4 Furry Best Friends

........................................................................................................Diesel, Magnum, Perdie & Jade.....................................................................................................

Monday, March 28, 2011

Cleopatra? ...Following Cesar Millan's 'way'

Before Kennel cough, the dogs relaxed after their walk as a 'pack'.


My husband is calling me Cleopatra:

It just happened. I was at a book store picking up a gift for a birthday present and there it was..."Be the Pack Leader" one of Cesar's books. What propelled me to pick it up and start reading I have no idea but this was my week...completely addicted to this book as well as "Inside the Dog". Officially I have lost it, I'm a dog 'nut'. No shame there...    


Spoiled Rescue Dogs?


I have learned so much from Cesar's book. I suppose I have always felt sorry for rescued dogs and spoiled them. I gave excuses for their behavior because they had been abused or mistreated. What I am learning is that they don't need that, they need to be respected like a dog. They need to be exercised, trained or worked as in the case of my border collie, Perdie. After trying Cesar's 'way', my dogs are still happy and loving, just more relaxed...maybe more fulfilled. Their lives have purpose? 


For some I'm sure I am 'preaching to the choir' but others with rescued dogs...give his book a read and try it. I'm shocked at the changes in my dogs. I walk them as a pack of 4! I look like a dog walker. Diesel(3-legs) comes for 20min. He can't walk for 45 due to his arthritis and he has benefited the most from our walks. We really let him be the pack leader because we felt sorry for him. I'm sure it was so stressful for him having 3 legs, knowing he had a disadvantage with other dogs, feeling like he had to protect the pack including me. No wonder he barked like crazy at other dogs when they passed. 




Major setback:


I just got back from March Break vacation. The dogs went to a kennel....never again! All 4 have been vaccinated for kennel cough but that doesn't mean they won't get it. And they did! I can't walk them in the cold and of course it is a cold spring, -8C today!  grrr or brrr or both! One of the dogs is worse than the others, the lab mix and she sounds like she is barfing and coughing when she moves around too much. I sent her into a steam shower this morning and she is breathing better. So frustrating! They don't deserve this. Poor pups. Hopefully a speedy recovery. I was working on not feeling sorry for them...but this is different.


save a life


Rescue a dog...save a life:


How can we not feel sorry for a dog that has been mistreated? It's why I rescued Perdie. I felt I could 'save' her and give her a good life. That being said, what is a good life to a dog? A couch to lie on, treats, sitting on someone's lap, human hugs? No it's food, shelter and a purpose in life.  Isn't that what we all want? I guess it was the purpose that I was missing before reading Ceasar Milan's book. It has made me realize I wasn't giving my dogs the life they deserve. I'm on it! ...after kennel cough of course.