On Turning Thirty
Today is my last day as a twenty-something. I’m still not quite sure how I feel about that. I guess it doesn’t matter. Whether I am ready for it or not, the sun will rise tomorrow and I will be thirty.
It’s better than the alternative, right? Turning thirty is better than not turning thirty. If I really think about it, age is really just a human construct anyway. Yes, our bodies get older, but the number is essentially meaningless. Thirty has no more significance than twenty-seven or thirty-one. I know better than to get caught up in marketing. My best friend has already left her twenties behind, as has my PH. It wasn’t a big deal for either of them. And yet…
In last year’s pre-birthday post I talked about how for the first time, I finally felt like an grown up. Even though my furniture still doesn’t match and I still wear jeans with holes in the knees. This isn’t always true. Feelings of adulthood come and go. Oddly enough, I think Shiva’s presence made the largest impact on my maturity levels. I can’t just run off to the mall on a aprés-work shopping spree any more. When one is responsible for a very demanding living creature, one’s priorities are forced to change.
Of course, this doesn’t stop me from wanting to indulge in a good tantrum every once in a while. Which is fine. I can’t be all trimmed hair and getting my taxes done before the deadline all the time, right? Like one of my favourite bloggers recently said “show me a person who doesn’t still feel about fifteen in their own head and I’ll show you a person I probably wouldn’t want to have a beer with”.
For the record, I didn’t send in my taxes until July last year. Does this mean my adult membership card is revoked?
So… Thirty. Yeah. Everyone keeps telling me how much the next decade is going to rock, how being in your twenties is sucky and awful and now that I’m older I know myself so much better and things are just going to slide into place. I’m not so sure I believe these people. If you’ve read this blog at all you’ll now I’m not really a sliding into place kind of gal.
The only thing I am sure of is that the third decade of my life, especially the last few years of it, was a heck of a lot better than the first two. Not that being in my twenties was super magical party times but it beat being a teenager. I remember on my eighteenth birthday I was in despair because I wanted to be seventeen forever. Thankfully that particular wish didn’t come true. To totally rip off Margaret Atwood, the only people who think childhood is wonderful are the ones who have blocked out the memories. I’m thinking if I keep on this same trend, being in my thirties might be better than being in my twenties.
I guess I’m gonna find out.
Filed under Personal thoughts
Kristine’s No Good Very Bad Day
I am not having a very good day. Yes, it’s still early, but it’s impressive I have even made it this far. A long time ago I read somewhere (via Brené Brown maybe?) that it takes guts to show up for your life. Courage, this person declared, is required to show up every day, no matter what happens, and be the best person one can be. In my opinion, this is truer for me today than it ever has been before.
To make matters worse, my favourite necklace just broke. The chain snapped right in my hand after tugging on it for the twenty-six-thousandth time.
Because I am feeling like a total cranky-pants (yes, I started a sentence with because – I know it’s wrong and I don’t care) I thought I would share with you some of my favourite dog jokes.
Realizing that humour is often subjective, I am going to warn you that my taste isn’t always very high-brow. My love for kids jokes is infamous throughout the land and over the raging sea. I know I’ve said in the past how I am not a fan of puns, but when done right, as in a silly little joke told by a five-year old, they can crack me up like nothing else. The more silly the punchline the better. I especially enjoy it if the joke makes no sense at all, or isn’t even really a joke.
For example:
Q: What did the farmer say when he lost his tractor?
A: Where’s my tractor.
Bwahahahahaha!
Ahem. Maybe you had to be there.
On with the dog jokes!
Q: Why do dogs wag their tails?
A: Because no one else will do it for them!
Man to dog trainer: Every time a bell rings, my dog goes into the corner.
Dog trainer: That’s okay, he is a Boxer.
Q: When is a brown dog not a brown dog?
A: When it is a greyhound!
Q: What do you do if a dog swallows your pen?
A: Use a pencil instead!
Q: What kind of dog can jump as high as a building?
A: Any kind! A building can’t jump!
Okay, okay, I’ll stop torturing you. If anyone has any better jokes, please share them in the comments!
Filed under Bits and pieces
Tale of a Tail
There is something about Shiva that has frequently captured people’s curiosity. Can you guess what that is?
No, it’s not the manic look in her eyes. It’s her tail!
More specifically, the curl in the end of it.
I too have often wondered what bizarre combination of breeds in her genetics combined to create this unique feature. Perhaps it’s the Pomeranian in her?
