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Me Myself & Riggins

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Me Myself & Riggins

Tag Archives: Dog

Blame the Dogs

12 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

Dog, dogs, dogsitting, DogVacay, Riggins

Today's Pack (Huxley, Riggins, Asscher, Bear, Jax, Wallace, & Hudson)

Today’s Pack (Huxley, Riggins, Asscher, Bear, Jax, Wallace, & Hudson)

I’m all for taking credit for a mistake.  Just the other day I had to call a co-worker and admit I screwed up and needed her advice on how to fix it.  The way I look at it no one is perfect and if you never screw up it just means you weren’t trying hard enough to succeed in the first place.  Even though this is my nature during my DogVacay meet and greets I find it easier … just to blame the dogs.

During a meet and greet a dog and his/her folks are coming over to check the place out and see if it is a good fit for an upcoming stay.  Normally I have the new dog go to the backyard.  I meet the folks out there and discuss their dog, his/her activity level, allergies, etc.  Then, when the pup is settled down, I go in and get Riggins and any other dogs I am watching, so they can come say hi and get to know each other.  Finally we all head in the house for a tour.  This means my house needs to be clean.  Heavy sigh.

I clean constantly.  CONSTANTLY and yet it is never enough.  There is always dog hair and dust on the furniture, dog hair and slobber on the floors, and dirty dishes in the sink.  I swear I’ve vacuumed and an hour later really need to do it again. Here is what happens whenever a meet and greet is scheduled:

Day before – “Shoot.  I have a meet and greet tomorrow.   I need to vacuum, wash the dishes, mop, clean the bathroom, dust, fold/put away clothes, and change the linens.  I’ll do that tonight.”

Night before – “I’m too tired.  I’ll just go to bed and wake up early to clean.”

Early the morning of the visit – “I’ll sleep until <insert name of dog> gets here and then I’ll vacuum when <insert name of another dog> gets here.  Then after our hike I’ll wash the dishes, make the bed (no need to change the linens they aren’t crawling into bed with me), stuff the clothes in the dryer to deal with later, and light the candles.  If I keep the lights low they won’t notice I didn’t dust and mop.  I’ll put <insert name of dog> in the bathroom and tell the visitors that he/she doesn’t get along with all humans so it is really for their safety he/she is there.”

Later that morning of the visit – “I don’t need to vacuum.  More time for a few winks.”

After the hike – “Crap.  I have to wash the dishes and light the candles … fast.”

Right before meet and greet – “Just have time to wash the wine glasses but not dry them and put them away.  I’ll casually talk about the gathering of friends I had last night (didn’t have — no one wants someone with that many used wine glasses watching their baby). I’ll just pile the clothes onto the bed and say I was in the middle of doing laundry.”

Seconds before the meet and greet – “I’ll just fill the sink with soapy water like I’m getting ready to clean the counters and floor.  Screw the rest of it.”

Then during the meet and greet I mention that I just had some really heavy shedders go home and haven’t had time to vacuum yet – lie (Sometimes.  I probably had heavy shedders but they went home a couple days ago.  Plenty of time for a vacuum.)

The poor sacrificial lamb/dog stuck in the bathroom gets a bad rap just so I don’t have to clean my sink.

I make sure Riggins jumps on my bed when we are in the bedroom and throw up my hands as if to say, “I don’t know how I can get anything done with such nonsense.”

A dirty floor just means we went for a long hike this morning and had so much fun we all got dirty and I didn’t have time to bathe everyone yet.

So the poor dogs take one for the team (the team being me).  It is only fair.  After all I feed them.

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#selfie

15 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#dogselfie, Dog, dogs, photography, Riggins, selfie, Studio

As you know I’m a supporter of the Selfie.  I love them!  I don’t care if people think they are egotistical or unnecessary.  They always make me smile.  I think you should keep pointing the camera at yourself and clicking!  As an international trendsetter (a title I gave myself just now) I have tried to get folks on-board with the #DogSelfie.  Adoption has been slower than I had hoped and frankly, given my ridiculously high social status, expected.   Therefore, I’m looking to you for help in spreading the word.  Go out.  Take a photo of you and a dog … any dog.  Tag as #DogSelfie and start uploading to social media sites.  Together we can change the world. 

