Are Us Dogs Really Your Best Friend? Or Are We Just Dogs?

My friend Carni moved onto that big fluffy dog bed in the sky yesterday. She was 17 years old, but it was still very difficult for all of us to say goodbye to her - Especially her mom and dad.

Miss. Lisa and Mr. J loved her so very much. I saw them today at moms dog training class. Sure they were all having fun playing with their dogs Ferris Wheel and Popcorn, and yours truly, but I know they were hurting inside. I overheard them talking about Miss. Carni.

I can read human body language...there were hugs, and tears, and a certain smell you humans have when you're stressed. Ferris, Poppy, and I decided it would be best to continue playing since that seemed to entertain all of you.

Miss. Lisa spent most of he adult life with her best buddy Carni. They traveled everywhere together - including those times of having to sleep in their car. Miss. Lisa, who happens to be an amazing veterinarian, wrote a beautiful "love letter" to Carni. She gave me permission to pass it along to you. I think it's beautiful, as do my mom and dad.

It has inspired me to go cuddle with my mom. I wonder if you humans experience grief the same way us dogs do? Something for this inquisitive canine to ponder.

_______

Just a Dog 9/17/09

As a human being, dog lover, and as a veterinarian, one of the saddest things anyone has ever said to me was “At the end of the day it’s just a dog”. In the heartbreaking days and nights before I put my beloved Carni girl to sleep I thought a lot about this comment and what “just a dog” meant to me.

To My Sweet Carni:

Because you are “just a dog” you never learned to hold a grudge. You never complained when I hauled you back and forth between California, Oregon, Washington, Oregon and California again. You were happy as long as you were with me. (and we played Frisbee at all the rest stops).

Because you are “just a dog” you never learned anger. You just curled up next to me when we had to sleep in the car because we were “between homes”. It was cold and snowy those few nights, but you kept me warm in the back of that Isuzu Trooper.

Because you are “just a dog” you never learned what “moderation” meant. You ate motor oil, my tulip bulbs, sprinkler heads, chocolate and half my spice rack.

Because you are “just a dog” you only knew how to live in the moment. You swam with abandon in every lake, river, ocean and stream from here to Washington. And even made me go in after you with my clothes on. (To the delight of everyone watching on the shore).

Because you are “just a dog” you loved me ever single second of every single hour of every single day of your almost 17 years. Because you are “just a dog” you taught me that we only need 3 things in life…food, shelter and love. And that is what I gave you and you gave me your heart. You gave me joy, you gave me love. And because you are my oldest friend-I am giving you peace.

Because you are a light that has guided me through almost half my life I won’t watch you just “exist”. You have put me first for 17 years and now because you are “just a dog” and my best friend, I am putting you first. Your quality of life is more important than the heartache I will forever feel when you are gone. You are more important than the piece of me that will forever be missing when I can’t see your sweet face or watch your tail wag at the site of me.

Because, at the end of MY day…just a dog, named Carni, was all I ever needed.

I love you Carni girl.

Dogs Pulling on Leash Can Be an Issue, But Not For This Dog

I need to have an inquisitive canine moment, hope you all don't mind:

• Why is it humans expect us pooches to know how to walk well on leash if we've never done it before? And why would you expect us to know how to walk well on leash if 1) we don't already know how, and 2) you haven't taught us?

If you found us dogs out in the wild, the last thing we'd want to do is have some obnoxious cord strapped to us while we roam, explore and hunt. Leashes are restricting, and frankly, just get in the way of our having a good time. They can also get tangled in various objects, including our own body parts. But since it's a law to have us dogs leashed (unless stated otherwise), it's one skill responsible dog guardians can teach to help promote a happy relationship that results in good times, not frustration.

Why do I bring this up? Well, mom and I get calls and emails all of the time from dog guardians expressing their frustration of how their own dog doesn't know how to walk well on leash. From dog training class students at our inquisitive canine studio and the Ventura College Community Education, to our private dog training clients, and our dog behavior advice column; people seem to need assistance in the matter of walking their dog on leash.

My mom, who happens to be a certified professional dog trainer, and I have written a few blog posts on the art of dogs and loose leash walking. We've also addressed the matter in our dog behavior advice column directly. However, I myself do not have that issue. As a matter of fact, I have the complete opposite - well, at least 99% of the time. If there is a mail, UPS, FedEx, or other large prey item roaming about, I'll pull so hard it makes those Iditarod pooches look slow.

For the most part I prefer a nice leisurely stroll - sniffing, marking, saying hello to

other dogs and humans...life's too short not to stop and smell the roses (or the dead stinky pile of muck.) Mom on the other hand, when she takes me out, enjoys an actual walk! She's a marathon runner herself. Since she knows I'm not like the herding and retrieving breeds that her friends have, she goes for her runs without me, then takes me on mine - this is when she makes it all about me, and not her.

But sometimes she does want me to keep up the pace and actually walk without stopping! Sometimes we even jog - which is kinda fun...I get to eat chicken when I jog. Little pieces once in awhile. She says it's similar to runners getting food and fluids during races. She refers to herself as my traveling aid station :-) I think that's sweet.

Anyway she wants me to jog, or keep a quicker pace because she wants me to do something you humans refer to as "exercise!" This way I'll be more tired and more likely to want to take nappies, versus bark my head off in the yard - she doesn't like when I do that. To me barking my head off is more fun, this is why mom wants to make walking and jogging with her more fun...she's conditioning me to be more like a herding breed. I guess this is good because then I'm in better shape to bark in the yard - or go to agility class!

A few tips I'd like to relay, from an inquisitive canine's point of view:

1. Make our walks about us once in awhile. If your own dog would rather sniff and explore, allow them to be a dog once in awhile. If you need to exercise, go on your own first, then take your dog for his or her outing.
2. Use humane, comfortable equipment: Mom and I like the harnesses where the leash attaches in the front. Not those nasty collars that cause us pain! Ouch - who has time to think about how to walk on a leash! We're just trying to avoid having our neck yanked!
3. Reward us with yummy treats, petting and praise whenever we do what you want! We're more likely to do more of what you want if we're rewarded for it.
4. Practice-practice-practice! Inside your home with no distractions is the best place to start. Move outside to the real world once we know how the behavior is performed!
5. If you're going to go for longer distance, build slowly. Just like humans need to build up to higher mileage, us dogs do too. And check our paws to make sure they don't get cut or burned...you don't run around barefoot, but we do. Oh, and if your pooch has physical limitations, or is a younger pup, check with his or her veterinarian to make sure it's okay to go for longer distances.

Mom and I had trained to the point I could run a 5K with her... I wonder when we're going to sign up for a race? Hmm, something for this inquisitive, and conditioned canine to ponder.