Hanging Out With My Girl, Alex

Posted on June 14, 2013 | 10 Comments

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I took this picture last November while walking with Alex on a trail on a beautiful Fall day.  Even though my neighborhood has a lot of areas where we can walk, I like to take Alex to different places outside of our neighborhood so she can experience new smells, people, dogs, etc.

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Lately, we’ve been pretty busy with Alex’s furry friends staying over with us, therefore our outings have been limited to our neighborhood area, but since for the next two weeks Alex will be my only canine companion I’ll do my best to go out with her and explore other areas.

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Of course, always remembering not to over do it since my girl, Alex, just turned 11 this year.  I always take with me water, treats, brush, wipes, and an extra leash.  Let’s not forget a cell phone and camera to capture precious moments with Alex.

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Guard Dogs Sleeping On The Job?

Posted on June 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

After our morning walk, Alex, a pit bull/Dogo Argentine mix, and Dexter, a boxer mix, were brushed and wiped, and because the weather was so nice we stayed hanging out on the deck for a little while.

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I like to brush them and wipe them after our walk not only because I like my house and dogs clean, but also because it relaxes them as you can see in the above picture.  If they were guard dogs, check out Alex already asleep, my girl would have been the first one to be fired.  But, they are not guard dogs, but rather part of our family and for many of us our canine children.

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I did have high hopes for Dexter since he was the only one awake, but within minutes, though honestly speaking I think it was seconds, he was out like a light just like my girl, Alex.  These two beautiful specimens are the perfect example of what guard dogs should not be doing: sleeping on the job.

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My Chaotic Home: A Laid Back Tuesday

Posted on May 28, 2013 | 12 Comments

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I had a pet parent a while ago say, “Your house must be very noisy and chaotic when you have dogs staying with you.”  Well, yes and no.

Yes, my home is chaotic when: a pet parent is dropping off or picking up her furry kid because the other dogs can smell and hear this person; someone rings the bell and all the dogs want to know who this person happens to be; and when we are getting ready to take a walk because they are all excited to go out.

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Other than that, my home is pretty quiet and not chaotic at all.  I like to have the TV or radio on because, and I learned this from experience, it muffle the noises going on outside and all the dogs are able to nap in peace.  The ones that come to stay with us often have a favorite place and many times forgo their bed.  One perfect example is Walter.  He is either under the dining room table or in the kitchen rather than his bed.

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There are two things or goals, I should say, that I aim for when living and boarding dogs: provide a stress-free environment for the dogs that stay with us, and enjoy each other’s company.  A couple of years ago, I had a friend of mine tell me that she was very stressed out since she got a dog and that once her dog passed away she was not planning to get another one.  I believe that living with a dog(s) should be an enjoyable and enriching experience, but we, pet parents, need to do our part in order to accomplish that.  Do you enjoy having a dog or does it stress you out?

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Memorial Day 2013

Posted on May 26, 2013 | 10 Comments

Let me start by expressing my gratitude to all the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces and their families, but also to the active duty personnel that every day do their job, however hard it may be, to keep us safe and allow us to have the freedom we enjoy today.

This memorial day weekend we are home hanging out with Alex, our girl, Walter, and Gir.

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Walter, a handsome Aussie, looks like this every time we go for our midday outing, specially when the day is like today, sunny and warm.  Because Walter is dark with long hair, I make sure that we don’t stay too long out when the weather is warm or starting to get warm to make sure that he does not over heat.

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They, Walter, Alex, Gir, all decided that the best place to relax after our midday outing was the kitchen.  Walter is watching Cynthia cook.

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I told Cynthia, or she told me, I forget, that Walter loves to pose for pictures, as you can see here.  Look at those gorgeous brown eyes.  How can I not want to take a picture?

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Gir and Alex decided to enjoy their Nylabones.  Gir is only a little bigger than the Nylabone he was chewing on.

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Alex got tired of her Nylabone so she took a break, but Gir was still at it, while Walter, don’t you think he is posing?, was just chilling.  Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.

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The Aftermath of Introducing a New Dog to Our Pack

Posted on May 17, 2013 | 8 Comments

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We got Walter, Alex, and Dexter, (from left to right), to pose while I held a treat and Cynthia took this picture

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Walter and Dexter are getting along great.  The nice long walk I use to introduce a new dog to our pack is worth it, and I’d recommend it to any pet parent adding a new dog to her family.

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They got tired of posing for Cynthia and decided that their time was better spent sleeping.

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All my canine companions hanging out together in the dining room area.  Do you know what I still cannot figure out?  Why do they hang out around this area when they all have comfortable beds?  Go figure!

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By the way, Walter is Alex’s new boyfriend.  Regardless of the breed of dog, making the right introduction is paramount if you want a peaceful home.  Have a great weekend and enjoy your furry kids.

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Introducing A New Member To Our Pack

Posted on May 15, 2013 | 18 Comments

As a pet sitter, I am always introducing a new dog to my pack, and I was recently asked by a pet parent how do I go about doing such introduction, so I decided to share this information and experience with other pet parents and perhaps get some feedback as well.

This evening, after dinner, Cynthia and I took Alex, our dog, Walter and Dexter, furry boarders, for a nice walk.  Walter stays with us very often so he is used to Alex, but Dexter, a Boxer mix, is the new kid on the block, therefore we needed to do a proper introduction.

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I started by taking Dexter for a long walk as soon as his mom dropped him off.  I walked him for about 10 minutes, and I then asked Cynthia to bring out Walter to join our walk.  After about 25 minutes, during this time they were not allowed to interact with each other for all I wanted was to walk as one pack, we went to a grassy area so they can sniff each other and observe their body language while they are both on a leash.  They were both relaxed and curious about each other which is what you want to see.  I asked Cynthia to now bring Alex out while I walked Walter and Dexter.  Once Alex and Cynthia joined us, we walked for another 20 minutes.  Before heading home, we let them go to a grassy area to do their “business” and sniff each other again, and then proceeded to go straight home.

Alex, Dexter and Walter (from left to right)

Alex, Dexter and Walter (from left to right)

The walk we do as a pack is extremely important when I am introducing a new dog to my pack and this is what I do every time a new dog joins us.  I also like to observe their body language during our walk and while they are interacting with each other for any signs of aggression.

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They were all tired after our walk and decided to take a well-deserved nap.  What a hard live my canine companions have, don’t you think?

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Nylabone Exchange

Posted on May 8, 2013 | 16 Comments

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For her birthday, Alex got an off white Nylabone.

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Walter’s parents brought a brand new white Nylabone.  I gave Alex her off white Nylabone and the white one to Walter, but they both looked at their respective bones, and then went for the one that did not belong to them.  Go figure!

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Walter seemed delighted with Alex’s Nylabone so I just let them be.  Kids!  When you give your dog(s) anything to chew on make sure you are there to supervise that activity.

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