Category Archives: Dogs & Other Animals

Seniority Has It’s Priveleges

March 13, 2020Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue HappeningsDogs, Seniority, Sleepcindyhazelett

Seniority has its privileges.

Nikki sleeps upstairs in our bedroom now. She previously slept downstairs with the other dogs.

Only Zekie slept upstairs with us. He sleeps in a crate. We moved him upstairs only because he carried on so terribly due to his separation anxiety that we couldn’t sleep. Once he moved to a crate next to me, he sleeps like a baby.

Nikki has been barking to wake us up at first light recently. It started when foster dog Claire arrived. Claire was getting us up and then Nikki followed suit. Claire doesn’t get us up as early now. But Nikki is still trying.

Nikki has only minimal hearing left, so you can’t yell at her to be quiet. She barks, then stops to listen. Hearing nothing, she barks again. And so on. Since moving upstairs a few days ago, she has been quiet.

Ah, the joys of having a senior dog. I wouldn’t trade them for anything!

Banana Time!

March 12, 2020Country Life, Dogs & Other AnimalsBananas, Country Life, Daily life, Dogscindyhazelett

This is what happens in our house when someone tries to eat a banana.

You must pay the banana tax to the canine collectors.

Orange Kitty (the big O.K.) remains unconcerned.

Spring Approaches

March 9, 2020Country Life, Dogs & Other AnimalsCountry Life, Dogs, Patiocindyhazelett

Spring is the season of rebirth and hope. We know that warmer weather, sunshine, and growth are not so far away.

It was so nice this afternoon, nearly 60 degrees, that I took all six dogs outside to sit on the patio and soak up some sun. Zekie took the opportunity to sniff scents in the air.

He also spent time just enjoying the sun.

And here we have Cassius and Baxter on border patrol, guarding the fence.

Shelby and Nikki spent most of their time sleeping in the sun too. Just a preview of things to come as the weather warms.

Be Prepared!

March 7, 2020Dogs & Other AnimalsDogs, Spring, Tickscindyhazelett

Shelby had her annual health check at the vet’s yesterday. She received her booster shots. Her fecal check was negative. Her heartworm check was negative.

And the portion of the test for Lyme disease was only faintly positive. This was a relief to me as it was strongly positive the past couple of years and she had a flare up the first year she had it that required a second round of antibiotics.

So, just a reminder that tick season will be right around the corner. (Ticks can transmit Lyme disease.) Stock up on those preventatives. You may want to do some research first, or ask your vet to recommend a preventative. Ticks have shown resistance to some of the products that I have used. I understand that fleas can also develop resistance to certain products. Be prepared!

Coronavirus Irony

March 6, 2020Dogs & Other AnimalsCoronavirus, Therapy Dog Visits, Therapy Dogscindyhazelett

I took Shelby to the vet for her annual health check up today, so she could continue with therapy dog visits. We visit at nursing homes and residential care facilities. The check up is good for one year, and visiting can only continue if all records are current. No problem. (Shelby got her tests and inoculations and passed everything with flying colors.)

I looked at my emails when we got home. I had one from the certifying office strongly recommending all visiting be suspended until there is more knowledge about the coronavirus. The office will be sending out this recommendation to the facilities that we visit also.

I understand. We all want what is best for everyone involved. Better safe than sorry. I just found the timing to be ironic. We were preparing for work that we are now, not able to do. But never fear. When this is resolved, we will visit again!

Good Boy, Zekie!

March 3, 2020Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue HappeningsCountry Life, Daily life, Dogs, Improvementcindyhazelett

It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on Zekie. I realized recently that it’s because he hasn’t been as much trouble.

In fact, if we don’t take him on walks, he’s barely any trouble at all. We do have the mega security crate for when we go away and leave him home. I wouldn’t want to chance this without that crate. It has been a life saver. Literally.

But when we are around home, Zekie’s worst behavior is licking the floor, or the dog bed, or my pants. His insecurity manifests this way. You can’t scold him for licking. Since it is a result of insecurity, the more you tell him to stop, the worse it gets. A squirt bottle does help a little. Both result in our house getting wet though.

Zekie has improved to the point where we can go outside for bits of time and leave him loose in the house. If my husband goes to his workshop or to get wood, he takes Zekie with him since he is good on these trips. He can even spend hours in the workshop with power tools running.

Zekie is still leash reactive during walks. He does pretty well with walkers now, but still barks ferociously at other dogs. Even though he is fine with other dogs coming in our house.

Whenever we are inside, Zekie causes no trouble. He no longer gets into things. He doesn’t chew inappropriately. He doesn’t steal our things. He no longer jumps onto the dining room table to watch us through the window when we go outside. He does lay on the back of the couch beside the door to wait for our return, but this is rather endearing.

We first noticed Zekie’s improvement when we got our new foster dog about a month ago. It was the new dog stealing and chewing things and barking at us. When someone improves their behavior ever so slightly over a long period of time, it is not readily noticed. This has been the case with Zekie. He’s not perfect, but what an improvement.

Good boy, Zekie!

Couch Dynamics

February 26, 2020Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue HappeningsCountry Life, Daily life, Dogscindyhazelett

Sometimes dogs know how to use furniture as well as people do. Our dogs all try to get the best seat. The best seat is generally considered to be beside mom on the couch. The next best snoozing real estate is considered to be one of our two giant, cushy dog beds, followed by the second couch in the family room.

Last choice is the couch in the other room or on the rug. They will try to make another dog move by standing over them or trying to fit into a space so small that they end up partially laying on one of the others, before they will lay on the rug.

It’s fun to watch the dynamics play out and see who ends up where. The outcome varies and you just never know what will happen.

Never Enough Friends

February 24, 2020Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue HappeningsCats, Country Life, Dogs, Friendscindyhazelett

Foster girl Claire has made good progress in her relationships with cats. At first she found them to be exciting and something to be run after. She soon moved on to standing and watching the cats run by, but not giving chase.

Orange Kitty has been instrumental in this new behavior. He is so laid back that he doesn’t even move now when Claire approaches. She seems to seek him out for company.