Ringworm v.s. Insect Bite

We had a bit of an eye-opener the other night. I noticed a spot of Bella's tummy that looked really odd—a red ring about the size of a fingernail with a dot in the middle. My husband thought it might be ringworm. Looking it up on the Internet made it seem fairly likely. Our neighbor is a vet tech and my husband ran the picture over to her to take a look. She was late for work and took a hurried glance (at the picture, not Bella's tummy) and confirmed it.

Yikes! All the dog's bedding needed washing, it was recommended toys be washed in a bleach solution or tossed, carpets needed daily vacuuming. An over the counter anti-fungal cream needed to be applied to the outbreak twice a day. Ringworm is highly contagious to boot, so our clothes needed washing, our hands had to be covered to pet the dog—and the verdict was this could last for months! Not only that, but Bella had just been playing with a couple of friends' dogs, so they had to be notified. You get the picture; a cascade of events around this spot.

I called the vet and ran through what I was doing and wondered what else was necessary to control and contain this. Her returned message stated it was highly unlikely it was ringworm. Wow! Really? Her take was it could be a bug bite. Bella did not seem to be bothered at all by it, though she hated being quarantined to the kitchen.

Still, I made an appointment to take the pup in to the vet in a day or two, but already the spot is nearly gone. No other spots have appeared. I've called everyone back with what's going on and will continue the update if necessary. However, I just couldn't, just can't, imagine what it would be like not being able to pet my dog (without gloves) or kiss her furry face. (That brought up a whole additional rash of horrible thoughts. Wonder if I got ringworm on my face!)

I'm feeling pretty good about it all. I think by tomorrow there will be no indication there was even a mark on the pup's stomach. What a relief! The lesson here is don't self-diagnose on the Internet and don't ask a knowledgeable person who is in a hurry for a diagnosis!

Puppies

Bella has been lucky recently. She's had lots of opportunity to play with other dogs. This, unfortunately, isn't normal. At the dog park, she's completely focused on any tennis balls that might be flying by—not the dogs. Our friends have older dogs whom she loves, but they aren't interested in playing. When she gets to see her half-sister, Molly, it's always a great day.

Recently we spent several days at the ocean and two very large puppies attached themselves to Bella. They looked to be about four months old judging from their teeth and fat. It was cute to see the dogs together, but sad that the puppies were loose all day (and even at night?). They were at our van in the early hours of the morning and stayed until we went to bed.

The little girl looked more Siberian, her brother more like a golden German Shepherd. She was more adventuresome and would pursue Bella to play, while the boy puppy was a bit intimidated by Bella. He'd chomp on his sister's back flank while her front end was engaged with Bella. What a sight!

At one point the two puppies were playing together. Only the girl had a collar (no ID), but the boy's teeth got hooked in his sister's collar which twisted around his bottom jaw. It was awful! They were shrieking and tumbling. Luckily we were there to hold them and unhook (and remove) the collar. What would have happened if they'd been alone?

Bellie had another opportunity for play this afternoon when our former neighbor was mowing the lawn at his former/now rental house next door. They recently purchased a 1 year old golden doodle from the pound and he had her with him. He brought her (Amber) over so the two dogs could play. They had a great afternoon. I wish I'd taken a picture of the dogs together. Bella's exhausted—a perfect ending to a perfect day!

Last Class

Saturday was our last class. I'm always relieved when obligations are completed, but also disappointed. I enjoy these classes and am looking forward to signing Bella up for another one. I think we may do the Canine Good Citizen class. It would be good for both of us to learn to do things without her training collar.

Our last class was uneventful. Even Charlie, the agro boxer, was pretty well-behaved. His owner deserves lauds and applauds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback wasn't there and I wonder how much that affected things. We did off leash healing and commands for our last "assignment."

In the afternoon, I took Bella to an Intro to Agility workshop. We were able to run the open and collapsed tunnels, climb the ramp, jump through the tire and attempt stopping and sitting on the table. She did okay considering it was her first attempt.

Our weather has been really awful the past four days (cold, windy and rainy) and we haven't gotten outside as much as we normally do. I was hoping this class might take the edge off, but realized it just showcased what a slightly bored puppy is like. A bit over amped and sassy. Without her training collar, she was pulling as if she had no idea how to walk on a leash. Definitely not the case, but embarrassing. There is no class available right now, so our only opportunity to try agility is these once-every-two-months workshops.

Great Book

I just finished reading Peggy Tillman's book, Clicking with Your Dog. I've only taken one class in which a clicker was used and haven't used it much since. However, as I recently mentioned, I tried the clicked again asking a "Sit" from Bella before tossing a ball. It proved highly effective.

