Behavior & Training : House Visitors (& Halloween)

(Molly in her Halloween 'costume')

  

One of the reactivity issues Molly is having most problems overcoming is visitors to 'her' house.  When the doorbell rings, she immediately starts barking, which escalates to howling when the visitor enters the house or the door opens and she can see them.  If she is fed lots of treats and consoled, and the visitor sits down or otherwise makes themselves non-threatening, she usually manages to calm down a bit.  However, as soon as they move, it starts all over again.  Lately, she has either gotten worse, or braver, and has started charging and 'muzzle punching' (bopping the visitor with her nose, mouth closed).

Understandably, visitors aren't crazy about this behavior.  It's also kind of self-escalating since many visitors will remove themselves pretty quickly anyway (delivery people, service repairmen, etc).  And if they weren't already motivated to move on, the loud barking definitely encourages them.  So, the 'threat' disappears and she makes the conclusion that the barking was successful.  We also don't get visitors often enough to have a lot of chances to practice good behavior.  Which all combines to make this a difficult problem to solve.

We had a private trainer come over last weekend to help out with this problem and she gave the following suggestions that I am currently working on implementing:

• Constrain (either gate or leash) her in an area where she can see the visitor, but can't reach them.  I have a split level house, so the stairs in the middle of my house work well for this.  She has a view of the front door but is out of the main pathway through the house.  She has already learned 'go to your step'
• Save 'special' treats only for visitors, and feed during the time of the immediate threat (when the visitor first arrives).  The trainer brought along some dried chicken treats that Molly LOVES so we bought a bag which we will use only for special scary occasions.
• Let her know that someone is coming via a phrase, so there are no surprises, and she understands it's a good thing.  I'm training 'incoming' as a joke to her extreme reaction to visitors, but other possibilities are 'people' or 'look, a friend'.
• Whatever consoles her is okay, it's a scary situation and there is no need for her to be tough.  This was something I asked about, since I've heard a lot of advice that says not to pick up small dogs, to let them stand on their own, etc.  According to the trainer, when she is in that heightened emotional state, just calming her down and consoling her is the priority.

Unfortunately, all this means that Halloween is cancelled in our household this year.  I'm bummed since I have only lived in a house that gets trick-or-treaters for a few years and I really enjoy handing out candy.  But given that Halloween is going to be the equivalent of a war zone for my reactive pup, it's the right thing to do.  We'll be cuddling on the couch downstairs (not in view of the front window) watching a scary movie instead.

Product Review : Everlasting Treat Bento Ball

I'm always up for trying a new product that might allow Molly to get in some chewing time (great for her teeth!) and keep her entertained.  I came across another review for the everlasting bento ball by Starmark on dogster and had to meet a minimum free shipping quota on an order so I thought I would give it a try.

After a bit of chewing (didn't get a pre-chew photo in our excitement to try it out unfortunately)

It arrived today and we gave it a test run.  I think things are arriving in packages for Molly so often that it just might help her get over her fear of strangers at the house.  Scary deliverymen == new toys! (or sometimes, disappointingly, just some toothpaste for mom)

There are a number of different toys that work with the everlasting treats, which are a kind of hard chew that comes in different flavors, the chew came with poultry and I ordered some bacon refills as well.  The treat is captive within the rubber ball and it is supposed to give hours of entertainment according to the packaging.  Reviews were mixed, some people said it did give hours of entertainment, some said more like 20 minutes, and some people said it was hours the first time but the dog figured it out pretty quick.  Still, I figured it was worth a try, we use bully sticks as our special occasion 'keep the dog busy' treat but another alternative would be great as well.

Within about a half hour she had chewed off the dental ridges at the top of the toy but there was still plenty of treat captive inside the bento ball.  She really seemed to like the taste of it and took it to her 'special toy' spot downstairs in the family room.  As you can see, it's the same place as she is currently storing her other favorite toys.

The treats are wheat, corn and soy free (which is great) but had some preservative sounding ingredients that weren't so great.  Also, the first ingredient is rice and all flavoring is artificial.  However, it's an occasional treat and it's nice that they have avoided the common allergens.  Not something I would feed every day but every so often I'm sure it would be fine for most dogs.  Also, the treat is made in the USA (not sure about the toy itself but the food item is really the concern for me).

The treat gets gummy as the dog chews and a few gummy pieces got adhered to the rug. not a huge mess but slightly messier than the bully sticks.  One of the amazon reviews I saw said they had mold grow inside of the treat cavity and after seeing the gumminess I could definitely believe that, so we will have to be careful to clean it out well after the treat is gone.

In all, it took her around 2 hours to finish the treat, so we did get the advertised 'hours' of entertainment. However, I noticed when cleaning it out after she was done with it that there appeared to be some tooth puncture marks in the toy itself, which were collecting treat debris, and presumably creating a weak spot for next time.  So, we will have to see how it holds up long term.

VERDICT:  Good alternative for an entertaining chew, although time will tell how 'everlasting' it is on the second go-round.

Behavior & Training: Socialization Opportunity Ideas

I mentioned that I've been trying to do lots of socialization with Molly.  Exposing dogs to different people and situations is incredibly important, and unfortunately (for those that adopt adult dogs) it's most effective when dogs are young and malleable.  However, it's never to late to improve things.  So even though I don't know if Molly got much socialization when she was young, I'm trying my best to make up for lost time now.

I'm fortunate enough to live in a dog-friendly area, and there are lots of opportunities available in varying ranges of difficulty/stimulus.  Here are some ideas for places to take your dog to get them out and about and used to the wide world.

