It's been awhile...

     Sorry for the lapse in time yall. I started classes to become a dog trainer and so school has consumed a lot of my free time. I haven't forgotten to write, but squeezing time to write between working, exercising, training Voda, cooking, and studying is kinda hard. But I'm here now!
     Voda is doing great! I have found that she loves canned chicken! So *haha* I have a secret weapon in helping socializing my baby girl. We are still having a issues, but I finally made a chink in the excitement issue. She has learned that if she "leaves it", aka the dog or stranger, she gets chicken and it's working beautifully! Some days are harder than others, but there are days that we just walk by a dog with no problem! What's that? Do I hear angels singing? Yes I do!
     I love my girl, but I breaks my heart to think of the life she had before she came to my house. Please people, do your homework before getting a dog. Make sure that the breed you are looking into getting fits your lifestyle. If you don't exercise and aren't welling to change do not get a working breed, such as shepherds, terriers, or herding dogs. If you can't be home much, don't get a dog that's dependent on their owner being home with them, like Italian Greyhounds or Chihuahuas. And most importantly, if you end up getting a dog that is too much for you to handle seek the advice and help needed. Go to an obedience trainer, get books, and enlist friends or dog walkers to help.
     I believe no family is whole without the love of a dog, but just like a family who is going to have a baby, you need to take the necessary steps to prepare for your dog and to gather info throughout you and your dog's life so that yall can live happily and harmoniously together.  

The importance of socialization!

     The amount of time that it is taking to socialization Voda makes me realize how vital it is to start introducing your puppy to other dogs and people at an early age. Poor Voda never really had a puppyhood so I get to deal with a 60+plus lb dog that thinks she's a puppy. It's so embarrassing when we are at the dog beach and she's lunging at every moving thing. She is improving but it's a very slow process.
     Voda is just one example of poor socialization skills in a dog, other dogs are either aggressive or cowardly. Either of the two are very dangerous seeing as how the aggressive one is very likely to bite and the scared dog could possibly bite out of fear. And when I mention biting I'm not just talking of vet bills there's a very high likelihood of doctor bills as well. Just because a dog is aggressive toward another dog doesn't mean that your dog will let out his/her frustration out on said dog. There are many incidents of dogs biting their handlers out of frustration because they cannot get to the dog they are focused on.
      Many people give all kinds of excuses for not socializing their dog. The lack of dog parks or dog beaches, it's too much effort to try and get their dog to listen, or the owner doesn't like to get out of the house or perhaps they have too many hours devoted to work. Any of these or other excuses are not good enough when you actually consider your dog a member or the family; would you allow your child to act up in front other people or would you take the time to teach them how to interact correctly with others?
      So please people socialize your dog. It makes them a healthy well rounded pet and it makes life so much easier for you.
**Do not forget to make sure your dog has had all their immunizations especially puppies, parvo is a very serious illness and can be fatal to puppies**

Playing catch up...

 
   So Friday a storm was rolling in over the beach; instead of balking on Voda's socialization session at the dog beach, I thought what the heck I'm going to get wet anyway. Who cares what direction the water comes from? Apparently I was the only one thinking that, because we had the WHOLE beach to ourselves! It was so nice to just breath and not have to hope that she wasn't going to act up if a dog walked up. We ran, played fetch, went exploring, and ran some more! It was so fun and we both got some great exercise time in. It was like going on a vacation without leaving base.

 

     Yesterday we had a UFC party at our house and it went pretty smoothly with Voda. We still have a LOT of work ahead of us, but she only would get super excited when someone new would first come in and it would only last for 5-10 minutes. I think socializing her is a great excuse to have more parties...hehe! 

     Today was yet another trip to the dog beach. It wasn't the most fun we have ever had; it was more like a boot camp. Every time she would go into one of her fits when she saw a dog we would head straight out into the water and swim for a few yards and then head back in. In and out, in and out. That was our day for a good 2-3 hours. It's amazing how much energy this dog has, she still would go into one of those stupid horrible sounding hissy fits but I could actually distract her and hold her attention with a treat. Hopefully a few more swim meets and she will actually put 2 and 2 together and realize that she gets a treat when she's quiet around new dogs. Everyone keep your fingers crossed.