May 2016 - Astro Pups, the Dog Blog

Dog’s Dilemma

All of our dogs worry us at some time or another. They will not eat. They seem depressed. They start to eat the furniture. We call our friends, call our vets, search the internet and worry. Sometimes we get more solutions than we know what to do with and while we are seeking answers, the dogs stop doing whatever they were doing that worried us in the first place. Sometimes, though, problems are emergencies, like the day we were at the dog park.

Dog Park Encounter

chihuahua closeup — Chihuahua (Google Images)

As we were leaving the dog park, we walked past a guy, standing beside his pickup in the parking lot. He cradled a Chihuahua in his arms. I smiled at him and thought that his dog looked adorable cuddled in his arms. We walked on, but he called us back. “Excuse me,” he said loudly.

My friend and I walked back to him with our dogs. I was wondering if one of my dogs had played too roughly with his little dog and he was cross about it. If so, I had to hear it and, of course, apologize.

“Can you help me? I’m desperate here and I don’t know what to do,” the man said. This big guy had a quiver in his voice.

“What’s up?” I asked him. “Is your dog sick?” I have to admit I was glad he wasn’t complaining about my dog.

“She’s gonna be,” he replied. “I moved into my new place last night and she won’t use the back yard. I stayed out with her in the yard, but she just sits and shivers. I tried walking her, but she just won’t go. She’s gotta go!” He planted several kisses on his little dog’s head and hugged her.

A dog called Fenway

As I stood there, feeling sorry for the man who was so upset, I remembered my daughter, Nicole, having a similar problem with her dog, Fenway.

Fenway was a black Lab/ Newfoundland/Boxer mix. When I was sitting on the couch, she used to put her big paws on my shoulders and gaze into my face. It was the sweetest thing and I used to hug her back. I know that was the Boxer part in Fen. Boxers do that. They love face-to-face communications.

Fenway had a problem, causing everyone with her to have a problem. She refused to use any turf but her own to relieve herself. When they took Fen for a walk or went to the doggie beach, she sniffed normally, played in the water, watched her best friend, Tikka, go on the grass, but would not use the grass herself until she got home to her own yard.

untitled (24) — Fenway’s best dog friend, Tikka

Of course, she ruined everyone’s trip because we all check that our dogs go, waste bag in hand to clean up. Cleaning up was not needed with Fenway until Nicole had a brain storm and solved the problem, creating another, of course.

Problem Solved

Nicole cut a piece of sod from the backyard of their home and took it along with her on a walk with Fenway. When Fen sniffed, Nicole put the piece of sod down. Fenway watered that piece of sod. People out and about were puzzled by the woman yelling “Yay!” and doing a dance while her dog was busy.

It became a habit for all of the family. If Fenway was going, so was a large piece of sod from the backyard.

7447677-Green-grass-showing-roots-Stock-Photo-grass-soil-turf — Google Images

If it was a long trip, it had to be more than one piece. Needless to say, the backyard turned into strips of mud, causing a problem to solve a problem, but Fenway used her own backyard wherever she went.

All of the above things flashed into my mind as I listened to the guy by the pickup with his little dog. It was getting dark and people and dogs were all heading for their cars. He told us about the things he had tried. Finally he had decided to come to the park to ask dog people if they had any ideas. The dog park was closing. I guess we were among the last dog owners he could ask. Apparently, he had asked others, and they were sympathetic to his dog’s problem, but didn’t have an answer for him.

Solution

I asked him if he could go back to the house and yard he had so recently vacated. He said it was not far and he could do that. I told him to go back with a bag, gather grass and mud from his dog’s favorite spot in the yard and scatter it in his new yard. I said that I thought the familiar smells might convince his dog she was home.

The man grinned broadly. He said he was sure he could do exactly what I had suggested, thanked me, and jumped into his pickup. He peeled out of the parking lot.

I didn’t see him again, although I looked for him at the park to ask him if it had worked. I hope so.

I think it is important to tell my readers this story. Some of you may be moving out of state and have a dog. You might consider taking along a small sample of your backyard to scatter on your new backyard. Scent is all important to dogs. This precaution could make your dog accept the new backyard right away, and use it.

Severe health issues can and will occur if for some reason or another, a dog does not relieve itself regularly. The guy in the parking lot of the dog park was so right to be concerned about his dog that he obviously adored.

I believe breed traits are the way to define a dog, but all dogs have their own peculiarities, which make them special and individual. These peculiarities are what we remember with fondness, and a tear or two, when the dog is no longer with us.

