There weren’t any rocks to throw at my brothers, I had to improvise with road apples. Road apples are horse poop. Nice, round, tennis ball sized balls of steaming…actually they flew better wet than dry…I won ball throw at the track meets every year…and the boys would scatter faster from the fresh stuff. It was kind of nice though, no more rock fights. I was a tomboy and was often on the rock end of the fire fight. We played cowboys and Indians, spies, paratroopers, firefighters, lumberjacks, and army, lobbing ‘grenades’ at each other and usually connecting without grace. Nobody ever told Mom. We were tough little kids.

The Nebraska prairie stretched out for miles. I felt like it was so wide open. And it was. Miles and miles of rolling grasslands broken by an occasional nice, cool body of water. Miles and miles to ride horses across the biggest sand dunes in America. And no fences back then. Acres and acres of wild, wide open, unbroken prairie.

I’d been riding horses since I could sit so my life changed for the better when I found out the ranch had lots of horses! My Great Uncle Henry taught me to drive the team. It was a grand time. I got out of the hard work. I drove the horses in the winter, my brothers and sisters had the hard job of pulling hay off the sled to feed the cattle as we moved across the snow. I’ll never forget those great big horses. My job was to harness them up in the morning and pull the hay sled out for another stack of hay.

I finished growing up in Nebraska and there were a few times that I thought I might like to move away. I visited so many wonderful places. But as time went by I really fell in love with this country. If I ever do move, I’ll remember Nebraska like a child remembers a wonderful fairy land.

I’ve lived in the west, north, central and now in the southeast of Nebraska. And it’s all good.

Love you, Nebraska. For this time in my life, all I want or need are my dogs, my friends, and a great home to be cozy, happy, and peaceful. It’s so peaceful at my house.

Ahhh. Life is good. – Darcie

A high waving tail is more often than not led by a mouth full of bite. It’s proven and true.

You have to look at and understand the whole dog. The face and front legs will tell most of the story. – Darcie

There have been some blood tests showing a high content of fat in the blood on a pork diet. Is it good fat? I don’t think so. Just my two cents. – Darcie

February 29, 2012: Hi Darcie, I’m sorry to tell you that I lost my min-pin last night. Took him to emergency Monday night as he was not eating and was dehydrated. He had a severe case of pancreatitus and went into arrest, but waited for me to get there and then passed. They found a lot of fat in his blood, so maybe I did  the wrong thing by switching his diet. Vest say we will never know because he had a history of pancreatitus no matter what food he had been on and being diabetic, his system was compromised. Anyway, thanks for your help the past month. – Diane

March 1, 2012: Dear Darcie, I realize now after talking to the vet again that the past month was his healthiest time. He had so much energy and was so happy. The years of having many issues finally took its toll but he is fine now that he has crossed over… I’m switching my other four to raw, even my new eight year old toothless min-pin. Thank you again, Diane.

Diane told me at first that she felt terrible when her little dog died. She felt at first that changing his food was the reason he died within weeks of the change. After talking to her vet, she  realized what I already know, sometimes we cannot reverse all the damage done before. The good news is that even her vet could see the the raw food diet helped this little one not only feel better but cope better to the end of his life. It’s just life. We do our very best with what we know at the time and when we learn better things, we implement them and see good things happen. No one should ever feel guilty or beat themselves up for what they did in the past. We cannot change the past. We can make the future better.

My heart goes out to you, Diane, I know the pain of losing a dog whom I’ve loved so much. I’ve said a prayer for you. Get some rest and enjoy the heck out of the other dogs. Every day, every chance you get. We get so much time with our dogs and that is all we get. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. – Darcie

Hi Darcie, I started my diabetic Miniature Pinscher on the raw diet. He was on it for a week and I had to lower his insulin because it was making him so lethargic. Every few days I had to lower the dose. He went from 9 units twice a day down to 4. He went to the vet for a blood curve after three weeks on raw and the vet called and asked what I was doing because his sugar had been normal all day. I told him and although he said he could not come right out and condone the raw diet, he told me to keep doing what I was doing. I am going to switch my other 4 to raw. Thank you so much. My min-pin is now an active, playful dog again. Thanks. – Diane

Dear Diane, Lovely! I’m so happy to hear it! Isn’t that just nuts?! It’s the same with people too! The research and the results are showing us that diabetes, all types, is reversible. Thank you so much for telling me of your great results. I love it!

