Comments on: Friday Max Blogging

By: BJ

BJ — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:32:38 +0000

Max,

See you got the same treatment I did. Your Mom is cool to stay with you. The Big Crazy Guy takes me to Petco to - he says ‘…to get your hair and nails done…’ Such an indignity! Beagles are not so frivolous. And he’s such a chicken he doesn’t hang around! Of course with all the brush fires around here I didn’t mind hanging out in air conditioned comfort.

Nicholas.

PS — BJ (the Big Crazy Guy) adds - Nicholas found a way to pull out of his harness. Fortunately we both stood there looking at each other in shock, he didn’t have a chance to run away before I could scoop him up. I hope your experience is less dramatic. And, by the way, Max looks adorable!

By: Rev. Bee

Rev. Bee — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:39:13 +0000

On Dog Nail Clipping:
When I got my Sandy (an abused yellow lab from the Humane Society), he was skittish about everything. It took a few months, but I taught him to shake (the command was “Foot, foot!”) and pretty soon he was totally cool with having his nails clipped by me. I handled his feet constantly. At first, I gave him treats constantly, then backed off. When I called him, I’d handle his feet, praising him the whole time. When we played fetch, he got his paws handled as he gave the ball back. When I brushed him, I’d hold his feet. Sometimes, I’d call him away from dinner and handle his feet (pet him, as well), which also helped with his fear-based food aggression.
Pretty soon, he thought it was just normal every day stuff to have his feet handled. And all was well.
The added benefit to “foot, foot!” is that when he comes in from outside and has muddy feet, I just said “Foot, foot!” and he held out each foot to be wiped. Very handy!
The PETCO environment was just waaaaay too exciting for him to be able to be groomed. (I finally found a nice wash-your-own-dog place, the LaunderMutt. He liked that.)

Of course (on the advice of the trainer), I also trained him to sit at the door while I ALWAYS walked through first. This clearly established me as Alpha in the house, and it helped a lot with his pulling. He ALWAYS would pull my sister, but rarely pulled me. He knew who was in charge. We did some initial training with the horse-type harness you describe, and that helped in the first few months.

Good luck!

By: Penny R

Penny R — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:31:53 +0000

Oh Max, poor you. It’s not always easy, is it? Here’s a hug {XX} for you and another {XX} for your mother. When you can, forgive her for what she did. It’s only because she loves you so much.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:47:03 +0000

Hi. Scout read your post with interest, Max. She is ok with having her nails clipped, but hates fireworks and thunderstorms.

She hopes you have a good day. She was having a good time at a parade today, and someone set off firecrackers! can you believe that?

By: Miss Conduct

Miss Conduct — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:03:06 +0000

Hi Max! I have never seen a horse. I did see a cat walking on a leash last week but because it was on a leash I thought it was a dog so I didn’t try to chase it. My female human thought that was funny and blogged about it. There’s a man who comes over twice a year with a briefcase of papers for my humans to look at and she always says she gets so much copy out of me that I should be deductible as a business expense.

I’m not sure how I feel about that (what’s “copy” she gets from me? If it’s the stuff she picks up in plastic bags she doesn’t seem to like it much), but I am sure how I feel about frozen treats in the summer. Plain yogurt mixed with water and peanut butter and honey and frozen in ice cube trays makes a good treat! Gives me energy to run around on hot days. Tell your human about that, she might make you some.

By: Barbara K

Barbara K — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:38:27 +0000

Hi Max! A walk sounds great–if you PROMISE not to roll in horse dootie.

Pleh.

Wesley

By: Satchel Pooch

Satchel Pooch — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:59:03 +0000

::: sneaks a doggy treat to Max :::

By: Barbara K

Barbara K — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:47:23 +0000

Dear Max—

Sorry you got your paws in a twist at Petco. My mom takes me to the vet right here in Deluxeberry for my manicures. They’re really good at it, and even though I HATE it, they do it so fast I don’t have enough time to get all discumbobolated. (sp?)

Maybe it’s not the same for beagles. Or dogs for that matter. But speaking as a cat (though I cannot speak for ALL cats), it shouldn’t be such a tussle.

Wesley

HI WESLEY THAT’S WHAT I THINK! ALSO DO YOU LIVE NEAR SOME HORSES AND SOMETIMES CAN WE TAKE A WALK TOGETHER? LOVE MAX