Today I want to share on a subject that hits very close to home with me. How do you know if you are ready to adopt and what to do if you adopt and end up not being fully prepared?
When I was in college I adopted a dog on my own thinking that I was ready for this responsibility. After all I had my own place, I had help from a friend, and I knew I was ready to be a mommy of my own for a pup. With all that going for me, I rushed to pick up my new puppy Tinsley.
Unfortunately, after just a few months of having her I realized I was not as prepared as I thought I was. I started realizing that this was a much bigger responsibility than I ever had imagined.
Since I was in college I was always out at class or with my friends resulting in leaving Tinsley alone for hours and hours. It broke my heart to leave her but at the same time I could not bring her everywhere with me. The help that I thought I had moved away and I was left alone with this awesome responsibility. I started to panic wondering what had I had gotten myself into. I felt guilty for thinking this way because I loved her so much and knew she needed a loving home which I wanted to give her so bad. Shortly after the panicking started I lost my job and had a very hard time paying for her shots, meds, and food. I could barely take care of myself, let alone this puppy that depended solely on me.
This was the hardest decision I knew I would ever have to make. I knew I was unfit to take care of her any longer but I knew she deserved the best home there was. I began the search to find Tinsley the home she deserved and thankfully a good friend stepped in to help. She had children of her own at home, a huge yard and a steady job. I knew this was the right thing to do for my puppy. I had the hardest time giving her up that day but I knew it was the right thing for her and for me also.
Adopting a dog was a much larger responsibility than I ever knew. There were so many factors that play into adopting a dog and every one should be aware of everything that comes with it. Make sure you do your research and understand that it is a lot of work, a lot of money, and a lot of time needed. Always make sure you are ready and if you become unready such as I did understand that you are not a terrible person and always make sure to find a perfect home for your little one.
Adopting can be so wonderful and was for me at other times in my life, but just make sure you are ready for the responsibilities that come along with that cute little dog!
We sneeze, we cough, we have runny noses and we have headaches. Sound familiar? These are all symptoms of our dreadful allergies, but have you ever wondered if your dog is suffering along with you during these pollen seasons? The answer is yes, they can and do. If you have noticed your dog scratching and itching more than normal it is possible that they are having allergies just like you. Jasmine has been sneezing and her eyes are watering and watering! Our vet told us “allergies.” If you are worried about your dog itching or eyes watering and wonder if it is allergies, you can go get a “scratch test” at your vet’s office to see if pollen is the cause.
Large size pollen such as, pine tree pollen, usually does not bother dogs. Most flower pollen isn’t usually a problem either. But other trees and grass can cause these allergies so you may want to do some research on the plants and trees you have in your backyard to see if they are known to be a cause of dog allergies.
The good news is that just like we humans and our allergies, they won’t last forever! Does your pup have allergies?
In the spirit of National Dog Day, which was yesterday, I wanted to share some encouragement to adopt. I thought I would share my personal story on adoption to inspire you if you are considering this.
We had two dogs that my step dad brought into our home when he married my mom. They were both Goldens and had been rescued/adopted. The first dog that I was involved in adopting was Jasmine, who has inspired the creation of Waggin’ Delights. We adopted Jasmine after our dog Jessie died. There was no replacing Jessie, but we decided it was time to get a new pup.
The Golden Retriever Rescue League of Atlanta is able to set you up with the most amazing Goldens so we called them. We were very excited to meet “Fergie” (and so was Max our other Golden). When we got there all I saw was the cutest little fur ball I had ever seen, (granted this was the first puppy that has ever come into my life at this point), but I was so excited I could barely handle it. We found out that “Fergie” had been abused by her original owner and was bald on her tail and her paws from burnings. My mom asked me if I still wanted her and all I could say was “YES!!!”. I was so excited to bring sweet sweet “Fergie” home with us. Our older Golden at the time, Max, was ready to be her mentor and teach her the ways of the house. Shortly after Max also passed away but before leaving us he was able to teach “Fergie” everything she needed to know. As we got to know our new pup better we decided to change her name to Jasmine. my life has never been the same since we rescued her and I encourage everyone I know to adopt!
I would love to hear your adoption success stories so please share!!
It feels so strange when we travel or leave without taking our pups with us. From the limited research that there is out there it has come to my attention that it may be more strange for a human to leave their pup then it is for the pup to be without their human.
