DAKOTA UPDATE

Dakota continues to amaze me. He's feeling more and more at home. Running – well, loping around the yard with Bear hanging out of his mouth by one leg while chasing a rabbit is his greatest challenge, he is finding other outlets for his pastime pleasures.

While he keeps an eye on his #1 chipmunk, he has great interest in a
number of new babies that are romping around in the garden. But he is
content to watch them play from the deck. I have no idea how he can tell
one from the other, but should an outsider appear, it is not tolerated.
Dakota seems to feel that the deck is privileged territory for his
number one companion.

I am delighted to see, as summer advances and storms pass through, that
Dakota rides them out without his storm fear with which he arrived. He
sleeps through rain, hail, wind, and thunder. Lightening is his worst
fear – especially in the night. He ignores it during the day if it isn't
directly in our area, but at night he is up with the first indication it
is arriving. The good part is that he jumps off the bed and goes into
his little house we set up in the corner near the bed and away from the
windows. There he sleeps, through the storms, until morning where he
greets me when I get up. He doesn't seem upset – just his normal self,
ready to go down for breakfast. I am so happy to see this happen. My
goal when he arrived was to lessen his fear of storms and the extended
anxiety and stress he carried. For the most part, I think I've done
that. Although not perfect, he's so much better.

He pretty much has his own routine of his own design. I'm learning to
live with things I don't understand but accept as part of Dakota. At the
beginning I made the decision not to change anything unless it was a
safety or threatening issue. Through all of these months I've let him
make his own way and to be comfortable with whatever "makes Dakota, Dakota."

He considers my husband as part of his life now. That has taken a while
but now I see him make conscious decisions as to whether he wants to
follow me or stay with my husband. To be honest, I haven't wanted to let
him go or share him, but I suppose that's like mom seeing her child go
off to school for the first time. Mine is based on the fact that my
husband does not have good judgment and I don't trust his decisions
because I've seen some of them in my presence. But I have stepped away a
bit and try to gently inform him on what is right and what is not good
and why. Still, I hope that he will not become Dakota's single guiding
light.

I've been far more lenient with Dakota than any dog I've lived with.
Also, I'm far more patient and accepting. I'm sure there are some
canines at the Rainbow Bridge looking down wishing they had been so
lucky. But it has been good for me – something I should have learned
many years ago. Dakota is teaching me so much. I wish he had come into
my life much earlier but everything has a reason.

Our mornings are still the same – sit on the deck with coffee and watch
the sun come up and the birds feeding their young while enjoying the
quiet start to the day. We're going to try a 'kiddie pool' again this
summer but I don't think it will make much of an impression on Dakota then it did last year.
While not opposed to a good, soft rain to stand out in, he's not your
typical Golden who loves to plunge into a plastic pool of water in a
city yard. It seem to be below him. While chasing rabbits, watching
chipmunks, and proudly catching a shrew now and then, he's content to
continue his laid back approach to life – savoring each day as it goes
by and enjoying whatever happens to come his way.

BATH DAY

This was bath day for Dakota. What a delight he is in the tub. He just sits and lets me get him soaking wet, cover him with shampoo and rinse away. Chaucie was pretty much the same way too. Until about four years ago I didn't have a dogie bathtub. Melodie got the kitchen sink and all of the others used my bathtub. It got to the point my back couldn't take it anymore and I sprung for the new Booster Bath. What a change. With my husband setting everything up from the hose to the bathroom sink and the drain hose to outdoors, bathing is a breeze.

I attribute my success with all of my dogs to my early training. Such
was not the case of Dakota, of course, but then he's a Golden and that's
enough of a reason. From the first day my puppies come into my house
they are on a learning program every day. Weekly sessions in the family
room include checking ears, looking into the mouth, checking out feet,
and getting put on their back to rub tummies and get used to all of the
handling. Then they get a wet [rung dry] baby washcloth all over so that
they become accustomed to handling.

If it is summer, I introduce a little play with the garden hose. You
start with just a little trickle of water out of the hose and NO nozzle
on the end. I usually put my hand below the hose so the water puddles in
my hand. My puppy can now stick its nose into the little water, perhaps
take a little drink. I work this slowly for a few days or weeks. I also
hold the hose up so that the water acts like a fountain. You have to be
very careful and not rush this playing because you can scare a dog
enough they'll hate water the rest of their life.

