Walk off the LBS and pack on the TLC

That's what I've been doing for the past couple months as a volunteer dog walker at my SPCA. In fact, I've walked off about 8 lbs since I started walking this pack of love every Wednesday afternoon! Can't tell you how much TLC I've packed on ...

Do you have an hour or two available some morning or afternoon during the week? Click here to locate your local shelter

BTW - wonder how many lbs we could all walk off together? Want to explore this idea? Drop me a note at: Viveca@GetReadyForLove.com

According to Sarah Wilson, coauthor of "My Smart Puppy," our "non-verbal" communication has a lot to say ...

Your Dog: Pees on every bush.
You're telling him: "I live to serve."

Your Dog: Constantly entangles you in his leash.
You're telling him: "I'll keep adjusting if you'll keep loving me."

Your Dog: Humps everything in sight.
You're telling him: "If I pretend not to notice problems, may no one else will either."

I am trying to relate this to my perfect dog Velvet. Let's see ...

Velvet: Counter surfs and digs into my trash can whenever she is left alone too long with it.
I'm telling her: "My house is really your house. Thanks for letting me live here with you."

Your turn ... What is your dog telling you? Add to the comments and share with the rest of us!

Woke up yesterday and that was the first thought on my mind ... Every dog deserves a home.

Can you bring a pup home to be your "one and only" OR can you add a pal to your pack?

After I move next month we will be bringing home 4 new paws ... Velvet will have a little brother or sister!

Back walking my pack today. Kept my focus on breathing, leading and loving.

Fell in love with a little beagle named Henry. Then there was Luke and Boska and Tater and Sassy and ... hey - would you like to visit my home away from home and meet my pals? Click here

Meant to post last Wed after my walk BUT I didn't ... opps.

It went great. I focused on breathing and feeling like a calm, confident pack leader.

My goal was to be able to go in and out of the kennel without stirring everyone up. Normally the pups go a little wild whenever a dog enters or leaves - they just get excited.

I noticed the calmer and happier I felt ... so was the pack.

Aside from that I spent hours thinking about fund-raising ideas ...

Had a great time walking the pups on Wednesday. There were 3 of us this time so I had time to rub ears and bellies and sweet talk vs just rush.

I also worked with Cesar's suggestion of "checking in" with myself frequently. I would catch myself feeling tense or frustrated or tired - then pause and take a couple deep breaths - reconnect and recharge.

His tip helped me stay grounded - I feel like I did a much better job meeting their needs this week AND I enjoyed it more. Win - Win - Win!

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Who adopted who?

1. Trooper. My husband Dave helped to rescue a dog likely thrown out of a car on Interstate 78 in New Jersey. Dubbed "Trooper", the dog spent months recovering from two broken front legs, repaired through complex surgery involving plates and pins to repair the fractures. Dave and I, along with the co-rescuer, agreed to split the $3000+ bill, but after two articles in local newspapers spurred generous donations, Dave and I only paid $500. The community's unexpected generosity resulted in excess donations, which went to the no-kill shelter where Trooper convalesced.

An injured 50 pound German Shepard/Chow mix with some issues stemming from previous mistreatment, Trooper was not easy to place into a new home. He occasionally would growl and snap when scared. On the other hand, he was house-trained. An energetic 6 1/2 year old, he loved taking walks and being pet.

After two months, Trooper was adopted, but the adoption didn't stick -- the couple returned him to the shelter after two weeks. As it turned out, this was their first dog, and they had bitten off more than they could chew.

His return coincided with 10 straight days of rain. . With 40 dogs to walk and short of staff, the shelter volunteers weren't able to consistently wrap Trooper's cast with plastic before his walks.Trooper's cast repeatedly soaked through and his recovery was at risk. So, Dave and we took Trooper home for "a couple of days", where we could better look after his leg. That was in October of 2005. Our other dog residents, Angel and Zoe, grew to accept him. With love, obedience training, lots of exercise and treats, Trooper has become a wonderful and easy to love companion.

2. Shadow. Shadow joined the pack in April 2006 when she was about one year old. My husband Dave rescued the black Australian Shepard mix from Newark, where she'd been on the streets for a good part of the winter. (He used a raccoon trap -- she had been fearfully eluding would-be rescuers for weeks.) We fostered her for a week while finding her a "forever" home. A young, attractive and timid dog with big brown eyes, she was easy to place. Unfortunately for the adopters, "forever" lasted only two days. She got out and turned up on our doorstep the next morning.

