Discomfort-is

It's the end of the month, which marks many things in our life with Apple. Since we found him on May 29 and declared his estimated birthday to be January 29, at the end of each month we celebrate having him in our lives and on this earth a little bit longer. We also give him his monthly medications to prevent fleas and heartworms.

Apple takes Tri-Heart as his heartworm preventative and Comfortis to ward off fleas. Don't get me wrong by the name of this blog: I love Comfortis! It is a chewable, so it is easy to give, your dog doesn't have to avoid water for any period of time, and it kills any fleas on your dog in 30 minutes. However, it is important to give it with a meal, and if you don't, it may not be so easy to give in the future!

Last month, Apple weighed in at 66 lbs, heavy enough to move up to the large size of Comfortis for 60-120 lb. dogs. I brought him in to Emancipet in the morning, and I was a couple of days late in giving him the flea medicine, so I wanted to give it to him right away. Since it was the morning, I had already fed him, and I hoped I was giving him the medicine close enough to his breakfast for it to be okay. I also gave him lots of treats so that he wouldn't be taking it on an empty stomach....but he threw up anyway.

Today, I tried to give him both his heartworm and flea medications and he must have remembered throwing up, because he did NOT want to take the Comfortis! He took the Tri-Heart just fine, but he repeatedly tried to throw the Comfortis out of his bowl and spit it out every time I tried to give it to him!

The bowls are empty...did he take it?

No, he's hiding it in his blanket...

You can clearly see how horrified he is

Steven suggested I cover it in peanut butter and he finally took it!

Save the South Congress Food Trailers!

Lately, I've been getting very planning-oriented on this blog, but being that I am an Austin Dog Mom, it is relevant that I speak out on issues pertaining to our great city.

Everyone is familiar with the slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," actually coined in the late 1990's by a caller on a local KOOP radio station and spoken in response to the changes (gentrification) that were taking place in the city.

Austin's weirdness is directly related to its dog culture; public spaces such as local dives and food trailers welcome dogs and humans alike, and the laid-back atmosphere allows people to enjoy their dog's company in public more often than in other cities.

However, our growth as a metropolitan area has also led to the creation of more parks and fancy businesses directly serving dogs, so it is difficult to say whether or not change is more positive or negative for the future generations of fur children.

Currently, the South Congress food trailers are under siege. This popular destination for both tourists and locals is about to be cleared out for a new hotel, and many in Austin are not only angry, but skeptical as to how this will really benefit the tourist scene, as many visitors to Austin make it a point to visit the famed food park. 

Currently, there is a petition circulating on Change.org to save the food trailer park, and it currently needs 1,940 more signatures.

I would greatly appreciate your signature on this petition, as food trailers are not only a part of our culture, but also help foster the dog-friendly dining environment that we all know and love.

Click here to sign: SOCO ATX Development: Preserve Austin's Food Trailers on S. Congress!

Save our Food Trailers!

Accepted!

After much anticipation, I finally got word this past Thursday that I was accepted into the Master's of Science in Community and Regional Planning (MSCRP) program at the University of Texas!

Lately, I have been alluding to my planning interests by mentioning my support of the Mabel Davis Dog Park, and referencing community issues and gentrification in blogs such as "Dog-ography in 'Welcome to Dogtown'" and my book review of Katie Up and Down the Hall.

I am primarily interested in the relationship between community development/urban planning issues and the arts, but ever since getting Apple, I have also become intrigued by services/community areas for pets as well. I am really interested in analyzing the changes that have taken place in Austin's dog culture in relation to the gentrification that has been occurring particularly in the past ten years.

Now that I am soon to be a student at one of the largest, most popular universities in the entire country, I am excited to know that my large capacity for dorky school spirit can finally be put to good use. (I was full of school spirit at St. Edward's, but at St. Ed's being spirited isn't necessarily "cool.")

As UT sells an abundance of clothing and other items for fans and students to purchase, they also have many dog items as well, which I was excited to see. Apple doesn't particularly need most of these things, but there are a few items I wanted to pick out to showcase in my blog.

