Girls with Dogs Podcast Ep 4 – Grooming, Sick Days, and Cross Breed Soup

Keep the Tail Wagging is supported by pet parents. I occasionally earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) when you click through an affiliate link to one of my favorite products. Thank you for your support. Read More

Grooming

The only time I've taken my dogs to the groomers is to have a nail trim. I do everything at home – I have dogs that are easy to bathe and groom at home. When I was new to raising dogs, I would bathe my dogs once or twice a month. Today, I bathe them three or four times a year, unless they roll in something disgusting. I clip the nails monthly. I brush Rodrigo and Apollo weekly and Scout and Zoey are brushed monthly. And I give Rodrigo a trim every June.

Instead of bathing my dogs monthly, today, I use essential oils, coconut oil, and a coat conditioner to keep them smelling fresh.

essential oils not only keep fleas away, they can improve health, and freshen the coat.
coconut oil smoothers biting insects, keeping them from biting our dogs.
coat conditioner with probiotics boosts skin and coat health.

Have You Ever Called in Sick to Stay Home with Your Dogs?

One of my most haunting memories is the last time I saw Blue alive. I nearly called in sick that day, something was pushing me to stay home, but I didn't listen to my gut and went to work. A couple of hours later, I got the call that Blue had gotten out of the yard and was hit by a car. This had a tremendous impact on my life and I've been working hard to stop second-guessing myself.

I have called work to let them know that I can't come in because of a sick dog, but this is because I work for an amazing company (for more than 17 years) that doesn't think this is a weird excuse – at least not for me. They know how I feel about my dogs. However, if I started a new job tomorrow, I would keep my personal business to myself and just share what I needed to share.

Cross Breed Dogs

Both Cathy and I have cross-breed dogs. She has Goldendoodles and I have a Goberian (Golden Retriever/Siberian Husky). When people see Apollo, they pick up immediately that he's part husky, but they aren't able to figure out the other breed; most guess German Shepherd. The most common question I receive is “is your dog more Husky or more Golden?” And my response is “he's both.”

Siberian Husky Traits

“The Siberian Husky dog breed has a beautiful, thick coat that comes in a multitude of colors and markings. Their blue or multi-colored eyes and striking facial masks only add to the appeal of this breed, which originated in Siberia. It is easy to see why many are drawn to the Siberian’s wolf-like looks, but beware because this athletic, intelligent dog can act independently and challenge first-time dog parents. Huskies also put the “H” in Houdini and need a yard with a high fence that goes all the way into the ground to prevent escapes. Giving your Husky enough exercise may prove easier said than done; though, it’ll reduce boredom and unwanted behaviors, like escape attempts.”
DogTime.com

When reading the various personality details of a Siberian Husky, the things that ring true for Apollo are:

he's an escape artist; hence the PetPlaygrounds dog yard system
he's very smart and has been trying to figure out door knobs lately – that's fun.
he has a mind of his own and doesn't automatically obey commands – he has a “what's in it for me?” type of personality that is different than our other dogs. What's even funnier is that he's not very food motivated; he's more driven by attention (hugs and kisses).

Golden Retriever Traits

The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. The breed’s friendly, tolerant attitude makes them great family pets, and their intelligence makes them highly capable working dogs. Golden Retrievers excel at retrieving game for hunters, tracking, sniffing out contraband for law enforcement, and as therapy and service dogs. They’re also natural athletes and do well in dog sports such as agility and competitive obedience.
DogTime.com

When reading the various personality details of a Golden Retriever, the things that ring true for Apollo are:

Apollo is very friendly and loves everyone.
Apollo is a very active dog and loves swimming, running, hunting (more like exploring). Once he picked up “fetch,” he's so much fun to play with and loves chasing balls and Puller rings.

Friends who know Apollo have told me that they see him as a Husky with a few Golden Retriever traits and, after living with him for two years, I'd have to agree.