10 Signs of a Happy Dog Owner

by Carrie Boyko

This isn't rocket science. The dog owners who really enjoy a bond with their dogs show it by their actions:

1. You see them at the dog park, not sitting on a bench reading, but engaging with their dog, as well as the other owners. These owners realize the importance of socializing their dog.
2. They continue to train throughout their dog's life, not just during house training or the usual  Sit Stay Heel basics class.
3. Happy dog owners enjoy the company of their dogs whenever they can take their pup along--the bank drive through, the pet supply store, a friend's home. 
4. The owner that enjoys his dog's company is rarely ready to give up their pup at the first sign of trouble. They will seek out the assistance of a trainer or the evaluation of a veterinarian when problems pop up, seeking to find a solution.
5. Happy dog owners often are seen walking with their dog daily, and sometimes more. 
6. They may even enjoy other activities with their dog, such as playing Frisbee, fetch, herding, tracking,  swimming, biking, hiking, or group activities like Agility training, flyball competitions, diving training, and yes, even freestyle dance. The video at the top of this post is a good example of an owner who loves her dog and enjoys spending time with him.
7. Most importantly, happy dog owners have learned the primary lessons of dog ownership: dogs love unconditionally and a bond with a dog is forever. There are no divorces or family feuds. You'll have a true friend for life when you give yourself over to loving a dog.
8. Happy dog owners don't fret over providing proper care for their dog. Good quality food, regular medical care, fresh water, daily training exercises and daily physical exercise are all part of the equation for a happy dog owner.Oh, and don't let me leave out the occasional belly rub.
9. Truly happy dog owners have gained insight into the mind of a dog by reading, studying and learning more about canine behavior. The result of this is better problem solving and quicker resolutions to occasional hiccups.
10. Finally, the happiest of dog owners find themselves wanting to provide love and care to more than one canine, not only for their own enjoyment, but also for the companionship a second (or third?) dog will provide the others. This decision is frequently made carefully, and an appropriate housemate will be chosen with the advice of a professional, to assure compatible energy, as well as breeds that can coexist peacefully with a reasonable amount of supervision.

You may have noticed that I have left out leadership as a sign of a happy dog owner. While I know that leadership in the home is important to a happy dog, it may not always work that way for the owner. In my lifetime, I have known many dog owners whose bonds with their dogs were strong, even when the owner seemed to give the decision making over to the dog. 

"Are you hungry yet, Fido?

 Would you like to go for a walk now?"

Keep this in mind as you enjoy your life with your dogs. Leadership can only add to the bond in a relationship where the animal wants, even needs, you to take charge. Go get 'em, pack leader!

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Animal Pairings: They Teach us the Meaning of True Companionship

by Carrie Boyko


Every now and than you just need a good laugh. Watch these amazing animal pairings as they show us how species can interact in peace and harmony:


Did you laugh? I hope you're feeling more relaxed now. That was the whole idea. Give your dog a hug and remember how much two completely different beings can enjoy the company of one another.

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Celebrating Memorial Day with Your Dog

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Carrie Boyko

We're Ready, Mom

Xena is Napping

Like many dog owners, I enjoy including my pack in whatever celebration I am having. Whether it be a costume on Halloween or a special bandanna or shirt, my dogs seem to get the message that something extra special is happening. I know, they sense it from my excitement, but that's all good when we have something special going on in our lives, even if only a long weekend.


Memorial Day was set aside on this day to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. A patriotic holiday requires a red, white and blue theme at my house--just for fun. But what else can you do to  participate with your pups in this remembrance of these special service men and women? Here's a few ideas:

• Take your dog with you to the parade! Like many of the ideas below, it's FREE and he will enjoy the walk, the activity, and passersby will enjoy saying hello. This is a great time to practice friendly, calm greetings with your dog, so remember to bring a few training treats in your pocket, and praise him when he behaves properly. Canine manners are important when you are out in public, so be ready.
• Visit your closest veteran's cemetery for a walk, and time to contemplate the ultimate sacrifice that these special folks have made to help us keep our freedom.
• Wherever you go on this special day, take Fido with you, wearing his or her red, white and blue. You too! Don't have a bandanna? Just tie a ribbon around Spot's neck; this will do the trick.
• If your community is sponsoring a commemorative event, join in with Rover in tow. Likely it will be an outdoor gala, complete with flags, speeches and local performers. Your dog is sure to love the excitement and attention he will get, even if only wearing a ribbon around his neck. This will surely be a good opportunity to socialize your dog--good for his manners.
• Whenever you take your large or younger dog into a public setting, there is one thing you should do to assure safety and a calmer dog; take your pup on a long walk before you go. This may seem redundant, but it will help to drain his energy and make him a calmer companion during your outing.
• Today is the perfect day to consider a dog park visit. While you're at it, perhaps you might want to Adopt a Dog Park. What a great way to show your dedication to your dog as well as helping out the government with a little dog park clean up now and then.You can visit Adopt a Dog Park for more information.
• One last idea for finding patriotic bandannas and other accessories: In addition to pet stores, I have located them at places like dollar stores, craft shops, and discount stores. At this time of year, there is usually stock at most of these places, with Memorial Day, July 4th and then Labor Day, all lined up to take their place in our patriotic celebrations. Now go have some fun with your dog!

Xena, Tanner and Oliver plan a day with their favorite girl this year. We're ready to celebrate her homecoming along with Memorial Day. Maybe just a cookout at home? Here's a plan you might enjoy, complete with a bunch of yummy recipes for your own cookout:  Kicking Back with the Dogs on Memorial Day.

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Rent a Dog? Yes! You Can.

by Carrie Boyko

(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Could I Rent Tanner Out to Strangers?

 Absolutely Not!

Imagine going on vacation without your furry best friend. You miss him. You feel lonely without him to romp with in the park or simply take a stroll for fresh air. And who will snuggle at your feet while you sleep?

Enter Rent-a-Fido. You think I'm kidding, right? Nope. I read about this a while back, but got few details from the article in Huffington Post, so I didn't follow up. I suppose I did not take it too terribly seriously until today, when I stumbled on The Responsibility Project. This article had me gagging for a few minutes, thinking of an unsuspecting pup getting thrown into a new owner's car every day.

After an hour or so of contemplation, I convinced myself there cannot really be a huge market for this, not at the prices quoted on the Flexpetz site. OMG!  Then I read the part of their website that quoted their net worth. Let's just say it would pay the vet bills of most of the US this year.

I tried to brainstorm reasons for renting a dog that could be considered, well, dog-friendly. You know--safe. I find myself worrying about the safety of the dog in this crazy world we live in. A few possibilities that occurred to me are:

• People who work long hours might like a pal for a Saturday afternoon.
• Dogs are considered "chick-magnets", right?
• People who travel a great deal might enjoy a dog for a weekend at home.
• Testing out dog ownership for a few days. Okay, maybe this could be a good thing. At least, as long as the dog has a regular home to go back to and the renter has been thoroughly background checked. How can they know that the dog will be treated lovingly, if not humanely? Stomach ache starting...
• A dog lover who lives in dog-unfriendly housing might enjoy a day out with Rover.
• Flexpetz, the company that has fashioned this concept, explains their idea as a great way for owners to try out pets before they adopt. Their press release at this link describes what they do as a good deed for animals in humane societies and such. Their website FAQs explain the training, veterinary care, regular caregiver, and holistic food that is all part of these dog's daily life, at least until they are permanently adopted. Hmmm...softening a bit.

Traveling without my dogs is always worrisome to me. Are they enjoying their playtime at their doggie daycare playground? At their favorite Bow Wow Resort, I don't worry, at least not much. But all those dogs who get boarded in kennels...well, I just don't like to think about that. But would it help me to rent another dog while I was on vacation? Absolutely not. I love dogs, and I would enjoy the companionship of the dog. But it would not stop me from thinking of my own, or worrying about this rental dog's experiences to come tomorrow or the next day.

After reading Flexpets FAQs, I found myself feeling guilty for hating this company. Not that I can support it entirely, but they do seem to cover all their bases. Vets, trainers, renters' training, etc. There is one thing, though, that is eating at me. The renters. There are no hidden cameras or 'flies on the wall' to assure these pups are treated with love and respect. Sure, the trainer meets them and gives them a session on consistent training of the dog. But we really don't know what happens when the door is closed behind the trainer.

