So I tell Franc he is going with me and off we go. You should have seen the look on Franc's face. He did ask me if I REALLY wanted to do that and I said "hey, I will try it and see what happens".
It was a bit like walking a 4th reactive BC that wasn't on leash. heheehehe. But he was pretty good. I had him walk on the sidewalk when there was sidewalk (easily distracted and would slow down) and then when we were on the street I just had him hold onto the pocket of my coat. You should have seen the looks I was getting from people.
Dylan really wanted to go all the way to Rosa Park to play on the little play structure and I kept asking him if he was tired but he really wanted to go. I let him play for 10 or so minutes at the park and then I needed to get out of there. There were a bunch of kids there "can I pet your dog, what are their names blah blah etc." Anyway, when it was time to leave, Dylan cried and told me I was mean. He didn't want to hang on to my coat and I would have to stop. I just told him that if he was going to act that way and not listen then he couldn't come walking with me. He finally shook it off and we were able to gab about stuff on the way home and it was actually pretty delightful for the most part. He is soooooooooooo smart it amazes me. He was pointing out letters on the license plates of cars or on the side of trailers and asking all kinds of questions.
The four legged boys were VERY good especially with slowing down the pace for Dylan speed. I was VERY pleased with how it went as Dylan minded and stayed with me much better than I thought he would. I guess my little Crazy Red Head is growing up. Yeh!!!
- Mood:
amused
So I work with them one at a time and kind of rapid fire instructions at them (although I do not move to the next command until I get the behavior previously asked)...something like:
Sit
stand
left
down
roll
crate--treat
then I call him to Side (heal at my right side)
right
with me (heel at left side)
left - then I stop and he knows to sit
stand
backup
crate--treat
What usually hangs him up is the break in the crate while we are doing this. He is getting faster however. The first couple times I did this he stayed right were he was looking at me like "I didn't really hear crate and I don't think we are done so I am going to stay right here". I stood there for a good 4 minutes before he got up and went to the crate. I try not to move my body or motion with my hands as I really want him to "listen" and not spring off any motion. The reason for this is I talk with my hands a lot in class and when I get him out for a demo he sometimes will sit up every time my hands go up (even though the hand signal is me pointing up). Everyone thinks it is funny but I have found that his focus on my hands can sometimes truly affect his ability to listen. I had this problem in agility as well. Venita would say, keep your hands down. I found myself trying to force my hands to stay down and I felt like I was running like a penguin but it worked because he was less likely to look at me or move toward me if my hands weren't out there. Anyway, I also sit on the floor, facing a particular direction and do the above exercise. Nothing freaks Force out as much as when I sit on the floor, not moving and expect him to move. Treats always happen in the crate so this is a great way to do some Variable Schedule Reinforcement. He is getting treated for the speed in which he responds to the crate command. I always mix it up with behaviors he knows VERY well.
Sometimes when I send him to his crate I am facing it and sometimes not (this is true also when I am teaching). I use this because it makes him go away from me and when I am in class I send him to his crate but leave the door open. If he breaks his "wait" in the crate then I close the door. He was really good at staying but has gotten more and more relaxed about it so I really want to have that wonderful behavior back. Patience is kind of a foreign concept to Force so we are really working on it.
Anyway, I have been doing this more and more with them and I found at the seminar I taught on Saturday that it is REALLY paying off. He was much calmer and patient and focused. I like this A LOT. On Sat night, he didn't break his Crate once. I am so proud of him. He was truly fabulous on Sat and his skills are so much more polished since starting this.
My goals really had to do with Force but I put them all through it. So they are all much better listeners. What do they say, "If you don't use it, you loose it". I am just creating opportunity to make them listen better.
- Mood: cheerful
I also taught Force and Riley to back up between my legs which will end up as a weave backward through my legs. Very fun and exciting as well. I love teaching them new things.
