Paws of Happiness

As an educator by trade education is important to me. The thing is I find that a lot of people who have dogs reflect back to their age or how long or how many dogs they’ve owned rather than how much knowledge they really possess.

I am not ashamed to admit that I made many mistakes in my history of a dog owner. When we know better we do better right! So I did not know better. I admit I made many many mistakes. I thought dog food was dog food and it didn’t matter what brand. I fed my dog pedigree and oh Roy. I probably gave my dog way too many things from the table. I didn’t make sure the water was always clean and I wasn’t really good about making sure there was always water at times. Maybe my dog spent too much time outside in the sun and possibly was forced to walk on hot pavement. I definitely did not go to the veterinarian as often as I should and didn’t even know how to pick out a good quality veterinarian. as for training it was nonexistent.

So many people fall into the trap of I have always done, I have never had to, I have owned a dog for many years and have always, ETC. Those phrases explain away neglectful or negative behavior. That’s an excuse. We can always learn and grow. I admit some old-fashioned practice is due still work and sometimes work better than the new way of doing things. There are also times, when if it is not broke, do not fix it works. Yet we’ve gained so much information and knowledge it’s unfortunate if we do not use it.

If people in their 70s can start grooming at home, cooking for their dogs and practicing agility and obedience training. There is no excuse for anyone not to utilize information growth and education. It’s amazing. Dogs were once overlooked animal stuck out in the backyard and now,Family members we hold near and dear.

I admit money provides privilege money also makes things better and easier. There are some things even though I would like to do with my dogs that I cannot afford but there is no excuse for lack of education. There’s always Internet books information at our fingertips. Sometimes it starts out with a slow change such as maybe not getting the cheapest food but getting the next food out from that. Maybe it’s cooking at home maybe it’s doing self grooming rather than taking them to groomers that you cannot afford.as for training not everyone can afford a class or a trainer maybe YouTube videos and books or what you need to do to implement a training schedule with your dogs. I admit it can be hard learning things on your own without a trainer, groomer ET see but every little bit helps.

I enrolled in the canine specialist course first to help myself as a better dog owner and then to help others. I learned something new almost every day. You would not believe all of the new things I’ve tried to implement some of them standThe big things though that I have implemented I have saw positive results.The test of time and some of them fall by the way side it’s just so much and sometimes gets overwhelming.

Almost every month that implement something new maybe changing food, treats, shampoo, training something. That’s what you can do start out small and then move up it might just be a little change.

It was so refreshingrecently a college man of about 22 that I have known most of his life was getting his first dog as an adult. We had a long conversation and he asked me for a good book recommendation of something that would help him be a better dog owner. It really warmed my heart and made me happy that he was going to start out his dog ownership life with education. I gave him a book which he probably read and I saw him implementing tools and recommendations immediately when he brought his new puppy home.recently a college man of about 22 that I have known most of his life was getting his first dog as an adult. We had a long conversation and he asked me for a good book recommendation of something that would help him be a better dog owner. It really warmed my heart and made me happy that he was going to start out his dog ownership life with education. I gave him a book which he started reading immediately and I saw him implementing tools and tricks as soon as he brought his new puppy home.

I feel that the biggest things that you need to learn about our nutrition, medical care, training, behavior, and of course making sure you’re providing your dogs basic needs. Next definitely socialization aggression reactivity and anxiety.

Next make sure you’re using reliable sources of information. That is some thing I learned about in college primary sources secondary sources things like that. Well that might not be exactly the same for learning about a dog use the same theory. You can pull from a variety of resources, podcast, YouTube, books, documentaries. ET see but make sure your sources are reliable and people you trust.

When It comes to things like training there’s so many different ways of dog training. Fear free force free, balanced, adversive, and probably more that I have not been acquainted with.the methods, try to find good representations from the community of trainers to show you what the method is all about. You can also look at Facebook groups but be careful because anyone can participate in those. Figure out which training method you want to go with and try it out and if it doesn’t work do not be afraid to change it up and try something new.

When it comes to dog food there’s so many methods. Raw, home-cooked which is what I have been doing for the past year and I love it. Human grade which is basically homecook but made by a factory or dog food company. And of course wet food and dry dog food. Which ever one you choose do the best that you can with the finances you have and the ability you have. Research, learn, grow, and do not be afraid to change things. A lot of dogs are having allergies and things like that so there’s so much to consider. I would recommend not just talking to one person of course your veterinarian who you trust is important but look at lots of different sources and figure out what’s best for you and remember what’s best for you might just be what’s best at that specific time.

Look into the psychology of dogs. Their behavior. Read learn and grow in this area that is something that was not discussed when I was growing up or even in the last 20 or 30 years. Knowing about dogs behavior and what makes them tick is going to make you a more effective dog owner.

Here are some warnings about products. Number one read reviews. Especially if the product is new. It might look neat and seem like it would help you out but be a waste of time and money when it comes down to it. I have spent so sometimes products need to be evaluated for effectiveness, convenience, and of course healthy or natural products. You have to decide what kind of products you want. Natural, convenient, cost-effective. Sometimes those three things do not add up in the same way. You have to evaluate what is important in your life.

I was one of those people did not sleep with my dogs ever. I said I would never sleep with dogs. Dog hair, dogs are not super clean all the time, there’s so many reasons why sleeping with dogs was not some thing I wanted to do. Not only that dogs sleep cycles are very different than peoples sleep cycles. So your sleep quality can suffer if you are sleeping with a dog.

Plus a lot of people have this old-fashioned notion, that if you sleep with your dogs that puts them on your equal level so they will not respect you. That has long sense been debunked but I grew up thinking that.

I never let my dog sleep in bed with me even if they wanted to. I even got dogs from homes where they had been allowed to sleep in bed with their owners in the past. That was a very very hard habit to break but I was consistent and had the rule no beds no furniture dogs slept on the floor or in fancy dog beds. I did make sure I got them some comfortable dog beds and they adjusted to sleeping in them.

For some reason I started allowing dogs in bed with me when I got my bichon tabby and she was used to living outside so I’m not sure why I started letting herThis can be difficult especially if she hast to go somewhere else. Not everyone wants to sleep with her and what if she hast to go to a boarding facility she would have to spend long hours alone so that sort of causes a problem when I cannot be with her thankfully most of the time, I’ll take her with me but it is not always possible for her to go along.

That is a huge caution if you are going to have your dogs in bed with you make sure you find pet sitters that allow dogs in bed or you never have to board them at a facility because this might cause them stress.

It might be nice to have some furniture that’s just for humans that dogs are not allowed to be on just to get them in practice of not being allowed to be on every piece of furniture and maybe just a place that has a little less dog hair on it in your home might be nice to have.

