Well I have just got back from a 10 day holiday and for the first time in 10 years was actually offline. First couple of days were hard but finally relaxed by the end of it. Think some of the ladies may be willing to shoot me out of the stress but they did a good job. What was worrying was with our two golden retrievers as one became lame just before we left. This was a little concerning having put one down a couple of years ago for the same issue. We were a little worried about leaving him but we managed to find a great vet to house sit for us while we were away and worked out what was wrong with him and he is now going sweet.
Once we walked in the door we were greeted by two very happy dogs who have not left my side since coming home yesterday. I ignored the no jumping rule just this once as we were all excited to see them. This was also one of the few times we have gone without the dogs but they managed to cope.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011
On my way
Well just over a week to go now till I head the states and speak at a conference but first thing is to do a close up feature on Wednesday which will be quite cool. Have managed to get a few dogs together for a class and the video crew will be in so looking forward to that.
Dogs are doing well, nice and clean after being washed down the other day so glowing like angels.
Thats all from me as I get my seminar together and for the vet council talk in June.
Dogs are doing well, nice and clean after being washed down the other day so glowing like angels.
Thats all from me as I get my seminar together and for the vet council talk in June.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011
Ahhh!
As the birds chorus was broken this morning by my grumpy children and the two excitable golden reterievers and the incessistent meow of our cat it struck me; is having both children and dogs a great idea? The day starts getting the children ready, making breakfast at the table while the dogs hang around for the faintest hope that maybe, just maybe today may be the day a piece of toast lands in their mouth. Following breakfast it is time to feed the dogs and the cat, while our 1 year old son tries to help both of them eat the biscuits. Fortunately both dogs are nicknamed Hoover and before you can finish saying “Amen” they have finished 3 cups of biscuits. Despite the speed they ate, at which would kill a lesser person, they walk around licking the bowls, just in case they have anything left.
So dogs and children, is it worth it. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to them. The best part of having them together is that the children learn not just to trust animals but also how to respect them. From a young age our two children have been taught we don’t hit the dogs and treat them with the upmost of regard as they have some feelings too. However the dogs also have to learn that a piece of cheese waved in front of their mouths from a young child is not for them and they must wait until given permission otherwise face the wrath of the child’s scream. Definitely not for the faint hearted!
Getting out with the dogs and children makes life seem worth living some days. When you have had a long day at work and come home and take the children and the dogs to the park everyone has fun and all the worries of the day just evaporate into thin air. While the children throw and chase a ball and the dogs eagerly join in, it is easy to see why children and dogs just mix.
However some nights when I came home at about 9pm after a very long day, the dogs greet you as their long lost friend, following you down the hallway and just manage to wake up one of the children. The next 15 minutes is trying to keep the dogs quiet, put the child back to sleep, heating up the dinner and not waking up the wife. All very easy without a dog there I can assure you. After my dinner the dogs finally get theirs and once again act as if this may indeed be their last meal for the next year and then get ready to turn into bed.
You know some people say having children is the best thing they ever did, other people cats and dogs. For me having all of them just slots into our otherwise quiet life. I would not change any of it, even when some days it is only a few hours sleep and driving in traffic. This really is the life.
So dogs and children, is it worth it. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to them. The best part of having them together is that the children learn not just to trust animals but also how to respect them. From a young age our two children have been taught we don’t hit the dogs and treat them with the upmost of regard as they have some feelings too. However the dogs also have to learn that a piece of cheese waved in front of their mouths from a young child is not for them and they must wait until given permission otherwise face the wrath of the child’s scream. Definitely not for the faint hearted!
Getting out with the dogs and children makes life seem worth living some days. When you have had a long day at work and come home and take the children and the dogs to the park everyone has fun and all the worries of the day just evaporate into thin air. While the children throw and chase a ball and the dogs eagerly join in, it is easy to see why children and dogs just mix.
However some nights when I came home at about 9pm after a very long day, the dogs greet you as their long lost friend, following you down the hallway and just manage to wake up one of the children. The next 15 minutes is trying to keep the dogs quiet, put the child back to sleep, heating up the dinner and not waking up the wife. All very easy without a dog there I can assure you. After my dinner the dogs finally get theirs and once again act as if this may indeed be their last meal for the next year and then get ready to turn into bed.
You know some people say having children is the best thing they ever did, other people cats and dogs. For me having all of them just slots into our otherwise quiet life. I would not change any of it, even when some days it is only a few hours sleep and driving in traffic. This really is the life.
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011
Hamburgers
I am sure my vet would be shocked not to mention those that are against McDonalds but being a typical kiwi male while I was shooting down South the other day I dropped in to McDonalds to get a quick feed. My two golden retrievers Oska and Luccas looked like they were starving so along with the nice salad I got for myself I ordered two hamburgers. Well! You would think it was christmas. They devoured them down in about a second flat. This made me think - are those eating competitions for humans only because I am pretty convinced that Luccas could clear it like it is going out of fashion and not even be fill at the end of it.
Now I have to admit they don't eat hamburgers that often, in fact I cannot even remember even giving them hamburgers before
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
Two weeks ago I was told that I would be presenting at the Annual Association of Behaviour Management conference. This was great and all but it is in Denver, Colorado and need to actually write what I am going to talk about. So I am going to talk about dog owners and how to train them. The number of people that tell me it is all about the owners and not the dogs is incredible - if I had $500,000 for everytime someone said that I would be a millionaire. But it is true isnt it? My two dogs would be much better behaved if I had heaps of spare time to train them, as would most of our dogs. So I have now started my seminar entitled - "Getting into the emotional mind of dog owners". Should be entertainig - will let you know.