A Second Look at the Puppy Bowl

It's that time of year again. Game fans are gearing up with a bounty of snacks and cold ones, eagerly awaiting the day where they all gather around the TV. I'm talking, of course, about Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl! What else could there be? ;)

I have to say that I am a big fan. People are shocked when I tell them that I get a real kick out of watching puppies play for almost two hours. What the heck is so fascinating about puppies playing, anyway?

There's plenty, especially if you're interested in canine body language. In addition to some instances of utter cuteness, as well as the occasional sight gag from Animal Planet (who could forget the streaking Chinese Crested?), Puppy Bowl is a gold mine for students of the dog. Of course, the best way to learn from this event is to have a text nearby or at least read, such as Roger Abrante's Dog Language or Brenda Aloff's Canine Body Language; both are excellent reference materials that I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat. Once you know what to look for, you begin to see this puppy playtime as a giant social experiment and experience for them: what happens when I do this? What happens when I do that? That puppy is doing that, I'm going to try that too! Oops, shouldn't have done that. Oh well, what's that? The subtle cues dogs give each other--every lift of the eyebrow, tail tilt, or body shift--suddenly jump out at you, and you are now learning along with the puppies. Talk about a trip! How can you not get excited for Puppy Bowl now?

Yes, it's a great learning experience for we the students. The puppies are the ultimate beneficiaries, though. Every year when I watch the Puppy Bowl, I can't help but think that a whole handful of pups is going into the world with better social skills that most dogs severely lack, and will most likely never see. I think of all the "cute" dogs who were bought as a fashion accessory or a cuddly toy and will grow up terrified because they missed out on the critical socialization period in puppyhood. No, Puppy Bowl won't guarantee a perfect pup, but it will certainly get them started in the right direction.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm rooting for the Nordic puppies this year!

Tribute to Zebee, the Toughest Maltese!

I haven't been in the business of grooming for too long, but I've already experienced client loss, something no groomer looks forward to. My first was sweet old Trevor, the donut Pomeranian. Then, one of our Yorkie clients, Miss Emma, developed cancer rapidly. Now, a third name is added to the list: Zebee, the toughest Maltese.

Last June, I stopped in Nancy's shop, hoping to learn a few pointers before heading off to school. On the table was a tiny white body, curled up comfortably on a towel. Zebee's eyes met mine and I knew that this was no average dog. Three years ago, he injured his back and became partially paralyzed. Even at the age of twelve, his eyes glowed like a puppy's. Nancy said he was on borrowed time, and wouldn't be with us much longer.

After school, when I got the job with Nancy, I was surprised to see Hunter in the shop with his brother Zebee. Although there weren't any improvements in his health, Zebee was still as spunky as ever. He sang a song in the tub and tried to stand on his own. We put him in a sling and watched in amazement as he tried to stand on all four legs, if only for a short while. Zebee's mom said that he still got around the house without assistance, which amazed us even more.

The months passed by and Zebee's frail body grew weaker. His will to live was unbroken, and you could see it in his eyes. I thought for sure that at one point, Zebee would not be back for another groom. Tuesday, he returned with his brother for the final time. He had his song in the tub and was very alert. Suddenly, he collapsed. We thought for sure he had died right there in the shop, until he showed signs of fading consciousness. Although his body gave out, Zebee's will remained. His last moments of life were spent with his mom and brother. It was decided that it was in Zebee's best interest that he be put to sleep.

None of us knew for certain what became of him after they left. Jo had a hard feeling in her throat, I felt dizzy, and the shop was, in general, much quieter. Nancy confirmed that Zebee was no longer with us. Although my dizzy spells subsided, I was filled with sadness for having lost the tough little Maltese.

Then, I realized that this was not the time to grieve for Zebee. There were other dogs at the shop who still needed tended to; I had to be strong for them. It occurred to me that I had to have the strength of Zebee to get through the rest of my day's grooms, and suddenly I was inspired. All of the dogs went out looking great, and afterward we all remarked about how incredible it was for Zebee to hold on as long as he did, even when things looked bleak.

In my younger days, I questioned the nature of the social animal. Why form bonds when ultimately, they will one day be broken? Among other things, these ever-important bonds lead to our own personal improvement, whether it is shared between friends of the two-legged or four-legged variety. It isn't always easy to stand in the face of adversity, but this little Maltese did it on a daily basis. I'm glad to have known Zebee, and I wish to share in his strength.

