Holiday Dogs

Christmas is a time for families and friends. We visit, give gifts, and share laughter and joy. Many humans include their pets when celebrating this special holiday.

If you search online you'll see pictures of dogs in Christmas outfits, Tweets from humans on behalf of their dogs wishing everyone a happy holiday, humane societies dressing up their adoptable dogs in hopes of enticing potential new owners, and many more! Why do people do these things? What makes people include their nonhuman pets in celebration of Christmas?

I can't answer for others so I'll speak on my own behalf. Dogs are and have always been pack animals. When we bring them into our home we become their pack. We become their family and they become ours. When I rescued Bruce I learned that his previous family tied him outside and forgot him. He was 20 pounds underweight. I couldn't imagine living my life alone outside while my family was warm and well fed inside the home. I couldn't imagine how lonely it must've been for a species designed to be with his family. I made a promise to him that he would be a permanent member if my family. And that means including him in our own special way in celebrations of special holidays.

This is only our second Christmas together but it's two cold Christmases that he's warm, well fed and spoiled rotten. I believe I'm not the only dog lover who feels that way. I believe that dog owners who love their dogs get them a gift on Christmas because they believe they are truly a part of the family. Even if he has four legs.

Merry Christmas to all and may your dogs' tails forever wag in your home.

Bruce gets a giant raw hide chew every Christmas.

Meet Holly and her dog Norman!

"This is Norman, my miniature Rat Terrier, in his Christmas pajamas. Some dogs don't like clothing, but Norm gets chilly and actually brings us a sweater. He cooperates and sticks his head through, and he is actually excited when he gets new clothes! He also has a Santa coat. He wore his Santa coat to a local Christmas tree lighting celebration, where he met tons of kids and even found a discarded hot dog! Norm will be joining us, as always, when we go to my parents' house for Christmas dinner and family time." -- Holly R.

Holiday Announcement

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy holidays!

Just Keep The Dog will be featuring our members' dogs in a Holiday Dogs blog on Christmas Day. The blog will talk about the love of our dogs and how we include them in celebrations of holidays. I'd love to include your dog!

If you'd like your dog(s) featured, please do the following:

1. Find a holiday-themed picture of your dogs.


2. Write a brief description of how you will include your dog this holiday. Include both your first name and your Doug's name.


3. Email both to justkeepthedog@gmail.com

Don't forget to follow our Facebook page where I will be announcing the blog post!

Love and Happy Holidays,
Bruce from Just Keep The Dog

Lessons From Dogs #2

Forgiveness.

Yesterday was a really rough day. We came home and I found that Bruce made a mess in his crate. It wasn't one of those easy accidents. He sat in it. So he was nasty.

I tried to take him out of the crate slowly so he wouldn't make a mess. But he had other plans. He bolted! He ran out into the living room where he stopped to shake and rub his body on the carpet.

In a panic I grabbed his collar and quickly led him to the bathroom. Bruce hates baths. He's scared to death of them. I don't know if in his past life he was tortured with water, but he just freaks out. I forgot about that.

I wrestled with him in the tub. He's 90 lbs. And he won. Leaving me soaked in poop and water, he plastered himself between the toilet bowl and the counter. So I left him in there and proceeded to clean the mess in his crate.

I finally decided to call Petsmart and set him up for a bath. Half an hour after dropping him off, the groomer called me. She told me that he was so stressed from the bath that he threw up and she couldn't finish him. So I picked him up. He was clean but they couldn't do any brushing. At least they didn't charge me for the bath.

When I brought him back home, he laid on the couch. He seemed quiet. And sad. When he caught me looking at him, he got off the couch and approached me with his head down. And he gave me a kiss.

I was mad at him. I was so mad at him.

And then I had to think about it. All dogs have accidents. And he isn't the exception. I make mistakes too. Sometimes I forget to stuff. Sometimes I make the wrong choices.

Another thing- I knew he hated baths. He has always hated baths. That's why I usually got him groomed instead if doing it myself. So why would I be mad if I knew it wasn't going to work if I tried to bathe him myself?