A good reason to have your dogs in bed with you is, that dogshelp with depression and anxiety it’s nice to have a warm body beside you when you’re sleeping. Not only that it gives the dogs comfort as well and on cold nights it’s really nice to have a warm furry friend snuggled beside you

If you are going to have dogs in your bed I would advise washing them often and keeping sprays for their paws to keep them clean and of course make sure they’re free of parasites worms, fleas, ticks and everything else.

.

If you do not want your dog in your bed another alternative to keep them close by is possibly putting a dog bed beside your bed or a crate for them to sleep in beside your bed. If you do not want to purchase a dog bed a blanket, or article of clothing that smells like you might work just the same.

You might also lay on the floor on a blanket with them rather than The dog being in your bed maybe you can curl up on the floor with them sometimes or maybe an old couch that you don’t mind getting dog hair on.

Whatever the role in your home is make sure it’s consistent if dogs are allowed in the beds then they are all the time. If they’re not then keep that rule consistently. It might be useful in any case to teach the dog the off command that way they know when they’re on some thing that they’re not welcome on you can stay off.

I’ve had several dogs and never received the dog I was promised. No matter what the situation is there’s going to be something you didn’t count on or maybe someone was not honest. In many situations I’ve received false information or been led to believe things that were not true. It’s hard. In severe situations you might have to find another home for the dog but I feel like that decision should not be taken lightly. Unless you or the dog or someone in your home or going to be harmed,or put in a position where they’re not safe. You should stick it out because you made a commitment.

Housebreaking. Most of the time I’ve been told dogs were housebroken and most of the time they are not. There are many reasons for this. Number one when a dog is in a new situation a new home a new schedule things are not going to flow easily. It’s going to take time for everyone to get comfortable with the new addition to the home. That’s the best circumstances, and in that situation usually the potty training/house breaking schedule gets on track rather quickly.

The next situation where the dog is having accidents is just that someone was not honest. The dog was not housebroken at all. I’ve had that happen. So in that situation you start from the beginning and you housebreak the dog. I can’t tell you how long it’ll take or what method is going to work best. I would recommend consulting with experts. Trainers, behaviorists, maybe veterinarians or dog owners that you trust. Sometimes these dogs have been kept outside and is not used to being inside home full-time. In any situation housebreaking is going to take time, effort, determination, and patience. Invest in some natures miracle or in the Mattick cleaner. Crate training is a good thing and of course thoroughly clean in the areas where they’re having accidents. Buckle up it’s going to be a long ride but you’ll get through it. Lack of house training is not a good reason to rehome a dog. It’s just not. Any dog can have accidents and newsflash when they become seniors you might have to do this all over again or invest in diapers because when they’re seniors things change.

Aggression. This is a big one aggression can be dangerous. It just depends on what kind. We’re going to talk about the your aggression. The dog is scared and reacts aggressively. Maybe growling, snorling. Yes it can be scary, frustrating but hopefully you will form a bond with this dog. You should do everything in your power to make them feel safe go to training maybe look into medication if necessary there are natural remedies, do different things to keep the dog safe. I had a dog that preferred to be in a crate. It takes determination. Put in the work. Invest in this dog you have. I promise your dogs going to invest in you. It’s going to be hard but worth it.

Normal aggression just downright I don’t like people. This can be dangerous so if you have small children or vulnerable people in the home it might not be the dog for you but do not take this decision lightly. You need to put in every effort to make it work because you made a commitment. Again trainers, maybe medication, safety precaution such as crates, gates, whatever it takes. You should look down every Avenue before rehoming is the solution. Of course when it comes to biting sometimes hard decisions need to be made but you need to know in your heart that you did everything in your power to make this dog‘s life good before you make the ultimate decision to euthanize or rehome.

do not make the commitment to get a dog without research information and lots of helpful advice.

Dog aggression. The easy thing to this is if you are getting a dog and it’s a Single dog situation things will be easier. If you’re getting a dog and you already have dogs in the home well, that will be a little harder but not impossible. Make sure all dogs in the situation are dog friendly. Make introduction slow, gradual and do your homework learn about making dogs introductions happy. Make sure everyone’s going to be happy in the home living together. Do lots of research on breed situations. Take all of the dogs backgrounds into consideration before making the decision to bring the new dog in.

Issues with other pets in the home. Dogs are my only pet so I cannot speak much from experience but definitely if there’s cats, rodents, small animals ETC chickens farm stock. All of that needs to be taken into consideration. So many times I hear about people saying I rehomed to this dog because it did not get along with my chickens, goats, rabbits, or cats. Take all these things into consideration. Before making a commitment do your homework learn about the dog you’re bringing home meet the dog where it’s at and make the right decision for everyone involved including yourself.

When deciding to bring a dog into your home make a careful considerate decision. Do not make abrupt decisions or be impulsive. Make a list of the things you’re going to need from the Dog. Make a second list of the things you can give to the dog. Make sureThe items on the list are realistic.

Make sure you have realistic expectations for your new dog. Make sure you have realistic expectations for yourself. If you’re working 12 hours a day seven days a week is having a dog the right decision for you if you have two small kids and you’re pregnant and your child has special needs is a brand new puppy what you need?

I’m not saying the situation totally limit you from getting a dog I’m just saying under best circumstances people would find these life situation‘s difficult and then adding a dog on top of it might not work for everyone. There are people who make it work with unbelievable obstacles and challenges so it’s possible but everyone’s different and it’s important to realize your own limitations.make a monthly budget that you feel comfortable spending on a dog. Consider food, vet care, toys, enrichment, anything that you would possibly have to pay for for a dog. Consult other dog owners get into online dog communities or go to dog parks. Find out what dog owners are saying. It is good to look at online resources but human resources are the best when it comes to money matters.

Do you travel?? Are you dog might interfere with your traveling. You might have to get dog walkers pet sitters or take the dog with you. This might mean extra money extra time extra inconvenience. All that needs to be considered your dog might not like traveling or your dog might not do well being with other people while you travel? Consider if your dog might have special needs medically or physically. Maybe you have a dog with arthritis or Lexiing patella that can’t do steps. All that needs to be considered are you willing to change your lifestyle around for your dog especially if problems develop later on? Having a dog is wonderful they give so much love and they do not ask a lot of us humans we just need to meet them where they’re at and make sure we’re not imposing our feelings thoughts or desires upon them to strongly.

One of the first sayings that I remember is if a rose was called by another name would it smell just as sweet. I am not a philosopher or a poet so I cannot answer that question definitively but I do know names mean a lot to me.

Names are very important to me every dog I’ve ever named has been a huge decision. I agonize over it in fact most of the time when I’m getting a dog I try to already have the name picked out because there was several times when I change the name . So naming a dog is just as important to me as naming a child. I do not want to be stuck saying something I do not like or have a negative connotation with.

