We started telling her “no”, which was a word she was hearing a lot.  If she saw it, it was in her mouth and she was chewing on it.  That also meant your hands, arms, feet, toes, and oh yes, let’s not forget head, hair, ears, face, nose, lips…….get the idea?

I had heard that if you flick them on their nose when they bit you, that they would stop.  Not her.  She saw that as a challenge.  Her eyes would dilate, she wrinkles up her nose and starts barking at you in a high pitch and snapping at you.  Hence her new name ”Chompers”. 

If you point your finger at her and reprimand her, you’re in for a lot of snarling back talk!  We are working on it, and we’re gaining, but she is not going to concede easily.

My point however is this: their bark, growl, cry etc. actually mean something.   Baying means your dog is on the chase, whining means she’s frustrated, howling means he’s calling the pack, growling when playing means she’s playing tough, growling when confronting someone means he’s mad, and yipping means she’s hurt, according to Helen Fazio, Travel Dog Blogger www.traveldogbooks.com/

Thanks to Helen, I now know Maggie is “playing tough”.

Well when they brought him home I asked my mom what his name was and they said Trey, but we had to name him different because I had a cousin named trey and it would have been to confusing.  After we thought it over with we came up with Scooter, I loved it and so did everyone else!  Scarlet our other dog (she is a short hair miniature dachshund) loved him as soon as Scooter stepped inside the door.  They played and played until it was time to go to bed.  The next day he came into my room and woke me up by licking on my face, he wanted to play so I got up and got dressed and went out side and played with him.

Years and years later my parents moved to Midlothian TX.  Scooter was about 13 or 14 years old, I couldn’t remember very well.  I thought he was just fine and he played as usual.  Then his birthday rolled around and we realized he was 15 years old.  One day I came over and Scooter wasn’t himself.  He didn’t eat and he barely even slept.  I thought that he had a stomach virus so that could be treatable.  Well 2 weeks later they were saying that he had cancer and there was nothing they could have done.  I was so mad and I just stormed out crying.  I just wanted to be left alone.

About 2 to 4 weeks later Scooter passed away in his sleep.  They found him just lying there not breathing.  I wanted to say one last goodbye and I never got to.  I miss my Scooter and I never stop thinking about him and I never stop crying because he mean’t so much to me!!!!!

 R.I.P my beloved Scooter – August 28th, 2010

Some people don’t understand, they think that because it was a small pet it is insignificant. But I loved her so much, and I miss her terribly and I wonder how I’m going to get through it.

 She loved sitting in the grass outside with me, I would protect her while she grazed. She let me hug and kiss her and she wouldn’t bite me, I’m really going to miss her a lot.

 Squeeky toys make a lot of noise, but this one was really loud!

Digby was a very smart dog. Potty training was easy, as well as basic commands like sitting, lay down, and “No”. However, he also would take instruction for tricks, such as “bang” or “get the bee” or “give a ride”. Anytime you would motion like you were going to shoot him, Digby would plop down on the ground and put his legs in the air. If a bee was in sight all you had to do is say “get the bee”, one chomp and it took its last flight. The bee might have felt safe while flying around five to six feet from the ground, but he wasn’t. Give a ride was something that thoroughly tickled us. By the time our daughter was two years old, she could get into her Little Tykes wagon and Digby would pull her around the yard, delicately and cautiously, for hours at a time. Digby knew that she was young and needed guidance and care. A trait he always displayed around her.

When he was four we noticed him having some medical issues and scheduled tests to narrow down the problem. We were told that he had a condition with his liver and most likely would not live past the age of 7. This news was very disheartening and we worked around giving him a better lifestyle, healthier food, and spoiling him rotten. Come to find the condition was a misdiagnosis and Digby made out like a bandit for nearly a decade until the unfortunate news of cancer.

Watching an animal suffer is something that is very difficult. They are your children and part of your family. The decision to put this family member to a peaceful state, without forcing him to endure any further pain, is something we, as a family, chose to do. The process was very sobering. The experience of petting our little “son” until his heart stopped beating was a powerful event, not without great depression, but one with sentiment nonetheless. In fact, it has been several years since his passing, and neither I nor my wife drive down the Vet’s street anymore, even though it is right in the neighborhood. I mentioned it to my wife recently, and she had noticed that I won’t drive by the Vet’s office, either. It’s kinda funny, but after posting this, I think I will go for a drive through the neighborhood.

