Class, Part 2

We met in a different location on Saturday, to mix things up a little and to keep the dogs from getting too comfortable in one spot. We went to the Minnehaha Dog Park in Minneapolis.

To be safe, I looked it up on Google Maps at least five times, printed directions, and programmed the instructor’s number into my phone, just in case. But we found it with no problems.

Because the actual park requires a permit, and because it wouldn’t have been a very good idea to let our dogs into the park anyway (with their histories of aggression problems and all), we hung out by the parking lot as dogs went to and from the park.

Otis had a couple minor freakouts, but again, that’s why we were there. At the beginning of class, he shook his head so hard that he hit himself in the snout with his leash and gave himself a little wound. He spent the first half of class bleeding. Luckily I had some tissues along to wipe him off occasionally. It wasn’t so bad that he needed medical attention, but it was a little distracting for both of us. Later, he tried to get into it with a Sheltie who was part of the class, but we separated them and kept them from eyeing each other, and they were fine.

I was really proud of him, though, as we sat along a path and watched other dogs pass. He behaved very well, not even flinching when a giant Irish Wolfhound (is there any other kind?) passed within two feet of him.

Our trainer Maureen taught us a really good technique that I already got to practice this week. She had her dog, a beautiful Doberman, with her, and she did an exercise where she acted as if she was walking right into us with her dog. It was our job to react and get our dogs out of the way. The first time, I pulled Otis away but his head was still facing the other dog. Maureen suggested that I take my hand, put it under his chin, and physically move his head so he was looking at me. We tried the exercise again, and moving his head worked. We went on a neighborhood walk a couple days later and passed a vocal Golden Retriever. Otis started to lunge toward the dog, but I tugged on the leash, took his face in my hand, said “come on, Otis” in a high voice, and we were peacefully on our way.

The big test is going to be when we encounter other dogs coming directly toward us on walks. We haven’t met too many other dogs out for an evening walk lately.

We’re off this week for the 4th of July holiday, but our last class is on the 11th. I’m so glad we’re going to this class.

A couple other quick things:

• I think the extra treats from class make Otis a little gassy. I’m trying to tell Otis that it’s better to hang out at the opposite end of the house, in the room with the fan, than in the unventilated room that I’m currently occupying. Time to get some fennel tea or some prozyme…
• We were watching the “Life After People” episode where they were talking about the feral cats hanging out under the Atlantic City Boardwalk. As they showed the cats, Zoe trotted over to the TV, ready to chase them. We rewound the segment and she did it again. I’m relieved she wasn’t as interested in real cats when we visited the vet a couple weeks ago.

This Week in Zoe

Zoe felt that Otis was getting too much attention on the blog, so she decided to make things interesting. (She likes to be in the middle of everything, you know.)

Wednesday was a particularly horrific day at work. Three people were laid off in our department. It wasn’t completely unexpected, but it was still difficult to watch them go. So I was not in the most relaxed state of mind when I got home.

Then Zoe peed in the middle of the dining room. She’s really good about letting us know when she has to go out (this is the first time she’s done that in the house), so we knew something was up. I’d noticed that she’d been urinating more than usual in the yard, too. We checked her bedding in her kennel, and that was soaked. I called the vet, who was able to get us in that evening.

We weren’t able to get into our usual vet, but we saw Dr. T, who had seen Otis when he was first diagnosed with hip dysplasia. She took Zoe back for a urine test, and we waited in the lobby for about 15 minutes while they got the results. Zoe sighed repeatedly and pawed at her Gentle Leader, which was now the bane of her life. Dr. T said that some of her levels were a little low, so they wanted to run some additional tests. They took Zoe in the back for a blood draw, and they were also nice enough to adjust her Gentle Leader, which had been a little on the loose side. Zoe still pawed at it because it was her sworn enemy, but not as much as before.

We started Zoe on a course of antibiotics for 10 days. Luckily, we noticed that they took effect almost immediately, and she hasn’t had an accident since (knock wood). The vet’s office called with the blood results, and her blood levels and kidney levels (which we were worried about) were completely normal.

So between the work thing and this, I feel like I’ve dodged two bullets this week. (I’m especially cautious about urinary/kidney infections because we took Abby in to treat one of those, and that’s how we found out she had lymphoma.)

