Name That Pup

Names are kind of a hobby of mine. My Boxer Reacher is named after a favorite character in a series of novels by Lee Child while my German Shepherd already had a name when I got her. It's a good thing I love Vega, because something like SuzyQ would have been a deal breaker and I wouldn't have this GSD in my life today.

With a litter hopefully on the way, I'm already working on a list of puppy possibilities. Since Vega is the name of a star, choosing star-studded names is only natural. Aries, Atlas, Capella, Cassiopeia, Cerina, Crux, Draco, Gemini, Gemma, Leo, Libra, Lyra, Mira, Orion, Sirius and Ursa offer a nice mix of male and female choices. And there are more stars in the heavens if these names don't work out.

Of course, a German-themed litter would make sense, too. In that case, the girls could be Anja, Jana, Katja, Lina, Petra, Schuyler and Ursula. While the boys might be called Dirk, Klaus, Marcus, Max, Niklas, Otto, Tobias and Wolfgang.

I've also considered giving the girl pups names ending with an "a" and the boys, names ending in "o." Here are my lists. Females: Ava, Britta, Elsa, Isla, Lola, Lyra (a star, as well), Marla and Willa. Males: Arlo, Draco (also a star) Hugo, Milo, Otto (German, too), Rio, Sisco and Zorro.

Of course, I know whatever I choose won't be my pups' forever names. But I'm already having fun with them beginning right now.

The Homework Pass

Our training day is tomorrow. I am looking forward to it and will welcome a normal activity in this oh-so-not-normal week. The problem is, Reacher, Vega and I haven't been doing our homework.  

Reacher and I are supposed to be working on off-leash obedience and the recall command that my stubborn boy more often than not chooses to ignore. Vega and I are working on right and left turns when heeling in addition to the place command. 

Just like high school, the three of us tried cramming a week's worth of practice into our evening tonight. Considering that, plus the fact that we've managed to walk most every day this week, Reacher's off-leash obedience may not be that bad tomorrow. And Vega's right and left turns could be passable. His recalls and her place command however, not so much.

In any case, we won't call in sick. And while the "dog ate my homework" sounded good for a second, it really doesn't make sense. So, we'll show up as usual, do our best and count on Evan to give us a homework pass. 

When It Rains, It's Trouble

Reacher's battery was fully recharged this morning when he woke up. It was like all the walking, racing and running he did yesterday never happened. He was ready for action - again. Unfortunately, it was raining. And it continued to rain all day.

That's not good news for a dog like Reacher, or his owner. I wasn't about to let him outside alone because the yard he and Vega have torn up and trampled until it has become a dust bowl turns into a quagmire when it rains.

So, no wild times in the yard. No walk. No evening run along the river. And definitely, no passing out on the family room couch this evening. Because he never made it out of the kitchen. It was a gates-up kind of day.

Consequently, he has been quite a challenge -- surfing the counters and the kitchen table. And regularly annoying Vega. He's been chewing up the blanket inside his crate, the rug in front of the kitchen sink and the towel I use to wipe wet paws. I also caught him gnawing on the kitchen island. And when I put a stop to that he moved on to the outside corner of his crate. 

Fortunately, the day is coming to an end. And he'll be inside his crate for the night. I'm afraid to check the forecast. I know Reacher, Vega and I are hoping the sun will come out tomorrow.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Reacher had a busy day that started with an a.m. walk with Vega and I, followed by some roughhousing in the yard with his favorite GSD wrestling partner. Breakfast was next. Then the two four-legged friends settled down for a nap.

It didn't take long for Reacher's engine to recharge. Soon, he was ready to go back outside. He streaked past the side window and around the front. He was running laps around the house at warp speed.

As luck would have it, there was more in store for those four feet. His oldest two-legged brother stopped by to borrow a dog to take running with him. Reacher was it!

Did he mind being second choice since Vega is currently taking it easy due to her (probable) condition? Definitely not. So, they were off - down the street, along the river and eventually back home.

Even a bouncing Boxer eventually runs out of energy. I just discovered Reacher on the couch in the family room where he's definitely not allowed to be.

It's so quiet. It's so peaceful. It's so wrong to let him stay there. But I've already decided to let this sleeping dog lie.

 

The Scavenger Hunt

What will he find next?

Reacher loves to spend time in the great outdoors. And since he has been trained to the Invisible Fence he enjoys having the run of the front and back yards. In addition to digging holes, he spends lots of time nosing around in the pinestraw, through the ivy and under the bushes. As a result, he's unearthed many treasures.

