Anyway, after a week, she is noticeably less pink and may even have a bit of hair re-growth on her back end. She has been getting a seaweed supplement with her food, coconut oil rubbed into her skin and, of course, her daily dose of Ivermectin. The coconut oil must instantly soothe her skin, because she goes into a trance-like state when I am rubbing it on…and she knows she gets to lick the cup when I am done. She does have an upper respiratory infection, so we took her to our vet yesterday and got her some meds for that. I think once those have kicked in a bit, we will start to see more of her true personality.

One thing seems pretty clear, Hazel probably hasn’t been exposed to much in life. She spooks easily, but, the good thing is, she recovers quickly and has enough curiosity to want to check things out most of the time. Right now, she is content to sleep most of the day, get up and play or train for a while, go for a little walk and then go back for another nap. I worry a bit that at some point, she will want to make up for lost time .

Hazel, like Angie and Jenga before her, is doing great with training. She is by far the best loose leash walker I have ever worked with. We have practiced sit, look, down, and wait as well. We have used wait for the car and she seems to be pretty patient. Her car behavior is pretty funny…I am used to nose art in random spots on a car window, Hazel’s goes in a line from one corner of the window to the other, almost like she is methodical in how she checks things out. Every once in a while, I will look back and her face is directly behind me, buried into the corner of the window. This is pretty nice, after Angie, the “I gotta give kisses in the car” dog, Jenga, the “I gotta be right here in between you guys” dog, and Rocco and Savannah, the “We whine the whole way there, wherever there is” dogs.

Hazel also seems to be fairly independent, which is nice. She does not jump up the second we walk into a room or freak out when we leave. She is affectionate, but, not in a needy way…more in a “oh, this is nice way”. She is just as content to chomp on one of her many Nylabones. But, touch her with that coconut oil….and she is in heaven! It is so interesting to me after living so many years with the same 2 dogs to get to know the personalities of others like this. Angie was needy and snuggly, Jenga was goofy, funny and cartoonish, Hazel is cool and assesses everything. Once she decides something is safe, she becomes loving and playful.

We won’t market Hazel for adoption too aggressively yet. Which reminds me…I do need to update her Petfinder ad! She needs time to get well and get comfortable with the world. Once she is more settled and has decompressed, we will take her to events and out into the public eye. For some reason, I fear she won’t be as adored as she should be, what with the lack of hair and all.

She is still pretty adorable, if you ask me!

Hazel was at the shelter for about 3 weeks. She was surrendered by her owner who could not afford to take care of her and her skin issues. I will be honest and say this is something I used to judge pretty harshly on, but, in light of the financial difficulties Paul and I have gone through, am a bit more understanding of now. I also have the owner surrender sheet, on which her previous owner had only good things to say about her and it made me very sad. They had taken her to the PSPCA clinic for her mange and got one round of treatment, but, could not afford on-going care. It also made me sad for Hazel, obviously, as she is clearly is very uncomfortable and in a good amount of pain. She is safe now, and will be treated for everything, get lots of love, good food, supplements and meds. She can sleep until the stress has worn off and get lots of affection and love when she is awake.

I started working with Hazel right away on dog training and am focusing first on loose leash walking. So far, one word: superstar, she has taken to dog training exceptionally ! She stays focused on me and right at my left hip. Paul taught her to sit and today we will practice both some more, along with the multi- purpose “look” to get her attention. I also need to re-arrange the recovery room, so that there is more space and we can work on crate- training and she can spread out with her beloved rope toy and Nylabones.

She has been here less than 48 hours, but here’s what I know about Hazel so far: it feels really good to her to rub her neck on things…your leg, your arm, the ground. She doesn’t care, as long as it provides some relief from the itchies she will rub on it. She loves to look out the window in the car, which is refreshing after Jenga,who insisted on resting her giant head between Paul and I on the center console! Soft treats she will eat immediately, hard ones she buries and saves for later She is good in the bathtub. She wags her tail when she eats. She gets more water on the floor than in her mouth when she takes a drink. And, my favorite of all, Hazel loves kisses and hugs.

Hazel will be here for a while before we start marketing her for adoption. She needs time to heal physically,emotionally and mentally. She needs training. She will get everything and more that she hasn’t had before in her short little life. We hope you will come along on the journey!

You can see just how pink and inflamed the poor girl’s skin is here. Her front paws are very swollen and she has some really crusty spots on her neck and back

You can see how sweet a dog she is:

La Dolce Doggie is your Trusted Pet Sitting, Dog Walking and Dog Training Service in New Hope PA, Doylestown PA, Newtown PA and Lambertville NJ

The seminar itself is absolutely amazing. Jean, as is her way, is able to completely de-bunk so many of the long-standing myths about dogs and training and being here with her has completely reinforced my commitment to training without the use of force or aversives. Having gone through another dog training program and earning a certification in the past, I know a thing or two about dog training, but Jean’s program, “The Academy for Dog Trainers” has helped me learn more about dogs, how they learn and their behavior. Honestly, more than I would have ever guessed there is to know and it is a challenging program, to say the least. But, I know this….I am learning from the absolute best and coming here to see the genius that is Jean Donaldson in action is one of the best things I have ever done. She is knowledge to the Nth degree, totally approachable and real, and extraordinarily funny. I am honored to be in her program and to know her. Jean has written many books, and I have heard more than one person say that they changed the way that they live with and view their dogs. Among those books are “The Culture Clash”, “Fight!”, “Mine!”, “Dogs are from Neptune” and “Oh Behave!” I highly recommend them for anyone who is interested in learning more about dogs and how to live with them in a harmonious and enjoyable way. I have also met some amazing people, students both past and present…all of whom have inspired me to keep working hard on behalf of the dogs that we all love so much…and had a lot of fun with all of them.

Although I came out here specifically for this seminar, I came in a day early so that I could check out a part of the world that I have never been to. Luckily for me, I have a friend from high school who lives not far from San Francisco who offered to give me the quick and dirty tour of the city. We saw a boatload of sights in about 8 hours and it was amazing! I am kind of a chicken and hold fast to routine and generally play it safe. I don’t think that is who I am, I just think that it is something that I sort of let happen over time. I consciously decided that I was not going to do that this time. I decided to take this trip, which was a big deal in itself, and enjoy it. To see and do all that I could and not look back with regret. So, Jenn picked me up at my hotel at 9:30 on Friday morning and off we went. Our first stop was Twin Peaks, where the view of the city was breath-taking and where I got completely doused with water from a rouge self-cleaning toilet. It was worth every soggy second! By far, the highlight of the day was walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. For me, this was huge. I am not a fan of heights or bridges…at all. But, I did not come all this way to admire it from afar. The Golden Gate is long…and full of bicycles, trash carts and pedestrians….not to mention cars flying by and pretty high winds. But, we walked out to the first span (stanchion, truss, support?? not sure what it’s called) and looked down over the bay at the sailboats, Alcatraz and dolphins frolicking in the water. My legs were like jelly, my belly was flipping and my head and heart were enthralled. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. Another highlight was seeing the sea lions at Pier 39 and I could have watched them jostle and vocalize and flop around all day. Most of all, though, I enjoyed spending the day with someone I haven’t seen in about 20 years and simply enjoyed her company. We had a great time catching up and it was easy-going and fun. Chinatown, Little Italy, Painted Ladies, Fisherman’s Wharf, SF Giants fans….yep, we saw all that, too. Quite simply, it was one of the best days of my life. Thanks, Jenn

I am off to Day 2 of the seminar shortly. I can’t wait. Gonna suck up as much knowledge as possible. I am so grateful for this opportunity and so glad I married the man I did, who told me to go and learn and enjoy. He is a good man, my Paul. Thanks, baby

Shot of the entrance to the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Amazing. Beautiful. The best part is that you can tell it is as stress-free an environment as possible. The animals lucky enough to be homeless here are comfortable and happy.

There are a lot of different “styles” of dog training available out there. I have chosen this one because I believe that training should be a good experience for you and your dog. I believe that dog training can be done effectively without the use of shock collars, prong collars, leash corrections or jerking the dog around. Most of us get dogs because we like them, we want a friend, and we think they are fun. Why are so many of us, then, choosing to subject those same dogs to painful training methods, when with proper technique, practice and patience, the same goals can be achieved? I think there are a few answers to this and some go way back and at least one is a fairly recent phenomena: Cesar Millan.

