The Perfect Poo Spot

Arwen is as particular at shopping around for the Perfect Poo Spot as a bargain hunter with her last ten dollar bill.  This dog can truly take a 45 minute morning walk and finally select the Perfect Poo Spot when she's almost home.  I've stood in torrential rain, sleet, nor'easter snowstorms, thunderstorms (last night), and blazing 110 degree heat, tethered to a dog with sphincter control so strict, it would startle Sigmund Freud.  (Sorry to nerd out here, but I couldn't resist a bit of Psychology humor - can't let a 100K dollar education go to waste).  I kid you not, folks - the dog is made of tough stuff.  Tough, picky, hard-headed stuff.

Matt discovered a little trick recently to accelerate the Perfect Poo Spot selection process on days with miserable weather.  If breakfast is prepared in front of her before she's walked, she finds that Perfect Poo Spot in seconds.  The food is put on her plate (yes, she eats off of a lovely blue and white plate - spoiled?  No way!) - complete with fish oil, medication for urinary incontinence, salmon, chicken and a small amount of kibble - and then we do the truly unthinkable.  We leave!

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" she must wonder.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!"
"IT'S THE MOST GLORIOUS TIME OF THE DAY AND YOU'RE LEAVING?!"
Poor Arwen.  She's mistreated and put upon.  Her life is one big frustration after another.

Somehow on these mornings, we are back inside, all the outside business competed within about 6 minutes.  Quite impressive, really.

Searching....

"I am weak from hunger!  Carry me to the Royal Plate!"

"Going outside?!  But my food is ready?!"

EzyDog

Have you ever heard of EzyDog?

The company prides itself on making rugged and attractive gear for active dogs.  They were the originators of the shock-absorbing leash.  If you haven't heard of the company, you'll be glad you read this!

I recently received an email from a very polite, likable product rep from EzyDog, named Brady, who asked if we'd use some of his products and then review them here on Arwen's Pack.  I wondered if I was really qualified to make recommendations on dog gear.  I thought about this for a while and then realized that I'm the "every-dog-owner".  Like any of us that have at least one dog, and like many of us that have a few.  We all need good gear and have to save our monies for food and vet bills!

Easy to put on!

Brady sent me a lovely blue Chest Plate Harness in Fenway's size, with a car restraint attachment to allow the harness to double as a seat belt!  The harness is made with a foam rubber pad that molds to the pup and allows for better weight distribution.  Putting it on Fenway was easy - this harness actually makes sense.  Chest support and clasps were placed where they seem logical.  (As a vet nurse, I see a ton of patients wearing harnesses and some require a doctorate in engineering a bit of voodoo to put on or take off.)  The fit was solid - he was comfortable when I first put it on him, and immediately started leaping onto Arwen for a round of "bitey face".

Here is the back of the harness with the seatbelt attachment clipped on.

We also received a Cujo leash (great name!) and 2 Standard Extensions couplers for walking 2 dogs.  The leash has a fantastic rubber padded handle that feels just right to hold.  A far better feel than most leashes.  The Cujo leash is designed to shock absorb the impact of even the strongest pullers (I wouldn't know anything about that - hehe).  Great design, sturdy construction.  One surprise was that the leash is made of a plastic / synthetic material, not a synthetic fabric which we're mostly used to in dog gear.  But this outer construction accounts for the shock absorbency hiding within the leash - brilliant!

How do I look?

Here's a profile shot...

All in all, the only criticism I could find, is that these products are made in China, rather than the US.  I know I'd pay more for a great product like this if it were made here in this country by American labor.  Aside from this, everything from the communication to set all this up by Brady at EzyDog, the speed at which the goodies arrived, and the gear itself was spot on.  If you're looking for durable, rugged dog gear that looks good and feels right for the walker, check out EzyDog.  You might just end up being a convert from traditional leashes and harnesses!

So as the EzyDog website says: "Now go and Play!"

A Look Forward

With each new year that blazes in, I inevitably look back at the past year and try to settle my personal scorecard. 

Did I make positive changes?  

Did I grow as a person?  

Was I a good parent more often than a bad parent?  

Was I a stronger person than the year before?  

