All My Babies

When I started writing this blog I only had 1 cat and 2 dogs. The furbaby mama life was still pretty new and I was blogging as I was figuring it all out. While I can't say I have all the answers now with 3 dogs and 3 cats, I can say that I'm experienced. On the other hand, parenting a baby girl is all brand new. Blogging is not just my creative outlet, it's become an amazing way for me to document my life as it changes seasons, connect with all of you on different levels and figure this whole mom thing out as I go. So if you've been around since the beginning. I apologize that The Ruff Life has gone from all about the furbablls to all about the baby. I promise our dogs and cats have not been brushed to the side at all. Chris and I make the extra effort to ensure everyone gets the love and attention they deserve. But we consider ourselves pros in the furbaby department at this point so the focus of blog posts has overwhelming turned to mommy and baby topics. And I'll be honest, that's most likely the way it will stay. Now, that does not mean I won't throw in some furbaby focused posts here and there. I'm always open to suggestions and questions. I just feel like I have to keep this blog current and my life right now is very different than it was when I started writing. A rebrand may be something I look into eventually but for now the name and our home here will remain unchanged. So with that said, this post is about all my babies.

We did things a little differently than probably most people do as far as introducing the kids' new baby sister to them. Our dogs are excitable with children especially so we knew we wanted to wait a bit before allowing close up interaction. We let them all get used to Fallon's scent and understand she was a new member of the family. The cats came and met her each on their own time but we had to control her relationship with the dogs early on. It might seem mean or harsh if you don't understand dog behavior and I am not suggesting everyone else should do things this way. But it ended up working out really well for us so I'll share our process. 

We actually waited a whole month before we let any of the dogs see Fallon up close. The initial meetings were brief and we made sure to bring Fallon to them on their beds as well as kept her at arm's length from them. We gradually increased the frequency and length of the time we let each dog interact with their new sister and closed the gap between their curious noses and her face. Chaos still gets upset when she cries and it takes all his will power to remain on command in his place instead of charging to her rescue. But we have yet to have any accidental injuries, no one getting underfoot while someone is holding the baby and she hasn't been scared by a friendly but very excited brother or sister in her face. She is getting to the age that she is starting to reach out for them and touch their faces and their fur. We will teach her to be gentle as soon as she understands but these calm and positive interactions now are setting the stage for that later. We are far from the people who treat their furballs like children and then toss them aside when a baby comes along. I promise we still love all our babies and our family dynamic has changed only for the better, even if it is mostly behind the scenes. 

This picture for our 2016 Christmas card picture could not showcase our babies' personalities any better and we are so excited to send it out to all our family and friends. 

Roots

National Dog Day was last week so of course I had to do a little photo shoot with my crew. I'm getting back to my roots with this post, where The Ruff Life all began. We have come a long way from the wild, ill mannered puppy days and I am so proud of my dogs. Even though they've learned to listen and obey, it doesn't change those little personality quirks we know and love about them. Ares is always going to push the limits as far as he can, Chaos will forget the rules in his excitement over people on occasion and Trinity is going to find herself in trouble without even realizing it because, well, she's a bit of a ditz. Of course these are the traits that make them who they are and we wouldn't ever want to change a bit of that. We love them flaws and all, just like they do us. 

I've posted countless pictures of the pups on this blog and social media and I always find it funny when I'm asked how I get them to pose for me or what camera I use to shoot. Here's the thing guys, I have extremely limited photography knowledge. I use my iPhone and I'm completely clueless about lighting, camera angels and using a real camera. For the sake of my audience I have vaguely familiarized myself with a few editing programs but mostly I just use Instagram filters. Most shots are 100% candid. I see a kiddo doing something cute, grab my phone and snap away. If I want something specific for a post it usually involves Chris giving commands and me jumping around taking a million pictures and editing later. What I'm trying to say is, all these pictures are made possible because my dogs are so damn photogenic and usually cooperative. They've grown this blog with their adorable faces with little effort from me so they deserve all the credit. 

