Monday, December 07, 2009

The Rewards of Poop Inspection

For about eight months, we had no idea what this was. Our standard would have two perfect weeks with no digestive problems, then throw everything up at 4:00 am. He would eat grass for a few days too. He would poop normally for weeks, but then have diarrhea for a day or two. And he would scoot across the floor, something I thought was due to full anal sacs.

His low-fat diet was not the problem, we had observed that the diarrhea and vomiting was not food-specific. Like many standard schnauzers, Kafka had always had excellent appetite, even during these bouts. Neither was he ingesting anything other than food... since various x-rays had shown nothing, and I had been supervising his play.

So the mystery deepened as he matured. Over time I stopped taking him to the vet as this happened, it was simply too expensive and they were about to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. One day I saw him straining and had to help him poop since I had noticed it was not falling off. As I used a bag to literally pull it out, I noticed some strange fibers, and even strings coming out. They were too short to cause a surgical intervention, but long enough to cause distress. We went home and I started looking for the source of these fibers.

Half of his toys were made of rubber. He also had a Wubba Kong, but after four months it was still basically intact. I would ocassionally bring him stuffed toys from the drugstore, but he ripped these in pieces and I threw away the stuffing. The rope toys did not degrade in this way. And then I found it. It was an extra tough toy made of reinforced ballistic nylon that he had tried to rip. Somehow, he was swallowing these fibers, and only a few at a time could cause this distress.

I made an experiment and removed the extra-tough toy. For the next few weeks his digestion was normal. Then a couple of months passed and no more vomiting, scooting, or diarrhea. I no longer let him play with toys made of this material, and give him bully sticks so that he can chew himself to sleep. And the best part...I have not had to help him poop anymore!

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

The Beard

His four-inch beard draws a lot of comments, most of them good. But there are a few people every now and then who ask me to cut it:

"Doesn't the floor get all wet?"
"Can he eat with all that hair?"
"Trust me, he'll be a whole lot happier!"

The answer is, maybe. But Kafka is grey-black. Many people are instictively afraid of a 60 lb black or nearly black dog. The one thing that makes them smile? His beard. His natural, floppy ears also get positive comments, but it is the beard what makes people smile. I could add that this long beard is a very distictive characteristic of the breed, but I'd be accused of placing aesthetics ahead of my dog's happiness. Yet it would be hard to find a schnauzer owner who did not fall in love with those schnauzer looks in the first place. So, yes, I am guilty of wanting my dog to look like a standard schnauzer. Not a show dog standard schnauzer, just like a pet standard schnauzer. The difference is about 20 less hours per week of grooming. Of the 4-5 hours of grooming per week I spend on Kafka, about one fifth is spent on his beard.

There's the washing, every other day for us lazy pet owners. When you don't wash it, it becomes stiff with food fat and dirt, giving the beard a spiky appearance. And just water won't do. We use a hypoallergenic shampoo to enable the frequent washings, which by the way, is really hard to do over the bathtub (try the toilet instead) if you can't be outdoors.

A dirty beard is hard to comb. Combing is the other mandatory grooming action you'll perform. You don't want to foster the development of fuzzballs that turn into major knots. Once when I tackled the matter after two back-to-back business trips (a total of ten days without combing), I was able to pull out about forty of such knots. This was possible because I trained Kafka very early to expect combing and to put up with it. Leave the beard alone for longer and you'll have to cut out the hair, or worse, clip it.

Something that the standard schnauzer book didn't say: You'll be parting the beard frequently, in search of weeds and pests. Foxtails can become embedded, and ticks can get lost in this black forest. It helps to inspect as you go. We often stop at a bench at the dog park so I can get rid of weeds before we get home. There is a certain finger motion you must master in order to remove such weeds and avoid pulling the very sensitive beard hairs, otherwise smart schnauzers learn to avoid your probing hand. If you must use a comb, spray first with conditioner (and for this, The Stuff is the best).

Kafka's beard can grow longer, but I keep it at four inches because it looks better, it gets rid of split ends, and it is easier to comb. Every six months or so I take a pair of thinning scissors and trim it in a natural pattern. Then, when we go to the park, we can listen to the kids say, "look, there's a doggie with a beard!"

