The Hot Spot.... No, it has not been the Dog Park (well, it may have been) but instead it was something that Steve decided to wake me up with one morning that has made my house the spot I have been for the last 2 weeks.

Steve, also known as Mr. OCD (don't know where he gets it from... maybe breeding), had a small spot on his leg where it looked like some fur had come loose. I didn't think too much about it because he had been blowing part of his old fur and it didn't look like much. I cleaned it and went to bed. When I woke up, I had a dog that had licked the fur, the size of a softball, off his back leg. I will not go into detail of what it looked like, but I had trouble looking at it myself. I had no idea what had happened and called my vet. She had a free appointment and I was able to get Steve right in. Side note....Do not try to take a hyper dog on a ride of more than 5 miles when all he wants to do is lick and scratch and you won't let him.... It will feel like FOREVER.

Back to the story...hope you are still with me and not reading about hybrid dogs or something. Anyway, I got Steve to the vet and found out he is allergic to fleas! My dog is allergic to fleas? I have heard stories about this, but I never truly believed it. I felt that a dog being allergic to fleas is like having a calf that is lactose intolerant. How can it be?

My vet looked at the mass of wet fur and nastiness and told me that I should be proud, as it was one of the worse cases she had seen. She was impressed with his level of focus (Oh, if she could see him with a ball at the park!) and his ability howl, wail, moan, talk and growl... all at the same time (while she was creating a new style for his fur coat and he was eating treats). You know what? I am proud of that. We worked hard on those skills by riding by bikers, getting close to cats and just seeing people out and about. It is just nice to have someone else see this and be impressed. It is validation. Of what, I am not sure.

We came home with about 20 bottles of pills (slight exaggeration), some surgical scrubs, cotton, a list of how to administer everything and a full explanation of what Steve had. One thing was missing. That was how much of a joy it was going to be to get Steve to take gel caps. Woo-Hoo! I would have paid good money to not do that. Peanut butter, cheese, bread, etc. all failed.I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands and boy was it ever so nice to stick my hand all the way down his throat numerous times (he figured how to work his tongue to get it back up). After 3 days of this, I got it down and I think Steve resided himself with the fact that this was going to happen 2 times a day. Though we did get the pill issue down, we still had the 2AM potty breaks and the 5AM potty breaks to deal with.

I know that dogs don't always have fleas, but everything you have seen in cartoons (Yes, I watch cartoons) with fleas having cookouts, summer shacks and bluegrass concerts on the backs of dogs, while the dog blissfully was unaware, made me unprepared for the news that Steve will never be able to hear the sounds of happy fleas. How sad is that? Instead, his body will reject the idea all together and decide to blow off some fur, cause legions, create sleepless nights for both of us (thanks to whining and constant bathroom calls), rack up large vet bills and keep the pharmaceutical industry going strong. Stupid Fleas!

When I watch the old time cartoons and see those happy little fleas dancing and singing their little flea hearts out... I am going to yell at my TV because it was all lies! I was lied to and it was all just a lie! Guess you cannot believe everything you see in animation.

One last thing.... In working with EVBB (Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank), Social Pro Network and Muddy Paws, I have put together a Doggie Blood Typing Event for Doggie Blood Donations. I will ha ... this is an abbreviated post. Read the entire article.

Ok... It is time for our first contest here. I am going to ask for your help with a little something for Steve. I need a designer name for him. He is a lab/border collie mix. I used a name generator and came up with "Jacob Bowers". I like that. Sounds like Jack Russell. If you can do better, let me know.

Back in the day, I paid a whole $40 for him at the shelter and he came fixed and ready to go. A girl there said "there are no mutts, just one of a kind designer dogs". I liked the sound of that, so I have used it many times over the years. Looking back on that, I realize I got a great deal on my, then, designer dog. We now have a whole cottage industry of "designer/hybrid dogs" where people shell out money for dogs that years ago were considered to be in the same class as Steve. I guess it only makes sense that in an age where people want hybrid cars, why not hybrid dogs?

