about 3 weeks after Diesel stepped into our house, Owen had a reaction where i wasn't sure if it was allergies or the flue, but i never seen him have red eyes like that before. and although it passed, easing my worries, i started to realize that he never really stopped having stuffy nose and violent sneezes. I've always wanted a dog, it was one of my childhood dreams, but as a mom, i didn't want to put my wants in front of my kid's need. the past few weeks, he started getting more grumpy in the morning, probably from the decreased sleep quality of being stuffy.
so late last week, i posted an ad on kijiji.ca and emails started to poor in. i was somewhat overwhelmed by the interest generated by our charismatic 4 legged friend. Saturday, 3 generation of ladies walked in our house to get acquainted with Diesel, and i think it was love at first sight for them and it didn't take long for him to be drawn to them too. Since Diesel was given to me in the first place, i deemed fair to keep the price the same.
I tossed one of his toy around a few times to get him a bit of exercise in before the long trip he was going to make back home, nearly back to where he came from. funny how things work out some times. the 2 quickest people to show interest in seeing Diesel were from Saint John, like he was meant to go back no matter who.
then as they were seating the sweet young girl back into her car seat and opened the door on the other side, Diesel just followed them and jumped in the back seat without prompt. i was surprised, a bit sad and happy at the same time. like he didn't think twice about leaving us but at the same time it was nice to see that he already felt comfortable about being with his new family.
I couldn't help but be anxious after he left. but 2 days later i received updates of his first days at his new house and it was with great relief i heard that he seem to adjust well, be happy and at the end of the day, as long as he's happy and the peoples that looks after him are happy with him too, it's what counts the most for me. sure i'll miss him. even thought we only had him for 3 months, i'll never forget him and how great a dog he is.
And Shauna, i appreciate very much that you keep in touch with us! :)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Frisbee Crazy
We haven't seen any porcupines around lately and we haven't had any problems with letting Diesel run around free for a few at a time. just have to stay away from garden area.
He just love playing Frisbee, he's getting pretty good at it too, catching it in flight and sometime making mad jumps for it. I love to see him spend his energy with that much intensity. for a while, i had to play tug o war to get it back, but when i realized i had to own the Frisbee, it became much easier and not so rambunctious around me handling it. now he drops it on the ground near me and i wait for him to sit before i pick it up. at times I've even experienced him walking behind or at least not going past me when i walk with him off leash. On leash is also going well most of the time. with the leash dangling freely between us.
I still try to keep as close of an eye as possible with him around the kids but I've noticed he's been very gentle and tolerant around them. now i only wish i could train the kids to return the favor.
there's a new trick I've been practicing at feeding time. tossing kibbles of food at him till he catch 3 in a row before to hand him his bowl. at first, he didn't quite know what was the deal, but he's catching quickly.
He just love playing Frisbee, he's getting pretty good at it too, catching it in flight and sometime making mad jumps for it. I love to see him spend his energy with that much intensity. for a while, i had to play tug o war to get it back, but when i realized i had to own the Frisbee, it became much easier and not so rambunctious around me handling it. now he drops it on the ground near me and i wait for him to sit before i pick it up. at times I've even experienced him walking behind or at least not going past me when i walk with him off leash. On leash is also going well most of the time. with the leash dangling freely between us.
I still try to keep as close of an eye as possible with him around the kids but I've noticed he's been very gentle and tolerant around them. now i only wish i could train the kids to return the favor.
there's a new trick I've been practicing at feeding time. tossing kibbles of food at him till he catch 3 in a row before to hand him his bowl. at first, he didn't quite know what was the deal, but he's catching quickly.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A New Way to Run
Feeling bad for Diesel, since he can't run much on a leash. Porcupine county too dangerous for this boy. I've been running some ideas through my mind of how i could give him a chance to run. So far i have 2 options. a bike and some roller blades.
now, when considering the 2, roller blades, he could pull me but what if he decide to go off the road? and i haven't used them in so long that I really don't have any control with them. even when i used them the most, i wasn't very confident in my ability to stop when i want to and not quickly either. So I'd have to work on it solo first.
bike, well, it's easier to remember how to ride one so i decided to pull mine from the garage and see if the tires would hold air after over 5 years of being deflated. it did, so i tied the leash around the seat pole and gave it a shot. first try, he pulled me down with the bike, good thing i was on the lawn. so i got back on it and we made it to the road, and since it seemed to go well enough, we went on the road. but he started to brace himself and pull back. i had to stop and he started to show fear of the bike. i thought it was over. we had to turn around and go home.
so i walked between him and the bike. then i switched to the other side of the bike and he stayed a bit more confident so i did a few sprints and he seemed ok, so i tried on the bike again, very slowly, just walking while straddling it at first, then one foot on the pedal and propelling on the ground with the other, and eventually managed to pedal. had to keep an eye over my shoulder all the time and keep encouraging him.