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

His First Portrait

He is now 16 months old and completely unable to sit lie or stand still for more than two minutes. Yet I wanted to do his portrait, as he is the one who accompanies me on painting trips most of the time. Thus began a series of life sketches (all interrupted because he is 16 months old and barely able to stand still), diagrams of his muscle system, and a value study followed by a color study. By the time I grabbed this small (20 x 16") canvas, I was feeling much more comfortable working from photos. A friend gave me permission to base the background on a photo of El Sobrante Ridge, and I painted the squirrel from memory. It has this tinge of magic realism, which is what I was going for.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Groom-him-Yourself Guide Part I

I am your average pet owner. I had never picked up clippers or cut human hair before owning a standard. But after realizing I would spend about $65. for a less than satisfactory cut every three months, and that my dog's face would look like a sheepdog's in between cuts, I decided to learn to do it myself. Later I found out a lot of schnauzer pet owners take this route, but back then I had the impression that only show dog owners did their own grooming.

Learning by yourself is not the quick, easy approach. And, your mistakes will be exposed at the dog park, and people who think you took your dog to a bad groomer will feel compelled to refer you to good grooming places. Let them! Just don't reveal it was you who did it. You'll need to accept the fact that you will make public mistakes because there is a steep learning curve.

So are there any free learning aids out there for the standard schnauzer owner? In a few words, yes, but they are not detailed enough. There are good descriptions on the Standard Schnauzer Club of America's website. There are also videos on You Tube you can watch, but with no closeups and very little if any narrative. They are good if you only want to learn the strokes used in clipping. Here is the best one of them, with a caveat: the groomer shaves the leg furnishings!

So as you see, if you are looking for a quality learning aid, the internet is not a good place. Go back to the Standard Schnauzer Club of America and buy their Grooming Guide and DVD to get started. This is a must if you plan to show your dog in the future, but those of us who don't show our dogs will find only the last third of the video very helpful. It is mainly oriented towards the grooming needs of show dogs. Fortunately Sylvia Hammerstrom, a conformation judge and owner of Skansen Kennels, sells a video focused on pet owner needs, but you'll have to e-mail her for the list, as it is not on her website.

Another possibility is attending a grooming workshop sponsored by your local schnauzer club, if you are fortunate enough to live near one, and if they do actually offer them. You could also pay a groomer to teach you, provided said groomer is familiar with the cut a standard should receive. Lastly, there is your breeder, if you did not rescue your dog or bought it from a pet shop. May breeders offer to help you learn how to groom, but in practice, this is easier said than done. Some breeders are very busy showing and have no time for you. Others will give you a quick demonstration and consider their duties fulfilled. And there are a few who don't even offer to help. In any case, taking your time, observing carefully and conservatively cutting until you get the hang of it will serve you better.

Once you have these learning aids in hand, study what they say in order to pick the tools that are right for your needs. Often, breeders and groomers will have favorites that they will push as the "indispensable tool." Some of them may have negotiated a deal for peddling to a captive audience. Consider what they say, but don't take their word as gospel. A cheaper tool that does the job just as well may be perfect for you. Remember that you will not be doing high volume grooming, so your tools don't need to be commercial grade. Cherrybrook sells show dog grooming supplies, (great brushes!) but I found their shipping exceedingly slow. You can find greater variety in price and lightning-fast shipping at PetEdge.

If I knew back then what I know today, I would have bought two clippers, two blades (#40 and #10), disinfecting/lubricating blade spray, one stripping knife, one metal comb, one high-quality brush, thinning scissors, regular scissors, The Stuff hair conditioner, hypoallergenic shampoo, nail clippers, a hair dryer and a grooming table. This would have more than sufficed in the beginning. As I learned more, I would have added a tiny clipper for the stop, a nail grinder, a hair vacuum and extra blades.

You don't need to have clippers and scissors to start training your pup. Your Standard will need more training than other breeds, because standards are not shy about letting you know when they are bored or annoyed. And grooming is one of those activities they might never come to enjoy. With good training, they will learn to merely tolerate your efforts! The first thing you need to get is a grooming table. Get her to pee outside first, then get her on the table and don't let her sit down. Give treats. End of first lesson. Gradually increase the time she spends standing, always handing out treats. Eventually you want to use the noose that attaches to the grooming table's arm to show your schnauzer you don't want her to move during grooming. Even if your dog can jump off the table, never let her do it. It is a discovery you don't want her to make. Always make sure she has emptied her bladder before a session, and that she is not starving. Some people walk their dogs before grooming and this is most helpful for Standard Schnauzers, if they are not so sleepy or tired that they can't stand on their feet.

