While I was away on a business trip last week, my husband, Martin, took Eli on his first father-son camping trip. Martin’s younger brother, Miles, went along too. They set up tents at Blanton Creek Park on Lake Harding. It’s only $16 to set up a tent for the night–and there is access to clean restrooms! Eli had fun exploring the grounds and playing with Miles, but he opted not to go in the water. He’ll usually dip his paws in, but that’s as far as it goes!

Eli loves Uncle Miles

Miles and Eli

Where should Eli go this weekend?

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The sun is shining again and school is almost out. After an all-too long winter, Atlantans are ready to kick off the summer with Memorial Day weekend. While many of us flock to the beach or mountains, we are left with the dilemma of what to do with our beloved pets while we are out of town.

Of course, the preferred option is to bring your pet on vacation! Traveling with pets can be a fun experience. However, your pet will need time to adjust to his or her new surroundings. It is important to remember to be patient with your pet. In order to make your trip hassle-free for the whole family, Atlanta Humane Society recommends the following:

• Before you leave for your trip, have your pet cleared for travel by your veterinarian and ensure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations. Ask the doctor about potential risks of the destination such as Lyme disease and take any necessary precautions.
• Remember to pack for your pet just as you would for the human members of your family, ensuring that you have all necessary supplies, food, and medication.
• If flying, ensure you abide by all airline restrictions. These can usually be found on the specific airline’s website or via phone.
• If driving, train your animal to view driving as a reward by taking him or her to fun places for dogs such as the park.
• To prevent carsickness, feed your pet a light meal 4 to 6 hours before you begin your trip.
• Most of all, have fun!! Your pets deserve a vacation too. After all, it’s a ruff life being a dog!

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Eli came to work with me on Monday. For happy hour, we headed over to Der Biergarten along with my coworker, Katie, and her dog, Gus. Gus is a bit of an Instagram star, and he is also Eli’s best buddy.

Eli and Gus

I highly recommend the Reibekuchen Mit Apfelmus, or potato pancakes with applesauce. They are so delicious. And you can’t go to Der Biergarten and not get a Risenbretzel–a soft pretzel served with three kinds of mustard. The boys were really well-behaved until they got a whiff of that pretzel!

Pleeeaaassseee!

Everyone was really nice to us. Our server would pet them, then go wash her hands only to come back a few minutes later and start the cycle all over again. Der Biergarten even hosts a regular “Barks and Beers” night, where a lot of people bring their dogs all at once. The next one is coming up this Saturday, May 18 from 4-8 pm.

Where should Eli go next? He’s loving these restaurant adventures!!

Cheers!

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Best stuffed animal ever.

Little spoon

Snoozin’

Eli goes to school

Eli likes Show and Tell

Eli and Lou Lou, his sister for the week.

It’s tough being a puppy.

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Eli is an Atlanta Humane Society alum. He was transferred to AHS from a rescue group in 2009 at 2 months old. He and his five sisters had been abandoned in a cardboard box on the side of the road in Alabama.

Eli and his sisters, up for adoption at AHS.

Eli currently lives with my husband and I in Peachtree City. I’m an AHS employee, and Eli comes to work with me nearly every day. If you’ve ever been at the corner of Howell Mill Road and 10th Street during the workday, chances are you’ve seen Eli out in the play yard. You might have even called the shelter to see if he was available for adoption. Over my dead body. But he is available for cuddles, and he loves to meet new people. I take him everywhere around the city that dogs are allowed to go. Atlanta is a very pet-friendly town, which is one of the many reasons I love it so much. And I love to watch Eli bring joy to the people he meets. He’s somewhat of a local celebrity. Seriously–people I’ve never met seem to know his name. I, however, am always “Eli’s Mom.” Which is really fine by me.

I’m starting this blog series, Adventures of Eli, to highlight the awesome pet-friendly places you can take your pet around town. Hope to see you out and about!

On Friday, I took Eli to the Atlanta Food Truck Park. They are our neighbors, just down Howell Mill, and it’s one of my favorite places to go after work. It’s both pet- and kid-friendly. You can bring your own beverages, including those of the alcoholic variety. It’s free to park. They often have music or some kind of entertainment. On Friday, they had DJs. There always seems to be a huge variety of food trucks there, which makes it a great spot for a large group. Everyone can order whatever they want on their own schedule. Eli loves to go because he usually gets some kind of treat slipped under the table from one of my gullible friends.

