycles of naps and playing, the National Dog Show came on and Pickles sat, at least for a few minutes, and watched the dogs on TV. I had always heard that dogs couldn't see TV (and after some quick Internet searching, I confirmed that) but they can see moving shapes and hear the noises; that doesn't apply to Pickles! Now, you know that the TV watching didn't last too long with her and then it was play time again. Then nap. Then play. Then nap and you get the picture. Now it's time for dinner.
We all sat at the table, said grace and the...pig out time! Turkey, ham, stuffing, green been casserole, rolls, butter beans, corn, macaroni, rice and the rest of the trimmings. Pickles did well and jumped up only a few times but could easily be redirected to sit. She had some turkey (I don't know who gave her that) and some of her liver treats (which is freeze-dried liver that Pickles loves) and then we were done. Just as we finished, Pickles jumped up into the only vacant chair like she was waiting for her plate (damn camera wasn't close enough and she jumped down).
The kids cleaned up while I watched the Lions game (I thought they had it there for a minute) and Donna took a nap on my lap. Apparently, at one point, Pickles jumped on to the table! Now, I didn't see it but I could hear the kids yelling "Pickles is on the table! Pickles, get off the table!" With Donna napping, I couldn't get up to get a picture but I'm sure that it was too cute!
After playing some more and jumping up and down on Donna, Pickles finally settled in for nap number nine of the day on the love seat and that's where she is now, with her tongue sticking out!
We're going to head to the park in a bit because I'm sure Pickles has stored up some energy that needs to burned off.
Now, what to be thankful for this year: my wife, Donna, and my family. My friends that are like family and the ones that aren't but are still friends. Facebook which has allowed me to keep up with people I've lost touch with and make a few new friends. My health (such that it is) and seeing another year. My team at work, that makes work easier when we're handling a case and fun all the time. For only having 21 months until I can retire. And finally, Pickles. I didn't realize I wanted another dog until I saw her and she licked my face. In a way, Pickles rescued me. The dog-shaped space that was left when Maddie died was filled with a smaller dog-shaped dog. Maddie can never be replaced but Pickles loves like Maddie did. Unconditionally. Without question. She was all too cute in the shelter and I knew that no one else wanted her as there were no applications on her and she'd been there for a while. Who would want a deaf dog? Why would anyone care about a deaf dog? She's broken. Well, she's not broken to me! She's a symbol of my life and she needed a chance. Just the way I've been given chances over the years in so many aspects of my life. I'm thankful for the person that tied Pickles to that tree. I'm sure, you're asking why am I thankful for some jackass that would tie a dog to a tree but that's an easy one: Richmond Animal Control found Pickles and brought her to me! Finally, I'm thankful to Opie who showed me Pickles and told me about the life a deaf dog would have if not adopted. Thanks, Opie.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
At home, there were smells everywhere! There was turkey, ham, macaroni, green bean casserole and rolls! Pickles didn't know what to smell first and her little tail was just a-wagging. As you can imaging, it was time for a nap. Then she woke up and time to play...again. After a few more cycles of naps and playing, the National Dog Show came on and Pickles sat, at least for a few minutes, and watched the dogs on TV. I had always heard that dogs couldn't see TV (and after some quick Internet searching, I confirmed that) but they can see moving shapes and hear the noises; that doesn't apply to Pickles! Now, you know that the TV watching didn't last too long with her and then it was play time again. Then nap. Then play. Then nap and you get the picture. Now it's time for dinner.
We all sat at the table, said grace and the...pig out time! Turkey, ham, stuffing, green been casserole, rolls, butter beans, corn, macaroni, rice and the rest of the trimmings. Pickles did well and jumped up only a few times but could easily be redirected to sit. She had some turkey (I don't know who gave her that) and some of her liver treats (which is freeze-dried liver that Pickles loves) and then we were done. Just as we finished, Pickles jumped up into the only vacant chair like she was waiting for her plate (damn camera wasn't close enough and she jumped down).