In the daily scavenger hunt he's found an unbelievable number of balls that were given up for lost years ago. When my two boys were younger, many balls that were used in games of catch, homerun derby, wall ball and more went astray. While quite a few were retrieved from under the ivy an even greater amount just seemed to have disappeared. That is, until Reacher came along.

He's found tennis balls, racquetballs, baseballs, T-balls, whiffle balls and golf balls in various states of decay. He has also uncovered an empty bottle of Sunny Delight and a red Lego along with two dead mice. It's unclear what condition the mice were in when he came upon them, but they were definitely dead when he showed them to me.

At this point, I can't imagine there's much more to be found. But only Reacher knows for sure.

Motherly Instinct





I admit I'm still not 100% sure Vega is pregnant, but there continue to be signs that point to her impending motherhood.

 

Today, I found a stuffed toy I bought a few weeks ago for Reacher. It has a squeaker inside so I thought it would be perfect for teaching the recall command. After all, a squeak should get him  excited, right?

 

I was right, it did. But I was wrong to use it for training. Evan told me Reacher should be responding to my voice command not cueing off a squeak.

So, that was the end of that. Until today.

I found the stuffed puppy on top of the refrigerator and decided the dogs might as well have it - not for training, but for fun. Reacher was outside having a wild time at the moment, so I handed it to Vega. She has been carrying it around or lying next to it ever since. And she's so gentle with it, the puppy hasn't squeaked once.

Once Reacher spied the stuffed animal he's been on a mission to steal it. But without success.

Vega likes to play keep-away from Reacher with tennis balls and other toys, but whatever it is gets traded back and forth eventually. Not so with this stuffed animal. 

Reacher has gone in for the snatch a couple of times and Vega has growled and snapped at him like never before. He's backed off for now but I doubt he's completely given up. I think this could be a preview of things to come.

Mood-Altering Dogs

After a week that was exhausting, stressful and emotionally draining, it was truly a pleasure to come home this evening to a couple of dogs. Reacher and Vega are guaranteed to lift my spirits without even trying. It's amazing what one wagging tail - Vega's, and one wiggling rear end - Reacher's, can do.

It's obvious my dogs love me no matter what mood I'm in or what time I come home. And even if I complain about their dirty paws or too much dog hair, they act like I just told them they won the lottery. Of course, they don't argue or complain. And all they really need each day is a bowl of dog food, a full water dish and regular trips outside.

They do appreciate a daily walk. It's something I enjoy doing for them but it's something they really are doing for me. Taking to the sidewalk not only burns calories and strengthens the heart, lungs and legs, it decreases stress. In other words, I come back home in a better mood.

I can always count on my two dogs to amuse me when I need it most. Reacher is an instigator who'll demand a game of tag while Vega prefers keep-away with a toy Reacher likes most. There's at least one wrestling match each day that's always noisy but mostly harmless. 

So, I'm sure no matter what kind of day lies ahead for me tomorrow, I can count on my dogs to get me through.

The Birthday Boy

Reacher is a year old today. He didn't have a party but I did take him to an obedience lesson this afternoon which was just as much fun. And I toasted his milestone at dinner with a glass of wine while he was outside racing around the yard.

Being a dog, Reacher doesn't understand birthday cakes and candles, presents with bows or party games. So, it's up to me to celebrate his growth and accomplishments over the 44 weeks we've been together.

Reacher was just over 11 pounds when I brought him home on October 16, 2011 and weighs about 53 pounds today. The vet projects his weight will be 64-65 pounds when he's full grown, in another six months or so. While he won't get much taller, he will continue to build muscle and bulk. 

Psychologically, Reacher's still an immature male, but he has made great strides in his behavior since October. I've worked at it, but I owe most of our success to continuing training with Evan Dunbar at FullContactK9. If I had to choose the one thing I celebrate most on Reacher's birthday it is,in Evan's words that Reacher has "learned to accept the correction." Hurray!!

Some of Reacher's other achievements during the course of his first year: he's crate trained, housebroken and he is fully (and finally) trained to the Invisible Fence so he has free run of the yard. Reacher loves that.

He also has learned to heel on a leash, sit and lie down on command and return to a sit when told. He understands the "place" command, meaning I can send him to a target spot when I need him to stay out of the way. That's amazingly useful. While he definitely knows what "here!" (come) means, has hasn't fully learned to accept that command. That's a work in progress. 