I see it over and over even right here in our own hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska! The Chocolate Lab is her own sweet happy healthy self after changing to a raw food diet.

Crazy that your vet wouldn’t walk right out and tell the world to make the change, he saw it with his own tests. – Darcie

There are some who think because I’m a trainer that I should accept any dog, no matter their problems, because I’ve been known to work dogs through some really tough stuff and if I, or someone like me, doesn’t take the dog, it won’t find a good home. I disagree that I must take a dog with problems that aren’t easily repaired to make the world of dog rescue a happy place. I’ve taken dogs before who I’ve had to work with diligently and those dogs lived happily with me their entire lives. My life has changed this past many years so my criteria for a rescue dog has changed. I work daily to help people successfully alter their dog’s behaviors and I’m a pretty good trainer too. I’m doing my part to help the dog world be a better and happier one. I won’t be forced by public or private appeal to take in a rescue dog who doesn’t fit my current life. I love you guys and with total respect for you I ask you to lay off of me and please trust that I know what I’m doing for my home and my dogs. I sure hope this clears things up. LOL.

Okay, back to my original post about my current criteria for a rescue dog:

When looking for a rescue dog for my current life, the first thing I want to know is….

* Is there any sign of thunderphobia? I’d rather not start out with problems that I can’t easily repair. This is a big one because I live with huge storms out here on the plains. Kate is not afraid of storms and I don’t want her to learn that they are scary from another dog.  (Thunderphobia has been cured or lessened with Thundershirt or Anxiety Wrap found at SitStay.com)

* Does the dog guard food? Can he take a treat happily with other dogs around? Food and sex are two of the biggest drives in all animals. My rescues will be spayed or neutered so that leaves food as a question. One of my tests is to bring out some cookies to see if everyone can take a cookie and be happy about it. Of course, I wouldn’t do that without first checking the dog with food while he or she is alone. Temperament testing 101 is what will the dog do when offered food and what will he do when it is taken away? If a dog will fight over food or offers to take another dog’s head off if food appears, not my best choice to come and live with me. The dogs in my house are to sit side by side and eat out of my hand in turn as I give them food. During training my dogs know who I’m working with and who has to wait. It’s always been that way. Peace in the house is essential to my peace. There are dogs who move toward that goal faster than others. The way I train, they move very quickly to that goal and we all smile and are happy. (I had one rescue a very long time ago who did have some trouble with food guarding, I worked with him for some time before he finally turned the corner and got it, after that he was so sweet, food and no food. I’m talking in my list of current criteria about the dog who turns into a biting monster when food or treats appear, the dog that will draw blood when food comes out. This is not the dog that I want to deal with in my current home.)

* Is the dog good on a leash? I don’t need total loose leash, I want to see some quietness in the dog on leash. I’m not getting any younger. I am getting stronger but still, I don’t want my arms separated from my body any time soon. (great big grin) (A dog who shows some quiet with the leash on can easily be taught to walk on a loose leash.)

* Does the rescue dog choose me? Does the dog choose my dog? In my experience, if the dog chooses me first, then my dog, we’re good to go. (This is the case in rescue and if you buy a dog. If the dog chooses you, you have a mush higher rate of success with the dog. It’s just the way it is.)

Kate and I are still looking for a brother or sister for her. Breed isn’t much of a big deal. I would like to have a dog or dogs who are close to our energy level….calmer more than nuts. Ready for a run but I don’t want to run all day long. And sweet. That would be very nice.

I’m saying my prayers and Kate is ready.

A last note: I’ve rescued a lot of dogs in my lifetime, some with huge problems that we overcame, some with little problems that were easily remedied. Those dogs lived their entire lives with me.  My old dogs have passed on and now I have my lovely Kate. My new criteria stands. There will be a dog or two who come to us and will live with me until they pass of old age too.  – Darcie

One boy is a 6 year old Yellow Lab. His people died and his dog brother has been adopted. They tell me that he acts like an old man gentleman. Doesn’t he sound perfect for Kate and me?

The other is a 4 year old Golden boy. His young family is having another child and times are tough, they had to decide to place him with someone who can afford to feed him (it takes a lot of love and a big heart to make that decision). They are very sad to let this guy go. The rescue tells me that he is a sweet darling. Doesn’t he sound perfect for Kate and me?

I love dogs! Can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow. Pray for me. It’s a bit of a driving trip (I love to drive) and the weather looks like it’s going to cooperate. Clear and 41 degrees tomorrow.

I guess we’ll see what happens! – Darcie