Zoe was lethargic for a couple days, but she is back to her usual self. She offered her assistance while Tim was mowing yesterday. She sat in the path of the mower, with her back to him, and she didn’t move until he was about two feet away and had to tell her to get up. She is also quite good at supervising the making of sandwiches. She waits beneath the counter, nose pointed to the source of the meat, just in case one of us drops something. And of course, if we’re walking anywhere, she makes sure to stand directly in our path. I’m thankful and relieved to see she’s back in the middle of everything again.

Much Better

I took Otis to his first leash aggression class yesterday. It went extremely well. He only acted up a couple times, but in a weird way it was helpful, because the instructor pointed out a couple more things to look for.

I found the location right away, and as we were walking around the area before class began, a man approached us and asked if we were there for the leash aggression class. He was substituting for the regular instructor, and he did a great job. I’m so impressed with the entire staff at this facility, and I’ll put up links when we’re done with class.

There were five dogs in the class. We started out in a large circle, then we stepped in slightly closer, still keeping about 8-10 feet between each dog. Later in the class, we returned to the circle, and for a long time Otis had another dog 5 feet away, and he was as mellow as he could be.

We did an exercise where we followed each other around in a big circle, which was helpful because we could see how our dogs reacted to other dogs in front of them and behind them. Then we paired off and walked toward each other with our dogs, allowing a wide berth in between, getting slightly closer with each successful pass. Then, after several successful attempts, we stopped parallel to each other and had our dogs sit for a few seconds before moving on. We were paired with a very sweet Shepherd mix who wasn’t aggressive so much as curious. Otis did well until the final attempt, and then he decided he wanted to eat the other dog, and when that wouldn’t do, he took it out on his leash. He didn’t get out of control, which was good– I was able to calm him enough before he completely lost it.

The instructor noticed that his ears changed (which I saw as well), but his body posture changed where he would hunch down and start skulking toward the other dog. That is where I need to step in and take more control by having him sit and gently but firmly reminding him who’s in charge.

Overall, I was extremely pleased with the session and how Otis behaved. I have a feeling that he might act up at the next class, just because he’s a little more comfortable, but we’ll see. Again, that’s why we’re there.

Dog Owner FAIL

Otis has been having a few issues with other dogs lately (and by lately, I mean since about October).

We took him to obedience class last fall, which helped, but he still has a tendency to lunge at other dogs while he’s on walks. I’m not sure how he’d do off-leash, and I’m afraid to take him to a dog park based on the aggression he’s shown on leash.

I signed him up for a leash aggression class, because that sounded like a good solution to his problems. Well, maybe not the solution, but something to help us deal better.

We had a private training session (required) before class, and it was extremely helpful. The trainer (Lynn) gave me some great tips to help Otis on walks. She emphasized keeping him calm, keeping me in control, and applying some counter-conditioning. We really couldn’t do the last one until we mastered the first two. To calm him, we gave him treats when other dogs passed by to show him that dogs were a positive thing. She also told me to watch his ear posture. They should normally be back and relaxed. When they start to move forward and his forehead starts to wrinkle, it means he’s starting to get excited and we need to bring him back down by stroking his head from front to back, including his ears. She said to use the high, happy voice and to stay calm myself (easier said than done).

Lynn also showed me how to walk Otis so he’d know I was in control. There was an imaginary line at my knees, and he couldn’t cross it. If he did, I corrected him with a quick tug on the leash and a vocal command (not “no,” but “ah, ah”). If he was really forward (literally), I needed to place my hand on his chest and stand in front of him to let him know he’s not going anywhere until I say so. Then I returned to standing parallel, said “let’s walk,” and off we went.

Another thing Lynn suggested was a new collar. Otis hated his Gentle Leader anyway, so he was happy to bid it good riddance. We’re now using a harness, with the leash clipped in the front (if you clip it in the back, it makes them want to lunge even more). We’d tried a harness with Abby, so the dogs had a sniff fest when we brought it out.

Working with Lynn was great– I can’t say enough good things about her. She has bully breeds of her own, so she knows how stubborn they can be.

