LJ's Long and Winding Road to Healthy Eating

[LegalBeagle]

Did I read somewhere that you have an unhappy dog at your house?

[ljmusicmom]

Sadly, yes.

We adopted Cypress, a 4-month-old "lab mix" from an SPCA event last year. This was a long-thought-out and planned -for decision, NOT an impulse, "oh, isn't she cute!" whim buy - we truly had prepared and were ready. She did really well all spring and summer - we went through obedience classes, I worked with her a lot, she had good manners and was generally a great dog.

She started to change around October - would take off after anything, not responding when we called, chewing up random things throughout the house and yard, and barking at EVERYTHING that catches her attention, day or night. This is a problem, as we live on a busy corner where people (and other dogs) are walking by constantly. She has to be on a lead whenever she leaves the house, and looks so scary when she's in bark mode that the neighbors are starting to complain - did I mention she is NOT a lab, but rather a German Shepherd mix? She's so bright, and loves other dogs, but is scaring everyone to death.

As for the kitties, she has decided they are to be caught and eaten, much like squirrels and bunnies - hence, their retreat to the basement in mortal fear. We've done more training, more exercise (she walks about a mile every evening), more playtime, but she's just not happy - her ideal home would be a big, fenced-in yard in which to run freely amok, with another doggy or two to play with. It's breaking my heart - I love her dearly, but it's becoming a big problem for more than just our household.

SO, I will be talking to the SPCA folks this weekend ... they have you promise to return the dog to them so they an try to adopt them out again, so I'm hopeful we can work together to make that transition.

That's my sad doggy tale ... any other advice to offer?

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[LegalBeagle]

PMing you this.

[LegalBeagle]

Another thought...a Gentle Leader head collar would work wonders for her outside when she is havig trouble dealing with distractions such as people and other dogs passing by. HIGHLY recommended! Very easy to use, too (as long as it's fitted properly).

[Wally]

I love the gentle leader myself. Our 100 lb black lab can drag me anywhere he wants to go, which includes any other dog. And if they start tangling with each other I can't control him. The gentle leader puts me in control of where he goes. The only thing he has done to inhibit my best tries at training him is that he will just sit in the middle of the sidewalk and look at me. And not move. And if that tubbo doesn't want to move, there is no moving him, he mine as well as be a cement garden statue, which I have threatend to make him into. Last time I said that he LAYED down on the sidewalk and ignored me.
And I completely trained our baby lab, Gabby, on the gentle leader. She's my girl, 65lbs and white.
So sorry to hear of the doggie troubles. They are so easy to fall in love with.

[ljmusicmom]

Yep, have the Gentle Leader ... walking her isn't the problem! The problem is she feels she has to scare the crap out of everybody/thing that goes by our house, and that means barking visciously and hurling herself toward the object of interest (mail carrier, other dogs, etc.) at full tilt, over and over. She really does look scary, even though I know she has no desire to bite anyone. As I said, we live on a busy corner, and the warmer weather has a lot of people (w/young kids and dogs) going past, and she just goes bonkers ...

Thanks for the input! We're still trying, but it's not looking promising, especially if people feel threatened.

[LegalBeagle]

The solution to that is to keep her in the GL on lead all the time, esp. when you are re-training her to leave it and such.

It's SO hard when they are determined! One of my dogs sounds a lot like yours...very barky and protective. I NEVER let him outside in the front yard off lead. Just can't.

[ladybugnessa]

GLs never worked for my guys... PRONG collars PROPERLY placed... now those worked perfecty... and now they are on martinggales although hannah still pulls a lot.

[ljmusicmom]

Lots of ideas ... thanks!

72 oz. of water on the day - go, me! No, really, go. Run! Bathroom! Before there's a puddle! Quick!

[anneg1116]

Just stopping by to say hello to a fellow teacher with a cool Maine Coon cat!

Looks like you are doing a great job - keep up the good work!

And if your schools are anything like mine staff restrooms are few and far between and always have a line!

[ljmusicmom]

AND my classroom's at the farthest end of the farthest hallway ... because I insist that making music means making noise! Actually, in this building it's close by, but it's trying to grab time between classes that can get tricky - I teach between 8 and 10 classes a day, 30 minutes each, and many are back-to-back so no time to run. I've developed an iron bladder!

Actually, drinking all this water reminds me of when I was pregnant with my twins and drinking a gallon a day. Well worth it then, too, but the bladder just refused to hold as much!

