Tales of Summer

I'm afraid I've neglected the blog spot this summer. A lot has happened with Zeke still here at Greenwood and Sammy still at Travis County.
We had a play date with Dakota who nearly killed a chicken. Zeke did not encourage the assault, but didn't really try and talk Dakota out of it either. It turned out that the only thing lost was a few feathers. The hen recovered to lay an egg by noon.
A few weeks ago, I took Zeke to an outdoor concert in a park. He was a little high strung, but settled in for the first set next to my lawn chair. During the intermission, I took Zeke to go busy away from the crowd. On the way back to my chair, another dog lunged at him and bit him on the face. It was a complete surprise to both of us. All the dogs had been so quiet and well behaved during the concert. I screamed horrible things at the owner of the aggressive dog who was blaming me for the assault. He said I simply walked too close to his dog and therefore needed to accept responsibility. The security workers came over and asked my to return to my seat. I said only if they made him leave, so they did. I think they took him to the other side of the stage or behind the stage, because I never saw him again. Zeke was treated and released from the vet the next morning. The punctures have healed nicely and the hair is growing back now. It might be white hair, but it is growing back.
Zeke has developed a very good respect for snakes at Greenwood. He watched our little dachshund, Dixie, get bit in the face by one the other night as we were coming in from our walk. She stopped to take a sniff of the three-foot garter snake and it struck her right in the sniffer. She flung her head and the snake flew about six feet and landed on the sidewalk. Zeke and Dixie avoided the sidewalk for a couple of days.
Last night, I went to close the chicken coop and there was a seven-foot gopher snake entwined among the hens' feet. I took a deep breath and grabbed his tail. The hens jumped up as I pulled the rascal free from the roost. I drug him backwards for over a hundred yards, the entire time, yelling at Zeke and Dixie to leave it. Dixie went and hid somewhere. Zeke stayed with me, but kept a safe distance. The snake kept striking at us, but we managed to make it to the carport where there was a metal trashcan with a lid, which I used to contain him. After I stopped shaking, I drove him to his new home and turned him loose. He jumped at me one more time when I was releasing him. He just had to have the last word. The funny thing about Zeke is that he still thinks the snake is in the metal trashcan. He is keeping an eye on it.Tonight, I took Zeke for training at a beach volleyball game. It was a typical Zeke rodeo when we arrived. He was sure we were at the dog park and I was about to turn him loose on the game in the sand pit. After a few stern corrections, I found a place to sit and just worked on obedience with Zeke. He got the message after about 20 minutes of leaping after the ball and nearly pulling me off my chair a few times. I was very pleased with his progress and made a video. Oh, four of the players were family relations, so that added an extra element of excitement to the experience. Enjoy the video.

Zeke is graduating soon!

This stillness with the children was not possible when Zeke started at Greenwood. He was rowdy and impulsive. He has really got himself under control now. He still gets excited in new public places, but it passes after about 5 or 10 minutes of obedience drills. He is really a fun dog and the kids just love him.

I think the most difficult situations we face in public involve other dogs. A lot depends on the behavior of the other dog and their owner. Sometimes we walk by in good form and other times it turns into a huge battle. Zeke gets so excited about pet stores that we need 45 minutes of obedience work outside before we can ever get to the door.

I've had some concern about him needing frequent potty breaks. He is eating 5 cups of food a day and having up to one poop per cup. During a busy day, he may break poo every 4 hours. With excitement, maybe two or three hours. He made it through a movie in the theater last night, but he was clearly uncomfortable the last half hour. At that point, it had been about 3 hours since the last poo. He cleared the building and I got the vest off, so I consider it a success walk. He just has a lot of poo. Hopefully, his metabolism will slow down and he will get by on less food when he is older. I am so happy to see some weight on him. He is looking pretty normal. I think he neck has grown two inches in the last month. Just what we needed...more neck.

We are planning Zeke's crossing over ceremony. He will walk over the bridge and receive his harness around the end of June. You are welcome to join us. Just let me know if you are interested so I can send you details.

Eeyore's Birthday Party!

