Dutch is 10 weeks old today :) one day he'll be able to fit into his vest

He's helping! 🧺🧦

At one point I tried to get him to do three trips before getting a treat and he got annoyed and started putting stuff back in the basket and honestly, I'm impressed. Civil disobedience is a big concept for him.

(Just kidding - we've been practicing tidying up toys into a basket recently so when he didn't get rewarded after the second attempt, I think he got confused and tried something else. Oops!)

trifecta of dog coded characters

puppy/Labrador

guard dog/Doberman

wild Hound/creature

somebody remind me to think smarter about this tomorrow

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole"

Honey is finally starting to listen when I give her the heel command without having visible treats in my hand!

Ok. I’ll be nice to people and put the Schizo & Chihuahueño trauma-bonding-projection-comfort-love rant under a cut.

Maybe one of the reasons I like Chihuahuas is because of their misunderstood personified nature along with how often they’re abandoned, euthanized(only dog breed euthanized more is the American Pit Bull Terrier), and mocked reminds me of growing up being paranoid and how people think that they understand it once they read or are told about it yet usually fail to recognize and react mercifully to paranoia when it happens.

Chihuahuas are used as symbolism for anxiety once personified; their homeostasis requires a lot of trembling that we associate with fear, they’re tiny predators from a vast territory that’s dangerous to their proneness for dehydration and that’s always been full of stronger predators, they have to be more vigilant and better at hiding, they’re always on guard and guarding their supplies.

Chihuahua traits are then further misunderstood from a mixture of willful ignorance and genuine human inability to comprehend what they’re seeing. They’re treated without their needs met(can’t say most of them are “raised”)and often punished or forcefully have their boundaries removed consistently when they shouldn’t be, leading to them being “bad dogs”. Because they’re going to stress out and become unstable if they don’t feel safe and secure.

Because the smallest breed accepted into the kennel club association is scared from seeing the world as that large and powerful then hardly has it’s emotional needs met from owners refusing to try to get onto their level, viewing it as a behavioral problem when a pet Chi has strict boundaries or guarding, the bigger issue personification and devaluation of their species happens:

Chihuahuas have bodies shorter than 1ft that can easily sneak and hide where we can’t reach or see, legs that are perfect for them to outmaneuver or charge, and they have canines. While they’re more sensitive to fight/flight-mode so the reason may have different context overall,….a Chihuahua will use those canines just like any other dog, except they jump immediately to kill intent because they aren’t blessed to have the safety of anything lesser dished out.

It’s scary when it’s a Chihuahua because their sense of perceived threat is so large that their charges are desperate. That Chihuahua darted from under the chair his owner was in while snarling at you and snapping his teeth at whatever comes in contact with him like a mad dog because you stepped near his owner and his territory, and he isn’t sure if you’re going to hurt them.

Unlike a larger dog, a Chihuahua is both a predator and a prey animal, a Chi can’t take the chances of letting someone it doesn’t know for fact is safe closer to him or his loved one because to a Chihuahua, being touched by someone they haven’t decided to be loyal to is the same as letting themselves be killed. & unfortunately, people have been proving this irrational fear of theirs kinda true to them by reacting without sympathy or with focus only on their own hurt or disappointment as the human in charge. ♻️ A cycle worsens!

So Chihuahuas are abandoned, killed, then mocked and hated widespread using the very misunderstanding that hurts them and whoever they attack to justify that mistreatment.

Are Chihuahuas bad dogs or little dogs that are born into a big world that doesn’t understand or show patience and grace about it being much more dangerous for them to exist than the larger predators; including their families of humans, cats, and other dogs?

Did my Chihuahua know from senses and instincts that she was the same species as my Border Collie? Did she view herself as a weak and small, scolded failure that should have been like my Border Collie? Do human beliefs and mockeries ever reach them and affect them? Do the Chihuahuas and other “sassy” little dogs that hang around my work know that the 100+lbs dogs everyone fawns over, frolicking with no worries in the world, that keep naively trying to play with them by getting in their face by force are the same species?

Do people remember that they’re the same species and take that into account, how variable one species of mammal can be?

