Firemen

Overheard

P: What do you think of firemen? Do you think they're hot?

S: Yeah.. they're hot!

P: How come?

S: (with a distant, far away look) Because... because they can climb things...

P: (incredulously) Because they can CLIMB THINGS? That's probably the most bimbotic thing I've ever heard you say!

S: (thoughtfully) ...and they can burst out of buildings...

P: Climb what? Ladders?

S: (with a glazed, happy expression) ...yeah... They can burst in and out of buildings!

P: Ok. Where do you think I could buy a fireman uniform?


While looking for a fireman picture to post online, I found this really sweet article. Heroic, sweaty fireman + nice, pregnant doggy. Isn't that a sweet combination?

Fireman and a Doberman

This photograph shows a red Doberman Pinscher kissing an exhausted fireman. He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire. She is pregnant. The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before. When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, "The Observer," noticed this red Doberman Pinscher in the distance looking at the fireman. He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do. As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, when the photographer snapped this photograph.

Doberman Pinschers do know the difference between friends and "the enemy". God Bless this fireman for taking the risk and saving her life.

Source: http://www.bigdobermans.com/doberman_and_fireman.htm

Dogs and Babies

After all the bad press about Dogs and Babies, I thought I should step up my research on this topic. The case of the baby who was mauled to death by grandma's dogs would worry any dog-owning parent-to-be, but any vigilant caregiver should never leave an infant unsupervised with pet dogs, particularly if one of them happens to be a bull terrier! I read a number of reports on this and came to 3 conclusions:

• The neighbours said there was no blood on the Jack Russell, but they couldn't tell with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier because it was black. As a Jack Russell fan, I would naturally assume (along with the rest of the world) that the chief aggressor was the bull terrier and the Jack Russell may have joined in the attack out of pack instinct.
• The unfortunate grandmother left the baby downstairs in a basket, while she went upstairs for a nap. Babies should never be left unsupervised and within the reach of pets, no matter how tame or placid they may be.
• Grandmothers tend not be be dominant and assertive doggy pack leaders, and it is possible that the dogs considered the baby an attention-grabbing nuisance visitor, instead of an Alpha Puppy - the Offspring of the Alpha Dog - and thus treated it accordingly.

Whatever the case, my heart goes out to the family which lost 3 loved ones in an instant - their baby and 2 dogs - and it will be a reminder to always be vigilant when you have a baby in your care.

I spent the day doing more research about introducing your dog to your new baby. I know of lots of babies who grew up with dogs and I know it's up to Panliang and I to set the tone of how our expanding family interacts!

INTRODUCING YOUR FURRY BABY TO YOUR NEW, NON-FURRY BABY

Part One: Pre-Baby

1) Make sure your dog is obedience trained and responding well to your verbal commands. If your dog has had some obedience training, take the time now to practice and reinforce those commands. It will give you peace of mind knowing that when you say "sit," "down," "stay," or "off" your dog will do it. Also, having your dog walking at heel when you're pushing that stroller can be invaluable.
– Done!

2) Begin to reduce the amount of attention you give your dog. It will be difficult for your dog to accept the baby when he associates it with not getting as much attention.
– Done! Darcy now gets 2 walks a day… instead of 4 at the height of our madness.

3) If you don't want your dog in the newly appointed "nursery", it's time to start prohibiting his access. If he ceases to see that room as his territory, he won't be as put out by being "put out".
– Done! Darcy’s bed has been surreptitiously moved from in front of our bed to next to the bedroom the door. He's even taken the initiative to move out and sometimes sleeps in the living room!

4) Expose your dog, in a controlled manner (on leash), to as many babies as possible. Babies look, smell, sound and move differently from big humans. Do this in a positive manner; offer treats, toys petting or anything the dog enjoys when it is near a baby.
– Done! So far his reactions have been either positive (displaying interest, sniffing) or indifferent.

5) Play recordings of a baby crying, and other various noises that little ones tend to make, like the ones found HERE. By playing these for a little while every day, not only will your dog get used to the sounds and start to take them for granted, but so will you. Crying at the volume a baby can wail at can be distressing for a dog who's never heard it before. Start at a low volume, then gradually increase it to a normal level.
– Done! I think the constant looping of mp3s of crying babies on iTunes is bothering ME more than it bothers Darcy!