Zeke is such a fun dog to work with. (Sandy, close this browser now.) He still has some growing up to do. (Sandy, really, close the browser) I think some of the problems will get worked out in his head when he is older. I took him to Eeyore's Picnic at Pease Park on Saturday, and it was a near disaster. Too much Tigger energy. Zeke was very pulley and high strung about all the dogs and loud P.A. and rock bands. I removed the vest...sort of had a bad feeling about the situation. I wanted to leave, but had to pee too bad, so I headed for "potty row." The potties were far from the bus stop, so it took some work to get there. We waited in line for a handicap accessible potty for 45 minutes (almost no waiting at the regular potties). During the wait, Zeke got relaxed. I was feeling more confident, so I headed deeper into the festival. We did some “leave it” work by the basketball court. Zeke gave in and settled once again. We went on toward a field where I hoped to find a place to "busy" Zeke. He seemed to be enjoying himself at first, but then he got scared of a woman in a costume. She had a chicken head and feathers tied to her ass. He was very confused...almost took a bite at the feathers. Then the drums started nearby and there was a bad, smelly rag in a bucket on a stroller going by and so he started running backwards, pulling hard to escape, crashed into a woman sitting on a picnic blanket, did some sort of a mid air twist and completely broke free from me. If I had hung on, I might have caused injury to the woman that was sort of under him at that point. He took off running through the crowd. I gave chase. Lost sight of him for about 30 seconds when I found him wrestling with a pack of strong, shirtless men over a big red Frisbee. It took them long enough to make Zeke lose his grip that I was able to grab the leash. Of course when they threw the Frisbee, I lost Zeke again. He got the Frisbee again. By now, the big, shirtless menwere really annoyed with me and my lack of control over my dog. I really was trying to get him away from there, but I was just beat. I finally got him headed in the right direction and seemed to have control, when the red Frisbee landed right between his front feet. That was not my fault, but the fight began again. I was having Frankie flashbacks. I managed to get Zeke over to the shade and park him in "down." We rested and drank water next to where the horses were tied up. There was also a uniformed police officer standing there. Zeke settled down and I rested my hands. After half an hour or so, we started back toward the shuttle buses. He really had lost his mind by that point. I installed a little power steering and just choke held him all the way to the bus.. We were turned away from two busses that were handicap accessible...both Durham drivers said no dogs...no dogs of any kind. Don’t care what kind of dog, no dogs. They both said I had to take the regular type bus because special needs kids used these buses and they might have allergies to dogs. (Never mind that they may have their own assistance dogs) I was not going to win the argument, so I just took the regular bus. The ride back to the garage was perfectly pleasant although Zeke was squished. He was not bothered by it at all. Just happy to leave the weird scary people that don't want to share toys. (sorry no photos of this training walk)

New Friends for Zeke

Zeke is enjoying life at Greenwood. He can walk freely among the chickens now and not get their feathers ruffled. He is calm around the children, but needs work on ball distraction. He's busted some balls and just can't seem to stop himself. This morning, he tried to make friends with a checkered garter snake.

Zeke at Mighty Texas Dog Walk

The movies tell the tale. Zeke was super excited about the Mighty Texas Dog Walk. We don't have any pictures of us by the vendors because he nearly knocked over a tent, busted into a box of dog food and had a mouthful before I could drag him away. The lady with the dog food sample gave me several sample bags since Zeke obviously loved the stuff. I have a hard time stopping him when he goes toward another dog. Did my best, but Zeke is mean pulling machine. It took a while, but I think I made some progress with him. After the walk we went to Threadgill's for lunch and Zeke took a nice long nap. Enjoy the show.