I got my first dog when I was around second grade. Her name was Jody my mom suggested that name and I loved it. I had met a girl named Jody in the hospital while we were bothGetting cancer treatment. Jody was amazing and she liked the same music I did and she was really sweet I don’t know whatever happened to her but I was so happy when my mom suggested that we may my dog Jody. She probably did not even remember the girl I met in the hospital.

I got a Chihuahua mix when I was 21. I finally after moving several times as an adult. . Finally, I was in an apartment that allowed me to have a dog. I got one within a couple ofweeks of moving in. Her name was Penny when I got her because she had copper colored spots all over her body that look like pennies. So her former owner called her Penny. Well Penny was not OK with me. Every penny I had known had been not so nice and so I had a bad connotation with the name Penny. So I changed her name to Wendy. She came to it immediately Wendy for me represented happiness free and of course was a cool name of an association song.

My third dog after Wendy did not work out and had to go back to her owner. Was the best dog in the world. Her name was baby she was a big sheep dog collie/schnauzer mix possibly. I really wish I would’ve done her DNA. She was amazing. Anyway I was not going to be walking down the street as a 22-year-old single woman yelling come here baby. Absolutely not and I was not in the best neighborhood.

I heard the name Hayley on a soap opera of all places and thought it was just the most magical beautiful name little did I know it would become so popular but so I had a dog named Hayley but I spelled it Hayleigh.

Before I was allowed to have a dog I lived in the house with a roommate and she was a pet sitter. This was before Hayley and Wendy. I was not allowed to have a dog at the house but my roommate was long story anyway she was a pet sitter she would go to peoples homes and sit with their pets while they were out of town. It was sort of a side hustle for her. Anyway one time she took me with her to show me her clients amazing home she introduced me to a Shetland sheepdog. Which I had never saw before. It was a female and her name was Katie. I thought she was the most beautiful amazing dog ever and always promised myself that I would have a Shetland sheepdog.

After 10 years I was finally able to get a Shetland sheepdog but the first few that I looked at were all named Penny. Back to that Penny name I guess Penny is a popular dog name. Anyway I finally found a couple of Shetland sheep dogs. Yes look for one but ended up with two and they were Casey, and Jill. I felt like their name suited them and when I was a teenager I met a girl who had a dog named Casey and I thought it was a great dog name. So Casey and Jill were always Casey and Jill.

Actually I had Casey and Jill andHayleigh at the same time so they were it for a long time but then they got older and started passing on and of course I was in the market for another shelty. I found one rather quickly. I really enjoy watching the show law and order special victims unit, and Amanda Rollins is my favorite character. The next shelty I found no joke, her name was already Amanda. I felt like it was meant to be and she lived with us for several years but she was a senior so she didn’t live with us nearly as long as we would’ve liked before she passed on but just as a coincidence someone gave me a dog police officer costume . Is it hard to change a dog‘s name not really. You just call him that give them treats when they respond and it’s pretty easy most of the time the dog catches on within a month or so. I think the longest one I ever had was my current dog that I have now and she took maybe six weeks. I think it also has to do with what kind of home life they had before. If the people trained them and were engaged and worked with them a lot you might not want to change their name but if they come from a neglectful or negligent home it’s easier to change their name because most of the time they do not know it anyway.

In cases where I feel like the dog might know their name a little better than others I might try to make it something similar. Like just change a couple of letters. Like Kara became Carly. She caught onto it really quickly Abigail short Abby went to tabbie.

The summer can be a very dangerous but fun time for dogs. There are many things to consider as we go into record high temperatures dry air, numerous water activities, and all sorts of other things that can make fun turn into tragedy.



First let’s talk about water. Your dog should always have access to clean water. Know if Ann’s or butts. Unless an veterinarian has told you otherwise. Remember dogs are covered in fur they’re going to be a lot hotter than we are and depending on what breeds and style of hair they have they might overheat even faster than other dogs. It’s not going to hurt to have access to water. There are water bottles designed especially for dogs, collapsible water bowls, and I’ve even heard of dogs who could learn how to drink out of a human water bottle. There is no excuse to deny access to water

Some dogs enjoy swimming. There’s nothing wrong with that I would recommend always having a life jacket or at least someone who’s used to training dogs how to swim. Some dogs dive, swim, and participate in all sorts of water activities just be safe.I’ve heard of dogs having small pools and things like that and there’s nothing wrong with it just make sure they’re always supervised and you’re always being safe. Air on the side of caution so that tragedies are avoided.

Dogs always need water and shade those are the two elements that are essential when you have your dogs out in the sun. Personally I suggest keeping them inside cooltemperatures as much as possible. Make outside time limited especially during the heat of the day. If you want to take them for long walks or even run maybe go early in the morning or late in the evening.

Dogs can suffer heat stroke so be careful. Avoid taking them out during heat advisories and if they absolutely have to go out which they probably will limit outside time during heat advisories to short amount of time. Basically let them go to the bathroom and then take them back in and offer some water.

Never never never leave your dog in a hot car with the windows up. I’ve even heard you really should not leave them in a car with air conditioning running but you would have to consult with a veterinarian about their thoughts on that and I’m sure it would depend on the dogs physical health. I would suggest never leaving your dog in the car alone. If a person is breathing fine and feeling good in the car then a dog could probably be in the car with them. I never leave my dogs in the car alone.in fact don’t leave your dog in the car even with the windows down in the summer. It’s just not safe cars gets super hot. When you do have your dog out and about with you in the summer make sure there’s plenty of water available.

Never leave your dog outside an establishment that does not allow dogs. Such as, a restaurant, store, person‘s home. It is not safe to leave your dog tied up outside of any place. If you are planning to take your dog with you plan your route to include only dog friendly establishments. If you find yourself in an emergency perhaps you can contact the establishment you need to go in and arrange something special or come up with an arrangement. It’s always best if you’re going to have your dog out and about with you for a long period of time to possibly have someone come with you just in case you need to go into somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs.

If you decide to go to a dog park make sure you understand The signs of overheating from your dog and you can leave quickly. I would suggest dog park trips to be early mornings or late afternoons or very short if you’re going during the heat of the day. Again having water close at hand is a must also bring your own water and water bowl communal water situations are not safe or healthy.

