Best Friend Dog Training

12/16/2024

Meet Cyndy! She will be nine weeks old tomorrow. She came home last week and is already loved by all—even fourteen-year-old Penny. As I raise another puppy I will be sharing puppy things in the weeks to come.

11/27/2024

Here's a bonus column especially for Thanksgiving.

Keep Your Best Friend Safe This Week

This coming week is one of the most dangerous weeks for our best friends. Christmas is a close second. Veterinarians will tell you Thanksgiving night and the day after are busy for them. Even if you are health conscious about everything you prepare for the feast, your dog should NOT have any of it. Something as ‘harmless’ as turkey skin can cause your dog to have a potentially fatal attack of pancreatitis. Here are some guidelines to help keep your dog safe.

1. Recognize the dangerous foods and ingredients; turkey skin, bones of any kind, any kind of alcohol, bread dough, buttery dishes, cake batter, chocolate, coffee or tea, grapes and raisins, nuts (especially macadamia nuts), most of the spices we use in deserts and marinades, and Xylitol (found in sugar free gum or candy)

2. Tell guests your dog is NOT ALLOWED to have table scraps. Period. Ask them to ignore the puppy dog eyes. And, seriously, if you have even one family member that expresses thoughts on how silly that rule is, put your dog in his crate or another room while you eat.

3. When shopping buy some new yummy dog treats. Something he’s never had, even something it might take him a while to consume. Caution: I am not a fan of rawhide, it can irritate stomachs. If you choose to give rawhide, be sure it is USA made. Our FDA regulates the manufacture of rawhide, but other countries, not so much.

4. DO NOT feed your dog when the humans eat. Feed him before the meal so his tummy is satisfied.

5. Before the meal determine where the dog(s) will be while you eat. This can be on dog beds, in crates, in another room, or in DOWN-stays somewhere in the dining room. To prevent the drool/begging and the human temptation to sneak bites to the doggie DO NOT allow your dog under the table or on the floor at people’s sides..

6. After the meal, give your dog the new treats you purchased. And, be sure to make use of the LEAVE IT command you learned anytime you dog focuses on the human yumminess.

7. Take all dinner scraps OUT TO THE TRASH CAN when you clean up. The aroma can entice the best behaved dogs to get into the trash.

8. And, if by chance, your dog gets into the scraps, watch for: abdominal pain, dehydration, diarrhea (which may contain blood), fever, increased water consumption with or without vomiting afterwards, lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting. If your dog has these symptoms, CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN. Pancreatitis is an emergency.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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11/27/2024

Service Dogs Should Be Legitimate, part two

Let’s look more at why it is important to be sure service dogs are service dogs. And, while my opinion in this column may not be popular, it is factual. If you want/need a service dog, PLEASE train or have it trained to be a service dog.

My dog Penny was dropped off at our son’s stoop in NYC when she was four months old. She is will be fourteen-years-old in December. Penny is most likely a Boxer/Pit mix. She’s high energy, very vocal, friendly, exuberant, and has a high need for human touch. She’s what I call a “canine empath.”

Gracie was our old Golden Retriever. Gracie was laid back, non-plussed, energetic but quite comfortable relaxing pretty much anywhere, and she thought every person and every animal she met was her new best friend. Gracie was aware of her humans’ emotions, but she was not an empath.

A canine empath is a term dog professionals use. Scientists argue about it. Some dogs read human body language better than others. Those dogs sense changes in you, your scent, your posture even before you realize it is happening. The dog is at your side offering comfort before you know you need it. That’s my sweet Penny.

Sometimes she sits beside the person in need of comfort. Others, she places her paws or chin on the lap. She’s even been known to climb onto the couch or chair with the person and stretch herself across the body and relax. If the human is crying or visibly anxious, Penny is definitely touching and will not leave until all tears and anxiety subside.

Do I have a service dog vest for Penny that states she is a “Comfort Dog?” No. Penny is not a service dog. As I stated last week: “The ADA states service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task they have been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Internationally, the training standard is a MINIMUM of 120 hours of training over a period of six months or more.”

