Still life with dogs

Maybe there is progress

2011-07-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Other people tell me that Teddy is making progress, but I don't see many changes in him anymore. Except... we may be making progress in his fear of thunderstorms. Last night we had a terrible storm that lasted 2 hours. Thunder and lightning bad enough to wake the dead. But I've been working with Teddy since I first realized he was scared of storms, and I think our work is finally paying off. When a storm is coming, I get his favorite toys out and start playing with him. That works for 10 minutes or so, until he realizes that there is a storm outside. Then I get the treats out, and feed him small bits of treats for several minutes. Sometimes I make him work for his treats, doing sits, downs, and stays, and he keeps his focus on me (and the treats) and off the storm. A friend gave me a travel crate, and that has helped too. After we're done with our play and our treats, I put the crate by my feet, cover it with a blanket, and put Teddy in the crate. And he goes to sleep!!! So last night, at 2:00 in the morning when I woke up to the storm, I got Teddy's calming treat (a natural supplement that takes the edge off his fear, like a cocktail for humans.) I gave him 1 1/2, and gave the other half to Ranger. I put the crate near my bed, but he wasn't ready to go in it yet, so I put him on my bed with Ranger, who of course wasn't the least bit concerned about the storm, which I think also helps Teddy. Both dogs curled up next to me, and Teddy didn't seem to be too scared - no panting or pacing. He even put his head down on the bed! After awhile it got too warm for him, so he moved away, and I decided to put him in the crate. And he stayed there and went to sleep!! What a difference from the dog of earlier spring storms, where he would pace around the room and under the bed, and pant like he ran a marathon. I think it's a combination of our work and the calming treats. It's just so nice to see him relax enough to go to sleep. Maybe I should take a calming treat - I was up for the next 2 hours!

Progress?

2011-07-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

A friend just pointed out that it's been almost a year since I last posted. I went back and read some of the posts, and was surprised how little has changed in a year - I could have written last year's post on the 4th of July this year - things were the same, except that I have learned to control my temper! Teddy, while he has made huge strides since I first got him, hasn't changed much in the last year. He still cowers when I pick him up, still is scared of thunder and fireworks, still hates being held. The only change I see is he is less afraid to approach new people. But basically Teddy is what he is, and I don't expect huge changes anymore. Now if I can just get him to stop using my back door as a teething device!

The Range

2010-08-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

My sister recently told me that she likes Teddy more than Ranger. I sometimes feel that way as well, but I'm hard pressed to say why - he still won't sit on my lap, flattens himself to the ground if he thinks I'm going to pick him up, and doesn't pay attention to a word I say (unless the word is treat or outside.) Although Teddy still follows right on my heels wherever I walk, I don't always feel like he and I are on the same planet. Or maybe we are on the same planet, but not in the same country. But he is so adorable and needy and helpless that I can't help falling in love with him.

Ranger, however, was very easy to love from the beginning. He was a puppy and therefore cute and adorable, and smart as a whip, so it was easy and fun to train him. He listens to every word I say with his head tilted to one side, and seems to understand exactly what I mean. He knows my routines and my habits better than anyone - sometimes I feel like I don't need to say a word as he knows what I'm going to do next. So I feel disloyal to him when sometimes I prefer Teddy. I owe many of the good things in my life to Ranger. He has gotten me out into the world. It's very easy as a single person to cocoon yourself in your house or in your work, but Ranger has helped me to stay involved in the world. He helped introduce me to my neighbors and meet new people on our walks and through our agility work. Without him, Ginger, Ike, Gracie, Ava, Teddy, and Duffy might have had very different lives. He's always a good conversation piece - if I don't know someone well, or don't have anything else to talk about, I can always bring up Ranger. He also is good at filling my time - he loves a good walk or a trip to the store, and there is usually some dog event every so often that he enjoys going to. He also has helped keep me involved with my family - everybody loves him, and I don't dare show up at a family gathering without both dogs. So I guess I'm feeling a little like a mother who just had her second child - it's not that I don't love Ranger as much, it's that my heart has gotten bigger to hold the love I have for both of them.

Thunder and lightning

2010-08-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Having had water issues with 2 different houses, I always dread summer storms. Now that I have Teddy, I have even more reason to dread storms - thunder and lightning. Ranger has never been bothered by thunderstorms, but Teddy is scared senseless. He paces and pants, and wants to be touching me, which is something he never does under normal circumstances. When storms happen during the day, I usually create a cave for him by draping a blanket over a chair, and he lies underneath it, feeling safe and secure. At night, however, lightning is more visible, and thunder is very loud in my second floor bedroom, so a cave doesn't always help. However, my dog guru, Victoria Stillwell, suggested rubbing a dryer sheet on a dog who is afraid of storms, as it helps reduce the static electricity they feel. I've been doing that with Teddy, and I think we are making progress. The last few storms he has been better. Last night, he was under the bed, where he frequently sleeps, storms or no, and when the storm started, he came out to sit by my side of the bed. I reached down to pet him and he went back under the bed, where he stayed for the rest of the night. No pacing, no panting, no burrowing under my sheets. I don't know whether he actually slept, but I know I did!

