Rubit! Rubit!

For safety sake and our own peace of mind we have ordered several sets of ADR dog tags for our pooches in foster care. They indicate the rescues name on the front and have our contact info on the back. Life happens and on at least 1 occasion the tags have gotten a lost dog back into our care.

However, we have a habit of forgetting to remove the tags from the dogs before sending them home, or on flights to the east coast.  We've lost all, but 2 or 3!

I read about the "Rubit" clip online and decided to place and order. 1 for my Walrus and another for whichever foster I happen to have at the time.

From the Rubit! Dog Tag Clip, website;

The Rubit (roo'-bit') Dog Tag Clip is a simple, stylish, and secure clip that let's you swiftly transition tags to different collars. When you want to change collars, you just unclip the Rubit from your old collar and clip it to the new one. It's that easy!

Rubit Dog Tag Clip Features:

Attaches directly to a dog’s collar
Easy to put on, quick to secure
Change dog collars, easily move the dog tags
Remove the Rubit! to quiet tag jingle at night
Available in small, medium, and large
Variety of colors and styles

Wouldn't you know that I'd bring a new foster into my home so quickly.

Our package arrived today - check out the new hardware!

Please note that this blog post was not sponsored by Rubit! (though, wouldnt that be nice). They probably have no idea who we are!

Walrus Wednesdays: What I Think of Winnie

Momma's gone and done it again. She's brought home another shelter dog - oy! You know, I don't so much mind when she brings home the little ones (cuz I can pretty much get them to do whatever I want), but when she brings home the older dogs, well...they sometimes give me a bit of trouble.

I've been spending a lot more time behind the gate and napping on momma's bed, cuz Winnie isn't so sure about sharing the space around her crate with me. Doesn't she know that I was here first? And, like I want anything to do with her crate anyways.  Momma lets me sleep in bed under the covers with her!

Anyways, momma has let us share common space when we are really calm. I ignore her and she ignores me. I don't mind it like that one bit.

We did so good with that, that momma let us play a little too. She's always watches us real good to make sure things don't get out of control.

I'm trying hard to like her and make her feel welcome here. When she grouches at me, I turn away and give her calming signals, like sniffing the ground and licking my lips a little. I hope she gets it soon so we can live together nicely all the time.

Its getting colder out and I need her to to keep me warm!

Baking Up a Storm (Let It Snow)

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But cookies is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Bake some mo'! Bake some mo'! Bake some mo'!

It's finally (it would be just fine by me if it never happened at all) looking like winter outside today. Big fluffy snowflakes have been falling and sticking to the ground. Between taking Winnie out for trips to prance around in and eat the cold white stuff, we baked up a peanut butter and banana dog biscuit storm inside (the best kind).

Tricks for Treats

Poor Winnie has her cone back on
as her spay stitches are acting up.
Off to see the vet for meds, ASAP!

HipstaWinnie

Juggling Dogs - Baby Steps

Winnie tested well with Greddy (our neutral dog) during her assessment at the shelter.  In the home, she hasn't been so sure about having him share "her" space/crate area.  Juggling 2 dogs in a small 1 bedroom apartment has been challenging and stressful, but we're making it work.

Winnie has had strong words for Greddy as we pass to go outside. We've started throwing small handfuls of dried liver at her on our way in and out the door to try and switch her thinking that dogs coming into her space is a good thing.  Not only does this create a positive reinforcement for when she's quiet but it also serves as a good distraction while she searches for bits and pieces in her bedding.

Winnie has been really polite sharing cookie at the gate and when things are calm (and the Walrus is sleeping on the couch), they have shared common space.

I allowed them to have a very short play session.  We ended things quickly and on a good note.  Baby steps towards co-existing peacefully.

Taking It Off (Her Cone That Is)

Winnie has been getting supervised time with her cone off (so she's not left alone with play with her stitches).

Isn't she lovely?

Sharing Cookie with The Walrus

Banging Her Cone Into Everything!

Winnie spent most of yesterday either in her crate, spinning and making music with her cone - loud music, or out and about banging into walls, coffee tables, chairs and flipping things over. She used her cone to transport snow and move around mud. Even bringing some inside to squish into the carpet.

Her and her cone crack me up!

Its especially entertaining to watch her eat - the poor thing!

It's too early for this cone...

Winnie the Whiner!

Whether it be an anxiety issue, a lack of confidence, or she just likes to hear her own noises, Winnie whines - a lot!

She whines (a bit, before settling) in her crate. She whines when she's not in her crate. She whines when you're not paying attention to her. She whines when you snuggle her. She whines when she's eating. She even whines in her sleep ♥


So what do we do about this? How do we curb this behaviour (as endearing as it may sound)?

Ignore it!

One of the worst things you can do to a dog is to ignore her. Dogs are extremely social and they want to please you! So, when you ignore unwanted behaviour (whether it be whining or jumping up) you are essentially doling out a punishment.

When Winnie whines, she doesn't get any attention. We don't talk to her or even look at her. When she's quiet, she gets bits of cookie tossed her way.

Already she is settling more quickly and being less noisy. It doesn't take long for the association to click for the dog.

What the (Pink) Nose Knows

We're home and Winnie is being a lovely and polite house guest. What we know about Winnie so far:

• Winnie is house trained and crate trained (though she peeps a little, she settles nice and quick).
• Winnie is a cuddler - she cannot get close enough to you for a good snuggle on the couch.
• She's not a puller, on leash.  She's happy to walk right along side you in the yard.
• She needs a coat - she starts to shiver the moment she steps outside.  Thankfully we just had one donated that is a perfect fit.
• I haven't heard her bark, but she's a whiner - more on this later!

She found a warm spot on the couch to settle.

Safe and loved, she rests.

Getting Ready for Winnie

Winnie is a black and white 1'ish year old pit bull type dog, who was picked up in a crummy part of town, scared, pregnant and covered in bites and scabs.  Who knows what kind of hell she had to endure in her short life.  Clearly someone didn't treat her very nicely.

Though a little timid at first glance, she passed her assessment with flying colors - wiggling, dancing and vibrating with happy the whole way through.

There was something special about this sweet, lovely dog and I just knew that she had to come home with me. We acknowledged that she needed a calm and quiet environment to settle and rest her noodle and rebuild her spirit. Where better than with me and The Walrus?

So we've pulled out the baby gate, dusted off the crate, washed a blanket and filled a few Kongs because Winnie is coming home, for fostering, on Sunday!