Brandie got sick; I was a worried "Dad"! :D

November 26, 2012

Last night, I gave Brandie dinner.  My stock of food scraps (which I freeze) is running out.  I only give a serving each time to Brandie.  So I brought from Save More a frozen dog food out of ground chicken and bones.  German Shepherd brand at PHP54 a kilo.  I cooked it first.

I gave Brandie a teaspoon.  She liked it. I gave her a cup more mixed with some rice.  She gobbled it up.  Then I let her out to do her 3 Ps - pee, poop, "pasyal".  She was her usual self when she came back.

The next morning, I saw 2 vomit near the gate.  She gave me her usual greeting.

I gave her breakfast. The dog food. She didn't touch it. I gave her her fave, chicken bones. She just smelled it. She took one of the bones but she didn't eat it.  She just held it in her mouth.   She was walking in circles.  I knew what she was planning.  She wanted to hide and bury the bone. I  saw her did it twice in my house after I rescued her.  This time she just brought the bone in her bed and laid down beside it.

I gaver her water.  She ignored it. I made a cup of Birch Tree milk.  She licked it four times then had enough.

The pups smelled her.  She let them have their fill of mammary juice.

I was watering the plants, when I heard 3 low growls. At first, I didn't know where they were coming from.

Then I saw her gave a small snap to one of the pups.  Diego. The Rottweiler-looking pup.  Diego is really the most aggressive and dominant pup.  I was thinking that maybe his dad was a Rottweiler.

Was Brandie just disciplining Diego?  Or did she just lose her patience as she was not feeling well?


I am like a worried dad.  I didn't know if I should file for a leave of absence and bring her to the vet.  Or just let her be and observe.


I called some friends and even posted her case in Pinoy Exchange (Dog lovers' thread).


Most say that maybe Brandie was not accustomed to having that kind of dog food, and that her stomach was still adjusting.

I left for the office still worried about Brandie.


When I arrived home that evening,  Brandie was less sluggish and greeted me excitedly,  her usual greeting - tail wagging, body shaking, sometimes jumping.

She wanted to be let out to do her thing. So I opened the gate. When I checked her feeding bowls, gone are the dog food, chicken bones and milk! I was so glad! And no vomit in the carport.

I prepped my dinner, then prepped hers. After about 10 minutes she came back. I gave her food and water.   She just smelled it.  Then I saw it again.  She was nudging her food bowl with her nose.  I think she was not hungry yet and she wanted to cover and hide the food.  Seeing this behavior is fascinating.  I stopped her.  Then she proceeded to her kids and fed them.

At 2:30am, I was awakened by my neighbor's dog and Brandie's barking. No one was there.  It was as if the two dogs were just talking. I shouted Brandie. Then I felt her presence in the balcony, in front of my bedroom's balcony door.

I went down and saw that her food has disappeared.  She ate it. I called out to her. Excitedly, she came down from the balcony. It seemed like she was still hungry. I prepped another cup of dog food-rice mix. She finished it off in less than a minute.  She was indeed hungry. I let her out again. She was back after a few minutes. She greeted me and went to her pups.  It was all quiet on the western front again. I went back to sleep.

This morning, she was back to her usual self.   Though she didn't finish her breakfast, I knew she would go back to eating it.

I'm so happy. Brandie gave me THE scare yesterday! I was like a dad.  I was so worried!  

Brandie,  don't do that to me again!....  You're giving me a heart attack! :D

The Pups are now walking!

November 26, 2012

The pups are on their third week.  They've doubled in size.  They are like plump sausages when sleeping side by side.  :D

They've started to walk as well.  Though wobbly or like under the influence of alcohol :D, it was a sight seeing them take their first steps and walk.  They are like mini plump live bump cars, as they always bump into each other and nudging each other. :D

Their eyes are also opened.  They can now see their surroundings.  They are quite inquisitive. 

Watching them sleep always make me smile and sometimes laugh.  Why?  When they are in the REM sleep mode, they are like a chorus making different sounds, and their round bodies, legs and heads are twitching and shaking in un-synchronized rhythm.  I wonder, do dogs really have dreams?  Do they dream about their Mama Brandie and me?

They always change their positions when sleeping.  They'd like to pile up on each other to get warm.

Individual personalities are also emerging.  The smallest gray-spotted girl is the sweetest, while the rottweiler look-alike pup seems to be the aggressive and dominant one.  Sometimes, I'd also see them play and roughhousing at such a young age.

The pups just sleep and feed most of the day.  Brandie is such a good mom.  She really knows when to feed her kids.

I would also notice that Brandie would want some alone time.  She would stay, lay and sleep on another part of the carport.  Once, I saw her rest inside the storage area.