6) Set up the nursery, cot, baby stuff, etc. Dogs need to see and smell what this room will be like. Encourage them to explore. Do some training in this room. Just the basics (sit, down, stay) and reward well.
– Done!

7) Sprinkle baby powder and lotions around the house to help your dog get used to the new smells.
– Work in progress… I’m going to start using Johnsons Baby Bath shower gel!

8) Ask new mothers to give you dirty diapers on occasion. Have these in the diaper pail so your dog gets used to what this new scent is all about.
– No. There are limits to the lengths I would go to!

9) Purchase or borrow a life-like baby doll. Carry it around in ways a baby will be carried (arms, carrier, carriage, stroller, etc.) Talk to the doll, pretend to be changing diapers, sit on the couch or in a rocker and sing. You are presenting a visual picture to your dog. Better to get them used to what you will look like with a doll, than for the first time with your baby. Let you dog sniff and investigate, and reward all good/calm behavior well. This will also enable you to become accustomed to holding the baby and having the dog nearby as well.
- Cuddling and singing to a doll is just 变态 bian tai!!


Part Two: At Time of Delivery

1) Take a baby blanket in a plastic bag to the hospital. Remove the cloth and wrap the baby in it to transfer the baby's scent. After the visit, put the blanket back in the plastic bag to keep the scent from contamination. At home, remove the blanket and put it down for your dog to investigate. Feed treats while the dog investigates - this will be your dog's olfactory introduction to the baby.

2) Bring home dirty diapers when available and put them in the diaper pail.

Part Three: Homecoming

Someone else should hold the baby, and the mother should go in first and have a joyous reunion with the dog. If the mother is holding the baby, she is likely to instinctively pull away, giving a negative message. The dog may also associate her absence with the bundle she is carrying and resent it. After a full and heartfelt greeting is the time for the infant to be brought in. If your dog has been socialized with children and you have been successfully doing the pre-baby program, when the baby comes home, allow your dog to sniff. Keeping your dog away will only increase his inquisitiveness and can sometimes build undesirable behavior due to not being able to see what is so special to you.


Part Four: Life with your furry and non-furry babies

Make sure your dog gets positive attention from each household member each day (brushing, grooming, play, walks, etc.). When visitors come to see the baby, have them meet and acknowledge the dog first. Do not change the routine that has already been in place. Let the dog see his status is not diminished.

Positive reinforcement is the only thing that will work with a dog, with reliable results. Punishing a dog is the worst thing to do; smacking a dog will incite biting, and it will also cause your dog to resent your child's presence. (ie: "when she's around, I get in trouble"). Start to reward your dog every time he and the baby are together. He needs to associate the child with GOOD things. Once you've returned home with your new baby, yes, your dog may still feel a little jealous. It's perfectly natural to feel a little left out when there's a new arrival, but you can easily reassure your dog that he hasn't been displaced in your affections.

Make it a habit to play with your dog too, even when the baby is around. Pet him while you are feeding the baby, or while the baby is looking around the floor on a blanket. Be careful not to push your dog away when his curiosity gets the better of him and he comes to sniff your new bundle. Ignoring him while the baby is loose will create problems as your dog starts to associate the baby's presence with his neglect.

Never ever punish a dog for growling, all it does is teach the dog not to warn before biting. Remember, growling is NOT bad. It's the only way your dog has of warning your child that she's too close or telling you that he's had enough and needs time away.

* Hold the baby, reward the dog.
* Feed the baby, feed the dog.
* Change the baby, reward the dog.

If your dog is rewarded every time he comes near the baby and sits nicely to sniff, it will not be long before the baby becomes the dog's favourite person next to you.

Some days you feel like you just don't have the energy to play with your dog in addition to caring for your new baby, but the extra effort will be worth it as your human child and your dog grow to be inseparable companions in the years ahead.

Even after you are sure they have accepted the baby, remember that dogs should never be left unattended with children, even for short periods of time.

References:

http://www.dogobediencegroup.com/babyprep.html
http://www.dogmanners.com/Yournew.htm
http://dogs.about.com/cs/childrenanddogs/a/aa112002a.htm

Dog Saves Owner By Dialling 911

A dog whose owner was having a seizure saved his life by calling the emergency services and barking down the line to raise the alarm.

