The Brown Dog Blog

Cat Bite!

2012-01-26T21:45:00.000-06:00

About a month ago we brought a new couch (it had previously occupied our office at work, but didn't work in our new building) home. I was really excited, but Hannibal the cat was REALLY angry about the new couch when it was first moved in. She was hissing and running and generally acting pretty nutty. In an effort to calm her down, I went to pick her up to put her in a bedroom for a while and she freaked! She ended up biting my hand, which ended up getting infected, which ended up requiring TWO emergency room visits. The first visit resulted in a tetanus shot (OW!) and a prescription for big-ass antibiotic pills. The second visit resulted the following day from a HUGELY swollen hand that required IV antibiotics. At that visit I learned that it takes about 30 minutes to receive a course of IV antibiotics, which was very fortunate since we were having a party that evening with 20+ of our friends due over.

So, the moral of this story is don't get bit by a cat! My 3 pit bull dogs and 1 shep have never come close to causing a hospital visit!

Little Guy's New Crate

2011-11-17T22:18:00.000-06:00

I have been extremely neglectful about posting! Probert turned 6 on Halloween and everyone else is doing great! Here's a picture of Probert in his new crate that Dan magically found in the garbage on the exact same day that I was going to buy Probert a new crate! Look how much he loves it! :)

Slumbertongue

2011-09-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

Greta, sound asleep (despite all of her enthusiastic barking, she does indeed rest at times).

Bark Bark Bark

2011-08-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

The browns remain stoic and unaffected in the face of an enthusiastic barkeroni.

Really, Little Guy???

2011-08-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

Was that necessary!?

Guts

2011-07-19T09:50:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so, Greta has grown particularly picky about eating. The biggest problem with this is that when she doesn't eat, she gets sick. Out both ends. And there's sometimes blood. This is unpleasant enough for Dan and I, but has to be even worse for her. The problem could usually be solved just by making absolutely sure that she ate her meals, but I recently took her to the vet to see if there was another problem.

Come to find out that GSDs often have digestive issues and now we are in the middle of trying to diagnose hers. It could be as simple as a parasite (though none shows up in the tests) or as complicated as IBD. For now, she is taking some antibiotics and just finished her first course of dewormer, so we'll see where things go from there. I'm happy to report that she's been eating well, at least, and hasn't had any issues.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm told it's very very common in GSDs, especially!

Upsidedown Dogs

2011-06-22T09:44:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of June Probert and I taught Doga as a fundraiser for One Tail at a Time rescue in Chicago. We had an awesome time with a full class and the Fido to Go dog food truck even showed up at the end of class so the Dogis could get treat!

Here are some pictures:

Woofs

2011-05-11T23:56:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful (Dog)Mother's Day with my browns and my lovely step-woof, Greta! Here's a picture of us.

It has since then suddenly become summer in Chicago, with temperatures into the 90s! Probert has been protesting this shock to his system by exploring the cooling properties of different areas of the yard. Yesterday, he tested things out by flopping in an old wooden storage box in the corner of the yard. He is such a weirdo.

A funny thing about this is that I think this is the first time I've ever seen him actually lay down outdoors. Someone is finally becoming a dog after all this time!!

Introducing the Ladies

2011-05-01T09:15:00.000-05:00

This may sound funny, but in the nearly 1.5 years that Dan and I have been dating, we have yet to fully integrate our dog packs. Well, mostly we have avoided fully introducing Maizy and Greta, our two bossy ladies.

I had a gift certificate for some dog training and we recently used it to meet with a trainer and work on the relationship between those two and I have to say, it was very promising!

So, now we are taking them for walks and letting them in the yard together (with Maizy on a leash still) and things are going great. Greta is getting confident enough that Maizy is not annoyed and Maizy is realizing that she cannot be the boss of everyone.

What a great spring it's going to be!

Happy 6th Birthday, Wrigs!

2011-04-30T20:50:00.002-05:00

Today Wrigley turned 6 years old! I can't believe he's lived with me for over 5.5 years. He's such a wonderful, joyful pup. Happy birthday, Wrigley Beans.

Home Sweet Home

2011-04-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

Well! I have really neglected to update since the last time I posted, I was headed off to Japan! As it turned out, our flight landed in Japan exactly one minute before the earthquake occurred. We were taxi-ing along the runway when the plane began to rock severely. The long and the short of the whole story is that Narita Airport was closed so they couldn't get us through customs and after a 14 hour flight from the US they then kept us on the plane for about another 10 hours on the ground before we could file into the airport where we then spent the night sleeping on the floor among thousands of others. After a long ordeal, we finally made it to our hotel and were able to see some of Tokyo, but the city was not itself. We really loved Japan, though, and I hope we can go back again sometime!

During all of that, the dogs were well taken care of back at home! They loved staying at Canine Crews in Chicago and made these paw paintings for St Patrick's Day.

They were thrilled with life when I picked them up and spent the next 24 hours sleeping like logs. I can tell that they were having a great time! They already have another appointment to stay at Canine Crews in a week when I am in LA (where I will hopefully not encounter any earthquakes).

Vacation!

2011-03-07T23:14:00.000-06:00

Well, in just a few short days I am off to Japan on what I think is a very well-deserved vacation! The dogs will be on vacation, too, on their first ever trip to a boarding facility. I put a lot of care into choosing a place for them and I am optimistic that everything will work out well in my absence. Nervous, but optimistic. It will be really good for all of us, I think, since I have never boarded them and need to lighten up and it will be a good "out in the world" experience for the browns. Cutting the cord... I will report back on how everyone does.

Last week at Doga Maizy was such a pill that this week I put in an untested rookie. Probert was up to the challenge and made a LOVELY Doga companion. He taught a wonderful class and he just might be my new Doga co-teacher.

My boyfriend brought over this poster for Probert this weekend and hung it above his crate. Probert came in from playing outside to see it for the first time, walked straight into his crate and stood there staring at it. I think he likes it!

Last week was my friend Flo's birthday and we surprised her with this photo (which was a huge pain in the butt, let me tell you!). ;)

SnOMG!

2011-02-02T19:36:00.004-06:00

We woke up this morning to a drift of snow taller than all three browns, including Maizy, which is really something! Fortunately, Wrigley was there to plow ahead and lead the other dogs in a single line around the yard until they found a place where the snow was low enough to do their business.

Later in the day, we went out again to try to shovel our way to the garage. It was no easy feat as most of the snow had drifted to that side of the yard, but I finally got the walkway shoveled out.

Maizy and Wrigley helped by eating what snow they could. Probert helped by getting a ton of snow stuck inside his new hat (which may not be the answer for snowy weather).

Judging by the huge pile of snow at the end of our alley, which has been either plowed from the street or deposited by those neighbors digging out their cars, I will not be getting out of here anytime soon. We'll see what tomorrow holds!

Snowpocalypse!

2011-02-01T21:34:00.003-06:00

We are in the middle of a THUNDERSNOW here in Chicago and it is windy and snowy as all get out. I am about to take the dogs out for their final potty of the night and hope that none of us blow away. Earlier, about 40 minutes into our blizzard watch, we went outside and I took these photos. It now sounds much worse outside than it was when these were taken!

Check out Probert's new JAFCO flexible vinyl "hat." We've only had it two days, so we'll keep using it before reporting back on it's functionality.

Probert's "Hat"

2011-01-26T23:08:00.005-06:00

I have neglected to post about my decision to start muzzling Probert when he is with "the pack" because so many people react so negatively to it, but I'm ready so here it is. I have posted a few photos of Probert in his "hat" (we don't use the "m" word) on my personal Facebook page and have gotten some very mixed reactions. I understand that it is sometimes difficult to see a dog in a muzzle because it makes them "look mean" or for any other reason. For the first month after I bought Probert's muzzle, I couldn't even put it on him for any amount of time, but I finally dove in and now I am very used to seeing it on him and know that underneath, he is still my sweet little guy.

Probert has a history of redirecting in stressful situations (in the yard, something outside the fence usually) and biting Wrigley. He has done Wrigley some serious damage and in the interest of preventing that from happening (on the occasion when it does happen) and also in not isolating Probert from the pack, I bought him a muzzle. Since buying it several months ago, there have been two incidents when it has prevented him from doing any damage when attempting to bite Wrigley and the rest of the time, it allows him to interact with the pack like a normal dog and without my worrying about what "could" happen - so it's doing its job.

So, despite the "scary" exterior appearance of the muzzle, I have to say that it's one of the better decisions I have made for the health and happiness of all of my dogs. In the interest of looking a little less "scary" (and preventing further wall-gouging and painful leg-bashing from the heavy metal one) I just ordered Probert a new JAFCO clear flexi vinyl muzzle, so we'll see how that one works when it gets here. If anyone is interested, I will be happy to report back! In the meantime, please don't be too quick to judge a dog (or his person) by his hat!

The Old Lady Gains A Year

2011-01-17T20:42:00.002-06:00

The matriarch of the brown dog pack got another year older on Saturday! Maizy Anne is now seven years old! Even with an arthritic hind end, she is LOVING our Chicago weather and is showing up the younger dogs racing around the backyard like she's got springs in her paws!

Visitors

2010-12-15T14:18:00.004-06:00

Her daddy is out of town this week, so Miss Addison Mae is back in brown dog land! Unfortunately, the browns were not too excited at all to see her and Wrigley even HID! She is doing great, though, and I was happy to see her after a month of her being away. The first night I couldn't remember how I did everything with so many dogs, but now I'm back in the swing of things and everything is going smoothly. She leaves again on Friday, so I am enjoying our time together while it lasts.