Or maybe it’s something else. Maybe, just maybe, Shiva is part pug!
It could happen.
If you have a mixed breed dog, does he or she have any interesting characteristics that have garnered a lot of attention?
Filed under Shiva's Quirks
The Second Annual Shivie Awards!
I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since the inaugural Shivies last February. So much has happened, and yet so little has changed. I had such a great time putting it all together the first time that I knew I had to do it again. There is nothing more enjoyable than giving recognition to others for all their hard work, even if only virtually. If I could find a way to do it for a living, I would so be there. Heck, I’d do it for free.
Last year, I gave an official Shivie to ten bloggers who were practically robotic in their dedication to their websites. You can read all about them in 2011′s post. As far as I can tell, these same people are still just as amazing as they were last year. Probably more. They inspire me to put in more effort, while also making my jaw drop in astonishment. I really do wonder if they are all actually human and not some form of cyborg Internet cult, programmed to share humourous dog photos and pithy phrases on every trendy social media site, while also responding to emails within six months and remembering every birthday of every person they’ve ever friended on Facebook. They make it look easy when we all know it’s definitely not.
Since I didn’t want to just hand out the same award to the same ten people, I decided I’d change up the category this year. Instead of acknowledging bloggers far more devoted than I, I’d like to turn the spotlight on another astonishing group of people. People with whom I can identify just a wee bit more. People who have sacrificed their very sanity for the love of a dog.
That’s right, the 2012 Shivie goes to the brave souls who have endured life with a truly wacked-out canine. I’m not talking standard wacked-outedness either. The recipients of this award have dealt with the worst of the worst: separation anxiety, night-time zoomies, leash reactivity, human reactivity, destroyed crates, destroyed minds, destroyed shoes. These people live with, and somehow still love, dogs who have not only eaten their houses, but have then turned around and swallowed their goldfish. These dogs have then proceeded from the goldfish straight to running around the yard with panties in their mouths while the cute neighbour watches.
Yes, they really are that bad.
Despite all the chewed up lingerie, the following people haven’t given up. No matter how many bruises they have received – physical and emotional – these special people keep trying. The hope for a mellow future may be faint, but they hold fast to their beliefs in their animals. In their dogs they see something no one else does. It’s because of these bloggers, I don’t feel alone any more. Not even when sitting on the side of the road with my dog barking and lunging at a rock.
It looked at her weird, okay?
If any of the above scenarios are etched permanently in your memories, consider this award yours to cherish.
The Shivie for Perseverance goes to…
Tricks for Treats - As soon as I’d chosen the category, I immediately thought of Karen and her newly adopted Pearl. The author of this blog is also a first-time dog owner and rescuer. Many of Pearl’s, uh, rambunctious qualities are similar to Shiva’s in her earlier days. Unfortunately, their relationship has been just as wild as Pearl’s on-leash antics. But even though life with Pearl wasn’t at all what Karen expected when bringing home a dog, she hasn’t stopped hoping that it will get better.
Life With Desmond - The tagline of this blog says it all. It instantly made me smile: “We finally got a dog, and he’s a little crazy. This is the story of him dealing with us and us dealing with our first taste of parenthood.” I feel like I could have written it myself.
Kol’s Notes - I know what you’re thinking. How could such an adorable little puggle possibly cause so much trouble? Just ask his human. She’ll tell you all about life with the sneaky little devil who delights in bouncing on her head at all hours of the night. It’s not only big dogs that have the crazies. Little dogs can cause your hair to fall out too.
The Accidental Olympian - Read this awesome post and you’ll know why I am giving this hilarious blogger the award. She owns two nutty mutts, one of whom is “blind in one eye, anxious, hater of hardwoods, tail chasing, “roooo-roooo-ing,” NON-snuggling, snow loving, bad hip wielding, diabetes surviving, best trail dog ever”. And she wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. Now that’s some heart-warming dog love.
Life with Sampson and Delilah… The 411 - The author of this blog also has two dogs. In her case, one of said dogs is the perfect gentleman. Calm, well-mannered, and affectionate: everything you’d want in a lab. Her other dog, let’s call her Delilah since that’s her name, is not-so-calm. In fact, this second dog is actually guilty of physically harming her human on more than one occasion. If that doesn’t make her Shivie-worthy, nothing will.
