Motherhood and Dogs

Today’s post is a tribute to mothers of both the two- and four-legged in honour of Mother’s Day. My daughter Emily suggested that I write about the similarities of raising a dog and a child. After giving this topic some thought, I can honestly say that the parallels are remarkable and that I fully understand how some refer to their dogs and their “children.”

I’ll start from the beginning. Whether you have experienced parenthood or not, the arrival of a new dog is much like the arrival of a baby; in both circumstances, there is a lot of fanfare.

I remember my husband and I getting our first dog together, a chocolate lab puppy we named Chip (he was the colour of chocolate chips)! Choosing his name was a matter of creativity and required the agreement of both spouses. For a pair of young newlyweds, getting a puppy was a wonderful thing to before having children. On the drive home I cradled Chip in my arms. I could not stop looking at him; he was a small creature who had already melted my heart. I have a huge collection of pictures of him which encompass many stages of his development. I took pictures of him sleeping, at play, eating, swimming etc. After we purchased a video camera – a big deal in the 80s – we took many videos of Chip, too. Looking back at the pictures is really fun for us – especially seeing how “crazy” in love we were for our dog. Documenting our journey with Chip seemed totally natural.

I love that today social media has given people the option to spread their pride in their families, dogs included. I know dogs that even have their own Facebook pages! I’ve heard of dogs that “chat” on Twitter or proud owners that post YouTube videos of their precious canine for others to enjoy.

The similarities to raising dogs and children are boundless. Another similarity I’ve thought of is the “potty-training” stage. For all parents, “potty-training” is no easy task. A great deal of patience is required and every “child” learns at a different pace. Additionally, there are often “accidents” and a lot of clean-up is necessary.

Both dogs and children go through teething and the “terrible twos.” I can easily remember both our daughters being cranky when their teeth began to come in. I also remember the sharp nips from our puppies when they were teething; in both cases I hoped that this stage would pass quickly.

Let’s face it – we as Mothers shop for our children and our dogs. Food is researched with care given to issues such as food allergies and other dietary concerns. Special meals are often prepared when necessitated, as are favourite treats when the spirit moves. Many are delighted to buy toys for their children and dogs knowing what they like. We often tell our friends what toy is our “child’s” favourite toy and pack it for trips or vacations.

Mothers enjoy showing off their children’s talents and take great pride in talking about them e.g. bragging about their child’s musical ability. In my mind this is no different than at the dog parks when owners talk about the tricks their dogs have mastered and their dog’s intelligence level.

Mothers drive their kids to the doctors for checkups and worry about the outcome. Accidents happen with children and dogs or surgeries are required. I wonder how many hours I have spent at doctor’s offices and at the vets over the years.

We rejoice at our child’s birthday, and many dog owners also celebrate their dog’s birthday. I was invited to Marlo’s second birthday. It was a fun party with the party girl loving the attention bestowed on her and the presents she was given; we loved the company of good friends, food, and drink.

We as Mothers also decide on when haircuts or grooming is due and manage medications when our kids or dogs get sick. We aim to instill manners in both the two- and four-legged. We set routines – and hopefully follow through – because consistency is a must for children and dogs alike. Both rely on our lead and intuition.

The best part of mothering is sharing our love 24/7 – hence part of my blog name. We celebrate the uniqueness of our children and dogs and treasure years of memories. The most important piece is the spot in our hearts that we hold for our loved ones. They teach us so much and life would never be the same without their presence, and for that I have been truly blessed. Happy Mother’s Day Ladies!

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Waking Up With Munchkin

Yesterday at my local dog off-leash park I chatted with Frank Abrams .Over the last few years we have gotten to know each other; as I’ve mentioned before, dogs are wonderful connectors.The picture above is his dog Quincee, at the off leash park. Frank asked about my blog and what I’ve written about lately. Then, to my delight, he mentioned that he had a great story to share.

As I listened I became drawn into the story and realized that this was a wonderful tale to share. It is a heartwarming story of a dog making a difference in a senior’s life.

The following is Munchkin’s story told by Frank.

“Munchkin is a little 11-year-old white poodle. The story begins with my mother-in-law Oshie, her live-in caregiver Bing, and my wife Bonnie. Up at the retirement residence where Oshie and Bing live, Munchkin lived for many years with another resident. Bing helped out by walking Munchkin and taking her outside to do her business. It was the only time the dog left the apartment, except when Bing took Munchkin to the vet.

When the other resident was being packed up to leave the residence, Bing took Munchkin in for a few days so that she would be out of the way. Wow there was new excitement for Oshie and Bing! It was apparent for a while that Munchkin needed an “owner” who could look after her, but as things went, the offer to take care of Munchkin was declined, and everyone said their goodbyes. Bye Bye Munchkin!

As it happens, Bonnie has a strange hobby of checking out Petfinder. Usually it’s to find a live-in partner for our own dog Quincee. Why? I’m not quite sure, maybe so I will have two dogs to walk, and Quincee will have non-stop entertainment. Sounds good in theory, but I’ve never been sure that Quincee is the kind of dog that would like that. We’re always looking at pictures of dogs needing a new home; little dogs, big dogs, dogs that “nip” just a little, dogs with health issues and on and on. We’ve tried a few times to adopt another dog, but it never went through, and it seemed like it just wasn’t meant to be.

