When Things Go Wrong at the Dog Park

So just got back from the dog park. Most of the time we have a great time. Today was not one of those days. Thanks to an idiot who thought it was okay to give Gavin a treat I will be cleaning up diarrhea all weekend and hopefully I can get away with not going to the hospital.

It was a pup-a-roni no less. Treats with red dye in them are especially bad for dogs and many dogs have a serious allergy to them. Gavin is not allergic in the sense that he will stop breathing, but his stomach is super sensitive. I thought most people should be aware by now that just like you don't give strange kids candy, you don't give strange dogs treats either without checking to make sure its safe from the parents first.

I think its a horrible idea to bring dog treats or any food for that matter to the dog park anyways. This is like the number one way to get a dog fight started. You are pretty much just asking for it. I have seen a dog fight break out over treats and they were not even being offered. The dog was just protecting them. There was blood and it was mostly the owners because he also made the classic mistake of grabbing the dog by his collar. I am willing to bet that that is not the last time that guy and his dog went to the dog park with treats or the last time his dog is in a fight, because he was clueless. But big surprise, most dog owners are.

I also saw a guy roll his dog over on its back and told him to stop being dominant. WOW! The funny thing was that his dog wasn't doing anything. He was near two other dogs that were getting irritated with each other(one that is notoriously naughty and the owner has no clue). Thanks to the brilliant mind of cesear milan this guy was dominating and bullying his poor dog. He is lucky that while doing this to his dog at the dog park that a malicious dog didn't take advantage of his dog's compromising position that was not its choice. That too would have been a bloody mess.

So to review:
-don't bring treats to the dog park and don't feed other peoples dogs anything!
-don't be a bully to your dog
-if a fight does break out try to put your body in between the fighting dogs while yelling to make yourself seem like the bigger deal. if you need to, make a loop with your dog's leash and pull your dog away that way, rather than try to pull on the collar(this will seem like a bite from an attacker and your dog will turn on you without thinking first).
-and bring lots of water :)

Gavin's first trail hike

We only went a little over a mile with not much of an incline. We went earlier in the morning too so that it wasn't too hot. I think we will do this one more often now and go for longer and even earlier in the day as summer starts up.

More Hiking!

From my 6.25 miles hike up a mountain the other day

on the way up the mountain facing reno

this looks like we are at ground level, but this is actually the top of the mountain.

on the way back down

LakeTahoe\VirginaCity photos

Click here to view photos

First Hike

I went on my first hike the other day with my friend. I'm still getting used to the elevation-my lungs were working overtime. But it was great and the weather was perfect. I like that I'm finally in a place where I'm taking advantage of the surroundings so easily.

Things not to say

Don't ever tell someone who is trying to conceive "just relax" or "try not to think about it". it actually makes them feel more isolated and depressed than they already are because they know you don't understand where they are coming from at all.

http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/rude-terrible-advice-when-trying-to-conceive


Understanding the connection of stress and infertility and more

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=54452