The return of the Flippy Flopper

2010-07-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

One of Ranger's favorite toys is a Frisbee call the Flippy Flopper. The toy lasts only a few months before it is destroyed (Ranger thinks his toys are live animals he must kill, so toys don't always last long in our house) but in the past, I was always able to stock up on the Flippy Flopper. However, sometime last year, the only store that carried it STOPPED STOCKING IT!!! So the Flippy Flopper limped along, until it was no longer safe for the dogs to have, and I reluctantly had to throw it away. It was even a toy Teddy loved. I don't know what is so special about it, but I think there must be something like crack for dogs sewn into the fabric. Teddy will chew it for hours, and Ranger will 'kill' it for a very long time. I found a frisbee that looked just like the Flippy Flopper, and bought several of them. However, when I gave them to the dogs, while the enjoyed it, it wasn't with the same obsession as the Flippy Flopper. Earlier this week, someone told me they saw the Flippy Flopper in a pet store, so I quickly went over there, and lo and behold - THE FLIPPY FLOPPER!! I bought all 4, and told the owner she had to keep these in stock for me, as they are my dogs favorite toy. When I came home from work, I took the toy out of the bags, and Ranger's ears immediately perked up. He remembered! He was jumping all over me to get to his long lost friend, and of course, Teddy imitated him, not really knowing why he was doing it. I took them both outside and threw one frisbee for each of them, and I wished I had recorded the moment. The joy on their faces! I went back inside to get my camera, and hopefully I'll have some video loaded by this weekend.

Teddy's magic chair

2010-07-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

I've had Teddy for 18 months now, and he still is not comfortable sitting on my lap, EXCEPT for when we are at my sister's house, sitting in her recliner. I'm not sure what it is about the recliner, but it is the only chair in the entire world that Teddy will willingly jump up and sit on someone's lap. I really have no idea why - it's a nice soft leather, it rocks gently and swivels (which one would think he wouldn't like) and it belongs to my brother-in-law, who Teddy runs from. I guess it's all part of Teddy's mystery, along with his attraction to my liquor cabinet and his fasination with my cannister vacuum. Some things we'll never have the answer to!

Ranger is a bully

2010-07-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

Every morning after our walk, Ranger is full of energy and is ready to play, and Teddy still needs his cup of coffee to get going. And every morning the same thing happens - Ranger jumps all over Teddy, trying to get him to play, and Teddy ignores him. This starts as we walk up the driveway. I always take their leashes off when we are one house away, to give them a little freedom and to help train them to stay with me, which they always do. As soon as we get to the driveway, Ranger starts jumping all over Teddy, growling at him (in a playful way), and just generally being a bully. Teddy just keeps walking along, ignoring the dog that is doing everything he can to get Teddy's attention. It continues in the house. Poor Teddy tries so hard to climb the stairs to get to his water bowl, and Ranger tries everything to stop him. Finally Teddy will make it up the stairs, and Ranger is hot on his heels. After a few minutes of grabbing Teddy by the neck, jumping on him, growling at him, Ranger finally gives up, and lays down on the couch in defeat. He wants so badly to play in the morning, and Teddy is just not a morning dog. In fact, Ranger gets up around 5 and jumps into bed with me. He sniffs my face, to make sure it's really me, and then goes back to sleep. Around 6:30, he heads downstairs to look out his window, waiting for us to come down for our walk. Teddy, however, is still snoring away when I get out of bed, and would probably sleep until noon if I let him. Poor Ranger. He just wants to play in the morning, and Teddy is not at all interested. In other aspects, their relationship is good, so I guess if there is going to be a problem, this is not a bad one to have.

I hate fireworks!

2010-07-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

And so does Teddy. If he is inside the house, he barely notices them, but trying to get him to do his business outside at night when neighbors on all sides are setting off fireworks is next to impossible. No, not next to impossible - actually impossible! I am sorry to admit that I lost my temper with him on Saturday and probably made the situation worse. I think I was more angry with neighbors settiing of fireworks, but since Teddy would be the one who would pee on my carpet in the middle of the night, he got the brunt of my frustration. He spent Saturday night in a crate, until the fireworks stopped around 2, and I was able to convince him to go outside. Sunday night, I let him out later in the evening than I normally do, around 7, and tried again around 9, but fireworks were starting by then and it was a lost cause. So I put up the baby gate in my room, and he slept until morning with no accidents. Hopefully tonight will be much quieter and we will all sleep well!

Needless to say, Ranger is not bothered by fireworks at all. When he was a bit younger, they did bother him, but he spent one 4th of July with his doggie cousin, who is not afraid of anything, and I think he overcame his fear by watching her. Ever since, he has not reacted to fireworks at all. Hopefully Ranger will have the same effect on Teddy.

Happy, tired dogs

2010-06-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Napping, after a long day sitting by the pool Enough said.

