B-A-R-K-I-N-G....

Okay - so I could write a book on the topic of barking - not just barking but excessive barking.  These two ladies are experts and they work out their lungs on a daily basis as well as my patience and hearing.

At the moment, Lucy is vigorously barking at the hose winder - you know those things you have in your yard that you can wind a garden hose around a wheel and then push it around the yard.  My hubby left it out in the middle of the front yard and she is not accustomed to it being there.  That's all it takes!  A trash can she hasn't seen before, the wind blowing a leaf or anything that moves.  I am hoping this is a puppy thing and she will grow out of it.  Maddie is another story - at 14 she has become a delirious barker.  She barks at everyone who enters our house no matter how well she knows them and she barks at every noise and of course she barks at Lucy and whenever Lucy barks.  Yep that's right - they have bark offs and have to be separated to stop the barking.  Now Beeger - the only male in the group, does not enjoy the barking and often hides under a pillow or blanket to get away from it.  We frequently take shelter together.

What to do?????  I have read about all kinds of solutions from bark collars to spray bottles and more.  Right now with Lucy, I am trying hard to ignore it and hope that it will get better with time.  I use distraction and removal from the object of her barking and that helps.  From what I have learned, the more attention I give it, the more likely she will continue obsessively barking.  My son has a Jack Russell that we believe is older -they rescued her and she is now completely blind.  She was obviously severly restricted from barking when she was a young pup because she rarely ever barks.  I want my dogs to be able to let me know when they are worried or upset but just within reason.

For now I will continue to remove her from the situation and use diversion and see how it goes.  Regardless of the barking, she is a true joy and we love her to the moon and back.  :-)

Oh and below is one of the article I have read on barking.


article on barking

To Crate or Not to Crate....

I know there is a big debate about whether or not to use a crate in training your puppy.  One of the local rescues here in SC even goes so far as to have you sign a statement that you won't crate train the dog after adoption.  I am sure there are lots of reasons for both sides of this debate but I can only share my personal experience.

Maddie (the 14 year old Jack) was crate trained and she loved her crate.  Years after she was through that stage, she would get back in her crate and sit if it was left open where she could get to it.  Beeger (adopted at around 5 years old) was severely crate trained we were told.  The shelter said he had been left alone in a crate all day and all night with only short periods to run free.  He was very afraid of any crate when we brought him home and he was already potty trained so no problem.

After I had Lucy for a few days we went and found a small crate for her - the plastic kind with a handle that is convenient for carrying your dog to the vet, etc.  She slept there at night for the first week or so and did just fine.  At the end of the week we purchased a pack and play - a play pen used for babies and that is where she slept for about a month or so with no problem.  She was safe there when left alone for short periods and I could see her during the night through the mesh sides.  She had her toys and blanket so we didn't mind it at all.  Then....although short and small, she learned to climb out.  After lots of brainstorming I pulled a folded bed sheet over the top and closed it with baby safety pins (out of her reach) and binder clips.  This was really an illusion that made her believe that she could not jump out and she slept there at night without a problem up until she was about 6 months old.  She could see Maddie and Beeger as they sleep in dog beds near by which kept her from feeling too lonely.

About a month ago I got the bright idea to order one of those canvas crates that zips shut - it was canvas and just awesome.  She could see out and the door rolled up with velcro so that she could go in and out during the day.  It was awesome until she learned how to work the zipper - long story short, we went through several issues with this crate after she at through the screened door, broke the zipper, etc.  She loved chewing on zippers or anything that soothes her gums.  So after trying the sheet thing for a couple of weeks, we broke down and purchase the crate pictured above.  (That is not Lucy in that pic by the way)  We got the large size for two reasons - we don't know exactly how big she will get and also it is about the same size as her play pen and the canvas crate.  I keep a blanket on the floor and her dog bed in the back.  This works well for her and she sleeps all night without a problem here and can see her bubba and sissy as well as us.  Most of all we can sleep because we know she is safe.

Things I have learned about crate training the hard way with Lucy:

• Feed your dog in the crate and offer treats and toys to give them something to do
• Never use the crate as a punishment
• Make it as comfortable as possible with a pillow and or blanket
• Offer ice cubes for crunching as well as water during the night
• A crate is a great alternative to keep your puppy safe and it helps with potty training as they will not potty in the crate under normal circumstances
• Get the largest, most sturdy crate you can afford for your particular type of dog.  In the beginning you may need to section it off so that the puppy does not have too much space and soil it
• Don't make a habit of leaving your puppy crated for long periods of time.  During the night when they are sleeping it works well but too much awake time can cause issues with behavior
• Don't let the puppy out while she is barking or whining - this just teaches them that is the way to be released.  Wait until they stop and then let out.
•  Be consistent - Lucy goes into her crate at about the same time every night and always has a treat and ice chips.  She looks forward to it and she goes into her crate on her own.
• There is a ton of information out there to help with crate training - just Google it.

