Training is a Wonderful Thing

Daisy tolerating my granddaughter, lol

If this is your first time to my visit my blog, I had promised a follow up on Daisy's training:  

My vet had recommended a local trainer when I talked to her about my concerns with Daisy's aggression. I immediately went to the trainer's website (ourdogtrainer.com) and the questions he posed on his homepage ~embarassed? worried about injury? frustrated? irritated? overwhelmed? upset? afraid?~ described my situation perfectly. 

To say I am pleased with Daisy's training results at this point is definitely an understatement. I can't believe the difference in her behavior. 

Bella & Daisy sharing the "Place"

Our lesson this week was at Home Depot. I was pretty apprehensive about taking Daisy to a place where she would be in close proximity to people and possibly other dogs. The trainer brought his dog too. As you can see from the trainer's link below, she was very relaxed in the down command at the entrance watching people come and go.

Daisy at Home Depot 

We purposely set her up in many different situations that normally would have brought an embarrassing meltdown, but instead she looked to me for calm and guidance. We walked by people pushing carts, kids, loud equipment and men in bright orange vests, lol. 

I worked really hard to stay calm and confident so as to convey to her I was in charge and could handle anything without her help. We had one incident where someone brought in their HUGE unruly dog that had every intention of eating Daisy. (I'm not sure why you would bring a large aggressive dog to Home Depot?) The trainer said Daisy definitely had every right to feel threatened. I was able to calm her with a correction so she could see I wasn't going to let anything happen. I can't believe how much my attitude and demeanor influences hers. 

I am now training Abby too with the methods I am learning.

Although learning obedience commands was an important part of her training (sit, down, place, come, stay, heel, nope), what I considered the most essential was the modification of Daisy's frame of mind. Teaching her self control through the obedience commands helped her in situations where she would come unhinged. 

Another important aspect of the training was teaching me how to communicate clearly, calmly and effectively with Daisy. We had a good relationship before the training, but the mutual respect we now have for each other has brought us to a whole new level. At bedtime, the first thing she does when she comes to bed is snuggle up to my neck and cuddle for a few minutes. She looks to me now anytime she is unsure of how to react. I love this!  When one of the other dogs go to bark at a squirrel out the front window, she looks at me like, "Mom, I'm pretty sure you don't want me to do that!"

One thing that I struggled with at first was not treating my dogs as my children (humanizing them). I love my dogs with a passion but what I didn't realize is they are uncomfortable and confused when we expect them to behave like a little four legged person. I respect their species and try to communicate more clearly in their language. By this I mean using fewer and consistent words and body language to convey my expectations. When I make a rule, such as no jumping, I have to expect the same behavior at all times, no exceptions.

Just hanging out with my sis

I have actually ordered her a pink (of course) vest that I plan to use when we are in public that says "Please Give Me Space". Being the cute, fluffy and little dog she is, everyone assumes she wants to be petted. This vest will at least stop those who quickly move in before I can say No! It is my job to be sure people/dogs do not invade her comfort zone.

I plan to work with each of my dogs to teach them everything Daisy has learned. I have already started working with Abby. It is so nice to put them in their "place" when people visit. It doesn't look like a stampede anymore. I look forward to the day when I can say "place" and all five scramble for their spot.

I am so so so happy that I had the opportunity to learn how to help Daisy become a less reactive, calmer and happier dog. Her training will be a life long pursuit, but she is so worth it. I know that she will never be the cute and friendly dog that loves everybody, but at least I am now confident of how she will react in most situations and know how to handle it correctly. 

If you have any specific questions about her training, please don't hesitate to ask!

My granddaughter loves her some Bella!

10 Things to Remind Your Dog About Christmas...

Bella

My schnauzies and I thought we would share our list of things we discussed that they need to remember during our most wonderful time of the year:

1. Don't pee on the tree or presents. (Unfortunately, this one has already been disregarded, sigh...)

2. The presents that smell interesting are not for your playing and chewing pleasure.

3. The cords running from the tree to the wall are not new chew toys, and neither are the glowing "balls" on the tree.

Carly

4. Please be pleasant when we have company, even if they sit on your favorite spot on the couch.

5. Speaking of strangers, they may not appreciate your kisses as much as mommy, so keep that sweet licker to yourself.

Daisy

6. Try to be tolerant of the children. (Daisy - this means you.) I don't want to have to explain any scratch or bite marks to their mommies or daddies.