My baby's growing up

2010-06-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

Today I hosted a cookout for Father's Day, and Teddy was amazing (ok - not truly amazing, but the progress he's made is remarkable.) My sister's in-laws are in town, and they brought their dog, Rudy (Ranger's brother) over for lunch. All 3 dogs get along, and had fun playing together. The amazing part was that Teddy was not scared of any of the men. He now goes directly to my brother-in-law, and even sat on his lap for several minutes, which is something he still doesn't really do with me. During dinner, he sat right next to my sister's father-in-law, hoping for some steak to drop, and licked his fingers clean without any fear. He let my nephews pet him, and didn't run away from them. It made me think of how he was this time last year, when he hid under the dining room table, and ran from the room when a man walked in. He was relaxed and playful - like a normal dog, which is something I thought I'd never say!

Teddy is banned from agility

2010-06-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

No, not an official banishment, but until his behavior improves, I have imposed a ban. He pulled the same stunt this past Thursday that he did the previous week - he barked, and Ranger ran off the course. I could see the struggle in Ranger's eyes - he wanted to obey me and come back to me when I called him, but he also wanted to see what Teddy wanted. Ultimately, Teddy won. Ranger ended up in a crate (one up high, no less, which he hates) and he faced the wall the entire time (his choice, not mine!) When it was our turn to run again, he did much better. Teddy barked and Ranger wanted to go to him, but my treats, and the threat of more time in the crate, won out and we finished.

There's no class this week, but next week, I may bring a friend, with strict instructions to have her remove Teddy from the room if he barks. I hate to leave Teddy at home, as socializing during class has helped him tremendously, but I'm paying money for Ranger to take the class, and if he runs off the course, I've wasted my money, and that drives me nuts. Hopefully my plan will work.

Ranger and agility

2010-06-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ranger has been back in agility for a few months now. Teddy was just too stressed out by the people, and I felt like I was torturing him, so I pulled him out of class and put Ranger in his place. Teddy was very relieved. He likes going to the place where agility class is held, but only for the treats people give him, not to do any actual work. Last week at class, I was running Ranger on a course, and I heard Teddy bark twice. We were doing the weave poles, and on hearing his brother bark, Ranger stopped in his tracks, looked to where Teddy was, and ran off the course, directly to Teddy, to see what was wrong. He has never run off the course before during a run, so I was a little surprised. I suspect that Teddy was concerned because he couldn't see where we were (a tunnel was right in front of him blocking his view) and he was calling for his brother to help him. I was not happy that Ranger left the course, but when I walked back to them, both dogs had such a happy look on their faces that I couldn't stay mad for very long. We have class again tonight. I hope we don't have a repeat performance!

Teddy's haircut

2010-06-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Teddy got his summer buzz cut this past weekend, and I have to say he is absolutely adorable. Ranger always looks better with his hair a little long, but Teddy gets a 'fro when his hair is long and it makes him look much bigger than he really is. When his hair is long, he looks like a bulldog, or a linebacker, but after he goes to the groomer, he looks so tiny. It's like getting a brand new dog every two months! Every morning as I put his leash on (a process he is still afraid of, by the way) I wrap my hands around his tiny head, and tell him he is so cute that I just want to eat him up. I just wish I could get Ranger and Teddy on the same grooming schedule, but Ranger's hair grows much slower, so he only needs to go every 3 months, while Teddy has to go every 2 months. Poor dog!

Happy Birthday, Ranger!

2010-04-09T13:04:00.001-07:00

Ranger is 8 years old today. While I occasionally see signs that he is getting older, he is still the playful little dog he was as a puppy. The play sessions just don't last as long as they used to, and I have to admit, I'm a little relieved about that. Who really wants to play tug-of-war for an hour? And lucky for Ranger his fur has been gray since he was little - he doesn't have to worry about that additional sign that he's getting old, something I've been battling for a few years now. It's hard to believe that I've had him for this long. I barely remember my life without him always being there. Sometimes I wonder what I will do when he leaves me. I can't imagine ever getting another dog to replace him. I adopted Teddy more for Ranger than for me, and while I love Teddy, we haven't had the connection that Ranger and I have. Ranger is one of those dogs that sometimes seems more human than dog, while Teddy is all dog all the time. I've read that there are 'once-in-a-lifetime' dogs, and I think that is what Ranger is to me.

Teddy and agility

2010-02-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in previous posts, Teddy started agility this year. I'm doing this not for the glory of winning, but because I'm trying to give Teddy the confidence he needs to live a happier life. I had to keep reminding myself of that at the first few classes, because I felt like I was torturing Teddy instead of helping him. At one point, I asked the instructor if I was being cruel by making him do something he clearly wasn't enjoying, and she said since he wasn't running out of the ring and was still taking treats, I should keep trying. And I'm glad we stuck with it. The first few classes were rough, and I was sweaty and exhausted at the end of the night. For a few classes, I brought Ranger with us, and when Teddy seemed especially nervous, I would bring Ranger into the ring and have him do the obstacle. Once Teddy saw Ranger doing it, he instantly felt more comfortable and would copy whatever Ranger did.

