Merry Christmas

The holiday bring families together I hope that you all are happy and in good health. I hear the pattering of little dogs in my house and of course Bud's panting while playing with them

Christmas Sleep Over

Last night Jewel stayed over night while her home was getting worked on. Batman has the spirit of loving and Robyn keep company for awhile the dogs moved around several time during the night. I woke up with Bud and Batman in bed with me. Robyn sleep with Jewel. Dog like to have other pack members for company. Peace with dogs in the house. I love it.

My Face Is Red, I'm Not Smart As Thought Was

When you love your dog you try to take care of them as best you can. I never knew about Mast Cell cancer until Jetta had a bump that turned red over time.I have only had female dogs before Bud. I never thought I would get along with a male dog. Bud is a lover boy and I am in love with him. Recently I noticed a spot on his belly that worried me because of Jetta had a Mast Cell cancer. So I brought him to see his vet Arron Schecter at Atascdero Pet Hospital. When our vet looked at him he was very serous and he said that the spot I was so worried was a nipple. A NIPPLE. I couldn't believe it. I said that I thought males had two nipples, then he said no, they have  nipples. He did say that this nipple was low. Then another vet came in to see Buds low nipple. My face was red. Who knew. So now I know!

I Love Happy Endings

Shown here are Mike and Collen from Kansas with their dog Hiedi  The couple save this sweet girl and you can see how loving they are to their dog. Heidi we think is Lab-Aktia mix. She has a beautiful life with them. Hiedi stole my heart with her soft kisses.

Although the American Akita’s lineage began in the Tohoku region of Japan, it was Helen Keller who first brought a dog classified as an Akita breed to the United States. In 1937 the dog was presented to her as a gift. Unfortunately the first Akita named Kamikaze-go died of distemper months after its arrival. The Japanese government then presented her with an official gift of another Akita named Kenzan-go. Soon after World War II there were many Akitas that could be located in the United States due to servicemen who brought the Akitas home with them. The traditional Japanese Akita over the years has evolved into a separate breed and now has a separate designation from the ones originating from Japan- which are presently known as the American Akita.

The Akita is docile, intelligent, courageous and fearless. Careful and very affectionate with its family. Sometimes spontaneous, it needs a firm, confident, consistent  pack leader. Without it, the dog will be very willful and may become very aggressive to other dogs and animals. It needs firm training as a puppy. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in its pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. If the dog is allowed to believe he is the leader over the humans he may become very food-possessive as he tells the humans to wait their turn. He eats first. Considered a first-class guard dog in Japan, Japanese mothers would often leave their children in the family Akita's care. They are extremely loyal and thrive on firm leadership from their handlers. They should definitely be supervised with other household pets and children. Although the breed may tolerate and be good with children from his own family, if you do not teach this dog he is below all humans in the pack order he may not accept other children and if teased, Akitas may bite. Children must be taught to display leadership qualities and at the same time respect the dog. With the right type of owner, the proper amount of daily mental and physical exercise and firm training, they can make a fine pet. Obedience training requires patience, as these dogs tend to get bored quickly. The Akita needs to be with its family. It vocalizes with many interesting sounds, but it is not an excessive barker. Height, Weight Height: Males 26 - 28 inches (66 - 71 cm)   Females 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm) Weight: Males 75 - 120 pounds (34 - 54 kg) Females 75 - 110 pounds (34 - 50 kg) Health Problems Prone to hip dysplasia, both hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis, immune diseases like VKH and Pemphigus, skin problems like SA and eyes (PRA, Micro, entropion) patella and other problems with the knee. Living Conditions The Akita will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is moderately active indoors and will do best with a large yard. Exercise The Akita needs moderate but regular exercise to stay in shape. It should be taken for long daily walks. Life Expectancy About 10-12 years Litter Size 3 - 12 puppies, average 7 or 8 Grooming The coarse, stiff, short-haired coat needs significant grooming. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when absolutely necessary as bathing removes the natural waterproofing of the coat. This breed sheds heavily twice a year.

Cosin Holly At Spash

Jetta's cousin Holly is nine and she has arthritis starting in her legs and hips. Holly gets two walks a day and she is still very ball obsessed. Holly used to swim with Bud in Moro Bay but stopped wanting to get in the water so I called Chris at Splash to give my early X-mass gift to Marlyn, her owner. Jetta loved swimming in the warm water. Swimming keeps muscle mass in old dogs from getting weaker.  Holly love to spend time with Bud so he got in the water too. Holly had a great time, The water temperature is 86 degrees. I would love to swim there myself. Chris's pool helps many dog live active lives. Bud used this pool for two long rehabs. The first after his elbow surgery and again after his knee surgery, We love Chris she is wonderful and very knowledgeable about dog issues.  