As he stared at me with those big brown eyes, I realized something. He forgave ME. He forgave me long before I even took him to Petsmart. He forgave me even as I wrestled with him in the bath tub.

It takes us humans such a long time to forgive our pets when we are so quick to justify our actions and our REACTIONS.

I'm grateful to have such a loving soul in my life.

Lessons From Dogs #3

Run Just Because

Like many dogs, sometimes Bruce will escape from home. When he does, the first thing he does is run. Just to run. He has nowhere he needs to be in a hurry. He isn't starving and searching for food. He just wants to run.

It is ok and healthy to let your hair down once in a while. It's ok to stop what you're doing and dance. We go through life focusing on work and chores at home. Sometimes you have to run and burn some energy. Laugh. Play.

Don't go too far from home, of course. And always go back. But don't forget to run just because.

Lovey dovey moments

I kiss Bruce on the nose. I just love him!!
He's so cuddly
And snugly
He makes me act silly
I call him Brucee Bruce!
And I smoosh his face
When we cuddle
He's like a giant teddy bear
He's the best
Sometimes I wish he could understand
How I feel
But then I remember
He's a dog
He knows more than I think he does

Lessons From Dogs #1

Stop to smell the roses (and the fire hydrant, the stop sign, every tree).
Like dogs; slow down and notice the sights, sounds, and smell of your every day life.  People who recover from a long illness know the importance of this.  And whether you're aware of it or not, like them you can too.
20 Life Lessons that Walking Your Dog Can Teach You, 2011, The Pilgrim Press

We can learn a lot from our dogs.  They are simple creatures with simple needs and desires.  They have such a selfless nature.  Today's lesson is to stop and "smell the roses."  I posted an excerpt from 20 Life Lessons that Walking Your Dog Can Teach You.

We tend to rush through life, don't you agree?  In the morning I usually rush through dressing, skip breakfast and it feels like it was all a blur by the time I get to work.  I miss out on the sunrise.  When I'm driving, I'm listening to music or radio talk shows, I'm thinking of the big issues currently going on in my head.  What I'm not doing is noticing the sky.

When I sit on my porch, I have a book in my hand.  Or I'm browsing through the internet on my phone.  In the meantime, Bruce is laying on the concrete floor with his head up and nose twitching.  He's observing the entire environment with his nose.  And he seems so... happy and content.  When we go for walks, instead of going straight to doing his business he has his nose to the ground.  He's scenting the other dogs and people who've been there before us.  He's smelling out of curiosity and he gets such a kick out of it!

If we humans paid attention to the things going on around us and actually took the time to notice what's deeper than just the first impressions, we might see that the cash register at a busy grocery store might be rude because she's sad or hurt.  Or the driver who's driving us crazy because they're too slow for us might be seventy years old and trying their best to keep up.

Dogs slow down and notice things.  They are simple creatures with simple desires.  We have so much to learn from them and stopping to smell the roses is such a simple yet important lesson.

Good Morning, I Have Puppy Eyes!

Bruce is such a sweetheart in the morning.  Usually on weekdays, he's too sleepy to wake me up.  In fact he doesn't get out from under my bed until it's time for me to go.  But on weekends and days when I'm off?  He's a huge baby and I can't help but love him.

This morning I stayed under the covers and didn't want to wake up.  You ever have one of those mornings?  I didn't want to start the day.  I wanted to lay under my blanket, hug my pillow and just dream.  The kids came in the room ready to start their playful adventures.  I stayed under my tent and listened to them talk about Oprimus Prime and Bumble Bee.  And that's when Bruce decided it was time to wake up. 

He put his big head on my bed, whined a little and used his bloodhound nose to find my face under my warm, fuzzy blanket.  And he looked at me with the biggest puppy eyes I've ever seen.  I just smiled and rubbed his face.  Then I pretended to fall back to sleep.  That's when he licked my nose.  I popped an eye open and pulled the covers off my head.  And he gave me another little whine- not the annoying one, just the one that says "Mommy can you wake up now?"  I've got to say- something about him makes me a complete goober.  I found myself saying, "Aw good morning Brucee.  Do you want something to eat?  Is the puppy hungry?"

