Quick post to catalogue the things Winnie has destroyed in the past month. My oh my, I think it’s time for an in-home trainer…

• A keyless entry device for a Honda Civic
• A pair of sunglasses
• A hands-free cell phone earpiece
• A book
• A vase
• A mini-mouse sensory button embedded in a laptop

Fortunately, most of these items are easily replaced, some at a higher price than others. As luck would have it, in the same week Microsoft launched Windows 7 (full disclosure – I work for an agency that does PR for Microsoft  ), Winnie’s destruction outlined in that last bullet may be a sign that it’s time for me to upgrade my existing PC. Which new Windows 7 machine should I get? Check them out here and let me know what you think: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/default.aspx

I’d love to share a cute and funny picture of Ruckus and Kaiya donning this year’s Halloween costumes, but unfortunately they’re having no part of the dress-up game so many dog owners partake in… and understandably so. I mean who doesn’t love to see a Dachshund dressed as a hotdog, Ferdie dressed as a bee, or Champ dressed as our favorite Disney character. I know I do! However, I made a pact with my huskies when they were very young that we’d stop at the occasional scarf, and even then I know I’m pushing my limits.

So while I don’t have any treats of my own to offer, I do have a few photos graciously provided from friends, the internet and fellow Dogland bloggers.If you’re looking to strut your dogs diggs in front of your fellow Seattleites, check out the 5k Pumpkin Push at Seward Park on October 24. Dogs are welcome!

However it’s not Halloween if you don’t have some tricks to accompany your treats. Here are a few tricks to make sure you and your pooch have a scary safe time!

• Chocolate is hazardous to dogs, so be sure to keep your loot far from Fido’s reach. Unfortunately if they find the bowl they’re likely to eat every last piece, foil, wrappers and all. If this occurs make sure you call you veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1 (888) 426-4435.
• Keep pets safely inside, rather than out in the yard. The noise and commotion from trick-or-treaters might spook your pet, and there is always the risk that pranksters may release your pet from the yard. If you happen to be a cat lover as well (like me), Halloween can be a dangerous time for them. Make sure the ID tags are on and up to date.
• Lit pumpkins and wagging tails do not go hand in hand. Keep pumpkins out of reach to prevent burns and fires (not to mention smashed pumpkins). If consumed in large quantities, pumpkins can cause stomach issues and intestinal blockage.
• Putting your pooch in a costume can be fun and funny, just make sure it fits comfortably and your furry friend isn’t restricted from moving or breathing in any way. Also check to make sure there are no loose parts that could get caught and strangle him. It’s a good idea to never leave your dog unsupervised while he or she has their costume on.

What no one tells you when you adopt a dog is that there’s a significant distinction between having a dog and raising a dog.

I’ve had dogs all my life. I was smug in my ability to responsibly raise a dog when I adopted Winnie. Feed her and walk her twice a day? No problem. Give her love and attention? I’d love to! Train her and socialize her? I can do that. Teach her to respect me? Hmm. Now there’s a challenge.

My role with dogs in the past has been to have them, not raise them. My parents did the raising, I did the playing. They focused on training and respecting authority, I focused on spoiling and befriending. Since adopting Winnie, never has the distinction between having a dog and raising a dog been so clear.

My relationship with Winnie is many wonderful things, but at its core is severely lacking in respect. Her behavior since we brought her home in June has improved leaps and bounds, but it’s inconsistent. She behaves when she wants, which is not nearly as often as we want her to. She is a repeat offender in counter-surfing, shelf-surfing and table-surfing. As much as we can tell her “off” or “leave it” and spray her with a squirt bottle, it falls on deaf ears. We thought she’d finally learned her lesson last night when she jumped on the counter and planted her face into a dish of extremely spicy chipotle cornbread, but she simply stumbled back, licked her lips for a full minute and went back to try for seconds.

In an attempt to alter the dynamics of our family pack, we’ve been trying a new experiment over the past couple of weeks: Winnie is no longer allowed to sleep in our bed. A few people have advised us that letting a dog sleep in your bed is the ultimate way of telling it you’re equals in the pack, and it will never respect your authority as long as you continue the behavior.

We began the experiment by buying her a fancy new bed to sleep on, which we keep on our bedroom floor. Every time she tries to jump on the bed, we order her off. This generally works; she will jump off the bed, lay somewhere on the floor and let out a dramatic sigh of annoyance. Where our plan fails, however, lies in the fact that we are heavy sleepers. Every single night of the experiment, we have awoken with Winnie back in the bed, with no recollection of how she got there. Sneaky little brat.

So far, I’d call the experiment a failure. We’ve seen no change in her level of respect and she usually succeeds in sleeping in the bed when all is said and done. Short of putting a wireless fence around our bed that shocks her every time she tries to cross the boundary, I don’t know that we’ll win this battle…