If you go to the Atlanta Food Truck Park, be sure to pack a water dish and some water for your pet. It gets hot out there, although the new layout of the tables and umbrellas provides more shade than in years past. My friends and I try to go at least every other week–so stop and say hi to Eli if you see him!

Eli and his best friend, Gus. Gus is also from AHS.

Big or small, Eli loves them all.

Eli can spot an animal lover a mile away. This man had recently lost his Bernese Mountain Dog, so Eli was happy to give him his Giant Fluffy Dog fix.

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By: Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Ellard, veterinarian at Atlanta Humane Society

Just as people can suffer from the pollen, so can our pets.  Can you imagine the effect it has on a dog or cat who is down at ground level, walking bare footed in it and sticking their nose in everything?  Like people, pets can sneeze, cough, have runny eyes and even post-nasal drip from pollen.

However most pets allergic to pollen itch.  Dogs usually itch around their eyes, underarms, face, ears, groin and feet.  Cats often get scabs on the face, neck or simply lick themselves bald along their body.

If you suspect that your cat or dog is afflicted with pollen allergies, make an appointment with your regular veterinarian!  S/he can offer lots of affordable and effective ways to minimize the symptoms.  Even over the counter antihistamines can help.  Your vet can recommend the best one and correct dose for your pet.  (If you’ve already tried Benadryl on your dog and think, “It didn’t work,” please think again.  Most people under dose it.  So call your vet for the proper amount and consider trying it again.)

Perhaps even more importantly, your veterinarian can help you make sure that it is only allergies and not something more serious.  Skin allergies in pets often lead to secondary skin infections.  To be sure that your pet gets all the care s/he needs, make that call to your regular vet. Make pet health a priority!

For all of us (allergic or not), the simplest way to help minimize the ill effects of pollen is simply to remove it.  Even if your pet is one of the lucky ones, one who does not have a true allergy to pollen, you may still want to take these steps to protect your pet from the “green blizzard.”

1.         Wash your pet’s face and feet every time you come inside from a walk or the yard.  This will physically remove pollen. A tub of baby wipes by the back door works great.

2.         Bathe your pet frequently in a gentle, soap-free pet shampoo.  Again, this will simply remove the pollen.  Make sure it is soap-free shampoo, so you don’t strip off your flea control product.  Again, your regular veterinarian can recommend some good brands. S/he may even recommend a prescription shampoo to address your pet’s specific skin needs.  When you do bathe your pet, resist the temptation to scrub.  Scrubbing may only make your pet itch worse.  Use gentle fingertip massage instead.  Also wash in warm  (not hot) water and rinse in the coldest water your pet will tolerate.  Cold water makes you itch less; while hot water makes you itch more.

3.         Avoid spending too much time outside.  The weather is great, but for those who are allergic, outdoor time just increases the amount of pollen our body has to encounter.

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Clearly, she is making herself at home…

Now, I had heard from my mother that Georgia was doing remarkably well, and her training with us a few months ago had been very successful. I knew that the expectations from her parents (as well as the environment we each live in) are different than mine so, who knows how she will actually do in an apartment (versus a house), during a move, with two other dogs in the house and no one at home with her all day…

They all came in on Saturday, the day before I had to be out of my old apartment and officially moved into my new one, so not only was I on my last nerve, but we were living out of boxes, and finding an inch of floor to walk on to get around the apartment was tough. Between the four dogs (our three and then one owned by our other house guests), seven people, and two apartments worth of furniture in one space, it was a recipe for disaster. Sound familiar??

Thankfully, at the new apartment there is a large dog park within spitting distance so it is easy for one of us to take a break and head to the park to let the (now) three dogs wear each other out. That is where we started on Saturday, and thank goodness.

So far, I have learned a few things about Georgia, and I wanted to update all of you on her progress:The little demon (she’s my “little sister”…aren’t we supposed to call each other names?) is now 7-ish months, and only barely 30 pounds so we really don’t think she will get much bigger. Despite everyone’s thought that she would be at least 45-50, this website was spot on (I highly suggest using it if you are thinking of adopting a dog. It may not always be 100% accurate but it was right in this case, and will likely be within a few pounds): http://www.puppyweights.com/. What is she good at?? Sit. What is she bad at?? Leash.She is good about reminding us when she wants something. Either she gets absolutely incorrigible or she takes your hand in her mouth with a bit of pressure which is her indicator for food, walk or water. I also feel that I can trust her to be in a room on her own without fearing that I will walk in on destruction. That said, the second day, after she had been out of the crate most of the morning, I walked in on a casualty in the living room. It took a while to figure out what exactly she had demolished, as there were pieces everywhere and it was like reconstructing a crime scene… we started with a MASS of white beads covering the floor, tufts of stuffing here and there, a sound box and two black eyes with green fabric around them. Ultimately, we found the poor corpse of the thing she had torn apart in the kitchen, and learned that she had chewed the face off of one of the toys (not hers of course). So yes, she caused a mess, but it was a ‘sanctioned’ mess, as it was only a toy. I can’t honestly say I am disappointed, as that toy made the most annoying sound I think I have ever heard…