Joe Stalnaker adopted German shepherd Buddy as an eight-week-puppy and trained him to use the phone if he began to have an attack.

Mr Stalnaker, of Scottsdale, Arizona, has suffered seizures for ten years after suffering a head injury during a military training exercise.

So when he got into difficulties, Buddy knew exactly what to do - hit the speed-dial button on the phone for 911.

On the tape of his call, he can be heard whimpering and barking after the operator answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.

Police were sent to Mr Stalnaker's home, and after about three minutes Buddy can be heard barking loudly when the officers arrived.

Sergeant Mark Clark, of Scottsdale police, said Mr Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital and recovered from the seizure.

"It's pretty incredible," Sgt Clark said.

"Even the veteran dispatchers - they haven't heard of anything like this."

Mr Stalnaker's address is flagged in the force's computer system with a notification that a trained dog might call 911 when the owner was incapacitated.

Sgt Clark said Buddy has made two other 911 calls when Mr Stalnaker was having seizures.

Source: Sky News

I wonder if we could train Darcy to change nappies and sing lullabies to baby? And if he has extra time, he could vacuum the floor too.

Why Every Home needs a Jack Russell

Darcy came over to stay for a few days last week to keep me company while I was on sick leave. Besides functioning as a warm, furry pillow, he made himself useful in a dozen ways, doubling up as Doorbell Amplifier, Vacuum Cleaner for Spilt Food, and most significantly, Cockroach Terminator. It was during one of my 2am midnight snack times that I saw Panliang charging determinedly (but not without some trepidation!) after a huge, black thing scuttling across the room. I always believe in finding the best man for the job so I shouted for Darcy! The next few moments were a confusion of running, jumping, "There! There! Over there!", scuffling paws, snapping jaws and furious digging. Once Darcy was on the case, Panliang and I went off to have our snack, leaving our focused and dedicated assistant to play with his new toy till it collapsed from being patted to death by a over-friendly Jack Russell. Panliang had this self-satisfied and gleeful look on his face the whole time. I think he'll be more than happy to clear up dog poo for another 10 years.

Dognapped!

My doggy has been dognapped by my mum! When I miss him a lot, I watch videos of crazy Jack Russells on Youtube.

Mood Swings

I had a technically nice day today. Early morning, driving lesson, vacuuming the house, lunch at a restaurant at Great World City with mum, Theresa and Minghui, followed (yes, immediately) by lovely tea with scones and brownies at The Eclectic Attic @ Plaza Singapura, a bit of shopping, then dinner at Panliang's parents' place.

Now I just feel irritable , like the world owes me something big. I didn't sleep well despite being tired last night, I can't eat well despite being hungry, and I just feel tired and lethargic. I just want to curl up on the sofa with a book, but I figure that going out is probably good for me. New spots appearing on the face (due to hormones and beef cravings) doesn't improve one's mood either. Panliang's been a brick. Immeasurably patient, empathetic, sayanging me when I'm grouchy, pampering me, preparing food for me at strange hours of the day while I watch YouTube videos of Jack Russells hunting snakes and catching fish, playing his saxophone and jazz improvisations less (which is a major sacrifice), and keeping the house neat and tidy and up to my anal standards (like pressing the soap dispenser before wetting his hands so the water doesn't drip outside the sink). I must be quite a horror to live and dine with, but Panliang has risen above himself and pumped in enough strength and cheer for the both of us. I have renewed respect for him and I can see him becoming a more of a dad each day.

Thinking about this makes me thankful and I realise I have been blessed in many ways. This first trimester is no honeymoon (it's like a very very very long turbulent plane ride) but I wouldn't trade it for anything. They say the second trimester gets better and the nausea and appetite loss goes away. That would be nice.


Late night entertainment while having my midnight snacks

The Dog Who Loved to Sun Tan

One of the happiest feelings in the world is to watch Darcy sun tan on our balcony. I love the way he plonks himself just where the sunlight streams in. He looks so happy with himself and afterwards is just a nice pile of warm, white fur. I miss him so much during the week when he stays at my mum's.