Recuperation(12)

Well, Our guests left today @noon, and by 12:15 the dogs were asleep. Brad says they're CD's. That's Cashed Dogs! It began to rain here and so this adds to the quiet that seems to engulfed our home. We(all of us) so enjoyed having the girls and then the family here. The dogs all got along so well, Beeker engaged each of the guest dogs to play, then eventually enticing our nephew Bus to play with him and even teach him some tricks. Bus is like a dog whisperer. He is 8 years old and he is so calm and confident with both Max and Beeker. Any dog actually. Bus got Beeker to "down" with only a hand signal and using the work "lay". Down is the hardest of commands for Beeks. He obliges me with "sit", "stay","come", even "stand", but "down" is not his strong suit. Up until now, we (Beeks & me)have kinda been working it out. I say "down", Beeks just looks at me, then I say "down" again, Beeks continues to look at me, then I try to draw him down with my hand. He watches my hand, sort of bowing, but not giving in to the command, looking up at me. Then I usually push him down from his shoulders and at the same time lifting his front legs gently. Then Beeker goes"down", and I praise him like he's done something on his own. "Good Beeker". Honestly, Bus got Beeker in a sit with one request, then he used his hand and said,"lay". That's it. Beeks went right down! Now, before you say ,"Yea, a fluke, a chance happening". Well, Bus did this with Beeker four times! Each time Beeks looked at Bus then followed the command! I am so going to change my command to Beeker, from now on I'm using "lay" to get him down. Thanks Bus!
Maxie had a big challenge with all the activity this weekend. He loved all of the attention he received from the girls. He did get pretty ramped up with all of the canine energy around. If the other dogs were playing, roughhousing, and having a good time, Max wanted to intervene. Something about others having too good of a time without him, gets him anxious.
Both dogs, but especially Beeker is exhausted. Usually when I get up or move he follows. Not this afternoon. He has stayed in one place, barely taking notice of my presence. Truth is, tonight we are all happy and tired CD's.

More Dogs the Merrier (11)

Today was an extremely busy day. Besides all the girl shopping that we needed to do we also welcomed the girls parents and family which included their three dogs. besides two boys, mom and dad, we also welcomed a border collie/German Shepard mix, a shitzu/Maltese mix and a lab/chow mix. Add Max and Beeker and you have a whole lot of canine energy for a cat like Chez to handle. I've always said that Chez is a confident cat and he is. He didn't run and hide when our guest arrived and he didn't his and spit like some cats do. He stayed a cool distance away and the jumped up on our bed to watch the rumpus begin. He is a smart cat. I figure his method was to see where the pieces fell and then see who the survivors were. Max was the most excited and wanted to see who his biggest rival might be. The chow/lab mix ~Buddy only wanted out outside and back in their car. Chloe, the Shepard/Border Collie was only interested in getting everyone together and calmed down. She ended up sleeping at the base of the steps at the corner so that she could see all directions. Coco, the Maltese/Shitzu mix only weighs 20 lbs and just ran around in between the other dogs legs trying to get out of the way but actually reving the other dogs up.She kept growling. The only dog that did growl. Beeker ran around trying to see which other dog was going to be "the" biggest player. He had a rope in his mouth that he kept trying to engage the other dogs to play with him. The whole episode was a hoot. A four legged circus. If a person were really paying attention this could seem like it was unorganized and an out of control free for all. but we humans were not paying attention at all. We were talking/ squealing/laughing/ talking and having our own wild time. Maybe this is what is suppose to be. This is what use to happen with family dogs. They were around when the family was but not over managed. This was fun for all of us. No over focusing on the dogs activities or behaviors and they just go with the flow, all getting along.

