PICTURE FRIDAY: DOG TRAINING

  
Dog training lessons are going well.  Biggy still getting his A.  I'm way behind, but determined to catch up.  Here are some pictures from last Saturday.  The classes are free, and dog trainers Joe and Mike are terrific.  We recommend them wholeheartedly.  Check them out at http://www.abcsofdogtraining.com/.

Biggs in his metal-mouth muzzel waiting for training.

Command tent.  You can't miss it.

Other trainees.

Classes are every Saturday from April to October barring holidays and bad weather.

 

POOP ON A ROPE

  
If you've kept up with Biggs' adventures, you know that he goes threw chew toys in minutes. 

If you don't believe me, see the score board to your left here.  Anything rubber gets demolish in short order.  Stuffed chickens and other assorted plush toys are ripped asunder in less than an 10 minutes.  Biggs tears into those little animals and rips their guts out, literally.  (Oops.  Bad image whne I'm trying to sell the idea of the gentle giant but the truth will set you free, no?)

Ropes are his favorites and they last longer -- a couple of days, at least.  A long time given Biggs' record.

I got him a super thick triple knotted rope twist.  He loved it and immediately chewed away.  In fact, he chewed for a whole week.  I was so impressed.  Finally a toy he could keep longer than an hour.

Then one day during our walk I noticed that he was having trouble pooping.  The poor darling was squatting and straining.  A few chunks of you-know-what fell underneath him and then nothing.  More straining.  And then one piece sort of hung off him -- half in, half out.  Gross.  He strained some more but nothing moved forward or backward.

What is a girl to do?

So I wrapped my hand in plastic -- Thank God for plastic bags! -- and reached out and pulled the little poop out.  Instead it wasn't poop....well, let's say, it was not just poop.  I pulled out a long, long one inch-thick hunk of rope.

No wonder he was straining.  He had eaten the rope and now was getting it out of his system.  Thank goodness I always carry a second plastic bag in my pocket.

Biggs went on to finish his business in a timely fashion.  I am more cautious now about the ropes I give him.

I had thought about not buying ropes any longer but, frankly, he loves them and they are great for playing tug-of-war with him. 

Now I just let him chew away, but I pay attention.  Once the rope is unraveled, I know it's time to get him another toy to distract him and take away that messy rope.  Because the last thing I want on my hands again is poop on a rope.

    

WEDNESDAY: Famous Pit Bull Owner Day

   

Welcome to Famous Pit Bull Owner Wednesdays.

Join us every week for a new list of celebrities who own pit bulls.  Let’s see if you would have ever guessed.

Drum roll please…..And Famous Pit Bull Owners include:

Helen Keller

Madonna

President Theodore Roosevelt

Rachel Ray

Usher

Stop by next Wednesday and see who else owns a Pit Bull.  

COMMENT:  Let us know if you know of any as well.

HANSEL AND GRETEL

  
I am convinced that Biggs has read the story and his peeing on every pump, tree and bush is his version of it.  Biggs marks his way to and from the house. And boy can the dog pee.

Wait.  Just had another disturbing thought....if Biggs is doing his Hansel and Gretel imitation and thereby marking his territory, and all the other dogs are doing the same...

That's a lot of peeing.  I'm amazed there are no flood on the streets.

Yuk.  I much prefer bread crumbs.

MORE TRAINING

We spent another Saturday afternoon with Joe and Mike of the ABCs of Dog Training at Astoria Park.

Poor Biggs.  Poor me.

We were both exhausted at the end.  I was at times brilliant, at others -- ok, most other times -- off base.

My D grade continues. 

I need more practice with the commands. And if I don't get it the one who suffers is Biggs.

How is that for a guilt trip?   Mea culpa, Biggy.  I'm trying.

BIGGS SNORES!

    

Long sighs,

Heavy breathing,

Then the sound of a saw.

How cute.

In a competition between us, Biggs wins hands down.

ZZZZZZzzzzzz

PICTURE FRIDAY: FRIENDS

Biggs with his little Friend.

He even sleeps with it. 

(Hey, is that my pillow?!)

Here are some of his "live" friends, Luna and Oreo. 

