My wife informed me it was time to get a new cell phone, after my old phone dialed someone in Italy and I had 15-minute conversation with them. It was nice to communicate with someone half a world away.
Communication is key to everyone and everything on the planet. With all the new high-tech, whiz-bang gizmos out there you might think it would be easier to communicate or interact with your fellow man. But after thinking about it for a moment I have come to the conclusion that is simply not the case.
Some might say we are communicating too much. There have been laws enacted to stop the use of cell phones while driving, and other laws have been written to stop texting in certain places.
Technology offers many great things, but I think communication is a casualty. If we communicated better, and face to face, Dr. Phil might not be the superstar he has become. Everything on his show revolves around one thing — communication.
Sure, our phones make it possible to communicate, but do they help us communicate better, or are cell phones actually limiting our communication?
We communicate everyday in many ways, some verbal, others not, but as our interaction becomes less, so does the civility of our society.
I let an 18 wheeler pull in front of me on a congested stretch of highway the other day. He was having a hard time getting over because no one would let him in, so his blinker just blinked. He was trying to communicate but no one was listening. I flashed my headlights at the trucker, and he guided his truck into my lane, quickly blinking his tail lights as a thank you. Communication sans cell phone.
Of course, the guy behind me communicated his displeasure with my driving kindness and let me know by honking his horn.
Go to any restaurant and look around the dining room. Not too long ago you would probably see people at the various tables holding a conversation with each other. Now, you may see one person texting, one talking on the phone, and maybe another surfing on a laptop. Are they communicating? Not with each other.
In that same restaurant, those same diners probably communicate more with the waiter than with each other. They gave their order. Where the patrons place their glass communicates a desire for more beverage, where the plates gets moved signals they are finished with their meal and even where the bill is placed with a credit card for payment signals the diners are ready to leave.
Some studies have shown 90 percent of our communication with others is nonverbal. And, no, texting does not count.
Those with pets will undoubtedly say they can communicate with their pets without saying a word. A certain body movement, action or facial expression is enough to communicate your thoughts to your pet.
Pets don’t generally have phones, so they rely on communication skills, and quite often behavior problems are a result of our lack of communication with our pets. Our pets “read” us by what we are saying, without saying a word.
Don’t believe me? Try these experiments with your dog: Have your dog sit and stay, walk a few feet away, turn around and look at him or her. Next smile widely and hold your arms out like your excited — but don’t say a word. I’m sure your dog will at least wag his or her tail. Next, if your dog is doing something you don’t approve of, fold your arms, or point at him or her and give a scowl. Your dog will probably respond with something that humans would say looks like guilt, but in reality it’s just the dog reading what you are saying and trying to placate you.
In agility and disc dog, people use body language to tell their dogs what they want done. Want your dog to go left? motion with your arm and turn left. Want your dog to go right? Do the same to the right. Want your dog to stop? Stop. Many times at dog sport competitions, I see handlers “pull” their dogs off an obstacle early then get upset because the dog didn’t make the necessary contacts. In reality, the dog was communicating better than the person, because he or she was reading what the person was doing and thereby doing his or her part.
One last thing to think about regarding communication — the number one cause for loneliness is a lack of communication, or interaction, with other people. Loneliness becomes amplified during the holiday season, as thoughts of the perfect setup makes people realize they really aren’t communicating, or have no one to communicate with.
Not long ago, we received a letter at the paper about a woman whose only wish for Christmas was to have someone to talk too for a few hours.
Seeing the smile broaden across her face and watching her countenance brighten as we sat, having a cup of tea and talking — communicating — about nothing in particular was all the communication I needed. The newest phone with all the apps in the world couldn’t match that.
Blake Ovard hopes the world will slow down and stop trying to do everything right now. He communicates with his dogs and sometimes with inanimate objects with a few strange looks and can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com.
Showing posts with label dog games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog games. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Socializing, good for dogs and people
Working with the shelter dog I drew for the Extreme Mutt Makeover, Mandy, made me think, in great detail, about a number of things that are normally just passing thoughts.
I only had six weeks to work with Mandy, and so everything was more.