7. Please DO NOT drink out of cups or eat out of the plates left within your reach. Tummy aches are not fun for you or mommy.

8. Feel free to show our visitors as much charm as you can muster. This does not include bringing them dirty underwear or socks from the laundry.

Abby

9. The UPS and mail person are not staking out our house for a robbery. Mommy ordered all our gifts online this year and they have to deliver them. So chill PLEASE!!!

Scooter

10. Lastly, but most important - DO NOT...I REPEAT...DO NOT bite the big jolly guy who will be coming out of our fireplace in the middle of the night. 

A Puppy's Christmas

It's the day before Christmas

And all through the house

The puppies are squeaking

An old rubber mouse.

The wreath which had merrily

Hung on the door

Is scattered in pieces

All over the floor.

The stockings that hung

In a neat little row

Now boast a hole in

Each one of the toes.

The tree was subjected

To bright-eyed whims,

And now, although splendid,

It's missing some limbs.

I catch them and hold them.

"Be good", I insist.

They lick me, then run off

To see what they've missed.

And now as I watch them

The thought comes to me,

That theirs is the spirit

That Christmas should be.

Should children and puppies

Yet show us the way,

And teach us the joy

That should come with this day?

Could they bring the message

That's written above,

And tell us that, most of all

Christmas is love.

[Anonymous]

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by our blog...See you next year!

5 Things I Am Thankful For

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many of us start to reflect on things that we are thankful for. This has been an awesome year for me. I not only have been able to retire, I am now able to spend so much quality time with my family and my schnauzers. When you work full time, it seems that all you have time to do is run from one chore to the next. Life has slowed down significantly and become much sweeter. I want to reflect a little bit on my five schnauzer sweethearts that I am thankful for every day:

Scooter - Our first schnauzer puppy and our tiniest of the group. He introduced us to the official "schnauzer hug". A true lap dog unless you happen to sneeze and then he runs away like someone is shooting at him. He no longer allows anyone to pick him up other than me or my husband. He's a little quirky because of his age but endearing just the same. His puppy kisses are a little tougher to take because of his old dog breath, but just as sweet.

Bella - The ultimate schnauzer "lady". She is so gentle, sweet and loving, I often think what a great mommy she would have been. She is a cuddle bug and is always ready to keep your lap or thigh warm while you relax on the couch. She is the official pack "licker". The other dogs have learned if you sit directly in front of her, she will give them a great back massage with her tongue. Bella is terrified of storms and loud noises and that includes dad yelling at the TV during ball games. She has really curbed his "enthusiasm" because he can't stand to see her upset.

Abby - We like to call Abby the "sh** stirrer" because she is always nipping and barking at the other dogs trying to lure them into a rough and tumble game. She loves to play and I honestly think she will never outgrow it. Being the tiniest of the girls, she loves nothing better than to curl up on your lap and accept all the petting and kissing you feel like giving. Abby takes a while to warm up to strangers, but when she finally does, you are her best friend for life and she will never leave you alone. She is the pack "face licker". She likes to make sure everyone's face is clean, even if they don't want her to and she will not take no for an answer.

Carly - Carly is our largest and most gentle of the pack. She is timid but loving. She is quirky in some situations like walking in certain areas of the house. She acts as though something may fall on her at any moment when walking down the hall. It has never happened, but you can't convince her differently. Carly sleeps under the covers next to your legs so you never have to worry about cold legs. She is quite the little leg warmer. My husband and I joke about her being not the brightest crayon in the box, but her gentle sweetness more than makes up for it.

Daisy - The baby of our group is definitely the firecracker. She is also the keeper of the doors. If the other dogs have the misfortune of coming in the door after her, she has to be sure they know she's the boss by growling and jumping on them. She has been and continues to be our biggest challenge because of her incessant barking and fear aggression with strangers and strange dogs. We won't give up on her though because when she is at home with just us or our grandkids, she is the most loving and sweet dog you could ever want. Her beautiful thick coat makes her the most cuddly and cushy teddy bear.