Also consider your dogs furConsult with your veterinarian or groomer your dog might need a summer haircut. Also when you are getting your dog trimmed if you do that, talk to your groomer/veterinarian or both about your lifestyle how often you stay outside what your air-conditioning situation in your home is, your dog‘s activities, breed and health. All of those can go into consideration when deciding what sort of summer hairstyle your dog needs. If you have something such as a bee Shawn, poodle, Yorky or something that requires regular grooming you get a more summery haircut to provide some relief from the heat. While, if you have a dog breedwith sensitive skin or thin hair you might need to put T-shirts or avoid heat as much as possible to keep from sunburns

So

Most of the time fireworks and dogs do not mix. Most dogs have extreme fear to fireworks. The sounds, the smells the activity. It’s usually just too much. If all possible have your dog inside while fireworks are going off. Maybe you and other family members, or friends can take turns entertaining the dog while others are watching fireworks. Also calming medication special toys or special snuggles might be necessary to help your dog out during this stressful time. Be careful dogs tend to run away when it comes to fireworks . Keep your fence locked and secured. Keep your dog on a leash. Schedule probably breaks before and after firework times. Also it might not be your fireworks that are frightening your dog you have to think about neighbors or anything that your dog could hear that you might not be able to hear. Dogs tend to have really good hearing. Dogs will run away if they’re scared so keep extra safety precautions in mind during these loud noisy times.

Vacations are a big thing in the summer. There’s lots to consider when it comes to dogs and vacations. Number one there are traveling accommodations. Make sure your dog is safe in the car or safe and whatever vehicle they’re traveling in. Take extra safety precautions if your dog is in an unfamiliar area they might be prone to run away or be overstimulated. Make sure you have plenty of leashes and doors in condos and hotel rooms are closed and secured at all times.

Of course in the car there are seatbelts or maybe even putting them in a crate small dogs can even have doggy car seats but make sure they cannot escape from them.

If you’re not taking your dog with you there’s a lot of other things to consider adequate dog sitter options. Whether you’re using someone coming to your house, aboarding facility, or just your dog going to a friend or family members. Make sure they know your dog schedule routine veterinarian special needs food ETC. Of course safety precautions with leashes, fences, harnesses and a Secure way to take your dog out for potty breaks are available. Your dog might behave differently on vacation or at a sitter‘s house make sure the situation is conducive to your dog and their best quality of life. If you are having your dog go to a newestestablishment it’s best to do a trial run or introduce your dog to the situation several times before leaving them. Dogs my exhibit problems when they’re away from their owner so it’s best to be a little patient and make sure that the person watching your dog is being patient.

Summer can be a new time to come up with some new things to do with your dog. New games to play new agility equipment to purchase new hobby such as dog sports, training, or maybe joining some sort of dog club. You and your dog can have a lot of fun in the summer and it’s always a good time to start up something new. Dogs enjoy doing different things. Some dogs would enjoy going to outside patios at restaurants or outside situations where dogs are allowed. Some places have community dog walks. Where people can walk dogs together or community dog events. So there’s all sorts of things that you and your dog can get into this summer.

The first time I heard about Olivia was in the fall of 2017. I had recently got my bichon tabby and a friend of mine found out about three dogs that had been left behind when their owner passed away.

From the moment I heard about Olivia I thought she was sweet I said oh I’m so glad you’re getting her she sounds great. Within a few months there started to be problems. Olivia had a lot of energy. She loved to jump. She could be destructive. Of course my friend had to get all the preliminary veterinarian things done. Nails cut, spayed, up-to-date on shots. Put her on heartworm preventative.My friend decided to take in one that she thought was a Yorkshire terrier/poodle mix. She thought the dog was about two years old and she thought she was pretty sweet. The other dogs were able to be rehomed together thankfully.from the very beginning Olivia needed a lot of work. Nails cut, she needed to be put on flea and heartworm preventative as well as being spayed and put up-to-date on her shots. from the very beginning Olivia needed a lot of work. Nails cut, she needed to be put on flea and heartworm preventative as well as being spayed and put up-to-date on her shots. We did not know anything about her background whether she had been housebroken kept inside the house trained at all. So that needed to be assessed as well. After all the veterinary things have been completed within a few months there started to be problems. Olivia was extremely vocal and screamed when she was in a crate. She was destructive she jumped she ran she had a lot of energy. They thought she was about two years old. She destroyed crates things around the house jumped really high was super energetic and could be a little feisty with the other dogs. After about eight or nine months my friend decided that Olivia living with her was not a good idea. In fact she actually did not call her Olivia she had a different name. I tried to talk her into keeping Olivia. And after a few months she said if I did not want her she was going to have to take her to a shelter which I did not want. So in October 2018 I received the dog now known as Olivia. At first it was hard to figure out a name but I decided on Olivia. She did not need any veterinarian work or anything it was all about settling in. I remember the first day she met my bichon tabby. I took her up to Olivia they went outside and became fast friends. They slept together play together and our best friends even now.

Olivia was super sweet I love taking her places with me and she was good on leash and did not have any accidents. It was roses and sunshine so cliché but everything went great.

After a while I started noticing the behavior that my friend had spoken about jumping high very energetic and destroying crates. Not only that she would destroy other things like earbuds, blankets, you couldn’t put anything in her crate or she would terret up. One time her crate was pushed up against my bed and she jerked my bedspread off and tore it to shreds.

After a while I had to put her crate in the middle of the room because she would chew on the wall or scratch it. I’ve looked and looked for some sort of blanket or something to put in her crate that she could not destroy. At one point I was putting bath towels in. She would be OK with something for a while and then she would start tearing it up.I started taking her to the dog park to extend some of the energy and that helped. I started giving her opportunities to jump safely which she enjoyed.

I also found out that she like to chew on things so I started getting her safe bones to chew on and making sure she had plenty of variety and things to exercise her teeth on. That helped. She also likes squeaky plush toys. And I make sure she has plenty of those.

So about three or four months ago I put her on medication. That has helped and it has not killed her personality. She takes a pill called reconcile. That helps with anxiety and behavioral issues.she still runs jumps and plays. For a long time I thought she was in capable of learning because I tried and tried to teach her basic commands and now that she’s on medication she does basic commands beautifully. One time she came up to me and demonstrated sit, down, and paw without me even saying anything she just showed me all three like she was showing off.

I

One big adventure is she is a mice catcher. She will go through a wall to through an air vent or do anything to get to a mouse. So that’s been an adventure. Of course in true terrier fashion she likes to bring me her fines. Which means dead mice. That’s been an achievement for herOne big adventure is she is a mice catcher. She will go through a wall to through an air vent or do anything to get to a mouse. So that’s been an adventure. Of course in true terrier fashion she likes to bring me her fines. Which means dead mice. That’s been an achievement for herOne big adventure is she is a mice catcher. She will go through a wall to through an air vent or do anything to get to a mouse. So that’s been an adventure. Of course in true terrier fashion she likes to bring me her fines. Which means dead mice. That’s been an achievement for herTook her to a training class about six months ago, and she was doing the commands without even having any sort of reward and one of the lady said oh your dog behave so well, I wish my dog was like her! I said, no you do not! You do not want a dog like this one! Lightly we figured out she’s a true terrier and likes to collect dead mice. I have not witnessed her killing one but she’s came with a lot of dead ones so I’m assuming she kills them. She likes to bring them to me. She will go through a wall, air vent or any means possible to find a mouse. That’s been interesting. By the way lately we did a DNA wisdom panel on her turns out she’s Chihuahua, Boston terrier, Yorkshire terrier, Shih Tzu, and many other small breeds.

