Why not Doc?

Some of you may be asking, why I don't walk Doc every morning like I do Vivi (& will now have to do Howie). Well, it's simple really...he's not much of a walker! He's more like a dragger & honestly, that's not how I want to start my mornings & it's not how I want to have his experience with walks.


Plus, every road in our city is under construction & he has very sensitive feet. He doesn't like anything but grass or debris free roads under his feet. I had a very hard time walking him this winter when the roads would thaw & then refreeze...it was so painful for him.


So, Doc does get walks, just not in the mornings before work! Sometimes you just have to pick your battles & understand what your bully does/doesn't, will/won't do...and if that is not a quick walk in the morning, so be it! Afterall, he is a bully...and they can be (GASP) stubborn!!

10 Weeks in Rehab...

and what does Howie have to show for it?

-A special "space" in the living room, that still works very well for time outs & voluntary quiet time by all 3 of the bullies.
-A leg that the fur is still trying to grow back...he looks a little loppsided.
-A scar that actually isn't nearly as long/ugly as I was expecting.
-New toys from Momma & Daddy
-About 5 extra pounds!

Dear lord! I brought him on a walk this morning because he asked me to...he did. He went up to the door after I brought Vivi for her daily walk. So we walked. Not too far mind you as he's still rehabbing (longer walks everyday), but it was the first time in quite some time that he was in front of me...I know, I know..."who's walking who" right?

Well, he was excited to walk & he wasn't pulling, he was just in front of me...and that's when I noticed it!! His normally svelte (no really, for a bulldog he was svelte) body was no longer & instead I see this itty bitty butt & his barrel chest rolling from one side to the other!! JUST LIKE DOC'S!! YIKES!!

I didn't have time to weigh him this morning before I left for work, but I'm guessing it's at least 5 extra lbs on that boy of mine. Of course I don't want this extra weight on him & for a semi-split second I thought, "huh, he IS almost 2, maybe he's finally filling out like they said the English lines would!" But I know better! It's weight gain, not English lines!

So now, both Howie & Vivi will be getting morning walks before I leave. Vivi, to hopefully give her enough activity so that she isn't totally bored & wanting to eat something she shouldn't & Howie, to lose the weight....ah heck, both of those work for me too!

The most successful walk ever!

Yesterday, I took Howie for a short walk when I got home. In case I haven't mentioned it before, Howie is my crazy boy...the HEYLOOKATME!DON'TYOUWANTTOPLAYWITHME?IWANTTOPLAYWITHYOU!I'MGONNAGOOVERTHERENOW!DOYOUWANTTOCOMEWITHME? boy! He's constantly on the go! He's the sweetest thing ever, very lovey & loves to give feet kisses (right Gramma Suzie?)...but he needs a job. Just like his momma Hannah, he's very driven. He loves to please & if you have a treat...my god! You'd think he was the most well behaved dog in the world!

Anyway...because he always has to be there yesterday, when on lead he's usually pulling. In January Sandy was in town & I had her help me. She took Howie for a short walk around the house & he pulled only a few times...I couldn't believe it. She taught me how to get him to stop pulling by using treats (he's VERY food driven) & as soon as he pulls, turn right back around & walk until he pulls again & then turn around again. There were many a walk where we didn't even get to the neighbor's driveway in 20 min because of the pulling & turning around! But almost every time we made some progress! Today I'm happy to report after 3 months of at least weekly walks, Howie did NOT pull once yesterday! Woo hoo!

I was so proud of him! I even had him sit when cars went by (he has a tendency to want to go with every car that goes by). He sat every time & he just waited until I either gave him the command, "ok, let's go" or praised him & gave him a treat. What a proud momma I was! If I turned right, he turned right; if I turned left, he turned left; when I stopped, he sat. What a change!

Now...the test will be can he walk like that for someone else AND can he eventually walk like that when I have Doc or Vivi with? Baby steps...