The last class is a run-through of a course, in front of the entire class. I was very nervous about how Teddy would do. We had been able to put 6 obstacles together the previous week, but would he be able to do 14 obstacles, in front of lots of people? Would he move freely from one obstacle to the next, or would I have to carry him? If there is one thing Teddy has taught me, it is to always keep the faith. He exceeded my expectations. The entire class was cheering by the time we finished. No, we didn't break any speed records, and we skipped a few of the obstacles he hadn't been trained on, but he did everything I asked of him. He ran (trotted quickly, really) next to me, went through the tunnel like he had been doing it all his life, and walked on the dog walk like it was no big deal. We had the chance to run the course again, so I did, just to prove to myself that it wasn't a fluke, and he did even better. He seemed to realize what we were doing and did the first 4 obstacles with very little prompting from me. So we signed up for another session, which starts next week. My little champion! We may win a ribbon yet!

10 things I love about Ranger

2010-01-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

He's a good listener, and he doesn't judge.
He loves to snuggle. He's a great electric blanket.
He does agility not because he loves it but because it makes me happy.
He's never met a person he didn't like.
I never have to clean my kitchen floor when he's around.
I love the way he tilts his head when I talk to him, as if he understands every word.
He welcomed Teddy into our home and became his best friend from day one.
He is always ready to play, and he gets me out into the world.
He has no sense of humor whatsoever, which is an odd thing to love, but his lack of humor always makes me laugh.
Did I mention he loves to snuggle?

Ranger is retiring from agility

2009-12-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Lately it seems that Ranger hasn't been enjoying his agility classes. He is slow, unresponsive to my commands, and just looks like there are other places he'd rather be. It's embarrassing to get up in front of the class and do as poorly as we do. I'm starting to think that maybe Ranger feels like he has proven he can do agility, and he doesn't need to prove anything anymore. He's wrong, of course, as he's not that good at agility and has plenty of room for improvement, but that's an argument I'm not winning right now. So I decided that Ranger is going to retire, and Teddy is going to start. At some point, Ranger may come out of retirement, but for now, he's done.

Because Teddy needs lots of time to learn something new, I decided to start working with him now at home, before classes start in January. I have a small tunnel, and I made some jumps out of PVC, and surprise, surprise, Teddy loves it. He learned to jump very quickly, and the joy on his face as he jumps is amazing to see. I didn't think he would like it, as he is built like a brick, and I thought he would jump as well as a tank, but he sails over the bar like he's been doing it all his life. Of course, once we leave the safety of my family room and get to class, he may pretend he's never seen a jump before in his life, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

We survived Thanksgiving!

2009-12-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving has always been a large affair for my family - it is not uncommon to have anywhere from 18 to 33 people show up. Ranger, being the social butterfly he is, loves all the people and the food they give him, and all the new laps to sit on. Teddy, on the other hand, is scared of new people and large crowds. I debated for weeks before Thanksgiving on whether I should bring the dogs, leave them both at home, leave Teddy at home and just bring Ranger...But I hated to deprive Ranger of one of his favorite days because his less-secure brother couldn't handle it, and I thought Teddy would not like being left home alone for 8 hours, and would take his frustration out on my shoes, as he sometimes does.

In the end, I decided to bring both dogs and would just take Teddy home if it got to be too much for him. But once again, he surprised me. I arrived early to help my Mom get things going, and brought his favorite toys and treats to help him feel comfortable. Then people started to show up, and he was fine. He let people he knew pet him, and he stayed away from people he didn't know, but he didn't cower, or put his tail between his legs. He watched us all from a distance, sat under the dining tables to catch all the food that dropped (as all smart dogs know to do!) and after dinner, he even let some new people pet him. I had visions of him barking at everyone, and pacing around the house, as he has done in the past. But he did much better than I expected, and made me realize how far he has come in the past 11 months.

So I decided it is time to stop underestimating Teddy. For the past year, I've had no expectations of Teddy, and I just let him do whatever he felt comfortable with. But now I know he is capable of more than I thought, and I think it is time to start asking more things of him. Watch out Teddy - agility starts in January!

Guess who sat on my lap for 8 minutes!!!

2009-10-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Teddy the Brave, that's who. I was out of town last weekend, so my sister watched Ranger and Teddy for me. She said Teddy slept (yes, slept!) on her lap for 15 minutes. I was insanely jealous, as Teddy has never spent more than 2 minutes on my lap, and during those 2 minutes, you can see him plotting his escape. I asked my sister how she did it, and she said she put a big, furry blanket on her lap and put Teddy on top of it. So last night, I put a pillow on my lap and put Teddy on it, and he laid down on it and relaxed. He let me rub his back for 8 very happy minutes. Who knows - maybe someday we'll work our way up to 15 minutes.

Happy Anniversary, Teddy!

2009-10-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

This month is an important milestone for Teddy. He was rescued one year ago from his former puppy mill life. I've only had Teddy for 9 months, as he lived with his foster mom for 3 months before finding his way to his forever home with me, but I felt like this was an important milestone. To celebrate, he and Ranger split a plain hamburger from McDonald's (maybe not the healthiest treat ever, but thoroughly enjoyed by all, and after all, isn't that what a celebratory treat is all about?!)

