visit with the big guy.

This year you could take your dog to the mall for photos with Santa Paws. Of course the whole draw of this for me was taking my dog to the mall. & the dogs were allowed to enter from any entrance so a nice long walk around the mall was the plan.

Bella was the perfect mall dog. She somehow knew that she was in some strange part of people land that she is not normally privy to and was on her best behavior. As we walked through the mall's concourse, she politely sniffed at the entrances of the stores but made no attempt to enter.

While waiting in line for Santa, she waited patiently; quietly and curiously taking in the sights around her.








She was much more calm and open to the waiting experience than she has been in years past when we've gone to the Humane Society  for pictures with Santa. That just makes sense. The energy of a shelter is 1,000 x more intense.
& the yummy pizza treats that we purchased from the Golden Barkery helped keep the puppy nerves calm too.

Honestly my dog is a very very good dog. Stores would get a heck of a lot more of my business if they would allow my dog to come with me when I shop.

I mean, just look at how good and sweet she is. She knows how to act.

But then......... 

We met the Man in Red..........

She tried. She really tried to be polite. She sniffed his hand and his boots, gave a polite wag of her tail and was ready to leave. I tried to get her to sit at his feet using the "get in" command that she is pretty strong with. There was just something about those big black boots. 

 In her defense, Santa looked tired and a bit overwhelmed with his day. I got the feeling that he did not sign up to be Santa Paws and was really just waiting for the whole thing to be over so he could fly his magic sleigh to snooze-ville.

 Check out her body language. She could not be any further away from him.

 In the shot of her looking to the left - she is looking at me. I moved to the center behind the photographer. It took her a minute to figure out where I went. You can see her looking around.

& here she has just figured out where I am. (If I could've figured how to place the pictures in order. You would not have to figure out what the heck I am talking about)

And - in her defense - she could've bolted at any time. Not even Santa with all his holiday magic could've held on to her 80 pounds of muscle had she really wanted to leave. I had asked her to stay and she truly wants to be a good dog and listen well. 

She is certainly on the nice list. 

Halloween then & now

So, Halloween has come and gone. Autumn is a reminder of how much my little girl has grown. Below is her reaction to her first autumn and Halloween that she shared on her dogster page.

 Every falling leaf was prey back then, every scarecrow in the neighbors' yards an intruder,  every pumpkin a strange curiosity.  & that first Halloween night she spent inside looking out and barking at.

Now she is older and more understanding of how the world works. She still wears her Halloween costume & still gets "zoomies" in autumnal gusts of wind (it's really funny to watch her zoom around in her tutu and fairy wings). But she is less interested in falling leaves and more interested in trick or treaters (or at least their treat bags). It did not take her long to figure out this year that no matter how hard she wiggled, kids and their parents were wary of her huge bark. She soon calmed down and became an almost perfect Halloween host.

Although she was quite confused why all the kids insisted on saying the word "treat", but not giving her one.

Halloween 2010

What the heck!!!!!

October 31st 2007 7:23 pm
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Oh My Dog! What the heck is going on around here?

First the trees have started to lose all of their clothes! Their clothes are just swirling around in the wind! Fun to chase, but still kind of strange. & speaking of wind - the wind has been nuts!!!! Blowing every which way. Sending so many smells from every direction right to my sniffer. & Mom wants me to heel? With all those glorious curious smells coming at me from every which way?

Then, the other night, the trash cans came to life. Just jumped down on the ground & rolled over to one side like big old lumbering bears. BEARS I SAY! Good thing I had to go potty when I did! Dog knows what havoc those creatures may have wrought! Mom opened the door & I saw them and put them in their place I did. Held them back so mom could capture them and put them where they belong! No garbage can is going to shape shift and run amok while this pup is on duty! No sireedog.

