Showing posts with label isabella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label isabella. Show all posts
February 4, 2015
December 3, 2014
November 26, 2014
June 5, 2013
I guess you all knew that though, didn't you?
Isabella and I are doing well. Settling in to our current residence. We'll be here for longer than originally planned. Looking more like a year or a bit over.
She has a birthday coming up and this will be her third! However, due to our relocation we are no longer lucky enough to be able to host quite the same kind of birthday bash as we had in the past. I'm still looking forward to putting a fun little event together though.
On a positive note, where we are now residing gives me the opportunity to take Isabella on some walks/jogs that I was unable to in the past. She is really loving that!
I feel bad for slacking so much lately on the blog, but it seems like I have been buying fewer new items as of late. Hopefully, things will get back to normal. Eventually. :-)
Isabella and I are doing well. Settling in to our current residence. We'll be here for longer than originally planned. Looking more like a year or a bit over.
She has a birthday coming up and this will be her third! However, due to our relocation we are no longer lucky enough to be able to host quite the same kind of birthday bash as we had in the past. I'm still looking forward to putting a fun little event together though.
On a positive note, where we are now residing gives me the opportunity to take Isabella on some walks/jogs that I was unable to in the past. She is really loving that!
I feel bad for slacking so much lately on the blog, but it seems like I have been buying fewer new items as of late. Hopefully, things will get back to normal. Eventually. :-)
March 20, 2013
March 13, 2013
March 11, 2013
Isabella has suffered from anxiety and neophobia since puppy-hood. The strangest things make her uncomfortable. In particular, new things brought in to the home; furniture, blinds, pinwheels and on one occasion, my nephew's pumpkin for Halloween.
I've spent a lot of time desensitize her to new things. She trusts me, but everything new takes time and lots of rewards. (She received a small pool for her birthday last summer and it took me almost an hour to get all 4 of her feet in at one time. Once in, she loved it.) In her classes there was initial trepidation with tunnels, chutes, and hula hoops. She eventually overcame those fears, but has yet to claim victory over the stair/ramp combo. She loves to learn, but sometimes getting to the point where she is successfully engaging in an activity with props can be tough.
In addition to her uncommon phobias, she has a strong sense of anxiety. New situations throw her in to a tizzy. (An "Izzy in a Tizzy" if you will.) She loves nothing more than riding in the car, but if it comes time to get out of the car, she sometimes is leery of my intentions. (Weirdly, she has no fear of her veterinarian(s), shots, or exams. The scale that weighs her though? Forget about it.)
In my attempts to ease her anxiety I have tried a couple things.
In this entry I will share with you two of my experiences in trying to calm down a fussy, skittish pup.
First up, D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone
.
I wish I could say this made a difference in her behavior, but it didn't seem to.
I also tried it on Angel, who hates riding in cars. Okay, hates is an understatement, she totally and completely despises car rides. D.A.P made no difference with her.
It was pretty costly, considering it had no noticeable effect on either of them. I tried it out at different times, typically using the ol' "spray a bandana" trick. The only difference was the adorable accessory they were sporting. I tested it during Isabella's "settle" times (code for a doggy time out,) by spraying her beloved blankey with it. Comparing it to when she only has her settle down toy, I can't say there was any real change in behavior.
Long story short, this product mostly sits on a shelf. I sometimes spray Angel's bed with it...just because..no real reason. I may as well use it, and it's likely not hurting anything.
Next...Rescue Remedy
.
The pet formula. Not to be confused with the human Rescue Remedy.
This product is a liquid that comes in a small brown bottle with a dropper. I found that dosing wasn't an exact science for us. I started out with about half a dropper for Isabella before we encountered a stressful or excitable situation. Then a little more later, as needed. I don't know if she just acclimated quicker for some reason, or if it truly was/is the rescue remedy helping. I know several dog parents who swear by it though - and I personally did notice a small difference in her about 15 minutes after administering it. It has been helpful with our walks in the past, too.
I can't say I saw as big a change in Angel's demeanor. Maybe ever-so-slightly. Her total freak outs in the car turned in to more of a whine-fest, but still, it was no miracle worker.
I keep this one around, and I do toss it in to my purse (or the dog bag) when we hit the road.