The Girls (10)

Today was so much fun! I love having the girls here. Beeks can't figure out where all the energy is coming from. When Alison and Jess came down this AM, he was kinda confused and curious. The high pitched squeals and flighty movements are so much fun. Beeks is getting an enormous amount of attention from them too. When they arrived last night, we put both dogs behind the gate so we could welcome them without fear of dog slobber. I was so impressed when we released the dogs, how they calmly approched both girls to get their smells but didn't jump up. Max is really imporving in this. GO Max! Beeks just wanted to find out if they were players and low and behold,they are! allison really got into playing with Beeks. This AM it was really nice out (about 50 degrees) so it felt good to be outside. I took Beeks out and worked with him,throwing a treat tube and tried to get him to fetch and bring. This sort of worked. Beeks really liked fetching, and tossing it up in the air, and running with the tube. However, I had to call and call and plead and get excited to get him to return to me with it. He did come back a couple of times to me when I called him but without the tube. I must say that he came back to me finally with the tube and I counted 7 returns with the tube. Figuring out that a treat was to be had if he returned to me with the tube was the main catch. He will do most things I ask for food. I got great satisfaction playing with Beeks today. In Temple Grandin's book, Animals make us Human, she suggests that teaching dogs new tricks is important for exercising their minds and for activating their SEEKING emotion. She also says dogs need:

.social contact so their PANIC system doesn't get activated
.games and play with thei owners to activate the SEEKING system
.interesting things to do --especiallylong walks--that arouse their SEEKING system

With specific regard to playing, she says dogs especially need the play system to be stimulatedbecause they never grow up completely. It's good to rotate their toys so that they keep the interest of the dog. I remember doing this with my kis when they were little. She says that the dog rule is ...Old toys are boring; new toys are fun. I know that is true. Beeks will get use to his toys then forget about them until I gring out a new/old toy. I'm going to start to rotate his toys. I found an old Kong disk that hold three treats and brought it out this afternoon for Beeks. He's been playing with it in a completely different way than he did when he was younger. Beyond trying to get the treats out, he tosses it and chases it as it rolls away, then tosses it again.
Tonight after we returned from a University Visit with the girls, we decided to watch a movie. The picture attached is just prior to us starting to watch the movie. Both dogs were in heaven, with lots and lots of attention. What a great day with The Girls!

Boys Day Out(9)

I went to work today and Brad stayed home. It was one of his furlough days. This always seems wierd. Me going to work and Brad staying home. It's usually the other way around. When we both leave in the morning I put the dogs outside one last time and then they are good for the rest of the day. When I'm home, Brad get's up early, feeds the dogs, goes off to work and the dogs and I hang for most of the day. We work out a schedule where I can work and they can sleep quietly. Or.. They roughhouse and I ignore them for as long as I can, then get after them to quiet down. At some point I take Beeks for a long walk (yea, I rationalize its for Beeker).
Today however, Brad was home and boy did the dogs have a different day. First he ran errands without either of the dogs( I like to run errands with Beeks). When he came home he took Max on a walk. This got Max so excited and Beeker so jelous. Then Brad ran more errands with Max, leaving Beeks at home. He said Beeker just whined at the back door like he thought maybe Brad needed reminding to take him along. When he returned Beeks was so excited to see the big boys he could hardly contain himself. Brad did let Beeks outside to run and Beeks stayed at a heal until Brad released him, then returned when he called him back. Yea Beeks! After I got home, we needed to go to the grocery store so we took both dogs with us. They love riding in the car. When we again returned we let both dogs run off lead around the yard. This was a first for Max as he usually needs a lead in order to stay focused. As we say,his brain is attached to his gentle leader. He chased Beeker and had such a good time. Beeks is use to running around, and around, and around the house, but Maxie was just happy to follow his own lead. When Brad called Max he came. Even better! I was almost in tears for Maxie. I was so happy with the thought of what might be for him. The big pursuit really tired the dogs out. This is the first sunny day in such a long time(about 2 weeks) It got to be about 45 degrees today. It gives us the feeling that Spring might really be in the air.
Tonight the dogs are cashed. Beeks, who usually follows me everywhere, hardly moves at all. Max plain doesn't move. I think they like having The Man home. Or maybe they like a change of environment. Yea, they like it whenever either of us is home. Tomorrow should be even more entertaining for the dogs. Teenage girls are coming to visit. Those sounds and activities will be very different from what they are use to. Can't wait!