After the experience of Munchkin’s short stay with Oshie, Bonnie was back on Petfinder. And wouldn’t you know it — within a week of Munchkin leaving the residence… There she was. Up for adoption!

Bonnie contacted Carol at Happy Tails Rescue and asked whether the dog was Munchkin? We love Munchkin! We want Munchkin! We all thought this would be a great thing for Oshie and Bing. Having a dog around like Munchkin brings fun and activities. Oshie doesn’t remember names, and is very quiet these days.

When Carol at Happy Tails Rescue heard the story behind Munchkin, Bing and Oshie, and saw some pictures of the happy group, it was only a matter of days before Munchkin walked back into the residence with a spring in her step, happy to be home again in a place that she knew. To hear Oshie say “Cmon Munchkin, let’s go” is truly remarkable since she doesn’t remember names.

A special thank you to Carol and Sue from Happy Tails who did a great job doing what’s best for little Munchkin!

P.S. I’m still only walking one dog.”
Frank Abrams http://zenpeak.com/

I found Munchkin’s story magical. The relationship this tiny little dog had with many was quite special. Bing had a little place in this dog’s heart for her devotion getting it out for walks and giving it TLC. She obviously saw the potential this canine had for lifting Oshie’s spirits and others in the Retirement Home.

Bonnie was instrumental in her search for a second family dog; she actually “won the lottery” discovering Munchkin on the adoption site and made the connection. Her perseverance ultimately created the happy ending to this story. All were amazed when Oshie remembered the dog’s name despite forgetting the names of family members and other loved ones. They are hopeful Oshie may regain recognition with her time spent with Munchkin. Miracles come in all sizes and forms – miracle took canine form.

If you have enjoyed this story about a dog and a senior check out some other of my tales on this topic.

This one is about a senior encounter at a local park. It spread across the United States with great speed a month after I published it.

I also wrote about visiting my father in his long-term care facility with one of my dogs. We continue to visit on a regular basis.

Do you know of a dog that has made a profound difference in a person’s life? Please share in the comments section.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Pack of Paws – Doggie Daycare

I have always wondered what it would be like to own and run a dog daycare business in an environment other than in home-style boarding. How do people find great locations for doggie daycare? What are the things to take into consideration for a successful business? What is a typical day like?

I offer dog boarding in our home; my business is on the smaller-scale. If you live in Toronto, like I do, there are restrictions with dog numbers in your home unless you are a breeder. I love that I can be at home and enjoy the canines that visit, providing a “dogcation” for people’s pets while they are away.

I pre-screen dogs prior to a visit and require that clients fill out forms similar to those parents would fill out for a child heading off to summer camp. Lots of questions are asked and dates get booked. I take into consideration the age of the dogs and their individual needs when scheduling visits.

A few weeks ago I was delighted to discover a dog daycare facility in Toronto that I had never heard of. They are not located in my area, which explains why I hadn’t heard of them. I loved their name – Pack of Paws. I became immediately curious after reading about their business on Facebook and online.

The couple who run the business – Diana and Jeff – obviously love dogs and I approached them to see if I could interview them for my blog. Their professionalism and love of dogs are very evident. The following are my questions and Diana’s answers.

Q: Have you both been around dogs all of your lives?

A: Yes I have! Part of growing up in Canada means having a dog as a family member for a lot of people. This was no exception for me. I’ve had dogs on and off all throughout my childhood and when I was old enough (post-university life) to get a place of my own and started working, I got Dante, who is now the mascot/ training assistant and greeter at Pack of Paws. I think most Canadian communities can attest to having dogs around because we view them as members of our society and associate having a dog with having a family/ pack experience.

Q: What made you decide to open Pack Of Paws?

A: I was sick of slaving away at my job and I always knew deep down I would own my own business as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. When I moved to Parkdale (next door to Liberty Village) I got to know the area and saw all the dogs; I realized that there were no dog services other than dog walkers in the area. I wanted it to feel very boutique and personal. I really believed that Jeff and I had some valuable dog knowledge to share with other fellow dog owners.

Q: How did you find the location?

A: I only looked for about 2 weeks and saw the posting on MLS, called the agent and went to see it the next day. I made an offer the day after that. It was the perfect location as it was across from a green space. The space was run down so the landlord didn’t really care what we wanted to do with it either. There is also a fair amount of foot traffic which passes by the space, as it is really close to some of the bigger business buildings in Liberty Village.

Q: What was important to you regarding the design for the dogs?

A: Open concept was key! I wanted to keep it simple but still feel modern and approachable, not like those stuffy froo-froo places. I knew I had to have rubberized flooring as the dogs can really play hard and I knew that rough-play on concrete would be really hard on their joints day after day.

Q: What elements were important for the owners to experience?