So there you have it - two calm down methods.
Truthfully, I find doggy massage more effective than either of them, but Rescue Remedy, combined with that, seems to be a great combo for soothing Isabella.
(These are my opinions and personal experiences. It is not intended to be a replacement for medical care. And in the case of R.R, you may want to run it by your veterinarian before giving your dog any new substances.)
I've spent a lot of time desensitize her to new things. She trusts me, but everything new takes time and lots of rewards. (She received a small pool for her birthday last summer and it took me almost an hour to get all 4 of her feet in at one time. Once in, she loved it.) In her classes there was initial trepidation with tunnels, chutes, and hula hoops. She eventually overcame those fears, but has yet to claim victory over the stair/ramp combo. She loves to learn, but sometimes getting to the point where she is successfully engaging in an activity with props can be tough.
In addition to her uncommon phobias, she has a strong sense of anxiety. New situations throw her in to a tizzy. (An "Izzy in a Tizzy" if you will.) She loves nothing more than riding in the car, but if it comes time to get out of the car, she sometimes is leery of my intentions. (Weirdly, she has no fear of her veterinarian(s), shots, or exams. The scale that weighs her though? Forget about it.)
In my attempts to ease her anxiety I have tried a couple things.
In this entry I will share with you two of my experiences in trying to calm down a fussy, skittish pup.
First up, D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone
.I wish I could say this made a difference in her behavior, but it didn't seem to.
I also tried it on Angel, who hates riding in cars. Okay, hates is an understatement, she totally and completely despises car rides. D.A.P made no difference with her.
It was pretty costly, considering it had no noticeable effect on either of them. I tried it out at different times, typically using the ol' "spray a bandana" trick. The only difference was the adorable accessory they were sporting. I tested it during Isabella's "settle" times (code for a doggy time out,) by spraying her beloved blankey with it. Comparing it to when she only has her settle down toy, I can't say there was any real change in behavior.
Long story short, this product mostly sits on a shelf. I sometimes spray Angel's bed with it...just because..no real reason. I may as well use it, and it's likely not hurting anything.
Next...Rescue Remedy
.The pet formula. Not to be confused with the human Rescue Remedy.
This product is a liquid that comes in a small brown bottle with a dropper. I found that dosing wasn't an exact science for us. I started out with about half a dropper for Isabella before we encountered a stressful or excitable situation. Then a little more later, as needed. I don't know if she just acclimated quicker for some reason, or if it truly was/is the rescue remedy helping. I know several dog parents who swear by it though - and I personally did notice a small difference in her about 15 minutes after administering it. It has been helpful with our walks in the past, too.
I can't say I saw as big a change in Angel's demeanor. Maybe ever-so-slightly. Her total freak outs in the car turned in to more of a whine-fest, but still, it was no miracle worker.
I keep this one around, and I do toss it in to my purse (or the dog bag) when we hit the road.
So there you have it - two calm down methods.
Truthfully, I find doggy massage more effective than either of them, but Rescue Remedy, combined with that, seems to be a great combo for soothing Isabella.
(These are my opinions and personal experiences. It is not intended to be a replacement for medical care. And in the case of R.R, you may want to run it by your veterinarian before giving your dog any new substances.)
March 6, 2013
February 27, 2013
February 20, 2013
February 14, 2013
I know, I know.
I am generally an advocate of Nylabones. However, that doesn't mean they don't have products that I simply do not care for. I wanted to take a few moments to touch upon that, and let everyone know that I am not a fan of every single Nylabone and I definitely don't believe the company (or any company for that matter) can do no wrong.
For instance, my household is not one for Flexi-chews, or Healthy Edibles. (Healthy Edibles claim to be edible, but they remind me of Greenies. Which I also don't like. Big pieces break off, and that I don't like.)
On a whim, I bought this particular Nylabone from Petsmart's website. I was skeptical the moment it arrived.
When I went researching this particular bone, I saw some better pictures showing that even the little red pieces come out. They are separate from the bone itself and actually dislodge! What on EARTH? For one thing, I can't imagine why Nylabone wouldn't make this a solid toy! For another, pieces that chip off like that? From my reading, I've come to find that, unfortunately, my experience wasn't isolated. (It's also worth noting that Isabella's friend, Abby the Doberman, chewed open one of these as well.)
