Oyster Cracker Magic

While Chris was down in Florida for a work meeting this Tuesday, I avoided a boring evening at home by myself by packing up the girls and heading to my parent's house in Atkinson, NH. I didn't get my love from dogs late in life...I grew up in a household filled with dogs, and nothing has changed.

My parent's current senior dog is a big...BIG...11 year old Collie named Timmy. Timmy's flamboyant, happy, and stinks. But we love him regardless. Next is Levi, the only non-Collie of the household. He's a 7 year old pug and meets the breed's standards to a tee...loves food, loves people, snores and snorts. Mollie is a 5 year old Collie, "daddy's little girl." She loves my dad so much it's scary. Lastly there's Jack, Reese's brother. Like most male Collies, he's big and lovable, a real sweetheart. So sweet, I sometimes wonder why I opted for the difficult, bratty little female instead of her laid back big brother!

Elsa & Reese just love to hang out with their "cousins" and were ready to play as soon as we arrived! We hung out by the pool, went for a walk, and chilled out on the porch...a perfect evening in my book! Following dinner, my dad broke out the oyster crackers...my parents treat of choice for their spoiled dogs. Before long, all six of our dogs were doing all that they could to impress my dad enough for him to give them a cracker. Sitting, laying down, jumping up (Reese!!)...anything for a cracker!

Suddenly my mom and I realized that this would make just an adorable picture. My mom grabbed her camera and we were faced with the difficulty of getting EVERY dog to sit still! We tried everything...each of us taking a shot at it. We tried having them all sit...nope. All lay down...still not working. We'd tell them to "stay" but not everyone was being obedient.

Suddenly I had an idea. Instead of telling them to "stay," why not "leave-it?" I took a cracker, told everyone to lay down, placed the cracker in front of them and said "leave-it!" Sure enough, we got the attention of all 6 dogs...no one was going anywhere while there was a cracker in front of them!

And so finally, we got our picture!

A Swim at Kennebunk!

Collies are definitely not known for their swimming abilities (Ok, well maybe with the exception of Lassie.) But Reesie proved all wrong this weekend! She joined me for a dip in the ocean up at Kennebunk, Maine this weekend! AND Elsa celebrated her 5th birthday! We all had a blast...so much fun that maybe we'll head back to Maine next weekend too!

THIS is why I LOVE my job!

Every day I experience as a dog walker is filled with laughs, surprises, and on occasion, frustration. However, it's not very often that I get so delighted I get a chill...on a hot summer day!

I've mentioned Gracie before, she's a "retriever-mix," I couldn't even guess what she's made up of. She was adopted by her "parents" as a pup and has quickly GROWN up! She's tall, athletic, and absolutely FULL of energy. I spend most of my visits with her "playing soccer," which is basically a fetch game with a soccer ball...the entire half hour. I stay in her fenced in yard most of the times because her "sister," Petunia, a little pug, can't really handle keeping up with her BIG sister. Of course, we go on the occasional walk, but we can't go too far, Petunia's little legs just can't handle it!

So opportunity knocked when Gracie and Petunia's "mom" told me that because she's a teacher, she'll be around during the summer. But she still wanted to give her pups the opportunity to get exercise and play with me over her vacation. So I mentioned taking Gracie for a run once a week...no Petunia...just her and I! Her mom agreed, and we've already enjoyed two wonderful runs.

Gracie has never been polite on the leash, so for our first run, it took a while for her to figure out what I expected. After walking a half a mile, treats in hand, Gracie got it, and we started to jog. The run began with quite the climb...up Sutton Hill Road...and boy can that girl RUN! I am an avid runner myself, but I've never scurried up a hill as fast as she did. We continued to test each other, she'd try to stop and sniff, I'd want to keep running. Or she'd run up ahead, and I was lagging behind. It wasn't until we were about a mile into it, turning toward the park at the Old Center, when Gracie "got it." And when she got it, we made a great pair! She finally settled at a loose lead by my left side, we went the same pace, we weren't distracted. We were just a girl and a dog out for a run. That's when the chill hit me...boy do I LOVE my job : )

Elsa ROCKS at RALLY!

I've talked in the past about showing Elsa in an AKC sport called Rally-Obedience. There are 3 levels of Rally: Novice, Advanced, and Excellent. Elsa recently earned her third title in Rally Excellent, we can't go any higher than that! I absolutely love the sport and Reese will soon try her luck in the Rally show ring as well. And instead of trying to describe it, below I've posted a video of Elsa and I at a show this winter, you can see how much fun it is! The greatest thing about competing in Rally with Elsa is that the two of us must work together, she must watch and listen to me, and I must tell her exactly what to do. In this video we're competing in Rally Advanced, Elsa did a wonderful job and placed 1st in her class! However, you may notice that I was quite nervous! Rally-O is something that anyone can get involved in and your pup will LOVE working and competing with you! You can also read additional information about Rally-Obedience on the AKC website: Rally

Rain Rain GO AWAY!