There is a site called www.greenpaws.com where you can research which pet products are safe for humans and which ones are not.  There is also information for Natural products available.

A side note if you have toddlers: You may choose Not to use flea collars at all since we know Everything ends up in their mouths!

♥ We want to protect our pets, but we need to be sure to protect our family too! ♥

We now have Josh, and Pet n’ Vet Support Services.  I first met Josh when I was going to see Dr. Teague when we were caring for Jordie during renal failure and her last few months.  Josh was one of the knowledgeable techs that I came to know and rely on.  When I call any doctor office (people or pet) I would like to talk to the doctor, but as we all know they are not always available.  Being able to have confidence with the support staff is crucial.  I remember the first day that Josh came on my radar.  I called in because Jordie had just had some sort of seizure and I didn’t know if this was the time to take her in and put her down.  I got Josh on the phone.  I was annoyed that I didn’t know who he was and I was having to explain things all over again to him.  He kept asking questions that I felt he should have known since I had been bringing Jordie in for several of month.  After I rudely answered all of his questions, he was able to calmly explain what he beleived Jordie had just experienced.  By the time I got off of the phone, I was calm and felt confident with what Josh had told me, and yes, I did apologize for being so rude (after all, how could anyone be expected to know every case.  I was being unrealistic, thinking Jordie was the most important cat in the world).  Several visits later, I was telling Dr. Teague I was worried about our upcoming cruise and leaving Jordie.  She said that Josh did in home care.  I was so releaved!  By then, I had seen Josh several times in the office and had come to know and like him.  I did not want to put Jordie in a kennel while we were gone and knowing we could leave Jordie in her own house and surroundings while we were gone was a great comfort.  This was the best I could hope for and offer to my loyal pet. Below is the testimonial I wrote for Josh:

“We hired Josh to come to our home and take care of our terminally ill cat while we were out of town for a week. We didn’t want to put Jordie in a kennel, and Josh was recommended to us by our Vet. At the time, we new Josh from visiting the vets office and liked and trusted him, but we did not know he could provide us with in home care. We don’t usually let people into our home while were gone, but we were totally comfortable with Josh and I believed that Jordie would be well taken care of with love and compassion. Jordie needed daily medication, including IV fluids. We had been worried for weeks as to what to do when we needed to leave for that week. You couldn’t believe the relief we felt when we found out Josh would come to our home to take care of her. I will forever be greatful to Josh. He took good care of Jordie and made our leaving tolerable. I have recommended Josh to other friends and would do so, without hesitation, to you or anyone else. Your pet, house and belongings are in great hands.  March 9, 2010″

I hope that in every city there is a service like the one Josh provides,  In-Home Pet Sitting and Medical Treatment.  If you are in San Diego, I highly recommend Pet n’ Vet Support Services where your “Pets Health is their Priority”.

(The picture and words below are from a dear friend who had to endure such a loss.)

Be sure to visit her site Small Dog Training, etc. for wonderful information and some great pet products!

“Dogs are more a part of our families than ever before. They eat with us, sleep in our beds and even vacation with us. Be sure to take LOTS of pics so you can put them in a pet memorial frame now or when their time with you is up. It’s tough to say good-bye, but a nice collage for your wall or desk can help. It helped me a lot last year when I lost my canine traveling companion in a tragic accident, but I wish I had more pictures”.

Small Dog Training, etc

Border Collie:   Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code. 

Golden Retriever:   The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb? 

Dachshund:  You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!

 Rottweiler:  Make me. Just go ahead and try to make me!

Boxer:  Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

 Lab:  Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze,  please, please, please!

German Shepherd:  I’ll change it as soon as I’ve led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven’t missed anyone, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

Jack Russell Terrier:  I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Old English Sheep Dog:  Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see any light bulbs!

Cocker Spaniel:  Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Chihuahua:  ‘Yo quiero Taco Bulb’ or ‘We don’t need no stinking light bulb.’

Greyhound/Saluki:  It isn’t moving. Who cares?

Heeler/Australian Cattle Dog:  First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle… 

Poodle:  I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

How many cats does it take to change a light bulb?

Cats do not change light bulbs! People change light bulbs! So, the real question is:

‘How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?’

ALL OF WHICH PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF!