Sunday, January 31, 2010

Baron's first yoga class

Hi All,
I am pleased to announce that I "centered" myself and took Baron to his first doggy yoga class. Baron was also "centered" - on the dog next to him. It was a very cute class. Twenty five dogs attended; they ranged in size from the Newfoundland to the bijon. There were golden retrievers, golden doodles, a Brittany spaniel, but only one poodle. I have to give Baron credit - he tried to behave. We prepared for the class by running around outside in the frigid weather; came indoors where I threw a ball and Baron ran up and down the stairs to retrieve it. This game didn't last long, because Baron apparently decided I should contribute to the ball retrieval.

The Yoga class was held in an exercise room on the second floor of a health club. I wish I had a picture of the faces of the people working out, as we all entered the exercise area! The club supplied water for dogs and humans, and each dog received a baggie of treats. With our faithful canines by our side (some were more faithful than others), we did a little yoga. At one point the dog was supposed to be draped over us, but a certain poodle (the only poodle) stood on my stomach and licked my face. We massaged our dogs, which Baron clearly enjoyed. Is there a masseuse in his future (that would not be me)? At the conclusion of the class we all marched around the room to the "Caissons are Marching Along." The dogs then had a brief play time. Baron was, for Baron, awesome.
I hope I will have pictures to share.
Botswain

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Dog Park Terror

Hi All,
Baron and I (well, actually just me) have been enjoying the new smaller dog park, until today. Baron was playing quite well with a lovely Burmese Mountain Dog. They were chasing each other, barking and then taking a "time out". Really cute. In the midst of this fun, a new dog (to us only), Vera, entered with her master. Vera is a rescue dog. Baron greeted her enthusiastically - a little too enthusiastically. Vera began growling and showing her teeth (never a good sign). Her owner told me Vera doesn't usually act like this and could hurt Baron. Needless to say, Baron and I made a calm,hasty exit - ok, I was screaming a little hysterically.

The discussion afterwards was about whether Vera and her owner should have left because she was aggressive. Also, my husband pointed out, we don't know whether she would have hurt Baron or whether he would have retaliated. Isn't that just like a man? I felt there is no reason to hang around to see what would happen.
What do you think?
Botswain

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Bandanna Bandit


Hi All,
We've had a mystery here at Poodle Place. To Baron's delight (and mine), my "human" son was home for a week. Although he is 6 feet tall, Bret was almost knocked over by Baron's enthusiastic greeting - reserved for family members only, thank goodness. Bret has a a unique sense of style and often wears a bandanna on his head (it goes well with the beard). The bandanna disappeared! All of the usual culprits were questioned (beginning with me of course), but no one had seen the bandanna, and Bret returned to New York without it.
Several days later, the bandanna was found! During our search of the premises, we neglected to check Baron's toy box. As may recall from the blog entry posted on 10/12/09, Baron has a history of claiming various items which are not his (remember the cuisinart?) and placing them in his toy box, as though they were his - right! Yes, the toy box, another great idea of Baron's trainer (#5) bites the dust.
Botswain
PS
I suspect Baron emulates Bret's style. What do you think?