Dogs as Family Members (8)

Oh boy! Just as I finished writing yesterday's blog, I began reading CNN on line and found a little blurb about Temple Grandin. Now my world knowledge about the canine species has been turned upside down. I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it. The interesting thing is, I thought the name Temple Grandin sounded familiar and it was. Brad is currently reading one of her books titled, Animals Make us Human,2009. This is the incredible lady /professor from Colorado State University. Although she is known for her writing on animal science she has also become famous for her insights/knowledge of autism and learning. Dr. Grandin was on CNN because of her lecture on TED talks. Check it out.
http://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds.html

Although her lecture there is about Autism, it is interesting to watch to get a sense of who she is as a person. What excites me however is what she has to say about our pets. I will try to paraphrase some of the ideas that I read in her book, (Of course I took it from Brad)but I recommend getting yourself a copy and reading this for yourself. It's great stuff.
First she says that in order to have a good life, animals need to have five essential things:
.freedom from hunger
.freedom from discomfort
.freedom from pain, injury, or disease
.freedom to express normal behavior
.freedom from fear and distress

Having said that she talks about how vague these discriptions are. And that Dogs are genetically related to Wolves. I knew that but what was mind blowing to me was when
Dr. Grandin sited a 13 year research study in 1999 of wolves on Ellesmere Island in Canada. The research by L.David Mech found that in the wild, wolves don't live in wolf packs, and they don't have an alpha male who fights the other wolves to maintain his dominance.(pg, 26) This has a huge impact on the way we view dogs. Dr. Grandin also suggests that dogs in our families don't think of us as a pack with us as the alpha or alpha pair but as a mom and a dad. She also suggests that when large groups of unrelated dogs are kept together they do establish a dominate hierarchy. The dominance hierarchy in some large animal groups and used in order to breed and to keep peace. She gives multiple examples of how the "pack" idea formed, probably due to other wild groups in nature like the horse, who mate with siblings and parents. The study suggests that in nature wolf pups always differ to adults and older siblings.
Dr. Grandin suggests that our dog family members are different from a lot of other animals in that they are hypersocial and hypersensitive to everything we do. She says that dogs have become so domesticated because they want to please us. Family dogs view themselves as members of a family, with the adults as Mother and father. She suggests that dogs don't ever completely "grow up" and always need parenting. She also suggests that the most helpful way to train and include a dog in the family is to treat it like a child within the family. Having said this, she also suggests that treating a dog as a child doesn't always mean that you are a good parent. As always it is how you parent. Dogs need boundaries and limitations just like human children do.
I immediately thought of all of the controversy surrounding Cesar Millan and his training methods of "be the pack leader". To her credit, Dr. Grandin addresses this
issue including stating that Cesar has done a good job of creating a peaceful environment for his collection of unrelated dogs. She says that by establishing himself as the alpha dog (leader)he is creating a dominance hierarchy, similar to what animals will do for themselves in captivity. However, in our families where we have related members and are including dogs, they become members of our family too. This is huge. Dogs need parents not pack leaders, is the big message.
This means that I need to view Beeker as one of my kiddos, who needs gentle redirection and constant reminders of rules. He and Max love to play, and learning when and how to play are equally important. Socialization as well is important in that a dog who grows up knowing how to enter play with others will be able to feel comfortable in most situations.

There is so much information in the book regarding emotional needs of dogs and other animals but that would require more time than I am able to spare. Get this book or one of Grandin's other books, like Animals in Translation.

Got to go, Got a book I can't wait to finish.

Dominance (7)

I've been thinking about Beeker's relationship to Max. We resuced Max, brought him into our family during the last year with our 2 previous faithful Newfoundland Dogs lives. Max's energy level juxed apposed the energy of the old dogs. He also used his strength to dominate the other dogs. I have to say that although Belle (female Lanseer Newf)was ill with bone cancer, she did try to assert her place as queen of the pack. Max was brutal. When ever we saw him trying to turf with her we stopped him, but we also knew that many animal species use this aggression to establish the pack leader/alpha role. I've listened to Cesar Milan say there can only be one leader and dogs don't care who it is, they just want to know who is in control. I have to say that we knew that Beau (the male Newf) was not going to be in contention. He was always the follower. Belle had always been the one to tell Beau what to do. Now with Max, she was trying to let him know her status. Unfortunately, she did not have the strength or energy to get her point across to Max. Even understanding this animal behavior, I found it difficult to watch Max dethrone Belle. Within 6 months of Max coming into our home, Belle was dead. Beau followed shortly after Belle. This was a very difficult and emotional time for all of us. Belle and Beau were the best pets a family could ever own. We still miss them.