A: We wanted to provide dogs and their owners a holistic service where dropping their pups off at the day care so that they wouldn’t bored during the day was just one part of their experience. We offer dogs and their owners proper training in their areas of concern as well as a place for all our dogs and owners to feel good coming to. This is why we believe in including dogs of all sizes, breeds and condition into our pack. We want to remove the stigma associated with certain breeds and sizes; dogs don’t judge us, so why should we judge them? It’s very important to us and to the owners of our pack members that they feel included and that they have a community for support, balance and love. Our philosophy on inclusion and acceptance is something that keeps Pack of Paws such a positive and strong community.

Q: There are many other dog day care facilities in Toronto. What makes you unique?

A: Location: We are located in the heart of liberty village where a unique mix of business and residential clients mingle. There are tons of parks and grass around the neighbourhood; the neighbourhood is extremely dog centric where dogs are welcome. Most businesses put out water bowls in the summer months, which shows you how accepted and welcomed dogs are in the area.

Exercise: Regular bathroom breaks? Sure! Of course! But how about rollerblade rides? Or swimming trips to the lake? We load them up and show them around the city. Bad weather? No worries, we even have an indoor dog treadmill for light jogging for our high energy dogs so that they can go home happy, satisfied and tired.
We try to set Pack of Paws aside from other dog day care facilities in Toronto by creating a sense of family life. When some of our owners go away, we’ll board their dogs in our home where they become “our” dogs; we’ll work on any issues of concern and of course eat, sleep and live together.

Jeff – my partner – is also a dog behaviourist as well as the main caretaker of the daycare. Our daycare dogs are not only being taking care of by dog lovers but people who truly understand dog behaviour and dog dynamics.

Q: Describe the routine on a typical day at Pack Of Paws.

A: We open at 7am because we want to accommodate clients who want to drop their dogs before they have to go to work. And we close at 6:30. We usually stay in the daycare between 7am and 10am to wait for our daily pack members to arrive. After that we usually go to the park in groups of 6-7 and Jeff will take our high energy breeds for a rollerblade around the grounds at the CNE – he usually take anywhere from 6 to 8 dogs at a time. From noon to 1:30 we have rest period and wait for our afternoon dogs to arrive and will then prepare to go for shorter pack walks in smaller groups. Also throughout the day the dogs get about 2-3 bathroom breaks. After the dogs usually settle down around 3pm, we do some daily clean up like vacuum or mop dust while the dogs sleep. Then we will start preparing for pick-ups which happens between 4-6:30pm. The dogs are never crated at our daycare and are always controlled and given structure and stimulation.

Q: How many dogs come on a regular basis during the business week?

A: We’re busy! On any given day, we have around 25-30 dogs. This is fantastic because we now have such an amazing diversity of dogs. It’s also been overwhelmingly heartwarming to know that we’re a place dogs and owners call “second home.”

Q: Do some of the dogs have special friendships with each other?

A: Oh yes! They sure do. Dogs are very social beings, and they’ll gravitate towards other dogs with similar energy as they do. It has nothing to do with size or breed. We have best friends and boyfriend/girlfriend relationships between so many dogs. Some of them may even get jealous when their best friend plays with another new exciting member! Dogs are so emotionally honest and some of their special friendships are just so heart-meltingly cute. They’re sure to put a smile on the grumpiest person’s face. All our regulars even know the names of their dog’s friends, and because of our open concept design the owner usually will see who their dog’s friends are – they love it!

Q: What are your dreams for your business?

A: We dream of expansion and offering more training services within the Greater Toronto Area. We also hope to open up a training/boarding facility outside of Toronto where Jeff can concentrate on providing an environment where he can rehab dogs with more challenging behavioural issues.

Q: Tell us about some of the challenges since first opening.

A: We were lucky. We picked a really good location and I honestly think Liberty Village had a craving for a dog daycare. I did a lot of research before opening up and with my marketing background business picked up very rapidly. We did struggle with inconsistent clients and it was hard to predict revenue but as we got busier we now have a rule that any new member has to commit to attending at least once a week. This also helped in an operational standpoint because owners don’t realize the challenges that can occur bringing a new dog into a setting like a daycare.

Q: What are some of the regulations doggie day care facilities must follow?

A: There really isn’t anything. As of now it is a pretty much unregulated industry. The only thing I would consider mandatory is having business liability insurance and also getting trained in pet first aid. Everything else we choose to do for the betterment of our dogs/environment. We use environmentally friendly product to clean, we use biodegradable poop bags and we obsessively clean the place all the time. We really strive to hear our clients come in and say “wow it never stinks in here!”

Q: Do you have your own dog?

A: Yes we have an 8-year-old German Shorthair Pointer who brings so much inspiration to our lives.

Q: How do you screen new dogs?

A: To be honest we usually can tell within 10 seconds of meeting a dog whether it is suitable for daycare. Their approach and response to us tell us a lot, and because we don’t always take “perfect” dogs we like to screen them for their potential to become more well-adjusted and socialized. The biggest factor is talking to owners and finding out what they want out of our daycare and their previous experience with dog ownership.

Q: What demographic are your clients?

A: This is also another aspect of my business that I love. The demographic for clients is so diverse and interesting and they’re all here for one common interest: the love of their dog. Being in Liberty Village, we get our fair share of clients in the creative field. We never get a dull response when we ask “so how was your day?” We have clients that are architects, business owners, lawyers, bankers, photographers, waiters, students and even an animation artist! We have learned that it not about how much money our clients have but how much they believe in fulfilling their dog’s life and in the value of our service that make them such loyal clients of POP.