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Rescue Dog

Hi all,
I have decided that unless I have at least 2 hours to stand in the cold and watch Baron roll in the snow with his friends, our dog park is just too large. I need a small dog park which will increase the chances of catching a racing dog. A park the size of a small driveway might suffice.
I just tried a new park which is much smaller and it was easier to catch a moving target (that would be Baron). At the park, I met a young man, Jim, who had a lovely, perfectly trained (unlike you-know-who)rescue dog, Buddy. Buddy is a mix: part shepherd, chow and rottweiler.
Today's blog entry is about the trauma Buddy experienced before his rescue. He was approximately 2 years old when he was found wandering in the Missouri woods, chained to one of his litter mates. With only 5 feet of chain between the dogs, their movement was limited. Buddy was wearing a choke collar which had not been replaced since he was a small puppy; it was embedded in his neck and had to be surgically removed. Initially Buddy was fearful in unpredictable ways, and either barked frantically or cowered. Jim said Buddy has "street smarts" and is superb at protecting himself, which explains how he survived. Buddy is now about 6 years old, and is obviously flourishing. He is a great companion for Jim, and displayed impressive patience with Baron.
I am writing about Buddy because those of us who love and value our dogs can't imagine the abuse suffered by pets who fall into the wrong hands. We will never know what Buddy experienced. He and Jim are lucky to have found each other. Adopting a rescue dog isn't for everyone. Given Baron's health issues and personality quirks, he probably sounds like a rescue dog, but he wasn't. I got him from a breeder and kept him after he developed an autoimmune disease as a puppy. The point is: there is no guarantee with any dog.
OK I will step off the soap box now, but it riles me to think of the crimes humans commit (with no punishment) where animals are concerned.
Botswain

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Pictures

Hi All,

I have received numerous compliments on the pictures I recently posted on my blog. I thank all of you for your obvious appreciation of Baron's physical attributes. He is a terrific dog - and so handsome! Unfortunately, while I can take credit for Baron's hair cut (I found the groomer), and how handsome he is (I found him), I can not take credit for the pictures. Future blog updates will include my pictures of Baron (don't get excited) or perhaps pictures of my thumb, but those 2 pictures were taken by a lovely woman I met at the dog park. She had a large camera with her and was taking photos of her dogs. She was kind enough to take some of Baron, and e-mail them to me.
How nice was that? I really appreciate her kindness and wanted to share a warm thought.
Botswain

Monday, January 18, 2010

The lost keys

Hi All,
When we last saw our heroine (that would be me), she was valiantly searching the snowy ground for her car keys, eager to return home. Fortunately, I found them inside the bottom of my snow pants. Thank goodness I was wearing jeans underneath or I would have entertained numerous canines and their primate companions. I was particularly eager to return home to change clothes, as Baron's new Doberman friend decided to mark his territory - that would also be me. Yep, you got it. Apparently, the doberman wanted Baron to remember who is the alpha - that would not be me, I'm just a stand-in for a fire hydrant. No more information is forthcoming on that disaster.
All for now,
Botswain

The Orange Whistle


Hi All,

During the cold weather, the best way for Baron to get a workout (i.e. rid himself of his excess energy - if that's possible) is to run around the dog park. I just love it when he does that, because, with any luck, he will stay out of trouble at home.
Unfortunately, there is a glitch. Baron has such a good time playing with his friends, he doesn't want to come when called. He has little reaction to the cold weather. I, of course, am standing there obsessing about frostbite, while my canine companion, oblivious of my predicament, cavorts with his buddies. This has become the challenge.
Never fear, dear readers, I am armed! What am I armed with? A whistle! During Baron's 1st dog obedience class, we learned how to train the dogs to respond to a whistle. I won't bore you with the details, but it involved weeks of whistling and rewarding Baron with liver sausage (ugh). My house smelled of liver sausage, I smelled of liver sausage; I washed my hands so frequently, it was like a dress rehearsal for h1n1 flu prevention. It was a canine aphrodisiac - dogs of all shapes and sizes wanted to lick my hands. Baron happily rushed to my side when I blew the special neon orange whistle (actually a whistle for boaters). I felt in control, it was worth the large investment in liver sausage (and the odor) - until now.
Yesterday at the dog park, not only did Baron fail to check in with me, he forgot about my very existence! I had stood in the icy dog park for 1 hour, feeling like a shoo in for "Dog owner of the year (or at least of the winter)". I called my beloved pooch, who didn't hear me. I then blew the whistle, which was hanging on a cord around my neck - a perfect fashion accessory. There was no response - at least not from Baron. My fellow humans all turned to gaze at me, as I stood there, ineffectively blowing my orange whistle. It did accomplish something - 5 dogs who must have taken dog obedience from our 1st instructor came dashing to my side, in fact, the doberman almost knocked me over in his eagerness for a treat, but not a poodle in sight - at least not mine.
Finally, 2 humans took pity on me, corralled Baron and pointed at me. He looked over at me, obviously thinking "Oh, her". He then ran to my side, thank heavens. I was able to get his leash on and make my frozen way to the car. That's when I discovered the hole in my pants pocket where I keep the car keys.
Stay tuned for the rest of this icy tale.
Botswain

