A much happier video that I neglected to post. My girls playing in the yard. I love this one, as Lexi has a piece of grass stuck in her mouth and she has the cutest sweetest face.

I had to stop watching this. What an ass. And then I can’t believe Nat Geo puts the clip online to promote the show. If that clip isn’t enough to make you NOT want to watch him, I don’t know what will! I am amazed that he is still on TV, especially on the same network as Dog Town. ugh. Cesar Milan is such a jerk!

And the bigger issue is clips like this are out there, being promoted. Newbie dog owners think this is how to train a dog! His mindless followers keep watching him and treating their dogs like crap!

We recently purchased the Petmate “Take Two Leash Extension” and we’ve found it helpful on walks with our two Rat Terriers, Mindy and Lexi.

It’s important to remember that the dogs should be fairly similar in size, and even then, it’s not always an ideal situation, especially when a puppy is involved. Since Lexi is still a puppy, she’s still learning about the world, and can be skiddish about her surroundings. So, it can be uncomfortable if one dog is slower or tries to stop.

We bought the red 5/8″ x 12″ (under $10) leash extension at Petco. We’ve used it on several occasions, and sometimes it works, and sometimes Lexi is just too slow and gets dragged around by Mindy, so we revert to two leashes when that happens.

My most favorite part of this leash extension is it never gets tangled. The two dogs move around, switch places, and it’s never got messed up or tangled. It’s got a built-in swivel joint that rotates so they never tangle. I love that!

Yesterday, we drove to Harold Parker State Forest and walked a little bit with both dogs. It worked out okay. Since both dogs pull against each other, the person holding the leash doesn’t feel the pull. But both dogs do. LOL. I think once Lexi becomes more confident when walking, it will get better. Toward the end of our walk, I ended up unhooking Lexi and carrying her the rest of the way. Gawd, it’s hard not to spoil her!

Here are two photos of Mindy (white) and Lexi (black) using the Take Two leash extension yesterday. (excuse their butts please!)

Lexi is scheduled for her spay surgery next Friday. I had learned previously that it’s best to stop fish oil 7-10 days before surgery, because of the anti-clotting properties. I stopped giving it the other day.

I also just realized that it’s better to stop Vitamin E as well, for the same reasons, so I will stop that as well. I am continuing to give a 1/4 tsp of probiotic powder once or twice daily.

It’s okay to start giving fish oil again 7-10 days after surgery.

We had a full day out with Lexi yesterday. First going to visit a friend’s house, and then visiting family at the hospital. Lexi was terrific. She just loves to sit quietly on my lap. Nothing like at home. People are amazed at how wonderfully she just stays on my lap.

Well, there was a little girl at a table close by and she wanted to pet Lexi, so I brought her over. She fed Lexi some kibble, made sure she used an open flat hand, since Lexi can be a bit grabby when she takes food from fingers.

After I went back to sit down with our family, the little girl (she must have been about 4 or so) came over, and she fed her a little more, and petted her. Well, she was nicely petting her back leg, and Lexi quickly turned and nipped her.

I was mortified. I didn’t know if it was a puppy nip, or a protective/possessive (of me) nip. Either way, I felt terrible. The little girl just stood there holding her hand, and I apologized and tried to explain that she was just learning…the mom was very understanding, but I just felt terrible about the poor little girl. Hoping that she won’t become afraid of dogs now. God, I hope not.

Anyway, it really made me realize that Lexi has a long way to go with socialization. Mindy is the friendliest dog, she has no problem with people petting her, in fact she adores it.

Thankfully Lexi is only 6 months, so her habits haven’t been set in stone yet, but I am still worried that she will always be skiddish around other people and dogs. I hope we can address this in training class!

This morning, I was petting Lexi, and I noticed that there was a strange lump on Lexi’s right upper thigh. I checked her other leg to see if it was symmetrical, but didn’t feel anything.

I didn’t panic, because right now, I am assuming it’s just a muscle bruise; she’s always running around like crazy, and I assumed she banged into something and developed a lump/bump.