For the first 8 months he was with me, Teddy never approached me for anything - he never sought out my attention, never tried to sit in my lap, never asked to go outside, never begged for treats or food (although Ranger is teaching him that little trick.) Although he still obsessively follows me around the house, he doesn't act like he needs me for anything. Quite the opposite of Ranger, who kicks his back feet behind him like a bull if he wants something and is very vocal about letting me know if I'm not doing enough for him. But this month, for the first time, Teddy approached me for affection! I was laying on the couch, and Teddy came up to me and put his paws on the couch, asking me to pet him! The significance of that didn't hit me until later, when it occurred to me what happened. The next time he did it, I made a big deal of how smart and good he was, and I could see he was very pleased with himself. Now it is becoming a regular event. Who knows - maybe I'll get him to sit on my lap for longer than 15 seconds.

It's been awhile...

2009-08-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a friend who lost weight and you didn't notice until they lost 20 pounds, and then you feel really guilty for not noticing sooner? That's how things are with Teddy. I've had him 8 months now, and I stopped noticing any progress. Then I thought back to how he was when I first got him, or even to 4 months ago, and I realize how far he has come. It hit home last week when I had some friends over, and Teddy let my male friend hold him. And not just for 10 seconds either - for a few minutes (for those of you who don't know Teddy, a few minutes is like an eon in Teddy's world!) Teddy doesn't trust people in general, and men in particular, and especially not tall men. And he let a very tall man hold him! Of course, I had to pick him up and give him to Dave to hold, and after a few minutes, he squirmed out of Dave's arms, but still....He also approaches me for affection. In the beginning, if I went to pet him, he would roll over on his back, and just wait for it to be over. If I held him in my lap, he fought to get off. Every so often now, he lies next to me on the couch and scoots over until a small part of his body is touching mine.

I took the dogs on vacation in July - a week at the beach. It was like Disneyland for the dogs - an entire beach to themselves, to run and play and sniff to their heart's content. I think being around lots of people for a week really helped Teddy. I'm sure all the treats he got didn't hurt, either. Since we came back, he has been better about letting strangers pet him. He may never be like Ranger, who lives to sit on my lap and believes that everyone we see on our walks is his best friend and wants to pet him. He may never win ribbons in agility the way Ranger has, or learn new tricks to impress my friends, but he is special in his own way, and has his own place in my heart.

Teddy graduates!

2009-05-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Teddy is set to graduate from beginner obedience class tomorrow. I wish I could say that he was graduating with honors, but I think he is one of the students that is being moved up only because the teacher doesn't want him to repeat another year with her! There is only 1 other dog in his class, and neither Teddy or the other dog has made much progress. At the end of each class, the instructor visibly sighs in relief. The only thing Teddy has learned is to lie down, which took about 5 weeks. He will only stay if he can see me. If I walk behind him or out of sight, he tries to find me. In class, when I call him to me, he walks as slowly as he can. For the first few classes, the teacher thought that he had a physical disability, because he never ran. He doesn't like the other dog in class, so he won't go anywhere near him. The instructor tried to walk both dogs together, and she had to drag Teddy around the room with her. It's hard for dog lovers to be around a dog that doesn't like them, and I feel for the instructor. I don't think she takes it personally, but it must be hard to try to work with a dog that won't have anything to do with you. So I haven't decided if we will repeat the beginner class, or move to the next level. At class last week, the instructor pulled me aside and said that she didn't think Teddy would do well in a class with more dogs. Maybe that was her subtle hint for us to just call it a day!

Teddy's new fear

2009-05-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Teddy now seems to be afraid of rain and thunder. I don't remember him having this fear before, but for the last 2 weeks, whenever we have rain or thunder, his tail goes down, he paces, pants, and follows me even more closely than he normally does. It doesn't help that I have sky lights in 3 rooms, which amplifies the sound of rain. His obedience trainer suggested getting sound effects of thunder and rain, and using them to desensitize him to the sounds. I checked out some CDs from my local library, and played them one day. It had an immediate effect on Teddy - he didn't like it one bit. I tried to play with him, and give him treats, but he kept focusing on the sounds coming from the speaker. Over time, as he reacts less, I will turn up the volume, and hopefully I will be able to have a violent thunderstorm in my living room and Teddy will not react. It is very disconcerting to hear a thunderstorm in my house, while outside it is bright and sunny! We've had so much rain this season that it is very hard for me to put the sound effects on when it is nice out. I'm so tired of the sound of rain!

Happy Easter

2009-04-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday was Easter, and ever since I got Ranger, I have taken him to family get-togethers. My family loves Ranger, and they always include him in any invitation. But 2 dogs? That's a lot to ask of a host. But Teddy really needs to be socialized, and my mom said it was ok to bring him along for Easter dinner. I was a bit worried, because on Saturday I went over there to do some baking, and brought Teddy along. Ranger was at the groomer, so Teddy was by himself, and he turned into his scared self again. It was a huge shock - he paced around the house for an hour. His tail was always down. I gave him a treat to help him feel more comfortable, and he carried it in his mouth until it was soggy. He just couldn't relax enough to eat it. He ran away from anyone who approached him - even me! So I wasn't sure what to do for Easter. Would it stress Teddy out unnecessarily? Since I live fairly close to my parents, I decided to bring both dogs, and would just bring them home if it was too much for Teddy. But he surprised me. He ran into the house with Ranger, tail up, excited to see people, as long as they didn't try to pet him. He took treats from people, and actually ate them. He even sat with my brother-in-law and let him pet him for a long time! Turns out Teddy just needs his big brother with him, to show him that everything's ok.

