I can not comfortably leave Otto for a long weekend, or a short weekend for that matter. I worry about him to such a degree that it is easier if my husband and I travel separately which usually means, he goes and I stay. I know this is unhealthy. People leave their dogs at kennels, at Pet Smart, they bring in dog walkers, they have live ins. I will rephrase that, I can leave him, I choose not to. My heart is happier when he is around. This poses an unhealthy dilemma. Otto doesn't have alot of experiences that don't include my oversight. What if I left him and some one abused him?
One night last summer we organized an overnight road trip with several couples, most of whom had dogs. I decided that I could board him at the same place that EVERYONE else was using, reluctantly I took him there at 7:00 am. For the next 32 hours I did nothing but quietly think about him. I sent him psychic energy, I hoped he was doing well in what ever environment he was in. My heart felt heavy. Even my husband would look at me during the big "Overnighter" and say, "wonder what the Dumbass is doing..." I went to sleep hoping that morning would come fast so I could get home to him.
I should have known better when I asked to see the room that Otto was going to be put into for the evening and the caretaker of the boarding facility said that wasn't possible "it would be too disturbing for all the other dogs. " I should have run for the hills with Otto in tow, instead I let her lead him away.... I suffered more then he did I am sure. When we went to pick him up, there was a huge (and intact) Rot running along the exterior of the kennels with the ability to get up close to the boarded dogs...but they couldn't get close to him....I remember thinking, why was that dog allowed out. Otto must have been miserable with that situation....Turned out to be the owners dog. The only time that Otto has ever acted in a destructive matter was that night. He chewed up his bed which he has never done. He didn't eat his food and he was dying of thirst when I picked him up. He smelled so bad that we had to bath him in the garage. Let everyone else board their pals there, when I picked him up, Otto looked like he had seen a ghost. He looked shocked. It made me sick. I was so mad, mad at myself....I just don't think I can leave him again....
What do parents do when they have to leave their small children? It would be a nightmare.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Otto, WAKE UP!
I believe that Otto has the mental capability of someone who is somewhere between the 4 year old donut eating toddler and the 25 year old drug dealer on the corner in front of our previous residence in Chicago whom Otto hated. Otto is very clever.
On more then one occasion, I have yelled to my husband , "Did you see that?" (referring to the latest news on the television) only to have Otto come sliding into the room with full hackles up growling and doing his version of "roar, ahroar, roar yor roar"...some sort of unintelligible Anatolian babble meaning "I Am Gonna Mess You All Up -Who Ever You Are ...Even If You Are Not There ....Bring It On, I'm a Big Bad Dog, Bring It On!"...followed by a yawn and a quick retreat back to his couch.... This happens no less than 4 times a day in some form or another...Maybe Otto understands tones, maybe he understands words. I believe he has a clear understanding of most things I say, he is just selective in how he reacts to them.
Over the last two weeks, we have come home around 10:00 pm to find our 10 year old arthritic lab standing at full attention by the door and Otto, still paws up in the bed, or worse, with a dazed look as if I awakened him from his couch coma.
Maybe this sleepy little town has made Otto complacent. Maybe Otto knows that it's me coming home and that he need not get OFF THE BED or OFF THE COUCH to investigate, still it seems to me that it is his job to GET THE HECK UP at least and investigate ANY sounds...at least to LOOK ALIVE AT THE DOOR!
As soon as the weather warms up, I am going to park the car down the street and come around the property knocking on the windows....that's right, I am to have a test of our emergency broadcast system. I hope for his sake that he as least gets off the couch to investigate....
On more then one occasion, I have yelled to my husband , "Did you see that?" (referring to the latest news on the television) only to have Otto come sliding into the room with full hackles up growling and doing his version of "roar, ahroar, roar yor roar"...some sort of unintelligible Anatolian babble meaning "I Am Gonna Mess You All Up -Who Ever You Are ...Even If You Are Not There ....Bring It On, I'm a Big Bad Dog, Bring It On!"...followed by a yawn and a quick retreat back to his couch.... This happens no less than 4 times a day in some form or another...Maybe Otto understands tones, maybe he understands words. I believe he has a clear understanding of most things I say, he is just selective in how he reacts to them.
