Recently, I checked Good Old Dog: Expert Advice for Keeping Your Aging Dog Happy, Healthy, and Comfortable out of the library. Before I get into the review, I have to admit: I’m not convinced that Emmett is getting old. He’s probably 8ish, but he’s busy and spry. But there are signs. Like his muzzle, which I don’t even notice until I’m downloading pics like this off of my camera:

Where did all that grey come from?! I swear it wasn't there yesterday...

He plays with his brothers, though less than he used to. He goes for walks, though he prefers a stroll over a jog these days. He is exuberant and playful anytime he goes somewhere to “work,” but I’ve noticed that it’s taking him longer to sleep it off afterwards.

He still has a good, long life ahead of him, but I picked up this book because I wanted to get a sense of what the experts are saying about aging.

The bottom line? Our dogs can lead very long, very happy, very healthy lives with good nutrition, exercise, and healthcare.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who’s worried about signs of aging. The authors do a fantastic job outlining – it total layman’s terms – clinical signs and symptoms and what to do about them. They explain common conditions and their treatments. Each chapter starts with a brief blurb about a dog who experienced the condition they’re explaining in that chapter, which helped put yourself in those shoes.

The best bits, to me, were the parts where they explored different, common ailments (vomiting, for example) with a great explanation as to when you should see a vet for those routine things. There was also straightforward, frank discussions about the cost of care and end-of-life decisions.

I can see Good Old Dog becoming a reference that you pull off the shelf each time your older dog experiences or is diagnosed with something new. It’s both practical and reassuring.

Even though Emmett isn’t “old” in my eyes, he is definitely getting older. I took away a lot of valuable information from this book, but all the information that falls under the “things to be aware of” category were the most valuable.

Have you read Good Old Dog? Thoughts? Are there other books about aging that you would recommend? 

Last night, Emmett and Lucas were bored! I’ve had to work late almost every night this week, and it’s been so hot that we haven’t gotten much walking in either. So at around 8:30 PM, I decided to take them outside and work on a new trick. Once I discovered that Emmett was a hoop-jumping fiend, I embellished it a little, and here’s what I came up with:

( Ed. note: This was totally spontaneous, so please ignore the overgrown/half-dead grass situation and my ridiculously pale legs.)

Take 1.

Take 1: Emmett jumps Lucas from Maggie Marton on Vimeo.

Take 2.

Take 2: Oops from Maggie Marton on Vimeo.

Take 3.

Take 3: Now he’s got it! from Maggie Marton on Vimeo.

As you can see, Emmett catches on quickly, then proceeds to get a little carried away! I think we may have to refine the jumping a little bit… specifically, getting him to wait for his cue! I was really impressed with Lucas, too, for staying so still while his brother leapt over him.

This was a lot of fun, though, and I plan on working with them on more elaborate tricks!

What’s the most fun trick you’ve taught your dog? Any fun games you can try this weekend?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Lucas always tries to understand what I'm saying!

I chatter to Emmett and Lucas all day long. A lot of what I say to them has created an odd set of routines. For instance, they tend to follow me around the house. So when I’m in the office and I say “I’m going to refill my coffee,” they know I’ll be coming right back, so they don’t follow me.

Other things have really specific meaning to them – Want to go for a walk? Are you hungry? Let’s go see Cady! (meaning, play with the darling dog next door). They have really specific reactions to each of those things. At “walk,” Lucas runs and sits at the front door. At “hungry,” Emmett runs and sits in front of his bowl. And at “Cady,” they both run to the backdoor and start dancing with excitement.

But recently I realized that they respond more consistently to nonverbal cues. Like hand signals with training, dogs seem to respond to visual directions… even ones you don’t try to teach them!

For example, when I pull my navy blue running shoes out of the closet, Lucas dashes to the front door just as reliably as when I say “walk.” He has learned that these sneakers – not my black ones, not the yard work ones, THESE ones – mean we’re going for a walk.

