Dog fight = No good

Last Friday Pasha got into a really nasty dog fight over a rubber Chuckit ball, as you can see she lost in a big way and now her butt cheek looks like swiss cheese:/  Fights at the dog run happen fairly regularly but they are usually the doggie equivalent of Jerry Springer Show fights, noise, hair pulling, slapping, maybe a scratch or two but nobody going to the hospital. This one was seriously bad (and surprising, since the other dog is usually friendly and has great owners who have been bringing him to the dog run since he was a pup - they were understandably very jarred by this all and are looking into how to prevent this from happening again).  The bite went deep and tore into the muscle so the muscle itself had to be stitched back together as well as the skin sewn up... So no running around for a few weeks, mostly homebound, short walks to "take care of business" only.  Today it's a week later and she got a gold star from her vet, drains out, healing nicely and Dr. Tsung says "couple more weeks of nooooo exercise!"

Last Friday. 

This was taken after she came home from getting patched up, drugged and hurting, poor Pasha!

Eeeeeeeek!!!  Pretty gross right? Those white things sticking out are drains, keeps the skin from closing up so you can squirt antiseptic into the wounds to prevent infection, the vet said the wound was filthy and they had to flush dirt and wood chips out of it....  The red stuff is the antiseptic mixed with blood leaking out where the drains stick out lower down the leg, there was less of that after a few days.  As nasty as this looks she didn't seem too bothered by it, no limping, no crying, she was on some pain medication but still you'd expect some discomfort?  And to my relief she is just as happy as ever and doesn't seem to be anti-dog after the incident, as happy to greet other dogs on leash as before.

yup, one on the groin too.  when I had to irrigate her wounds she would roll over or sit and cock her leg so I could get at it more easily;) and she especially seems to enjoy the hot compresses!

Less than a week later, drains are out and it looking a whole lot better :)

Those big holes are where the drains were, they should scab up shortly.

sooooo bored..... hate cone....

WHAAAAAT??? VISITOR!!!! my friend Dan was in town for a few days, Pasha LOVED him! even the cone couldn't save him from her slobbery love;)

Soooo how to wear out the 2 year old pup who is used to at least an hour of chasing the ball and wrestling at the dog run everyday.....??  For now she needs to be kept pretty quiet so we are relying on "boredom busters", thinky toys, involving strategy and coordination, doggie problem solving = mental exhaustion leading to naps and a little less restlessness;)  doesn't replace physical exercise but will hopefully prevent overwhelming cabin fever for the next few weeks.  

Here's our stash!  These are all food dispensing toys, instead of the 15 seconds it normally takes her to eat breakfast and dinner from her bowl it can take 20 min - 1.5 hrs (yes I'm a looser and I totally timed it) anyway she loooooves them:)  I have a few videos of how they work and the sort of focus they require.  They work best if your dog is a pig like mine, perhaps less so if you have a grazer. 

first crack at it, she needed a little guidance... she achieved "genius level" later that day according to the toy instructions...Very cute but not challenging enough, might bring this back for something more involved ;)

the Busy Buddy or as we call it the "green lantern" is my favorite, she loves it and it is less loud/messy than the Kong Wobble and the Buster Cube.  This takes her about 20 minutes to eat a meal sized cup of kibble, and since it involves more angling skills than brute strength it is usually a quieter affair (but still enthusiastic).  

This is similar in principle to the Kong Wobble, she loves them both but they are LOUD!  She has been refining her approach to the Buster Cube, trying to turn it over on the bed instead of whacking it around the apartment...  Better to hand these out when you will not be home to enjoy the crashing noises:/ or better yet if you are lucky enough to have a patio or something...

The winner in terms of longest time to empty is officially a frozen Kong, I clocked that at 45 minutes per Kong, AND it takes 2 for each meal, so 3 hours a day if she is served breakfast and dinner a la Kong!!!