Zeke at Petco

I SMELL PUPPIES. DO YOU SEE THE PUPPIES? HUH, DO YOU SEE THE PUPPIES? THERE’S PUPPIES OVER THERE, DO YOU SEE THE PUPPIES? WANNA PLAY WITH THE PUPPIES, HUH? CAN WE? CAN WE PLAY WITH THE PUPPIES? SEE THE PUPPIES? I SEE PUPPIES? MUST GET TO PUPPIES. PLAY WITH PUPPIES. CAN WE PLAY WITH PUPPIES? I SEE PUPPIES. SEE THE PUPPIES? CAN WE GO THE STORE? I SMELL GOOD THINGS IN THE STORE. SMELL THE GOOD STORE? REALLY GOOD SMELLS. OH MY GOD! THERE IS A FURRY THING. SEE THE FURRY THING. SEE THE FURRY THING. I CAN’T SMELL FURRY THING. MUST SMELL FURRY THING. OH MY GOD THE FURRY THING MOVED. DID YOU SEE IT MOVE? DID YOU SEE THE FURRY THING MOVE? CAN’T SMELL FURRY THING. OH MY GOD ANOTHER FURRY THING.LITTLE FURRY THING. OH MY GOD THE FURRY THING MOVED FAST. SEE THE FURRY THING. CAN’T SMELL FURRY THING. WHAT’S THAT? OH MY GOD IT SMELLS SO GOOD. CAN YOU SMELL THAT? IT’S FISH IN THOSE LITTLE CANS. I CAN SMELL FISH. IT SMELLS SO GOOD OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT? TOYS TOYS OHMY GOD SO MANY TOYS. CAN YOU THROW IT? PLEASE THROW THE TOY. SO MANY TOYS. WHAT’S THAT? OH MY GOD IT’S A HOOF, MUST EAT THE HOOF, OH GOOD, SHE IS THROWING THE HOOF, NO NOT THAT, DO N’T PUT IT BACK. THROW THE HOOF. NO, I’LL EAT THE HOOF. OH MY GOD LOOK AT THAT BONE. IT’S HUGE, IT SMELLS SO GOOD MUST EAT THE BONE. THROW THE BONE THROWTHE BONE. NO LET’S EAT THE BONE. WHAT’S THAT, OH MY GOD IT’S A PLASIC THINGY THAT SQUEAKS. THROW THE THINGY. I’LL GET IT . NO, DON’T THROW IT, I’LL EAT THE THINGY. OH MY GOD IT’S SO LOUD. MUST KILL THE SQUEAK. IT’S TOO LOUD. I LOVE THIS STORE. OH WHAT’S THAT. IT SMELLS SO GOOD. CAN WE EAT IT, NO OK OK MUST NOT EAT THAT. LET’S GO OVER HERE THERE ARE FURRY THINGS. SEE THE FURRY THING? THROW THE FURRY THING, EAT THE FURRY THING. OH MY GOD DOG FOOD DOG FOOD DOG FOOD DOG FOOD. CAT FOOD CAT FOOD CAT FOOD. WHAT’S THAT. DON’T LIKE THAT SMELL. WHAT’S THAT OH MY GOD DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IT. THIS WAY THIS WAY THIS WAY. NO, NOT THAT WAY, THIS WAY, THIS WAY. OH THE SMELLS ARE GOOD HERE. CAN WE EAT IT? NO MUST NOT EAT IT. OH, I CAN EAT THIS. NO, MUST NOT EAT THAT. THIS WAY, GO THIS WAY. BACK TO FURRY THING. IT MOVES, OH MY GOD THE FURRY THING MOVED AGAIN. CAN YOU GET HIM OUT FOR ME. HE WANT S TO PLAY WITH ME. THROW THE FURRY THING. OH THERE IS THE FISH IN THE CAN AGAIN. I LOVE THAT SMELL. CAN I EAT IT? NO MUST NOT EAT FISH IN THE CAN. WHAT’S THAT? WOW OH WOW. WHAT’S THAT MUST SMELL THAT . WOW OW WOW I LOVE THIS STORE. FOOD ON THE COUNTER. I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. OH NO, MUST NOT JUMP ON COUNTER. FOOD ON THE SHELF. NO WRAPPER OR BOX. I CAN EAT THAT. OH THAT IS SO GOOD. NO MUST NOT EAT FOOD ON SHELF. PUPPIES I SEE PUPPIES OH MY GOD MUST PLAY WITH PUPPIES. THIS WAY TO PUPPIES. NO MUST NOT PLAY WITH PUPPIES. RUN TO PUPPIES IF I RUN FAST, CAN PLAY FAST AND PLAY WITH PUPPIES. NO CAN’T RUN TO PUPPIES. OH MY GOD THERE ARE BARKING PUPPIES. THIS WAY THIS WAY THIS WAY TO PUPPIES. FIND THE BUS. MUST FIND THE BUS. NEED TO GET IN THE BUS. LOVE THE PUPPIES. BYE PUPPIES. BYE GOOD STORE.

"OFF!"

Zeke is doing well. He has stopped pulling during our walks. I'm letting him get about 18 inches ahead of the ideal position and he holds it there with no lease tension. He was really making me sore in my arms, shoulders and lower back...all much better today.
As far as Greenwood is concerned, he is very sweet and easy around the children. He occasionally licks a kid in the face causing them to fall over or bang their head on something when they turn away from him. They are learning as much as is he. My clients are being great about ignoring him. He has pretty much given up on greeting anyone and just comes to me for a treat when we have new arrivals.
After work today, I took a few minutes off in the hammock while he and Dixie sniffed the field of rye grass. Roel arrived and Zeke got so excited that he jumped over the hammock. One rear foot grazed my face, knocking my glasses off, but no serious injury. I really didn't see that coming. What a show off.
When we went back inside, I decided to catch the news on the radio, so I stretched out on my bed and Zeke decided unexpectedly to join me. I didn't see that coming either. I had Roel video the resolution. Zeke is very cute and stubborn, but I finally convinced him to get off my bed.