More training sessions, more treats and more time bonding. This was done trying to get her to be the best dog she could be so that after the competition, she would have the best shot possible at getting the perfect home for her — and she will give her new people a lifetime of devotion and love.
Part of her training involved taking her for walks and to various social gatherings so that she became socialized.
It was obvious from day one that she enjoyed the company of people, so socialization was something that just needed to be kept up.
While searching for a place bigger than my backyard to let her stretch her legs and run free, I discovered there is not a local place in my town where people with their dogs can go — at least they can’t go with their dogs off-leash.
We piled into the car several times during training and headed to Fort Worth and the great dog park there, Ft. Woof.
What a great opportunity we are missing out on in my town by not having our own version of the gathering place for canines.
And, the Ft. Woof dog park not just a gathering place for dogs. Many people bring their canine buddies to the park in order to have conversations with other animal lovers. Some folks come out and don’t even own a pooch — they just like the company.
While up that direction, we typically stop for a drink or a bite to eat and gas, if we need it. Those are dollars I would rather spend locally, but find myself in need out of town, only because I must go out of town in order to take part in an activity that is not offered locally.
A local park would benefit the community socially and economically. Perhaps it is something that should be considered by city leaders.
Dog parks are something officials typically overlook because they can't see the immediate benefit of one. What they typically see is that the dog park will cost money rather than bring money into the city. They don't understand people with dogs buy goods and services and that money could be leaving their town if dog owners are forced to go to a neighboring community to take part in having fun with their dog.
I recently mentioned I would be trying various products and telling you if they are worth your hard-earned paychecks, and I have something to report.
The Mosquito Magnet is a contraption that supposes to attract the little buggers with a mix of propane and a chemical attractant.
I hooked one outside by my pool a couple of weeks ago, and I can honestly say it has made a difference. It is a bit pricey, running a little over $300, but being able to sit out in the evening without getting bit is worth 10 times that amount. I’m sure my neighbors are enjoying the relief from mosquitoes as well, because it is said to clear about an acre of land from the pests.
I just hope mosquitoes never get organized and build a mosquito park.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com when he is not at the dog park or barking up a tree.
I only had six weeks to work with Mandy, and so everything was more.
More training sessions, more treats and more time bonding. This was done trying to get her to be the best dog she could be so that after the competition, she would have the best shot possible at getting the perfect home for her — and she will give her new people a lifetime of devotion and love.
Part of her training involved taking her for walks and to various social gatherings so that she became socialized.
It was obvious from day one that she enjoyed the company of people, so socialization was something that just needed to be kept up.
While searching for a place bigger than my backyard to let her stretch her legs and run free, I discovered there is not a local place in my town where people with their dogs can go — at least they can’t go with their dogs off-leash.
We piled into the car several times during training and headed to Fort Worth and the great dog park there, Ft. Woof.
What a great opportunity we are missing out on in my town by not having our own version of the gathering place for canines.
And, the Ft. Woof dog park not just a gathering place for dogs. Many people bring their canine buddies to the park in order to have conversations with other animal lovers. Some folks come out and don’t even own a pooch — they just like the company.
While up that direction, we typically stop for a drink or a bite to eat and gas, if we need it. Those are dollars I would rather spend locally, but find myself in need out of town, only because I must go out of town in order to take part in an activity that is not offered locally.
A local park would benefit the community socially and economically. Perhaps it is something that should be considered by city leaders.
Dog parks are something officials typically overlook because they can't see the immediate benefit of one. What they typically see is that the dog park will cost money rather than bring money into the city. They don't understand people with dogs buy goods and services and that money could be leaving their town if dog owners are forced to go to a neighboring community to take part in having fun with their dog.
I recently mentioned I would be trying various products and telling you if they are worth your hard-earned paychecks, and I have something to report.
The Mosquito Magnet is a contraption that supposes to attract the little buggers with a mix of propane and a chemical attractant.
I hooked one outside by my pool a couple of weeks ago, and I can honestly say it has made a difference. It is a bit pricey, running a little over $300, but being able to sit out in the evening without getting bit is worth 10 times that amount. I’m sure my neighbors are enjoying the relief from mosquitoes as well, because it is said to clear about an acre of land from the pests.