She is super excited to be handed any of these options, sick or well these food dispensers are great for keeping your dog busy while they are indoors, and time consuming appropriate dog hobbies are good for your personal property and the dogs mental health! Below are some articles I found while googling for suggestions to keep my patient content while cooped up (also during inclement weather)  and check out those crazy fun toys by Nina Ottosson, maybe Santa will bring her one;)

http://www.designerdoggy.com/by-designer/nina-ottosson.html?gclid=CIi3rs_S4awCFQdN4Aod9idhog

http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/brain-boosting-games/1721

http://www.k9station.com/mentalstim.htm

Pasha progress report:)

Earlier today I was just trying to figure out exactly when I first learned of Pasha, and how long I've had her... Feb 22 from Laurie @ Brooklyn Foster Animal Network... "April, a very needy case. Read the safer test. Volunteers are raving about her. Can we have her delivered to you asap?"  she was on the euthanasia-list and I was suddenly available to foster because of a cancelled trip, things do happen for a reason;)


So this pup has been in my life for exactly 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier to have her here!  she has the sweeeetest disposition and we are getting to know each other, pleasant surprises, problem solving, working out logistics of becoming a dog OWNER again... no matter how awesome the dog it's never eeeasy but it is worth it, she's definitely worth shuffling some things around.  I'm happy to have a permanent resident again, it's been a little tough getting attached to the foster pups, watching them learn things and improve and then handing them over (although honestly I couldn't have been happier with the adoptions I've had!!!).  Next time I foster, which I'm thinking will be sooner than later, somebody will be staying with me. Plus she'll make an excellent big sis to the new foster pups!


So on to miss Pasha's progress!  She's suuuuch a good girl, so sweet and eager to please, fun to train, happy to go with the flow, loves car rides, hiking, making friends at the dog run, kissing the kitty;)  blows my mind that somebody abandoned her, but I'm glad she ended up with me!  It's never totally smooth sailing with a new dog, you have to be realistic and expect a few issues, we have a few here, they're minor but still... She did get into things once or twice while I was at work, the recyclables, the quinoa and cat food, nothing terrible but worth preventing!  So for now she's in a confined space while am out, baby gated the hallway so she has the hallway and the bathroom to play in, with some of her sturdier toys and bones and her bed etc...  perhaps most helpful, I don't put food in her bowl in the morning, she gets her dog food + treats and peanut butter or yogurt frozen into a kong overnight!  I timed it yesterday, since they are frozen it took her a good 40 minutes of solid effort to empty it (and she gets 2!), FOOOOOD!!!!  she is very motivated to empty those suckers, I'm sure it burns off some of her mental energy and gives her "an appropriate dog hobby" so she doesn't get bored (tip from Dr.Ian Dunbar of http://www.dogstardaily.com/ works like a charm!).  Also she is a bit of an excited/submissive peer, this has happened a handful of times, she is clearly housebroken but this seems to be something different, we're off to the vet next Monday to rule out physical causes and if not then we'll work on it (I've been reading up...).  


I love my new doggie, fostering has been a great way to find a forever dog and to help other guys in the process.  Can't wait to see how excited she will be to have doggie house guests, I'm hoping to get back to fostering in early April, who will be our next visitor???

teaching the beast patience!

awesome trick interrupted by falling bicycle!

Another favorite game of ours is hide and seek!  She has to sit and stay while I hide in another room (with a toy or treats) and when I say "OK" she has to find me:)  shes' veeerrrry proud of herself when she does and then she gets cookies or we play catch.  Whatever kind of mutt she is whether shepherd, dobie or rottie they are all working dogs and need some kind of problem solving to challenge them and keep them from getting bored!  she also has a backpack like Dingo;) 

Employment?

So I've had Edwina for a week and she is now over her kennel cough/tummy troubles and is gaining energy!  She is still being a very good girl but it is becoming clear that she will soon be entirely at home here and with familiarity will surely come boredom (and destruction of my personal property).... A smartypants like this needs something to do, and though we are still working on the basics, sit, down, come, stay, as well as practicing me leaving her alone (at home, in the car, outside Starbucks (all done safely where I can see her but she can't see me) it seems we need to get our working dog a job.  As I've mentioned I am not a slick dog trainer so this is like the blind leading the blind. The consensus on what she's made of varies but most can agree she is likely a mix of is Aussie Shepherd/Catahoula Leopard Dog/Blue Heeler, all herders of one kind of another, all likely to go mad without feeling useful!  Oh boy, again not so much livestock to herd in NY so it'll have to be a half measure.