Dogs just have this thing about them that melts something inside you, even if it's just a little.  Maybe it's because they can't answer you back or tell you what they really think of you.  Whatever it is, they have it perfected.

Needless to say, Bruce made sure I woke up on the right side of the bed today.  :)  I love my dog.

Separation Anxiety

Many dog owners endure the wrath of separation anxiety in their pets.  This disorder comes with many symptoms and causes and without proper attention to treating it, owners commonly react one of two ways:  1)  Feeling sorry for their pet to the point of excusing the behaviors and 2)  Feeling as if they are at their wits' end which may lead them to comtemplate giving up their furry friend.  Although separation anxiety can be one of the most heartbreaking and frustrating issues one can face when owning a dog, there are many ways to cope and manage it. 

First, you'll need to understand your dog.  Like people, our pets act out when they are stressed.  Along with knowing that separation is stressing them, it always helps to know why.  Dogs are creatures of habit.  Change triggers stress.  Any type of change can do this, whether it's a change of schedule for any or all family members in the home or a change in the dog's.  Another type of change may be a traumatic event in the dog's life.  Shelter rescues commonly exhibit separation anxiety symptoms.  Car accidents or other forms of physical injury may also cause separation anxiety.  Those are just a couple of suggestions to consider.  The next step to managing the disorder is to STOP AND BREATHE.

Many times when we understand why someone or something is suffering, we are afforded the opportunity to control how we react to it.  When a dog is suffering from separation anxiety, know that they are not a "bad dog."  They are simply acting out.  When you come home to find destroyed household items or urine spots, many people react by punishing the dog.  Nobody wants to come home to a mess.  However, any good trainer will tell you that punishing a dog after the fact does nothing but confuse and induce fear in them.  Instead, control the situation the next time by preparing for it.

Dogs react to us.  If we make a big deal out of leaving, THEY think it is a big deal and it increases their stress level.  Don't hug your dog or fuss about him.  In fact, ignore him for the ten minutes prior to your departure.  The act of leaving your home should be calm and quiet.  The same goes for returning!  When you come home, simply go about your business for the first ten minutes.  After that, be the first to initiate contact - don't return a greeting to your dog.  When you do greet your dog, calmly command him to sit/stay and reward him with a simple "good boy" followed by pets.  While I'm on this note, I'll also suggest getting a training class on your schedule.  Learn the dog pack hierarchy mentality and take the Alpha position in your home.  When your dog knows you're the boss, he will feel more secure and calm in his own position.  What to do when you leave and when you return aren't the only things that are important in dealing with stress management.  There's also that in-between part.  You know, the part where your dog is actually home alone.

Many people let their dogs have free roam of the house while they're away.  I, and many others, choose to crate my dog.   A ninety-pound dog banging himself against a door or window simply begs for a serious injury.  Crating your dog while you're away is fine as long as it's not for an extended period throughout the day.  It offers two benefits: 1) You know both your dog and your home will be safe from injury/destruction and 2) It gives your dog a security "den" that makes him feel safe.  When Bruce is in trouble, he goes straight to his crate.

Making an effort to provide your dog with comfort in your absence will help tremendously.  If you choose to crate your dog, make his crate something he can love.  Associate only good things with both your leaving and his crate.  For example, before I leave for work in the morning I prepare Bruce's crate prior to putting him in there.  I make sure he has food and water available along with his glucosamine supplements (which he WILL NOT eat unless it's in his crate).  As soon as I tell him it's time to go in his crate, he knows he also gets his treat - a raw chicken breast or drumstick - as soon as he gets in.  When he heads for his crate, he practically runs into it and excitedly waits for the treat.

In addition to all these suggestions I threw at you, here's one more:  keep your dog and your relationship with him happy and healthy.  Give him plenty of exercise, make sure his diet is good and stimulate his brain and instincts through training.  The more involved you are with your dog, the better you're able to help him cope with if not overcome separation anxiety. 

Oh and one more thing - always seek help if you feel as if nothing you're doing is working.  Don't give up on your pet.  He'd never give up on you.