While we are away from our dogs, most of us, miss our dogs incredibly and can’t wait to get home and see them. The other part of us feels bad for leaving them and assume they will be mad at us for leaving them. Truth is we are missing our dogs more so than they are missing us. As much as we would like to think that they are thinking about us the entire while we are gone that is not necessarily true.
Although not many studies have been done, the ones that have been made have shown us that dogs do not perceive time the same way as humans do. For instance, if we leave our dog to go out of town for a week we may think about them a number of times during the day and get very excited when we are about to return home to our dog, Dogs however, live in the present, there is no day, or week or month to a dog their time span is only made for that of the present. Comforting to know yet sad at the same time. I only say that because now we know our doggie isn’t thinking about us as much as we think about them-a little sad and a little dent to my ego. BUT on the other hand they do not stay mad for long when we leave!!
It still does not diminish the happiness and wagginess they respond with when you return. They may not have been depressed while you are gone, when you walk through the door, in that moment they are the happiest they have ever been. AND since we have been missing them so much it is a joyous reunion!
I hope this helped relieve some guilt about leaving! How do you feel when you leave? How do you think your doggie feels?
This week we are taking our dog, Teddy, out of town with us. This is always a very nervous feeling considering we never know how he will react to a new environment. Dogs are very protective and routine oriented animals which is why they bark when a stranger comes to the house. So it is a bit unpreditable when we take our dog somewhere else. Since, when we travel, it is not our dogs natural environment it becomes a concern as to how uncomfortable he will get. After a few trips with him we decided we needed to figure out a way to make him feel comfortable wherever we go. For those of you who travel with your dog we have discovered a few ways to making our dog comfortable it a new place. We always make sure to bring Teddys favorite toys with us to a new place; this makes him feel like he still has a piece of his home with him. Also, when dogs, especially puppies, become uncomfortable they tend to chew and are less aware of their normal rules. Having familiar toys with him has made him more obediant in the sense that he does not chew on things he is not supposed to chew on. Another must for us, is to bring his doggie bed with us when we go some place new. Just like many humans, he did not sleep as well in a new place due to the unfamiliarity. Bringing his bed gives him the comfort of his home because of the smell and feel of his bed; this has made it easier for him to sleep through the night while traveling.
The biggest difference we notice in Teddy while traveling is he goes potty inside more often. I believe this is because he is used to his smells in his yard and the different groundcover such as gravel instead of grass or leaves instead of pinestraw makes a huge difference. As humans we sometimes forget about these factors and just assume since they are outside we expect them to know that is where they should use the restroom. That is not the case at all, dogs are very ritualistic and do not adapt as easily as humans. If the yard we are at has different grounding than our yard at home we try to find a place that is similar to what he is used too. If we are unable to find a place that he is comfortable with we find it necessary to take him on walks frequently instead of just opening the door and letting him go out. This gets him used to the new scents in the new surroundings which tends to make him more comfortable and if that doesnt work then hopefully he just wont be able to hold it anymore! =)
What are your traveling with dog tips? Do you have to take special things with you for your best friend?
We are in the process of moving from a populated subdivision to the country with almost 6 acres. We began taking Jasmine with us on our trips up there so that she can start getting used to her new surroundings. But if the truth be told, it has been more so that I can get used to having a dog in the country. What do I mean by that you might ask. In the subdivision I am truly the one in control of Jazz. I decide when we walk, when she “relieves” herself, where she can roam (which is a very small area), and who she interacts with (basically no other dogs in the neighborhood as we all have our dogs leashed and behind fences). Living like this is for her safety I know; letting a dog roam in the suburbs is simply not an option for so many reasons.
So when we decided to move, my greatest fear was loosing her. What if she was wandering in our very large yard and never came back, would she really come when I called her even if I could not see her, would she just bark and bark to the dogs that wander next door, or would she chase and kill the cats that are around and on and on were my concerns.
The first week that she was there, it was during a week that I was going up by myself to paint and unpack some boxes, etc. Mike has raised many dogs but Jasmine is my first one that I have raised since a pup. I was not so confident in how things were going to go and not at all confident in her instincts and in our relationship with each other–I did not trust her and I was wondering if she trusted me.