The kids cleaned up while I watched the Lions game (I thought they had it there for a minute) and Donna took a nap on my lap. Apparently, at one point, Pickles jumped on to the table! Now, I didn't see it but I could hear the kids yelling "Pickles is on the table! Pickles, get off the table!" With Donna napping, I couldn't get up to get a picture but I'm sure that it was too cute!
After playing some more and jumping up and down on Donna, Pickles finally settled in for nap number nine of the day on the love seat and that's where she is now, with her tongue sticking out!
We're going to head to the park in a bit because I'm sure Pickles has stored up some energy that needs to burned off.
Now, what to be thankful for this year: my wife, Donna, and my family. My friends that are like family and the ones that aren't but are still friends. Facebook which has allowed me to keep up with people I've lost touch with and make a few new friends. My health (such that it is) and seeing another year. My team at work, that makes work easier when we're handling a case and fun all the time. For only having 21 months until I can retire. And finally, Pickles. I didn't realize I wanted another dog until I saw her and she licked my face. In a way, Pickles rescued me. The dog-shaped space that was left when Maddie died was filled with a smaller dog-shaped dog. Maddie can never be replaced but Pickles loves like Maddie did. Unconditionally. Without question. She was all too cute in the shelter and I knew that no one else wanted her as there were no applications on her and she'd been there for a while. Who would want a deaf dog? Why would anyone care about a deaf dog? She's broken. Well, she's not broken to me! She's a symbol of my life and she needed a chance. Just the way I've been given chances over the years in so many aspects of my life. I'm thankful for the person that tied Pickles to that tree. I'm sure, you're asking why am I thankful for some jackass that would tie a dog to a tree but that's an easy one: Richmond Animal Control found Pickles and brought her to me! Finally, I'm thankful to Opie who showed me Pickles and told me about the life a deaf dog would have if not adopted. Thanks, Opie.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The First Visit to the Vet
On Tuesday, we went to the vet for the well-puppy check up and the final distemper shot. Pickles walked with Donna to the vet and I met them there. Pickles was a little nervous and a lot rambunctious especially when other dogs and cats would come in. Pickles got on the scale and she weighed a whopping 25 pounds! While we were waiting, a Basset Hound came in and they began to sniff each other when Pickles suddenly snapped and lunged but there was no harm done so I held her close until we went into the exam room.
Once in the room, she was on the exam table and she didn't like that probably because it was cold so she didn't sit. She seemed to like Dr. Jack but was still biting everyone and that has gotten a bit worse as she becomes more comfortable in her new house. Dr. Jack said she looked fine, gave her the shot and the "new puppy pack" and we were ready to leave.
Pickles seemed to tolerate the vet but charging other dogs is not something that she's going to be allowed to do, at least in my house. I have a few options for training her and I'm just reading everything there is about training a deaf dog to become an informed daddy and to know which training method is right for her. Coming up is her first holiday and I know that I am thankful for her and she for us.
Donna bought Pickles two new toys and one of them was a new piece of rope that is red and white and she loves those rope toys! Later in the day, before the vet, Donna went to the crate and got the other (plain white) rope toy out to play but when Donna threw it and Pickles picked it up, she put it back in her crate. You see, the white rope toy goes to bed with her every night because she loves it so much and she now thinks this is where it goes and it's for night-night time! AND Pickles lost a tooth!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Once in the room, she was on the exam table and she didn't like that probably because it was cold so she didn't sit. She seemed to like Dr. Jack but was still biting everyone and that has gotten a bit worse as she becomes more comfortable in her new house. Dr. Jack said she looked fine, gave her the shot and the "new puppy pack" and we were ready to leave.
Pickles seemed to tolerate the vet but charging other dogs is not something that she's going to be allowed to do, at least in my house. I have a few options for training her and I'm just reading everything there is about training a deaf dog to become an informed daddy and to know which training method is right for her. Coming up is her first holiday and I know that I am thankful for her and she for us.