Rather than bashing Mr. Millan, I will instead focus on why methods other than the ones he employs are effective. I will say, however, that Mr. Millan and his TV show have caused a major setback in the field of dog training and caused many people to buy into a methodology that is unsafe, can cause physical and psychological trauma to dogs and is based on nothing more than made up concepts (“calm assertive energy”) and outdated theories about wolf behavior. Anyway, back to the other side of the coin.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training is based in science: it’s forefathers (and mothers) are those who have spent time studying, learning and experimenting with animal behavior and learning. You can not force a killer whale or a dolphin to jump into the air, but, it turns out that well- timed markers of behavior and reinforcements work very well. Skinner and Pavlov worked with many different species, including rats, pigeons and, of course dogs, and found this to be true. Provide reinforcement for a desired behavior and the behavior is that much more likely to occur. This works well for building desired behaviors-it also works well for removing undesired ones. Dog is jumping when you come home….no need for kicks to the chest….simply turn away and ignore. When the dog is engaging in a more acceptable behavior (like Four-on-the-Floor), you reward. And, this doesn’t have to be taught in the heat of the moment. Good positive reinforcement trainers can help build good behaviors, making the “bad” ones that much less likely to happen. This is not “instant gratification” training, however. It is also not fear-based and does not inflict pain. I think if given an educated choice, most dog owners would prefer not to inflict pain on their dogs and cause them to cower in fear. I also think most dogs would prefer not to be jerked on their leashes or rolled onto their backs by their “Alpha” owners (which is a completely erroneous idea).

When you choose a positive reinforcement trainer, you are making a choice that honors your dog and honors the relationship you have with your dog. You are acknowledging that your dog can learn to behave in a way that is appropriate in the human world, while still being a dog. You are allowing him to be a dog who has trust in his humans to be consistent and to live without fear. Training a dog using these scientifically proven methods means that you are taking the time to understand your dog and that you value the relationship you have. Dogs have brains, let’s use them, rather than brute force to live a happy, peaceful life together!

Pet Sitting is an excellent alternative to kenneling your pets, who have two big loves in life: you and their favorite spot to rest. Why put them in a kennel with unfamiliar smells, people and no comfy spots when you can have a professional pet sitter come into your home up to three times a day to feed, walk, play with and love your furry family member? As life-long animal lovers, we put the comfort of our own animals above all else and will do the same for yours. Does your kitty like to stretch out for belly rubs? We love the sound of a good kitty purr! Does your dog like belly rubs? We love to see a doggie sprawled out blissfully, with a paw going 90 miles an hour when we hit “the spot!” We’ll also make sure the mail gets brought in, that everything is working properly in your home and that litter is clean and everyone has fresh water.

La Dolce Doggie is located in New Hope, Pennsylvania and our business is focused solely in a 5 mile radius. That means that if you have a last minute need, we can be there almost immediately. Using a pet sitter means that if your flight is late, you don’t have to rush home to pick up your dog before the kennel closes, we’ll head on back to your house to feed and let him take care of business. Years of experience have taught us that providing pet sitting services to a smaller geographic area means that we can provide better, more reliable service.

In addition to providing pet sitting services in the New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey area, La Dolce Doggie also provides daily dog walking services and dog training. Daily dog walking allows your dog a mid-day break from all that sleeping he does while you are gone for some exercise, stimulation and a potty break…something he will greatly appreciate! And we use only positive reinforcement training that helps promote the human- canine bond without causing fear and using painful methods. Dogs can be trained quite effectively without ever having to feel the pinch of a collar or the jerk of a leash. We love to see happy owners and happy dogs! Plus, we think training can and should be fun and should not be stressful. Whether you are interested in basic obedience or need help with behavior issues, we can help in a way that does not involve “whispering” or any technique that does not have it’s basis in behavioral science.

If you think your beloved furbaby would rather stay home and have visits from a dedicated, professional pet sitter while you are away than go to a kennel, contact La Dolce Doggie! If you live in the New Hope, Pennsylvania or Lambertville, New Jersey area we can help! We can be reached at 215-862-1351 or at info@ladolcedoggie.com!

