It's Swim Season

Finally, the weather trend is looking a bit warmer, the sun is shining more and the days are definitely longer.  Our bodies are waking up to the potential of warm weather activities.  We have many opportunities for entertainment outdoors, camping, hiking, going to the beach.  Many of our dogs love water and want to swim and frolic in the summer fun as well.

Swimming is one of the very best forms of exercise.  The resistance of the water, the full range of motion and the cardiac work are the main reasons.  Even if you are not a strong or good swimmer, there is still fun and great exercise to be had.  Wear a life jacket or floatation belt to help you out and you can have just as much fun as the good swimmers, even if you don't look as cool.  

Safety is everything in the water.  Always be safe and make sure the kids and pups are safe.  Admittedly, I really know nothing about child safety other than make sure they always stay with their Mom or Dad.  That way I don't have to worry about them:-)

Now dog safety, that's a different animal, literally.  As a canine water therapist, one thing I hear a lot that is simply not true, is that all dogs know how to swim.  What all dogs know how to do is kick their legs when they are in the water.  Many of the dogs I work with at SplashDog splash around, kicking their legs and straining to keep their heads out of the water in the beginning.  This works pretty well for a while but I can tell you, they will tire quickly.  If there is any kind of current this is an even faster recipe for disaster.  At SplashDog we do teach dogs how to swim and swim safely. 

The only way to know if your dog is able to swim safely is to watch them do it.  I don't advise anyone to throw their dog in the water as I have heard of some people actually doing.  They have the opinion that the dog will sink or swim.  Well, that is pretty harsh.  The shock of being thrown into water will create a panic and, more than likely, create panic swimming which is what I described above, not safe.

A better way to see if your dog can safely swim is to walk them into the water, or if in a pool, lift them in.  Be sure you are fully covered, not in a bikini or just swim trunks as you could possibly get pretty scratched up.  Once the dog is in the water far enough to need to swim let go of them but keep close enough to be sure you can grab them if need be.  They could swim the wrong direction, away from you or begin to sink.  If either happens, lift them up a bit under the torso and steer them by holding the chest as well.

If the dog turns out to swim on their own relatively well, still keep an eye on them in case they tire before they get to an area that they can stand up. We tend to feel that dogs are capable of climbing up on docks, boat steps and big rocks after they have been swimming.  That is a dangerous assumption.  Be ready to help your dog out of the water after a swim.  I've seen many dogs at SplashDog have a great swim and then collapse when they tried to walk up the steps to get out. 

One way to be assured that your dog is safe is to use a canine life vest.  There are several on the market.  The only way to be sure to get a good fit is to try it on.  If you order one and it doesn't fit snug and close securely, be sure to return it and get a better fit.  The last thing you want is to be in a dangerous situation and have the dog slip out of the vest.  Most vests have handles built in to the top of the vest that help if you need to grab your dog.  Many now have reflective strips which are especially great if you boat and are out with your dog after dark.

One website I found, listed below, has several types of vests.  

http://www.pontoonspecialists.com/c-76-your-pets-page.aspx

I did a search for "canine floatation device" and came up with quite a few sites.  Or you could check with local pet supply shops and sporting goods supply stores to find a vest that you like. 

My last word on this subject:  not all dogs like to swim, even Labs.  Don't force your dog to swim.  If you want them to swim or want to know they can for safety, be patient and help them learn.  This is the kind and safe way to enjoy the water with your dog and your dog will probably appreciate the time with you in the process:-)

Have fun, enjoy summer and stay safe! 

Training Successes and Not So Much

For those of you who know Devi, you may know her as the sweet, happy, playful little girl that I know so well, or you may know her as the little Tasmanian Devil dog that has become a handful of twisting growling fur and teeth.

Thankfully, the latter is very infrequent, although never okay.  It began with some growling and posturing when she was on her leash and another dog would get close enough to smell.  She did great at the dog park right off the bat.  Once in a while she would get in a tussle, but not bad and who knows why or who started it.  

As she became more secure at home and with me, oddly enough, she began getting fiestier.  The one that really set her off was my Mom's little dog Lady.  Lady is approx. 14/15.  She was a rescue in the fall of 2006 from Paws and it took awhile for her to bond with Mom.  No one seems to know much about her past but she obviously decided she needed to be courted.  

When Devi and Lady met I made a big mistake.  I had just had Devi about a week.  We entered Mom's apartment with Devi on leash.  Lady was asleep on the floor next to Mom.  The living area where we all were is pretty small.  Lady sleeps pretty deeply, is hard of hearing and possibly has some loss of sight.  Devi and I were about 3-4 ft. away from Lady when she woke up.  The first thing Lady saw was a dog right there in front of her, in here house, watching her sleep!  Man, who wouldn't have been grumpy.  

Lady barked at Devi and that was all it took.  Devi immediately went after Lady.  It scared the heck out of me and I pulled her frantically back with the leash and yelled at her.  Mom grabbed Lady and there was no damage except to my ego and all or our emotional states. 