In other news, my neighbor is also a yoga student of mine and heard me talking about Maizy's work at the library (which she hasn't been doing since her tail amputation several months ago because it took her so long to heal from that surgery) and asked if she could stop by with her kids someday. I said sure and yesterday she stopped over with the kids who read to Maizy, petted Hannibal the cat, and were licked by Probert (who is crated in the living room until Addison's departure because they stress each other out). Maizy was ecstatic to have visitors who were paying attention to her and after only a half-hour visit, she spent the rest of the day in recovery sleeping. Some "nanny dog"! Hehe. Probert was less enthusiastic, but was very tolerant and observant. He is not so used to children, but I thought he did great. Only one growl when the kids were getting too crazy by his crate, but he is entitled to give warnings if he doesn't like something. Wrigley did not come visit because he would have steamrolled those poor children with his boisterous enthusiasm for all things. :D

In closing, here is an updated photo of all three browns. Do you know who is who?

Pinuping

2010-12-15T14:02:00.003-06:00

This past Sunday was a great Chicago fundraiser for Pinups for Pitbulls, a Holiday Market that I organized. I was really proud of the event, despite the fact that nature did NOT cooperate and it was blizzarding! The event was featured, along with my photo, in Time Out Chicago and we had a whole lot of really great vendors and rescues join us at Anything is Pawsible, the training facility where both Addy and Probert have been trained!

Overall, despite the weather, the event was a success and we raised around $2500 for the pups!

And I got to wear a Santa dress...

And our fellow brown dog, Fifty the two-legged pittie was there!

The event went so well that I'm already thinking we might do it again next year!!!

This Sunday Sunday Sunday!

2010-12-08T15:12:00.002-06:00

On Facebook.

Back to Basics

2010-11-02T21:12:00.001-05:00

There is happy news and sad news here in Brown Dog Land. The happy news is that everyone is doing great and things are going really well. The sad news is that Addy is doing great in a new home! Last night she left to move in with her dad (my ex) and will be living with him full time now. I was sad to see her go, but when I saw how happy she was to see him walk in the door to pick her up, I knew it was definitely the right decision! She is going to be a happy and spoiled only pup and I know it's going to work out great.

So, over here, it's back to all brown dogs all the time and I get to stop the crate/rotate routine. In the end, I still couldn't be happier.

Doga for Life

2010-09-28T15:58:00.005-05:00

Just a note since I think someone requested advance warning, but if you are in the Chicagoland area, Maizy and I will be teaching Doga for free THIS Sunday, October 3rd at the Bark for Life North Shore walk and fundraiser event! We are teaching from 12:30-1:00, so catch us while you can!

If you are interested in knowing about upcoming Doga events, you can sign up for my email updates at www.nicolesopko.com (you will also get information about yoga events, but I send out updates once a month only unless something special comes up so it will not overwhelm your inbox).

Bonus: Picture of Maizy driving home from our big day on Sunday which involved participating in the Chicago PAWS walk and then going to clean out the boyfriend's garage! I thought she looked very cute the way she was sleeping and you can see that we were transporting home her new crate floor!

Crates and Crafts

2010-09-27T21:09:00.008-05:00

So, I don't know if any of you have had the same experience, but those plastic crate pans that come with most brands of crate really stink! About two years ago, I replaced Maizy's (for around $60-70) and once again last month, it had broken. It didn't make sense to spend more money on a crate pan, so she was existing without for a few weeks while I figured out what to do. I considered trying to find the right size of metal crate pan or make some kind of metal floor for her, but I soon realized that it wasn't the best solution. Add to the situation that Maizy is a massive chewer and that I was buying her new blankets from the thrift store every few weeks, and I decided that the solution to our crate floor situation had to be dual-purposed.

After some discussion with my brilliant boyfriend, we came up with a plan. And so, this past weekend we cut down a piece of plywood (with the aid of a neighbor who couldn't bear to see me using the manual version, and rushed over with his electric saw in order to do the cut for me quicker than his estimated "three seconds"), dug a scrap of carpet from the depths of the boyfriend's basement, and created a masterpiece!

Tada!

I present to you: Maizy's shiny new carpeted floor. This was a simple and cheap solution (we already had all of the materials laying around) and is working out beautifully so far! And Maizy is very happy with the results as her initial reaction to her new floor was to hunch up into "resource guarding" posture lest one of the other dogs even THINK about relaxing on HER new carpeted board!

This obviously isn't a good solution for a dog that has regular accidents in their crate (Addison!) or who has a sensitive stomach that can lead to barfing (Wrigley!), but this is the perfect solution for all of Maizy's issues. If it isn't, I don't know that yet, but will keep you updated in the following weeks to see if there are any major issues with her carpeted floor.

I've also included one bonus photo, which includes all four pups in their crates with the doors shut and their dinners sitting in front of them waiting VERY patiently to be given the "okay" before diving in. They are such well-beahaved sweetstuffs (sometimes).

Doga! Doga! Doga!

2010-08-30T16:34:00.005-05:00

A few months ago, I received an email inviting Maizy and I to come teach Doga at Chicago's 2nd annual Dog Day on the Green event to be held at Montrose Harbor. I was so excited and happily agreed. Well, the event was yesterday and we had a blast! Here are some pictures:

On the way there, Maizy was enjoying our beautiful (and hot!) end-of-summer Chicago weather.

Teaching some Doga to the people and dogs willing to brave the hot sun in front of the stage.

Meeting John Garcia from Best Friends' Dog Town in Utah! We really loved talking to him.

Maizy was being a hilarious priss about using any of the communal dog bowls provided at the event, but it was hot so I knew she was thirsty. So, we stopped by this conveniently-placed drinking fountain which she took right to (with some help from mom).

Belated Happy Two Birthdays!

2010-07-28T16:40:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday was Addison's SECOND birthday! Already! She is clearly the baby of the pack, but is such a little spitfire. She drives me nuts all the time, but of course I love her!

Sweet Bean

2010-07-13T14:27:00.006-05:00

The universe is certainly mysterious and I'm not sure what I'm being told here, but since losing my full-time job and becoming a single parent, there sure has been a rash of dog injuries around here!

The most recent is a luxating patella (dislocated kneecap) which presented itself a few weeks ago in Mr. Wrigley Beans. At the time, I didn't know what it was and decided to keep an eye on his limp to see if it went away since there was no sense in rushing off to the vet if he was going to walk it off in a few days. However, he didn't get better, and it was time to see the vet!

I can't even tell you what a treat our vet visit was with the addition of one xanax to Wriggles. He had a few barking incidents, but he was the calm, happy dog that I knew he could be! Unfortunately, the vet had bad news for us when she diagnosed his knee issue. Pre-surgical bloodwork was done and we were referred to a specialist for the surgery.

Fortunately for us, the surgeon was willing to do the consult, x-rays, and surgery all in one day, which cut down on the travel, trauma, and overall expense. Wrigley was taken in last Friday, the diagnosis was confirmed (grade 3 luxation), and I left him for surgery. Surgery didn't happen quite as quickly as planned when there were two emergencies that popped up in front of him, but his surgery was completed Friday and I was told he was doing fine.

On Saturday, I called to confirm my ability to pick up Wrigley in the early afternoon only to be met with the information that Wrigley had experienced an adverse reaction to the morphine given during surgery and that he would require an extra day in the hospital. The medication had affected his spinal cord which was causing him trouble with his balance. I was worried, but the doctor assured me that this would have no long-term affects and that I could pick him up Sunday.

Sunday morning I showed up with my crew, paid the bill, and picked up my sweet Wriggles! He experienced a lot of bruising as a result of the surgery, but was looking happy to see us and even barked out the car windows like normal. He was also very swollen, poor guy.

It is only Tuesday now, but he is looking better all the time and the only major challenge that we are having is his intense resistance to getting his temperature taken (which needs to happen twice a day to check for infection). He has started putting his foot down and putting a little weight on it when he is outside int he grass and I know that he will keep getting better! Here is a picture from last night while he enjoyed a treat after cooperating (somewhat) with temperature taking.

So it's so far, so good for us! Please keep Wrigley in your thoughts as he continues to heal and get stronger! I can't wait for him to be able to try out his shiny new knee in a few months!

2010-06-11T09:03:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! Well, last month was a very busy month, so excuse my absence from the blog once again! All is well here with the pups. Maizy's tail is healing up well and Probert, who decided to follow suit with a more minor (non-surgical) tail wound of his own is also healing his tail. I am just not sure what is with those dogs, but the two of them are now referred to as the "tail twins" on most occasions.

Wrigley and Addison are also doing well. My boyfriend recently scored a whole messload of athletic balls from a trash pile and the dogs have been loving the unending supply of basketballs and footballs that appear from the garage every time an old ball is killed. It's adorable. And a cheap source of entertainment for sure!

Lamp Dog

2010-05-11T16:01:00.003-05:00

Well, vet season continued last week with vet visits for Maizy, Probert, and Addy. The last two pups are doing great, but Miss Maizy had a big problem! Under her fur, we discovered a hidden mystery wound on her tail that she had not let me know about it any way and which had apparently been there for a while, causing the end of her tail to die!!! I spent the next several days trying to get her to leave her (now shaved) tail alone until she could have a surgery to amputate the damaged end. This was not easy.