Peaceful Dog - When I think of crazy dogs, long-time foster Fozzie pops into my brain. It’s not his fault he’s missing the normal gene as he wasn’t given the best start in life. With his foster human by his side he has already made great strides toward becoming a more social, adjusted canine. Reading the author’s experiences with Fozzie over the last two years has been enlightening. I don’t know too many more people who would do all she has done for a dog who is supposedly only temporary.
Donna and the Dogs - Donna deserves this award several times over. She must be one of the most patient women in the world. If I am feeling frustrated by my one nutty furball, after reading a few of her posts, I am immediately humbled. She has not one, not two, but three dogs, each very challenging in his or her own right. This is a woman who doesn’t know the meaning of “quit”.
Go Pet Friendly - If this was a Shivie for bravery, this family would win it hands-down. To spend the greater part of the year travelling in close quarters in an RV takes a lot of spirit for any couple, but to do it with two dogs, one slightly, er, goofier than the other? That takes guts. Their entry for Something Wagging’s Challenge shows how far they have come over the years. I’ve often recommended their Buster-training posts to others going through similar problems. These are dog people who have been through the worst and come out all the better for it on the other side.
No Dog About It - Mel’s dogs are probably much too sweet to be included in this list. However, when it comes to perseverance, this blogger has it in spades. Not everyone has what it takes to rescue a dog from a puppy mill and re-introduce her to life as Mel did with Daisy. It takes a lot of compassion and patience to work with a fearful dog. Amazingly, Mel didn’t even stop there. Recently, she has also taken on Lady, another insecure girl who is only now discovering how to relax. For all of her efforts, this blogger deserves so much more than a Shivie. Unfortunately, it’s all I have to offer.
24 Paws of Love - The title of this blog should tell you why this crew was a shoe-in for the Perseverance Award. With six very different dogs to care for and train, I don’t know how the author does it. Like last year’s winners, I am starting to think she’s part cyborg. Robo-Mama. However, every post she writes about her crazy canines is filled with so much love that she can’t be anything but pure heart.
Congratulations to all the winners! Even if they don’t always show it, I know your dogs are full of gratitude for giving them a second chance (and a third, and a seventh…). It’s not easy what you do; sometimes it’s a lot more fun than others. But it makes a huge difference in many lives. Including mine.
Filed under Shivie Awards
A Little Monday Mischief
A few weeks ago, I saw a post on I Still Want More Puppies that had me both laughing and feeling sorry at the same time. The always funny AJ shared a video of a bulldog that was attempting to fit into a box that was just too small for his curvy body. This video, to be exact:
Cute, right?
While I was laughing, I also felt sorry for the funny little guy. After all, what he is displaying in the scene is an enviable amount of hind-end awareness. Something I have worked very hard with Shiva to achieve. It’s not easy for a dog to get his rear legs into such a small space. It takes a lot of brain power and skill. Most dogs have to learn they have hind legs at all. This guy just knows it instinctively. That’s pretty impressive.
Jealous, I realized it’s been a while since Shiva and I worked on such exericises. Sometimes it’s good to go back to the basics. On AJ’s blog, I bragged that Shiva could stand with all four feet inside a margarine container. This was true a couple years ago but we hadn’t tried since.
Here is our most recent attempt:
Sad, right? Clearly we have been too distracted by cat tricks and have lost some of the fundamentals. Shiva has clearly gone soft in her old age.
Shiva the Instigator
I have decided Shiva’s days as Shiva the Destroyer are over. The sad, tragic plight of the antler proves it. It’s humiliating to admit, but that same antler isn’t even a whole lot smaller now than it was at the start of January. I can’t remember the last time she wrecked one of her toys on purpose. In fact – and this kills me – she has had the same stuffed squeaky ball since the summer.
The summer!
My PH is not as ready as I to divest her of her title. He is certain her destructive tendencies will return the moment she gets her teeth on a new stuffie. I disagree. She has had many moments alone with all sorts of tempting objects. We even forget ourselves and leave some of her favourite tugs on the floor for her to access at any time. Thus far, all of said toys remain in one piece. It’s time for her to give up the throne to some other, more worthy dog.
This doesn’t mean she is without any title at all. When Shiva does something, she always strives to be the best. That’s why I am making today, February 10th, Shiva’s official coronation day as Shiva the Instigator.
Why “the instigator”? It’s simple.
