OK, so what do we have?
Dakota and Suka did not get along well at first. I've discovered that Suka can be a bit of an asshole at times, and she's definately the dominant dog of the two. She will try resource guarding, and she will try bullying, and she's gotten in Dakota's face more than a few times. Dokata is a kind and forgiving soul, and will put up with some crap, but only to a certain point. Then she holds her ground. Or pushes back. I've been working on Suka - If I wish to avoid an all-out Donnybrook, I have to watch Suka closely, and step on her whenever she gets out of line. Well, that's my job, so that's what I do. And sometimes, Dakota gets a little pushy, and has to be reminded of her manners, too. No problem - That's what I do. Long story short, the two are not bosum buddies, but they get along in a live-and-let-live manner, though I have to keep up the maintenance on the behaviors, to ensure things stay that way.
Dakota has my wife utterly wrapped around her paw, which is remarkable. My wife, the 'I don't like dogs' person, is captivated by Dakota. My wife, the 'I don't like BIG dogs' person, adores Dakota. And the feeling is mutual. Dakota will prance up to my wife, lower her head, and tuck it up under my wife's arm, leaning in for a snuggle. She'll dance for my wife, and do the characteristic Shiloh 'wookie talk' to her, and sit at her feet, happy in the close, comfortable presence of my wife. :-) Oh, Dakota loves me, too. And my daughter (and to a lesser extent, my son), but Jenn is 'first among equals' to Dakota.
We take the dogs for walks down Main Street in town, and that's the place that Suka and Dakota get along best. I take Suka, and Jenn takes Dakota, and suddenly, they're companions - shoulder-to-shoulder in comfortable peace. Suka always drew some comment - she's a lovely dog - but Dakota is a literal traffic-stopper. She's magnificent. And people see that - They'll stop, roll down their windows to ask about her, they'll walk up and adress themselves to her, too. Never mind the people at the other end of the leash; it's Dakota they want to talk to! :-p I've handed out a lot of informational tri-folds! :-D
OK, enough for the moment. More later, with pictures.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
It's Alive!
Bwa-hahahahaha..!
Oh, wait... This isn't a Frankensteinian monster. Well, it might be monsterous, but it in no way involves resurrecting the dead. Or maybe it does.
:-p :-D
So, what are we doing here? Oh, yeah - talking about ISSR Shiloh Shepherd dogs. One very specific dog, in particular - Dakota.
Oh, wait... This isn't a Frankensteinian monster. Well, it might be monsterous, but it in no way involves resurrecting the dead. Or maybe it does.
:-p :-D
So, what are we doing here? Oh, yeah - talking about ISSR Shiloh Shepherd dogs. One very specific dog, in particular - Dakota.
Dakota stretching her legs
Dakota's a long, long way from where she started. She's found a home where she's happy and loved. She's settled in, if not exactly without some rough spots, but settled in none-the-less, and has utterly wrapped my wife around her... Uh, Paw, I guess. ;-)
There's much more to cover, of course, but I'm not up for that this instant. More later, when the kids are in bed. :-D
Monday, August 10, 2009
It's been a while...
It's been a long while.
Not sorry, either. I've been busy with Suka ( http://sukasplace.blogspot.com/ ), and life, and there's been very little happening here.
That's changing.
Up to my usual tricks again - I'm taking in an ISSR Shiloh, one in need of a good home, because where she is, they're not able to care for her much longer. Her owner, a Licensed Breeder, passed away, and there's basically no support left for the dogs of her kennel. One, Cain (Acer/GEM '08), is expected to be going to live with a family near Vanessa D., of Guardian Kennels ( http://www.guardiankennels.ca/ ). The other, Dakota, is coming to live with me. :-)
Dakota is a five year old female, neutered (so my breeding plans stay on hold for now!), and is a registered Therapy Dog with St. John Ambulance. St. John Ambulance is descended from the remnants of the Knights Hospitaler, and does good work all over the world. Unfortunately, they don't operate much in the US, so I'll need to find another group to sponser Dakota and myself, but I've long wanted to do Animal Assisted Therapy work, and Dakota is opening that door for me!
