Smart Whistles

One of the most common, natural behaviors of dogs when off-leash is to roam and explore. I feel it's important to let them behave as such (when appropriate) in order for them to not only gain a sense of their surroundings but also to grant them their natural right of freedom. However this freedom is quickly rescinded when we see them in situations that trigger undesirable reactions/behaviors (i.e. running after other dogs/animals or wandering into dangerous territory).

I've trained Apollo starting early during puppy-years to acknowledge and recognize my whistle. The whistle is commonly utilized as a tool used by most trainers because of the distinct pitch and noise. I did as such, and reserved it as a "come to me" command. I say "reserved" because I don't use it frequently in order to not to desensitize my dog from the sound and implied behavior I expect from him. He understands (most of the time) and knows to act and obey accordingly.

A well-trained dog has the appearance of a smart dog - but you only get out what you're willing to put in. People also say that your pets reflect the personality of their owners. I guess subconsciously I didn't want my dog to give people the impression that I'm a misbehaving idiot who might accidentally walk in front of a moving bus while chasing after a squirrel.

Hair Dry Me

Apollo doesn't like baths, we've established that fact. But I should be more specific and say that he doesn't like the water-related portion of the bath process. He actually puts up with enjoys and takes pleasure drying off.

You'd think it's obvious that anyone would be happy with finishing/ending any activity that was displeasurable but in this case, Apollo would probably enjoy the routine even by itself. What I'm talking about is everything that takes place after he's allowed to get out of the tub. I typically have towels prepped and spread out on the floor in anticipation of this wet creature who proceeds to stop-drop-and-roll (minus the stop part). I usually give him a good pat down to soak up the excess water before pulling out one of his favorite devices: the hair dryer.

I'm positive his fondness of the hair dryer stems from the months in which my mom looked after him during his early years. She had to routinely/regularly blow dry her hair and Apollo was never too far away while it happened. My mom soon realized that Apollo not only got used to the noise but was also quite addicted to the warm breeze. She would typically give him a few extra seconds at the end of her routine.

And so as I attempt to be efficient and employ the hair dryer on him - Apollo seems to look forward to the warm and buzzing heat waves at the end of his baths. Gone are all traces of anxiety of being drenched with soapy water. Rather, he's typically got a look of satisfaction on his face as if to say, "You can keep going, I don't mind this part."

Hide and Seek

Apollo is quite the stickler. Almost everywhere I go in the house, he has to go as well. I don't mind it so much - in fact, I take advantage of it.

Occasionally when I notice that my pup is particularly antsy and filled with energy, I'll use his own anticipation against him and turn it into one of my favorite games: Hide and Seek. Typically we'll be moving from room to room and I'll quietly let him go ahead without me. I'd then quickly slip behind a door (picture me sandwiched flat between the door and the wall), peek out from between the door hinge crack, and enjoy the show. Usually he comes rushing back, trying to make sense of what happened to my sudden disappearance. But soon he'll realize that it's that time again - game on.

He usually fails in his first round attempt at tracking me down, as he quickly darts into every room - bedroom, bathroom, hallway, living room - for a quick glance. Then he goes into actual "search mode" and draws on his experiences from playing this game with me. I can almost see him flip a switch in his head as he activates his nose and ears. He'll check some of my previous hiding spots and usually bust me (it's hard coming up with new hiding places!) at that point.

But he doesn't always win. Apollo does miss me sometimes as I blend into the shadows like a ninja in a dark bathroom or if I conjure up a new place (i.e. in the tub behind the shower curtain). In those victorious moments of mine, Apollo usually admits defeat after a few minutes by whining as if to say, "Alright, I give up. Come out!" Win or lose, he gets a treat as a reward and I get a few exiting moments of hearing the sound of my own heart beating as I try to channel my inner chameleon.

Couch Buddies

Apollo doesn't watch TV. He may occasionally react to certain sounds (such as dogs barking, squeaky toys, etc.) but that's about the extent of his interaction with any form of digital entertainment. However I'd like to think that when he sees me plop down on the couch in front of the TV, it's time for us to hang out.