Now lately, I've been seeing strange things when walking through the neighborhood - all sorts of odd and scary creatures in people's yards. Big things dressed in black with pale white faces and eyes that don't move. & people who look like they could be giant dog toys. They wear straw hats and plaid shirts and they look a little flimsy. & today I say a giant spider!!! THis guy was so big he'd built a web that covered the poor person's entire front yard!!! Oh, these poor people in my neighborhood. Each one of them needs a good dog to keep all of these creepies away. I've tried my best as Mom & I have walked by, but......there is only so much a pup can do. Especially when her mom just keeps walking as if every thing is normal!

& it may be too late anyway. Usually, it's pretty quiet at my house. Mom and Dad, the cats and I just kind of hang by ourselves. But tonight, the door bell rang. It.....was.....one.....of......THE CREEPYS!!!!!!! I swear to Dog I'm not making this up. & get this....... I barked, & I got in trouble. What a life. BUt the weird thing is......the creepys all smelled like kids. Yes, kids. I like kids. So, I guess it was O.k.? By the end of the whole ordeal, I had calmed down. I'll have to see what things are like tomorrow.

Like I said, I swear I am not making any of this up. Never in all my months have I seen things so strange and weird. No sireeedog. I'll keep you updated!

Peace & wags - Bella

Lucky Dog Rescue Blog: Noah, The Bait Dog

Lucky Dog Rescue Blog: Noah, The Bait Dog: In dogfighting, baiting is the act of pitting a potential fighting dog against a defenseless animal, often another dog—a bait dog. Bait d...

to grandma's house i go - woof woof

So, Bella is pretty smart - this is a fact. She loves to work, think, learn new things. And she loves to explore new places, be it a new park or a parking lot. But sometimes how smart she is amazes even me.

Last night we were out for our walk. I had been  home almost all day & really didn't feel like driving to a local park. So, we started out on a neighborhood walk. My idea was to either walk to the closest lake front park (30 minutes one way) or to just to simply walk around the area for an hour.

By the time we approached the decision making intersection, I had decided not to go to the park but to turn and walk the other route. Bella was in agreement to turning. However she soon started communicating to me that she wanted to cross the street. Bella has rottie stubbornness through and through. When she wants something or doesn't want to do something, she is loud and clear about it - kind of like a whiny child in the checkout aisle. This doesn't mean that she always  gets what she wants. She will relent, but it takes some doing on my part. Rotties need to be convinced that they really want to do what you want them to do, that there is something in it for them. Thank goodness Bella is only part Rottie. Because, I tend to be a real pushover. :)

She let me know her desire to cross the street by attempting to walk into the street. When that didn't work, she stopped dead in her tracks and pointed towards the other side of the street w/her whole body.  I was more interested in staying where we were. The street is a 4 lane road. Traffic was sparse at that time. But if we crossed, we would have to cross again & traffic may be heavier. So, I had her walk on with me. But she would not relent. She kept insisting that we go to the other side. Then I thought maybe she just wanted to smell something different. We always walk on the same side of the street. Maybe she was bored. & I was feeling a bit guilty for not taking her to a park where she could sniff deer scat to her heart's content. So, we crossed.

She walked in her normal fashion, sniffing this and that. All was well as we walked past the apartments that are on this side of the street. She walked past the ice cream stand on the other side of the street and looked for a moment like she wanted to cross again. But no.  We came to the entrance of a condominium complex. Bella took a hard left. At the first street, she turned left again, and yet again after that. With a determined air she walked straight up to the steps of her Grandma's house. 

I kid you not.

"Grandma" is my husband's mother. Now, here's the thing  - we have never walked to Grandma's house.
She has been to Grandma's in the car, but the route taken depends on who is driving. And she hasn't been to Grandma's that often, really.  It isn't like we visit weekly or even monthly, and we don't always take her when we go. And Grandma doesn't live on the main street, so Bella had to remember which streets to turn down. This she did with amazing accuracy & without any prompts, discussion or encouragement of any kind from me. Going to Grandma's never crossed my mind.

You hear about dogs and cats finding their way home after getting lost. It's just kind of common knowledge that they can do that. How they do that is still really unknown.  There are theories of course. Some are very practical. Some are more new age & energetic sounding.