The Ruff Life was created to share stories of a pet parent with two crazy pups and a middle aged diva cat. We've since gained a daddy, moved into a new house and added a few furry and human siblings along the way. But I haven't forgotten where we started. This blog has become so much more than silly stories and furball antics. It has become my creative outlet, my platform for personal growth, my productive hobby, my connection with people who share my outlook on life and my memory book. None of this would have happened without my dogs. So this is me thanking them for their inspiration and unconditional love. I appreciate them more than I could ever say. Their waggly tails in the morning and their sleepy eyes as they obediently trot off to bed will never get old. Whoever said dog is man's best friend absolutely nailed it on the head. My dogs are more than just pets, they are 4 legged furry family members. We've all grown and changed and so too has this blog but I can promise you I'll never forget why it all began or stop posting about these sweet faces. 

Thank you babies!

All Dogs Go to Heaven

I write this post with a heavy heart. It's been a week now since we had to say goodbye to our sweet girl Tigger and I am just now able to find the words to say. Everything just happened so fast and we are still in a bit of shock.

After Christmas we welcomed Trinity and Tigger into our new home. They were Chris's dogs when he lived at home and they stayed there until we were able to bring them to our house with a fenced in yard. Shortly after Tigger arrived, we discovered a lump on her mammary gland and had it removed. Luckily she was in superb health otherwise for an old gal, did well with the surgery and it turned out to be a low grade cancer that the vet wasn't too worried about returning. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when we were getting ready to schedule a 6 month check-up and warning signs started to appear. All of a sudden she lost her appetite and started heavily favoring her right front leg. We thought maybe arthritis with her age and when we added wet food to her diet she ate with abandon. But then an odd growth appeared on the side of her nose. Both Ares and Chaos have had harmless skin tags that looked gross but stopped growing and fell off without treatment. Unfortunately more spots started to appear overnight and a biopsy confirmed it was melanoma. We immediately scheduled an appointment with a specialist but within days of the diagnosis the seizures began. If you've never seen a dog seize, I hope you never have to. Chris called our vet after the first one, last Saturday morning, and she said to take her to the animal ER if it happened again. Sure enough, it did within hours, so we went to ER where she was given a shot to prevent any more seizures for 12 hours. The medication only held them off for the expected amount of time and then early Sunday they returned. I had a prescription filled as soon as the pharmacy opened but over the next 24 hours she had several more seizures. Chris took her out to see our regular vet on Monday and on the way she seized twice. One look from the vet and Chris knew it was time to let her go. The cancer was so aggressive it had spread to her brain and a $3,000 MRI was only going to confirm that and give us no further options. 

I have never been in the position to have to make the choice to let an animal go. Y'all know we consider our furbabies family members and this was beyond difficult. But Tigger was suffering immensely, things were only going to get worse and there was no medical treatment to give her any quality of life. The right thing certainly isn't always this easiest and when Chris broke the news to me I broke into a fit of sobs. I'm not a big crier but my kids are my world and I felt like a piece of my heart was being taken. Chris buried Tigger in the field at his dad's house under a tree in the pouring rain. She was such a smart, happy girl and it was a joy to have her in our home for the end of her life. I am so thankful that she was able to meet Fallon and so, so glad I snapped this final picture of her with our baby girl. We continue to mourn this loss and only time will heal the wounds. Some say dogs do not have souls but I know better. Not only do dogs have souls, they are pure of heart and I am positive that they all go straight to heaven. Fallon has another angel to watch over her. 

Tigger, we loved you so much and will miss you every day.

Walk this Way: The Right Way to Walk your Dog

I didn't grow up in a home with dogs. My mom had a terrible fear of them instilled from childhood and it was a huge step when I finally got a cat in high school. When I was 25 I finally bought my own place and could not wait to get a dog. A few months later I became the proud mama to our resident Boster Terrier and Mr. Personality himself, Ares. The problem was, I had no clue about dog behavior or any idea about the concept of etiquette as a dog mom. Nearly 4 years later I'm the proud mama to 4 dogs and boy have things changed since I brought home that tiny black and white ball of fur.

Having settled into life in suburbia with my husband, a certified dog trainer, and our pack, it's time to start spreading some awareness on a topic we both feel is incredibly important: dog walking etiquette. Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to walk your dog. The problem is, so many people are like I used to be, utterly clueless.