- Mood:
excited
I still need to perfect the jump onto my back but I need to get Force some shoes so he doesn't leave tread marks on my back heehehe. Riley is sooooooooooooo much softer and more aware.
Anyway, we are working on going under my bent leg, out a bit and then back over it like a jump. They are doing really well except Force is Springing off my leg most of the time instead of going over. It is because when he jumps into my arms, my leg it out a bit so it is normal for him to want to do that.
I also figured out why he was jumping so high on to my shoulder when jumping into my arms. I was holding the treat up really high so he was jumping high. I lowered the treat in my left hand and he now floats into my arms, MUCH BETTER.
I have no idea why it took me so long to figure that out.
The puppy gets into it, that's what. I have no idea where Stanley was but apparently he had no idea Riley was eating fried chicken. When Franc found it, it was on the floor with a hole chewed in it but there was still chicken inside. He had no idea how much was eaten. Riley got me up the first time at 4am that morning with the shits. I knew that would happen or Stanley would vomit in the middle of the night to let me know which one or both of them had gotten into it. Force was totally innocent as he was with me at work. heehehe
Riley had a very small amount of blood in his stool the second and third so I was a bit worried and took him to work with me for the next couple days to keep an eye on him. Put him on Rice and cottage cheese and by the weekend, he was all better. I didn't want to use any anti diarrhea meds as he really needed to pass the chicken, bones and grease.
Anyway, all better. I told Franc that if he had to go to the VET that he was taking him and paying for it.!!@! It could have potentially been very painful for Riley and fairly expensive.
Glad it all worked out. Dumb ass husbands....
The first one was mostly performance people so I was able to cater to that. Although I didn't know that until I got there but I adapted. It was interesting. I had an agility instructor and several of her students and there were things that I taught that she "doesn't allow" her students to do. OK , so I showed it a different way. There always seems to be 5 ways to accomplish the same goal so that is good.
The second seminar was not performance people but people who wanted to do new things with their dogs that would benefit them over their lifetime. It was really fun.
I met H. the owner of Argus Ranch and her dog Strut. Strut was being handled by B. who had one of my clients dogs at her place for 5 weeks in Dec/early Jan for TTouch and Hydrotherapy. Z. is a standard poodle with very poor hips (at 1 yr old) and is reactive so they are trying to find ways to calm her as well as exercise her safely. It is such a small world. H. and several others asked it I would be willing to come back so it looks like I may be making that trip a few more times this year. If I do, I have a wonderful friend up there I can stay with, so that makes it easier. Now I just have to get my husband on board hehehe. I would love to go up for the Regional and put Force in the two standard runs to see if we can get our title and then help out the rest of the time and hang out with everyone. We'll see. This would mean I need to make a commitment between now and then to get him out to FG on some kind of regular schedule to practice. I could do that maybe on Sat mornings.
So my new friends up at Argus are putting on the Regional this year and looking for workers. It will be held June 26-28, 2009. If you an help out please contact Jill at arftraining@comcast.net
Had lunch yesterday with C to start working on the material I need to cover to pass my CPDT exam. I am hoping to test in the fall but might have to wait until March 2010 (the next time they offer the test). I am finally at a place where I can steal an hour or so to read (even if it is while I am doing cardio on the treadclimber, heehehe) so I feel that I can really focus on it. C will be there to answer any questions I have and to test me and push me. So that is good.
Well back to work.
Most recently we have been working on:
1. Squats-Hind end Strength and coordination.
a. have your dog sit and put their front paws on your arm or in your hands (you might have to be in a kneeling position rather than standing to keep their back at a more comfortable arch)
b. ask them to stand up (you may have to lure them or have a buddy lure them)
c. keeping their paws on your arm or in your hands, ask them to sit
c. you kind of have to follow them into the sit until they figure out how to pull their hips closer
d. repeat
This is a more advanced move from the one I teach in class where they keep their front legs on a step or on the ball and sit-stand-sit without moving their front paws. This requires them to move their hips closer to the step in order to be able to sit without their front paws coming off the step as well as move their hips out to stand. The ball is easier because they can roll the ball back while they are sitting and don't really have to adjust their hips and roll it forward for standing.