Fostering is hard work, emotionally and logistically. Emotionally, it is a rollercoaster. Since both dogs had health issues when they arrived, there was quite a bit of worry. Once those were addressed, we worried about their training and getting them house-trained and having good manners. Both Angie and Jenga were excellent pupils and training was pretty much a breeze. They proved themselves able to focus and generalize and willing to learn. Angie’s biggest issue when she left was separation anxiety, which I have said before I thought was more about our arrangement here than anything and Jenga’s biggest issue was being a clutz…and that, well, I don’t know that we can expect that to change Paul and I sleep separately when we have a foster, mostly so the foster isn’t the only one without company at night..and because when both Angie and Jenga got here, they were both so sick that we felt keeping a close eye on them was important. This is not something that is even the least bit of an issue for us…it’s just something we do as part of the job. So, for the first time in 7 weeks, I got back into bed with my husband, 2 dogs and 2 cats. It was quite a bit more crowded than we all have gotten used to and when I came back from the bathroom at 4am, I found Trixie and Savannah snuggled quite closely to each other in my spot. Cozy….and I felt terrible moving them, since they were probably thinking, “ahhhhh, she’s gone again…”, but, I carved out my spot once again. They’ll have to resign themselves to less space once more.

I can say in all honesty, that I probably enjoyed Jenga’s company more than almost any dog I have ever known, except for maybe, Taz, my first dog as an adult and my favorite dog ever. Jenga has a goofy quality about her that was sort of cartoonish….think Scooby Doo and his wildly scrambling legs. I also imagine that if she could speak, she would sound very Scooby-ish. Jenga is just one of those dogs who everyone who meets her, knows she is special. With her huge, square head, her long body and expressive eyes, she just wins everyone over. Every person that she came into contact while with us was enamored immediately. Her personality is just so likeable and enthusiastic that she is impossible not to like. This dog who, when I first met her, was not looking so great, and was super uncertain about everything, blossomed into a social butterfly who liked everyone she met and I think that knowing she was safe and loved with us is what made the difference. What a gift it is to be able to do that for an animal. For me, and I am pretty sure for Paul, too, it makes handing them over easier…knowing that we did the right thing by them. Healed them, fed them, trained them and loved them so that they were ready for a lifetime of happiness….and, that the pain and uncertainty of the past was where it belonged…in the past.

Having said that…the handing over part is not easy at all. I feel like I have a huge hole in my heart that, I guess, will only be filled by the next dog. And, there will be a next dog…just not until I get back from California in May. The fact that Paul asked me last night if I wanted to go in and pick a new foster says so much to me about our commitment and love for each other. Paul comes from a different culture, where animals are not valued as family members the way they are for so many of us here in the US, but, I think that volunteering at the shelter has caused him to look at this in a whole new way and I am so thankful for that. I think that nursing a sick animal back to health has been a gratifying to him as it is to me. I am so glad we are doing this together…and that I married someone who is willing to put up with all of this!

Jenga’s new family has promised to keep in touch, so I’m sure I will have updates. And, even though it won’t be for about a month…I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the question “who’s next?” isn’t constantly running through my head. Fostering is far and away the best rollercoaster I have ever been on!

This is Jenga the first time I met her…at the end of January. I was struck right away by how sad she seemed. I fell in love with her immediately.

This is her a few days ago, after about a month and a half of living with us. Relaxed, happy and transfixed by giant bees!

Since I brought my very first dog home, the animals I have had the privilege of knowing have improved the quality of my life in ways that are hard to measure. They make me laugh, they teach me patience, they cause me to think about things other than myself and my own selfish problems and they have time and time again, taught me compassion.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, both Paul and I love our foster dog, Jenga to the moon and back. Most of those same people think we are going to end up keeping her. We are not. For a few reasons. While there will never be another Jenga, there will always be another dog in need like she was. No doubt about that. I long for the day when that is not the case, but, today is not that day. If we keep Jenga, it will be purely selfish. I know that…and I also know that I won’t be able to live with myself if we are selfish about this. It is not the time for us to add a permanent dog to our household. And, that’s ok. We will miss her like crazy, but, we feel totally confident that she is going to the right people and will live the life of love that she deserves. We met Samantha and Dave yesterday, and once they are settled into their new home, Jenga will go live with them. *I am crying as I type this* Paul and I agreed that they are the right fit for her….young, excited about having her come live with them, moving into a very dog-friendly area and, did I say excited? Not just about getting a dog…but, excited that the dog is Jenga.

