Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Follow-Up Friday (9-28-12)

By

For those new to the blog, my follow-up Friday provides me with an opportunity to update or revise a post from the previous week.

You know sometimes you post about something and you need an update but it doesn’t warrant a whole blog.  Or sometimes someone made a comment that really resonated with you.  Yup, Follow-Up Friday baby!

Since the dogs took over the blog last Friday for Human Shaming, I promised a double update.

Dogcula – Update

You guys had such great suggestions.  As I learned on working the recall, the key to teaching any new behavior is consistency.  I must remember to remind her gentle and I must remember to present the treat to her differently than I do Sampson.

Here’s a picture of the way I’ve been working this command.

I’m holding the treat between my thumb and all four fingers.

I turn my hand so the treat is facing down and as I move towards her mouth I tell her, Gentle.

If she snaps at me, I tell her no and try again. When she licks at my hand, I release the treat.

 

It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

WTF/Whoo Hoo Wednesday

Many of you commented about the sadness of the posts and really that is the hardest part for me.  Like Jan, I used to avoid reading all the sad stories, until I started WTF Wednesday.

The point of WTF is to make fun of stupid people but let’s face it, sometimes it’s very hard to find humor in these stories and the best I can do is to call them a name.

The reason I added the Whoo Hoo portion to that feature is to try to show that not all newsworthy posts are bad and to keep me from crying over my keyboard.

My All-Star is on the D.L. – Update

As I noted in a recent post, the medication is really helping Sampson feel better, almost like he’s feeling too good.

When he was neutered the vet didn’t want to give him pain medication. She said she wanted him to feel some discomfort because she didn’t want him to be over-doing.  I looked at her like she had three heads and let her know that I would be monitoring the situation and I wanted him on pain meds.

I see where she was coming from now.

Gone to the Dogs – Author’s Note

The Human Shaming was a fun post.  I hope you weren’t too offended by the content. I was surprised at how easily it came together for me because in the past, I’ve had trouble finding the dog’s voices.

I enjoyed it so much I’m actually considering starting Sampson’s blog up again.  Of course it will not be daily (nor will this one) but I am seriously thinking about it.

My All-Star is on the D.L. Part Two – Author’s Note

Last week a woman was assaulted on a rail trail not too far from our house.  When the story first broke, I said well I’m not worried 1) we aren’t walking on the rail trail and 2) I have my dogs with me.

Then they reported she was walking her dogs.

Well, I’m down one dog, but I pulled on my big girl panties, loaded my pepper spray in my back pocket and hit the trail, with Delilah.  I kept to the upper trails and did my best impression of Linda Blair in The Exorcist, head spinning this way and that.

Monday Hubby said, Sampson and I will join you on your walks. This made me feel much better.  Even though I have no doubt that Delilah would protect me with her life, I’d much prefer she didn’t have to.

I was working a new command for her and I’ve continued it, but we haven’t had enough experience for me to write about it here, so you’ll have to stay tuned. 🙂

You’re Going the Wrong Way – Author’s Note

You all are very kind, but I know that Delilah and I don’t look good out on that course.  I’m really fine with that, as I look at it as just another way exercise her mind and body.

Batter Up – Update

Yes, Delilah has certainly stepped up to the plate.  Her mischief continues on almost a daily basis.  2 BrownDawgs pointed out that she got destructive this time last year.  I’m trying to figure out the common denominator.

Do you think dogs can suffer from SAD? (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Follow-Up Friday Blog Hop – Author’s Note

I know I have at least four blogs willing to participate in co-hosting a Follow-Up Friday Blog Hop, they are Brown Dog CBR, Rescued Insanity, 2 Brown Dawgs and Hey It’s Jet Here.

I may need a week or two to make sure I have the link tool working correctly, so if all goes well the first co-hosted FUF blog hop will be next week and my co-host will be Hawk from Brown Dog CBR

I’d like to throw the offer out there again.  Are YOU interested in co-hosting one week’s Follow-Up Friday Blog hop?  If so, leave me a message in the comments.

HELP!

Here is the link, but for some reason it doesn’t allow me to put my little icon in it.: [inlinkz id = 1]

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments

comments

Comments

    • Thanks Marina, she’s funny when she takes a treat, I’m not sure if you can tell from the picture but it’s like she crosses her eyes. 🙂

  3. Great Follow Up Jodi!
    I do believe dogs can suffer from SAD, but I think it is different from how we suffer from it.
    Sherman and Leroy use to get in fights, and when I say fights I mean full out brawls, it was horrible. It didn’t happen all the time but it happened in the month of October for 3 years straight and they would fight a few times a week. I couldn’t figure out what was triggering them to do this as they were fine the rest of the year. Last October I was just waiting for the first fight to take place and much to my surprise it did not. I’m hoping for the same this year!