Brandie hiding in the storage area

She still stimulates her kids to pee and poop, and eat these as well.  Yuck..... :D

All things considered, Brandie has been such a good mom. Her maternal instinct is amazing.  

Being with Brandie and the pups is like watching Animal Planet, live!  :)

Brandie's first bath

November 24, 2012

I know Brandie's a good dog, but I am not sure how she would react if I give her a bath after months of being an abandoned dog and roaming the village streets. 

I was the only one who could and would touch and rub her before.  Her coat did not look messy but it was greasy to the the touch.

So, I finally decided that I would give her a bath.  I checked Handyman for a plastic/rubber muzzle. I didn't like it and I was thinking, neither would Brandie.  Brandie already had a makeshift collar.  My plan was to bath her in my laundry/kiddie pool area in the courtyard.  She just had to be chained so she wouldn't run away.

I was trying to make a new a dog collar out of an old belt, and padded muzzle using fabric, foam, and Velcro. Decided against it.  Too much work.

So, I just brought down the metal chain/leash, and prayed that even without a muzzle, Brandie would not bite me.

I led her to the laundry area/kiddie pool using a piece of chicken bone, her fave.  Then I attached the metal leash to her existing collar.  She was nibbling on the bone when I introduced the water.  She was surprised, but didn't make a scene.  She was just a good girl!

To remove the grime and oils in her coat, I first used a laundry bar.  Then washed the suds off.  On the second wash, I used a shampoo (for humans which is PHP88 per liter from Japan Home).  Dog shampoo is too expensive.  And I didn't have one.

She started to feel cold during the second wash and was whimpering a bit and shaking the water off.  30 seconds more.  To dry her, I used one of my old towels.  She didn't have to say it, but I know she felt better and refreshed.

Again to my surprise, I didn't find any ticks in her. I checked her ears, body, paws and toes.  Nadah!  Was sleeping on dirt helped keeps ticks and parasites away?

I tried walking her on a leash.  We went out.  She was just a good dog and didn't complain being on leash.  I need to buy a cord leash.  The metal chain seems heavy for her.

Like other dogs after a bath, she was trying to dry her coat by rubbing her body on the pavement.  

She was really a good girl  the whole time.  It was really amazing.  My earlier fears seemed unjustified.  Brandie is really growing on me.... and may soon be a best friend.  :)

Brandie digs and hides bones

On the night I rescued Brandie, she tried digging under the courtyard concrete stairs.  Digging has been her habit. I have to teach her to stop doing it, slowly.  The courtyard is laid with sand and G1 gravel.  I removed the sacks of leftover sand and gravel under the stairs.  She started digging.

I know she wouldn't be transferring her pups to that location.  The pups like they're new bed.  It's just that, Brandie couldn't help it.  She has to dig.  She would not lay down on it.  She would just dig for a couple of minutes, then leaves it and lays in the carport.

 

Sometimes I didn't know if she's had enough food.  She used to gobble up everything I give her, in haste.  Guess she's like that for living on the streets for so long.

One day, I gave Brandie her favorite.  Chicken bone. She picked it up from her bowl, but didn't eat it.  She looked at me.  She was making a low noise, much like an almost silent whimper.  But she's not in pain.  She's not in fear.  And she's not discontent either.

Then it hit me.  She was already full.  She would like to hide the bone!  Amazing!  I know dogs do this.  I always see that on TV.  But seeing that live, infront of me, was incredible.  Not only did she used her feet and paws in hiding the bone, she even nudged some dirt on top of the pile, with her nose.

  

We used to own several dogs when I was a kid. But none of them dug and hid bones.  I guess Brandie got this habit from being a street dog.  Food was scarce.  Always looking for food scraps in trash bins.  And when she'd find extra, she would hide it.

I wonder if she was able to find a bone she's hidden.

She's already done this in my house twice.  I was planning to block that space under the stairs.  But I realized, Brandie needs it.  She' been a good mama to her pups, and a responsible house guard dog.  That stair space seems like her comfort zone.   Brandie can have it for now.  I hope she would still outgrow this habit.

A food bowl for Brandie

Eating from a container cover, or a scrap plate, or a disposable container is now a history for Brandie.  I brought a her a tri-sectional food bowl.  PHP66 from Japan Home.  Pet King brand.  I think it would last for a number of years.  It's an all-in one bowl.  Food scraps, water, and some treats (if available).

She may not be abIe to say it, but I'm sure she likes it.  :)

Brandie protects Bruna, the cat

Remember Bruna, the cat, in my post Brandie and Bruna? She's heavily pregnant now and still meowing in front of my gate asking for food, some mornings or evenings.

On Brandie's first dinner as a rescued dog, Bruna was also around. I gave each of them a bowl of food.