Plans for getting Dakota from her home in Winnipeg to her new home in Delaware have been a challenge, but the very good Shiloh people from Shiloh Shepherd Friends have bent over backwards, and we've got a relay running down into North Dakota, over into Minnesota, through Wisconsin, cutting south through Illinois past Chicago, across the tops of Indiana and Ohio, and then the length of Pennsylvania and into Delaware! Whew! What a ride! But we've got experts on each stage, and it all meshes.
Why, you may ask, aren't you flying her? Good question. Domestically, within the US, I could get her to me for as little as US$400, not counting travel crate. Travel crate for a full-grown ISSR Shiloh would be around US$180. But the nearest US facility that flies pets to the Philly area is Minneapolis - So there'd still be a lengthy drive involved. But why not Fly her across international borders, from Winnipeg, so to avoid the drive? Minimum of US$1800! Why the jump in costs? Because the TSA (Travel Security Administration) has, for whatever reason they feel valid, decreed that all unacompanied pets crossing the US borders by air must be shipped via a "Pet Forwarding Service." The cheapest was US$1800, and the price went up rapidly from there! That's something like three times the total cost of running her cross-country! And the travel times are comparable, once you include security and layovers!
So, it's a-road-trippin' we go.
Next Friday night, I start on my way to Toledo, which is where I'll pick up Dakota, and bring her the rest of the way home. It's been an interesting challenge to pull this together, but with good help and good hearts, nearly anything is possible.
We got the red carpet out for ya, Dakota!
Not sorry, either. I've been busy with Suka ( http://sukasplace.blogspot.com/ ), and life, and there's been very little happening here.
That's changing.
Up to my usual tricks again - I'm taking in an ISSR Shiloh, one in need of a good home, because where she is, they're not able to care for her much longer. Her owner, a Licensed Breeder, passed away, and there's basically no support left for the dogs of her kennel. One, Cain (Acer/GEM '08), is expected to be going to live with a family near Vanessa D., of Guardian Kennels ( http://www.guardiankennels.ca/ ). The other, Dakota, is coming to live with me. :-)
Dakota is a five year old female, neutered (so my breeding plans stay on hold for now!), and is a registered Therapy Dog with St. John Ambulance. St. John Ambulance is descended from the remnants of the Knights Hospitaler, and does good work all over the world. Unfortunately, they don't operate much in the US, so I'll need to find another group to sponser Dakota and myself, but I've long wanted to do Animal Assisted Therapy work, and Dakota is opening that door for me!
Plans for getting Dakota from her home in Winnipeg to her new home in Delaware have been a challenge, but the very good Shiloh people from Shiloh Shepherd Friends have bent over backwards, and we've got a relay running down into North Dakota, over into Minnesota, through Wisconsin, cutting south through Illinois past Chicago, across the tops of Indiana and Ohio, and then the length of Pennsylvania and into Delaware! Whew! What a ride! But we've got experts on each stage, and it all meshes.
Why, you may ask, aren't you flying her? Good question. Domestically, within the US, I could get her to me for as little as US$400, not counting travel crate. Travel crate for a full-grown ISSR Shiloh would be around US$180. But the nearest US facility that flies pets to the Philly area is Minneapolis - So there'd still be a lengthy drive involved. But why not Fly her across international borders, from Winnipeg, so to avoid the drive? Minimum of US$1800! Why the jump in costs? Because the TSA (Travel Security Administration) has, for whatever reason they feel valid, decreed that all unacompanied pets crossing the US borders by air must be shipped via a "Pet Forwarding Service." The cheapest was US$1800, and the price went up rapidly from there! That's something like three times the total cost of running her cross-country! And the travel times are comparable, once you include security and layovers!
So, it's a-road-trippin' we go.
Next Friday night, I start on my way to Toledo, which is where I'll pick up Dakota, and bring her the rest of the way home. It's been an interesting challenge to pull this together, but with good help and good hearts, nearly anything is possible.
We got the red carpet out for ya, Dakota!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Marla went home
OK, who's Marla? Well, she's the dog formerly known as "Marly" from here:
Blue Rock Shilohs: Transporting: It's not just a drive in the country.