I wanted to share the experience of getting my dog Carly. I dealt with a very reputable breeder who was registered on the American shelty association website. I am not a puppy person so I chose to get an older dog that had been a breeder mom and was being retired to a pet only home.I was able to talk with the breeder many times before I picked up the dog. It was at the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020 so it would be a couple of weeks before I could pick up the dog. Her rule was with the older dog she did not want any payment for them she just wanted them neutered or spayed at her local vet and them to receive a dental. At first I did find it a little difficult that she did not want me to have the spay neuter surgery at my veterinarian that I would be using from then forward but that was her rule it was nonnegotiable and now that some time has passed I really think that was a good solution because I found out my veterinarian does not do spay and dental surgeries at the same time so I would’ve had to pay for two separate procedures which in the end would’ve cost more.

Her veterinarian is in a bigger area with more income in that area so her veterinarian was quite a bit more expensive than my veterinarian but that was her rule, and her veterinarians office was a lot more busy and a lot more in personal than my vet but the surgery went well the dog did well and that’s what matters.s

Due to the fact that I would be paying for the surgery and the dental I was uncomfortable with her taking the dog home after the surgery but she did offer to do the follow up care and then I could pick up the dog at a later date after it was recovered from surgery but she was understanding of the fact that I did not know her.

We both were at the veterinarians office when the dog was ready to go home from surgery I was able to take her home she signed paperwork she gave me all the records she told the veterinarians to turn the records over to me she did all the responsible things.

I will admit some things I did not meet the dog or her before taking the dog home from surgery. Would rather meet the dog see where the dog lives be around the dog and if you are able that is probably the best thing to do because there were some issues that did come up with the dog that were difficult because I did not know the personality of the dog. I’m not going to say that issue had anything to do with the breeder, I don’t know that for sure, but I would imagine the issues were present when she lived with the breeder. Carly has severe anxiety and Hass to be on medication. She was not on medication when I got her and possibly I could say she might not of been as anxious at that home where she had been all her life and being rehomed at age 7 was so traumatic that it caused her to be very anxious but I have a hard time believing that. After taking her to the vet and researching anxiety I believe it is afor sure, but I would imagine the issues were present when she lived with the breeder. Carly has severe anxiety and Hass to be on medication. She was not on medication when I got her and possibly I could say she might not of been as anxious at that home where she had been all her life and being rehomed at age 7 was so traumatic that it caused her to be very anxious but I have a hard time believing that. After taking her to the vet and researching anxiety I believe it is A hereditary condition but I cannot say that for sure. I would use the breeder again I don’t know about meeting the dog. I’ve had a lot of shelties with anxiety and at the time that I got Carly I really did not want to go down the anxiety journey again. I really cannot say for sure I do know I will continue to get shelties and now that I know about anxiety, hopefully I will be able to see the signs clearly.

She gave me food, treats, heartworm medication, and flea medication. As well as all the paperwork, so I was very happy with that. I also received follow up information, anytime I had a question she was available. She was not able to help with anxiety, she claimed that Carly did not have it when she lived with her. I find that a little hard to believe because even with the medication, Carly is still very cautious, not exactly crippling anxious but she is definitely not outgoing even with medication.

When possible I would recommend meeting the Dog meeting the owner seeing where the dog lives. Being exposed to the dog and the dog being exposed to you. For me that’s not usually possible with not being able to drive and shelties are hard to find in my area,So I have to improvise. I spend a lot of time asking questions and talking on the phone. The breeder was very available to me, we spent hours talking and I asked lots of questions. I also highly recommend making a list of things that you want the breeder to know about you and things that you expect out of your dog. Example, I told her I was not very outdoorsy that I spent most of my time inside and so my dog would need to be happy indoors. I also talked about my house being small and my yard being small so I do not have a lot of room. I wanted to make sure the dog would be comfortable indoors because I did not want an outside dog. I did not want a dog that was not comfortable inside. I did not want a dog that was used to hiking or camping or anything like that because that was not going to be the kind of home I could provide. I wanted to make sure The situation was going to be comfortable for all parties involved.

Small animals rodents whatever you have in your home.I would stress whatever family structure you have and let the dog be comfortable with that. Whether it’s children, other dogs, elderly, disabled, men, women. Whatever you have, I told the breeder that I had a 16-year-old son and she felt like things would be fine. For the most part they are but Carly is terrified of my son. I believe it is because he looks like a man. The breeder told me later on it might be that Carly was not used to #MIN, and we’re working with it. She’s not aggressive, she’s just terrified of my son. So he has not been able to connect with her which is fine he does his own thing but that could’ve been problematic if he was younger or if it was a situation where she was very uncomfortable around him. Thankfully she doesn’t really have to interact with him very much and things are getting better through training and it might be one of those things that you just have to prepare yourself to work on.I told the breeder that I had a 16-year-old son and she felt like things would be fine. For the most part they are but Carly is terrified of my son. I believe it is because he looks like a man. The breeder told me later on it might be that Carly was not used to #MIN, and we’re working with it. She’s not aggressive, she’s just terrified of my son. So he has not been able to connect with her which is fine he does his own thing but that could’ve been problematic if he was younger or if it was a situation where she was very uncomfortable around him. Thankfully she doesn’t really have to interact with him very much and things are getting better through training and it might be one of those things that you just have to prepare yourself to work on. I h

When last thing I want to share is I think no matter what happens it’s going to be hard to prepare a dog and a family for every situation. I have found a dog in one situation might react to the very same thing differently in a new home. There’s no way a breeder or a former owner can prepare a dog for every thing or everyone. There’s always going to in My Home it was not a big deal. I also have found that the level of experience and skill people have with dogs contributes to how they perceive behaviors and situations. Someone who is very experienced and confident is going to be able to handle more than a new dog owner or someone that’s not very experienced.

I am a breast cancer survivor. I was first diagnosed in 2010 and then had a reoccurrence in 2016. At that point in my life I was 36 single mother with a 12 year old. I was faced with not only having breast cancer but the fact that I would no longer be able to have anymore children due to breast cancer treatment as well as some other minor medical complications. I was 36 a single mother with a 12 year old boy. Not at the point in my life where I wanted to rule out any possibilities for the future. During that sad lonely time where I was so discouraged someone talk to me about getting a small dog. I already had a couple of dogs that I was super happy with but they were not super cuddly. I thought about it and remembered that my neighbor had a toy poodle that I really liked. She was super cuddly and I always said I would like a dog like her. After surgery chemotherapy and remission I set out on my journey to find a smalldog. I ended up getting a couple of small dogs that didn’t really work out. One of them did not like other dogs, and the other bonded with my son which was good and she did not like other dogs either. Shelters but unfortunately I have a disability I’m a single mother in so a lot of places like that are very discriminatory toward people.