I used Studio to make my #DogSelfies into pieces of art.  You should too.  It’s a great app.

photo 4 (1) photo 5 photo 1 (1) photo 2 (2) photo 2 (42) photo 1 (40) photo 4 photo 3 (1) photo 3 (31)

 

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The Untouchables

24 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

chihuahua, Dog, dogs

photo 3 (19)There is a really sweet little chihuahua sitting on my lap right now.  Well … he isn’t really little, more like top heavy.  And … I suppose he isn’t really sweet, just to a select few humans.  Yesterday I took the pups, four in total, on a local hike.  The chihuahua and her sister weren’t going to go far so we followed the path long enough to hit a fun watering hole and hung out so everyone could burn off some energy.  The “little chihuahua” decided he was going to spend as much time as possible holding court in the middle of the trail.  He just stood there giving the ol’ stink eye to each and every person as they passed.  Honestly I’m not sure that many people even noticed him.  At one point a gaggle of teens came trotting up and one asked if he could pet my dog.  “Sure,” I said.  The tall gangling kid reached down to touch the little chihuahua and that dog flipped the fuck out!  He went chihuahua crazy on the crowd.  Barking his tiny little mouth off and waddling around chasing them.  I was laughing so hard I almost fell of the boulder I was perched on.  It was hilarious.  The teens ran off without touching a dog even when I yelled at them that one of the other ones was nicer.

Not all dogs like people.  It’s just the way it is.  I’ve come across my fair share of these untouchables.  I had a dog for one day on Dec. 23rd.  She came into my backyard and I suggested her dad take off her harness for me and was told she doesn’t even let him do it.  Once the dog’s folks left I was stuck with a dog that wouldn’t come near me, under a bush in my backyard.  I finally got her leashed up and took her, and the other pups I had with me, on our adventure for the day.  By the time she was picked up at the end of the night she was my BFF.

photo 1 (24)Recently, due to a family emergency, I took in 3 dogs all of different stages of socialization.  One, a terrier mix, loved everyone … all time.  The second, a shepherd mix, loved most people almost all of the time.  The third, a chihuahua (sensing a theme)/dachshund liked no one ever.  When I was called and asked if I could take the pups for a few days I was warned that “Freddie” would most likely have to be isolated from the rest of the pack.  In fact I had heard about Freddie before.  He was a notorious “bad dog.”  How bad could he be?  I assured the worried party that it would be fine and I’ve worked with unsocialized dogs before.

Then I went to pick up the threesome … and realized Freddie was indeed an “issue.”  It took me forever to get him on leash to even leave his house.  Each time I reached photo 5 (3)down to secure his lead he would try to bite me (I learned later that he had indeed bit his most recent trainer).  I finally made his leash into a slip lead and put it over his head.  He managed to be perplexed about what was happening long enough for me to get his leash attached to his collar.  “Okay!  Downhill from here.” — or so I thought.  It then took me FOREVER to get the threesome in the car.  Dog 1 jumped up like it he was going to Disneyland.  Dog 2 eventually let me hoist her up into the way back (I had other dogs in the back seat).  Freddie wasn’t going to let me do anything to him at all.  Once again he tried to bite me.  I managed to grab him and toss him into the front seat without his teeth making contact with any part of my body!

I got in the car, wiped off the sweet, and headed off to a local hike.  I walked those dogs until I was confident they were all pooped.  Getting Freddie back into the car wasn’t that difficult this time.  Exercise is always the answer!

photo 4 (16)At home I ignored Freddie until he decided to come to me.  By the next morning he wanted to be next to me all the time.  By midday he wanted to be in my lap all the time.  By that evening he was sleeping in my bed.  I had no problems with him trying to bite me again.  I could attach his leash to his collar without hesitation.  I could pick him up and cuddle him without being worried of getting a few extra holes put into my body.

Freddie was also great with the rest of the pack … and he came into contact with a lot of dogs.  The ONLY dog he snipped at was my dog nephew but that is because my sister’s GIANT puppy got up in his face and needed to be scolded.  It turned out Freddie was no problem and the anxiety meds that his family had given me to use sat in my car untouched his entire visit.

I’m not saying I’m magic or crazy good at my job … I’m just saying dogs tend to like me.  That and exercise is magic.   I’m sure there are exceptions to that rule.  I hope I never meet them!  I prefer to believe no one is untouchable!

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Stop Dog Racisim

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Adoption, Back in Black, Best Friends Animal Society, Dog, dogs, german shorthair pointer, Riggins, samoyed

[Parts of the details of this story have been withheld to protect the innocent.]

