Dogs I’ve Loved | Saying Goodbye to the PNW

September 27, 2016 / Vanessa & Rufus / 3 Comments

As our time is wrapping up in Oregon, I am a little bit heartbroken. I have said goodbye to most of my clients, but I still have a few more appointments this week before we head out.

:gulp:

I’m mostly excited about the adventures that lie ahead, but I sure will miss these sweet faces. Like…a lot.

My two lemons. They were a handful, but totally worth it. I mean..look at those wrinkles!

The sweet, shy girl took awhile to warm up to me but we became the best of friends. Her brother is also a big softie. 😉

The most fun duo! I couldn’t ask for a better pair of pups. Ugh…these two were some of my favorites ever.

Oh, Cora. Rufus reluctantly let you into his life…and you were such a champ for putting up with his grumpy ‘tude! Even though we all know he kind of liked you. Kind of.

Ru’s favorite gal, Abby. This one is going to be the hardest of all. I can’t wait to cuddle this goof a few more times this week. My heart is gonna feel this one.

I like to think of this time as a “See You Later” moment. It’s been a whole lot of fun! We will return, you beautiful coast. Oh yes we will.

Wordless Wednesday | Dog Walker Edition Pt. 5

March 30, 2016 / Vanessa & Rufus / 2 Comments

Abby came back for an extended stay and we had a blast! Young dogs are a lot of work but it’s so worth it when they bring so much joy and happiness to you and your own pup.

Freshly spayed and hanging in there!

When your little sis is ALWAYS trying to smooch you…

My little lady isn’t a little lady anymore. :tear:

This sweet boy is aging and dealing with some pretty severe arthritis. Breaks my heart, but his momma is doing all she can to keep him happy and healthy.

The Dog Goes | How to Travel with a Fearful Dog

March 11, 2016 / Vanessa & Rufus / 3 Comments

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For anyone out there that knows about the anxiety that comes with loving a reactive or fearful dog, know that you are absolutely not alone. And your dog doesn’t have to be either…

I know that the easy solution can be to just leave your dog at home, but that may not be what’s best for you or your dog.

Rufus has some special needs when it comes to making him happy. While he is weary and often indifferent towards new people, he absolutely loves being with me and he loves exploring new places. Heavy foot traffic and city buzz doesn’t seem to affect him in the slightest. But a stranger bending down to give him attention? Well, that’s just not his cup of tea.

Taking him to new hiking spots is one thing. There is usually little to no human interaction and wide open spaces are a breeze. But sometimes we travel for longer periods, which means staying in hotels and exploring new cities and local parks full of people. Here’s what I’ve learned in the past several years about keeping Rufus comfortable:

Keep him close. When navigating a new city, I keep Rufus close to my side. While I have a tendency to allow him to lead (without pulling) during our neighborhood walks at home, this just isn’t acceptable in new places. He seems to find comfort in letting me lead and I find comfort in knowing a person will have to approach me first before they reach for my dog.
Keep him busy. If for whatever reason we need to stop somewhere and rest or eat, I make sure to keep Ru busy so that he’s not overwhelmed with obsessing over the people around him. I bring treats, keep him in long “sits” and “stays”, and interact with him constantly. It may make things a little less low-key for me but as long as he’s at ease, it’s worth it.
Praise, Praise, Praise. No calm or obedient moment goes unnoticed! When he’s calm, I praise him. When he’s enjoying himself, I praise him. When he’s just being a normal dog and not focusing on a group of people approaching, I praise him. And when he meets someone successfully, I have a freaking celebration! I may sound like a lunatic, but who cares? I am not above making baby noises in public if it means my dog gets that being a happy, balanced dude is the best thing in the world. No shame here, people.

Of course there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach to handling a pup with behavioral issues, but this keeps us happy. Just by being cautious and alert, I have made sure Rufus has as many experiences as possible. He absolutely loves going to as many places as possible with me and these little tips make that possible. Of course he’s improved so much since we adopted him, but the truth is that he will always be a little “quirky” when it comes to socializing. And as long as everyone is safe and educated, I’ve learned that I can work with whatever quirky curveballs he decides to throw at me. And it turns out this guy really loves to keep me on my toes…

Reunited with one of his favorites after four years!

Wordless Wednesday | Mini Getaway Weekend

January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 / Vanessa & Rufus / 2 Comments

The boys and I headed out of town this past weekend for a little R&R. And man, it felt great! Here are a few photos featuring your favorite brindle babe (and his rad dad).

Rufus is soooo not feelin’ this duck’s chipper attitude right now. Ugh.

Hanging out in our cabin after a drizzly walk around the farm

They did a whole lotta this. And enjoyed every second of it.

Wordless Wednesday | Dog Walker Edition Pt 4

January 13, 2016January 13, 2016 / Vanessa & Rufus / 2 Comments

Some of the happy, soggy faces I’ve been hanging out with recently. And yeah, Portland is still super dreary….

They’re pumped about that chicken and rice for din-din!

The goofiest chi

Wrinkles and sniffs and love

Sweetest old lady

My newest pack member is fluffy, sensitive and we’re working on trust. We got this, girl.

Wordless Wednesday | Adventures in Dog Walking pt. 2

June 11, 2015 / Vanessa & Rufus / 1 Comment

Everyone loves a bubbly blonde!

Coolin’ off in the shade.

These two goobers.

Saving the best for last.

A Weekend Full of Dogs & Not One Photo To Prove It??

June 1, 2015 / Vanessa & Rufus / 7 Comments

I spent the weekend attending fundraising events for One Tail’s new Portland division. It was a weekend full of newly adopted puppies, current adoptables, delicious food, lots of wonderful people, and plenty of sunshine. And guess what? This photo-happy blogger did not take one picture. Who am I??

Sometimes you just have to let life be life and put the phone away, am I right? I had so much fun catching up with people, schmoozing with all of the dogs, and discussing our next foster move with the board members. Oh, and eating all the vegan food! It was delightful.

I promise to share a few photos once they go live on the rescue’s site, but you’ll just have to take my word for it for now.

And before I go, I just have to mention that One Tail has a brand new adoption center located in downtown Chicago! If you have a few pennies to spare, consider donating to this amazing rescue here. If it wasn’t for them, I would have never fallen in love with fostering. If I had never fallen in love with fostering, I would have never met my 4-legged soulmate. So yeah, they’re kind of amazing.

Have a great week, folks!

(Kinda) Wordless Wednesday | Backyard Envy

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 / Vanessa & Rufus / Leave a comment

I absolutely love walking and caring for these two souls. They’re incredibly smart, sensitive, and hilarious. We usually take a short walk together and then I get to let them loose in their backyard for a game of fetch and general chaos. While I make due with my miniature yard, I can’t help but dream of having one big enough for several dogs to go crazy in and maybe even having my own garden. One day!