I predicted she'd be easy to place. I was right. I love it when that happens.
:-p
Blue Rock Shilohs: Transporting: It's not just a drive in the country.
I predicted she'd be easy to place. I was right. I love it when that happens.
:-p
Friday, August 29, 2008
"New" Parvo C2 strain - The sky is NOT falling
There's been a recent rash of breathless e-mail about the "new" C2 strain of Parvo, and how deadly it is, how only a few vaccines will work on it, and so on. Very scary!
Relax.
The sky really isn't about to cave in:
http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/28/the-new-parvo-revisited/
The "new" parvo is seven years old, current vaccines work, and so long as your dog has current immunizations, and you follow proper hygene, you're in pretty good shape.
Go play fetch with your pup, or something.
Relax.
The sky really isn't about to cave in:
http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/08/28/the-new-parvo-revisited/
The "new" parvo is seven years old, current vaccines work, and so long as your dog has current immunizations, and you follow proper hygene, you're in pretty good shape.
Go play fetch with your pup, or something.
Friday, August 22, 2008
No activity for a while....
The Shiloh people are at Homecoming 2008, and I'm stuck at work. Well, except when I'm not keeping up with family and such. Oh, and with Suka, too.
It occurs to me that the Shiloh puppy is going to have to wait a year or so, at least until my daughter is truly old enough to help out. Or until I hit the lottery. I guess we all know which of those is going to happen first! Especially 'since I don't even play the lottery. :p
Well, for the time being, I'm busy enough. Especially with Suka. Amazing what a dog can do to your life. ;)
The Shiloh people are at Homecoming 2008, and I'm stuck at work. Well, except when I'm not keeping up with family and such. Oh, and with Suka, too.
It occurs to me that the Shiloh puppy is going to have to wait a year or so, at least until my daughter is truly old enough to help out. Or until I hit the lottery. I guess we all know which of those is going to happen first! Especially 'since I don't even play the lottery. :p
Well, for the time being, I'm busy enough. Especially with Suka. Amazing what a dog can do to your life. ;)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Transporting: It's not just a drive in the country.
Did I mention I work, well, volunteer, with a BC rescue? I do.
Did my first transport a couple days ago. Interesting, to say the least...
To start, I'm not on the transport list, but we had a transport coming in the previous night that was a special case, and the other usual transporters are either on vacation, or had other commitments. So I stepped into the breach.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Right away, I had to address my wife's understandable distress that I suddenly pulled the plug on half of Saturday - The half where she usually sleeps in. She's in rehearsal for "Oklahoma," and has been burning the candle at both ends and the middle. So the possible loss of her Saturday AM recuperation was devastating. Well I managed to cool her down long enough to explain my plan to ensure she got her rest - A plan, which, as it turned out, worked flawlessly -
One of the few things that *did* go according to plan that day. Not that she trusted it at first; But I'd already put my foot down - We weren't leaving that dog, or that shelter either, to twist in the wind, and that was that. So, with ill-grace, she backed down. But my plan meant that I had little time to make the rendezvous - and my mapping software mis-calculated the distance by 20%. Oops! Running late, and I hadn't even left the house, nor did I even know it yet!
Fortunately, I didn't dawdle, and when I discovered I was cutting it really close, I was also getting pretty close to the meeting point. But then I got a call - the other transporter was early! And she had other stops - She was relocating dogs to half a dozen breed-specific rescues, and had a long way to go... And I wasn't there yet! Fortunately, she was gracious about it, and she WAS early.
130 miles from home, as I started to pull off the highway, I felt a horrible jolt, and then a second one - I'd hit something, something I never saw. I pulled to the shoulder, got out, and immediately heard the sickening rush of air escaping a tire - rapid deflation. Fortunately, I was at the foot of the correct exit, and the meeting was just off the ramp, but by the time I limped into the truck stop where we were to meet, my tire was done for. I met the other transporter, and took custody of Marly, a BC/retriever mix who was shy, and semi-feral.
Lovely - A timid dog, on top of everything else.
Get her into the cool of the van, and lock it up - Then trot into the truck stop and see if they service cars. They don't. Back out to the van, secure Marly, then open all the doors and windows, and break out the tools - I've got to get the donut on, and get across town to the nearest service center that could get me running again today. And no, I don't have AAA. So I do all the work.