Bud wants to be a GYN

Bud plays with Robyn all 7 pounds of her and he finds very interesting aromas. He is doing what dogs do nothing sexual.

Buds New Toy

Buddy loves his orange toy for the water retrieving. In past at the bay while Bud was swimming towards the tennis ball Four times seagulls stole the ball and flew away with it yes 4 times. I could hardly believe it.  The seagulls were watching and then they flew when the ball was flung at the beat Bud to the ball. Bud swam and swam around in wide circles looking for the ball. I said Naughty Birds!  This toy is heavier and hopefully the darn birds will leave it alone. Bud love his new toy, he plays like a puppy. 

Thanksgiving With My Loved Ones

I'm thankful to have my happy healthy life with my loved ones. Today we are hanging out with Ginger, Batman, Buddy and Jewel. We are enjoying the beautiful life we have.

Another Guy And His Litte Dog--Ed & Buddy

Buddy gets his human Ed out for a nice long walk where my Buddy swims. Buddy is a Rat Terrier.The small Buddy is very friendly and sweet. I see Buddy looking for critters for him to get. Where were you Buddy when I had my gopher problem?

 The Rat Terrier was developed in Great Britain in 1820. Members of the Rat Terrier dog breed are adorable little digging escape artists who are true terriers: feisty, funny, energetic, lively, vermin-chasing, and incapable of being boring. Stubborn as all get out, they are not big on pleasing people, but the people who love them laugh all the time.

Books I Love About Dogs That Read A Second Time

I love reading about dog behavior. This knowledge helps me better understand my boy Buddy.  Books I  recommend to all dogs lovers are:
Hidden Life Of  Dogs by Elizabeth Thomas Anthropologist and Writer. She studied seven generations of dogs and the book is very interesting. If you see the picture of me and Bud you see how interested he is.
For The Love Of A Dog : Understanding Emotion In You And Your Best Friend  by Patrica Mconnell Phd.
This book is great. She shows you in pictures how for you to read your dogs emotions. Reading this booked helped me know what to look for in dogs like when a dog is giving a whale eye and what it means. And body movement and how to know what it means.
The Secret To Puppy Love with tips from animal communicators by Karen Palmer. I met Karen on a day while I was watching my boy Bud at the bay in Morro Bay and we hit it off from the beginning because she is a dog trainer and an author and quite the sweetheart.
Dogs Are Gifts From God by Karen Palmer. This is a good read too.
I have many more books that I know dog lovers would want to read too many for one blog. The bottom line is that the more we know about our beloved dogs the happier they will be and that makes us humans happy. Look at Bud showing me how much he appreciates me.

One Of The I don't Think Intack Male Dog Should Run Free

Today my dog Bud was at the beach with me and I was talking to Dave who was on the beach with Ginger. Bud and Ginger play well together. He knows that she is strong and fast. Bud let her win in the case of tug-a-war. He is and always has been quite the gentlemen with his female play mates. It was a beautiful warm morning and the dogs were having tons of fun until a huge black Lab ran over and bit Bud on the nose. When the dog bit Bud, Ginger chased the big Lab and chased him off. She has always felt protective of Bud. They love each other. When I called Bud to me I saw a puncture from the dogs teeth and a scratch below his eye. I was mad at the owner of the dog because the in tact male was doing what comes naturally to in tact males. His dog came back and I grabbed Bud's collar and told the owner that his dog bit my dog and to keep his dog away from my dog. The owner  was very rude and told me his dog didn't bite Bud and I told him that both myself and David watched it happen. By now the male was sniffing around Bud again and giving him the whale eye and trying to put his head over Buds head as a show of dominance. This Lab was at least 4 inches taller than Bud and about 10 -15 pounds heavier. Bud was minding his own business and this Lab was looking for trouble.
Bud's injury was not serious but I count my blessings. When I was 12 years or so I saw my brothers beagle mix attack Jet my grandfathers black Lab. They were both in tact males. I know that there are many wonderful in tact males. The dog who bit Bud was probably a very good dog. What I think is that the owner of the in tact male has to keep the dog out of trouble.  
Bud is recovering. He can swim again on Monday. In the meantime, he is enjoying his new toy.