This book really inspired me to go back to a clicker when trying to teach new activities or tricks. If you are interested in other methods of training and are curious about using a clicker, I highly recommend this book. There are great illustrations and each "trick" is simply explained and illustrated. Give it a look!

Fifth Class

The aggressive boxer was definitely tested this week and actually needed to be removed from class. I question that he is even allowed into the class considering off leash work is part of it. For him, however, off leash is probably only an "in house" treat. I admire the owners for their efforts.

We did an agility run at the end of class that compromised three small jumps confined by a low 30 inch fence. Mr. Aggressive couldn't handle the dogs running the length of the room and jumping and became very reactive, setting off the Rhodesian Ridgeback. For the boxer there was just too much uncontrolled activity. Where all other dogs had their leash removed, he had to do it leashed with his person. (Thank heavens! When the instructor mentioned Mr. A. should try it, everyone gathered their dogs behind them.)

Bella was a star! She had to stay at the end of the tunnel while I took her leash and walked to the other end. When I called her to come, she bounded in a flash and flew over all three jumps and sat in front of me. Yay! Good Puppy!

On a different note, in an attempt to teach her self-control in a high-amped situation (mountain biking, chuck-it games), I've been asking her to sit before I throw the ball. The first day was a bust. She couldn't do it, so we didn't play. Boy! Was she confused and disappointed!

The second day she only had about three tosses before it was over. Day 3 I pulled out the clicker and she almost immediately fell in line. I didn't require a stay with the sit—that's to come—but her bottom hitting the ground was required. She did a fabulous job. I realized I didn't need food; she wouldn't have eaten it anyway. A thrown tennis ball is more than enough of a reward.

What I'm hoping to accomplish is that if she sits, she doesn't usually bark. She will have learned three things: 1) a bit of self-control; 2) ability to listen when excited, and hopefully when ready for the cue, 3) quiet. I'll keep you posted!

Good Test Results!

I received Bella's blood test results yesterday. Negative! Yahoo! Her liver functions were all normal. The only thing slightly out of line were her kidney functions. Huh?

The vet said it could be that Bella was slightly dehydrated from the diarrhea. I would think a dog would drink however much water they needed, yet Bella is not much of a water drinker. I have been aware of that since she was a puppy. It probably is absurd to compare her water drinking to Lucy. I used to fill Lucy's water bowl at least twice a day; Bella's, I toss after two days for fresh water.

In August when Bella returns for her 1st year exam, they will test the blood again. Hopefully all organs will be on normal!

Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate

No class this week. Instead something much bigger has happened. Nulife Rid Moss or ferrous sulfate monohydrate...moss kill for lawns. My husband laid this around the yard and to my knowledge it wasn't in the backyard where Bella plays.

I noticed some darkening moss in the back which indicated to me the moss was dying, which meant, of course, moss kill was there too. Bella ate some of the dead moss. Bella laid in the lawn. Bella played with some of her toys in the lawn. Bella started licking her paws and didn't stop. Bella's tongue looked brown.

Panic.

I asked my husband if he'd spread moss kill out there and he said just a bit and in areas he didn't think she went. But of course, the back yard is hers and she goes everywhere in it; it is a very small space. He said the kill wasn't toxic. I looked up the ingredients. I researched the web. Very toxic. Liver damage. Chronic gastrointestinal issues. We washed her feet and her bedding. Tossed toys and washed toys. No yard for her, either front or back. Must walk her for her to go.

Called the vet. Got someone at the desk on the line who brushed me off and said call the manufacturer. (Who was this person?!) Of course the manufacturer is closed on the weekend. Called the vet back and decided to bring Bella in for a blood test for her liver. The vet, whom I respect, said on examination that she felt Bella would be okay. However, if the test comes back showing liver damage, she could take liver supplements. Luckily, caught early, any damage may be able to be reversed.

I strive to keep the backyard organic both for the dog and our vegetable gardens. The lawn may have to look crummy, but I cannot risk my dog's health for a lawn. Hopefully my husband "gets" that...and hopefully, the blood report will come back tomorrow as normal.

It makes me wonder if her bit of recent regression (and diarrhea) had anything to do with this. The latter could be a sign of poisoning, along with the usual vomiting (none) and lethargy.

Regressive Steps

Bella peed in the house yesterday. We were both shocked. She gave no indication she wanted to go outside and, in fact, had been out within the past three hours. I came around the corner and there was a huge, warm puddle, so she must have just done it though I didn't catch her in the act. Not feeling well? She certainly hadn't acted ill prior to the pee, however she was quite subdued the rest of the evening.