The first thing dog parents should understand is that dogs are dogs, not humans. Duh, right? They coexist domestically so well with us it's sometimes easy to forget that they are in fact a different species. We have to teach them exactly what we expect of them while also staying privy to the fact that dogs have their own set of behaviors and ways of communication. A wagging tail does not always equal a happy dog.I can't even count the number of times I've encountered people who let a leashed dog walk directly up to another dog and/or person cheerily explaining it's okay he's friendly. Not only is this completely unfair to the other party, it has the potential to quickly turn into a nasty situation.

In the human world socializing means interacting with others. In the dog world, these are two separate concepts. A socialized dog is one who remains neutral upon seeing other dogs and humans while out walking. The dog does not become aggressive, nervous, intensely excited or distracted. Socializing your dog is as simple as walking her and allowing her to see, hear and smell the environment without physically interacting with other walkers. It is important to understand that even if you know your dog is properly socialized, other dogs you encounter while walking may not be. Your friendly, neutral pup should still only be allowed to interact with dogs she is already familiar with and you are certain the two get along. As humans this is counter intuitive because but with dogs, this is a standard social norm we as responsible parents need to follow.

Remember how I said my mom has been afraid of dogs her whole life? She's made huge strides in overcoming this fear as an adult but she is still very uneasy around any dog she doesn't know well. She certainly is not the only person who feels this way and many others have even greater fears. Plus, it's nearly impossible for dog lovers to understand this concept, but some people just don't like dogs. Gasp, I know. In the spirit of human decency and common courtesy, you should never walk your dog right up to a stranger. The fact that your dog is friendly probably doesn't make someone who fears dogs or simply isn't a fan any more inclined to meet your dog. And quite honestly, some of  you only think your dog is friendly with all people.

Improper dog walking is not only rude to others, but it could have dangerous effects. While we as humans view looking someone in the eye and shaking hands a polite manner in which to meet, this is far from natural dog behavior. Dogs prefer to meet side to side, and sniff each other out, usually in the famous nose to tail position. Now, just as not all humans follow proper social guidelines, not all dogs do either. Imagine how you would feel if someone you don't know came up and hugged you from behind at the grocery store? Could it happen because that person is oblivious to social norms, chooses to ignore them or just never learned them? Of course. Does it make it any more acceptable behavior to the rest of us who do abide by them? Probably not.

Just like us, dogs will react differently in these situations based on several factors including personality, past experience, level of training and how mom or dad handles it. Knowing your dog is absolutely essential to proper walking etiquette, but I will come back to that. Of my 4 dogs, Ares is the only dog who would take it in stride if a strange dog approached him in an atypical matter such as head on or from behind. Tigger, our Boxer-Shepherd mix, would most likely snap at the offender, essentially scolding the dog for an improper greeting. If the dog isn't familiar with how to properly greet other dogs, he or she may also may not be hip to the warning and that is where the situation could turn dangerous. Worst case scenarios could happen with Chaos, an American Pit Bull Terrier, or Trinity, an American Bulldog, as they tend to be the most timid of the bunch. A scared dog is the worst kind as they react in defense to a perceived threat. Note that the approaching dog could certainly be very friendly, but if he is not following dog appropriate guidelines for interaction, he can appear frightening to another dog. Of course, as I mentioned, your dog might not truly be as friendly as you believe. A wagging tail can also indicate nervousness or fear. It's your job to know which one your dog is communicating. Who is blamed when dogs and/owners are injured in these situations? Almost never the dog acting improperly and the owner who allowed it to happen.

Walking your furry friend is great exercise for both of you and a wonderful bonding experience. But dogs aren't born knowing how to walk on leash. We have the responsibility as parents to teach them. So many people never take the time to train this very important skill and are left with a constant slew of problems. Dogs are pack animals. If you don't make it known you are in charge, he or she will take over. Heeling is a command dogs can be taught where they are expected to walk right next to the person holding the leash (usually on the left side) regardless of whatever else in the environment that may be of interest. It takes some patience and some practice but it is the most effective way to maintain walking etiquette. When your dog is always keeping pace with you, never allowed to walk ahead or fall behind, you are in control, the way it should be. It's dangerous for you if your dog is pulling you along, possibly into the street, bolting after a squirrel, or simply so hard you fall down. And it's dangerous for others with dogs who won't appreciate the fact that you can't control your pooch and accidentally allow an improper meeting. Pay attention to your dog and make sure she is paying attention to you. She should stop when you stop, turn when you turn and move faster or slower according to your pace. Correct your dog if he is out of line and reward him when he does the job right. Buy a durable leash and collar, take the time to train your dog to walk next to you either yourself or via certified trainer, and steer clear of retractable leashes and harnesses that can give full control to the dog.

