Category Archives: Dogs

Anything about dogs.

Mental Health, Self-Quarantine And Dogs

Posted on April 7, 2020 | 1 comment
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Dexter, “Please turn the lights off!”

A few of you, I can imagine, are experiencing cabin fever, but I may be one of those lucky few that don’t feel that way.  Yes, your mental health could and may be affected due to the executive order by Governor Larry Hogan to stay at home, but having a dog can make the difference between keeping your sanity or going bonkers.

So with that being said, aside from my usual advice of going for walks, I’d also recommend taking naps.  Lots of naps!  Stay home, stay safe!

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Posted in Breeds, Crofton, MD, dog trainer, Dogs, Walking

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How to Move With Dogs Without Stressing Them Out

Posted on March 27, 2020 | 2 comments
wp march 26 2020

Abby, “Mom, I think that’s your glove!”

In January we moved from MA to Maryland, and to say that Abby was excited about our move would be an understatement.  She loved “inspecting” the boxes we were putting together to pack our things; she dashed between Cynthia and yours truly as if to “help” us pack; she watched Cynthia like a hawk while she taped the boxes; and when she was tired she’d take a nap near one of us or go to bed.

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Abby, “Aha!  I told you this was your glove mom.”

Abby seems to enjoy moving, but she is the exception rather than the rule.  Because dogs enjoy having a routine, moving could be stressful for them so I’d recommend the following:

  • Walk/run your dog at least once a day.  Exercise is paramount at this time
  • On moving day, make sure that your dog is in her crate while things are being loaded to a truck/car
  • Once you get to your new place – assuming you took her for a long walk/run in the morning – put on her collar and leash and walk with her through the entire house
  • Afterwards, put her in her crate while your things are being unloaded
  • Take her out of the crate once unloading is done, but limit where she could go and explore for the first week or so

Dogs love routine, but if you plan ahead of time perhaps moving doesn’t have to be very stressful for your canine companion and you.  How did your dog(s) do on your last move?

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Posted in Crofton, MD, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Walking

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Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Posted on March 17, 2020 | 4 comments
wp march 17 2020

Abby, “Mom, did you see that squirrel?”

To say that the coronavirus pandemic has affected our lives would be an understatement, but I choose to be optimistic and find a silver lining in every cloud.  With that being said, living in semi-isolation has afforded me the time to take Abby for more walks; catch up on some of my reading; write a post more often; and prepare to start working on my taxes – I know, you must be giddy with excitement and anticipation to tackle this task!

I don’t know how long we’ll live like this, so my question to you is: what are you doing with your canine companions during this time?

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Posted in Crofton, MD, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Humor, Training, Walking

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Getting Settled in Maryland With My Pack

Posted on March 12, 2020 | 6 comments
wp march 12 2020

Abby, “Mom, please turn off the lights.  Moving is exhausting!”

Yes, that’s how tired Abby looked after helping us unpack.  By the way, she is lucky since we are not unpacking everything.  Remember to provide your canine companion a bed and some blankets.

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Abby, “Mom, wait!  I am not ready.  Please wait!

Sorry Abby, but I had to capture that facial expression.  We are taking nice walks except when the days don’t permit us to do so.  All in all, I could say that although it was stressful to move and super tiring, to say the least, we are really glad to be back in Maryland and we are looking forward to all the adventures we’ll have in Crofton!

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Posted in Breeds, Crofton, MD, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training, Walking

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Back Home – Maryland

Posted on February 4, 2020 | Leave a comment
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Abby, “Mom, I like the new smells I am picking up from here!”

Yes, we’re finally back home.  Home is really where your heart is, and a long time ago I realized that that place was Maryland.  For the last 5 years, we lived in Stoughton, MA and although it was a nice place, and we met amazing people and dogs, I always hoped that we had the opportunity to come back to Maryland and it finally came true.

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Abby, “Mom, I picked up an amazing new smell.  It smells like chicken!”

We were really busy moving for the last couple of weeks, but finally things are less hectic, and I have been able to take Abby for nice walks around the neighborhood lately.  Thanks to all the pet parents in Massachusetts that trusted us with their canine kids, we’ll miss you all, and looking forward to meeting amazing dogs and their pet parents in Crofton, MD.  It feels great to be back home!

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Posted in Crofton, MD, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training, Walking

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Abby’s Trip To Canada – Part 2 of 2 (Quebec)

Posted on December 10, 2019 | 2 comments
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Abby, “Mom, I am 100% sure that we’re lost. Could we please ask for direction? Please!!!

Yes, we were totally lost when we visited Quebec, but it didn’t matter to us.  How come?  We had a good time exploring this beautiful city, and eating along the way.

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Abby, “Moms, do you need help packing? One suitcase = 2 cookies. What do you think?”

We were all ready to go back to Massachusetts after visiting Canada, but I think Abby a bit more because she watched us carefully while we packed our things.

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Abby, “Moms, did you remember to pack my food and treats?”

I had to take the above picture.  Abby looked so adorable that it was hard to resist.  Anyway, we were ready to leave Quebec after a nice vacation, and yes, Abby did get treats and food along the way.

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training

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Abby’s Trip To Canada – Part 1 of 2 (Montreal)

Posted on September 10, 2019 | 2 comments
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Abby, “Mom, hurry up!  We need to get on the road before it gets dark!”

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on this blog, but lots of things happened the last few months that kept me busy: my mom fell down and had to have surgery; Cynthia’s mom passed away; my mom stayed with us for a while; a few doggies stayed vacationing with us; and Abby, of course, helped out big time.  Because of that, we decided to take a well deserved vacation.  Where did Abby go?  Montreal, Canada.  By the way, we left at 1pm so I don’t know why she was so concerned about leaving before it got dark.  Drama queen!

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Abby, “Mom, let’s cross the street now.  Come on!”

So, where was Abby, in the above picture? The Latin Quarter, Montreal.  After breakfast, we headed out the door to do some sightseeing, take pictures, and enjoy ourselves.

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Abby, “Mom, I am so tired!  Thanks for dinner.  Good night.”

Our days in Canada were certainly enjoyable, but by the end of the day we were all really tired, and Abby was the first one to get in bed.  Smart girl.

 

 

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Posted in Breeds, Dog Equipment, dog trainer, Dogs, Outings, Training, Walking

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