Her surgery yesterday went amazingly well and she is doing great, with the exception of one thing - the CONE. She is a big dog and needs a 30" cone to prevent her from reaching her tail. She is also a terrible navigator and has been banging and tripping all over the house. She hasn't even been home 24 hours and the cone has become dented and mangled. We have 10 days total until her stitches can be removed and I hope we all survive.

Check out this great new lamp! It goes so good with my Eames rocker.

Wrigley Turns Five!

2010-05-03T13:20:00.002-05:00

Wrigley had a momentous week last week. During our visit to the vet on Thursday, we learned that he has lost 10 lbs since the fall, which is great! He still has a few more to go, but he is on his way to being a lean, cuddly, licking machine!

On Friday, Wrigley turned five! He is such a handsome little guy I couldn't resist a few birthday portraits.

Gas

2010-04-22T22:27:00.002-05:00

In recent months, I have made many changes to the house that I now share with my revised family of 4 dogs and 2 cats. No other people live with me, so I have had lots of freedom to move things around as they suit me (and my furry friends). Additionally, I was laid off from my full time job in January, so I also have lots of time to make these changes. The house isn't done, but has been majorly transformed in the past few months, that's for sure!

One of the changes has been moving the pups to the basement and starting to convert it to a "dog room." The basement is heated and is very comfortable and they all seem happy there, a bit more secluded from the outside noises that sometimes disturb them. They are still allowed into the main house, but their crates are in the dog room. It's working out really well and gives them more space than they had previously in my bedroom or the second bedroom.

So I was concerned one night a few months ago when I heard the basement carbon monoxide detector blaring in the middle of the night. It is so loud and I worried about the pups and raced downstairs. I got there to see that the "gas" indicator on the detector was lit, but I didn't smell any natural gas. What I did smell was poop. Dog poop. And it was located in Wrigley's crate. Poor Wrigley. Guess that carbon monoxide detector is good for multiple things, eh?

Springtime!

2010-04-16T11:24:00.003-05:00

The magnolia tree in the backyard is blooming and the days here in Chicago have gotten so beautiful! The "little dogs" (Probert and Addy) are getting daily walks now and the "big dogs" (Maizy and Wrigley) are spending lots of time in the backyard while I lounge in the hammock. I was in Texas for a week, so it was nice to come back to similar temperatures here at home! Also, I missed my pups! Here are some portraits from yesterday:

Here is Addy on our walk today. She has taken to carrying her pink kong on every single walk that we go on, which is totally cute and charms the heck out of me (and some others).

This is Probert's move on a walk when he wants to sniff something and doesn't want me to drag him along. It is both totally cute and annoying to watch him army-crawl through yards taking in all of the sniffs and totally slowing down the pace.
Yesterday I was finally able to pick up a refill of Maizy's new meds and so she is back to feeling great! She had run out right before I left for Texas and her doctor hadn't written the prescription yet, but we got a donated bottle of the name brand as well as a written prescription for the generic (which is like $7 a month compared to over $50). Very exciting.
Wrigley still refuses to pay attention when I am trying to take a picture of him outdoors. There are SO MANY THINGS to be vigilant of, and he does not disappoint.

Stifles

2010-03-28T22:20:00.004-05:00

So, a few weeks ago, I took Maizy in to see yet another orthopaedic specialist about her unusual gait and knee issues. After leaving her there for the day, he determined that she does have one partially and one fully torn ACL in her knees. The surgery that he could do would not repair the tears, but would only shave down the bones to try to slow the progression of the related arthritis. However, his statement to me that she would always have a "high degree" of lameness has put me off of doing the surgery. It just doesn't seem right to me to put her through surgery, rest, recovery, and then another surgery (opposite knee) with more rest and recovery. So, instead, I opted to try her on an NSAID for the arthritis to see if that would help. And what do you know, she's like a new dog! Bouncing around like a puppy and happy as can be. So, I've contacted her regular vet about getting a prescription (the generic "human" variety is cheaper than the branded "dog" version... same medication, less dollars) and I will keep her on that. I know so many people who have had good results with ACL surgeries with their dogs, but I just don't think it's the right thing to do for Maizy when there's so little chance that it will help her enough to be worth the process. Being a dog parent is fully of so many hard decisions!!

P.S. The picture above is from a few weeks ago when Maizy and I led a Doga (yoga for you and your dog!) class at Best Friends All for Doggies in Chicago with all proceeds going to One Tail at a Time rescue!!!

Precision Fetching

2010-03-02T20:58:00.001-06:00

As demonstrated by Addison. Do not try this at home. :)

And Then...

2010-02-24T08:02:00.002-06:00

Here's what happens when Wrigley tires out and Greta still wants him to play!

Wrigley + Greta = Love

2010-02-22T13:22:00.001-06:00

Here is a vide of Wrigley and his new best friend, Greta.

A Real Live Update

2010-02-04T18:48:00.003-06:00

Hi friends, we hope that you are all doing well. Things have been crazy and busy for us here, which is really no excuse for not updating, but I'm using it anyway. The dogs are all doing well and I am adjusting to being a full-time single dog (and cat) mom. It helps (I guess?) that I was also laid off from my full-time job and now have a lot of free time to spend with the pups! At least for the time being.

Anyway, here are some pictures that I neglected to share from recent months...

Here is Miss Maizy A in November after a day of vet procedures. She is FINE, but was feeling a little beat up when she came home. The no-bite collar was not popular.

In December, we had a lovely last-minute Christmas tree that was enjoyed (and not destroyed!) by all of the pets. Our first full-sized Christmas tree. It was a wonderful holiday. That is Justice admiring the tree.

Here are two recent pictures from last week. Maizy and Probert enjoying a delicious pear and Addy hunting for lost treasures under the love seat with a guest appearance from Wrigley's butt.

Also, we have had a very special new addition to the pack as of late, Greta! Greta is a three-year old GSD/mystery mix dog who belongs to my boyfriend (!) and comes to visit often. Her and Wrigley have really hit it off and I have some adorable videos of the two of them that I will share soon. So now we are a five-dog pack on some days! It's a full house, but we couldn't be having more fun.

Goodbye, Demo

2010-01-25T10:43:00.003-06:00

Demo, the real-life junkyard rescue who inspired the book Demo: Story of a Junkyard Dog has passed away. Click the link to read the touching blog entry written by Demo's long-time companion.

Success!

2009-12-08T11:10:00.002-06:00

Had another successful Pinups for Pitbulls fundraiser in the Chicagoland area this weekend at Natural Pet Market in Wheaton, IL. Tracy, the owner of Natural Pet Market, is a fellow calendar girl and the event was so much fun! It was attended with adorable adoptables from Bombshell Bullies and food was provided by Upton's Naturals.

My favorite adoptable bully was a little guy named Cookie Monster. If you are in the "market" for a new pup, definitely contact Bombshell Bullies about him. He is a GREAT dog. Totally loveable and well-behaved.

But the BEST part of the whole event was when Tracy contacted me later that night to let me know that we'd raised $1000!! That brings the grand total for Chicago fundraisers to $3300 this year so far! We owe so much to the great support we've gotten here and all of the awesome companies who have donated their time, products, and money. We're really fortunate. Thank you, from the pups! :)

Wrigley Beans, International Superstar

2009-12-07T15:46:00.003-06:00

The other day, a mysterious envelope arrived in the mail addressed to "Mr. Wrigley 'Beans' Hopman." I was puzzled for a moment, but then realized right away that it must be fan mail from Wrigley's self-proclaimed biggest fan!!

And just check out how happy he was! Wrigley is typically the dog that doesn't insist on being paid attention to the way the other dogs do, so he sometimes fades into the background. But for a few minutes, it was all about him!

In unrelated news, I feel like I should mention that the Brown Dog Dad and I have split up and he will be moving out this week. I say this only because I might mention it in a later post and forget that I haven't said anything previously, so there it is. I will be staying in our house with all of the brown dogs (and Addy!) for the foreseeable future! Their lives will remain pretty much as-is, though I am thinking about turning the basement into a doggie playroom and also moving all of their crates into the second bedroom so they're not all watching me when I sleep. But yes, the same other than that!

Frankenbutt

2009-12-04T22:00:00.004-06:00

Hi friends! Sorry for our horrific lack of updating lately, but we will get to that in a future post maybe.

So in the last post, I mentioned Probert's vet visit. Well, sometime last week, I got a phone message from the vet saying that Probert's blood test is great, but that she needs to talk to me about the lump on his back. I spent all day trying not to freak out, but unable to speak with her because she was in appointments. Finally, around 4pm, she calls and tells me that the aspiration of Probert's lump showed a suspicious amount of spindle cells and that to be safe, it should come off soon.

I called a friend, who immediately googled and read me this page about Canine Spindle Cell Sarcoma, which would likely be what Probert has.

Probert's surgery along with his dental cleaning was scheduled for the 15th of December until this weekend when he managed to somehow break a tooth! The tooth was badly broken and so with the help of the vet, I was able to move his surgery date up to this past Wednesday. On Wednesday they cleaned his teeth, removed the broken tooth, and also removed his tumor.

It was a hard day and when I finally got to pick him up, the tech checking me out warned me before I saw him that the incision was very big because they needed to take out a wide margin around the tumor to be sure they got "everything" in case it was cancer.