That incident set the tone for the relationship between Lady and Devi.  Lady is a forgive and forget girl.  She will bark and grump at Devi whenever they get face to face, but mostly she is happy to just stay out of Devi's way.  Devi, on the other hand, even though she forgot about the immediate threat, will still go after Lady with, to my eye, no provocation.  Just out of the blue.  One minute every one is fine, going about their business, the next Devi is ready to pounce on Lady. 

Obviously, this is very upsetting and so I have not taken her back to Mom's since the last nasty incident.  Instead I called an animal behaviorist and have begun working with her on the leash aggression.  After we get somewhere with that then we'll confront the issue with Lady.

After we began the training routine, which she seemed to respond to nicely, Devi had digestive trouble due to the treating involved.  I got help and ideas from the behaviorist, Christine.  Devi began to backtrack.  Since I had to begin giving her treats that were basically her regular diet to keep from upsetting her, she lost interest.

Now, happily, we have found that microwave cooked, skinless chicken breast cut into tiny pieces is working great.  We have also incorporated the "gentle leader" head halter which will help control her if she decides not to cooperate with the training.  So far this system is working well.  We are working hard to be polite canine citizens so that everyone will know her as the sweet girl that she is.

A Weekend at the Ocean

Last weekend was my first trip back to Copalis beach without my boy Bud.  Bud loved it so much.  I'm so happy that Bud and Rusty and Joe and I were able to make 2 trips to Iron Springs last year, one in April and one in Sept., both beautiful.

Last Saturday Joe, Rusty, Devi and I went, arriving about 3pm.  We dumped all of our luggage and gear then hiked the short hike to the beach.  Copalis beach is about 30 miles north or Ocean Shores.  It is a huge expanse of soft, light colored sand bordered by picturesque red bluffs.  Iron Springs Resort sits on one of those bluffs, overlooking the ocean and beach.

Bud loved to feel the sand between his toes, the sea breeze in his face and to trot all over the beach, leash-free.  Little Rusty was always just behind Bud, following his "buddy" everywhere, fully trusting that the journey would be fun and safe.

This was Devi's first ocean visit as far as I can tell.  She was excited but not overly so, to the point of getting too far away from us.  She was such a good girl.  Joe and I enjoyed throwing the flying disc as far as possible for her and watching her run fast and free.  We encouraged Rusty to go too, to run after Devi, or the disc.  He stayed close to us, running out close to Devi when she wasn't too far from us.  He was doing it for us.  Poor little guy.  I think he missed Bud.  He hasn't bonded with Devi much yet.  

Our second day was a rainy, grey Sunday.  We braved a walk on the beach anyway.  The tide was way out and we actually made it pretty close to Copalis Rock and got completely soaked.  The dogs were not only soaked, but caked in sand.

A couple baths later and after a short nap we found Devi's left eye was swollen shut.  After my initial panic, I was able to track down the one emergency Vet. on call within an hours drive in Hoaquim.  Dr. Westby was great.  He found that she had cut her 3rd eyelid, probably from grabbing and shaking the crab legs she found on the beach earlier.  An eyewash and antibiotic ointment treatment helped her out and I felt much better knowing she was safe.

During the journey back we were pulled over by a State Trooper for speeding!  Crap!  What a day.  After Joe explained the whole story and the Trooper saw the dogs, especially Rusty and his smiley little face, he let Joe off with a warning saying that we were lucky he was a compassionate person:-)  Nice guy.  Joe was careful to keep the cruise control engaged as much as he could after that.

We had a really nice time even with the rain and the health scare.  A day on the ocean is a good day, regardless of the weather.  Can't wait to get back again.  

New Assistant

I am proud to announce that I have a new assistant.  She has spent 2 months working with me at my office, at SplashDog and accompanies me on location.  She has also taken on the role of personal trainer but knows when I need serious downtime and is helpful in keeping me on track. 

The training was intense, a trial by fire, beginning full time from day one and she has performed incredibly.

Some of her main duties include greeting clients, helping with emotional balancing, aiding relaxation by checking in with clients during sessions, protection of occupants in case of intruders, checking pool before and after shifts with full immersion test of water temp's, protection of auto during on location visits, break enforcement.  Oh, and wiggles, licks and available for as much petting as anyone wants to give her.  

Devi is available Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., and Sat. all day.  If you haven't met her yet, I hope you will be as happy with her service as I am and my clients have been so far.

Welcome Devi and thank you for being such an amazing helper.

To know them is to love them

This story is awesome.  It just goes to show that dogs are so much more than utilities or property.  Any of us who have truly 'shared' our lives with them know this unwaveringly, but there are still folks out there that are ignorant and lacking enough compassion and empathy to see and feel the true nature of these amazing beings.

I like to think that those are the people that this dog prays for.  And yes, I do believe dogs can pray, they can hope and dream.  Not the same as we do I suppose, but we know they can project what the outcome of something will be and that they long for companionship and food.  

When I hear of some of the awful things that people still do and think about animals, dogs especially, I just don't understand it.  My mind spins and I have to allow myself to believe in monsters, abominations that are cruel, incapable of empathy and compassion towards those that are different, helpless.

Those are the ones I hope this dog is praying for.  

Those are the ones who may be understanding in another lifetime how the ones they look down on now really do feel.

I'm only human and that is what I am praying for!

(double click on image to read article)

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.