Moving Up and Out

Woah. How is it 2013? I swear, I can’t even tell you where time has gone.

Well a new year means new starts and we’ve had quite a few. In September, we moved. It was an awesome process and Shami and I made Mom and Dad proud by handling everything really well. We were really fortunate that we had time on our side with our move, but everyone had patience and we all worked together. Here are our tips for a smooth and easy move!

1. Visit the new neighborhood before moving, if possible. Luckily, we were not moving out of state and we were able to use the time that the banks were processing things to drive over to the new neighborhood and go for long walks. Getting to explore the neighborhood, smell the new smells (and leave some of ours behind), and get used to these surroundings was really beneficial.

2. Packing. Moving is stressful for humans. Things must be sorted, packed, donated, or trashed, and this can be emotional. Dogs don’t think of things this way. We aren’t watching you clean out the closet thinking “but that is a lovely sweater you were wearing when we went to the park!” We pick up on your emotions. Try to stay calm and organized, and if you feel stressed, take a break (we are great at helping with breaks). Our biggest tip here is that you pack up our toys/bed/crate last so that we have some place to go hang out while you are busy.

3. The big day. Dogs do not need to be underfoot while movers (or friends) are hauling furniture. If possible, send us to another friends’ house or a dog daycare. We will be less stressed to be out of the way than if we were getting hollered at. Plus, with doors being left open, you don’t want to risk us making a break for it. Keep us securely away until the furniture and boxes are in the new place (if possible).

4. Arriving at our destination. When we first come to the new home, take us for a walk. If we have been lucky enough to come to the neighborhood in advance, we won’t think it is weird to be in this new place. If this is the first time, be patient as we sniff and mark and get our bearings. The longer we get to walk, the more relaxed our brains become and he more likely we will be to come into the new house calm and ready for a nap.

5. Moving in. This is like packing in reverse. Give us our crate/bed/toys first so we have a place to go that smells like us. Then you can work on your stuff. Again, stay calm, take breaks.

6. Patience. Over the first week, we may or may not react to the new house with behaviors we never showed before. If you won’t be home with us, know that you have options. There is nothing wrong with crating a dog. If you are really worried about accidents in the house or you know your dog has a destructive streak, you can crate them until you feel they are used to the new surroundings. Be sure that your crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around comfortably. Be sure they have access to water (food is based on your feeding schedule). If you don’t plan to crate your dog and you want to give them free reign of the new house, consider starting slow by blocking off some rooms. We never have access to bedrooms when we are home alone. Be prepared to find an accident or something chewed up. Even the best behaved dogs need adjustment time. If you prepare yourself that your dog may stumble, you will be very happy if they don’t!

Following these tips, you will hopefully have as smooth of a transition as we did! We love our new neighborhood, they are even having a Bark in the Park event on January 26th where they will turn the main park into a dog park for the day! How fun.

We moved into our new house!

I love watching out the front window.

Shami loves the new parks where she can play fetch.

Our other big news, we’re going to have a little brother!

Adventure Dogs

We went hiking this weekend.

It was a lot of fun to break out of our standard routine and go explore a new world, but it is important that we were prepared and alert during the whole outing. Your dogs, no matter their breed or size, will enjoy adventures as long as you take the time to do it right. Follow some simple adventure rules to ensure success!

Rule 1: Know your destination. No matter if you are planning to go on a walk through a new park or a hike that will challenge you and your dog, do a little research before you go. Be sure to check that parks and trails are dog friendly, but also know the terrain. If your dog is not used to activity, they might not be up to a four mile hike up a steep mountain; you must make the judgment call for what your dog can handle.

Within the confines of knowing your destination, I want to include knowing the weather. This weekend, temperatures were supposed to break the 100 mark- an afternoon adventure was absolutely out of the question. When we were leaving our trail, we saw people trying to take dogs and small children onto it. Many returned before we had even left the park because it was too hot by 9AM. Take the two minutes to check the weather the day before to be prepared. Heat is dangerous (as is freezing cold). Rain isn’t going to hurt, but if you don’t want a muddy wet dog, don’t go out. A simple check avoids any mishaps.

Rule 2: Always be prepared. My mama said this is the Boy Scout motto, but I think I everyone should adopt it! For us, preparedness includes ample amounts of water, cookies for a snack, map, cell phone, and camera. Luckily I have a backpack that holds most of this and mom or dad carries the water.

Rule 3: Pay attention. Every day is different. You can plan and prep, but you must be paying attention to be sure that your adventure is a success. I’ve stepped on burrs, and thankfully, my mama always notices if I limp or hold my foot up for even a short moment. Shami is smaller than I am so dad will lift her over a large rock to be sure that she doesn’t hurt herself trying to jump. Their vigilance ensures that we don’t suffer a serious injury. This holds true for even walks in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Being alert and paying attention means that you are never surprised by an off-leash dog, plants with thorns, or a car whipping around a turn.