COMMENT:   Do let us know about your pet's friends?

  

BITE ME

Did you know?

A German shepherd, an American pit bull terrier, and a Rottweiler were tested using a bite sleeve equipped with a specialized computer instrument to measure bite pressure. The American pit bull terrier (APBT) had the least amount of pressure of the three dogs tested.  The least!

APBT bite: 235 pounds per pressure

German Shepherd bite: 240-800 pounds per pressure

Rottweiler bite: 328-350 pounds per pressure

Yet, due to negligent, abusive owners who insist on giving the APBT a bad reputation by making them aggressive and exposing them to dog fights, have caused this wonderful, friendly family oriented, strong and aim-to-please breed, to be banned in many counties and states.

I encourage all APBT owners to be responsible owners. Help the breed show its true colors. Get educated and become a good responsible ambassador for our breed.

"What man does not know, he fears. What he fears, he destroys. Ignorance breeds hatred.... Get educated!"

MISSING BIGGS

I’m in DC today so Madi and gang are caring for Biggs and having a ball.

          You’d think the one day I get to sleep to 5:45am I’d take advantage of it, but no.  I was up at 4:18am like always.  I was half way out the bed before I realized that I didn’t have to get dress and brave the cold cruel world.

           Oh well, back to bed.  An extra hour of sleep is, after all, an extra hour.   zzzzzzz

  

ABCs OF DOG TRAINING

 
As you know, we've had some trouble with Biggs around other dogs.  He just goes crazy when he sees them and it's hard for us to keep him under control.

My niece Madi had been searching local dog trainers but they are expensive at $100-$120 an hour.  However, she found a FREE Dog Training Course in Astoria Park.  I was skeptical at first, but it was a beautiful day on Saturday and what did we have to lose?  (Well, Biggs craziness for one!)

The Free Dog Training Course is open to all dog owners and hosted by ABCs of Dog Training.  All they ask is a $10 donation for four hours of work, which is a great bargain all the way around. The classes run from March thru Halloween, every Saturday barring holidays and bad weather.  The trainers Michael Mei and Joe Jimenez are certified dog trainers, certified canine behaviorists and are certified in Pet First Aid.  And they were wonderful!

There were about 16 dogs at the class.  Some were "groupies," dogs and their owners who continue to take classes for a few years now.

When we arrived at Astoria Park, Biggs went crazy at the sight of all those dogs.  I had to tie his leash to one of the park benches because he was pulling and trying to get at them.  So we stayed in the back and Madi went to sign us up. 

We got off to a very bad start but Dog Trainer Joe Jimenez came over and talked to us and to Biggs.  He lent us a new collar for Biggs with chains and spikes.  It looks like a medieval torture device but he assured us that it did not hurt Biggs and that it would help us control him.

I couldn’t take pictures because we were busy learning words like “heel” and “no”.  Actually, I should say relearning the words and how to use them effectively.  For four hours, we walked Biggs around the other 16 dogs.  There was a “Soul Train” dance line which Biggs did beautifully in.  He paraded down the middle of those dogs like a pro… Twice!  Then at the end, there was a weaving in and out of the dog line.  I chicken out and Joe took Biggs through the first eight dogs, I did the last four. 

Overall, Biggs got a big A for effort.  Madi gets an A too.  She was really good and she paid attention to the lessons and got them right.  I got a D. 

My problem is that I am not confident when I walk Biggs.  And if I’m not confident, he can sense that and then Biggs won’t respect me or listen to me and that will put all of us at risk – Biggs, me, the neighbors.

Once the four hours were up, we all went home.  Poor Biggs crashed immediately upon the car seat and when we walked into the elevator of my building he melted into the floor.  He was exhausted; he couldn't take another step.  It was a lot for him -- outside in the sun, 16 other dogs, more people than he's ever seen in his life.  Of course, the poor darling was pooped.  Me too.

Keep your fingers crossed for us.  Lessons are every Saturday.  And, we’ve only just begun!


To see some pictures of other Dog Training Camp, click here.




  

NEVER LOOK THEM IN THE EYE

It’s true; you should never look a dog, especially a big dog, in the eye.  It’s a sign of aggression and the dog will not back down.