Thanks for coming back to my blog. If you have a comment, please leave one. If you want to email me, you will find my email in About Us top right of the page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Until next post 🙂

Firemen’s Dog

Do you know the breed that was once known as the firemen’s dog?

There were few firehouses which did not have one on site, sometimes several. Back in the day, as firemen hurried to put out fires, this dog could be seen riding along with them. In fact, the moment the bell sounded, and firemen grabbed their gear, this dog was ready and waiting with a big grin on its face. If not on the truck, the dog would follow the trucks to their destination on foot. The breed is very agile and fast, racing after the galloping horses.

The dog knew it had a job to do. As the firemen battled the blaze, the dog became what is now known as a rescue dog. It helped to save people’s lives. In fact, I could have called this post Hero Dogs.

horse-drawn-fire-engine-on-the-way-everett (2) — Horse-drawn carriage-on-the-way by Everett, fineartamerica.com

Unfortunately for the dogs, horsepower replaced horses. Things changed. What remained, though, was that this breed loves horses. For those of you who ride, this dog would love to follow along. If you are not riding, but are walking the dog where other riders gallop or trot by, hold on to the leash. This dog will want to follow that horse.

You all probably know the breed I am discussing.

Dalmatian

Authorities differ as to the origin of this breed. Some claim it is from Dalmatia. Others claim it is a descendant from the Hound of Bengal and originated in the East.

Paintings of similar dogs have been found in Egyptian tombs, running behind chariots. Frescoes from the 15th century also depict them. In England, Dals ran behind horse-drawn carriages to protect the travelers.

The dogs became firemen’s dogs when they came to the U.S.

untitled (21) — Dice, Rescue Dalmatian (Charlene Grotefeld)

untitled (22) — Dice, Rescue Dalmatian (Charlene Grotefeld)

A Dal is a wonderful dog: full of spirit, bright and always ready for action. If, however, you do not understand the dog, and what it needs to thrive, it will go off its food and/or become destructive. When this dog becomes anxious, it will chew anything at hand. The dog needs to run and play more than most breeds.

Pen this dog up and it will feel rejected and become very sad.

The country or the suburbs, with a fenced yard, are good environments to raise this pup. The dog is bright and eager to please, but as a pup tends to become over excited and loses its focus easily. With a little perseverance, and keeping the training sessions short, a Dalmatian can be all you want it to be.

If you are choosing a Dalmatian puppy, you will have to do your homework. The Hundred and One Dalmatians book and movies gave breeders a heyday. Combined with Budweiser Clydesdale horses ads showing Dals, the dog became super popular. Indiscriminate breeding resulted. To get a real Dal, check out the breeder.

All Dal pups are born white, without spots. If you don’t intend to show the dog, where the spots come in are not that important. What is important is that some pups are born deaf, so you would want to check this out.

If you live by the ocean, your Dal may well want to go for a dip. It’s important to rinse off the salt water or your dog might get dermatitis.

Dice, seen above, lost his home.

The couple who originally owned him were engaged and busy with plans to marry. They lived in an apartment and bought Dice from a breeder, but things went awry with their relationship and with their dog.

Dice is not an apartment dog and became destructive when left alone. When the couple split up, neither of them wanted to keep Dice. He became a casualty.

His foster parent sent me the photos and his story. He is a beautiful dog, but he continued his destructive behavior in her home. Even so, she was sorry to see him go when Dalmatian Rescue picked him up. In a matter of days she had become fond of Dice and thought he just needed some more training and a place to run off his obvious energy.

We hope he now has a forever home. He certainly deserves one.

We suggested Dalmatians for Sagittarius in AstroPups , available in paperback or Kindle at Amazon books).

Thanks for coming back to my blog. If I can help you in any way, or you have a comment, please leave one and I will answer it. You can also email me. You will find my email in About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

See you soon 🙂

Personality Dog

I would like to introduce you to two very important members of my family: my daughter, Nicole and her dog Nilla. Nilla is a Hungarian Viszla.

Some of you who read my post Grand Dog will have met Nilla’s sister, Madison, the Basset Hound.

1423950324060 — Madison, Nilla’s best dog friend

As in a lot of families, these sisters are absolutely nothing alike! Well, it could have something to do with breed traits – lol.

The two dogs get along very well and depend upon each other for company when their family is not with them.

Madison is laid back and Nilla is highly strung. You have to talk Madison into activities, and have time to get ready while Madison considers them. Nilla is eager to participate in the action, but has her own ideas on travelling arrangements.