This Bevo dog toy is made by Tuffy, a company that makes super-durable stuffed toys for dogs. We already own a Tuffy shark, which Apple loves. (However, the shark is pretty much destroyed. Just because they are "tuff" doesn't mean Apple can't wreck it.) I would love to get a Bevo for Apple, as he already has shown an affinity for university mascot toys...

Topper Before....

 

Topper after. This is one of Apple's favorite toys

The website Footballfanatics.com has many Longhorn jerseys for dogs, but I found this item to be the most fascinating:

This is called a "Pet Trek Canteen"

I love this item not because of the university affiliation, but simply because of the design! Steven and I were just talking about how we need to bring water out when we play with Apple since it is getting warmer, and this is an incredibly convenient way to do it! The canteen hangs from your neck, and the little bowl snaps onto the back, and can hold that rubber bone if you want to bring a chew toy out with you. I actually really want to get this....it is a Dog Mom must-have!

The item that I really want to get for Apple is a Bevo costume. Unfortunately, they were not easy to find online! (The ones I did find were only for small dogs...) Maybe, in October, they will become more readily available.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on these adorable Bevo pups, and imagine Apple with a set of Bevo horns. We already know he looks great in orange!

This is Charlie, the winner of a costume contest.

This is Scotch, and I love his horns!

Husband Jumps in to Town Lake to Save Drowning Dog

I already posted a blog today, but this one could not wait.

Today, at Auditorium Shores, my heroic husband went out into the lake to save a dog from drowning.

I don't have any pictures of this rescue, but he also has been known to rescue Sonic the Hedgehog.

We were playing with Apple by having him retrieve balls from the water as we usually do, when a grey pit bull mix got a little too excited when we threw the ball. He dove right in after Apple, only this dog was not a strong swimmer.

While many pit bulls can swim, often they can be too top heavy and sink. This one had a pretty broad, stocky chest and when he tried to swim, his head went down and his tail went up, and he struggled around like that in the water for a bit. He was never able to get his head up above the water! 

The dog was there with a friend of the owner, who was near the water when the situation occurred, and she seemed to be hoping that the dog would get the hang of it eventually, as she had mentioned that he had swam years before but was never great at it. 

I stayed pretty calm because I knew Steven would go in after the dog, as we had discussed that he would go in after Apple if he was ever drowning. After it became clear that the dog wasn't coming up and the owner/owner's friend hadn't gotten him. Steven took off his shoes and his jacket and went right in the water to pull the dog out!

The dog was fine despite being underwater for a little while. I know it seemed a lot longer than it actually was. Other people noticed and watched, and it was one of those situations where people stand around and wait for someone to take action without doing it themselves. I wasn't worried though; I knew Steven would save the dog!

Also seen around the park today was another Landseer Newfoundland, similar to Ranger, the therapy dog we saw a month ago. Steven enjoyed using him as a towel to dry off!

Presidential Dogs

Happy Presidents' Day! In keeping with the Presidential holiday spirit, I thought I'd post some information about presidents and their dogs that I discovered from a wonderful online TIME Magazine photo essay, entitled "Presidents and their Dogs."

The photo essay features 16 presidents with dogs: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

(Out of my own curiosity, I colored the presidents' names to denote their political party. Most of the dog owners were Republican, and with the exception of my main man George Washington who had no party affiliation, no presidents from parties predating the Democratic/Populist party are featured.)

I am not sure if these were the only presidents to have dogs, but I assume there were other presidents with dogs that were not as  well-documented, as the only presidents prior to the 20th century on this list are Washington and Lincoln, two of the most famous presidents of all time.

These are some of the stories I found most interesting:

 George Washington is my favorite president, and he was a meticulous breeder of American Foxhounds. He listed more than 30 in his journal and apparently liked to drink, as he gave them names such as "Drunkard" and "Tipsy."