At this point, anyone living in New England has just had enough of this rain! Lucky you, being nice and dry in your cubicle...(ok I take that back, I'll walk in the rain before returning to a cube.)

But not only have we enjoyed weeks on end of constant rain, but our icing on the cake has been some recent thunderstorms. And I know there are some pups who just aren't too happy about these recent storms...Elsa being one of them! She insisted on cuddling with me in bed the other morning as a severe storm rumbled above us. But she wasn't always that way, in her early years she didn't bat an eye as a storm passed us by.

As I walked Sox yesterday afternoon we heard some distant rumbling which caused a temporary pause, but he quickly got back to sniffing. Then as I walked Bailey J. and Bailey O. together we heard some louder thunder. Bailey J. paused at the sound, looked at the sky, and then continued her walk. However Bailey O. got startled and ran to the end of the leash, crying a bit, but soon realized that the storm was not heading our way and got back to enjoying our walk. But not all dogs can tolerate a storm. Upon trying to discover why Wallace, a sweet, hound-mix rescue dog, was being fearful on some of his walks with Lauren and particularly on a rainy day, I learned that he has an over-sensitivity to thunderstorms, which could likely affect his behavior on some days.

But what is it that makes dogs fearful of thunderstorms? The easy answer to that question is that they don't like the loud sound of thunder. But why, then, would Elsa become increasingly fearful of thunderstorms? There is another theory out there which may better explain our dogs' fear of storms, called the static-electricity theory.

The static-electricity theory is that dogs become statically charged during a thunderstorm and receive electric shocks, unless they ground themselves.

Hm interesting...so what's the evidence? Well, first off, a lot of breeds that are more susceptible of a thunderstorm-phobia are herding and retrieving breeds. Many of these breeds carry larger, heavier coats (that favor buildup of an electric charge) such as a Collie. As well, during storms, many dogs can be found hiding in a bathtub, shower stall, or pressed behind the toilet...all excellently grounded due to plumbing. And it's been found that many dog owners who seek help in relieving their dog's phobia will say that they've received electric shocks from their dogs during a storm.

The theory also explains why dogs like Elsa will progressively gain a fear of t-storms. Dogs learn based on experiences and trial-and-error. Elsa was never extremely fearful of loud sounds, so thunder never effected her. The likelihood that during a chance storm, there was a crack of thunder that was so severe and scary that it has made her fearful of all storms is slim. What's more likely is that during a particularly severe storm, she gained such a large charge buildup that she received an electric shock that startled her and possibly hurt her (think of when you touch something and receive a shock, ouch!)

So why, then, do dogs react to the actual sound thunder in a fearful manner? It may be a secondary fear that came about as an association to the charge buildup. Some dogs that have a serious phobia may also become fearful of dark skies, wind, and rain...all because they associate them with the static charges.

Of course, this is all just a theory, but it's supported by more and more evidence. I recently read an article written by Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a behavior veterinarian who heads the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinarian Medicine and author of multiple books on dog behavior. Though he's found it difficult to completely omit the fear in some dogs, there are a number of preventative measures that have been found to increase the dogs' comfort during t-storms. He suggests that prior to or at the onset of a t-storm, rubbing your dog with an anti-static laundry pad, misting your dog with water, or putting them onto a nonconducting surface such as a tile or linoleum floor. And most interestingly, he suggests putting your dog into a car (shielding your dog from static buildup!)

So if your dog is fearful of the thunderstorms that we've been experiencing recently, you may want to try some of those options to see if they work. Looking out the window, it looks like right now is a perfect time to try it out....WHEN will this rain go away!?

Another Collie!

It doesn't require much reading for you to realize that I absolutely LOVE Collies! Not only have I grown up in a household filled with Collies and currently own two myself, but I find every bit of their personality to be absolutely perfect! (Sorry to any offend anyone, but we're all titled to our opinions!)

And so you could only imagine my excitement when I received a call to take care of Abby, a sweet, 10 year old blue-merle Collie. During our week together, despite the awful weather (ugh this rain!!) Abby and I had a wonderful time together! She was a quirky old girl, every time I'd snap on her leash she'd grab it and carry it as we walked out of the house. And whereas my girls would tip-toe around puddles (they don't even like to walk in wet grass!) Abby would slowly make her way through a puddle, enjoying every moment! She also loved to roll in the grass, even as it was pouring rain. And of course, she got along wonderfully with Elsa and Reese, I truly believe that dogs recognize others who are of the same breed. We were lucky with one sunny day and I was able to snap some great pictures of the three Collies walking through a field at Spring Hill Farm. Enjoy!!