I must say that Max has come along way in lowering his energy level since that time. With a good two years of training at Moongazer, and with maturation, he has really developed into a wonderful family dog. Although his strength can sometimes cause him grief. I don't think he realizes how big he really is.
This brings me to my original thought about dominance between Beeks and Max. I adopted Beeker about a year and a half after Max. Max weighed about his current weigh of 150 lbs at the time and Beeks(as I mentioned) weighed about 20lbs. From the start, Beeker would nip at Max's ankles, and especially his tail. There was a time when Max was missing some of the hair from his tail because Beeker was pulling it out. A cattle dog's instincts tell it to herd other animals and so I believe that Beeks was exhibiting his natural behaviors. Beeks is a player! He will engage with Chez (Chez will play back too)but mostly Beeks will engage with Max. All the time. Beeks will bow to Max (meaning will you play with me?)or dangle a toy in Max'w face. Anything to initiate play. If Max is walking, Beeks will nip at his heels, pull his tail. I'm thinking this is just like the little brother bothering his older brother. The thing is, Max does not growl or stop Beeks from doing this. Given Max's weight and proven tenacity he certianly could. Beeks seems to get his way all the time with Max. On the other hand, Max is the one that decides when and how much play they will do. I have also seen other behaviors that make me question who is more dominate. Max does't seem as concerned with what Beeker does, as Beeker is always concerned with what Max is doing. When I have Beeks on the bed and then invite Max up, Beeks gets skiddish, he sometimes jumps down. Although Max will not usually take a chew toy away from Beeker (not really a chewing dog as much as a soft pallet dog), Beeks will try to get toys away from Max. They will both tower over each other( understand this is a sign of dominance) and both will roll over for each other during play. I see Beeker lick Max, but not the other way around. I have also seen Beeker eat Max's doot, not the other way around. When I feed the dogs dinner, I have them sit first before I let them "go to it". If Beeks is the first to sit I release him to go eat. I've noticed that although he runs to start he comes back, doesn't run to his bowl like he's confused about getting to go first. Max on the other hand will not hesitate to get ot his bowl first. Lately, When I go to bring the dogs in from eating, Max is at Beeks bowl, licking it. The power humping is both ways as well.
After reading this back, I think that Max is the Alpha dog, with Beeks the follower dog who is learning. I think that Max could stop any agression he wanted and he allows Beeks to "practice" his dog behaviors. When we are at the dog park and Beeks is playing with other dogs, barking and roughhousing, Max gets involved. I think he is uncomfortable with Beeks sounds, kinda like too much activity and noise. Still, Maybe Max is the submissive one, the Sancho Panza to Beeker's Don Quixote. No, Beeks is alot more like the Sancho kind of Dog. Looking for the next Max Adventure. I'm right here by ya Max!

Confinement (6)

I went to work today and when we are both gone we gate the dogs in our laundry/mud room. They are so patient. I feel guilty for doing this, thinking that they more space. We use to allow them their freedom during the day but we found came home a number of times to pillows off the kitchen window seat. The kitchen window faces our lane where dog owners walk their pets and this causes both dogs great excitement. If they see walkers they bark,jump up and down and Max has started to jump onto the window seat and scratch at the window.Okay, I've caught Beeker at this too. When I catch him doing this behavior I correct him, tell him to "Kennel up"(which means to go into the mud/laundry room). Both dogs will "kennel up" when we tell them, even if we don't gate them. We use this when we answer the door also. Anyway, when I go to work all day they sometimes stay in the laundry room with a bucket of water for nearly 9 hours. We have a basket of chew toys and a cloth mat for Beeks, I know they sleep most of the time. Still...
And once I'm home they are so excited, ready to eat (no matter what time it is) and they want to go outside (need to go outside). After the chores are finished the dogs can't wait to go at it. sometimes I can't tell if they are rough-housing or "duking it out". MAybe the lines are blurred sometimes too. I'm sure the result is energy release. After a while or if I can't take the noise any more, I call them out, separating the boys, to each of their sides of the bed. They both exhale loudly.I've witnessed this when ever they need to calm down. The exhale, rids them of pent up energy. When they have been gone all day, they need play time and so I do allow them their play time, if it's nice outside, we tell them to "take it outside". When it's raining, the playground is in our bedroom or livingroom.