2. Jump onto my back-Why?? well just because heehehe
I have already taught them to jump into my lap and into my arms so it wasn't a stretch to get them to jump onto my back. I had them sit on a aerobic bench, and I sat in front of them. With treat in one hand held over my head and said "upup" to get them to put their front paws on my shoulders. Easy as pie. Then I had them on the bench with me in a horsey position and did the same thing. At first they put their front feet on my back and I treated for that. Then I waited for the jump onto my back. Interesting how hard it was for them to find their balance at first. After just s few days, I can have them sit on the floor, I get down on one knee, with one knee up ( I am bent over that knee) and have them vault onto my back and get their balance. It is an interesting test of trust. This is a disc dog trick but I thought it might be fun. I did it with a blanket on my back because Force really digs in his nails and I have used a jean jacket. Those darn vaulting vests are like $60 but they save your skin. Anyway, this particular trick lends well to balance, coordination and core strength as well so it is right up my alley. Not something I would teach in class but it is fun. Dylan was watching and wanted Riley to jump on his back but I told him that he had to wait until he was bigger. Anyway, I have them get their balance, then stand and laydown. I move to a bow position and release them to step off. I love having smart eager dogs.
3. Stanley can finally jump into my lap. When I was teaching the "jump into my arms" Stanley wouldn't even jump into my lap and so we took a long break from even trying. He is alot warmer to ideas once he has had time to process it. Still willing to try new things but just at a slower pace. Good for Stanley. This was a big step for him.
New treats in the Kong
1. 1 canned Salmon including the water (I bought at Costco)
2. 1.5 cups kibble
3. water -to the a paste consistency
4. blend it up and stuff it in a kong over night in the freezer.
It makes about 8 Kong's worth of stuffing so I just put the remainder in the fridge and it keeps for 3-5 days. The boys LOVE this treat.
In addition, we have been practicing jump sequencing before my classes start on Sunday's. I can't wait for the weather to get better so I can start working more agility in the back yard. I took Riley to class on Sunday and he was so fabulous. This dog never stop amazing me. We have certainly come along way in our relationship and training. I think I am still smiling because it has been a long road with him and it feels so good to be able to take him to class and have him be OK even with seriously reactive dogs.
- Mood:
accomplished
1. take the seats out of the E
2. blow up a couple 65cm balls
3. pack all my toys, treats etc.
4. decide what dog to take or if there is room for both Riley and Force
5. take a shower, and straighten my hair
6. set the alarm for 5:am
7. put everything in the car I need except the dogs.
All I want to do when I get up is grab a Rockstar, get dressed, pull a brush through my hair and go. 3+ hrs there and 3+ hours back. Will be a long day but it will be a day all to myself and the boys. yeh.
Daisy is also doing similar seminar in Sumner on the same day. hmmmm. I wish I could go to that one to see what different things they are teaching and learn some new things.
Hopefully, I will be back home and chillin by around 7pm so that I can be rested for my classes the next day. I am taking Monday off since I will need a day off after the weekend, heehehe I am meeting CB for breakfast to talk about getting ready to take my CPDT exam and then off to play with the pups. I can never get enough time with my boys.
- Mood: bouncy
I am walking the dogs this morning and I see a gal walking a lab/mix about two football fields away from us. The dog seems to be walking fairly nicely on the leash. I got my toy out for Riley and a few treats for Stanley and we proceeded forward. When we were about 1 football field away, the lab/mix starts going crazy, pulling at the end of the leash, lunging and the gal that was along for the ride could barely stay standing. Infact she was struggling so hard her stocking cap fell off her head and then she was trying to grab the hat and restrain the dog, it was quite a site. I keep walking toward them, all the time tugging with Riley/Release, Tug again and offering some snacks to Stanley (Force doesn't care but is waiting for his turn at the tugging). This gal standing still now, doing all she can to stay upright and trying for an opportunity to retrieve her hat says "can they say Hello"? I am like "NO". She then says "you look like you have your hands full". SERIOUSLY! HUH! I had three dogs that were very much under control and her dog was just going crazy.
