Kids will be...dogs?

You’ve heard the old saying "kids will be kids" referring to the fact that children are often carefree, enthusiastic, and will, undoubtably, engage in wacky antics from time to time. I find this to be especially true when children are in a group. They tend to relate to one another and end up mimicking actions and even vocabulary. So, is it such a far stretch to say that when a child is surrounded by a group of dogs she will mimic their behavior?

That is certainly the case in my household. My daughter was obviously raised around dogs. From a very young age, she has been a part of their daily care. She helps me feed the dogs, groom them, give them treats, helps me take them out for potty breaks and walks. One of those walks elicited a particularly entertaining story and fine example of my daughter acting like just one of the dogs. My daughter was 2 years old at the time (potty training in big girl panties) and we were out strolling around the neighborhood, the dogs stopping to mark along the way and my daughter happily skipping along with us. All of a sudden she left the sidewalk and went up into the grass, sorta squatted, and peed. I was shocked! I immediately inquired as to why she felt that it was a good idea to pee in the neighbors yard instead of holding it until we got home to the potty. She said, "dogs pee in the grass". Like that was a perfectly sound explanation. I had to gently explain that whilst it is proper for dogs to pee in the grass, its not exactly ideal for little girls to go around peeing in the neighbor's yard.

Along with her outdoor bathroom adventure, my daughter will also do other "dog like" behaviors. She will run hard and then stop and "pant" saying she is so tired.  She will line up with the dogs at treat time and happily expect me to pass a treat down to her too.  We have actually gone out and bought Scooby Snacks (graham cookies shaped like dog bones) just for funzies.  I know it may seem odd that I would encourage such behaviors, but as a dog lover, I can not resist my kiddo wanting to mimic my favorite four-legged pals.

A fun read for kids who like to pretend to be dogs is Chip Wants a Dog, by William Wegman.

Tired = Happy

It is a common saying amongst the dog community that "a tired dog is a happy dog".   This simply means that when a dog is given proper mental and physical stimulation as an output for their energy, they are more balanced, relaxed, and attentive throughout the day.  This concept is equally applicable to children and I go to great lengths daily to ensure that I have a happily exhausted child.

I have had the pleasure of working with many different dog breeds (and mixtures of various breeds).  Some where high energy dogs, others were more laid back.  I have also worked with many different age groups...from puppy to senior.  It should come as no surprise that the younger, more high energy dogs required greater physical stimulation to help them stay focused, but what might not be common knowledge is that they also required mental stimulation to keep them happy and attentive.  Many people understand the importance of physically exercising their dogs by taking them for a brisk walk, tossing the ball around the backyard, or letting them wrestle with other furry friends at the local park.  However, what they fail to provide is the necessary mental exercise like a brief training session or puzzle toys.  The same is true even for the older or more inactive dogs, whilst they may not desire a long jog around the neighborhood, they showed great improvement when given "jobs" to mentally stimulated them.   I give my senior Dachshunds a Kong every morning for breakfast.  They have to work at getting their morning meal and they LOVE it.  Since Nicholi has health problems that make it difficult for him to go on evening walks, I work him on his obedience lessons...and then pull him in a wagon for our evening walks (old dogs still like to sniff the outdoors and check out the world...even if it means riding around in a big red wagon). 

Keeping my dogs happy is puppy stuff compared to keeping my child blissful.  I jokingly call her the Border Collie of children.  She is vastly intelligent, very sensitive, extremely active, and gets bored easily.  Her mind is always working!   Even as an infant, she required more stimulation than the average baby.  I would see other mothers put their little ones down and the baby would be content to look off into space for 30 minutes.  Not my baby.  She required constant interaction...a shiny toy, movement, physical contact, change of scenery.  By no means am I complaining.  I enjoy a good challenge and she has been the most wonderfully rewarding challenge of my life. 

My husband and I quickly learned that in order to have a relaxing evening around the house, we needed to get our darling daughter out for some fresh air and fun during the day.  Our weekends consist of long family walks at the park, trips to the local zoo or aquarium, a game of kick ball in the yard, a romp at the playground with other kids, a stop by the children's museum, time to garden in the backyard, or a splashing good time at the beach.  Additionally, we never pass up an opportunity for education.  We talk about animals, numbers, letters, places, people...everything.  Around the house, we provide different mentally stimulating puzzles, an easel for creativity, dress-up clothes to boost imagination, and plenty of toys which I rotate so they seem "new".   Oh, and we watch TV too.  I know that television viewing is frowned upon in some circles, but there are many educational shows on Nick Jr. and Sprout.  During the week, our child goes to a wonderful preschool that focuses on the importance of education through play and fun.  There is outside playtime 2x per day, music class, library time, dance, Spanish lessons and Chapel too.  All of these things combine to create a child that is balanced, relaxed, and attentive throughout the day.  It also creates a calm, loving, close-knit household and much welcomed downtime at the end of the day for all. 