My dog wasn't always allowed on the couch. When I first bought my nice microfiber two-piece sectional couch, he was denied access. It was my mom (from henceforth known as "Grandma" as that's how I refer to her in front of Apollo) that came to his rescue when she heard that I stipulated this house rule. She bought a nice blanket that served to cover roughly 50% of the couch in order to appease me and nullify my argument that Apollo would dirty/damage the couch if he were allowed on.

It's inevitable. Within 30-90 seconds of me sitting down on the couch (95% of the time followed immediately with the TV set turning on) Apollo will be right next to me. It doesn't matter if he was sound asleep in his dog bed (about 20 feet away) or all the way down the hall in my bedroom - he'll show up right on cue each time. Apparently sitting on the couch is a two-person activity, and I'm not allowed to do it alone.

I guess it's kind of our thing (one of many).

Moonlight Sessions

Apollo and I have an understanding: we (he) goes to the bathroom outside. It's our deal and we both do our part to make it easy for each other. To be honest, he does a heck of a lot more than most dogs, which is asking more than I should of him. What I mean is simply that he goes for long stretches without needing to void his bladder.

Through the years, the two of us have become conditioned to each other's signals and behaviors. And it's not just the dog adjusting to and obeying the human - it goes both ways. As it pertains to bathroom habits, he's obviously restricted to my availability and Apollo understands that. Only in emergency cases whereby he's not able to control himself (i.e. stomach issues, illnesses) will there be accidents in the house. Those are few and far between.

But even in the cases of emergencies, he does his best to let me know. On rare occasions in the middle of the night (or morning, who knows... let's just say it's still dark outside) Apollo will wake me up by walking up and down the bed with some whimpering/whining sounds. If he does this for more than a minute, I'll know he's telling me, "I gotta go outside." Minutes later, we'll be outside - him partaking in a special midnight potty session and me half-awake, struggling to stand up straight under the moonlight.

Dirty Windows

Wet noses are one of those things that makes a dog, a dog. It's right up there with panting, wagging their tails, and barking. But scientifically speaking - it's what helps enhance their extremely strong sense of smell. Moisture makes an extraordinary difference with your receptors inside your nostrils (I learned this back in 6th grade camp). Go ahead and try it: lick your finger (or run it under a faucet) and pick your nose...you'll pick up smells that you would've have noticed normally.

As a perfectly healthy pup - Apollo's nose is usually at the appropriate level of wetness. And as a nosy dog (hah - pun intended) who likes to take in everything surrounding him, he tends to poke his head all over to make sure the status quo pleases him. Such "poking" usually results in messy windows in my living room that looks down eight floors onto the city streets. These messy blurs and unusual (but familiar to most dog owners) blotches also appear on my car's passenger side window.

What can I say - regardless of where he is, Apollo likes to get right up to windows to see if there's something interesting on the other side.

Sleep Wagging

I've always been incredibly fascinated by my own dreams and am very much grateful that our brains are able to have such complex neuro-activity while our bodies are shut down and resting. But many studies have shown that we (humans) are not the only mammals on this planet capable of experiencing these phenomenons. Dogs are just as capable of having dreams as we are and I'm just as (if not more) interested in Apollo's dreams than my own.

I'm usually made aware of my dog's dreams (no, he does not come tell me about the weird adventure he just had in his dream after he wakes up) when I hear him whimpering in his sleep. I'll hear sounds emanating from his bed below my work desk or from under my blankets in the middle of the night. There's no way to know for sure they are sad/scared wimpers... perhaps that's the canine version of talking in their sleep? In any case, I usually talk to him and stroke him until he calms down or wakes up. I'd like to think that hearing my familiar voice in his dream would give him a sense of comfort.

I've seen YouTube videos of dogs growling in their sleep but I've never observed Apollo acting that way, at least not when his eyes are closed in slumber. The only other dream-induced behavior from my dog that I've ever seen is my favorite one: the sleep-tail-wagging. Out of nowhere I would occasionally hear a "tap-tap-tap-tap" of Apollo's tail thumping against my/his bed. When I look down, all I see is a dog deep asleep...

I'd like to assume he is happily begging for food (from me) or chasing other dogs in his dream world.