First, I do not have a diagnosed disability.
Second, while my dog is completely obedience trained she has not had 120 hours and six months of training to be a service dog. She is not trained to be on task as a comfort dog in all situations, at all times, no matter the environment. If I bought a harness and claimed she was my service dog so that I could take her with me everywhere I went, I would be a liar and a cheat. Period.

While this may not be popular, it is seriously true. If someone wants to claim his or her dog is a service dog, it better be one. Don’t use a store bought harness and a few obedience commands as an excuse to take your dog everywhere. This ends up minimizing the dogs that truly are service dogs and the people that legitimately train them or need them.

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11/16/2024

Service Dogs Should Be Legitimate, part one

In a recent discussion with a client the question of service dogs and what constitutes a service dog came up. My client asked me my thoughts on what constitutes a service dog.

Good question and it bears several entries to address it. Let me start by sharing two scenarios that happened to me a few years ago as I traveled.

The first one happened in July of that year as I awaited boarding for my flight to Nashville. I watched a lady with a very young, unruly Setter walking through the terminal. Actually, she was being dragged by the dog. She ended up at the same gate as me, planning to get on the same flight. She claimed the barking, hyper dog was a service dog. He had no harness, no papers, nothing to indicate he was legit. How she got through the first security checkpoint is beyond me. As we waited, the dog barked a lot, especially at children and people in wheelchairs or using canes. Evidently when they pre-boarded the “service dog” an elderly gentleman greeted the dog as it entered a row and the dog snapped at and bit the man. Folks, there was no way that dog was a service dog. That dog was unsafe and several people refused to fly on a plane with it. That situation delayed my flight almost two hours as there were some major legal things going on. It culminated with the woman and her dog being escorted off the plane.

The second one happened in August as I waited for a flight home from California. A service woman and her Malinois were stretched out napping. The dog was in a collapsible kennel. He was a search and rescue dog and they had been in Los Angeles for more training. He had a service harness on and she wore a badge. That dog did not bark once, obeyed the master’s every command and basically ignored other people as long as he was in a command she had given.

I am aware it is relatively easy to purchase harnesses and even register dogs as service dogs, but that does not mean they are. I firmly believe strict regulations and enforcement of them is imperative to keep everyone around the service dog and its master safe.

The ADA states service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task they have been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Internationally, the training standard is a MINIMUM of 120 hours of training over a period of six months or more. The ADA does not recognize dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support as service animals.

This is a rather “loaded” topic and I run out of space. Let’s look more in depth and what service dogs are and do next week. We will also look at Emotional Support Animals (ESA).

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11/03/2024

Make No Excuses For Aggression

Before we break down the individual types of aggression more closely, give me one more week. Let’s look at excuses. When a client tells me the dog isn’t aggressive it’s just protective, I cringe. There is a very clear difference between aggression and protection.

Aggression : a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master.

Protection: the state of being kept from harm, loss, etc.: the state of being protected. Something that keeps a person or thing from being harmed, lost, etc.: something that protects someone or something.

Dogs that are taught rules, learn to obey ‘their people’ and are expected to behave will be protective without fail. You do not need to teach protection. Your family is his alpha or pack leader. A dog who knows these facts because of the nature of a canine and the loyalty I just mentioned will place himself in peril to protect his pack.

Aggressive dogs will growl at, snap at or bite anyone, even their own pack members, with little or no provocation. Here is a list of behaviors that are aggressive, even some subtle ones that should be corrected and stopped. And, if you are unsure how to do so, call a trainer. Note: there are no exceptions, excuses, or explanations for aggression. Do not try to rationalize any of these you recognize.

*Your dog growls, barks back, or snaps when told to drop anything.
*Your dog will not stop growling or barking and sit calmly when he meets someone.
*Your dog will not go into a DOWN position on your command. And, especially, if he growls or snaps when you try to enforce the command.
*Your dog places his chin on your lap and presses down.
*Your dog stands beside you and presses his side into you.
*Your dog jumps up at your lap and either wraps his front paws around your leg or pushes down on your lap with his paws.
*Your dog will not get off the bed, sofa, or anything on your command.
*Your dog turns and mouths a snap at you when you give him a leash correction on a walk or to stop wrong behavior.
*Your dog lunges at people, other animals, barking and snarling and will not stop when you tell him to.