By the end of the week, we BOTH had grown so much in our relationship, in our trust, in our enjoyment and in our sheer joy of living in the country. Jasmine, as you may have guessed, has enormous instinct that guides her around the property, back home, and also guides her relationships with the neighboring dogs. She runs, plays, wanders, and checks in frequently with me (which is rewarded with a Waggin’ Delights treat of course!). She has lost weight, she looks incredible and she is so social with others (people and animals). I have beamed with pride as she comes when I call, plays nicely with Macy (the dog) next door and goes outside, explores and comes back. She has even figured out how to open the back door on her own so if I am a little slow, she can still get back in if she would like. I feel like she is a happier dog. AND I have become so aware and appreciative of the instincts and behaviors of dogs when they are allowed to be dogs. Jasmine wants to please me and given the fact that I feed her she returns and comes time and time again.
When Mike came back the following weekend he could not believe how Jasmine and I were interacting with each other, how calm I was about giving up some control over her, and how she was simply thriving in her new found “dogness.” She loves to hang out with me even more now that she did before. Maybe it is because now she has more choices and so often she chooses me. When I am unboxing and running up and down the stairs a hundred times in a day, she is too. When I painted she hung out and watched but listened so well when I told her to not cross a certain point (didn’t need painted doggie paws!). While at the same time she runs and plays outside as if she cannot get enough–but comes back when called.
Do you have an experience to share on city vs. country or in giving up some control over your dog and how that turned out?
Next time I will share on her newfound dog friendships…
Here is some footage of Melissa from Dash of East getting ready for our photo shoot. If you watch closely you will see her pup trying out a Cinsational Apple Delight!
This was Jasmine’s first experience at the dog park. She has been to many parks and has been out and about, but always on a leash. I was not sure how she would react in this situation. She loved meeting Yesenia’s pups first outside of the doggie area. They had a little meet and greet and then we were on our way. When we entered the area for less than 50 pound friends and unleashed her you could tell that her wheels were turning in her little head. She wandered and sniffed and then laid down to catch some rays.
After much observing and a lot of thought, she suddenly realized that there were DOGS there and she was FREE of the leash! She popped up, did her downward facing dog stretch (always a prerequisite to fun) and started romping and running and having a blast. It was truly so fun to watch her absorb the info and then respond so jubilantly to what she had conquered!
She fit in well with all the dogs, greeted the new ones with sniff’s and a “come on in” attitude. She took breaks to just lay and watch and just like a toddler at the park, she would frequently come back to me as if to touch base and say “ok, you are still here; I will be back again in a bit”.
Jasmine gives Waggy World4 wags on a scale of 1 -5. They had a drinking faucet for her and her friends, lots of room to run in the sun or shade, benches for the doggie parents and just a great look with the wooden fence and a red fire hydrant for decor. She liked that the really big dogs were on the other side of the fence. And although she liked watching them through the fence to see what they were up to, she was glad to be with pups her size.
I took a business trip last week and Jasmine was home with Mike. Anytime someone is missing from the house, a different dynamic takes place. I love it when I come home and the greeting that ensues when I walk through the door. First the 1/2 jump up (she knows mommy doesn’t allow the jumping) then the whining, the wrapping around of her paws on me and then she collapses to the floor (knowing that I will bend down). In a very short moment she will be laying on the floor (to see if I will join) and then the roll over with full belly up just begging for a scratch, a rub down and some love. You would think she was totally ignored for an entire week!
What I love even more though is the little things that are our routine that I know have a different take on them when I am gone. She and I have developed great communication and ways that she tells me things. One of my favorites is when she wants a treat she comes up to me, sits and then taps her foot–as if she is spelling out treat with SOS. If you ignore this it will get more pronounced. Eye contact with her at this point brings a lick to the chops and then when I actually say “do you need a treat?”… she hops and does a little 1/2 circle kind of dance as she moves towards the treat jar.
There are a lot of our little routines that she kicks right into the first day that I am back and I love it. Those things are our dogspeak that we both miss when I am gone.
How about you? What do you notice when you return after begin away from your dog?
Being in a deep freeze in the south causes us pet owners to be concerned about the cold and our pets. Do we use booties and coats? Do our pups get cold like us? (after all they have a fur coat). Do some dogs react to differently to cold than others? There is a great article on WebMD regarding this. I highly encourage your taking a few moments to read about this topic–especially if you are in one of the 49 states that is in snow right now! Keep warm while waggin’!
Our featured dog is Biko, a great “mutt” that is a mix of Golden Lab, Corgi and Chow. Biko is 4 years old and lives in Georgia. Biko loves playing with stuffed bunnies and a good game a tug of war is sure to bring a happy “grrrrroooowww”. Biko is a snuggler and passes the day by “running like a mad man and then napping hard.” Mom says that Biko’s eyebrows are so special and a little rub in the armpits will bring on a waggin’ tail!