Toys.....

Many people think that toys for your dogs are frivolous and a waste of money.  Ah - not so.  To a dog, especially a puppy, toys are a way to learn, their work and so much more!  Pictured here are Bobo and Monkey Man - favorites of my Lucy's.  When she gets up in the morning, her first mission is to find one of them and romp all over showing us her toy.  You can tell her to "play toys" and she know exactly what that means.  She has also learned to recognize the names we call them and she will immediately start thinking and looking for them.

After her recent spay procedure, I found a little pink dog/bunny looking thing that has something inside it that sounds like paper rattling.  Since she loves to swipe papers and magazines, I knew she would love it.  It has truly helped her get through the time that she has had to be calm and quiet and she has enjoyed it so much.

When I first brought home my Jack Russell, Maddie, we took her to a pet store and she helped pick out a toy fish.  She loved that fish so much and kept it until it was threadbare.  She slept with it and played with it everyday - it was her friend.  Dogs are much like children when it comes to their toys and they provide much needed exercise as well.

Another think Lucy has loved since the day she came to live with us is a ball.  She immediately knew to run after it and bring it back.  She loves nothing better than for us to wrestle the ball away from her and throw it so that she can retrieve it. 

Now I realize that I get carried away at times with the toys but I have to admit that the joy that I get from watching her with them is so worth it - for us both!!

Things I've learned from My Puppy.....

Who would think it, but you can learn many things from a little puppy!  This little cutie has changed my life in so many ways and maybe it is age, because this is not my first rodeo.  I have had a few puppies over the years but mostly we have adopted dogs who were out of the puppy stage.  Maybe it's because my life has slowed down a bit and I have more time to study her as she grows.  I don't know but I do know that she is just pure Joy and I love her for that!

Here is my list of the things that I have learned so far from Miss Lucy Loo:

• Don't underestimate the power of a good nap
• Enjoy your toys whenever you can and never stop playing
• If you have food, a soft bed, somebody to love, everything will be ok
• Romp outside when you can, even in the rain
• Hugs and kisses are awesome
• Baths are overrated but it sure feels good after it's over
• Sometimes you just need a haircut
• Being friendly is a good thing - even when it's a big ole Dalmation that scares you - just smile and keep moving
• Even when you are feeling lousy, get up and move some
• Whining does not always work - most of the time it doesn't
• Running off is not all it's cracked up to be
• Sometimes boys do have cooties
• Sisters can be yucky but that's ok
• You can love your brother and still tackle him
• Your Daddy is special and be happy every time you see him
• Help with the laundry, even it is is just helping carry stuff
• Don't over eat cause you will surely throw up
• Ask for a potty break before you have to go really bad
• You are braver than you think and stronger than you know.....

I am sure I will find many more things I have missed but this is a good start.  Love my Lucy!!

Puppy Proofing.....

It has been a very long time since we have had a puppy living in our house - over 14 years to be exact!  I had completely forgotten how many things they can get themselves into.

This picture was taken during our visit to the emergency vet a few weeks after we got Lucy.  I still don't like to look at this picture and I had not even downloaded it from my phone.  This was very scary and not a trip that any dog lover wants to make.  We still don't know for sure exactly what she got into but we think it may have been something she ate while in the yard.

We came home on a Friday afternoon after being out for a short time.  She had been in her playpen during the time we were out so there was no way she could have gotten into anything during that time.  One of the boys was over and we all walked outside and let her romp a little with the other boys.  We supervise every time she goes outside and we did see her try and eat a clump of dirt but that was it.  We came back inside and she was playing with her toys and acting normal when all of sudden she had a horrible upset stomach all over the floor.  Up to this point she had not even had a loose stool.  I was immediately concerned but things got worse quickly.  She immediately started throwing up over and over.  Within about 30 minutes she went from a happy puppy to one who was seriously ill.  We put her in her playpen and offered her some water and cleaned up her face.  She continued to throw up and she became very lethargic.

