Confessions of a Dog Lover: I Have Crated My Dog for SO Long

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who's sent their heartfelt condolences and comforting comments on Ginger's passing. We are blessed to have online friends like you.

Senior Dog with Aural Hematoma in Giant Crate

I've had Whitey on crate rest for a long time. Ever since he and Puppy have had major fights, I've had him crated on mornings and afternoons to avoid the usual blood shed and aural hematomas. Noon time and night time is break time from crating.

I thought crating my senior dog was the right thing, but I was wrong. 

Tiny Dog Bites and Teeth Scrapes from Buchi

These dog fights were often initiated by Whitey. In fact, he's bitten me twice because Puppy would go around us and taunt him (which I think was Puppy just being a playful and curious... puppy). To add more to the drama, Whitey had the flaps of his ear drained about 4 or 5 times because he kept on attacking Puppy, and Puppy would simply overpower him-- sending him ear first on the concrete floor. That's when I decided that these two should avoid contact as often as possible. 

But I was wrong.

Big Dog Bite from Whitey

By doing so, I think I've made the situation worse. 

I think I forgot to trust my dogs' intelligence in working as a pack-- in working things out.

I think... I've underestimated my dogs' social skills.

Of course, I preferred being safe.

Whitey, my senior love dog.

I'd rather have Whitey placed on scheduled crating than to see my senior badly injured again: the aural hematomas, the wound gashes, and the bloody bite injuries. 

But I was still wrong to crate him like this for so long.

He should have been with the others while they played.

Lounging on a cool sunny day, destroying their toys.

He should have been with them running or trying to catch up.

I was scared that he might get injured again that I have ended up isolating him from the rest of the pack. 

Even though he's free the entire evening, and it's only mornings and afternoons that he is crated, I could still see how much it has affected his muscles, his energy, and his life. 

Sometimes, I feel the people I live with are far better dog caretakers than I am. 

Yesterday, one of them decided to leave Whitey free. With a hose in one hand, she prepared herself to quench Whitey's possible rampage against the rambunctious pup.

Thankfully, there hasn't been any incidents yet. And hopefully, it remains that way for the rest of our happy dog days!

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POTP for Chooey

Dear friends,

We are once again riddled with a stressful problem. Chooey and Rin got into a fight. It was awful. I had isolated them from each other the night before, but it wasn't meant to be. This morning, Chooey was carried back to her area with really bad puncture wounds. Also, whenever she opened her mouth, she would tilt her head sideways. I was dead worried that I decided to bring her to the clinic immediately.

The lady vet removed the fur from the puncture wounds but while they were removing it and she was squirming. They accidentally held the area where her jaw was and she made a piercing scream.

We had her x-rayed to find out that Chooey's right mandible is broken. Of all the places, why should it have been there? The veterinarian said that it had probably been due to the impact of Rin's bite which was supposed to be a through and through (right directly below her eye). She also had two puncture wounds just above her brows and the area between her eyes. 

This is part of Chooey's medication and diet. Soft diet composed of Cerelac and Recovery Food. Tolfine 60mg for pain and Augmentin for infection.

The vet said that we would need a brace to repair her jaw and the surgery alone will cost 9,000 php. That's a lot of money and it just breaks my heart that this had to happen to her. 

I made sure to notify the household that Chooey was to remain at the bottom, but somebody had opened the hatch to which she bolted towards Rin. A fight commenced and I just found out of her wounds an hour later because it happened early in the morning. 

This is the best we could do in the mean time because of the inflammation.

Now, Chooey's not to open her right jaw which makes this even more unbearable.

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Dog Fights: What to Do When Dogs Fight

After the internet uproar of the unfair sentence on Dutch the Dog's case, I think it's just right that I make a post/ semi-rant on what to do during a heated dog fight.

Why? That's because most people, no matter how reputable or genuinely good they are, DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN DOGS FIGHT. And in the end, they become victims of their own ignorance.

Things to Remember

1. Intact dogs are prone to fighting with each other than spayed/neutered ones.

These two dogs are intact. Buchi's constantly challenging Whitey when it comes to dominance.

2. Correction on bad behavior and constant reinforcement is important for your dog to have a structured life.

3. A well-exercised dog is a tired dog and a tired dog is a happy dog. You get it, right?

4. Just because someone is a great person, it doesn't mean he/she is a great dog owner.

5. It's our responsibility, as dog owners, to know our dog's temperament and behavior.

6. Non-dog owners should also know how to identify signs of a dominant, nervous or aggressive dog.

What to Expect While Stopping Two Dogs Fight

1. Battle Scars. It's not just them, but also YOU. If you intend to stop a dog fight with your bare hands, then you might as well prepare yourself for bite marks and probably worse.  

By choosing to go bare hands, people should know that this is like going in a war zone without any form of protection (not even a pair of combat boots).

