Tuesday, May 6, 2014

I get another Human Interface Device (finally!)

In my very first post I showed you the button I push to let mom and dad know when I need to go out.  I love it because they know exactly what I want and I can save practicing my communication and mind control skills for when I'm trying to get them to give me a treat (which I am pretty successful at, actually).   I like to wait until they sit down to watch TV or to have dinner before I go push the button, and I don't know why they sometimes get a little aggravated about that since I'm just waiting until they're not busy doing something else.

So what else do I need?  I sometimes run out of water and it takes them FOREVER to notice.  At least it seemed that way.  Mom has been saying for a long time that she was going to make an "I need water" button for me, and she has finally done it!  Now I have a new human controller!  I mean, a new tool to help mom and dad know what I need.  She also entered her creation into a pet contest on Instructables - one of her favorite websites!

Here I am using the device:



If you want to find out how to make one for your dog, visit the Instructables site!

Since I don't have to use my other communication skills and mind control for getting water, I'm off to go practice my telekinetic powers and see if I can finally get the treat jar to jump off the counter.  I think I've managed to make it move a little bit closer to the edge in my previous efforts, but it is still a long way off.

Love n' slobbers,
Cody



Notes from Mom:

I wanted Cody to have to use his nose for this one, since he needs practice in the "nose it" command - but he still has a tendency to shove with his shoulder (if you read his post about closing doors, you know how much he likes to do that :) )  I think the next thing I'll make for him will..............uh...........I don't know......I have the sudden urge to go give my dog a treat or move the cookie jar a little closer to the edge of the counter.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Call me anything, but don't call me late for dinner.



Well I know I first introduced myself as "Cody, The Awesome Dog of Awesomeness" and I still proudly hold that name and title, but, what I didn't tell you is how many other names I have.  "Nicknames" mom and dad say.  I don't get it.  Some of them I like, but some, in reference to certain smells I may have exuded when I had gas issues (thankfully, resolved), or some related to other habits or certain traits that may or not be through my own fault, etc. I'm not all that fond of.  I don't know, it's like a game with these people, but mom tells me everybody has nicknames for their dog and each other.  I know my girlfriend Sophie has a few, but seriously, I think the nicknames they have for me are getting out of hand.  Here's a list of the ones I can remember today, there are probably more, and if not, there probably will be.  sigh.

First, the ones I like (note how few of these there are - Hmmmph!)

Good Boy, or My Good Boy, or My Good Little Doggie
Adoa - pronounced "add o wah" short for Awesome Dog of Awesomeness
Aussie - also short for awesome
My Pup
Squishy Face (always includes "squishing" my squishy face - it's swell!)
Sweet Pup

and the variations of my name aren't bad -

Codus
Codus Bagodus
Mr. C
Mr. B
Codemeister
Codester

BUT THEN we come to this list:

Stinky
Little Stinky, or Little Stinky Boy
Big Stinky
Stinkobottomus
Snortenfarter
Groakenwhiner 
         (mom says "groaking" is staring at someone when they eat, which, she claims, I do way too much of.  To top it off, they make me leave the room if I'm groaking.)

Snaggletooth
Snortenwhiner
Pesterpup
Pesky
Mookie
      (this one is short for "mood killer" - I have no explanation, but it is usually expressed by mom and dad as "oh great, here comes Mookie")

Whiner, or Whino
     (I try not to whine, it just comes out.  I'm very vocal, and I have a lot to say.  Mom says I can join in the conversation, but she doesn't appreciate the whining, and I have to use my inside voice.  No wait - She says she HATES the whining.  I forget once in a while).

Neediness, Needy Boy, and/or Little Needy Nellie
Chow Hound
Barfy

That's about all I can think of for now, but like I said, I'm sure there will be others.  On the bright side, they never sound mean or like they are mad when they call me these names, so it might be true that nicknames are a sign of affection.  It's also good that I never get called "Bad Dog" or "Bad Boy", although, there have been just a few times I've done something that caused mom to tell me "that was bad, don't do it again".  Very, very few times - trust me :)

Love n' slobbers,
Cody


Notes from Mom: 
He knows it's all in good fun - we love that little stinky boy.
His name wasn't Cody when we got him, but we didn't care for the one he had - We were sitting in the living room coming up with names (I'll admit, I had a list of dog names in my PDA that I picked out in case I got a dog.....the name Cody wasn't on my list)  Steve and I were taking turns saying names we liked, and when Steve said "Cody", Cody jumped right up and wagged his tail.  We tried a few others, but every time we said Cody he let us know that was the name he wanted.


