The best advice for capturing a lost dog

Many dog lovers have a dog preference, a certain breed, a certain look, a certain size dog – there is always something about a particular dog that we find ourselves attracted to when we seek our a dog.

For me, it was always the shy dogs. It didn’t matter what breed or size or look they had. The dogs who were fearful and scared, and cowering at the back of a kennel; these were the dogs I always gravitated towards. I still do. 

When I was a volunteer at Minnesota Valley Humane Society, you would often find me sitting sideways in front of a kennel in the impound room, using calming signals to help draw a dog out of his/her kennel. The dogs in this room were often more scared than most because these were the ones who had just been surrendered or who were just found roaming the streets and had been brought in to be held until their owner was found. They were overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the shelter, and as you can imagine, terrified, scared and afraid of everyone. The last thing they wanted to do was come to you and go for a walk outside.

When I saw one of these scared dogs, I would sit in front of their kennel door and use calming signals to draw them out – lip-licking, bowed head, averted gaze, a sideways profile, these were all behaviors I employed when working with a shy or scared dog. They are the very same signals I used with Cupcake when she was running around that abandoned truck loading dock after being lost for 12 days.

Knowing and using calming signals can be so helpful when working with a fearful dog. They can also be helpful in trying to capture a lost dog. When you use them, you are speaking in a language that most dogs understand. What could be more reassuring than seeing someone speak to you in your own language? 

A friend recently shared this video with me. It’s about using calming signals to capture a lost dog or to calm a panicked dog (and what lost dog isn’t panicked?). It’s not very long but it is definitely worth watching. Maybe you don’t have a lost dog, but some day you may have one. Or you may come across one. Knowing what to do when you do is so important. Please watch and then pass it on. The more people that know the more chances we have to reunite lost dogs with their owners.

Remember, most dogs on the run are LOST, not stray.

Favorite Video Friday – Roly-Poly Duck Toller Puppies

Last Friday, my friend Pamela shared an awesome video of a Nova Scotia Duck Toller traveling with his family as they sailed around taly’s volcanic islands north of Sicily. It was so adorable.

I have always adored Nova Scotia Duck Tollers. They are beautiful and active dogs and come with tons of personality. We had one or two at our shelter in the 8+ years that I volunteered there and I loved each one of them. Seeing the one in Pamela’s shared video set me off to explore YouTube for more Toller videos.

In the end, it was the Toller puppies that won my heart. What is it about a ropy-poly puppy that just makes your heart melt?

I hope you enjoy this little moment of cuteness. May it lighten your heart as you head off to the last work day of the week.

Happy Friday Everyone!

 

Favorite Video Friday – Epic Corgi Beach Day

I don’t know about you, but I am SO looking forward to the weekend. It might be a bit cold here in Minnesota, but the weather folks are promising 70′s and 80′s by next week. Do I believe them?

Do I have any choice? It’s either believe them or run into the night screaming and crying “Where is spring? Where is spring?”

In preparation of those wonderful sun-laden, bird-singing, flower-smiling, dog-digging promised days of spring, I thought it only right that I share a video to get us all in the mood.

And what could be better than dogs playing on a beach in California?

Corgis on a beach in California?

Done!

Happy Friday everyone!

The doggie joys of digging

Aspen and Daisy

Before I adopted Daisy, I had a dog named Aspen. Aspen was a sweet hound/shepherd mix that I adopted from the shelter I volunteered at. She loved long walks, meeting new dogs, laying in the grass, and rawhide bones.

She wasn’t really interested in chewing on the bones. No. Her joy was in burying them… in the couch cushions, in my blankets, in her bed, and out in the yard. (I used to laugh when she would go through the motions of burying them on the couch, moving imaginary dirt over them with her nose. It still makes me smile.)

When Daisy came into our lives, Aspen had to take special care with her bones. Daisy loved nothing better than to dig them up and carry them around in her mouth. Aspen would bury her bone in a dirt pile near one of my lilac bushes and seconds later Daisy would follow behind her and dig it up. She would often fall asleep with it resting between her paws.

Poor Aspen was beside herself that this interloper had taken to digging up her bones. If Daisy dropped the bone and left it, Aspen would go get it and bury it again. And the dance went on.

Over time Aspen became so concerned about her bones being discovered that she took to laying near the dirt pile, just to make sure Daisy wouldn’t dig them up again. I loved watching her and Daisy trying to figure out how they could outsmart each other.

Since Aspen’s passing, Daisy has had very little interest in digging. There were no buried bones to be discovered anymore. Neither Jasper or Cupcake have shown any interest in burying their bones so why bother?