Some people may call me crazy because I spend so much time caring for, talking about and loving on my pups, but I know there is no other living thing on this earth that is more loyal, loving and accepting. I innately understand them and they understand me.

I have learned a dog can help you appreciate the simple things in life and remind you to be thankful for the important things in life - family, friends and love (and belly scratches).  Scooter, Bella, Abby, Carly, Daisy and I would like to wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving!

Daisy wanted her turkey early....

6 Household Items to Keep Away From Your Dog

Abby getting kisses

I have tried to make a habit of giving my home a good look-over every time I leave the house. I try to see it from a dog's perspective to be sure there is nothing they might mess with that they shouldn't. I have made a list of items that are particularly dangerous to dogs:

1. Foods

Food poisoning in dogs is the most frequently reported poisoning to the Pet Poison Helpline. Keep the candy dish out of reach, especially chocolate. It can cause seizures, irregular heart beat, tremors or even death. Sugarless gum is very dangerous as well. Grapes, raisins and avocados are also poisonous to dogs. 

It is a rule at my house that the dogs do not get any people food. I teach my grandkids this practically from the time they are born.

2. Houseplants

Dogs don't know the difference between the grass that grows outside and your ivy houseplant. They just like to munch on green stuff from time to time. Many varieties of houseplants are poisonous to dogs. Always research the type of plants you plan to have sitting around. Also please be aware of any outside plants that your dog has access to.

3. Medications

I had to learn this lesson the hard way. Unbeknownst to me, two of my pups jumped on my bed where my purse was sitting unzipped. They proceeded to pull things out and found a Ziploc bag with my

Little Scooter

blood pressure pill, diuretic and a couple of Tylenols. When I walked in, they had chewed up the bag and there were no pills anywhere to be seen. I called my vet who told me to give them hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit. They both vomited but I didn't know who, or if either of them, ate the pills. They were both fine, but it could have turned out much worse. 

Dogs can chew through a prescription bottle very quickly. They also love to hang around when you are taking your medication "in case you drop something." I always try to take my medication over the sink just in case something falls.

Common drugs including NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen such as Advil, Aleve and Motrin) can cause serious harm to dogs. When ingested, these medications can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as potential kidney failure. 

Of all prescription medications, antidepressants are the reason for the highest number of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. When ingested, they can cause neurological problems in dogs like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors and seizures.

4. Chemicals

Sadly, I have had an experience with this one too. I had a black lab who was the sweetest, most gentle dog you could ever meet. She was up in years and although she normally never left our yard, I believe her failing eyesight allowed her to wander a little farther than our property line on occasion. She would sometimes wonder too far north and cross into a neighbor's yard. This evil woman hated dogs and I suspect she baited my dog using food laced with antifreeze. I remember distinctly that morning seeing a garbage bag laying outside her cans instead of in it, which was very uncharacteristic - she always kept a pristine yard at all times. 

I'll never forget that morning. After realizing my dog was missing, I opened the front door to find her on the front porch struggling to stand. We rushed her to the vet who suspected antifreeze poisoning. Sadly, we could not save her. 

Antifreeze has a sweet taste to a dog who will lap it up readily and will ultimately cause kidney failure. Bleach, ammonia, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and lime/calcium removers should also be safely stored and kept out of dogs' reach.

5. Insecticides

The chemicals in rodent poisons all have different active ingredients, making all of them potentially poisonous to dogs. Depending on the poison that was ingested, poisoning can result in severe vomiting and bloat, kidney failure, internal bleeding or brain swelling. A dog could also become ill by eating or chewing on dead rodents who have been poisoned. Roach or mouse traps

Cozy on the couch

can also be a hazard to your dog.

6. Fertilizers

Certain fertilizers that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially attractive but dangerous to dogs. Ingesting a large amount of these fertilizers can cause severe pancreatitis or can even cause an obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Because dog safety is top priority for all of us, it is important to realize exactly what the dangers are so we can be aware of the potentially dangerous items we have in and around our homes.