Found this list and thought I'd share.   Some of the names on my fav. list were Cooper, Stewart, and Grant.  Bet you can guess where those came from :)

Most Popular Puppy Names of 2013 — Infographic
Most Popular Puppy Names of 2013 — Infographic
by Vetstreet

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

It's not all about me....This time.


This time I'm going to have Mom tell you about the dogs she had before me.  She told me she has been thinking about them a lot because she gets the page feed on facebook from Handi-Dogs, who just celebrated their 40th anniversary in December.  Dad also built a new computer for her in December, and in transferring over the files from the really, really old one, she found lots of pictures and files about her old dogs.  Well, I don't mind, I'm glad she has had lots of dogs to love.  Anyhow, even though she told me all about her other dogs, she also told me that she never called any of them "The Awesome Dog of Awesomeness".  Waggedy-wag-wag! 

Notes from Mom:

As Cody mentioned, the Handi-Dog posts have been calling to mind my last dogs.  It has been a while since they passed away, and I went "dogless" for quite a while afterward since there were too many other things going on (moving to NM, for instance, then my parents getting sick, etc.) and my heart just wasn't ready for it.

I found this note while trying to sift through files on the old computer and update my new website.  I had put this on the old site, for the reasons listed below, so some of you may have seen it before. 

"My boys" were abandoned in the desert when they were pups, and were extremely sick when they were found.  Throughout the time I had them, as I've done with all my pets, I kept a "baby book" of vet records, notes, etc.  Some years after their passing, when I was able to go through the folders, I found the original article about a woman trying to find homes for some dogs - I thought I had thrown this away, but after looking at it again all those years later, I decided I would write the woman a letter about the boys.

The woman's name is Anne Schmidtz - I didn't keep in touch with her after we got the dogs, and posted this originally in the hopes I would find her (had no success looking her up online, and the number in the original article was no longer in service).  I also included the letter on our site because I want others to realize how much difference a single person can make, and because I hope it will encourage others to adopt shelter animals and/or become involved with Handi-Dogs, Pet Partners or other therapy dog organizations.


Dear Anne,

About those strays.....
It's been about 13 years since we moved out to the country and I decided I wanted a dog.  Not just any dog, I had my heart set on a black Labrador retriever.  Steve researched fencing systems to keep the dog on our property and decided the "Invisible Fence" system would be our best bet.  God must have been whispering in his ear on the day he went to get the equipment, because he came home with not one, but two electronic collars and the fencing system.  When I asked why, he said "I just know you're going to have to have two dogs".

Shortly after that we ran across an article in the paper about two dogs who were homeless.  One had been hit by a car and the other refused to leave her sibling.  That's where you came in to the picture, as your name was listed in the article as someone to contact to give these dogs a home.  We called, and you told us that you and Donna already found homes for the dogs.  You did, however, mention that someone had picked up and dropped off two strays found in the desert, and asked if we would come have a look at them.

We all piled in the car and headed for the kennel.  You showed us the dogs.  Two scrawny, cowering, skinny, dirty, scraggy male pups you thought might be some sort of husky and German Shepard mix.  NOT at all what I had in mind, but I picked up their heads and looked them each in the eyes and told Steve "these are my dogs".  I recall you had reservations about the fencing system, about coyotes getting our dogs, and about how these two half-wild pups would be with our kids, but eventually you decided you would let us have them.

Well I thought you might like to know how it all turned out.

On our way home with the two brothers, we pondered over names and came up with "Bert" and "Ernie".  Not very original, but our daughters, being 7 and 9 at the time, thought this was a great idea.  They didn't know which one should be which.  I said "the one who isn't smiling is Bert" and it was decided.

Bert and Ernie had their first vet visit the next day.  They were both very sick and had to be put on antibiotics and a number of other medications.  The veterinarian said he couldn't tell exactly how old they were because they were so malnourished, but guessed somewhere between six months and a year.  We were told the dogs couldn't be neutered or have any other operations performed until they recovered some of their health, and that in all likelihood Bert would have to have a hip operation since it seemed he had displaysia.  Happily, it turned out that Bert's muscles were just very weak, but with regular veterinary care and nutrition both boys started to become healthy and active.  They decided to catch up on their puppyhood so we had to survive the chewing, housebreaking, etc.  Their favorite person during this time was the UPS man, who brought all kinds of things for them to chew up, like hundreds of dollars worth of software, gifts from relatives, etc.