I admit Reacher still has a stubborn streak a mile wide, he has a penchant for digging holes and eating tennis balls and he spends most of his time in the kitchen because he still can't be trusted. On the other hand, he loves people, other dogs and life in general. He wiggles all over when he's happy, can bounce like a spring and is full of personality. I've often referred to him as my "happiness factor." And that's what I love most about him -- he makes me smile. 

 

The Developing Story Of The Puppies

Ultrasound of a dog's pregnancy at 25 days.

I am assuming Vega is pregnant. And if I'm right, her puppies will look about like this in just a few days.

A canine pregnancy lasts 63-67 days from fertilization to birth according to Dr. Vicki Myers-Wallen from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. It's hard to pinpoint when Vega's eggs were fertilized. We bred her three times: July 28, 30 and August 1. You do your own math.

In any case, here's a calendar of puppy development. By the end of the second week of pregnancy, each puppy's embryo achieves a 64-cell mass and by day 19 implants itself in the uterine wall where continues to grow, receive nutrients and oxygen from the newly emerging placenta and develop into a fetus.

By day 30, the fetal puppy cells will become committed to forming mucous membranes, digestive and respiratory glands, muscles, bone, the puppy's cirulatory, genital and urinary systems, the skin and hair, the nervous system and all of the puppy's sensory organs including the eyes, inner ear and peripheral nerves.

This is the time the fetus starts to actually look like a dog with whisker buds showing on its developing face, and claws and toes differntiating on the feet. By week six, the fetal puppy forms skin pigments and it's possible to palpate the puppies and even hear a heartbeat with a stethoscope.

The last three weeks are when the greatest weight gain of the developing puppies occur with most of the organ systems beginning to enlarge and refine themselves and the puppies readying themselves for birth. 

If Vega is carrying puppies, I expect them to be born sometime around the end of September.

Tennis (Balls) Anyone?

Reacher loves tennis balls. Though unlike most dogs, he's not that interested in chasing them. He mostly enjoys finding them, chewing on them and eating them. Oh sure, he might chase one occasionally if he's in the right mood. And when Vega is chasing a tennis ball, he definitely wants to chase one, too.

But once Reacher has it clenched firmly in his jaw (and as long as Vega agrees to let him keep it) he's happy to lie down and munch on that tennis ball until it's totally destroyed. In fact, he would prefer to eat the whole thing, fuzzy green cover and all. Not good for the digestive system, however.

Even though I understand the risks of Reacher eating tennis balls, I admit I'll actually offer him a fresh one some evenings and hope it tantalizes his taste buds. That means it will keep him occupied for at least 30 minutes. And I'll have 30 minutes of peace and quiet. As an added bonus, I know when Reacher's chewing on a tennis ball he's not destroying anything else.

Of course, I really don't want him to ingest any part of the ball. So, the trick has become to allow him to gnaw away at the thing up until the point he's about to dislodge a piece. After months of experience, I can tell you it's all about the sound.

At the beginning, chewing a tennis ball is a very quiet activity. Then comes a smacking-your-lips kind of noise when the cover becomes wet. And kind of a clicking sound as the walls of the ball become weaker and begin to contract and expand as Reacher chews. There is Reacher's occasional whine of pleasure. And finally, the whooshing of air when his teeth have broken through.

As soon as I hear the whooshing sound I know the party's over for both of us. And it's time for the ball to go into the trash.

Because once there's a whoosh there's a puncture. And after the puncture comes a hole. And if there's a hole there's a missing piece. But of course, it's not really missing. I know where it is. It's just been swallowed.

Morning Sickness At Night?

Two nights in a row, after eating her food Vega tossed her kibble. The first night it happened several hours after she ate. Last night it was almost immediate. But she's shown no other signs of being sick. She's perky, playful and attentive.

As I was researching the possible causes on the Internet, I found an article by a veterinarian who said that some pregnant dogs experience "a lack of appetite and something approaching morning sickness" three to four weeks into pregnancy.

The timing is right. So, maybe this means Vega is pregnant!

However, PETMD.com offers other possible reasons for vomiting that include: change in diet (no), gobbling food/eating too fast (possibly), obstructing objects (unlikely), acute inflammation of stomach, parasites, tumors and other diseases I'd rather not contemplate. By the way, what's coming out the other end is perfectly normal.

Barring any additional symptoms, I'm going with the pregnancy theory. Today, I fed her three small portions of chicken and rice and she's been fine. I plan to transition her back to her regular food in the next day or so but continue to feed smaller portions more often.