Riggins

Riggins

One evening I was at a dinner party with my darling Riggins.  At the time he was young and spoiled (now he is old and spoiled) which meant he was better off sitting next to me while we ate dinner vs. forcing him outside where he would bark like a crazy person wanting to come in to be with his human friends.  Some would say that it is rude to allow your dog to watch you eat at the dinner table with non-dog people and even sneak him scraps while no one is looking.  I would even suggest those people are right … I would also suggest I don’t care.  So there I was sitting with Riggins at my side when the following conversation happened:

Woman:  What’s that dog’s name?

Wendy:  Riggins.

Woman:  Reagan?  Like after the president?

Wendy:  No Riggins.  He was actually named after a football player.

Woman:  Why?  Because he is a n… [insert n word]

Wendy: Actually Riggins was a white gentleman …. so no.

Women (in response to shock and awe at the table):  What?  The dog is a n….

Wendy:  True enough.

Sam

Sam

Riggins is a beautiful black with a white/black spotted chest and paws.  He was one of two (or three … I forget) black dogs in his litter.  His mom was a German Shorthair Pointer while his dad was a Samoyed so most of the pups where a white and or white/cream/brown color combination.  When I saw the pups there were only two of the them without homes.  I knew I wanted a male dog and that meant my only option was Riggins, the “giant black one” of the litter.  They had named him Gigantor.  I’m so lucky I Gigantor was the one left …. as he obviously was meant to belong to me!

I bring this up because there is a phenomenon among adoptable animals called “BDS” or “Black Dog Syndrome.”   Although I suppose I should be a good fake journalist and admit it is a debatable “syndrome,” if you talk to (and/or google information) shelter folks they will tell you black animals tend to stay in shelters much longer than their light-colored companions.  There are lots of suggestions on why this is but here are my thoughts:

Hank

Hank

* Good pictures of black dogs (this is true for cats and other adoptable animals so assume I mean all of them in the future when I say “dogs.”) are hard to get.  Ask any black dog mom/dad and she/he will show you a thousand photos of black blobs for that one good pic of their baby.  Many shelters are getting help (or hiring) from professional photographers to get great pictures of the adoptable pets to post online so hopefully this will help in the future.  In the meantime poorly lit kennels and black dogs equal crappy photos that don’t show the dogs loving personality.

* It’s sometimes hard to see a black dogs eyes.  I recently trained to volunteer in a local no-kill animal shelter and was VERY CAREFUL not to make eye contact with the dogs.  That’s how they get you.  You are just minding your own business and BAM their soulful eyes pull you in and tell you that they need you.  Next thing you know you have a new buddy in your life.  Unfortunately black dogs usually have a darker eye color which makes it hard to make that connection with them.

Huxley

Huxley

* Black dogs are mean.  Of course this isn’t true but it is what people think.  I told a story in a previous blog how, when on a hike, people were afraid of “the black dog.”  It happened this morning.  People were afraid of the black dog when it was the cute little cream-colored cocker spaniel mix that tried to eat a chihuahua whole.  Some folks think that it is because “bad” dogs in movies are often black in color.  I just think we associate the black dog color with aggression …. because we are stupid humans.

Many shelters will have a “black dog awareness month” or day or week and offer special adoption rates during that time.  Right now some of the Best Friend locations have their Back in Black special during the month of May.   If you are looking to adopt give the dark dudes and dudettes a shot.  I can guarantee they are love bugs!

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Oh What a Day

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

Dog, dogs, Emergency, family, Fusaro Photography, Lori Fusaro, Nijo, rainbow bridge, Vet

Photo by Lori Fusaro 4/21

Photo by Lori Fusaro 4/21

Man have I had a day.  It started out with minimal sleep.  Dragon (the schnauzer) threw up in my bed night before last and I was too tired last night to fully re-make everything.  I did get most of it together but skipped the duvet cover.  It’s just a pain in the bum to get that duvet cover put back together.  As you can imagine my bed is often a battle ground where you take whatever covers you can get.  I didn’t think one little duvet would make much difference but it did.  Somehow Dragon and Bongo (Vizsla) managed to plop themselves down in such a way that it was nearly impossible for me to negotiate covers.   I also had a lot on my mind so it was a restless night.