Beginner Socialization:

• Uncrowded Parks - bring a blanket and a book and settle in, this is a great way to let your dog see a range of people and other dogs, while still keeping enough distance between you and others to not overwhelm them
• Walks around the Neighborhood - for a dog just getting it's bearings a low key walk near home can be a chance to explore the world a bit, but in a safe non-overwhelming way

Molly enjoying some time in the nearby open space, there are frequently others playing in this area.

Intermediate Socialization:

• Pet Stores - for some reason even when she was overwhelmed by people on the street Molly was always pretty okay in pet stores.  This is a fun outing for both of you, allows you to run some errands, and most likely exposes your dog to other friendly dogs
• Other Stores - lots of other stores actually allow dogs.  Home improvement stores are the ones that usually spring to mind for people.  But our local liquor super-store is one of Molly's favorite destinations, and they even give her a dog treat every time she comes.  I've also taken her in Homegoods (the TJMaxx home decor branch) after seeing other people bring dogs in.  Just keep an eye out for signs or ask if in doubt.  Stores are good because they provide lots of stimuli but usually have enough space that you can keep your distance when needed.
• Uncrowded outdoor festivals, events, etc - My local town and nearby towns have lots of craft festivals, and movies and concerts in the park.  They usually aren't so crowded that you can't make a little space for you and your pup.
• Breweries - A lot of the local breweries around here allow dogs, even inside!  This is a great winter socialization idea when some of the other outdoor options aren't available.
• Some Restaurants - Some restaurants are fairly non-intimidating and some are more advanced socialization destinations.  When looking for a more low-key dining experience I look for a table tucked in the corner or with a large open area under the table so Molly can get out of the flow of traffic if needed.  My local downtown puts out these great enclosed patio 'pods' along the street in lieu of parking during the warmer months.  Molly loves these because she is well off the sidewalk and has a wall of sorts on at least one side of her.  This is the last weekend before they are put away for the winter so we took advantage!

Molly checks out the Cab selection at the liquor store

Advanced Socialization:

• Farmer's Markets - I put this is in the 'advanced' category because at least around here, they tend to be crowded.  The Boulder, CO farmers market actually banned dogs as it was getting too crazy and dogs were being hurt and/or becoming very anxious.  But my local Louisville farmers market is still small enough that Molly can wander around.
• Large outdoor festivals - Some festivals are more crowded and will test doggie bravery a bit more.  My local downtown does a 'street faire' during the summer that draws a huge ground (thousands).  It's a great time, and dogs are allowed, but it's definitely a high stimulus environment.
• Some Other Restaurants - I would put restaurants with fairly exposed sidewalk seating in the advanced column, at least for Molly.  She tends to get pretty nervous with foot traffic so nearby.
• Dog Park - Dog parks are great, but they pose a whole new round of socialization dynamics.  For that reason, they can be a great place for your dog to learn some valuable dog interaction manners!

Molly and I put our socialization skills to work this weekend with lunch out on a patio downtown and some errands at local stores!

Product Review : Furminator De-shedding Tool

When I went looking for a dog to adopt, low-shedding was high on the list.  It's part of the reason I targeted terrier mixes since in addition to great personalities they are know for being relatively low shedding.

The day I first met Molly I picked her up, set her back down, and was COVERED in hair.  Her foster Mom said she hadn't noticed her shedding around the house so it might just be nerves.  When I got her home, fortunately things were much better.  She still shed heavily in stressful situations but when it was just us there were only a few hairs here and there.

Then, fall came.  And suddenly she started shedding like a lab.  I found hair everywhere and couldn't pick her up without being covered in white hair (and I wear black a lot, so that's a problem).  So, we set out to investigate solutions and settled on giving the furminator de-shedding tool a try.

I had vaguely heard of the furminator before but had somehow filed it in the my mind as 1) a gimmick and 2) somehow involving dog vacuums.  I think they do have a product that involves a vacuum but the more well known product it more accurately described as a mini dog rake.  It's kind of like the metal comb part of clippers but without the cutting.  There seemed to be a lot of disagreement and confusion on whether or not it actually cuts the hair or just pulls out loose undercoat, but from what I could tell there isn't a cutting surface.  There's also a lot of controversy about how often to use it and it seems like it is possible to overdo it, so we will have to be careful using it in the future.

So, we made a trip to the store and picked up one to try out.  I went in intending to buy the standard product but they had a newer version with a removable handle that was supposed to work better than the original according to the claim on the packaging (no idea if that's true since I don't have a point of comparison).  The removable handle had other attachments available for purchase (combs, dematters, and a 'fur accumulator') that could be attached when the de-shedding tool wasn't in use).  The package for this new and improved version had a $5 off coupon which made it about the same price as the original, so we decided to give it a try.  It also solved another dilemma for me - while the original comes in long (>2") or short hair versions, this newer model only comes in one length.  I was planning on buying the long hair version for Molly but not having the decision made it a bit easier - hopefully the effectiveness is the same as the more customized version.  The tools come in different sizes (widths), I bought a small for her and it seems like a good size.  I also picked up the 'fur accumulator', which is a big static cling pad you run over fabric to remove fur, in order to give the removable handle feature a try.

 The furminator works by removing the softer undercoat which is what actually sheds on most dogs.  Apparently Molly was throwing off her summer undercoat in order to grow a thicker one for winter and was leaving it all over the house in the process.  You can actually hear a difference as you go over the areas where the undercoat is thick vs. where it's been mostly removed or there isn't much there to begin with.

