Pibbling with Theodore

07/02/2024

It’s been a big day. We are all Pibbled out.

06/27/2024

A little-known fact about my origin story is that Dr. Amy Cook, who knows a lot about my specialty, play, was the one who spotted me and helped convince momma I needed to be a trainer’s helper.

If you’re in the northeast and love your dog or work with dogs, you should let her teach YOU to play with us the way we like! July 27-28. Link in comments.

06/24/2024

Just making friends and getting cookies at !

06/19/2024

These guys do wonderful work, thanks to all who have donated to them. If you have a few extra bucks lying around, senior and hospice dogs like me always have big expenses. At Pibble Hill, we respect a good death as much as a good life.

Hey everyone! We have a lot of new followers I’d like to take a moment to share some reminders to those of you amazing people supporting our work!

1. We do NOT adopt any of our animals out. While we appreciate people’s enthusiasm to adopt one of our dogs, the animals that come to us are mostly in the last stages of their life, meaning they have usually a year or less. Sometimes they surprise us and have more; but our goal is to give them the best sunset of life possible. They need careful medical management, prescription food and many are coming from already stressful situations. Because so many are hospice - not all but most - we do not put them through further stress or transition by adopting them out. However, other senior rescues - like the amazing Vintage Pet Rescue or Old dogs New Digs, do have non hospice seniors that are available, as do MANY animal shelters everywhere. Please! Adopt a senior dog!!

2. We are a husband and wife team doing this out of our home. We are not a facility and we don’t have staff. We have incredible volunteers and Meghan our volunteer coordinator and fundraiser guru who help us daily but we are not a massive large scale operation. That means we HAVE to be picky about what we can take on here. Our two daughters are 13 and 6 and are warriors along with us. They know about death and this work better than most adults. We are always cognizant of their experiences in doing this too. The dogs are in the old dogs space but many are in our living room too, by the pool, in the yard. They are our family.

3. We have hospice and senior and special needs livestock and other animals too. When we bought this house we realized we couldn’t let the 20 acres sit and waste, so we began helping other species that needed us too. We take animals and dogs from shelters/rescues, owner surrenders, veterinary surrenders and all kinds of circumstances.

4. We believe a good death is just as important as a good life. We do not prolong suffering simply for “more time” or because we cannot bear to lose an animal. We focus on function, purpose and joy as the three key components of our animals living well and happily. We believe in a day early than a day late. We are not afraid of death and speak openly about it, because it is a part of life and should not be avoided or discouraged from discussion even when it’s hard. We support our animals dying and give them grace, peace and no pain through it. We also give them all private cremations and spread their ashes here. We believe after care and respect of the Individual after death is just as important as it is in life.

5. We don’t discriminate against any breed, age, size of animal. We welcome all here, and that goes for humans too. There’s enough hate and anger in this world, this place is free of that.

6. We do not consider ourselves amazing people. We are simply meeting a need that isn’t being met elsewhere. We started with one dog at a time and now we’re here because we would rather take the pain of losing so many so frequently than go to sleep at night thinking of them in a shelter or alone. (Also noting that shelters are NOT bad places - we love them - but senior and hospice dogs shouldn’t have to languish there. They can be here watching Disney movies and getting chicken nuggets)

7. We have really hard days, really hard nights, and sometimes hard weeks or months. This work is exhausting and exhilarating and so rewarding all at the same time. We spend most of our time cleaning and organizing and administering medications and then more cleaning. We can’t care for all these animals and our children and ourselves and respond to every single comment or question here. We love sharing our lives but we also ask for grace and kindness in return.

8. We have wonderful veterinarians all over the state that we respect and admire and work with daily. We have no room here for vet shaming. We couldn’t do this work without them and we know how vastly underpaid and under appreciated the vet community and their staff is. Negative comments on vet care or expenses are not welcome here.

9. These dogs and animals mean everything to us. Everything. I can’t say that enough. Whether we’ve only known them a day or six months. Their stress levels are very important to us so we are NOT open to the public. We love that you’d like to visit, but ask yourself if it’s for them or for you. Not many people want to just go visit a hospice home for people, and just because the animals here are cute doesn’t mean they are any less deserving of stress free and relaxing retirement. We take that very seriously.

10. We have senses of humor because we have to in this work or we wouldn’t survive. So just, prepare yourself. We also talk a lot about p**p. When you see us out in public, you can def wave and say hi, but it gets weird when strangers try to hug us. Especially when I’m in the wine aisle in Shaws with a cart full of Oreos and moscato and cheez wiz. Trust us, we love you too, but we are still just people.

11. Your donations keep us going. Our biggest expenses are vet bills, end of life care and emergencies. Euthanasias and private cremations are not cheap and while everyone wants to contribute to cases where the animal will live, contributions to their death is huge and JUST as important. Other huge expenses are hay, giant p*e pads and things that are hard to list on wishlists. Monetary donations are still the best and most helpful way to help us, but also so is sharing our mission and advocating senior animal adoption!