When everyone is going to the doggie beach, Madison jumps into the back seat, is harnessed, and ready to travel. Nilla does not care for back seat travel. This lanky, agile Viszla prefers passenger seat travel. Within seconds she has seated herself in the front seat and gives Nicole the enquiring look as why she is not yet harnessed and on her way to the promised adventure.

Madison can be stubborn, but Nilla is the persistent one. Arguments on who should be sitting where are ongoing. Explaining safety issues fall on deaf ears, and we are talking about Nilla here, not Madison who is the expert on feigning deafness.

It could be sibling rivalry – the favored seat by mom. It could be that Nilla likes to follow the roads to the beach and can see much better from the passenger seat. She can also see more of what’s going on all around her. Travelling to somewhere exciting, like the doggie beach, is a very important activity for a Viszla. Hungarian Viszlas love action, and quiver with anticipation the moment an adventure is proposed.

Madison ignores the argument and takes a nap. She will enjoy the beach when she gets to it, but there’s always time for a nap.

When they get back home, they curl up together. Nilla is finally tired, and Madison considers napping an excellent indoor activity. Madison and Nilla Hungarian Viszlas have been around for centuries. Drawings of them have been found from the 10th century. The breed was developed in Hungary and was favored by barons of the Magyar.

Kindness and patience are an owner’s keys to training a Viszla. Once attached, the dog wants to please you, but can be over-anxious, try too hard, and takes its failures seriously. With love and attention, the pup will develop well and is an all-purpose dog.

Viszlas must be close to loved ones. This dog becomes anxious if left alone too long. With Madison as Nilla’s constant companion, they do okay home alone, together.

On lifestyle requirements, the city is not the best environment, unless you are an owner who hikes on weekends. Exercise is a breed requirement for this one. The dog can handle any terrain, but not in any weather. Viszlas have no undercoat, which is great in the summer, but a problem when temperatures drop below freezing.

Nilla has a great personality. She lets you know how she feels about things in general daily and constantly shows her love for her family and friends.

I’m glad to have had the chance to introduce Nilla to you, although I have heard she made a complaint about my dog blog. Somebody told her I did a post on Madison before I wrote about her. I’ll send her some chicken jerky to make up for that error in judgment.

For those of you who are interested, we suggested Hungarian Viszlas for Libra in AstroPups, available in paperback or Kindle at Amazon books). There are two Libras in Nicole’s family, so that works well.

Thanks for sharing with me. If you want to contact me, you can do so through comment or email. You will find my email in About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

See you soon. 🙂

Royal Dogs

Does anyone know which breed of dog this Queen favors?

If you said Pembroke Welsh corgis, you would be absolutely right. In fact, Her Majesty has about ten of them, give or take, and the Pembroke breed has been part of the royal family for decades.

The breed’s name comes from the Celt word for dog. Flemish weavers brought the dogs to Wales in the 12th century. They did the work most people would apply to Collies. Their job in Wales was to herd cattle and they did this by nipping the cows’ feet to keep them from straying.

Pembroke-Welsh-Corgi-outdoors — Pembroke Welsh corgi (Google Images)

Now is about the time I usually talk about what kind of owner the breed needs in order to thrive, and be a forever dog. So many breeds need the right owners to be all they can be. However, there are no strong personality owner needs for Pembroke Welsh corgis. They just need owners to adore, go for walks with, to play with and, of course, treats close to hand. Another Corgi would be fun to play with if you are absent a fair amount of time.

A Corgi would rather play than fight, but it’s still a good idea to socialize the pup at about three months with people and other dogs, as it has good watch dog traits.

You will be impressed with yourself as a trainer with this corgi. The dog is very bright and ever eager to please. Its also ready to show much earlier than most breeds.

You will need to brush its coat about twice a week. This is something your Corgi would enjoy, especially if you talk over things in general as you brush.

If you need a new grooming tool, there’s a reduction of over 50% on this one. In addition to keeping your dog’s coat healthy, it reduces shedding and will also give your dog’s coat a subtle thinning – nice with the summer upon us.

The Pembroke Welsh corgi has a cousin.

Cardigan Welsh corgi

The Cardigan has bigger ears and a bushier tail, but is much like the Pembroke. It is a quieter dog, less outgoing than its cousin. Cardigan Welsh corgis also served as herding dogs for cattle in Wales.

imagesFTJUO6J1 — Cardigan Welsh corgi (Google Images)

Perfect for apartment living, and behaving with decorum most of the time, this dog travels well, shows well, and is a delightful companion.

