Today in Daily Dog Walk

Brian sent me this email after the dogs' near-daily walk. The email was titled "Summary of Dog Walk."

Begin:

• Bruschi finds wrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup….RPB Cup removed from Puggle and disposed of
• Bruschi finds wrapped Three Musketeers bar…. 3M bar removed from Puggle and disposed of
• Kodi raises hind quarters to pee on lamppost….Bruschi sticks his head under Kodi’s po-po….Bruschi gets pee’d on

Nothing else to report.

End

Bruschi, Kodi, meet Teddy!

This is sort of a teaser post-- because the videos and photos aren't quite ready yet, but I couldn't resist blogging about Brian's and my latest adventure-- introducing Bruschi and Kodi to our new baby, Theodore.

We've been doing household baby prep for the past 9 months-- exposing the dogs to more babies and children, setting up the baby gear, correcting some nagging behavior problems (like barking and pulling on the leash, riding in the front seat of the car, etc). For me, this was more important than any aspect of "nesting."

If I didn't already have an infinite number of reasons I love my dogs before yesterday, i'd have another one afterward. Bruschi and Kodi had a fabulous reaction to the new edition. I couldn't have asked for better, and, I couldn't have asked for two more patient dogs yesterday while Brian and I stumbled through our solo flight as parents, without the help of nurses, a nursery or my mother.

And, perhaps because while still in the womb, Teddy had tons of dog exposure (animal welfare research projects, HSUS Conference, trip to Best Friends, numerous adoption events, a foster dog, a few obedience classes...) barking, sniffing and wet noses did not seem to phase him.

Stay tuned for more details on the actual introduction, including some video footage.

below: kodi and I at 8 m0s, Bruschi and I the night before the baby was born. gotta love cell phone cameras!

QT with the Pups

Excessive home renovations and baby prep limited time lavishing the pups with fun adventures and outings this summer, and a few weeks ago, I craved some quality time with Bruschi and Kodi.

In the car we got, headed to Quiet Waters in Annapolis for a day of play, then lunch downtown. Bruschi and Kodi took in the multiple dog parks, trail walk, and the romp on the beach. Bruschi bravely entered the water, chest deep, and Kodi took to critter surveillance in the swamp.

After, we stopped at the conveniently located dog spa just outside the park to de-stinkify the canines, then headed to a nice Annapolis restaurant with an outdoor dining patio that catered to dogs.

We rode home with the top down and two very, very tired dogs.

Refresher on Terms and Conditions Surrounding Sleeping in My Bed

To: Bruschi and Kodi
From: Colleen
Re: Refresher on the terms and conditions surrounding sleeping in my bed
Date: July 5, 2009

1. Amount of space you are allowed in the bed is proportionate to your weight and height. You can not take up more room than me. Stretching out from limb to limb and laying diagonal will not fool me into thinking you need more space. This will only earn you the title "bed hog."

2. I will require my pillow back when I return from the bathroom. You can keep it warm for me, but do not pretend to be in a deep sleep, and unable to wake up when I ask for it back. I will wake you up.

3. We sleep UNDER the covers. Sleeping on top of them, anchoring them down is not helpful. I understand you might get hot during the night, but remember, I do not wear fur to bed like you do, and therefore need unrestricted access to the covers.

4. Spooning together is OK. Sleeping on my head is not.

5. I brush my teeth before I go to bed out of good hygiene practices and respect for others that sleep with me, including you. Please do the same. If you forget, we will not be able to sleep face-to-face.

6. I still have to get up in the morning, even if you lay on top of my legs like dead weight. This does not make it any easier for me to get out of bed to go make a living, so that you can continue to enjoy the pampered life you lead.

7. Your tail often betrays you. When your body is completely still, but your tail is moving, I know you are awake and only pretending to be asleep so that you think you don't have to shift positions or get out of bed. I'm on to you. You can't fool me.

And, lastly:

8. This is my bed (key words being "my" bed). Do not fight me for space. And do not groan if I shift you over so that I don't fall off the edge. Remember, I feed you.

Kodi's Killer Instincts

I've mentioned more than a few times on this Blog that Kodi, our rat terrier, has a very, very impressive prey drive, along with a remarkably agile little body.

Weighing in at 9.2 pounds, this tiny Feist can leap yards from a stand-still position, runs as smooth and elegantly as a racing dog, and springs into action at the smallest sight or sound of oncoming prey, including those that outsize her. OH, she also has a battle-cry that rivals most fire alarms.

Much of this can be attributed to the unique breeding that made the Rat Terrier back in the early 1900's. These dogs can claim roots that include the hound, jack russell, whippet and others. This is a breed that was established for one main purpose-- eradicating rats.

