Golden Mountain Dog Solutions

Yesterday we hosted our nearly 5 month old niece Alyssa as a guest member of our Pack, something that is a fair bit beyond simply “baby sitting”, and that is the inspiration for this article.

The picture at left captures a moment in which Milo and Minnie are sniffing Alyssa while she calmly watches them. Alyssa has been exposed to dogs almost from birth and in our house never reacts in any other way to their presence. We’ve never even witnessed anything more than a look of concern on her face after she’s just been startled by a dog suddenly barking nearby. Babies function on a more primal level than older humans who tend to overthink experiences and formulate responses based on what they think is going on rather than what is. Like dogs, babies respond to the world through smell, sound, sight, touch, and taste; and like dogs they can learn to react in unbalanced ways when unstable energy, either from an unbalanced human or dog, is permitted to enter the experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Let it be known throughout these lands that Minnie is no longer being fostered with us here. She’s STAYING!

Minnie borrowing Gunner's bed.

Now well on the way to shedding the excess weight she carried when she first arrived, it has been an absolute joy to watch her blossom as she experiences healthily fulfilling nutrition, the joy of “running with the wolves” in daily activities and on Pack outings, and the engaging challenges of the world at large. In short, Minnie has become the type of balanced dog that is, quite frankly, too good to lose.

The therapeutic power a balanced dog pack brings to the process of returning dogs and people to a naturally healthy way of being cannot be overstated. Minnie embraced this to perfection, and to the point where she has become an active participant in our work with other dogs. In truth, she’s not only staying, she’s hired! Read the rest of this entry »

Ailsa on her first hike in our woods with Diana and Gunner.

Ailsa (pronounced “ILL-SA”) is a one and a half year old long haired German Shepherd who officially joined the Golden Mountain Dog Pack last week. She had initially belonged to a family who acquired her as a puppy, but who found that they no longer had the time required to train and develop this magnificent dog to her fullest potential. With her best interests in mind, they set about seeking a new permanent home for her and, thanks to our network of clients, we got connected.

As is not surprising with dogs from a single dog home, Ailsa came to us in serious need of training in dog pack etiquette. In addition to the normal routine that goes with the leader/follower programme here, she is gradually being immersed in what is normal for a dog that is part of a stable and balanced pack. Read the rest of this entry »

Minnie, still chubby, looks justifiably pleased with her progress in all areas, and she's still death on flies.

Minnie had her second veterinary appointment last Thursday evening, 23 days after joining our pack. This time it was for her Lyme booster and weight check. Just as last time, she accepted being handled by our vet, Dr. Barry Falkenham of Seaside Animal Hospital in Lunenburg, and took the injection in stride. Minnie has been on a carefully regimented programme of diet and exercise, and we were pleased to find that she has shed 2.5 pounds! Overweight dogs, like overweight people, will tend to lose weight fastest at the start of a weight loss programme, and the only healthy way to lose the fat is in steady small increments. Read the rest of this entry »

Tonight will mark the end of the first week Minnie has been a member of our pack. A stable pack of dogs is an incredibly powerful force in dog rehabilitation and she has fit in seamlessly. Of no surprise to us was the fact that Gunner, our German Shepherd, was the one she gravitated to, following him around and mimicking his actions as she absorbs the pack rules. Even though he’s the youngest, Gunner is our version of a Wal-Mart door greeter, but without the blue vest.

What Minnie presently lacks in obedience training she more than makes up for in social skills. She is extremely quick to learn, intelligent, and curious in all the best ways. In the presence of clear leadership, she has proven to be courageous beyond her size. Her new regimen of healthy diet and exercise has been a good fit for her, but that much excess weight can’t be burned away overnight - something else humans need to learn from dogs. Read the rest of this entry »