Most of us walk our dogs through neighborhoods, parks and down busy city streets. This means we have to share the road so to speak. Pay attention to your surroundings and respond accordingly. Your pace may be faster or slower than someone you encounter along your route. Move off to the side your dog is on to let a runner or someone moving faster than you pass by. You should act as the barrier between the stranger, with or without a dog, and your own dog. If you are passing by someone walking slower, again, keep your dog on the outside. I'm also talking to those of you walking without a dog. Be sure to pass by a dog walker on the human's side, not the dog's. If you have multiple dogs, they should all be on one side, not both.

Finally, let's go back to knowing your dog. Learn how your particular dog responds to specific stimuli, types of people and situations. If you know your dog barks at other dogs when closely encountered, such as passing by on the sidewalk, avoid that situation at all costs. Unless you are currently in training for this behavior and instructed on how to appropriately work through it, putting your dog in a situation you know he is uncomfortable with is unnecessary and irresponsible. Simply because your dog is small or you feel you have him or her under complete control doesn't mean it is okay. Proper etiquette is to move away to a further distance when you spot another dog. As well as you know your own dog, you do not know the one passing by. Your barking dog could easily spook or upset another dog and cause a negative reaction.

Proper dog walking etiquette might sound kind of silly but it's actually something that all dog owners should be aware of and practicing. Be a responsible parent, your dog deserves it and so do the rest of us. Be courteous to other humans and their dogs. Be educated and aware of the behaviors of your own dog as well as others. Be proactive with training to keep you and your dog safe. And my favorite, be in control when you stroll. The single most important part of dog etiquette is ensuring you and your dog are always on your best behavior.
 

Be sure to hop on over to Rover.com for many more tips on dog walking and responsible dog ownership. You can also find a dog walker or dog sitter while you're there.

Happy Sunday!

5 Essentials for a Home with Dogs

Ares will be 4 this summer and it may be one of the most overused sayings ever but really and truly they grow up so fast. But in these past 4 years it's not just my once 1 pound puppy that has grown. We've expanded our furry family by 3 dogs and 1 cat since I first brought him home that summer and some much has changed. I was new to being a dog mom then but consider myself pretty seasoned at this point. As always, every family has things that work and things that don't, but I love reading about what works for others to see if it might work for us too. So today I'm sharing a few of the doggie essentials we've learned through trial and error that not only work for us, but make life as a family with multiple dogs a whole lot easier.

 

 

Coconut oil is pretty amazing stuff. There are a zillion uses for it but we always keep a big tub on hand specifically for the dogs. Each of our 4 canine furbabies gets a big spoonful mixed into their food bowls every day. Since it comes in solid form, we just plop it on top and then microwave the whole bowl until it melts. So far I haven't met a dog that wouldn't eat coconut oil and not only that, they seem to LOVE it. It has tons of health benefits from keeping the skin and coat hydrated, lessening the immune response to allergens and aiding in digestion just to name a few.

 

I was introduced to Vetericyn a couple years ago by a co-worker. She trains horses and told me she always keeps it stocked in her barn to spray on minor injuries her various animals including horses, dogs and barn cats sometimes acquire. We picked up a bottle to use on Chaos, since at the time we were struggling to get his allergies under control and his poor body had cuts from scratching. Guys, this stuff is awesome. It's an antiseptic that doesn't burn or sting when applied to a wound or rash and helps to speed up the healing time. Winning all around.