Kodi's opportunities to exercise her prey drive are limited to what can be done in a backyard, or on a walk-- so not much, but we do love to watch her signals and behaviors when she detects a critter or critter-hiding place. We do not encourage her committing or attempting any homicides. In fact, I keep bells and jingles on her to give critters fair warning that she is on their path.

This past Saturday, early morning, a wandering cat became the object of Kodi's "affection." We were at my parent's house in NY, in a neighborhood that does not respect the fact that cats should be indoors at all times. This one extremely large feline dared to enter the neighbor's yard and cross Kodi's sightline while she was sniffing some bushes in my parent's backyard.

She detected, snapped to attention, issued her battle cry, and charged to this teeny, tiny opening at the bottom of the fence, barely wide enough for my wrist. I panicked at her escaping the yard, and then really panicked when I realized her harness was caught on the bottom of the fence, while she was still lunging forward.

I grabbed the attached portion of the harness, my dad ran to alert the neighbor, the neighbor ran outside to look under the deck at where Kodi was caught... I released the harness lest Kodi struggle to escape and dislocate or puncture something. The cat was LONG since gone, and the yard was fenced, so I figured this made the most sense.

Once freed, she charged in impressive fashion out from under the deck that bordered the fence, through the yard, right into the arms of the neighbor, who picked her up and remarked "She's a cute little thing!"

After the panic was over and Kodi was securely inside the house, my dad and I started talking about her prey drive, how she immediately identified her path, and how she maneuvered her body so flat to get between the ground and the fence so, so quickly. And, how in-her-element she was on the chase. While nerve wracking, it was also quite impressive.

Oh, in case you were wondering, our home has been rodent-free since Kodi. And it safe to assume our child will never have guinea pigs or hamsters as long as Kodi is around.

That's a woof for now.

Kodi Eye-- New Success!

Every few months, Kodi visits the Veterinary Eye Doctor so that her left eye can be evaluated and we can stay on top of what treatments she needs. In addition, she sees a Chiropractor regularly and she gets regular doses of eye medicines. (eye shown most prominently in photos is affected eye).

For those who don't recall, Kodi has some nerve damage that limits her eye's ability to produce tears, and, causes her to drool a bit when nervous (she can't swallow her saliva on one side of her mouth)

Yesterday we took her in for a routine exam and learned that her eye is producing close to DOUBLE the amount of tears it typically does. DOUBLE!! For a while, she was measuring a 3 to 4 on the 'tear duct scale' test (from 0-10). Yesterday, she got up to a 6. The more tears she produces, the less discomfort she is in, and the better equipped her eye is to fight infection.

And, last night, during a visit to the dog park, she not only interacted with others, BUT did not drool.

We are very fortunate that Kodi has an amazing team of doctors helping her out. And, what I love even MORE is that the vets she sees believe that the chiropractic care she receives helps keep her healthy.... hmm... perhaps human MDs can take a lesson from the animal community.

That's a 'wuff' for now!

-Colleen

Check out past blog posts on Chiropractic care, and history on Kodi's eye condition.

Friday night fun for a Rat Terrier

It's Friday night-- about 11 pm. I just got home from an adoption event (Pinky needs another home-- any takers?). I sit down on the couch, and grab the laptop, which is Kodi's cue to come bounding from the other end of the room, onto my lap, and properly place my hand onto her head for a pet, and to continue petting, and not to stop petting... even though I am trying to type all about her on the blog.

This, is Friday night fun for a Rat Terrier. Curled up in the tighted little ball, next to a warm human, who is a sucker for petting pups. Don't even think of stopping, because a guilt-ridden nudge will get you back to stroking her silky soft coat.

(Note: it is taking double the amount of time to type this, since one hand must be on Kodi-head at all times... or else).

Critter hunt?

Kodi is acting very, very different than normal... i think she may be hunting... in my house? Perhaps there is a mouse in house? hmmm.....

For The Love of a Dog...

About nine months ago while browsing an airport bookstore before a cross-country flight, I grabbed a copy of Patricia McConnell's latest book "For The Love of a Dog" only, I grabbed it blindly, wanting to read something better than trashy romance, and easier than heavy novels.


This was months before I started my dog training apprenticeship, and before I knew that the author was such a revered member of the animal behavior community. I picked it up because it had a nice cover, a good title, and I missed my dog terribly on this one particular trip. I had also just started fostering, and was becomming more and more inquisitive about what makes dogs do what they do.


I fell in love with the book by about the second page, had tears-in-eyes at least once before the 5th and laughed about a dozen times in the first chapter. You can imagine the looks I was getting from other travelers. This book is about the emotions that dogs show, and here I was, exhibiting a host of my own.



The book's relevance to Brian and my life was so strong, that it compelled me to recommend it as a stocking stuffer in the first-ever edition of Puggles N Prose-- the Newsbite.

