House Call Water Therapy?!

Yep, now I believe we are in a new age, a good one:-)

I have my very first house call to a private home with a water therapy pool for the rehab and healthcare of a loved family dog.  I don't know the story yet of how they came about putting in this pool or whether it is their pool and has been converted for the dog's care.  I applaud people who are able and willing to do this for their dog.  

We know that warm water therapy is a wonderful way to help keep a dog in shape whether they have injuries or disabilities so it only seems right that someone would eventually bring the therapy HOME!!  How cool is that!

I'll update the blog after I get more information and go through the session.  Man, I hope it isn't a home, 6 person spa at 100 degrees!  That could be a problem...........

Update:

The session went very well.  The spa is about 10 feet long and 6 feet wide with a sloped bottom and adjustable jets.  Unlike the pool at Splashdog there are no steps but there are seats at two corners which helped.  The dog is a large lab, approx. 70 pounds, with long legs.  He didn't have trouble getting in but I was nervous about him getting out onto the wooden deck that the spa was set into.  He did really well while I was there as did his Mom.  She had been in the water and seen the therapists at work at SplashDog and had a good idea what was involved in getting some good therapy for her dog and making sure the session was safe.  

I'm sure they have been successful at the challenge they took on.  I am happy for the family and am happy that I was able to be of some assistance to get them started.  What a fabulous job I have!

Let the Training Begin

Training my new dog is a challenge.  It seems to me, the biggest challenge is taking in all of the information and processing it.  I know how she feels.  Not only is she getting a great deal of yes's and no's, I am as well.  Everyone has a different idea and everyone wants to tell me what that is.  Each has merit.  Each has been tried and has worked for someone, somewhere.  But mostly, they all involve teaching me how to help my dog understand what I want her to do.  

Funny how some things are easier than other to get across.  Sit, down, drop it, those were easy enough.  Actually, pretty much everything I have been consistent about running through with Devi has been successful.  

I am beginning to see a pattern of how she learns and how we teach one another.  It isn't all me teaching her.  Some things she shows me.  For instance, when she was upset at SplashDog while I was working with the clients in the beginning, I noticed that as she did calm down, she was laying under one of the chairs.  Aha!  Thanks Devi, for showing me a spot that made you more comfortable.  I put her bed there the next time we were in and she was much more calm during my sessions.  

One thing I notice with trainers is that they know about canine body language, pack behavior and how the dogs see us but I  think they sometimes miss the fact that the respect for one another includes taking some cues from the dogs.  

I don't want to train my dog to break her spirit or squelch the fun she has.  I admit, I like a spirited dog with a distinct, strong personality (I'll write about Abby sometime to exhibit just how much that is true;-).  I do need to teach her how to be polite all of the time and make sure she is safe, but training her to be submissive and subservient is not my goal.  

There is a balance and I am really confused at the moment as to how to reach it.  Together we will find that place and I am confident that Devi will be a great companion and happy girl for the long time we will have together. 

My new baby, Devi

If you haven't already met Devi, you will, if you meet me.  She has been my constant companion since I adopted her 3 weeks ago today.

As my clients already know, I lost my boy Budhi in December and have missed him very much.  Bud was the last of the 3 dogs I had as family over the last 17 years.  It was a big blow. 

I wanted to be realistic and cautious about finding another dog to share my life with.  Bud had spoiled me by being the best companion 24/7.  He was great with all my clients, a perfect traveller and my rock in my personal life.  Big shoes to fill!

A friend and peer, Debbie LaMonica, from SplashDog sent out an email with this little girls picture and write up.  "Needs a home"...  Something about her struck a nerve.  After meeting, which went well, then spending an afternoon together running around (like I always do), meeting friends (canine, feline and human), I realized how special she is and fell head over heels in l-o-v-e.

DEVI'S short story (abridged version) 

Devi was a stray in Eastern Washington, around Prosser.  She was picked up by the local animal control and taken to the animal shelter there.  She was scheduled to be "put down" when the folks at Rescue Pup found her.  Rescue Pup helps adoptable dogs by sending them to foster homes until they can find forever homes with good people.  www.rescuepup.org

She went to a foster home for a short time but the couple that were fostering split up and had to find another foster home to send their charges to.  Devi then went to another home with about 5 other dogs and 5 cats.  She was well taken care of, nursed through her kennel cough, and her spay surgery.  She was adopted by a lady who changed her mind not long after she took her and was returned to the foster home.  All in the first year of her life.

When I found her and applied to adopt her I had to leave her as I was leaving for a 7 day vacation out of the country.  That was a really difficult thing to do to this little, trusting soul.  I knew she was in good hands and they assured me she would be waiting for me when I returned.  Sure enough, she was!

Her name in foster care was Phoebe.  Pretty, but didn't feel right to me.  Especially because of the pretty but dopey Phoebe from the sit-com, Friends.  I knew this little one needed a strong name.  Devi came to me while relaxing with her one afternoon.  This seemed just right.

"The Great Goddess, known in India as Devi (literally "goddess"), has many guises.  She is "Ma" the gentle and approachable mother.  As Jaganmata, or Mother of the universe, she assumes cosmic proportions, destroying evil and addressing herself to the creation and dissolution of the worlds.  She is worshiped by thousands of names that often reflect local customs and legends.  She is one and she is many...."

Devi (pronounced like davey, but answers to any pronunciation) is a mixed breed.  The foster Mom described her as a Jack Russell terrier/pit bull mix.  My Vet feels that she may also have some heeler and bassett in her:-)  

Devi is a sweet, happy, energetic, puppy who looks to me for guidance and learns quickly.  She has shown a great deal of intelligence and patience in these few weeks we have been together, getting dragged all over the place by my busy lifestyle.  I believe she had a good home in the beginning as she is completely housebroken and knew the sit command when I brought her home.  She is learning all the time and enjoys it, as long as she gets lots of playtime too.

We are beginning basic obedience classes which should be a lot of fun for both of us.  Devi is going to daycare one day a week to get used to being with other doggies and burn some energy, and make her and I have some time apart.

I could go on, but for now, will leave her story.  I hope everyone who meets her will be happy to meet her as she is a gentle, loving dog and, as the saying goes...."love me, love my dog".