Did I learn new skills and evolve professionally?  

Did I come closer to becoming the daughter my late father would be proud of?

I suppose there's no denying that in even asking these questions, I'm still striving for better.  I don't want to be envious of those that have more than me.  I don't want to feel jealous or spiteful or negative.  I don't want my pride to overshadow the good that I do.  Sometimes it's painful to look around at all those things you think you need and want.  And worse still to feel there's so much left unaccomplished and stymied in seeing that potential through.  

It's these moments that I look down and realize that only inches from my typing hands, lies the velvety soft muzzle of a sleeping puppy.  The black nose is pressing tightly to my leg, and I hear the soft inhale and exhale of each life-sustaining breath.  I remember that this is a good moment.  One that will never repeat itself.

It's in these moments that I know:

I made positive changes.

I grew both cognitively and emotionally as a person.

I was a parent that acted out of love, the root of which is goodness.

I found both physical and emotional strength deep within myself that allowed me to pick myself up.

I strove to do my best possible job, to care when others were indifferent, and prevail over injustice.

I thought often of my father and what he would want for me and from me as a woman of worth.

It's in these moments that I realize the past year is just a marker of time.  Each day signifies the start of a new year, and each year is what you make of it.

Our Wish for You!

I hope this year brings only love and peace.  I wish only happiness for you this year, and the sincere hope that your packs are strong and healthy.  

Happy New Year, friends!

Arwen's Pack

Fenway's First Christmas

Christmas is here! 

Have you hugged your pups today?  

Was there a special bone or squeakable under the tree for your pup?

This is Fenway's first Christmas with us...

There's something on my head, isn't there?

And something on my neck, too...

But I love my T!

So I'll wear these silly antlers...

Merry Christmas!!

Nyxie's Great Adventure

"Where to, Mom?"

Nyxie went to the vet last week.

Now if you've followed my blog for any length of time you understand the enormity of that statement.  Nyxie went to my place of work - a busy, populated by people and other animals building - for her yearly exam.  This was like bringing in a loaded gun to a post office full of holiday-stressed postal workers!  Dr C decided to see Nyxie without any pre-exam sleepy-time happy juice for sedation.  I admit I trembled a bit in my boots when she told me her intention, but I trust her dog skills and I knew she'd be able to read her well.

I decided it was time to bring Nyxie to work, not only for an overdue yearly exam, but also because she had a growth that needed Dr C's opinion.  Since she was about a year old, Nyxie has had a small flap of skin that's looked like a simple skin tag on the deepest part of her chest.  Lately though, the skin tag has grown and seems more firm.  I wanted it checked out to see if there were any scary changes happening.  Any growth should be examined by your vet, and the sooner the better.

The morning of her exam,  she was curious but defensive, wanting desperately to learn more, but ready to bark if anything frightened her.  Nyxie's bark is that deafening German Shepherd bark that stops you dead in your tracks.  That morning we learned that giving her direct eye contact is what will bring the bark out.  Interesting.

'"Are you looking at me?  Are you threatening me?!"

Dr C decided to go ahead and give her a very mild sedation ("Needle?  What needle?" - she took all the poking like a champ!), and all the while, Dr C gave her lots of praise, good doggie vibes and treats!

She was sleepy in no time and Dr C started her exam (outside in the cold because she thought Nyxie might feel better without confinement!  Great doc.)  by listening to her heart.  She told me that Nyxie has a Grade 3 heart murmur.  My own heart sank.  Then she looked at her growth and recommended that she take it off.  More sinking.  She drew blood and Nyxie tried kissing her but missed, depth perception impaired, and planted a wet nose on her face!  My sweet girl made a new friend - better living through chemistry!  She really wants to make friends, but she can't seem to get away from that damn fear.

"Will you be my friend?"

One of the bloodwork panels she ran on Nyxie was a CardiacProBNP, a test which can measure the amount of a certain peptide released when the cardiac chambers are stretched.  Her measurement fell just below the reference range for cardiac disease and / or congestive heart failure.  A blood pressure check was the next step, and Dr C suggested I take it at home for a more relaxed, accurate, at-rest reading.  That, too, came back just below the reference range for high blood pressure.  Her next step was a chest x-ray.

