Before I got my puppy, my dad was really determined to make me watch The Dog Whisperer. My dad has persistently been training our two Labradors and Chihuahua in harmony with the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan's, teachings.
He focuses on dog rehabilitation and strong pack leadership from the owners. This requires the owner to exude extreme dominance and leadership in the form of severe discipline, then following with affection.
However, I find his practices to be incorrect, through vigorous research. This website, http://www.4pawsu.com/cesarfans.htm, gave me a lot of insight. It gives multiple examples of dogs being harmed physically, and though researches don't believe they will be in pain, they do fear the psychological damage that some of his rehabilitated subjects could experience.
Likewise, critics show an example of psychological disturbance, and not of rehabilitation by describing learned helplessness or shut down. This happens when a dog is so scared or psyhcologically traumatized, that they are completely obedient and subservient. This was first observed by scientists when test dogs were placed in a box with no exist and experienced shocks from below. The dogs first tried to escape and exit, but when they had no other option, they began to lay down and take the abuse.
The dogs were obviously traumatized, but relinquished their own attitude and fight. It appears many times that Millan's subjects experience this or other psychological.
Objectors to this, like my dad, think this is a load of shit. Many people view this not as abuse, but discipline. Like dog training, parenting has had similar debates. Is spanking abuse or discipline? I agree dogs need discipline, however I do think their is a difference in training and discipline and scaring the shit out of a dog, so it behaves. I respect Cesar Millan for his training efforts and love for animals, but I do believe at this point that he scares dogs, and I'm trying to TRAIN mine.
My boyfriend has a training approach more similar to Millan's. Lydia has misbehaved and he has trained accordingly like Millan. Lydia immediately acted behaved and respectful when he was around for a day. She followed him around, sat when he sat, and came when he came. She never pooped or peed on our floor. However, she never pooped. She was terrified the entire day. Then, she forgot about what had happened and began misbehaving again. He now let's me do all of the training for Lydia, and so far it is progressing successfully.
I hope if you watch this hit on National Geographic hit, that this gave you an insight as to a different opinion on his techniques and practices.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Puppy Ugly
Pomeranians are known to experience a HORRIFIC, TERRIFYING, UNSIGHTLY stage in their puppy hood, known as the Puppy Ugly Stage. Too bad, their ugly stage is really not that ugly. They are still the most adorable things in the whole world.
The Puppy Ugly stage is the stage in which Poms lose their puppy fur to become the giant fluff balls everyone adores. This means their hair is thin in spots and they can experience some small balding areas. Pomeranian puppies are only born with one coat of fur and as they wait to develop their adult fur, they can appear scraggly and odd looking. Ironically, this stage is the development of the unique and beautiful aspect of the Pomeranian, their coat. Unlike the puppies, adult pom's have two coats-an undercoat and an overcoat. The under being short and rougher, the over being soft and long. These two coats will appear on the Pom's body at the same time, but in different spots.
Most of all Poms go through the stage, and it cannot necessarily be avoided, unless your dog is in the 20th percentile of Pomeranians. Between the ages of 8 and 14 months old, the puppy may experience this stage. However, if your Pomeranian is older than this, you need to contact a vet immediately.
Lydia is experiencing the stage on her lower back. I find it to be adorable because she looks like she has a lion's mane. Lydia cannot tell the difference, so neither can I. I am excited to see her full coat, but I'm going to miss this awkward pre-pubescent stage. At least she didn't get braces or glasses, too!
The Puppy Ugly stage is the stage in which Poms lose their puppy fur to become the giant fluff balls everyone adores. This means their hair is thin in spots and they can experience some small balding areas. Pomeranian puppies are only born with one coat of fur and as they wait to develop their adult fur, they can appear scraggly and odd looking. Ironically, this stage is the development of the unique and beautiful aspect of the Pomeranian, their coat. Unlike the puppies, adult pom's have two coats-an undercoat and an overcoat. The under being short and rougher, the over being soft and long. These two coats will appear on the Pom's body at the same time, but in different spots.
