Pooches: Do You Take Smooches from Pooches?

I remember when a friend once told me that Miss M wasn't the dog for me because I would dodge her every time she tried to lick me on the face. Sure I was treating her like the unwanted boyfriend, but didn't most people avoid 'fresh advances' from dogs?
Apparently not as I was just looking at these photos where the first thing everyone is doing when they meet our pooches is offering up their faces for some sloppy kisses:

Plus, you could make a drinking game out of the times people kiss our pooches in the videos here and here (especially the finale!).
Even living with our little "Kissing Bandit's", I still find their advances a bit much.

What about everyone else: do you accept smooches from your pooches? Or are you a dodger like me?

SociaBulls: On No Dog-Greetings

When we were originally thinking about starting our own dog-walking group here in Chicago, Lark from HikeABulls was beyond supportive giving us a lot of advice about how to set up a positive structure to allow all the dogs to be successful.
We've realized one of the most important elements is that our dogs never greet each other; we always have about a leash-length of space between dogs. We know people have different philosophies about dog greetings, and since we had been getting several questions about it, we thought we would share why this is so important to us, along with photos of our latest walk.

Helping the Dogs Relax

Back when I first adopted Miss M, I never thought twice about meeting dogs on our walks. But reading 
this great article from Our Pack made me realize how unnatural and uncomfortable these types of greetings can be.
Especially in our group, being around other dogs can be exciting enough, so it is important to keep everything low-key so we can have a stability. When the dogs learn that they won't be greeting one another, it lessens the anxiety and overall excitement levels allowing us to walk together as a calm pack.

Learning Restraint and Positive Social Interactions
When we take the pooches on our daily walks around Chicago, we probably encounter at least 10-20 other dogs during our walk. I've found when our pooches are allowed to meet other dogs, they are conditioned to drag us to meet EVERY dog they see. Besides being respectful of dogs who need space and not knowing if other dogs are friendly...this can be time consuming; I need to get to work in the morning!
We've also found that most of the time when dogs do greet, they typically initiate play. This causes leashes to get tangled or dropped and people and dogs to potentially be injured.
SociaBulls has become a good place where many of us are practicing restraint, being positive dog ambassadors, and learning that just because we see a dog, you don't need to meet it. It's nice to know that this is a place where we don't have to be anxious about someone approaching us while also keeping group energy levels down.

Creating a Positive Experience for Everyone

We've actually had several people email us off-line wondering whether dogs who can handle it should be allowed to greet. Besides all the reasons we listed above, we also feel allowing dog-greetings wouldn't be fair to all the members. We love how our group welcomes all types of dogs at differing socialization levels, and we don't want anyone to feel self-conscious, possibly push their dog beyond a comfortable level, or feel ostracized from the group.
We also like to remind people our group walks are just a piece of dog socialization, and there are many other types of positive supervised activities where pooches do have the chance to directly interact.

These are just our experiences and reasons why our SociaBulls group decided not to have dog greetings. How does everyone else handle dog greetings? (and I know many people feel strongly one way or the other...so be nice!)

Also:
Fantastic advice about starting and structuring your own dog-walking group.
A SociaBulls member learning when it's not time to play.

Join our Chicago SociaBulls  Facebook page for more photos and information about group walks. And check out the Hikabulls page where we first learned about the benefits of group walking.  

Please Note: As the weather has warmed up, bikers, runners, dogs, and kids have come out in full force in many of the areas that we walk. While we had previously been introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, we've decided that in order to continue to keep our group safe and make our walks a positive experience for everyone, we are putting new members "on hold" for the summer. You can still submit an application, and it will go on our wait list in the order it is received. Once things quiet down a bit more in the fall, we will resume introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, and will be contacting people on the wait list in a first-come, first-served manner.

Miss M the Trick (aka: Snitch)

The pooches are not allowed on any of our furniture, except in the summer, when I (not A) love to let them hang out with me on the outdoor furniture. No matter how hot it is outside, Mr. B is just like me: we enjoy laying out under the beaming sun, taking in the heat and everything else associated with the summer.

Miss M, just like A, is a bit more sensitive and they enjoy a more temperate temperature. However, though Miss M hates hot weather, what she hates even more is seeing Mr. B doing something she doesn't get to do. Little did we know that Miss M is a trick (snitch).
The story of Miss M the trick aka snitch, based on true accounts.
As Mr. B and I were enjoying our afternoon nap in the 100+ weather, Miss M was secretly spying on us from behind the curtain. 

She was shocked at what she saw: she couldn't believe Mr. B was laying on furniture, without A's permission. 