Up onto the jack, and discover the lug bolts are heavily rusted. OK, no problem, I'm a big strong guy - But by the time I broke loose all the lug nuts, I'm literally streaming with perspiration - It's HOT out here! In literally five minutes, I was soaked through. OK, wheel off, time to drop the donut and put it on. But noooo... The damn thing is seized. Sit down, drink some water, give Marly some water, rest a couple.
OK, up under the van, and bang on the locknut, and apply the wrench. No go. Hit it harder. It moves. Marly is shifting around above me - I'm making one hell of a racket. But she never utters a sound. Just moves - Away from the hammering, I think. I've got sweat pooling in my eyes...
Back out, sit, wipe my face and hands, drink some water, offer Marly some, and begin again.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Repeat repeatedly.
At last, the nut breaks free, and I get the donut on. Off we go, across town, to the garage. They agree that they can get me moving again in about an hour - but the manager won't let Marly inside to the AC - one of her mechanics was recently bitten by a customer's dog. Marly has been a saint so far, and I'm insulted, but I can't actually vouch for her, so I grab the camp chair from the back of the van, a bottle of water, a bowl, and Marly, and set up camp in the shade of the garage, in a nice cross-breeze. The shade and breeze is a God-send. Marly is hot and stressed, and the quiet little nap she takes is exactly what she needed.
'45-minutes- to-an-hour' turns into two and half hours. Yuk - I'm going to be getting in *VERY* late. But I'm back on the road again, and that's what counts. Then Marly gets sick - the other transporter had fed her! Ugh - Big pile of semi-digested kibble there on the van floor. Oh, I'd had Marley out of the crate - The crate I brought was too small for her. Rookie mistake. Instead, I'd secured her leash very carefully to the structure of the car. As she was doing so well, I left her out of the crate, and she didn't get any of the sick on her - She neatly deposited it in a corner, then looked sheepishly at me. So, I stop, and clean up the mess - I may've brought the wrong crate, but I *did* bring cleaning supplies!
OK, we're off and running again, then I hear flowing liquid. And smell an unmistakable aroma. She'd just crapped in the car - And it's liquid, not solid. *sigh* This is why I brought the cleaning supplies. Stop again, and check out the mess - She's crapped/squirted all over the donut that I couldn't get loose earlier, and had stuck in the back of the van, rather than wrestle with a second time. I laugh my ass off - Good girl! *Exactly* my sentiments!
About this point in time, I begin catching myself repeatedly almost calling her Suka - the name of my soon-to-be very-own BC/X. OK, anyway, another clean up, and we're moving again. No more stops - She's feeling better, and has corked herself between the front seats, looking interestedly around. Or, sometimes she'd lie down, or stick her nose between me and the window, from behind my seat. In short, she's *really* well-behaved in the car. This is a shy semi-feral? Looks to me like her instincts are perfect - I'm quite certain she’ll find a home with ease.
The remainder of the run goes flawlessly - five hours late, though.
I'm sunburnt, and beat. But Marly is safe.
Did my first transport a couple days ago. Interesting, to say the least...
To start, I'm not on the transport list, but we had a transport coming in the previous night that was a special case, and the other usual transporters are either on vacation, or had other commitments. So I stepped into the breach.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Right away, I had to address my wife's understandable distress that I suddenly pulled the plug on half of Saturday - The half where she usually sleeps in. She's in rehearsal for "Oklahoma," and has been burning the candle at both ends and the middle. So the possible loss of her Saturday AM recuperation was devastating. Well I managed to cool her down long enough to explain my plan to ensure she got her rest - A plan, which, as it turned out, worked flawlessly -
One of the few things that *did* go according to plan that day. Not that she trusted it at first; But I'd already put my foot down - We weren't leaving that dog, or that shelter either, to twist in the wind, and that was that. So, with ill-grace, she backed down. But my plan meant that I had little time to make the rendezvous - and my mapping software mis-calculated the distance by 20%. Oops! Running late, and I hadn't even left the house, nor did I even know it yet!
