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JANICE!! This warmed my heart. I am so proud of him and can't thank you enough for teaching him how to be sociable again. I see these changes on my walks with him. I no longer muzzle him!.
I had one incident when he threw out a growl at a girl walking by but I quickly corrected that behaviour and he has not so much as barked at a person or growled at a dog since.I take him to the tennis courts to chase ball as I still don't feel fully ready to let him off leash in the park to play ball. I loved your blog and attribute such a fast change to you and Frida teaching him in your sweet manner. He is learning and I know he wants to be such a good boy - I see it when he knows he is doing something wrong and throws me a side glance from those doe eyes of his. I want to keep this momentum going and was wondering if you would be able to come again next week Tuesday and Thursday??Thanks again Janice for the updates! I love that he was swimming in February! Unbelievable.Kyla
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This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.  I knew he was going to be a friend and hiking companion the moment I met him. S, is a mastiff/Shepherd mix with doe eyes and a compact physique. He barked when I first entered the apartment - my Frida does the same. I knelt down (I am not fond of hovering over, even if I am only five feet tall) and did a combination of chatting, treat offering, and simply appreciating. This is a fine dog, I thought. "Love at first sight" is what his human emailed his previous owner.
The story is S. was attacked by two dominant dogs and emerged scarred physically and even more, psychologically. When he feels cornered these days, he takes no chances. Our first walk (our getting-acquainted hike) took place on a Sunday morning at Humber Bay East. Also on the hike were my Frida and the finest, most gentle yet spirited Shepherd who is boarding with us. I had a feeling S. and our Shepherd would get along famously. They ran and covered so much ground - I just stood and watched and laughed. Three dogs on the trail who had spent time in our back yard and then inside our home becoming acquainted (over forty minutes) before setting out for a car ride to our selected trail. By the time we hit the trail, they were fast friends sharing in the joy of free running and exploration. Needless to say, S. doesn't wear a muzzle anymore. Note: this is not true of all dogs who have become aggressive, but the case of one dog who, after being attacked in a dog park, was able to find peace and freedom on the trail.   I've been meaning to tell you how much our puggies have changed since walking with you. Over the holidays we were visiting a lot of different households where, in the past, the puggles were not necessarily praised for their manners and calm behaviours! But this year... what a difference!!! They're so much more relaxed and happy, Chris and I are overjoyed!! I'm so grateful you came into our lives!
Lana It's not me (well, maybe a small part) - it's the trails! This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.       Yesterday I worried my new friends, two pugs named Ernie and Bella might not be ready for trail hiking. I and their owners (family) had been inspired by the image of the puggies experiencing the sense of freedom that comes from being leash-free on the trail.
But at the High Park off-leash area, Ernie had roamed too far and although he was found on the other side of a fence along the path, he had traveled and stood alone and somewhat confused away from Bella and our pack. He had visited with me at our house before the walk, sharing Frida's toys and treats, and being cuddled by me and my daughter Caroline. I always do this with new dogs, as well as with dogs who hike regularly with us. I think it helps develop a powerful bond - we become relatives. Anyhow, Ernie and Bella's family reassured me: they had thought Ernie might get carried away, but they had been willing to have him hike off-leash. They suggested Ernie stay on lead if I felt more confident, but should I sense a shift in his staying power, I might give free rein another try. Yay and yay! Today we came home for some quality bonding and then headed out for Humber bay Park East. Ernie gets anxious in the car, so he likes a reassuring arm around his torso. Bella watches over him. At first I kept Ernie on leash, but within five minutes he was running through the bushes and along the path. Whenever he came within arms reach I'd call his name and give him a peanut butter star from Fetch on Roncevalles. I like to think the honest affection I felt for both him and Bella helped keep both Puggies (as well as for Giselle who shared the hike) within range, but I know those treats were tempting. After the hike, Bella and Ernie came home with us once again, briefly this time. On the way back to their house, Ernie was calmer in the car. From time to time I'd say "I know, it's not easy for you" and I'd hold him close. He didn't understand the words, but I do believe he felt my empathy. There seemed to be a certain flow between us, deepened by our hiking time, and I felt honored.  Tomorrow is a busy day. I'll pick up Q., a Boston who adores both Frida and me (affection which we return), in the early part of the morning, before the Aussiedoodle arrivies for his one-night stay-over. Frida does much of the welcoming; she has a gentle, enthusiastic way of putting dogs at ease. And I think, in my human way, I greet in a similar fashion. And then we'll go for our second hike of the day -- a wonderful shared time and natural way to bond.
At noon, we'll return home: I shall eat lunch with my daughter Caroline, and then off we go, Aussiedoodle, Frida and I to pick up a pug/French bulldog for a hike along Humber River. The pug loves to explore, but all my canine friends do. More and more I feel their joy in running through forest trails. They have their own rhythms, running after smells, each other, easy-going walking, dashing off again, returning for a treat and happy word; I have become committed to hiking with my dogs who come into their own on the trail. And later, a stop-off at T.'s place, who is missing our hikes due to a recovering sprain on his right leg. We're just walking along the blocks near his house. He goes about sniffing and generally enjoying our stroll, but it's not the same. This week I am determined to bring my dogs to Clareville. I'll report back after that hike. Hi C.,
Just wanting to let you know everything is wonderful. I took Miloh and Frida to Humber Bay East and they played ball, and even swam a bit. They even learned to share one ball, taking turns and so on! Miloh is just so curious, and he adores playing. Frida has a squeeky animal with squared off sections he really has taken to. Also went to High Park so they could play ball in the field - it never fazes them to locate the ball in the dark, of course. Anyhow they are getting along perfectly. Frida is really relaxed. Miloh has now settled down on this fake fur in the kitchen. I had a feeling he was tired, so I put a pillow down on the living room carpet and lay down. Sure enough, he lay beside me and settled down. What a fine, bright, loving dog! It's so interesting how we had to discover each other's rhythms. Hope you're having an enjoyable time. Not to worry about a thing! |
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January 2016
AuthorJanice is the founder of and primary caregiver at Happy Trail Dogs Service. She is also the founder of an arts-related non-profit and worked in the fitness industry for over two decades. She is an artist, editor, writer, and mother of two wonderful women and a glorious lab named Frida. Archives
January 2016
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