If she really is expecting, by the end of August Vega's pregnancy should start to become more obvious. The "morning sickness" should be gone and her appetite will start to increase - a lot. She could be eating two to four times the amount of food she ate before she became pregnant.

But I'm not getting too excited yet. Tonight, I'll be happy if she makes it 'til morning without getting sick.

Two Dog Night

Reacher spends nights in a crate where he's very much at home. Vega has graduated to guard duty so she sleeps on the floor in my bedroom. Occasionally, if I'm feeling generous I'll give Reacher a shot at sleeping upstairs, too.

On those evenings, I make sure the bedroom door, the bathroom door and the closet door are all closed tight. The dresser and the nightstand must be free of temptation. No books, no magazines, no dangling cell phone charger cords. Because I believe Reacher starts dreaming about what he can get into while he's running up the steps.

This being the weekend, I allowed Reacher upstairs for a sleepover. I checked the doors and all the surfaces then I turned out the lights. 

About 2 a.m. I felt a presence in the bed. It was Reacher. I'm not exactly sure how long he had been snoozing there, but he got a rude awakening when I shoved him to the floor.  I woke again at 4:15 because Reacher's back was firmly pressed against mine. I flung him - not very gracefully - off the bed. When the alarm went off, he was curled up with his head on my feet. I promptly kicked him out and headed for the shower.

As for Vega, she slept through it all.

What have I learned? Reacher needs to sleep in the crate and nowhere but the crate. And that's the way it will be sleepily ever after.

Dog Day In August

Sometimes you just need to spend a day with your best friends. And that's what I did this Saturday. Reacher, Vega and I visited several of our favorite places beginning with a trip to our local Riverside Farmer's Market. Besides locally grown produce, there's even a vendor who sells homemade dog biscuits.

While my two companions certainly deserved a treat--they were the most well-mannered pets there--we skipped that booth and headed straight for the homegrown tomatoes and Georgia peaches. They're dogs after all; they didn't even know they were missing out.

Next it was on to the drive-through-/walk-up-only Chick-Fil-A. I ordered a chicken biscuit. Reacher and Vega were each offered a complimentary dog biscuit. We dined on the outdoor patio.

Reacher and Vega are a hit at the nursing home.

Then we paid a visit to the local nursing home. My two friends were the hit of the morning. They held court on the front porch while the residents and family members complimented them on their good behavior.

When it began to drizzle we were homeward bound. As luck would have it, the rain stopped, the clouds retreated and the temperature remained reasonable. It was time for a brisk walk around the lake and a stop at the park to work our obedience lessons.

All in all, it was the perfect day. We shopped, we dined, we visited, we walked, we practiced. We strutted our stuff on this fine day in August. Some might call it one more dog day of summer. Clearly, those folks don't have the right dog.

Getting In Gear

When my boys were young it seems like going shopping always resulted in a purchase for them rather than me. Now that I'm training two dogs, it's the same story.

I'm not talking about dog clothing and accessories. Frankly, I'd be too embarrassed to walk a dog wearing an outfit and I'm pretty sure the dogs would be embarrassed, too. I'm not talking about toys either. Reacher is just as happy with "green" toys like sticks, pinecones and the occasional do-it-yourself hole.

I'm talking about equipment. Dog gear like leather leashes, for example. Both dogs have a four-foot leather leash. But, I decided I needed another one that's six feet long for Vega and protection training. I have a nylon 12' long line, but wouldn't a 25' foot version be even better? Of course! That's why I just said yes to a 25' nylon working line for bite work.

And now that I'm working on off-leash obedience with Reacher, my very own e-collar would be nice. It would even allow me to work on correcting some of Reacher's in-the-house behaviors like surfing the kitchen counter, for example. I tell myself that's a lot of bang for the buck. I have my eye on the Element 302M by Dogtra. It's a two-dog model, naturally. 

Then there are collars. Each dog has a pinch collar, but they're nothing special. I like this Sprenger stainless steel model so much better than the ones I have. It doesn't even look like a pinch collar. It's  made in Germany and comes with a lifetime warranty. Only the finest will do. It's on my list. Of course, I need two.

I could go on. But you get the idea. 

Admittedly, I'm not the top dog handler out there. But when my dogs have all the best gear, I can at least look the part.

 A complete line of dog gear, including these products, is available at www.ProK9Equipment.com.

Here Comes Reacher!

To come or not to come? That is the question.