Also I don’t drive so I was limited by distance. I did have friends willing to drive me up to an hour away but I could not travel much beyond that.I also live in a small town with a lot of low income people so the variety of dogs was pretty much Pitbulls and Chihuahuas. I was not interested in either one of those breeds although I know it’s all about training and I do not subscribe to Bree discrimination that just was not going to work out for my situation. Through a lot of trial and error in about three different dogs I ended up with a dog that came from another state. The owner was willing to drive and meet me halfway. So that fit with my hour away distance requirement. I actually hired someone to take me to pick her up. She was called Abigail. It’s really interesting. I talk to the lady about her and decided I wanted her, then we lost each other‘s contact information and I was able to find her a couple of months later. When I first talked to the lady she told me that she had poodle puppies for sale. Abigail‘s puppies I ask her if I could have Abigail in it first she said no that I could have Abigail‘s older puppy that was around two years old. I was OK with that but after talking to me she realize that, Abigail would be a better fit for me. She told me that the puppies had to be weened before Iwe could come and get her and that is when we lost each other‘s contactinformation by the time I found her again Abigail had weened puppies and was ready to go.

This is when the fun started. So I was sent pictures of a poodle looking dog with nice hair. By the time I picked her up she had gotten into something outside and the lady was not one to pay for many things. So she did not take her to a professional groomer. She decided to groom her herself. With a surgical blade so her Furrer was gone her skin was practically showing and she looked pretty terrible. There was nothing I could do but wait for the fur to grow back but it was not a nice situation at all. Not at all what I thought I was getting. She told me that Abigail had a history of killing birds. Apparently the lady had pet birds that she allowed to fly all around the house freely and Abigail hadkilled one. Not to mention according to this woman Abigail had also tried to attack one that was in a cage. So Abigail was banished to outside. So this little tiny dog was left outside 24 seven. The lady told me this before I picked her up and I expressed concern that the dog was not housebroken. She assured me that Abigail had lived indoors for most of her life and she would just need some practice but she would be fine because she was an inside dog really.

One other thing that she mentioned to me was to not let Abigail use potty pads. She said oh potty pads just train dogs to use blankets towels or anything on the floor. It’s best to teach them to go outside because potty bats lead to a lot of bad habits. I’m not sure if this isOne other thing that she mentioned to me was to not let Abigail use potty pads. She said oh potty pads just train dogs to use blankets towels or anything on the floor. It’s best to teach them to go outside because potty pads lead to bad habits. I will say with my small dogs I have found this to be the case but I’m not sure if it’s a small dog thing, just my dogs, but it was some useful advice.

When Abigail came to me she was very underweight she had never been to a vet and I’m pretty sure on the phone she told me that Abigail was three years old and then when I got her home and was going to take her to the vet she changed it to saying that she was four years old. I guess that’s not a huge thing but it’s just one of those things.I took her to the vet got her rabies shot got her on some flea preventative and did all the preliminary things. Now I will say I did pay the lady a rehoming fee or whatever you wanna call it. I’m trying to remember but I’m believing she charged me $150. I know for me I did not want to pay more than a rescue or shelter would charge so I felt $150 was fair. Now I look at it and think she had never taken her to the vet she had never taken her to the groomers she wasn’t current on flea preventative had not ever had any care other than food and by the fact that she was underweight it did not seem like she was getting much food. So in someways I think 150 was a little too much. I also talked about her being underweight to the lady and she said she put out food and if the dogs pushed Abigail or any other dog out of the way and chose to eat it all that was just the way it was. So I got her home got her vet care and started to see some problems this dog was not housebroken. This dog had terrible habits she had been allowed to eat off that lady‘s plate and drink out of her cup. That’s a habit that we’re still working on five years later. Of course she had never had on A collar, leash, harness, never been in the car probably never left that lady‘s property. I don’t even think that lady owned a leash or collar the day she brought her to meet she had her wearing a cat harness. She brought me some sort of sweatshirt for her the cat harness a bottle of water for the ride home and some sort of toy. It was not even a dog toy I think it was like a kids stuffed animal. I had the lady meet me at Petsmart which I highly recommend because there’s always going to be some pet item you need or you’re going to have to go to the pet store right after you pick up the dog so I just thought it was best to meet at Petsmart. I took her straight into Petsmart and looked for her a collar I brought a leash with me I also brought one of my other dogs with me to make her feel a little more secure.

I do not think she had ever eaten out of a dog bowl I mean this was a dog who knew nothing. I had to start from the very beginning and it was so overwhelming those first few months. I remember wondering what I had gotten myself into. There were many tears much frustration and a whole lot of questioning myself. I took her to training and she progressed a little bit but I was still really discouraged. Not long after that I found out she had Giardia which was contributing to a lot of her accidents not to mention she had been throwing up as well.anytime I had a problem I contacted the previous owner I guess just to show her how much she had messed up which I do not recommend I don’t know what I thought I would get from her maybe a reason maybe an apology. She always acted shocked or like the problems were my fault. I do not recommend contacting the previous owner especially if it’s not a reputable person. It was just kind of pointless and I quit calling her after a while. For those of you who do not know Giardia is an intestinal infection of sorts sort of like a parasite, it causes throwing up diarrhea it’s very bad dogs get it from drinking contaminated water usually with some sort of animal feces.

I can’t even tell you win but at some point things started to get better. I got a crate and began crate training her and she started to develop a little personality of course she put on a lot of weight probably too much because she found out she was going to get to eat every day.

One of her big things is and was door dashing although now she does it a little less often and is easier to get back when she used to dash out the door sometimes it would be a couple of hours before I could get her back.

She is still a dog who is prone to have accidents I guess that’s just the way it’s going to be I’ve talked to trainers and a lot of them think because she wasn’t housebroken at a younger age that’s part of the problem I’m not sure what sometimes she can go months without having an accident and sometimes she might have three accidents in one week.