 

Since we are only human, sometimes we don't notice a tiny insect bite or wound on our pups until it's already infected. Chaos was our guinea pig using saline solution, yet again, when I noticed one day his paw was red and swollen. The vet said it could have been caused by a number of things but the easiest way to help it heal was to soak it in saline solution. Essentially like a mini salt bath, the solution helps to draw out the infection and promote healing if the infection is minor. The vet sent us home with a bottle of concentrated solution that we were to mix with warm water but you can buy a spray form from any drugstore. Not all dogs are going to submit to a soaking easily or maybe even at all. But lucky for us Chaos had no problem with us shoving his paw into the solution (which does not hurt), especially since he was being fed treats and petted the entire time. The instructions were to soak it as long as he would let us but I think he would have let us forever so we stopped at around the 3 minute mark. The swelling was significantly down by the next morning and looked completely normal just 24 hours later after 2 additional soaks.

 

 

Did you know dogs can take Benadryl? Along with several other "human" medications, this one is safe for pups when given the correct dosage. Check with your own vet first but we've always gone by the 1mg/every 10lbs of dog rule. If you haven't guessed already, we also learned this one with Chaos since he's allergic to life. Let me tell you how beyond glad I was to have a bottle of pills at home when he had a pretty severe allergic reaction a few weeks ago. He's allergic to bees and I'm fairly certain he was stung while out in the yard. The tell tale hives developed and spread quickly over his body so I shoved the pills into a big scoop of peanut butter and let him go to town. Benadryl works fast and about 15 minutes later the hives were disappearing before my eyes. We have given it to our other dogs if they seem a bit itchy or pink around the eyes after romping in fresh cut grass, a known allergen for many dogs, so it's definitely a staple around our house.

 

When Chaos was a little pup I was clipping his nails when Chris walked in the door and startled us both. The result was blood pouring out of my poor furbaby's nail when I cut too far down and me freaking out because he was certainly GOING TO DIE. I felt ridiculous when Chris pulled out the bag of baking flour, poured some out on the floor and stuck the bleeding nail into it and just like magic, it stopped. Styptic powder is actually made for this purpose so grab some to keep around but in a pinch regular old flour will do. I sure wish we would have caught Trinity's bleeding tail in time to use one of these methods before she wagged it all over the house leaving what looked like a crime scene in her wake over the weekend.

 

 

It's always the best idea to schedule regular check-ups for your dogs and head to the vet if something seems wrong. But if you can remedy the situation yourself at home it saves time and money and gives some precious peace of mind.

 

P.S. Trinity is fine but I spent Sunday afternoon scrubbing the blood splatter off walls and doors all around my house. #momlife

Shedding Season

Shedding season. I joke that it's the most wonderful time of the year. It's not. When you share your home with 4 dogs and 2 cats life can get hairy, literally. Piper used to be the worst culprit with her long, fluffy white fur. Of course we had dark wood furniture and dark wood flooring so even a few strands would be noticeable. Now it's not so not bad because her trail is mostly only visible on the kitchen table and floating off her body itself if you pet her. Little O, Chaos and Ares shed much more minimally, although Ares's little wiry hairs aren't the easiest to remove since they kind of weave through fabric. Somehow one always makes it's way into my bra and then I'm frantically trying to find it and remove it when I get poked while attempting to remain appropriate at work.

This is the first year we've had Tigger and Trinity so we had no idea how out of control the shedding situation was going to get. Trinity is an American Bulldog with technically short fur, but her thick undercoat has proven to rival Piper's floating white furballs. Tigger by far and away wins first prize for shedder of the year. The shepherd in her makes its appearance in her fluffy coat, which has shed so much lately it looks like she's lost weight. This is the life we have chosen to live but it comes with a lot of hard work if we want to keep our home from being overtaken with fur. In order to keep things, well, in order, all the kiddos are regularly brushed outside. You can find tufts of fur in our backyard on any given day. Feel free to stop by and collect it if you'd like to spin it into a blanket. I guarantee it would be the warmest one you've ever had. Our vacuum is used daily on floors, dog beds and in dog crates. If they would let us we would vacuum the fur right off the biggest offenders. Baths are also frequent and it's a good thing we have an extra bathroom just for the dogs. It looks like a disaster area afterward with fur EVERYWHERE. Dogs shake when wet, it's just a fact.