I just hope mosquitoes never get organized and build a mosquito park.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com when he is not at the dog park or barking up a tree.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Pulling down the house
There we sat on the coffee shop patio, me enjoying the warm cup of java in my hands and Scoop laying next to me enjoying a bone. The sun was shining, the temperature was a near perfect 78 degrees and I thought I could almost hear blue birds starting to sing a Disney tune.
I looked up and saw a woman trying to make her way down the street, about a block away, with what appeared to be a small tornado on the end of a string. The tornado darted this way and that, pulled forward and back, darted between the woman's legs and looped around as if trying to tie her up.
Scoop stopped chewing his bone, observed the same commotion I was taking in and looked up at me questioningly. I'm not sure if he was trying to ask if we should help the woman with tornado on a string, if I could believe what I was seeing or if he could have extra dog treats for putting up with me and not acting that way.
While alternating between the sidewalk, the curb and the edge of the street, among cries of, "no," "stop," "Rufus please," and "come here," the pair made their way toward the coffee shop — the woman holding the leash in both hands so that it couldn't get away from her. Who knows what damage a four-pound tornado could do when left to its own devices on a busy street?
Scoop had become disinterested, having seen this many times before, and went back to chewing his bone. I pretended to read the magazine in front of me so that I would not be tempted to offer unsolicited advice.
"Rufus, no," I heard and looked up from my magazine to see the pomeranian tugging his way toward Scoop and his bone.
I leaned forward and put my hand into the potential path and wiggled my fingers. The cute ball of fur took the bait and diverted his attention from my dog and his bone to my hand, licking my fingers and wagging his whole body. I told the small dog what a good boy he was and scratched under his chin, then told the woman how cute the orange-colored fluffball was.
Her shoulders dropped and she explained she had rescued him from someone selling puppies on the street corner, and that the pomeranian was only about 16 weeks old. She also said she was at her wits end because he didn't know anything, including how to walk on a leash. The dog not responding to her was driving her crazy and she was afraid she was not going to be able to keep him.
It was obvious I was not going to be able to ignore the problem, so I pulled out one of my cards and handed it to her. Then I asked if I could pick her dog up, so I could pet him while I passed on a few tips to her.
So many times people get a dog, or puppy, and expect it to know what the new person wants without the benefit of being able to speak the native tongue of the person, ask questions or experience new things. Dogs experience things differently than people, and sometimes get excited at new surroundings. Like a human child, dogs and puppies need boundaries set and reinforced.
If a dog pulls, it's because he or she wants to go in a particular direction and is putting what he or she wants to do ahead of what the person wants to do. Like a child, it is up to the adult to provide instruction, boundaries and direction.
So, I asked why it was that she let the small dog pull her down the street, when it is obvious that with the size difference, she could stand her ground and cause the dog to pay attention to her and what direction she wanted to go. If you want to go the same direction, great, but if the dog decides he or she is going to pull, you can just stop, or you might need to change your mind and go the opposite direction — if only for a few steps before changing your mind and going the original direction.
It won't take long before the dog learns to pay attention to what the person is doing and want to stay with you. You don't need any special collars, equipment or super human strength, just stop and hold the leash firm. When the dog gets to the end of the lead, he or she will stop and most likely come back to you to find out what the problem is.
The woman took a coffee to go and the scene as she headed back up the street was a completely different one than only a few minutes earlier. She would stop when Rufus got in front of her. Rufus would come back to her. Away they walked until she stopped again a few more times.
The barista asked if that works on any dog, no matter how big it is.
"It does as long as they were born with more than two legs and a tail," I said, and sipped my coffee.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com.
I looked up and saw a woman trying to make her way down the street, about a block away, with what appeared to be a small tornado on the end of a string. The tornado darted this way and that, pulled forward and back, darted between the woman's legs and looped around as if trying to tie her up.
Scoop stopped chewing his bone, observed the same commotion I was taking in and looked up at me questioningly. I'm not sure if he was trying to ask if we should help the woman with tornado on a string, if I could believe what I was seeing or if he could have extra dog treats for putting up with me and not acting that way.