While I can totally see all three of my dogs enjoying an experience with a friendly, loving temporary caregiver, my dogs are the epitome of well-socialized. I don't say that to brag; it's simply that they get a lot of socialization time. They go with me on errands, visit a doggie daycare weekly for playtime, spend occasional days with Grandma, romp at the dog park weekly with dozens of 'friends', and love to travel and meet new people.

But my biggest worry won't seem to go away. Even people loving dogs would be unhappy in a temporary home with a renter whose intentions are not about companionship. I don't think I could sleep at night if I worked for this company. What do you think? Let's get some dialog going. Opinions? The comment link is at the bottom of the post.

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Family Planning for Doggie Additions

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© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2006

Tanner (4 months) and Xena (10) Share

Christmas Morning

with a Rare Bedtime Snuggle

Years ago, I read an article on the topic of "when is the best time to bring in your next dog, when your dog is growing older." The advice was very common sense and stuck with me for years to come. As Xena, my nearly 13 year old Retriever mix, neared her 10th birthday, I began to plan for the blessed event--acquiring our next puppy.

What's the hurry, you might ask? Here's the logic, as explained in the article I read so long ago:

• At 10, most dogs are mature, but not "old". They still enjoy life and have some spunk and vinegar left.


• Again, at this age, most dogs are not terribly annoyed by the rambunctious playfulness of a puppy. As they continue to grow older, a lack of patience sometimes takes the place of interest in a newcomer, making this a more challenging time to add a puppy to the mix.


• A 10-year-old dog can still enjoy playing with a growing puppy, and will be able to learn gentle ways to play, if taught.


• The puppy will learn much from the older dog about obedience, the rules of the house, and house training, as well as getting a good example of calmer behavior.


• The older dog will likely retain some of his youthful vigor longer, as a result of having a younger playmate.

These are the highlights of the article, and the primary reasons I chose to get Tanner, our Golden Retriever, when Xena was 10 years old. This turned out to be great advice, at least in our case. Xena's mothering instinct was still intact, and she accepted the little pest easily, taking to cleaning his ears and backside, as any good mama would. Since she had done this exact same thing with Patches, the kitten she adopted at age 1, I had no doubts about her ability to adapt to Tanner's presense.

As Tanner grew, Xena began to play more vigorously with him, in response to his ability to play more like a "big boy". She continues to enjoy, and often invites, a good wrestling match. At nearly 90, I'm proud to see her enjoying playtime with Tanner. While she often still is the instigator, she is now beginning to allow him to take the more dominant role in their play. This is an interesting dynamic, given Tanner's submissiveness. While their behaviors continue to change slowly, their relationship as happy pack members is as solid as ever.

Have you added a puppy or new dog to other dogs in your household? I'd love to hear your story and learn how you fared. Please write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com or leave a comment at the link below the post--next to the envelope icon.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures!

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Preparing to Let Go...When it's Your Dog's Time

originally published August 2, 2009

This is a tough topic to write about, particularly because I know I'll be dealing with this soon myself. At 12 1/2, Xena is pushing 90 human years, has liver cancer, and is showing minor signs of vision and hearing difficulty. After writing the post on dog proofing, I realized that I have recently begun to dog proof for Xena, but in a different way.

At her age, chewing on household items and barking at the doorbell are no longer even a consideration. She's content to enjoy long naps, short walks, dog park visits and time in the sunny outdoors.

So why am I "old dog proofing?", you may ask. Because with diminishing eyesight, I have noticed that Xena often stops before approaching an area where there is a step down or a step up and ponders its exact location. It is apparent to me that she can no longer see it clearly. I often encourage her through these areas, rather than watching her nervously consider her options. When I offer her food dish, I have to tap my fingers on it to get her attention in the right location. She used to come running as soon as she heard the lid come off of the food bin. That's how significant the change is.

Outdoors, she has begun to stand at our Invisible fence line and stare into the distance for long periods. I suspect this is because she smells good things and can only enjoy them at a distance. Her nose has shown no signs of diminished ability. But her sight is failing her and she probably does not see things across the street as easily.

