Dog park

A particular dog at the park is fond of swallowing small balls, the size I use with Cookie. The owner told me they had spent $1500 on the vet to get some out of her. This woman has no control over her dog. She asked me not to play with the ball. Previously she would go home and say very loudly how it would be too dangerous for her dog. Why doesn't she get a muzzle? Anyway, Cookie had other dogs to play with so it was okay for today.

Messages

L was already up. Cookie woke me by licking my hand. I took her downstairs. Apparently she was letting me know that she had to go out. Because she went on the stair landing. Next time I will be better at communicating than her.

Winter moths

On her evening walks, Cookie snaps at and sometimes eats little moths. I think Winter Moths emerging from the ground.

Tags

Somehow Cookie's dog tags came off her collar. So L stuck a little label on instead. I had ordered a replacement from the City but then today, it turned out that someone had turned the tags in to the vet whose name was on the tag saying she'd had rabies shots.

Mess

I had to go on a field trip with Risa's class this morning so I didn't have time. When I came home after school, Cookie had pushed the carpet aside, I think from running around and chewed up a few pencil. Not really catastrophic, but not ideal.

Ball

A dog at the dog park has an inordinate fondness for Cookie's ball. The owner seems unable to control the dog. Cookie barks at it now when it comes for the ball, but it did no good. Today the dog almost swallowed and choked on the thing. The woman took her away.

Spooks

Cookie seemed to be not sure what to make of the large green plastic frog, pumpkin and skeleton now at our front door. She sniffed at them and stared at them a while. 

Sniff

At first, no other dogs at the park. She seemed more interested in sniffing than chasing the ball. So we didn't so long. And then she ran around the house when we got home.g 

Sister?

We met her possible sister today, Audrey.

She looked bigger and more like Cocker Spaniel.

Possibly part of four.

Cookie greeted her but I didn't know if it was different from other dogs. She walked with her on leash but was very excited.

Distraction

Took Cookie to the dog park. She ignored the two big dogs. She seemed quite excited about chasing the ball. Things were fine and then a cyclist stopped to throw an errant ball. Cookie started barking and chasing the cyclist. I'd heard you're not supposed to use her name for negative things but I forgot at the moment. Next time I'll try "off!"

Bicycles

A couple of bicycles passed by today without barks. Maybe the other day going up and down with the bikes in the alley got her used to them. Now we just have to get her used to other dogs while on a leash.

Walking

Lately I've been walking with the leash around my waist so I don't need to be hanging on tightly when Cookie pulls. I'm hoping this will get her used to walking next to me.

Visitor

Cookie barks when anyone comes to the door.

R had a friend over for a play date and Cookie seemed to bark the whole time.

Visitors

Last night, I was just closing our screen door. Normally Cookie is fine and stays inside. But she sensed some intruders, I think a family of raccoons. She was racing around and barking and would not listen to me. I think they eventually got away and ai hope that deters them. But I'm afraid of Cookie doing that with a skunk or a raccoon with rabies.

Walking

Just as with parenting, how you treat your dog feels like a political act.

So I have been letting her sniff around on a loose leash.

Apparently this is not good. So I am attempting to keep her on a short lease and walk like I mean it.

Darkness

On our last walk, it is now dark at nine. She spotted or sniffed a raccoon and went a little frantic. Then when we came back, I let her off the leash in our backyard, she ran into the bushes and growled at something. Then under the cabana. Then it occurred to me that she could get rabies from a raccoon or sprayed by a skunk, so I got her out of there.

Dog Park

The dog park is full of surprises. This evening r approached a German Shepherd with Cookie on leash. The man said to be careful but it was too late. Cookie barked and the other dog lunged and r screamed. I thought it was going to be over, but no blood as far as I could see.

Dog Whisperer

I saw an episode with this guy who knows dogs.

They used video to show all these subtle things going on when two dogs fight.

It would be interesting to figure out what is going on when Cookie growls at other dogs.

Dog Park

L & r went to a local dog park and met a dog trainer, who suggested Cookie has some issues itch other dogs, as a result of her mysterious dark past. So all this barking at other dogs is going to take some effort to deal with.

Schedule

Cookie goes for a walk at 7, 9, 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9.

Lately, r & L take her to a little park nearby and run her around. I have become lazier so most of the time I go only a few blocks. I guess I should increase it, for her and for me.

Grooming

I took Cookie in for a grooming.

This seems like a weird idea to me, but her nails are getting scratchy and L's aunt is looking after her, so we decided to do that. She cleaned up nicely and did not seem to bark with the other dogs, which quite surprised me. And she was all nice and clean and smelling like roses.

In heat

It has warmed up here suddenly and it seems the little black dog is slowing down. Although it might be this new harness we got which is supposed to train her to not pull as much.

Schedule

Noticed a puddle in the kitchen which may or may not be pee, which may or may have been left by cookie which may or may not be because I did not take her for a walk at three (we had been out after lunch) or may or may not be a response to freaking out because of how r handles her.

Objects of interest

Cookie gets excited by small fast moving things. Yesterday we were at a field where swallows came swooping by and I could hardly hang on to the leash. This morning a raccoon strolled across the alley and although Cookie looked up, she did not react much beyond that.

Other Dogs

I never know what Cookie will do when we meet other dogs.

Today she was calm and quiet with a few and growls with some others.

Possibly older ones are better.

I think other black dogs set her off.

Barking

The last few days Cookie has been barking for not obvious reasons. I think it has been decreasing. At first I was ignoring it because I didn't want to reinforce it with attention. But then I was told I needed to acknowledge them, so I have been going to look. I don 't know if this is helpful or not.

Patch

We noticed a small (1 cm2) bare patch of skin on her hind foot.

Mysterious.

The vet clinic said monitor it for few days.

Surprise

We were out for a little walk and approached our home lane when a boy on a skateboard startled Cookie. She barked and he almost fell off and swore and told me to control my dog. 

Encounters

On our morning constitutional this, We approached a large dog and a woman. She was just saying how nice her dog was unless provoked when it lunged at Cookie. Last night at obedience class, the instructor was talking about socializing with other dogs but R had gotten cranky and so I had to take her outside and then Cookie was so distracted L did not hear what was said. So I'm not sure what to do about other dogs.

We just got a dog. It was not my idea.