It's never really goodbye; there will always be another dog show.
See you on the other side Zeb!

Doggie Daze Are Here Again!

Every year at the shelter, we host an event known as Doggie Daze. It's a time for reunions and fun for humans and canines alike. We usually see a good amount of our former shelter dogs come back for a visit, and get to meet some new faces too! The event grows every year, and 2010 proved to be no exception!

New to Doggie Daze this year was a bounce-house; a dollar got you fifteen minutes of airtime. Also, we collaborated with other rescues to bring even more awareness to homeless animals. Not only did we get several dog rescues to set up tents, but a farm animal sanctuary also showed up with chickens. There was even a llama from a local llama farm!

Vendors lined the hall with various doggie products. One could find everything from treats to training to boarding services. A Chinese auction took center stage with some wonderful gift baskets up for grabs. One table in front of that hosted some demonstrations, including mine - all about grooming, of course! Last year, only a few people came to see me talk about grooming tools. I was excited to see a small crowd come into the hall! Granted, they came and went, but I had some time for questions afterward. Even if I only reach a few people, that's a few more people than not!

The big excitement came in the morning, when I rocked my Rainbow Brite Cocker Spaniel suit from last year's Groom Expo. Seemed like everyone was drawn to me, the giant dog, and couldn't wait to make a donation! Those who had only a few large bills came back to drop a few bucks in my donation jar. Only one dog was truly afraid of me, but only because she was waking up from a nap and not really sure of what was going on. Imagine waking up to a strange ten-foot person - yikes! And yes, only one Labra-doodle tried to sniff my butt, haha!

After walking around for two hours, I raised $74 for our animals! Not too bad, especially considering the bounce house pulled in just $44! The humans was entertained, I had fun, the animals got a little extra money towards their well-being... everyone won today! Seeing as how I practically got my start from bathing the big hairies, as well as adopted my Xavier there almost two years ago, I'm honored to give a little something more to our organization. The fur will continue to fly in the grooming room as long as I'm in town - I love my shelter!

Alyssa (the dog director) and I outside the hall

Rock on!!

For more information about our shelter, visit our website at angelsforanimals.org

Enough is Enough, you Whipper-snappers!

That's what two dogs would've told me the other day, if they had the ability to speak English.

Two old dogs, a brother and a sister, came into the shop for a bath and neaten. We're not talking eight or ten years old, but sixteen - each! You wouldn't have guessed it from looking at the sister, as she was the calmer of the two. Her brother drooled and panted in his crate while waiting for his bath.

Sis was OK in her crate, but was crying and whale-eyed for her entire bath. I'm guessing that it was the water that was making her panic, because she seemed to ease up a little when I blew it all off. She got to relax in the crate dryer while I got her brother in the tub. He was acting a little squirrelly, so I had the idea in the back of my head to prepare for the worst. Good thing I did - when I turned the dryer on, even with just one motor, he completely wigged out. Thrashing, screaming, and snapping at the air, the poor dog was in full-on panic mode. My first thought was to restrain him so he didn't hurt himself or me. He ended up biting his tongue and flinging a few spots of blood on the tub. Not as bad as I was prepared for, but enough to leave me a little gun-shy of the HV for a day! We put him in the crate dryer with his sister and called mom.

Now, neither one of them ever had a bad reaction to being groomed. We thought it was just that time when age caught up with them, and that their tub days should become a thing of the past. We let them relax with each other in the dryer for a little, then I got the girl out and did her nails, with no problems. Same thing for her brother, he was a total sweetheart for his paws - definitely NOT what I was expecting after his encounter with the dryer! He even gave me a few friendly nudges, as if to say, "Thank you whipper-snapper, I'm getting too old for this!"

I'm glad mom was understanding about everything, but I hope that clients in the future can be the same way. We see people's dogs more often than the vet, after all, and something like this temperament shift is not to be taken lightly. Also, owners need to know how strong a dog's breaking point is, and what better place to hear that than from the groomer? I know that those two dogs are going to have a good road prepared for them, one of ease and quiet. What more could an old dog ask for?

This has got me thinking that someday, I'd like to offer a waterless treatment for senior dogs. No tub and no dryers. Just get 'em on the table, spray 'em good, brush 'em down, towel 'em off, all done! Sure, it won't get them as clean as a regular bath, but there is only so much an old dog can tolerate. Hmm, maybe I'll end up using Dogs in Style?

Wag on, my wise old four-legged friends!