Why does Teddy like my shoes?

2009-04-16T07:44:00.001-07:00

Nothing makes Teddy happier when I come home than to grab a toy or a rawhide and run around the sofa with it. He runs to me and then runs away, with whatever is in his mouth. But the thing he loves most to run around with is one of my gym shoes. He's not a chewer of shoes, but he loves to just hold the shoe in his mouth and run around with it. He especially seems to love holding the shoe by the laces. He knows he's not supposed to do it, because as soon as I tell him to leave it, he drops the shoe, but it's an addiction he just can't seem to control. Whatever floats your boat!

Happy Birthday Ranger!

2009-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Ranger turned 7 last week. It feels like he's been with me forever, not just 6 1/2 years. I don't remember the days when I didn't walk in the mornings. Now, walking the dogs in the morning is almost always my favorite time of the day. It's quiet, the sun has risen, and it's a nice time to think about things. I also like exploring the neighborhood, seeing who is doing what to their house.

Ranger's birthday makes me think of how my life has changed over the years. I was in a relationship with someone I thought was The One, but it didn't work out. I sold my house and bought a new one that needed tons of updating. I changed jobs. I gave up my religion. I lost friends that I thought I would have forever, and I became closer to friends I previously wasn't as close to. I went through a period of deep depression (and came out of it partly thanks to Ranger!) I finally have accepted the fact that I'm not going to get married and have kids, which was a hard dream to give up, but I stay busy friends, family, work, and of course, my dogs. While it's not the life I thought I'd have, it's not a bad life.

I'm glad Teddy's not a puppy

2009-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

I took Teddy to his obedience class last night. We had gone the previous 2 weeks, but those were special sessions with just the trainer. Last night was the first week that other dogs were supposed to be there. Only one other dog showed up, a 6 month old Bichon/Shih Tzu puppy. A very sweet dog, but it reminded me of all the reasons why I don't ever want to get a puppy again. The energy, the puppy ADD, the barking, and did I mention the energy? Yes, puppies are cute and cuddly, but they are also a lot of work. I got Ranger when he was 7 months old, and I remember being exhausted by his constant demands for play and attention. I remember thinking, 'how can I do this for the next 15 years?!' Don't get me wrong, I enjoy throwing the frisbee, or playing tug-of-war, but after 20-30 minutes, I'm done. But by the time he was around 2, he calmed down and was better able to entertain himself. For all of Teddy's issues, at least he is able to relax. He is good about getting Ranger to play with him, but if Ranger doesn't want to, Teddy will happily play with his squeaky toy by himself, or he'll find a bone to chew on. When he's bored with that, he jumps up on the couch and takes a nap.

Speaking of naps, he is now comfortable enough with me to rest against me while he sleeps! I remember early on he would sit as far away as he could from me, and while he may never be a lap dog the way Ranger is, at least he likes to be near me.

My life this week

2009-04-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

This past week I lived with 4 dogs, an experience I'm not in a hurry to repeat anytime soon! My sister adopted a dog just a week before her family was going on vacation. I had already agreed to watch their other dog, and while my sister "tried" to find someone else to watch one of her dogs, the night before they were to leave, I got the phone call I knew I'd get - "We can't find anyone to watch the dogs. Can you take them both?" So being the good sister I am, I laid on the guilt and then said ok. Luckily, the new dog was introduced to my dogs before they left, so I knew they would all get along. In fact, Teddy and the new dog became bosom buddies, and were rarely apart the entire week. I lived for 6 years with just one dog before I decided to get another. I thought having 2 dogs was a lot of work, but 4 dogs is insane. My life became all about doggie bodily functions - eating, pooping, vomiting, etc. I think I went through 3 rolls of paper towels in a week. My floors need to be disinfected, my carpets cleaned, bedding washed - you name it, it needs to be cleaned. Luckily, none of the dogs are shedding breeds, so at least I didn't have shedding issues to deal with.

If you ever want to get your neighbors to notice you, try walking 4 dogs at the same time. I noticed more than a few people laughing at me as they drove to work in the morning. After a few days, I finally figured out which dogs needed to walk next to each other, which dogs would stop at every tree and which dog (the new one) just ran in circles in the grass.

This whole experience has made me appreciate Teddy even more. No, he wasn't housebroken when I first got him, but he is 95% better than he was 3 months ago. He still has issues with new people, but he's relatively calm, he doesn't bark, and he knows when to chill out and watch tv.

Really, this is all Ranger's fault. If it weren't for him being such a good dog, my sister wouldn't have gotten her first dog, I wouldn't have adopted Teddy and my sister wouldn't have adopted her second dog. Thanks Ranger!

Video of Ranger

2009-03-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

A friend let me borrow her video camera, so I had Ranger do a few tricks. (Yes, I know he needs a hair cut, but it's been too cold.) Teddy makes an appearance at towards the end of the video. He doesn't know any tricks except sit, but he is awfully cute!

