Gone Brushin'....

Care and maintenance of your pet, any species, is a daily labor of love.  Just as you prepare your children and yourself for each day and week you must also set aside time to care for your companion.  The task may be quick and minor or very involved depending upon the breed, hair coat, season, health and daily routine you establish. 

Some breeds are what I call wash and wear.   A short coated dog such as a Toy Fox Terrier, Doberman, or Dalmatian falls into this category.  A soft rubber brush , toe nail clip once a week, and a monthly bath pretty much do it for these dogs.   Collies, Poodles, and Shih Tzus  are breeds that take daily brushing and maybe even De-matting.  Among some breeds, such as the Dachshund, there are three coat varieties, each with different levels of care.    Picking the correct breed or mix for your family may be the most important first decision you make when owning a dog.

If you are not proficient at the use of clippers and scissors you may have to employ a groomer as often as once a month to help maintain the coat of your animal, depending upon the cut or shave you chose to use.   All this adds up to time and money spent out of your day, every day, for as long as your pet lives with you.   Yes, there are those owners who are content to get a dog and toss it out back on a chain, maybe throw it food and water once a week or so, and never give it more than that, but I would guess that the people who are reading this are not that type of careless owner.

At the least, plan to run a brush or comb through your medium or long coated dog every week, daily if the coat is left long, and weekly on a short coated breed.   Toe nails should be clipped once a week, thus sparing the dog a costly trip to the vet or groomer to do it and keeping the animal comfortable with small snips of the nail.   Inside of ears should be cleaned with soft cotton balls or a wash cloth weekly, more for drop eared breeds who tend to get infections.    Eyes should be checked daily for any infections , maybe when it is feeding time, and also look over the general impression and demeanor of your dog.    This will help you to catch health issues early before they become out of hand.   Touching your dog weekly, all over, will help you detect lumps or tumors that may have formed as well as any minor injuries.   Depending upon the season, paws should be checked frequently.   When ice and snow is outside , the paws should be cleaned of all outdoor material after each walk.    Leaving snow in between the pads can cause frost bite and the salt can burn.

 If your dog is healthy you may need only to do a few things each day or week to keep your companion in tip top shape.    Once your pet becomes older, arthritis, skin irritations, lumps and bumps are the more common issues to maintain a close watch on.   Some pets must take daily medicines, eat special food, need specific oils in their foods, etc and all this takes time.   During the shedding season ( twice a year a dog will shed more than what it does daily) there will be extra brushing.   In the spring, summer and fall fleas and ticks are active and a vet approved treatment as well as heart worm medicine must be given, some daily, some monthly.

If you don't see it yet, what I am saying is having a pet can cost a lot of money.   Be prepared to spend that money for not just feed and yearly shots, but also for good animal hygiene, emergencies, boarding, and any other of the things your pet needs during a life time of service to you.  Read and research as much as you can before you make a choice on any dog, mixed or purebred.    It will save you heartache, headache and make you aware of how much of your time you have to devote to the animal who shares your life.


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My Brasso

Meet Brasso, purebred German Shepherd Dog, all boy, with the heart of a lion.   If you read my previous post about Quicko you will already know how I came to get Brasso.   For those who did not, he came from a 20 plus year trainer, handler, breeder who lives in Pana, Illinois.      Never before, and I doubt ever again, will I have a dog who would truly sacrifice his life for me.

Brasso was not just extensively trained in basic and advanced on /off leash obedience, but was 110%  personal protection dog.    The type of personality he had was not just a product of selective breeding but a complete identity.    He would not have made a show dog in any ring for he was what some people call  "always on".   Meaning there was not a time when this dog did not protect, over eating, sleeping, or even sickness and injury.     He was the type who makes it into the Military War Dog program to defend our soldiers on the front lines.    Some people might love to have a dog who would always be ready to defend their owners and property, however, it comes with a grave amount of responsibility.   Brasso had to be kept away from all people, and the ones that were allowed into his domain as his family, had to always be respectful of me in word and deed.    The dog was completely tuned into the actions of people in his environment.    There was an established perimeter that the dog set around my physical being and no one was allowed to step into that "zone", without invitation, or they should expect a bite.

I have no children  who might not understand this and Brasso was raised with four young boys for the first two years of his life.  His "family"  could do no wrong in his eyes.   When he left that home, Brasso only transferred his complete protection and loyalty to me and the other critters that lived in the house, cats, dogs, and bird.    His pack was also under his protection and he would race to defend them as well, but I was always his person of greatest importance.   Never did he offer to bite me on any occasion  and I did all the usual things with him such as bathing, nails, brushing, shots, caring for wounds and injuries.    His devotion to me was unmatched by any other dog I have ever had in my life.   By this I mean, he saw me as his number one priority.