Follow these basic rules and you will be able to enjoy your adventures and build up to being a weekend warrior!

Enjoy some pictures from our hike!

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Safety First

There are a lot of holidays that require Mom and Dad to go away out instead of being home with us. We don’t mind though because they always take care of our needs before they leave.

First, Mom believes that tired pups will most likely sleep and relax while alone in the house. On days like today (New Year’s Eve) we go on a big adventure. This involves more than just walking around the neighborhood like we do every day. Today we went to a hiking trail and spent an hour and a half climbing 412′ in elevation. This doesn’t just tire us out, we are wiped. Feed us our dinner and we will sleep through anything. This strategy of Mom’s works for them too because when they come home, we are ready to go to bed and not ramped up wanting another walk. You know your pooch’s activity level; so you are the best judge of how much extra activity to push for.

Second, Dad leaves music on. I know it sounds silly and cliche, but on a holiday like New Year’s Eve in a state where fireworks are legal, there is bound to be some ruckus in the street. If there is some music on, it creates a bit of a white noise effect and we aren’t so startled when the fireworks go off. We don’t have a dog door in our home, but if you do, consider closing it for the night. When you hear of dogs running away on holidays like this, the problem is that the dog could get out not that the dog was skiddish. If your dog tends to be more nervous to sounds like firecrackers, they are more apt to look for safety when things start popping.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and we will see you all in 2012!

Your Input!

Temperatures are dropping. Fall is in the air! Please take a second and vote on your favorite fall pastimes. It’ll help determine an upcoming post!

Take Me to Your {Gentle} Leader

Oh, it’s time for a post from Shami!

I got a new collar today. Apparently, stopping every 13 seconds to sniff the grass, a rock, or worse is annoying to the humans. Now when I say “stop to sniff,” I must clarify that I actually have started to drop anchor; I hunch down and suddenly become a ninety pound dog and the whole walk comes to a pause.

I should also add that I used to wear a choke collar. We don’t wear them in the house all day, but when we would go on a walk, Mom put the choke chains on Toby and me. As a mixed breed, I am a little oddly shaped and my choke chain was always a little big. I don’t think it ever worked for me, but Mom held out because that was what she knew. Taking a little time to research, she finally decided that maybe it was best to try a new collar. If you are having challenges with your dog on the walk, consider the equipment. Do some research, your pet too might be wearing the wrong gear!

First, the buckle collar. This is the “everyday collar”. Your dog can wear it all day and not risk injury. This is where identification tags should be attached. Make sure you get a collar that fits and doesn’t slip over your dog’s head easily. Consider the different materials available as well as the flat or round options.

Second, the slip collar. These are also referred to as “choke” collars and can be made of nylon, leather or metal. You should never leave your dog unattended in one of these collars. They serve a purpose in training by allowing you to give your dog a quick jerk and correct their behavior. Please be sure you do your research on the use of this collar as it can cause neck and throat damage when used incorrectly. Martingale collars are similar to slip collars in that they can be pulled tighter, but most of the collar is leather or nylon. Finally, “pinch” or prong collars also fall into this category. They have a small section that can be pulled tight to correct the dog, but they also have teeth that help reinforce the correction. Again, this should not be left on a dog unattended.

Third, the harness. Many breeds of dog have to wear a harness because of the fact that a normal collar will slip off over their head. These can be worn all day like a buckle collar and you can attach your pup’s identification to the center D-Ring. Please know, however, that harnesses are designed for cart dogs and sled dogs. This means that it allows weight to be evenly distributed so the dog can pull it’s load. If your dog is prone to tugging and lunging on the walks, this collar will only allow that to get worse.

Fourth, the head halter. Mom had read the concerns about gentle leaders (that they are unnatural and uncomfortable to a dog) so she had sort of pushed them out of her head. However, she also knows that you should never leave a dog unattended with this type of collar on and that you can’t tug at your dog’s face. If you have also seen horse tack, you will realize that this is essentially the same thing as a horse harness. The collar is worn around the dog’s next and a second piece is adjusted to fit over the snout of the dog. This is not a muzzle and your dog and open his mouth, but the leash attaches to the face and gives you more control.

The fifth category is the electronic collar. These can be used to help establish the perimeter of your yard or to help keep your dog from barking. Please be sure that you follow all instructions very carefully as these collars need special attention paid to them.

The bottom line is to do your research. If you have a pug, you probably need a harness, but you have to teach him not to pull. Know your dog and know your options. A pet store will always let you exchange a collar if it isn’t working out.

So tonight was only the first journey on my new gentle lead, but it went so well! I only fussed for the first few minutes of the walk and then we got into the rhythm. There wasn’t any hunkering-down-sniff-fest. It was a much better experience than I think Mom even expected, and I got a cookie when I got home.