Girl Fight

As I sat down to write this post I looked down and saw that my shirt is splattered with blood.  Just ducky.

After feeding the dogs I sat down to enjoy a warm cup of coffee and catch up on the news. Usually the dogs all settle into their positions. Bonnie at my feet. Brynn lays to the left of my chair. Ranger in front of the fireplace.  Beth hopped up on the couch where she can survey her domain.

This morning was a little different. Bonnie and Brynn started to snark at each other. Brynn has been resource guarding me from the other dogs. Bonnie decided to leap into my lap without warning. Brynn started growling. Ranger was trying to climb into my lap from the other side of the chair.  Chaos.

I pushed Ranger down. Shoved Bonnie off my lap and was correcting Brynn for growling when all of a sudden I hear snarling and a huge fight erupted between Bonnie and Beth.

My son heard the fight up stairs and came running into the room.  He tried to help me separate them.  We were able to separate them for a quick second when Bonnie broke free and went after Beth again, and again. Then we had to contend with Brynn hopping on Beth's back and grabbing a hold of her neck.

I grabbed Brynn and shoved her out the back door.  Then I grabbed a blanket and threw it over Bonnie's head, wrapped it around her and picked her up - she had her teeth sunk into Beth's neck.  Jake grabbed Beth around her middle and picked her up.  Beth wasn't letting go of Bonnie's neck either.  We just stood there until finally they loosened their hold and let go. Jake put Beth on the couch and I threw Bonnie out the back door. 

Beth went flying to the back door and slipped through the opening where they went at it again in on the patio.  We were able to separate them and get Beth back into the house where she immediately crawled up onto the couch and buried her head in the pillows.

Then I started surveying for damage.  Beth has four puncture wounds on her front elbows I cleaned & will keep an eye on.

Next was Bonnie - no injuries other than a scratch above her eye and one puncture wound on her neck (that I could find). Must have been all that fur protecting her.

I am keeping them separate. Beth is hiding in John's office, Bonnie & Brynn are outside.

I am not sure what to do.  Beth can be relentless. I have seen her attack a few of our foster dogs - and she DOES NOT back down and she won't quit. Today neither Beth or Bonnie was going to stop. It terrifies me to think about what would happen if they had been in the back yard alone.

The common  trigger in Beth's 'attacks' seems to be that she is in 'defensive' drive when she launches her assaults.

For example: On Thanksgiving John was playing tug with one of Vicki's dogs, Blitz. They were having fun, then Blitz started to growl while tugging - Beth came flying across the room and attacked Blitz. We had to break up that fight too. Blitz was laying on the ground and Beth was on top of him - she wasn't going to quit - he wasn't fighting back.

I am unable to play with the other dogs if Beth is in the room. We cannot play tug or she will 'correct' the dog I am playing tug with and then take over the game. I am not able to do any obedience/clicker training with any of the other dogs unless I have Beth upstairs in her crate - even then she will squeal, bark and scream the entire time.

I called the 'head' guy for Border Collie Rescue and talked to him for quite a while about what happened and my next steps. Bob is aware of the history I have with Beth and our issues with her aggression toward many foster dogs.  He suggested I seriously consider finding Beth a new home, with no other dogs. I am absolutely devastated.

I cant imagine separating them.  They are my "B" girls.  Until today there have never been any problems.  What is going on?  

I am very worried that our peaceful pack is now a permanent war zone. Given our house and yard (I do not have kennels) I am not able to keep the dogs separated - easily.  The dogs who live in this house must be able to get along, I am unable to accommodate dogs who cannot. 

I called Packworks and will be scheduling  a session with Gretchen before I make any decisions.

I believe you adopt a dog you bring them into your life permanently UNLESS the best interest of the dog can be improved in another home. I am not going to selfishly hold onto a dog out of a misguided sense of commitment when that same dog could be happier elsewhere - someone else may be able to give it a better home than me. Does that make sense?

I am committed to do what is in the best interest of my dogs, even if that means placing them in another home. If they are happier elsewhere - I will let them go regardless of how much my heart may be breaking.

How about you? Have you ever had a situation like this? How did you deal with it?

