Category: dogs

Road Trip to Coos Bay, Oregon

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Back in October of 2021, Winfred and I decided to go on a road trip to Oregon to visit my aunt and uncle. This aunt and uncle hold a special place in my heart because they were the ones who welcomed me into their home when I decided to leave Guam and spread my wings and try it out in California. They sold their home a few years ago in Sacramento and purchased a retirement house in Coos Bay, Oregon. Since they moved, I haven’t been able to visit them and I figured that the three day weekend in October might just be the time to visit them. I gave them a call and they said, “Come on over!” Below, I’ll be sharing and recollecting our 4 day itinerary in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Day 1: We took Highway 5 all the way into Oregon. It wasn’t our first choice route, but because we picked up a tag-along passenger in Stockton, it soon became our preferred route. The drive on the 5 all the way north was actually pretty breath-taking. We passed an endless amount of trees and greeneries. There was also a majestic mountain that took my breath away…I tried to research the name of the mountain and it may have been the Siskiyou mountain.

We stopped at Rogue River, Oregon for a late lunch at FLIP, flippin good burgers. Then dropped off Brutus at his boardinghouse called Howl-a-Day Inn. And, finally, made it to my aunt’s house. It was quite an adventure!

Day 2: This was our adventure day! We went out and rented a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV.) Oregon Dunes is one of Coos Bay’s claim to fame. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area extends for 40 miles along the Oregon Coast from Florence, OR to Coos Bay, OR (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recreation/recarea/?recid=42465)

It was Winfred’s dad first time in a sand dune and let alone in a UTV. Winfred and I have visited Pismo Beach a couple of times and have driven All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) a handful of times. However, we were all excited, especially Brutus because he got to ride with us!

That evening, we enjoyed dinner at the Portside Restaurant. The view from the ceiling to floor windows were spectacular! You can see the sun setting and the calm waters. A nice way to end a perfect day!

Day 3: We took this day slowly. We stopped by the Shore Acres Gardens again as we had been kicked out the day before because they were closing. The ranger on duty that day was kind enough to let us come again the second day without charging us a fee ($5/day-cash only!) So we came back and enjoyed everything else more thoroughly.

Day 4: Left Coos Bay and headed to Crater Lake. Will share more on a future post of Crater Lake.

One thing I will remember to do the next time I visit Coos Bay…BRING A COOLER! We regretted not bringing our cooler with us for this trip as there was so much fresh seafood! From oysters, to crab, and to fish! If you love seafood, you will definitely enjoy Coos Bay. I hope to return again one day to the Bay Area of Oregon, Coos Bay.

The Story of Chai

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When I was 22 years old, I made the bold move to get a pup on my own. I was living between my parent’s house and my Aunt’s house because she was out of the country a lot due to some adoption process. Anyways, I decided that I would take care of this pup and train him or her to be an inside dog. For most of my life, I have only seen dogs live outside. Some in their tiny dog houses, others tied behind their master’s house, or a big group of them out in the wild. We called those wild dogs ‘boonie dogs’ because they would just come out of the boonies or jungles in Guam.

I met my first indoor dog, Sumo, through my friend Claire. She had him with her all the time. In her car, in her room, at our coffee hangouts…EVERYWHERE. I was amazed at how he knew how to urinate on a pee pee pad. That was my goal. I wanted to have a cute little doggy that would be with me at all times and go potty in a pad. With that being said, I don’t think I had the right motive and mind set when I set out to get a puppy.

BUT, to get a puppy I did…I knew I wanted a small furry dog (again…not the right motive and mind set!) I went between researching for a Papillon or a Pomeranian. I couldn’t decide…but, then I saw an ad in the Pacific Daily News for 8 week old Pomeranians for sale at $400 or $500 (I can’t remember anymore…) I called the number and the lady told me where to go so I can pick and choose one. Guess where the address led me to? A Korean restaurant in Tumon (don’t ask me why she had dogs in her restaurant!)

As I walked in, I saw the 4 puppies and the momma on the floor at the restaurant. The little pups were running around, however, there remained one at the food bowl constantly munching away on her kibble. Shem, my brother, was so amused by her because as the other pups were excited to play and greet us…she just kept chomping down her food. He said she belonged with us…because she would fit right in (our family does love to eat!) I thought that was a good observation and that is how we picked Chai.

For as long as I can remember, she loved eating! She would even fight others for her food. And don’t even get me started with the barks…every time my mom sat to eat…Chai would keep barking so she can get a piece of whatever it was she was eating. When I got a call a few weeks ago from my mom with the news that Chai had stopped eating…I already knew that her days were counted. Oddly, earlier this year, when I left Guam…I had this weird thought and feeling that could be my last visit with Chai around. After all, she was 15 years old! And, after three weeks of not eating as her usual self, she finally took a deep breath and rested for good. She survived two pregnancies, a major surgery, and old age!

