Our trip to Biscayne National Park this morning…..
Well, I have been thinking that although I take Brandy & Amy on walks around our neighborhood, they really don’t get out and about that much. So, this morning I decided to take Amy to one of our “local” national parks. We actually live equal distances between Everglades National Park (ENP) and Biscayne National Park (BNP), about 15 miles from each. You really can’t go anywhere in ENP with a dog, too many snakes…..and gators!!!! so we went to BNP. I took Amy out for her bathroom break before we left for the park. I thought all was well…….but when we arrived in the park and I started walking her, we hadn’t gone 20′ before Amy pooped, right on the sidewalk! You see, when Amy is nervous, she poops. Fortunately I was prepared with paper towels and a bag. We walked down to the bay on a nice paved sidewalk and onto a raised walkway over water to a spit of land that parallels the channel which is used by recreational boaters. It was about 10:00 in the morning and the water was as smooth as glass, temps were about 72° perfect! Poor Amy had her tail tucked into and around her butt just as tight as could be! She was sniffing some of the fishy smells and other assorted scents and seemed to relax a bit, but as soon as someone came near or we had to walk around people she backed off behind me! So many people said that she was so cute and we met an 8 week old German shepard pup, so cute but so big compared to Amy. I guess we really need to do this more often, no other way to get her more comfortable in unfamiliar situations. After about an hour, we walked back to the car and Amy seemed ready to jump in. When we got home, Brandy gave Amy a good sniffin, as she probably had all sorts of strange smells on her! I took a few pix of Amy sleeping tonight and will post them in the pictures section. If anyone has any suggestions to help my two pups get over their fear of new places, please let me know. I have taken Brandy to BNP a few times before, but the water (Biscayne Bay, part of the Atlantic) freaks her out - I think the vastness of it frightens her.
February 11, 2007 @ 3:36 am
The only think I can think of is to take them out more often. When I regularly used to take the Gang on the beach, Murphy loved it, and ran his little legs off. Heather, Hughie and Harry would venture a few feet from me, ready to dash back if needed….. but poor Ridley was so worried about being off the lead, that he would stick to my ankle like he was glued on! I think it just depends on the confidence of the dachsie, as to whether they like to go to strange places or not.
When it gets a bit warmer, I may go back to beach walking Harry and Hughie, but I will leave the oldies at home, as their arthritis means no long walks.
February 11, 2007 @ 6:28 am
Rhuari is fine in new places as long as there isn’t too many folk or dogs about,he was taken everywhere with me for the first 2 years but is still nervous in busy places. Chase who was nearly 6 months when I got her isn’t bothered about her surrounding at all and expects everyone to stop and admire her and gets very upset if she is ignored.
I think it is all in the genes, Chase’s breeder will only breed from outgoing dachsies where as Rhuari’s is more for what they look like,although Rhuari’s Dad was willing to meet anyone who came to the house and would come and sit on your lap as soon as you sat down.
So I would continue visiting new places with them, can you not take both of them and then they can support each other and feel less vulnerable
Rhona
February 11, 2007 @ 10:04 am
I agree the more you take them out to get them use to people and places the more they might get comfortable. Ask the dog whisperer. He probably has an answer. Zoe is fine when I walk her around the neighborhood and she meets people and dogs but if I take her lets say to pet supermarket she freaks out because she sees so many people and other dogs in a small area. All she wants to do is get back into the car. Otherwise on a one to a few basis she is quite friendly and outgoing.Hope Gracie is too. Deb the breeder tells me she is quite a little character. I hope so.
Cheryl
February 11, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Princess Kassie here! I love to get out and around other people. My humans took me out to dinner Fri and Sat night this weekend! Am I lucky or what. On Friday night so many people came up to say how beautiful I am and one particular family loved me so much that mommy gave them Grandpa Chuck’s contact information so they could consider adopting one of the new pups!
I will have to see if I can convince my mom to take me to Biscayne National park. That sounds like a fun outing!
XXXOOO,
Kassie
February 11, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Princess Kassie, I am jealous! Where do you live that you can go out to eat with your humans?? Your Florida friend, Brandy
February 11, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Oscar and Olivia are terrified of the beach. I took them to Ft. Lauderdale beach, and i have never seen them so scared in their lives!
The liked the sand, but they hated the water!!!!
I have been taking Olivia to the dog park, and she is getting used to all the commotion there…so i know she doesnt mind the people..its the water she hates!
Good luck!
Let us know if you find something that works.
February 11, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Brandy…We are in Palm Beach County and find all kinds of places with outdoor tables so Kassie can join us! The kids love taking her and we can’t bear to leave her sometimes….she follows us to the door and has “the look” perfected so we feel really guilty leaving her behind!!
February 11, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Unfortunately there is no dog park within 25 miles of me, grrrrrrr!