Brandie finished her food in a few seconds, and then looked at Bruna.  I could feel she was thinking of taking Bruna's bowl.  I hushed her.  She just waited.

Then I saw black cat coming from the corner walking towards Bruna.  Brandie saw the black cat and immediately chased it off.

It was incredible seeing that.  It's like Bruna is really her "friend".  She doesn't mind having Bruna around, and vice versa.  But if Brandie sees a cat or a dog she doesn't know or like, she will surely let them know what she's thinking. 

Brandie, My New Guard Dog

When I used to see her on the streets being an abandoned dog, I never heard her growl or bark at someone or get mad at someone.  The first time we heard her bark and really get mad was when she gave birth and when she felt that her pups were threatened.  It was just a threatening bark.  Nothing really serious.  Just to scare "bad" people.


On her first night in my house after being rescued, Brandie immediately assumed the role of being a guard dog.  I was having dinner and watching TV when I heard her growl at the gate.  But I couldn't see anything.  She ran up to the balcony and continued to growl.  I still didn't see a thing at my gate.

 

I opened the gate and Brandie ran outside.  Then I saw it.  A big dog from outside the village roaming our street that evening.  Brandie was just like half the size of that male dog.  She ran after him until he was out of sight.  Brandie came back, panting.  She drank from her food bowl.

 

Maybe I did the right thing of rescuing her.  She seems to be an intelligent and nice dog.  Her instincts are very good.  Maternal instincts at being a first time mama.  And now her guard dog instincts after having found a home and owner.

Her future is looking good.   I may adopt her permanently.  We'll see after 2 months after the pups have been adopted.

Rescuing Brandie

I moved to a new village in Carmona, Cavite a few months ago.  A village surrounded by ricefields.  The rural setting is a daily sight.

Being a new village, it is still about 5% occupied, though 98% of the houses are already constructed.

As I work in Makati, no one is in my house during the day.  I live by myself.  Though the village has a 24/7 security (gate and roving guards), there's always the fear that someone would break in to my house.  

Friends have been telling me to get a guard dog.  Someone is willing to give me a Belgian Malinois pup on the condition that it would be taken care of very well.  That I could not do as no one would be with the pup during the day, or when I spend some days somewhere else.

When I rescued the abandoned dog Brandie and her pups, my neighbor and I had an arrangement.  He would feed the Brandie during the day by inserting a dog dish in the slot below my gate.

 

In the mornings, Brandie would greet me excitedly as she knew it's breakfast time.  She's always getting breakfast ahead of me.  Then I would let her out of the house to do her thing (pee and poop), and let her look for food and do the things that she used to do when she was an abandoned dog.  She's a nice dog and the village residents know her.  She's being tolerated for now.

In the evenings when I come home from work, Brandie would be like a regular pet excited to see her owner.  That would also mean dinner time.  She would be wagging her tail watching me while I prepare her dinner in the kitchen.  After dinner, I would let her out again to do her routine.

 

As I rarely have food scraps, I've been bringing home lunch scraps from the office, even before I rescued her.  Her favorite is chicken bones, though she pretty much like everything, even just rice with a nice leftover sauce.  That led her to liking me and thinking that "He could be my future owner. :)"

For now, this routine is working.  I still am not sure if Brandie could stay long or permanently.  I am just glad that Brandie and her pups have a safe shelter. 

Finally... A Home for Mama Brandie and Pups!

November 22,  2012


I finally gave in.  I still don't know if I'm making the right decision. Fearing that each pup would be dognapped like Lil Bernie, even with Brandie not having the anti-rabies shot, I rescued Brandie and her 5 remaining pups.  

I set up the new bed for the family out of cardboard boxes and 2 rugs.  I let Brandie in my house and let her feed in my front balcony so that I could have enough time to get her pups without her noticing.  I brought a basin and ran towards the pups'  bed.  I was back in less than 2 minutes.

For the pups, it seemed nothing happened.  They were so quiet during the whole trip, and were back to dreamland in no time.

I called out to Brandie to come down from the balcony.  She ran down the stairs in the courtyard, then to the carport and passed by her sleeping pups.  She was a bit surprised and looked at them, then looked at me.  She approached me wagging her tail.  Then  she went back to her kids.  Licked each one of them and sat beside them and let them feed.

They seem contented.  At peace.  No more cold pit to sleep on. No more fear of being dognapped.  Brandie was so quiet and excited the whole time.  No growl, no bark.  She seemed happy.  They found a home.... finally.... Is this for good?

The pups are already reserved for adoption.  For Brandie, would this be just a foster home?  Or would this be her permanent place?

To adopt or not to adopt Brandie?

November 21, 2012 (5:30pm)


With the recent dognapping of Lil Bernie, Brandie and the 5 remaining pups need to find a safe shelter soon. 