While alternating between the sidewalk, the curb and the edge of the street, among cries of, "no," "stop," "Rufus please," and "come here," the pair made their way toward the coffee shop — the woman holding the leash in both hands so that it couldn't get away from her. Who knows what damage a four-pound tornado could do when left to its own devices on a busy street?
Scoop had become disinterested, having seen this many times before, and went back to chewing his bone. I pretended to read the magazine in front of me so that I would not be tempted to offer unsolicited advice.
"Rufus, no," I heard and looked up from my magazine to see the pomeranian tugging his way toward Scoop and his bone.
I leaned forward and put my hand into the potential path and wiggled my fingers. The cute ball of fur took the bait and diverted his attention from my dog and his bone to my hand, licking my fingers and wagging his whole body. I told the small dog what a good boy he was and scratched under his chin, then told the woman how cute the orange-colored fluffball was.
Her shoulders dropped and she explained she had rescued him from someone selling puppies on the street corner, and that the pomeranian was only about 16 weeks old. She also said she was at her wits end because he didn't know anything, including how to walk on a leash. The dog not responding to her was driving her crazy and she was afraid she was not going to be able to keep him.
It was obvious I was not going to be able to ignore the problem, so I pulled out one of my cards and handed it to her. Then I asked if I could pick her dog up, so I could pet him while I passed on a few tips to her.
So many times people get a dog, or puppy, and expect it to know what the new person wants without the benefit of being able to speak the native tongue of the person, ask questions or experience new things. Dogs experience things differently than people, and sometimes get excited at new surroundings. Like a human child, dogs and puppies need boundaries set and reinforced.
If a dog pulls, it's because he or she wants to go in a particular direction and is putting what he or she wants to do ahead of what the person wants to do. Like a child, it is up to the adult to provide instruction, boundaries and direction.
So, I asked why it was that she let the small dog pull her down the street, when it is obvious that with the size difference, she could stand her ground and cause the dog to pay attention to her and what direction she wanted to go. If you want to go the same direction, great, but if the dog decides he or she is going to pull, you can just stop, or you might need to change your mind and go the opposite direction — if only for a few steps before changing your mind and going the original direction.
It won't take long before the dog learns to pay attention to what the person is doing and want to stay with you. You don't need any special collars, equipment or super human strength, just stop and hold the leash firm. When the dog gets to the end of the lead, he or she will stop and most likely come back to you to find out what the problem is.
The woman took a coffee to go and the scene as she headed back up the street was a completely different one than only a few minutes earlier. She would stop when Rufus got in front of her. Rufus would come back to her. Away they walked until she stopped again a few more times.
The barista asked if that works on any dog, no matter how big it is.
"It does as long as they were born with more than two legs and a tail," I said, and sipped my coffee.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Twice the fun, twice the work
I received an interesting phone call from my wife on Saturday informing me that we may be bringing home 6-month-old twins. Twins is not something I thought we would ever have, nor is it something we have ever aspired too.
The two brothers, she informed me, were rambunctious and playing in the holding room while their parents filled out paperwork to put them up for adoption. My wife knew from the moment she saw the young boys they would be coming home with us — at least as fosters.
Because of the processing and paperwork involved, the pair were not available at all Saturday. This gave us a day or so to prepare for their arrival and think of new names to call them, as they didn’t seem to respond to the names they had been given.
Sunday evening my wife pulled into the driveway, and I went out to meet her. The boys were in their car carriers in the back seat and I couldn’t wait to see them.
I opened the door, and their eyes lit up with excitement. A smile could be seen on both their faces as their tongues licked excitedly and their tails began to wag. One gave a quick bark of hello and was rapidly followed by the other also yipping hello.
The border collie brothers are adorable. With more black on their faces than traditional black and white border collies, and a good think coat of hair already, the little fuzzballs bounded out of the back of our Jeep to explore the yard — at the end of the leash I had managed to slip around their necks as they were exiting, of course.
I sat on the frozen ground that has been our yard for the last few days and both bounded over to me and clamored for attention by climbing in my lap and licking me, their tails wagging at a speed that approached blinding.