Likewise, they’ve learned that when I pick up the single key to our mailbox, they know that they’re not getting a car ride, they’re not going for a walk, I’m not leaving… I’m getting the mail. So as soon as I pick up that one single key on its Colts football key chain, they dash to the front window to watch me walk to and from the mailbox.

Those are just two small examples of our nonverbal conversation. It goes on throughout the day with all the different cues that they’ve learned – this happens, then I get to do this! I know a lot of it is routine, but it takes some pretty deep intelligence to really get the cause and effect associated with certain actions.

What nonverbal cues does your dog respond to? Do you find that your dog does better with verbal or nonverbal communication?

This is what Emmett normally looks like:

Happy! Vibrant! Will perform for treats!

And this is what he looked like last night:

Sad.

The good news is that the two bumps were NOT cancerous! Wahooooo!!!! It’s such a humongous relief, and so we continue our countdown to Emmett’s one-year-cancer-free celebration!

Anyway, he’s still a bit groggy and definitely sore today. I’m not even going to show you the picture of his back and how much of his beautiful, brindle fur was shaved. (Does anyone know: Does it grow back in the same pattern?) The challenge today, though, is keeping Lucas from trying to “help” by licking Emmett’s sutures…

So for today’s Link Love, I wanted to pass along some of the more useful canine cancer resources I’ve found over the course of Emmett’s battle. I know from looking at my Google Analytics, a lot of you have arrived on this blog looking for cancer info, so in addition to the resources below, you can always email me!

Fight Dog Cancer – an online forum for people to share stories about their dogs’ battles with cancer.

National Canine Cancer Foundation – their Canine Cancer Library has a ton of useful, straightforward articles.

About.com: Veterinary Medicine, Dog Cancer

Tripawds.com – when we thought Emmett might lose his leg, this site was incredibly helpful.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Today would normally be the day Emmett and I volunteer at the children’s program at the mental health hospital, but instead, we’re going to snuggle up, watch a movie, and just be so, so grateful!

Hug your puppies!

P.S. Don’t forget to create your End BSL postcard!! I laid out the challenge to get 100 between this past Tuesday and next Tuesday… and we’re not even halfway there yet! Full campaign update will come on Tuesday!

Sigh. Emmett has a lump on his back. We are nearing the homestretch, coming in on one year of him being cancer free. And now this lump. It’s small; the vet says it’s probably nothing, that if it were on any other dog she’d “wait and see,” but because of his history she wants to play it safe. So today he goes in for another surgery. Once again, I’m reduced to a helpless, anxious, neurotic mess.

I believe in the power of positive thinking, so please send happy thoughts Emmett’s way today!

When I first wrote about BlogPaws in Denver, I left out some crucial details in my haste to get something, anything written. So let’s start at the beginning…

BSL is the acronym for breed-specific legislation. BSL frequently targets pit bulls and dogs that resemble pit bulls. BSL laws range from restrictions on pit bull owners (like requiring additional liability insurance, or their pit bulls to be microchipped, to wear muzzles, or to be spayed/neutered) to outright breed bans whereby people are prevented from owning dogs with a certain appearance.While pit bulls are the most common targets, in some areas of the country the laws include German Shepherds, Dobermans, Akitas, Presa Canarios, even St. Bernards.

Breed-specific legislation should not be supported by responsible dog owners and definitely should not be supported by those of us who are deeply concerned with animal welfare.

Because here’s the thing: BSL doesn’t even work. Since we’re going to Denver, let’s use that city as an example. Denver’s BSL law started in 1989, had 2 brief non-enforcement periods, then resumed in 2005. Since 2005 Denver has killed 2,266 dogs identified – or, frequently, misidentified – as pit bulls. (Want to know how hard breed ID is? Take this test to see how you do!)

There is a huge cost associated with enacting and enforcing a breed ban. For example, Denver currently faces several lawsuits. The plaintiffs are disabled and had their service dogs seized – in one case, the dog wasn’t even a pit bull. And those aren’t the only lawsuits; there are at least 5 others that are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars, despite Denver’s $160 million budget shortfall.