I found a resource, http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/hybriddogs.htm , that shows over 300 different combos of hybrid dogs. Each name has a link to the dog-types, as well as pictures, of each. Oy Vey! or should I say, Ori Pei (which by the way is a Pug/Shar-Pei mix). Some of my favorites; Brat (Boston Terrier/Rat Terrier mix), Cheeks (Chihuahua/Pekingese mix), Frengle (French Bulldog/Beagle mix) and last but not least Shocker (Cocker Spaniel/Shiba Inu Mix).

Take a look at the pictures of all of your favorite "hybrids". Who knows? You may have picked up a hybrid without having to wait for 3 - 6 months, with a deposit, to get one or pay the extra price because of the hybrid naming.

Understand that I am not knocking this phenomenon, but find it intriguing. It seems like we are getting away from pure-breeds in favor of something that some of us knew...that having a hybrid can help alleviate the issues from the over-breeding of purebreds such as; hip and eye problems, skin conditions and other ailments. The hybrid dog can also allow you the option to you pick traits you want in a dog while allowing you to be able to say you have a shneagle (Beagle / Schnauzer mix) with a straight face. That last item, in itself, is worth all the money.

The dog park has a ton of shelter dogs, some Katrina dogs (Hey Bailey!!...Steve asked about you yesterday...) as well as hybrids and purebreds. What I have found is that regardless of whether you have a hybrid, a pure-bred or what is affectionately known as a mutt, dog people are dog people. We love our 4-legged friends. At the end of the day we all have our companions that can drive us crazy, make us laugh, comfort us or embarrass us in public, no matter what they look like. So maybe, even though Steve could be considered a Borador, I will just stick with one of a kind designer dog and leave it at that...

Dogs have many great traits. Each one has a unique personality that is derived from their upbringing, socialization and you. If you treat your dog like a spoiled little person, you are going to get a spoiled little dog. If you allow your dog to learn how things work in the dog world on its own, then you are going to have a very nicely adjusted dog.

I let my dogs be dogs. They learn by interacting with others on how to behave. This is the way nature intended it. Some dog owners feel that their dogs are not truly dogs, but furry fragile humans. They are not. They are more like little kids. Kids and dogs are similar in that they both want to get dirty, tease others, run at full speed, push limits and form friendships. If you shelter your kids and are overbearing and overprotective, you produce kids with social issues. Well, guess what? This is another similarity that kids and dogs share. If you yell at your dog (or other dogs) because they are playfully growling, rolling in the dirt, barking to be chased or basically acting like a dog should, you take away your dog being a dog. Your dog then becomes like you and starts responding negatively to "dogs" and poof! You have created a spoiled little dog.

They say "Let kids be kids, they can grow up later". Well, let your dog be a dog. They will sort it out just like the kids do and they will grow up well adjusted and slow down some. Do not allow your fears or overbearing persona control you and how you respond to your dog. I am not advocating letting your dog get hurt or traumatized. What I am saying is that you need to know your dog well enough to know what it is saying. Look at how your dog is playing. Listen to the different barks, tones of growling and watch their body language. They will give you cues to what your dog is feeling. Some play rough, some don't. Some sound like they are killing each other, some are quiet. Some like to roll on the ground, some like the chase. Usually, the dogs in the group will figure out who is who and play according. If you feel like there is a bully after your dog, ask the owner (politely) to have their dog stop. Do not yell at your dog to stop. It can only confuse your dog. What may have sounded bad, may have actually been fun for your dog and it may not understand what it was doing wrong. Try to keep the dogs apart for a few minutes and if your dog keeps going back, and there is no aggression, then your dog is not feeling threatened. This may be a new side of your dog. Relax. They will let you know.

The point of all this is the joy of having a dog is watching your dog in the world around it. Whether it is catching a Frisbee, rolling in the mud or chewing on the leg of a friend, your dog knows how to take care of itself more often than not. If you allow your dog to be dog, you can be a more relaxed owner and you will enjoy each other even more.

Well, I just arrived back from my jaunt in the Great White North of Canada and it is funny how even when you are away from your animals they are still with you in spirit.