We decided to take the fun party to the backyard where we could let the pair run, play, tumble and discover new things without being bound by a leash. This would also give me a good glimpse into what each of the brothers personalities might be like.
Having evaluated hundreds of litters of puppies, I have learned many things and can usually tell within a few minutes what personality a puppy may have. With pups 5-6 months old, it is usually easier because their personalty is normally set by then and traits are easier to pick out.
One of the pups, Tripp, is more adventurous than his brother, and was probably one of the first in the litter. He is the more dominant of the two. Roadie is the more laid back — at least as laid back as a border collie can be — and is a bit of a “love bug,” preferring to walk, play and discover things from next to a person. Both are sound and will make excellent dogs for an active owner or family.
Our pool, was something they may not have seen before. In went both pair of front feet onto the first step in the shallow end. Out came both pair of feet.
A small bowl we use as an additional water bowl had a large piece of ice floating in it, and the boys had great fun trying to bob for it while getting a drink.
Puppies are fun because you get to see them grow and explore. Border collie pups are sometimes too much for most people to handle as they are really just a bundle of energy wrapped in a fur suit. To take on twins, I was told, we must be crazy.
But, it’s all part of what I do as part of my life outside of newspapers. Border collies are smart, high-drive dogs that need a special kind of owner. Sure, it may be a lot of work, but by fostering dogs through Border Collie Rescue Texas, we help get dogs to a great forever home, and get to enjoy special moments, like bringing home the twins, in the process.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com
The two brothers, she informed me, were rambunctious and playing in the holding room while their parents filled out paperwork to put them up for adoption. My wife knew from the moment she saw the young boys they would be coming home with us — at least as fosters.
Because of the processing and paperwork involved, the pair were not available at all Saturday. This gave us a day or so to prepare for their arrival and think of new names to call them, as they didn’t seem to respond to the names they had been given.
Sunday evening my wife pulled into the driveway, and I went out to meet her. The boys were in their car carriers in the back seat and I couldn’t wait to see them.
I opened the door, and their eyes lit up with excitement. A smile could be seen on both their faces as their tongues licked excitedly and their tails began to wag. One gave a quick bark of hello and was rapidly followed by the other also yipping hello.
The border collie brothers are adorable. With more black on their faces than traditional black and white border collies, and a good think coat of hair already, the little fuzzballs bounded out of the back of our Jeep to explore the yard — at the end of the leash I had managed to slip around their necks as they were exiting, of course.
I sat on the frozen ground that has been our yard for the last few days and both bounded over to me and clamored for attention by climbing in my lap and licking me, their tails wagging at a speed that approached blinding.
We decided to take the fun party to the backyard where we could let the pair run, play, tumble and discover new things without being bound by a leash. This would also give me a good glimpse into what each of the brothers personalities might be like.
Having evaluated hundreds of litters of puppies, I have learned many things and can usually tell within a few minutes what personality a puppy may have. With pups 5-6 months old, it is usually easier because their personalty is normally set by then and traits are easier to pick out.
One of the pups, Tripp, is more adventurous than his brother, and was probably one of the first in the litter. He is the more dominant of the two. Roadie is the more laid back — at least as laid back as a border collie can be — and is a bit of a “love bug,” preferring to walk, play and discover things from next to a person. Both are sound and will make excellent dogs for an active owner or family.
Our pool, was something they may not have seen before. In went both pair of front feet onto the first step in the shallow end. Out came both pair of feet.
A small bowl we use as an additional water bowl had a large piece of ice floating in it, and the boys had great fun trying to bob for it while getting a drink.
Puppies are fun because you get to see them grow and explore. Border collie pups are sometimes too much for most people to handle as they are really just a bundle of energy wrapped in a fur suit. To take on twins, I was told, we must be crazy.
But, it’s all part of what I do as part of my life outside of newspapers. Border collies are smart, high-drive dogs that need a special kind of owner. Sure, it may be a lot of work, but by fostering dogs through Border Collie Rescue Texas, we help get dogs to a great forever home, and get to enjoy special moments, like bringing home the twins, in the process.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
So cold it freezes before it hits the ground
Winter usually brings something expected with it — colder weather. But, this year it seems that even the colder weather may be colder.