Warren G. Harding was the ultimate Dog Dad, even in the 1920's, as he threw birthday parties for his Airdale, Laddie Boy, complete with dog cake. He even had a special cabinet chair made for his dog to sit in at "high-level meetings."

FDR's Scottie, Fala, was a celebrity in his own right, starring in a movie. He also had his own press secretary and was named an honorary Army Private.

This one is sad. Harry S. Truman received Feller as a gift and then gave him away, causing people to refer to him as "the unwanted dog."

 

JFK had many dogs (there are 6 in this picture) and had a special dog play area added on to the West Wing. The Kennedy family is full of dog lovers, and Ted Kennedy actually gave Bo to the Obamas and referred them to his dog trainer.

This is actually the story that motivated Steven and I to find this photo essay. George W. Bush had a Scottish Terrier named Barney while in office who he was very devoted to. A few weeks ago, Barney passed away from Lymphoma at 12 years of age. Like Fala, he became well-loved and famous from his own Barney-cam movies, although they weren't quite as high-profile.

RIP Barney Bush

Dog-ography in "Welcome to Dogtown, aka Austin, Texas"

A Facebook friend just posted the most amazing article on my wall, entitled "Welcome to Dogtown, aka Austin, Texas." It is literally one of the greatest articles for me to read, considering my love of dogs AND demography, the combination of which I just referred to as "dog-ography."

I have subtly hinted at my interest in urban and community issues including gentrification, and my personal interest in Austin's dog culture has fueled a professional curiosity as to how Austin's changes as a city are connected to it's relationship with Man's/Woman's Best Friend. Or child, as the article notes....because after all, I am a Dog Mom.

According to this article, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that only one-third of all dog owners view their dogs as pets. According to this study (unfortunately the year was not reported) the vast majority of people have a Dog Mom/Dad relationship to their dogs, which I think is very cool.

The article cites so many amazing statistics, it is difficult to know where to begin. For starters, Texas actually boasts the highest population of dogs out of any state--about 7.2 million. There is no accurate statistic for the number of dogs in Austin, but when it comes to dog services, we dominate even national rankings. We have 12 off-leash parks (more than any Texas city, and I STILL don't think its enough,) 40 doggy day cares, and roughly 200 dog-friendly restaurants!!! (I better get to eating!) Other unique services, such as dog bakeries and birthday party venues are mentioned. Zoom Room Austin is one location that I know offers birthday parties. While it may seem extravagant to have a full-blown party for a dog...you know I'd do it if I had the money.

And there it is! The kicker: Money. If there's one thing I've noticed about the majority of Dog Moms, it's that they are richer than me. The article cites that dog ownership is linked to higher income. One controversy that I've been meaning to address on this blog is cheap vs. expensive dog food, but I haven't gotten brave enough because I'm embarrassed to talk about it. It's one of those things that can make you feel very guilty if you aren't providing your dog with the best, most expensive food. But that's a post for another time.

I could go on and on about this article, but you should probably just go read it for yourself. One thing I found interesting is that most Dog Moms actually are single women, and that ownership dogs by single women has increased by 25% since 2006. 

This last quote I found to be particularly interesting about the Dog Mom effect:

"Studies have shown that a dog’s gaze stimulates the release of oxytocin in humans, the calming hormone that promotes bonding. It would stand to reason that if women are starting families later, they may feel the need to have that nurturing relationship,”

Ta-da! Scientific evidence that we are not "psychologically deranged," as some might believe us to be.

Some cuteness for you from an excellent "Dogtown" event, Dogtoberfest

Book Reviews: Katie Up and Down the Hall

I'm in a "New York State of Mind" right now, because I just got a new job promoting Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale, a production about gentrification in Harlem that I saw in NYC in May 2011 while doing research for my thesis.

While I would love to tell you all about that, it has nothing to do with dogs. So, instead, I bring you a book review for Katie Up and Down the Hall, a true story about a super-social New York City cocker girl named Katie who knew exactly how to bring people together.