This gal, I am sure thinks her dog "just wants to play" so that makes his behavior OK (I remember thinking the same thing). Bummer for her. It would be a much more enjoyable walk if she could find a way to have her dog focus on her and not pull her arms out of the socket.
I had a hard time getting up this morning so our walk was a couple hours later and there were much more people and dogs out. However it was a very enjoyable 1.5 hour walk. It was nice to be out walking for the second day in a row without rain. The snow yesterday was somewhat of a surprise but even at 6:30 in the morning it was slushy under the snow. My feet were wet and cold when we got home.
- Mood:
tired
I just gave them all a bath two weeks ago. Damn.
Also, Stanley got all wiley with the zoomies around the yard tonight and came back with his two front feet bleeding. I am truly unsure why we have had so many pad injuries this year. I understand the issues now but in the summer we were having pad problems also. My boys just have soft feet I guess.
I would plan bath time for this weekend based on the pee smell but YEP YOU GUESSED IT, it is supposed to rain for the next well forever....so what is the point. I used some of those bath wipe things to wipe down their middle section and called it good. If need be I will bath them but with the ground the way it is and the rain coming I just can't make myself do it.
- Mood:
irritated
Looking off the deck at Dylan's Power Wheel
This was the deepest it was 8-10 inches depending on the drifts. I kept looking out the window every morning and saying "What the Hell!!!" I have never seen snow this deep here. Everyone else is saying the same thing, I know.
I took the dogs for a walk just a little bit ago. 5:30is Christmas night. We were gone about an hour and the available surface to walk on was still very thick with snow, slush and ice. Truly Amazing. I look forward to the snow melting so that I can get about. I have some Gift Cards burning a whole in my pocket and so do the kids. heehee. We also want to go see Marley. Griffin has 2 races this weekend at Clark Co. Fairgrounds we need to get to and boy I just want to be in my car out of the house a little. Fingers crossed by later tomorrow I may feel OK about putting the kids in the car and going somewhere. Right now I am fine with me in the car but I don't want to take the kids when there are that many crazy people on the road.
- Mood: What the Hell!!!
- Mood:
ouch
Riley wearing white on the front and red on the back. heheehe
Force and Stanley---
Again, I needed something to hold them on but boy it was funny.
- Mood: amused
This if Fore pattern searching for his frisbee...It took him a few minutes but he finally found it.
What a good looking bunch a boys.
- Mood: cheerful
Stanley just turns into a puppy with the snow out. He LOVES it.
While we were walking, there was a Kitty in the middle of the road just laying there, looking at us. Of course the boys were very interested in why this kitty wasn't the least bit worried about them. I thought maybe he was hurt or sick or something but after we got by him, he decided it was time to run across the road and go home I guess. Weird.
There were not that many people driving and it appears like we have about 4 inches of packed snow on all the streets that have been driven on. I did not drive anywhere today but Franc went out several times in the truck and once in the E. He is very satisfied that the E is a safe car. Well I am glad he approves, hehehe. He did say that you could hear the snow rubbing underneath it where in the truck it doesn't do that because the truck sits higher.