I am in a dilemma.  The same question keeps nagging me.  To adopt or not to adopt Brandie?

I have to make a decision.  Fast.  Is this the right or stupid decision?  I really don't know.  The poor animals' safety or the possible risk to my family's health?

Someone told me, "Listen to your heart." 

Decisions... decisions....

 

Little Bernie was dognapped :(

November 21, 2012 (4:30pm)


I was at the office when I received the news from my neighbor.  One of Brandie's pups was missing.  I asked which one.  It was the white with black spots.  I was stunned.  It was my pup.  Little Bernie.  I call him that as he looks like a little St Bernard.

My neighbor looked at the surrounding area.  Bernie was not there.  The pit I dug was deep enough for them not to climb up.  There was even no snake in the area.  My neighbor thinks Bernie was dognapped by the the group of street cleaners and grass cutters who worked in my village that day.

Bernie was just 2 weeks old.  Still with eyes closed.  Still feeding from Mama's milk.  Couldn't stand on all fours yet.  He was just crawling.  He was just a baby!

I just hope that the dognapper would take  good care of Bernie.  He was the cutest and the biggest of the lot.  I missed him already.

It's 6 Pups for Mama Brandie!

November 16, 2012


Brandie gave birth to 6 cute, healthy and normal pups in the evening of November 7th. All seem to take after their dads, as no one looks like Brandie. Being a first time mother, her maternal instinct was in full gear, looking for a safe birth place, eating the placenta and umbilical cords which sustained Brandie for a few days without leaving her pups. After a few days, Brandie would let me approach her pups' bed area, but she is still threatened by others (especially the construction workers). My neighbors and I have already agreed to get the pups when they are ready to be adopted. Unfortunately, there's an instruction by the village admin to the guards to throw Brandie away. The guards said that they would let the pups get adopted first. If only someone could also adopt Brandie....

Brandie gave birth to 6 cute puppies on November 7th 2012. It was in an un-roofed part of my neighbor's carport. My neighbor is afraid of dogs. The village guards and I convinced her to let the dogs stay for a few days. On the third day, we had to move them to an uninhabited house as it's been raining. I let Brandie in my carport (with food) and closed the gate. The guard and I moved the pups. It took her about 10 minutes to recognize her pups, as she was going back and forth from the birthplace, to the new bed, to the pail we used to carry the pups. She removed the cardboard box and instead dug a pit.

On the fourth day, Sunday morning, we heard Brandie was barking at someone. It was the first time we heard her bark. My neighbor and I moved the pups again to a safer, no people traffic place. The pups are a bit bigger now. They look healthy and normal. But still blind as their eyes are still closed.

Brandie inspects the new bed we made for her pups.

Brandie inspects her pups.

Brandie barks at the water delivery guy who was too near for her comfort.

Brandie stimulates her pups to pee and poop.

It seems that she didn't like the bed we made. She tried digging on the other side of the carport.

Brandie goes back to the litter and cleans one of the pups.

Brandie looking at us

Brandie instead digs under the cardboard bedding.

Still digging.

Tired, Brandie rests beside the pups' bed.

The pups in dreamland.

How could one abandon this dog?  Look at her.

It's milk time for the pups.

The pups move a lot now. Often going out of the bed area.

The pups are 9 days old now. They seem to double in size and moving quite a lot.

Brandie couldn't decide how to put her pups in one place.

A bit tired, Brandie rests beside a balcony post/column

As the pups are moving quite a lot now, I had to intervene. I let Brandie in my carport again with food. I brought my spade and dug a deeper and bigger pit in the original pit she dug. The pups seem contented with the bed.

Male, all black. Half tail.

Male, white with big gray spots. Full tail.

Female, white with big gray spots. Half tail. (I'm going to get this pup)

Female, all dark brown. Stump tail.

Male, white with big black spots. Stump tail. (This one is mine, too).

Female, all gray. Full tail.

The 6 pups in their new bed.

The pups in their pit, with the spade I used on the side.

I let Brandie out of my carport, and she went straight to her pups.

So cute!

The 4 pups ganging up on my 2 spotted soon-to-be-adopted pups.

Is Brandie smiling in this pic?

Brandie on the sidewalk looking at her pups.

Brandie inspects the new bed.

Brandie cleans her pups.

Mama and kids

Is this another smile from Brandie?

What are you looking at?

Pups changed places again.

I was standing near the pups, and Brandie was on the sidewalk. With a view of the umbrella I carry just in case Brandie turns on me.

It's milk time for the pups.

It's milk time for the pups. The brown and black pups are oblivious to the feeding time.

Brandie gets tired and lays down.  I decided to leave them so that she could rest. Later in the evening, Brandie would again be looking for food.