Sure, I know there are still some out there who think the colder than normal temperatures are a fluke and that global warming means everything is getting warmer, not colder. Those same folks insist the debate is over, but I think mother nature has weighed in on the subject and opened everything back up.
I can remember at the start of the global warming debate — before one side declared itself the victor and said the discussion was over — there was a large group of climate scientists who said the world was not going to get warmer, but would instead enter into another ice age.
Since I’m not a scientist, at least by profession — though I do have more than a few science classes under my belt, I can only state my observations. I think the ice age group may be on to something.
Granted, I’m in Texas where winters are typically moderate, but with each storm comes colder temps. No, it’s not the first time we Texans have seen storms, cold fronts and weather like this. When I was a lot younger, in the early 80s there were times of dramatically hot summer followed by brutally cold winters with prolonged dipping temperatures.
But, being in Texas, or any other “warmer” state, and seeing these cold spells dip to lower latitudes is a better indication of what global weather patterns may be heading toward than watching the summer mercury. When iguanas are falling off the tress in Florida because the lizards are so cold they can’t move, I think that’s an indication of something.
I know most of you don’t tune in to get a weather report from me, you can look out your window to find out what is going on in your neck of the woods, so let me get straight to my point.
It’s cold. Freaking cold.
All of our dogs have kennel boxes in the house that they sleep in and spend time in when we are not at home. Most of you know I am a believer in crate training and that it works. You’re away, the dog stays in the kennel so nothing bad can happen to it. Obviously, there are exceptions and dogs trained to be out unsupervised are one of those.
At our house only two of our crew fall into the “we can stay out and be good because we aren’t going to get into anything we shouldn’t” category. One of them is Maxx, our border collie.
With the recent cold spell of wind chill dipping below the zero mark, I don’t like holding the door open too long waiting for the dogs to go out. The first morning of sub-freezing temperatures the dogs were game. I opened the door, out they ran.
“Oh look it’s cold and we are going to be frisky because we have these fur coats on,” was what they might have said if they were able to communicate in English to me, while they scampered around the back yard. I love watching them play chase, tug and follow-me-because-I-have-the-toy games. It’s also fun to watch them all play, “Hey Bizzy saw a squirrel, let’s all try to see where it went. Everyone stand in a line over here and look up at the trees.”
During the lunch outside time and afternoon outside time, they were all moderately frisky and playing the same games — but adding the game, “hey, our water is frozen, here comes dad with fresh, warmer water, let’s make sure we stick our whiskers and noses in it and rush up to get the back of his legs wet before he can make it back into the house.” Such a wonderful game.
By the late night outside time, most were ready to come back inside in a relatively short amount of time. Taking away the refill water game by dong that task before the dogs went out probably had something to do with it.
This morning, the normal pattern was broken.
I had Maxx walking beside me at his normal pace, and we reached the back door. I opened the door, and told him to go out. He looked at me, looked outside and back at me again. His eyes said it all.
“It’s freaking cold out there, and you want me to do what?”
Reluctantly, after the third time of telling him to get outside because it was cold standing with an open door, he went. I got the other dogs and they followed suit — with me being the evil meanie for making them go out to do their business.
Maxx wandered over to his favorite bush to water and lifted his leg. He then put it back down.
My mind immediately jumped to wondering what medical problems my senior boy may be having out in the single digit weather.
Then, he lifted his leg again, and all was fine. He did turn to look as if he thought his business might freeze before it hit the ground. Maybe he thought he would see a peesicle arching from the ground to where he was standing. Ditto and Scoop both had the same look and reaction from their time out.
As quick as a bullet, they were all huddled at the back door waiting to come in, their muffled cries penetrating the door — except Bizzy. She was busy scouring the yard for squirrels.
If she could find a frozen squirrel, she would be happy, but that morning the squirrels were smart and stayed in their warm little squirrel beds.