In case I haven’t sung Jenga’s praises enough, you need to know that I think she might be the most amazing dog I have ever met. She is a sport about everything, has the funniest little quirks (like her little dancing routine when she gets excited, the whole bathroom rug thing, the hugging, the sleeping face to face thing, the way she literally throws herself into a “down”, the way she tries to squeeze into the front seat of the car….I could go on and on) and has an unbelievably resilient spirit. It blows my mind on a daily basis that someone let this dog go. That someone didn’t see how worthwhile she is. She amazes me and it has been a gift to have her live in our home, even if for just a short time. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to her, but, I am looking forward to passing the torch to the people who will give her the best life possible. Clearly, this dog deserves to be able to play in a dog park with dogs who actually want to play with her and not forever disappointed because the grumpy old dogs here, nor, the very tolerant cats don’t respond to her enthusiastic play bows!
Here’s a picture from yesterday when Samantha & Dave came to meet Jenga at the park It should be noted that she very enthusiastically went off for a walk with them without even looking back at us. And, obviously she gave them hugs, because that’s how you always greet people you just met, right? I’m so excited for all of them.

In other GREAT news, Paul’s Pen Pal, Taz went into foster care yesterday with the friend of another volunteer. This was such great news, because Taz is a truly fantastic dog, who had a hard time at the shelter, getting pretty sick fairly soon after arriving. On Saturday, Paul and I gave him a bath and his reward for being such a sport about it was a Kong stuffed with goodies and I swear I have never seen a dog so happy with something in my life! He carried that thing in his mouth for like 15 minutes, tongue hanging out the other side, relishing in it before he decided to eat the noms it held. Taz was Paul’s second Pen Pal and I am so glad it was another success for him Here’s the handsome guy on Saturday

And, finally, because Taz had gone into foster care in the morning…we took Hova to the event at Pennypack Park yesterday. He proved to be an excellent replacement. The crate was not put together completely, so he escaped into the back of my brother’s car. But, we got to the event safely with the only damage being a chewed off finger on a leather glove. Hova took it upon himself to literally make out with me for the last few minutes in the car, and I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t get him to stop. He was great at the event…learned “sit” and “look”, met some kids and a few horses, wanted to be BFF’s with Jenga and enjoyed the freedom of a few hours out to pee everywhere with wild abandon

It’s been a pretty damn good week But, don’t forget…all dogs are always urgent at the shelter. Even if you can’t adopt or foster….you can share!! Tell your friends, share Facebook posts…every single action you take towards saving an animals life counts! Do it today!! You may just save the next Jenga, simply by clicking the share button on Facebook. You will never feel better about having done a simple thing! Visit the Philly Urgents page on Facebook! And, now kitten season is upon us….so spread the word about all the great cats and kittens, too, please!!

The most recent example of this is my Pen Pal, Gidget. I had grown increasingly concerned about her as time went on. Her frustration was growing, her energy becoming more unfocused and Nora (my co-Pen Pal) and I had received very little interest in her. Nora and I were able to see what she was capable of and how good of a dog she could be for someone and it was heartbreaking that it seemed there were no adoption prospects who could. Gidget is smart as a whip, and training with her was amazing. Her ability to focus on what her human is asking of her was astounding..and we both believed that once in a home, her unfocused energy and frustration would work itself out with some more training and consistency.

While all dogs at the shelter are considered urgent, there comes a point when things become “super” urgent. Monday was that day for Gidget. I immediately got in contact with Nora, who ran down to the shelter. I didn’t want to leave the house, because Jenga, our foster dog, has a bad ear infection and was really not feeling well, so, I manned the computer. I watched the shelter Facebook pages and checked my email continually. And, it paid off….at very close to the last minute. At 7:16, I switched back to my email from Facebook, and I had an email from someone wanting to know if it was too late. I could not believe it! I wasted no time on pleasantries and told her that if she was going, she needed to go NOW…her response: “On my way”. I called Nora to let her know to be on the lookout and she and a few volunteers kept Gidget happy and busy until the person arrived. The adopter fell quickly in love and after a few hours of tips, offers of support and (happy) tearful goodbyes, Gidget went on to her new life, with a mom and 2 teenaged boys.