I had to get up early, but for a good reason!  Riggins adorable photographer, Lori Fusaro, was having a video piece done on her by the AP and had asked my friend and me to be a part of the project.  Riggins and I got all dressed up to have our pictures taken and be interviewed about how much we adore Lori.  Riggins good friend Sadie (long-haired dachshund mix) and her mom Missy (my friend) came over in the morning and we were on our way.  It was a guaranteed fun time!  I’ve written about Lori before and tried to retell my story to the journalist on why I originally reached out to Lori without sounding crazy.  I think I sounded crazy.  Oh well.  If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck …

Nijo & Mckenzie - Mar 2014

Nijo & Mckenzie – Mar 2014

Riggins had a blast running around getting treats from his buddy Lori, posing like a champ, showing his friend Sadie how great it is to be off leash, and scouting out every left over food item from the Easter picnics that happened in the park the day before.  Missy and I were super happy to be part of the story about Lori.  She has captured such great memories for me of my Riggins/Wendy family!  Not to mention she is a really swell gal!  (You can read more about her here, and here)

Nijo - April 2014

Nijo – April 2014

I got home to a whirlwind of activity.  Bongo was going home, I had a meet and greet with a dog and her mommy and I had Nijo (golden retriever) coming to be dropped of for an 8 day vacation.  I’ve watched Nijo a couple of times most recently last Monday.  His mommy was hosting a Passover dinner and was worried Nijo would eat all the food out from under her guests.  He would have!  So Nijo came and spent the night with Riggins and me.  Today when Nijo’s mom got here I met her in the driveway and she said Nijo was too hot to move.  I saw that something was definitely wrong.  I got him out of the car and we put cool water on his paws and tummy.  He was able to get up and start walking to my back door but then collapsed.  It was time to take him to the emergency vet.  As fast as I could I got all the dogs in the house settled, grabbed my shoes, and hoisted Nijo into my car.  His mom sat in the back as I drove them to the emergency room.  The vet techs came out to carry him on a stretcher into the clinic.  That’s the last time I saw Nijo.  He passed away about a 1/2 hour later.  The vet immediately gave him fluids but while trying to take an EKG watched his heart stop multiple times.  They tried doggie CPR but poor Nijo’s body just couldn’t take anymore.

Nijo - Jan 2014

Nijo – Jan 2014

Nijo was a cancer survivor.   A month or so ago he came to visit and had just had his 1 year cancer free check up.  Everyone was very happy for him.  I teased him that he took more pills than I did, which is quite an accomplishment!   Nijo was about 11 years old but wanted more than anything to be active.  I took him on short walk/hikes that he loved!  He always wanted to go for longer than I was willing to chance with him.  Like all my other Goldens he loved chilling out on the kitchen floor where it is cooler and that was where he napped and sometimes even slept.  He was a sloppy eater but would eat anything and everything and an even sloppier

Sweet Nijo

Sweet Nijo

drinker.  I would have to remove the little mat I have under the dogs water bowl when he was with me and replace it with a giant towel that had to be switched out daily.  Like all my dogs I loved Nijo and I’m very shocked and sad that he is gone.

Nijo was a super loved boy and I know his family will miss him but were lucky to have such a sweetie with them for the time that they did.

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Dog First

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

atheist, Dog, God, Griffith Park, instagram, runyon

download (3)I recently changed my Instagram (@wnewell) account from private to public.  Since 90% of my pictures are of the dogs I decided I should be kind and share the cuties with the world.  Since doing this I’ve slowly been gaining followers and “likes” from folks I don’t know.  I love to look at everyone’s profile (probably because it is just a few sentences long) and their pictures to learn more about these dog lovers.  In general those download (4)folks that pay attention to my pictures fall into one of two categories:

  1. Dog Lover
  2. Person Who Works Out a Lot

download (1)The dog lover is a no brainer but why the health nuts?  I’m sure it is because all my pictures are tagged with the location we are at so there are a lot of #griffithpark, #runyon, etc. fans.  After tagging a picture I often click on it to see who else was around that day and the pictures they took.  I assume others do the same and that is how people are stumbling upon my dog pictures.

download (2)Anyway, those work out fans often state “God first” in their mini profiles.  Not being someone who looks to God let alone place him as my number one, I tried to translate this into language I could understand (much like when someone says they are praying for me and I translate it to thinking of me/wishing the best for me).  My first thought was that you are putting yourself first.  That downloadworks, “me first.”  Then I decided that sounded too Ayn Rand-ish and I hate Ayn Rand so I changed it to “humanity first.”  That still didn’t really do it justice so I gave up swapped out the d and g and got Dog first!  Bingo!  We have a winner!

