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Category Archives: dog behavior

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Week – Social Dog

Written on August 18, 2009 by Scout the Dog in cats, chesapeake bay retrievers, dog behavior, dogs, humans

Do you follow me? I’m @ScouttheDog on Twitter and I hang around Facebook on the RiverDog Prints page. Are you a fan?

With social media being all the rage, even dogs like me can have our own little part of the interwebs. How does that relate to being a Chessie? Roll with me homies…

My breed is fiercely loyal – we are a one family dog. We protect and love our family, whatever that may be. I’ve been raised with cats and kids, so I’ve been socialized to accept and love them. Socializing a dog means to introduce them to other dogs, animals and people. It can also mean to expose them to different social situations. When a dog is socialized, we remain calm and polite in most situations. It is essential to socialize Chesapeakes from the get-go of puppyhood. Our Chessie history has placed us with just one person, usually a hunter, and that mentality is ingrained in our independent brains.

When we meet another dog for the first time, we’ll make quick introductions (yeah, you know how we do it.) After that, it’s like the other dog doesn’t really exist. If the other dog wants to play, we’ll go along, but we’re always looking to see what our main peeps are doing. We won’t engage unless we’re the dominating kind.

Without socialization, meeting other dogs and humans can be a terrible experience. Chessies will either be excessively submissive or the completely obnoxious A-Dog. So, bring us out. Introduce us around and we’ll show you that quirky, silly and very active doggie that make humans marvel at our positive energy.

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In the Doghouse

Written on August 7, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior, dogs, instinct, rolling, running

Originally published 11-12-08

The humans are so angry.

I can’t help myself… I’m a dirty dog.

Me and A-Dog have been out running for the past couple weeks. She takes me places where I can run free (as long as no one is there), because I run too fast for her. When she’s holding the leash, I need to summon all my patience to “run” at her pace. She lets me off when the coast is clear and we each do our own thing. That’s where I run into trouble.

As I’ve mentioned, dogs like things that smell. We don’t make a good or bad judgment about the smell; it’s just smell. I lose my mind a little in the presence of decomposition. You can snap me out of almost anything with the promise of a treat, but not when I smell poor little mousy, three days gone. I get a smell, then a smear, and if I’m really lucky, a roll. That’s when the shouting starts. It’s usually my name and NO! and COME NOW! This is my third mouse in as many weeks, so the words coming out of A-Dog’s mouth were a bit different. She was speaking so fast and loudly that all I heard was “gonna kick your barking a**!”

Needless to say, that didn’t happen. I got a bath and a fresh collar (the smear is always on my neck, like a fine perfume) and a lot of attitude from A-Dog. I’m acting as contrite as possible, but it looks like no ears rubs in my future.

So why? Why do we rub ourselves in death with such passion? The ancient instinct to mark our discovery to the pack is one theory. Masking our odor for hunting is another. Whatever the reason, I don’t think about doing it. I just do. And I only remember that I’m not supposed to do it, until after it’s done.

What can you take away from this? Either accept it as natural dog behavior or keep me on the leash and run faster. Here endeth the doggie lesson – woof!

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Poop on the 4th of July

Written on July 9, 2009 by Scout the Dog in 4th of July, dog behavior, dogs, poop

Go ahead – you know you want to…

“I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy. A Yankee Doodle do or die. A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, Poop on the 4th of July…

Let’s call it “The Incident” and here’s the preamble to it. Every year for the 4th of July weekend, our family is invited to A-Dog’s friend’s house (we’ll call it Camp 4th) about an hour away. These friends have a pool, large backyard and a house that can accommodate two other families. This past 4th weekend, besides the seven grown-ups (interpret that term loosely) and the eight kids, there were four full-grown dogs of various breeds.

This is the sixth year we have been hosted at Camp 4th. The adults all get along and look forward to seeing each other, if only for this once a year. The kids and dogs for the most part get along too and it’s usually a fun weekend filled with lots of food, laughter and fireworks.