This hasn't happened since she was four months old, so all I can think is either she just plain forgot (she was playing with a ball), or she's feeling under the weather. Normally her capacity is outstanding. She goes to bed around 8:30PM in the evening and doesn't go outside until 6:30AM in the morning. Therefore this little "blip" is really quite extraordinary.

Last night around 1:30AM, she was rustling around in the bedroom. I got up and let her outside and instead of just standing on the stoop and sniffing, she did go into the yard. Is something going on in her gut? Maybe her tummy is upset or she has a bladder infection, although she isn't indicating either. Luckily my husband is retired and home to watch her today. Otherwise I'd need to come home between classes and check on her.

4th Class

The Boxer and Rhodesian Ridgeback were at it again this week, but not for quite as long. I feel so sorry for both owners. I thought Lucy was bad, but she didn't hold a candle to either of these.

Some interesting lessons in class this time. We worked on common commands (sit, down, stay) in two different ways. One was verbal only; the other was signal only. I need to do more with those. She wanted us basically "off collar" meaning we should try not to use it unless absolutely necessary. I need a lot more work with that and because there is no class next week, I better give it plenty of action. I'd like to have Bella cooperating with both.

When my husband takes her out in the morning for "biscuit hour" he often goes through whatever I've taught him from what I've learned that week. I mentioned this two-way method after class, but forgot to remind him of it this morning. To have us both working her is great, not only for us, but for her since our inflections and actions vary slightly.

Today she's been a bit of a pill, but I think that's because we were both gone in different directions and she had to be crated. Since my husband has returned, she's had one of us around all day. How was she a pill? Pulled on the leash, didn't obey commands, pushy... As Dana said, if we let her get away with it now when she's trying her limits, she'll know she can. If we make it clear now, she won't be always fighting the parameters. A no-brainer perhaps, but it was good to hear it again.

3rd Class

Saturday was our third class. It started with a bang. There is a very large, white male boxer who attends and suffers from serious anger management issues. I'm impressed he's allowed in class and I'm impressed with the woman who brings him. (What a handful!) I must admit, however, that I think an aggressive dog class might be better, but perhaps he's already gone through that.

The minute he entered the room, he started snarking. The owner was on high alert, as were all the other dogs. There's a very large male Rhodesian Ridgeback in class who is not aggressive, but is reactive. He and the boxer do not like each other, so when the boxer started in, the Ridgeback entered the fracas. No actually fighting, just barking, growling and lunging with the owners pulling in opposite directions. A male yellow Lab also decided to get into it, than a Dobie and a Mastiff. The whole class was in an uproar.

The instructor immediately told the boxer owner to get her dog out of the arena and into a "cool off" zone. She required everyone else to control their dogs and not allow the behavior. The boxer got into it several times within the first half hour, but eventually settled down. Bella, by the end of class, was exhausted as were all the other dogs—and the owners. Too much emotion.

Kongs

Kongs have been my go-to dog treat for eons. Lucy would work them for hours trying to extract a small piece of cheese. Bella is much speedier and I doubt the treat lasts as long as I'd hope. None-the-less, when I leave for work and Bella is crated, in goes the Kong with her. The new mix (rather than a bit of canned dog food, frozen) is peanut butter to plug the hole, a slice of banana, some plain, non-fat yogurt and some more banana...and maybe another dab of peanut butter.

Now that my husband is retired and home more, she is crated less. We're just beginning to try her loose in the house. At 10 months, she's just mature enough to give it a go if well regulated. Whereas Lucy was loose at the same age, she was much less chewy. I am not sure I'd trust Bella for hours on end. Because my husband might be in the garage or shop, Bella is free to roam the house (in which case, no Kong). Because he isn't far away or gone very long, he comes back in periodically to assess what might be happening. So far, so good.

Perpendicular Sitting

We're doing well with class homework: fast sits, stand and stay while I walk around her, turning left or right, heel, and jump sits (still need to work a bit on this). But Bella normally sits perpendicular to me versus parallel. My fault. I haven't insisted on it until now. Moving her bottom to a parallel position confuses her, so I'm not quite sure how to proceed. I do give lavish praise when she manages a parallel sit, so perhaps this will be the clue. To be honest, I don't really care how she sits as long as she does sit, but it may not cut it in the classroom!

Dog School Part 3

Today was the start of our 3rd class. Her first was a puppy class and was more about socialization than anything else. The second was beginning obedience and you can read more about it here. It's been several months and I felt it time for another session. This facility is closer to home, less expensive and even better, looks to be a good class: Beyond Basic Obedience.