Then suddenly last weekend, Daisy suddenly started digging at the dog park. I have no idea what made her want to dig, but she looked like a dog that had just discovered the joys of digging for the very first time. She went at it with such gusto that I’m pretty sure I saw her smile as she gave into one last swipe of the paw. I wish I had caught it on video.

Seeing Daisy’s joy that day and then coming across this video on Sunday just seemed  to much of a coincidence. I just had to share it. I wonder if any of you can relate? Do you have a dog that loves to dig or loves bury her bones? 

(P.S. Make sure you catch the cute look at 1:25. It will make you smile.)

Favorite Video Friday – Spring Fever Zoomies

I don’t know about you, but now that the snow has all but disappeared and the temperatures are starting to warm up (60′s and 70′s predicted for this weekend!), I am ready to get out  and enjoy the weather for as much and as long as I can. I feel like a dog with the zoomies!

I want to dog my hands into the fresh earth and make something grow.

I want to clean out closets and do some spring cleaning.

I want to speed walk with my dogs at the dog park.

The truth is… I feel like a dog with the zoomies!

Maybe that is why this video seemed to resonate with me today. A beach, warm sand, a dog and the sun shining brightly down upon us. Ah yes. That is exactly what I want.

Happy Spring and Happy Friday everyone!

Favorite Video Friday – Dogs at the Beach (in slow mo)

Ahhhh! Another lovely spring day in Minnesota. Who doesn’t love days like this?

Or this?

So is it really any wonder that I chose this for my video this week? Yeah. I didn’t think so.

Happy Friday everyone!

Send us some sun will ya?

Favorite Video Friday – The cutest little Yorkie puppy ever!

Is anyone else thinking “Thank God It’s Friday!” today?

I know I am. In fact, I wanted Friday to come so bad that I actually thought it was yesterday. Thank goodness it is finally here.

I was feeling a little bad that I couldn’t share one last week (my computer died), so I decided I had to make it up to you with a really cute video this week.

Meet Misa Minnie, the cutest little Yorkie puppy ever! In this video she is only 21 weeks old (that’s a little over 5 months those of you who are already calculating it in your head). Misa is super tiny and pretty young, but already she can perform more tricks than most adult dogs do. It’s nice to see a little dog showing off her smart side. Her mom obviously loves her and has spent a lot of dedicated time teaching her all she knows.

I guarantee Misa will have you giggling and smiling by the end.

Make sure you stick around for her last trick. It’s pretty darn cute.

Happy Friday everyone!

Favorite Video Friday – Newfie spring dance? Or, just an after bath roll?

Ahhhh! Do smell that?

It’s spring!

After a long, cold and snowy winter, we are finally getting a taste of spring here in Minnesota. The snow is melting, the birds are serenading each other, and it’s warm enough to go outside without a jacket on (well, at least until the sun goes down).

The dogs have been extra squirrely lately, and I have to admit that I have been too. I want to throw open the windows and let all the fresh air in. I’m feeling the need to clean out closets and redecorate my home. Cabin fever? Or, spring craziness?

Maybe all this spring-fever stuff has gone to my head, but when I first saw Bentley having fun rolling in the dirt I immediately thought he was just doing his version of a spring dance. Of course, he did just get a bath, so maybe I’m just reading into things here. Take a look and see for yourself. What do you think? Spring dance?

Happy Friday everyone!
 

Favorite Video Friday – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

This one came to me via my friend Hilary at FangShuiCanines. It made me laugh so hard that it woke my dogs up.

I know agility competitions are serious business for many people, but sometimes a girl’s just got to run, ya know?

Make sure you stay and catch the third leap. I swear Shiva stays suspended in air for at least a second or two.

Happy Friday everyone!

Favorite Video Friday – Mud Wallowing Dog

It’s been lovely in Minnesota the last few days. We’ve had a series of 35 degree days and the snow is finally starting to melt. It has me thinking that spring is finally on its way.

Soon the crocuses and tulips will be pushing up from the ground, and the birds will be singing their love songs to one another. I’ll be able to throw open the windows and breathe in the fresh spring air, and the dogs and I can spend more time outside.

Of course, there is one thing that comes with a spring thaw… MUD. Lots of it.

And, who loves mud? Dogs. They love running through it and rolling in it and, worst of all, wallowing in it.

If the dog in this video is any example, than I am in a heap of trouble.  It looks like he’s finessed the whole “wallowing” part. (I’m really, really hoping that my dogs get any ideas.)

Jasper! Get out of that mud!

Happy Friday everyone!