This is pre-Incident

Keyword=fireworks. As most dog owner’s know, the 4th of July is considered hazardous by your dog. It’s noisy and scary and pointless for most of us canines and we’d really like to be anywhere else but near the boom. And speaking of boom, I think you know what’s coming. For some reason, all of the dogs were roaming free inside the house during the Saturday night fireworks. It’s a backyard show, but it lasts about 20 minutes and is impressive for an individual’s home (and probably slightly illegal.) All the kids are under 10, so as soon as the show was over, the parents were shuttling them off to bed.

Something smells BAD!
OMG, there’s a pile of poop in the kid’s room
And there…
And there…
And there!

All us dogs looked freaked out and guilty, except for Roy. He’s our host’s dog and he was calm as the pool at night. We guest dogs just tried to find a safe place, out of harm’s way. There was much shouting and drama and kids screaming. I must say that two of the lady grown-ups (who else,right?) acted so quickly in clean-up doody (get it?) that there was minimal damage and odor. Blame was up for grabs, but we mostly decided that it didn’t matter. How would we determine which doggie it was anyway?

What does this teach us for next year? Well, if our host invites the people AND us dogs back to Camp 4th, there needs to be solid containment during the fireworks, in more ways than one. We should be walked first to avoid spillage, then put in a room to shield us from the noise. Hopefully by next year, we’ll all be laughing about it. I think it may take our host a bit longer…

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Tongues Are Not For Wagging

Written on June 12, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior, dogs, humans, words

sleepy-scout1
Ahhhrghgg. BOY am I tired. I must rest just a little. Today, and today only I will shorten my nap to a mere 11 hours. I am busy and I have things to do. I am tired because I went swimming in the river with Shoes. It was good to see him out there for a change. Lately, he’s been cooking a lot. I think that’s what they call it. That is one process which baffles me. They take stuff which smells pretty good to start with, and then they add all this other stuff to it.. heat it and take it to a whole other room. So complicated, so complex.

That’s just one of the many things that A-Dog and Shoes make so much more involved than they need to be. Grooming is another. The shower, the bath, the soap the brushing. I pity them their teensy tongues that can barely reach beyond their lips. And the tongue is so useful: greeting, eating, licking, cleaning (self), cleaning (others), cleaning (floor). It keeps you cool, it helps you drool. I can drink with it or clean stink with it. The one thing I DON’T use it for seems to be the only thing they DO use it for: Talking. They use it to create all these different sounds… again too much, too complex. I read on the Internet that one of their languages, English, has passed a million words. I know words as you’ve read here, but I only need enough words to express three thoughts:

1. I’m hungry
2. Stay away from me
3. May I smell your behind?

After that, it’s all just commentary. Now, about that nap…

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Oh She’s SO Smart…

Written on June 1, 2009 by Scout the Dog in chores, dog behavior, dogs, humans, smart dog

That’s what they say, my humans, Shoes-on-the-floor and A-Dog. And that’s nice. Nothing better than appreciation. Of course, I always chuckle just a bit when I hear it (tough to notice since my chuckle looks and sounds a great deal like my snot-rocket, clear out my nostrils blow, but there ya go, I’m complex like that.) I chuckle because they think that my smarts begin and end with the mundane. I open the door with my nose, they are impressed. I come downstairs every night precisely at 9:00 pm and they marvel.

Too tired for laundry folding - I'll get to it soon...

In truth, and we can’t say this too loud fellow woofers, I run the show here. A few examples: The bigger one, Shoes-on-the-Floor, balances the checkbook and pays the bills. I lay on the floor beside him as he grunts and moans, breathes hard and curses. Occasionally he looks over at me and says something like, “Oh.. if you only know how good you have it…lying there.. no cares at all…” No cares at all? Yah. My first care is checking his work. He gets up and goes upstairs and I check his math. Once he added the mortgage payment to the balance instead of subtracting it. Another time, he backed up his books to the ‘H’ drive.. we don’t even have and ‘H’ drive! And that isn’t even the half of it…

They never wonder how the piano stays in tune… or realize that they haven’t changed a light bulb since 2005. I must say it is tougher now to keep them buttoned up since A-Dog spends more time at home. Used to be I could do all my work between 9 and 5 when they were away, but now I have to check out her daybook and his schedule and plan accordingly. Hey it’s nothing I can’t handle. I just have to careful and not try to do too much.