Beyond the cost, BSL fails to improve public safety. Sadly, dog bites still occur. Here’s a quick run-down of some bites in Denver if you’re interested in further reading.

The reality is that BSL fails to protect public safety. It’s costly, inefficient, and ineffective. And it’s unethical. The bottom line? BSL punishes dogs instead of irresponsible owners. In fact, it gets bad owners off the hook. And the dogs are the ones who are suffering.

But I have to be totally honest: Until I adopted Emmett, my bully ambassador, I had never heard of breed-specific legislation. My Emmett is the sweetest dog you will ever meet – he loves absolutely everyone, he snuggles with anyone who makes eye contact with him, he’s a therapy dog who thrives in an environment filled with loud, noisy children who just need a little love. And he does love them. He waggles, cuddles, performs tricks, and gives high-fives until he can barely lift his arm. But I’m constantly questioned, “Is that a pit bull?” “Does he bite?” The worst one we ever got, “He’s a pit bull, right? So are you going to put him down when you have children?” While this discussion isn’t about me and it isn’t about Emmett, it’s about all the dogs like Emmett who are wonderful, one-of-a-kind dogs who want nothing more than to make people happy. And yet people want dogs like Emmett to be euthanized. Why? Because of how he looks? It’s unjust and intolerant.

I’m so happy we’re having this discussion. I’d love to know what you think about BSL, what your experiences have been, or – most especially – stories about bully ambassadors you’ve encountered!

I’m breaking this into two posts because, well, it got a little long. Tomorrow, I’m going to write about the ideas I have for how we – pet bloggers, dog lovers, animal advocates – can make sure that the voices of these dogs are heard, loud and clear, and how I think it ties in to BlogPaws West. But for today, I’m going to leave you with a little bully love with one of the best music videos ever!

Earlier this month, BlogPaws announced a second conference for 2010, this one in Denver. The first conference, held in Columbus, Ohio, was amazing. Beyond the useful panel discussions and inspiring keynote speeches, I made lots of new blogging friends, which was completely invaluable. And I really want to go to BlogPaws in Denver.

Except.

I’m a little sensitive about BSL issues, and I work very hard with different organizations to combat bully misconceptions. Sadly, Ohio is one of the worst states in the country for BSL, so I was unable to bring Emmett, my sweet therapy dog/bully mix, to BlogPaws.

When I heard that BlogPaws West is held in Denver, I was appalled. Denver enacted BSL in 2005. According to KC Dog Blog, Denver has killed 1,600 pit bulls since 2005 – but as recently as last October city officials admitted that they’re not sure if the ban is even working.

I’m struggling. Should 100s of pet owners, bloggers, advocates, and people striving to “be the change” pour their money into the hotels and restaurants of Denver? I don’t think so. Animal advocates should be responsible for actually practicing what they preach, right?

So I’m torn. I loved BlogPaws, absolutely loved it. And yet.

What do you think? Is anyone else concerned about their choice of location? Will it affect your decision of whether or not to attend?

Lucas and cousin-dog Turk out for a walk

When we lived in DC, Emmett and Lucas had very busy social lives. They went to the park for 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening. We took them to Petsmart or to friends’ houses for puppy play dates on the weekends. They went to a doggy birthday party with all their park friends. On nice nights, they would romp on our building’s (fully fenced in!) roof deck with other dogs from our building. Dog owners sought each other out for social activities, group walks, and park meet-ups. Every single day, Emmett and Lucas met and interacted with lots of dogs. In fact, I think that’s what helped Lucas overcome many of his dog-related issues. At some point he realized, Wow! Dogs are FUN!

When we moved to Indiana, the comment we received from absolutely everyone was, “The dogs will be so happy to finally have a yard!”

And they are, of course. Sort of.