Q: Please share any links to your business.
A: Website, Facebook, Twitter.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Packing for a Dog’s Holiday

Just recently I was packing for Abby and Ember’s – my two Labradors – nine day visit to their Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I mentioned to my daughter Emily, who’s in her early twenties, that I had clearly gone “overboard” with packing. She agreed with me. It was one of those moments were your child is brutally frank and it had me giggling.

I board dogs when owners go away and see all different levels of organization when clients drop off their dogs. I look forward to the “hand-off” as each and every family has their own style. Some dogs arrive with food in plastic shopping bags. Sometimes it has not been pre-measured and the food runs out part way through the board. Other families are the polar opposite and bring meals in individual packed baggies or Tupperware container – one per meal – so I can easily dump them into a bowl at mealtime. Some dogs bring their own embroidered canvas bag with their things; often, their names are stitched onto their bag. I wish I had one of those as a child going to a sleep over!

Anyways, recently I have been preparing our “twins” to head away to a wonderful time in the country. They could not be in better hands. Our dogs get up early because they are adjusted to my husband Ken’s work schedule. My in-laws are in the seventies and early risers so it is the perfect fit!

I found myself creating a list on a sticky note of items to not forget. Pack their favorite dog toys, their dog beds and store-bought treats. Then the sticky notes started to multiply. For example, one note told me to get Ember a dog-tag with their address. She has only been with us eleven months; we adopted her at the age of eight last May. Since then, she has never been away without us. I like to tell myself that that’s the only reason I’ve been a hyper-diligent packer; however, I might just be a crazy dog lady. Another note told me to wash Abby’s bed, pack her pills, buy gifts for the Grandparents as a thank-you, and to pack Dowton Abbey for Grandma (Season 1 and 2).

I also looked at the notes I had written my mother-in-law outlining Abby’s recent surgery. I did not want to forget anything regarding their care.

Once things were organized I found that I had accumulated a pile of things to go “up North.” Again, the thought occurred to me that I was being crazy and that they couldn’t possibly need all this stuff.

My brother-in-law Kevin pulled up to transport our “girls” on the three hour drive to Wiarton, Ontario. I found myself explaining things to him all over again so as not to forget anything for my nonverbal senior gals. Our ladies were happy to drive off with him in his car. They adore him and it shows. In the minutes after he left I had panicky moment where I wondered if I had forgotten anything. I breathed a sigh of relief once I realized I hadn’t – knock on wood – and started to prep for dinner.

The house seems so quiet without dogs in it. Emily returned from the gym and said it was so weird not being greeted by our dogs at the door as they always do. I noticed the lack of their presence when I was vacuuming – the dogs really hate the noise and often flee to our basement.

The lesson to take from all of this I think is how much our family loves our dogs. Our home is not the same without them. I realized that, after all, being a crazy dog lady is fine with me.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Dogs Jumping On People

Dog ownership leads to a lot of unpredictable moments; this makes for good storytelling. If you have a dog, or know a family with a dog there are often great “tails” of things taking a sudden turn for the worse.

I remember years ago taking a small group of dogs to a local off leash park. Sherwood Park is a beautiful piece of the country side in the middle of Toronto. There is an area for children to play on beautiful climbers, slides and swings plus a wading pool for hot summer days. There is even a shaded picnic spot for families or couples to enjoy a picnic.

The dog off-leash area is a gorgeous wooded area with a figure eight of dirt trails with trees on either side. There is a river that runs south of the off leash all year around. Many dogs make a bee-line for the water to cool off or to have fun.
The off-leash park has signs pointing to its entrance and rules for dog owners and walkers to follow. Once you enter this area dogs are free to run at will and explore. On occasion runners come through, or people taking short cuts to work.

On one particular day it was a bit muddy in spots so I was on high alert; I wanted to try to avoid stepping in slippery areas. As I rounded the corner I could see a couple in their twenties in a loving embrace combined with some kisses. My heart skipped a beat when I realized the woman was wearing all white with her back exposed to my dogs running and playing. I called the dogs to come back my way and they slowed down to look at me. The woman started talking to the dogs in a happy excited voice and I knew things would not play out well.

One of the smallest dogs decided to jump and slide down her crisp white pants. Seriously it would have been the best “Tide” commercial ever! I was horrified and the couple were amazing saying they realized they were in an off-leash area where dogs run at large .I offered to pay for her dry cleaning but – Murphy’s Law – had no money in my dog walking pouch. She was very nice and said it was not necessary.

Another “dog tail” of things taking a turn for the worse occurred at my local bank. All of the branches of my bank encourage owners to bring in their dogs while they do their banking. Usually a dog cookie is offered by a staff member, and the monotony of doing banking becomes a pleasurable moment for both the two and four-legged.

I popped into my bank with two dogs to use the bank machine. While I began my transaction the “greeter” at the bank asked if both dogs would like a cookie. At the mention of the word both young dogs got excited and were eager to get a treat. They were so excited they could barely sit for their cookie. The bank staff crouched down to pat them both.