That is an abbreviated list, but enough to make the point. PLEASE do not excuse aggression away by calling it protection. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility. Uncorrected aggression becomes dangerous and a major liability for you. Be honest with yourself about your dog’s behaviors.

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10/24/2024

Is Aggression Ever Good, Part Two

In last week’s column I shared six different types of aggression. There may be more, but these are the most recognized by dog professionals: Possessive/ territorial aggression, fear aggression, pain-induced aggression, misdirected aggression, dominant aggression, and submissive aggression. I do plan to break these down for you in future columns. But this week, I want to answer the main question’ “Is there ever a time aggressiveness is acceptable?

Webster’s Dictionary defines aggression this way: "1. a forceful action or procedure (such as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master . 2. The practice of making attacks or encroachments; especially : unprovoked violation by one country of the territorial integrity of another .3 : hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook especially when caused by frustration. Aggression is often the expression of pent-up rage."

When a client calls me about aggressive behavior in their dog, it amazes me how quick they are to give me all of the reasons the situation or the bite was really not the dog’s fault or that bad at all.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rationalizing a dog’s bad behavior is dangerous. We can almost always explain why aggressive behavior happened. We can almost always fit the behavior into one of the afore-mentioned categories of canine aggression. But what I NEVER do is excuse canine aggression.

Your dog is a part of your family, or, in his mind, your pack. Your dog needs a master/alpha in his pack. Humans must always be the master of the dog. Protection of the pack is an instinct, and most dog owners appreciate that trait in their dogs. But protection and aggression are not the same thing.

When a dog behaves aggressively, even when it seems warranted, the dog is ignoring the pack rules and ‘taking things into his own hands.’ The short answer to the question is: NO, there is never a time that aggression is good. Do not explain or excuse canine aggression. Please.

Stay tuned the next few columns for a more in-depth breakdown of the types of aggression and also how to correct them.

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10/01/2024

Is Aggression Ever Good?

Q. Are there differences in how dogs show aggression and are there ever times aggression is acceptable?

A. Two good questions. I will answer them in two entries.

Most dogs really are ‘man’s best friend.’ However, we must not forget they are still dogs. They will react, think, and emote like dogs. Dog professionals agree there are different types of aggression, with different causes or triggers. At its most basic, canine aggression is caused by fear or insecurity. A well-exercised, well-trained, obedient dog is a secure dog.

Please note: aggressiveness will NOT go away on its own, and correcting the behavior takes TIME. Here’s a brief overview of the most commonly accepted manifestations of aggression.

POSSESSIVE/TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION is not the same as guarding the property. This dog selfishly guards toys, food, people, the yard, the car—pretty much anything—from other people or animals. The dog fears losing what it perceives is his.

FEAR AGGRESSION can be aimed at other animals, or people, or both. Something real or perceived has frightened the dog and he feels cornered. The bigger the fear, the more dangerous the situation. Please understand a frightened dog is as dangerous as a bully.

PAIN-INDUCED AGGRESSION is understandable. A dog in pain is likely to show aggression when someone tries to help. The dog fears you will create more pain. Which, may happen when treating the wound.

MISDIRECTED AGGRESSION happens when a human tries to step in the middle of a dog fight and end it. In the heat of the moment, one of the dogs may snap at and bite people interjecting themselves into the fight.

DOMINANT AGGRESSION is somewhat of a ‘bully mentality.’ This type of aggression is very dangerous because at the source is the fear of not being in charge or control. A dominant dog always want to be boss and when a person, other animal or situation threatens that the dog reacts with anger and aggression. As we all know bullies are insecure.

SUBMISSIVE AGGRESSION is the saddest because it is usually caused by a human. It’s also the most dangerous type of aggression. By nature, dogs understand rules and know to submit to the one in charge. Submissive dogs have learned the one in charge—human, canine, or environment—will cause pain. So, they trust no one, put themselves in a corner, and come out fighting.

Stay tuned, in the next few entries I will address this in more depth and share if aggression is ever acceptable.

P.S. If you have a question you'd like me to answer, feel free to put it in the comments.

