Realization

Before I started observing Lobo and Toty I thought I knew their personalities. Lobo was the feisty one and Toty was the calm one. But during the observations I realized that I was totally wrong, Lobo is the calm one and Toty is the feisty one.

In my last blog I mentioned how Toty got jealous when  he saw Lobo playing with Oden, since Oden has been visiting often and my niece has been bringing Toty; there has been no change in his attitude towards Oden. Toty was given to my niece when he was just a puppy and she was just a baby. Toty was an inside/ outside dog he lived with my niece for 8 years but they would never take him out to socialize him with other dogs . My mom takes care of my niece because her parents worked all day so Toty was alone most of the day. Just about two years ago they decided to give him to us since my niece is always with us she would be able to see him all day. When we walk him to the park he would stop at any place wear big dogs were and barked/growled nonstop. For a while I wondered why he acted like this so I did some research.



http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm

If your 120-pound Rottweiler decided to viciously bark at your housekeeper...you would KNOW you have a problem. However, if your tiny little Dachshund does it, you would inform the housekeeper to avoid the dog. The little dog may hide under the table barking and growling and be told to be quiet, but the correction is never really followed through on. The houseguest is told to not put their hands under the table. However, if this were a Rottie, the behavior would be addressed. Small dogs are more likely to be allowed to display dominant behaviors that should never be accepted.

 

Toty was an only dog with not a lot of socialization and he wouldn't be corrected when he did something wrong since he couldn't really do much harm.when he moved to a new environment he felt the need to become the new pack leader. After reading about this I realized that I needed to make a change and start treating Toty the same as Lobo and give him rules to go by if I really want his behavior towards other dogs to change.

 

 

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It is almost going to be a year since Lobo came into my life. He was the most calm, lovable, and curious puppy ever. When we first got him I would always take him out for walks and started his training. It took about a day and half to teach him how to seat and lye down. He would do most of the things he was told to do. I had plenty of time to play and take him out for walks when I went to vacations but everything changed when school started again. I would barley see him and would never have time to walk him. His behavior started changing and I was the only one that could control him. I didn't understand what was happening until a month ago.

 

His behavior had gotten to the point were he figured out how to open the fence door and get out. I had been struggling in school and I just didn't go for a while so I had time to observe Lobo. He had changed, I mean he was steal the most lovable and curious dog ever but he wasn't calm any more he would just not listen to any body. His behavior started to improve the day my sister convinced me to take him to the park with Oden. I had seen that he was more calm and obedient when we took him out of the house to play with Oden. I wondered why  his behavior improved every time we would take him out so I did a little research. 



Separation anxiety Dogs live and travel in packs, so it's natural for them to feel anxious when they are separated from their pack-mates. Try taking your dog on a nice, long walk before leaving her alone in the house. Leaving her in resting mode can calm her anxiety. Once you understand these behaviors, you'll be better equipped to recognize when your pack's needs are not being met! When your dog's needs go unfulfilled, unwanted behaviors begin to emerge. Consider: Are you giving Exercise, Discipline, then Affection? Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/basics/common-dog-behaviors-explained#ixzz3LuHqJQYr     It was about 3 months that went by that I didn't take Lobo out for walks and during those months his behavior started changing. I realized that not walking him and not giving him the same attention made him change. I am happy that Oden came to our lives because with out him I wouldn't have researched about what was happening and would have never found a way to improve Lobos actions. Now that I know why he was acting the way he was and how to stop it I have been trying to make time for him and he is going back to his calm, lovable, and curious ways.

   

The German,The Poodle, and The Pitbull

Wow I never though I would see these three dogs in the same backyard.

If you haven't been reading my blogs let me catch you up. The German is my 11 month old German mix named Lobo, he is kind of a hand full. The Poodle is my 10 year old Poodle Shih Tzu mix named Toty, he is just old and calm. And last but not least is the Pitbull named Oden he is about 5 months old and he is my sisters boyfriends dog, he is just a big ball of energy he is so adorable.

About a week or two Lobo and Oden met and as I mentioned in my last blog it did not go as expected. Lobo was barking non stop at Oden. But something changed a couple days after they met my sister wanted to take Lobo out to the dog park with Oden. I thought it was a bad idea but she convinced me and minutes later I found my self in the car with Lobo and Oden. When we went to pick him up my sisters boyfriend had him on his lap and I had Lobo sitting next to me. They barked at each other for about 5 minutes but then stopped when they heard us getting upset. On the way there they didn't even make eye contact not even when they got of the car. After walking them for a while they didn't seem to mined each other, they were doing there own thing.