*EDITED to ADD *    Right after I hit publish on this post...I heard ANOTHER dogfight in the back yard.  This time it was Bonnie and Ranger.  WTF is GOING ON?   Maybe Bonnie is getting too big for her britches?

Is this the face of evil?

Ranger wants to know why girls are so bitchy.

My New Camera

I did it.  After reading every review in the world.  Going to camera stores to hold them, covet them (drooling was not permitted) and fiddle around with them I decided on a camera.

Meet Helen.  (Yes, my camera has a name - anything that costs this much needs a name. My husband refers to it as F*^&ing Expensive Helen, but Helen none the less).  Helen represents my forgotten birthday present, and Christmas presents for the next 8 years. 

From the Canon website

Canon EOS 7D - A Whole New Class of EOS.

With a host of brand new features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the new EOS 7D represents a whole new class of camera.

Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an all-new 18.0 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a new all cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo II AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D's Intelligent Viewfinder, an entirely newly-designed technology, provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. New iFCL Metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p (29.97 fps), 24p (23.976 fps) and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Compatible with over 60 EF and EF-S lenses as well as with EOS System accessories, the creative opportunities - not just with stills but also with video - are beyond amazement.

I purhcased the 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM  lens too to accompany  the 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens. And of course a 16 gb card, camera back pack, filters, extended warranty blah blah blah...

Last night when we got it home I started to freak out a little (okay, A LOT).  Freaking out over the price, the size, my astonishing lack of skill and knowledge.

I enrolled in a photography class at our local community college - but it doesn't start until January 20.  The young (very handsome) man I purchased it from had NOTHING to do with my decision - or the fact he teaches photography at another local college - and promised he would set my camera up for me and give me some quick lessons on how to use it until I can get into my class.  The fact that I was drooling, stuttering and acting like a silly teenager the entire time this stunningly handsome man was talking to me had nothing to do with my decision to purchase the 7D over the 50D.  

When I take my camera back to the store on Wednesday for my 'lesson' I will take a picture of him...then you will understand ...I promise.   Think young Tom Selleck crossed with a taller George Clooney.  *sigh*  Do you feel my pain? 

I understand why men are swayed by beautiful women.  A handsome man holding a camera - did me in.  I am weak and pathetic.  Does this make me a cougar?  What is a cougar anyway?  Do cougars have cameras?

But this guy is still my hunk of luv.  (I feel the need to post this picture again - it shows how just how sweet he is).  Look at those rugged hands, conveying such sweetness and affection, contrasting against the fur.  I fall in love with him every time I see this picture - until he does something to irritate me - my memory is short.  *sigh*

Even after I scream profanities at him he still loves me (although he does avoid me for a bit).  He loves kids and dogs.  Who could ask for more?

 The fact that he comes home every night - amazes me every day.  And he buys me cameras...f*^&ing expensive cameras.  I think I will keep him.

Brynn Update

Just a quick update on Brynn.

Brynn ingested approximately 4 ounces of cocoa powder in addition to 2-4 oz. of dark chocolate chips (she weighs 34 lbs).  I found the following table that can be used as a rough guide to assess if the amount of chocolate consumed by a dog is likely to pose a serious risk.

With the exception of continued excessive urination (she has peed on our bed twice - yes, TWICE!) she seems to be recovering without incident and finally starting to act 'normal'.  Well, as normal as a tri-colored monkey can act.  The vet cleared her for normal activities & diet.

Today we worked sheep at Fido's. I got in a little over my head, tripped over a water bucket, and almost broke my neck, but Brynn was amazing.   Bonnie is going to be the death of me.   Beth was a pleasure.  John worked Gryff again this time our friend Cindy went out in the field with him and gave him some excellent pointers. 

Later we went over to Cindy's house where she took some fantastic pictures of all the dogs.

Brynn, healthy happy and chocolate free - but I swear her brown is just a tad darker.

The Cookie Monster

I didn't sleep all night.  Not a wink.

Why?

This is why...

Yesterday I made cookies for Thanksgiving.  A double batch of chocolate mint cookies, made with unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate morsels.

As I took them out of the oven I let them cool on the rack - pushed back on the counter.

Guess who counter surfed and ate approx 16 cookies? 

I thought my son ate them.  I was wrong...