We just returned from our training session. Reacher and I are working on off-leash obedience, but we're still using the long line for a back-up because my boy can't be trusted. At least not yet.

He's heeling well and sitting well. I can down him from a distance and return him to a sit. But when I call, "Reacher, here!", he may come. Or he may not.

Sometimes he remains stock still and doesn't move a muscle. Other times, if he's wearing an e-collar and gets some stimulation to encourage him, he might come. Or he might bolt. But with the long line tied around my waist as a back-up, if he tries to run off he gets a reality check as soon as the slack runs out.

Today, we used a long line and a short leash, working on a restrained recall. The point is to build his excitement level but make sure he stays until I call.

First try: I called, "Here!" Reacher just sat there before coming reluctantly. I offered to bring out the hot dogs. I got a reminder: we're finished with hot dogs.

Try again. I called, "Here!" and clapped my hands. Reacher came but I got a reminder: no clapping allowed. Just a voice command.

Next: I called, "Here" and patted my legs. Reacher came, but I got a reminder: No patting the legs. Just a voice command. Whoops.

Last time: I called, "Here." Reacher came.

The lesson: Sometimes the handler needs as much training as the dog.

Is She Or Isn't She?

It seems everybody who knows about Vega is asking--pregnant?  It was two weeks ago today that we bred her for the third time, so it's still a little early to know for sure. Finding out the answer isn't as simple as going to Walgreen's and buying an early pregnancy test for $15. The price is right, but the human test doesn't work on dogs because the hormones are different, so the results wouldn't be accurate, obviously.

Of course, there are ways to get the answer. A vet can do a blood test, but it usually needs to be performed--and paid for--more than once. An x-ray is a sure way to tell but it's necessary to wait 3 1/2 weeks from the mating for the results to be accurate.

So, I'm just going to rely on Mother Nature to let me know if Vega is with pups. I've read that one of the early signs a dog is pregnant is a decreased appetite. I haven't noticed that. In fact, if you read last night's blog you know Vega was apparently so hungry she ate a starfish. Another sign could be an increased appetite. She's always ready to eat, so who knows. Maybe the starfish is the dog version of pickles.

It's said some dogs become less energetic or more affectionate when pregnant. Vega doesn't seem as anxious to race around the yard with Reacher lately. And this evening she hopped the gate and is on the floor in the living room where he can't get to her. But the guy can be so relentlessly annoying maybe she's just plain tired of his behavior. She is needy. But she's always followed me around. And she may just want me to save her from you-know-who.

I've also read about changes in the nipples as soon as two weeks after the breeding. But to tell you the truth I didn't examine Vega's beforehand so I couldn't say if they look different now or not.

A more accurate sign is rapid weight gain. That should begin in a few more weeks if there is good news.

So, is she or isn't she? As my father would advise: "Wait and see, time will tell."

A Fallen Star

Vega. My shining star--until tonight.

Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the celestial hemisphere. Vega is certainly a star among dogs in my house. In fact, I was planning on singing--well, blogging--her praises tonight. That is, until I got home.  

Vega and I have gotten to know each other pretty well over the last few months. I've come to trust her when I call, protect me if necessary and behave herself in the house. While she is crate-trained and quite comfortable there, I have been allowing her more and more freedom out of the crate while I'm gone.

I started by leaving her home alone for 20-30 minutes at a time and have increased that gradually to several hours without a problem. Vega had the house to herself for a few hours this afternoon. So, when I had to be away again briefly this evening, I didn't hesitate leaving her "sans crate." I came home and it was obvious we had both made a big mistake.

I found a chewed up cellophane window of an envelope with just enough letters showing that I can tell the "before version" read: IMPORTANT BILLING INFORMATION INSIDE. As yet, I haven't identified the missing bill. I just hope I've already sent the payment. 


The evidence.

In addition, I found one pointy remain of a starfish I brought back from a trip to Cancun more than 30 years ago. 

It's disappointing. My star ate a star. That makes her a little less heavenly tonight.

My Dirty Dogs

Like many of the yards in the Atlanta area, mine is full of trees, shade, lots of pine straw and a little grass. What grass there was is mostly no more. It appears as if it's been trampled by a thundering herd of elephants rather than by the eight paws of my two dogs.

The yard is now best described as a dustbowl when it's dry or a quagmire after a rain. In any case, it makes for two dirty dogs.

Hot Diggity Dog!