Glenn Plaskin is an entertainment journalist living in Battery Park City, who after years of living alone, finally decides to get a dog. He brings Katie into his life and apartment, and she ends up adopting an elderly couple living next door, connecting Glenn to them as if he were their son.  Later, Glenn meets a single father at a support group, and recommends he move to Battery Park City, and the man and his son are lucky enough to end up on the same floor as Glenn, and Katie forms a strong bond with the man's young son.

Plaskin does an excellent job of describing the lifestyle in Battery Park City--an almost idyllic community located on the Southern tip of Manhattan. It is one of the quieter neighborhoods in NYC, as it is not nearly as easily accessible by subway as other areas, and is located so far Downtown. However, the high rises boast excellent waterfront views of the Hudson, which Plaskin very much enjoys.

Fun Fact: Battery Park City was actually created from the dirt and refuse excavated during construction of the World Trade Center in the 1970's. It is not built on natural land!

Katie and Glenn's lives change dramatically throughout the course of the novel. Toward the beginning, Glenn's journalism career is very successful, and he interviews a host of famous celebrities, most notably, Katharine Hepburn, Katie's namesake. Katie tags along for many of these interviews, and the book details the various celebrities' reactions to her.

Just when you think Katie and Glenn are living the perfect, nearly-celebrity life, fate turns around. I won't spoil what happens, but the story becomes much more focused on the relationships between Katie and all of her owners, especially her relationship with Pearl, the older woman. 9/11 shatters their world, and they continue to persevere due to their strong, family-like relationships. Readers will truly wonder how each individual person could have made it through these trying times without the bonds that Katie created.

At the end of the story, Katie and Pearl deteriorate in health right alongside one another. Katie passes first, and Pearl is devastated. While very sad, it is touching to watch these two endure old age together, bringing them even closer in new ways.

Katie Up and Down the Hall certainly made me cry. It is a beautiful book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. For me, it was especially appealing, as it is written about a Cocker Spaniel, takes place in New York City, and discusses the importance of community. My husband picked out another great book!

The whole "family," only lacking Pearl's husband Arthur, who had already passed away

Valentine's Day

Yesterday, Steven and I had a quiet Valentine's Day in for the most part. I didn't have work in the morning, so we went out for Valentine's brunch at IHOP (much to Apple's dismay) and then after I got off work in the afternoon, I came home to a home-cooked meal cooked by my wonderful husband and I pulled out a surprise bottle of the champagne we had at our wedding! :)

And because Apple was, of course, there with us the whole evening, I also came home bearing a large gift box of doggie "chocolates" which were really yogurt-covered oat treats. They were already on 50% clearance at PETCO, so I couldn't resist snagging these adorable treats for only $4.99.

They were so cute! And some of them had sprinkles...

...and I ate some sprinkles that fell off...though the box said "not for human consumption."

It felt right to give Apple a nice gift since he did have to suffer a little more "neglect" than usual on V-Day. 

However, I noticed as I was going through the yesterday's pictures, he was in many of them!

Here he is trying to open my festively wrapped gift to Steven

Tonight, we are making up for the lost time by having a wonderful snuggle on the couch.

Seriously, this is adorable and this never happens. He is always too crazy with energy to love on me like this! I thought he might calm down just a bit at 1 year despite not being an adult yet, but his energy has almost gotten crazier! (I plan on posting a little "growth chart" for Apple so you can see how he has grown and changed over the months.) Developmentally, he is like a teenager right now, so it makes sense that he's been a little crazy.

But look how sweet he is!!! They are so cute when they are tired and showing you post-Valentine's day love.

He even has his paw wrapped around my leg

Fashion "Faux-Paw"

On the day after Christmas, I went to Target with my husband and sister-in-law, and finally purchased myself a new coat that I desperately needed. I had been without a coat since losing my black pea coat somewhere on campus during Fall 2011, and had been getting by with a fluffy black cardigan (luckily winter 2011-2012 was very mild.)