Unfortunately, Georgia is terrible about barking at most noises, people and other dogs, as (like Kimba) she gets really vocal when she is excited. She also isn’t used to living so close to other people, so when a door opens or closes in another apartment, she thinks someone is trying to break in. When your neighbors wake and sleep at very different hours, that makes for an interesting game of, how-much-sleep-will-I-get-tonight.+She is also not good with the leash and pulls like you wouldn’t think a 30 pound dog could. I don’t imagine that she spends all that much time on the leash at home between the house, the fenced-in backyard and the dog park, so naturally, I doubt she would have gotten that training. Fortunately, a haltie collar and a slip knot/harness leash (and of course lots of treats) will help that when they want to start that training.

The post Guess who’s back?! appeared first on Atlanta Humane Society.

“Georgia has now been in her forever home (or one of them, we have a summer home and she still visits Rabon) for about 2 months and is approaching the 6 month age…yikes! adolescence. This is the hardest phase of puppy training, especially if you get a large dog. Georgia is still under 30 lbs so it is easy to manipulate her physically (sit? who, me? did I ever learn this trick? why are you pushing on my backside so much? just give me the darn treat). The adorable puppy is now a (equally adorable to me) semi-adult with “notions”. We have had no issues with house training, aggressive behavior, running away, stealing Christmas gifts or chewing up things so we are truly blessed there. I hosted 14 ladies for Bunko the other night and G-dog was delightful, said hello with no (OK…minimal) biting and jumping then settled down for a good chew stick session. Adolescence had to sneak in though and she is now tall enough to reach the appetizers on the counter (why, thank you so much for offering my puppy self some chicken wings, I’d love one!). I was shocked when I said ‘NO, OUT!’ and she dropped the whole chicken wing and let me take it. Wow, they can retain lessons. Great way to impress your friends with how much better your dog is than theirs will ever be…oh, oops, she did first get up on the counter. On our Christmas trip to the mountains, Georgia was an excellent hiking companion and extremely well behaved with visitors. She did revert to wetting the floor at Rabon’s but part of that may have been competitive water drinking contests with Mousse and Kimba. So, how does one luck into such a well behaved pup? Part of it is the breeds, we think there is Shepherd/Husky/Beagle/Kangaroo and something else in there. She does herd on the trail so has a good dose of the shepherd side. Part is also the individual. While little puppies are all cuddly and sweet when you meet them, older puppies and adults will show some (not all) of their true colors while still at the shelter. Georgia at over 3 months was playful but not wild, sweet but not overly needy and not yappy. The only part of it we can control is the training. Best advice…give your puppy to my daughter to deal with for the first few weeks! Only kidding… In my totally amateur experience, there are a few keys. Calm, patience and time are critical, if you don’t have the time to help a puppy become a good dog, please rethink the idea of a puppy and consider an adult that is already somewhat trained. We spend hours a day enjoying and working with Georgia as we are retired. There are times I have to put her in a bathroom to calm down for a few minutes (me calming down as well as her, a calm environment makes for a calm dog, sometimes!). The crate is ABSOLUTELY necessary (early on especially for house training). As much as I would love to have Georgia sleep with us, she sleeps willingly in her crate and knows her place as the dog of the house. The dog has to know the person is the alpha, it’s in their nature to need to know their place and they are much happier having a human pack leader. A peanut butter filled Kong helped with the crate training (yes, bribery does work on both dogs and children up to a point, we just call it rewards not bribes!). Beds and furniture are by invitation only and she seems to get this. Early, often and consistent training are important. I did use treats although some trainers say not to and it worked well. You can not let the dog NOT do what you say even once or twice though. The things we work on most are good leash behavior (DO NOT use those retractable leashes, the dog will pull and not learn how to behave, after tying you and itself up in the middle of the road), ‘come’, ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘out’ (really important, as puppies pick up everything) some cute tricks, and good house behavior (no begging, no biting, no jumping..still working hard on those with some success). I brush her teeth and cut her nails often (even when they don’t need it I fake it) to get her used to it so we don’t end up with a grooming-phobic adult. One of the most important things has been to take her out a lot where there are other dogs and many different kinds of people. Dog parks, hardware stores and dog-friendly restaurants are awesome for this. As I write this, my friend’s adult dogs (who we are caring for) are alternately whining, scratching my office door and barking at everything real or imagined, while Georgia is lying on her bed looking outside quietly (or at least was the last time I checked), so all the excellent advice I got from the AHS booklets and trainers must work. Thank you so much, Atlanta Humane Society for saving Georgia and for all the help in making her such a delightful addition to our family. We are smitten and loving (nearly) every minute of it. Maybe you can’t buy love but you can sure adopt it!”