So, it's a couple of days later and Probert is doing pretty well and I am just so happy to have him home and alive and hopefully cancer-free. We will find out next week about the biopsy results, but everything I've read and heard has told me that even if it is cancer, this is typically a very localized type and that he should be fine. Please keep him in your thoughts. I just want him to heal well and be okay.

That's been part of our adventures lately! I hope that you are all doing better and that we will catch up with you all soon!

2009-11-20T11:16:00.002-06:00

Hello to all of our two-legged, three-legged, and four-legged friends (and anyone we missed)! A few weeks ago, my computer broke and then I went out of town for a week, so I haven't been able to update the blog. As it is, I still haven't set up my newly repaired computer so that I can get the photos off my camera, but that is coming. You will have to settle for words for now.

The pups are doing great. It is "vet season" I guess because in the past two months Wrigley, Maizy, and Probert have all been in to see the vet for their necessary yearly visits. Wrigley's visit was mostly uneventful minus the news that he is overweight. Since he is getting the same level of exercise as the ideally-weighted Addy, Maizy, and Probert, our only choice was to cut his food down. Poor Wrigley. Though, having been away from him for nearly a week last week, when I saw him again with "fresh" eyes he looked thinner to me! I guess we'll see how he does!

Maizy's visit was exciting in that she required a tooth cleaning, x-rays (to take to a new ortho doc), had an ear infection, and had a little arm scab that she kept tearing open. She came home from her tooth cleaning appointment in a No-Bite collar limping from hip manipulation and having lost a tooth that just fell out during the dental! Only six years old and she is falling apart! She is an angel about her ear medicine, though, and her arm healed after a few days in the collar (which she hated. a lot).

Probert's visit last night was good. The doctor took blood in order to test his liver as she thinks he will be on his medication long-term and wants to be sure it's not affecting his liver. He also needs his teeth cleaned, so I will be scheduling a dental for him soon. He also had a little mass aspirated and we'll find out what that was. Luckily, everything else is great, so we got out of there relatively unscathed!

Addy doesn't see the vet until April, so she is plenty happy about that!

Funds Raised!

2009-11-09T11:28:00.003-06:00

Thanks everyone for your support with all of the work I've been doing with Pinups for Pitbulls. Well, the event on Friday went off without a hitch! Here are a few pictures (no pups, sorry!). At the end of the evening (or really, the next morning, since I got home at about 4:30am), we had raised over $2000 for the bullies! Thanks to anyone who helped promote or came out! It is much appreciated. Look for our family-friendly fundraiser coming up in December in Wheaton.

Me and Tracy, my partner in pit bull fundraising (with the Brown Dog Dad in the back).

All set up for the midnight raffle (there was a second at 3am).

A packed bar and smiling faces. Good signs.

One of my favorite merch items that we have... the Pinup for Pitbulls tote bag.

Gutted

2009-11-06T11:04:00.005-06:00

So, in working on planning tonight's (!!!) Pinups for Pitbulls fundraiser here in Chicago, I have been in touch with a few GREAT bully-friendly local rescues. I am so inspired by all of the hard work that they are doing, and at the same time, I am being heartbroken constantly thinking about the hard lives that so many animals have. There is no way to not wish I could do more.

At the event, there will be photos and descriptions to promote dogs from both One Tail At A Time and Making A Difference Rescue who are in need of sponsorship or foster/forever homes. One of the dogs that really touched me from Making a Difference is Hero. He was found by a woman in her yard, collapsed. She thought he was dead. Once he was picked up, an email was sent out from Animal Control to the director of Making a Difference with only two words, "Help me." And so, we are all trying to find Hero the home that he deserves.

Yesterday, I also received an unexpected email from a caregiver at PAWS Chicago asking if we could promote another dog at our event. Red is already famous in Chicago for attempting to protect his elderly owner during a home invasion. During the course of the attack, Red was shot and paralyzed. His owner sadly could not physically give Red the care that he now needs and Red is in search of a home to live out the rest of his days. I really hope we can help him.

Please think of these dogs... send them your good thoughts. We are hoping to help some of them out tonight, even if it's just by reminding people that there are so many dogs out there that need our compassion and love.

Playing Dress Up

2009-10-31T16:20:00.007-05:00

So, once again this year we participated with Pinups for Pitbulls and submitted a photo for the 2010 calendar. Out of the almost 100 submissions, we were NOT chosen to have our own month in the calendar, but our picture will appear on a page in the back. Oh well. Enjoy anyway!

The photo was a huge collaborative effort in tribute to the Elvgren pinup painting, Station WOW. I can't tell you how much fun this shoot was. Everyone who worked on it was great. The photographer, Chris Zibutis is awesome and was assisted by his lovely wife, Monica Zibutis as well as their friend Robyn Martin. The hair and makeup was all done by my sister-in-law, Jenna Hopman. The dog-wrangling and general pup supervision was handled by my husband, Shawn Hopman. We shot at the yoga studio where I teach thanks to the kind owners. The pup models were your friends, Addy and Probert. As you can see, Probert is an old pro at this looking adorable on film thing by now!

Guess who has 4 birthdays!?

2009-10-30T14:36:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is Probert's four birthday! I haven't decided how we will celebrate, any suggestions?

Here is a picture of Probert from when he was first adopted. The toy is his Ellie that he brought with him from the rescue. Um, until Wrigley de-stuffed Ellie. RIP, Ellie.

Probert's Dog

2009-10-27T10:54:00.004-05:00

I think I posted before about Probert's problem with coming out of his crate. Every single time he came out of his crate, he had to steal something or have something in his mouth. He would grab laundry, socks, shoes, toys, try to pull the blankets out of the other dogs' crates, etc. So we have remedied this problem by consistently handing him something when he comes out of his crate, so he can just go downstairs without the obsessive "finding something" game he had to play previously. Most of the time now he happily takes his no-eyed, no-nosed, one-eared dog and races downstairs with him. Clearly, he is a well-loved stuffed dog.

In other Probert news, yesterday I threw a ball and he fetched it! I don't think I've ever seen him pick up a ball in his life. Previously he would chase them while they bounced and rolled and then not know what to do after that, but yesterday he picked it up and carried it to a new location! It sounds stupid, but when the Brown Dog Dad came home I showed him and he was equally amazed. Probert might be a dog, afterall!

Howl-O-Ween

2009-10-25T21:58:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Addy and I went out to Tracy's store, Natural Pet Market in Wheaton, IL for the annual Howl-O-Ween party. Addy did not really dress up for the party, but for my own amusement at home, I dressed her as Tupac. Picture her rollin'.

She also whipped out her adorable high-five trick and won the trick contest! Now we get to go back to Natural Pet Market with a $25 gift certificate! Wooo!

Busy Busy

2009-10-22T15:24:00.002-05:00

Well, things have been so busy over here getting ready for the Pinups for Pitbulls fundraiser in Chicago that I haven't been taking many pup pictures or finding time to update. Sorry about that! Hope to be back to catch up with you all soon! :)

Working and Training

2009-10-14T09:32:00.002-05:00

This weekend was an eventful one for the pups. On Saturday, Maizy made her glorious return to therapy dogging by working at the local library again. We had 4 kids signed up to read to her and she was so so so good. I had bought an extra copy of Demo and brought that along to donate to the library in Maizy's name, so hopefully she will be hearing that story soon! On Saturday we heard part of a Goosebumps story about worms, and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back read by siblings. We also heard Hooray for Fly Guy! about a fly who plays football. The last one was read by a grandmother because the child was disabled and could not read. He did like dogs, though, and he REALLY liked football! Maizy was an angel the whole time we were at the library, so I was proud of her. She was especially adorable while resting her head in a little girl's lap and looking up at her as she read. She is a nice dog.

On Sunday, Probert had his first ever day of school! I took him over for a private session with our favorite trainer, Rendy from Anything is Pawsible. Professional training is part of the program laid out to manage Probert's anxiety by his vet and our session was really productive! We worked on desensitizing him to the Halti, staying with distractions, saying hello, and got a lot of great tips about how to manage some of his more difficult behaviors. Probert warmed right up to Rendy, which was adorable. It was interesting to me to notice how when she tried to get him to play with a toy, he would get excited about her excitement, but not know what she expected him to do with a ball or a rope. Sometimes at home he will pick up a toy and carry it for a second, but he always drops it. He doesn't really understand how to play. I get so used to it, but to be reminded of it is so sad. Then again, I have to remember that this is the same dog who used to move as far away as possible and then flatten himself to the ground every time a car drove by while we were on walks and I know that he has come so far. There's still more work to do, but he can definitely do it.

So, we have a lot to work on and so far, the work at home has been going well. Probert is a smart little dog. I also had some good conversation with Rendy about our decision to medicate Probert which reinforces that we did the right thing. Looking at him now as compared to pre-medication, I could not be happier with our decision. The medication has clearly freed up some space in his mind to work on being a dog without the incessent anxiety and fear. And as Rendy said, "You clearly have not turned this dog into a coffee table." :)

Here is a video of one of Probert's favorite "games," and probably the only one he has figured out how to play. I like it because you can hear all of his snuffling to find the treats. This game is called "Find It" and I throw little treats into the rug for Probert and Maizy to find (they do this well together and the competition keeps them working, but I wouldn't do this with a dog who resource guards from other dogs). The rug hides them enough that they use their noses more than their eyes. They didn't get this game at first, so I contained it to one side of the rug, then expanded slowly. Now we can play this game on the big living room rug or I can start to move treats off the rug into other parts of the kitchen (you'll see in the video that one rolls away and Maizy digs it out from under the counter). This method of slow expansion has worked well to make sure that everyone "gets" what the goal is. Let me know if there are other variations that you play with your dog!