When I walk the boys around my neighborhood, they get barked at. A lot. There’s the boxer who yelps from over his blue picket fence. There’s the collie-something who rushes his chain-link fence, snarling and snapping. Then there are the dogs behind electric fences, and the dogs who rush out from half-open garage doors to yip and yap as the boys pass by. These poor dogs sound miserable. And, sadly, I only see the same few dogs get walked consistently. (I’m not really a Gladys Kravitz. I just work from home in an office with a window!)

Now we have to really strive to arrange dog interactions. And, unfortunately, I think Lucas is starting to digress a little. Even though we take him to Petsmart and arrange play dates, he’s doing pretty poorly at greeting unfamiliar dogs again. So we just need to step it up, find more opportunities, or create them!

But it makes me wonder about all those people who were so excited that the boys would finally have a yard… In the city, at least in our neighborhood, dog owners strove to arrange interactions and socialization for their dogs. In the suburbs, at least in our neighborhood, most of the dogs we encounter are barking at us from behind a fence.

So is the yard really all that great? Could it be? Are city dogs happier than suburban dogs?

For those of you who are new to this blog, a quick little background note: My darling Emmett was diagnosed with a nerve-sheath tumor last July. It’s a soft-tissue cancer that is, thankfully, low-grade malignancy. After vets, oncologists, surgeons, and a specialist/angel/hero, Emmett had the tumor removed. We’ve been doing regular follow-ups — monthly with our vet and quarterly with the oncologist. I linked to the whole saga HERE if you’re interested in reading more.

Lucas protected Emmett after his surgery

Last week, I drove Emmett up to Indianapolis for his nine-month checkup. The tech got Emmett from our little waiting room to go do the x-rays. After 20 minutes she came back and said that Emmett was such a good boy. She said she had forgotten that Emmett actually jumps up onto the x-ray table and waits for his tests – the only dog they have who does that! I’m always so proud of my little guy…

Anyway, the GREAT news is that everything came back clear!! His legs, his lungs, his lymph nodes are all good. In fact, we don’t need to go back for the next round for six more months! All great, wonderful, exciting news!

This whole thing has been so difficult, so challenging, so exhausting. Every time he has an appointment, we get nervous, all the “what if’s” start swirling. But, man. We have been so incredibly lucky.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about dealing with canine cancer, and I’ve had the chance to chat with a woman locally who went through a lot of what we’re going through. So just throwing this out there, but if you are facing the same thing, please don’t hesitate to email me to ask any questions, gripe, vent, cry, anything. It’s tough, and we’ve been so incredibly lucky to have an amazing support system in place. And Emmett is so lucky to have so many kind, caring, supportive friends and family.

As soon as the appointment was over, we flew to Maryland for our darling nephew’s baptism and got back late last night, so I’m a little behind. But there are some great things coming: another giveaway, some fun springtime activities, a little link love later in the week, and guest posts!

Currently, Lucas is one tired dog:

And so is Emmett:

I love when the boys are this tired because I can get so much work done, but this level of exhaustion is nearly impossible to achieve with two fun-loving, energetic dogs. But since Thursday, we’ve kept them incredibly busy. So here are my fool-proof 10 ways to tire out your dog! (Click on the images to enlarge.)

1. Have a friend over! Scout came over to play with the boys on Thursday. Just adding a new playmate into the mix keeps them busy all day.

2. On a nice day, break out the hose. It’s sort of like a brand-new toy.

3. Of course, if your dog isn’t fond of water, there’s always rolling around in the dirt.

4. Once the backyard loses its luster, head out for a hike. All the sights and smells keep them captivated and busy!

5. Long days playing outside are perfect for doggy ice cream, too.

6. Invite some more friends over like Cady and Bella.

7. Start a game of tug-o-war! It’s not easy to get three dogs into the game, but someone can serve as the ref.

8. Or just keep wrestling.

9. It’s important to stay hydrated! And drinking water as a group seems like a fun activity.

10. But sometimes it’s just nice to sit with a friend and watch the birds.

And that is how you get two very tired pups!

What did you do this weekend?