But she wasn't finding her way home. She was going to Grandma's house - a place that she goes to occasionally. My opinion is that animals are simply smarter than we give them credit for being. & how Bella knew where she was going - whether she mapped the land by sight, or traveled by emotional waves - really doesn't matter to me. What does matter is the knowledge that if Bella were to get lost, she can find her way to a safe place with someone who loves her and will make sure that she gets home.

Awwww

bit of a tearjerker of a song.

diet update

3 Pounds!!


Not quite sure how, but Bella has dropped 3 pounds. 


We celebrated with ice cream. (not really;))

Badly Injured Puppy Found on I-90 Needs Help

Badly Injured Puppy Found on I-90 Needs Help

Another story that made my eyes misty.

homeless man reunited with dog

looking for the lorax: at the dog park

looking for the lorax: at the dog park: "We stand in the dark of the early evening. Grateful that this evening is warmer than the past few have been, but looking forward to longer ..."

looking for the lorax: My dog is ecstatic to wake up. I am not sure if...

A post about Bella Jean taken from my other blog.

looking for the lorax:


My dog is ecstatic to wake up. I am not sure if...: "My dog is ecstatic to wake up. I am not sure if she is greeting the day or her pack that she has not seen in hours of sleep. But whatever..."

Animal Connection: West Virginia Man Brutally Tortures and Kills 29 D...

Animal Connection: West Virginia Man Brutally Tortures and Kills 29 D...: "In another shocking case showing the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty, a 19-year-old man in West Virginia was arrested ..."

& another reason to get your new best friend from a shelter

Here is a sad story in the Seattle Times about animal advocates in Missouri who worked to diminish puppy mills through legislative measures and the governor who overturned those measures.

For some reason "responsible" breeders in Missouri feel their businesses will be hurt by limiting the number of female dogs they can own to 50, only breeding a dog twice in an 18 month period, and - you'll love this one - "requiring the cages be tall enough so all dogs can stand up straight."

I am mystified about Missouri's Gov. Jay Nixon's decision to Repeal the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act after it was voted in by the majority of Missouri's voters. Um.... hellooo....remember democracy? Majority allegedly rules.

According to the article, the American Kennel Club opposed this bill because it limited the number of dogs a breeder could own. In the AKC's mission statement they claim to "protect the health and well being of all dogs". On their website it also says this: "We're more than champion dogs. We're the dog's champion." Why would a "responsible breeder" wish to have more than 50 female dogs? And why would a group that claims to be pro-dog and claims to uphold high standards of the breed oppose this bill?  Are they really the dog's champion?
Champion of pain and discomfort maybe. Many of the puppies who come out of puppy mills go to their new homes sick - mange, heart worms, hip dysplasia - you name it. For the AKC to oppose an anti puppy mill bill goes against one of the organizations core values. Again, I am mystified.

And the most confusing of all - why would anyone fight against regulation that requires dog owners to give their dogs space to stand? We're just talking about space to stand upright in a cage - not space to run, balls to fetch, ropes to tug, children to hug - just a enough room to stand.  & these so-called "responsible" are against that.
Sure - eventually they will have to provide the dogs with somewhat humane conditions. Breeders now have 5 years to provide their dogs with cages large enough for them to stand. They could probably build these with chicken wire in 5 weeks.

Again, I am mystified by all of this.

All I can say is Please - Don't Shop. Adopt. 

Anyone who has a dog that is a food hound (so, basically anyone who has a dog) will probably get this. This is hilarious to me. Enjoy.

Update on Bella's diet

Bella has lost a whole one pound (& I have found it)! She no longer snubs green beans & will even take them as treats..... sometimes.

decisions .. decisions

Bella is on a diet ...... again. Boy, was she mad!


We went to vet the other day for her annual checkup, vaccinations etc. Seems that every time we visit the fine folks at Animal Hospital I get lectured about my chubby puppy. This time was no different.

