Getting Ready

Few of us have the forethought of getting ready in the event of a natural disaster. Here in the Santa Fe area our biggest concern is fires. As summer approaches and temperatures rise, the risk of a forest fire also increases. Yet, how many of us have a plan in place for ourselves and our pets?

Okay, I am going to raise my hand here. I have actually put together emergency kits just in case we have to evacuate our home in the event of a fire since we live close to the Santa Fe National Forest.

Yes, initially I dragged my feet in doing so, but like most anything else that calls for our attention the dreading part of it took more wind out of my sails than the actual chore! There is my first motivator for you.

Secondly, if we keep in mind that our brain has a difficult time planning (or getting motivated) to move forward when the end goal is not kind of immediate, we can more easily over ride that oh so very human MO. Once you have been aware that this is kind of our default setting, we can push to
concentrate on the “in the future (maybe) goal of being ready when calamity strikes" - ensuring as best one can that our loved ones (yes, I am talking about our pets here!) will be safe and as stress-free as possible.

Okay, hope the above serves as a motivator for you in getting your preparedness outfit in place. To make things a bit easier for you, I am sharing below what the group Animal Rescue Core (http://
animalrescuecorps.org/) suggests in terms of putting together a kit for your dog. They have on their website a list of supplies for a lot more pets and stock animals so if you have other animals in your life please check out their suggestions.

As for me, I put together my kits, which consist of three backpacks, one for John, one for me and one for the dogs that I can easily grab and carry to my car. If the season promises to be a very bad one, I might even keep the backpacks in my car. In addition, we made sure the fire dept. has a way to get into our property and that John and I know where we will meet if we have to evacuate pronto.

Here goes the list…

A large, lidded trashcan makes an excellent storage container for pet supplies. Supplies can also be stored in a pet’s crate. Make a copy of this checklist and tape it to the inner lid of the storage container for reference. Clean, dry spray bottles for cleaning and misting.

Water: A 3 to 7 day supply. A 10 pound animal needs about one quart of water per day; a 40 pound animal needs about one gallon of water per day.

Records: Copies of medical records, especially current vaccinations. Proof of current rabies vaccination is important for public health and safety. Boarding facilities may not take your pet without this information. If you are unsure about your pet’s vaccination status, contact your veterinarian. If you have pet medical insurance, include a copy of your policy.

Food: A 3 to 7 day supply. Food should be rotated every two months to ensure freshness. Don’t forget an extra can opener if using canned food.

Kennel or crate for housing: For dogs, it should be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around, and include food and water bowls. Label the crate with guardian’s name, address, phone number and an emergency contact number.

Muzzle: A muzzle or a roll of gauze bandage that can be used as a muzzle in case your dog becomes agitated and aggressive during the confusion. Even the gentlest animal can bite when hurt and/or frightened. Your veterinarian can instruct you on the safe use of a muzzle. Or actually, call me! I can help you with this. :)

Towels: Towels for bedding and to cover the crate during transport.

Toys and treats: Just like children, pets can gain comfort with the distraction of a favorite toy or treat. Including an old unwashed shirt with your scent on it can be a comfort if your pet is being cared for by strangers.

I would add to this list the following items:
Harness and extra collar and leashes with id tags
A small first-aid-kit for dogs and instruction booklet
Some non-perishable chewy(s)
Some natural aid to help with stressful situation (try what works for your dog
prior to emergency)

Whodunnit?

For the past few weeks I have been on watch patrol. Neither one of my dogs used to chew illegal items such as our shoes, but now Rioja has begun to delight in rubber. So far two of my shoes have fallen victim to her mighty strong jaws. As John likes to remind me every time our dogs act like dogs and engage in behaviors that we humans don’t find so fascinating… um, see it from the bright side… this will give you more appreciation for what your clients are going through… Yes, you bet! I have caught myself smiling sheepishly as my own managing plan fails once again leaving my shoes around for Rioja to find and chew.

Not that our house is messy with “stuff” all over the place, but since a few weeks back my house is even tidier. So besides having more understanding for my clients who report another chewed item, I have been busy implementing a plan of action in hopes that Rioja once again finds her own toys attractive and leaves

my shoes alone!

I think that in the last few days, I am making some progress and her taste for rubber appears to have been satisfied. She is eating out of frozen Kongs daily. This provides her with ample opportunity to chew and lick (rubber) and work for her food – there! You mischievous devil!

I also bought her (and Deuce) some hard rubber toys. Her toys are now rotated on a more frequent basis making sure that she always has access to hard toys that she can chew on or yes even destroy! I have made peace with that. And last I am more aware of her whereabouts. As I am busy writing this I realized she is not laying at her afternoon spot- the cozy pillow by the window, which provides her not only with some comfort but a spanking view… so I get up and go to look for her. I find her not too far from her “perch” half –asleep half aware of my camera (which I snatched as I went looking for her) on the sofa… ah, if only I was a dog….

All this new activity from Rioja has gotten me thinking about several things:

1. Our dog’s behavior is never static. It is always adapting to their surroundings and immediate reality.
2. They are not perfect thus we shall accept them with their “weaknesses” and we must take responsibility. (Pick after yourself) when they fail (mistaken MY possessions for theirs – as an example).
3. They need daily mental, social and physical stimulation or they will find it themselves.
4. We love them even though sometimes… we would much rather they get a job of their own to pay for broken items.
5. They make us laugh and keep us on our toes… implementing yet another fun game, getting us up from the chair to entertain.
6. Dogs remind us also that they are not humans thus their needs are different from ours. I can attest to this: I have never wanted to chew on flip-flops!
7. They will learn from their peers…

This last point is worth entertaining a little further. I always dreamed of being a private eye and thanks to my dogs (and my clients) I have the opportunity to investigate for possible cause, circumstantial evidence and

the like when something deviates with what we humans label as “normal” (read desirable) behavior from our dogs.

