Life of a Kat with more than 9 lives

Bad Reputations piss me off...

2011-06-18T23:53:00.000-05:00

I have to make a post about this. But seriously, it makes me sick when people judge my dog because of her breed. I understand Pitbulls have the bad reputation because people now a days are into sick fighting. But honestly I know that can be ANY DOG. It's how you raise your dog there are mean poodles, golden retrievers(yes, I heard about them strange as it sounds), labs, german shepards, and etc. I was raised to believe that it was not the dog it's the owner. Dogs want to PLEASE you. They are like a child, they do know any better, you have to guide them. If you guide them to be mean, they will be mean. If you do nothing with them, who knows how they will really be. If you remember the Little Rascals, their dog Petey was a pitbull. I may get looks and hear gasps sometimes when I say what my dog is mixed with. Overall, I just am proud to have a Pitbull-Boxer mix! :)

An interesting article I read on yahoo about Nanny Dogs and guess who they were? Pitbulls! Read this article: Pitbulls as Nanny Dogs

Raising Piper..

2011-06-17T15:04:00.000-05:00

ALL dog's want to please you. They are happy when they know you are happy with them. That's what I love about them. Piper rarely dissappoints me. I started working with her from the day I adopted her. The biggest problem I had at first besides anxiety was her half-way potty training. Poor thing, so I had to retrain her. She is weirdly enough not a morning dog, you wake her up at 8am she gives you a dirty look. Well, too bad sometimes I have to be up at 5-6am, so do you my friend. :)

How did I retrain her? First thing, I had to catch her going potting in the house, I had to tell her, "no potty in the house." Even once in awhile I'd catch it in her kennel, and I'd say that's a "no no, we don't go potty in here" I would take her out and say, let's go potty. When she went I'd say over and over, "Good girl go potty outside no inside". Then when she was finished I would say, "let's go inside" after 2 weeks she never had an accident unless she got sick. :)

Dogs are animals. You have to have patience. I never yelled at Piper unless she was beyond bad. Only reason is she would accidently pee which I did not want. So I decided one day to tell her I am mad at her, and walk away. She would follow me and notice I wouldn't look at her she'd try everything to putting her head in my lap and stare at me. So that has been my routine with her for over 2 years. Always find something that works with you.

Piper did not know how to bark. I wanted her to at least bark once in awhile. That was the hardest thing ever. We did everything to cookies, to watching videos, my parents gave me a few suggestions. One day she did it, and we said good girl, speak, and she stuck with it. I wanted her to bark when a doorbell or knock on the door. So I would go on the other side of EVERY place we moved to and knock/ring the bell and say speak piper..and she did it. I wanted her to recognize it in the new place. Haha..she does it sometimes when she hears things that she does not recognize.

She doesn't do many tricks. We tried rolling over, sitting up..yeah she just was not having that. She can give you five with her left and right paw, lay down, ring bells on the door to go outside and understand some Italian phrases. :) All you have to be with tricks just like potty training, and anything else with a dog..CONSISTANT and TIME! :) If you are not willing, it does not work.

Dogs Anxiety=VERY EXPENSIVE

2011-06-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, so Piper and her anxiety...oi! Is all I can say in the best way possible. I was able to leave her alone for 15-20 minutes, any longer...you do not know what she would possibly do. She like to rip things up, such as a few decorations I had. Luckily it was for the Halloween Holiday and I purchased them at the Dollar Tree. Other things, she destroyed some of my clipper guards...oh ya I am a former hairstylist who still cuts hair from time to time so I was kinda annoyed with that. She LOVES garbage in low cans. Luckily she will not attempt to knock over a garbage can that has a lid on there.

Well I taught her, she was kenneled when I was not home from November 2007 to October 2009. One day my roommate forgot to lock her up, and my other roommate wasn't home. I came home from work and she was 100% well behaved. So I figured okay she learned but what can I do so she doesn't stalk me to the door and possibly cry? I never say bye to her. I give her a few cookies as a distraction and tell her to be a good girl and no accidents. 95% of the time she's good. IF there's an accident 2.5% of the time it's my fault bc I didn't let her be out long enough bc I overslept and I have to go to work or I leave things out...or my bf will leave the bathroom door open.

