For the last few months...

For the last few months my pack has been really unstable. Before that they were doing great together - getting along, and any "fights" that happened were mild and resolved by the dogs before I even needed to step in. I would say they were more disagreements than anything. I thought that the cause of the instability was all of the foster dogs coming in and out - and especially with a few feisty ones thrown in most recently. I decided to take a break from fostering in order to give them a chance to chill out. The last thing I want is to stress my dogs to the point of fighting. Their well-being has to come first.

So I'm down to one foster, Lowrider, who's been here for two years and is no trouble. Yet, the fights have continued between my two largest females, Emma and Natasha (Nappy), and the severity is escalating. Thankfully, no one has been seriously injured and I'm playing musical dogs with those two for the moment to ensure their safety. I recently found out that Tash has arthritis and hip dysplasia. From all of the reading I've been doing over the last few days I really think that Emma has been sensing Tash's weakness / ailment and challenging her, and that Tash has a shortened fuse because she is often in pain. Emma is not doing anything that she hasn't before, but Tash would never fight her in the past.

I am certain that they don't fight if I am not in the room, but I think Em competes for my attention. If I see her doing the wrong body language to Tash - the kind that starts the fights - I can shout "Emma, NO!" and she'll stop. The 2nd to last fight was about two weeks ago when I was giving baths. I was drying Emma, Tasha came over, then fell on Em (the floor was wet, there were towels in the floor, and Tash is clumsy) so that was a weird one. I just didn't see that coming because until Tasha fell there were no signs that it was about to happen. The last fight was Saturday when I was trying to get Scooter and Scruffy out of the dog room for a walk. Tash and Emma were both pushing at the gate to get through and before I could notice that a fight was about to happen, it did. I blame myself for that one because I am fairly confident that if I pay more attention to what those two are doing I can stop a fight before it starts.

I'm glad that I have some idea of what's going on here, but I can't find any info on exactly how to handle this. From what I've read I should reinforce and protect the Alpha - who I've always believed to be Tash. If Em was the Alpha she would not be challenging anyone, right? So, if I'm stopping Emma from challenging Tash does that count as reinforcing Tash as Alpha? I know the whole feed one first, pet one first, etc., thing. Emma seems to defer naturally to her in all of those situations without me stepping in - yet again leading me to believe that Tash is Alpha.

Right now Tash is on shots to help lube her joints and hopefully help with the pain. She's got another vet appointment for the 1st of December so I will do whatever her doc recommends at that point. I will use my Christmas bonus to have her first surgery, if necessary. She can recoup for a few months and have the other hip done as soon as February or March when I get my taxes back. If it really is a "weakened Alpha" thing going on and she is better after surgery, then that would, hypothetically, make the situation better, right? I'm really hoping so. But what to do until then?

Another thing I have been a little unsure about is separating Tash from the group for recovery (when the time comes). I feel like I should so she can rest and heal, but I've also read to not separate the pack. Which leads me to also think that the musical dog thing I'm doing might not be for the best, either. So, that is why I need advice. I come across so many conflicting views on the web and I just want to do what is best. If you have ANY experience at all with this, please share it with me.

I really hope that no one thinks I'm a horrible fur-mom. Just like with Shadow I'm learning as I go and he's turning out ok. I want to be clear that I will do whatever I have to in order to ensure everyone's safety and well-being - I just need a little guidance. The way things are right now they can and do get along for the most part, but I don't want to see things get any uglier and I feel like things are getting trickier with the state that Tash is in. When the fights happen they stress me (and I'm sure the dogs, too) to no end. I hate seeing my girls trying to hurt each other like that. 🙁

Btw, if you actually read all of this, thank you. ❤

Bark in the Park was nice.

Bark in the Park was nice. Everyone thought Lowrider was adorable, of course, but for some reason I can't quite understand no one ever wants to take her home. At this point I'm relieved rather than disappointed - so I'm not complaining. It was fun to just get out with her (and Faith, obviously, since Lowrider can't go anywhere without her). I took Emma and Nappy for a car ride earlier so I think it's only fair to take Scooter and Booka out now.  So on that note:  I'm packing the car with dogs for the 3rd time today and heading out!  ❤

I feel like I'm in a pizza-induced coma...

I feel like I'm in a pizza-induced coma and could really, REALLY go for a sweet tea right now.  In other news:  I like Shadow's new friend. When I introduced him to Bob (my tree-plant-thing) he didn't look at me like I was crazy.  Instead, he said "How's it going?" and nodded.  😂  ❤ that!  😃

So... Shadow is officially at his first Middle School Dance.

So... Shadow is officially at his first Middle School Dance.  He's gonna have to talk to his GrandMeta when he gets home - he won't tell me if he danced with a girl.  😂  And on the way out one of the chaperones was telling me that they had a really good DJ and that he wouldn't play any songs with curse words.  I just laughed to myself - my kid can rap right along with most of Eminem's songs.  Too bad he won't get to show off his flow, as well as his moves!

The trip to the vet was such a bummer.

The trip to the vet was such a bummer. I am shocked, sad, and stressed to learn that the source of Nappy's pain is arthritis and hip dysplasia. However, I am grateful to not be in the shoes of the woman who had to have her best friend put to sleep, or those of the woman who lost her house and everything in it to a fire, but who's little dog with asthma is in bad shape due to the smoke inhalation. While I'm freaked the hell out at least Nappy is safe and we have options. It could definitely be worse.  🙁

Last tape mani I tried.

Last tape mani I tried.  I think it turned out nice, but I didn't wear it for more than a day.  I might have liked it better in different colors.

I thought this looked pretty cool.

I thought this looked pretty cool.  It's like, no joke, about 10 layers of polish. Base coat, 2 coats of pearly white, SV, glitter, 2 coats of SV, rose crackle, SV, and extra layers of SV over the one's with paws. The paws are not actually made for nails, so they are thick and didn't stick down so great. But I thought it looked nice anyway, for a girly pink mani. 🙂