I had put off purchasing a new coat because of course, they are very expensive, and I had never seen one that I really liked at any store cheaper than a department store. That is, until I ran across this beauty at Target. It was soft, comfortable, well-made, and on sale for $30. It was also fabulously lined in hot pink. I was excited.

You may be wondering what this fabulous coat has to do with my dog...but then again, maybe you know exactly what this has to do with my dog. Just before finally re-instating the use of the baby fence at night (as mentioned in Bananas for Bitters) I was careless enough to leave my coat out on a chair, and YES, he chewed it.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the damage that was done. Luckily, it wasn't bad. He chewed the lapel that crosses over in the front, and immediately when seeing it, I knew that it was salvageable. Only the edges were chewed, so the main triangle shape was still there. I decided to create some bias tape and encase the edges of the collar and the sides with a fabric that would coordinate with the beautiful pink lining.

Ta-da! Here is my new coat!

It only cost about $6 to fix, much less than the cost of buying an entirely new coat, and I was able to add my own special touch to it. I like to think that Apple was only chewing my coat to encourage me to pursue my creative sewing endeavors, but I know that it was really my careless mistake that caused it! Now that Apple stays behind a fence at night, I don't have to worry about these kinds of situations any more.

Ultimately, the main thing that I take away from these situations is this: I am SO GLAD I can sew.

For more dog-related sewing adventures, check out DIY Dog Mom!

City Council Considering Mabel Davis Dog Park

A reader, Tim Thomas, recently informed me that Austin City Council is currently considering building a new off-leash dog park in Mabel Davis Park, in Southeast Austin, and near St. Edward's University! (I am an SEU alum.)

I was very excited to learn about this park and sent City Council an email offering my support for it. Not only do I love dog parks, but I also love getting involved with local community issues, especially those related to development. (I am currently waiting to find out if I am accepted to grad school to study Community and Regional Planning.)

The plans for the park look pretty awesome. Although it is planned to be fenced in, and I personally prefer unfenced (due to owner attentiveness) the plans include an agility area which would be SO MUCH FUN, and would truly be like a doggie playground!

Plans for the park

If you would like to show your support for this dog park, you can like the Facebook page, or drop an email directly to City Council. You could play a part in helping this park become a reality!

Dog Park Reviews: Zilker Park

This past Saturday was my mother-in-law's funeral. I've been posting a bit less than I would otherwise.

My parents and my four younger siblings all came up from Victoria to attend the funeral, and of course, Apple had to spend a lot of time at home alone on Saturday. So, between the service and the family dinner that night, I thought it would be fun to take Apple and my three youngest siblings to Auditorium Shores. Am I right?

Wrong! It was so crowded people were illegally parked underneath the bridge and in the grass. There wasn't even room for me to park illegally if I wanted to! So, since we were short on time, I decided that instead of turning around and going to Onion Creek, we would go try out Zilker.

I have attempted to take Apple to play at Zilker park a few times, and only one of them was moderately successful. Every time we go, there have been people playing soccer on the Great Lawn (one of the areas designated for leash-free play) and no dogs in sight. The only time we actually played there was when the Great Lawn was being set up for ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival) and we played with another dog in the grass across the street.

I hoped that on a Saturday, there would be plenty of dogs out, and that we wouldn't have to worry about the pick-up games. When we arrived, there was so much traffic that it was incredibly difficult to park, and I actually drove into a ditch that I couldn't see in front of me trying to park on this make-shift parking lot. There were plenty of dogs, but there were even more people, and it was completely insane.

This was taken during ACL, but this is pretty much how crowded it was!

 Taking your dog to play on the Great Lawn at Zilker is like taking your child to play in a playscape at a bar on a Saturday night. Children might be allowed (in my hypothetical bar) but the bar is certainly not meant to be enjoyed by children. Almost all of the dogs here were just lying on blankets with their owners, not playing, while frisbee golf, volleyball, and flag football games were scattered around everywhere. People are having picnics on the ground that will attract your dog! If your dog is not incredibly obedient, they could easily get lost or hurt. Apple listened to me really well, so we didn't have any problems, but the whole experience was not fun and just felt dangerous.