In regards to Rioja’s chewing of our shoes, I have to take into account that she began to chew on our possessions just after a cutie that we were boarding left our home. She had never before done so.

As a matter of fact all the destruction started when I left a pair of spanky-new sandals in my bathroom when we went out for dinner and while Rioja’s buddy was still with us only to come back to a chewed up strap on one of the sandals.

Is it possible then that dogs can pick up bad-habits (it is alwaaays bad habits) from their playmates? In other words, a case of: I see….now I must try it?

I am interested in the reasons behind her new acquired habit not so much to point fingers as to the culprit but because this incident sheds some light to the hidden life of our dogs - their social interactions with other dogs and to what their motivations might be in engaging in a new behavior. This case is not yet closed as I am still left wondering who whodunnit and a probable cause.

Playing Games

Now that Rioja has been with us for a few weeks, I am getting my groove back about how to arrange my day so that I can get in some “formal” training with both dogs. Yesterday I put Rioja in her crate for dinner with a bunch of Kongs™. She is getting so proficient at them and less frustrated. In the meantime, Deuce and I spend some fun time playing Deuce’s favorite games: Tug and recall with tug (Aka: Rocket recall). All right, all right, I am lying here a bit because these games are not only Deuce’s favorite games, but they are
also one of my favorite games. I noticed that while playing a new version of Rocket recall, I was really having a good time myself. No matter that I was tired after a day of downhill skiing with almost every inch of my body being sore.

Ah, each dog an individual thus they have different learning needs and how to go about it. All my dogs have taught me a few things about the learning process. Deuce, for example, gets uninterested very quickly if I ask him to repeat any behavior more than say three times in a row. Laika, on the other hand, could stay with me for as long as I wish to train her – recuperating from distractions very readily. Her tail full swing after repetition number… (?)

I guess both types of training and learning have benefits and deficits. What I have also realized is how easy it is to have expectations about how the dog that we are working with should respond. A mistake that will set any training program back… way back. Other differences between Laika and Deuce are that Laika was VERY food motivated and not so motivated by toys - she did love playing with me our little games, but toys
where not really “her thing”. Deuce, on the other hand, is quite selective about when he eats and how much of it. Always a tossup as to if he will respond to working for a treat. The dog must be really hungry. But approach the magic drawer where the tug toys are kept and you have his full attention. One day the closet door where I hang the whippet toys out of his reach had been left open. I noticed that Deuce was laying in the living room for a while- a new spot I thought, but I also noticed that he was not relaxing but in attention mode. I came close to find his eyes glued to the hanging whippet. Ahh, I said to him, you are acting like a border collie- again! Since it was in the middle of my work day, I just closed the door so that I could unglue obsessive Deuce from staring at the passive toy.

One of my main goals with Deuce is to have him interact with me - happily by choice in all sorts of inviting environments. We play with his tug toy or whippet daily incorporating soccer games as well where he gets to be the goalie. I play these games with him in different places and with different size balls. Initially he would only mind the “sanctioned” balls- balls that would disinflate and were difficult for me to kick far enough to make the experience sort of exciting for me. Now we have progressed to: all balls are fun to chase and stop - Border collie style.

When it is cold outside or dark, I love playing soccer with Deuce in our long corridor. I use softer balls so that they won’t damage the walls. Funny because I noticed that I can get a pretty good workout by just playing with him inside the house. I have also caught myself several times laughing or smiling wildly as he dives for the ball in a funny fashion. I guess that is another thing about games, your partner’s enthusiasm is
contagious… who likes to play with a bore?

Get this, our sheepherding is also improving big time. Now, for the first time in the year that we have been taking weekly lessons, we are beginning to think and act as a team. Last Wednesday as we finished a very rewarding lesson for the two of us, I ask Deuce to lay down; a behavior that he must do immediately upon request if there are to be any chances of us competing in future sheep-herding trials. Deuce not only laid down on a dime, but his mouth was relaxed and open and he gave me a fantastic tail wag!! This is
from Deuce a dog that is too cool to wag his tail but whom would much rather keep you guessing as to how much he is enjoying your company or your directions.

I know I'm playing mind games pretending that I know what he is really thinking or what his motivation might be, but in reality what I did experience was the satisfaction of explaining to him more clearly what I need for him to do by the way I moved in relation to the task at hand and the sheep. So here you have us: a perfect team, not only enjoying an activity together but minding the rules of engagement to make that activity
more collaborative.

On our session yesterday afternoon, I decided to do something different - to keep him guessing. No more than one or two reps of the same behavior- I promised myself. We began by playing a fierce game of tug in the living room gravitating as the excitement of the game progressed to the parking strip.

Tug, sit, tug, lay down, tug wait, tug, tug, tug, stay….Here, Deuce here, take it more tug, tug.

Now I moved around the large space, going downhill on the driveway- poof, taking off - as I requested that Deuce stays put on a down. The request for him to run furiously after me only when I say: here, Deuce, here (this is called stimulus control) and hopefully I will remember to keep the rules of the game intact and ask him to: take it (the tug toy that is) just before he presses the jaws on the rope.

As I stopped to catch my breath (who is exercising who?) I noticed that Rioja was still quiet- hopefully in her crate still working on those Kongs and oblivious as to how much fun Deuce and I are having. It is possible, I thought, to have your cake and it eat it too? If you plan things right and you work - keeping in mind that each dog (each learner) is an individual.

This afternoon I might go back to our new game or just vary it a little just to keep Deuce guessing and both of us happy to spend this time playing some favorite games.