Today was just a review for most people with a few new additional things thrown in. We worked on Sit, Stay, Down, Heel, Stand—and Finishes. The last was new for me and Bella is quite sloppy. Her finish is normally perpendicular to me versus parallel in heel position. We have our work cut out for us!

Dana, the instructor, want us to work 15 minutes a day on these commands, making them fun; turn it into a game. No "no's" as she said. She's going to introduce over the course of the class some real games, silent commands, retrieve (without a tennis ball) and at the end, off-leash heeling. I'm really looking forward to this.

Bella got pretty hyper by the end of the class. Dana used her for several show-and-tells and Dana has the Uber treats. Bella lost her self-control. The instructor gave me some of her treats hoping, I'm sure, to calm Bella. Bella, however, knew the instructor had the ultimate stash, so I was glad we were nearly done for the day.

Dog Guests

Bella had her half-sister, Molly, here for a long weekend while Moll's owners sought some sun and warmth in southern California. The dogs had a great time together and played hard. I wish I had taken some pictures!

I brought them to visit a dog-buddy of Bella's, Amber. Amber is the sweetest girl. She's part Lab/part Chow, but looks and behaves like a Labrador. She in advanced middle age and not very interested in playing, so although she greeted the other dogs, she was comfortable sitting with us (and getting rubs) while the two sisters played. Bella led Molly into the bushes on the side of the yard and pulled out a huge tree branch. The two girls tugged and chased (as much as they could dragging this limb) and had a wee of a time. They were so cute to watch. Bella discovered a lost tennis ball (What does she have—T.B. radar?) under the deck and scrabbled that out. Amber was still disinterested. I felt a little badly that the two dogs were having so much fun and Amber didn't join in.

Things are so much easier with Bella than Lucy (God Bless her). Meeting other dogs is a piece of cake. Having another dog over? Piece of cake! Molly and Bella played until they were exhausted, then napped, then started all over again. Our back yard shows evidence of their four days together. They grooved a race track into several corners of the yard as they chased each other around endlessly. The lawn is sporting several small holes where they either dug or chewed their way to China. And sticks? Remnants of them are everywhere in the back!

Molly, being an Australian Shepherd, has a thick, woolly coat. Her coat hasn't been well-managed, so there are lots of mats. Needless to say, the brushing she needs doesn't happen because she doesn't like being brushed. Her owner is going to take her to a groomer and get her bathed and brushed out. With a coat like hers, if brushing doesn't happen daily at home, she should go to the groomer frequently! Lucy had a similar coat, but I brushed her regularly and her coat wasn't matted, therefore, she liked the grooming. But Lucy "blew" fur just like Molly. I vacuumed when Molly left (as four days with playing pups in rainy weather makes for a messy abode) and got a mound of fur. Just like in days of yore with Lucy...who got brushed! So you can imagine the fur-load Molly carries. Never again will I have a long-haired pup. Bella's short coat is just too easy!

Getting Taller

I don't notice it, but several people have mentioned how much bigger they think Bella has grown. She is certainly more mature (sometimes) and looks like an adult now. She is still sporting those beautiful, white "puppy" teeth however!

Furniture and Beds

Bella has taken to furniture in a big way. Well, not any furniture, just the furniture I am on. At the beginning of last week, she'd slither up. By last night, she was leaping over my legs to "her spot." Cute, but not allowed. I tell her to get off and she does, but Bella doesn't take "No" for an answer. She isn't defeated by "Off." She is an innovator. If one method doesn't work. She tries another.

For example... I was reading on the bed and she hopped up on the right side and curled up. I told her "Off" and reluctantly, she got down. Two seconds later, she goes to the left side of the bed and hops up. "OFF!" Again, she gets down. Next she circles to the end of the bed and eyeballs me to see if I'm watching. "Don't even think about it!"

For the moment, she acquiesces, goes over to her bed and audibly grumbling, lies down.

My Smart Puppy

Bella is 9 months old. She's still a puppy, though a maturing one. This week, our first back home together sans hubby, has been unusually hectic. I've had a lot of obligations on top of work that meant my sweet girl had to spend more time than usual in her crate. So it was not unexpected that she would be quite "frisky" when she came out. She wanted to play constantly. I found my energy level didn't come close to matching hers and my patience began to wear thin. I wondered what odd brain cell had burst in my skull making me think I should get a puppy.

On Wednesday, she was at her worst, demanding attention that I didn't have the time to give. I made the mistake of releasing a tennis ball in the house. Bella has a habit with small toys to chew them by the couch and somehow push them under the couch so that I must retrieve them. After responding to her barking for me to get in action and get her ball way too many times, I grabbed the ball and put it away. Bella continued to bark. I grabbed her and put her outside. In a matter of minutes, she was scratching at the back door to come back in.