Since she (mostly me) is stressed around strangers, we decided to take Nyxie in after-hours and have Matt and me to shoot the radiographs alone.  That was...interesting.  She was still pretty stressed and wiggly, so positioning her 75 lb German Shepherd body was a tiny butt-whipping, but we managed it!  I couldn't see anything glaringly obvious, but I'm no vet.  I left the radiographs for Dr C to look at when she arrived the following morning.  I know Dr C's very busy and being a weekend morning makes "busy" a silly understatement, but I was dying to hear her expert opinion.

Nyxie's beautiful heart

She sent me a text  -  the radiographs look good, vertebral heart score in the normal range (heart not enlarged), healthy spine, good abdomen.  Yay!!  I hugged my Nyxie tight.  Eventually we may need to worry about her heart, but for now, my girl was fine.  My own heart swelled!

I know it's silly, but each time I look at her now, I'm reminded of how much I love my baby girl.  Sometimes feeling you might lose something is enough to help you appreciate what you have.  Especially at this time of year...

"Tis the Season of Giving...and Learning

Four fat boxes of goodies are en route to Afghanistan.  I sent the K9 care packages this past Saturday with much appreciated help from Matt and T, and with only 2 small meltdowns of my own. Hopefully, they'll reach the soldiers just in time for Christmas, bringing a bit of home to the stark unfamiliarity of being overseas.  But most importantly, I hope these soldiers get a small sense of the respect and pride we have in them.  I can't think of a better way to start off the Christmas season for Arwen's Pack.

Since I started asking for care package contributions for the military working dogs and their handlers, I've seen some generous and beautiful acts.  I've had total strangers send me packages to pass on to the guys.  A friend of mine who is a vet nurse and single mother was the first to contribute for the packages and later also  contributed cash towards shipping.  Another friend and vet receptionist gave fat, colorful rope toys, and one of my favorite clients (Mom to 2 adorable Poms) from the clinic where I work called in an order for treats and chewies for the dogs. At least one Cub Scout troop and a couple of blogs also sent packages of their own!  I sent some of my dogs' Frontline, new dog toys, treats & rawhides, magazines, toiletries, a couple of backpacks, and playing card sets.  

All this will eventually smoosh into boxes...

Another view...

Through other care package websites, we found out that para-cord bracelets are popular with soldiers.  They're wristbands made of braided para-cord that the guys can unweave if they want to make use of the sturdy rope.  Matt and T made a ton of them to send, weaving well into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

para-cord bracelets (sorry about the blurriness)

And I'm not done yet - I don't think thoughtfulness has to be a once yearly event.  Here is my last post with the correct addresses.  I've asked the soldiers if they have any requests or if they care to share their thoughts with us.  I'll let you know if I get any responses.

When Dorothy of FiveSibes tried mailing her care package and was told the APO address was wrong, my heart sank.  I felt like I'd had the wind knocked out of me.  Words can't describe the feeling of dread I experienced.  Here I was, sending people out to mail packages to a nonexistent address!  I felt like a scam artist and a fool.  Luckily I got all the correct addresses fast and I my heart resumed beating, oxygen finally able to get through again.

What I learned from doing care packages:
1) Start earlier  - organizing anything takes time.
2) Triple check addresses - duh!
3) Expect the best to shine in people - you never know what will touch someone to open their hearts.
4) There's magic in connecting with others for a good cause - new friends are a gift!
5) Doing something you believe in takes perseverance but pays off in unexpected and delightful ways.
6) If you want to ask a teen to contribute of themselves, show them why it's meaningful (I'm so thankful for YouTube military working dog tribute videos!)
7) And finally, it's best to keep big, overflowing boxes of treats and new toys on a top shelf - we had 3 snooters working overtime to provide K9 care package quality control.

Arwen's Pack sends enormous hugs and positive thoughts to our soldiers in all those dangerous places so far from home.  We hope those amazing dogs will help keep you safe until you're home with your family and friends.  Merry Christmas!

"We'll be in a Sit / Stay until you get home!".  Here's Fenway in his Red Sox starter jacket :)