We started training them to know the boundaries of the fence system, and as soon as they had it figured out they had acres to run on. And run they did!  They were always chasing each other, chasing squirrels, rabbits, cows, the horses, and whatever else happened to come onto the property!  We began their regular training too, and soon they learned most of the usual dog commands, and both would walk side by side at heal on the leash.  Jessica, our youngest daughter, decided it was also a good time to teach Ernie how to read.  She spent hours every day reading to Ernie and he would pay close attention to her books.  After a while she was convinced that he had indeed learned how to read!  To this day I believe she thinks the dog would have read more novels if he only was allowed to get the books down by himself and turn the pages! (she could be correct!)

The boys decided they had important jobs to do and set about raising "their girls".  Every morning they would jump on the girls beds to get them up for school, and of course they would walk them down to the bus stop and make sure they got on the bus safely.  They kept close track of the time for the return bus trip too.  As soon as the bus came up the road the dogs would stat barking for the girls to hurry up and get home!  Naturally, they also helped with after school snacks and homework (more with the snacks, I suppose, but they tried to help with homework as well).

The girls progressed through school and decided to enter the 4-H dog program.  Bert and Ernie both became 4-H dogs; Bert with Jessica, and Ernie with Catherine.  The dogs patiently endured as the girls learned all about dog training and care, and even won some ribbons at the dog shows!



Bert and Ernie had become very happy, well-trained, healthy dogs!  They did, however, get in to plenty of trouble.  They were well known and loved at the vet's office, and every time I called, the receptionist would hear my voice and ask "What did the bad boys get in to now?".  Thankfully, most things were minor, and caused by chasing things on the property they shouldn't have chased, or running into something when they didn't stop on time.

Years passed and the brothers continued to be a source of amusement, joy, comfort and security for the family.  Especially for their girls, who they helped through all the usual things that girls go through, and patiently listened to every complaint about boys, school, clothes, parents, etc.  The dogs also learned some neat tricks; one favorite after the “Miller Time” commercial came out - when someone said “It’s Miller Time” the boys would run to the utility room where Bert would get the beer can and Ernie would get the “huggie” can holder.  (We had decided that it probably wasn’t really a great idea to actually teach dogs how to open the refrigerator like the dog in the commercial did).  We also found out that big dogs can put holes in aluminum cans all too easily, so we only showed off this trick on rare occasion.

At almost seven years of age, the boys were still in great health.  We decided to enroll them in Delta Society’s Handi Dogs/Pet Partners program.  Together we went through all the weeks of training.  The dogs learned how to act in a hospital, how to react to people in wheelchairs, and a host of other skills, while once again the girls gained valuable lessons as well.

After months of training, then passing all of the skills, aptitude, and health tests with high marks, the dogs became certified Pet Partners.  They were also qualified to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, but we opted not to take the test at that time. Our patient visitations began upon their certification and we kept a journal.



Our first visit was to the pediatrics unit at Tucson Medical Center. Jessica had Bert and I had Ernie.  Reading from our journal:

“We were nervous, but Bert and Ernie weren’t, and they didn’t mind their Handi Dogs shirts at all.....We each visited with four patients, but ended up going back with both dogs once everyone heard there were twin brothers around!  The patients loved them!"

That’s how it was with the boys.  In subsequent visits, to nursing homes, hospitals, etc., we discovered it was hopeless to even try to separate them since everyone wanted to see them together.  Another note from our journal reads:

“We had a special visit where they allowed us to go into the area where Alzheimer’s patients were having group therapy.  The patients really seemed alert and excited when the dogs came in.  The therapist asked us to go to several of the patients specifically and they petted and enjoyed the dogs.  One of the patients we visited, “Bunny”, asked us to please come to her room whenever we’re there.  She said she could live without people, but not without dogs. ....All of the patients we visited seemed to enjoy the visit very much, except for one woman who became very sad and agitated because she couldn’t keep one of the dogs for her own pet."