Every since I've had Reacher, one of his favorite pastimes has been digging holes. He started his very first one when he was only about 10 weeks old. It was along the foundation of the house. And it was pretty impressive for such a little puppy.

Since then he's expanded his digging to various spots around the yard. He is partial to digging at the base of trees--maybe he has a thing for roots. But he also digs in wide open spaces. Sometimes he goes back to a previous hole, making it deeper or wider. More trench-like.

He goes into some kind of a zone when he digs, like a crazed maniac. His front paws fly furiously and so does the dirt. It's something to witness.

One of his most recent efforts unearthed a black cable, which he nearly chewed in half, and a small box. When I saw it I ran inside and checked all the utilities. Fortunately, everything was still operational. So I decided the cable belongs to the previous telephone carrier. It seems like we bundled our phone, Internet and cable services just in time. 

Check out this impressive array of holes, all Reacher's handiwork. Unfortunately, my photography doesn't really do them justice. But you get the idea.

A Walk In The Dark



Between the hot summer temperatures and my work schedule, it's often not practical for Reacher, Vega and I to walk during the day. That means we often hit the sidewalk after the sun goes down -- or comes up. Today, the sun rose at 6:57 AM and set at 8:28 PM. We walked in the dark. 

It's certainly more comfortable to be out when the sun's not beating down on us, but I often feel like I should really be in bed, especially on those early morning walks. My neighborhood is safe as neighborhoods go, but I admit it might be a little riskier to walk in the dark.

But I feel safe with my two dogs. Vega is extremely loyal. And during protection work she is intense, focused and totally fired up. There's no doubt in my mind, or Evan's, that she'd be just as fired up if she sensed a threat. So I'm walking with confidence. And I must admit, when I'm walking with my German Shepherd and my Boxer I feel like a bit of a badass myself. 

The Doggie Bag

As a mother, I hung up the diaper bag more than 20 years ago, but now oddly enough, I'm toting around a doggie bag. That is to say, a canvas tote filled with all Reacher's and Vega's gear. It's what I need for training whether we're heading to a lesson or practicing on our own at the park.

My doggie bag contains two choke collars and two prong collars in addition to two four-foot leather leashes for walking and other basic obedience work. There's a 15-foot long line for practicing recalls ("here!"), long sits or downs and for early off-Ieash obedience lessons.

Vega doublechecks the bag and we're ready to go!

I also pack another bag inside the doggie bag. Reacher uses it to work on the "place" command. That is, I send him from a distance to the target bag where he lies down. It's quite  useful when I want to get him out from under my feet.

But the bag's still not fully loaded. Got to add the protection training gear. That includes a six-foot leather leash and a harness. A tennis ball attached to a rope is for developing prey drive and a bite pillow is for practicing bite and grip. 

Then it's into the van. It's handicapped accessible with a ramp for easy entry and no middle seat. It's roomy, kind of like a dog-sized apartment that easily accommodates a large crate (Vega's favorite way to travel) with plenty of room to spare.

There is no diaper bag, juice boxes or Happy Meal wrappers inside. They've been replaced by a dog dish, a jug of water, a tennis ball or two and always, the doggie bag.


If you're looking for leather leashes, collars and other prossional training equipment for your dogs, shop where Reacher and Vega do: www.ProK9Equipment.com.

Double-Dog Walking

Having two large, high-energy dogs like Reacher and Vega in my life is kind of like having two personal trainers. Even if I'm not in the mood to hit the road, my four-legged friends remind me it's time to get moving!

I've been walking faithfully at least once most every day since late November when Reacher was old enough to handle it. Not a leisurely, stop-and-smell-the-roses kind of stroll. But a vigorous walk of a mile or two--or three.

Once Vega entered our lives, I knew she deserved a walk, but could I really handle both dogs at once? I wasn't sure. So, I started walking both dogs, but separately. With all that tag-team walking I was really logging the miles. And the time. I needed to do something about that.

Since both Reacher and Vega are obedience trained Evan, our trainer, explained that walking them together would be no big deal. So, one day I put them to the test. Even though they were originally trained to walk on my left side, I found it most comfortable to walk Reacher on the left and Vega on the right. Reacher was already used to his spot. And Vega didn't seem to mind the switch. All three of us are comfortable with the arrangement.

Other walkers, joggers and bike riders take note as we head down the sidewalk. Maybe they're impressed that my dogs are so well behaved. Or maybe a Boxer / German Shepherd duo is just a little bit intimidating. We have noticed that some people cross to the other side of the road.