Most of all Poms go through the stage, and it cannot necessarily be avoided, unless your dog is in the 20th percentile of Pomeranians. Between the ages of 8 and 14 months old, the puppy may experience this stage. However, if your Pomeranian is older than this, you need to contact a vet immediately.
Lydia is experiencing the stage on her lower back. I find it to be adorable because she looks like she has a lion's mane. Lydia cannot tell the difference, so neither can I. I am excited to see her full coat, but I'm going to miss this awkward pre-pubescent stage. At least she didn't get braces or glasses, too!
ATTENTION THIS POST IS ABOUT PERIODS, STAY AWAY MEN
So, this week Lydia went in heat. I didn't know that female dogs got a real period when in heat. Disturbingly enough, I had to buy Lydia a diaper and a pad. GROSS. I never thought at 19 I'd be changing diapers!
We noticed Lydia was acting funny and called the vet to understand the symptoms a dog would display when she went in heat. The vet described Lydia would mount and hump things, as well as back up into things. She would have a swollen vulva and would begin to bleed later during the process.
For weeks she displayed the first symptoms, but then the blood came. I literally almost threw up when it all happened. It was 12 at night and my roommate and I had no idea what to do. We used a brand new pair of underwear we had just bought, pinned it to fit, and stuck a maxi pad in it to keep everything clean until morning,
The next morning we went into Pet Supermarket on Fowler, which I have come to find has very cheap pet items compared to other Pet Stores. It took me an hour to decide which diaper to buy her. My boyfriend thought the cute ones were creepy, because they looked like Victoria's Secret underwear, and I kind of agree with him. However, we decided she would probably try to throw away the disposable diapers.
We finally made a decison and proceeded to check out with the cloth diapers and go home. We put Lydia in the diapers and then realized our next problem. How would she pee? Well, we then found out, she'd pee in the diaper. I had to hand wash and blow dry the diaper three times that day. My advice to others with a dog in heat, BUY CLOTH DIAPERS.
Lydia surprisingly only bled for a few days, but is still technically in heat. She did seemingly experience discomfort and irritation when bleeding. I am still deciding on getting her fixed or not. I will explore that in a later post.
We noticed Lydia was acting funny and called the vet to understand the symptoms a dog would display when she went in heat. The vet described Lydia would mount and hump things, as well as back up into things. She would have a swollen vulva and would begin to bleed later during the process.
For weeks she displayed the first symptoms, but then the blood came. I literally almost threw up when it all happened. It was 12 at night and my roommate and I had no idea what to do. We used a brand new pair of underwear we had just bought, pinned it to fit, and stuck a maxi pad in it to keep everything clean until morning,
The next morning we went into Pet Supermarket on Fowler, which I have come to find has very cheap pet items compared to other Pet Stores. It took me an hour to decide which diaper to buy her. My boyfriend thought the cute ones were creepy, because they looked like Victoria's Secret underwear, and I kind of agree with him. However, we decided she would probably try to throw away the disposable diapers.
We finally made a decison and proceeded to check out with the cloth diapers and go home. We put Lydia in the diapers and then realized our next problem. How would she pee? Well, we then found out, she'd pee in the diaper. I had to hand wash and blow dry the diaper three times that day. My advice to others with a dog in heat, BUY CLOTH DIAPERS.
Lydia surprisingly only bled for a few days, but is still technically in heat. She did seemingly experience discomfort and irritation when bleeding. I am still deciding on getting her fixed or not. I will explore that in a later post.
Dog Training
Many times, I become very frustrated with Lydia, and have wanted to give up. It's not that big of a deal, right? If she can't roll over or shake, it won't be the end of the world most people think. However, contrary to popular belief, obedience commands are far more important than that.