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09/19/2024

Skepticism Debunked

In the past thirty-six years I’ve had many conversations about how exactly teaching a dog to ‘sit’ before he gets a treat will help him behave for company or come when he’s called.

Years ago, a family came to class with a rather wild four-month -old Siberian Husky puppy. She was cute, energetic, and dominant. The woman was distraught and hopeful class would help. The man doubted. He told me this class was the biggest waste of his money ever and that nothing was going to help that pup behave.

I began class telling them we were going to teach the dog to ‘sit’ and not get up even if we bounced a tennis ball. He shook his head. Then he crossed his arms and got this resolute look on his face. He said, “If you can make that dog sit in the middle of the room and not get up even when you go outside and walk the whole way around this building, I won’t ever complain again about how much I paid for class.”

I did and he didn’t.

As for my clients’ questions, they are right. Teaching a dog to sit for a treat does NOT teach him good manners or behavior. I actually am not a fan of treat training. I suggest giving treats whenever you wish and do make your dog sit before giving the treat. But do NOT give him a treat each time he sits. Obedience training not applied into everyday life is about as useful as a gas grill on your porch that has no propane.

It is not in teaching your dog the commands that he learns to behave, it is in applying them. He should always SIT when you give him a treat. But go much further than that. If the only commands your dog ever learned were ‘sit’ and ‘done’ you could have a well-mannered pet. (I feel you would be doing your dog’s intelligence and abilities a disservice if that was all you taught him.) But I digress. When you tell him to ‘sit’ he should do so immediately and not stop until you release him saying ‘okay you’re done.’ Once he understands the command, then apply it.

Make him ‘sit’: when company comes in, when company leaves, before he goes outside, before he comes inside, before he eats, while you eat, when he needs to calm down, to place him in a ‘timeout’ for punishment, at the veterinarian’s, at street corners, when you meet other people or dogs on walks, while you wipe muddy feet off, when he is right under your feet as you do housework, when he is begging, and so on.

And, that’s just the short list! Add a few more basic commands like down, heel, come, stay, stand, leave it, drop it, turn away, and back it up to his repertoire. Then you have a wealth of options to use in teaching your dog proper behavior. Those are only the basic obedience commands. Working dogs can easily learn 100-150 commands.

Give it a try. Teach your dog the commands, and use them in your regular routine with him. In the end you, like my client, will not complain again and your dog will be your best friend.

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09/08/2024

Clearing the Fog About the Breeds, conclusion

There are two more breed groups to look at in this series: the Toy Group and the Miscellaneous Group. These groups are the smallest in number, and frequently in size. But they are by no means any less important to the AKC.

There are twenty-one breeds in the Toy Group. Toy dogs are bred mainly for companionship. The AKC states that the main function of this group is to ‘embody sheer delight.’ Now, if you have ever seen an angry Chihuahua or stubborn Bichon, you might question that statement!

While these breeds are primarily for companionship, many are hunters or sporting dogs, some are hounds, and others herd. They are small dogs and make great pets. But do not let their size fool you. They are stubborn, assertive little animals and require exercise to challenge them physically, and training to challenge them mentally. They are small, and hardly dangerous, but if not taught the rules they can become what are commonly called, ‘ankle biters.’ And, ankle bites hurt.

The final AKC group is the Miscellaneous Class. The breeds eligible to participate in this group are not yet recognized as AKC purebreds. Some are recognized by the UKC. These breeds await approval into the AKC as a pure breed and, when they are approved, they move from this class into the appropriate group. Thus, within this class you see dogs of any of the official Groups. And, as with all breeds, the dogs’ behaviors will be a reflection of their intended purpose.

In order for a dog to move from the Miscellaneous Class to full recognition The AKC board of directors must be satisfied there is a substantial, sustained nationwide interest in the breed. There has to be a parent breed club, and continued, healthy, growth of the breed while in the Miscellaneous Class. While in this Class, dogs may compete in obedience trials, and some performance events. They are not eligible for Conformation Championship points until recognized as a full breed.

As I close this series, I want to reiterate that I am aware there are other breed organizations, mixed breed organizations, designer breed organizations. This series is based on the AKC recognized breed groups.