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If you share your home with a dog, chances are he has some doggy friends somewhere, either pets of your friends, or dogs he sees out and about in the community. Most dogs seem unselective in their affinity for their own kind, seeking them out and reveling in their company.

Just as we humans don’t instantly adore everyone we see or meet, though, dogs can be selective. As a trainer, I know plenty of pooches who are more discriminating in their affection towards other dogs, and some simply cannot stand the company of their own kind at all, or will only tolerate the company of one or two dogs that they know well. It may seem odd, but it’s perfectly normal for a social species to discriminate among companions. But since the vast majority of dogs seem fine with other dogs, many dog owners just assume all dogs are like that. The reality that not all dogs like every single other dog on the planet can be hard to accept–especially if one has lived with a Labrador retriever.

At some point, the owner of the gregarious single dog assumes that Fido would be happier with a canine pal in the home, and the search begins for a suitable companion. It’s not a necessity if it doesn’t fit your budget or your living space–dogs can get all their needs met if they live alone–but if you are ready for a second dog, by all means start looking.

The fact that not all dogs like other dogs without question is why trainers and other dog pros recommend that dog owners who are considering adding a second (or third, or fourth, etc) dog to their family “pack” take their existing dogs to the shelter to meet the potential newcomer. (Dog owners who are considering combining homes with existing dogs could try a park, or a neighbor’s fenced yard.) It’s not foolproof, but a structured “meet-and-greet” can help to give everyone a better idea of how things might go at home. As a prediction tool, it’s definitely a lot better than a hope and a prayer.

Meet-and-greets are ideally done on neutral territory, so that all parties can be more comfortable. Many dogs are territorial by nature, so removing them from their own yards and homes for this is almost always best. This allows all parties to meet on their own terms, and it can reduce stress. Despite popular belief, dogs are not always capable of “working it out themselves” when they are put into the same living situation, so it is up to us humans to make sure they can coexist without rancor.

(NOTE: allowing dogs to “work it out amongst themselves” can result in injured pets, huge vet bills, and worse. Please take the steps necessary to avoid problems later.)

A structured meet-and-greet may not predict future aggression between dogs, but it generally can rule out “instant dislike.” If your dog is unhappy with every new dog you try, your dog is trying to tell you something: he probably doesn’t want a companion. (Now, aren’t you glad you found this out before the adoption?)

Unless you know for a fact that he enjoys playing with most other dogs, heed his attempt to communicate with you, and abandon your search for another dog (at least until you speak with a trainer). These types of dogs are usually happiest living as the only dog in the home, believe it or not. This is perfectly fine.

NEXT POST: a meet-and-greet primer, including the 2 things you should never do

*most dogs, that is; some dogs are “bred for battle” and actually go against canine evolutionary history to seek out conflict or at the very least never back down from it

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This is how she fell asleep…

It was a bittersweet goodbye, but it won’t be long until we see her again. For now, she can go raise you-kn0w-what at someone else’s house and get a taste for the finer things in life (literally…I foresee her getting into some silk, lace or otherwise!). The trip south was surprisingly easy and she seemed to rather enjoy herself sitting in the back showing us her newly forming adult teeth when she wrapped them around the holes in the carrier.

Georgia is certainly a little peach and has taught me a lot about puppyhood. The stories are hilarious and the days can be frustrating, but in the end, it is extremely rewarding. Keep in mind, I always knew she wouldn’t be mine, so the attachment was very much discouraged, which made the ordeal harder. If you know you want a puppy and are ready for the commitment, (given the experience I had) I would imagine it is the best feeling in the world to conquer training hurdles. For me, it was great. For her owners, it will be greater. Stay tuned for updates, and don’t forget that we are always here to answer your questions!!

- R + K (now, – G)

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