Things I Have Pulled from My Dog's Mouth

We have done a pretty good job of puppy proofing our apartment. If we don't want him to eat it, we make sure it's put away or he isn't left alone with it. People who don't know me better might think I don't have many shoes, since most of them are now living behind a closed closet door. But, I can't puppy proof the outside world, and "leave it" and "drop it" are not commands that Reese is really comprehending or heeding. So, I have had the unenviable task of fully reaching into my dog's mouth to pull out all manner of debris. Here's a short list:

• Leaves (probably somewhere around 100 of them in the 3 weeks we've had Reese)
• Clumps of grass
• A rubber band
• A potato chip
• The hair from one of the stuffed squirrels that is part of one of his toys
• Sticks
• Bark
• Tennis ball fuzz (a lot of tennis ball fuzz)
• Tags from a blanket and dog bed
• Half a cookie he found in a yard while we were walking him - he tried to go back for that one

And these are just the things I have caught him eating. I am sure I have missed many chunks of trash that he's managed to ingest. And perhaps I am being overly paranoid, but I am doing my damndest to avoid doggie diarrhea. 

I can honestly say I never thought I would be so comfortable forcing a dog's mouth, sticking my fingers in there, and fishing out contraband. I guess we can call this growth?

One thing that has come out of his mouth without me pulling are puppy teeth:

 

So far, I have found three. They're so small and light - it's hard to believe that this tiny, hollow pieces of bone have left me so scratched and bruised! Hopefully as he loses the last of these guys, some of his need to chew and eat everything (whether or not it's food) will also fade away!

It's Been A Ruff Week

Reese has hurt his paw somehow - lord only knows how. It doesn't seem all that severe an injury, but the vet has ordered that we restrict his activity until it heals. That is certainly easier said than done. He wants to tear around and play, and we keep having to tell him no and confine him for fear he'll make his injury worse. We've also had to alter his bathroom route to ensure we taking him on short, quick walks - all business.

Our building has this great little dog run. It's covered in astroturf, has doggie poop bags, and a drinking fountain for the pups. It also allows me to let him off leash and get some of the energy out with other dogs from the building. But, since he can't play or walk far, we can't take him there right now. It just feels cruel.

We need that space in the building, because we live right downtown. There aren't a ton of green spaces for people or dogs. But, it so happens there is a law office with some grass across the street from our building. It's a super short walk, and I always pick up after him. Plus, this law office is clearly meant to service the county jail - we're not talking about some fancy white shoe firm trying to up its curb appeal or something. Well, we've been taking Reese there to do his business while he heals. Perhaps it's a dick move, but I always clean up the mess and properly dispose of the waste. And he likes to just sit in the grass over there in the shade and watch the world go by (sometimes too much when he refuses to move).

Today, after receiving a rather gutting job rejection email for a position I was pretty stoked about, I went to take Reese out. As he is sniffing around, this dude approaches me all heated asking me how I would feel about letting dogs use my lawn as a toilet. He goes off on me with this tirade and then has the audacity to tell me he's nicely asking me to take my dog elsewhere. I let him know he's not exactly asking nicely and leave. I cross the street and promptly start bawling.

The transition out here hasn't been easy. I have been picky with my job search, because I want to find the right position. But, not working has made it really hard to fully settle. I am starting to worry a bit about money, meeting people is a challenge, and I miss the stimulation and interaction a full-time job affords. Reese has been a good distraction, but he's also a big challenge and has severely limited my sleep.

So, I am feeling a little raw when some schlubby-looking asshole starts yelling at me about the unkempt grass in front of his place of employment dying because of dog pee.

My disappointment about this job will pass. Reese will heal. And hopefully, he will get easier to control and be able to go longer overnight so we all sleep better. But, and yes it's hack-y to say, I am currently having a RUFF time. 

Getting Out in the World

One of the things Eddie and I were most excited about when we thought about getting a dog was the idea of taking it places when the weather is nice. There are so many great restaurants and bars with dog-friendly patios. We had this fantasy of enjoying a meal or drink while our doggo laid placidly at our feet. Well, it should come as no surprise that, as with most things, the reality did not live up to the fantasy.

Our first attempt was largely a disaster. Last Friday (day 10 with the pupper) we attempted to go to dinner in our neighborhood. We have this stretch of restaurants with outdoor patios that allow dogs, so we figured we would try one out. We made sure he was fed and took care of his business before we attempted the adventure. When he seemed set, I grabbed the training treats, and we headed out. It was a mistake.