Poor Addy

2009-10-05T22:42:00.002-05:00

Poor baby Addison has a poufy face tonight for some unknown reason. We gave her an antihistamine to see if it will clear up by the morning. She looks so uncomfortable. I hope the medicine helps! Send her good thoughts!

Safety Maizy

2009-10-04T09:09:00.004-05:00

Yesterday while out and about, Maizy and I stopped and bought her a shiny new dog seat belt for the car. (We also went to Natural Pet Market in Wheaton, which Maizy LOVED and which is owned by friend to pit bulls, Tracy!)

(Yeah, you never want to have to ride in my back seat... it is dog hair city.)

Maizy and Friends

2009-10-02T09:24:00.003-05:00

Two pictures from this week:

Maizy and Probert smelling the fall air.

Maizy and Justice both looking nervous about being so close to each other. To be fair, Maizy has the most to worry about because Justice is always the one attacking her. She always acts like a lady.

We Made It!

2009-09-28T10:25:00.005-05:00

The Pinups for Pitbulls Team: Michele with Frankie, Jesse, Nicole with Addy and Maizy, Trish, and Gina.

The Chicago PAWS Walk For Their Lives yesterday was a great time! Everyone returned from last year, plus a few new additions, so we had a great group (all ladies, by the way)! This year I had started a "team" for Pinups for Pitbulls and we raised over $1000 between us, beating our goal.

The weather was beautiful for the end of September in Chicago, so no complaints there. The walk was long and we took many breaks because of our little fwee wegged friend, Addy, who was worn out by all the walking. She refused to be carried very far or to ride in a stroller (we tried!), so we walked at her pace. Jesse quite nimbly handed out Pinups for Pitbulls fliers to people walking with pit bulls (we had a fun time trying to spot the pitties). By the time we got back the the finish line, they had disassembled it and there was no one there to cheer for our accomplishment. Boo.

The walk had about 4,000 participants this year and I think the money raised was in the neighborhood of $250,000! Great news!

We didn't hang around too long, but we did have to go to the doggie massage tent so that Maizy, Addy, and Frankie could get a well-deserved massage. Also, Maizy spent some time playing in the water (which was meant for drinking). This video I took cracks me up. Look at how wet Addy is from her unexpected splashing.

On the way home, we made a well-deserved stop at Fritz Pastry which I cannot recommend enough if you are in Chicago. The food they make is delicious and some of their items are even vegan (ask for which items are vegan, but I recommend the coffee cake or the blueberry muffin). They also have a great little outdoor deck that is perfect for tired doggies.

Addy Loves Tug

2009-09-25T20:51:00.000-05:00

Addy couldn't stand it that the Brown Dog Dad was not trying to get her toy, so she kept putting it in his hand so he would tug it. :)

A Busy Week

2009-09-24T10:14:00.003-05:00

It is a busy week for us this week in terms of anniversaries. Yesterday was both Justice kitty's (guesstimated) birthday as well as the 3rd anniversary of Probert's Gotcha Day! And today is the 4th anniversary of Wrigley's Gotcha Day! Glad to have them all in the pack and I am reminded every day of how much I love their furry butts.

Puppy Wrigley.

Puppy Probert.

A recent picture of how I can often be sitting while working on the computer: knees up, Justice sandwiched happily in my lap.

And Another Sad Story in the Media

2009-09-24T09:34:00.005-05:00

Yesterday the story broke of a bust on a dog fighting ring (ran out of the same home as a licensed day care) in Maywood, which is not so very far from where we live. It is always harder when these things happen close to home. The original article was illustrated with a "vicious dog fighting" graphic which has been replaced with some photos, but really bothered me and definitely distracted from the issue at hand. Can we get a "vicious humans" graphic, please? I have read a lot of dog fighting stories in the media and this is maybe one of the worst as far as the descriptions of the conditions of the dogs who were found, so I recommend that you read at your own risk.

This morning I read the updated story, which is illustrated with a painfully adorable picture of the Cook County Sheriff holding a 4-week-old white pit bull puppy that could melt any heart. Seriously, adorable.

A few things really struck me about this story:
1) The majority of the comments (as far as I read) have been surprisingly positive in terms of not bashing the breed. I don't know how people could read a story like this and still blame the dogs. These conditions are not fit for anyone and it is no wonder that these dogs may not be happy to see people. They are AFRAID.
2) The comment in the story of one of the neighbors that she was (understandably) afraid of these dogs and is glad that they have been removed. Okay, well now you still have to live alongside these PEOPLE and you are okay with that?
3) One of the suspects spoke to the media and is quoted as dismissing what the police have found as nothing major. Not something you see every day.
4) As the police were investigating this home, they look into the neighbors yard and see ANOTHER abused pit bull and subsequently bust that guy, too.
5) There is a law against felons owning an unaltered dog?
6) It is no wonder that people can grow up with a lack of compassion for animals when this house contained a daycare and the children were literally playing outside beside abused and mangled dogs. We need to work so hard to teach the next generation that this is not normal or right.

We will see where this story goes, but I think the public at large is definitely getting on the side of anti-dog fighting and I can only hope that this case will be another step towards ending dog fighting in our society completely.

Now go and hug your dogs.

This just in...

2009-09-21T15:13:00.005-05:00

Check out Probert and I in the local news!! Please leave a comment on the paper's website to thank them for doing a positive story about pit bulls!

Dog lover advances the cause of pit bulls

By Adam Rosen, arosen@mysuburbanlife.com
Berwyn Life
Mon Sep 21, 2009, 10:43 AM CDT

Berwyn, IL -

Nicole Hopman has always enjoyed the company of pit bulls, so much so that she has dressed up as a pin-up girl to raise money for the breed she loves.

"They’re the breed of dog that is most in need of responsible ownership,” Hopman said. “A lot of people are just getting them to fight or train the wrong way and it doesn’t help the breed at all.”

In 2007, Hopman heard from Little Darling, a pinup model and burlesque performer and creator of the “Pinups for Pit bulls” calendar, that she had seen photos of her Hopman’s pit bull and Probert wanted the dog to appear in the 2007 calendar. Hopman accepted, and was brought in the following year to appear beside her canine friend for the 2008 calendar.

This year, Hopman and Probert did a photo shoot with local photographer Chris Zibutis and submitted her best photos to the calendar.

If Hopman is one of the lucky 12 chosen, it will be her second appearance in the calendar and third for Probert.

Even if she is not included, Hopman will host a calendar release part Nov. 6 at The Exit in Chicago. However, half of the stars in the calendar will not be allowed admittance.

“There are no dogs allowed, but there will be many dog lovers there,” Hopman said.

Notable

Probert the pit bull received his name from the former Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings forward Bob Probert, who was notoriously known for his enforcer style of play. Nicole, a Red Wings fan, agreed with her husband Shawn, a Blackhawks fan, on the name.

& quotable

“For me it’s disappointing that there are people out there who are willing to exploit a dogs loyalty for profit, and it’s disappointing that someone has the capacity to be so cruel.”

Calendar preorder available

The “Pinups for Pit bulls” calendar will go on sale in early November starting with the launch party Nov. 6, but calendars can already be pre-ordered at the organizations Web site, pinupsforpitbulls.com.

More about Nicole

OTHER PETS Addy, a pit bull

HOBBIES Baking, yoga

JOB Yoga teacher in Oak Park

Happy Sunday!

2009-09-20T15:44:00.002-05:00

Addy holding the same de-footed Cuz as Maizy in the previous entry. Obviously, Addy is much littler.

Happy Saturday!

2009-09-19T20:02:00.000-05:00

Not Dead Yet

2009-09-17T14:23:00.003-05:00

Hello! Just a quick update to say hello and that we're still around and doing fine. Lots has been going on, all of which has kept me from updating the blog. I have mostly spent my time working hard on getting things organized for the Pinups for Pitbulls Calendar Release Party in November. This week Addison graduated Advanced Obedience at Anything is Pawsible, which was great. She finally learned to "stay" in a stand position and I was so proud of her. We have some work to do, definitely, but I think she has a chance of passing the CGC test in a few months maybe.

Anyway, I don't want to post a huge wall of text, so I will post again soon with pictures! Of pups!

In the News

2009-09-09T13:40:00.002-05:00

Two cool stories that I wanted to share today:

1) This story from April about "wild" dogs in Moscow who have learned to take the trains into the city center where they beg for food before taking the trains back home at night where they rest and do the same thing again the next day. This story is simultaneously adorable and sad. I want to hug all of those dogs. (Even if you don't read, at least click to look at the cute pictures.)

2) This story from today which reports on an ad that Main Line Animal Rescue in Philly has placed in Washington DC (and which will likely appear in other areas) that says that for every time Michael Vick is tackled in that region's game, 5 bags of dog food will be donated to a local shelter. The ad also encourages people to volunteer at their local shelter and perhaps spend time "hugging a homeless Pit Bull." I'm all for this. Homeless pups need hugs.

An Event!

2009-09-08T09:41:00.003-05:00

I've posted before about Pinups for Pitbulls and I think even shared the picture of Maizy, Probert, and me from the 2008 Pinups for Pitbulls calendar as well as the picture of Probert and another human model in the (first ever) 2007 calendar. Well, this year we've stepped it up a notch and not only did we submit a photo for the 2010 calendar (just wait and see which dogs made it!), but I am also organizing a fundraiser for Pinups for Pitbulls right here in Chicago!