Donna bought Pickles two new toys and one of them was a new piece of rope that is red and white and she loves those rope toys! Later in the day, before the vet, Donna went to the crate and got the other (plain white) rope toy out to play but when Donna threw it and Pickles picked it up, she put it back in her crate. You see, the white rope toy goes to bed with her every night because she loves it so much and she now thinks this is where it goes and it's for night-night time! AND Pickles lost a tooth!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The First Day Home Alone
Monday was Pickles' first day home alone and she did fine. She woke up and ate her usual breakfast, when out to "take care of business" and played for a bit then it was time to go into the crate. She always gets her Kong with about a tablespoon of natural peanut butter (although I'm thinking about changing that just in case there may be an allergy issue) and went right in. When we left Maddie alone, I would leave the radio on so she wouldn't get too lonely in a quite house but with Pickles, I could leave them all on, with the volume all the way up and it wouldn't matter! Then we all left.
I was able to slip home about 1000 to let her out and she was sleeping it away! I woke her up, we went outside and played for a few minutes then back into the crate and yes...there was more peanut butter...just not as much. Rebecca let her out when she got home and all seemed fine.
After that, we played, went to the park did some training (sit, look at me) and Mommy came home and it was kisses time!
We were winding down for the night when something strange happened. Maddie died in our den and we had her cremated (via a company that owned by Nelson's Funeral Home and they were wonderful) and her ashes are on a table in that very spot. Several years ago, we found a small statue of a Mastiff and had that in the house but I moved it to Maddie's table last week because it was behind the TV so the statue had been there the whole time Pickles has been there. But Monday was different. Pickles began to whimper and growl while looking at Maddie's table! The hair on her back stood up and she began to bark...at the table...and would not take her eyes off of it. We tried playing with her and distracting her but nothing worked. She put her paws on the table, as if she was looking at the container Maddie's ashes are in, and barked again. The whole incident went on for about 30 minutes and was really strange. I though, at first, it might be the statue but she'd seen it before so now I had a different thought. I began to think that she was actually communicating with Maddie and I think Maddie was trying to get the pecking order straight. It is said when you lose one sense the others become more developed and since dogs aren't told there are no such things as ghosts they see what they see and feel what they feel. I certainly believe in ghosts!
[Aside: My grandfather died in 1973, when I was seven, and I was heartbroken. One night, after the funeral, I remember waking from a sound sleep and looking into a dark room and seeing an even darker area. What I saw, in that dark area, was the outline of my grandfather. He had on his hat and everything! Nothing was said but I felt a peace fall over me as if to say everything was going to be alright and it was. To this day I miss him but after that night, I no longer felt the heartache I had the day I found out he died.]
Since talking to Pickles wasn't working, I talked to Maddie. I told her that she was still my puppy and that no other puppy could ever take her place but I wanted another doggie to love like I loved her. I told Maddie about Pickles being tied to a tree and being in the pound and that no one adopted deaf dogs so it was likely that Pickles would have been put to sleep. I told Maddie that it didn't love Pickles the same way I love her but it was still love and she was my puppy now as Maddie was then. I also told Maddie that they needed to get along and learn to live with each other. I was holding Pickles while we talked and Pickles began to settle down and her hair went down. She seemed more calm. Whether this is actually the case or not, it seemed to work. Pickles played for a bit but was still cautious of the table and then, with Kong and peanut butter in mouth went to bed and drifted off to sleep.
Pickles had a good first day alone and I believe she and Maddie got everything worked out because there hasn't been a problem since. I'm not saying there's not going to be one in the future but for now everything seems to be fine.
I was able to slip home about 1000 to let her out and she was sleeping it away! I woke her up, we went outside and played for a few minutes then back into the crate and yes...there was more peanut butter...just not as much. Rebecca let her out when she got home and all seemed fine.