I researched http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-training-for-obedience.html and found the extreme importance of dog training. This site states the following goals one should accomplish in training:
Another important aspect of training is safety. Dogs of all sizes can be vicious when not tamed or trained. Many people stereotype certain dogs, like pit bulls, as being responsible for being born mean. However, this is very untrue. One of my close friends has a pit bull who is the friendliest dog in the world. He has trained his pit bull, Kilo, and has taken pride in teaching him obedience commands. He frequently plays with Lydia and they get along great. He has never hurt her or gotten to out of hand while they play. However, my roommate has a miniature Australian Shepherd. She has severely slacked on training her dog. These dogs are not known to be mean or aggressive, however she, on several occasions, has made me consider not allowing Lydia to play with her. I have caught her biting on to Lydia's tail and dragging her around the apartment. As much as she might think she is playing, this is very wrong. If she could do this to a dog, could she do this to a human? Well, humans don't have tails, so I guess not exactly.
As you can see, dog training is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog safe, other animals safe, and humans safe. Training is more important than rolling over and fetching. It is a fundamental task a pet owner has to complete.
I researched http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-training-for-obedience.html and found the extreme importance of dog training. This site states the following goals one should accomplish in training:
- Build or strengthen a close, healthy and appropriate relationship between you and your dog.
- Opens up a clear line of communication between you and your dog. This includes you knowing what to expect of your dog in all circumstances, and your dog clearly understanding and respecting what is expected of him/her.
- Dog Training for Obedience lays down a set of rules or boundaries which educates your dog to become a responsible member of society. Including how to relate to other dogs, animals and people, basic manners and how to behave in any situation.
- Establishes the groundwork which assists in preventing the development of unacceptable problem behavior - such as jumping up, barking, chewing, digging etc.
Another important aspect of training is safety. Dogs of all sizes can be vicious when not tamed or trained. Many people stereotype certain dogs, like pit bulls, as being responsible for being born mean. However, this is very untrue. One of my close friends has a pit bull who is the friendliest dog in the world. He has trained his pit bull, Kilo, and has taken pride in teaching him obedience commands. He frequently plays with Lydia and they get along great. He has never hurt her or gotten to out of hand while they play. However, my roommate has a miniature Australian Shepherd. She has severely slacked on training her dog. These dogs are not known to be mean or aggressive, however she, on several occasions, has made me consider not allowing Lydia to play with her. I have caught her biting on to Lydia's tail and dragging her around the apartment. As much as she might think she is playing, this is very wrong. If she could do this to a dog, could she do this to a human? Well, humans don't have tails, so I guess not exactly.
As you can see, dog training is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog safe, other animals safe, and humans safe. Training is more important than rolling over and fetching. It is a fundamental task a pet owner has to complete.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Dear Chew Toys,
I am so sorry for how Lydia has treated you all. I didn't mean to let it happen. I thought she would just casually chew on you and would cuddle you when she slept. I never thought that this would happen. Every time it happens, my back is turned for a few seconds, and I turn around and you are all destroyed. 
Little bear, I remember when I gave you to Lydia. Within minutes, each one of your rope legs were ripped off and torn into a million pieces. Your head had been removed and your eyeballs were missing. I still have yet to find them. I'm sorry I turned my back on you. You were a good toy.
Dear Lamb Chop,
You were Lydia's favorite toy. You were the first present I ever gave her. I thought since you were of equal size, you could fend for yourself. However, I was severely mistaken. Your little fluffy body never stood a chance. After the first few days she had you, she ate off your entire foot. She slowly pulled out all of your fluff organs. I still have you to show her when she is sad. Even though you aren't with us anymore, you are still an important part of Lydia's childhood. I'm sorry she hurt you and I'm sorry I let it happen.
R.I.P. LAMB CHOP.
I am sorry all of you, little fluffy friends.
Little bear, I remember when I gave you to Lydia. Within minutes, each one of your rope legs were ripped off and torn into a million pieces. Your head had been removed and your eyeballs were missing. I still have yet to find them. I'm sorry I turned my back on you. You were a good toy.
Dear Lamb Chop,
You were Lydia's favorite toy. You were the first present I ever gave her. I thought since you were of equal size, you could fend for yourself. However, I was severely mistaken. Your little fluffy body never stood a chance. After the first few days she had you, she ate off your entire foot. She slowly pulled out all of your fluff organs. I still have you to show her when she is sad. Even though you aren't with us anymore, you are still an important part of Lydia's childhood. I'm sorry she hurt you and I'm sorry I let it happen.