I could tell you lots of stories from the journals, but the most important point is that wherever they went the dogs made an impact.  We visited some patients who didn’t speak any English, but it didn’t take any knowledge of their language to understand what the big smiles meant.  Some people just held the dogs and cried into their fur and stroked them silently and lovingly.  For the next several years they visited hospitals and nursing homes, until they reached a “burnout” point and we decided to retire them.  There is no way to know how much love and enjoyment they brought to the countless people they visited - even if we only stayed with some patients for a few moments it was clear that the dogs had made a difference in their day and their lives.

We moved in to town not long after that and the boys became “city dogs”.  They didn’t have as much room to run, so we started our daily walks.  The two of them together were apparently quite a sight (Perhaps I should have mentioned earlier in the letter that once their health improved Bert grew to a height of 27 inches at the shoulder and weighed almost 100 lbs., and Ernie was just slightly smaller).  People often stopped me on the street and asked if they could pet the dogs, and they soon became known around the neighborhood as “The Brothers” or just “the Boys”.  Many of the neighborhood children (and even some of the adults!) would run out to see them if I happened to be walking by.  Occasionally, people driving by would even stop their cars to tell me what beautiful and well-trained dogs I had.  As the dogs aged and started getting more grey hair, many people were convinced they were part wolf dogs.  Some kids tried to get them to howl, some people were a bit afraid of them, some people just stopped to admire them, but wherever they went they caused a reaction.

And, just to prove that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, Ernie learned to help out around the house.  He learned the command “Get That” so he could pick something up for me if I dropped it.  He also helped with the laundry,  lifting the clothes out of the basket for me to put in the washing machine. Bert, on the other hand,  taught us more tricks than we taught him - he has us very well trained to rub his tummy whenever he flops over, open doors for him, and in general do his bidding.

Well, this has become a very long letter.  It has been difficult to try to summarize the lives of two dogs who have done so much and have helped so many others.  In truth, I have barely scratched the surface in explaining the fullness of their lives, but wanted to tell you at least this much.  I hoped it would help you understand that because you took these strays in and found homes for them, you made an immeasurable difference.  Words truly cannot express the love these dogs brought in to our lives,  in to the lives of all those they visited in hospitals and nursing homes, and to all the other lives they have touched.

The boys helped to teach our daughters kindness and compassion.  They lived to see their girls all grown up, and survived the eldest moving away from home.  Ernie passed away just a few months ago, but Bert may still be around when the “baby” leaves home.   Bert still goes for a walk every day, and although he is hard of hearing, has arthritis, and some days our walks are almost painfully slow, he still thinks he is a puppy sometimes and I hope he will be around for a while yet to come.  The vet and I believed that because of their poor start in life they probably would not live to old age, but we have been truly blessed to have been allowed to have them in our lives for so long.

So, Anne, Thank You for letting those scraggly pups come home with us all those years ago.  The coyotes didn’t get them, the invisible fence kept them in, and they turned out to be more wonderful and enriched more lives than you can imagine.

Tori
---------------------------------

(At the time I wrote this, obviously Bert was still living - he did survive long enough to see the youngest move away from home.  He was almost 14 yrs. old at the time of his passing.)
-------------------------------


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Long Time No Post

Well the months since my last post have been not so bad for me, but, pretty hectic for Mom.   As soon as she got over the pneumonia, which took a REALLY long time, she started trying to get caught up for something she called "The National" or just "The Show".  She was mighty stressed over that, so mostly I tried to stay out of the way, unless of course she needed some love.  Lucky for me that dog petting calms people down and lowers blood pressure, and that daily walks also ease tension!  We had to go on short walks since Mom was trying to get back in the habit after her sickness, but it was still fun and the weather was nice.

In July we went down to Tucson and I got to stay with my "sister" while Mom went to the hotel and did "The Show".  I missed her, but I can't be too sad when I stay there - They take good care of me, I've got family to play with, and my girlfriend!  Yes, I do have a girlfriend! Her name is Sophie.

Isn't she pretty!  oh, and there's one of the cats next to her -
that cat's name is Honey.  She is not fond of me.
Animals are allowed on the furniture there, but, not at my house.


Sophie and me tired out after a long day of playing!



 The only down side of staying at Sophie's house is,  the CATS.  Two of them (also, chickens, a guinea pig, and hermit crabs, but they're not annoying).   One of the cats really wants to be my friend too, but I'm having none of it....although.....she is kind of pretty since she has black fur with white paws and a white stripe down her nose, like me!