When we got to the dog park there were two other dogs about the size of Lobo. I didn't want to take Lobo inside because he doesn't really socialize with other dogs, but like I sed something changed he pulled me inside the dog park and for my surprise he was calm and wasn't worried at all. Lobo went to check out the other dogs, and of course I was still holding his leash and he didn't care about the other dogs. My sisters boyfriend let Oden go  because he actually loves being around dogs and he went strait for Lobo and not in a bad way. Oden went up to Lobo and  just sat in front of him Lobo just walked around him smelled him and then ignored him. My sisters boyfriend insisted on me letting Lobo of his leash, and I did after a while out of no were Oden and Lobo started playing. I thought Lobo didn't like Oden.

I was in shock not long ago they wanted to kill each other and now they were playing. My sisters boyfriend sed that maybe sine  Lobo is really protective of us and the house he felt threaten since the first time they met it was at my house. I should have known, Lobo is so protective when it comes to me and my family he wont trust new people or dogs not until he really gets to no them.

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Oden has been visiting us quit often now and him and Lobo have become best of buddies. Just a  day or two ago Oden stayed the night and in the morning my niece brought Toty and he was so happy to see Lobo and didn't mined Oden, well not until Lobo started to play with Oden. Toty doesn't like playing but wen he saw Lobo and Oden playing he tried to join, I think he was jealous. He couldn't  keep up and just decided to lay down and watch, after a while of him just watching he really did get jealous and started barking a Lobo and Oden. I mean I understand he hasn't been with us for a while and missed Lobo. Lobo and Oden stopped playing and laid down next to Toty I think Toty understood after a while that they are still just puppies and to just let them play. I was starting to think that Toty wasn't going to be able to get along with both Oden and Lobo. I am so happy that even with so many differences The German, The Poodle, and The Pitbull can be in the same backyard.

 

I researched Dog behavior just because I was so curious about the way the dogs were acting and what I found out was not as shocking as I thought it would be. First I researched my Shih Tzu mix and I found out that they can be feisty at times, according to the section labeled "Characteristics & Behavior" on a web page named "Sheppard Software". Well I know now why Toty was acting that way.

I did all my research on all three of the dogs on  "Sheppard Software" web page.

In my second search I looked up German Shepherd mix  behavior  and in section titled the same as the other one, it said "Dogs from working lines have very high energy, and have been bred to have a natural drive for protection, tracking, and obedience." Lobo is a breed from working lines to help around ranches and farms.And he is very protective of me and my family so it was good to know that Lobo is the way he is because of his breed. Now I understand his behavior better. 

Last I researched the Pitbull and what i found out opened my eyes up wide. Pitbulls are loyal, Playful and love pleasing people and I saw all these things in Oden. I guess he was just barking because he was scared and got along with Lobo when they saw each other again.

Memories

11/01/2014-11/07/2014

I steal remember the first time Toty met Lobo, Toty has always been an only dog so when Lobo came along he would just growl or ignore Lobo.

Know that Lobo is bigger Toty and Lobo are inseparable. Since they are so inseparable the day my niece took Toty with her Lobo was really sad. Toty is going to be staying with her until the cold weather goes away,  and the past week has hard for Lobo. With Toty not home Lobo doesn't have anybody to play with him like Toty does, so he spends his day just running around and making holes every were.
 Lobo has also shown that he is more protective of me and my family when he is alone appose to when Toty is here. Just a couple days ago my cousin came with her knew Germen shepherd  puppy and I thought Lobo was going to go crazy and be barking and trying to attack the puppy because he doesn't like other animals to come to the house that he doesn't know,  but he didn't even growl I was so happy. 2 days after my cousin came my sisters boyfriend came over with his new Pit bull puppy and I thought Lobo was going to be calm about it like he was when my cousin brought her dog instead he went nuts he was barking nonstop he scared me like no other. I guess he needs more training.

Just a Curious Dog

I love my dogs I don't know what I would do with out them. Just a couple days ago my grandparents had left and I was sad because they are really old and It could be the last time that I would be able to see them. As I was saying the day my grandparents left I was really sad and I had gone out to observe the dogs but today was different then other days some how they new I was sad and they were just so calm and quit, they are never like that.

I sat down on the stairs in front of my house and lobo sat right in front of me and picked up my hand with his head for me to pet him. Lobo is not usually like that he is always jumping around ,I love seeing him so calm. After seeing Lobo pick up my hand Toty laid next to me and was just rolling around trying to get my attention its funny how they get jealous.

I love how I can never get bored around Toty and Lobo they always come up with something new. One night around 8:00pm Lobo was crying nonstop out side and I went to check what was wrong, for my surprise he was on top of the table we have outside. Lobo dose not no how to jump high so I was unusual for him to be up there.