Pit bulls have been known to make grown men turn around and walk the other way.  That’s certainly been my experience with Biggs.

Older gentlemen, young men, teens, tots.  Many have taken a look at this gentle giant and fled in retreat.  Can’t blame them, but there is nothing to fear.

The rules are simple when you see a Big Dog coming towards you:

1)      If you are scared, cross the street.

2)      Do not, repeat do not look a dog in the eyes.

3)      Do not run by, behind or in front of any dog, especially a big one.  They don’t know you are playing and may think they are being attacked.

4)      Walk slowly and with no sudden, jerky movements.

If you follow these simple rules, the dog won’t even notice you, and that’s a good thing.

HORSE PILLS

  
Biggs gets four pills twice a day.

Look at them.  They look like horse pills.

We hide the pills in globs of cream cheese.  When we run out, we'll try the peanut butter; although, it's sure to be messier.

Oh, the things we do for love.

   

PICTURE FRIDAY: CRASHED

 
The caption for this picture could easily be:  "The Morning After."

No, Biggs did not go on a binge on Saint Patrick's Day.  It look's like it though.
  

IN THE DOG HOUSE

Biggs was bad today, even with his muzzle on.

We were walking and somehow he was able to grab onto a slice on pizza on the street.  Why people throw garbage on the floor when there is a trash bin not three feet away is beyond me?

I was not going to stick my hand anywhere near his mouth when he’s chewing, of course, but I managed to get him to shake off the pizza.  However, he still managed to get something crunchy in his mouth.

Then he starts choking.  And I’m thinking, this is all I need, for this dog to choke to death.  Arrgh!

I took off the muzzle.  He cleared his throat and seemed to be fine.

Then when we get upstairs he got into our garbage can and ate a tissue. 

That was it. 

He’s in the dog house.  He is punished and maybe … .maybe… if I calm down in an hour or so, he can come out before I leave for the office.  If not, tough.  Right now I have no sympathy for him.  The dog house it is.

A hell of a way to start Saint Patrick's Day.  

  

SCAFFOLDING IS OUR FRIEND

Scaffolding is our friend.

Scaffolding is our friend.

Scaffolding is our friend.

I don’t really like to walk under scaffolding, but today, on this rainy day, I will and so will Biggs.

It’s either walk under the scaffolding or get wet.  I should say get wetter because we do have to walk in the rain from one scaffolding to the other.  (My building is checking the integrity of the bricks on our façade and there is scaffolding everywhere, except by the entrance to the underground garage.)

So we walk under the scaffolding.  Biggs is happy sniffing everything and anything.  I’m just happy I can stay a little dry.

BAD REP

Pit Bulls are beautiful and gentle and loving, especially with kids.

It’s true.

It’s the owners that make them bad.  And, unfortunately, those bad owners have caused the pit bulls across the board to have a bad rep.

Pit Bulls are not killers.  Not unless some jerk (bad word here!) makes them that way. It’s not the dog’s fault that they are taught to fight and kill.

Not all Pit Bulls are like that.

Yes, they are big.

Yes, they inspire fear.

But, they also command respect.

Pit Bulls are good with children and are very loving.

Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole barrel.

ALPHA BITCH

Clearly that is not me.

Oh, I can rein Biggs in if he goes crazy when he sees another dog or is spooked by a loud noise.  I’ve learned how.  And I can certainly scold him when necessary.

But when he grabs a towel to munch on or something off the street, I am not going to stick my hands anywhere near his mouth.

My niece says not to be scared of Biggs.  That he loves us and will protect us.  And I believe it, but I am still not going anywhere near his mouth when he wants to chew.

Let my niece wrestle things away from him.  She can be the Alpha Bitch.  She likes that role.  Hahaha

P.S.  I found these great dog tees at Cafe Press.  Click here to order your own.

SIZE MATTERS

   

My dog is bigger than yours.

There.  I’ve said it first.

I never notice before how many small dogs there are in my neighborhood.  There is even a tiny, tiny Chihuahua – well, I think it’s a Chihuahua. I don’t know another breed of dog that is smaller.  Well, this Chihuahua is nearly invisible. 

