Keeping my Good Dog Good

Man, I'm bad at blogging regularly. I've done so much in the past year it's hard to even know where to start. I went to New York! I was in a play! I'm in another play! I taught full time! There is no way I could write about all these things in one post so I'm not even going to try. That being said, I do want to talk about something that has been on my mind lately.

My dog, Chewie, as many of you know who are reading this, is my best friend. He is a big furry ball of amazing and I wouldn't trade him for the world. That being said, I never thought I would get a big dog. I always pictured myself having an animal more in kinship with my own personality, little and lazy. Chewie is big, and not lazy and I've learned a lot having him for the past almost 3 years.

One thing about having a big dog is that you just can't ignore some of the behaviours little dogs have. If your dog is little, and they are growling, people aren't usually scared. If Chewie growls at them, people can be terrified. I can't pick Chewie up and remove him from the situation that is making him growl. So, when he started showing some signs of being nervous, and had a few small to medium incidents with humans and other dogs, I decided to consult a trainer from Cowichan Canine.

Now, Chewie graduated from the Foundation Program at Cowichan Canine with distinction. He is one smart puppy. But his anxiety has gotten to the point now where he doesn't always listen to me, and sometimes he is so fearful it overrides his better nature. He has never drawn blood or hurt another human. He has never bitten another dog, though he has gotten into altercations (barking, snapping, growling etc).

Bottom line here, I want to keep it so he doesn't EVER bite any person, or any dog.

So, when the trainer came on Tuesday I was really nervous. So nervous that Chewie picked up on my anxiety and really didn't like the trainer. He reacted pretty much as badly as he has ever reacted to a person, with his teeth bared, his hackles raised and vocalized his discomfort. He is always nervous of people coming to the front door, but this was extreme.

My heart dropped.

I then spent 2 hours in my living room, without Chewie, talking to the trainer about his history, what the problems were and how we move forward. My heart dropped a second time when she said that maybe this was genetic, and no matter what we did he may always be a nervous or reactive dog.

So, I've spent the last 2 days thinking to myself, where do I go from here? I know Chewie may never be "cured". He may always be nervous of people, and other dogs. Just because he wasn't that way for the first 2 years of his life, doesn't mean he won't be for the rest of it. How do I manage a 100 pound scaredy dog? Do I constantly isolate him from people, and only walk him in the dark or out in the boonies? Do I put him in his pen when someone visits, and do I never introduce him to new people or things? This is a dog I used to take camping and with me pretty much everywhere.

With the help of the trainer, and one or two sleepless nights, this is the plan:

Step One: I'm muzzle training him. After speaking with my friend who had a people aggressive dog for 8 years, this is something I've come to terms with. If I can get it to the point where Chewie sees wearing the muzzle as a good thing, what's the harm in him wearing it?
I'm muzzle training my dog for the following reasons:
1) To keep him safe as much as the people and other dogs around him safe
2) To be able to take him places and to be able to relax while doing it
3) So I can bring people up to my front door and have them not worry about Chewie scaring them
4) To control that initial greet so that after he becomes comfortable with people/dogs, we can take it off

What I'm worried about: people will be more scared of him and then he will feed off that fear. People will think he is a biter, or a killer, or aggressive. He is not a mean dog, just anxious. How can I communicate that when we are out? Maybe I'll wear a sign around my neck or something.

MY DOG IS WEARING A MUZZLE FOR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES! Please be calm.

Maybe that's a lot to have on a neck sign.

Step Two: Counter Conditioning. We are currently working on counter conditioning him to be fine with people walking in front of our house. This involves many treats and seems to calm him down. If you want to watch a video on what this looks like, click here and see. I'm hoping this helps with managing people being in our yard, coming up to the front door, etc.

Step Three: Manage his fears, and manage my own. I know Chewie feeds off my energy, and I know that I have to work on my anxiety so that we can work on his. And I am. I truly think the muzzle will help. Writing this blog post is a substep within this step. Being vocal, being honest about what I'm going through helps me process and helps me to realize that what Chewie and I are experiencing is normal. I think I'll have to talk to my neighbours, too. Maybe I'll post a letter up near the mail boxes.

Step Four: Continue the training and try to follow the trainers instructions as best as possible. I want to be proactive instead of reactive. The best thing for Chewie is the best thing for me, and visa versa.

Step Five: Still do stuff he thinks is fun! This is again, where I'm hoping the muzzle will help. He does love people, and dogs, once he knows that everything is safe. I'm hoping maybe he can meet some new dog friends and be social. He loves going for hikes, and it's my own fear that is stopping us.