So, despite the heartbreak, the endless stream of dumped dogs, the tears and the uncertainty; I keep going back. Because of days like Monday…because there are other dogs who don’t make it and were just as deserving of a new life. Monday also helped Paul and I make another decision that was difficult to make. As much as we love her, and as well as she fits in, we will not be keeping Jenga. We had toyed with the idea of keeping her once it was clear how well she fit in with everyone else, but, we brought her in to let her go and we are going to stick with the plan. If we keep Jenga, we cannot bring another dog in need home. Monday was a stark reminder of what we set out to do: save dog’s lives. Jenga has what sounds to be the perfect adopter interested in her and we are meeting on Sunday. If all goes well, Jenga will go live with them Mid-April. Once I get back from my seminar with The Academy for Dog Trainers and dog*tec in May (which is a big deal for me, since it’s in California and I hate to fly!), we will plan to bring in our next foster…and fall in love and say goodbye when the time is right.
This is an endless roller-coaster of emotions to be sure. But, a most worthwhile one. An update this morning from her adopter said that Gidget is doing well and people obviously don’t know a good thing when they see it and she felt like she hit the jackpot with her! And, really…I mean…look at this face!! Doesn’t she deserve the absolute best life possible?

Best wishes for a happy, happy life sweet Gidget

La Dolce Doggie is your Trusted Pet Sitting, Dog Walking and Dog Training Service in New Hope PA and Lambertville NJ

As expected, Rocco snarked off at her a few times, but, Jenga proved herself to be excellent at reading his cues. This was the case on our walks, and I was happy to see it was the same indoors, off-leash. We let them sniff and mill about a bit and over the course of a few hours, everyone eventually settled into a spot. Jenga tried to engage Savannah in play, which, Savannah at 9 years old, was not all that interested in, but, when given a back off growl, Jenga did exactly that. The cats handled it well, too, and neither Trixie or Zooby seem particularly bothered by her walking amongst them. This is probably in part because the three of them had much conversation and sniffs through the gate.

This morning, Jenga showed her usual hesitation when presented with something new: the new this time being free to roam freely. Once she was reassured, she happily joined us in the living room. A little too happily for Rocco, who snarked off again, but, once again she handled it like a champ and backed off immediately. With that out of the way, the rest of the day has proceeded without incident. Jenga really seems very in tune with the residents and has maintained a pretty calm attitude all day. Her jumping has decreased dramatically, they have been able to do sit and paw and take treats side by side. It is fantastic.

Over time, I have become increasingly nervous when mixing dogs. Incidents at the dog park, Rocco’s grumpiness and my own tendency to be a nervous nellie have caused me to be a bit more cautious than necessary, at times. Talking to my classmates in The Academy for Dog Trainers, watching dogs interact at the shelter, learning more about body language and understanding behavior more have helped me feel more comfortable and last night really boosted my confidence.

So, for now… in our home in New Hope everyone is integrated. No bouncing back and forth between the bedrooms and the rest of the house. It makes things much easier because even though our home in New Hope is not big it was still an effort to go back and forth and keep everyone seperated…and more peaceful. No one feels left out. No one is anxious about when we are coming back. The best part, according to the cats, is that they have their room back. Even if they have to share it with Jenga’s leash

La Dolce Doggie is your Trusted Pet Sitting, Dog Walking and Dog Training Service in New Hope PA

Taz is a handsome, 5 year old Mastiff/ Lab mix might just be one of the coolest dogs you’ll ever meet. He’s kind of a man’s man though the ladies like him, too! He’s a bigger guy, weighing in at about 65lbs, but, he’s really a big teddy bear! Taz really loves being out of his kennel and hanging with me, who by the way is his very own volunteer. I am working on keeping him happy here at the shelter and that includes training, socialization and fun! Taz is a very stable dog who likes to meet other dogs and being outside in the fresh air. With his gorgeous brindle coat and his goofy smile, he is quite the catch.

If you are looking for a calm, easy-going middle aged dog? Taz is your man! For more info on Taz, contact his me at paulnanan@ladolcedoggie.com!