So she had to run into the kitchen while A was making lunch peering around the corner 

and crying fervently, until A asked Miss M "what was wrong". Miss M led her directly to the scene of the injustice 

Mr. B laying so nicely with me on the outdoor furniture. 

Miss M, trick/snitch or whistleblower?

In case you missed it, Miss M's continued struggles with the sofa.

DoggyStyle: On Dog Beds

When my niece and nephew were visiting the other weekend, they made an interesting observation: we have too many dog beds. Sure, ever since I figured this out, it has been much easier finding dog beds that naturally blend in without looking like an aisle of Petsmart. But can you ever have too many pet beds?
Sure, our pooches have the crate and Mr B's tepee where they stay during the day:

Random floor pillows in the living room:

 Twin dog beds in the bedroom:

Plus another extra bed in the bedroom:

And an extra floor pillow in the bedroom just in case:

And since we had former foster dog Bessie Belle, E wanted to add this huge bed where we can all fit:

Which I have to agree with my nephew's count... is probably too many.
How many dog beds do most people have?

Things to Do in Chicago With Dogs: West Fest Street Festival

Among the big summer events we look forward to is West Fest street festival. The festival closes off Chicago Avenue filling the normally busy street with bands, food booths, carnival-type games, pony rides, and even a doggy food truck. But all with a bit of an edge.

The pooches enjoyed getting ice-cream from the Fido to Go food truck:

But didn't enjoy the bath portion very much. Miss M even reverted back to the 'raised by wolves' Miss M because she was trying to do the after-bath zoomies while on leash.

 The pooches were also excited to meet up with some of their Sociabulls friends: Derby, Buddy, and Boomer.

All the pooches were a big hit mingling with their human admirers:

Pooches: How to Introduce Dogs and Babies; When 4-Legged Kids meet the New 2-Legged Kid

Awhile ago, we were having a conversation with some high school friends who were telling us it was an inevitable cycle that once people have kids, the pets who were once the center of their lives are ignored and
regulated to the basement. A mini-argument ensued that this isn't always true, and there are always ways to prepare and make a smooth transition.
So, we started talking to some of our dog friends to see how they made it work.
Gorgeous brindle Lily is part of our Chicago SociaBulls group (and Miss M's fellow alumni!) who just welcomed her own adorable baby. We loved hearing their experiences, from 'Lily days', positive associations with the baby, keeping a routine and ways for Lily to be involved as she became a big sister:

When my huband and I first learned we were pregnant, we laughed, and then talked about how to tell our parents, our friends, or jobs…and our dog.

Lily (a mastiff/boxer mix) had been the center of our lives for the last 4 years. When we got married the first thing we did was seek out a rescue dog to adopt. Lily found us; we like to say, since her overall persona was WAY more than we thought we were looking for at the time. (AKA-lacked training, social skills, or restraint of ANY kind) We were that family who took our dog everywhere and couldn’t wait to get home from vacations because we missed her so much. And in return, Lily gave us unconditional love and freely shared her slobbery kisses with anyone who would give her the time of day.

Since it was us who decided to throw this monkey wrench into our relationship, we started researching heavily. Since my husband and I would scoff at those people who gave up their dog due to issues surrounding their new children, this became incredibly important to us.  How could we integrate our dog with a new baby? 

Disclaimer: We are not experts, merely researched and tried with positive results

During the pregnancy, we would purposely do the following things:
 
1) Have Lily meet other children and babies alike. We wanted to see her reaction to little squirmy ones up to four years old with no fear. We enlisted the help of family and friends and those bacon treats she loves so much. We enforced the word gentle with her actions and treats. We gave her ample time and taught the older children how to approach her slowly. We tested her as often as we could and gave loads of praise whenever possible.

2)We mentioned the baby’s name often when she was around, letting her get used to the sound of a new name in the house. We would say the baby’s name and then give her a treat if she wagged her tail or looked to be paying attention. We wanted her associating the baby’s name with positive things.

3) We kept her involved in changes. Like when we put together the crib and re-arranged a familiar room. 

4) Two weeks before our due date, we had a “Lily” day-where we took her to get a bath, and cruise a few of our favorite dog stores.

Right after our baby Amelia was born we followed these few guidelines:
1) My husband brought home some of the blankets she slept in so that Lily could get her scent beforehand. 

2) We also were lucky enough to have her stay with the owner of the Dog Daycare that she was most familiar with. (Tip: If you don’t have someone that they are comfy with to stay while you spend 2-5 days in the hospital, start taking her somewhere now!) Our daycare even offered to take her whenever my labor started…which happened to be at midnight. Lily got to go somewhere she already knew-even when the chaos of us leaving that night could have easily overtaken her. 

