The Domestic Nest Blog

Hey Dude,

I’ve been good this year. I didn’t chew any dirty socks. I didn’t pee on any couches, rugs, or Christmas trees. I definitely didn’t bite anyone. That’s why I deserve a big pile of nylabones and tree bark to chew on. And some dirty laundry to roll around in. And a morning walk. That means every morning, before I eat. Speaking of eating, I’d like some chicken & rice. And vegis on the side. My faves are radishes, broccoli, rutabagas, and fava beans.

I don’t necessarily act out when I don’t get what I want, but it’s probably in your best interest to spoil me rotten.

Catch ya latah,

Harley

My Dearest Saint Nicholas:

If I am to be honest, I have not been on my best behavior this year. I have viciously barked at fellow k-nines and I chewed Grandma’s oriental rug. I ran away from home. A couple of times. And I peed on Auntie Ali’s rug. A couple of times. But relative to how I used to behave, I have really improved. If you could grant me these three wishes, I promise to be a better girl in 2010. Here they are…

1. I’d like some salmon. The wild, not farmed, kind. Raw. Skin removed please.
2. I’d like a toy. And with it, a human ready to play at any moment of the day or night. One that squeaks, please.
3. Some time away from Harley. You know, I can tolerate my brother, but I seem to get in more trouble when he’s around. A couple of days as the only dog would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bina

brave bina

When we first got Bina, she really disliked being in close physical proximity to us. We would hold her or just sit next to her and give her treats for staying and allowing such uncomfortable intimacy. Over time, she has grown to love belly rubs and now she readily greets strangers instead of cowering in the corner. But snuggling has never been one of Bina’s preferred activities.

Until now. We don’t know what changed, but I found her on the couch today, just waiting to snuggle. I know most people want their pets to stay off the furniture. But we’re so excited that Bina has made such a brave move to seek  affection. And she is seriously soft, so I never pass up a chance to pet this girl. We are so honored to be blessed by our dogs. Rescuing animals with “baggage” has been challenging and sometimes frightful. But so rewarding.

You’ll find me on the couch with Bina for as long as she’s willing. What a love!

Harley & his shiner

This happened while I was at work today. I came home and noticed that little Harley did not exhibit his normal spunk. Immediately, I saw his eye was swollen, almost shut. I called the vet and, of course, they told me to bring him in. Harley (like most dogs) hates going to the vet. He needs to wear a muzzle; he made our last vet bleed.

The vet diagnosed Harley as having a pretty nasty scrape on his cornea. He thinks this is how it happened…

Bina, the happy bully

Bina loves to rough-house and dominate. She puts Harley’s head in her mouth and pins him to the ground for fun. We’re working on training her not to be such an alpha lady, but sometimes she does it behind our back. And he’s no angel. He taunts her.

The vet says cornea scrapes can easily become infected ulcers if they’re not treated adequately. I’m so glad we didn’t wait to take him in. Harley wasn’t crazy about you seeing him like this. But he agreed to his photo being posted as a public service announcement. Eye problems are one of the most commonly neglected injuries for dogs and can often be resolved if treated promptly.

We scheduled a session with a dog trainer this weekend. If Harley is up to it, I’ll let you know how it goes.

Psst…don’t forget to enter our giveaway.

Powerful Little Jaws

It’s bad enough when your dog growls at someone, but down right mortifying when your dog bites someone. And biting your mother-in-law? That could be a disaster of epic proportions.

Harley has a sweet, sweet face. His mug just embodies cuteness. But let me tell you, when this little booger gets scared…oh boy, he’s a handful. My M-I-L was getting in the car and was surprised to see Harley in the passenger’s seat. She bent down to pick him up and, SHRIEK, he bit her like a mini crocodile. Broke the skin and everything.

This is a great reminder that they’re dogs. They’re animals, and can be quite unpredictable, especially when fearful or surprised. Thank goodness he has that cute face & Matt’s mom has had plenty of dog experience. It made it easy for her to forgive him.

Sleeping Sweetness

Harley

Harley circumstantially came into our home. His caregivers did not have the means to give him the proper treatment for what was initially diagnosed as giardia (a yucky intestinal bug, usually transmitted through dirty drinking water.) We decided to treat him and then turn him over to The Barking Lot, an amazing dog rescue group in San Diego. Well, Harley got worse. He became super lethargic and stopped eating. We called The Barking Lot and they sent us to their vet who diagnosed Harley with PARVO-VIRUS. If you’ve heard of it, you probably already know that it’s a very deadly disease that kills many puppies. Harley had three years of life under his belt and consequently more resources than a young puppy to fight the virus and survive.

During this process, we learned that some dog rescues and some vets can work miracles. We learned that getting a second opinion can save lives. We learned how to tie a gauze muzzle and how to administer sub-cutaneous fluids. (If you have to do this for a pet, don’t worry, be brave. Ask your vet to explain it as many times as you need.) Most importantly, we learned that if the opportunity to save an animal’s life arrises, it’s worth it to try really hard.

Once Harley recovered we decided to keep him. His little snarley mug is just so darn irresistible. He’s a spunky little booger and we love his attitude and joie de vivre. Harley runs tornado circles in the yard and he digs up fresh carrots from the garden before shortly devouring them. He really dislikes old ladies. The older and sweeter, the more he barks. He seems aware of the fact that he almost died and would protect us with his life.

Bina

I was at work one day and saw a puppy running loose in the parking lot with a chewed-through string around her neck. She was fearful, wet, and hungry. Someone caught her and put up signs trying to find her owners. When no one claimed her, we took this little girl in and have been intoxicated ever since by her combination of calm, sweet devotion and explosive energy.

At first, Bina was so fearful we couldn’t walk her or take her anywhere in public. She did not like to be touched and seemed very reluctant to bond with us. She seemed sad and timid all of the time. This lasted weeks. I worried that she wouldn’t be happy with us or that she’d never feel at home. I didn’t know that many rescued dogs are fearful and have difficulty developing trust.

With patience, time, and lots of treats Bina has blossomed into a fun, joyful companion. We take her nearly everywhere we go and now she loves greeting strangers. Bina is a testament to how adaptable animals can be and how much they can grow and learn given a safe, loving home.