We suggested both breeds for Taurus in AstroPups, available in paperback and kindle at Amazon Books.

Thinking about royal dogs, it’s hard not to remember an aristocratic little spaniel who has been a member of court for centuries. It was once known as the Toy Spaniel, but King Charles favored this dog so much they changed its name to:

King Charles Spaniel

Van Dyke painted many portraits of King Charles with his spaniels back in the 17^th century. As a pup, it is shy and needs affection and encouragement to develop well. Once the dog has gained confidence, it will fit in well with your family. If you have a cat, your spaniel will make the cat its best friend (only if the cat agrees, of course).

The little dog looks fragile with its big eyes and silky coat, but this is far from being so. A King Charles spaniel is a hardy breed and absolutely loves the outdoors. Walking and exploring are favored things to do.

There is an owner personality requirement with this breed. The owner should be a care-giver in that if you choose a King Charles, you must be prepared to bathe its face when it comes in from outdoors. At only 10 inches tall, this inquisitive little dog will come in with dust, leaves and particles on its face and they could cause eye infections. You should have an eye wash on hand just in case.

A quick rinse of your spaniel’s eyes will prevent a more serious problem requiring a visit to the vet.

If it rains, and the dog gets wet, it is important you dry it off as soon as you get back indoors.

As the owner of a King Charles, you will also have to harden your heart when the dog gazes up at you with those big, liquid eyes whenever you eat. The King Charles spaniel will do anything for a treat and begs like a pro from the start. The dog should only weigh about 10lbs.

The Dog Whisperer is not truly needed with this bunch, but I’m sure he enjoyed his time with them.

A larger version of the King Charles is available if you want a bigger spaniel. It’s the Cavalier King Charles. This dog weighs about l8lbs. Cousins include the Prince Charles (white with black and tan markings) the Ruby (white with chestnut red markings) the Blenheim (white with red markings)

All of these spaniels are sweet dogs. They once roamed palaces and now roam homes, confident in their owners’ adoration of them.

For a change, I am chatting about dogs that just need owners to love them and all of them love to be part of the family.

In AstroPups, we suggested the King Charles spaniels for Virgos looking for a toy breed. All of the Zodiac signs in AstroPups have large, medium and toy breeds suggested for their personalities. Lifestyles are also discussed for all breeds.

Any questions? You can contact me through Comment or via email, which is located in About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the royal dogs. Thanks for coming back to my blog. See you soon. 🙂

Famous Dog

Can you guess the breed of this famous dog?

No, it’s not the well known Collie, Lassie, but this dog has starred in movies. Remember the movie Oliver? Bill Sykes owned one of this breed. Rarely camera shy, this dog has also been a TV star.

General George S Patton took a dog from this breed with him when he travelled. He named his dog Willie – after William the Conqueror.

Here’s two more clues:

Target has this dog as its mascot.

He is also Spuds McKenzie – the Budweiser dog.

Final clue:

This dog has won Best in Show not only in the U.S, but also in England, South Africa and Australia. It knows just what to do to win the trophy. The dog has a jaunty, confident step in the ring, and always smiles at the judges!

Did you guess the breed? It’s the …..

Bull Terrier

This dog is not just famous, it has skills a lot of breeds do not have. The Bull Terrier is a good watch dog, but so are other breeds. What is special about this dog is that it has an uncanny ability to sense when somebody is up to no good. It has amazing instincts and intuitive powers.

If the owner has raised the pup in the right way, and has a lifestyle that fits with its temperament and exercise needs, it’s a super dog.

Bull Terriers are solid and stocky. Most of them are white often with brindle coloring, and about 21” tall. Their energy is explosive. As a pup, they do not seem to know any boundaries and you would have to be vigilant about stopping your pup from straining muscles and pulling tendons. I kid you not. Hyper speed is this pup’s style.

Famous Dog (Google Images)

Perfil_Canino

Training a Bull Terrier is not a challenge if you are firm, consistent, and give treats. However, the pup can be over-eager to enter into the game of training, so it must learn right away that you are Alpha –the leader of its pack. If you lose your temper and are aggressive with this pup, though, the dog will become stubborn and aggressive, losing the breed traits that make it an outstanding companion.

As an adult dog, lots of long walks will be important. A Bull Terrier loves to go on walks, but it may not play nicely with other dogs if you have not socialized the pup. Three – four months is a good time to do this. Introduce the pup to other dogs and people and be friendly to all so the pup will gain confidence through your behavior.