then a dog started barking and comming out of his yard. so i stop because he was pulling to the side. and he allowed the other dog to smell him and it was going well. no aggressive confrontation is all good in my book. then the owner came to reclaim his dog and apologize. the dog kept smelling each other a bit, i had a short chat with the guy... his brother used to own the house where we now live. and we only get to meet after 2 years of living here hehe.
after that, i turned around to go back in the direction i usually take my walks and went probably close to 1 km that way. so if it can continue to go well, i think it will work out better for both of us. faster for him and easier for me.
now, when considering the 2, roller blades, he could pull me but what if he decide to go off the road? and i haven't used them in so long that I really don't have any control with them. even when i used them the most, i wasn't very confident in my ability to stop when i want to and not quickly either. So I'd have to work on it solo first.
bike, well, it's easier to remember how to ride one so i decided to pull mine from the garage and see if the tires would hold air after over 5 years of being deflated. it did, so i tied the leash around the seat pole and gave it a shot. first try, he pulled me down with the bike, good thing i was on the lawn. so i got back on it and we made it to the road, and since it seemed to go well enough, we went on the road. but he started to brace himself and pull back. i had to stop and he started to show fear of the bike. i thought it was over. we had to turn around and go home.
so i walked between him and the bike. then i switched to the other side of the bike and he stayed a bit more confident so i did a few sprints and he seemed ok, so i tried on the bike again, very slowly, just walking while straddling it at first, then one foot on the pedal and propelling on the ground with the other, and eventually managed to pedal. had to keep an eye over my shoulder all the time and keep encouraging him.
then a dog started barking and comming out of his yard. so i stop because he was pulling to the side. and he allowed the other dog to smell him and it was going well. no aggressive confrontation is all good in my book. then the owner came to reclaim his dog and apologize. the dog kept smelling each other a bit, i had a short chat with the guy... his brother used to own the house where we now live. and we only get to meet after 2 years of living here hehe.
after that, i turned around to go back in the direction i usually take my walks and went probably close to 1 km that way. so if it can continue to go well, i think it will work out better for both of us. faster for him and easier for me.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Yet an Other Close Call
a few days ago, in mid afternoon, i left Diesel run around unleash, oh maybe for 20 minutes, and he managed to find a porcupine, do they ever sleep? it was so close, Andy was running after him, trying to prevent him from getting to it. when i saw the commotion i grabbed a long stick and ran to the wood to see if i could beat the porcupine. he was too high up a tree when I got there. at least Diesel didn't get close enough this time to get anything from it but i feel so bad for not being able to let him run loose at all. So i made sure i went for our 5 km/ 1 hour walk again today. he's getting better at walking. i can walk little stretches at a time without him pulling. and we're going to try to get rid of those prickly pests. Andy called the forest rangers and we're allowed to shoot them or club them.
am i repeating myself? i forgot if i mentioned that in the last post.
anyway, today we stopped at a farm with the kids, we've talked to them a few times before, they have a young son too so it's really nice to hang around with them. and we'll try to socialize Diesel with their dogs. i walk in front of their place each time i go for a walk so if they could get along it would be great.
am i repeating myself? i forgot if i mentioned that in the last post.
anyway, today we stopped at a farm with the kids, we've talked to them a few times before, they have a young son too so it's really nice to hang around with them. and we'll try to socialize Diesel with their dogs. i walk in front of their place each time i go for a walk so if they could get along it would be great.
Friday, May 9, 2008
What Lesson?
Yesterday i was quite tired after the episode from the day before, so i only tried to recap those events. so today i'm going to start with yesterday, again hehe
being so tired i didn't do much yesterday, except from going for a long walk whit Diesel along the road. i made it to the mail box, it's probably a little over 2 km to get there. and it was a test of what i had learned so far watching "The Dog Whisperer". there are quite a few places that have dogs. one of them being the farm where i used to turn around last summer, about 1.5 km from home. they have at least 3 dogs, and they bark when you get by their place. my goal was to keep Diesel focussed ahead. so as soon as he'd try to look in the other dog's direction, i give him a little tug and sometime a little nudge on the side to distract him from the distraction. knowing how he like to chase after other animals, he could have dragged me over to a potential dog fight but it kept him from getting in that excited state of mind and we made it all the way without incidents. although the last place we walked by, the dog was very persistent and it was harder for Diesel to stay focus.
they say that you can't hide your emotions from a dog and they can smell your fear and since it's a sign of weakness, they feel they should take over leadership and do what they think a leader should do. i must admit, when we walked by the farm with 3 dogs, i had some apprehension. my heart was beating harder and all but i focussed on how i was supposed to keep him focussed and stay confident in my body language. seeing how well it works gives me more confidence.