 Bella should know the routine by now though: Vet visit....a couple of weeks with limited treats... then life slowly  returns to normal.

But this time (as all the other times) will be different. Thin dogs are healthy dogs. My husband & I love our little muttie and want her to be with us as long as possible. And I have known too many people whose dogs have had to go through knee surgeries.

Keep her light and fit. Keep her healthy.

The vet "suggested" cutting her food with green beans. Green beans are the good source of fiber, she said. It will help her fill fuller, she said. Bella will beg less, she said.

So, I threw some green beans into her supper. They were smallish pieces of bean. But not so small that my discerning dog couldn't eat around them.. which she did.

Then I offered one of my beans - from my fork. A tasty treat & and honor to have the human offer food from her magic utensil. Yes?

Bella actually made a "pfft" sound as she spit the green bean out.

The next morning I cut the beans up so small she had no choice but to eat them. Eat them she did. But it was not a happy tail wagging morning. She expressed herself by lying 5 feet away and butt toward me and putting on a very pouty face.

Diets are no fun for anyone. 

Just some pics

One thing Bella got used to early on was the camera.

close up at 5 mos.

Bella at the beach "illegally" at 10 mos.  

And she never seemed to mind posing. Or having her picture taken. Good thing.  

looking presidential as a puppy

I am kind of a freak with taking pictures. Especially since the introduction of digital cameras.

One time my computer crashed. I lost all of her puppy pictures. Devastating.

cooling off

Luckily, I had posted quite a few on Dogster.com & was able to retrieve them. 

selling guitars with Daddy

Now I try to back everything up in many different places - memory sticks, web sites, this blog

"Oh, you wanted to practice asana now Momma?"

So, this is as much me being practical as it is being obsessive about my dog.

"Gotta stick" 

O.k well maybe not as much. 

Anyway, if you happen to stumble across this blog, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Feel free to leave comments. 

Such a daddy's girl.

Remember to wag more & bark less

&

Have a doggy dog day. 

Peace & wags,

Jenn&BellaJean

Road trip

So last weekend I decided to go to an agility trial. This was a last minute decision brought on by the February thaw. Warm weather always makes me yearn to go exploring. It had been a rough week to say the least. I just needed a day of something different. & I enjoy being with my dog. & since dogs aren't allowed in yoga classes or movies, we traveled an hour & a half to run through tunnels and jump over bars.

Bella & I started training in agility about 3 years ago. This was her choice not mine really. They say you don't always get the dog you want but you are given the dog you need. This may be true. My dog is a stellar creature - smart, friendly, gentle, hard working. She is a beautiful combination of working breeds that needs..... no craves exercise. She is happiest when working, walking, &/or playing until she simply can't go anymore. She will walk for hours & hours in most kinds of weather & then want to play in the back yard. I love my dog dearly and I am happy with a nice long daily walk. But honestly, a dog fond of napping on the couch until she goes to a therapy dog job that consists of napping while little kids read to her is probably more up my alley. But apparently the universe had different plans when it sent me my little hound of heaven (more on that in an upcoming post). Bella is very friendly and likes people- old, young and in between - as long as they don't touch her. She shows no aggression. There is just a lot of bobbing and weaving. And you know, elderly people in nursing homes.... their reflexes just aren't that good. Even when she does let herself get close enough for some kind of contact, it has to be on her terms & usually at arm's length.

close but not too close

So therapy dog work is really not for her.  But she does like to hang out at mommy's work sometimes.

My favorite assistant

We have only competed in maybe 5 or 6 trials. This is our first one.

Yep. We traveled over 2 hours to somewhere near Columbus, waited half the day to do one run. & took down half the course. But somehow we Q'd. I think it was a sympathy decision from the judge. 

We have competed in mainly CPE trials. Mainly due to the non-competative philosophy of the organization. CPE's philosophy is to "have fun with your dog". Works for me. I am most likely the most non-competative person you may ever meet. But I like to have fun with my dog.  Not that pretty ribbons aren't nice, and I would like to move up in the ranks. As of now Bella & I still run in novice. But the fact of the matter is - if my dog is not enjoying herself, what is the point. 