There really weren't any instructions,  apparently you just rake your dog. :)  Right away, it was apparent that this was going to be removing way more hair than a slicker brush.  We brushed for about 20 minutes and I was STILL getting some hair but finally I decided we had both had enough.  She tolerated it pretty well, definitely didn't love it but didn't hate it any more than any other brush, and it didn't pull or appear to hurt her at all.  The worst part was probably staying still for so long, but she was rewarded at the end with a new toy.

Here's a picture of the hair I got out of her, I was pretty amazed at the amount.  Compared to some of the pictures on the internet it's not that impressive but for a small low-shedding dog it's quite a lot!  You can actually tell there has been a lot removed, she now looks noticeably thinner and less 'bushy'.

I'm still a little spooked by some of the 'DON'T USE THIS' posts out there on  internet forums but it seems like a good tool as long as you use it in moderation.  I plan to use it weekly when she's shedding heavily and maybe monthly the rest of the year depending on whether it seems she needs it or not.  There are so many opinions on dog grooming out there as a new dog owner it's about impossible to figure out what the 'right' thing to do is.

I also gave the fur accumulator a try, that was quite a bit less impressive.  It captured a few hairs on the first surface, but then when I ran it across the second they all fell off and accumulated on the new surface.  Basically, it was a fur spreader. Good idea but unfortunately it will be going back to the store, and none of the other accessories really looked like something that would work for us.  Hopefully those claims of the removable handle version being more effective are true because I'm not sure I'll be getting any other benefit out of it.

VERDICT:  The Furminator De-Shedding tool is a definite keeper but the other accessories available for use with the removable handle do not seem to be as impressive.

Behavior & Training : Dealing with Setbacks & Disappointments

I will start out this somewhat downbeat post with an upbeat picture of Molly enjoying our recent cool and rainy weather while modeling one of her new jackets, I think she matches the scenery quite nicely. :)

Molly and I had a frustrating day yesterday.  I took off the afternoon for a couple of contractors coming over for furnace maintenance and sprinkler shutdown.  I knew from previous experiences that she doesn't do well with visitors to the house, but had somehow talked myself into believing that she was more comfortable now, and she is doing so well overall, that it would be better this time.

Last weekend I ever took her to a friend's house for a social event and she was a perfect angel.  No barking at all other than when she got riled up a bit playing and she was even pretty social and let people pet her and talk to her.  I had been really worried about how she might react to visiting another house since when I had brought her to a friend's backyard movie night a few months ago she barked just as badly and she did for visitors in her own house.  I thought the success of last weekend was a sign we were really turning a corner.

Then yesterday happened.....

The first visitor was the furnace repair guy.  She barked loudly and frantically when he first arrived, but settled down a bit when I picked her up and by the time he left she was generally pretty calm, although she did bark whenever he moved.  That's pretty consistent with how she reacts to most visitors and was a disappointment but not a surprise.

I actually tried giving her some Rescue Remedy, which I haven't tried before, but I've seen highly recommended.  I can't say that it really helped, although I might try it again for only 'sort of scary' events to see if it takes the edge off things for her there.  The good news is she didn't have any bad reactions, which I was a little nervous about.

Then a few hours later the second contractor arrived.  This time she barked, kept barking, and when I set her down actually aggressively approached him (rather than barking from a safe distance ).  This was a HUGE step back and the aggression really makes me nervous that I'm just making things worse.  It's hard to say what really caused it....was it the two guests in one day, was she just having an off day, is she really truly getting worse, was it just this particular guy? He's a very nice guy I've had do work in the past but not a 'dog person' which does somehow seem to factor into how comfortable she is with a new person.  The earlier furnace repairman was talking about his own dog and seemed more at ease around her.  At any rate, it was embarrassing and I felt bad both for him and for her.  Really very disheartening all around.  He is coming back next week to do Fall leaf removal and I've already booked her for doggie daycare, even though he would be outside while she was kept inside.  I just don't want to risk the stress.  In this situation it's just very unclear to me where the acceptable line is between desensitization and trauma.

It's so easy for me to think in this situation that either she is being deliberately difficult or I am doing something wrong.  It's important to remember that this is a stressful situation for her and we are both doing the best that we can given our own limitations.  And also, that things can and will get better.  Maybe she won't be the type of dog that runs joyfully to houseguests, but there is not reason to believe she won't eventually be able to tolerate them.  It helps a lot to remind myself that she used to bark like this at EVERYTHING.  We couldn't even walk down the street, but now her daily walks are easy with only a few mild corrections and/or distractions needed in particularly stressful moment.   The visitor problem is just so much more difficult because the opportunity to 'practice' is much more limited.  I have tried having groups of friends come over for staged socialization events but it's hard to say if that is helping or hurting, and repeatedly driving an hour out of their way to be barked at is asking a lot of even the kindest friend.

So, what am I going to do about it?

Training....

We have our first in-home training session this coming Sunday.  I'm hopeful that will result in some useful tips, although I am a little worried Molly may not have the same reaction as the contractors since she has met the trainer before during some drop-in classes we have attended, and the trainer is also a woman. Men seem to be on average harder for Molly, although not exclusively.  There are still plenty of men she loves and women she doesn't care for.  I think the 'dog person' thing is a larger factor, which is another strike against the trainer getting an accurate feel for her behavior.  But, I'm still cautiously optimistic she can help out.  If not, maybe we will have to try another trainer.

