Comments for Something Wagging This Way Comes

Comment on Finding Safe Places To Work With Your Dog Off-Leash by Smith

Smith — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:51:48 +0000

Exactly what I have been trying to find and wondering for the last few months. I’m always afraid of losing my dog when we are having fun in a large and kinda unfamiliar place.

Comment on Finding Safe Places To Work With Your Dog Off-Leash by GGof9

GGof9 — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 22:28:46 +0000

Great tips and information for off-leash training. I love being able to let my dogs run free for a few minutes to burn some energy and then work with them on basic commands. If their attention span is good, we’ll even try a new command or two but my main objective when finding a good ‘off leash’ spot is to let them have some freedom to just be who they are and explore the world around them a bit. I find it’s as good for me as it is for them.

Comment on 3 Different Dog Ramps For Boats – Which Is Best? by Gena Olson

Gena Olson — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:01:58 +0000

In reply to Tails Around the Ranch.

we use the Solvit ramp. Found out some things the hard way:
1. Drill a hole, attach a line that hooks to the cleat on the swim platform, always! You are so right..it floats but briefly.
2. NEVER leave the ramp deployed. Always take it off, leave it ready to deploy..

And other hard lessons, if we are underway or moving on and off boat, Tugboat (95 pound American bulldog mix) will always have his life jacket on – it has a handle, you know. Not fun trying to fish a very large dog out of the water with only a collar on. He has tried to follow us on to the dock by walking the very narrow ledge (too narrow for him) from the pilot house door left open on the water side. We securely closed the door on the dock side -he will leap that 4 ft jump every time.

Sadly, these lessons were learned after we lost our previous dog to drowning when our ramp came away from the dock as he was coming out to us sitting on the dock. He lasted a few days, but succumbed to pneumonia after 5 days in the hospital.

Comment on Finding Safe Places To Work With Your Dog Off-Leash by Monique Beckim

Monique Beckim — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:28:38 +0000

I love these tips.
My old girl(daschund mix) has 99% recall. The only time she won’t listen is if there is a small critter in a hollowed log. She -must- hunt/sniff it. She won’t run off after it, any further than 50 yards. Once she reaches that point or I whistle, she comes running back.
I have a 1 year old intact Lab, and his recall is great as well. Phenomenal outside, I never(with the exception of reactivity) have a worry he’ll run off. He hears my whistle and barrels back. My question, however…my Lab is reactive to strange dogs and people. His recall goes from 95% to 0% when we cross paths with another pupper. Obviously I don’t let him off leash during peak hours, and I always have eagle eyes when he is off.
How do I manage to run off his steam, when I’m constantly worried about him running into another dog.

Back story: Ziggy(lab), wasn’t on a leash until he turned 5-6 months old. He was always off leash. Which is why I believe his recall(for the most part) is fantastic. He would go EVERYWHERE with me. We would frequent the huge wooded off leash dog park for 3-4 hours a day, just exploring. He was never reactive, would sniff butts, play happily and his recall was 85-95%. I hadn’t ever heard him growl, bark(other than play) or put his hackles up.
Then he turned 7 months old and Covid shut everything down. The dog parks were closed, I stopped bringing him to pet stores. And now he growls if anyone walks by my truck(or he even sees them crossing the road). I can’t take him to the doggo park anymore, because he’s reactive. I’m fairly good at reading his body language, but most times he doesn’t show anything.

What do I do?! Is it because he’s still intact? I’ve never heard of a reactive lab before. Especially one that just flipped a switch.

Comment on 3 Different Dog Ramps For Boats – Which Is Best? by Tails Around the Ranch

Tails Around the Ranch — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:44:01 +0000

It seems that WP dropped me from your followers (grrrr) but I’m glad to see you are still around. Those are some cool ramps. I think I need one with a safety harness as clumsy as I am. LOL Hope you, Honey and Hubs are all safe and sane. Keep smiling, Pamela! Hugs and tails wags from all of us at the Ranch.

Comment on 5 Expert Tips to Avoid Dog Disasters in Rough Seas by Michelle Segrest

Michelle Segrest — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 20:36:23 +0000

Awesome article Pamela! Thanks so much for including our story! A careful plan with safety first in mind can make it a grand adventure to take your dog sailing with you–even in heavy offshore conditions!

Comment on Your Boat Through Your Dog’s Eyes by Percy Roberts

Percy Roberts — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:00:18 +0000

Thanks for your blogs they are making me feel better about my move from land to boat with my 11 year old stubbly legged jack russel mutt, Early. he’s always been a land dog and can’t swim ( his butt sinks) he’s been on the water many times fishing in an 18′ flats boat , (with life jacket) and puts up with it. I was and am still worried about our upcoming move to a 41 foot ketch ( a formosa 41) but we have no choice, I am 65 and can no longer afford a land based house. he’s 11 we’re both old guys. He’s been to the boat several times and puts up with it but it has always been like a construction site wile remodeling it. Hopefully he can and will adjust I know he always wants to be with me werever I go and as long as he is he’s generally happy.= though I know there has been times he regtetted his decision to go like when we got stuck in a thunderstorm in a small open boat. I have my fingers crossed but your blogs give me hope. Thanks again, Rob

Comment on Your Dog’s First Time On A Boat by Lauren Miller

Lauren Miller — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 22:00:45 +0000

What an awesome post! So many people just throw their dogs into stuff without doing any prep work to make sure they are comfortable! I’m so glad to see posts like this. I’ve always wondered how my dogs would do on a boat, unfortunately we haven’t been able to test it out yet. I think Zoe and Alice would be okay but I think Phoenix wouldn’t like it that much, she doesn’t like moving floors or bridges.

Comment on I Took My Dog To The Dismal Swamp by Taryn

Taryn — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:49:02 +0000

I have certainly heard the name but knew nothing about this place or where it was. I loved this post!

Curiosity question….I know how limited space is on your boat, but have you ever considered having one of those bicycles that fold down into a more stowable shape? While Honey might not like it, it would give you quicker access to grocery stores, etc., as well as another form of stretching your legs.

Comment on I Took My Dog To The Dismal Swamp by Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 17:30:12 +0000

In reply to Monika, Sam & Elsa. I must admit I have definitely seen the beauty of both swamps and mud flats since I've been traveling through them. I guess there's beauty everywhere if you're just willing to look.