Cute dog likes ducks

I’ve been observing the ducks at the lagoon where I take walks. I am not in these photos, unfortunately, but I would like to show how I watched the ducklings grow up into big ducks.

I think they are cute, though I am cuter, because, as you know, I’m the cutest dachshund ever.

The mother duck swims with her ducklings at the lagoon.

The mother duck watches over her sleeping babies, well, except for a couple who are still going for a swim.

The ducklings pretty much sleep on top of each other. How cute!

A dog’s attention needs

I’m so cute, everyone wants to pet me, even with a long, long reach.

Dogs are social animals and need lots of attention.

I, in particular, need lots of attention, and like to be told that I’m cute, pretty and beautiful and to get lots of pets. But because I don’t get my cuteness factor pointed out every day (though I should), I have some more basic attention needs.

Here’s how to give us some attention and also establish routines that let us know we’re loved (and who’s the leader of the pack):

• Give us at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to keep us healthy.
• Offer regular playtimes, so that we can build a relationship with you and have fun.
• Do tricks with us to improve our mental stamina and prowess, such as shake and spin.
• Do obedience training with us to let us know you’re the leader and that also encourages us to be good. When you say “sit,” “lie down” and “stay,” we know what you want and respect your consistency. Of course, treats help.
• Pet us through belly rubs, head patting and massages to create an emotional bond. I could use pets all day long (and cuddles, too).
• Be there when we eat, or at least ask us to sit for food and treats. I free-range eat but wait until my BFF Shelley is home to eat (unless I’m really hungry and then go ahead and eat, but it’s boring).
• Set the same time every night for bedtime, so that we have an expectation of when to settle down. Shelley and I agreed the day I came home as a 9-week-old puppy that I’d share her bed with her. I whined so much, Shelley, as a new- and first-time puppy owner, couldn’t take it and said, “Tonight only.” As if. I retrained her on that one.

These are just a few ways to provide a pattern for our day and to let us know what to expect, thereby establishing a good routine for us to follow.

 

A dog’s exercise needs

Zoey has her jacket and leash, ready for a walk.

Dogs need exercise, and as a cute dachshund, I know I have to face the truth.

My BFF Shelley wants me to lose a pound, which is 10 percent of my body weight. I think she should lose 13.5 pounds and see how it feels.

To make me lose weight, Shelley is making me go on long walks. I guess it’s all right, because I meet people along the way who will pet me. I go up to them, as long as they look friendly enough, and stop. “Pet me, please,” I hint.

Most oblige.

It’s because I’m really cute.

Okay, so about exercise.

Dogs need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, but larger breeds need up to two hours. How much they need really depends on the age, breed, size and overall health. Young dogs also need more, because they need to burn off their excessive energy.

There are many ways to get exercise with your dog besides the usual walk. Here are a few:

• Throw our toys, and we’ll go get them, most likely by running.
• Play chase with us around the house.
• Make up a game that involves movement, using our toys, balls or things to chew.
• Have us do tricks.
• Take us to dog parks and doggie day care.

And remember to provide us with a warm up and cool down, give us rest breaks, keep us hydrated and don’t let us overdo it. If we lie down in the middle of exercise, stumble, drag our feet or yawn, we may be getting fatigued. I usually just sit on my butt and don’t move. That’s a big hint, too.

One more piece of advice: change up our exercise routines, so we get variety.

Pacing for dogs

Zoey, right, and Sophie play at a fast pace.

As a miniature dachshund, I find pacing to be a silly concept.

There are two types of pacing: napping and playing.

In my napping pace, I curl into a loose ball atop the couch pillows or next to the edge of my doggie bed. I don’t go anywhere, so if you were watching me, you would see how cute I am with my eyes closed.

I bet you could watch me for a long, long time, because I sigh, I switch positions and I snap open my eyes when I hear noises, then return to dreamland.

Oh, is that too slow for you?

Well, join me for a run as I shoot out the door, stop to sniff at the feral cat area by the shed and bark as I hurry along the fence to return to the porch. I lift my snout and sniff. I better run another lap, and so I do.

That’s the fast pace.

So is playing when I engage in tug-of-war, a game of chase or go after my balls and toys that are thrown to the end of the hall.

A medium pace is for going on walks, when I mosey along, stopping at all fire hydrants, light poles, trees and flower beds to sniff and sniff. I become investigative as I slow down and then annoyed when I get pulled away from my dreamy wondering about which dogs had come by this or that spot.

“Come on, Zoey,” I hear as I’m lifted by my harness as if I’m flying through the air. I quicken my pace with paws circling until I land. I dig in, wanting to stay.

You see, I don’t want to keep pace with humans when I’ve got my own path to follow.

(I recycled this blog from 2012, because I’m kind of tired right now and need a doggie break from blogging.)