2. Trauma and Possible Re-Occurence. There's a fat chance that dogs who've fought before will fight each other again.

Glad I didn't have to deal with Whitey's bite. I got Shih Tzu teeth scrapes from Buchi though.

3.  More Battle Scars. The two dogs may have stopped biting each other, but this doesn't mean you're safe. Get a muzzle or restrain each dog as soon as possible!

Tips on Abating Dog Fights or What to Do When Dogs Fight

1. NO HITTING. When dogs fight, it's in their instincts not to let go EVER.This means, it won't matter if you hit them with your hands or a stick, it probably won't work.

2. HOSE IT. If dogs fight and you have a water source available near you (preferably a hose), get a bucket full of water and throw it at them or HOSE THEM DOWN.

Note: Some dogs won't respond to hosing the second time around.

3. IT'S NOT OVER YET.  So you've hosed them down and managed to break the heated fight. Make sure you restrain one or the other first to control the situation. 

If you need to lock each one in a room in the mean time, do so. 

If you need to muzzle both of them, do so. 

If you need to tie each of them to a tree so you can catch your breath, do so.

These two aren't fighting. They're actually wrestling each other. Buchi is on an extended leash because this was back when he peed everywhere.

Note: If you're capable of carrying the big dog (versus a small dog), carry the bigger dog. I say this because when Buchi and Whitey fought, Whitey was dead serious about doing some serious Shih Tzu damage. I carried Whitey so Buchi can't reach him rather than have White jump all over me while he attempts to prey on Buchi.

4. MUZZLE BEFORE TREATMENT. Make sure you calm yourself first. Then, find a way to muzzle the dog before you start treating their wounds. After a heated dog fight, some dogs can still remain aggressive so be careful!

Note: I'm sure some will object with number 4 because there's tendency for dogs to associate tools with current emotions. Meaning dogs might associate the muzzle with aggression so I am open to better ideas, please feel free to comment.

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8 Ways to Abate Dog Fighting

So your pooch isn't as friendly as he looks. He meets other dogs and turns into Cujo. Why is this so?

Some dogs aren't social butterflies, so it's important for an owner to know what to do in case a canine rumble occurs.

Playtime sometimes isn't only about playing. At a young age, dogs learn bite inhibition, tackling moves and pack communication.

1. You're the big kahuna so your voice should be deep and loud. I've read in an article that women have a higher probability of remembering what men with deep voices say compared to those with high-pitched ones. For dogs, it's the same. Pet's usually associate low-pitched voices with a growl. So if you want to stop a brawl, make sure you say your deepest and loudest "No!"

2. Quell their anger. You see your pooch raising his back hair up, lunging for the bite, his opponent inviting the attack. Get your hose ready to blast if a squabble begins. A pail or pitcher of cool water will have the same effect. Just get the damned cool water in a container and extinguish their rage.

3. Don't go referee. Be careful when intervening. It's always better to use the water trick rather than go in yourself on a suicide mission. There have already been cases of people being bitten or mauled by their pets because of their attempts to stop a fight with their hands and body. If you don't have water, get a large cloth like a heavy towel or blanket and throw it at your pooch before you start grabbing him.

4. Opt for play dates with other dogs. Introduce your dog to his fellow canines through play dates. Your pooch will eventually enjoy the company of other dogs which will lessen his assumption that new peers are always hostile.

Make sure you set meetings on non-territorial grounds. Some dogs don't like it when a dog invades their space so make sure to meet somewhere neutral like a park rather than at home.

5. Mood. If you plan to let your dog meet other pets, try to set it in a time where he's already spent his excess energy such as after playing, walking or doing an intense physical activity. Postpone meetings if you feel that Fido is irritated or stressed.

6. Neutering / Spaying. Although most of us prefer to see our baby's babies, we should also consider neutering or spaying because doing so can lessen aggressive tendencies in them.

7. Hold the leash properly. Some dogs may seem to be looking for a fight because owners pull their leashes high. It's important to hold the leash slightly loose so your pooch doesn't look like an aggressor with his head up. Keep the leash low when he meets other dogs so they can greet each other.

Don't pull your dog immediately away from the sniffing activity. Give him 5 to 10 seconds to sniff their peer's shoulder and behind before saying "Good boy," and pulling him away.

8. Take notice of your pack. Dogs are pack animals. They also have a hierarchy. So in feeding and greeting them, it's important to go for the older dog first.

This is Milk. She's the current barker. I like this picture because she looks scary on it which is completely the opposite of how cute and adorable she is.

In my pack, there is a barker, a leader and a challenger. The barker is always the newest member. She (it's currently a she) is the one who barks when they get hungry. Everyday, she barks for food for a couple of minutes then stops.

The pack's leader is always free to go wherever he wants to.

The challenger always growls at the leader because he doesn't want to pay his dues (in the form of food).

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