Paws of Happiness

Update on what’s going on with my crazy girls. OK, let’s start with Tabby because she’s the one that I’ve had the longest. To remind everyone, she is a between eight and nine year old Bichon. She’s happy all the time and loves everything and everyone. I have had her almost 5 years! I cannot believe it.
She was kept outside and was underweight over bread and had Giardia when I got her in the summer of 2017.
She did not know what a leash was and had never been in a collar or visited a veterinarian.
Of course she had never had any sort of training.
Also she had been allowed to eat off her owners play and drink out of her glass. Yeah, not happening here. We had a lot to overcome and learn. Together. This is her second time going to obedience class. I took her in 2018 and it did not go so well. There was so much she had to learn. I’m not going to say that she didn’t get anything out of the classes because she did but she just wasn’t ready to go much further. Now that I have built up my confidence, and learned more about dogs and their care, I was able to take her back. I learned very quick my little darling is a tyrant.
She’s adorable and cute and I guess I felt sorry for her and her miserable upbringing and all she had been through. I was warned repeatedly not to give in to feelings of “Oh, poor deer!” but she’s just so cute! If you knew her, you would totally understand. Everyone falls in love with her. She’s still comforting, loving, loves snuggles and cuddles and just is so sweet. Yet, my little angel has a lot of bad habits. First of all she loves to bark at you to get your attention whether it’s to be petted, picked up, fed, and the worst part is when she wants a toy or bone or something that a dog has, she barks or cries very loudly like she is the queen. Definitely going to have to get this dog in hand. I know this is my fault I’ve let things go too far for too long but I really am committed to changing things. Good thing is she loves going to class and she has already started improving in some respects–not the attitude and the barking but definitely her leash walking and obedience have improved. I believe she already had those skills but we’re doing a refresher on them.
Olivia the Maltese/Terrio mixed that’s approximately between six and seven years old. Again got her from a not so ideal situation so who knows. Well, let’s see, she’s been known to carry dead mice around with her, chew on drywall, chew on cable chords, and destroy things. she’s very cute and cuddly as well and very sweet. Thing is, I figured out it’s separation anxiety. After she destroyed three crates in three months I figured out something’s gotta give. I could not even contain her in a crate when I wasn’t home and thought about putting her in some sort of a Doggy Daycare situation when I left the house which would’ve been expensive and not really practical.
My final decision was to put her on medication. Right now, she’s on Reconcile which has Prozac in it and she might go on Prozac. I haven’t witnessed any changes yet but she’s only been on the medication about two weeks. They say it takes 6 to 8 weeks before you can see a difference.
I have had Olivia for a little over three years.
Olivia‘s coat has gotten shiny and beautiful– Thanks to changing her on human grade food! Actually all the dogs we’re on completely human grade food since June. Most of their treats are homemade as well. They’re all doing great lovely coats healthy weight and Tabby and Olivia have had bloodwork and check ups from the veterinarian and are doing great. Actually they weigh the same thing (11 pounds) which has never happened before.
Carly is an eight almost 9-year-old shetland sheepdog and I’ve had her almost 2 years. She has actually started chewing on bones and being a little more playful. Carly is still taking her Prozac and doing well. I see changes in her attitude and demeanor every day. She’s pretty much able to pass everything for the canine good citizen test it’s just a matter of taking the test. She enjoys class and is getting more social. She enjoys the human grade food and treats and will even do things to earn her food and treats which is amazing. She’s came so far and has even started to come when I call her and the only thing is she’s getting a little vocal. I guess she’s just tired of being silent in the corner.
She Barks and lets me know that she’s ready to go outside and she barks and lets me know she’s ready to eat. I think she would be amazing at nose work if she could get confident enough and maybe even agility she’s good at jumping and she loves to sniff me down when I get home to see where I’ve been and what dogs I’ve been interacting with.
Sarah is A Shetland sheepdog that’s around seven years old. I’ve had her about a year and nine months. She’s a joy and very well behaved. Her only problem is sometimes she destroys my things and she loves to take things outside that should be in the house such as toys bones and my things. She passed her canine good citizen class test and enjoys going to Dog class but she doesn’t really like exercise. She has lost weight and now her arthritis is fully under control and she can back off her medicine some. She loves food and is extremely food motivated. She’s also very barky and let you know if she hears anything. She also likes to nap and she likes to herd.