It's Quiet Here But It's Not So Quiet In The Homefront

While this blog has been quiet for about a week and a half,  the situation at home is the exact opposite. I don't know what's happening, but our dogs seem to have turned into beasts in a short span of time.

One, they quarrel with each other a lot.  Two, they're greedy with food. Three, if left downstairs late at night, they would bark outside our window so loudly that they could disturb the neighbors (horrifying!).

Running around the house is normal routine for them. But they seem to have also grown bigger the last couple of weeks. Because as they run around furniture this time, they also bump their bodies onto chairs and table corners, displacing everything in sight. I can't count how many times I've to arrange and re-arrange or fix and clean the house in a day. It really is draining following after our pack of seven. It's a full body workout, especially since our Jack Russells don't seem to run out of steam.

My son wondered over dinner earlier when the dogs are going to mellow and start, uh, "behaving". He, too, must be physically tired of looking after them.

Most days, it does get crazy.

Photo Credit

But there have been a couple of nice changes, too.

For instance, Bob, whom I've described as the most standoff-ish of the pack, is learning how to kiss and cuddle. We don't know what ate him. It's like, one day, he just decided maybe he'd get more things his way if he started acting cute. It's a nice change for Bob and for us. Because cuddling him gives me warm feelings all over, particularly since he's big and fat...just so very huggable.

Roz has been sleeping a lot lately, which is nice because there's one less dog to look after when she's snoozing off. She sleeps like a log, this girl. I know nothing's the matter with her because when she's awake, she's a ball of energy. Me thinks she sleeps a lot because she's recharging. (Growing girl!)

Niles is beginning to show he's got balls. I mean that literally and figuratively. I noticed one time that Niles' balls have grown a lot bigger than his other brothers. Which is ironic, because we think he's gay (heh!). Also, he's starting to become a lot more assertive and won't allow himself to be bullied anymore. (Good for him!)

I still have not noticed any changes with the rest of the pack, though.  But I'm hoping they all start behaving better.

The dogs turned exactly nine months yesterday. In human years, they're about the same age as kids graduating from Kindergarten.

I guess that explains why all this is happening to our dog-kids, huh?

Dogs With ADHD or Autism

Have you heard of this? Are you aware that dogs can also develop human behavioral disorders like ADHD and Autism?

I was following this discussion in one of the pages that I've "liked" on Facebook:

It didn't go anywhere after the last post, but it did spark my curiosity and I tried finding more information online. Unfortunately, I didn't find enough. Most literature that ended up in my search pointed to kids having ADHD or Autism and how having dogs can help them cope. I couldn't find a good source that speaks about dogs specifically.

How can you tell autism or an ADHD disorder with dogs? Especially with one type of breed where "hyperactivity", a common symptom of ADHD in humans, is the one characteristic that's often used to describe Jack Russells?

Here's one article I thought would be helpful:

Does your dog jump on you so vigorously that it takes at least a few minutes before you are able to settle in when you arrive home? Is your dog so restless and active that it starts barking every time it hears the slightest noise behind the door? Is it difficult for you to take your dog for a walk, because it pulls on the leash, jumps and barks the moment you want to play?

YES. YES. YES. YES. And YES. Those are behaviors I notice with our JRT's all the time.

The article goes on to say...

If you answered “yes” to at least one of the above-mentioned questions, it means that your dog may suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Unfortunately, it’s no use trying to convince yourself that the dog will grow out of such behavior. Hyperactivity is not normal for any of the dog breeds and the animal diagnosed with ADHD should be taken care of as soon as possible.  [SOURCE]

Huh??? Serious??

Should I believe what I'm reading? I said YES to all of the "symptoms"... so, are all our dogs afflicted with ADHD then? Is it the same with humans, as in it's hereditary? Did the pups get this from their papa (Eddie)?

Is there even such a thing with dogs?

I'm still not convinced.

Then I found this book with a Jack Russell on the cover:

I thought I hit the jackpot and would finally be able to get all my answers. But the product review says otherwise:

This cute book -- perfect for kids or dog lovers -- matches photos of puppies with descriptions of behavior that canines and children with ADHD share.

It's meant for kids. The book makes use of dogs to illustrate to kids how they're different but special...just like dogs.

Now, I'm a wee bit insulted they used a JRT for the cover.

The more I find information about dogs and ADHD or autism, the more I'm realizing that if our dogkids were actual human beings, society would have already labeled them and treated them differently.

I'm so, so glad they don't understand any of that. My kids are special, no matter what.

If A Dog Were Your Teacher

If a dog were your teacher
These are some of the lessons you might learn...

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face
to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
On warm days stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
When you're happy dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded
don't buy into the guilt thing and pout
run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not

If what you want lies buried dig until you find it
When someone is having a bad day
be silent .....
...sit close by.
...and nuzzle them gently.

(Author Unknown)

Waking Up Kuya

As soon as we're up and out of the bedroom, Niles does this every morning:

♬ Doors...why do there have to be....doors?♬ 

It's his first order of business. He waits and sits by door of Sean's bedroom, while the rest of his siblings scurry off downstairs to pee and survey the house.

But Niles? He would wait.

I've long observed him doing this. Sometimes, I don't open the door right away, just to see how long he'd wait, because I'm sure he's also waiting to go downstairs to pee. But he'd have none of that yet. He won't go down unless Sean is up.

At first I thought he was doing this because sometimes, Eddie sleeps with Sean and I thought, that's who he wants to see in the morning --- his papa. But last night (and some nights, too), Eddie slept with us. And Niles still sat by Sean's door the next morning.

As soon as the door opens, I don't exactly see what happens because I'm already heading down the kitchen to prepare Sean's breakfast or iron his uniform. But I would hear Sean scream (in that deep voice of his), "No, Niles! No!" and then I'd hear footsteps and pawsteps (?) chasing each other upstairs.

I swear, Niles is better than an alarm clock.

Dogs Grieve Too

This story is both sad and heartwarming. I got this off the Chien d'Or's web site. It's a story of loss, which makes it sad.  But it also shows a dog's great devotion for its master, ever after death.

Dogs are truly loyal, self-less creatures with you (the master) as their center of their universe.

Hug your dogs for me, please.