As I said before, my dog & I go to trials because she likes to be busy. She is not allowed at the mall. One can only take so many trips to Petsmart. I like to get away. She is a very good traveling companion. 

She spends little time in her crate at trials. She doesn't like it. & I don't like it. We are in a new town. There are new sights to see. New smells to sniff. How can I have fun with my dog if she is crated all day except for the 30 seconds or so it takes to run a course and bathroom breaks? In between runs we go exploring. That's what new towns are for.  The other competitors may not get it. That's o.k. I think sometimes they get annoyed because my well - behaved dog is not crated but sitting nicely next to me mooching for treats.  That's o.k. This is about having fun right? 

And I have found that by keeping to this philosophy, this idea of simply having fun, my mind stays more at ease. & we have better runs. I stay calm. My dog stays calm. We run well together. 

And that results in pretty ribbons & qualifying scores. 

the sleepy champion

eating dog food for Nitro

So the cleveland dog blog and the Scene magazine recently shared stories about a Florida dog trainer Nikki Moustaki who is currently munching on dog food for one meal a day.

Ms. Moustaki does not live in Ohio. She spends her time jet setting back & forth from New York to Florida. She is a dog trainer and a prolific writer about dogs and dog training. She certainly appears to be able to afford fine wines, fresh seafood & all the organic chocolate she wants. So, why is she chowing down on Lucky Dog Cuisine once a day?

While Ohio is the 8th ranked state for deadly eating habits (meaning high consumption of sodas and fast food not kibble) and has led the nation in poverty, obesity and toxicity, the state ranks 45th in this great nation for effective animal cruelty laws.

Nitro's law otherwise known as House Bill 70 came about after  Ohio based dog trainer, Steve Croley, caused the suffering and death of 7 dogs at his training facility High Caliber Canines. Mr. Croley was originally charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty. This number was soon dropped down to 4. He received 1 month in jail for each charge and had to pay a fine. Nitro's owners lost the opportunity to share 10+ years with their loving dog. Nitro and the 6 other dogs lost their lives, and spent their last days starving, scared and abused. Is 4 months, some probation time, and close to 3,000 dollars in fine enough for the loser Croley? I don't think so.

Neither did Nitro's owners & 2 house representatives from Mahoning County, Ron Gerberry and Robert F. Hagan. They introduced Ohio House Bill 70 otherwise known as Nitro's Law. Sadly this bill died on the house floor last December.

Enter Nikki Moustaki - pretty girl Florida dog training who has grabbed the House Bill 70 baton and is running full force with it. To get the word out about Ohio's lack of concern about animal welfare and the need for reform, she has committed to eating one meal of dog food a day. She is posting her progress on her you tube channel & is asking that others join the cause by eating one meal of dog food a day.
As evidenced by postings on her blog site, a few have joined in.

I completely and wholeheartedly support her efforts. However, I probably will not be eating dog food. For one, I am primarily vegetarian.
 For two, we tend to feed our dog a lot of people food - so, what kind of point would I be making?
For 3, Moustaki suggests feeding Lucky Dog dog food because she is sure that it is safe for human consumption. Hmmm...... sounds like the next campaign needs to be about dog food reform. I certainly do not want to feed my best friend anything that would make me sick.
And lastly - this crazy new regime that controls this state isn't going to give 2 bits that a chick in Fla. is eating kibble or that a few people in OH and the rest of the country is following suit. They would probably just find some way to market the idea of eating dog food so they can make even more money while killing their constituents.

I will however write letters to house reps. I will write a letter to the evil governor. I will get the word out about Nikki's and Nitro's cause in any & every way I can. I will attend protests, sit ins & may even consider camping out in front of the governor's house in a dog crate.

Who's in?

This is my dog

This is my dog

This is my dog on Agility

This is my dog after agility

Exercise = a happy & sleepy dog