Category: Common Problems ¤
  Author: Victoria Farrington ¤
   Title: Doggie Bill of Rights ¤

	Yes, Anne Spector is right.  I thought about you all night Kathy
and then I reread your post and I realized I was babbling about MY dogs
not your dogs.  Forgive me.
	You and Wallace, I'd guess, are still acting like very nice people
and very nice people treat nice dogs as if they're nice people.  ANd you
have nice dogs.  If I let my dogs play musical bowls, there would be blood
on the floor and some of it would surely be mine.  Three dogs is too much
for a democracy.  (Remember there are 2 arms on your average person and 2
oven mitts is all you can wear at one time!)
	Now I don't mean to talk to you like I'm Granny Know-ALL (HA!) but
let's pretend we're starting all over again and I'll give you an all
expense paid trip to Victoria's Terrible Terrier VCamp, which a/isn't
anything many other's don't already do--I just named my camp; b/ isn't
really for terrible dogs or even terriers, just dogs.
	The doggie bill of rights:
	1.  Everyone has a safe private space.  Crates are wonderful for
this.  Don't worry if the bitches dog and moan (you know what I mean) at
1st.  They'll get used to it and really feel comfy in there.  Shiva
pretends it's the last place in the world she wants to be but when she's
in there, she's happy as a clam.
	2. Everyone gets to eat in thier private safe space.  This means
they like that space more, the slow eaters can eat at their own  pace and
no one can bother anyone else.  How would you feel if every time yousat
down to pizza, someone sat down beside you and said, "I have a knife and
I'll use it if you don't give me that pizza."  It might not look ugly to
someone who didn't speak English but it could upset you EVERY SINGLE meal.
And remember, you have nice subtle dogs.  They might be simmering and
stewing and you did mention I believe Luke backing someone away from her
bowl.
	3.  Each dog is safe in communal areas.  I think someone has
already done a terrific post (maybe on the keeper's page) about starting
with dogs on either side of the room, then closer, then with one walking
and the other sitting, then all walking, then play getting exciting, on
and on.  You have 2 people and 3 dogs so I dono't know if you want to do 2
at a time, import a person or attach 1 to a very heavy piece of furniture.
I've done all 3.
	4.  Each dog is guarenteed his share of treats.  Lovely meat
bonens?  Well, last time, Luke ran off with them ALL.  Back in the crates
and everyone gets his/her share.
	5.  Each dog is guarenteed individual attention.  You and Wallace
could each spend 10 minutes with the same dog while the other 2 snoozed in
their crates.  Or you could each take 1 dog at the same time or at
different times or in different combos.  Someone better at status things
might better tell you how to do this.
	6.  Each dog is given some comppletely private time every day.
Really, dogs can sick of each other just like people do.  I don't mean it
to sound like you're locking your dogs up all day but take 1 in the
bedroom, put 1 in the yard, another in the crate.  Don't make them compete
for things all day long and constantly bump shoulders.
	7.  Each dog deserves to be told from YOU  when you think it's out
of line.  If you do this, the other dogs might not have to and you'll
probably be more fair and gentle.  (I can't imagine you chewing off an
ear.)
	8.  I think I'm out of ideas.
	I refuse to babble this time.
	Victoria Farrington.
	And really don't let it make you feel like a zookeeper instead of
a pet owner.  I'd bet a whole bunch of money I don't have that just about
everyone on this list ALREADY does these things and the reason we've not
told you yet is we jumped too far ahead.  I did, anyway.