Agility pics!

2009-03-28T13:21:00.001-07:00

Ranger has been taking agility classes for 2 years now. We don't compete very often, maybe 2-3 times a year, but he has won several first place ribbons so far! (Of course, in a few of those competitions, he was the only dog competing in his class, but I didn't tell him that.) I finally got some pictures from a few of his trials. Click on the picture, and you'll be taken to Flickr, where you can see a few more pictures.

Off the teeter, finally!
Originally uploaded by ranger teddy mom

First steps to obedience

2009-03-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

I took Teddy to his first obedience class last night. Turns out he was the only dog that signed up for the class! Normally they would just cancel the class, but the trainer agreed to stay since I showed up, and when she saw how much work needs to be done with him, she volunteered to still have class for a few weeks with just Teddy.

Teddy did as well as I thought he would - after 1 hour, he still wouldn't lie down, or stay, or come when called. He was very shy around Susan, the trainer, and we spent most of the time just trying to get Teddy used to being around her. Luckily Teddy is very food motivated, so he would gradually get closer to her whenever she offered food. Without food, however, all bets are off. I know this makes me sound petty, but it made me feel a little better that Susan didn't any more success than I have had with Teddy.

It's been a lesson in patience. I was spoiled with Ranger, who is a smart dog, and learned commands very quickly. With Teddy, I have to take my time, and build each command slowly. I have to force myself to be patient and not push him, or else we will take 2 steps back. Somehow I think with Teddy, it may always be 1 step forward, 2 steps back! But I keep telling myself that in the end, it will all be worthwhile.

Small victories

2009-03-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

I've had Teddy for 9 weeks now, and we are making progress. When he first arrived, he would lay on the couch with Ranger and me, but he stayed at the far end of the couch. He wants to be near me, and will let me pet him and hold him, but he never approaches me for affection. Today, we had a small victory - he jumped up on the couch and sat right next to me, actually touching my leg! And then we took a nap, and he rested his head on my foot and slept! Small victories come when you least expect it.

First trip to the groomer!

2009-03-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Teddy went to the groomer for the first time this week. I have to admit I was a little nervous about taking him. He doesn't like being brushed (unfortunate for a Shih Tzu,) and barely tolerates his paws being held for any amount of time. But I called the groomer, explained the situation, and we scheduled a time when she wasn't as busy and could take her time and relax. So I took him in, and a few hours later, he was done. He looks adorable - just look at his picture. I think he feels better too.

The grass (or rawhide) is always greener

2009-03-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Like most dog owners, I have rawhides all over the house, but the only rawhide a dog wants is the one in the other dog's mouth. As I sit here, Teddy is chewing a rawhide, and Ranger is staring longingly at it. Every few minutes, he looks pleadingly at me, as if he is asking me to help him. I remind Ranger that there are 5 other rawhides in this room alone, but they are not as good as the one Teddy has. Ranger is smart, though, and he tries to distract Teddy by chewing on his ear or pulling his tail, but Teddy just ignores him. I refuse to get involved in these doggy disputes, mostly because I hate to touch slimy rawhides.

Another issue we are having is the sharing of toys. Ranger is fine with Teddy playing with his toys as long as Ranger himself isn't playing with them. But while Ranger likes having a brother, he does not want to share his toys with him. If Ranger is playing with his favorite toy, his cloth Frisbee, woe to Teddy if he tries to play with him. Ranger will growl and snap at him until Teddy leaves him alone. This has surprised me, because normally Ranger is an easy-going type of dog, and pretty meek, too. I know it's wrong, but I'm oddly proud that my 'baby' is growing up, and standing up for himself. Don't worry - Teddy gets his revenge. He eats Ranger's food!

It's finally Ranger's turn.

2009-03-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

Ranger tells me he's been feeling a little neglected - why don't I ever sing his praises? And he's right. So it's finally Ranger's turn to be in the spotlight. To give a little background, I've had Ranger since he was 6 months old. He belonged to my sister, who for some strange reason decided to get 2 Shih Tzu puppies at the same time. After a few months, and much chewed-up furniture, she decided that one of the puppies would have to go, and since Ranger was the main trouble maker, he had to pack his bags. I signed Ranger up for obedience classes, and quickly learned that he wasn't a trouble maker, he just needed more mental stimulation. He learns tricks very quickly and loves to impress company with his repertoire, especially if food is involved. He also competes in agility, and has won a few blue ribbons.

But the best thing about Ranger is that he just wants to be with me. I don't know that I've ever had anyone just want to be with me, no strings attached, no expectations, no demands. But Ranger is content to do whatever I'm doing. Sit on my lap and read a book? Great! Take a nap? Great! Go on a bike ride? Great! (He rides in a basket with me) Sniff in the yard while I garden? What could be better! Like all dogs, he lives in the moment, forgets the disappointments of the past (no treats? What?) and finds enjoyment in everything he does. Not a bad way to live your life!

What makes a good dog?

