Saturday, January 26, 2008

Otto the Whirling Dervish

As a young puppy, Otto would zip around our downstairs area, through the posts and file cabinets at blinding speeds. I was sure he was going to knock himself right out. His front and back legs joined together in a cartoon like manner and whoosh he would run as fast as he could going absolutely nowhere for about 12 minutes. A whirling dervish! Then, like a light switch, he would keel over, his sides heaving in and out, mouth smiling and tongue hanging out....until he fell asleep. This was happening on a fairly regular basis.
I became so worried that I called the breeder and to express my concern and I remember her saying, "Otto has the ZOOMIES!" She further explained that sometimes dogs will run around to wear themselves out, to make themselves tired. She was familiar with the behavior and unconcerned. Whew! I was just relieved that Otto wasn't insane.
Otto's breeder spoke to me about the "testing phases" to come.....and she wasn't speaking about agility classes. I was about to find out exactly what she meant... A good breeder is a wealth of information, never condescending and never impatient. I am sure she has been frustrated with me, a novice ASD owner, these dogs are not for novices and they are not for timid people.
So...after the zoomies, do dogs go into a deep sleep right away or do you think they have that period of time when they are thinking........I was short a quarter of cup of food tonight for dinner, the water was lukewarm, he pulled my leash for no good reason out of my mouth, where is the hedgie...............I'm gonna get the bunny under the lawn chair ...zzzzzzzz

A good nose...




Last week a tax assessor came by to look at our house. She appeared friendly and Otto happily allowed her in. He loves most women. As she went from room to room, Otto followed her closely sniffing her middle section. He wouldn't stop. I pulled him off of her and asked her if she had a dog. She said "No" and I got the immediate sinking feeling that she didn't appreciate Otto sniffing her with such interest and that my taxes were going up with every second he was around her. I took Otto into another room and told him to stay. Two seconds later, Otto, aka "Naughty" trotted over to the assessor again, sniffing her midsection with intent. I could tell it became uncomfortable for her, so I led Otto into another room and closed the door.


I bet that there is something wrong with that woman's health. Otto can smell and pinpoint abnormalities. I have seen him do it twice before, once with a dog and once with a prospective housekeeper.


She is the one that needs some assessing.....how could I ever tell her that? No one would ever believe it.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Otto's Vanity



I have read numerous articles claiming that Anatolian Shepherd Dogs can tolerate extreme temperatures and this attribute makes them well suited for guarding livestock in different regions.


Well I am not sure that this is entirely true. It was about 15 below this morning and by the time he reached the end of our short driveway, Otto had already lifted his leg three times and was in complete turn around mode back to the garage door....I reminded him that he had more business to tend to and that he wasn't going back home.


I also remember that last summer it was about 85 to 95 degrees for 3 days in a row. On more then one occasion, Otto has made it to the end of the drive way and simply stopped, looking exhausted and over heated, he turned back towards the door.

I know that Anatolians can acclimate to the climates that they reside in but Otto doesn't seem to be one of them, nor am I for that matter. I prefer the heat at 68 degrees in the winter and the air conditioning about the same on those hot summer days. I hate being hot and I hate being cold. So does Otto. He likes to be comfortable.

The Tail End...

I love the way it curls

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Deer-mobiles!




So much snow, must have had a foot overnight!

During a walk about 4 weeks ago, a hunter who lives down the street passed by with a huge buck hanging off the back of his pickup truck. My husband, Otto and I were out for our afternoon walk. Otto started barking, sniffing the air, growling and hauling with all his might after the truck. Problem #1. My husband yelled, "Can my dog see your deer?" and the neighbor politely agreed. Problem #2. Otto had never seen a deer up close and personal. He has seen them at the bird feeder in our back yard, he has seen them in fields from afar and no doubt he has dreamt of them and the dastardly things he would like to them. Otto's reaction was predictable. Crouching, growling, approaching with caution he licked the deer's neck. The hunter never got out of his pickup and in about 30 seconds said to us, "Gotta go!" and started moving down the road. I can only describe the look that Otto had on his face when the truck started moving as "beyond startled." I imagine he preferred it when he thought the deer was a harmless hairy smelly unresponsive beast but when the truck started moving away with the deer, Otto let out his canine howling version of "OH SH_T!" I attempted to calm him, he was just undone. Not our best walk.
Problem #3. Now, when ever a pick up comes by Otto, which is about every other car in Wisconsin, he seems convinced that it is a deer either coming at him or rolling away from him. When he hears or sees a truck 1/4 of a mile away, down he goes, either into a sit or a crouch and will not move until the deermobile has passed.
Solution? Distraction by rewards works just fine when the trucks approach. He will gladly take a treat just at the point when the truck is passing, the problem is he will not entertain food or other distractions when the truck is far away. He just wants to sit and wait. He is smart isn't he?
Any thoughts?

Monday, January 21, 2008

No Kisses for Me?