In any case, my dogs walk when I walk. And keep pace with me whenever I speed up or slow down. They sit when I stop. Then wait for me to step off again with my left foot. That's their signal that it's time to resume our double-dog walking.  

Reacher's Role



Given Reacher's immaturity, and more importantly his neutered condition, there is no chance Vega's puppies will be a Boxer-Shepherd mix. So, you might say while Vega was in season, Reacher was welcome at the party he just wasn't able to dance.



What's not to love?

But that didn't stop him from trying. He knew something was different about this new girl in his life. And he was determined to find out what it was.

Reacher didn't attend even one "whiff and sniff," but did he care? NO! He had Vega all to himself the other 23 1/2 hours of the day. That meant he sniffed to his heart's content, no sharing required. He chased, he jumped, he rode her sidesaddle or bunny-hopped behind as Vega casually  continued her stroll around the yard.

Vega took Reacher's puppy love in stride. Like she does most of his other antics. She's patient when he bites her leg. She lies calmly when he vaults over her back. She ignores him when he barks at her relentlessly -- demanding action!

Occasionally, there comes a point when she can't take it anymore. Then Vega puts Reacher in his place in no uncertain terms. Just like any mother would.

Let's Make Some Puppies!

As the days went by, Vega's hormone levels were rising, her scent was developing and the stars, hopefully, were aligning nicely. Evan set the date for the first breeding: July 28. Coincidentally, the same day as a good friend's wedding.

Remy arrived in the evening and it was out to the backyard deck with the lucky couple. I poured the wine--for us owners, that is.

Remy was clearly rarin' to go. And Vega was flagging, moving her tail to the side giving him the signal that she was ready, too. Because this was the first breeding for both of them, they had to rely on Mother Nature rather than experience to be their guide.

Things started with lots of circling and chasing followed by several false starts and failed attempts. Because the temperature was still in the 90s, it didn't take long before the dogs were feeling the heat in more ways than one.

Thirty minutes later, Evan declared a break. He took Remy home to cool off, calm down and "think about it." Then he suggested some changes. We'd move the dogs to the air conditioned kitchen, he would sit in the other room so Remy wouldn't feel intimidated and I would stay with the dogs in case some human intervention was needed. I felt the need for another glass of wine.

Remy returned in about an hour, cool if not exactly calm and collected. But it was apparent he had thought things over and had a plan. This time Remy got it done, with no help required.

We repeated the breeding on Monday. After 20 minutes or so, Remy headed home again to regroup. When he returned--success. On Wednesday, it didn't take Remy long to make it a three-peat!

Now we wait.


We're expecting a litter much like this one, born November 2010. In fact, this is the litter Remy is from. He's in there somewhere. Do you recognize the little guy?

We'll know if the breeding with Remy and Vega was succesful in a few weeks. If so, the puppies will be due sometime near the end of September. You'll be the first to know when they arrive.

In the meantime, there's more to tell about life with my dogs.

The Whiff And Sniff

Remy and Vega get to know one another.

Evan knows what makes a solid working GSD. And he's sure Vega and Remy are the perfect match. So, the decision to breed them was discussed and decided by two dog owners. The dogs, of course, were not consulted.  

Even though this was an arranged marriage, we encouraged a courting process of sorts. Or to be more precise, a getting-to-know-you process. Or to be even more precise, a running-around-the-field, chasing-each-other process. What I call the "whiff and sniff."

It started the day after Vega went into season and continued until the "big day." During the second week, the dogs were confined to the backyard deck--where still nothing of consequence  happened. Just more running, chasing, whiffing and sniffing, only in a much smaller space. 

It would be a bit longer before Vega and Remy were ready to take their relationship to the next level. 

The video below is rated "G." It contains nothing graphic, only two dogs running, chasing and doing a good bit of whiffing and sniffing - mostly not of each other. 

One Day At A Time

I was fully aware when I brought Vega into the family I would breed her with Remy one day. One day sounded reasonable. Definitely not a specific date. Just an unknown number in an unknown month sometime in the future. This year, next year, who knew? Nice and vague. Worked for me.  

One day soon Vega will have her first litter.

After all, Vega had to go into season first. I knew she would, of course -- one day. No problem.

Then it happened. On Monday, July 16, I saw a few red spots on the kitchen tile. Suddenly, that vague someday came into razor sharp focus.

It was the first day I marked an "x" on the calendar so the breeding could be timed just right. And I continued to mark the days that followed.

It was beginning of a new adventure. One I'll tell you about one day at a time.

