White Boy/White Dog Move To Skid Row

Certified Beach Dude Moves To Downtown Los Angeles

When I went to the hospital last week, I was lucky that it was Monday morning, and I had not lost my mind in pain too much to not plan for some dog walking for White Dog. I called David at walkfido.com, who had previously spent a few hours with me for a dog training consultation. I admit, I have not really shopped around for dog walking services (although a couple people on the street have handed me their business cards), but walkfido.com has a nice menu of walking options.

David got back to me within minutes, and assured me he could handle walking Isis twice that day, and as necessary the following days if I was admitted to hospital. Late in day Monday I contacted him and said I would need his service 3 times a day, at least for another day or two. No problem he said, and explained I really should get the “While You Are Away” Sitting package, at $55 / day, which I readily agreeded to.

When I discharged myself from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, I returned home to find Isis gone, so I called David to tell him I was home now. He got right back to me and said he had Isis at his office as he didn’t expect me home (neither did I!) and that he would bring her over later in the evening when he took other dogs out. No big deal- she’s was in good hands I knew.

When David brings her back, complete with her “crate” that he had taken to keep her happy at his office, he procedes to tell me all the good stuff about how he and his staff took her on walks with other dogs and got her to behave/respect the pack leader, which is very good news. For the money, I got an incredible value with all the love and attention Isis received- I am very lucky to have a resource such as David’s company.

But now the new “trick” - a new “prong training collar” that looks damn serious, but he says mimics the way a mother dog will nip at her puppies necks. David is the one who initially suggested the “Gentle Leader” collar to me, and it was a great tool for about two months, until Isis got too strong in the neck and did not mind the constant pull to one side as she tugged on the leash.

The new collar I ordered from petco.com arrived today, and this evening was my first walk with her when she wore this type of pronged collar. What a difference! No pulling from her, and barely a little bark at another dog or skateboarder before a quick but gentle tug quieted her. I just have to be careful as I’m used to having to tug VERY aggressively, and this could seriously hurt her, I think. But the behavior difference is amazing.

David also recommended a citronella “bark collar” - a collar that has a little microphone and battery, and when a dog barks, it shoots a mist of lemon spray towards their snout. I explained I had used that for awhile, but Isis got used to it, and figured out how to make certain “whines” that would not trigger the spray. I also said I had even used a “shock collar” that I had from previous dog, but that did not phase Isis at all- she is just too strong. (On my old JRT, the shock collar kept her from barking pretty good; she had scratched all the paint off the inside of front door of my house from barking when people rang the doorbell, and the collar prevented that- but Isis is a whole ‘nother animal…).

So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my little girl does not turn into an S & M freak and just love getting those prongs squeezed tight against her neck… I sure don’t want to torture her but she is one stubborn bitch