Over the last two weeks, we have come home around 10:00 pm to find our 10 year old arthritic lab standing at full attention by the door and Otto, still paws up in the bed, or worse, with a dazed look as if I awakened him from his couch coma.
Maybe this sleepy little town has made Otto complacent. Maybe Otto knows that it's me coming home and that he need not get OFF THE BED or OFF THE COUCH to investigate, still it seems to me that it is his job to GET THE HECK UP at least and investigate ANY sounds...at least to LOOK ALIVE AT THE DOOR!
As soon as the weather warms up, I am going to park the car down the street and come around the property knocking on the windows....that's right, I am to have a test of our emergency broadcast system. I hope for his sake that he as least gets off the couch to investigate....
Guarding and sleeping at the same time..
Short of snoring, I do believe he is standing, guarding and sleeping all at the same time. Click on his picture and it will give you a confirming closeup of his eyes.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Otto, the Zucchini and the Donut
Last summer, we moved full-time to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. During the summer, the farmer's market is the highlight of my whole weekend. The Greek lady brings her homemade baklava, local farmers bring their fresh eggs,fresh corn and the bee man brings his honey. It is a social event and most of the town turns out to mill around. I thought it would be fun to bring Otto. Otto was almost two years old the first time I took him.
Two things happened at the Farmer's Market.
Event #1: The market had just opened, Otto and I were amongst the first to attend. I was so excited that he was there with me. I just love to show him off and this was our first time attending together. We made it past the organic produce on the corner, past the second stand with handmade lace and fresh baskets of raspberries and worked our way down to the third stand filled with bushels of corn and zucchini all neatly arranged on the top. As I walked by, I saw Otto raise his leg on the bushel of zucchini to the HORROR of the farmer. It happened so fast, I have never seen a dog have so much urine in such a short burst! The farmer was a good sport about it, I paid him $30.00 for the bushel, grabbed it and took Otto home, missing the rest of the market walk. I was too embarrassed to return and my arms were too tired from carrying an entire bushel of zucchini, I don't even like zucchini.. I really didn't know what to do, how was I supposed to properly discipline the dog in front of all of strolling families. If truth must be known, I sort of thought it was funny.
The second time Otto attended the market was the "donut episode." Otto was on his leash, a small girl about 4 years old was coming towards us with a donut in her outstretched hand. I remember seeing her waddle the way only a four year old can do and still be cute, I remember passing her with Otto close by my side. To this day, I don't remember how this happened but I looked down at Otto and he his muzzle was covered in powered sugar. I looked back at the little girl, who will had her arms outstretched but this time her mouth was wide open and no sound was coming out. There was no donut in her outstretched hand either. Her eyes were actually bugging.
I imagined Otto bit her hand off...but he didn't. I remember my face got hot and my eye's welled up, there was nothing funny about this one. He never touched her hand, he just got the donut. Thank you, Dear Lord. I apologized profusely to the mother who just stared at me. I think she might have said something but I blocked it out. ...I left the scene in lightning speed, pulling the prongs of his collar with my fingers (never a good idea) and threw him in the car. I never heard another word about it, maybe no one else saw what had happened. I grabbed him again when I got him home to further discuss it with him, and to discuss it with him again, and again.....the breeder was correct when she said, "Never overly correct the dog." I couldn't help myself, I would still be yanking on him, he made me so mad. It was unforgivable on both our parts.
Otto is now uninvited to the Farmer's market.
Now if anyone reads this and passes judgment just remember back to the first Anatolian Shepherd Dog that you had. I have made and will continue to make mistakes in Otto's training. This breed is very difficult and having dogs in the past in NO WAY prepared me for Otto. He and I are a work in progress. I am crazy about him but every day is a new challenge with him.
Two things happened at the Farmer's Market.
Event #1: The market had just opened, Otto and I were amongst the first to attend. I was so excited that he was there with me. I just love to show him off and this was our first time attending together. We made it past the organic produce on the corner, past the second stand with handmade lace and fresh baskets of raspberries and worked our way down to the third stand filled with bushels of corn and zucchini all neatly arranged on the top. As I walked by, I saw Otto raise his leg on the bushel of zucchini to the HORROR of the farmer. It happened so fast, I have never seen a dog have so much urine in such a short burst! The farmer was a good sport about it, I paid him $30.00 for the bushel, grabbed it and took Otto home, missing the rest of the market walk. I was too embarrassed to return and my arms were too tired from carrying an entire bushel of zucchini, I don't even like zucchini.. I really didn't know what to do, how was I supposed to properly discipline the dog in front of all of strolling families. If truth must be known, I sort of thought it was funny.