One time, I was swapping out a spark plug on the lawnmower and dropped the wrench… made a big noise and they came out to the garage and I was almost busted. Had to knock over the garbage can to make it look good. Last week I was filling out camp forms for the little ones and I couldn’t remember a phone number so I had to open Shoes-on-the-Floor’s cellphone. I changed his ring while I was there and that raised some suspicions – couldn’t take ‘Call Me’ by Blondie another minute. He thinks he’s being clever, but as much as I love him, he sometimes gives himself just a little too much credit.

So, I play it cool… help when I can, but not so much that they won’t learn enough to one day do it for themselves. Next project – how to re-tile the kitchen without them noticing….

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Go for a Ride?

Written on May 15, 2009 by Scout the Dog in car ride, dog behavior, dogs

Not How I Roll

These words will perk up my ears anytime! I love riding in the car, even if it’s just to go on errands. I ride in the back of a small SUV or the back of a station wagon, both have a guard up to prevent me from jumping up front. I do get jealous of other dogs when I see their heads out the window, tongues flying, eyes watering. But I guess it’s not good for our eyes to be hanging out a window with all the forced air hitting our faces. Bummer.

I guess I love riding in the car so much because a ride has always got the potential of taking me for a swim or to play or a hike. And yeah, I know it can also take me to the vet, but that only happens once in awhile. I would rather be riding in the car with my peeps than hanging out at home alone. Dogs don’t like to be alone. DOGS DON’T LIKE TO BE ALONE. Emphatic enough?

I’ve always been a quiet rider – rarely have I barked in the car. But I have a friend who barks like he went mad and is shouting about where his marbles have gone. My advice for his humans: get someone else to drive your car while you train your dog to shut the bark up (written with love.) Just with any other training, it takes time, patience and treats, but your dog will GET it. If your dog is barking because of anxiety, you gotta start driving to only fun doggie places with him or her in the car. Your dog will associate pretty quickly: CAR=GOOD.

One note to all the pet owners with little dogs who ride on laps and look like they’re driving… While cute in a controlled environment, you are driving a two-ton piece of machinery. Do us all a favor and limit your dog to the passenger seat. Besides, it makes the rest of us dogs envious. We all secretly want to drive. Where do you think I’d drive first if I could? “Take me to the River, Drop me in the Water…”

Here endeth the doggie lesson – woof!

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Motherhood

Written on May 8, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior, dogs, Mom, poop, Uncategorized

You don’t call yourself my mom and I’m not your daughter, but you call me your girl. With each walk we take, each ball you throw for me, each gentle touch and pat, you’re my girl too.

scoutpuppy

Remember me? This little puppy you took into your house and made me a home. You cared for me like a child, doggy-style. And yes, I peed on the carpet. You thought I’d never get potty-trained, but we did it. And you don’t call yourself my mom.

You taught me how to behave properly and be polite and I know that took some doing. Remember our off-leash walks in the wooded dog park, where I would eat anything and everything? Even poop? You made it clear that was not acceptable. But we would return there, sometimes twice a day, because we both loved it and you knew I could learn. And you don’t call yourself my mom.

scoutpuppy2

You took me to puppy class and socialized my fuzzy self with the other clueless pups. The best part was after the business end of the lessons, we’d have free play. You’d laugh the loudest at all the playful fur flying and say my name with a grin. You were proud – I could feel it. And you don’t call yourself my mom.

scoutpuppy3

Now, puppyhood is over and I’m older than you are (if you use the doggie math.) We still walk in the wooded dog park (no more poop picnics), still socialize with other dogs and you still laugh the loudest at my antics and say my name with a grin. All I can woof is “Thanks Mom!”

Dedicated to all the pet “moms” out there.
“Motherhood cherishes all kinds!” Quote from PawPrintsPet

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Mastication Situation

Written on April 29, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior, dogs, schlurping, sleep

Love it or hate it, we dogs make copious noises before, during and after most of our activities. The one I’m focusing on today is getting ready for sleep. I begin each night in a beautiful leather chair in the master bedroom. I adopted it as my own, after one of our cats in his last days, kept using it as a toilet. The humans cleaned it and bought a new cushion, but just don’t seem to sit in it like they used to. Good for me!