Everyone that knows me knows I put Riggins first.  Even when I have all the other dogs with me Riggins gets priority.  He gets to go download (5)in the car first so that he gets “his” spot (behind the passenger seat).  If he wants to come up on to my bed and another dog is in his place everyone has to shuffle around so there is room for Riggins.  He knows what’s up.  He will stand next to the bed patiently waiting until his spot is ready for him.  If he wants to cuddle with me on the sofa I have to move all the other dogs so he download (7)can sit next to and then lie down on me.  He is my baby!  There are a few dogs he will share his space with and honestly sometimes due to lack of space he has no choice.  He is a good sport.

Riggins can be both a cuddle monster and an independent dude depending on what he is feeling in that moment.  I love when he is in cuddle mode.  Who doesn’t love a cuddly dog?  Recently a friend needed download (6)some dogs for her web series and asked if I could be available.  If you need dogs (or dog poop) I’m your gal!  The lead actor announced he didn’t care for one of my dogs (he is a good guy and really loved them all … but not all the same).  One of his reasons why is that she didn’t seem that cuddly.  He was right.  She isn’t much of a cuddlier.  Some dogs aren’t.  Other dogs NEED to be in your lap.  They have to be touching you or snuggling at all times.  Let’s face it as much as I love cuddle mode sometimes I need a break which makes Riggins the perfect pup for me!

Therefore I say … DOG FIRST!

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Mother Nature’s Wash Machine

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

Asscher, clean, Dog, dogs, Hollywood, Los Angeles, rain, Riggins

photo 2 (9)You know I dislike cleaning my house and since I have a zillion dogs coming in and out I have to do it all the time.  It’s exhausting.  Here is my current absolutely genius idea.  Starting tonight it is supposed to rain in Los Angeles for a few days.  It happens so rarely I’m sure it will make national news.  In fact, if I turned on the news right now I’m sure there would be some kind of “storm watch” countdown happening.  It just so happens my kitchen floor mats need to be washed.  Why don’t I just put them out on the back fence and let the rain wash them?  Then, when the rain stops, lay them out to dry? photo 1 (10) Isn’t that genius?  To tell you the truth my big mat has been hanging out there for a while already.  Someone peed on it and I cleaned it but felt like it needed to be aired out and then never brought it back in.  Not just anyone peed on it.  A dog peed on it.  It isn’t like one of my friends came in, pulled down her pants and squatted right there in front of my kitchen cabinets.  What I’m trying to say is this whole plan will take very little effort for me.  I’ll just have to add the little mat and then when it is all said and done bring them both back in.  Is there an easier way to clean a rubber backed kitchen mat I ask you?  Nope.  Great.  I’m glad we are all on board with this plan.

(Pictures of kitchen mats are boring so here are some pictures of Asscher, Riggins, and me on our hike this morning.)

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Hiking Thoughts

20 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Asscher, Dog, dog poop, dog walking, dogs, gangs, great dane, Griffith Park, hiking, poop, Riggins, tagging, trail

photo 3 (3)This morning Riggins, Asscher and I headed up to Griffith Park to check out a new trail.  Not a new trail to this earth.  A new trail to us.   As I’ve mentioned before when I’m hiking I don’t listen to music or podcasts so that I can be alert for critter/snake/bad people sounds.  This means it is a good time for my mind to wander.  Here are my random thoughts from today’s adventure.

* Why all the nature tagging?  Recently I’ve noticed an increase of tagging on my hikes.  Why?  (I suppose the real answer is an increase in gang activity and a decrease in police activity but I don’t want to think about that.) I’m not an expert but these do seem to be gang/territory related.  It’s bad enough when buildings and property are covered in spray paint but it just plain ol’ sucks when it starts showing up on trees and rocks.  Today I saw a side of a hill tagged.  Side of a hill?!?!?!?  First of all, what good does that do?  Someone has to walk uphill a good 1/2 hour before they even see it.  Have gangs now become more health conscious?  Have they added cardio to their daily routine?  Why there?  The scenic overview of the golf course is a great place for a drug buy?  I’d also like to point out that you have tagged dirt.  Although I find this almost humorous it is less than permanent, which I think is your ultimate goal.  When LA eventually gets a good rain your “art” will get washed away.  You are also making it very difficult for me to take nature photos of the dogs.  Lots of the good views are now scarred by your markings.  Please stop.  It’s really disgraceful.