If it's summer and I've been playing with the water I add a very small
pool. I put a rubber bath mat in the bottom so the dog doesn't slip and
add about an inch or two of water – no more to start with. I use a
favorite rubber toy in the pool to entice the puppy into the water. Do
not splash water into the dog's face. Let the curiosity of a puppy take
hold. It may take all summer at this level or your dog may take to it
immediately.

It's most important to take it easy and slow so your puppy will learn to
love the water. One important note. Do not leave the water in the pool.
Empty it every day. With all of the yard sprays and fertilizers being
used these days, it can get into the water and dangerous algae can form
that could be toxic to your dog. I speak from experience.

Playing with the water will help you when it comes to bath time. One
works with the other. If done correctly, you'll never have trouble at
bath time. I bathe my dogs with water from an indoor faucet so that it
can be warm. Outdoor water is too cold for baths and I don't believe in
bathing a dog with ice cold water. I also feel that you should give a
bath in the shade on a warm, not hot or cold day. I also use treats with
a bath. My dogs may not be deliriously happy about a bath but they all
jump into the tub or stand still while they are cleaned. One last
note...don't get mad when your dog shakes all over at the end....laugh
instead and you'll all be happy. Dry puppy off and don't be surprised if
they want to roll in the grass if you are bathing outside. Don't forget
to take out the cotton balls you put in the ears to keep out the shampoo
and floods of water. Hopefully you remember to put the salve in the eyes
before you start to protect them from the shampoo.

If you're lucky and you are bringing a puppy into your home where you
already have an adult dog that loves the water, you are lucky. Each one
of my dogs has taught the puppy about the pool and water. It's been so
much fun to watch this process develop. I will write about it another
time. See my pictures on the previous blog.

PUPPY or RESCUE - It's The Same

Dakota's birthday gives me a chance to talk about Goldens and my other canine companions.

The following is an introduction.

From puppies to seniors they give of themselves, unquestionably love
you and trust you, never question, and are totally faithful. They
overlook your mistakes, your anger, even your decisions. In many ways
they reflect your attitude and behavior toward them.

Puppies are fun. They make you laugh. They are so innocent and
non-judgmental. They are curious and have no preconceived attitudes
except for their genetics. They are taken away from their natural
environment of mother and litter mates and turned over to you. They
didn't select you – they love everyone. But once removed, you become the
mother and provider. Hopefully you have given a great deal of thought to
this journey you two will take for the next 10-20 years. You will have
many decisions to make along the way. Some will be positive, some
negative, some sad, some happy. From my point of view, the most
important of those decisions is that are you prepared and committed for
this very long journey. It is no different than bringing a baby into
this world.

If you cannot give your heart, your love, your patience, your
forgiveness and understanding, your tolerance, your efforts, the good
times and the not-so-good times, and the years of providing food,
shelter, and health care, then you should not bring a dog into your life.

But should you take on these awesome responsibilities you will be
rewarded with more love and life lessons than you ever dreamed possible.
Your companion will give you more to think about and marvel at and open
your eyes to the good in life and keep you humble. You will learn what
is important in life and what is not. You can achieve a balance. You
will have your very own psychologist and the very best listener in the
world. You will have a friend that will never turn his/her back on you,
deceive you, gossip about you, cheat on you, or hate you.

Puppies are furry and smell good. They are clowns that love to tease.
They are happiest when you laugh at their antics. The first thing you do
is pick a name that suits your ball of fur. Believe it or not, dogs
respond to their names just as people do. It is very important to
consider this when you will be using it for many years in many ways.

My very first tasks with a new puppy or rescue dog are observation and
communication. I could write a whole book on just these subjects.
Briefly, you will be able to train your dog easily and satisfactorily if
you watch and talk as much as possible. I talk to my dogs all of their
life. Constantly. I watch them and see how they are reacting to
everything around them. It is amazing how you can get your dog's
attention at any time if you've been talking to them while they follow
you around or lay nearby. If you watch them you will learn when they are
feeling good, when something might be wrong, what they like and what
they don't like.

Keep an open mind through this journey. There is much to learn from this
loyal companion. Sometimes they become a mirror or they may set an
example for you to follow. Trust their instincts and you will never go
wrong. Look into their eyes and you will find your answer.

Time flies ever so fast. Do not waste a minute of it. The rewards are
great and you will never regret the time and effort you invest in this
relationship. Whether your journey is with a puppy or a rescue dog it is
all the same.