Next time I will give a pet owner's perpective on tackling those first groom-him-yourself weeks, complete with some tips from experience. Of course a groomer might disagree with what I say, but that's half of the fun...

Thursday, August 27, 2009

South Lake Tahoe



Kafka does not swim. He likes to wade in the water up to chest height, and that's it. We've used the Cesar Millan method of having him be in the company of other canine swimmers while we offer enticing treats and toys to get him to take the plunge into deeper waters. But we don't own a pool, and over here the weather does not encourage pool ownership. So we depend on visits to the Albany Bulb, Point Pinole and Point Isabel, where the transition into swimmable waters is sudden. Go in a couple of feet and boom, if you're a dog you have to swim. Not good for risk-averse Schnauzies!

So we were really looking forward to spending a couple of end-of-summer days with Kafka in South Lake Tahoe. There's a brand-new dog beach right in town, in Reagan Beach. There is the expanse and warmer waters of the two Echo Lakes. And there is, of course, Kiva Beach.

Before we even hit town, we decided to go for a water taxi crossing the Echo Lakes. Only one problem: Kafka has never been on a boat of any size. Since he is sometimes suspicious of never-seen-before machinery, vehicles and procedures, we leashed him to me. I gave him a tour of the pier beforehand. Once he was sure boats were not living beings, I secured his leash to my waist and stepped into the ten-person boat, for the ten-minute trip across gorgeous manganese blue waters. We sat him on the floor between our legs. At first we was more interested in the motor's hum, but once he discovered the boat displaced water, he climbed onto the bench to get a taste. Not wanting to encourage this newfound feeling of freedom to experiment, I sat him down but let him look between our shoulders.

The lower Echo Lake waters were pristine and warm, albeit full of over-equipped day hikers. I stepped in with him leashed, being careful never to pull him into deeper waters beyond his comfort level. I had brought a long rope because I was afraid of letting K off leash in Desolation Wilderness. So I used it to encourage him to venture into the lake waters without feeling so restricted. He was curious about the fish under the pier but never ventured deeper. Neither Canada geese in the distance, nor the sight of a golden retriever and a labrador frolicking with abandon near the pier coaxed him to float.

Once in town, we took him to the Bijou off-leash dog park, with separate areas for small and big dogs. The big dog area welcomes all dogs. The small dog area only welcomes small dogs. Feeling relieved no aggressive little dog would attack my Kafka, I sent him to this park with Sarah and my mom while I recovered from a high altitude headache. The big dog area's ground, they reported, was covered in bark and had bag stations, but there were no more than a few pines, a fire hydrant, and a water station. The small dog area had a water station, green grass, cement pathways, and deciduous trees. Damn! Kafka did well at the big dog area, but from time to time would gaze longingly at the small dog park. Who wouldn't?

Early next day, and before the arrival of labs and golden retrievers, we tried the new Regan beach area for dogs. The dog part of Regan beach is flat and muddy and the water available to dogs is cordoned-off, too small for medium to big dogs, and way too shallow for a water dog to swim in. I guess if you live in the city of South Lake Tahoe without a car, and your dog needs a dip it will do nicely. K enjoyed the flat muddy sand by running at top speed across the whole expanse in what seemed like seconds. There are bushes full of wildlife to either side of this beach, and we promptly beat it after we realize Kafka's interest was not the water but the many birds in it.

We made it to Kiva Beach after lunch, and after finding out that Fallen Leaf Lake is not dog-friendly unless you own waterfront property. After all of this, Kiva Beach seemed like heaven. A view to die for, clean orange sand, lots of shade and clean lake water that was not too deep or too shallow for a nervous canine teenager. But the beach was pretty populated with all types of dogs at the time we arrived, and we kept Kafka on leash most of the time. I ventured with him into the cool waters but again, he did not want to go deeper than his chest, not even while I offered him tasty chicken leftovers. And by now you know that this schnauzer is not a retriever. So we tied him to a long rope, and let him explore and relax, meaning that he barked at anyone near me while I painted, and that he tried to snatch away the toys that poor retrievers dared to bring ashore.