And More Training...

I also registered her for formal group training classes.  We've done a few drop-in classes and I've been skeptical of the benefits of that type of a setup. I've been trying to find a more structured class with the same participants, and set learning objectives, since I think with new dogs every week and changing goals it's just not as effective for us to do the drop-in thing.  I've finally succeeded in finding a spot in a class starting on October 31st, so I'm hopeful working on her overall manners will help out with the problems at home also.

Continue with the Socialization...

I've been spending a lot of time trying to introduce Molly to varied situations and people outside of her home and will continue to do that.  Not knowing her history I'm not sure how much of this she got in her formative puppy time (but I'm guessing not a lot) and it is very important.  We've been going to outdoor patios, festivals and events, and had our first dog park visit last week.  She also gets time learning to cope without me around at doggie daycare and with the dog walker.  All of this work may not be directly applicable to the home visitor problem, but it goes towards increasing her confidence, which should indirectly help.

And Time....

Finally, I am hoping that time will be my biggest ally.  I do feel that she is still getting comfortable in her new environment, so there is reason to believe that things will continue to get better.  I just need to be patient, which is not my greatest strength.


Does anyone out there have additional tips, or stories of success and encouragement?  I could really stand to hear them about now!

Barkbox Review: October

Molly received her October Barkbox today.  We've been trying out the service for the last several months and my impressions are a little mixed.  Some of the boxes have been great, and then last month we got a really disappointing one, so I was cautiously optimistic about this month after talking to Barkbox's customer service. Customer service has always been excellent and has given me credits when I've been unhappy with things, I really can't fault them at all and their desire to please is what has kept me coming back even when an individual box hasn't been that great.

I thought part of the issue last month might have been that I'd had them mark her as a heavy chewer.  She can definitely demolish a plush toy in about 5 minutes, but really she's just a selective chewer.  Any toy with arms, legs (or other parts that stick out of the main body) is going to have them removed in a few minutes,  then she will go for the rest of the toy.  Toys with simple shapes and smooth edges fair well though, we have a plush bone that has survived since I've had her with its curved edges.  Unfortunately, Barkbox doesn't have a 'no arms' option. :)  Well it's pretty easy for me at this point to look at a toy and give its odds of survival, it's too much to expect from a stranger.  However, part of what made me upset last month was the size of the toys, they were way to big and heavy for her to play with, and in addition to being a 'heavy chewer' she was also marked as a 'small dog'.

So, with all that in mind I opened up this month's box:

First up was the toy.  There are usually two toys so I guess this qualifies as both of them?  It was supposed to be a 'peek-a-boo' toy with the owl stuffed in the witches hat but I really can't see her (or any dog really) getting excited about the witches hat, even if it did have an owl inside of it.

Plus, once again, it's just too big for her to carry around.

I gave her the owl (I didn't even bother with the hat) and she happily ran off squeaking it.  However, with it's high appendage ratio I give it less than a few hours of active play.  At least it looks like she will thoroughly enjoy ripping it to pieces.

UPDATE: Several days later and the owl is still going strong!  Either she particularly likes it for some reason or she's gotten more gentle with her toys.

Kind of sad there weren't any other toys this month....

The treats selection fared a little better in my evaluation.  First up was a salmon skin chew that I'm sure she will love but I can only imagine is going to make me sick to my stomach.  I am not at all a seafood fan and this thing looks like it will STINK.

Maybe we will take that with us for one of our outdoor dining socialization trips and let some local restaurant's patio smell like fish instead of my rugs. :)

UPDATE:  Yep, she loves and it and YES it stinks.  She enjoyed it on the local diner's patio although I only let her have half since it seemed like a pretty big snack for her.

Next up, some cute little peanut butter treats.  Love the packaging on these and they look handy to throw in my purse for treat emergencies.  It does seem like these shouldn't really count as a full treat for the purposes of Barkbox though since it's so tiny.

Finally, some baked treats with human-grade chicken, pumpkin and oat flour.  The baked treats always look boring to me, but after initially turning up her nose at anything other than moist treats when she was still getting settled, now she will usually gobble anything up wet or dry.  Plus, the ingredients look high quality.  So all-in-all we are happy with these.

VERDICT:  Mixed again this month although not as disappointing as last month.  I would really have liked to see some different toys, so was bummed with my options there.  Barkbox has such cute custom toys and it's always a let down when we don't get a new favorite.

Product Review: Anti-Itch Spray Comparison

Ever since I got her, Molly has been an itcher.  While I'm grateful that it's not as bad as some of the cases I've heard about on other blogs and forums, it's still a concern.  She doesn't itch to the point where she's losing hair or bleeding, but she does pretty consistently chew on her paws and legs.  She will sometimes itch around her collar but that is more at the level that I would consider normal dog behavior versus an actual issue.

For awhile I wondered if part of her itching might be psychological, since she will sometimes  get a bit obsessive about it and will keep on licking and chewing long after the initial urgent itch, then will shift a bit and start licking the couch rather than her foot.  But it does seem to be centered around her feet and to be worse after being outside to play in the grass.  She also seems better after a bath with anti-itch shampoo for at least a day or two.  So, overall I suspect some outdoor seasonal allergies (Side note:  I just ordered an at-home allergy test for her so am interested to see the results, I'll post here when I have them!).

At any rate, until we can figure out the root cause which may or may not be fixable, I have been looking for some ways to provide her at least temporary itch relief.  I've settled on a three pronged approach:  diet (including high quality food and the skin supplements I posted about here), regular baths with an anti-itch shampoo (product reviews coming soon!), and between bath treatments with an anti-itch spray as needed.

