Pets

Dogs, Toys and Bad Ideas

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 3 Comments

#dogs The last two Friday’s I’ve posted about dog toys and thought I’d continue on that theme.

Sometimes a fun idea turns into a bad idea. So here’s ours.

My crazy wheaten terrier, FARLEY,  had a great time playing with the ball fender. All was good until he decided to eat it. Then, he thought all fenders were meant to be eaten.

So what was I thinking when I allowed him to play with the fender? He was occupied and we could concentrate on what we needed to get done on the boat. Okay, so I didn’t think that on through.

When boating, don’t let your dog chew lines, fenders or any other item that you might need. Even it’s an old line, the dog doesn’t know that.

As they say, learn as you go? Learn from your mistakes? At least I’m learning in this adventure of owning a dog. 🙂

Dogs and Toys Continued

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

#Dogs

Mother nature can provide free toys. This lab, retriever and rottweiler have figured out how to play nice together.

Even when we gave Chica, Henna and Murphy one stick each, they all wanted the same one. And aren’t they proud.

My only caution about this toy nature gave us. They are sharp and can hurt the dog. Be careful when throwing a stick. It can land with one end in the ground and the other pointing into the air. The pointy end can stab the dog.

Having said that, have fun and play hard! 🙂

Is It Ever Too Early To Socialize Your Pup?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

We didn’t think so with Farley

We picked up Farley, our wheaten terrier, when he was 8 weeks old. My sister-in-law picked up Piper, 8 week old border terrier, the same day.

On our 2 hour ride home, the pups decided to sleep together. Pretty cute. When they arrived home they were greeted by Murphy, a rottweiler, whose home they  entered. Just to be on the safe side, we introduced the dogs outside. Poor Murphy was invaded by puppies for a week. Piper stayed with him, and Farley came home with us.

My only caution is not to leave the dogs alone when they are that young and new to each other. At one point, Farley grabbed Piper by the neck. Quick action by brother prevented any harm from being done, but it did remind us to be careful.

Now look how they get along. Farley looks like he wants to hold hand with Murphy . . .

How do you socialize your dog?

Dogs and Shoes

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley, my wheaten terrier, has decided it’s time to empty the closet. Guess boredom got the better of him, or he really likes shoes. He ‘dug’ the shoes out of the closet while laying on his side. When he was happy with the results, he gave me a look that said, “So what are you going to do a about.

And then made himself comfortable. At least he didn’t chew my shoes . . . This time.

How Do You Exercise Your Dog in the Heat?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

I don’t know about your dog, but mine gets lazy when it’s too hot out and doesn’t want to go for a walk.

My last dog, Chica, a beautiful yellow lab, needed a lot of exercise or she was a handful. I worried about her overheating, so for us, water was the answer.

Here she is diving into a pond (and yes I photo-shopped this photo) at the magnificent Greywolf Golf Course in Panorama BC.

The pond was only a few minutes from our house, but still, I had to drag her there. She knew lying is the shade was a good answer, but once I got her to the water she could retrieve floating objects forever.

If only I could have stopped her from stealing golf balls.

Traveling with a Dog

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

The two thousand kilometres from Ottawa to Winnipeg is a lot easier to travel in a car when you take a break. The temptation is not to stop, to keep covering miles as the pavement slips by, barely touched be out tires.

Farley, our wheaten, makes sure we don’t take the drive for granted. With him along, we stopped for hikes at some amazing places. Another great reason to travel with a dog.

This photo was taken somewhere in Northern Ontario, but is typical of the beauty we discovered. My husband is trying not to get his feet wet while Farley tastes the cold river water.

Farley’s on a leash because there are bears in the area, and we don’t really want a dog-bear encounter. Who would?

Do Dogs Need Role Models?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

#Dogs

Joe, the 120 lb retriever, teaches Farley, the 15 lb wheaten terrier, some manners.

Farley arrived home at 8 weeks old, and Joe spent a few months teaching him how to behave like a dog.

Joe is a very tolerant and gentle dog, and even though he is huge, he made a great leader for Farley.

The best friends played, slept and ate together.

Running Safely with Your Dog

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

#dogs

Farley, my wheaten terrier, loves to run. If he can run off leash, he is ecstatic. I only let him do this if he is in a safe place. In the photo, he’s running in a wheat field in Manitoba.

When I take him running with me on the road or on paths he is on a leash.

For my safety, I have a leash with a belt. I wear it around my waist and that way, if he jerks sideways at, oh say a rabbit, he won’t jar me. This protects my knees and shoulders.

But really I’m writing about dog safety.

First, learn the dog’s limits. Farley can do 10K. More than that and he seems sore. I’m not sure running in a straight line at a consistent pace is what dogs are build for.  He can run forever off leash and not show any signs of soreness.

I have a command for him to run on my right side. He’s been trained to heel on my left, but this doesn’t work while running. On the right, he is tucked between me and the side of the road.

This allows cyclists to pass without the worry that Farley will dart in front of them, and it allows me to be sure he won’t dart unexpectedly in front of a passing car. If there are other dog walkers coming the other way, I have better control of Farley so he can’t stop of a visit.

If you have any tips about running with your dog, I’d love to hear them.

Sailing With Your Dog

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

#sailing

If you bring your dog sailing with you in the Bahamas, I hope you don’t mind sand and salt water on your boat.

Farley plays in the waves off Stocking Island beach in the Bahamas. He loves it, but I always keep an eye our for sharks or sting rays. I don’t want Farley to meet up with either of them.

We discovered the hard way that if a dog is stung by a sting ray, the only treatment is to wash the wound with very hot water, as hot as the dog can stand it, and that should take the pain away. Farley hasn’t had this misadventure yet, but our friends’ springer spaniel has been stung twice.

Dogs In The Office

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

#dogs

Are you a believer in bringing dogs to work? I am. And who doesn’t love a puppy.

During my time working at Panorama Mountain in BC, Canada, one of the perks of the job was brining my dog to work.

Chica was 9 weeks old in this photo, and I think the walk to work tired her out. Other than not having a chair to sit in, it was great having her.

My belief: a dog lowers stress levels in the work environment. Here’s why:

  • It’s hard to stay angry or upset when a dog is wagging it’s tail at you and demanding to be pet.
  • A quick walk with the dog can give a person a chance to think, figure out a problem, or just reassess a situation.  (with the side benefit of fresh air and exercise)
  • It’s not really appropriate to hug a co-worker when they need it, but the co-worker can always hug the dog.
  • And dogs make you laugh. Chica once stole the payroll and ran through the office with the cheques between her jaws. Tell me that didn’t get things moving!