After that, we played, went to the park did some training (sit, look at me) and Mommy came home and it was kisses time!
We were winding down for the night when something strange happened. Maddie died in our den and we had her cremated (via a company that owned by Nelson's Funeral Home and they were wonderful) and her ashes are on a table in that very spot. Several years ago, we found a small statue of a Mastiff and had that in the house but I moved it to Maddie's table last week because it was behind the TV so the statue had been there the whole time Pickles has been there. But Monday was different. Pickles began to whimper and growl while looking at Maddie's table! The hair on her back stood up and she began to bark...at the table...and would not take her eyes off of it. We tried playing with her and distracting her but nothing worked. She put her paws on the table, as if she was looking at the container Maddie's ashes are in, and barked again. The whole incident went on for about 30 minutes and was really strange. I though, at first, it might be the statue but she'd seen it before so now I had a different thought. I began to think that she was actually communicating with Maddie and I think Maddie was trying to get the pecking order straight. It is said when you lose one sense the others become more developed and since dogs aren't told there are no such things as ghosts they see what they see and feel what they feel. I certainly believe in ghosts!
[Aside: My grandfather died in 1973, when I was seven, and I was heartbroken. One night, after the funeral, I remember waking from a sound sleep and looking into a dark room and seeing an even darker area. What I saw, in that dark area, was the outline of my grandfather. He had on his hat and everything! Nothing was said but I felt a peace fall over me as if to say everything was going to be alright and it was. To this day I miss him but after that night, I no longer felt the heartache I had the day I found out he died.]
Since talking to Pickles wasn't working, I talked to Maddie. I told her that she was still my puppy and that no other puppy could ever take her place but I wanted another doggie to love like I loved her. I told Maddie about Pickles being tied to a tree and being in the pound and that no one adopted deaf dogs so it was likely that Pickles would have been put to sleep. I told Maddie that it didn't love Pickles the same way I love her but it was still love and she was my puppy now as Maddie was then. I also told Maddie that they needed to get along and learn to live with each other. I was holding Pickles while we talked and Pickles began to settle down and her hair went down. She seemed more calm. Whether this is actually the case or not, it seemed to work. Pickles played for a bit but was still cautious of the table and then, with Kong and peanut butter in mouth went to bed and drifted off to sleep.
Pickles had a good first day alone and I believe she and Maddie got everything worked out because there hasn't been a problem since. I'm not saying there's not going to be one in the future but for now everything seems to be fine.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Weekend
Well, the weekend has come and gone and Pickles had a great time! After taking Donna to work on Saturday, we came back home and I went to sleep for a bit (I didn't get off until 0200 Friday night) then, when I got up, we went to the park. We ran a bit in the park while Pickles was on a long leash but she had fun! She chased the ball and the kids but she soon got tired so we headed home. She slept for a bit, had a snack then got on Facebook for a while. She's a really good typist despite the fact that she doesn't have thumbs. During the day, Pickles had two visitors: Lee Ann who brought Pickles a pull toy with a big rubber bone in the middle, a card and a "Doggie Beer" squeak toy and Deanna who brought Pickles two big rawhide treats! After some tug-o-war with her pull toy, it was time to go to PetsMart. I originally went looking for a bed and some dry shampoo (I ended up with puppy wipes but they don't work that well). Pickles needs bath because she didn't get one before she left the pound or the SPCA and I can't bathe her for a week because of the surgery. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Pickles went too! Everyone said how cute she and well-behaved she was and it was true. It's funny to watch people talk to her because there's no way to tell she's deaf...other than she doesn't come when you call her. The it was time to pick Donna up from work then to bed. At bedtime, she gets a Kong toy filled with some natural peanut butter (which is her bedtime treat) that she really likes! Only a few minutes of whining but then, she drifted off to sleep to dream about her pull toys, biting my hand and going for walks. I like to think that she doesn't dream about being tied to a tree or being in the pound but I really don't know. That was her life up until she changed mine so I can only wish that her life, for the last three days, has replaced the thoughts of the life that she had.