Update on Reese

What a busy week! I haven't had much time to post anything, I've been busy walking in the rain and in my spare time, I'm researching how to take care of a dog with epilepsy. Reesie went to the vet on Friday and it seems as though she likely has Idiopathic Epilepsy. We don't know the underlying cause of her partial seizures, but I'm doing all that I can to prevent anymore from occuring. And the very first thing that I'm doing is changing her food. Reese has been on Merrick dog food, which contains grains. Grains are not a natural food for dogs and can cause all kinds of problems, including allergies and seizures. So Reese is currently transitioning to a new, grain-free diet. She had a bloodtest taken but nothing of alarm was found. She did test positive for Lyme disease, however seizures aren't a common symptom of the disease. For now, the best thing that I can do is provide Reese with the healthiest diet and supplements possible, offer a healthy dose of exercise, and keep a detailed diary every day. I'm starting to get used to the idea that Reese may experience additional seizures in the future, but I'm still watching my sweet little girl very closely (and over-analyzing everything, just as any other over protective mother would!) She's certainly enjoying the extra attention! I hope that I can provide enough changes to prevent anymore seizures and as I find time, will certainly post what I've learned to help everyone provide healthier lives for their lovable pups!

The Nose Knows

The other day as my husband, Chris, and I were walking our girls, he brought up something that he said really amazes him. He said he was amazed that dogs, such as bloodhounds, can be used to track people. He asked me if people really have a scent that is strong enough to be picked up by a dog. I agreed, it is quite impressive! And it's not just bloodhounds and other tracking dogs that have impressive noses.

I was thinking about what he said while I was out walking dogs. I see them sniffing constantly, but I always wonder what exactly it is that they're smelling, and if our pets can actually distinguish what those scents are. Well, Carmen showed me that our dogs do indeed recognize and react to the scents that they're smelling! Carmen is a little "cavapoo," a mix between a mini Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. So really, his pedigree does not include any noted trackers! There's another little dog, Codi, who lives near Carmen, and the two just don't get along. Codi is a little bully and Carmen has learned to react to him in a defensive manner...he barks, his hair goes up on his back, and he runs around.

The other day we were on our way back to the house when we passed Codi's owner. Carmen, in his super friendly way, went over to her to say hi, tail wagging and jumping with excitement! After the initial hello, he did what most dogs do, he started sniffing her all over. It didn't take long for Carmen to catch a wiff of his nemesis, Codi! Immediately Carmen started barking, his hair went up, and he started looking around for Codi! Not only could he smell another dog, but he recognized Codi's smell and reacted to it as if Codi was there.

I was unhappy to see that the initial happy greeting was ruined, but just amazed that little Carmen can make the association based on his nose! No doubt he could land a job in search and rescue!

Elsa & Petunia

I just had to snap this picture from my phone the other day of Elsa and Petunia hanging out on the stairs! They just love this spot, and while Petunia's "sister," Gracie, plays fetch or her and Reese run around playing tag, these two enjoy just chilling out together and watching the game. Too cute!

A Scary Moment

Well this weekend didn't turn out as we had hoped. It all started off well. Early Friday morning the girls, my husband Chris, and I all got up early and headed to the Topsfield Fairgrounds for Elsa to compete for her final leg in Rally Excellent. And though it was a dreary, rainy day and Elsa missed a jump, she still managed to leave with a red ribbon and her RE title! We've gone further with Rally-O than I had ever imagined but it's time to move on to obedience...classes start next Monday!

That afternoon we headed off for a weekend at my parent's lake house on Bow Lake in NH. The girls had the chance to play with their "cousins," my parent's three Collies and a pug. Saturday was beautiful, we took lots of walks and both Elsa and Reese got to swim in the lake. They had a wonderful time.

However, Sunday had a gloomy, rainy start and my parents headed out early with their dogs. Chris and I decided to make the most of our weekend, he had taken Monday off, so we stayed and began a game of monopoly. After a little while I went into the kitchen to get a drink, Reese following me, when I suddenly heard her trip into the water bowl on the ground. Finding this odd, I had her follow me into the living room to see if she was alright. But she wasn't. She began to stumble to the left, her back leg unable to hold her up and her front leg folding under her as well. Chris bent down and Reese tried to cuddle with him while trying her hardest to regain her balance and began whining. Her left side just wouldn't support her. I sat close to her on the ground and my poor little girl fell into my lap, whining and scared. She rested for a bit as I calmed her. After resting like that for some time, she tried to get up, and with my help was able to stand and walk. Chris took her outside and she trotted around as if nothing had happened.

We believe that Reese had a partial seizure. I have an appointment with my vet on Friday this week. It was a scary event and we hope that she doesn't have another episode in the meantime. There are many things that can cause a seizure and their prevalent in Collies, but I can only hope for my little girl that this is something that we can prevent in the future. In the meantime, she'll be taking some time off from walking other dogs with me. But of course, that doesn't mean she won't be going on walks when I get home, and Elsa will stay around to keep her company during the day! I'll continue posting updates on Reesie <3