 

We do our very best to keep the evidence of the massive shedding epidemic that happens this time of year under wraps, but there is only so much we can do. If you visit our home, you'll probably leave with a few souvenirs on your clothes. Deal with it. Do I occasionally find a stray cat hair in my oatmeal? Yup. I pick it out and keep eating. It's just part of being a furbaby mama. #momlife #doglife #catlife #truelife. My best suggestions are to invest in quality essentials like brushes, shampoo and a vacuum and make sure you never run out of lint rollers.

The Furbaby Mama

When you find yourself in the company of people with kids but haven't had any yourself yet you will most likely hear a lot of sentences that begin with, "just wait...". Of course they are all talking about what you have to look forward to, or fear, when the day comes that you have human children. It suggests that you will enter into completely uncharted territory and nothing will prepare you. This is undoubtedly true in many respects, but not across the board if you already have furbabies. I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand more times I'm sure, having this baby I'm still cookin' won't make Chris and I parents. We already are. Now I'm also under no delusions that our dogs and cats are little kids stuffed inside furry 4 legged bodies. Humans and pets are different species and come with their own unique set of needs and wants. I get it. Having 4 dogs and 2 cats certainly is not a direct comparison to having a baby. But, while I totally understand parenting a little being of our same species is going to rock our world, parenthood isn't a totally new adventure for us. There's a few reasons I already know a little something about being a mom.
 

 

1. I worry - My goodness do I worry. I worry about their health, their well-being, their happiness. Am I giving them enough attention, enough love, enough freedom, enough structure? Are they eating the best diet, are they getting enough exercise, are they comfortable in their environment? I worry that I'm doing it all wrong or while I'm doing it right for one I'm not doing enough for another. And OMG what is that spot on someone's belly? Skin tag, cancer, some type of flesh eating bacteria that no one has ever heard of?! Oh wait, it's just a leaf.

 

2. I'm protective - I am mama bear, hear me roar. Most people think I'm a nice girl, but do not cross me when it comes to my kiddos. If you're slamming Pit Bulls I'm going to tell you what's up. If you ask me if I'll get rid of any of them when the baby comes, I'll probably ask you if you'll get rid of your first born when you have another. If you even dare try to hurt any of them I will come at you like a bull charging red. Don't let the fact that I'm little fool you, I'm scrappy and relentless and no one brings harm to my babies.

3. I schedule - We are very conscious of the fact that dogs and cats thrive on some type of daily routine. The goal is to keep it consistent without being too rigid so that if it has to change a bit here and there, shit isn't going to hit the fan. So yes, we get up early on weekends to keep up with this and we often schedule around events and activities. There's no need for alarms really because crying outside the door and orange paws underneath it will alert us if we've delayed waking up for too long. And of course there's keeping track of who needs to go to the vet and when, medications and Revolution applications.

 

4. I know - I have 4 dogs and 2 cats and I probably have a 99% accuracy rate on who is "talking" when I can't see them. I know their voices and I also usually know what they want/need by the particular sound they are making. Hungry cries, I gotta go potty chirps, give me attention wails and alert barks (which scare the crap out of me) are all distinct and unique to each kid. Of course it took me a bit to learn, but has been something that has come more easily with each addition to the family.
 

 

5. I hurt - Their pain is my pain. If somebody doesn't feel good I want to take it on myself so they don't have to. I never want them to be scared or lonely or sad and would rather it be me than them any day of the week. I hate that I often have to make them do things they don't want to do because I know it's for their own good. It's always worse for me than it is for them but when it's for the best, that's just the way it has to be.