When I got Chai, I never had planned to leave Guam. But, two years later, I applied for a job I wanted and sadly did not get. I talked about leaving Guam with my parents and setting out to do something better with my life, and they gave the OK! I was a bit sad leaving Chai, but I knew that my mom would be able to give her a better life than I could if I had taken her. Looking back, I’m glad I did that… for the sake of Chai and my mom. Chai filled the void my mom had of not having me around, and my mom filled the void for Chai. In a way, it was replacement therapy for both. They comforted each other, they ate together, and Chai would always be at my mom’s side. Countless hours of laying next to my mom, especially when her chemo treatments left her body so weak, Chai never left her side. Her presence will be truly missed, but the fond memories we have of her I will treasure forever!

Responsible Pet Parenting

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Many pet parents have their views and ways of proper pet parenting. And, I’m not one to impose my views on others. However, I do find two things of utmost importance, and I  hope you do too!

  1. Always pick up your dog’s poop. No matter what!  I’ve used plastic bags, sandwich bags, and other items to pick up Brutus’ poop. Once, I walked up to a complete stranger and asked for a doggy bag. He gladly handed me one.
  2. Commitment. Having a pet, like a child, comes with great responsibility. It takes time, money, effort, and lots of patience. At one point, Winfred and I decided to end our lease early and move out of our place because our previous landlord gave us an ultimatum to either get rid of our dog or leave. We, of course, chose the latter. And, during that time, Winfred and I went through one of the most stressful episodes in our lives because we had to find a new place fast and lose such a bargain for our apartment.  However, it was unimaginable for us to abandon or put our dog up for adoption for the sake of pleasing her; even though we were greatly mislead. Anyways, with that being said, it is VERY important to know beforehand whether you can own a pet, and if so, if there are any weight restrictions or breed restrictions at your current place. Knowing these things will help you in becoming the committed and responsible pet parent that you possibly could be.
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Training Tips that Worked for Us

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Update: I drafted this post a few weeks back and just this past weekend Brutus was attacked by a Pit Bull while he was about to go on his walk. The Pit Bull broke free from his home and came at Brutus while my husband and him were about to go for their morning walk in the in-law’s neighborhood. We are observing Brutus and he is scheduled to see his vet this Friday.

Tip #1: Be consistent.

This is key for potty training and any type of training in general. When he was a pup, we had made sure that he always went outside right after a meal, before we went to bed, and right when we woke up. He knew that this was the routine and, although he had a few accidents, he quickly learned to potty outside. Also, we taught him to “ring the bell.” We made sure that before we opened the door for him to go outside and potty, he had to ring the bell. This, in turn, taught him that to get our attention to bring him outside…he had to ring the bell. And, it still works until now. He no longer has his bell, but paws the door stopper or anything near the door, to get our attention.

Tip #2: Be firm and let him know who is boss.

This doesn’t mean you have to be a tyrant. But, when he’s bad, You have to give a firm,”NO!” Don’t be giggling or laughing or smiling…because they will definitely think you’re playing with them, and not giving them a command.

Tip# 3: Praise him when he’s good.

Reward good behavior. Don’t emphasize so much on the bad behavior but know that when he makes you happy and proud…say the words, “Good Boy/Girl!” or even a gentle pet on his head or a treat.

Tip #4: Have play time.

This is part of being consistent, but when your dog knows he gets to have play time, he doesn’t get too crazy. For instance, he won’t run away from you or try to escape the house because he knows there’s no better place than being home with great masters.

These are the tips that worked for us…there are great dog trainers out there, haven’t tried any of them yet, but the way I see it…most of the dog’s behavior is a result of how the owner handles them. How much time we spend with them, how much love we show them, and the interaction we provide for them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOAoWVFgkTr/?taken-by=islanderinheels

 

Our Puppy, a Cane Corso

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When my husband and I hit our two-year mark we decided that we were ready for a dog. I knew this would not be an easy feat, but Winfred was dead set on it. He had been putting himself to sleep with doggy videos on YouTube and doing a ton of research on different kinds of breeds. He finally settled on the Cane Corso, also known as the Italian Mastiff. I must admit, I was VERY hesitant about getting a big dog. I previously had a Pomeranian, and I felt that she was an adequate sized dog. However, there was no changing my husband’s mind.

The day came when Winfred finally picked up Brutus. Winfred had a dental appointment in the afternoon, and because he traveled almost four hours, he was running late. So, he brought Brutus with him, and I met Brutus at the parking lot of our dental office for the very first time.

His big blue eyes gazed at me and he made puppy noises that were just so adorable. I instantly fell in love. He was eight weeks old and 15 pounds. Not quite heavy yet, but he was the same weight, or more, than my adult sized Pomeranian.

Because his breed is dominant, my husband worked hard on showing him who the boss really is. But, at the same time, we shower him with lots of love and kisses. He started off by sleeping in the living room in his crate, but had separation anxiety because he wasn’t in the same room with us. Eventually, my husband gave in to letting him on the bed when he left for work at 6am. That habit stuck. Now, Brutus prefers to be in the bed with us. Granted, he can be left at kennels and with the grandparents… and does just fine. But when we are around, he wants to be with Winfred and I, snoozing by our feet.

He is now three years old and 120 pounds of pure love! On my next blog post, I’ll share tips of how we trained him and how we provide him with exercise and fun.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJyOajFjD3a/?taken-by=islanderinheels

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