Our "teach Kafka to swim" adventure concluded the following morning at Kiva Beach. We arrived early and set him loose because there were no small dogs around. He made the most of this freedom getting in the water by himself, farther than he had ever been! All because he had seen a family of ducks swimming by that he of course could not reach by wading. After that, he retrieved big sticks from the water that Sarah and my mom tossed for him, and we discovered That this time he was much more comfortable going deeper. We were happy for him, and as we watched him sleep on the back seat during the long drive back, we knew it would take more hours of gentle coaxing before he lost his fear of swimming, but that there is a chance he'll learn.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Beauty

Is canine beauty dangerous, or is it beneficial? I am not talking about the dangers of breeding solely for conformation, as this subject has been covered by the BBC and many authors. I'm referring to individual dogs and their owners, irrespective of whether the dog approaches the standard for its breed or not.

People stare at Kafka all the time and say he is beautiful, yet Standard Schnauzers are not known as a beautiful or even popular breed. They are a working breed. They were not selected as part of the "15 most beautiful dog breeds" by Eukanuba. I often wonder if the beauty people see in my dog is related to having a groomer at home to take care of his looks, or if it is about having an uncommon hair color, or if it is about the relative rarity of the breed. And I wonder, was it such a good idea to own a beautiful dog?

While walking him almost a year ago, I heard a stranger shout across the street, "Never seen one like him, bet that's an expensive dog!!" I cannot leave him tied to a post outside a store while I run an errand. Neither do I ever leave him alone in the truck. Like all dog owners, I worry that he'll escape, but mostly because I think someone will grab him before he has a chance to get hit by a car.

People attracted to his looks will stop us, and will tell me after a while that they've been thinking about getting a new dog. They ask me about his temperament, grooming needs and health. Most of them are unfamiliar with standard schnauzers. They keep commenting about how good he looks, and I know then that nothing I say will dissuade them from considering this breed when the time comes.

At the pet supply store, mesmerized salespeople are constantly amazed to discover he knows how to sit, because they are so busy looking at him. The in-house groomers walk out of their stations to see who are we talking about. And he does not have to do much to get a treat! Other dogs are asked to perform tricks, even the big ones. But I guess the standards are abismally low for flashy dogs. Beautiful dogs are only expected, well, to be beautiful, not even affectionate, another surprise for the salespeople. If they are not already petting him, most stare and mumble:

What breed is he?
Is this his natural hair growth pattern or is he groomed?
Is he a show dog?

I tell everyone how far from the standard his looks are, much daily work his grooming involves, how stubborn he is despite all kinds of interventions, and how much exercise does he demand. They do not hear me.

Because of his not-so-common looks, he will never be able to fly below the radar. He's a high profile guy. When he does not behave well it is big news, because people remember what he looks like. "Oh yeah, the terrier dog, grey and black, he went that way with your dog's toy. Look, he's in the water now."

Monday, August 10, 2009

Dogbook

Lately I have been interested in Dogbook, a great research tool on rare breeds. For those of you who have chosen to be "off the grid" (outside of Facebook), Dogbook is a social networking application for dog owners. Of course you can channel your dog as you write. That's half of the fun. The other half is reading the profiles for say, standard schnauzers, boxers, akitas.

Is your dog within or outside of the norm? The profiles will tell you what SS owners think is typical of their dog and you can come to your own conclusions. For standard schnauzers, de-stuffing toys, wiping their dirty beard anywhere, and a very healthy appetite is typical. Barking like crazy at the sight of a small mammal, chasing squirrels and sitting like humans also ranks pretty high on the list. So now I feel better!

Ever wondered if your dog's name is unique? Do a search with your dog's name in Dogbook and find out based on the number of profiles with that name. For Kafka, out of thousands and thousands of names, I got forty returns. If you are interested in dogs in your area and their owners, you can search by location. But don't get your hopes up because this feature is yet to be debugged. If you have extra time to spend, you can create a dog group. There are serious ones, but also some mighty funny bogus groups.

Finally, for the linguists among us: it was interesting to see the myriad ways English speakers describe dog treats and naughty acts. Enjoy!