Formally Reluinctant Turned Avid Lover

My friend Doug told me the story about his dog, Harley. When lived with his girl friend, she brought a  chihuahua home one day and Doug told her no way that little dogs are yappy and ill-mannered that  was his feeling about the breed because that was what he saw all the time.  When Doug met Harley he changed his mind. Doug love this little dog so much so that when his relationship end he made a agreement with his ex to share share custody of their dog. That warms my heart with their devotion to this dog. I feel in love with Harley too he is so sweet and good nature that everyone loves Harley. Doug believes in discipline and rules. Shown here is Doug and Harley on beach. Look at the small ball in Doug's hand. Too cute.

Update on Ginger's Lupus Story

GREAT NEWS for Ginger! She is now in remission and is feeling like her old active self. In the picture is a play date at my house with Bud, Batman & Robyn (Batman and Robyn are Jewel's dogs). You can see the fun they had. The vet said that the fall and winter time is usually a time of no symptoms because of the weather. Dave and Debbie are glad about that. Ginger will never be cured but by watching the time of day and seasons Ginger will lead a healthy happy life.

Update for Gin Radar

I am happy to report that Gin, the oversentive dog, is doing well. Michelle and Ryan found a dog park nearby where Gin can race around a play with other dogs. Gin loves and spends long hours sitting in a chair that I gave to Michelle because she loved it so much as did Gin. I put the extra space to good use in my house. I know that my scent is on it as well his doggy playmate's that aslo spent time in the chair. Having something that is familar helps when dogs have to change house holds and routines. I am so pleased that my friends are doing so well. I miss Gin and of coure his humans.

Waiting Bud

Every day rain or shine Bud swims at the bay in Morro Bay. Every day Bud whines and cries with anticipation of his swim routine when we pull into the parking lot. Dogs love routine and rules and limitations. Bud has even jumped out the the car once while being told to wait. The word Bud is waiting for is "out". When my helper and I set up for this, I sit to watch but Bud barks rudely for a bit then sits down and knows he has to chill until he is told to get out the car. I bet Bud is thinking, "Get over here now!". Bud is very patient and has so much energy. People smile watching him swim and dig. Don't you know it is all about dogs having fun!

Why Chihuahua's Think They Are Big Dogs

Here is a 7 lb Chihuahua playing with Bud. She slaps him in the face when they are playing and he just takes it. Chihuahuas think they are big dogs. Here she is waiting for him to come back to chase him.

Chihuahua's country of origin is Mexico. Their date origin is puzzling but it is estimated they have been around since the 5th century AD. They were first recognized as a breed in 1884. They are companion dogs with an energetic, alert, loyal, and sometimes feisty temperament. With proper training and nutrition, you can have a happy and calm Chihuahua. They need to be exercised just like big dogs. They do not need to be carried around all the time. They are smart and be trained just as much as big dogs. In a puppy class I took Bud to, my dog trainer said there was a Chihuahua in her class and that is was unusual to see a Chihuahua in training. It makes me sad when people do not train Chihuahuas and just carry them around in their purses all the time. Please give them as much attention as you would a big dog.

Meet Abigale Her Story About Mast Cell Cancer

Abigail is a 4 year old Golden Doodle.  The first time her owners noticed anything was June 16, 2013. Abigail was lethargic and showing a little lameness in her hind legs.  She had been to the vet twice previously in the last few days and was sent home with pain medication.
            The pain increased over the weekend and she woke up with paralysis in her back end on Monday morning June 17. Her vet referred her to a Veterinary surgeon in AG who arranged for an MRI on Los Olivos that morning. Surgery was done that evening and a plasma cell tumor was removed that had grown into vertebrae and finally had gotten large enough to put pressure on her spinal cord causing the lethargy, pain and eventual paralysis.  The surgeon said her chance of survival and mobility was not good.  Much to the surgeon's surprise, Abigail was standing on her own the morning after surgery.
            Abigail then went to an Oncologist who ordered additional CT scans, Ultrasound, X-ray and more lab work on the tumor cells. He said her survival chances were slim if there had been any spreading of the cancerous cells. By the time she had recovered from surgery it was determined that the tumor on her vertebrae was isolated and the best approach would be radiation to remove a portion of the tumor not accessible to the surgeon due to close proximity to the spinal cord. By the time she was ready to start radiation therapy at a clinic in Oxnard, it was 4 weeks since surgery and Abigail was beginning to show signs of pain. She rebounded after the first two radiation treatments.  She had twenty treatments in small doses to protect the spinal cord. Her final treatment was Aug 13. 