Fortunately, I didn't dawdle, and when I discovered I was cutting it really close, I was also getting pretty close to the meeting point. But then I got a call - the other transporter was early! And she had other stops - She was relocating dogs to half a dozen breed-specific rescues, and had a long way to go... And I wasn't there yet! Fortunately, she was gracious about it, and she WAS early.
130 miles from home, as I started to pull off the highway, I felt a horrible jolt, and then a second one - I'd hit something, something I never saw. I pulled to the shoulder, got out, and immediately heard the sickening rush of air escaping a tire - rapid deflation. Fortunately, I was at the foot of the correct exit, and the meeting was just off the ramp, but by the time I limped into the truck stop where we were to meet, my tire was done for. I met the other transporter, and took custody of Marly, a BC/retriever mix who was shy, and semi-feral.
Lovely - A timid dog, on top of everything else.
Get her into the cool of the van, and lock it up - Then trot into the truck stop and see if they service cars. They don't. Back out to the van, secure Marly, then open all the doors and windows, and break out the tools - I've got to get the donut on, and get across town to the nearest service center that could get me running again today. And no, I don't have AAA. So I do all the work.
Up onto the jack, and discover the lug bolts are heavily rusted. OK, no problem, I'm a big strong guy - But by the time I broke loose all the lug nuts, I'm literally streaming with perspiration - It's HOT out here! In literally five minutes, I was soaked through. OK, wheel off, time to drop the donut and put it on. But noooo... The damn thing is seized. Sit down, drink some water, give Marly some water, rest a couple.
OK, up under the van, and bang on the locknut, and apply the wrench. No go. Hit it harder. It moves. Marly is shifting around above me - I'm making one hell of a racket. But she never utters a sound. Just moves - Away from the hammering, I think. I've got sweat pooling in my eyes...
Back out, sit, wipe my face and hands, drink some water, offer Marly some, and begin again.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Repeat repeatedly.
At last, the nut breaks free, and I get the donut on. Off we go, across town, to the garage. They agree that they can get me moving again in about an hour - but the manager won't let Marly inside to the AC - one of her mechanics was recently bitten by a customer's dog. Marly has been a saint so far, and I'm insulted, but I can't actually vouch for her, so I grab the camp chair from the back of the van, a bottle of water, a bowl, and Marly, and set up camp in the shade of the garage, in a nice cross-breeze. The shade and breeze is a God-send. Marly is hot and stressed, and the quiet little nap she takes is exactly what she needed.
'45-minutes- to-an-hour' turns into two and half hours. Yuk - I'm going to be getting in *VERY* late. But I'm back on the road again, and that's what counts. Then Marly gets sick - the other transporter had fed her! Ugh - Big pile of semi-digested kibble there on the van floor. Oh, I'd had Marley out of the crate - The crate I brought was too small for her. Rookie mistake. Instead, I'd secured her leash very carefully to the structure of the car. As she was doing so well, I left her out of the crate, and she didn't get any of the sick on her - She neatly deposited it in a corner, then looked sheepishly at me. So, I stop, and clean up the mess - I may've brought the wrong crate, but I *did* bring cleaning supplies!
OK, we're off and running again, then I hear flowing liquid. And smell an unmistakable aroma. She'd just crapped in the car - And it's liquid, not solid. *sigh* This is why I brought the cleaning supplies. Stop again, and check out the mess - She's crapped/squirted all over the donut that I couldn't get loose earlier, and had stuck in the back of the van, rather than wrestle with a second time. I laugh my ass off - Good girl! *Exactly* my sentiments!
About this point in time, I begin catching myself repeatedly almost calling her Suka - the name of my soon-to-be very-own BC/X. OK, anyway, another clean up, and we're moving again. No more stops - She's feeling better, and has corked herself between the front seats, looking interestedly around. Or, sometimes she'd lie down, or stick her nose between me and the window, from behind my seat. In short, she's *really* well-behaved in the car. This is a shy semi-feral? Looks to me like her instincts are perfect - I'm quite certain she’ll find a home with ease.
The remainder of the run goes flawlessly - five hours late, though.
I'm sunburnt, and beat. But Marly is safe.
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