2009-03-04T14:20:00.001-08:00

Is it loyalty? Cuteness? Intelligence? I think there are 2 requirements to be a good dog - 1. you are housebroken, and 2. you don't chew anything you're not supposed to. I don't care how many tricks you can do, how many ribbons you win in dog shows, how obedient you are, if you don't pee in my house and don't chew my things, you're a good dog. Anything else is just icing on the cake.

Right now, while Teddy may be cute, I can't say he is a good dog. I have doubts about his intelligence, and he is loyal to me only because I control the food and the door. We are still struggling with housebreaking, and he seems determined to put every object in my house in his mouth at least once. The funny thing is he rarely touches the same thing twice once I have told him to leave it (except for my slippers, which apparently are irresistible to him) So I figure I only have to tell him 235,983 more times to 'leave it'. I'm sure that won't get old after awhile! He is very good about his housebreaking abilities while I'm at work, or at night, but he hasn't figured out how to tell me he needs to go out. So he just sneaks away while I'm not looking, and I find a puddle later. I know that since he lived in a crate for his first years of life, he is used to going whenever he needed to. But how do I get him to tell me? Any advice on housebreaking a rescue dog?

Ranger

2009-03-03T14:17:00.001-08:00

Ranger
Originally uploaded by ranger teddy mom

Ranger is feeling a bit left out - he's wondering why I'm not talking about him. He'll get his own posts soon, but until then, here's a picture of him.

Teddy with his one blue eye

2009-03-03T14:15:00.001-08:00

Teddy with his one blue eye
Originally uploaded by ranger teddy mom

It's hard to get a picture of Teddy with his one blue eye. This is the best picture so far.

2009-02-28T15:32:00.000-08:00

One of my friends told me to keep track of Teddy's progress, because I'll forget as time goes on. The day Teddy arrived (he was called Happy, which fits his personality, but I just couldn't call him Happy for the next 12 years!) he came with his foster mom and a foster brother. His foster brother was typical of a puppy mill dog - scared of people, new surroundings, noises. You name it, he was scared of it. Teddy was a little less scared. He didn't want anything to do with me, except take a few treats from me and then run away, but he loved Ranger from the start. He followed Ranger around the house, and they played together in the backyard. Teddy was adorably cute, in a pathetic kind of way. His tail was always down and he was scruffy looking. He has one blue eye and one brown eye, and while it's striking to look at, at times it makes him look possessed. I'd like to say I fell in love with him right away, but I had my doubts. Still, I felt like I could give him the life he deserved after spending his in a wire cage.

The first few weeks he lived with us, he was so scared of people that he ran from me whenever I got too close. If I needed to catch him, I'd have to follow him around until he finally just threw himself on the ground and rolled onto his back in surrender, as if to say, "I give in, please just make it quick!" He snored like a large grown man with a head cold. I had to wear earplugs at night because he woke me up. While he walked well on a leash, he wouldn't walk in front of me with Ranger - he was always about a foot behind me, just enough that I couldn't see him without turning completely around. He didn't want me to touch him, yet he was always worried that I would leave him. He was (and still is) my constant shadow, and is always underfoot. He is shorter than Ranger, and just outside my peripheral vision, so I can't see him. I live in fear of tripping over him. He never misses a meal (and eats Ranger's food too!) Poor Ranger has lost a little weight since Teddy came. The only command Teddy knew was 'sit'.

We're working on Teddy's fears. I knew from the start that Ranger would be a good 'big brother' to Teddy. Teddy looks up to Ranger and does whatever he does. It's great to see Teddy overcome a fear, just by watching his big brother. One of the best things we've done is take lots of walks. In the beginning, Teddy would have his tail down, and would be startled by every noise, like the wind, or a car door. But in a short amount of time, he has transformed into a much more confident, happy dog. I don't coddle him or make a big deal about anything that he is afraid of - I try to ignore it and just keep walking. He seems to be learning that if I'm not scared of it, he doesn't need to be scared either! The one fear we're having trouble overcoming is his fear of men. He turns into a different dog if a man comes into the room. His tail goes down, and he just shuts down. I guess I have to invite more men over to help him!

2009-02-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

As anyone with dogs knows, it's very hard to get a good picture of a dog, let alone 2 dogs together. Until I can a get a good picture of the dogs together, you will have to make do with 2 separate pictures. But trust me - they do like each other, I just can't get them to sit still long enough for a good picture. Ranger is the one looking out the window.

Stil life with dogs - the beginning

2009-02-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

For the past 6 years, I was content to have one dog - an adorable, intelligent Shih Tzu named Ranger. We took long walks together, long naps together, and he even rode along with me on my bike. He was the perfect companion - his only desire was to be where I was and do whatever I was doing. Then last month, I had a sudden urge to get another dog, and Teddy entered our lives. What was I thinking?!

Teddy is a former breeder dog from a puppy mill in Missouri, and while he loves Ranger, he is still not too sure about me. We continue to have a "I hate you, don't leave me" relationship. Things have been getting better in the past few weeks, but I thought a blog would be the perfect place to document our progress and also to get tips from other dog lovers on how to earn a rescue dog's trust, and how to train a suspicious and timid dog.

Any advice?