As with all products I buy for her, I wanted to find something that was going to be low on chemicals and composed of natural ingredients. However, I am also a bit leery about natural products, especially those that contain essential oils since I do feel that there is a tendency to think 'if it's natural, it's safe' and I have read just as many stories of negative reactions to natural products as chemical ones.  In particular, I ordered her a 'homeopathic' allergy remedy off amazon that had great reviews and read the ingredients when it arrived to find that it had ephedrine (which is banned in the US for human consumption) and essential oils that were identified as being toxic to dogs based on my web research.  So I am a firm believer in not blindly assuming that something is safe because it had natural ingredients.

My web research turned up two promising anti-itch products.  Burt's Bees makes a spray as part of their dog line, and Organic Oscar also makes a complementary spray to their anti-itch shampoo product.  I purchased a bottle of each and set out to see which worked best for Molly.

Burt's Bees for Dogs Itch Soothing Spray

I really like Burt's Bees products for myself and am a fan of their dog line as well. However, most of their products are not 100% natural and while they don't generally contain any particularly bad offenders, they do contain some lab-made ingredients.  Additionally, the company is now owned by Clorox, which doesn't exactly calm my mild misgivings.  However, I still generally trust their products and have not had a bad reaction to any of their products that I use on myself, and have also not had any reactions from Molly, so at this point I will continue to use their products.

The smell on this product was very mild, and I didn't have any objections to it at all, although it probably wouldn't be effective as a 'freshener' if you were hoping to get that as a side benefit to the anti-itch properties.  One complaint I had was that there was something about the spray bottle which startled Molly and she really didn't like me applying it.  I think it was a bit louder and a heavier spray than the Organic Oscar product, which was just enough to make her nervous.

The main complaint I had was that this product just didn't seem to be very effective for Molly.  This is somewhat surprising since I have had good luck with their companion shampoo product (more on that in a future product review), but I really couldn't see a difference using this spray.

The lack of effectiveness combined with it's propensity to spook Molly means I probably won't be using it much in the future.

Organic Oscar Holistic Bite and Itch Relief Spray

Of the two choices, I feel that Organic Oscar probably has the better reputation for being natural and completely chemical free.  Despite that, the spray still had some of the same ingredients (sodium benzoate, glycerin) that detracted from the natural feel of the Burt's Bees spray and also did have some of the essential oils I was a bit worried about. However, Peppermint Oil is generally considered safe for dogs based on my research.

Upon first spraying this on Molly, I didn't care for the scent on her skin, although I did like the fresh peppermint smell in the bottle.  There just seemed to be something about her skin chemistry that made it smell strange when applied.  However, whether because I've gotten used to it or because the first time was a fluke, I haven't noticed it as much on subsequent applications.

This spray bottle doesn't really bother her at all, aside from the general dislike for being made wet and being stopped from her playing for 'fussing'.  She also doesn't try to lick it off right away or anything like that, which was something I was concerned about given the essential oil ingredients.

But the best part was that this spray really does seem to help her.  I'd say the effect is fairly short lived (maybe 8 hours or so), but it stops her from itching and biting for awhile and that's valuable to me.

Overall, I think we'll continue to use this product occasionally as a supplement to the rest of our itch-minimizing routine.

Winner: Organic Oscar Holistic Bite and Itch Relief Spray

Favorite Things : Custom Coats

Molly's new custom coats from etsy have arrived and they are pretty much the most adorable thing ever.  If you remember my earlier post, we were searching for the perfect fit and having some difficulty due to her length so we decided to try something made just for her.

I was so excited to open the package!

And of course I had to try them on right away. My apologies to poor Molly who had a coat modeling session followed immediately by a bath.  I'm pretty sure she still loves me though. :)

First up, a winter puffy coat -it even has pockets for treats!  So cute (and just like Mom, she went for classic black).

And next, a hoodie (complete with hood).  This one was more an impulse buy but it's so cute I just couldn't help myself.

She tolerated them both really well, and they are super easy to get on and off with velcro.  Haven't tried out the harness access yet but it looks like it should work out great.  The quality is really great too.  These weren't cheap but you definitely get what you pay for.

Behavior & Training: First Dog Park Visit

Molly had her first visit to the dog park today.  The park up in North Boulder has a separate section for small dogs, so I met my cousin (who has a Westie) up there for some doggie introductions.

Molly excited to be at the dog park (photos courtesy of my cousin, since I forgot to take photos of anything)!

The area we were in was fairly empty, when we first got there, there was a larger dog taking advantage of the empty area to play a game of fetch with her owner.  Of course, Molly just couldn't stand to see a dog running without being involved, so she chased after the other dog for each fetch, barking along the way.  It actually seemed like she was trying to herd the other dog a bit, which makes me even more curious about what her mix might be.  After a few times of being chased after, the larger dog got a bit irritated and corrected her a bit.  She took it well, backing off but not getting too scared about it.  

She got along fairly well with my cousin's dog too, which is great - I'd love for her to have a buddy close by and to have more 'playdates'.  I also got to see how she reacted when I petted other dogs in her presence and she was perfect with no jealousy at all.  

After we were there about a half hour, a few smaller dogs showed up and she showed a bit of interest in them but was mostly happy to hang out with her 'gang'.  On the way out, a large lab puppy jumped on top of her while she was on leash.  I was pretty tense, expecting her to freak out a bit, but she took it remarkably well.  All in all it was a great day!

Spoiled : The Dog Chair

Soooo.....I may have bought a new chair for my bedroom just so the dog had another option for where she wanted to sleep.

Of course, Molly approves of this behavior and finds it entirely sane and rational.

Before I got a dog, I decided I wasn't going to the the sharing the bed thing.  I understand why people do, but I'm just too bad of a sleeper to add one more reason to keep myself up.  The choice has been reinforced by the few times I have invited her up and she has promptly taken over half the bed, kicked me in the face repeatedly and just generally been the worst bedmate ever.  She may be awful cute, but she's not always particularly cuddly.

So, prior to her arrival, I bought a comfy dog bed and laid it next to my bed.  Molly immediately went up, sniffed it, then turned around and went under my platform bed and choose to lay on the bare wood floor instead.  

I've discovered that she really loves being under things, bed, coffee tables, dining tables, whatever she can hide out under. It helps her to feel safe and somewhat shielded from the potential dangers of the world, which is especially important while she gets comfortable with so many new surroundings and experiences. So, since I have just enough clearance under my bed, it made sense to move her bed under there.  And I think she was actually quite happy with that arrangement.  I, however, started feeling guilty that she couldn't see me when I was in there folding laundry or otherwise not sleeping and felt like I was banishing her to hang out by herself under the bed rather than being part of the action (if you can consider laundry folding to be 'action').

So, the chair idea was born.  Basically, the chair is a glorified dog bed, because who actually sits in chairs in their bedroom? (I don't, which is why I never had one before).  But it gives her a place to be closer to eye level.  I topped it with a throw and her trusty snuggle sack and she is quite happy up there.  I keep an eye on how much she uses it versus her old bed.....and it seems like a pretty good balance actually.  It's obvious she likes having the chair as an option, she usually hangs out there when I'm in the shower since you can see into the master bathroom from there, and also will go up there on cold nights to get off the floor (and into her snuggle sack), but still spends quite a bit of time in the dog bed underneath my bed as well, so clearly she wasn't as miserable as I'd feared hidden down there by herself.

Slightly crazy dog mom? Possibly.  Completely spoiled dog? Definitely.

Favorite Things: Cloud Star Dynamo Dog Treats

Molly and I have been loving these 'functional dog treats' from Cloud Star.  They are nice and soft and she seems to be a fan of the taste, plus they come with side benefits.  I think of them as the doggie equivalent of my gummy vitamins (which is sadly the only way I can get myself to actually remember and enjoy taking vitamins, but that's a subject for another blog).

Molly has a sensitive stomach.  As in, the first week I got her I think she puked three or four times.  I've never seen a dog be quite so sensitive.  Once I stepped out of the room and she licked some of the popcorn seasoning left in my bowl.  About five minutes later, she puked.  Not that it stops her from trying to lick it again the next time. :)  I've had pretty good luck with pumpkin when she's sick, but it's not really feasible to feed it every day on the off chance she does something which upsets her stomach.  These 'Tummy' treats have been great.  I've been giving her a half of one after breakfast every day and so far we've been puke free for a couple weeks now (which is quite impressive for her).  They have pumpkin, ginger, and doggie probiotics to help with digestion and general GI health.

We've also been trying out the 'Skin & Coat' chews.  She is also fairly itchy, although sometimes I wonder how much of it is psychological vs. physical.  At any rate, some extra salmon oil can't hurt! We've been using these for about a week now so it's hard to say how effective they will be in the long term but I've heard great things about fish oils, and these treats beat trying to drizzle it over her food or dealing with stinky caplets.

If you try them out, please be aware that these aren't treats in the traditional sense - you'll want to pay attention to the recommended amount by weight on the back of the package.  You wouldn't want to overfeed these as too much of a good thing can be bad in itself.  Again, think of them as doggie vitamins!  Even though it's temping to eat a few extra gummies, I always limit myself to two. :)

Product Review : Winter Coat Search

I've recently been trying to find Molly a good winter coat.  I know some people will scoff at the idea of clothes for dogs, but given her hair/fur style and size I'm afraid that she will get cold in the winter.  Her one experience with prolonged temps around 40 degrees (outdoor movie night in a friend's backyard), she was shivering quite a bit until I put a blanket over her.  Also, she's from Texas and I don't think she's probably seen much (if any) snow, so I'm a bit worried about how she'll feel about the Colorado winters!

My main issue so far has been that for her neck and chest size, she's actually quite long.  Her ideal coat length is about 14 inches, but usually coats that long are made for dogs with around a 20 inch chest diameter and hers is only 16 inches.

Ruffwear K9 Overcoat

The internet consensus on the 'best' coat seems to be Ruffwear.  I agree they make really high quality clothing, but their sizing doesn't seem to work at all for Molly.  The first coat we tried was the Ruffwear 'Overcoat'.  It was super cute, and I loved how it attached (two buckles rather than the complicated velcro structure of most coats).  When I tried it on I knew right away it was too short but I talked myself into it anyway, and even sewed a harness opening in for her since they don't have one (another pretty big flaw in my mind, but moderately easy to remedy if you have a sewing machine, even with my beginner sewing skills).  She has worn it a few times and it works, but her whole back half still gets wet.  I think it would maybe work better for keeping warm purposes since it does cover her 'core', but as a raincoat it's not very effective.

Here's Molly modeling her new coat when it first arrived.  It's a little hard from this picture to see how short it is, but trust me - it only covers about half her back when she's walking around.