photo 2 (4)*  Hey fellow dog folks … pick up your dog’s poop.  First of all it’s the law.  I know you are laughing at me as I’m the “no leash on hikes” gal law or not but this law I actually follow.  First of all poop all over the trails is gross.  It smells like … well like poop and that is not pleasant.  It’s the number one reason non-dog owners give for not liking dogs on trails and paths and who can blame them?  Don’t give them that ammo.  Just pick it up like a good dog owner.  Those who don’t pick it up will tell you it’s natural fertilizer.  They are full of crap (ha ha ha … crap … get it).  Dog poop is not always healthy.  It can contain viruses, microbes, and bacteria that will eventually make its way into the water table.  Dog poop can also contain nasty stuff like adenovirus, parvovirus, giardia, coccidian, roundworm, and tapeworm (bad gross bugs).  It just so happens that dogs like to eat other dogs poop so not picking up your dogs number twos makes it harder for another dog to walk past such delicious temptation.  Your dog may have a clean bill of health but the next poop dog may not.  Best to keep all temptation away.  Just like shoes, socks and cell phones (all of which have been munched on by Riggins at one time or another).  I realize it’s a pain in the butt sometimes (butt … poop … get it) but just do it.  Hard core dog poop advocates will tell you that you should flush your poop.  I don’t go that far.  Just pick it up in one of those biodegradable bags and toss it in a trash can.  Sure then it is doing bad stuff to landfills but baby steps.

photo 1 (5)*  I really didn’t like the guy walking his great dane on the trail today.  He was trying to be a good dog owner and “correct” his dog as he walked but he was just being a big ol’ mean man.  When I saw he was being super strict I pulled Asscher and Riggins toward me to keep them from distracting the poor dog.  I give the dogs a lot of freedom on trail walks.  Sidewalk walks they have to “walk pretty.”  That means walk next to me like you would see Cesar Millan doing in one of his many TV episodes.  The trail, though, is their time to sniff around and have fun.  Honestly this guy is lucky I had the two of them on leash at all.  Apparently he did not agree with this philosophy as he was going to make his dog stay next to him, head straight come hell or high water.  The dog had a choke chain on, which I hate.  I realize many people use them and they have proven to work for many.  They just scare me.  I feel like they could harm a dog’s throat.  I much prefer walking harnesses that correct in other ways.  He would yank on that choke chain with such vicious anger it was scary.  His face would get all twisted up.  He was the alpha.  He was in charge.  He was the human … GOD DAMN IT!  It made me sad.  Great danes don’t have a long life span.  Only 6-8 years normally.  They are gentle giants and the poor guy just wanted to say hi to the other dogs on the path or watch a squirrel go up a tree.  His dad didn’t need to be so rough with him.  I wanted to punch the guy in the kidneys, tell him his dog’s deserves to be cuddled not tugged during his short life, grab his dogs leash and take off.  I suppose that would have been a little over dramatic.  I’d like to think he is actually a very well taken care of dog with an owner that is just strict on walks.  Perhaps he went home to a nice comfy bed for a peaceful post hike nap!

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I Don’t Tell You How To Raise Your Kid

10 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Dog, dog park, dog sitting, dogs, dogsitting, Riggins

photo 2 (51)It’s amazing to me how much unsolicited advice I get about how to raise my dog or what to do with the dogs I’m watching.  Let’s face it.  I don’t care what you think.  I am fully aware the Dog Whisperer would be horrified at half the things Riggins does.  Lucky for me I don’t talk to the Dog Whisperer so I don’t have to hear about it.  I feel like I do a pretty good job holding my tongue when I see other dog owners doing something I consider “wrong.”  Things like keeping your dog on leash at an off leash dog park.  Bringing your young son into a dog park and playing frisbee then getting upset when a dog jumps up on your son.  Not using a seatbelt for your dog.  Using a choke collar vs. walking harness.  You know why I hold my tongue?  Because it is none of my business.  Zippola.  Unless the animal is in real danger my advice is not needed.  I’m even hesitant to give advice when asked.  I always tend to start with an “I’m not sure but you could try ….”  Unless you are my friend in which case I will give you hell if you are using a retractable leash!