I walked Otis around the neighborhood the night after the session, and he was an angel. We walked by a dog chained in a yard, and he was just fine, no reaction whatsoever. The next night, of course, he went bananas– shaking his head violently and gnawing on the leash. The key, I think, is keeping him calm and not letting him go to that crazy place. Once he’s there, it’s hard to turn Dr. Jekyll back into Mr. Hyde. I might not have been using the high, happy voice so much that time.

So I was really excited for class on Saturday, to reinforce what we’d learned and to get him back on track. We were going to meet near one of Minnesota’s many lakes. The weather was perfect– mid-80s and sunny. I carefully mapped the address using Google, but when I got to the lake itself, I had no idea where to go. I’d arrived early in case I got lost, and I spent the next 45 minutes pacing up and down the lake, looking for groups of dogs. The trainer was a different person than the trainer for the private session, so I wasn’t sure who to look for. I couldn’t call Tim and have him look up the details on the internet, because he was out fishing, and of course I didn’t think of calling anyone else with internet access until I got home. And of course, in my hurry to leave early, I didn’t bring the trainer’s cell number with me. Surprisingly, Otis behaved like a perfect gentleman, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Still, I feel like a complete and total failure as his owner. I’m mad at myself for not writing down the directions more clearly (when I got home, I realized exactly where it was– we went one way instead of the other), and mad that I’ve deprived Otis of something he needed so much. I worry that the next three Saturdays will be filled with rain and they’ll have to postpone class to a date when I’m on vacation, or that Otis will go completely crazy between now and then and it’s something I could have prevented with something I would have learned in class. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I’m just so disappointed in myself for not doing everything in my power to make sure he got to class. I feel like I let him down.

I just got a call from the trainer, and she made me feel better. She said that the dogs get so familiar with each other throughout the class that it’s okay to miss a session, and there was one other person who will be starting anew next week, so we’re not alone. I apologized profusely about missing the class and told her I hoped she didn’t wait long.

In the meantime, I’ll keep practicing, hoping that he continues to make progress. Maybe this will motivate me to work with him even more, to make up for the time he lost today.

Waiting on a Sunny Day

We saw Springsteen a few days ago, and when he played “Waiting on a Sunny Day,” I couldn’t help thinking of the last time we heard that song live. It was in March, and we were dogless, and I just wanted my sunny day to get here. A few weeks later, Zoe bounced into our home. I gave her an extra hug when we got home from the show.

Otis had some blood in his stool a couple weeks ago. We were on our usual walk through the park, and I noticed a couple streaks of red. We took a sample to the vet, but it came back OK, and there hasn’t been anything out of the ordinary out of his back end since.

Tim is trying to replace some of the grass in our backyard due to our two racehorses in training. He’s sectioned off part of the yard with chicken wire so he could spread some grass seed and water it regularly. When he first put it up, Zoe wanted to be in the middle of it, as she does everything. I left the two dogs to their own devices for a few minutes, and when I went to check on them, Zoe was standing in the center of the chicken wire, sprinkler overturned, her tail wagging. Zoe 1, Fence 0.

Otis loves to take toys outside. Yesterday, he brought three different toys into the yard, and when Tim was picking them up, Otis brought a fourth toy outside. He ran around the yard with it, keeping it away from Tim. Otis is a playful little guy. He gets such a joyous look on his face when you’re getting ready to throw a toy for him to fetch.

I’ve started to volunteer more for the Humane Society again. They have a program for socializing the dogs who aren’t quite ready to go onto the adoption floor. This is something I’ve done in the past, but they’re setting up a more formalized program around it. I went to Golden Valley for my first mentoring session last week, and the first dog I got to play with was a Boxer. He was very sweet, although he trembled a little when I petted him on his head. He was almost lying in my lap by the time we were done, though, and he was coming up to the front of his cage for affection when people passed by. I was happy to see that some of the other dogs I worked with were already available for adoption on the AHS web site.

I’m hoping for a nice weekend where we can sit on our deck, grill some meat, drink some beer, and watch the dogs play in the yard all evening. The weekends have been unusually cool, and all the sun and warmth has been falling on workdays. Spring is here, and now I’m anxious for summer.

Happy Zoeversary

Zoe has been with us for one year. It’s hard to believe.