As I settle in for the night, A-Dog is usually settling in as well. Sometimes she’ll watch some TV or do a bit of work on the computer, but eventually it’s lights out and quiet time. That’s when our troubles start. I methodically prepare my mouth for sleep at set intervals. A-Dog describes it like I’m trying to clear peanut butter out of the roof of my mouth. And it drives her bonkers! Quiet is really relative to a dog. I don’t even realize I’m being noisy, but I hear her muttered comments loud and clear. Most of these comments I cannot type here… Does she forget that these ears I have aren’t just soft, cute accessories, but can hear very well? My masticating sounds last on and off for about 15 minutes and then I’m off to dreamland. I think A-Dog gets so worked up sometimes that she can’t fall asleep for hours. What’s a dog to do?

If you’re a loyal reader here, you know that I usually try to explain my dog behavior and sometimes give advice. Not this time. I have searched many pages on this www and have only found mentions of this phenomenon in veterinarian journals referencing dogs in poor health. I must say that it made me a little paranoid and a lot hypochondriac. UNTIL I found this Facebook Group which helped me feel healthy and could say “In your face!” to A-Dog. It’s title is I like the schlurping sound my dog makes when he/she is tired The group was created by Jamie of Cowbelly Pet Photography. I can’t thank her enough for the validation. Maybe she can convince A-Dog that all us girls and dog-lovers need to stick together no matter what the racket.

Here endeth the doggie lesson! Not much of a lesson, I know, but it did make me sleepy!

sleepy

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I Hear Ya, Dude…

Written on April 14, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior, management skill, words

scout

Dogs know words. Doesn’t matter what language – we speak the language of our pack, our family. We learn our name and “NO!” first and then from there, it’s up to you to guide us through the rest.

If we take a puppy class with you, we learn commands. We learn them through repetition and reward. You learn how to talk to us and about “Management Skills.” In my puppy class, a “Management Skill” was the sole responsibility of my humans. You left the shoes on the floor, so I ate half of them. A Management Skill would be to pick them up and put them out of reach. See, not my fault. You left the loaf of bread on the counter, so I can place my pretty paws up there, turn my head gracefully and grab that gluten with my happy mouth. Management Skill=Place Bread in Cupboard.

How do dogs learn words? Some say it’s similar to Fast Mapping. That’s a mental process where you can learn one new thing when it’s among familiar things in a group. It’s how little kids learn words. And how often do you think of us dogs as little kids? Almost all the time, right? Anyway, you can read more about fast mapping here http://whyfiles.org/shorties/154dogtalk/ with Rico the dog showing those humans how freaking smart we are. Another factor in our learning words is that we don’t talk. We just listen (most of the time.)

I suppose repetition followed by an action is another way we learn. I knew some humans that stopped saying the word “walk” because my friend, Henry the terrier, would just go crazy! The humans started spelling the word W-A-L-K and can you guess what happened? Henry learned to spell. Made me proud :) Not sure where that phrase dumb dog came from – an insecure human?

Some of us dogs do know more words than we let on (i.e. – my blog), but are just as happy to perk up our ears when you expect it. Right now, I have to go ’cause I just heard two of my favorites, “grilled cheese.” Make sure you let me know what your favorite or most unique words are – would love to hear them!

Here endeth the doggie lesson – woof!

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Dog Head through the Kitty Door

Written on February 12, 2009 by Scout the Dog in dog behavior

Guilty as charged! The kitty door lives on the bathroom door and when one of my humans goes in there, I want to be in there too! It doesn’t matter where I am in the house or what I’m doing, if I hear one of them go into the loo, I am THERE!

As I’ve written before, I’ve lived with cats.

doggiekittykitty4

Both Fatboy and Littleman (pictured) are now in whatever represents kitty heaven (catnip and forbidden furniture?). But when they lived here with us, we’d all be in that bathroom, if allowed, when the humans were doing the doo.

Now, I know if you’re reading this, you want to know why. What is the fascination? And for both cats and dogs to exhibit the same behavior, it’s a bit mind-boggling. Well, I’ve got nothing for you, sisters and brothers. If you think you have the reason why, I’d love to hear it. You’ll have to excuse me for now as I click down the hall to stick my nose through that little flap – ummmm, yes…

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