You can always learn more at

Www.olddogsgotohelen.com

Welcome all of you!

06/18/2024

MOMMA IS CHEATING ON ME WITH A MINI ME at Paws Abilities Dog Training in Minnesota! Should she steal Burger from Sara?

06/14/2024

My wittle nose used to be so pink! Now it’s glossy black. My muzzle hair has gotten lighter tho…

06/12/2024

My seminar with Dr. Hekman now has virtual options and private lessons, if you'd like to learn about nature and nurture in dog behavior this weekend in Minnesota (or around the world!)

Seminar registration (both in-person and virtual): https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/events.aspx?event=8206

Private lessons with Jessica: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=357
Private lessons with Trish: https://paws4u.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=358

06/10/2024

Who travels the US by camper in the summertime? If we had a spot you could rent for a small-medium camper on Pibble Hill, would you want to come visit? This would be your view.

06/06/2024

Momma? Is it dinnertime now?

06/03/2024

Title: “Write on!”
Artist: Theodore
Medium: dry erase marker
Date/location: Pibble Hill 2024

06/03/2024

Title: “It is Written”
Artist: Theodore
Medium: another pen gramma dropped on the floor
Date/location: 2024 Pibble Hill

Should we auction this one off to help with foster Kiki Oreo’s eye surgery tomorrow? I’m an elder artist, and this piece is only going to go up in value…

06/02/2024

Title: Write-off
Artist: Theodore
Medium: stolen pen of Gramma’s
Date/location: 2024 Pibble Hill

05/30/2024

It’s really hard to tell what’s on the inside of a dog by looking at the outside. A lot of shelters are dropping breed labels, to help mixed breed dogs get adopted.

Guess what percentage APBT I am? Guess what percentage Roodle is?

Meet these two mixed-breed dogs with a similar percentage of American Pit Bull Terrier in their DNA. Despite their diverse appearances, they share over 50% of their genetic background, showcasing the complexity of breed labels. Studies on DNA variations in mixed-breed dogs have revealed substantial genetic diversity and differentiation among populations, challenging the simplistic approach of visual breed identification. Let's rethink how we label and perceive dogs based on appearance alone. Link in caption

05/29/2024

We had Canadian VISITORS yesterday! Visitors are my favorite! And they brought snacks, butt rubs, and BULLY STICKS. THANK YOU!

05/29/2024

This is how my momma pays for my stuff. If you have a favorite shelter or rescue, consider signing them up for her flagship course, the shelter dog behavior mentorship. It starts tomorrow but the first week is a big one so people have two weeks to do the homework!

Our Shelter Dog Behavior Mentorship program starts TOMORROW, and this is your final opportunity to secure your spot!

If you're passionate about making a real difference in the lives of shelter dogs, you can't afford to miss this intensive 13-week course.

Why should you join?
🐾 Gain invaluable, evidence-based knowledge on shelter dog behavior
🐾 Collaborate with a global community of shelter professionals
🐾 Learn best practices from intake to post-adoption support
🐾 Elevate your shelter's standards and improve outcomes for dogs

Don't wait any longer – spots are filling up fast! Enroll NOW and become a part of the change we all want to see in the animal welfare industry.

🔗 https://www.shelterbehaviorhub.com/

Welcome To Shelter Behavior HubLeading the Way in Shelter Behavior Education Explore Our Courses And Webinars Here FEATURED COURSES SHELTER DOG BEHAVIOR MENTORSHIPTaught by world-renowned Shelter Expert, Trish McMillan, The Shelter Dog Behavior Mentorship helps shelter staff understand dog behavior,...

05/28/2024

I love my momma even if her hair is weird from w**d eating.

05/24/2024

Title: "It's no secret"
Artist: Theodore
Medium: Secret deodorant
Date/location May 2024 Pibble Hill

05/19/2024

Wanna guess if momma remembered to buy me a present in Texas? Look how hard I worked on some welcome home art for her!

05/17/2024

Love what these guys do!

05/17/2024

Almost 11 years since I was taken off that awful chain. Sadly, so many dogs from my case have already left us. But not one of us ever had to fight in a pit again.

Hope endures for hundreds of brutalized dogs that have been rescued and cared for in a secret warehouse by ASPCA.

05/10/2024

Wen is teaching me the trust fall. Wait for it!

05/07/2024

I'm just going to demand at least one visitor bearing gifts every day. Great to meet you, Teddy!

05/04/2024

When all the separation anxiety experts from the conference come to Pibble Hill to treat you like the king you are...

05/02/2024

We did a photo shoot this morning. Which one for the calendar?

05/01/2024

A nice lady gave momma the BEST orthopedic bed after her old dog died. It's like a bedonabed in one! It is my new favorite, the peasants can have the old giant bed by the heat blowing machine. What's your favorite bed, friends?