I kept peeking over my shoulder to see how they were doing and was horrified to suddenly see small pearls bouncing across the tiled floor in tons of different directions. The greeter had not even noticed that the thin gold chain of her bracelet had broken by accident by one of the dogs jumping around in enthusiasm.

I tried desperately to help her retrieve the rolling pearls. She was only concerned that no one slipped on one and fell down. I felt terrible and offered to pay for – what I learned to be a sentimental – bracelet to get fixed. She was very kind and said it was not necessary that accidents happen and that she had offered them the cookie etc. I left with a head hanging low; of course the dogs had no clue.

Fortunately these encounters are few and far between and make for great story telling. Owners often open up to each other about their “tails” of woe.

This post has me thinking. Have you ever experienced an unexpected “adventure” with your canine?

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Dogs and their favourite toys

When dogs arrive to board in our house they bring along one or two favorite toys from home. I always find it interesting if they will treasure these prized possessions while staying with us, or ignore them altogether. What makes a toy or stuffed animal so special?

Is it the person who buys the toy that makes it special? Or is a toy special because it has favorite characteristics that the dog enjoys? For example, a squeaker, a certain smell, or how it moves.

We have discovered that Abby’s most prized possessions are always stuffed animals. She prefers them to not be too fuzzy as she “gums” on them in a rhythmic sequence which often puts her to sleep! Sometimes she shoves so much of the stuffed animal into her mouth that she makes funny noises as she exhales through a mouthful of teddy bear. This behaviour started around the time she was six and I have no idea what started it. She may have observed another dog “in action” gumming a “lovie.” In the five years or so she has been observed using her lovies as perfect pillows too.

Quite often the fur gets “crunchy” from her mouthing so I toss her lovies into the washing machine to soften them up. I have wondered what she thinks of this as I have caught her bringing the clean ones back out from the laundry room when seeing them on the floor.

I do rotate her treasured stuffed animals as there we have quite a big collection. Some were gifts, while others were purchased over her almost fourteen years. She has never chewed holes in them or ripped pieces off. Her two most favorites are both grey in colour which I find interesting. One had an arm ripped off when a couple of boarding dogs decided to play tug-of-war. I stitched it up knowing how special it is to her. So far it seems like she doesn’t mind!

As I previously mentioned, when dogs come to board they often bring their own toys. I always smile when I see that a specific toy has made it through another year at their home. Some look pretty beat up and give us a good laugh. We had a toy arrive recently that was originally a stuffed squirrel by the looks of it; however, currently all of the inside fluff is gone. Ember, our other Labrador, takes great delight in visiting dogs’ toys. She especially loved what was left of this toy.
Ember is always the first to give visiting dogs’ toys a sniff or to carry them around. Penny, a sweet Golden Retriever, arrived tonight with her “baby,” a pink stuffed toy which to me looks shaped like a ginger bread boy. This toy has come with Penny to visit for over a decade! It still looks pretty good; I may have to ask if they have purchased others over the years or if the “baby” just washes well!

Leo, a fun-loving Portuguese water dog, arrived to board with us with a stuffed animal that he treasured. I think it was a stuffed monkey. We thought the toy was a cute and burst out laughing when it started to play out a tune when squeezed in Leo’s playful mouth. “Dling, Ding, Ding” played in succession at least three times in a row loudly as Leo ran around our living room. We gave it a couple of days then put it away to give us a break from the repetitive noise! All was well as he was happy to play with our assortment of other dog toys instead.

I always write down what toy our visitors bring so I can search for it when they head home.

Does your dog keep their loved possession in one room or near their bed? Or does the treasured item travel outdoors or maybe on holiday with you when your pooch comes along too?

Please share your dog’s “true love” and why it seems so special.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Ember joined our family last Spring; at the time, she was just two weeks shy of her eighth birthday. We decided to add a second older dog to our family knowing there are many senior dogs in need of forever homes. When she arrived, Ember had some basic commands like “sit” and “come,” but there was certainly a lot that she needed to learn. I wondered what it would be like to train an older dog who had been raised in the country.

When my husband and I drove home with her I was smitten already. She literally chose me. We had looked at other dogs that were available but she came through a doorway into the room where we were waiting and immediately did a massive “full body” wag. She came right over to where I was sitting on the floor and sat beside me, leaning her full body weight on me. She wiggled closer to further “let me know” that she was there and then licked my neck to seal the deal. Her tail never stopped wagging, especially the tip, which we now call her “rattlesnake move.”

After deciding that we wanted to take her home, we put her in the car. I made sure to give her lots of treats on the way home. I was delighted to see that Ember, like all Labradors, is a “foodie.” I realized that food could be used as motivation when training her further.

The first few weeks we worked on “sit” and walking her on-leash, which proved to be quite the challenge initially. Ember had never been in a city, and was easily distracted by all the noise and new scenery. She would zigzag in front of us randomly, despite trying to keep her on a shorter lead. We were constantly tripped by her sudden moves as she cut in front of us to get closer to a scent. I found that walking her with other dogs that were seasoned leash-walkers helped; soon, she caught on to the rhythm and the crisscrossing stopped. This whole process did take a few months, but today – almost nine months later – she is a delight to walk.