I got word tonight from Megan that Sammy is doing fine. No one has had a nervous breakdown yet. I took Zeke to a live music club and he was scared at first, but after a break outside, he came in a settled down for a nap. After the music, we stopped by the carnival. He was excited, but not afraid of anything. Our biggest challenge was leaving the food that was on the ground. He started to get the point by the end of the evening, but I'm sure we need to re-visit that issue again soon.

Roel and I took Sammy to Volunteer Appreciation Day at Guide Dog's of Texas in San Antonio. He was quite comfortable cramed into the little truck with us...just so happy to have lots of company. It was the day of the annual puppy swap, so we left him there to go home with Megan, a student at U.T. in Austin. We came home with Zeke who was frustrated with the cramped travel conditions, but eventually went to sleep. Once we got back to Greenwood, he was very happy with the running room.

Carnival with Friends

Sammy is ready for the puppy swap, NOW!

Dixie needs a new bed. And I won't have quite so many eggs this spring.

You know, they say if you tie a dead chicken to the dog's neck and leave it for a few days, he'll never go after your chickens again. I'm using "the dead hen in the basket following you around" technique. Sammy seems to be getting the idea. Well, at least the idea that mommy is a little upset and maybe dangerous today.

Thursday, March 12, 2009
I sort of have to convince Sammy to wear his vest, but once we get it on him he is working fine. We went to Target last night and had no difficulties at all. I circled the store several times because I could not find the gadget I was looking for, and he seemed to enjoy himself. He even scrounged some popcorn. For Sammy, that’s pretty relaxed and carefree.
Yesterday, he was enjoying some cooler weather and forgot to put on the breaks at the back porch. He slammed into the back door and knocked himself coo coo for a few minutes. He limped around and staggered into the house for first aid. I gave him some Arnica on his tongue and he snapped out of his stupor. He had to pull himself together to get the unwelcome little pellets off his tongue. All better now. It’s been raining for two days and the school is full of sick children. I’ve not had time to take Sammy out for exercise and he is amazingly calm. He just took a spin around the rye grass yard and he seems to be satisfied. We are going to enjoy a quiet evening in front of the fire.

Sammy is huge. Sorry I have not blogged in so long. My life is just too full of Sammy. He is huge. It’s fun to take him out and guess what is going to spook him next. He still has little panic attacks about new places and will avoid the vest by running away from me. However, once he has been to a particular place two or three times, he loves going there. His favorite places include Pet stores, the vet, any park and he loves walks in our own neighborhood. He was a perfect puppy at Casino Night. Was a little scared of downtown noises at first, but quickly became accustomed to the walk out to the grassy area for breaks. He was really good at finding our room each time we came off the elevator. Only once did he stop at the wrong door, where he quickly sorted out his mistake and continued on to the correct room. I remember Toby stopping at every room every time. Some how, Toby never could find the correct door.
Sammy has been neutered. He was really going after his stitches, so he had to wear the plastic cone for a week. When it was time to take the stitches out, he just had one left, so I snipped it myself. He busted his first two cones running into trees and doorframes. He never could get the width of the cone…never slowed him down a bit. He just busted past the tension. Seemed to work for him.
I spent an hour with Sammy in Whole Earth Provisions sorting out a stuffed toy, 4 ft Giraffe wearing a cowboy hat. He kept trying to bolt and escape from the store. He eventually ate all the treats under the giraffe, but was quite distressed by the experience. He was so funny and entertaining to all that passed. Then we found the dog toy department and now he loves that store. He destroyed the rubber Kong-like bone that we bought there. It took him about 30 minutes to rip it to shreds. I had pushed treats down into the hole, so he was quite motivated. He is improving so fast, he changes every day.
Tonight I screamed when a rat ran over my foot in the chicken coop. Toby used to freak out and run to the house. Sammy actually waited for me to emerge from the scary coop and walked back to the house with me. Maybe he’s not such a weenie after all. Who wouldn’t be afraid of a giraffe in a cowboy hat?Sammy is a handsome charmer. The employees in Whole Earth love him. People can’t keep their hands off of him because he ducks under their hand as he passes so they are forced to pet him.