In spite of my sizing issues, this is a great coat and I would definitely recommend it if your dog happens to fit the standard sizing a little better.  Although, I do think it would be greatly improved by a slot for leash/harness access.  When researching it I found a lot of people bemoaning the lack of one and saying they had to put on their harness *over* the coat which seems like a pain.

RC Pets Venture Coat

When we were at our local pet store & groomer for a nail trim the other day I decided to try on one of their stocked coats - the RC pets 'Venture' coat.  RC Pets sizes their coats by length, so I was able to try on a 14" coat.  As expected, it was a bit big in the chest, but not so big I though I couldn't work with it - and it was finally long enough!

The first thing I did when I got it home was to move the chest velcro in by about an inch.  Again, this is easily accomplished if you have a sewing machine, but probably not something everyone would be willing or able to do.  On the bright side, this coat comes with a nice leash access and flap already sewn in!

A picture of the velcro after moving it in:

And Molly modeling her newly custom fit coat!  I gotta say, I think she looks pretty cute in red.

Custom Coats

Of course, if you have a between-sizes dog like me, custom coats are always an option as well.  There are a ton of options on etsy, and before finding the RC Pets coat I had actually ordered this coat, as well as this hoodie (because I just couldn't resist).  They haven't arrived yet but I will be sure to post a report when they do!

Winner:  RC Pets Venture Coat for now, but also excited to try custom coat options!

Favorite Things : Snuggle Sack

Molly is an equal opportunity sleeper, she's just as likely to curl up in a ball, or to sprawl on her side, or to lay stomach up.  But, as a (presumed) terrier, she loves to dig up the mulch around the yard and hunt for 'treasures' left by the squirrels in the yard.

So, I thought I'd try one of the 'burrow bags' or 'snuggle sacks' I'd been seeing around the web.  They are designed for burrowing dogs like terriers and can be used as a sort of doggie sleeping bag on cold nights.  I ordered my 'snuggle sack' from this seller off etsy and have been very happy with it.

When it arrived, I threw a few treats in and she somewhat cautiously stuck her head in far enough to retrieve them, but didn't seem interested in spending much time in there.  I was disappointed at first but remembered that one of the other recommended uses was as a 'nest' bed.  Basically instead of laying it on the side so it's a cave they can crawl into, you set it with the bottom of the bag down and arrange the sides to surround them when they lay down.

The nest configuration was a winner and it's now one of her favorite spots.  We recently went on a vacation up to my uncle's cabin and even though I brought her regular bed, the only place she felt comfortable enough to sleep in the new scary environment was on the floor in her snuggle sack.  

Product Review : Picking a Food

One of the first things I started thinking about, even months before I actually adopted a dog was what type of food they would get.  Growing up we fed my dogs Science Diet, which was what the vet recommended (and what my current vet still recommends).  They seemed do to fine on it and we never really had any issues, until their current Border Collie got older and started having high cholesterol and GI issues and had to go on a special diet.

However, the game has changed, and especially here in Colorado where there are a lot of educated pet owners and even my small town of 20,000 people has 3 different natural pet food stores with many more in close driving proximity.  I think the shift has been partially driven by more information being available, and partially driven by the rounds of food recalls in recent news.  Given all I knew (even as a non-dog owner), I wanted to do the research and choose a food that was going to be a great fit for me and my pup.

My criteria were:

• Made in the USA
• No major recalls (hard to do and immediately disqualifies some popular picks like Blue Buffalo)
• Readily available to me locally (not too hard as I have a lot of choices here)
• Dry kibble - this is easier for me, and better for teeth
• Grain free, since a lot of the dog breeds I was most interested in seemed to be prone to food allergies

I started Googling and immediately discovered that the amount of options out there was pretty overwhelming.  I asked some acquaintances and got a different answer from each one.  But slowly, one company started coming up more often and seemed to be a good fit for me - Fromm's.

Fromm Family is a small US company based out of Wisconsin, they've been in business for over 100 years and have amazingly never had a major recall.  They have a range of foods but I can only speak to their top tier food - the four star foods.  They have a lot of different flavors, and the really great thing is that they entire line is designed to be similar enough in fat/protein content that they can easily be switched without having to do the usual slow mixing process.  So if your dog gets tired of a food or you just want to try something new, just buy a different flavor!  Molly started with the Beef Frittata and we found that to be just a little too rich her her, so now she's happily chowing down on the Game Bird which is a great fit.  It's about $13 for a 4 lb. bag at my local dog food store, which for my small 12 lb. dog lasts a little over 2 weeks.  It's also available in larger sizes of course at a cost savings for bigger dogs.  For me, it's well worth the cost and really a small percentage of my overall pet-related costs, but I could see how it would add up with a big dog.  Still, I think feeding a high quality food is the best thing you can do for a dog, and worth it even if it means fewer toys and treats to offset things.

So far we've been really happy with the Fromm's, but if that ever changes I'll be back to the researching to find a better alternative.  What do you feed?  Any recommendations or favorites?

(Note: I didn't get any compensation or free product or anything from Fromm's - I'm just really happy with their foods and company and wanted to share the results of my research with others).

Product Review: Harness Picks & Styles

I discovered very early on that a harness was going to be necessary for Molly.  When she got excited (which was all the time when I first got her), she would pull until she started choking, cough until she recovered, then start pulling again.  So, I went from being totally intimidated to even put one on to being a somewhat-well educated harness consumer.