Whether you own a purebred, a mixed breed, or a designer breed, I encourage you to look at the behaviors common to the dog you have. It will help you understand how to insure your dog becomes your best friend ever.

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08/31/2024

Clearing the Fog About the Breeds, part three

I realize the American Kennel Club is not the only not-for-profit organization devoted to the advancement of purebred dogs. In this series, I use the AKC group delineations.
In 2009 the AKC reorganized the groups. Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Hound groups were each divided to better categorize the dogs.

Sporting Dogs originated to hunt game birds both on land and in water and has been divided into Pointers/ Setters group, and the Retrievers/ Spaniels group. There are a total of thirty different breeds in the two groups. They are bred to retrieve fowl on land, water, or both, to flush fowl out of the brush, or to find and point them out to their masters. These dogs love life and require much activity. They are intelligent and make great pets. Owners must be prepared to train and master them or their household may suffer the consequences of high-energy dogs.

Hound Dogs hunt by using sight or scent. The AKC divided the Hound Group into Sight Hounds and Scent Hounds. Without question, the ability of a hound dog to track things by scent is more highly developed than any other breed of dog. For that reason, they are used with great success in search and rescue situations. In general, each breed has a specific type of game it hunts. There are a total of 29 hound breeds. They also make great pets but need to run and use their abilities. If owners wish to make pets out of them, they must provide ample exercise and allow the scent and tracking instincts to be used.

Non-Sporting group was renamed in 2009. It was divided into Companion Dogs and Northern Dogs. There are twelve breeds in the Companion group. They were developed for the main purpose of being companions. What a grand reason to exist! They range in size from small to large, may have long hair, short hair, be shedders or not. Obviously, they make great pets. As with all breeds, training is still important, because being bred for companions does not take away their canine instincts.

Northern dog breeds are working dogs. They are bred to not only survive, but thrive in the most brutal, cold climates. They are used for drafting, pulling, rescue, cold-weather hunting, and many other outdoor tasks. They do not handle hot climates well. The tenacity that makes them do so well in cold weather also makes them stubborn dogs. They can make amazing pets as long as the owners provide mental challenges, much exercise, and become the Master while the dog is still a young puppy.

That leaves us with two more groups: Toy and Miscellaneous. We’ll look at them next week and a few final notes on the groups. Enjoy your best friends this week.

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08/23/2024

Clearing the Fog About Breeds, part two

Earlier this week, we looked at the AKC Terrier Group. Let’s look at the Herding and Working groups.
In the question the writer expressed fears of Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds. Rottweilers and Dobermans are in the Working Group. German Shepherds are Herding dogs.

The Herding Group has twenty-six different breeds varying in size from small Swedish Hallhunds to large Bouvier des Flandres. All dogs in this group were originally bred for herding of cattle, sheep, or goats. Some drive the herds, others lead, while still others round up and intimidate the herd. Herding dogs are highly intelligent, strong, alert, fast, energetic, and focused on their tasks.

The traits that make them great farm and herding dogs, make them loyal pets, and excellent guardians. Some Herding breeds, such as German Shepherds, are used for police and guard dog work. This is not because they are intrinsically aggressive. Aggressive dogs are rejected from police work. It is their intelligence, loyalty, and strength that gives them a propensity to make great police dogs.

The Working Group has twenty-eight recognized breeds. These breeds are typically large, strong, intelligent, intense, and loyal. They are bred to WORK. They are happiest when their skills are used.

For example, Doberman Pinschers are used frequently as watch dogs. Does that mean they should be feared? NO. They are trained for that because of their tenacity and intelligence. A properly raised Doberman will become a beloved pet, affectionate to all, and staunchly protective of its pack.

Rottweilers are not bullies. The breed originated for cattle herding and protection. They are large, strong dogs. Their intelligence rivals that of the Herding breeds. These dogs are comfortable in families and playing with children, as well as protecting and police work.

Because of their size and intelligence, all Working breeds are high maintenance dogs. Un-worked Working dogs will be unhappy. It insults their intelligence when owners ignore the work aspect and simply try to make them into cuddle babies—and yet they do love to cuddle. Owners willing to train them, exercise them, and challenge their minds, will have loyal, well-adjusted pets that will still cuddle.