The dog will enjoy your friends who are visiting once it knows they mean you no harm.

Some pups have been born deaf, so make sure you check out the pup you choose carefully. There is another possible problem with a Bull Terrier in that they are often allergic to mosquito bites and can break out in a rash when bitten. If you live where there are mosquitos, use preventative measures to safeguard the pup/dog.

These chewable tablets are a good protection against mosquitos. Your dog will also be protected from fleas and ticks. This tough dog has sensitive skin and could be allergic to sprays applied for preventive measures against parasites.

Bull Terriers are clean dogs and grooming is minimal. To increase the bonding, though, brushing the dog and saying nice things really helps. Bull Terriers wriggle with joy when their beloved owner gives them attention. They are loyal, steadfast dogs if they have an owner who is calm, firm, positive and loves them totally.

If you are wondering which Zodiac signs were favored with Bull Terriers, we suggested them for Capricorn and for Scorpio in AstroPups, available in paperback or Kindle at Amazon Books.

Thanks for coming back to read my blog. I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a Comment or email me. My email is on About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

See you soon 🙂

Madison & Nilla (my grand dogs)

Madison & Nilla Wordless Wednesday on BlogPaws

Grand Dog

My dog for today is a grand dog.

The Basset Hound

What a totally adorable pup. Its body is too big for its little legs, and it falls over itself as it scampers across the floor with its big feet. If you have stairs, get the gates in place!

The Basset is known as an intelligent breed. Say what? It doesn’t listen, obey commands, and is more interested in thinking its own thoughts than listening to you. Okay, training will be slow with this one, but if the owner doesn’t understand the Basset breed traits, and pushes the pup too soon, he or she will have a very stubborn dog.

Kindness and patience, with an upbeat approach to training, will help. Give the pup small treats for every success, or even the pup’s attempts to please. I say small as keeping an eye on this dog’s weight is very important. I saw an overweight Basset at the doggie park recently. He ambled along, unaware that his tum was grazing the grass, leaves and twigs. We chatted with his owner, who absolutely adored his dog, but was worried about grazes on his belly. No kidding!

I have to admit that until the pup has grown an attachment to you, and listens through his love for you, treats are your best bet. Most owners find this out quickly and tend to give the growing pup too many.

You can see this dog mulling over its options when told to do something. There will be times when devotion nor treats work. The dog decides it needs to sleep some more, and it will take effort to make this dog move. The good news is that most of the time the dog will decide to obey, but definitely not instantly and not all of the time.

Obedience is just not a Basset’s strong suit, but this can be amusing. In fact, when you issue a command, several times, the dog does not appear to hear you. A Basset can develop a deafness so convincing, you consider a visit to the vet for an ear check. Before you do this, though, consider rustling a bag of treats, or opening the fridge door. The dog’s apparent deafness is magically gone in a flash.

Madison 3 — My favorite Basset Hound, Madison

The Basset Hound has the distinction of being the breed heavier in bone for its height than any other breed. Yay, that’s a distinction, but the dog is not very tall. In fact, the dog has very short legs and moves its solid frame with a deliberate gait.

The French bred the Basset to be a badger hound and the Basset’s long ears have a purpose. They stir up the scent of small game. Thinking you definitely need to know that there is a badger about, your dog will let you know with its distinctive hound sound

Grooming your Basset is fun. As you brush your dog, a closer bond is formed. It’s a together time over treats and walks.

Your Basset will shed, so the above tool will dramatically reduce this. It’s a grooming tool and brush – pretty good one, too.

Usually a Basset is easy going and not aggressive. The dog has such an interesting personality. If you haven’t forced the obedience issue too much, and have a good sense of humor, you will really appreciate the armchair clown. It’s also impossible to resist that “sorry” look in this dog’s expressive eyes.

Why would I say the Basset is a grand dog? Because the Basset is definitely a grand dog, but its also because Madison is my daughter’s dog. Madison is my lovable granddog.

We suggested Bassets for the Zodiac sign of Pisces in AstroPups.

You can contact me through comment or by email. You will find my email in About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews of AstroPups.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

Thanks for visiting. See you soon 🙂

Your Lifestyle-Your dogs

As many of you know by now, I want to help people to choose the right dog. Many dogs come into the family because someone likes the look of a pup for sale, hopefully from a breeder and not a puppy mill. A friend has a female who had a litter and they offered a pup to you. You decide to adopt a rescue from a shelter. There are many ways a pup can come into your life, and once it is a part of your family, many of you will accept its breed traits or sigh and try to find another home for the pup who grows up to be a dog that simply does not fit with you, your family or your lifestyle.