We left after about 20-30 minutes and it took us about that much time, if not more, just to get home because of the traffic. We could not find a trash can so we had to take a poop bag home in the car. I can't believe I didn't lose track of my dog or one of my siblings because the entire environment was just....frenetic. That is the best way I can explain it. 

Zilker is a great park. But I wouldn't recommend taking your dog there! (Unless he is old and only wants to sit on a blanket and not steal your food while you have a picnic.)

1 out of 5 Paws...only because I actually had fun that one time before ACL

There might be great area in the park that I just haven't discovered yet. Forgive my oversight if such is the case.

My Experiences with Black Dog Syndrome

I posted in my very first blog about a phenomenon known as "Black Dog Syndrome." People typically fear black dogs more than any other color due to superstition, and these dogs become more difficult to adopt out of shelters. The fear of black dogs only increases with the dog's size.

I, however, am quite immune to Black Dog Syndrome. I have always loved black dogs the most, and was so driven to keep Apple because he was black, due to my love of the color, and knowing that others might be less willing to take him in.

Being that Black Dog Syndrome exists, it should come as no surprise that sometimes my sweet, lovable dog actually incites fear in some people. While I should expect this, it still doesn't make it hurt any less when people freeze in their tracks in cold-blooded fear or cower away from my dog when they see him coming near. 

This happens with both adults and children. Usually, the adults even have other dogs, which is what I find so ridiculous. They obviously aren't afraid of dogs, but they are afraid of my dog! When Apple is on a leash and sees another dog, it makes him completely miserable. Apple lives to play with other dogs. So, naturally, when we have to go into a crowded area on a leash (mostly Emancipet) Apple barks a lot. And because people see this big, black dog barking on a leash, they automatically assume he's vicious, when in reality, his heart is bleeding at having to stay still around so many other great dogs. When we walk near people in the waiting room, there are literally women who will squirm in their seats to get away from him.

 It also really breaks my heart when small children are afraid of Apple. I understand that I shouldn't get upset about it, but Apple is SO GREAT with children that I hate to see them react negatively to him. Apple is very curious about 2-4 year olds and he is very gentle with them. I love seeing him play with little kids that have a large dog in their home at the park. But, most children do not react this way. There are kids in our apartment complex that will actually scream if we come near them. There used to be two kids who would yell "STAY AWAY!" at Apple when we were walking him on a leash even though we were a good distance away.

But, yesterday's encounter really took the cake. Steven and I were taking Apple on a leashed walk to get the mail. After we picked it up, we noticed there were legal documents for a former resident, so I brought them to the office. The mailman was in the office and after I turned in the letter, he walked out ahead of me. He opened the door and froze as if he had seen a ghost. Or, maybe, this is what he saw:

I looked to see what horrible thing was happening outside, but it was just Steven with Apple. Apple was obediently sitting on the ground and waiting patiently. Steven said he perked up when the man opened the door, but he didn't leave his sitting position.

Apple barked only once, because everyone was staring at him and the man probably looked really strange.

I told the mailman that Apple was okay and wasn't going to hurt him, and to that, he sarcastically responded, 

"Yeah, he looks REALLY okay." 

WHY? Because he's black? Because he's big? He's literally JUST SITTING THERE! HE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING!

The mailman decided to hide inside until we left. We didn't say anything to him, but Steven and I were both very offended, not because he was afraid of our dog, but because he had the nerve to say that he looked dangerous when he wasn't doing anything wrong.

Apple is a sweet dog, and I'm not just saying that because he's mine. He has some puppy issues that we have been working on but aggression IS NOT ONE OF THEM. It never was and it never will be. All he wants to do is make friends and make people happy, and that's why it hurts so much when people are afraid of him.

I just want to be your friend!

How could you be afraid of anything that snuggles with a blue blanket?