Lobo might be a big dog but he is still a baby he is scared of  many things. Getting down of the table was very scary for him that I had to put him down my self ,so the next day in the morning he surprised me again on top of the table. I don't know how long he has up there but when I woke up all I heard was him crying.

Toty is always jumping up and down of the table so I figure that Lobo tried to do the same the funny part is that he wen up again even after he saw that he couldn't get down by him self. In the morning when I found him I made him get down by him self but Toty was there to and he was jumping up and down the table as if showing Lobo how to get down it was really cute.

 

 

Reason Why

This blog is all about my 2 wonderful weird dogs. I Decided to start this blog because of a project that my english teacher gave me and my class. That project is to choose one thing in life weather its a garden, a lake or you dogs the list is endless, and observe that for some time and write about what you've have learned in a blog.

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Lobo is my youngest dog he is a German Shepard mix with Australian Cattle dog (Also known as a Blue Healers) He is an 11 month old pup. This whole time I have observed him I have noticed that he is full of energy. Every morning when I open the door to give him food, he is always just waiting for me to open it so he can just start jumping at me to hurry and give him his food.

I never knew how impatient he was will he is getting his food until I really took my time to  give him the food.I make him sit before I give him his food but he will just sit for about 5 seconds and then he stands up again.

Toty is my oldest he is a Poodle mix Shih Tzu he is 10 years old. Toty is just to old he doesn't do much he just eats and sleeps all day. Once in a while he will run around the backyard with Lobo but it doesn't take long for him  to get tired and got back to sleeping.

Toty is one of the most mellowest dog I've ever met. I have a niece and a nephew that are always looking for things to do when they are bored so they always end up playing with Toty and not fetch or tug a war but they get him with there hand and pretended like his a doll. I feel so bad for him but at the same time he loves it because he love being carried. He doesn't even growl you can pull his tail and he wont do anything about it.

"Its all in the genes"

 

Lobo is the kind of dog that is very attentive to his surroundings. He seems to catch every noise and every sent within seconds even though they aren't even close to the house.

We have some new neighbors and they have been coming in and out of the ally and every time he hears the loud engine of the car he instantly starts barking. With every footsteps or voices he doesn't know he go's like this



 Lobo is just such a trouble maker, I mean I have had other energetic dogs before but never one that has so much energy even after he plays.

when Lobo gets over excited he gets what ever is on site and just runs around the yard (now we know who pops my brother  soccer balls.)

 

 

After observing Lobo for some time now I decided to do a little research about his breed he is a Blue Heeler German Shepard  this is what I found out.

 

Now I know why he is so energetic.

Blue Heeler

• The blue heeler, or Australian cattle dog, is bred to herd cattle. The term "heeler" is slang for the breed, and the dog was developed in Australia by crossing dingo-blue merle collies to Dalmatians and kelpies. The average weight of this medium-sized dog is 35 to 50 pounds, and it stands 17 to 20 inches high at the withers. Blue heelers have blue merle or red speckled coats. They are also referred to as red heelers. It is a sturdy, strong and muscular dog, with a dominant temperament. Blue heelers are highly intelligent dogs, which require patience to train.

German Shepherd

• The German shepherd, or Alsatian, is a large-sized breed. Its average weight is 77 to 85 pounds; its height is 22 to 26 inches at the withers. The breed was developed in Germany, and it is a working dog, originally bred for herding and guarding sheep. German shepherds are courageous, keen, alert and fearless. Cheerful, obedient and eager to learn, German shepherds are used as police or security dogs. They are loyal dogs, protective of their handlers. It is important to socialize the breed early, and to ensure that they are not left alone for long, since they love to be close to their handlers or families.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8750806_blue-heeler-german-shepherd.html

Crossbreeds

• Most dogs live their lives as companions. Yet, many dog breeds have been produced for a specific purpose, such as for hunting and herding. Crossbreeds are dogs that have been designed by a breeding of two different purebred dog breeds. These kinds of dog breeds have received a lot of attention, and many people choose crossbreeds. Many purebred dogs have developed genetic problems, which are not as prevalent in less uniform populations. Thus, by crossbreeding, you produce a more genetically diverse type of dog. The puppies are less likely to show signs of certain genetic disorders or problems. However, crossbreeding does not necessarily guarantee a genetically healthy dog.

Characteristics

• Blue heeler German shepherds are a crossbreed, which means that they cannot be registered in a traditional breed registry. This dog often has the characteristic German shepherd face and other shepherd characteristics. Some traits are dominant, and crossbred dogs tend to inherit certain physical characteristics more often than others. Yet, crossbreeds do vary, and in a litter you can often find puppies that look very different from one another. They can also inherit different personality traits.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8750806_blue-heeler-german-shepherd.html