Too cute

I can't believe how much time has passed since my last post. I won't even try to explain, but will soon give updates on our pack. There have been some changes. Meanwhile... sit back, relax and enjoy this video.


Everyone who loves dogs will LOVE this video. It is an example of the "Mirror Method" of dog training.



This is called The Dog Days of Summer

Huskies are hunters

I was getting ready for physical therapy and took the dogs to the kennel for their out time. As I opened the walkout door, huskies flew out of the stairs and feathers began to fly. Literally.

I had only one thought... keeping the dogs from fighting over these birds that had made their way into the kennel. They were largish birds... why they went out of their way to get in the kennel is beyond me. (Our kennel has a roof so it is fully closed. The birds would have had to wiggle through the chain link openings.)

Little Mitzi had a bird in no time flat. She only wanted to get away from the others, so she turned back into the house followed by Lancer and Truman. I took the opportunity to section off three dogs at least. I shuddered thinking that bird was heading upstairs to my great room.

Nikki caught a bird. She was also very adapt at moving the bird with her from spot to spot to protect her catch. Chandler managed one... and he swallowed it as I approached. (We never say "what does Chandler have" in our house or the prize is swallowed immediately). Poor Roman ran from spot to spot, sniffing at feathers and looking for a bird of his own.

Truthfully, I was a bit afraid that Nikki would not like me taking the bird from her. So I gathered up the other dogs and herded them inside into their "houses". I called Mitzi, only getting Truman and Lancer, who I also caged. I went after Mitzi. Cringed at the bird on my floor. Grabbed a vinyl glove and bagged the dead bird.

Once Mitzi was secured in her house, I went back out for Nikki. Broom in hand, I was trying to get the bird away from her. I seized a moment of weakness when she dropped it and managed to pick it up and pitch it through the chain link.

I called hubby breathlessly, panicked about what had just transpired. I felt like such a failure. I was so worried about keeping the kids from fighting. Joe suggested I call the vet and see what we should watch for. Turns out the usual: vomiting, diarrhea, stomach tenderness or swelling. The biggest worry being worms that birds carry so we need to get a fecal on any of the kids who ingested bird.

The vet wanted to know what kind of bird or suggested I take a photo since they didn't actually want the bird. Hence the photo.

Being as the bird is a mourning dove, we would like to know why the birds went into the kennel. I read they migrate south or we considered they were after straw for bedding/nesting. I think we will leave some straw outside of the kennel just to be safe. If other animals want it... I'd rather they get it without risking their lives.

Nikki is well adjusted

Nikki is resting her head on Roman's thigh. Truman is behind them. Mitzi is at the corner of the bed, below Roman's paws also in close proximity to Nikki.

It's a very happy bed full of huskies! (Lancer sleeps in the Lancer Spot... a dog cushion on my husband's side of the bed. Chandler sleeps on the floor next to me.)

It took some time, but Nikki has come to love her new canine friends.

Pawstabbing

This behavior is known as pawstabbing. It is a method of canine communication and carries a variety of meanings. It can mean... hey! let's play. Or... watch it buddy! Our dogs also use a pawstab on us when we cease petting them before they are finished with us. In this case, it means.. you.. human... keep petting me! It can also mean I want what you have. It is not always easy to interpret the true meaning of a pawstab. Watching their expression and the assessing the situation will aid you in finding the true meaning.

Hot spots

This is a hot spot. In all the years we've shared our lives with dogs, we never encountered a hot spot before! One day, we noticed that Chandler was licking at Truman's shoulder very earnestly. We would gently push him away only to have him return.

We decided to see what had Chandler's attention. There was a lump! And it was oozing and ugly looking. We decided Truman needed to see a vet. Our minds were racing with thoughts of tumors and such.

Vet said it was a classic hot spot. Some antibiotics, a white powder and we were on our way. Fortunately, Truman was not overly bothered by the hot spot. Chandler was the one that irritated the spot. Vet also said to give some benadryl, saying that often times hot spots are the result of an allergic reaction. We all rather agreed that Truman must have been stung by a bee or bitten by a spider.

He has healed nicely. It was scary finding that spot.

Huskies aren't for everyone

This _was_ my bedroom carpet. It is more than a bit shredded from Nikki. While she was recovering from her injury, she was wearing an Elizabethian collar so putting her in her crate was not possible. I left her in my bedroom one day while I went to the zoo with my daughter and granddaughter. My husband was at work.

He was the first home to this mess... and was not looking forward to telling me. Well.. I certainly did surprise him. I actually gave Nikki a big hug for helping me out! I have wanted to remove carpet for some time now... Nikki's efforts in the bedroom revealed there was tile under the carpet, albeit old tile. At any rate, I took this opportunity to rip the carpet out of the bedroom and found that my breathing was much easier. (Can't wait to do the rest of the house now!)

Nikki was trying to get out of the bedroom to go potty. Did I mention that she peed and poopied on my bed as well? She was VERY ashamed and wanted nothing more than to leave the bedroom. She was also very afraid and shied away from my husband when he got home. That led us to believe that Nikki had been harshly disciplined in the past. I don't think she was expecting a hug from me in the least.

The only problem with all of this was... we couldn't get Nikki to help us remove the rest of the carpet! Silly girl.

Nikki's leg has healed nicely

The vet has been very pleased with the healing of Nikki's leg. You will remember from an older post, that the skin died and was removed. The scarring is there, but minimal and not often visible due to the location.