Rescue dogs abound and all sorts of breeds and mixed breeds are available. You can go into this wonderful transaction with your eyes open and choose the right dog, still a rescue. While it is a fact that you may have to overcome some tough times your rescue dog might have experienced, the breed traits usually hold true. Dogs give second or even third chances to people who prove they really care, and if its a breed capable of devotion and affection, you will have your forever dog. All you have to do is show you can be trusted, unlike somebody else who owned the dog previously and it became a rescue. Of course, some dogs are given up for genuine reasons, like the owner is deployed overseas, or passed away, or the owners lost their home. Unfortunately genuine reasons are not as common as abandonment.

Most dogs, if they have the right environment, are true to themselves. If they are country dogs, ranch hands, agile, energetic dogs they should not have to fit in with concrete and high rise buildings. If you work fulltime and then some, how does your dog get the exercise it needs to flourish? These dogs are intelligent, trainable, loving, even devoted, but left to their own devices and unable to exercise fully, they can become destructive and very unlike their breed traits.

Let’s take an example. Austalian shepherds are about l7th in popularity in the U.S. They are not from Australia, of course, and there are guesses as to why they got this name – maybe they were sheep herders for sheep from Australia. This magnificent dog needs to run, run and then run. They need to be busy, mentally and physically. They have been bred for working on ranches and farms. No dog is prouder than this one when it does its job well. The dog is tireless on hikes, and is famous for its agility.

That being said, I know an Australian shepherd who was not able to work, run, exercise, and was left alone all day in the suburbs while its owner, a fireman, had to work. The dog’s name is Auggie. I know the dog well, and am fond of him, but he changed from a lively pup to a difficult dog. He became super possessive of his food, was aggressive to strangers, and did not play nicely with other dogs. In fact, if he had the chance, he would attack dogs who dared to come near his property. He was not meant to be the dog he became, but his owner’s lifestyle did not permit him to develop as he was meant to develop. Auggie was loved, fed, watered, and bored. Firemen work three day shifts, and come home exhausted, dealing with life and death situations. A three mile run was not likely, although some days his owner rode his bike with Auggie in tow to try to give him exercise.

Unfortunately, Auggie was not in control of himself or under any control when he bit Anna’s face recently, and she had to be rushed to the emergency room. Anna, adored the dog, and tried to feed him his food. Nobody touches Auggie’s food, not even one of his own.

The pup was a rescue – one of those family things where a member couldn’t keep him and needed a home for him. Now, of course, the dog is rarely allowed to be in the house. He is safe though with others he loves.

The point is that Auggie was not a good fit. Left too much on his own, to his own devices, he developed his own codes of behavior and none of them were good.

If you have children, getting the right dog for your family is super important. Small children will adore the dog, and if they are bitten, it is a shattering event and a guilt trip for you. From that day on, your child will probably fear dogs, and you have the problem of a dog who cannot be trusted around your child. You love the dog. No question, your child comes first.

I took Sally and Jake over to visit Anna. I wanted to see how she felt about dogs after experiencing Auggie’s bite. Anna giggled at Sally, our toy breed, and yes, tried to feed her. She hadn’t learned her lesson on that one, but Sally licked her hand which gave her a fit of giggles. “I like that doggie,” she said happily.

Anna took one look at Jake, our pit mix, and leaped into her father’s arms. “He’s too big,” she announced solemnly, staring down at Jake with apprehension. Jake didn’t take it personally. He reached up and licked her leg before running after Sally. She giggled, but preferred to stay in Dad’s arms.

An Australian shepherd must have lots of exercise, preferably live in the country, and live with people who understand the breed. This dog is smart, needs to be useful, and should have the chance to run freely in the fields. The dog will do what you ask of him or her, but if you ask little, and the dog is left alone too much, over long periods of time, it will not have a chance to develop into the dog it was meant to be.

I will be chatting to you further about breed traits, lifestyles and personalities and really want to help you to get a good fit. I will usually be on the dog’s side, as you chose the breed and the dog will be yours forever, or not.

If you want to contact me, please leave a comment or email me. My email is on About Us, top right of page. Click on About Us and scroll down. The banner of dogs remains for the post, About Us and Reviews.

Acknowledgements of authors who contributed to AstroPups, which I use to write my blog, can also be found in About Us.

Thanks for visiting. See you soon. 🙂