    • So I wonder what changed for them last October Jen? We have also had a change in our walk schedule, but she is still getting her walks. I’m just trying to figure out what might be causing this onset of destruction.

      I hope no-one got hurt in your brawls. 🙁

  5. First, I want to say I think its so strange your share buttons don’t show up on the individual posts! Today I just went to the “whole” blog and was able to share 🙂

    I am SO glad you won’t be walking alone. Safety in numbers!

    Definitely believe dogs can suffer from SAD. I know mine do. We’ve had rain for the past three days and the dogs are sort of dragging themselves around the house like poor depressed souls. Their naps are punctuated by soulful, sad looks outside.

    • Oh the poor babies!! We had a break in the rain this morning and I had to trick them out to potty.

      I said, “Is that a chipmunk?” LOL

      I’m still learning things about self-hosting. 🙂 I’ll work on those social buttons!

  6. I tried to add my link, but it disappeared.

    I wonder if Delilah gets destructive at this time of year because she knows winter is coming on and she is foraging for extra food?

    Be careful on your trails. If we were closer I could bring Storm. She would alert before anyone got close, (unless she was busy with bunny or deer poop…lol). Even though Thunder is fairly laid back, I like walking with him just because he is so big, most people walking past avoid us. 🙂

      • That was the same thing that happened to me! I posted it but no link, so I went in and added it then there were two! LOL

        I’m pretty sure Delilah will alert me, she’s fairly protective. I do have the pepper spray and could wear it on my wrist just in case.

        I would think the big dogs would make people think twice, but who knows? I promise to be careful. 🙂

  7. I’ve been working out a SAD theory myself–Silas’s routine all summer was to go out and sun first thing, then come in for his breakfast. Then he would go right back to sleep. For the last week, he’s been wanting to play after breakfast. About the same time I noticed that there isn’t any sun on our patio first thing. The sun position at 9:30 has shifted to being behind our garage. So, he goes out, stands around for a minute, then comes in and wants to play. I’m not sure if they’re connected in a really obvious way (like, he is chilly, and if he can’t sun he needs to run around) or if he can just tell things are different.

    • I wonder too if it has anything to do with their coat? Silas is short coated so therefore (in my little thought process) he would absorb the sun better than say a St. Bernard. With the lack of sun…do you suppose he would be willing to go on the side of the garage?

      I might start keeping a small journal and see if I can come up with a pattern. Thanks for the idea!!

  9. Maybe I’m mean, but I’d rather not have my dogs medicated on pain pills, at least for very long. I had one dog overdo and pull out stitches once and never want that to happen. If they complain about the pain, then I’ll reconsider.

    • Well at first I thought….I don’t want him to hurt, but now I can see the benefit of a bit of discomfort. I mean you can tell yourself to take it easy but the dogs? Not so much.

  10. Ha Ha! Delilah is making you work hard to learn how to give her treats properly.

    Tell Sampson I would love to follow his blog if he starts it up again.

    • Well Delilah is very enthusiastic and willing to train me in many ways Toby.

      I will let Sampson know, first I want to redesign his blog, but that will be hard at the moment. Perhaps in the next month or so I can get to it.

  11. Nice job Delilah on taking that treat and I like your technique Jodi.

    Please be careful on your walks, (I know you are) but just need to say it!

    I added my link but it doesn’t seem to appear, wonder if I did something wrong?

    I would like to co-host with you but please give me some pointers as I am not very good at the hopping thing 😉

  12. I really haven’t been posting stuff that could use a follow up, not yet anyway. But I am curious as to how you would start a blog hop. It would be fun to come up with some ideas and host a blog hop with others. So how would I go about it if you don’t mind my asking.

    • Oh I don’t mind at all, but I will tell you up front, I’m learning as I go. 🙂

      To my knowledge there are two linking systems Inlinkz (there is a link right at the bottom of the post) and linkytool (you can google that) they both have free 30 day trials and then the option of purchasing. The one I used (which I’m still learning) the text hops, which is the link list I used is free. They also have an option of having a little icon along with the blog name (I’m working on that one.) Anyway, you sign up and they have a little demo that helps you set it up. I think the one I used does have a link list for the free WP accounts (I’m not sure what your blog is free or self-hosted?) Anyway, you download the plug in and it is very easy to set up the hop. The challenge is to get people to join. 🙂 E-mail me jodi@heartlikeadog.com if you need any help.

      • Thanks for the info. I watched the video to inlinkz, OMG so much to learn. But learn it I will! LOLOL I have a free wordpress account. Been thinking about getting a paid one but I have to see.
        I have an idea for a couple of hops so when I work out the details of how to do the hops on my end maybe you can cohost with me!