I almost hope to God and all that’s good in the world that people are somehow, despite contradictory evidence and testimony, correct when they hate on Chihuahuas.

I don’t want to think that the dog who grew up with me could have felt confused or wrong by the literal fact that she wasn’t my Border Collie and couldn’t do anything to assert her boundaries in a house with a Collie, multiple cats, and 4 humans.

I hope Chi’s lack the ability to feel alienation, self awareness of their size, comparison to others, injustice, senses to notice the hormones and weird familiarity of other dogs, and love— I really hope it’s true for their sake that they don’t feel that. They’re just bad dogs. It would be a less ugly story if that were true. People wouldn’t have to be uncomfortable with their actions or take responsibility for how they raise and care for vulnerable creatures if that were true.

But I know it’s not fully true, and I know my first 2 dogs were especially important to me and meant a lot to me for comfort because I noticed parallels with how people kept making “jokes” about them while claiming to love them, and how they treated a sick child who had never felt human enough like others, always dehumanized, but still always expected to act like a normal and “good” child, like good kids, normal, like your good sister, like your sister who wasn’t psychologically built all weird and fucked up like you:). psychologically different when it suits them, violent and cruel and unpredictably dangerous as a choice when it suits them, an annoying and pathetic joke with no worth when it suites them, full of potential and fun quirks when it suits them, but why in the world does it become more unpredictable with time treated as a weird, outcasted, “kinda”-animal? Maybe because you’re not treating Chihuahuas with the same basic respect for other dogs. Maybe because you never treated me with the same basic respect as other kids?

I always felt comfort of knowing that, even though Tito and Coco were dogs and didn’t understand the reasoning and senses of humans, even if they didn’t understand that their world was different yet based on the same expectations and needs as large dogs, they were still experiencing a similar mistreatment born out of ignorance and refusal to let go of ignorance and denial in favor of human pride, avoidance of responsibility, convenience/laziness, or fear of admitting to past mistakes/regrets. Or maybe you’re an asshole.

Recently I taught Milo to find my phone for me and I ask him to do it quite often, because he really enjoys it and I am constantly forgetting where I put my phone down. It's gotten to the stage where I can ask my husband if he's seen my phone and Milo will jump into action.

This morning said husband was looking for his wallet and Milo was like, oh you've lost something? This seems like a job for me! And started frantically searching. But obviously he had no idea what he was searching for so he just came and rested his head on my phone. While it was in my hand, being used. (':

I'm gonna have to find some more find/retrieve tasks for him to do because he enjoys them so much. Maybe fetching my meds when my alarm goes off might actually make me take them consistently.

At WizeDogs Labradors and Positive Dog Training Academy, we believe in using positive reinforcement techniques to shape desired behaviors in dogs. Our experienced trainers are experts in positive dog training methods, which focus on rewarding good behavior rather than punishing unwanted behavior. This approach not only strengthens the bond between you and your canine companion but also ensures a happier and more well-behaved pet. Call us at (303) 513–9333 for more information about Dog Training Surprise AZ or visit our website.

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As someone who's worked in the field with animals for a while now, I can not contain my rage for "doodles" any longer.

A "doodle" (labradoodle, goldendoodle, bernadoodle, etc) is NOT a recognized breed by any certified organization! Which means they have no breed standards, which is why every doodle you meet looks completely different from each other. In turn, that also means there are no reliable doodle breeders. A doodle is a "designer breed," which is just a fancy name backyard breeders came up with so they can sell genetically unstable mutts for premium price. There is no such thing as a pure bred doodle. It doesn't have a stable genetic pool, nor does it have a reliably known temperment.

Once a "designer breed" gets popular, everyone and anyone starts breeding them on mass! Which continues to contribute and make worse the already unstable/unknown genes and temperments of these dogs. This can cause a lot of early health and behavioral issues.

Whoever told people that these "breeds" are low-maintenance, mellow, family-dogs told the most profitable lie ever.