In the back of my mind, though, I am a tad worried, thinking it could be cancer or something terrible. I will see what happens tomorrow, and will call the Vet on Tuesday if it’s still there.

The good thing is she was so good today. She was out of her crate walking around loose a lot today, and no accidents, and she was calm. I have started to correct her when she begins to bite or bother Mindy when she’s relaxing/quiet. She seemed to respond well and was very well behaved today; which makes me nervous because of the lump, and I am hoping she’s feeling okay.

I just love my little Lexi!

UPDATE: 2009-04-25: Lexi had icky soupy poopy this afternoon, and there was a streak of blood in it. I had given her a raw egg and some EVO kibble for breakfast, and she never had a problem with eggs before. I didn’t know if it was serious, so I called the vet.

He wanted her to come in so they could take a sample and probably put her on antibiotic. Anyway, while I was there, I mentioned the lump I had found (which was virtually gone by today) and he said it was probably from the rabies vaccination he gave her 10 days ago. A lump can occur a few days (or even weeks) later. Phew.

The poop sample came back negative for parasites, so he said it could just be an irritation or it could be a bacterial infection. He gave us some Metronidazole for 5 days.

We were sitting outside in our favorite spot on the lawn (side yard) and our across street neighbors were outside with their dog. The kids were playing basketball, and I think the dog was barking a little. Their house is pretty far away. I would guess a couple hundred feet (maybe)

Anyway, Lexi hears and sees the neighbors and their dog and starts growling, then barking. She has a woof bark. Soft and low, then she snarls and snorts. Then she sort of howls a little.

All of a sudden, she got extremely startled and darted toward the back yard. I didn’t have a good grip on her leash, and it flew from my hands. I was in a panic as I raced after her. I was petrified that she was going to run around the back of the house and then head off to the front or side yard.

To my surprise (and relief) there she was, waiting by the back door, wanting to get into the house where she would feel safe.

I was so happy to see her, I scooped her up and hugged her. Then I carried her around to the side yard where she could face her fears. The kids were still playing and she was freaking out a little; climbing on my lap, barking, howling, snorting.

It was funny after the fact, but I was so scared when she took off away from me! I should have known she would be okay. She feels secure inside her home…but just like Mindy, she has to learn to experience new things and not be afraid!

New research from University of Pennsylvania that disputes the “aversive” training methods of Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer:

http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/current/research/030509.html

I personally had a negative outcome with Mindy when I tried to incorporate this method of training a couple of years ago. We are still trying to reverse the result.

Mindy had issues with food aggression, and I finally realized that a punishment of taking away the food bowl wasn’t working and actually making it worse. Once she realized that I wasn’t going to keep taking the food bowl away if she growled, she learned to trust me again. Eventually, she eased out of her food bowl aggression, but unfortunately, she still has very big issues with bones. But we are still working on that.

We started working on Lexi early. She started growling with her food bowl and with bones, and I just kept sticking my hands by her head, and moving the food or bowl without removing it. She learned that it was okay when we came near her when she was eating, and now there are no issues.

Now, if Mindy walks near her bowl, that is a different story. Don’t know if that can be solved, but we watch them very closely when food is involved.

I admit, I occasionally watch the TV show “The Dog Whisperer” but I don’t agree with his training methods.

I believe in positive re-enforcement, and not forcing the dog to do something.

I am not alone in my disbelief of Cesar Milan’s training methods. Here are a few links:

• http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm
• http://www.ourdogsonline.com – forum posts
• http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37440019.html?video=pop&t=a – Komo news story
• http://www.k9obedience.co.uk/ – Cesar Milan
• http://www.leecharleskelley.com/ – Myths of the Pack Leader

I am so shocked, but Mike told me Mindy jumped up on his chair (leather recliner) like she always does, and she turned around (facing away from him) and peed right on the foot rest by his legs.

I think she is angry at him because we just cut her nails. I can’t think of any other reason. She has peed on our bed spreads in the past, and we will not allow her on our bed upstairs anymore. It is definitely a dominance issue. I am just so surprised when she does these kinds of things, because she is normally not like that.

Let’s hope it doesn’t become a bad habit!