R.I.P. LAMB CHOP.
I am sorry all of you, little fluffy friends.
Life Before all the Shit Happened
Before I got Lydia, life was so much cleaner. I didn't step in piles of poop a couple times a month and I didn't get to experience the soothing smell of dog piss.
Every morning I used to wake up and make breakfast. I used to walk all the way to the kitchen and back without finding piles of poop everywhere or finding that what I was going to make for breakfast had already been violently eaten and slung across the floor.
I remember when I could take a shower without hearing the piercing sound of dog cries coming from my bedroom. I also remember when I didn't spend all of my money on beggin' strips and piddle pads. I remember when I wasn't woken up every morning to dog barking 3 hours before my alarm was scheduled to sound. I remember when I was only responsible for myself, and not a tiny fire ball of fluff.
However, more importantly, I remember the first day I got Lydia and how happy I was to have her. I remember life before all the shit happened, and I don't like it one bit.
Every morning I used to wake up and make breakfast. I used to walk all the way to the kitchen and back without finding piles of poop everywhere or finding that what I was going to make for breakfast had already been violently eaten and slung across the floor.
I remember when I could take a shower without hearing the piercing sound of dog cries coming from my bedroom. I also remember when I didn't spend all of my money on beggin' strips and piddle pads. I remember when I wasn't woken up every morning to dog barking 3 hours before my alarm was scheduled to sound. I remember when I was only responsible for myself, and not a tiny fire ball of fluff.
However, more importantly, I remember the first day I got Lydia and how happy I was to have her. I remember life before all the shit happened, and I don't like it one bit.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Pomeranian or Pit Bull?
Most people are not completely familiar with the Pomeranian breed on a personal level. I had never experienced a Pomeranian in real life. I had only seen them on T.V., therefore I had a nasty perception of the Pomeranian. I figured Pomeranians were for stuck up girls who drove BMWs, like Pit Bulls were for large scary tattooed men that ride motorcycles. I myself do not have a motorcycle or a BMW, unfortunately. Likewise, I thought neither of these dogs were for me. Turns out, Pit Bulls aren't for me, but my Pomeranian is.
A POMERANIAN THAT RIDES A MOTORCYCLE...I eat my words.
I researched the history of Pomeranians and found PomeranianSavvy.com. This introduced me to a lot of information regarding the breed. Pomeranians originated in the region of Pomerania, now recognized as Germany and Poland. They first were larger in size and were used to heard sheep! Eventually, they were introduced to England as a gift for Queen Victoria in 1888. In the early 20th century, they were brought to America. However, they carried high esteem and were not the common household pet. They looked a lot different as well.
PomeranianSavvy.com introduced me to an alternate appreciation for Pomeranians. Not only are they cute, but they are helpful too,
Aside from having a history of being cute, fashionable dogs with plenty of personality, Pomeranians have also been used for other purposes than simply as a gift to the Queen. For instance, Poms are celebrated for their intelligence and hard work. They were, and still are often used for:
- Search and rescue – When the assistance of a small dog is needed to search for survivors, such as in an earthquake.
- Hearing assistance
- Therapy for the ill and elderly – Poms are often brought into nursing homes to cheer up the patients.
Who knew Pomeranians were known for something other than barking and bitching?
Pomeranians are quick to learn, but like to assume the role of boss. They are known to bark often and can be very whiney. They can be good watch dogs, but can also be hard to handle if not trained properly. Lydia has become much like a watch dog. She only barks when she hears noises she cannot identify or hears other dogs barking. However, she barks to let me know and then stops.
One thing I have noticed that Lydia really identifies with in a Pomeranian description is the fact that she is very needy. I cannot take a shower without her missing me. She gets used to me being gone when I leave, but for the first few minutes seems to be in real agony
Pomeranians have a thick double coat that needs to be kept up with. This requires grooming frequently. They stand 8-11 inches and weigh approximately 3-7 pounds. Lydia weighs in at about 5 pounds on a fat day. This requires Pom Parents to keep good watch of their dogs to ensure they are not injured, especially when children are handling them.