So the next time your little one (be it dog or child) is driving your crazy, take them out for a nature walk and teach them something new along the way because tired equals happy.

The Schedule

I love a good schedule.  I am certainly not a "fly by the seat of her pants" kinda gal.  I like to plan, like to prepare, like to know what's coming up next, avoid chaos if at all possible.  I realize that not all aspects of life can be planned, especially when it comes to raising children, but that doesn't stop me from trying.  

As soon as my daughter was old enough, I had her on a schedule.  Naps were scheduled, feedings scheduled, bath time, book time, then bedtime...all scheduled.  She knew what to expect and happily went along with the schedule.  I have heard many parents complain that their children don't nap regularly, but then they admit that they don't really have a specific nap time.  My daughter's nap time was carved in stone from a very young age.  It's important for her to get the rest she needs to recharge.  It's important for ME to get the down I need to recharge.  Even now as she gets older, we still try to keep things on schedule, but there is a bit more wiggle room.  She knows what to expect, knows what is expected of her. 

That doesn't mean that my daughter doesn't get the freedom to make choices about her life.  On the contrary, I believe she should have lots of freedom of choice.  She can choose what to wear, what books we will read before bed,  bubble bath or regular, what type for fruit/veggie she wants with dinner.  I make sure that she has complete control over some aspects of her life, but there are some things that are not up for debate. 

I applied my love of the schedule to my puppies when I was raising them too.  When puppy-rearing, I have found it to be imperative to have a solid schedule to ensure that potty training goes smoothly (same goes for the kid).  It also helps to let the dog know what is expected of them and what is coming next.  Soon enough, you'll find your pup waiting near the dishes at food time, prancing near the door at potty time, happily squeaking toys at play time, and settling down at rest time.  

I realize that the schedule is not for everyone.  Might seem too rigid, but for us, its been a lifesaver.  And if you've looking for a new favorite bedtime story that incorporates the importance of a schedule, check out the book, "Say Hello to Zorro!" by Carter Goodrich.  Its a delightful story with a fantastic message. 

A Search for the Perfect Family Dog

A Search for the Perfect Family Dog

 　

I want a dog. A dog to take on my morning runs with me, to the dog beach, to dog parks. A dog that will play fetch with my daughter. A dog to teach and learn from. I want a dog that makes me feel protected when I am home alone. A dog that my husband will enjoy wrestling with. A dog that will show respect to my 2 elderly Dachshunds and will live harmoniously with my 2 cats. I want a family dog. In a time when so many animals are being cast aside or sent to shelters due to the hard economic times (or various other reasons), you would think it would be an easy task to add a dog into my home. However, that is not proving to be the case.

You see, I am married now. I am also an adoring mother to a bright 3 year old daughter. In addition to the 2-legged members of my family, I have 2 elderly Dachshunds and 2 cats (one senior, one a youngster). It may seem odd to some that I wish to add another dog into my home since I already have so many dependent upon my care and attention, but you have to understand that I have always been a member of a large pack of dogs.

Since I was a young child, I was raised with multiple dogs in the house.  I want the same for my daughter. I want her to know that she must respect animals, but that she can also teach them, learn with them, mold them, and enjoy them. Don’t get me wrong, she enjoys her time with the 2 dogs we have right now, but they are a reserved bunch, long ago taught the important obedience lessons, and now just enjoying their quiet time, resting comfortably on the couch. They have earned that! Yet, I crave to start the process again. To work with a young dog that needs direction...and needs my love.

So, after many discussions and pro/con lists, I decided to begin my search for the perfect family dog. I looked at local shelters, specific breed rescues, and classified ads. Always keeping an open mind, and yet also understanding that I have a very specific set of circumstances that require a specific personality of dog.

My husband enjoys making me happy and, whilst he isn’t so keen on adding another dog to the mix, has relented because he knows how much I desire it. My daughter knows her dog breeds well and has listed specific breeds she would like to own: a boxer, a dachshund, a dalmatian, a GSD, a beagle, a pug, a mutt. Her mood shifts depending upon the last dog she met or read about in a book.