Teaching "down" also took months for Ember to grasp. I do remember hearing that this is one of the hardest commands to teach a dog as it places a dog in a position of submission. It required a lot of patience on my behalf and our family members to work with her. Today I can honestly say that she will lay down eighty-five percent of the time when asked. Sometimes we get a blank, empty stare look from her. I think that that look translates to her saying "I don't know what you are asking” or “huh?”

Retrieving a ball also took a few weeks to master, but is her favorite pastime now. She takes great delight in bringing back a ball; I can tell from her "happy ears," wagging tail and the enthusiastic bounce in her step.
The one dog trick that has proven to be the most challenging to teach is shake-a-paw. Ember is the sixth dog in my life and all of my previous dogs have mastered this fun trick. Most often, Ember will look at us as if almost in a trance, or like we’re speaking Swahili.

What we find the most entertaining is that Ember will give a paw when asked but only about twenty percent of the time. She does understand the concept, but for some reason decides on her terms what day she will wow us with mastering the skill.
She does it the most for my older daughter Emily who has been the most patient with Ember and this simple trick. We find ourselves laughing each and every time as the outcome is so hit and miss.

When Ember "gets it" she is so happy and often does a victory lap around the room. On the other hand, when she doesn’t make the connection to what we’re asking she often will just lie down on the floor.

On another note, I wanted to share lessons that I have learned when working with an older dog.
1. Don't compare them to previous dogs owned, as each and every dog is truly unique.
2. Keep training sessions short to avoid frustration for both the two- and four-legged.
3. Find out what rewards work well for positive reinforcement. For us, praise and dog treats – or, Ember’s favourite, carrots – work the best.
4. Have the whole family onboard for training sessions to break up the monotony of only one person working with the dog.
5. Be patient!
6. Try having other dogs demonstrate the trick to those who haven’t.
7. Ask for advice from other dog savvy people or trainers. There is always more to learn!
8. Put aside a trick or skill for a bit and take a break, even for a few days.
9. Re-evaluate the trick. Is it really an issue to not learn it? For example, it’s not really a big deal that Ember can’t shake a paw on command every time.
10. Celebrate all your achievements with your beloved canine no matter how big or small.

The love Ember has given us in less than a year is wonderful. She is an awesome addition to our family and I believe that she has extended the life of our other, fourteen-year-old Labrador Abby, longer than we anticipated. And certainly, teaching her a few tricks has been fun, interesting, challenging and funny along the way.

For more on Ember, check out this and this.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

A Time To Help Out – Pattison K9 Rescue Team

A few weeks ago I was on Twitter; I follow quite a few dog sites as I enjoy their educational and entertainment value. One of the sites, The Toronto Daily Pet mentioned that dog collars were needed for the Pattison K9 Rescue Team heading to Mexico.

My heart “spoke to me” and I decided to tell The Toronto Pet Daily I was on board to assist gathering used or new dog collars for this group. Gord connected me to a dog walker named Maricella Sauceda of Love4Dogs.They provide group and private walks for dogs living north of the Greater Toronto Area.

Maricella told me her friend Julia was going on the trip to Mexico with the team and was leaving in less than a week. I had four business days to collect dog collars!

I never had a moment of “don’t bother with this Becky” in the back of my mind; it just felt like the right thing to do. My goal was to possibly collect 25 dog collars. I believed that I was aiming high, but remembered from other volunteer experience that a positive frame of mind fuels the outcome.

I looked at some videos on YouTube from former Pattison K9 Rescue Team trips to South America. These videos were tremendously inspiring, and I quickly looked up more information about their cause. Instead of heading to South America, this time the K9 Rescue Team was travelling to Cancun, Mexico. They planned to spay and neuter feral dogs, specifically females as they bear the puppies.

The vets providing the medical services will be from the area in Mexico. Additionally, the K9 Rescue Team plans share dog training information with the locals. They plan to particularly focus on schools in order to provide children the opportunity to be educated on how to handle and treat dogs.

The team also plans to visit local animal shelters to share information on training techniques and to give advice on how to house the animals etc. The dog collars collected for this trip will be given to dogs with ill-fitting ones, dogs with no collars or pooches with just basic rope ones.

I shared my desire to collect both new and gently used collars on Facebook, Twitter and by word of mouth. I mentioned my cause to the families whose dogs I walk, friends with dogs, and to my dog walker community. I even told people I know at the dog park of my little venture, which unfortunately was quite a time crunch.

Magic soon started to happen; I was so thrilled. By the second day 25 collars had been passed my way. People left them on my front doorstep, in my mailbox etc. Dog walking friends would pull them out of their dog pouches and say that they were from their clients. One dog walking friend had collars for me and both of us realized that we would not be at the park at the same time. I suggested she leave them in the tree where walkers hang their leashes. Thankfully, they were there when I went to pick them up!

Not one person wanted the “glory” of being a contributor – it was all anonymous. I started piling the collars onto a counter in our dining room. At the end of each day I would look at them and pick them up wondering what stories each collar could tell.