These dogs are mixed with poodles. The main draw of the poodles' genes is their hair. Which is known not to shed. However, doodles CAN shed (because they are mixed with breeds that do shed). However, they can't shed enough to be self-sufficient. So you may still end up with a dog that sheds and yet still has to take it to an expensive groomer every other week!

Which leads to the neglect. "Doodles" are notorious amongst vets and groomers alike for being neglected. The "breed standard haircut" that the general public has adopted is to let the hair grow shaggy and get matted. Yes, matted. For those uneducated, mats hurt, and they are known to grow bacteria. Any dog with poodle type hair needs PROPER brushing every single day. And not just with a slicker brush. There are several types of tools usually needed, especially a comb that can get all the way down to the skin in order to avoid mats. A dog that has become matted is usually considered neglected for all other breeds except "doodles." However, these dogs should not be forced to live with painful mats because backyard breeders lie to families and tell them they are low-maintenance.

The second issue that comes with poodle mixes is the temperment. Many people who adopt dogs don't consider whether the breed is right for them. Doodle owners aren't the only people guilty of this. However, because this breed doesn't have a standard nor has been around long enough for concrete specifications: we DON'T know the temperment and behavior of these dogs. Which makes it so much worse for those who may be getting a "doodle" as their first dog. At most, we can look at what a doodle is mixed with and make estimations. However, a common issue I see with backyard breeder sales pitches is that they advertise the side of the labradors and golden retrievers a lot more than they advertise the poodle side. Why? Because poodles are known to be extremely active, protective, and vocal. They also need a LOT of mental and physical stimulation. Poodles are extremely intelligent and are usually great for working jobs, agility, or showing. If they don't have some form of outlet for their high energy and intelligence, they may become a menace in the home. The average person I see getting "doodles" is either elderly or busy families. Neither may be suited for a "doodle" that has a temperment more like a poodle than a golden, etc.

Next the size... doodles are a mix. A mix advertised as a purebred without standards. Because their isn't a "standard" for a doodle, we don't know the size of them. Many "doodles" advertised as "miniatures" end up growing the size of their labrador counterparts, etc. It doesn't matter if a dog is mixed with a miniature anything if the other half is a large breed. Again, these dogs are being bred by people who don't know what they are doing. So it's a 50/50 whether you'll get a miniature or large breed dog. Not only that, but some doodles are starting to get reputations for being absolutely massive! I'm not entirely sure why, but these bad boys are starting to clock in at 80+ pounds!

Lastly, health. Again, this is a "breed" that hasn't been around long enough for concrete specifications when it comes to long-term health issues. However, what I can tell you is that these dogs are known to get things like hip dysplasia and luxating patella at as young as two years!! Not to mention the skin and ear infections they are prone to due to their coat and neglect. These dogs are also prone to neurological issues because of how much they are being bred without proper genetics taken into account.

The size, color, coat, health, and temperment of these dogs are a complete gamble. Any breeder breeding them is a backyard breeder, and anything they say should be taken with a grain of salt. Please stop purchasing these dogs for premium price from people creating genetic nightmares. Either wait for the breed to become established or rescue one. Do not participate in this marketing scheme that involves living creatures!

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

Me: oh, I really want this dog/cat for breed specific purposes

Some weirdo on the Internet: you should try adopting! Adopting is so much better :) breeders bad >:( shelter dogs deserve love!

Me: no

SWOTI: WHAT??? Oh so you support BACKYARD BREEDERS? YOU SUPPORT DESIGNER DOGS? You’re the WORST person alive

Me, who simply wants a pet that won’t cause my allergies to act up: right.

Me, who doesn’t want to get a shelter dog whose ancestry and health I have no clue of: I’m the worst

Me, who wants to know my pets parents temperament and what to expect: I’m an idiot

Me, who wants to be able to keep contact with the breeder in case anything pops up: silly me

SWOTI: damn right you are 😤 now go adopt a shelter pet 🤭

Me: nah

my dad made the mistake of leaving my mum and brother alone in the study tonight

dad, hearing whispering: what are they doing in there

me: they found a labrador, and they want it. emails are being sent

dad: excuse me -

Tried to get a video of Milo fetching my keys... He saw his own face on the screen and got distracted. 😂