After several weeks of monitoring their behavior, Skeeter and Bailey have shown less and less interest in the taste and texture of each other's bowel movements. Canine morale has certainly improved and subsequently, so has human morale. You see, for dogs routine always trumps instant gratification. And so, we walk them after work (and some late evenings, too, when we've had a few and need to "walk it off"), they chew a bone after dinner and put themselves to bed at 10.
All is well...for now.
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Organic Dog Food, Part II
I forgot to mention in my last post that in addition to buying them a higher-quality dog food, I have also been making a serious effort to exercise them more frequently and for longer periods of time. I figure exercise coupled with a protein-rich diet, and we may have a chance.
I think we're making some great progress. To date, there has been only one, little 'piddle' in the kitchen, and it's been over two weeks. As far as the coprophagia goes, there is some progress, but not as much as I'd hoped. I believe this is due to the fact that it has become almost habitual at this point. An acquired taste, maybe? Needless to say, I've had to become extremely vigil in my 'poop patrol' duties, picking them up with the scooper practically as they hit the ground. Of course, this is now one of Bailey's favorite games: who can get to the poo first. At times I've even had to run at her with the scooper shovel, brandishing it like a Spartan warrior does his spear.
I'd say overall, the experiment has been successful and canine moral is high. So I guess we'll just keep on keeping on.
I think we're making some great progress. To date, there has been only one, little 'piddle' in the kitchen, and it's been over two weeks. As far as the coprophagia goes, there is some progress, but not as much as I'd hoped. I believe this is due to the fact that it has become almost habitual at this point. An acquired taste, maybe? Needless to say, I've had to become extremely vigil in my 'poop patrol' duties, picking them up with the scooper practically as they hit the ground. Of course, this is now one of Bailey's favorite games: who can get to the poo first. At times I've even had to run at her with the scooper shovel, brandishing it like a Spartan warrior does his spear.
I'd say overall, the experiment has been successful and canine moral is high. So I guess we'll just keep on keeping on.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Rescue Dogs
There are so many dog shelters out there that now have very interactive web sites. You can literally see the litters of dogs and puppies who need good homes. The shelter we got both of our dogs from is in Sterling, Massachusetts. Both dogs (one rescued in 2003, the other in 2005) are hound mixes.
The Sterling Shelter gets most of its dogs (mainly hounds) from New Jersey, who were merely transported there from Virginia. In Virginia, using dogs to hunt deer is a centuries-old tradition, and after the hunt, hunters are often unable to retrieve their hounds for several hours, if at all. Although new laws are being passed in Virginia regarding mandatory electronic tracking collars on hunting dogs as well as a dog license fee (cost is higher for dogs who are not spayed or neutered), there are still many stray offspring from hunting dogs.
Unfortunately, the dogs are pretty traumatized when they finally do get to the shelter. When we got Skeeter in 2005, she was spayed at the tender age of 4 weeks old and had to be treated round worms, stopping in 3 states on her way up to Massachusetts for various shots and vaccinations. She was so anxious on the drive home, she drooled a thick mucus and vomited all over the backseat. Although she hid under the bed for months following, she finally ventured out. Bailey helped her come out of her shell, too. Having an outgoing dog around is good for her. Today she's much more active but still has some anxiety we are working out.
The Sterling Shelter gets most of its dogs (mainly hounds) from New Jersey, who were merely transported there from Virginia. In Virginia, using dogs to hunt deer is a centuries-old tradition, and after the hunt, hunters are often unable to retrieve their hounds for several hours, if at all. Although new laws are being passed in Virginia regarding mandatory electronic tracking collars on hunting dogs as well as a dog license fee (cost is higher for dogs who are not spayed or neutered), there are still many stray offspring from hunting dogs.
Unfortunately, the dogs are pretty traumatized when they finally do get to the shelter. When we got Skeeter in 2005, she was spayed at the tender age of 4 weeks old and had to be treated round worms, stopping in 3 states on her way up to Massachusetts for various shots and vaccinations. She was so anxious on the drive home, she drooled a thick mucus and vomited all over the backseat. Although she hid under the bed for months following, she finally ventured out. Bailey helped her come out of her shell, too. Having an outgoing dog around is good for her. Today she's much more active but still has some anxiety we are working out.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Alpha dog vs. Beta dog?
Contender #1: Bailey
age: 4
breed: Foxhound
traits: stubborn, a snuggler, obsessed with tennis balls
Contender #2: Skeeter
age: 2 and 1/2
breed: Chow/hound mix
traits: skiddish, a yapper, loves to chew, gives actual hugs
About a month ago, my dogs had a pretty serious fight. Bailey was playing with a tennis ball (which we don't even allow anymore) and growled at Skeeter who sauntered by with absolutely NO interest in the ball. Skeeter, who is normally very even-tempered and used to being harassed by Bailey for being in the vicinity of anything she doesn't want to share, had clearly had enough of the harassment and snapped.
When they started wrestling, it seemed as though the more my fiance tried to split them up, the more intense the fight became. When we finally got them separated, Skeeter's eye was badly scratched and bleeding. But Bailey got the worst of it (and rightly so, I might add). She had two sizeable puncture wounds and ended up needing staples and antibiotics. The vet bills totaled almost $300 (between the two of them), and in hindsight, we wondered whether we should have let them finish duking it out without our interference, as clearly no official winner, or alpha dog, was established.
age: 4
breed: Foxhound
traits: stubborn, a snuggler, obsessed with tennis balls
Contender #2: Skeeter
age: 2 and 1/2
breed: Chow/hound mix
traits: skiddish, a yapper, loves to chew, gives actual hugs
About a month ago, my dogs had a pretty serious fight. Bailey was playing with a tennis ball (which we don't even allow anymore) and growled at Skeeter who sauntered by with absolutely NO interest in the ball. Skeeter, who is normally very even-tempered and used to being harassed by Bailey for being in the vicinity of anything she doesn't want to share, had clearly had enough of the harassment and snapped.When they started wrestling, it seemed as though the more my fiance tried to split them up, the more intense the fight became. When we finally got them separated, Skeeter's eye was badly scratched and bleeding. But Bailey got the worst of it (and rightly so, I might add). She had two sizeable puncture wounds and ended up needing staples and antibiotics. The vet bills totaled almost $300 (between the two of them), and in hindsight, we wondered whether we should have let them finish duking it out without our interference, as clearly no official winner, or alpha dog, was established.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)