I am the mother of Otto, a three year, 21 day old, Male, 118 lb, divinely handsome, Anatolian Shepherd dog.

Taking it back to the beginning of our relationship, Otto was a grumpy puppy and my husband was a grumpy puppy owner. I was simply ill prepared for "the anatolian experience." For a very long two years, the two of them never got along. Given the opportunity to speak, Otto would have gladly told him to "leave." Countless books, private trainers, expert advice, skinned knees and tears later, he has become a remarkable friend. He being my husband and he also being Otto.

Anatolians are very large, independent, guardian dogs. In Turkey, they are guardians of their flocks and appear happiest when performing guard like duties. I relocated Otto at 8 weeks from a lovely farm in Florida to an apartment in bad neighborhood in Chicago.

As a puppy, Otto was not an affectionate animal. Still isn't. He preferred not to be touched unless HE chose to be touched. He did sleep next to my side of the bed every night with my hand dangling from the bed to his back. I fed him, walked him, cleaned his ears, and admired him every day. It was a one sided love affair. No sign of visible appreciation, not one kiss ever came from him. I figured he didn't like me. I remember saying to him, you have a job to do just like I have to work a job. You may not like it but that is the best you can do for now.

From the beginning I was in charge of his upbringing. I can remember the breeder saying early on that Anatolians have a 6th sense, that he would "understand his job." I didn't understand what she was saying. I just wanted a protective animal, something that would have my back...as they say.

At 10 weeks old, Otto was not tall enough to look out of the windows in our apartment but still he would check each one as if he was on window patrol. Housebreaking him was a breeze, by the time he was 3 months and his bladder was strong enough to have some degree of control, he was standing by the door with a very distinct "need to go out now" look.

Fast forward, when Otto turned around 2 years old, he started doing a wierd crouching tiger move as soon as he was outside of our apartment when anyone unseemly approached me. Then he started displaying his strength, his teeth and his 6th sense by laying down on the sidewalk when no one was around....It was creepy watching Otto. He would make himself like a dead weight if you tried to move him along but 15 seconds later like clockwork, someone unseemly would round the corner. I wanted a guard dog, I got one. I whispered to him as a young puppy that I felt afraid of this and afraid of that. At 2 years old, Otto began to recall my words in perfect detail. Taking him out 4 times a days became a very long process and it was becoming dangerous. I purchased a muzzle. I purchased a larger prong collar. I purchased a harness. He looked like Hannibal Lecter! For the sleezy bar across from our apartment, Otto and I became a source of tireless amusement. I was in trouble.

I went to an "expert" in aggressive dogs and took her two complete classes. The first 10 minutes of our meeting she told me that I HAD to neuter Otto tomorrow or today if they could take us. She said "Bottom line, he was over stimulated from all of the stresses living in a big city combined with his hormones kicking in, he really didn't know if he should hump or bite." She went on to say that by relying so much on him to "protect me" from the world that he was turned into a four legged stressed out horny basket case. I had failed to be the "leader of the pack." I neutered him within a few days, Otto never knew the difference. I cried, he didn't. I wanted to get him nuticles (fake testicles) but decided against it. He did stop trying to mount other dogs but there was really no big difference in his behavior. Now he was just a nutless crouching tiger.

We enrolled in the "expert's classes." By the end of the 9th week, she recommended some version of Doggie prozac for Otto...mumbled something about Otto being "off the chart." The 16th week, we were all getting tired of Otto's "20 minute Time outs" in her classroom (at $50.00/hour) and my husband said, "let's go...this isn't helpful for any of us and it is expensive, we can do better." So much for the expert.

My husband made peace with Otto. He described it as a mental showdown. I never asked for the details of the truce. Otto's behavior was completely different when he was being walked by my husband, seldom as those walks were. He seemed happier, calmer, more dog like and not at all protective. My husband would bend down at any given time, any place and say to Otto," Gimma a kiss" and sure enough one wet cheek later they both looked at like two peas in a pod. I would bend down during a walk or in the apartment and beg, "gimma a kiss" and the dog would actually either turn his head away or get up and leave....how depressing. Why? Why can't I get a single lick, one small nuzzle, a quick paw...nada..zip. Kissless in Chicago.

Life changes happen, we relocated to a sleepy town in Wisconsin. Otto was 2 1/2. Suffice it to say that there is little or no diversity and no crime. Otto is like a new dog, still on window patrol but a changed animal. He walks nicely except when he sees a deer or another dog that he doesn't care for and feels the need to revert back to his former crazed self. Overall he seems happy. Everyone seems happier in my house. He has taken to sleeping in our queen sized bed across my legs every night. Still, "Gimma a kiss?" no way...why is that?

The saga will continue, every day something new happens. Wait till I tell you that I know that he can smell illnesses in people....

Gotta get ready for the snow, 7-9 tonight...I think this blogging stuff is like a form of cheap therapy. God knows we need a large couch in our house!

Best,
Otto's Mother