This is Muad'dib, the cat who loves me, hanging out in the garden with one of the chickens.


After the show we stayed in Tucson for a while so Mom had time to visit with everybody and play with all of her grandchildren, and we all had a great time!  Then we came home, and I was a little bit sad because I miss everybody.

We were home for less than two weeks when, sadly, my other "sister" got sick.  She had to go to the hospital and was there for a while, so Mom and I went back to Tucson so Mom could help her out and help the grandsons get to school.  Once again, I didn't mind *too* much, but it was tiring for all the people involved so I got a little worried too.  I let everybody who wanted to pet me as much as possible, because I am helpful like that!

"Sis" got feeling better, and we finally left - just got home at the end of August, and Mom was sick again.  That I didn't like so much because I don't like it when she doesn't feel good, and, I don't get to go for walks very much.

Everybody is doing fine now, which I am pretty sure I am at least partly responsible for!
Sometime I think I will ask Mom to tell you the story of her other dogs, who were Pet Partners/Therapy dogs, but that will have to wait for another time.

Sorry I didn't update my blog during all this time, but Mom doesn't let me log on to the computer myself.  She mentioned something about keeping me away from a thing called "Icanhazcheeseburger".





The Healing Power Of Dogs – An infographic by the team at ZocDoc

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Is your state in the "Top Ten" for dog bites?

It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week, so of course I've been reading about dog bites.  Dog Bit Prevention Week is sponsored by the  American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Postal Service, and America’s plastic and reconstructive surgeons.  It is very sad to think that some of us bite and cause such horrible injuries, especially to children.  I don't think most of my fellow dogs are mean and want to hurt, but maybe some of us don't know any better, and it also seems like there are some owners who teach their dogs to be mean.  There are also some dogs who think biting is the only way they can defend themselves or "say" what they want when they are being crowded, teased, etc. (and some who have never been taught to do anything else because that's what they get away with).

I myself was bitten by one little dog in my neighborhood - WHILE THE OWNER WAS STANDING RIGHT THERE!  I was on my leash, and her little miniature poodle was on a retractable leash.  Mom was talking to the dog's owner when the dog just ran up and bit my leg.  It didn't hurt, but what surprised me was that the owner just laughed about it.  The owner said "oh, she gets kind of grumpy sometimes, but she can't hurt anybody" and Mom said "It's a good thing he didn't bite her back, that wouldn't be so funny."  All the other lady said was "well I'm sorry!" and she picked up her little dog and walked off.  I guess it was a good thing I didn't bite the other dog, since the whole dog would almost fit in my mouth.  Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Here is some of the information I've found while reading about dog bites -  The first is a list from the insurance company State Farm.  I like what they say about dog breeds, so I left that part in too!

-----------------------------------
“A dog’s tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health, and the victim’s behavior,” State Farm said in a statement on Wednesday. “There are good dogs and bad dogs within every breed, just as there can be responsible and irresponsible owners of each breed.”

Here is the full ranking list of the top 10 states:


1.                                                      California: 451 claims worth $17.1 million 
2.                                                      Illinois: 337 claims worth $9 million 
3.                                                      Texas: 236 claims worth $4.3 million 
4.                                                      Ohio: 235 claims worth $5 million 
5.                                                      Pennsylvania: 165 claims worth $4.5 million 
6.                                                      Michigan: 151 claims worth $4.6 million 
7.                                                      Indiana: 148 claims worth $2.7 million 
8.                                                      Florida: 123 claims worth $7.1 million 
9.                                                      Georgia: 121 claims worth $3.3 million 
10.                                                 New York: 116 claims worth $6.4 million
-----------------------------------


National Dog Bite Prevention Week is a public service campaign that offers safety tips and emphasizes the need for increased pet owner responsibility in the prevention of dog bites.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report that small children, the elderly, and Postal Service carriers — in that order — are the most frequent victims of dog bites. It is also stated that the number of dog bites exceeds the reported instances of measles, whooping cough and mumps, combined. Dog bite victims account for up to five percent of emergency room visits.

The Postal Service along with other organizations offers safety tips and emphasizes the need for pet owners to be more responsible. Our campaign is "Any dog can bite. Don't be fooled".