Since October 2009, she has not been kennled. When we moved last year I didn't bother to bring out her kennel bc there wasn't enough room after our move and I had to work. Well, I gave her a shot, I knew there were things she can grab, tear and chew but gave her cookies and told her to be good. HAving my fingers crossed and hoping she would be good, I came home from work and she was perfect! SURPRISE!

I think the best way if you have a dog that has anxiety, is to try to leave for maybe 30 minutes go back and check, next time hour and build how you think is appropriate.Every dog is different, but kenneling them all day every day is not fair UNLESS you did everything you can do. You REALLY have to work with them. They are sort of like a 2 year old child that says NO and throws a tantrum. You have to keep going and pick your battles. Anxiety is a big battle but believe me once you figure out a little routine you and your buddy will be so happy and relieved. Remember, if you kennel them ALL day and let them out. Then you ask yourself "Why is Piper still so crazy two hours later." Think of it this way...IMAGINE if you were locked in a box for 9 hours 5 days a week? Oy, well you can say.."I am at work" haha but at least you got that 30 minutes and your breaks to get away...and if you don't well..that's your choice. :) Also, you can't just say to a dog or even a young child don't worry I will be back in 8 hours. Best way I can think they hear is like Peanuts cartoon with the teacher/adults talking "woh woh woh woh". They do not understand the way an adult human understands.

Do I believe in doggy day care?? Heck no! Why pay more $$ for something so silly? Before I adopted her I understand she was in doggy day care but she's good with other animals and by herself.

Introducing..PIPER..my first challenges when I got her...

2011-06-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

**EXCUSE the grammar, I type fast and just write thoughts off the top of my head** The picture you see of my dog is when I first adopted her in 2007!

So, I have been raised with dogs my complete life. So I learned from both of my parents how to raise a dog and how to work with the different personalities. First thing is first, there is no such thing as a "bad dog" there are "bad owners. How do I figure? A dog is like a child (to some extent), you have to be consistent, have time, work hard, and teach! :) Dogs do not need to be spanked. They understand the tone of voice and how loud. They don't like certain sounds such as rolled up newspaper and smack it on your hand. Let me explain my first dog I got while on my own...Piper!

Back in November 2007 there was a dog that needed a home. Now she was a pitbull/boxer two breeds I never dealt with, and well the photos I received she wasn't too cute. Haha...well when I finally met her, she was underweight, and was slowly gaining bc she was abused before and I thought to myself..aww what a big baby. She tried to crawl in my lap within the first 15minutes. I know she was also tossed around home to home so too. So I knew there was going to be some issues but I was willing to take this challenge.

There were a few things, she was afraid of people and like to run and growl. Especially at men with deep voices like my brother and dad. They walked up to her when I was there and let her smell their fist then handed her a cookie. They won her heart and she caved. She loved my nieces and my mom too. She even loved other dogs such as my parents dogs who are around 112lbs each. So I noticed the pattern and made sure when my bf at the time met her I was there so she wouldn't run and growl. She is now over that. Everyone goes to her level and I stand next to her because she likes to jump up every so often when she is excited.

The weight gain was a slow but due process. She lost 5 lbs

her approximate age was 1 1/2, I was still able to feed her puppy food. So, I did, that helped and within a few weeks she was at approx. 60 lbs. I am actually lucky and she has no allergies. She was silly enough to eat bugs! It's actually funny to watch her jump on them like shes a cat! But I had to remember to be patient with the weight gain, it's not an overnight thing.

That's for starters. Tomorrow hopefully I will be able to tackle her anxiety!

Who is Kat???

2011-06-13T19:13:00.000-05:00

I have lived in the Chicago-land area all my life. It's a fun place to live when you are out in the midwest, but it's SUPER pricey. That's why I am going to blog on what I do best, BUDGET! :) I have been in that unemployment line a couple of times so I went on a super-budget! I paid rent, my car payment, bills, etc and did not move back home. I am still on my own today and my savings & other accounts are doing great. I think anyone can do it, it's just like quitting a habit, you have to WANT to do it. :) If that makes any sense!! :)

I currently paid my SUV off a year early in 2011. :) I was super excited because my rent is pretty cheap for a 2/1 apartment in the border suburbs of Chicago. I am literally 15mins away from Downtown. I moved to be close to my job (1mile away) and to save $$ to buy a house. My roommate is moving out this June 2011 and my boyfriend is moving in so we can save together.