The evening started nicely, Brynn settled in to sleep.  Then at 11 pm, it was like someone lit a firecracker  under her butt.  Did you know one of the symptoms of chocolate toxicity is hyperactivity?

All the nights I spent rocking colicky babies puking in my shirt & screaming in my ear paled in comparison.

After a frantic phone call to the vet in the middle of the night he calmly talked me through figuring out approximately how many cookies were missing, the ingredients used (1 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 cup dark chocolate morsels) and helped me calculate out approximately how much Brynn had ingested.    He told me I could expect many of the signs and symptoms of a large chocolate ingestion - if she gets worse I am to bring her to the vet immediately. 

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. Theobromine is a xanthine compound in the same family of caffeine, and theophylline.     That is the bad news. 

The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to cause a toxic reaction (there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration). 

The level of theobromine and caffeine in chocolate varies between the type of chocolate, the brand and the fact that the natural occurrence of these substances in cocoa beans is variable. Broadly

• White chocolate - 1.1 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate;
• Milk chocolate - 64 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate;
• Dark sweet chocolate - 150 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate;
• Instant cocoa powder - 151 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate;
• Unsweetened baking chocolate - 440 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate; and
• Dry cocoa powder - 808 mg of theobromine and caffeine per ounce of chocolate
  

 Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system, peripheral nerves, and has a diuretic effect as well.  Much like caffeine effects humans. 

The symptoms of Theobromide poisoning are numerous and they appear within a few hours or up to a day after the chocolate ingestion. Chocolate stays in the animal's stomach a long time. As the Theobromide is absorbed into the bloodstream, the animal can exhibit the following symptoms;

Clinical Signs
Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Increased urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Treatment
There is no specific antidote for chocolate poisoning.  The half life (the time required for half the amount of a drug to be eliminated from the body) of the toxin is 17.5 hours in dogs.   If you catch it in time, induce vomiting in the first 1-2 hours if the quantity is unknown.   Administering activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin. An anticonvulsant might be indicated if neurological signs are present and needs to be controlled. Oxygen therapy, intravenous medications, and fluids might be needed to protect the heart.

If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your Vet immediately! They can help you determine the the proper treatment for your pet.

References for the preceding information. 
Dogs and Chocolate Toxicity
7 Questions about Dogs and Chocolate
Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs


NEVER AGAIN will I make chocolate cookies...and assume they will be left unmolested on the counter. 

John & Gryff

Meet Gryff

Gryff is the one in the back.   It is next to impossible to get a picture of Gryff that is in focus.  He moves too fast & my camera is too slow. 

You may remember that Beth was John's dog.  He fell in love with her when we adopted her from rescue.   I took over as Beth's handler when John started working oodles of overtime.  It was logical since I had recently become unemployed.  I had the time and she needed the attention.

I can't let her go - he can't have her back.  I am a woman who loves too much.

So our friend Vicki had a suggestion.  Maybe John would like to work Gryff?  Gryff is loaded with talent and loves men.  Why not give it a try?  On Sunday, we did just that.

I don't know...I am not sure John likes Gryff?  What do you think?  

Gryff was started by Sue MacDonald and ran Novice in a trial with Vicki a two months ago.  Gryff was badly injured this summer and required a long recovery period and was unable to train.  After being crated for almost two months Vicki entered Gryff in a trial (for grins and giggles).  He placed right behind Beth. 

At first Gryff was a little unsure of John.  Zipping around the sheep.  John kept the session with Gryff light and fun, with lots of reassurance and praise.

Once Gryff settled down he gave John some nice work.

Gryff is fast.  But he respects his sheep and is nice to them.

They are just beginning on their communication

Whoops....Gryff snuck by John

Gryff likes John

 

John likes Gryff.

Now we have a shared custody arrangement with Vicki.  Gryff will spend the weekends John can work him at our house.    I wish I had a picture of the two of them last night.  I found them both sound asleep together on the bed, Gryff snuggled right smack up against John.

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 

Gryff fits nicely into our pack.  All the dogs know each other already from many walks together on the river.  Beth even accepts Gryff.   Perhaps it was meant to be?

Welcome to our pack Gryff - even if it is only part-time.  Thank you Vicki for giving John this opportunity to work with this special boy.