So I guess that's it for now. I would do anything for Chewie, so I hope that we can move forward positively and proactively, and educate along the way!

Under the Pear Tree

I have not been blogging very often.

I have, however, been busy doing other things. For one, I'm almost done the book I've been writing. This is very exciting and more than a little terrifying. What do I do with a completed manuscript? My writers group insists I send it away, and I mostly agree with them.

I've looked at agents. I found one in Canada that I think I'll send it to. She seems like a kindred spirit and someone who may be interested in my book. But should I send it to more? My friend Carol Anne Shaw is very wise in these types of matters. She told me if I fancy this one agent, I should try her first but put "Exclusive Submission" somewhere in the pitch.

Someone asked me if I will use a pseudonym, a question to which I did not have an answer. I changed my Facebook name when I became a teacher and I am particularly fond of my alias (which by the way does not keep students from finding and "friending" me) and have considered using that as my writers name.

I guess I should finish the book before I start making these kinds of decisions.

One day I will write a blog post about what my book is actually about. Probably after I write a synopsis.

My current favourite spot to write is in my orchard in front of my house. It isn't a large orchard, but has a few trees for me to sit under. I bring my dog, who happily munches away on deer poop. I type furiously (or not so furiously, dependent on the day) on my laptop. Sometimes Chewie (the dog) escapes into the neighbours yard and I have to run after him. But other than that there are few interruptions. He is currently digging a hole. I hope he finds treasure.

Summer has also been a time for visits. I've had lots of them already. This afternoon I pick up my good friend and she will stay for two weeks before heading off on an adventure to China, where she is teaching for a year.

Carol Anne Shaw--the wise author woman I mentioned earlier--has hired me to write a Teachers Guide for each of her novels "Hannah and the Spindle Whorl" and "Hannah and the Salish Sea". This is very exciting for me, as I love her books and revel in the task of helping a friend using my teacher skills.

James and I leave for New York, New York in approximately one month. We have started a blog, which I may or may not have already mentioned. It is called "The Hot Dog Blog", it only has two entries at this moment, but considering our trip is fast approaching, it will indeed have more soon.

That is all for now, I have work to do, you know.

Update

The end of the school year has two very distinct feelings attached to it. One is panic. If you are in Grade 11 or 12, teach Grade 11 or 12 or know someone who is in Grade 11 or 12, chances are you are feeling the side effects of panic. Take a deep breath. This too, shall pass.
The other feeling is one of distraction. The side effects of distraction are procrastination, day dreaming and talking with ones friends when one should be doing other things.
I blame the sun. I don't think classrooms should have windows. The pull of the outside world is too strong. It is May, but in everyone's heads and hearts it is already June.

I looked at my last blog post, which I wrote before spring break. In some ways, spring break was a long time ago--in others it was just yesterday. I had a very productive time, I painted walls, slept a lot and starting Foundation Class with my puppy.

Easter weekend was pretty fabulous, also. I went to Disneyland with some of the boarding girls. I frolicked down Main Street. I hugged Goofy, and Minnie (Mickey was somewhat illusive) and I rode essentially all the rides. I finally experienced Space Mountain. The first time I went, it was closed. The second time, I left it until the last possible minute and it broke down when I was on it. Having rode it now, I don't really know how to describe it. It was kind of all a blur--not just in my memory but an actual blur. The ride was really fast.
The girls were all very well behaved. They were so busy doing what they were supposed to do to have any energy left to misbehave. They also rode all the rides. And acted like kids, which is awesome because now-a-days high school girls seem to think they need to dress and behave like adults.
I spend all my time acting like a kid, not just in Disneyland.

School is insanely busy at the moment. Outdoor Education week is coming up, where I get to go camping with a bunch of 13 year old girls for 4 nights. This may seem like torture to some, but I am excited about it. After Disneyland, I realized how vital it is to get out of the classroom and spend time with my students.

Enough bloggin' for now.

Puppy Fever

Let me list the reasons why I have sucked at doing a weekly entry in this blog.

1. School is busy.

2. Report cards are imminent.

3. Sometimes I forget I even have a blog.

4. We got a puppy.

Chewie. Short for Chewbacca. He is fluffy, he is sweet, he loves to Chew (which is basically our fault as we named him Chewie) and he is all ours.

I am completely in love, and completely overwhelmed.

Everyone tells you having a puppy is a big deal. Everyone says it is like having a baby. Everyone says it is time consuming. Everyone says you have to be ready to dedicate a huge portion of your life to this little animal.