 This man seemed to be walking his leash.  It was a super long leash and I could not see the dog….even with my glasses on.  I swear I did not see the dog.  He was so tiny.

Biggs seems like a giant in their midst, much like Gulliver.

PASS THE FISH OIL

Poor Biggs.  He has a UTI.

Doctor looked him over, checked his prostate (don’t ask) and prescribed antibiotics and fish oil.

I take fish oil.  Same thing said Doc.

Biggs has to take two fish oil pills, just like me, every day from now on.

And not the farm-fed fish oil, no.  The ocean fishy fish oil is best.  Seems the farm fish are fed corn and that’s a no-no.

Oh, well, thank goodness I got a big bottle of fish oil pills at Costco. 

I don’t mind sharing, but why does Biggs get to eat his with peanut butter and all I get is water and an after taste?

PICTURE FRIDAY: SLEEPING BEAUTY

   

Biggs likes to curl up in the chair across from me as I write and unwind in the evenings.  He is so cute.  Just look at him.

The one place Biggs won’t ever get to curl up in is my bed.  The Shitz-tese – Luna and Oreo -- rule the bedroom so Biggs is out of luck.

Hell, I’m lucky if I even get a corner of the bed.

The Dog Blanket

(that's me under there)

WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING, PEOPLE!

 

This is a good warning for me and others.

I don’t talk on my cell or do anything with my hands when I am walking Biggs, even at 5:00am.  I am alert at all times.  I’m looking out for paper and tissues on the ground that Biggs may consider a snack; other dogs out for a stroll and people walking to and fro without looking where they are going.

I see lots of “single” people – people without dogs – walking who don’t watch where they are going and when they finally realize that Biggs is almost upon them, they freeze in their tracks.  Of course, I have placed myself between Biggs and that person.  I don’t want people to be scared of Biggs.  He is a gentle, loving, big baby.

Now of course, we have him on a muzzle when he goes out in the afternoon, but at 5:00am, he and I have the streets to ourselves.

I still keep a good grip on Biggs’ leash, but still….Watch Where You Are Going, People!

  

TO MUZZEL OR NOT TO MUZZLE

Do we or don’t we?

Well, we have. 

We struggled with the decision for a while.  We are always very careful when we walk Biggs, to look both ways for human traffic, to make sure no dogs are coming that may scare him or more accurately, be scared by him.

We didn’t think of children.

Yesterday, this little girl came out of nowhere and before anyone knew it she was too close to Biggs.  Well of course, he was startled. We all were. 

Biggs started barking like crazy and the girl ran back to her mother, who grabbed her hand and they both ran off in the other direction.

The damage was done.  Biggs lost his cool, and his loving, caring image was in the toilet.

My niece bought him a muzzle today. 

He paws at it but it holds firm.  He can grunt through it but no barking.

Who knows it may be a blessing in disguised.  Maybe now, the neighbors won’t be as frightened and Biggs can make more friends.

 

ANOTHER TOWEL SACRIFICE

Biggs owes me one aerobed (don’t ask; it was tragic.) and two beach towels.

I wanted to make my guest comfortable so I lined his cage with two of my thickest beach towels – and did I fail to mention favorites?

One was from Barcelona – a lovely purple; the other is/ was a double-wide beach towel that I adored because it was wide enough that you could roll over on the beach twice and not fall off into the hot sand.

I loved those towels.  Barcelona has long gone to the towel heaven in the sky.  The colorful full is still hanging tough, but is starting to resemble Swiss cheese.  However, as long as it holds, it will have to do. 

I don’t have any other beach towels to sacrifice; well, ones I don’t care to lose anyway.

WET DOG!

  

It’s not the smell; it’s the droplets of water he showers all over me when he shakes off the rain that get me.  Yuk.

And he has to shake several times so not only am I getting soaked by the rain from the top down, but by Biggs from the bottom up – legs, thighs, chest, face.  Again, Yuk.

I could buy a rain coat for him, but it wouldn’t cover him much and I’d still get wet from his shake, rattle and roll moves.  And yeah, the wet dog smell is not pleasant, but luckily, it disappears when he’s home again and dry.