I dropped my crew off at a local retreat and immediately felt the pangs of separation anxiety starting to build. This was my first time dropping off the "kids" to the facility (though they had stayed there before) and I was not sure on how I was going to react. Luckily, when I went to Norway, a friend dropped them off for me (that in itself is a story for another time... let's just say it involves food spillage, lateness and constant barking) so I did not see the reactions. Boy, did I see them this time! I had faces looking at me like I was never coming back, pawing and a little bit of whining. I know that this is all guilt, but it works. Trust me. They know what they are doing and mine were working the guilt hard. As I drove away, all I could think about was that I wish I could be taking them with me, am I doing the right thing, etc...

The funny thing about this was that the last time the crew stayed at the kennel they came home clean, played out and didn't get out of bed for a day or two. It was a beautiful thing so I knew they would be in good hands and that I was going to have some needed R-n-R.

Well, the trip was a great time, but the canine gods were messing with me. I saw a ton of dogs that looked like mine and every time one would pass they would stop and look up at me. It was almost like they were saying to me... "I cannot believe you left your dogs alone!" It became almost comical.

As the week wore on and after dog after dog after dog gave me "the look", I called the retreat and was told that everyone was good and that Steve had manipulated someone else into throwing the ball until their arm hurt. They were eating well and playing with others. I had been discarded! Once I found out this tidbit of info I went in search of the carriers of guilt around where I was staying. Low and behold, none were found. Isn't that funny? Once I found out you are all working together to guilt me and that it is all a scheme, you are no where to be found?!

Leaving the North behind, I was determined to make sure that I was going to let my crew know that I knew what they had done and that they had forgotten all about me. As I pulled up to the retreat to get my crew, I was greeted right away by clean dogs (I hardly recognized them) who could barely contain themselves at the sound of my car. There was barking, jumping, running, you name the adjective and it was being performed. As I got out of the car to walk over to where they were, they bounded over to me and then to my car (I had to take them out and into the office to pay) Try as I might, I could not remember what it was that I was going to confront them with. As I was leaving a woman was sobbing and her dog was whining. I was having flashbacks from my time earlier and smiled. I knew that she and her dog were going to be okay.

Once we got home, everyone relaxed and fell into a deep sleep (mostly across my arms, legs, etc). Maybe the message wasn't that I was forgotten, but that I was being remembered. I need to work on my language skills.

When you talk about children it is sometimes said "It takes a village to raise a child". Well I am going to change that to "It takes a dog park to raise your canine". Now, before you start sending me nasty grams saying that you have a well adjusted dog that responds to you, does not move furniture while you are away or can grab the remote (or beer) on command... hear me out. By the way, if your dog does do all that, let me know how much you will charge me to have you teach mine all of that.

As far as how I see the proverb...it means that if you have a group of people watching out for the best interest of your child, you will have a child that is well developed and cared for. Well, believe it or not, it is the same way for your pooch.

In the time that I have been going to the dog park, I have seen many a dog come in with its tail between its legs and sticking its body either against the fence, in the legs of the owner or under the bench. Over time, the dog starts to see the same people and the same dogs. It starts to realize that it will not be eaten by these other dogs and that it can actually have fun being a dog. It is great to watch how, as the dog becomes more accepted by the other dogs, it starts to show its true personality. Your dog, without you or him knowing it, has become part of a village and you have become an elder.

The village is not something that is concrete. There are many villages. Many people, and dogs, travel from one to the other. The villages are guided by rules that are unspoken, done without thinking and are widely accepted by the elders. You, as an elder, have certain responsibilities to the village. You have to make sure that the new members learn how things are done. This means that you have to acquaint them with the protocols of the dog park, the hierarchy of the village and which ball belongs to Steve. With this responsibility, comes the authority to help stop a behavior when someone (read dog) is being bad. Whether it is digging holes to China (Hey the Olympics are there!), playing with the water dishes (Can we please tell Duncan his ball is clean?) or simply becoming a little too acquainted with another canine (Gus really needs to buy Steve dinner or something). You understand that other elders will tell your dog to stop and you will do the same with their dog(s). It becomes a comfort knowing that you have someone else who cares about you and your dog and that you do not have to have stress.

If we can just work on creating better canines, everyone will benefit. No matter what village helped to raise it.