We don't know how Shadow found her way back to our home, but since she picked us, we adopted her. It's a Lassie-come-home story.

Shadow was very skittish at first, but she has become very cuddly and loving with Dave and me and her circle of trusted dog walkers. And her true temperament has emerged: not content with last place in pack order, she asserts herself with our other three dogs.

Thank you Gail for sharing your love story with us. Love works miracles ...
Anyone else like to share? Just send me an e-mail plus a photo to Viveca@GetReadyforLove.com

I tape, then watch The Dog Whisperer most days during my lunch break. Today I saw the transformations of Penny, Gym dog and the car shy Mastiff -- and their humans.

What I love about Cesar is how respectful and loving he is not only with all the dogs (which I understand) but also with their owners (which I sometimes find difficult to understand.)

Like one of the trainees said he is a "human whisperer" as well.

If one is a greyhound, why try to look like a Pekingese?
-Dame Edith Sitwell

Walking Clubs + Dogs that need to be walked = Win*Win*Win!

I had an ah ha! last night while trolling the Internet in search of a walking buddy. Why not connect walking clubs with dog shelters? Both need walking - both are looking for companionship ...

We could combine efforts and walk off the pounds while piling on the love!

Anyone want to join in - help develop this idea and get the word out? Click on "Comments" to pipe in and join the pack!

Just starting this -- Fund Raising Ideas & Opportunities!

Do you have a product or service that can be sold to raise money for animal shelters? If so please e-mail me a paragraph describing your product or service and a photograph. I will add it here. Thanks!

Email: Viveca@GetReadyForLove.com

Come a little closer

oooo ah ah

Let me whisper in your ear

oooo ah ah

Say the words you want to hear .....

I'm in Love with you -

You - you, you, you!

Did my first 2 1/2 hour dog walking session today. I am pooped! My goodness ...

I gave them my best - walked 20+ dogs - some of which were over powering. I am not a small or weak woman and at times I was holding on for their dear life.

I need help! Contacting the Dog Whisperer tomorrow for bottom line help. Could he donate some of his special collars? If it is hard for me to walk them how is someone going to take them home to their kids?

Read somewhere that the majority of dogs in shelters are between the ages of 1-3 and they are there because their owners couldn't or wouldn't handle this kind of behavior.

They are so lovable - I will do anything possible to help them get the best homes possible - FAST.

Dogs sniffing is like humans shaking hands.

When a new dog (or human) enters a pack's territory it is polite for them to remain still while everybody in the back comes up and cops a sniff. Standing still and calm allows for easier acceptance by the pack while running away is a sign of fear and anti-social behavior.

So - take it like a man, woman or dog. Or, be dogged until you do. You choose!

And, order your copy of Cesar's Way, The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems

Here's Leo!



And here is his pack, John and Marcina.



Leo is their first dog and I am so happy for everyone!

Macrina got a dog! Macrina got a dog! John went to the pound today and brought home the cutest little black and white Shiatsu. I am so excited! Velvet really should get some credit. She paved the wave by being an ambassador of Love.

Here's Velvet. ASAP I'll post a photo of the new happy pack. Come back soon!

A Boy & A Basset

Perfection.

Say it again. Perfection.

I am almost done with my training at the SPCA in Fredericksburg. I love it! Will be going in on Wednesday afternoons to walk the dogs for a couple of hours. All the years dogs have loved and looked after me - feels good to be giving back.

If I would add a caption to this picture it would say ...

I'll watch your back. Will you please watch mine?
Spay * Neuter * Adopt me.

What A Dog Loves ... Is for us to Love Again

Just came across this article and want to pass it on - How To Cope with Losing A Pet .

One of its suggestions really came home to me:

While emotionally you may not be prepared to welcome another pet into your home right away, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter. Helping to care for a homeless pet, a pet in desperate need of a caring human, may help with your grieving.

I Love that. Dogs are all about Love & giving, giving, giving. This is a fine way to give back in their memory, receive comfort and some of that special kind of lovin.' Who knows who we might end up bringing home for supper ...

P.S. I start my volunteer work next Saturday. So excited! Will be walking dogs one afternoon a week during the work week. They really need more help during the week - could you slip away for a couple of hours too?