Please pass the word on about the event and if you are in the area, it would be awesome to see you there! Also, if you have a business or know someone who does, we are currently in need of items for the raffle!

Demo the Dog

2009-09-03T09:29:00.005-05:00

Quite possibly one of the cutest things I've ever seen is this book, Demo: The Story of a Junkyard Dog. I love the idea for the story, I love the illustrations, I love the whole darn thing! Will definitely be picking up a copy and maybe a second one to donate to the local library. Speaking of the local library, Maizy goes back for her "kids reading to dogs" program in October. I think this is a story that she would not get tired of hearing!

Two Pets, One Bed

2009-09-01T09:58:00.002-05:00

Is Justice a giant cat or is Addy a small dog? Maybe a little of both.

Buddha Chai

2009-08-30T20:53:00.002-05:00

Well, unrelated to the Brown Dogs (or Addy), but I thought I would share this with you. This weekend I had some free time and decided to devote it to making a felt portrait of my friend, Flo's dog, Chai as a little Buddha. I am really happy with the way it came out. Flo thinks that the likeness is dead on, which was the goal.

I think I will definitely make more in the future. This was a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

Epic Biteyface

2009-08-28T11:57:00.003-05:00

No dogs were harmed during the events portrayed in these pictures. Addy and Wrigley are great friends, they just both like to play rough.

Farewell

2009-08-27T09:40:00.002-05:00

Rest in Peace, Sweet Jasmine.

The Little Sister

2009-08-26T10:01:00.003-05:00

While we were outside playing yesterday, I also took some pictures of my cute friend, Addy Mae! She is helpfully resurrecting all of the old toys that the brown pups had gotten bored of in recent years and giving them renewed purpose.

We Act Fast

2009-08-25T20:10:00.004-05:00

By popular demand (or rather, by the consistent demand of Wrigley's biggest fan), here are some pictures of Wrigley Beans. I am posting them in sequential order as I took them so that you can see what his normal behavior is. He is not the kind of dog that lounges around outside, oh no! For danger lurks in all directions, he must remain ever vigilant. He is only sitting because I required it of him and he was feeling like being obedient today, apparently.

Now was that a variety of emotions or what?! Worried to alarmed to concerned to suspicious... you have to admit that the guy's got some range!

Well Hello!

2009-08-25T10:53:00.004-05:00

Wow, we have been slacking on updating this past weeks! Sorry about that. I saw that some people asked how Probert is doing in his new crate and the answer is "pretty good"! There have been a few incidents where we've come home and the crate is moved (and a little bent), but overall, things in crate land seem to be better than they were. **Knock on wood.**

Nothing of particular interest has been going on. The pups have been playing, biteyfacing, walking, running, tugging, and chasing more than ever now that the weather has cooled down a little bit. In fact, Maizy was outside helping me in the garden the other day and I took this picture.

"Nope, not done yet!"

Addy has been doing well in advanced obedience classes. There is only one other dog in class this time around, which has been fantastic. Lots of space and attention for both dogs. We are still working on some of her barking, but everything seems to be going well! Last week on our way home from school, Addy and I saw a huge rainbow that went right over the Chicago Loop. I could only get a picture of half of it, but managed to get the passing El train as well as the Sears Tower.

Addy enjoyed it, too:

And since Wrigley is the only one I haven't mentioned in this entry, I should mention that Wrigley is doing good, too. He and Addy have been wrestling and biteyfacing and generally creating chaos every free second that they have together. It is both adorable and a constant tripping hazard!

Probert's New Crate

2009-08-11T09:47:00.003-05:00

Well, Probert, sweet dog that he is, finally earned himself a new crate! How, you ask? He determinedly tore open a hole in the door of the old crate big enough that he escaped through it, that's how! (He also ripped up yet another comforter. Aaaack.)

Seriously.

Sorry, the pictures are a little dark. I took them in the hall after we'd set up the new crate.

Hilariously, the new crate came with a tag on it that had a picture of a Good Dog sitting calmly in the crate. Shawn handed Probert the tag to study for proper instruction on how to be in a crate. Probert made quick work of ripping it up. RIP, Good Dog.

Now Probert and Addy both have the same crate. It seems a little sturdier than some of the others and it's a little smaller than the previous crates Probert's had. Let's hope this one holds out.

Join us!

2009-08-07T10:59:00.003-05:00

We had so much fun at last year's PAWS Chicago Run/Walk for Their Lives that we are doing it again! This year, I decided to sign up early and create our own fundraising team for Pinups for Pitbulls. So, we'll be out there representing the bullies and raising money for a great cause! If you are in the area and plan on doing the walk this year, we would LOVE it if you joined our team. You do not need to own a pit bull or anything, just be a friend, supporter, or fan! We are open to any and all members. When you go to sign up, there is an option to join an already existing team and it is easy.

If you are not in the area and would like to make a donation to help benefit Chicago's largest no-kill shelter, that would be awesome, too!

Dog Days

2009-08-05T09:02:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, Addy and I attended the Dog Day on the Green event on the lawn of Soldier Field hosted by the Chicago City Clerk's office. The event seemed to be a way to promote spay/neuter, rabies vaccinations, and overall responsible pet ownership. I was excited to see the list of rules on the event's website, as they required that dogs ben friendly, on-leash (no retractables), old enough to have all of their shots, altered, etc. Unfortunately, the rules were NOT enforced at all and there were many dogs too young to have been vaccinated, dogs off-leash (harassing other dogs, trying to steal people's food as they ate on the grass), dogs on retractable leashes (these are the worst ever unless you are walking in a field or something), unaltered dogs, obviously aggressive dogs... You name it. Overall, I'd say the experience was a fun and positive one, but I was disappointed with some of my fellow attendees.

At any rate, Addy and I had a great time. There were a lot of booths set up for local organizations as well as local pet businesses. There was an agility course that Addy tried out (and did GREAT at once she realized that CHEESE was at the end of each obsticle). We met up with one of Addy's friends, Michele, who drove Addy on her road to rescue from Iowa to Illinois. There were so many free giveaways at the event that I was glad I'd brought a backpack and when I went home, I put all of the free treats into a giant mixing bowl!

After a few hours, Addy was tired. Her one widdle front leg has to do double duty, so it gets tired easily. I carried her for a little bit and eventually she started climbing under the vendors' tablecloths to try to take a nap out of view. :) So,we said goodbye to Michele and her family and headed home. Overall, a great day!

On Monday, Addy started advanced obedience back with Rendy at Anything is Pawsible. There is only one other dog in class this round, so we get to work a little more quickly through some of the things that both dogs already know. Addy was acting up and biting at her leash and me and generally not wanting to work until Rendy got out the bitter apple spray. The look on Addy's face was priceless the first time she smelled it and the first time she forgot herself and bit the leash she couldn't spit it out fast enough. Hahahaha. Sorry, lady. No messing around allowed!

Watertime!

2009-07-31T09:10:00.003-05:00

Here is a video of Addy and Wrigley at "water time" which always immediately follows outside time. Every dog comes in from outside and instantly wants to drink a small (desalinated) ocean of water. Also, we used to have three of these dog water bowls, but two have broken thanks mostly to Wrigley's carelessness about where he is flinging his body at any given moment. So, right now we're sharing. Everyone in my house is having "wait" heavily enforced these days because I do not like being mobbed by a virtual sea of dogs for something as simple as tap water or walking through a closed door. It is not that exciting that you can't wait a second, dogs!

The Friendliest Dog in Town

2009-07-28T07:21:00.003-05:00

A friend turned me on to this video made by John Shipe for his song Pit Bull Blues. I love this song and have it on my ipod and it definitely reminds me of my pups. I had never seen the video before, though. Enjoy!

One Widdle Olds

2009-07-25T22:28:00.004-05:00

Well, I am just squeaking this entry in, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADDY MAE! According to the papers that came with her when she was adopted, Addy is one year old today! As a treat, yesterday I took her over to Sirius Cooks where we picked up some goodies and the kind ladies there gifted Addy some home made dog ice cream (which she loves, but has barely put a dent in). Last night, the whole pack (including the cats, but not including the humans) feasted on home made stew and I swear Addy flopped onto the floor of her crate after finishing in a blissful food coma.

I can't wait to see what this year has to offer Miss Addy Mae. Life is great. :)

The Great Prodini

2009-07-23T21:48:00.003-05:00

Well, the Brown Dog Dad is out of town this week at San Diego Comic Con, so I am left to manage the pack on my own. No problem unless I come home to find a raging thunderstorm (it was FINE by my work, 6 miles away) and an escaped Probert. I cleaned up his mess, took 20 minutes to try to bend his crate back into shape, and decided to try out his new sedative for the remainder of the storm. I gave him the minimum dose and boy, that stuff works good. Probert walked into a wall at one point. So, I stayed on the couch with him all night to keep him quiet and still and safe.

Oh, I guess I should mention that he has a new sedative because we had a recheck with the vet on Monday. Everyone is happy with his progress and he is completely off the old sedatives (no one thought they were very effective). He has the new ones only for super scary situations and nothing during the day other than his clomipramine. So far, so good?

Woo woo-ing

2009-07-23T06:55:00.002-05:00

A short (but typical) conversation with my friend, Wrigley Beans.