One simple faded blue nylon collar caught my eye. It had a small clump of dog fur on it and I actually got choked up (I cry easily). It obviously had been around for a few years but was in perfect shape without a rip or loose threads. The buckle was in wonderful condition and will serve a needy dog well.

By the last day of my plea to dog lovers almost 90 items sat on my counter. There were brand new collars with sparkly jewels on them, leather ones, funky fabrics and patterns, and dozens of well-loved canine neck bling. Brand new leashes and body harnesses were donated along with everything else.

One of my dog clients sweetly wrapped two collars and a leash in a ribbon and simply wrote on the donation “For a dog in Mexico, Love Shuga,” their dog’s name. I put a note on one of our favorite collars that Abby used to wear, saying best wishes from Toronto. Our family unloaded all our puppy collars we had kept for sentimental reasons and a collar from our handsome Chocolate Labrador Chip who is no longer with us. I must admit I had a twang in my heart passing it on but love the idea that it will help out a dog in need elsewhere.

Julia, the volunteer, came to my house to pick up the haul. It was great meeting her and hearing about the trip. Stay tuned for pictures from her trip and some of her stories. Julia mentioned that, with the collars I collected, she will have 200 to take to Mexico!

Special thanks to my dog loving friends in my community and to my dog walker buddies – Ann Brown of Wiggan’s Pack, Deborah Lynch of Scamps Pet Care, Alexandra Sleightholm of Care of the Dog, Nafisa Noorani of Dog Walking and Jennifer Ego of Pawsitively Pets for putting out the word and gathering awesome donations.

So, moral of the story is that the next time you “feel” a nudge in your heart, follow it through. The magic that follows is purely wonderful and contagious to those around you.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

Dogs and Skunks – Not The Best Pair

My cousin Martha is a dog lover, too. We certainly inherited the “dog gene” from our Grandmother Ruth Allen. Martha jokes that I inherited the “dog gene” tenfold!

Martha had some up-close and personal experiences with her dogs and skunks last year .I asked if she would write about them at some point, and was delighted that she did this past week. The following story is in her words.

“A snow day in February may seem like an odd time to write about skunks – those adorable little creatures with their fashionable stripes all nestled snug in their beds for winter. But they, or at least their lingering presence – returned to me the other night when our Dachshund, Ziggy, got wet in the rain. Oh hello you nasty little flashback!

My partner and I moved into a new neighbourhood last spring, which is really only a few blocks from our last home. But, it became a very different experience from our last ‘hood once fall rolled around. Our friends, who live around the corner from us now, had told us tales of hordes of skunks making their way across the local park like a herd of wildebeest moving over the African savannah. Funny, we thought they were exaggerating.

Until the nights we started witnessing this for ourselves. I began to classify my evening walks with our Labrador, Scout and Ziggy as a “one, two or three-skunk” walk. There was a hilarious skunk up the street that I dubbed “Tina Turner” because its tail looked like big, bad 80’s hair. We had skunks in our driveway, under our car, in the neighbours’ front yards, in gardens, behind fences … it was “High Alert, Def-Com-4 Level” walks every night!

Oh yes – they were everywhere, including our backyard, which is where Ziggy met her nemesis, twice. The first time, as was our habit, we unleashed the dogs at the gate after the walk. Both took off along the side of the house with furious barking. Ziggy must have gotten there first, or more likely, Scout, who is naturally timid and submissive to almost any creature, kept her distance. But leave it to a Dachshund to get her face right into the butt of danger. I sent apologies around to the neighbours the next day.

The second encounter was entirely our fault, as by now we should have known better. But, it was one of those nights when we had gotten into our jammies early and were not feeling the evening walk. So we simply let the dogs out into the yard. On hindsight, a walk would have been so much easier and far less time consuming. More apologies sent around to the neighbours.
We now keep hydrogen peroxide in stock at all times during the skunk season. Used in combination with dish soap and baking soda, it cuts the odor very well – until the next time the dog gets wet. I hope Tina and the rest of her posse are having nightmares all winter!”

Martha is a 53 year old public school teacher and happy dog owner with her partner Rachel. Ziggy, the Daschund, was their practice dog. When they knew that their schedules would work with dog ownership, they got a “real” dog – Scout, their Yellow Labrador. Ziggy is now 11 years old and Scout is 10 years old. With a big yard and walks in the city and freedom at the cottage in the summer, life is good for both the two- and four-legged when skunks are hibernating. Besides their dogs, Martha and Rachel have 3 grown children.

For more on dogs and skunks, check out my previous post.

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White

HOTDOGZ & CO.

When I am at the off-leash dog park I am always in full observation mode. I watch the dogs with me and scan the area much like people do when driving their vehicles. As I walked around the large, open, fenced-in field I noticed a small black dog wearing the cutest coat. Clara was with another dog walker I know named Voula. I was curious where Clara’s coat came from since it was so unique.

When I got closer the coat made me smile; it was a beautiful shade of red. The colour was cheery like a red Lifesaver candy. On the fabric were large ladybugs across the back and sides. Clara’s name was embroidered across the collar of the coat which was a cute touch. I asked Voula where the coat was from and she told me it was a HOTDOGZ jacket and that they are custom-made.