I’m happy to say training has gotten a lot better in fact I have found that she really likes to learn and she’s really smart. She is my dog that I can teach the most things to and is the most willing to learn. In fact if she hears me training with another dog she’s quick to start coming around and wanting to participate.her leash walking has gotten better and she listens better and the biggest thing that we did early on was changed her name. Pretty early on I decided she needed a new start but I wanted her name to be similar to her old name. She was Abigail called Abby and now she is tabby. Here’s the good stuff. She is so cuddly loves to be held she is got this whole baby persona going on. I joke around and say how on earth were you ever anybody’s mother because you want to be the baby. She is the oldest dog in my house but you would think she was a young as she wants to be carried and held and she actually cries when she does not get her way. She wants to be cuddled at night when you sleep she wants to be in bed with you. She loves to go in the car she loves to travel I feel like her life has grown so much and so has mine. We’ve gone on trips together we visited friends together. In fact the very first weekend I had or we went and stayed with friends so she’s done a lot of traveling. I found she does not like being the only dog. About six months after I got her maybe a year I went and stayed with a friend and I brought her with me and did not take any of the other dogs and she did not like that. A couple of times I’ve gone on trips and left her with my mom and she’s not like that either being the only dog.I found she does not like being the only dog. About six months after I got her maybe a year I went and stayed with a friend and I brought her with me and did not take any of the other dogs and she did not like that. A couple of times I’ve gone on trips and left her with my mom and she’s not like that either being the only dog. Recently I found that she is slightly spoiled she will bark to get your attention she will bark to get her way she will come and move your arm and make you pet her she will jump up and try to get you to pick her up. Yes I’ve learned that I need to put a stop to a lot of her manipulating bad habits but it’s so hard because she’s so cute. The last thing I want to share is she loves going to the groomer getting her hair brushed and styled she loves all that stuff she is a total diva. No more surgical blades get haircuts for her.The last thing I want to share is she loves going to the groomer getting her hair brushed and styled she loves all that stuff she is a total diva. No more surgical blade terrible haircuts for her. Oh and she’s not a poodle at all like the lady said she’s actually a bichon surprise I didn’t even get the breed that I thought I was getting.

I know many of us have heard that there are people that are Dog porters. Which means for whatever reason whether it’s well intentioned rescuing, overpopulation due to lack of spay neuter, or some other reason, people end up with way too many dogs.

I have been in a situation several times where I got a dog from one of these situations and I wish I would have known the signs or knew exactly what I was getting into so I thought I would share some advice.

First I will talk about the signs. Usually it’s someone who has way too many dogs. Usually in a space that’s not adequate to meet the needs of the dogs.

The dogs are usually not in good shape. Usually they are dirty, not very healthy, and the living situation is usually not very clean.

I find in most situations the owner of the dogs is a little delusional whether it is about the needs of the dogs, sometimes they have irrational fears about the dogs and they always think they’re doing a great job.

Some of the other signs are, the dogs are usually not socialized have very little to no training most of the time they’re not even housebroken and some of them are aggressive or super anxious.

I would say the first thing if you are determined to take a dog out of the situation or maybe you are getting them from a shelter and they have been in a dog hoarding situation previously is to get them veterinarian care. Even if the shelter or rescue has done basic veterinary care I would highly recommend bloodwork, fecal testing the whole bit because they usually have underlying health issues that could plague them for the rest of their life.some examples of the sicknesses I have had dogs contract from being in an overpopulated hoarding situation, is Giardia, which is an intestinal sickness that animals get from drinking dirty water usually with some sort of an animal feces in it.

Also tick born illnesses, such as,Ehrlichiosis witch , is a tick-borne (transmitted by tick bites) disease caused by infectious bacteria from the Ehrlichia genus.

So yes veterinarian cost are something you should definitely consider not only that you should have a good veterinarian that you trust wholeheartedly that will be helpful, compassionate, and a good communicator to help you through this process.

Definitely look into spay neuter and the cost of the surgery and what kind of care you want for your dog. Example I have used mobile clinics which do the surgery in one day and there’s not a whole lot of aftercare provided so if anything were to develop later on you would still have to go to your veterinarian. Now, I will say I’ve never had to go to the veterinarian after a mobile spay surgery but there’s always that one time.

A friend of mine adopted a dog from one of the same hoarders that I got my dogs from and her dog ended up having a reaction to the dissolvable stitches after her spay. She did not have the surgery done at a mobile clinic but she was not able to go back to the same vet so she ended up having to pay for theSurgical incision to be medically taken care of.

So after considering medical and cost that go along with it. The next thing you would need to consider would be the social aspects of a dog brought up in less than favorable conditions. In my experience, the dogs from hoarders can be a little anxious around humans. Depending on what sort of living conditions they have been living in they can be afraid of indoor things or outdoor things. I’ve had some of both. The first dogs that I got from a hoarder were afraid of outside. They were always afraid they would be trapped outside and not allowed to come back in. It was also hard to get them to go outside for potty breaks and if they needed to travel in the car or go somewhere away from home they were very anxious.

On the other hand I’ve also had dogs that were used to being outdoors. It was hard for them to stay inside all the time they would

Try to find out as much about the dogs background as you possibly can. It’s very important example to know about likes dislikes what they’re used to doing eating what kind of interaction they’ve had with humans and other dogs. Personality. I will say, the personality will drastically change after living in a better environment.dash out the door when it was opened and they had a problem with running off from home if they were allowed outside and supervised. Also these types of dogs were used to rolling in the mud sleeping on dirt going under houses things like that. So they were a little harder to keep clean. That’s not a huge deal but it was just something I noticed.

I will say the transformation you will see in the dog after being in a comfortable happy healthy environment will be astonishing. Dogs do not dwell on the past. They live in the moment so they’re super forgiving and adaptable and eventually they will turn around and be comfortable in their new life it might take time, and there will be things, such as habits that Will remain from the prior home.

My bichon was allowed to eat off her owners plate. She ate pizza and chocolate and all sorts of things that dogs should not have. She was also allowed to drink out of her owners cup. So even though I’ve worked with her and never allowed that behavior she will still try to do those things even though it’s been five years.

It’s very common for dogs from hoarding situation‘s to have unhealthy habits when it comes to food. Whether it’s taking food from people, eating off plates, drinking out of cups, maybe even fighting dogs for food. A lot of times there’s not enough food to go around so every dog does not get to eat and so food is a rare commodity and it can lead to some aggressive behaviors.

A lot of these dogs do not know how to play. They’re not sure about toys, or even dog treats. They usually don’t know anything about leashes, harnesses, or even collars. Most of them have never been in a vehicle possibly never gone to the vet, maybe even never had a dog bed, or maybe never even had a bath. Some of them have never even spent the night in a home.

Usually they have dental problems of course never had their teeth brushed. Some of them are in need of a dental and possibly need to have teeth polled.

Also a lot of them have intestinal parasites, they are covered in flees and possibly ticks, some of them even have heartworm disease.

If the dog has fur that needs to be groomed,most of the time if they’re in a hoarding situation the person is doing it themselves or not doing it at all. My bichon was in horrible shape when I got her the owner had tried to cut her herself and she was cut too short almost to the point where she had sores on her skin.