FAIL

2009-07-22T14:49:00.004-05:00

I don't have anything to say today, so here is a picture of Wrigley from a few years ago. :)

Ahhhhhh....

2009-07-20T12:48:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, I accomplished what feels like a major life goal when I purchased a $30 hammock off of craigslist and set it up in the backyard. The dogs are mostly confused by the hammock and Addy prefers to lay under the hammock rather than on it. My stepdad does say that gravity is stronger around a hammock and I must believe he is right because Addy and I napped for at least 2 hours yesterday.

Maizy's approach is different. She prefered to circle around and around and around and when that didn't get her into the hammock or, alternately, me out of the hammock, she chose to try gnawing on the edge. That didn't work either, it just got her told to "knock it off."

How I get into the hammock, and so troublingly far away from her may forever remain a mystery to Maizy, but she sure makes up for it by being cute.

Home Again

2009-07-14T14:32:00.005-05:00

Hello friends! I was out of town this weekend in NYC to go do some yoga and visit with some dear friends. I had a great time, but missed the pups (and the BDD) so much! I wish I could bring Maizy and Addy to NY sometime. They would love to walk around and explore. I couldn't believe all of the badly behaved dogs that I saw this weekend, though. Living in a city where walking your dog is a necessity, you'd think that it would be people's first priority to keep their dogs under control during walks. Apparently not!

Anyway, as a result, I don't have any new dog stuff to post about, so I will share this video that I took last week. In it, I am working on a no-handed headstand, a pose that has been perfected by my teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra (who I was in NYC to see) and which is a major work in progress. The reason for posting the video, however, is to show you one of my regular home yoga practice companions, Miss Addy Mae, who in this video, is happily chewing up her tennis ball rope toy. RIP, toy.

That Addy, always stealing the show. :)

Canine Karma

2009-07-10T14:03:00.003-05:00

Both Sprite and Princess have tagged us to post a picture that hadn't been posted before and tell the story behind it. I couldn't pick just one picture, though the first is definitely my favorite and one of my favorite pictures of me and Maizy (I actually may have posted this in an early entry, so my apologies if I did). It is a picture with a story.

In the summer of 2007, I had decided to go and participate in the Global Mala project in Philadelphia. As it was held outside, I checked to see if dogs were allowed because it is a shame to spend a lovely summer day outside with no dogs. As it turned out, they were! I wasn't really sure how Maizy was going to behave as this was a different kind of outing for us, but I brought her along and hoped for the best.

Thinking back on the event now, I realize that this day should have been my first clue that Maizy is a born emotional support therapy dog. The Global Mala event is a hatha yoga practice that includes 108 full sun salutations (what I affectionately call the "yogic squat thrust" for simplicity's sake).

In the past, I had participated in Yoga Malas and completed all 108 sun salutes with much focus and little physical problem, but this time was different. I enjoyed every second, including many, many breaks where I cozied up with my best friend. Other people would come over and sit down with Maizy and she helped them enjoy their breaks. She allowed everyone to enjoy slowing down, even if it was just for a few moments.

She was a good girl the rest of that day, with one initial exception in my mind. We had all gathered around under a tree to chant the gyatri mantra, complete with accompaniment on harmonium, when a squirrel started creeping down the large tree towards our group. With a mighty "woof woof woof" (nicely disturbing the meditative atmosphere) Maizy hopped up to chase off the intruder. I had to take her away from the goup and give her time to calm down so that she wouldn't bother anyone any further. After the chanting was over, I made a sheepish comment to a friend (then more of an acquaintance that I looked up to a lot) about Maizy's interrupting the chanting, embarrassed by her "bad" behavior. Without a second thought my friend looked at Maizy and said something that quickly changed my perception of canine behavior forever, "Protecting the group. Such noble dharma."

Comfy Cozy

2009-07-08T22:37:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I looked over and saw Maizy in full flop on the love seat, her favorite place to lay. She typically arranges the pillows and slipcover into this unsightly mess.

At some point she had gotten down and the BDD had taken up residence on the loveseat, but rather than move to the couch, Maizy claimed this stray throw pillow.

Don't think that worked out quite how she had planned.

Bonus flopping comes from kitty pack member, Hannibal, who has apparently claimed this little file tray that I cleaned out on my desk. Guess I'll need to find a new place to put my paperwork.

How I Spent My Fourth of July

2009-07-07T09:06:00.004-05:00

It was a nice long weekend for me, though I really didn't make it out of the house much due to having a 55 lb pit bull practically stapled to my body 80% of the time. Our neighborhood had firecrackers and fireworks going off literally all day on Saturday, much of Sunday, and it's only now starting to taper off. This is not Probert's idea of a Good Time. No no no. As I think I have probably mentioned, part of Probert's abuse as a pup involved fireworks, and he clearly remembers them well (and not too fondly).

Distracting himself with a delicious treat.

So, we hung out in the house. A lot. The only time I got out on Saturday was in the morning for a yoga class and in the afternoon to take "the girls" (Maizy and Addy) for a walk. The girls were mostly unphased by the warzone-like noises going on all around us (during the daylight) with the exception of a few very loud "booms" that caused Maizy to woof once. We had to hang back to avoid some firecrackers going off right in our path and the ladies were very well behaved the whole time. I was proud of them.

Ears plastered back.

Probert spent much of the day hiding and cuddling and pacing and some drooling, but overall, I think he did well. He even fell asleep a few times. We spent our evening piled (me, BDD, and all four pups) into the bedroom watching Star Wars movies. I guess not the worst way to spend the day. :)

"Can you guys keep it down, please?"

Children's Book: Max, The Shelter Dog

2009-07-07T09:02:00.004-05:00

I haven't read Max, The Shelter Dog, but it looks like a cute gift for the children in your life! Anything we can do to educate children about bully breeds and animal rescue at an early age is worthwhile!

"Max, The Shelter Dog" is the story of an energetic and playful pup surrendered to a shelter by his owners, as told from a dog's perspective. Max is heart broken as he struggles to run after his owner as she flees through the shelter doors. Left behind, Max has no choice but to endure his journey through the shelter system in the hopes of finding a forever home.

Through Max's ordeal, children learn compassion, strength of will, and hope. They will come away with a new appreciation and respect for all sheltered animals. Children are our future, and it is my hope that through Max's story they will be the next generation of leaders who will help put an end to shelters all together.

Be prepared to take a journey that will touch not only the heart of a child, but that of any adult who loves animals, especially pit bulls.

Showing Off

2009-07-01T08:54:00.001-05:00

A video I took this morning of Addy showing off her new trick, "Beg" and the final version of the "High Five." I could happily stay home all day and take cute videos of Addy. :) I can't decide what to teach her next. Any suggestions?

Clothed

2009-06-29T22:30:00.003-05:00

A short update to say that Probert is doing well (as are the other dogs). His medication seems to be making a big difference already in his daily life and he is able to calm down much quicker in scary situations. He is really a great dog. The medication is making it so much easier for him to show it!

Tonight, some neighbors are lighting off fireworks, so Probert is trying out a shirt that the Brown Dog Dad brought home from work (a ladies cut shirt out of the damaged bin). He is reminding me a lot of Cornholio right now.

Happy 101st!

2009-06-26T13:44:00.003-05:00

For our 101st post (and the Brown Dog Mom's birthday - that's ME!), it's time to share some pictures that I have entitled "Big vs. Little" or "Wrigley and Addy Play Biteyface."

Oops!

They are like two peas in a pod, let me tell you... :)

100th Post - Probert Problems

2009-06-25T10:32:00.003-05:00

Wow, our 100th post! Well, funny that it is more of a serious post today. It is something that has been kicking around in my brain and our lives here for a while, though I haven't been sure how much of this I would share with the world because these kinds of decisions are often criticized by people, but here we go.

(In case people are jumping to conclusions already: no, I am not getting rid of any of my dogs.)

Probert came into our lives about 3 years ago now. He was a sweet, but skittish dog with a lot of issues stemming from his puppyhood. He had been severely abused by his previous family and was likely taken away from his mother and littermates too young. He never learned the right way to be a dog, how to interact with other dogs, and overreacted about mundane situations that he perceived as threatening.

For a few years, we were able to deal with his quirks, but in the past year he has gotten distinctively "worse." He is escaping his crate in a panic on a regular basis, becoming destructive in the crate (moving the crate to pull items in, destroying the crate itself), having obvious anxiety/panic attacks, and has attacked Wrigely and Addy with no provocation on seperate occasions. Something needed to be done.

So, a few weeks ago I called up a new vet and asked the receptionist if the doctor was OPEN to the idea of medication for these kinds of issues. I did not want to make the decision right off the bat that Probert needed to be medicated, but I at least wanted to speak to someone who considered it an option. I did not want to see a doctor who gave me the shoulder shrug and the explaination that "some dogs just don't like the crate." Our problems were bigger.

Our vet visit was on a weekday afternoon. Brown Dog Dad brought Probert and I took a late lunch at work to meet them there. We had a nice long meeting with the doctor who fully grasped the magnatude of our problems with Probert. She agreed that in order to teach Probert appropriate behavior, we needed to reduce his anxiety. A dog who is having an anxiety attack does not listen and can not learn to respond properly in any situation.

At that visit, the doctor determined that Probert likely has anxiety as a result of his experiences as a puppy. Having talked to a (human) friend who has similar anxiety about past abuse, I was surprised by how much she could relate to him. He senses something that triggers a memory about his past and he panics and disassociates. He loses all sense of his body and the present moment. Additionally, it is very likely that he was removed from his mother and littermates much too young as he doesn't know how to interact with the other dogs appropriately. He often seems to us like a "loner," when really he is not sure what the right interaction is. To add to all of that, he also shows signs of OCD, which we are trying to break (he will run around the house collecting every shoe he can find and pile them all up in the living room happily).

And so, after that vet visit and a 7-page questionnaire, we have been given our treatment program. On the surface, it is an 11-point program that involves medication, behavior modification, and lifestyle changes for Probert. We also have a big packet of papers that I have to tackle and follow their instructions. Probert started his medication this week. He is currently on a clomipramine, a medication for his anxiety that will not take full effect for 4-8 weeks and another sedative medication called lorazepam which is used during "scary" situations like storms or fireworks and is also used in the short term during those times that Probert is home without human supervision.

Some of the other items involved in the program are daily exercise and "pack walks" (walking with one of the other dogs to establish a sense of being in the pack), which are going extremely well. We will end up having to relocate Probert's crate once we determine a good location and need to work on a NILIF-type obedience program. Probert is also not allowed off-leash around the other dogs while on the lorazepam, as one of the potential side effects is "diminished inhibition" and he has a history of biting other dogs. Fortunately, we have the pack walks and he and Maizy do go out together in the morning and the evening when he hasn't taken his pill or it has worn off. Another feature, which an online friend has reported success with for her anxious dog, is that during anxiety attacks, Probert should be put in a tight tshirt to give him a feeling of his own skin as a reminder to come back to his body. We don't currently have any tshirts for him (need to shop for bully-body friendly shirts, any suggestions?), but do have the previously pictured hoodie and have been using it for now (luckily, the house is air conditioned).

Overall, I am confident that is a good prgram and is the best thing that we can do for Probert. I know that there are going to be some growing pains, but I am hopeful that we can get things under control and get our pack back in order. We are fortunate to have found a great and supportive vet and also to have loving friends and family who are wishing us the best. Thank you all so much for caring about my brown (and not-so-brown) dogs!!!

(We will make the 101th post a little more light hearted, I promise!)

Two Videos

2009-06-22T08:56:00.001-05:00

Here are two short videos on the subject of "gimmie paw"-ing. First, Addy learning to transition her "gimmie paw" into a "high five." I think this is adorable.

Secondly, Probert giving paw. You can see that he is a very distracted little guy.

Three Years Already

2009-06-18T15:16:00.004-05:00

I feel like I would be a bad dog mom if I let the whole week pass by without mentioning that it was 3 years ago this week that the Brown Dog Dad and I lost our littlest best friend, The Great Cornholio. He is much missed, though BDD is pretty well convinced that he is living on in our lives as Probert. The similarities between those two are too unreal to be missed. The pet psychic that I saw last summer with Maizy also told me that Cornholio is still hanging around our family, though I think she meant as a ghost, not as a crazy brown pit bull. Either way, we love the little guy and he is in our hearts, if nowhere else.

"Gimmie Paw"

2009-06-17T08:40:00.004-05:00

"Gimmie Paw" is one of my favorite dog tricks. It's relatively easy to teach (unless your dog is sketched out by having his paw touched like Probert and then it takes years), interactive, and cute. Maizy knows a cute variation of this trick called "gimmie brown" and "gimmie white" in which she will hand you either her white or brown paw. Wrigley knows "gimmie paw", "gimmie other paw", and "gimmie both" (something Maizy can't learn because of her arthritic knees). Probert has just gotten over the freak out factor of my touching his right paw and will "gimmie paw", but his left paw is still off-limits to me for now. It's coming, though.

The idea of teaching a three-legged dog to "give paw" was too cute to pass up and so I have been working on this with Addy. It has been a little tougher because there is a balance element when you are picking up your only front paw. I started off by luring her face up with a treat encouraging her to pick up the front paw. It worked well and yesterday we finally perfected this trick in time to share with her instructor, Rendy at Anything is Pawsible (I failed to mention this in the last post, but I cannot recommend Rendy enough - if you are in the Chicago are and looking for classes or private obedience work, go to her).

We got home and I took a video. I need both of my hands for this trick right now, so I put the camera on a box and well, cut off her head, but it will just have to do for now.

Addy Mae - "Gimmie Paw"

Pomp and Circumstance

2009-06-17T08:19:00.004-05:00

Addy graduated basic obedience last night! I realize that all of the dogs graduate, but the whole thing was just so cute and Addy was such a good girl. We started up with a "warm up" and then a "sit, stay"-off. Addy was the first to break her sit and lay down because her front widdle weg gets tired sitting up like that for too long when she doesn't think it's necessary. Oh well. After that, we played a game where we could pick an "easy," "medium," or "hard" card from a pile with an instruction on it that your dog had to do. Addy did mostly "hard" cards and didn't mess up on any of them. In the end, she won the contest and got her first pick of toys (there was a big pile of toys in the middle of the room to choose from). She tried out all of the squeeks, but pounced with joy when she found a rope with (OMG!) tennis balls (OMG!) on it! She happily played with that toy all night. Afterwards, she got some "dog cake" and her certificate. Go Addy!

The advanced obedience class starting this month is full, but we are on the list for July, so I am looking forward to it. In the meantime, I am going to keep working with her on her skills and see what new ones we can learn. I love that little lady.

Here are some pictures:

Time to go to school!?

Heading out the door.

Pit bull driving hazard (we were stopped when I took this picture, but she did ride the whole way there like this).

Anything is Pawsible has this poster up in their entryway. Definitely part of their charm.

One widdle weg.

Tennis ball!!!!!

Dog cake, please?

P.S. I have a related video to share, too, but I will do it in another entry shortly!

itch itch

2009-06-12T08:40:00.003-05:00

Little sensitive Wrigley is at it again: broken out in hives! He did this once a couple years ago when we switched the dogs to a food with fish as a (minor) ingredient. By the process of elimination, we figured out that he is allergic to fish, but as he hasn't had any fish in the past few days, we're not sure what's causing this breakout. I think I might have given him a strawberry the day before yesterday, but I don't remember if it was him or Probert, actually. So, maybe no more strawberries.

We gave him some antihistamine last night and this morning all of the hives on his lower half are gone and now he just has them right on top of his back (where he didn't have them yesterday), so I guess they are working their way up and out. Hopefully when I get home from work today he will be lump-free.

As you can see, being lumpy has not deterred him from being adorably happy and alternately beggy. He doesn't seem to be that bothered by the hives except for when you give him a scritch he practically melts into your hand. Poor itchy Wrigley Bean.

Something's Missing?

2009-06-08T12:23:00.002-05:00

On Friday we took Addy and Probert for a walk around the neighborhood. A pre-teen boy bent down to pet Addy and said, "Awwwww... I feel so sorry for you!" to her. It was so sweet. I assured him that she didn't even notice that she was missing a leg.

Four Legs Good Two Legs Bad

2009-06-07T08:21:00.002-05:00

A friend online sent this video over to me, thinking that I would enjoy it. Boy was she right! Share it with your companion animal loving friends!

Pit Bull vs Broccoli 2

2009-06-05T08:56:00.002-05:00

As previously evidenced, brown pit bulls love broccoli. I decided to experiment and see how black pit bulls with fwee widdle wegs feel about broccoli. Apparently they think it is a stinky fun toy.

Roadtrip

2009-06-03T10:34:00.003-05:00

Two weeks ago Addy and I drove up to Michigan. We got in Saturday night where we slept on my uncle's couch and then spent Sunday visiting some of my old haunts (I grew up in suburban Detroit) and seeing some family.

My cousin, Lauren, Addy, and me.

Mom and Rich with their new furry granddaughter.

Run, Wrigley, Run

2009-05-29T09:00:00.003-05:00

As promised, I have taken a few more videos of Addy running around and well... acting like a DOG. Admittedly, she is a pesky little sister kind of dog, but Wrigley seems to be patient enough. Plus, it certainly won't hurt if he can parlay this exercise into losing a few pounds (but don't tell him I said so!).

Addy loves to chase Wrigley all around the deck and he loves to run from her. You will also notice that Wrigley is too big to fit between the deck slats, but Addy fits just fine. Once she catches up to him she tries to pull on his collar to get him to resume playtime. It doesn't usually work because by the time Wrigley starts to try to escape her for real and not just for the game, he is dead tired.

What a good brother he is.

Gross Misinformation

2009-05-27T08:53:00.003-05:00

This has to be one of the most uninformed and silly articles I have ever read (and that is putting it mildly). Amidst all of the stories about the amazing recovery of the Vick dogs and their ability to lead normal lives as DOGS (which is what they are - not unstoppable monsters), people still believe things like the mess in this article. I agree that there is a lot of irresponsible and negligent pit bull ownership out there, but that still does not make the dogs bad. It just makes those responsible pit bull owners (which is where I believe I fit in) have to work that much harder in order for our dogs to be treated normally. I feel horrible for the people and the dogs who are harmed by carless owners who don't train or contain their dogs. The first rule of dog ownership and training is not to set your dog up to fail.

NFL Dogged By Pit Bull Problem
By Michael Felger

Pit bull owners typically fall into two categories:

Creeps.

Or imbeciles.

...Read More...

My Favorte Commercial of All Time

2009-05-18T20:58:00.001-05:00