Shiva is the ultimate space-invader. In agility class there is nothing she loves more than the tunnel, unless it’s running around the room and getting into other dogs’ faces. She has become something of an expert at the fly-by attack. I am sure you can imagine just how popular this behaviour makes her with her classmates. Not that she ever does anything aggressive. Let it be known she is innocent of all such charges. Shiva’s intentions are purely in jest. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy the fall-out when she runs up to and then away from a more reactive dog.
Shiva: Wheeee! I’m Shiva and I’m running! Yahoo! *sees another dog laying quietly on his mat and heads straight for him*
Other Dog: Uh, I am not so sure about you. Could you please run in a different direction? Your enthusiasm is a little freaky.
Shiva: HI!!! I”M SHIVA!!! AND I CAN”T STOP!! GOT ANY TREATS???
Other Dog: ACK! Noooo! Go AWAAAAAAYYYYYYY! *proceeds to bark and growl, inciting all the other dogs in the room to also start barking and growling*
Me: Sheevs! Get over here and finish the sequence!
Shiva: Okay! BYEEEEEE!!!!
All the Other Dogs: Ahhhhh! We’re freaking out! What’s going on? What just happened? Ahhhh! *bark bark bark bark*
Me: *wishing I could disappear into the floor*
Shiva: *all innocent* What’s everyone barking about? I don’t understand.
Ugh.
Has your dog earned a title? Do you have any similar nicknames?
Filed under Shiva's Quirks
In Sickness and in Health
One of the tricks to pet ownership – and, I imagine, parenthood – is knowing when and when not to worry. Being a somewhat anxious person by nature, this has been a real test for me. Shiva is an extremely healthy dog and despite her propensity to ram head-first into walls she has yet to suffer a serious injury. One would think this would enable me to relax a little.
One would think wrong. All it takes is a minor blip and I am up all night, imagining the worst scenarios possible.
If she coughs after drinking too much water, I think she has bloat. If she limps when there is a piece of ice stuck in her paw, I think she has hip dysplasia. If she wakes me up in the middle of the night to dash outside, I think she has giardia.
It’s truly amazing I’ve never had an ulcer, isn’t it?
The internet doesn’t help. Dr. Google is both my best friend and my worst enemy. Sometimes it’s just better not to know all the possible causes of each and every symptom. Especially since all of them have disappeared on their own within a couple hours. Do I really need to know vomiting can be a sign of canine epilepsy? Probably not.
When it comes to my own health, I am much more negligent. Other than my yearly check up I never consider seeing a doctor. My philosophy usually revolves around waiting for whatever it is to go away. If it is still bugging me after a few days, I’ll just wait a few more. So far, this method hasn’t failed me. But I would never think of applying the same lackadaisical principles to my dog’s health.
That’s probably a good thing. While I know my stress-over-every-minor-problem technique isn’t healthy for my mental state, I’d rather worry it could be something tragic than brush it off only to discover Shiva has some sort of incurable disease. I was half-crazy long before I got a dog anyway. Why not go all in?
Filed under Personal thoughts
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
February seventh to the fourteenth has been declared Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Weeek by the Dogs Deserve Better organization in the United States. I can’t help but applaud their efforts to raise awareness around the plight of dogs who spend most of their lives at the end of a chain. It’s a heart-breaking image and unfortunately it is also reality for countless animals across the continent.
Image via Unchain Your Dog.org
Before the brief research I conducted for this post, I knew very little about the facts behind dog tethering. I still don’t feel very knowledgeable, and I was hoping to inspire a conversation.
For what it’s worth, we have never tied Shiva up outside. The only time I would ever consider doing so is if we were going to be with her the entire time, such as when camping. I know tethering creates frustration, something she already doesn’t handle very well. With all the fantastic gains we have made with her reactivity, I’d never risk backstepping. However, even if we had a fenced yard, I’d still never leave her outside alone. Chain-link in front of her would be just as bad as a chain behind her. When we do eventually move and get the yard of our dreams, I don’t intend on ever putting her out there alone. After three years of taking her out on a leash every time she needs a bathroom break, I’m not sure how she’d handle being out there by herself. She’s an indoor dog, through and through. Why give her a chance to learn (more) bad habits?
I don’t think all forms of tethering are necessarily bad or cruel. Not everyone can afford to put up a fence, after all. Like myself, not everyone is permitted to do so even if it is one’s preference. One could make the argument that those without a fence should not own a dog, but I think many other bloggers have blown that theory to smithereens. The ideal obviously is for a dog to never be out alone, but that’s not always possible. Besides, I’d rather a dog be tied up every once in a while than remain in a shelter to be euthanized because potential adopters couldn’t afford construction costs.
