OT: Shingles, Mammograms, Sewing Machines & Burglers

So very sorry to hear this, Denise. What a terrible shock it must have been. Don't put any more 'hiding' ideas online ... ... I hope you'll soon feel better. I hope it doesn't make you fearful of leaving the house - I understand that feeling only too well I'm afraid. . In message , Denise in NH writes

"Denise in NH" <

So sorry about all your problems! Hope your beloved dogs improve. Barbara in FL

What a horrible thing to have happened to you. I am so sorry.

This may start a war, but please don't baby your dogs even tho you want nothing more than to make it better for them. Like when a dog is frightened at the vet's office, coddling them is rewarding them for their fearful behavior and encourages it to continue and grow worse. You should consider just keeping everything as normal as possible, try to keep yourself calm as dogs sense emotions in their humans and try to distract the dogs with a walk or play time when they seem frightened or upset. It really is doing the dogs a kindness to help them believe all is well and they have nothing to fear and their beloved human is okay.

Best wishes.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

I am so sorry Denise. Most of my jewelry was stolen 26 years ago while I was at the hospital because my mama was having surgery. They even got into a jar of homemade jam and had a sandwich at my house. I didn't have a dryer at the time and they had been through all the bedding and sleeping was pretty tough that night. If you see me since that day I don't have much jewelry. They stole my husband's wedding band and my religious medals. Since then I just don't have much desire in jewelry for gifts. The few nice things I have are in a safe deposit box at the bank. Tough to enjoy things at that point. Leslie makes sense about the dogs. She is so smart about them! I worry about someone letting my cats out if they robbed our home. I hate crooks. I hope there is a special place in hell for them. Hugs, Taria

I'm just getting over a case of shingles. While getting my mammogram Monday, my house was broken into and robbed. They kicked in the front door, went to the bedroom and stole 4 jewelry boxes. They took every single piece of jewelry I ever had. I don't even have one pair of earrings left. All that's left is what I was wearing on my hands. My two dogs now seem to have PTSD, especially Ginger, my Schnoodle. It's breaking my heart, she shakes whenever there is the slightest noise and won't leave my lap. Even though my dogs are small, I know they would have been very aggressive with an intruder, so I'm afraid to think of what might have happened to them. I can't find any bruises.

They didn't steal the sewing machine or televisions, just jewelry. I'm thinking of hollowing out an old sewing machine to use as a hiding place for valuables.

Denise in NH

((((( Denise ))))) I'm so sorry you have had this violation of your home an= d life. I think Leslie is exactly right about the dogs. They are so much li= ke very young children, waiting to see how we react and following our emoti= onal lead. Jewelry -- I had one expensive piece. I didn't wear it but plann= ed to pass it on to one of my sons, probably the first one married. My olde= r sister had tons of beautiful, valuable things. Then her house was robbed.= All the jewelry, gone. Silver, gone. Collectibles, gone. Designer boots an= d coat, gone. I traded that pendant for a good sewing machine. I know how m= uch loss of precious things hurts and cuts deep when they are passed down f= rom someone we love, or gifts from a loved one. I hope you can recover some= of the pieces. Often those jerks who rob people head straight for the firs= t pawn shop. Stupid criminals. Mostly, I'm glad they didn't harm your pups.= Or you.=20

Hugs, Sunny

I am trying to keep things calm and quiet for them as much as possible. The first day was tough as they were shaking, but now they are super hyper vigilant and startle at the slightest noise. People have been coming over often and every time someone touches the door that got kicked in, they go hysterical and attack each other on the way to the door.

I have now found a bluish bruise on Ginger's side, so I suspect she may have been kicked. It doesn't seem to bother her, and there's no lump or swelling.

It'll take time for them to get back to normal, I'm trying to just do our regular routine until they feel safe again. I've reported the bruise to the police and asked if I could add an animal abuse charge to the robbery, if the guy gets caught. He said that he would put our town's animal control officer alone in the room with him and she would take care of the jerk. He didn't say anything about adding an extra charge, but you can believe that if I get a chance to add a statement, I will rip the guy a new one. You don't mess with my babies.