Pomeranians make excellent pets, DON'T LET THE STEREOTYPE SCARE YOU. I've never been a fashionable or frilly girl, all though my Led Zeppelin t-shirts and long, crazy pot-head hair might have fooled you. However, I find the Pomeranian to be a lovable and easy dog to handle, when the correct research is completed.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
"Dog's Don't Know It's Not Bacon!"
This topic’s blog post is about dog food...For all of you that have not closed your browser yet, I applaud you, because even I am tempted to close my browser.
One of my first issues when raising my dog was deciding which brands of dog foods and treats would be best for Lydia. I go to college, which basically means I am broke. Now that I have a dog, I am REALLY broke. I first began to purchase the cheapest brand I could find, Ol’ Roy-Puppy Complete. I liked it because it was so inexpensive. I like almost everything that is inexpensive.
I fed Lydia the food for a week or two and noticed she was having trouble using the restroom, a nice way to put the disturbing shit I was having to clean up. I researched the brand and found that Ol’ Roy was named after Sam Walton’s, the founder of Walmart, dog and is manufactured by Walmart. Many dog owners had reported being unsatisfied with the low-fat, questionable ingredients used to make Ol’ Roy foods. Reports show dogs eating this brand can have digestive problems, vomiting and diarrhea. Another common, but less severe reactions were rough and dry hair coats. Lydia’s hair is long enough, I don’t need it itching me, as well. I immediately switched her off of this food, and on to a more expensive brand, and will be posting my findings as soon as I come to a conclusion. However, her poop seems to be a little bit more solid.
When it comes to treats, I started giving her the Pedigree small dog treats and she started becoming very ill. I stopped giving her these as well, and began giving her Dentastix and Beggin’ Strips. Lydia absolutely loves Beggin’ Strips. When I feed her one, she literally reacts the same way the dog in the commercials acts. I can imagine in her head she's saying "BACON! BACON! BACON! BACON!" They are a great tool for teaching her certain tricks and training her. The dentastix and the small dog treats were both from Pedigree, and had different results, so I would assume those specific treats just did not agree with Lydia’s digestive system.
I would suggest to avoid Ol’ Roy, and to really listen to your dog. Well, not literally. If you start to understand and take advice from your dog, go to a hospital immediately, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU. However, I do think it is important to pay attention to your dogs bowel movements and realize that though your dog can’t verbally communicate with you, she can show you what is good and bad for her, and it’s not going to be pretty.
I'm too young to be a mom!
Before I got a dog, I mostly just wanted one because they were cute, and so I’d have something to play with when I was bored. Oh man, was I in for a surprise.
Before getting my dog, I was too excited, I think. I picked her name, Lydia, after a character I like in one of my favorite movies, Beetlejuice. I bought her bowls, food, a leash, a bed, a pink dress with some bows-just kidding I’m not that crazy. I never once thought about buying a training book, looking up dog training schools or even vet costs. I could not even imagine the awakening I was about to experience.
I got her home and realized I had no food to feed her. I quickly went to rush to the store, then realized no one was home. Could dogs be left alone this young? I was worried she’d eat something off the floor that she wasn’t allowed to and choke, or she’d get lost in the mountain of dirty clothes I have and suffocate herself. I know, that sounds crazy now, but it crossed my mind. I decided she’d be okay, hopefully, and put her on the couch and left.
When I arrived at the University Walmart, which is by far the most terrifying place in the entire world, I stared at the vast array of dog food. How was I supposed to know which to choose? Should I go with the cheapest or should I go with the name brand? This is a topic I had to further research and will eventually discuss further in a later blog.
When I got home, she had peed on the couch and was sitting there crying. I then realized she was so tiny that she could not even jump down from the couch. She had been trapped the whole time I’d been debating her food choice. I then realized another hurtle I’d have to tackle, potty training. I hadn’t even considered how hard it’d be to potty train her.