The second time Otto attended the market was the "donut episode." Otto was on his leash, a small girl about 4 years old was coming towards us with a donut in her outstretched hand. I remember seeing her waddle the way only a four year old can do and still be cute, I remember passing her with Otto close by my side. To this day, I don't remember how this happened but I looked down at Otto and he his muzzle was covered in powered sugar. I looked back at the little girl, who will had her arms outstretched but this time her mouth was wide open and no sound was coming out. There was no donut in her outstretched hand either. Her eyes were actually bugging.
I imagined Otto bit her hand off...but he didn't. I remember my face got hot and my eye's welled up, there was nothing funny about this one. He never touched her hand, he just got the donut. Thank you, Dear Lord. I apologized profusely to the mother who just stared at me. I think she might have said something but I blocked it out. ...I left the scene in lightning speed, pulling the prongs of his collar with my fingers (never a good idea) and threw him in the car. I never heard another word about it, maybe no one else saw what had happened. I grabbed him again when I got him home to further discuss it with him, and to discuss it with him again, and again.....the breeder was correct when she said, "Never overly correct the dog." I couldn't help myself, I would still be yanking on him, he made me so mad. It was unforgivable on both our parts.
Otto is now uninvited to the Farmer's market.
Now if anyone reads this and passes judgment just remember back to the first Anatolian Shepherd Dog that you had. I have made and will continue to make mistakes in Otto's training. This breed is very difficult and having dogs in the past in NO WAY prepared me for Otto. He and I are a work in progress. I am crazy about him but every day is a new challenge with him.
Otto and the "Power Nap"
I believe that Otto looks at the world in terms of what he wants, what he doesn't want, what is his and what can be his. Sometimes I think that his world must appear to him as one giant version of mine, soon to be mine and more mine.
My husband is dying to leave an anonymous comment on this blog detailing an event that occurred when Otto was a mere 11 months old. Like clockwork, every day, my husband would take a nap on the floor around 3:00 pm. A short "15 minute power nap" as he would call it. Well, one time during one of these 45 minute nappy's, Otto casually walked by him as he was laying on the carpet in the middle of the room and lifted his leg. I emphasize the word "casually" because I watched him do it. He walked by slowly and casually lifted his leg on my husbands foot and released a little yellow squirt.
I remember thinking to myself, maybe he won't notice. Maybe he is in a deep enough sleep that he won't even notice..heavy prayers...
Best I can describe and remember, It was like a slow motion horror film when the dead come back to life, sit straight up and start screaming....guess he isn't as sound of a sleeper as I thought, funny how he could never manage to hear the phone ringing during those naps.
Otto ran up the stairs, husband screaming behind him. I never went upstairs to see how that mismatch ended. Every article that I have read about Anatolian Shepherd Dogs has consistently stated, you can NEVER MUST NOT EVER HIT your Anatolian, it is not only ineffective, it can shut the dog down, make the dog mean, produce the opposite of the desired effect, etc... evidently some one in my house (there are just two of us here) failed to read as much as I have....enough about that topic. Otto never lifted his leg on my husband again.
My husband is dying to leave an anonymous comment on this blog detailing an event that occurred when Otto was a mere 11 months old. Like clockwork, every day, my husband would take a nap on the floor around 3:00 pm. A short "15 minute power nap" as he would call it. Well, one time during one of these 45 minute nappy's, Otto casually walked by him as he was laying on the carpet in the middle of the room and lifted his leg. I emphasize the word "casually" because I watched him do it. He walked by slowly and casually lifted his leg on my husbands foot and released a little yellow squirt.
I remember thinking to myself, maybe he won't notice. Maybe he is in a deep enough sleep that he won't even notice..heavy prayers...