Have you had any incidents with your dog getting hold of something that was poison?  Please leave your story in the comments below. Your story may help someone else.

What should I do if I suspect my dog has ingested a poison?

-Remove the poison from your pet’s reach.

-Get the container or substance to be able to take with you to vet or to describe to pet poison helpline.

-Gather a sample if your dog has vomited.

-Know that the sooner you take your dog to the vet or call the poison helpline, the better outcome for your pet. Some treatments only have a small window of time after the ingestion to be effective.

-Even if your dog is not showing any signs, it is still important to take action if you suspect it has ingested a poison.

Who can I call?

1. Your veterinarian

Scooter 

2. Animal Poison Control 

888-426-4435 

($65.00 fee may be charged)

3. Pet Poison Helpline 

800-213-6680 

($49.00 fee will be charged)

Be prepared with this information:

-What and how much was ingested

-Time it was ingested

- Dog's weight

-Dog's medical history and medication list

Here are a couple of great resources to have at home for pet emergencies:

       



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Playtime

Walking a Schnauzer

I have come to the conclusion that Schnauzers are one of the hardest breeds to teach to walk on a loose leash. First and foremost, they are stubborn.  They want to do things their way and they like to be the boss. Secondly, they have such a strong prey drive that every scent becomes an obsession and they forget who's on the other end of the leash. Heaven forbid we come across a squirrel, rabbit or bird. They forget the world around them and zero in on that poor defenseless creature. 

I know you schnauzer owners are snickering because you have the same problem.  I'm sure there are a few exceptions to this rule, but out of my five, only one mastered the loose leash easily. Carly's laid back personality made her leash walking lessons really simple. 

I usually only walk one of my dogs at a time because they like to compete to see who can pull on the leash the hardest. They also enjoy a nice squabble if one is feeling dominant. I have never tried three or four......until....this morning. I must have been feeling very brave (or crazy).

I dug out my two double leashes, put harnesses on each one and attached my ultrasonic deterent to my pocket. These leashes I bought on Amazon are excellent for walking two dogs because they are made of strong rubber and your hand doesn't hurt and get leash marks from the pulling. It has tangle free hardware so if the dogs wind around each other, it turns and stays untangled. I also clipped my ultrasonic dog deterrent to my pocket to use if other dogs approach or if mine needed a quick reminder to pay attention. I use it sparingly, but it is a very effective attention-getter. Since it is silent to the human ear, I can get their attention without looking like a crazy dog lady trying to reason with her dogs to listen to her. One quick touch of the button and they are all looking at you and ready to listen.

This morning's walk wasn't too bad. After they got over the initial excitement, they did a pretty good job of walking together. I have to admit that it was unusually quiet in the neighborhood this morning and I didn't encounter any strangers or strange dogs. I'm sure that would have livened things up a bit. Bella did spot a squirrel but we moved quick enough that the other three didn't see it. 

I walked them about a mile and a half this morning so they are all tuckered out. Just the way I like them:

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Schnauzers & Roombas

I bought a Roomba a few years ago and used it for a while. I'm not really sure why it got stuck in a closet and forgotten about but something made me think about it the other day. I think that something was the pound of grass and dirt I was sweeping up every.single.day. Those silly schnauzers think it is so much fun to roll in freshly cut grass then run through the house chasing each other. I no sooner get the floor swept that I have to start all over.

After I did a thorough cleaning of the little robot and replaced his filter and brush, he had to charge for 12 hours because he had been sedentary for so long. I turned it on tonight and the dogs were hilarious. Carly and Daisy kept looking at it warily. Abby kept trying to bite it and Bella acted protective of it. It snuck up on poor old deaf Scooter and bumped him from behind.

They've already forgotten about it and it is still going as I write. I can't believe I haven't been using it all along. I'm sure I will still have to vacuum but maybe not quite as often. If you have pets, I would put this new version of the Roomba close to the top of my Christmas list. Amazon has many models, but this is the best seller.

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Grooming My Schnauzers - Part 1

First, I want to say that I have the most awesome groomer.  She has groomed my dogs for about 10 years. Since I have taken four of mine to her since they were young pups, she has acclimated them to grooming very well. They all love to go there and she does a great job with them. 

