Bathing Secrets

Sawyer begging me to give him a bath.

It's no secret that everyone loves a clean dog. When I picked Sawyer up from the humane society, he was filthy- his fur was matted and he smelled awful. They said they couldn't give him a bath before I picked him up because they had neutered him, and could not get the area wet. Because he had just been neutered- it meant that I couldn't give him a bath either. So, what to do with a filthy dog? I took him to the vet the next day, and begged her to let me bathe him. She agreed as long as I could keep his wound dry.

Because I said I would keep his incision dry, it meant I probably had to bathe him myself to ensure that the proper precautions were in place. Selfishly, I didn't want to bathe him in my house (he was thaaat dirty), so I started asking around. One of my neighbors referred me to "Dirty Dog," a self-service grooming place (shoutout to Austin, Texas). I figured I'd give it a shot.

I got there and didn't know what to expect, but the staff was super friendly. Basically, you walk in, and they have bathing tubs lining the walls. Each bathing station has its own shower sprayer and dryer. They also come equipped with shampoo, conditioner, ear wash, cotton balls, towels, etc... But you can bring your own if you want as well.

They rolled out these huge green steps, which allows your dog to climb right on into the tub. Sawyer climbed right on in. Well- that was a lie.... I actually had to coax him to the top of the steps with a dog biscuit, and then I had to lift him into the tub. But hey- if that is my biggest problem, I guess I'm doing alright.

Once he was in the tub, I hooked him up so he could not escape, and started spraying him with water. I thought he would like it.... nope- poor dog looked so pitiful. Once I had shampooed and conditioned him several times (remember he was filthy), it was time to dry him. And let me tell you- those dryers they have- changed my life. They are the big dryers with a vacuum hose, and they work really well, especially on long-haired retrievers. I was able to thoroughly dry him in much less time than I would have been able to with my own hand-held blowdryer. Sawyer actually loved it.

Once he was dry, I put the finishing touches on him- the puppy cologne. I thought the staff was crazy when they suggested I try it out. No way was I going to put puppy cologne on MY dog-son. But, once I smelled it, I couldn't help myself. Sawyer got a healthy dose of the cologne, and I'm happy to say that I'm a committed user of the product every time I go back. It.Smells.Delicious.

Don't have a Dirty Dog in your area? There are a ton of self-service grooming places out there. I have no cons to using one. There are only pros: no dirty bathroom, no clean-up, easy drying, no wet dog smell in your house.. annnnd the puppy cologne!

Once I brought him home, Sawyer was so proud of his fresh and clean smell!

Changing A Shelter Dog's Name

Sawyer hasn't always been "Sawyer." In fact, when I found him, his name was "Humboldt." Since he was getting a fresh start on life, I figured it might be a good idea to change his name. And, he didn't exactly look like a "Humboldt" to me.

One of my friends from college adopted a husky mix from the local animal shelter our senior year. She named him Huck. Ever since then, I have wanted a dog of my own, so once I finally got one, it was fitting that I should name him "Sawyer." So that way, Huck and Sawyer can be friends. Sawyer is the perfect name for my new buddy!

Photo courtesy: frittscreative.com

So, how do you go about changing a dog's name?

It's much easier than you might think. From the second I picked him up, "Humboldt" was no longer "Humboldt," his name was "Sawyer." My method is easy, and also works for brand new puppies just trying to learn their names. Note: if you are changing a dog's name, it is easier to do so if the new name has the same number of syllables as the original name.

Simply call the dog's name, and when they acknowledge you, give them a treat. If you aren't into the whole treat thing, just give the dog a ton of verbal praise. Repeat as necessary. They will learn their name in no time!

Coping with the Heat

Since I am a California native currently living in Texas, the heat has been an adjustment to say the least. That being said, if you have an animal in Texas (or any other really hot state), the summer heat absolutely must be taken into consideration. Here are some helpful tips, articles and toys that I have found useful in helping Sawyer cope.

I know this is a walk in the snow, but it's the only on-a-walk picture I have

1. I used to take Sawyer for two long walks every day: one in the morning and one when I got off work, with several quick bathroom trips throughout the day. Now, I take him for one long walk early in the morning before the sun comes up, and hold off on his afternoon walk until the sun goes down. 

2. Tip courtesy of my neighbor: Wrap a bandana soaked in water around your dog's neck. Now, this isn't a proven scientific method, but it couldn't hurt right? Etsy has some really cute ones right now. How cute are these monogrammed bandanas? and there is even a custom one for a different Sawyer.