 

I am still on the "just wait.." side of things for many aspects of parenting a human baby. But as a mother already, I think my experiences have taught me a thing or two in preparation. I may not be truly ready for the shit show coming this summer, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

True Life: My Allergic Dog

Spring is in the air...and our lungs and eyes and sinuses. As beautiful as this season is, it comes at a price when you live in allergy alley. If you've been following us from the early days then you already have the 411 on Chaos and his allergies. In case you're new or joined us somewhere in between, here's the low down in a nutshell. Humans aren't the only creatures affected by allergies. Dogs can have them across the board as well from seasonal to food to life threatening. And if you live in the Ohio Valley like we do, chances are you and your pup have the seasonal kind to some degree. But unlike humans who often grow OUT of their allergies or at least the severity as they age, dogs are the opposite. When Chaos was 4 months old (springtime) he had his first allergic reaction. Our vet thought it was an isolated incident at the time. But it happened again and then again before we discovered there are doggie dermatologists. Who knew? The severity of Chaos's reactions was highly concerning since he was so young and we immediately had to put him on steroids to suppress the immune response. After almost a year of trying difference medications, a full allergy panel (where we discovered he's allergic to EVERYTHING), allergy injections and a antibiotics to combat the secondary skin infections he developed from continued reactions, we found the holy grail. Apoquel is a very new medication for dogs and cats with allergies like Chaos. It's a once a day pill that costs about 3 times less a month then everything else we tried. We learned about it early on with Chaos's diagnosis from the dermatologist but the major problem was that it worked so well and was the most affordable option and the manufacturer grossly underestimated the demand. We were put on a waiting list for it while we kept trying other treatments. Finally a visit to our regular vet's office gave us the golden ticket. They were put on the list of offices to receive Apoquel and Chaos went to the top of the list of patients. He was used to taking pill so tossing one in his food every morning was nothing compared to what we had been going through AND it worked like a charm. His skin cleared and his itching nearly went away all together. We went through several months where we weren't always able to get a full supply due to the continued shortage but finally the manufacturer caught up and we now pick up a refill each month without fail.

 

Dog bed

 

Chaos is allergic to all the lovely things blooming around here as well as cat dander, and shedding season is in full force. You're well aware of this if you have a furry family member. So this is his worst time of year. Fortunately, since he has been able to stay on Apoquel daily this year his reactions have been kept under control. He still gets a little itchy and his eyes get pink and we can just tell when he doesn't feel his greatest, but overall this is the best Spring yet. We have a humidifier to set up by his crate on nights when he seems bothered, plus it is completely safe to give him a dose of Benadryl before bedtime for extra comfort. We give him baths more often than normal to try and keep the pollen from the yard off his skin but finally I'm not in a constant state of worry over his reactions. Pittie lovers might already know this but Pit Bulls are especially prone to skin allergies and the lighter the skin color the higher probability. Chaos is a pretty rare case so we have been through the ringer with him and I'm happy to answer any questions you have if I can. I just thought it was time for a little update since it's been awhile and I can finally give a pretty awesome report. Living with a highly allergic dog is far from easy but we wouldn't change him for the world.

 

Happy sneezing!

All About that Place

Woops, meant to post this on Friday. I'm blaming it on pregnancy brain.

Can you tell that I heard Megan Trainor this morning and it’s been stuck in my head all day? I know it’s Friday and typically I like to keep Friday posts on the lighter side but I’m throwing a curve ball this week. After my post on Tuesday I knew I had to get this out ASAP because the questions were going to start rolling in. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I answered some questions and inadvertently sparked a separate topic. I mentioned that Ares stays in his place nearly the entire time I am home in the evenings. So this post is to answer your questions and explain the hows and whys of it all.

 A LONG time ago I did a mini-series of blog posts called The Training Diaries where I discussed a different dog training method each post. We have come a long way since then. Chris is now a certified dog trainer after completing nearly a year of online schooling. He went back to doing road construction, which allows him to work hard and make a full year’s income in 6 months, so that he could go through more extensive and in depth hands on training in the off season. Currently Chris has been training with the head trainer at a very well respected facility in our area every day during the week. He has already learned so much and this knowledge has sparked us to revisit training on our dogs.

 I did a post on the Place command, which is not completely dissimilar to the way we use it now, just much less advanced. If you are completely unfamiliar with this command and would like to learn it, see this post for the beginning basics. “Place” put simply is a down stay command. However the difference is that “Place” should be used if you need/want your dog to stay for an extended period of time and not just momentarily. Examples are always helpful I think so here are the differences by situation. If you are out walking your dog and see a neighbor you want to stop and briefly chat with you would just give your dog the down command and then the stay command so he lays at your feet while you have a quick conversation. If you don’t have a fenced in yard but would like your dog to be able to come hang outside with you on a nice evening, you would give the place command as he would be expected to stay laying down for more than a few minutes.