Sometimes the anxiety that they are suffering needs medication or a lot of intervention. Of course the dogs are going to need time to decompress and adjust to the new situation but if the anxiety seems overwhelming, or maybe you’re just not sure it’s fine to consult with a veterinarian about medication.

It Will be an adjustment for both of you and it will not be easy. It’ll take time, patience, and you need to have grace for the dog and yourself. You’re both going to get frustrated, overwhelmed, and there’s going to be some really hard days in the future. Stay strong, remember you’re both adjusting you’re both learning you’re both growing hopefully you will start to bond and start to enjoy each other.

You will see the dog develop and flourish right before your very eyes. One day you’ll look back and not even know it’s the same dog. I recommend training. Definitely maybe after the first six weeks or so when you feel comfortable about taking the dog out definitely start training as soon as possible. It would even be better if you could start some training on your own at home but not everybody’s able to do that and I understand that.

I understand the dog has had a hard time but, do not let bad habits develop or continue because you feel sorry for the dog. Compassion, understanding, grace and love are expected and required but staying stuck in a place of excuses and allowing things that you would not normally allow it’s not going to be helpful for you or the dog.or it’s going to be hard on both you and the dog if you allow even more bad habits to develop.

Rules and boundaries are a good thing. No matter what dog you’re dealing with. Yes you’re going to have to be understanding and start from square one no matter how old the dog is, but when you see a new bad habit forming it’s best to redirect or figure out a solution from the get-go.

I normally recommend positive training but everyone likes a different training method and they have that right. Rules and boundaries are needed no matter what Dog you’re dealing with. The way you train your dog of course is your business, but I prefer gentler more humane methods but that’s just me. Especially with dogs who have been neglected or abused.

I did the typical feeling sorry for my dog that came from a bad situation. I cuddled and loved and tried to be understanding. She had Giardia when she came to me had never been to the vet never had a leash was underweight under nourished and had had multiple litters of puppies.very entitled. I know you think how on earth can a dog be entitled but that’s the best way to describe her.

She’s the type of dog that will bark at you because you’re not petting her or whine and scream in her crate because she’s not getting the attention she wants. She is the kind of dog that comes when you call any dog even if it’s not her and barks if you’re giving another dog attention. Yeah a little spoiled. I had to admit I did that because I felt sorry for her because of her bad upbringing.

So on top of training her and trying to get rid of the bad habits that she had learned in her first home I’d let her develop new bad habits that I had to work on.

I know all this sounds like a lot and you think why on earth rescue a dog if you’re going to have to go through all this. It’s worth it. I love my dogs no matter where they come from actually working with them and seeing the progress they made and the transformation was amazing and very encouraging.

You know the saying when we learn better we can do better well we can. So if you know what you’re getting into and some tricks and tips for making the transition easier. Maybe we can get more dogs out of hording situations. It’s not impossible and bringing home any new dog is not always going to be easy. In fact at first it’s going to be difficult no matter what dog you bring home.

When I grew up in the 80s everyone’s dogs were outside. In my neighborhood everyone’s dogs just ran free. Dogs really weren’t allowed in our rental property and some people had them. I try to think back and don’t really know that many people who had dogs or if they did they did not have them very long.my dog was never outside. I mean for potty breaks or just some fresh air but my dog never lived outside. Even in the 80s when that was the norm. People judged, complained, most of them decided it was because I had a disability. That must be why my mom let me keep that dog in the house. No my dog wasn’t very large she was about 30 pounds maybe 35 at her heaviest. She was a beagle mix. She was very well behaved and I’m not sure why people had such a problem with her living in the house.

Now I laugh at that because so many dogs live in houses now it’s kind of the other way around I’m a little surprised when someone leaves their dog outside.back in the 80s it was common to see a dog on a chain ,although I was always taught that was inhumane but family and friends did it all the time. It was very common. Recently in the last few years I’ve noticed if you try to go buy a chain to put a dog on it’s hard to find them. Which makes me happy. Dog should not live on chains.

I can tell you statistics on dogs who live on chains. I’m not, I’m just going to hit you withgood old common sense. First of all dangerous. Dogs can hang themselves. Trust me even on a long lead cable my dogs have tangled themselves up to the point where they couldn’t put all four paws on the ground they get caught up they get their neck in a bond. All sorts of horrible things can happen just from that.some people feel that long lead cables are better. For what? Either way a dog does not need to be living on a cable, chain or any other sort of tiedown 24 seven or even 12 hours out of 24. It is not a lifestyle to me it’s a temporary thing. If that is a permanent part of your dogs life definitely rethink having a dog. I am very supportive of the areas who are making it a law that dogs cannot live on cables or chains permanently. Your dog is vulnerable to other animals not just other dogs cats raccoons anything they cannot move they’re stationary even if you buy the longest cable or chain there are. Your dog is not going to be able to escape an attack. That is inhumane treatment. I’ve heard of people who put their dogs out on chains or cables when they go out of town or they can’t be home. They feel well they’re outside they’re safe. What about heat, cold, thunderstorms, tornadoes. What about water and food even if you leave what you think is enough it can get spilled it can get dirty it can get contaminated. That’s just disgusting to expect your dog to eat or drink some thing that’s been outside in the elements and all the creatures for hours or even days. Exercise. You can’t run on a chain or a cable. Even if you get the longest one there is. That’s not proper exercise not to mention they have to go to the bathroom in that spot that’s unsanitary. Socialization and temperament. Being tied stationary in one spot even if it’s a huge spot that’s not adequate socialization imagine the amount of frustration the dog experiences every single day. Not being able to go past a certain spot not being able to see different scenery or witness different things. Not exposed to different people sounds or experiences. Most dogs who live like that for long periods of time become aggressive.

Question is why have a dog if that’s the best life you can offer. We’re not talking about you became homeless after a tragedy. You were sick and had to do this because of a situation. The people who get a dog and introduce it to that lifestyle from Dave one. Why! What’s the point. Oh you want it to be your guard dog? Wow OK find a better option a camera. They’re stationary and you do not have to pay anything for them after the initial purchasing price. Dogs on chains for life should be a thing of the past. There are community organizations out there to build fences, and dog houses for people who need help if their dogs are on chains because of a situation or accident or disaster.

No my dog is not outside will not be outside should not be outside for life. That’s just not a way to live. Especially on a chain. I get it you might have to chain your dog up to put it outside for an hour because you don’t have a fence or you can’t supervise it. That is not what I’m A chain or a long lead is perfectly natural for a temporary solution. Not just their whole life. Dogs do need to be contained just not on a chain all day long or even half the day. Dogs should be treated better than that. They deserve more they’re too good for us to be so awful to them.