I was very unhappy with this Nylabone and it found it's way to the trash. I will never purchase another one.
Now, here are the DuraChew models I have found last the longest. They are hard, dense, and large pieces do not break off. Please do not confuse these with the Healthy Edibles or Flexi-chew models. - Even with Isabella being an aggressive chewer, and Angel playing from time to time, these hold up for a while.
Since I often have out about 5-7 Nylabones at any given time and keep some in stock, it's hard to tell you for certain just how long they last. At night when I put the toys away I check them then for signs of over-use and toss ones that are starting to get too rough looking for my comfort level. Then just replace with a new one the next day. Keeping a variety out probably helps them seemingly last longer, as there are just so many to choose from. Which doesn't stop all of them from being drug out in to the floor during the day......
My absolute favorite, and the type we purse the most, are the plain old DuraChews (the first one linked.) We have them in Original, chicken, and bacon. They're always a hit, and they have yet to disappoint me.
In all of the bones we buy SOUPER size. Big dogs, big bones.
The last one I linked is the ring, which is available in LARGE as a size. I bought one of these on sale inside an actual Petsmart and decided to give it a go. (On sale it was even cheaper than Amazon, which, while we're on the topic, usually has the cheapest bones.) I was a bit hesitant but I have to admit, the ring held up well. I even bought a couple more. They're actually not as big of a hit with Isabella, for whatever reason, but Angel loves these.
So there ya go. A few Nylabones I don't like, and a few I do.
Thanks for stopping by!
I am generally an advocate of Nylabones. However, that doesn't mean they don't have products that I simply do not care for. I wanted to take a few moments to touch upon that, and let everyone know that I am not a fan of every single Nylabone and I definitely don't believe the company (or any company for that matter) can do no wrong.
For instance, my household is not one for Flexi-chews, or Healthy Edibles. (Healthy Edibles claim to be edible, but they remind me of Greenies. Which I also don't like. Big pieces break off, and that I don't like.)
On a whim, I bought this particular Nylabone from Petsmart's website. I was skeptical the moment it arrived.
This bone is hollow. Hollow. It's a DuraChew - and it's hollow?
I handed it to Isabella and sat down near her to watch (Oh I've learned my lesson.) In 10-15 minutes she had a hole worked in the corner.
Isabella is pretty good with her "leave it" command, even when it's something she enjoys, so she spit the bone out for me and I took the whole mess away. Much to her confusion. (Oh come on, I replaced it with her regular type.)When I went researching this particular bone, I saw some better pictures showing that even the little red pieces come out. They are separate from the bone itself and actually dislodge! What on EARTH? For one thing, I can't imagine why Nylabone wouldn't make this a solid toy! For another, pieces that chip off like that? From my reading, I've come to find that, unfortunately, my experience wasn't isolated. (It's also worth noting that Isabella's friend, Abby the Doberman, chewed open one of these as well.)
I was very unhappy with this Nylabone and it found it's way to the trash. I will never purchase another one.
Now, here are the DuraChew models I have found last the longest. They are hard, dense, and large pieces do not break off. Please do not confuse these with the Healthy Edibles or Flexi-chew models. - Even with Isabella being an aggressive chewer, and Angel playing from time to time, these hold up for a while.
Since I often have out about 5-7 Nylabones at any given time and keep some in stock, it's hard to tell you for certain just how long they last. At night when I put the toys away I check them then for signs of over-use and toss ones that are starting to get too rough looking for my comfort level. Then just replace with a new one the next day. Keeping a variety out probably helps them seemingly last longer, as there are just so many to choose from. Which doesn't stop all of them from being drug out in to the floor during the day......
My absolute favorite, and the type we purse the most, are the plain old DuraChews (the first one linked.) We have them in Original, chicken, and bacon. They're always a hit, and they have yet to disappoint me.
In all of the bones we buy SOUPER size. Big dogs, big bones.
The last one I linked is the ring, which is available in LARGE as a size. I bought one of these on sale inside an actual Petsmart and decided to give it a go. (On sale it was even cheaper than Amazon, which, while we're on the topic, usually has the cheapest bones.) I was a bit hesitant but I have to admit, the ring held up well. I even bought a couple more. They're actually not as big of a hit with Isabella, for whatever reason, but Angel loves these.