We had already grilled steaks for dinner and we just put it all away and didn't even eat.  I called the emergency vet and they advised that we have her looked at because it could be Parvo.  She had already begun her shots which included Parvo, but they advised that didn't mean she was completely vaccinated.  She was a little over 10 weeks at this time.  We put her in her crate and rushed to the emergency vet about 15 minutes away.  During the drive she cried out (she never does that) and then stopped moving for a bit.  I just knew she was gone and I believe she had a seizure.  When we got to the vets office her face was covered in drool to the point is was dripping from her mouth and face.  Her whole head was soaked and she was so very sick.

At this point I am thinking she won't make it through the night.  I have never seen a puppy this sick, ever.  They took us right back to isolate Lucy from the other dogs just in case she was contagious.  That particular night the ER vet was extremely busy and we waited for over 2 hours to even get someone to come in and do triage.  Well my Hubby is no nonsense and to him a dog is a dog and Lucy improved during that time and after they told us it would be impossible to say when she would be seen he made the decision that we should take her home and see our vet at Banfield in the morning.

I was heart sick but I knew he was probably right.  She would either get better or she was too sick to help.  We came home and put her in her play pen and she slept all night not moving around much at all.  I was afraid to even look in the pen in the morning but she was her usual bouncing self ready to go out with the big dogs to potty.  She saw her regular doctor the following week and was just fine.

We will probably never know what made her so sick but I learned an important lesson.  I put away anything that could be ingested and I watch her or secure her in a safe place like our bedroom when I can't watch her.  She will eat anything she can get in her little mouth and I have pulled all kinds of things out of there.  They truly are like unruly toddlers and it is our job to protect them.  Just like with human babies, you have to get on their level and look around, put away pesticides, cleaners, foods that could be poisonous to them.  I sometimes wonder how puppies survive that are put outside to live.  She is 7 months old now and doing just fine and she still will eat anything but it is getting easier to teach her and she listens better every day.

Bubba and Sissy.....

These two culprits are the most important beings in Lucy's life - her sister and brother.  Maddie - the smaller one with the pointy ears is a 14 and a half year old Jack Russell and we have had her since she was about 12 weeks.  She is very territorial and does not like sharing....anything.  She does okay with Lucy and I do believe she understands that she is a baby.  She used to play with her a good bit but now she just tolerates her.   Maddie has bad eye sight, arthritis and she sleeps a good bit and she has been incontinent for a year or so.  She does not play well with others and is very grumpy these days.  She is my baby and I love her though!!
 
Beeger is the one with the flippy ears and he is a big boy.  We believe he is about 10 years old and we rescued him from a shelter in 2006.  He has serious separation anxiety and all sorts of phobias.  He is a gentleman though and he loves Lucy.  She thinks he hung the moon and they play like kids, share treats, and just have a good time. He never meets a stranger - he loves all dogs. We have found that he is much like my husband - he loves to eat, burps, passes gas and talks in his sleep.  He has huge fatty tumors on his tummy and some bad discs in his back so we just try and keep him comfy and let him enjoy life.

I really believe that Lucy would be a very different puppy if she had not been living with her siblings.  She copies lots of their behaviors and they keep each other company.  The all sleep in a row in our room at night - her in her crate and they are right beside it on their beds.  So sweet!!!

Puppy Healthcare....

Keeping a growing puppy healthy and safe are two of the biggest concerns when you take on a new family member.  Since we already had 2 rescues, (Maddie is not technically a rescue - she was the runt of her litter and didn't "sell" so we took her) expenses were a big factor as our budget is very tight.  One of my Daughters-in-law worked for Pet Smart when she was in college and was familiar with the Banfield care services offered in many of the locations.  With their puppy plan that is deducted each month, we decided this was the best way for us to go.

The day after Lucy arrived we took her to PetSmart for a secure crate to sleep in and to talk to the folks at Banfield.  They set her up for her first new puppy wellness visit for the following week.  We will get into the crating debate a little later.  :-)

Lucy's first visit pictured here went well and she was very relaxed.  She loved the cold table and relaxed and took a nap.  She weighed in at 4.6 pounds at 9 weeks and was deemed in great health by Dr. Gardner, our new vet.  They started her shots and set us up on the Puppy Plan.  This runs approximately $33. per month and includes her spay which is a very expensive procedure.   Check out their web site for all that this covers - it is an awesome deal.  We decided to let her have a Benedryl shot as well to lesson the possibility of her having a bad reaction to her shots.  We made an appointment for 3 weeks and were on our way with our sleepy baby girl.