Cesar Millan says that a dog's nose is his strongest sense; Xena is definitely walking proof that her nose is still in charge. When my animal-loving daughter found a baby bird on the ground this weekend, Xena was the first to discover the fallen fowl when it entered the house in a shoebox lined with papers. As quickly as my daughter could run to the closest pet store for baby bird formula, Xena had already managed to knock the box off a shelf onto the floor. Fortunately, the little fella (?) wasn't hurt and Xena did nothing more than enjoy a good sniff. In euphoric doggie heaven, she examined the little 1-ounce fledgling with her highly experienced nose, knowing full well she had found a bird--the instinctual goal of every Retriever.

Despite this momentary energy, Xena does show signs of slowing down. We have abandoned biking with her, to protect her aging joints, although she happily shows no signs of arthritis or hip displasia. When she wants to , she can put up quite a "fight" with Tanner in their wrestling matches. Surprisingly, she is often the instigator. It does my heart good to see her in a play bow at this age.

Nevertheless, it is on my mind. I sometimes find myself thinking about how I will handle her passing and giving thanks that I have her two housemates to keep my spirits up when the time comes. Mental preparation is really all I can do. I find it morbid to consider a grave site or her cremation, even though I know what the answer will be. At Organic Journey Online, I recently pondered and then wrote about this very subject; I suppose Xena's age is more on my mind than I would like to admit. Rather, I prefer to envision her frolicking at the dog park with her first BFF, Deke, who moved away, but is always a memory that my family shares.

Let me end this post with a short, uplifting story about Deke and Xena's first meeting. Deke, a 9 month old Rottweiler, lived a few houses away. Just after adopting Xena, she and I were sitting in the grass of my front yard, as we saw Deke walking toward us down the street. From this distance, Deke appeared much smaller. Xena's 13 week old energy and lack of experience took over, as she took off running toward this prospective playmate. As Xena approached close enough to realize the error of her ways, she slammed on her brakes and made a quick 180 degree turn, high-tailing it back to my lap, where she buried her head, hoping to find safety.

Candy, Deke's owner, walked over to introduce herself, while Xena snuggled close, anxiously awaiting her sentence for childish assertion. Instead, Deke reached in to sniff her and dropped to the ground in an obvious effort to invite her to get acquainted. Xena needed no encouragement as she stumbled off my lap and began to explore her new friend's many interesting smells. He enjoyed the attention and she learned a lot that day about how not to approach a large dog. The two unlikely buddies became fast friends and enjoyed many playful encounters while we remained neighbors.

Although Cesar Millan would have me to believe that dogs do not live in the past, I sometimes hope that Xena remembers her romps with Deke. Those were great times and there is nothing better than fun with friends. That's exactly how I feel about Xena, by BFF.

Helping Your Big Dog Adapt to Playing Safely with a New Puppy

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner Get Acquainted

Let's start with some stats here. These photos are about 15-16 months old. Tanner, the Golden Retriever is 47 pounds in this picture, and still somewhat of a puppy himself at 1-1/2. His new housemate is Oliver, a Papillon. Oliver arrived still a bit under the weather, so we waited to take pictures until he perked up. We adopted him when he arrived sick at a pet store. Lucky us; he is a great little fella.

Oliver was 3.2 pounds when we brought him home. That size difference between the two pups could have spelled disaster, but we were careful about the introduction and initial days of getting acquainted. This is what I will chronicle here. Using Cesar Millan's philosophy for bringing a new dog into your pack, I first began with a long, migrating walk.

Tanner, Oliver, Xena, Toni and I all walked for about a half hour. We had to carry Oliver a good share of the way, given his still weakened condition. But I think he still got the message that he was migrating to a new place with a pack leader.

While Toni held Xena, and then Tanner, I held Oliver up to sniff their behinds. Sounds a little off-color, huh? Well, that's how dogs give a friendly greeting, according to Cesar Millan. It also establishes dominance. In this case, with a new puppy coming into the pack, we wanted to assure that the two older dogs did not feel dominant over the puppy. This will help to assure their gentleness and his safety.

Honestly, I wasn't sure how smoothly all this would go, but I was ready with baby gates and separate rooms, if needed. We were committed to bringing this little fella home, by my daughter's agreement to take him. You know how that goes.