So there ya go. A few Nylabones I don't like, and a few I do.
Thanks for stopping by!
February 13, 2013
February 9, 2013
It's been rainy here. Well, it was rainy. Then it snowed several inches. Then the snowed melted. Then it rained. Then it snowed again. Snow melted. Now it's back to rain. (This is what happens when you live in a place where the outside temperature literally goes from 3*F on Monday to 62*F on Friday.)
It has turned our backyard in to a disaster. A yucky, gross, muddy disaster. Outdoor time is a lot more limited for the girls when it's like this. (At least they can play in the snow without it turning in to a bath.) Which means Isabella is getting bored. Really bored. She has taken to pestering me just about every moment of the day for something to do. When we find something, she's only interested in the activity for about as long as a hummingbird stays with one flower.
Inside fetch? "Find it" games? Puzzles? Work?
What do you do when your furry kids are bored and it's too nasty to play outside for long periods?
Anybody?
February 7, 2013
One of my more frustrating issues with Isabella has been that she is one heck of an escape artist. It's crazy, really.
Flat collars don't stand a chance. (They're fine for inside, but if we're going out other measures must be taken.)
Harnesses? Nope. Over the head, step in..doesn't matter. She's outta there.
Gentle leader? Well, if you give her half a second she uses her dew claws as thumbs in order to remove the loop off her nose.
How you ask? I have no real clue. She seems to have this magical ability to back and wiggle her way out of everything. After her trainer witnessed her freeing herself from a "no slip" (HA) harness she shook her head, and mumbled "Man, she is a smart one.."
Isabella is a fearful little thing, so her goal behind getting free is typically because something has scared her (strange car, certain people, kids, a stroller, large branches..) You never know with her. Other times I sense she just wants to show off to me that she can get out, no matter what dear ol' Mom does. Especially since it isn't like she takes off from me. Her main goal in life seems to be gluing herself to my side, actually.
Problem number 2? She is a puller. Only when she wants to be.
The gentle leader worked at first for the pulling. Unfortunately she quickly discovered that if she were to drag her face along the ground (concrete, in particular) and bloody her nose, that Mom would just take it off. *Loud sigh.*
I tried the easy walk harness. No dice. It had zero effect on our walks, and she can indeed free herself from it. Eventually, our trainer introduced us to the Sense-ation line of harnesses. She loaned us one to try during a class, and it worked! She responded very well to the harness. I bit the bullet (even after spending more than $100.00 on various types of harnesses and collars by this point,) I figured what's a little more... When the harness came in the mail, I fit her for it and got her ready for a test walk in a low traffic area. A quick loop around a quiet area. It worked! IT WORKED!
Let me say that for you one more time: IT WORKED!
She was totally under control and didn't seem at all bothered by the harness. In fact, she actually appeared to be enjoying herself. I was ecstatic! Proud even.
Granted if we are taking a trip and I don't trust her, I still toss her gentle leader in my bag...just in case. However she really doesn't seem to need it much anymore. I can say... I'm very happy with this harness. I only wish I'd found it sooner.
Due to her awesome Houdini-like talents though, we have to double clip her lead to be sure if she slips free from one device the other still holds tight. (Just for safety's sake. When she gets frightened, which is frequently, she will do anything to get away.)
Flat collars don't stand a chance. (They're fine for inside, but if we're going out other measures must be taken.)
Harnesses? Nope. Over the head, step in..doesn't matter. She's outta there.
Gentle leader? Well, if you give her half a second she uses her dew claws as thumbs in order to remove the loop off her nose.
How you ask? I have no real clue. She seems to have this magical ability to back and wiggle her way out of everything. After her trainer witnessed her freeing herself from a "no slip" (HA) harness she shook her head, and mumbled "Man, she is a smart one.."
Isabella is a fearful little thing, so her goal behind getting free is typically because something has scared her (strange car, certain people, kids, a stroller, large branches..) You never know with her. Other times I sense she just wants to show off to me that she can get out, no matter what dear ol' Mom does. Especially since it isn't like she takes off from me. Her main goal in life seems to be gluing herself to my side, actually.