3. I always carry a collapsable water dish and water bottle if I know my walk is going to be on the long side (even when the sun isn't out yet). My favorite brand is Outward Hound, which can be ordered from Petsmart. They also work great as food dishes when traveling.

4. I've also seen people with the portable water bottle/dish combo. This is a convenient way to hydrate your pup.

Photo shown is of the Handi-Drink brand

5. A bright red tongue is bad news for your pet. This is one of the trouble signs to look for in your pet. Other trouble signs include excessive panting and lagging behind on your walk.

6. Sawyer loves ice, and I've found it's a great way to cool him down after a trip outside. I pour a bunch of ice cubes in his water dish, and let him enjoy!

7. Try to keep your pet's paws off of the pavement. It soaks up the heat throughout the day, and is easy for us to forget because we have shoes on. I've seen some "paw protectors" out there. I have never tried them myself, but have seen people use them before.

Petco has these on sale for $25 right now

8. Here is an article on how to help your animal beat the heat.

9. If you have a pool, let your pup enjoy the cool water. If you don't, you can fill up a baby pool and let your dog play!

10. And finally, not that you ever would, but please do NOT leave your dog in a car under any circumstances.

What are some tips your have found helpful?

Meet Sawyer

I'd like to introduce you to Sawyer. He is my 3-year-old golden retriever mix that I adopted from the Williamson County Humane Society in January. Backstory: I grew up raising Guide Dogs for the Blind with my family- an experience that taught me patience, diligence, and most importantly- gave me more respect for people with disabilities. Later, I went off to college in Texas (Baylor- sic 'em bears), and then grad school (UT) so I was too busy to take on a dog of my own. Finally, once I snagged my big-girl job, I decided it was finally time to get my dog.

The question begged: buy from a breeder or adopt? I decided that raising a puppy on my own would not be the most ideal situation for either myself- or the puppy. So, I began narrowing down my options: I knew I loved golden retrievers (I raised one for Guide Dogs for the Blind), I knew I wanted a male (not sure why- for protection?) and I knew I wanted one that was at least 2-3-years-old. Apparently- so did everyone else. 

I began scouring the golden retriever rescue sites. No luck. But, I wasn't in a hurry- I knew the right one would come my way. An animal is the last thing you want to settle on. If it isn't the right fit for your lifestyle and/or family- it isn't the right choice. Introducing a dog into an environment where it would not be the right fit isn't fair to you- or the dog. i.e. I went to a local animal shelter, saw a chocolate lab I loved, took him to the meet and greet room where he proceeded to shred the stuffed pig they gave him in a matter of minutes. I imagined my couch.... or better yet- my shoe collection, and promptly decided he wasn't the right fit.

Thankfully, technology has provided us all with great opportunities to reach people- this rings especially true for animal adoption agencies such as human societies, animal shelters, ASPCA's and the like. I began searching the websites of many local adoption agencies until one day, I stumbled across a picture of a red golden with a huge nose. His name was "Humboldt." It was only Monday, and they closed before I would be able to get off work. I figured that someone would probably adopt him before I could even make it there that weekend. Sure enough, the next day I looked at the same website, and he was gone. I was kind of upset, but figured he had probably gone to a good home. The next day, I searched some of the other local shelter websites, and "Humboldt" had shown up at at a different one. I called on him right away. They said they had just received him. By then, it was Wednesday, and I knew I wouldn't be able to go meet him until Saturday. I checked that website Thursday, and again on Friday. He was still there. I called on my way home from work on Friday, and he was still there. I told them I would be there first thing Saturday morning.

Ryan, my boyfriend, and myself went to look at him on Saturday morning. We went into the big dog section, and he was nowhere to be found. Impossible- since I had called right before they closed on Friday, and we were there right when they opened on Saturday. Then, I looked at the crates they had lining the walls, and realized there were dogs in there. Sure enough, "Humboldt" was in the first one I looked in. He was standing up, dirty, and staring out at us with his huge brown eyes.

We took him to the meet and greet pens, and he was so sweet. More interested in us than anything else. I knew I had to have him. I put a hold on him, and picked him up later that week, and changed his name to Sawyer. The rest is history. Throughout the course of this blog, I'll share with you my stories and tips on getting him acclimated to his new environment, changing his name, training triumphs (and failures), our ongoing battle with hotspots (he has them) and his new life as my dog-son. I'd love to hear your pet adoption stories as well.

Here are his first photos (pics from our meet and greet at the humane society):

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