We've tried a couple different types and each have their positives and negatives.  Right now I'm using a step-in for most walks but my dog walker still uses the no-pull over the head since I am still getting Molly used to and comfortable with the newer style.

No-Pull (Over the Head)

The first type of harness I tried was an over the head no-pull style harness called the Freedom Harness.  There are several types of no-pull harnesses, but I really liked this one because:

• It had a velvet section for the part that went under her stomach to minimize rubbing
• It has options to hook to either the front of the chest or the back
• It is well built and has appropriately thick straps.  Thick enough that I feel that they won't be cutting into her skin, but thin enough that they don't bother her.

On the downside, she is just *slightly* too small for the 'XS' (their smallest size).  However, I'm finding that this is a common theme for her.  She seems to be right in between most companies standard harness sizes at a 16" girth.  So they are either too small and thin, or just a teeny bit too big.  We've been erring on the side of too big and things seem to be working well enough.

She also doesn't love it when it goes over her head.  She will tolerate it for me, but my dog walker has found that she is submissive peeing for her when she puts it on, indicating that it isn't a comfortable situation for her.  So, I decided to try another style as well to see if that was any better.....

Step-In

This seems to be the most popular overall style from my totally non scientific overview of the internet.  It doesn't have the front attachment style that the no-pull has, but in my experience the difficulty of keeping that arrangement from getting tangled up wasn't worth the marginal improvement it gave in the amount of pulling (at least for my small dog).  These harnesses wrap under the dog and have a buckle in only one place, right at the top of the dog's back.

In theory, these are better because the dog can step right into them.  So far, my practice, Molly doesn't quite get the concept and I usually end up having to lift her in and then quickly snap it closed before she can realize what I've done.  I'm hopeful at some point the lightbulb will go off and she will start stepping in on her own since it sounds like most other dogs eventually start doing that.

It's a small thing, but one annoyance for me about this style is that because there two rings that the leash attaches to (one on either side of the top buckle), I can't leave the leash always attached to the harness like I can with the over the head style.  Again, not a big issue, but it makes it a little harder to hang everything on my leash hook without some rearranging when I get home from a walk.

While there are many vendors of this style of harness, I do really like the particular step-in harness I bought her.  It's called the New Earth Harness and instead of the usual thick nylon which can rub and catch fur, mine is made from a soft 'soy' fabric that is almost as gentle as the velvet loop on the freedom harness.  I wish it came in a more neutral black color (I like to keep the harness and leash boring and have a fun collar) but other than that I'm really happy with it.  Again, she is right between sizes so it's just the tiniest bit too big, and unfortunately if I tighten the stomach strap as much as I'd like it falls right by her 'elbow' in a way that looks like it would be irritating for long distances.

Winner:  Still TBD, we are using both right now.

The style of harness that works best for you is going to vary based on your dog and their build, pulling habits, and particular eccentricities.  Whatever style you go with, I do highly recommend a harness though!  Especially for dogs with sensitive throats and strong pullers, it is so much better for them even if it does require just a little more work on your  behalf.

Behavior & Training: Reactivity

Do you know what a reactive dog is?  I can't say I did until I adopted one.  After a few relatively calm and quiet days (where, looking back, she was probably too scared and overwhelmed to react at all), my sweet new dog started barking at EVERYTHING.  Dogs, people, statues, oddly shaped tree stumps, it was all a source of great concern and angst.

After a few frantic googling sessions with searches like 'why does my dog bark at everything?' and 'how to make my dog stop barking', I discovered there was a term for this behavior and it's relatively common.  Although it's tempting to think it's inspired by a desire to embarrass you when she's barking at a sweet old lady getting her paper, it's actually often driven by fear.  In Molly's case she's just really uncertain of this whole new world and wanted to drive the scary things away so she didn't have one more thing to deal with.

The main piece of advice my googling turned up was to associate the scary things with good things (e.g., treats).  The second she saw a potential scary thing, I fed her a treat (BEFORE she could bark), and then had her do tricks or otherwise distracted her until the threat had passed.  Despite the advice, I was a little skeptical that this would actually work.  It's hard to say how much of it was the training technique and how much was just time and her getting more comfortable in her new home and with me, but things have definitely improved.

We can now take peaceful, well behaved walks through the neighborhood and pass any number of walking, running, biking, or stroller pushing neighbors without any reaction other than a curious glance.  Compared to the first couple weeks, it's heaven.

She will still occasionally bark at out-of-the-ordinary people, for example, we saw someone doing elaborate stretching exercises against a park bench this morning and this unexpected human behavior earned a bark or two.  However, I'm confident that with repeated exposure and good socialization as well as some gentle encouragement, she will eventually be unfazed by most anything.

 Dogs are still difficult, she won't usually bark unless they get close or linger, but a growl and some lunging are still definite possibilities depending on the dog.  She also does much better with off leash or more casual greetings, there's just something about seeing another dog coming done the sidewalk at her that seems to stress her out....we are working on it together!

Miss Molly

After many years of debating whether or not I was really 'ready' for a dog, I recently brought home a new rescue pup, formerly 'Bonnie' but now dubbed 'Molly'. As far as I can tell she's some type of terrier mix, although I'm interested in trying out some doggie DNA testing to see if I'm right.

I'm starting this blog partially to document her adventures, and partially to connect with other dog owners out there and share tips and tricks, as well as product recommendations.

Molly is a great dog and is settling in well, after a rough start and an emergency spay surgery three days after I got her (can you believe she had 7 (!) pups in rescue?).  We're working on training right now, so expect many updates to come!