Problem number 2? She is a puller. Only when she wants to be.
The gentle leader worked at first for the pulling. Unfortunately she quickly discovered that if she were to drag her face along the ground (concrete, in particular) and bloody her nose, that Mom would just take it off. *Loud sigh.*
I tried the easy walk harness. No dice. It had zero effect on our walks, and she can indeed free herself from it. Eventually, our trainer introduced us to the Sense-ation line of harnesses. She loaned us one to try during a class, and it worked! She responded very well to the harness. I bit the bullet (even after spending more than $100.00 on various types of harnesses and collars by this point,) I figured what's a little more... When the harness came in the mail, I fit her for it and got her ready for a test walk in a low traffic area. A quick loop around a quiet area. It worked! IT WORKED!
Let me say that for you one more time: IT WORKED!
She was totally under control and didn't seem at all bothered by the harness. In fact, she actually appeared to be enjoying herself. I was ecstatic! Proud even.
Granted if we are taking a trip and I don't trust her, I still toss her gentle leader in my bag...just in case. However she really doesn't seem to need it much anymore. I can say... I'm very happy with this harness. I only wish I'd found it sooner.
Due to her awesome Houdini-like talents though, we have to double clip her lead to be sure if she slips free from one device the other still holds tight. (Just for safety's sake. When she gets frightened, which is frequently, she will do anything to get away.)
February 5, 2013
Long time, no see.
Well, I'm back. With a new vision for the blog, and a renewed sense of..uh..purpose. So let's give this a try. I'll also be editing some older posts and reworking a few of the blog pages and hope to get things spiffy-ed up again as soon as possible. In my absence I see that blogger has been nice enough to make some changes to their setup as well.
After grabbing the test at a local store (I really suggest Amazon for it, their price is more reasonable. I just didn't want to wait on the test to arrive) I got home and immediately dumped everything out on the table. After reading the directions twice, I began the process. The kit includes 2 "collection kits" that you are to use to collect DNA from your beloved furry one. Isabella was generally patient with me, despite seeming a bit confused by the new ritual. The directions say no treats or food for two hours prior to collecting the sample, bee-tee-dubbs. - I dutifully swabbed the inside of Isabella's mouth, in between the gum and cheek. Trying not to hit any teeth, which I am certain I did with one of the swabs as she moved her head, but hey that's what the second kit is for? AmIright?
I registered my kit online and packed everything up. (The envelope you send them back in is postage paid, no extra time or money there.) After dropping it in the mail the next day, I waited. And waited. And waited. Okay, in reality the total time, with shipping, was about 3 weeks, but it felt like an eternity. The kit includes a unique number to check the status of your test results and I did. Frequently. What can I say? I was excited.
The results came in -- and I was shocked. Turns out, her father was seemingly the less "mutt" like of her parents. The two most identifiable breeds were... Miniature Pinscher and Boxer. Yeah, I re-read that a couple times, too.
Boxer? Sure. Okay, I buy that with no argument. But Min Pin? Boy, that was not one that I saw coming.
(I immediately shared these results with the parents of Isabella's mom and brother, who I believe shared it with several of her other sibling's human parents.) Isabella, coming from a large litter, has a variety of siblings. Some smaller than her, some a great deal large. (With her weighing in around 65lbs, she has siblings over 100lbs.) Colors ranged from black, predominately black with white markings, the reverse of that, chocolate, brindle... Talk about a mixed litter.
Mom (Isabella's, I mean) turned out to be quite a different story. The markers in her were a bit more scattered. Although Isabella appears to be very much a Lab, it turns out, there are few markers in her DNA to match a Labrador. In fact, she has more markers of a Leonberger than a Labrador!
The whole process was a lot of fun for me, and I am excited to share it with out veterinarian(s) since we've all speculated for some time about her breed mix.
If you have a few spare bucks (or maybe you want to ask for it as a gift, like myself) and you're interested - I'd recommend giving the Wisdom Panel a go! If nothing else, it's interesting. And for me, it was a shock.
Has anyone else used, or is planning to use a Wisdom Panel? I'd love to hear some other stories from fellow doggie DNA seekers!
And now..for the visual aides..
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| Isabella's family tree. |
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| Some other breeds detected on Mom's side. |
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