Denise

Your poor babies... and you. You have the added stress of concern for your dogs on top of everything else. Taria was very kind to compliment me but my doggie knowledge is just gleaned from many years of having multiple large (indoor) dogs at any given time and reading/ studying about canine psychology and The Dog Whisperer. Everything he writes and says makes perfect sense from what I have experienced over the years. His methods really, really work! As an aside- 2 months ago I adopted a 100 lb. 10 month old puppy. She's Alaskan Malamute/Labrador Retriever- a beautiful, clever, sweet-natured girl but very strong willed and opinionated with strong dominant tendencies. We are still having a gentle battle of the wills to convince her that *I* am The Pack Leader! LOL By spring she will outweigh me..... =3D:-o

Leslie & The Furbabies > On Nov 3, 9:07=A0am, "Leslie & The Furbabies in MO."

Positive thoughts are on their way to you and your fur-babies. I hope they catch the thief and that he gets his "just rewards" . He deserves the worst! ME-Judy

Pack Leader is funny here. Yogi regards Mr. Esther as the most wonderful person in the world and his dearest best friend and playmate. For reasons totally obscure to me, he thinks I am the Pack Leader. When the weather is brutal here and Yogi just must go out, *I* am the only one he'll go with. Maybe he just thinks I am expendable. That does sound very suspicious, doesn't it? Polly

Leslie & The Furbabies > On Nov 3, 9:07 am, "Leslie & The Furbabies in MO."

A friend of mine (petite lady) has a rottweiler, the sweatest dog around. Well, he was so eager to walk that he'd want to go everywhere even though he knew he wasn't allowed.They later got a dachshund too, and when my friend walks both dogs she attaches the leash of the dachshund to the harness of the rottweiler, and voila! he is officially in charge of someone (if only that pesky little thing) and he walks really nicely.

BTW, even as an occassional visitor (thing every two years by now), the rottweiler knows that I'm ranked higher than him.

Those who provide food might more easily be pack leaders?

Hanne in DK

Den 04-11-2011 03:18, Polly Esther skrev:

Wings are on their way.

DS got 2 mixed breed dogs from the local shelter in June: female was very skittish--4 yrs old and didn't know how to 'be a dog' (playing chasing a ball, etc) but was very obedient. Someone had cared for her before she was 'let go'. The other was a male puppy and was taken in as it was aggresive--they had kidlets. In the last month, you could see a HUGE diff in the dogs: the skittish one will let us pet her when she is brought over and play at the dog park and interacts with the other dogs and the puppy has learned a few commands (sit, bark on command, bed, getting the leash down means going somewhere, and both know that obeying brings an immediate 'reward'). "Down" is a harder one, especially when they are excited.

So stay true to the comnmands/routine they already know and they'll come round.

YOU take care of yourself...hang a set of bells by the doors so everytime one is opened they will let loose a goodly jangle.

Butterfly

Having your home violated is dreadful - happened to us about 15 years ago and I can still remember the horrible feeling.

Have you thought of us> I'm just getting over a case of shingles. While getting my mammogram

Polly, you can be my pack leader. .

Sunny

((((((((((Denise))))))))))

That's just MEAN.

I can do that. I even know how to herd cats. It is simple. All I need is a can of tuna, an electric can opener and a very long extension card. Polly

You need a cordless can opener maybe? I can herd my own cats and a bunch around the 'hood here. For a former cat hater that isn't bad!

When I was VP at my quilt guild the pres. stepped down. I ran one meeting before I realized herding cats would be easier than leading a meeting full of chatty gals so I stepped aside. I know some of my limits! Yes, you are our pack leader Polly. Taia

I can do that. I even know how to herd cats. It is simple. All I need is a can of tuna, an electric can opener and a very long extension card. Polly

Unfortunately the tuna idea wouldn't work for my 18 y.o. Raggy cat. She insists that her food be warmed up just a little and that she be placed next to the bowl. She eats only prescription food since she's diabetic and is she spoiled. I feed her at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. when she gets her insulin so she starts yelling for her food about 5 p.m. Since I keep dry for her all the time, she will go eat some dry to stave off starvation. In the a.m. I have to wake her up from under the quilt between DH and me. I'd say that she has learned the art of herding humans. Donna in Bellevue