Remember yesterday how i said, in the evening I'd keep Diesel on leash to make sure he doesn't dash for an other porcupine. well, this evening, it might have been 7:20 pm and i thought it wasn't very dark yet so it would be ok to clip him on once we get on the patio. I guess not. i saw him dart toward the end of the house and then toward the wood, and i spotted a porcupine at the edge. I called him back somewhat panicked, screaming NO, NO, Danger!!!, I was hoping he would've learned his lesson but i guess not. I'm very thankful that he turned around. only 36 hours after a run to the vet and running back for it? so from now on, in the evening, he must be clipped before to set foot outside, no ifs, ands of buts.
after i hooked the leash on him, we walked around the yard and did go see the porcupine. he was not a very nervous one. not even budging at first. then only turning his back to us. i remember seeing porcupines last year that would make it to the wood if we went his way. this one, we got as close as 10 feet away. so we got a good look at him. it look like that one had many animal try their luck at him. there was a fairly big patch on his back that was bare of quills. not long after, my husband arrived and i pointed him to the prickly pest that was now making his way back in the woods, when my husband got to him, he was about 4 feet up in a tree and so my husband had an even closer look at him. I wish i had my camera with me when we first got close to him, i could've had a good shot at him.
Just a few minutes ago, I could hear Diesel singing like a whale upstairs. was wondering what made him decide to try his singing talents. looked around and there was nothing so i concluded that he probably heard some other dog from the neighborhood.
earlier today, Misty decided to try her luck at a stroll upstairs. as soon as i saw her, i went to see Diesel, he was thinking of getting up from his corner and investigate the fluffiness but i told him to stay put and he did. i went to pet him to keep him in a very relaxed state and was able to send back Misty downstairs without a fuss. if i can keep the experiences positive, they should adjust to each other fairly quickly.
being so tired i didn't do much yesterday, except from going for a long walk whit Diesel along the road. i made it to the mail box, it's probably a little over 2 km to get there. and it was a test of what i had learned so far watching "The Dog Whisperer". there are quite a few places that have dogs. one of them being the farm where i used to turn around last summer, about 1.5 km from home. they have at least 3 dogs, and they bark when you get by their place. my goal was to keep Diesel focussed ahead. so as soon as he'd try to look in the other dog's direction, i give him a little tug and sometime a little nudge on the side to distract him from the distraction. knowing how he like to chase after other animals, he could have dragged me over to a potential dog fight but it kept him from getting in that excited state of mind and we made it all the way without incidents. although the last place we walked by, the dog was very persistent and it was harder for Diesel to stay focus.
they say that you can't hide your emotions from a dog and they can smell your fear and since it's a sign of weakness, they feel they should take over leadership and do what they think a leader should do. i must admit, when we walked by the farm with 3 dogs, i had some apprehension. my heart was beating harder and all but i focussed on how i was supposed to keep him focussed and stay confident in my body language. seeing how well it works gives me more confidence.
Remember yesterday how i said, in the evening I'd keep Diesel on leash to make sure he doesn't dash for an other porcupine. well, this evening, it might have been 7:20 pm and i thought it wasn't very dark yet so it would be ok to clip him on once we get on the patio. I guess not. i saw him dart toward the end of the house and then toward the wood, and i spotted a porcupine at the edge. I called him back somewhat panicked, screaming NO, NO, Danger!!!, I was hoping he would've learned his lesson but i guess not. I'm very thankful that he turned around. only 36 hours after a run to the vet and running back for it? so from now on, in the evening, he must be clipped before to set foot outside, no ifs, ands of buts.
after i hooked the leash on him, we walked around the yard and did go see the porcupine. he was not a very nervous one. not even budging at first. then only turning his back to us. i remember seeing porcupines last year that would make it to the wood if we went his way. this one, we got as close as 10 feet away. so we got a good look at him. it look like that one had many animal try their luck at him. there was a fairly big patch on his back that was bare of quills. not long after, my husband arrived and i pointed him to the prickly pest that was now making his way back in the woods, when my husband got to him, he was about 4 feet up in a tree and so my husband had an even closer look at him. I wish i had my camera with me when we first got close to him, i could've had a good shot at him.
Just a few minutes ago, I could hear Diesel singing like a whale upstairs. was wondering what made him decide to try his singing talents. looked around and there was nothing so i concluded that he probably heard some other dog from the neighborhood.
earlier today, Misty decided to try her luck at a stroll upstairs. as soon as i saw her, i went to see Diesel, he was thinking of getting up from his corner and investigate the fluffiness but i told him to stay put and he did. i went to pet him to keep him in a very relaxed state and was able to send back Misty downstairs without a fuss. if i can keep the experiences positive, they should adjust to each other fairly quickly.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Too Close for Comfort
Gillet say, "as close as a man can get" for their product that remove facial hair. but for our poor Diesel, "too close for comfort" meant that he earned himself a goatee.