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Playing at the Park


Hi All,
We returned to the infamous dog park today, where Baron was the only pooch around. Of course, it was about 22 degrees, but who's counting? I was absolutely frigid (referring to body temperature only), but Baron was just fine, thank you. He was as perky as ever. He happily accompanied me for a brief walk, until a couple of his fellow canines showed up. He was off and running with his new friends. He is quite social, and doesn't mean to annoy anyone. This picture is slightly deceptive because after it was taken, Baron did try to hump the shepherd, but no one is perfect!
All for now,
Botswain

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Greeted by a Baron

Hi All,

Baron's trainer came today. She thinks he is doing much better; hard to believe isn't it? He came when called (he only does that when she is there), and even stayed once. He was happy, enthusiastic, and willing to do almost anything she requested. Unfortunately his "greeting" (as in at the front door) behavior is not up to Emily Post's standards, hence the trainer recommended continuing work. I already look like an out-of-control anxious parent when visitors come. I am at the door with a bright pink spray bottle (water and a tiny bit of vinegar) yelling "ick". If our visitor is someone Baron is fond of, the she is lucky to enter the house walking as opposed to lying on the ground underneath a rather large poodle.
My current plan is to record the trainer's voice and play it when necessary. Then I will be at the door with a spray bottle, yelling "ick" and playing a recording of the trainer sternly correcting Baron. Oh brother.
Botswain

Friday, January 8, 2010

Home Again

Hi All,
I just returned home from vacation, and was greeted with suspicion by the cab driver who picked me up at the airport. I suppose he had not seen anyone dressed like this since he left his native country. I will admit my attire was in marked contrast to that of my fellow travelers. In lieu of gym shoes, jeans, and a baseball cap, I was wearing battle fatigues, combat boots, knee and elbow pads as well as a black velvet riding helmet (horse, not bike). Along with my luggage, I was carrying an adorable white rubber goose dressed in bathing trunks sitting in an inner tube - the goose squawks when squeezed.

I had to reassure the cab driver that the address I gave him was indeed my home address and not that of a mental institution or outpost for eccentrically dressed freedom fighters. OK you are probably wondering why I was dressed in this attire. No, I was not riding in a fox hunt or preparing for an assault from a foreign country. It is quite simple, and, as I already told you, I was returning home. Come now readers, we all know what this means: Baron will be waiting. The dog who greets me with unbounded enthusiasm upon my return from bringing in the mail (perhaps he thinks there is a letter for him) is usually apoplectic when I return home from a long journey. Definition of long: anything 1 hour or more. In this case, it was "more" as in 2 weeks.

I cautiously entered the house and heard excited barking. I opened the door to the kitchen and Baron sprang. He took little notice of the squawking goose I held in front of him. It was then that I realized my near-fatal mistake: I should have forgone the outfit described above and instead worn a suit of armour. Baron now weighs 70 pounds and is totally unaware of how large he is. He is a toddler in dog's clothing. Like a toddler, Baron wants to sit in his Mommy's lap, even if "Mommy" is now sprawled on the ground, trying to remove her riding helmet (which is very uncomfortable when you are lying on a marble floor), and still holding the rubber goose in an effort to divert Baron's attention.

Anyway, you have the idea. I am home now, and will give you more updates on life at Poodle Place - bruises and all!
Achingly,
Botswain