The author had such an entertaining and witty pen (or keyboard) that I was easily able to digest the otherwise complex subject matter she presented in each chapter. After reading, I just couldn't help but give a different type of thought to the emotions a dog was displaying. What really was driving Bruschi's emotional core when he barks at the window? What position was his tail in, was the hair on his back standing up, what about his eyes? I felt like I was a few steps closer to understanding my dog, and getting him to show the behavior I wanted (mind you, Bruschi ate cough drops on Friday-- he did not have a sore throat).



I misplaced the book it in one bag or another before finishing it, but found it again last week, threw it in my suitcase for this lastest trip, and promised myself I'd read the last 30 pages. This time, I was prepared with a "oh, its my allergies" to explain to the flight attendant why it 'looked' like I was crying. And, just like the book began, I was amazed down to the final page.

McConnell's chapters are filled with powerful examples, striking insights, and actual scientific studies to support her conclusions. The book is as much about human emotions and interaction as it is about dogs. In fact, the insights the author presented were ridiculously relevant to my workings as a focus group moderator (and support my theory that all college-level communication curriculums should include a dog behavior class to illustrate best practices in communication--that's a whole other blog post).



If I didn't have a stack of other books to start and finish, I'd be re-reading this one.




Below: My mutts, Bruschi and Kodi. Kodi is not happy about getting Bruschi kisses for the camera (he was mid-lick when this photo was taken). Notice how her legs are braced and head is pulling away.

Headshots!

With faces this cute, who needs text?

Happy Birthday Kodi!

We declared May 14/15 as Kodi's birthday. Why the 14/15 or May? Well, since we don't know when she was actually born, Brian decided that her special day should also honor the late, great, Mr. Frank Sinatra. She'll sport a Martini-collar to celebrate the occasion!

Since I was under the assumption that the birthday was May 15 due to coastal time differences of when Mr. Sinatra passed.... she actually gets a birthday that spans two days!

Kodi Goes to the Chiropractor

As indicated in earlier posts, I believe that Chiropractic treatment can ease many of the ills I experience, that are often instead treated with medication. Allergies, asthma attacks, migrates, swollen glands-- these are all afflictions to which I've turned to chiropractic treatment for relief, and found just that.

I began considering veterinary acupuncture as a possible method for stimulating Kodi's tear duct about a month ago, and have been inquiring with trustworthy sources about the viability of the option. It didn't occur to me that I should have her little spine checked- perhaps a subluxation (out of alignment) was causing or adding to the nerve complications that prevent her tear duct from making tears. But last Friday it did, and Kodi had her first mini-neck adjustment. We don't know that this is a solution, or if continued alignment will even bring about any marginal improvement, but it is worth exploring that option and others, to make sure we are doing all we can for our Rat Terrier.

Kodi still receives several eye drops a day including an antibiotic and light steroid and that will continue until the eye specialist decides to change the routine. We also give her regular doses of calming elixer. This milky syrup helps take the edge off of her nervous tension so she shakes and drools less, and so she is more equipped to handle new environments.

The warming weather has really brought out the athlete in Kodi. She is swift and graceful in her back yard sweeps and patrols. Oh, and our living room furniture brings out the monkey in her, as she jumps from sofa to sofa, to window ledge effortlessly to watch visitors coming to the door.

Thats a 'wuff' for now!

What to do on a rainy day...

1- Buy stylish rain coat for Spring

2- Take a walk

3- Pose for picture in new rain coat.

4- Dry off and take a nap

Aye, Eye, Kodi!!

Kodi's eye is fairing really, really well! She's had a few follow-up appointments with the eye specialist (Dr. Kelly Corcoran of Vet Vision in Fairfax, VA, who is simply wonderful), and right now, we believe her eye issue can be managed with medicine and a light, light steriod (we call it "the clear" for fun).

One of Kodi's eyes does not produce tears, due to an injury to a tear duct. The tear duct will not repair itself, so the situation will not improve. Instead, we give Kodi a combination of lubricating medicines each day to keep the eye moist, and to prevent any ulcers from forming. If the situation worsens, or if Kodi starts to experience excessive pain, surgeons can perform a Parotid Duct Transplant where the olifactory gland is re-routed to the eye, using saliva to hydrate instead of tears. This actually used to be performed in humans as well, years and years ago.

Kodi is tolerant of eye drops, especially since she usually gets a VERY special treat after each application. And, we can totally see the difference the medicine makes. Her eye is open for most of the day, and so bright and pretty. The camera flash still irritates her, so she looks squinty in the photo.

That's a 'wuff' for now!

What's That A Fish Terrier?

Over the past few weeks, Kodi has clearly indicated her desire for eradicating our backyard of squirrels and birds. True to her breed description, she chases them, barking up a storm until they are out of sight, then standing guard to ensure they do not return. Apparantly, this instinct extends to fish as well... Goldfish... in a fish tank!