However, in a couple of years, my husband and I plan to travel extensively in our motorhome.  I realized I would need to be able to groom my dogs myself.  No way would I take them to a strange groomer. I have heard too many horror stories to put my fur children in some stranger's hands.

I still take my dogs to their normal groomer every three months or so just to be sure everything is taken care of. My wonderful groomer has actually let me observe her a couple of times and is always giving me great tips. She understands why I am trying to learn grooming and shares all kinds of great tips with me.

When I first started thinking about grooming my own schnauzers, I searched the internet for videos and blogs. I bought books and searched Pinterest for hours.  There is a lot of information out there and it takes a lot of time to pull it all together. I thought I would give you a summary of what I have learned. 

Keep in mind I am not a professional - not even close.  But I think I do a pretty decent job at keeping them clean and neat. It takes a lot of practice and my dogs don't seem to mind at all if they are not perfect. It gives them one on one time with mom and they seem to enjoy that. With five of them, one on one time is pretty rare.

Treats & Kind Words

Attitude. If I am not having a good day, am tired or just plain not in the mood, I have learned not to even attempt grooming.  I promise you it won't go well. Your dogs sense when you are not at your best and they react accordingly. You don't have to keep a steady stream of conversation going, but an occasional, "great job!" or "you are so pretty" goes a long way. I have found when doing the difficult parts like nail trimming, treats are invaluable. Just a tiny, tiny piece of treat keeps them interested in pleasing you. I have been known to award a treat for each nail. These are the nail trimmers my vet's office uses and recommends.

Brush Out

I do a complete brush and comb out before bathing my dogs. If you bathe with knots and matts in their fur, they just get worse. They will tighten up more and be painful for your dog. I use a fine tooth metal comb to do a final comb through to be sure I got all tangles out.  I may do a little preliminary scissor work at this time such as trimming the hair close to their eyes. These little ball tipped scissors are great for working close to their eyes.

Bathing

None of my dogs mind getting a bath but a couple will object if you get water in their face. I haven't found a way to wash their face without getting water in it but I try to keep that to a minimum. Once you get a drop on their face, their only goal is to climb up the side of the tub. It then becomes a battle of wills to get them finished up. I now use a washcloth to wet their face, put a little shampoo on, then wait until last thing to give them a good face rinse.

I get them good and bubbly by using a bath net sponge.  I use a good quality shampoo with as few ingredients as possible. I have to use a medicated shampoo on Carly because she is prone to schnauzer bumps. Before they get out of the tub, I put a little ear cleaner in their ears, rub it around and stand back.  They always give a good shake after liquid goes in their ears. This dries up any moisture from the bath and keeps their ears healthy and smelling great. (I use Vetoquinol Care Ear Cleansing Solution as recommended by my groomer.) I pat towel dry them to avoid knots, then use a diffuser on my hair dryer to get them 95% dry. 

My dogs generally get a bath about once every three weeks or so unless they have gotten into something. Carly gets a bath at least once a week to hold off the schnauzer bumps.

I learned a majority of what I know about grooming schnauzers from "Schnauzer Mom" on YouTube.  She states that she is not a professional, but I will tell you she is awesome and a great teacher. She posted a series of videos that gives you a great deal of information.  

Here is a link to her videos:

Schnauzer Mom: Grooming Your Schnauzer

To be continued....

Abby has a slightly obsessive personality. Here she is being a little crazy playing ball:

When Did This Happen?

My husband and I were preparing for bed the other night and this is what our bed looked like.  I looked at him and said, "When did this happen?"  We both had a good laugh and climbed in. They all re-adjust when I give the command, "Scoot!" There is no grumbling over the best spots, they just wiggle in and start snoring.

This is a king size bed, believe it or not. You wouldn't think five miniature schnauzers could take up that much room. I know some people imagine all kinds of germs and bugs you could get having an animal sleeping with you, but I have done it for years and haven't had any issues. I have found a tick on me once or twice, but I blame my husband for that.  He is a tick magnet.

Having them next to me at night is like having five teddy bears to hug and squeeze when I feel the need. I can identify all of them by touch in the dark, usually by the texture of their fur.