Here are some links you might like:


http://www.avmamedia.org/display.asp?sid=526&NAME=National_Dog_Bite_Prevention_Week_2013_(May_19-25)


Stay safe, keep your pets safe, and please, please, please, keep your kids safe!
Love n' slobbers,
Cody

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

My Morning Chores

Finally, Mom is feeling well enough to get back to our chores and daily walks!



My only every day morning chores are picking up stuff that needs to go in the closet and putting them away, and helping to make the bed.  Sometimes when I put things away I get a little bit confused and put shoes in the clothes hamper, but that's okay, Mom just tells me to take them back out.  Really, I'm only confused because I get too excited, and I get excited because.....after I put things in the closet I get to Close The Door! (see my post of Mar. 7th).

After that, I help make the bed.  Mom only took a video of me doing the first corner, and I'm only a little bit embarrassed that I didn't get the actual corner the first time and she had to tell me again.  She gets the top corners of the covers and I get the bottom, we work pretty well as a bed making team!




On days when there is dusting to do I help by carrying the duster.  Other than that I provide general pick up and delivery services while we are doing the chores, and I put things in the recycle bin (which is in a little cupboard with TWO DOORS!).  On VACUUMING days, I don't really help, I just try to be patient and wait for my turn.  Every time I hear Mom switch from the floor suction part to the hose I run over to the vacuum, but I usually have to wait until she is all done with the rest of the day's vacuuming before I get my chance.  Waiting is NOT one of my favorite jobs.

I get to help on laundry day too, but I'll save that story for another time.

The link I want to share today is about safe cleaning products.  Mom tries to stick to the ones that are safe for me and for the planet!  I'd also like to ask that you think about how close your pets are to your floors and furniture, because sometimes even if a product is considered safe or natural, it can still be very irritating to those of us who lay on the floor. 



Notes from Mom:

I'm attaching a short clip of Cody being vacuumed because I want to share a way to vacuum your pet safely - I use the brush attachment with my fingers over one edge to make sure that the suction doesn't pull on the skin, and also to monitor the static level.  I haven't tried any of the pet hair vacuum attachments available, mostly because the come with rake type deshedding tools and Cody doesn't have much of an undercoat.  Would love to hear from others who have tried the specialized tools though!







Friday, April 19, 2013

I get massages! Oh yes!


I was going to write about my morning chores, but Mom hasn't been feeling well over the last few weeks and didn't want to make a video, or do the morning chores with me - Lucky for me though, she has still given me my massages - she says it is therapeutic for both of us.  I think therapeutic means feels swell and makes us sleepy.  I'll let her tell you all about it, I'm chillin'



Love n' Slobbers,
Cody

Notes from Mom:

Cody is talking about the TTouch method of therapy, which I first discovered in the early 90's and used on my horses.  Steve and I don't know how or why it happens that somehow people find us and determine that we need abused or neglected animals, it just happens.  So one day, we were given a quarter horse gelding.  The woman who gave him to us had rescued him from an abusive home. She had been working with him, but things happened in her life and she had to give him up in order to move.

I had been fortunate in my early teens not only to have had a horse, but also to have met and worked with a number of great horse trainers from "back in the day".  When we were given the gelding I remembered hearing about a massage method that was good for calming horses, known as TTEAM (The Telling Touch Equine Awareness Method).  I learned the method from Linda Tellington-Jones books and videos, and a 4H leader who was also trying the method.  It seemed to work well for Buddy (the quarter horse) and "Shammy" (an Arabian mare I also had at the time....for you horse people, her actual name was *Napitok Snowfire ;) ).  I also used it on the dogs I had back then, but didn't have specific touches or techniques for them. 

When we got Cody, I decided to try the TTouch on him since I heard it worked wonders for abused dogs.  I got the book Getting in TTouch with Your Dog: An Easy, Gentle Way to Better Health and Behavior and have seen a lot of progress with Cody since starting with the specific exercises aimed at his problems.  One of the biggest areas of improvement has been in him being able to relax for nail trimming & grooming.  He is much calmer, although, even after 4 years he still has some sensitive/fearful areas and it takes him a while to relax.  I will also admit though, that I don't perform the TTouch exercises as regularly as I should.

Here is a link to an article that explains more about the method, how and why it works, and some of the techniques.

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_8/features/TTouch-For-Dogs_20039-1.html

and here is a link to Linda Tellington-Jones web site.

www.ttouch.com