When Riggins was younger and faster he wore a retriever bell when we were hiking.  You can easily purchase retriever bells at pet stores.  They are made specifically for hunting “retrieving” dogs.  Riggins wasn’t being used to hunt but it was in his genes and I was sick and tired of him catching ground squirrels, running down into the bush where I couldn’t get to him, and then coming back up smacking his lips having thoroughly enjoyed his tasty snack!  The bell was necessary on two levels.  1.  His health.  Eating raw critters isn’t great for you.  2.  The grossness level because it is really really gross.  Yet more than once I was told by random people that I was harming my dog.  I once had a young “vet assistant” try to shame me to the point that I lost it on him and verbally abused him to the point that he gave up his walk and headed back to his car.  Don’t you dare tell me I treat my precious prince Riggins poorly.  I will hurt you.  Emotionally, mentally, physically, all the above …

Recently I was walking with the pack I had in an legal off-leash area.  We were near the end of a hike and all were pooped and happy.  I had had zero issues the entire time and had passed many different kinds of dogs and people.  All without incident.  Then two woman passed me and said, “I can’t believe you let that pit off leash.”  “That pit” was my adorable Lousy.  I didn’t have the energy to fight, and if I had Lousy would have gotten all worked up because I was angry and probably just proven their point, so I just rolled my eyes and kept walking.

I’ve been told I shouldn’t walk so many dogs if I can’t control them.  At the time my dogs were just cruising along together and the woman with such great advice had three dogs pulling at their leashes, growling at my gang, and gnashing of their teeth.  When I informed her I was in control and it was her dogs that seemed to be less than socialized I was scolded for not being a loving dog owner who cared about rescues like hers.  Sigh …

Each dog park has their own human gang.  The dogs can all get along so you would think their human owners could too … nope.  Once I took Riggins to a local dog park after being gone from him for a while.  He was SO EXCITED.  He ran around like his tail was on fire.  Granted you should not take a non exercised dog into a dog park.  If your dog has too much wild energy you should walk/hike them first BEFORE entering the dog park.  But let’s face it who, besides the infamous Dog Whisperer, would do that? Every one of us take our dog to a dog park because they need to work off some energy and we don’t have the same level of umph to make it through a long walk.  Riggins jumped up on a “cool kid” who was sitting on a bench talking to another “cool kid” gang member.  The woman LOST HER SHIT.  Crazy screaming that Riggins was too big and hurt her and blah blah blah.  Of course Riggins shouldn’t have done that and I apologized but when she wouldn’t shut up about it I lost my cool.  She was, after all, in a dog park.  Do you know how many times I’ve been covered in slober and/or mud because of dogs jumping up on me?  Do you know how many times I’ve been actually knocked on my butt by dogs running into me.  It’s a dog park!  I may have gotten over dramatic and started screaming things like, “Oh my god don’t hurt her.  Watch it Riggins don’t go near her she is so fragile she just can’t take it.” etc.  Good times.

photo 1 (58)I tell you all of this just to set the stage of what happened to me this weekend at a different dog park.  It was Saturday afternoon so the place was pretty packed.  I had 3 dogs with me, all very well-behaved.  They were more interested in following me around then wrestling or playing with any of the other dogs.  Since it was crowded there was bound to be a few dog fights.  It’s just what happens.  Normally it’s nothing as long as the humans keep their cool.  The problem is the humans never keep their cool.  At one point a german shepherd came into the park at full force.  He was SO HAPPY to be there and just couldn’t control himself.  My experience with german shepherds is that they are rough players.  They, in general, want to play and have fun but their “play” actions are seen as aggressive by other dogs and it starts a brawl.  Not a real brawl a bark and gnash fest.  If it was a real brawl and the german shepard wanted to hurt another dog he could … quick as lighting.  Even though the poor german shepard was just trying to settle into the park many folks went cray cray, screaming and moving their dogs away.  Of course that just made it worse but the german shepherd’s dad was a good guy.  He moved his dog away and sat him down until he was calm enough to go back and play.  At that time I had moved my dogs to go get water and we met the german shepard on our way.  He happily followed us and all the dogs sniffed around and checked each other out with zero incident.  On my way away from the water fountain I passed some grumpy dude who murmured, “you best get your dogs out of here.”  I took one of my headphones out of my ear, looked at him and said, “what?”  “You heard me.” was his response.  Oh yah jackass.  I heard you.  He obviously thought the german shepherd was mine since I had no issues being near him.  Ignorant ass.  I just rolled my eyes which caused him to stare me up and down.  I popped my earphones back in and got lost in my Adam Carolla podcast while walking away.