My husband is the one they wake up when they are ready to go outside in the morning. They will lick his bald head until he submits! They sometimes try to wake me, but I just turn my back to them and they know Mom is not ready to wake up and they better leave her alone. When I am ready, they take turns laying their head on my neck so I can kiss and pet on them. What a great way to start your morning!

Three 3-Ingredient Treats

I just cringe every time I hear there's a new recall on dog treats or dog food. It seems as though the manufacturers don't understand that our dogs are like our children. I guess they have looser standards on pet food.  I started scouring the internet and Pinterest looking for treat ideas that I could make myself.  That way I know what is in the treat and don't have to worry about a recall.  

Before I start with the recipes for baked treats, I wanted to share the fruits and vegetables I give my dogs as treats:

Vegetables:

• raw carrots
• frozen peas
• canned green beans
• cucumbers

Fruits:

• apple slices
• frozen blueberries
• bananas (fresh or frozen)
• strawberries
• watermelon

*Note:  Grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs!

Recipes

Here are some three ingredient recipes that are quick to make and my dogs love them:

Banana-Peanut Butter Treats

4 bananas (mashed)

2 cups peanut butter (no artificial sweeteners)

6 cups uncooked oats

I put the oats into my food processor and pulverize them into a powder.  I then add in the peanut butter and mashed banana and mix well.

I pinch tiny amounts, roll & flatten on parchment paper.  These are the perfect size treat for my mini's.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until hard.  I freeze all but a small amount I can use in a few days.

Bella as a puppy

Banana Treats

7 cups pulverized uncooked oats

3 ripe bananas (mashed, reserving 1/2 banana)

2 eggs

Mix together the oats, mashed bananas and eggs. Roll out to 1/4" thick and cut with a pizza cutter or cookie cutter. Place a thin slice of reserved banana on top and press into cookie. Bake on parchment at 375 F for 20-25 minutes until edges are brown and banana on top is dry. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Carly as a Puppy

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Treats

1/2 cup peanut butter (no artificial sweeteners)

1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree

1-3/4 cup flour (oat, rice, wheat - your choice)

Mix all ingredients well.  Roll out on floured covered surface. Cut out with cookie cutter or use a pizza cutter to cut into squares. Place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes. I freeze all but a small amount I can use in a few days.

Abby getting kisses

Speaking of treats....

Schnauzer Monitoring

I wanted to share a couple of pieces of technology that we use to keep tabs on our babies when we are away from the house or away from our motorhome when traveling.

1. Piper - This is a camera that we can check on the pups from a phone app. We have a great visual of the living room where they all sleep while we are gone.  It also has two way audio so I can actually talk to them through a microphone in the unit. If I check on them and they are howling, etc, I simply talk to them through the app and tell them to hush! Sometimes I just log in to let them know mommy will be home soon.  The unit actually has other features like a motion detector, loud noise detector, alarm, etc.  We mainly use it to keep an eye on the dogs since we already have an alarm system at our house. Here is a snapshot I took last night when we were driving home:

They were watching for us to pull up in the driveway.

2. Animalarm - We use this unit in our motorhome.  I have always worried what would happen if the electricity went out or if our air conditioner suddenly stopped working while we were out on a day trip. This unit monitors the temperature and sends me a text if it rises above a setting I choose.  I can also text the unit and it sends me back a report with the current temperature. This gives me so much peace of mind while we are traveling.

I have actually put the Piper camera in the motorhome when we were going on an extended vacation and it works very well too.

If you are a worry wart like me, these two pieces of equipment are well worth the money for the peace of mind they give you.

Welcome!

Welcome schnauzer people!  I decided to create this blog to connect with other people like me who are dog people.  I want to share some of the fun and trials I live with every day with so many bundles of fluffy mischief running around. Because you can see in the pic below, I am mom to five noisy, lovey, stinky mini schnauzers. I'm still not sure how that happened.  It started with one who claimed our heart at a flea market and just escalated from there. If you are a schnauzer person, let's be friends! I hope you find my blog fun, informative and heart-warming.   

From left to right:  Scooter, Daisy, Abby, Carly & Bella