Thank, heaven, for Febreeze.  A little goes a long way!

HANG ON TIGHT!

I have small dogs.  I had three.  When my baby Princess Simone died this past Thanksgiving, I was left with her two little ones, Oreo and Luna. I call them Shitz-tese since they are half Shitzu and half Maltese. They are easy to care for since they are little and are house trained.  They go on wee wee pads and we walk outside only in good weather.

But now, I am babysitting my neice's "baby" pitbull, who is crate trained.  I have a huge crate in the middle of my living room, my Shitz-tese are confined to the bedroom and there is a pitbull in my house.

I've already fallen in love with him.  Biggs is gentle, sweet and has beautiful eyes, but he is 80 pounds plus!

When I walk him, I hold on tight.  I don't want to lose him.  I don't want him to bite anyone.  And, most of all, I too need someone to pull me along.  

SH*T ON THE STREET

Pick up after your dog,  people!

If you can't or won't bend over, then get a pooper scooper or hire a dog walker or, hell, get rid of the pooch.

And those of you without dogs, please STOP throwing garbage on the streets.

You would be surprised at some of the garbage I see on the street -- empty food containers, soda cans, paper coffee cups, pieces of magazines, plastic bags, cigarette butts, pantiliners.  The latter, I don't even want to know what they are doing out there.

Please!  Let's all work together to keep our streets clean.  Thank you.

   


 

PICTURE FRIDAY: Chew Toys and Roommates

Biggs goes threw his chew toys in an average of two hours.  These lasted 2:19.  Here are some pictures of his enjoyment. 

And, I am including photos of his roommates -- Oreo and Luna, the Shitz-tese.   Happy Friday!

THE ROOMMATES

Luna, the Diva

Oreo, the Boss


Happy Friday.

LEASH YOUR DOG. IT'S THE LAW

 

Duh!  Is leashing your dog such a hardship?

It's for the safety of the dog, the owner and the neighbors.

There is a jerk who lives in the building next to mine.  We used to have the same dog walking schedule -- 5:30am.  It's a great time to walk a dog.  Less people around, less trouble, except for this jerk and his dog.

The dog is a cute Collie without a leash.  Arrgh!!  I called him on this twice. He was very non-chalant and assured me that his dog was friendly.  Then he got a look at Biggs' size.  The jerked picked up his dog pronto, hugged it to his chest and turned sideways as Biggs and I passed him on the sidewalk.

Biggs was straining at his leash to get better acquainted with the Collie.  No way, baby.  I did not want any trouble from either dog.

Even with two encounters between us, the jerk still walks his Collie without a leash.  So now, I get up at 4:30am and am out walking Biggs by 5:00am.  I take a different route, which actually is more fun for Biggs.

Better safe than sorry.  And, better not to see the jerk again and resist the urge to talk a leash to his ass.

Wish I could write him a ticket!

 

PLASTIC IS OUR FRIEND

 
Forget going green.  Plastic is the way to go when walking dogs and picking up poop.

Now you can invest in those fancy schmanzy pooper scoopers, but think -- you have to take them home afterwards; all smelly and dirty and clean them up.  (God, I hope people clean those things.)

Yes, plastic bags are our friends.  Collect them from supermarkets, pharmacies, fruit stands, et al.

I prefer to walk with two plastic bags and stick them into my coat pockets.  I highly recommend it.  Why?

1-- If bag number one breaks, you have a back up.
2-- If your dog shits twice, you are prepared.
3--  If you forget to bring a bag next time you leave home, there should be one in your pocket.

What kind of bags to you use to pick up poop?  Do leave us a comment and let us know about your adventures with your pooch.

STOP AND SMELL THE .....PEE?

 
Here I am thinking that Biggs is a nature lover, a flower and bush connoisseur. 

Instead I've come to realize that those frequent stops to smell the flowers and explore the bushes are not stops of adoration or reverence. Noooo.  He's stopping to smell and lick where other dogs have peed and shat.

Gross!!  And people say dog saliva is "clean."  Obviously, they do not have a dog.