 Teaching your dog the place command can be incredibly invaluable for both inside and outside the home. I don’t know about you but mine would love to just follow me around the house when I’m home alone and dogs underfoot + stairs + carrying a laundry basket can be very dangerous. Especially now that I’m carrying extra precious cargo. But you might be thinking that it sounds cruel to make your dog lay in one spot for hours on end. I did at first too. But there’s a really good reason why, on the contrary, it’s great for your dog. When you give a dog a command he uses mental and physical energy to obey. Even though for “Place” it’s just one command, it requires continuous energy for the dog to maintain the command. That means your dog’s mind and body are essentially getting a workout as long as he’s obeying the place command. The brain is learning focus and control and the body is actually burning calories as if exercising. Sounds crazy, right? Take it from a total skeptic right here that it’s the real deal. We actually had to increase the amount of food we were giving Ares and Chaos at mealtime because they had lost a few pounds the first couple weeks into doing this regularly. It has also seemed to make them much more relaxed and happy dogs in general. There’s an old saying that a tired dog is a happy dog. If you find your dog has fallen asleep while in “Place” you can smile because he’s happy.

 So, is this a forever situation or a boot-camp kind of thing? Well, both. First let me reassure you that OF COURSE they get water breaks and time to go out to do their business and play/run in the yard. We will remain consistent with “Place” at all other times while inside the house until such time as they have learned they cannot break the command no matter what until another command is given (come, heel, ect.). We are still working on keeping the boys from getting up when someone comes over , the cats roll toys their way and getting up if we turn our backs or walk into another room. Once they have proven the place command will be followed strictly after it’s given, then we will scale back. Every dog is different so they will learn at different paces and it may take longer for one dog than the other. Even once we are secure with the command, it will not be a free for all. We plan to allow the dogs to roam the house somewhat but definitely give the place command  if we are going to be up and down stairs, doing a project we need them to stay away from, putting the baby sleep, ect. The command will not lose it’s positive effect on the mind and body as time goes on but eventually it won’t be necessary all of the time. Why? Because Ares and Chaos will understand how to behave inside the house versus outside the house and control their energy levels relative to the situation. This in itself will continue the learned mind/body stimulation. Now I’m not saying to stop walking your dog or playing in the yard with him because he’s burning all those calories in “Place”. Walking and playing together are excellent bonding experiences and FUN. Plus, low impact exercise will always help to ensure an overall healthy dog. But you don’t have to feel guilty (like I used to) if you just can’t get a walk/play session in today because having your dog stay in place is definitely giving him amazing mind and body benefits.

 The way we practice “Place” now is a graduated version of our original use of the command. The dogs follow this command for very long periods of time, often hours, instead of just 30 minutes or an hour here or there. The only way the command is broken is to give another command, such as “Come”, “Heel” or “Outside”. We also use a specific spot in the house as opposed to a blanket/rug/bed. Our dogs love being by the fireplace and it’s a great out of the way spot for them. We put their beds there so that they will be comfortable but the point is that if we gave the command they would go lay in front of the fireplace even if the beds weren’t there. “Place” isn’t on a specific object but rather in a specific location. If you want to get really fancy after the initial concept of the command is well learned, you can name specific spots throughout the home. We have designated spots for “Place” in 3 rooms of our house right now and for us, we felt like it would be simple and easy to name them by color. You can use anything you want that you can remember and don’t feel ridiculous saying every day. In front of the fireplace is where we want the dogs to be in “Place” the majority of the time and that is “Blue”. So instead of saying “Place” when we want them to follow the place command in front of the fireplace we just say “Go Blue”. This is especially fun if you have a favorite team and use their color. We have not made it to this point yet but eventually we should be able to say “Go Blue” if we are upstairs with the dogs and they will go downstairs to the correct spot. We would still use plain old “Place” for any other time we want them to go into an extended down stay. Make sense?

 I know this was incredibly long and involved, especially for a Friday, so I’m going to go ahead and shut up now. Send me your questions when you turn your brains back on after the weekend.