3) My husband picked up Lily a day early from daycare and spent some time with her as a break from the hospital. (I was in 5 days due to a C-section) Then she spent the last night with friends who had a pug that Lily loved. All familiar things, all fun to her.

 Living with Baby:

Then came the longer haul. After we were home and everyone started to get settled, we noticed that Lily was pouting. Big time. She was spending a lot of time curled up in a ball and giving heavy sighs as we walked around the house. Or for lack of a better scenario, she seemed totally depressed and displaced at times. So, we compensated.

1) We made sure to always pet her when we had a free hand. We had her come with us when we took our baby anywhere in the house. She came with us for diaper changes and wherever the baby slept (which is where mommy slept), Lily slept there too. (In most cases, it was in our bed while Amelia slept in the portable crib next to the bed)

2) We tried very hard to not disrupt Lily’s schedule. Although that was impossible when she thought those 3am feedings signaled the first walk of the day and breakfast. So, we would take her out and give her a treat after the baby went back to sleep. 

3) When she would come near Amelia, lots of praise. Even when she decided to start sharing her slobbery kisses with her little bitty head.

4) We always use caution-after all, Lily is an animal. Ear tugging may be in the future, so we watch their interactions very closely for now!

 Overall, these small things are what we did to make sure that both of our ‘kids’ feel comfortable and happy.  After all, we believe strongly in Amelia growing up loving animals like my husband and I did-so anything we can do to start that process from the beginning-we see as a win/win for both of their lives. 

We loved reading this and seeing all the research and effort made to make all the family members comfortable with the big change. How has everyone else's experiences with dogs and children worked?

PS. Another friend's experiences with two pitbulls and a new baby here. 

SociaBulls: On Water Breaks

While SociaBulls is a dogwalking group, most of the photos we show of our walk are not us actually walking:

 Mid-way through our walk, we always stop to refuel for a water break. While it's especially important and our breaks have been longer during the summer, this is something we even did during our chilly winter walks
because it became something more than just drinking water..

It became a time for the pooches to actually rest and hang out with their people. Beyond the physical stimulation of the walks, walking with the group is mental exercise that can be tiring as well. When stopped we do make sure the pooches are focused on us to limit the excitement, but it's always fun to see all the pooches hanging out with their people:

Join our Chicago SociaBulls  Facebook page for more photos and information about group walks. And check out the Hikabulls page where we first learned about the benefits of group walking.  

Please Note: As the weather has warmed up, bikers, runners, dogs, and kids have come out in full force in many of the areas that we walk. While we had previously been introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, we've decided that in order to continue to keep our group safe and make our walks a positive experience for everyone, we are putting new members "on hold" for the summer. You can still submit an application, and it will go on our wait list in the order it is received. Once things quiet down a bit more in the fall, we will resume introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, and will be contacting people on the wait list in a first-come, first-served manner.

Things to Do with Your Dog in Chicago: Long Summer Weekends

Each winter as we're sitting in our homes, hibernating, I'm secretly envisioning everything we're going to do once the temperatures rise and we have our long summer weekends.
Things like relaxing outside at cafes (sans computers), fruit and freshly cut flowers from Farmer's Markets, searching for food trucks, meeting friends at festivals, and a nice roll in cool grass.

Long daily walks and pier picnics, making sorbets and impromptu picnics:

We have big aspirations, but these are all on our list for this long holiday weekend.

What other pooch-friendly activities does everyone have planned?

PS. This is what our neighborhood is like for at least 2 full days (and nearly all day and night!) during July 4th.

PSS.  And more elaborate summer plans. 

Check our Facebook page for more photos and updates over the break!

SociaBulls: Keeping Your Elderbull a Sociabull (Not Letting Age Be a Limitation!)

As our own pooches have been getting older, we are always curious whether we will need to change anything as they age. Enter one of our 'not-so-secret' SociaBulls  inspirations and crushes, adorable Maria, who even at 12 years old can easily outwalk the rest of the pack.

Adopted at age 6, Maria doesn't even realize she's an Elderbull. She has a continual zest for everything and her parents are the perfect reminders showing us how not to let age be a limitation. Here is Maria's story as told by her people:

When we first decided to get a dog six years ago, there were only two criteria: pit bull and mellow. After meeting a few different dogs, Maria joined our family. She's nearly twelve now, though on most days you could only guess by her graying muzzle. 