[Wally]

AND my classroom's at the farthest end of the farthest hallway

Reminded me of princess Fiona in the highest room of the tallest tower waiting for her true love to rescue her.

[ljmusicmom]

Perhaps it's my ogre-ness ... nah, I'm way too fun! But it's that way in both buildings, so I guess they're trying to tell me something.

I like it because the office is miles away, so I only hit it on my way in and out of the building ... no reason to ge involved in the staffroom politics and gossip (chose long ago to remove myself from that loop). On the down side, if I ever need to run a copy or leave something in my car, it's a L-O-N-G haul!

[ljmusicmom]

Whew! It's been a morning!

Got up way late after staying up late to WORK OUT and so complete my Beaglebug goals for the day ... I say, as long as I start the exercise before midnight, it counts for that day. We keep some odd hours in our household, so being up past 12am or getting up at 3 or 4am isn't all that uncommon. So I did 30 minutes of cardio/step/weights, then 10 of abs, then stayed up and did a bunch of other stuff. Fast forward to me waking at 7am in utter panic, realizing I have to leave in 30 minutes with all 3 kids, lunches, all of us clothed, food for me, dog fed/outside/back inside/ crated, etc. and I MUST shower thanks to the workout - not a pretty picture, I assure you! Wasn't even close, but got it all done and everyone where they needed to be with about 5 minutes before my first class. Whew! Luckily it's a crazy day here anyway ... big wrap-up to March/reading month activities, so it's pajama day (yay! I look so coordinated and adorable it's ... well, a little frightening, really) and a half day of kids, now gone. And it's the start of Spring Break - WOOHOO!!!!!!!! I'm a little sad that we're not traveling anywhere ... last year I gave my utterly stressed-out hubby a week to himself and loaded the kids in the van and headed south. We went to Mammoth Cave, then spent a night in Georgia, then spent a few days at my mom's place in Florida before heading back up. I made that trip (to Fla. and back) every year growing up, so I'm glad my kids enjoy it, too! And no, no DVD player - we look out the windows, talk, pretend we're racecar drivers, listen to music, etc. We spend a lot of time on the road, as our nearest family is 2.5 hours away, so they've been good travelers since birth. Anyway, feeling a little wistful, but looking forward to a week of getting stuff done around here!

Tonight, my husband and I have an actual DATE - we're going out to dinner at a non-chain restaurant (that tapas place, Nessa, so I'll have to be careful!), then to a great jazz concert. I'm SO looking forward to it - we don't get out nearly enough!

Okay, plenty of blather for anyone who wants to wade through it. Here's my plan for the day, food-wise:

B - ended up disemboweling an egg mcmuffin and ate only the egg and ham; brought a babybel from home, drank too much Diet Coke

S - yogurt w/NPB I brought from home

L - "cheeseburger" salad ~ about 4 cups of greens, one cheeseburger from dinner last night, chopped into little bits, and a mixture of SF ketchup and RF mayo (1 tbsp. each), all shaken together to mix (didn't end up going home for lunch, so ... didn't eat )
S - not too sure; need more veggies, so maybe the cucumber lurking in the veggie drawer (ended up having a cheese stick and V8 around 4:30pm)
D - tapas! Was looking at the menu, and there are some fairly beach-worthy things, as long as I ask for the sauce on the side. And yes, I am getting dessert! Well, I think so. Maybe.

E - something where I won't sweat too much so I don't have to reshower, maybe yoga or pilates (possibly "laundry" post-concert ... )

Not much time to surf/post the boards, but I'll try to jump around. Looks like people are doing pretty well with the Beaglebug - thanks again to Nessa and LB, just the boot in the butt I needed! I'm not weighing 'til Tuesday, and I'm really bloated and puffy still, so I don't think I'm missing much anyway ... trying to just focus on all the good things I'm doing! Hooray to everyone, and have a beautiful Friday, wherever you are!

Laura (The freakin' NOVELIST - jeez, could you write a longer post next time? Truly, your life is so fascinating ...)

Oh, crap ~ the invisible peeps have turned snarky on me. Signing off

[ljmusicmom]

Sigh. Tapas completely rocks.

I'm a little baby foodie who doesn't get out much, so tonight was just lovely! And after the jazz concert there was a reception with more little yummies - enjoyed a couple and called it a night.

Off to do yoga, then bed - long, hard workout planned for tomorrow, plus lots and lots of cleaning.

'Night, everyone! Happy weekend!