I've read many times trawling the internet that doggie backpacks are great for making dogs feel useful!  They will be entrusted with the very important job of carrying things for you, water bottles, poop bags, toys... so this is what we will try, we bought a cheapo backpack at Petco today and she doesn't mind wearing it, so next time we go for a long walk she will not be a freeloader she will be my sherpa;)  Perhaps we can gather sticks along the way, maybe at home we can collect shoes and put them back in the closet?  The premise seems to be that it's will make them feel proud and important to feel they are doing something for you and will satisfy the need to work and contribute to the pack welfare.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Patiently waiting outside Starbucks, not a peep and very relaxed.  

Although most definitely on the look out for "Mom":)

New uniform.

She's a looker, now when I walk down the street and someone says nice eyes they mean the dog : /

Foodie toys to keep her busy while I'm gone, 

she'll have to extract her breakfast kibble one at a time!

We'll find out soon exactly how clever she is...

(after Ruby goes home, they cannot be trusted when food is involved).

We also have a Christmas visitor, babysitting sweet little Ruby the Chihuaha/Papillon mix (also a foster pup, if you'd like to meet her I can give you her foster Mom's info!)!  Though super cute and a sweetie she has a pretty BIG case of "Little Dog Syndrome" (meaning behavior that would be extreme bad manners in a big dog but is tolerated since she's a peanut.  For the most part after day one I managed to get them sorted and at least teach Ruby that I'm the boss, but if I'm number one then who's number 2?!  Watching the 2 of them hash that out is like watching Dynasty, power plays, spitefulness, jealousy, examples - refilled the water bowl and gave it to Ruby, she went to drink and Edwina shoved her out of the way and drank all of it, NONE left for Ruby, if I call Ruby Edwina comes over and shoves her out of the way so she can be pet instead, also steals Ruby's toys, and it goes both ways, Ruby attacks if Edwina comes near her bowl. We're doing our best to mediate hopefully they'll figure it out...

Taking a break from their bitchy drama...

!!!Also learned at the dog run the other day that miss Edwina can CLIMB fences, climb in the most literal sense, up one side and straight down the other.  I'd been worrying about her jumping them but I'd never seen a dog climb one, I wonder if that's how she ended up in a shelter, did she run away from home?  How will the little escape artist ever be safely contained, sigh...

Notes-

1.  Friendlier with strangers then she was when I first got her, she acknowledges most people who pet her (still nothing crazy...), but we did have visitors, the friends who foster Ruby and she was extra friendly to them, downright silly at points! perhaps being on her home turf makes her more comfortable or less distracted?

2.  Seems I am truly her pack leader because she follows me from room to room and there is a lot more eye contact and more opportunities for a "mother may I", I try to make her "ask" permission for most things, including entering my bedroom or approaching the cat.  I feel like kind of a jerk but that's what they recommend and she too big and strong for her to think she has the upper hand : /

3. Working on stay, this one's not going so well, don't think I'm getting the point across correctly... we bought a clicker today so maybe that will help? 

4. Come is going a little better, I confess I have nicknamed her Dingo (she looks like a wild dog!), she didn't respond to Edwina anyway and it doesn't exactly roll off my tongue.  When she "comes" she gets treats or really good scrunchies! She's learning, maybe one day far off in the future she'll be allowed off the leash outside (my biggest fear is her taking off!).

5.  Although I feel like a total jerk (and it's not what I want, I would truly love a doggie foot warmer) she is not allowed to sleep in my "den" and entering it all is invitation only.  Sigh... if you tell her no and stay she will lay down at the doorway and watch wistfully until an invitation is extended, this applies to the kitchen as well.   She does really well with respecting boundaries, and is learning good manners, also this will hopefully prevent any separation anxiety...

For info on Edwina please call 917 374-3260 and check out the link on the upper right of this blog for the Brooklyn Animal Foster Network info and adoption process etc...

-April