In my opinion – when used appropriately - a tether isn’t really all that different from a fence. Truly, I don’t believe any dog should be left alone outdoors for that length of time, no matter how he is restrained. Twenty minutes to a half an hour is probably the maximum, depending on the dog. My childhood dog was often outside in our fenced yard all day while we were at work or school. It’s one of my largest regrets. She quickly became very good at escaping, either by jumping over or chewing through the wooden slats. She didn’t always get away without injuring herself either. Dogs that are tethered can get tangled quite easily. They are also more vulnerable to attack by other animals or abusive humans. But if only out for brief periods at a time, all of these problems are avoided.
I guess my primary concern relates to legislation. Dogs Deserve Better advocates for laws that prohibit chaining, in all its forms. While I don’t disagree this would be the best situation, I don’t know if it’s exactly practical. Legal pieces like these make me cautious as I worry they only serve to punish people who are doing the best they can, people who may just need a little more education, or some financial help. There are many extreme cases of tethering in which I do believe the dog’s owners should be charged. But the context surrounding those cases isn’t usually a simple chaining problem. There is a whole lot of neglect and abuse going on, the chaining itself is just a more obvious symptom.
No dog should be left outside all alone twenty-four hours a day, every day of her life. Chain or no chain, that is obviously cruel.
But are all chains created equal? I guess that’s what I am trying to figure out. Have you ever tied your dog up outside?
Filed under Dog rescue, Personal thoughts
Something Wagging’s Train Your Dog (And Cat) Month Challenge – All is Revealed
The big moment has arrived. It’s do or die at this point. On the last day for entries, I am finally ready-ish to present our hard work for your judgment.
First, I feel the need to blather.
When I first read about the Train Your Dog Month Challenge on Something Wagging This Way Comes I never intended to get The Cat involved. Sure, we’ve been working on some basic tricks, but in my mind challenges like these are for showing off. Shiva has quite an impressive roster and we’re constantly working on new things. I figured I’d just take a video of one of her more recent endeavours and call it a win. But that isn’t a real challenge, is it? So when the second post came out and Pamela suggested training with a different pet, I crossed my fingers, and turned my gaze toward the feline member of our family. I decided I was going to get Shiva and The Cat to perform a trick together.
Was it easy? Um, no. You saw my first attempt, right? The two animals are not exactly friends. But considering their relationship kicked off with The Cat trapping our newly adopted dog behind the toilet in the bathroom, they have come a long way. At best, The Cat tolerates her presence. But then, he only just started tolerating minea few years ago and I’ve known him since he was a baby. He’s pretty standoffish, our guy. Even for a cat.
Of course, Shiva adores him and wants nothing more than to sniff his butt and chase him around the house. This has done nothing to improve his opinion of canines.
Despite it all, after more than a month of consistently working to make The Cat more comfortable around the dog, I think we have pulled something fun together. He is still not cool with Shiva moving too much. When filming the video, I was worried about him getting ticked off at her and running away. Just to keep Shiva contained, I ended up luring the both of them a lot more than I normally would. For the record – and my pride – all of these tricks are on verbal or visual cues. I just chose to keep it simple to keep The Cat happy.
It’s also not the trick I originally envisioned. At the start of January I had the brilliant idea of getting The Cat to jump over the dog. Wouldn’t that have been awesome? I think I might need to teach him to actually jump first, before I get Shiva involved. Apparently this wasn’t possible within a month’s time when I also have twenty-six thousand other things I need to train. Like that handstand trick which I vowed never to speak of again.
Okay, I am finished blathering. Here is the video you have all been waiting for!
Doo doo doo doo!*
Thanks to Pamela at Something Wagging for putting this challenge together. It’s been a lot of fun and I feel like my relationship with The Cat has already improved, as has his relationship with Shiva. I like to think he now sees me as the treat lady as opposed to an inconvenient person who must be smited.**
Special thanks also to my PH for filming the video and helping me motivate the feline in question. The sacrifices he made throughout this venture have been great. I could not have done it alone.
*Trumpets. I won’t remind you again.
**Is it smited or smote? Or is there no past-tense for smite at all? I’ve never been sure.
Filed under Challenges, The Cat, Training, Videos