Meet Remy

Meet Remington Von DunSavant. His friends call him Remy.

Since Remy belongs to Evan, I'll let him handle the introduction: "Remy's a flashy young male with pronounced bone structure and a plush coat with deep black and red coloration. His disposition is impeccable and he displays a charming facial expression. If there's a toy, he's toting it around. Remington has a strong desire to work and shows a nice combination of prey and food drives. He has begun Schutzhund training and is expected to excel on the field."


Check him out. Vega and I like what we see!

Then Along Came Vega

My first look at Vega.

Although, I was an equal opportunity dog breed lover most of my life, I guess I considered myself a Boxer person after choosing three in a row. Of course, my trainer Evan was always singing the praises of his GSDs (German Shepherd Dogs) and I was listening. But I was nowhere near ready to join the choir.  

Then one day he sent me an out-of-the-blue text message about a German Shepherd named Vega along with this picture. Allow me to paraphrase: Check out Vega! She's obedience trained! She comes from Czech lines! She has all her shots! She has a great temperament! She needs a good home! You'd be perfect!

I admit, she was an amazing-looking dog and had lots of great qualities. But I was happy with my one-dog family. I was too busy for another dog. In fact, I'd be nuts to get another dog. NO!

Besides being a talented dog trainer, Evan's a darned good salesman. A few weeks later, Vega was mine. 

Turns out, Vega is all the things Evan said she was, and then some.  She's chill in the house, but high energy outside. She's agile and athletic, with wide open drive, keen intelligence, steadfast loyalty and correct confirmation. I love her. And Reacher loves her, too. 

German Shepherds are working dogs and Vega is no exception. While I'm taking Reacher through obedience training, Vega and I have started protection work. She's a natural. I seem to be the one with the most to learn.  

From the start, the plan has been to breed Vega with Evan's Shepherd Remy. We expect phenomenal puppies that are structurally sound with square confirmation, balanced temperament and balanced drive for work and companion homes. More about that soon.

Next up: Remy

First Dog, First

It all started with Reacher. I brought him home when he was eight weeks old, just a couple of months after my previous Boxer, Lex, lost his battle with cancer. I chose Reacher from the litter of eight because he was full of energy and showed a lot of spunk. As the saying goes, "What you see is what you get."

The innocent look will fool you every time.

And what I got was a Boxer with energy and spunk in spades. Needless to say, Reacher was a handful from the beginning. He refused to accept the word "no." It didn't matter if I squirted him with a water bottle, shook a can filled with pennies at him, popped him on the nose or gave him my best canine growl. He just barked back in his little puppy voice or tried--and often succeeded--in sinking those razor-like teeth in a finger or two.

As he got a little older he walked perfectly on a leash if he was in the mood, but might attack it on a whim, clamp it in his mouth, shake it furiously and refuse to let it go. I spent a lot of time next to the sidewalk with my foot on the leash right at his collar so he was forced to lie down and calm down--theoretically, that is. Reacher usually had other ideas. He might have been on the ground, but he was fighting frantically to get up and begin round two.

It was on one of those late fall walks that I met Evan Dunbar, a dog trainer and president of FullContact K-9, http://fullcontactk9.com/, who lives nearby. Even though Reacher happened to be on his best behavior at the time, Evan knew a potential client when he saw one. I called him a month or so later when it was clear that although I might be winning a battle now and then, Reacher was winning the war.

Reacher showed his true colors in the second training session. After a 20-minute "come to Jesus meeting" with Evan, Reacher finally saw the light. He was definitely no longer in charge. Of course, it didn't completely stop his bossy Boxer attitude with me. But as training progressed, so did Reacher. Evan's philosophy of positive reinforcement, repetition, consistency, leadership and clear communication got results.

Reacher is still full of personality (and just the right amount of spunk) but is now eager to follow commands and is willing to accept corrections. Without a doubt, Reacher is now a much more enjoyable companion.

We're still training with Evan. Reacher has graduated from basic obedience to advanced. And I've progressed in my training ability, too.

Tomorrow: Vega's story.

One, Two, What Did I Do?

Vega, Liz and Reacher

Currently, I have a nearly year old, handful of a Boxer, Reacher and Vega, an unplanned 1 1/2-year-old German Shepherd who was apparently "fated" to be mine. When I brought her into the family she was already promised to be bred to another German Shepherd named Remy (Remington) – kind of an arranged marriage. In other words, there’s a litter in my future.

Remington