Only minutes in to her first vist at my parent's house, Kodi spotted my dad's fish tank and became fixated on the jumbo red and white fish. She became determined to get the fishy, climbing on anything and everything to get to the tank, barking, and even trying to bite the fish. It really was quite a scene! And, it was an infatuation that lasted most of the 24 hours of our visit. Apparantly anything the size of varmin is fair game, even if it is has gills and is submerged in water!

I am guessing that this means our pond will be fish-free this summer :)

That's a 'wuff' for now!

Kodi Kommunications

When we first brought Bruschi home, Brian and i knew nothing about what to do with a puppy (save what people told us and what we read in books), but nearly everything about what Bruschi had experienced during his first 8 weeks of life. We asked a record number of questions from farm where he came, all in effort to learn more about what he couldn't say. He was the nutty puppy (shocker), who would try to explore, then whine and cry when he couldn't get what he wanted. Some might say we were maniacal in the questions we asked, and the records we kept about his puppyhood. But, we are analysts, and it's our nature to want to be "in the know" and make connections from oh, say, between the time it took him to finish his dinner to the time he passed out for the night.

Thankfully, our overzealous desire for details has subsided somewhat, and we are more level-headed when caring for the foster pups--which we know nearly nothing about when they are placed with us. And, we've learned that dogs tell us what they've been through, and what we need to know -- you just have to 'listen' in a different way.

In the past two weeks, Kodi was telling us a variety of things without speaking a word (unless it's a relative of Mr. Ed, dogs don't talk in English). She was saying "look how simply adorable I am" as she trotted around the house with toy-in-mouth. She was saying "what were you thinking not staying home with me" in her bark/scolding when we came through the door. Last Sunday she showed us just how athletic and graceful she can be running around the dog park, keeping up with the larger ones (such a beautiful site). Most importantly, she started to tell us that something else was going on with her face, separate from her eye injury. And, of course-- who knows better than her?

Earlier this week, our vet told us that he strongly suspects Kodi was attacked by a big dog and shaken around a bit at one point in her life. She has a mouth-shaped scar on the left side of her face, drools a lot when nervous, and is not producing an adequate amount of tears in her left eye. She also has nervous shakes that have been lessening, but are still present. And, she behaves differently when around bigger dogs. The vet believes this attack left her tramatized, and with some nerve damage. The nerve damage is responsible for her not being able to control the drool on one side, and probably the damaged tear duct. The nerve damage is probably also why she got a stick stuck in her mouth-- she couldn't feel it while chewing.

We don't need explicit details on the exact series of events between the time of the attack and the stick, but knowing what we now do know, we can better care for her, watching out for other complications that may result from nerve damage, and work hard at getting her comfortable and relaxed so she isn't as stressed. Nerves do not regenerate, but her quality of life will not suffer. She's told us what we needed to learn.

As I type this, Kodi is nudging my hand as if to say 'stop typing, start petting me.' So, I will!

That's a 'wuff' for now!

New Year New Dog: Welcome Kodi!

Brian (husband), Bruschi (resident Puggle) and I officially adopted our foster dog, Kodi. Kodi is a 10 pound American Rat Terrier who is about 2 years old, and full of spunk and personality.

We began fostering her in December when she was rescued with a serious eye injury. She was then placed a home that later became unsuitable, so she came back. We remained committed to finding a better forever home for her... until Kodi decided that our home was where she was going to stay-- permanently.

Kodi bonded with us quickly and wanted nothing to do with other adopters that were interested in her. And, we realized just how much a part of our lives she became. Since my plan as a younger adult was to have three laboradors, two years apart, one of each color--I figured a 10 pound tri-color dog was no trouble at all... heck, the combined weight of the Puggle and Kodi do not even equal one 6 month old Lab puppy!

Kodi was rescued from Georgia the first weekend in December 2007, with a stick lodged in the back of her mouth, protruding into the left eye cavity. She was in a great deal of pain for a while, but thankfully, the injury has healed and she can see out of the eye.

As with most rescue dogs, new families know little about them or their history. You glean insights here and there by their actions, and the behaviors they display. With each passing day, Brian and I learn a little more about Kodi, and what the early part of her life may have been like.

I've created this topic on Puggles 'n' Prose to share what Brian and I are learning about Kodi. It is simply fascinating to us, and we think others may enjoy our collective story as well.

Throughout the month of February (and maybe in to March), please check back here often to read up on how things are going, and what rascally little things the two dogs have accomplished (we learned that BOTH enjoy eating Brian's sandwiches). There is a chance Kodi will need eye surgery to resolve a tear duct issue, so we'll keep you posted on that as well.

That's a "wuff" for now!