To celebrate, we took her and Otis to the Humane Society for their monthly Chip and Nails clinic. Both dogs were overdue to have their nails trimmed, but we remedied that today. It’s well worth the $12 (plus tax), especially considering that our multiple nail-trimming attempts at home ended up with us sitting in one room with the clippers and the dogs dashing to the opposite end of the house.

To celebrate for real, we went for walks and I gave them each a couple extra treats and lots of hugs (which upsets their stomachs less). Nothing too fancy, but we did want to remember the occasion.

It’s starting to get a little warmer now (except for today’s snow-filled extravaganza, which has mostly melted). We’ve been taking the dogs for longer strolls on the path that leads into the woods, as long as the paths stay dry. It’s been good for all of us to have longer walks, although our first attempt involved a lot of wayward sniffing on the dogs’ part.

Happy National Puppy Day!

According to Boston.com, National Puppy Day is “an unofficial holiday designed to encourage the adoption of 10,000 puppies.”

In my house, it’s an unofficial holiday to provide links to pictures of really cute puppies.

• Boston.com puppies
• National Puppy Day official site, featuring an adorable video of a bulldog puppy
• The Daily Puppy
• Adoptable animals at the Animal Humane Society (five locations in the Twin Cities)
• Available dogs for adoption through Minnesota Boxer Rescue

Dainty

Zoe is large, and a little on the clumsy side, and she loves to place herself in the middle of things. There really isn’t a lot that’s delicate about her physically. But she absolutely hates getting wet.

When we’re on walks, she takes extra time to step around a puddle so her belly doesn’t get splashed. And today, it’s raining. She went out once earlier, but turned right back around and trotted in the house. I’ve opened the door a couple more times, but she just sniffs at the air as she watches the menacing raindrops fall.

I don’t know why I find this so amusing, but I just do. Our dainty giant.

Travels

The dogs got to travel to the vet today. Zoe needed to get her vaccinations, and Otis needed some blood work to test his thyroid levels.

For the most part, they behaved well. Zoe didn’t want Dr. J to touch her ears, but she licked his face while he listened to her heartbeat. Otis compromised the air quality of the exam room while we were all in there, so that was fun. Dr. J took the dogs in back for their shots and blood work, and Tim and I waited in front. When the tech brought the dogs out, Otis took exception to a lovable tan and white lab mix, so I took him outside while Tim paid the bill.

Zoe weighs 71 pounds, and Otis weighs 58. We’ve been reducing their food from 2 cups twice a day to 1 1/2 cups twice a day, because we noticed Zoe was getting a little thick in the middle, and Otis didn’t need extra weight on his hips. They’re maintaining nicely.

In other travel news, I have some London trip reports up on my other blog. I’ve also got a photo set on Flickr. I hope I did the country justice. I truly loved it there.

MN Boxer Rescue and Chuck and Don’s, Roseville

I ignored my jet lag on Saturday and, along with Tim, ventured out to Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet in Roseville. MN Boxer Rescue had several dogs there for adoption and for general information about the breed, so we knew there would be some adorable dogs. We left our rowdy pair at home.

There are more dogs available for adoption on the MN Boxer Rescue site than I remember ever seeing before. It’s good to see a lot of them in the recently adopted section, though.

We met an adorable dog named Joe Black. He’s in the list of adoptable dogs, but that’s not the case anymore, because his foster mom decided to take him in permanently. It’s easy to see why. He is the biggest cuddle hound I’ve ever met. He rested his head in the crook of my arm while I petted him, and he almost fell asleep in my arms. It was heartbreaking to think that he was almost euthanized. The people who gave him up said that he couldn’t be housetrained, but it turned out that he had a urinary tract infection that was causing all his accidents. Once that was treated with medication, he was fine. His owner said that he was quite happy in his new home, and he was getting her two older dogs to play a little more. It’s great to hear about a happy ending.

Our dogs sniffed us vigorously after we arrived home. They don’t give us that look of “hey, you were out cheating on me with other dogs” that Abby did, though. They were just excited for something new to smell.

[Things I learned while writing this post? WordPress and the latest version of Safari do not get along, especially when you're trying to add links.]