In life there are not many, animal and especially not people, who are willing to put you first, all the time, above their own needs, wants and desires.    My home was never broken into, my car was completely theft proof and I was untouchable.    I often joked to people I would be willing to place a $100 dollar bill on the dash board with all the windows of the car down and walk away with just Brasso there to guard it.   His bark alone would send shivers down a persons spine.

As much as I loved this dog, and wanted this exact type of animal in my life, I had no idea how alert and attentive I had to be to house and keep Brasso in safety.   Posting warning signs all around the property, extra secure fencing, a huge outdoor kennel that had a top made with metal strong enough to hold a gorilla, muzzling when he went to the vet or out on walks, making sure the car windows could not have an unsuspecting hand slide into them, were just a few of the long list of things I practiced.  I was constantly attentive :  24/ 7 / 365.     After awhile it begins to take a mental toll on your when you realize  you can not control  the actions of others.   Unwilling to crate or kennel this wonderful companion all the time, Brasso had free roam of the yard and house and use of the doggie door except when I left the property.   At that time he was confined in a safe place in case of fire, or a person walking into the area uninvited.    I would have preferred to be robbed than to go through the court system and be forced to euthanize a dog for doing what it was trained and bred to do due to the stupidity of others. 

Brasso lived a long and healthy life full of joy, love, swimming, walks, toys, soft beds, and  other four legged companions (as well as a few humans) for his nearly 11 years.    He never forgot his first owners and when I would go on trips I would drop him off with them and Brasso had no trouble cuddling up in their laps and loving them as if he had never left.    Brasso was the personal protection dog I always wanted and I don't regret a moment of all the time we had together.   He taught me  loyalty, respect and what it meant to truly be completely devoted to another.



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Gone Diggin' ...

Most all dogs have the desire to dig, oftentimes where we would prefer them not to.   Being aware of that natural tendency I try to teach my pets when and where it is appropriate to dig (not always successfully).    I try to catch my pet in the act of digging and praise them, then teach them to stop and come dig in a better spot,  like the garden I am working on turning over the soil  or for more avid diggers, that new basement I  always wanted ! 

Dogs dig for many reasons, to cool off in moist earth, hunting for critters and burying that favorite bone, are just a few.     I used to take my dogs to a large forest preserve with trails to walk on and when we got past the area of foot traffic, step off the paths and show them mole hills.    Adding a word like  "dig"  or "get it "   serves as a placeholder so the dog remembers the action as a command.  Some of the best times were when my companion was sure there was a mouse, mole, or shrew avidly digging while they were trying to unearth the critter.  Motivated by prey drive, they learned the new command quickly.    Nine times out of ten there was nothing under that mound, but that one time there was served to encourage them greatly. 

For people who have avid diggers or breeds such as  terriers  (derived from Latin terra , meaning earth)  these dogs were bred for digging and controlling rodent populations.    One might want to get a sandbox or designate an area of the yard and cover it with sand, bringing the dog to that space and, in advance, burying favorite toys or treats to encourage digging in that one place.   This will save your yard from looking like a mine field.     Less fervent excavators may take to the places you show approval and gentle correction teach them to refrain from other areas.
 
Grace, being a beagle, loves to dig!   One can only dog proof a large fenced area just so much with bricks and tent stakes to try to keep the dog in, after that you need to train the animal.   Grace never tried to dig out, however the very first night I  brought Missy home, she dug under two fences and vanished.   I was worried sick and after leaving the gates open and walking the streets till about two A.M. I returned home to find her sitting on my back step waiting for me.   I was lucky !   So many dogs never find their way back or get hit by cars before they do.   Missy never dug out again.

Grace still digs here and there and one day she was digging at the edge of where my gravel meets the grass, directly under a 4x4 piece of treated lumber.    It was warm and sunny out so I stayed and kept telling her to get it, even helping by moving the lumber out of the way.   She was not making a deep hole, but one that went under the rocks.   She got to one point where she stopped, laid down, and looked at me.  Foolishly thinking she needed encouragement, I poked the hole with my fingers and told her "get it out of there!"

Of course, being a good dog she did, and what I thought might be a tiny mouse or bug was not at all.
The last time she stopped , laid down and looked at me I bent over and thought I heard a buzzing noise coming from the spot.   That was the last thought  that crossed my mind as to my horror, out crawled a huge hornet !    The hornet immediately took flight after Grace and I, dive bombing us.   I was yelling "get in the house Grace!" and she, Spike, and I hit that back door in a huge hurry, with the hornet in hot pursuit.   Slamming the door and looking at the confused dogs, I baracaded the doggie door until dark, then went out and covered the hole.   Thankfully, the hornet decided it would be better to find a new place to live.    That day, digging was not fun for any of us.

On the whole, allowing your dog to fulfill it's natural tendencies to forage for prey though digging is rewarding , builds self confidence and provides exercise for your pet.   For owners who prefer a pristine yard, make sure to pick a breed that has little inclination for this task.  I count this experience as another lesson learned about the art of digging.


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