After much searching, I found a dog that seemed like he just might fit in. A darling 10 month old border collie/aussie mix. His foster mom brought him to my home for a meet and greet. First, the 2-legged family members went out to the front yard to meet him. He was SO happy to meet us! Entirely focused on each person who offered him attention. Next, came the Dachshunds who voiced their disapproval instantly, but the pup simply ignored them and went back to getting pet-pets from the closest person. Into the house we went, the pup cautiously entering the home and inspecting the youngest of my cats. My cat reared up and swatted the pup across the nose. The pup was taken aback, but simply moved on to see what my daughter was doing. He was a happy pup, vastly engaging with my family, ignoring my cats, and being respectful of my dogs. I was happy, but that feeling was short-lived. My daughter hung back and watched it all. She attempted to play fetch with the pup, but he did not understand toys. She quickly lost interest and went off to color. My husband interacted with the dog, but he was not as welcoming as I would have hoped. My excitement at the prospect of adding a new fur baby to the family began to plummet. I thanked the foster mom for bringing the pup to my home and gave the pup a hug goodbye. I was sad to see him go, to say the least.

That meet and greet spoke volumes to me. Here was a perfectly good family dog. He was kind and caring and adored my family instantly. And yet, my family was not so keen on him. Later that night, I spoke with my husband and he said that he was not impressed with the dog. NOT IMPRESSED?!?! The dog did everything right, save for a few too many jumps up (classic eager puppy move - easy to train them not to jump). I next asked my daughter what she thought. She admitted that he was cute, but stated that he was not the right fit for our home. She said that she saw how the dachshunds regarded him and thought he was too wild for our senior dogs (this from a 3 year old!). Ok family, now what? Was it THIS dog that did not strike their fancy or are they so comfortable with how things are (we have a very calm household) that they fear the disruption overall? Do I continue to hold off on bringing a dog into the home as to not upset them or do I do what I want and just get a dog (selfish, only child syndrome rears its ugly head)? I look back on my childhood and recall that my father was never overly pleased when we brought a new dog into the home, but soon enough he was slipping it table scraps and belly scratches when no one was looking. Could I expect the same from my husband? Surely my daughter would enjoy engaging with a younger pup once she spent more time with it, right? Is my desire to get a new dog clouding the fact that we just don’t need it right now?

The truth is, I don’t have the answers to those questions. I am sad, but not deterred. I have learned things I did not know before I began this process. I will remain open to the idea of adding a new pup, but perhaps not seek it out as much. All I do know is that for now, I will remain hopeful that the perfect family dog is still out there awaiting me, as I await it.

Dogs, Blogs, and Me

I have been wanting to create a blog for awhile now.  I want to help, inspire, influence, and educate others.  I have high hopes that this blog will assist me with that goal.  So, as a dear friend suggested, I am JUMPING into blogging.   

A bit about myself:  I am a lover of all things DOG.  I was fortunate to grow up in a very dog-friendly home.  My mom (and best friend) began training our dogs when I was very young.  A passion was ignited and I became her lil helper.  It began by us taking them to group obedience classes, then to shows, then we were running classes of our own.  We worked our dogs in obedience rings, in herding pastures, in agility courses, and in crowded woods doing search and rescue.  It was a tail-wagging good childhood and I learned invaluable lessons about loyalty, teamwork, compassion, inspiration, and education. 

Eventually, I went off to college and worked as dog trainer to make ends meet.  Then it was on to law school.  My schedule as law student was grueling and I spent most of my free time taking my pack to dog parks and beaches or working at a local rescue facility.  I met my husband at the dog park.  We were regulars (understanding the importance of socialization and excercise required for happy, well-adjusted dogs).  Needless to say, we hit it off and we became a blended family...him, me, our 4 dogs (Trey, Champ, Nicholi, Deelilah) and our 2 cats (Murray and Hugo). 

I picked up the hobby of knitting along the way and my love for yarn, knitting needles, and finely created works of art has blossomed. 

Next, we expanded our family and had our darling daughter, Teddy.  As she grew through the stages of infancy and toddlerhood, I found myself applying countless dog training techniques to my parenting regimine.  Turns out, dogs and children are very similar.   And my idea for a blog was born.

A bit about my blog:   As I began to notice myself using dog training techniques on my daughter, I saw how comical it was...and yet how beneficial it was.  I intend to discuss the similaries I have seen, to share the techniques I apply, and the laughter that comes from sharing my home with 2-legged and 4-legged kids, and perhaps my love of knitting.  So here goes: like a knitted project (taking individual strands of yarn and weaving them into a beautiful piece of art), I inted to interweave my love of dogs, family, knitting and education into this blog.