Best I can describe and remember, It was like a slow motion horror film when the dead come back to life, sit straight up and start screaming....guess he isn't as sound of a sleeper as I thought, funny how he could never manage to hear the phone ringing during those naps.
Otto ran up the stairs, husband screaming behind him. I never went upstairs to see how that mismatch ended. Every article that I have read about Anatolian Shepherd Dogs has consistently stated, you can NEVER MUST NOT EVER HIT your Anatolian, it is not only ineffective, it can shut the dog down, make the dog mean, produce the opposite of the desired effect, etc... evidently some one in my house (there are just two of us here) failed to read as much as I have....enough about that topic. Otto never lifted his leg on my husband again.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Otto's unraveling....
Otto is preoccupied with my personal clothing. It started when he was a puppy and his infatuation has progressed. Whever we would have company over, Otto would disappear and then come whizzing back into the room where I was entertaining with a pair of my underwear...which of course was hard to explain...and even harder to get back from him. If I would get up and yell, "OTTO,give me that RIGHT NOW," he would start shaking the underwear as fast as he could, front legs down, rear end up and tail wagging. If I were to get closer to him, he headed down the hall, shaking his head, feet sliding sideways on the wooden floors. It was hard to be really upset with him....and he knew it. I learned to keep my clothing on higher shelves in the closet or in closed drawers.
The problem is when I travel... with Otto (of course.) He knows the old L.L. Bean canvas bag and at floor level, it becomes like a feeding bag for him, full of all of my clothes and undergarments...especially my socks. In particular, he has formed an abnormal attraction to a pair of socks that my sister made for me. I feel the same way about them and only wear them on special occasions. My clothes might be hideous but my socks are fabulous! These pictures will detail further the events of my last trip. I pretended to be busy in the closet with my back turned so I could grab some pictures of Otto in action...and to ensure blogging accuracy..
Hmmm, what is he doing in my closet?
Checking out the gooods.....
So predictable........
I made him "DROP" the sock by offering him a biscuit I had in my pocket (ICE) and snatched it from him before he could attempt to unravel it
Have you ever seen such great socks?
The problem is when I travel... with Otto (of course.) He knows the old L.L. Bean canvas bag and at floor level, it becomes like a feeding bag for him, full of all of my clothes and undergarments...especially my socks. In particular, he has formed an abnormal attraction to a pair of socks that my sister made for me. I feel the same way about them and only wear them on special occasions. My clothes might be hideous but my socks are fabulous! These pictures will detail further the events of my last trip. I pretended to be busy in the closet with my back turned so I could grab some pictures of Otto in action...and to ensure blogging accuracy..
Hmmm, what is he doing in my closet?
Checking out the gooods.....
So predictable........
I made him "DROP" the sock by offering him a biscuit I had in my pocket (ICE) and snatched it from him before he could attempt to unravel it
Have you ever seen such great socks?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday afternoon .....
Sundays are made for naps. Notice how he is on My pillow and on My side...I wonder what he is dreaming about.....
Mousing.....
It appears that illness isn't the only thing that Otto can smell.
For about 30 minutes each winter morning Otto , the guardian turns into Otto, the mouse hunter. He isn't very good at it. Our 10 year old black lab, who has been sadly neglected in this blog, is an expert mouse hunter which makes Otto crazy. Dig, dig, dig, .dig, dig, dig...nothing. Every day, with the indelicate pounce of an elephant, Otto revisits previously dug holes where the lab had success, nothin' here, nothin' there, all mice in the entire county long gone thru the extensive escape tunnels.
Today, January 27th, a cold clear morning in Elkhart Lake, 9:32 am, the world has one less mouse.
It was gross...
For about 30 minutes each winter morning Otto , the guardian turns into Otto, the mouse hunter. He isn't very good at it. Our 10 year old black lab, who has been sadly neglected in this blog, is an expert mouse hunter which makes Otto crazy. Dig, dig, dig, .dig, dig, dig...nothing. Every day, with the indelicate pounce of an elephant, Otto revisits previously dug holes where the lab had success, nothin' here, nothin' there, all mice in the entire county long gone thru the extensive escape tunnels.
Today, January 27th, a cold clear morning in Elkhart Lake, 9:32 am, the world has one less mouse.
It was gross...
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