Maybe she would have better luck if we moved to Florida. At least there, the iguanas are falling out of the trees and would be an easy catch. Now that’s global warming in action.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com
Sure, I know there are still some out there who think the colder than normal temperatures are a fluke and that global warming means everything is getting warmer, not colder. Those same folks insist the debate is over, but I think mother nature has weighed in on the subject and opened everything back up.
I can remember at the start of the global warming debate — before one side declared itself the victor and said the discussion was over — there was a large group of climate scientists who said the world was not going to get warmer, but would instead enter into another ice age.
Since I’m not a scientist, at least by profession — though I do have more than a few science classes under my belt, I can only state my observations. I think the ice age group may be on to something.
Granted, I’m in Texas where winters are typically moderate, but with each storm comes colder temps. No, it’s not the first time we Texans have seen storms, cold fronts and weather like this. When I was a lot younger, in the early 80s there were times of dramatically hot summer followed by brutally cold winters with prolonged dipping temperatures.
But, being in Texas, or any other “warmer” state, and seeing these cold spells dip to lower latitudes is a better indication of what global weather patterns may be heading toward than watching the summer mercury. When iguanas are falling off the tress in Florida because the lizards are so cold they can’t move, I think that’s an indication of something.
I know most of you don’t tune in to get a weather report from me, you can look out your window to find out what is going on in your neck of the woods, so let me get straight to my point.
It’s cold. Freaking cold.
All of our dogs have kennel boxes in the house that they sleep in and spend time in when we are not at home. Most of you know I am a believer in crate training and that it works. You’re away, the dog stays in the kennel so nothing bad can happen to it. Obviously, there are exceptions and dogs trained to be out unsupervised are one of those.
At our house only two of our crew fall into the “we can stay out and be good because we aren’t going to get into anything we shouldn’t” category. One of them is Maxx, our border collie.
With the recent cold spell of wind chill dipping below the zero mark, I don’t like holding the door open too long waiting for the dogs to go out. The first morning of sub-freezing temperatures the dogs were game. I opened the door, out they ran.
“Oh look it’s cold and we are going to be frisky because we have these fur coats on,” was what they might have said if they were able to communicate in English to me, while they scampered around the back yard. I love watching them play chase, tug and follow-me-because-I-have-the-toy games. It’s also fun to watch them all play, “Hey Bizzy saw a squirrel, let’s all try to see where it went. Everyone stand in a line over here and look up at the trees.”
During the lunch outside time and afternoon outside time, they were all moderately frisky and playing the same games — but adding the game, “hey, our water is frozen, here comes dad with fresh, warmer water, let’s make sure we stick our whiskers and noses in it and rush up to get the back of his legs wet before he can make it back into the house.” Such a wonderful game.
By the late night outside time, most were ready to come back inside in a relatively short amount of time. Taking away the refill water game by dong that task before the dogs went out probably had something to do with it.
This morning, the normal pattern was broken.
I had Maxx walking beside me at his normal pace, and we reached the back door. I opened the door, and told him to go out. He looked at me, looked outside and back at me again. His eyes said it all.
“It’s freaking cold out there, and you want me to do what?”
Reluctantly, after the third time of telling him to get outside because it was cold standing with an open door, he went. I got the other dogs and they followed suit — with me being the evil meanie for making them go out to do their business.
Maxx wandered over to his favorite bush to water and lifted his leg. He then put it back down.
My mind immediately jumped to wondering what medical problems my senior boy may be having out in the single digit weather.
Then, he lifted his leg again, and all was fine. He did turn to look as if he thought his business might freeze before it hit the ground. Maybe he thought he would see a peesicle arching from the ground to where he was standing. Ditto and Scoop both had the same look and reaction from their time out.
As quick as a bullet, they were all huddled at the back door waiting to come in, their muffled cries penetrating the door — except Bizzy. She was busy scouring the yard for squirrels.
If she could find a frozen squirrel, she would be happy, but that morning the squirrels were smart and stayed in their warm little squirrel beds.
Maybe she would have better luck if we moved to Florida. At least there, the iguanas are falling out of the trees and would be an easy catch. Now that’s global warming in action.
Blake Ovard is a professional dog trainer and a top-three finalist in the Extreme Mutt Makeover. He can be reached via e-mail at blake@didyaq.com
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