Everyone was right.

Getting a puppy is a big deal. For an undetermined amount of time you have to clean up poop and pee.

It has been 4 days since our last in house accident.

Getting a puppy can be stressful. For the first two weeks we didn't sleep through the night, and the crate training was not exactly what I would call successful.

Now he sleeps in the hallway in his crate with a sheet draped over top. We had our first full night sleep last night.

Getting a puppy can be a wonderful bonding experience for a couple. And an opportunity to learn. James and I have had many discussions about how this is good practice for when we decide to have kids.

Thank all that is holy we haven't got children also. Chewie is our fur baby and that is good. That is enough.

Cats do not like puppies. Especially when the dog barks and chases the cat. I want them to snuggle each other but that may just be a pipe dream.

Suggestions for people getting a puppy: 

Take them to puppy class. 

Tire them out with play time. 

Introduce them to kids who are good with dogs and let them run around. 

Introduce them to other dogs and let them run around.

Tire them out with car rides.

Cuddle them when they are tired.

Listen to the teacher in puppy class.

Take them out to poop a half an hour after they eat their food.

Take them out to pee, a lot.

Buy a good jacket if it is winter.

Buy easy to slip on shoes.

Read books, but don't believe everything you read.

Listen to advice, but don't believe everything everyone says.

Look on the internet, but don't freak out if you are reading too much.

Love.

Love.

Love.

Cry if you have to.

Ask people to play with your puppy so you can have a nap.

Leave the puppy in a safe place while at work with nothing to destroy.

Buy toys.

Live your life, and love the dog.

Be nice to your spouse.

Try to talk about something else to your friends and family.

And take lots of pictures.

Adopting a Puppy

"Let's just meet puppies" I said. "We will wait to take one home until we find the right one" I said. 

This is easier said than done. 

What James and I want: a medium sized puppy, good temperament, and we want to adopt it. Preferably from an organization called "Victoria Humane Society"(check their Facebook group). We have filled out an application and we went to visit some puppies today. 

We knew that these doggies were going to be a bit too big for our needs, so we decided to just go meet them and talk to the foster parents. 

Then they were adorable. They had wonderful, sweet personalities and I wanted to take them both home. 

When we left the foster parents, my heart hurt. I could hardly tear myself away from them. 

James and I talked at length. Then I texted some friends. Then I was sad. We decided they would be better with a family that wanted a big dog. 

What scares me is how hard it was to NOT adopt the first dog we see. This process may be more difficult to complete with a clear mind. My emotions are pretty strong when it comes to sweet little puppies. 

Anyways, here is a picture. As you can see, this puppy isn't really little...

So They Call it Puppy Love

I have recently been suffering from an affliction. It involves the incessant need to look up adoptable dogs in my area. This is a gigantic problem considering my mental health and the fact that I cannot, by any means, have a puppy right now. My Dad won't let me and although I am 23 years old and in theory an adult that should be able to make my own decisions, I'm afraid that I am at the mercy of my fathers rules on this particular instance. If only I had a job and wasn't the poorest girl in the land. Then I would have a puppy and perhaps a pony. (Woo! Alliteration!)
Moving back with my father full time is going to be very interesting. I've lived with him on and off for my whole lode, that being said I've also had my own place (as well) for the last 5 and a half years. So I've been a part of, yet separate. The thing I suppose I'm most concerned about is the amount of stuff that I've accumulated over my time in university. I do, in fact, have a whole room of things that I am unwilling to part with. I know that I do not need two beds, however I want to be able to have those two beds if I ever manage to grow up properly. As in one left at my dads and one at my grown up house. I am incredibly lucky because my father is one of those people that will always want me around (no dog though) and I will always have a room in my childhood house.
I guess I should make it clear that I do have a dog, though Chippy is 19 years old. I can't really say this any other way but, she is going to die soon. I am trying to come to terms with that along with reconcile the fact that my dad will never own another dog again.
He is a cat person, though he is a monogamist cat owner and refuses to betray Cosmo and allow an imposter into our home. So it would appear I am at a stalemate with this particular situation. Which is truly unfortunate because I love me some animals. I find that animals are incredibly therapeutic for me and I'm in a much better space when they are near.
I'll just have to wait for a)when my dad changes his mind or b) when I get my own house. Both seem incredibly improbable to me at this current time.
I have much to write about my next practicum placement and my school adventures, however I am in need of slumber. All this puppy talk has made my eyes sleepy.
Goodnight Neverland. Sweet dreams.