By the end of August Abigail's energy and mobility were back to normal and she enjoyed her first romp on dog beach in over two months. Abigail is back to normal activities and loves to join us in doing whatever we do. Her pal Sammie and another doggie sister, black lab named Sophie give her a lot of support along with her humans, myself and husband Dave. Abigail is presently on a maintenance dosage of chemotherapy administered orally in capsule form every other day. She hasn't had any negative side effects so far from radiation or chemotherapy. We celebrated her 4th birthday Aug 9 and are blessed with each day that we wake up to her smiles, hugs and kisses.  We don't know what the long term prognosis really is. We are appreciative for each day Abigail feels good and are so happy that we decided to do medical treatment. We would have opted to quit and let nature take its course had she been elderly and in otherwise poor health. We would also spare her pain and suffering in the future if medical treatment does not keep her feeling good and living a quality life. For now every day is a good for Abigail so it is a good day for us! She is healthy and beautiful nearly 4 months since Abigail's surgery and cancer diagnosis.

I knew mast cell cancer because Jetta had one. With early detection, she was fine. Abigal was so happy when I saw her. My prayers are with her and her family. Thank God we have vets that can help dogs like this

Bud Meets Ivy

The beach day was one of those dreamy days that is hard to forget. The water glistened with radiance that was so bright you have to shade your eyes. What a treat for me to watch a black Lab playing in the water with Bud. Black is beautiful when the sight brings me back to the times I watched Jetta in awe of her beauty and grace.

This black Lab is Ivy and Bud played with her until he got too tired because he would drop her toy. All is well. Bud can be bratty and rude when he is over stimulated. He is like a young child before nap time. Times like this it’s good to have the E-collar on Bud to give him a reminder who is boss. I know I let him think he’s boss but we wouldn’t tell him that.

Baby And Bull Dog

This five month old baby has a great loving dog in her pack. Coco Butter was rescued as a puppy after the breeder had a flood for a storm in Florida. By nature Bull Dogs are usually a little stubborn and they are brave little tanks. There were used as bait for bulls in British Isles before the practice was banned. Imagine the dogs taking on a bull. They have massive skulls and rammed under the bull to cause damage to the bull’s underbelly. Bull Dogs are born cesarean section because of the massive skull. Bull Dogs can be bossy but with a strong human as pack leader they are loving, gentle dogs as the picture shows.

Missing Michelle

Last year I hired staff to work as my personal assistant. My life is dependent on good honest workers. When Michelle answered my Craiglist ad, I knew she was over-qualified. She said that she would work on a trail period. I jumped at the chance to hire her. She worked for me for one year. Within the year I grew to love her, her family, and of course her dog, Gin Radar.

When she told me the story of Gin, how he was rescued from a horrible life, my admiration for her grew even more. When you rescue a dog, here is what you could be in for. Gin was a stray. He had a rocky beginning of his life. He didn't trust anybody. He was wild, agitated, nervous, yappy and nippy out of frustration.  Here is a picture of when they saw him on the website. 

They knew he was going to be a special needs dog, but they didn't care. They worked with him daily with training, exercise, and  nutrition. From Gin being afraid of everybody, he grew to love and Michelle and Ryan. When he first met Bud, he tried to attack Bud out of fear. Gin started and then Bud got agitated back. Over several months Gin and Bud got along. Gin grew to love me and trust me in my home. He also loved my other staff, Jamie and her dogs. He loved to come to my house and tear up Bud's toys. I love happy endings for strays. Gin will do well because they take the time for him. You see how relaxed he is here with me and you can see how much he has changed. When you rescue a dog, it can be challenging to see what motivates them. With consistent training, boundaries and a lot  of love for Gin, he is doing well. They adore him as I do too. Anybody that knows him will fall in love with him. He's a knucklehead.

                                   
Michelle and I took care of each other. The money for the job allowed her to support herself. Sadly for me and happily for her she has moved on to another passion in her life and is in a nursing school in Missouri. Yes she is now living in Missouri. We had a lot of fun together, and she is missed by the other two staff.  Ryan, her love, painted a sign for me that is in front of my gate. I think of her every day and am so grateful for the experience of loving her. Michelle will do great things in her life. She touched my life with her wit and drive. She is a force to be reckoned with, and she has a huge heart.