I don’t know why anyone thinks it is okay to pass such horrible judgment and even worse advice out to total strangers.  I don’t know you.  I don’t want to know you.  Judge me from a distance all you want but there is no need to come up to me and tell me how to do my job as a dogsitter or a dog mom.  If you do there is a good chance I will unleash a number of hard truths at you and I’m not sticking just to your dog …. it’s all fair game fatty!

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Leave my Babies Alone!

22 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

BSL, Dog, dog sitting, dogs, dogsitting, Kona, Lousy, Pasadena, pit bulls, pits

pizap.com13904298048481Maybe it is because I’ve had a headache on and off (currently on) for days.  Maybe it’s because I need to invest in Pepto Bismo I down the stuff so regularly.  Maybe it’s because I was snuggling cutie Lousy at the time I read the Facebook post.  Whatever the reason I blew my top.  Per a Facebook post by a dog group Pasadena is discussing passing a BSL (breed specific legislation) ordinance against “pit bulls.”  Oh no you didn’ (with finger snap).  Of course, because I’m a hysterical person, I, like many others, jumped to the idea that this means they weren’t going to allow pit looking dogs in their city.  Not on my watch Pasadena.  Not on my watch!  Luckily before I came on my blog to rant about it I did some research.  Turns out the BSL is specifically about spaying and neutering pit like dogs.  So I’m not so worked up as much as I was a few minutes ago.

First of all let’s address spay and neutering.  Do it.  ESPECIALLY if you have a dog breed that is unfairly targeted because of his/her breed.  There are way too many dogs in shelters and way too many of those are “aggressive” breeds (a term I don’t believe in but using to get my point across).  (I actually had no idea that so many dog owners were against spaying and neutering … perhaps they are just against being told they have to do it?  I’m not sure.)  Wouldn’t it be great if a gaggle of pittie owners could show up to the Pasadena council meeting with their “fixed” papers and say, “I don’t know what you are all talking about.  Go talk to the owners of those yippy chihuahuas.”  Should this be a breed specific law?  No.  Calling out one breed for one reason or another is ridiculous.  Unlike some other dog owners I’m a-okay with neutering and spaying laws (I actually thought there already was one … maybe that is just the city of LA) but I’m NOT okay with you demanding that of only one or two specific breeds.

NOW let’s talk about the breed of “pit.”  First of all there is no such breed.  Many breeds fall under what we consider “pit bulls.”  How would you decide if a dog had pit in him/her or not?  For many dogs I watch I get the comment, “it looks like he has some pit in him.” pizap.com13904325719081 Probably.  So what?  Let’s say you have sweetie Kona in front of you and it is obvious she is a mix of the “pit” breeds.  Then you would have one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met in front of you as well.  I love her so much I wrote a blog about her and her fellow pitties.  The reason you distrust pits (if you do) is because of what you have heard/read about them.  If I asked every single one of you what breed dog you have had an “issue” with I can almost guarantee other breeds would be more represented than those that we label as pits.  Pits get their negative PR from asshats like Michael Vick and others who raise these type of dogs to fight and kill.  That is a bad owner not a bad dog.  Even the dogs that were saved from Vick’s horrificness are living lives where they have proven to be sweet and kind animals.  

People who know pits will tell you they are extremely loyal and protective.  That they are cuddlers who want to be in your lap as much as possible.  That their big jaws that you may be afraid of give them the biggest smiles you have ever seen.

pizap.com13904329345771I’d like to convince you that pit babies shouldn’t be feared any more than any other breed.  I could do research and pull out stats on what breed has hurt humans the most and all of that nonsense but I don’t think it would matter if you truly are afraid.  I’m not suggesting that you go out and get yourself a pet you are fearful of.  I’m not saying that you have to love my sweet Kona or adorable Lousy.  I’m saying that you aren’t allowed to tell me I can’t have them as part of my family.  And although I personally am okay with breeding/neutering laws you don’t have the right to tell specific breeds that they have to be fixed just because you perceive them as scary.

Oh Pasadena.  I love you so much.  I wish I lived in you.  I go to you for everything from dining to doctors and yet your snobbishness is sometimes too much to bear.  Come on Pasadena.  Show me that you are classier than this and keep BSL out of your city.

(Pictures are of my adorable darlings that I have watched and loved that could be labeled as part pit bull.  Each and every single one of them a sweet doll.)

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