Sunday was a bit different. I took Donna to work, sans Pickles, and then picked up Zack for the day. When we got home, Pickles was up but had a accident in her crate. That wasn't her fault because I didn't let her out before I left the house but she was sleeping and was so cute! We cleaned that up, hung out for a while, went to the park again until Pickles got tired then it was time to get the Christmas stuff out from under the house and Pickles helped...if you can call that helping. I got one of the rugs from under the house as well. We cleaned and put them away before Maddie died. After a good cleaning, the rug was in the house and Pickles really liked it. She was laying on the rug and wen to sleep and when she woke up, she started to bite and dig at one spot but I'm not really sure why. Next was a few naps, playing tug-o-war and learning a couple of things. We've been working on "watch me" where I would get her attention and point to my nose and she caught on after about 50 times over five or six sessions. Then it was time for "sit". With this, I would take her treat and bring it over her head until she sat, gave her the index finger (which we're using for sit), the "good dog" sign (thumbs up) and a treat. She had this down much quicker and is pretty consistent with it. I also got an email from a trainer that was recommended and I contacted and I look forward to talking with her on Monday.
Time to take Zack home and pick up Donna. She was sitting in Zack's lap and began to growl at something outside of the car but there was nothing there! Her hackles were up and she looked mean. Still haven't figured that out.
Once home, some more sits and watch me/s and some down time. Then it was time for bed.
Some thoughts: She's a great dog although she's bites a bit. I can only chalk that up to her being deaf and relying on her mouth more that a hearing dog. Pickles has opened my eyes to the plight of shelter dogs but I'm not sure what to do about that on the back end. There's no dog that deserves to be treated in such a way and it needs to stop.
I have an idea for Christmas: I would like everyone to find a broken ornament and "adopt it". Everything deserves a home at Christmas...especially things that are "broken".
Well, time for bed. My wake up time comes really early on day shift weeks.
Sunday was a bit different. I took Donna to work, sans Pickles, and then picked up Zack for the day. When we got home, Pickles was up but had a accident in her crate. That wasn't her fault because I didn't let her out before I left the house but she was sleeping and was so cute! We cleaned that up, hung out for a while, went to the park again until Pickles got tired then it was time to get the Christmas stuff out from under the house and Pickles helped...if you can call that helping. I got one of the rugs from under the house as well. We cleaned and put them away before Maddie died. After a good cleaning, the rug was in the house and Pickles really liked it. She was laying on the rug and wen to sleep and when she woke up, she started to bite and dig at one spot but I'm not really sure why. Next was a few naps, playing tug-o-war and learning a couple of things. We've been working on "watch me" where I would get her attention and point to my nose and she caught on after about 50 times over five or six sessions. Then it was time for "sit". With this, I would take her treat and bring it over her head until she sat, gave her the index finger (which we're using for sit), the "good dog" sign (thumbs up) and a treat. She had this down much quicker and is pretty consistent with it. I also got an email from a trainer that was recommended and I contacted and I look forward to talking with her on Monday.
Time to take Zack home and pick up Donna. She was sitting in Zack's lap and began to growl at something outside of the car but there was nothing there! Her hackles were up and she looked mean. Still haven't figured that out.
Once home, some more sits and watch me/s and some down time. Then it was time for bed.
Some thoughts: She's a great dog although she's bites a bit. I can only chalk that up to her being deaf and relying on her mouth more that a hearing dog. Pickles has opened my eyes to the plight of shelter dogs but I'm not sure what to do about that on the back end. There's no dog that deserves to be treated in such a way and it needs to stop.
I have an idea for Christmas: I would like everyone to find a broken ornament and "adopt it". Everything deserves a home at Christmas...especially things that are "broken".
Well, time for bed. My wake up time comes really early on day shift weeks.
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