Although many people gush over puppies, we've always believed that mature dogs offer a better chance of finding the right match. While puppies can grow into a wide range of sizes, personalities, energy and tolerance levels, adult dogs will show you exactly who they are. Thanks to their longer attention span older dogs are easier to train. They can also handle staying alone for longer periods of time, frequently are already housebroken and understand house rules. 

Not to say that adults don't need any training. Maria certainly needed help with her inter-dog skills and playing appropriately with people. Teaching her manners took a little work, but she did well, even earning her CGC. 

Aside from all the practical aspects, older dogs also acquire a certain wisdom or go-with-the-flow calmness with age. They savor all their favorite parts of life - a game, a walk, a nap in the sun, a scratch, a soft spot to rest, and the occassional bite of curry - they do not stress much about the rest.

The most important part of living with an elderbull is to remember not to let the dog's age be a limitation. Sociabulls has been great at providing our girl with mental and physical stimulation to keep her feeling her best. Although Maria has some physical limitations due to a neurological condition, it hasn't stopped us from enjoying all the things that are "dog stuff" to the fullest.

You can also read about more SociaBulls Members: Sophie (Finding a Safe Place and Building Confidence),  Torre (From Learning about Pitbulls to Developing an Ambassadog),  Estelle (Waiting to Be Noticed), Franklin (A Small Dog in a Big Dog Group), Gordon (Learning to Be Social and Have Dog Friends),  Nabi (A Shy Dog Making Sense of a "People World") Sprocket (Teaching a Dog When it's not Time to Play), Lola (Living in the City with a Dog who Fears Strangers),  Zoe (The Dog who "Loves Too Hard"),  Izzy (Being a good pitbull ambassador while working with an energetic dog) and Maize (Being social with an unsocial pup).

Plus, join our Chicago SociaBulls  Facebook page for more photos and information about group walks. And check out the Hikabulls page where we first learned about the benefits of group walking and  this link from the DINOs (Dogs in Need of Space) group to read the discussion and see if there is a group in your area.  

Please Note: As the weather has warmed up, bikers, runners, dogs, and kids have come out in full force in many of the areas that we walk. While we had previously been introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, we've decided that in order to continue to keep our group safe and make our walks a positive experience for everyone, we are putting new members "on hold" for the summer. You can still submit an application, and it will go on our wait list in the order it is received. Once things quiet down a bit more in the fall, we will resume introducing new members a few at a time to each walk, and will be contacting people on the wait list in a first-come, first-served manner.

The One Where Mr. B Becomes a Canine Good Citizen

One of our all-time most popular posts was this one about Mr B who tries so hard. Unlike Miss M, who could run away to become a circus dog, Mr. B really isn't the brightest pooch.
When we first adopted Mr B he took a 101 class. It took him almost all the class sessions to learn to lay down. And we knew Mr. B was satisfied just being Mr. B.

I saw that Miss M's former training group was offering the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) class and test. The test evaluates whether a dog can be good mannered in a variety of situations. It's something nice to have because it gives them official status for being an overall good canine ambassador. The test covers:
Can they remain calm if a stranger comes to pet them?
Are they comfortable being brushed and handled by a stranger?
Can they meet another dog and handler face-to-face without reacting?
Can they walk comfortably on a loose leash and in a crowd?
Can they be left alone while their handler leaves the room without showing anxiety?
Do they have a reliable down stay and recall?
How do they handle unexpected noises and distractions?
Sure Mr. B does well in crowded and crazy situations (have you seen this video!),but I wasn't sure how he would do in an actual testing situation where you aren't allowed to use treats.

 We took a 3 week practice class with the final week being the test. Taking the class was helpful because beyond practicing the elements, it gets the dogs accustomed to the classroom which is full of all kinds of interesting dog smells. Luckily for us, Mr. B's calm nature led him to do well. Our most difficult task, ironically, was the loose-leash walking. Which was actually my fault. The evaluator gives you instructions to walk and turn around (left turn, about turn, halt) and I was actually the one who couldn't figure out the walking directions.
The other difficult part of the test was that we were testing with many other dogs in a small classroom, and all the other dogs were along the perimeter of the room. There were a couple of dogs who came just for the test, and one dog who came just that day was super-amped giving play bows, vocal cues, lunges, and hard stares to the other dogs in the room during the test, especially when they had to pass by him as they were testing. It was just a bit frustrating because we had seen how hard all of the dogs had worked during our class sessions, and it was clear this dog was an unanticipated distraction.
We are just very proud of our Mr. B, and excited that we all have letters behind our names now (Miss M became CGC a few years ago).

How has everyone else's experiences been with CGC? Is it something you've taken? Or are you thinking of taking it in the future?