Next, I tried telling her to “sit”, “roll over”, “lay down”, “stay”, and “shake”. Of course, she could not do any of these. She just stood there staring at me, wagging her tail. “My dog must be defective! She can’t even sit!” I thought to myself.
Before I got a dog, one of those crazy dog ladies I discussed in my last post told me, “This dog is my baby, and I want to make her your baby. This will be like raising a child. Are you prepared to be a mother?” After being instantly creeped out, I closed the email and thought, “That lady is crazy, I’m too young to be a mom. I just want a dog, dammit!” Little did I know, that crazy bitch was right. I’m an 18 year old mom. If only I could have made it on “16 and Pregnant”!
Before getting my dog, I was too excited, I think. I picked her name, Lydia, after a character I like in one of my favorite movies, Beetlejuice. I bought her bowls, food, a leash, a bed, a pink dress with some bows-just kidding I’m not that crazy. I never once thought about buying a training book, looking up dog training schools or even vet costs. I could not even imagine the awakening I was about to experience.
I got her home and realized I had no food to feed her. I quickly went to rush to the store, then realized no one was home. Could dogs be left alone this young? I was worried she’d eat something off the floor that she wasn’t allowed to and choke, or she’d get lost in the mountain of dirty clothes I have and suffocate herself. I know, that sounds crazy now, but it crossed my mind. I decided she’d be okay, hopefully, and put her on the couch and left.
When I arrived at the University Walmart, which is by far the most terrifying place in the entire world, I stared at the vast array of dog food. How was I supposed to know which to choose? Should I go with the cheapest or should I go with the name brand? This is a topic I had to further research and will eventually discuss further in a later blog.
When I got home, she had peed on the couch and was sitting there crying. I then realized she was so tiny that she could not even jump down from the couch. She had been trapped the whole time I’d been debating her food choice. I then realized another hurtle I’d have to tackle, potty training. I hadn’t even considered how hard it’d be to potty train her.
Next, I tried telling her to “sit”, “roll over”, “lay down”, “stay”, and “shake”. Of course, she could not do any of these. She just stood there staring at me, wagging her tail. “My dog must be defective! She can’t even sit!” I thought to myself.
Before I got a dog, one of those crazy dog ladies I discussed in my last post told me, “This dog is my baby, and I want to make her your baby. This will be like raising a child. Are you prepared to be a mother?” After being instantly creeped out, I closed the email and thought, “That lady is crazy, I’m too young to be a mom. I just want a dog, dammit!” Little did I know, that crazy bitch was right. I’m an 18 year old mom. If only I could have made it on “16 and Pregnant”!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Amscot-You're OK with Us!
The Dog Blog…mildly cliché I know, but it gets straight to the point of this collection of writing, which might also be cliché. I’m not quite sure yet. My dog is a small, feisty Pomeranian. She’s now eight months old, petite, fluffy, and black. However, contrary to popular belief, she is not a yappy, bitchy little dog. I think it might have something to do with where she came from.
My boyfriend promised me a dog for my birthday. My birthday hasn’t even arrived; I’m obviously impatient and persuasive. About three months ago, I began my hunt for a puppy-online of course. Animals from the pet stores are priced so expensively, that they must come potty trained, and by potty trained I mean they not only can use a real toilet, but they also don’t forget to put the seat down. Maybe I should have gotten my boyfriend from the pet store, too.
Eventually, I stumbled upon a small black Pomeranian that was six months old. It was in a close proximity, residing in Orlando, and was offered at a good price. I arranged to meet the man and drove to Orlando, where I was approached by a large African American man covered in tattoos, joined with gold flashy jewelry. He was accompanied by a 4 pound Pomeranian attached to a bright pink leash. Upon his arrival, I giggled to myself, lost in thought at the irony of the situation, but was extremely excited that it was not a creepy old woman that would give me the third degree about my life and whether I was a “fit” parent for her “little baby”, like I previously had encountered with some of my other inquiries. Quickly jolting out of my previous thoughts and into reality, he asked for the money and I asked for the dog, and we each left the Amscot parking lot where he had arranged our meeting -him with 300 dollars in his pocket, and I with an undersized black Pomeranian.
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