When I opened the door, there is my adorable puppy looking eager, tail wagging, with a very, VERY, muddy tennis ball (she had buried who knows how long ago) in her mouth. You could just imagine her saying, "I found another one! Can we play with this one?" How could I possibly stay mad?

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Yesterday I went to PetsMart to get her a couple of new toys. She had eaten the ones she had to a dangerous level, so I decided to replace them. We went on a long walk afterwards and when we returned to the car (in PetsMart's lot), I decided to take her in and see what their baths cost. My husband normally bathes her, but he's gone for the month. My back has really been bothering me, so I thought if the cost wasn't exorbitant, I'd let them do it rather than trying to pick her up to place in the tub.

I haven't brought her in the store for several months as the excitement level had previously proved to great for her. I wanted to give it another try. My oh my! She was excited, of course, because of the new smells and all the people and other dogs, but she stayed right at my side all the way to the back of the store. When we entered the grooming room, there were three dogs in addition to Bella crowded into the tiny waiting area. While the other hounds were pulling and winding their owners in their leashes, my sweet little girl-dog sat right next to me. Some one excused their dog's behaviour by saying it was only a couple of years old and asked about Bella's age. I said, "Nine months." They were floored how calm and well-behaved she was. I was so proud of her! She did a stellar job! What a smart puppy!

Dog Camp

My husband and I took a 3-week trip through the southern California deserts. We'd been there before and love them at this time of year, but wanted the chance to do more leisurely exploring. At the end of the trip, I would fly home and he'd continue on through Baja for a trip of his own—the benefits of recently retiring.



The big question was whether to bring Bella or not. I personally don't like flying, so the thought of flying my puppy was even less inviting. None-the-less, I called airlines, did on-line research and asked everyone I knew with a dog, "Have you flown your dog? How did it go?" The verdict was positive, but it seems nearly everyone went in with some trepidation and came out relived, but not necessarily eager to do it again. And, if nothing else, it's another $100 on top of an already expensive ticket.


In the end, I left Bella with my sister-in-law, which caused some anxiety as well. They have lost their last three dogs to cars. Their yard is now—and here's the critical factor—almost completely fenced. They also have a dog (Bella's half sister, Molly) to whom they are devoted. I knew Molly wouldn't leave the yard and that Bella wouldn't leave Molly, so I was as comfortable as I could ever be leaving my dog. When I dropped Bella off, she took one look at Molly and the two of them took off on a chase. It proved the perfect time to leave to avoid causing any kind of scene.


During our trip, we realized the desert just isn't dog-friendly. Although it was cooler than we anticipated, it was no less spiky. In phone calls back home, the dog stories we heard were wonderful. Bella was a good house guest and between Molly and their 14-year old son, she was in heaven. She got on furniture, had human treats and licked the dishes as they went into the dishwasher. What pup could ask for more? In fact, as our weeks progressed, I became concerned Bella would refuse to return home. She was having way too much fun!

Luckily, she was not only excited to see me, but eagerly got into the car when it was time to go. They were wonderful to take in a puppy, they took beautiful care of her and I can now rest easy that she'll be eager to go back. Not a bad vacation, eh?

Chew Toys

Not all stuffed chew toys are created equal. I've only tried a few on Bella and literally in less than an hour, the toy is destroyed. At Petsmart, they aren't super expensive, but when they don't last, they aren't cheap either.

I tried a new stuffed toy on her (made by Tuffies Pet Toys) which are supposedly "built" for aggressive chewers. I bought her a gator which I was told was a "7" on a scale of "10" in chewing durability. Within minutes, Bella had chewed out the nose area and removed the stuffing. Over the course of a couple of hours, the tail (and stuffing) and the toes (and stuffing) were gone or opened up.

Now I know she is a chewer, but I had higher hopes for this particular toy. When I went to the manufacturer's site, I realized the gator was merely a "5" on the chew scale. Ah ha! No wonder! I bought it through a small, independent shop, so I let the owner know not all of those particular brand carry the same chew ranking.

Bella hasn't completely destroyed the toy yet (though it is a mere shadow of its former self). So even at a 5, the toy is tough. None-the-less, had I known of the gator's unique ranking, I would have waited until the store owner got more in stock and purchased a more heftily constructed toy. At over $20 a pop, I wanted something a bit more duro.

Odd Noises

I was working at the computer when I heard a strange noise. Puppy? Where's the puppy!

She was busy! Waste baskets might be fun, but toilet paper on a roll—now that is fun!