It was a freezing day here in Toronto and it was the perfect coat to help with nature’s elements. It had a double layer of polar fleece Voula pointed out and I gave it a feel as dog walkers do to test things out. The coats are Canadian made and designed and I was happy to hear this. I was impressed and got the information to contact this family run business for a possible interview for this blog.

When I looked at their website I discovered that they are in Ottawa, Ontario. You can build your own dog coat with many options to create a one of a kind look. Options include adding reflective trim, choosing fleece colors/patterns, a faux fur collar, harness access, and adding your dog’s name. As the designer you can add a waterproof saddle or pockets too! I was intrigued and contacted them for a fun interview. The following is the interview with sisters Joanne and Michele.

Q: Please tell me how you decided to have a custom pet clothing and accessories business.
A: Having been raised in rural and isolated air force bases across Quebec and Ontario, our mother taught us at a very young age how to sew by hand, creating snazzy outfits for our stuffed animals and dolls. We never stopped. As we grew older we graduated to the sewing machine. Imagine sisters fighting over the sewing machine. Our mother seldom used patterns when making our clothes and of course as adults, we’ve inherited this skill of creating unique and amazing things from scratch. Over the years we have sewn clothing, embroidered, and completed many home décor projects, handmade quilts for our children, family and friends. As a professional dog walker and lifelong dog owner, we see first-hand the types of dog coats on the market. In particular, the selection of unique stylish coats incorporating warmth and functionality for large dogs or odd sized dogs is very limited.We are very passionate about our company and love the challenge of creating original and unique designs for our furry clients!

Q: I love the name HOTDOGZ & Co. Tell us about coming up with the name.
A: Yes, it took many brainstorming sessions. Our initial goal was to design unique, stylish yet very warm and functional dog coats, hence, the words HOT DOGZ.

Q: I understand it is a family run business. Who is involved?
A: Yes, this is a family run business. My sister and I are Co-Owners. Growing up together enables us to give honest feedback when discussing business details. We also have a mutual respect of our individual talents. Together we develop new and unique design ideas. Michele, our Designer and Stylist then takes our rough draft and creates a pattern, chooses fabric and trims, etc. We then cut, paste, embroider and sew as a team. My previous work experience – customer service in the hi-tech sector – provides me with the experience needed in business administration, customer interaction, website management, accounting and shipping. We both feel that providing a high level of customer service is essential for a successful business.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: We are in our first year of business; however, this has been an ongoing hobby.

Q: As a Canadian I am delighted you are located in Ottawa. What made you decide to have them handmade and sewn yourselves?
A: First and foremost, this is our passion. We are very proud of our unique designs and workmanship.

Q: Your fabrics are very distinctive – what types of things do you look for?
A: We are very particular on selecting our fabrics. We have certain criteria we are looking for including uniqueness combined with functionality, warmth, and durability.

Q: Do you have a designing background?
A: No, although we do not have a formal background, as mentioned, we have many years’ experience perfecting our craft.

Q: Do you design mostly for smaller dogs?
A: We design custom dog coats for all shapes, sizes and breeds. As we have found, every dog is unique!

Q: Tell us some fun stories about designing for some dogs.
A: We don’t have a particular story in mind however we do meet and forge wonderful relationships with many interesting people. It is great fun working with all of our furry 4-legged friends!

Q: You must be dog owners as I have noticed the coats are very practical in many ways for both dog and owner. Do you have a dog?
A: Yes, we were raised in a pet friendly environment and have always owned dogs. As a matter of fact Bentley, Michele’s weimaraner and Broady, my schoodle are models in our Photo Gallery on our website. They are very precious to us!

Q: Where do most of your clients live?
A: Most of our clients are in the Ottawa area; however, we are slowly expanding across Ontario. We hope to continue to grow throughout North America.

Q: What accessories do you offer?
A: We are currently establishing our custom dog coats but have many ideas coming soon for our pet accessories.

Q: What are your dreams for HOTDOGZ & CO.
A: Our dream is to see our custom products walking down the street or wrestling in the dog parks throughout the city and eventually around the world.

Q: Tell us about your website – it is certainly very user-friendly.
A: Thank you. We have worked very hard in creating a user-friendly website. It is an amazing marketing tool for us to showcase our unique custom designs to the animal loving-world.

There is a Custom Dog Coat giveaway from HOT DOGZ & CO.

Here’s how to participate:

Access HOT DOGZ’S website between now and the end of February.

Go to the Contact Us page and submit your details stating you are entering the contest from dogstwentyfourseven.

At the end of February, all participants will be entered in the draw for a Custom Dog Coat.

The winner will be contacted by HOT DOGZ & CO. and posted on dogstwentyfourseven.

HOT DOGZ & CO. will then work with the winner to design a custom dog coat.

Free shipping will only be included to Canada and the US.

613-402-4203
http://www.HotDogzPetClothing.com
HotDogzPetClothing@gmail.com

Dogstwentyfourseven has a Facebook page. Interesting articles and links are posted every week. Please click on “Like” if you are enjoying my posts and page. I am on Twitter, too.

If you would like to receive my blog posts by email as soon as they are published, click on “Follow” on my main page. You will automatically receive them immediately after publication. Thank you for your support! Becky White