I took him out for his last pee before i went to bed around midnight. he's done that before and there was no incident so i didn't expect this time would be different. I noticed he had fun chasing the kitty laser in the yard last time, so i was going to indulge him again, but right away, he was sniffing around the yard in pattern that wasn't following the red dot at all and then he darted for the back corner of the yard, into the woods. i called and called and demanded he come back. trying to listen to what was going on because it was too dark to see in that area. heard a crack, one bark. i ran inside to get the whistle hoping that would snap him out of his frenzy and i could call him back, but by that time he was coming back. I did not want to believe what i was seeing. the awful signature of a porkupine. outch! i called for Andy that was starting to drift in dreamland because he had to work the day after. but sleep was secondary at this point.
I'm going to do you a favor, if you are reading this and not quite prepared to take a look at this poor pup's extreme piercing, i'll post a link and you decide for yourself to click on it or not.
so we tried to pull some ourself but there were so many that i started calling around to find a place to bring him, at this time of the night. one vet said it was an option to try keep pulling them ourself but he was getting snappy about it and we really don't blame him. so off to the vet he went. took them 1 hour to remove everything under sedation. he was a little groggy and confused for a while. but he look like himself again.
this was taken right after he came back home, a little groggy and probably tired too because it was past 2:30 am. I think it is a very humbling experience for him and we consider keeping him on a leash when taking him out after dusk. And mostly, we hope he learned his lesson.
I took him out for his last pee before i went to bed around midnight. he's done that before and there was no incident so i didn't expect this time would be different. I noticed he had fun chasing the kitty laser in the yard last time, so i was going to indulge him again, but right away, he was sniffing around the yard in pattern that wasn't following the red dot at all and then he darted for the back corner of the yard, into the woods. i called and called and demanded he come back. trying to listen to what was going on because it was too dark to see in that area. heard a crack, one bark. i ran inside to get the whistle hoping that would snap him out of his frenzy and i could call him back, but by that time he was coming back. I did not want to believe what i was seeing. the awful signature of a porkupine. outch! i called for Andy that was starting to drift in dreamland because he had to work the day after. but sleep was secondary at this point.
I'm going to do you a favor, if you are reading this and not quite prepared to take a look at this poor pup's extreme piercing, i'll post a link and you decide for yourself to click on it or not.
so we tried to pull some ourself but there were so many that i started calling around to find a place to bring him, at this time of the night. one vet said it was an option to try keep pulling them ourself but he was getting snappy about it and we really don't blame him. so off to the vet he went. took them 1 hour to remove everything under sedation. he was a little groggy and confused for a while. but he look like himself again.
this was taken right after he came back home, a little groggy and probably tired too because it was past 2:30 am. I think it is a very humbling experience for him and we consider keeping him on a leash when taking him out after dusk. And mostly, we hope he learned his lesson.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Oh Poooh
yesterday, i think it was rainy in the morning, and although it had not been that long since Diesel had gone out, he was whining. but we thought it was mostly because we were in and out of rooms and he was showing some separation anxiety. because he does that sometimes. long and behold, he really needed to go, and couldn't contain himself any longer and unloaded a nice smelly one in the kitchen floor. Didn't seem like it smelled that stinky at first but as i was cleaning it, the smell was getting to me more and more. the rest of the day went pretty smoothly. although he had scared Misty as she was going out the door and for fear that he would drive her away if we let him out loose, we kept him on leash for the rest of the day when we went outside. was happy to learn that Misty came back this morning.
Today was our first time leaving Diesel alone at home for any amount of time. in this case, from 7 am to 1:30pm. it was nice to hear him bark when i put my key in the keyhole. it made me feel like if someone tried to break in, that kind of greeting could make them think twice.
This morning Diesel was playfull, so i tossed the ball for him a few times, and Owen wanted to do the same. until today Diesel didn't listen to Owen's directions. but today, he did great and Owen was so excited. i think it made his day, or at least part of it. It made me very happy too.
Today was our first time leaving Diesel alone at home for any amount of time. in this case, from 7 am to 1:30pm. it was nice to hear him bark when i put my key in the keyhole. it made me feel like if someone tried to break in, that kind of greeting could make them think twice.
This morning Diesel was playfull, so i tossed the ball for him a few times, and Owen wanted to do the same. until today Diesel didn't listen to Owen's directions. but today, he did great and Owen was so excited. i think it made his day, or at least part of it. It made me very happy too.
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