Note: The Complete Dog Book by The American Kennel Club lists origins, descriptions, and training tips for all recognized AKC breeds. It is a valuable reference to learn about dog breeds.

Next we look at Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Hound dogs. (And, yes, we will get to mixed breeds too.)

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08/21/2024

Clearing the Fog About Breeds, Part One

A question I am frequently asked: “I am afraid of Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. Are my fears founded? If not, can you help me overcome them?”

I shall break my answer up into several posts as we look at the various different groups of dogs, mixes, and designer breeds. In the question the writer lists one from terrier group, two from the working group, and one from herding. So, let’s have a look at the terrier first.

There are twenty-seven breeds in the AKC Terriers Group. All terriers are tenacious, energetic, focused dogs. They originally were bred for some form of hunting, usually rodent, and also for baiting bulls and bear. The dogs are staunchly loyal and some are used for protection or guarding. They are high energy dogs and require much exercise and discipline.

Since you mentioned pit bulls, let’s start there. Pit Bull is really not an AKC breed. True Pit Bulls will not ever be pets. Why? Because a true pit bull is bred for one purpose: disgusting, illegal dog fighting in 12’ X12’ pits. Thus the name. Recently, the tendency is to place American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, Cane Corsas, American Bulldogs, and Presa Canarios all into one lump category and call them pit bulls. Then, we condemn the ‘breed’ instead of the humans who should really be condemned. Any of the ‘bull’ breeds are strong, stubborn, tactile, and loyal. They are protective of their humans and good judges of the character of strangers they meet.

Anyone who owns a terrier, any terrier, has a huge responsibility. They are wonderful pets and fun to own because of their energy. They can also be terrors if their owners do not take the role of leader seriously. Terriers are usually NOT lap dogs.

I wish I could teach you how to not fear these dogs, or maybe have what I would call a reasonable fear. EVERY dog has the potential to bite. And EVERY bite has the potential to be bad. In almost every case of dogs behaving badly there is an IRRESPONSIBLE HUMAN involved. Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, states, “In the 70’s they blamed the Dobermans, in the 80’s they blamed German Shepherds, in the 90’s they blamed Rottweilers. Now they blame the Pit Bull. When will they blame the humans?”

People tend to expect retrievers to be good dogs and bull breeds to be mean. Stereotyping is a bad thing. Each dog, given bad circumstances, has the potential to be dangerous. Each dog, given the right circumstances, has the potential to be the best dog ever.

Come back next week for the next part of this series.

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08/09/2024

If you have never loved or lost a dog, t you might as well skip this post. I call them ambushes. The things that would appear to be little and to not effect, but in reality, they stop you cold and bring grief crashing into you. A week ago, I thought my Gracie was just battling some heat-related sickness. After spending an hour and a half at the veterinarian's office for many tests, x-rays, ultrasound, I found out she was dying, probably of cancer. As I go through this week I am being ambushed daily. One day the ambushes will decrease. For now I keep remining myself they are proof of the wonderful love between me and my Gracie-girl:

* A cardboard plate on the floor . . my first thought was I better pick it up because Gracie loves to chew on cardboard . . . and then I cried.
* Penny, the 14 year old dog following me EVERYWHERE not wanting to be alone.
*Penny, who never really paid attention to where Gracie was outside now standing just outside the door like she cannot go on an explore if Gracie is not outside too
* Calling Penny inside saying "Girls!" and remembering it is not just "Girl."
* Vacuuming the dog hair and realizing there will be no more masses of Gracie hair.
* Taking granddaughter home and her saying her usualy goodbyes as we go out the driveway."Bye bye Punny(penny), bye bye Vazzy(Son Eric's dog Vesi), Byebye Ceecee( Gracie) . . . That day Isolde didn't look for Gracie too much, but I know she will.
* Being able to walk around the house and not having to step over the bi Golden Retriever lying in the middle of everything.
* Actually missing the smell of wet dog after she went outside in this pouring rain.

And that's just a few. So, this week as I face my ambushes, I'm sure some of you can relate, and some of you may be experiencing your own ambushes. Loving dogs is a wonder, a joy, a part of life I wouldn't do without . . . but it means facing this part of it too.

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