Friday night is super busy on this particular stretch, and it was a real effort to run Reese through the gauntlet of people we encountered. He was clearly overwhelmed, and it did not help that people were coming up and trying to pet him without asking us or waiting for him to approach them. But, we finally made it to a restaurant and got a table.

At first, he was fine. He sat and then laid down. I did my best to reinforce the behavior - offering praise and treats. Then, I asked the server if he could bring some sort of dish of water for Reese. He obliged by bringing a to-go carton filled with water. At first, Reese seemed appreciative and drank. But, after a couple minutes, he proceeded to knock the makeshift bowl over and tear apart the paper. So, I took that away and tried to move him to the other side of the table where there was less action happening. But, the other side of the table was flanked by large plants that proved too irresistible to leave alone. After a few minutes I found myself having to reach into my dog's mouth and pull out large chunks of leaves and other plant matter. And now matter how hard we tried, we could not get him to leave the plants alone. So, Eddie and I traded him off until I finished my entree, and I ran him home to leave him in the kennel while we finished our evening.

It was clearly too much too soon. So, this week I am working on smaller outings. The other day, I just sat with Reese in front of our building for 10 minutes. And today, we had a major breakthrough: we made it to Peet's!

Peet's is 0.3 miles walking from our apartment. By myself, it takes about 5-7 minutes to walk. With the pup, it took about 20. There was a stop to poop on the steps of the county building. There is tons of grass around, so his choice of location almost felt like a political statement. Then, we got scared by the sounds of some construction in our path, which stopped us dead in our tracks for a few minutes. We also stopped to say hello to a Husky we met along the way. But, we made it. I tied him up outside with a favorite toy and went in when I saw there was no line.

He seemed pretty distressed by my 90 second absence while I got my coffee, but once I came out he settled down. When he sat on his own, he got a treat. As he sat quietly and calmly, he got a treat. He even laid down for a bit, and he got a treat. We were able to sit there pretty well for about 20-30 minutes. Then, it seemed like his little meter ran out. Luckily, my coffee was also gone, so we headed home.

We made it home much faster than we made it to Peet's, and he sacked out from our adventure once we did. I am glad we made the trip. It was a good confidence boost for both of us. With time, I am hopeful we can make our fantasy of dining al fresco with the dog a reality!

Finding My Inner Alpha

Don't be fooled by the innocent look in these eyes: this dog can be a monster. He's a puppy. He is learning how to behave in the world. I have been trying to get him as much exposure to other dogs as possible without yet being able to take him to a dog park or big play group since he still needs his last canine influenza shot. After all, well-behaved dogs are the best teachers for a mischievous puppy.

What I am noticing is that he's real slow to pick up what other dogs (and what I for that matter) are putting down when it comes to play. He's so excited and enthusiastic that he doesn't get that bared teeth and growl from a dog means "stop jumping on my face," or that me walking away means, "I really like these jeans - stop eating them while they are still on my body."

My hands and forearms are covered in scratches from his razor-sharp puppy teeth. Several items of clothing have small holes from his repeated and insistent biting. And, there are nights that dealing with him nearly brings me to tears. I try to remember this is just a phase, and then I try to find a way to make it stop - or at least keep it from escalating to the point where I start bleeding.

All the advice I have read about physically removing myself or yelping does not work. For Reese, he just assume this is how I play. I walk away, and he thinks, "YAY we're playing chase!!!" I yelp, and he thinks, "OOOOH. I am so winning the game." I give him a toy, and he thinks, "Okay, lemme hone my chewing and chasing skills, so that we can get back to the really fun game where I bite her hands, feet, and legs." I sometimes worry our dog will develop a taste for human flesh if I don't put a stop to this and soon! So, I am working on a new strategy: showing him I am the alpha. When he starts getting really bite-y, I don't walk away. I walk toward him. I make him back away. I am calm, but I am firm - as Cesar Milan used to say on Dog Whisperer, I project "calm, assertive energy." I need to show him that I am pack leader, and I am not going to tolerate that kind of crap in my den.

While it doesn't necessarily stop play time, so far it seems to keep it from escalating. And, and this point, I will take it. He's going to be a big boy, and we need to nip all the nipping in the bud. Reese really is a sweet, good natured boy. And the sooner we exorcise (and exercise) away the demon dog, the happier we will all be! Until then, I just need to continue to show him that I am the bad bitch in the house, and he needs to respect my authoritay.