When we arrived back at the house after our migrating walk, I made sure that all humans went inside first, establishing them as the pack leaders. I then lead Tanner to a dog bed, where I placed him in a DOWN position, and asked him to stay. Tanner is very good at STAY.

I placed Oliver near him and allowed them both to sniff and come close to each other's muzzle. When Tanner began to use a paw, I touched the paw, and said firmly, "No Paw." When Tanner used his snout to play, I said "Good Boy, Tanner!" He learned fast. A few minutes of snout playtime and Oliver was beat. Off to bed for him.

© copyright 2008 Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner

He quickly snuggled into his crate, which we placed in an area of our family room/kitchen where he could see everyone. He slept for quite a while after that first playtime with Tanner.

Similar exercises continued for a while, mostly with Tanner. He was a quick study. Xena was not terribly interested in the feisty little boy, Oliver, at first. She found his energy level to be overwhelming. No aggression...she simply chose to ignore him. At 12 1/2, she's earned the right to ignore a rambunctious child, if she likes. Her tolerance of Oliver has continued well, without any concerns for his safety. She is pleasant and easy going, for such a lot of mileage on her odometer.

As time went on, Tanner and Oliver began to fall asleep together, after playful displays on the couch or floor. I caught a few of these on camera:

© photo copyright 2008 Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner Crashed

© photo copyright 2008 Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner Sleep Quietly Together

Within a few days, Tanner was Oliver's favorite playground obstacle. Oliver crawled all over Tanner, and enjoyed litter mate-style play like chewing on Tanner's ears and tail. Tanner didn't mind a bit. Actually, I believe he was enjoying all the attention he was getting from this new boarder.

© photo copyright 2008 Carrie Boyko

Oliver Climbs on Top of Tanner

Best of all, Tanner still remembers to be gentle and careful with Oliver. Rarely does he get too rough. If anything, Oliver may abuse his privilege of being the small one occasionally, but Tanner doesn't seem to mind. They're great buddies.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008

Oliver and Tanner Continue to Play Nicely



© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2008

Oliver Shares His Toys with Tanner

Teaching the boys to share their toys went smoothly also, but we'll leave that topic for another day. Just remember, all toys belong to the Pack Leader, and you'll be good to go. This Cesar Millan approach worked for me also.

I Rescued a Human Today

~ by Anonymous

I rescued a human today

? I rescued a human today?

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.


As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.


As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.


She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.


A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.


I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.


I rescued a human today.

~ Anonymous ~

**************************

If you are a human who would like to be rescued, please see the photos of dogs who would love to rescue you. Their information is in the sidebar at right. Companionship is good therapy. Do you have room in your heart to love and be loved? They do.

Our Adopted Cousin Jacque Makes an Appearance

This is Jacque, my mother's Papillon. When my daughter adopted Oliver, it didn't take long for my mom to fall in love. We had been urging her to bring a puppy home for a companion for years. I guess she just needed to find the right size and energy for her comfort level. Oliver did a good job of showing her what she needed.

We were thrilled to find Jacque available for adoption, when his first owner was unable to keep him. I hope they know he has a comfortable home and a loving owner. Adoption is a wonderful feeling.

This photo was taken during the holidays when it was chilly. Jacque is wearing one of Oliver's jackets, although he has now outgrown it and is bigger than Oliver, by 3 pounds. An 11 pound Papillon is at the top of its weight range, so mom is now monitoring his food and snack intake more carefully. He's still in obedience training so he is getting extra training treats, and that may be the source of those extra pounds.

The next time I post a photo of Jacque he will probably have sprouted into manhood and gotten his plumage, or fluffy tail and mane. I get the impression that my mom can hardly wait. She is so cute when she shows visitors the difference between Oliver's appearance and Jacque's puppy coat. It won't be long, though, til Jacque sprouts his feathers and will look much like Oliver. I particularly love his little white spot on his nose. It may not be considered a beauty mark by breeders, but it is endearing to me.

I'll be back one day with a grown up photo of Jacque, so you can see his new outfit. Meanwhile, I'd love to hear from you. Comments are welcome and encouraged.