I did a couple workouts today and pretty much not a whole lot of anything else. I just chilled. I did make yummy tacos for dinner, that's why Franc went out one of the times because I said we needed taco fixings. I guess it sounded good to him too. hehehehe
- Mood: tired
- Mood:
inspired
Almost everyday for the last week, the dogs and I have been able to enjoy a walk while snowing. We have not walked yet today however because with the ice over the snow, it is really hard on their pads and legs. Yesterday the dogs were out playing with the kids and Force came in with worn down nails and pads (presumably from being on the patio). He had one pad cracked and one nail bleeding. Riley had two pad cracked and 2 nails bleeding with one nailbed really torn. I apparently let them stay out to long and didn't monitor what they were doing. They had tons of fun with the kids but again this is where they just don't care if something hurts till they come in the house and possible their feet were numb so maybe they didn't feel it.
When I let them out this morning, Riley took a few steps and then looked at me like "seriously, I think I can hold it". I got my shoes on and made him go out and go potty but as soon as it got light, I spent about 45 minutes shoveling snow from the deck, around the shop so they had a path to work with. I also took a shovel and smashed the ice on the top in the whole area that they usually go potty so that the ice pieces are smaller and less likely to scrape against their legs. I don't want to have to fight them to get them to go potty. I guess my boys are spoiled.... Anyway, they now have a nice path from the deck all the way to their potty spot.
When I came in I did a workout ON DEMAND with Dylan and sweated it up a little more. The shoveling was a good workout as well. Dylan wanted to do another one so we did a little TaeBow--heheehe. Watching Dylan do this was very funny.
I hope everyone is enjoying their day and I hope to get outside with the boys later but may wait until tomorrow.
- Mood: calm
I did tether them to my waist and WOW they were so good. I didn't fall on my ass even once and boy was there opportunity. I wasn't expecting it to be that icy but it was.
I called the husband about 45 minutes into the walk to make sure he knew we were just enjoying our time outside and would be awhile yet.
When we got home, I let the boys loose and they were ripping around the yard barking and playing. I must say my dogs totally crack me up sometimes. I am not sure who provides more amusement the dogs or the kids. hehehehe
- Mood: cheerful
Franc held the record for awhile when I bumped him down with the same score of 321 day before yesterday. Last night I got a score of 340 and then Griffin came in with a 346. I tried one last time and got 361...Whoohoo Mom can Ski Jump. hehehe
It really irritated Griffin that I knocked him out of first place but then I reminded him that he holds the record on the 10 min. boxing and I have been trying to beat it for weeks and can't come close. My scores are in the mid 900's and his high score is 1090 on his FIRST try I might add. hehehe
It is just a little friendly competition in the Lyons household. I might have to figure out how to reset the scoring so we can start over on the Ski Jump. I think the highest you can get is 400.
- Mood: amused
1. Early (prior to 3 months old) spay and neuter affects the ultimate behavior of a dog (animal). True/False??? There are a few trainers out there that think that early spay and neuter contributes to aggressive, reactive, obsessive compulsive etc. behaviors in dogs. This would most certainly affect pretty much all rescue dogs that came to the rescue at birth or as a puppy. Now I haven't yet confirmed or found this to be false. I was curious if anyone else out there had any experience or thoughts on this. Since I am such a true believer in Rescue this concept interests me.
2. Diet affects behavior positively and negatively. There is some talk out there that you shouldn't feed a herding breed any type of bird which would include chicken, turkey, duck, fowl etc. The idea behind this is that the energy from these types of animals gets passed in the protein. Therefore, if you give a more sediment protein such as beef, lamb, bison, veal or fish would have a more calming effect. Not say that these proteins would calm your dog but they would not fuel the already lit fire sort to speak. hmmmmmmm.
3. Does the amount of protein in processed dog food have an affect on behavior? There is a big trend in the industry now to make very high levels of protein in dog food. For a very active dog that is herding EVERY DAY and VERY ACTIVE that amount of protein might be fine. But for the dog that does agility occasionally, trains regularly but sleeps all day while you are at work it is like giving them rocket fuel with no place to take off. The theory is to keep the protein levels below 30% unless the dog truly needs a higher level based on their activity. The higher levels of protein can affect a dogs jittery behavior, inability to settle, motiion sensitivity etc. so they say.
So for my own information and thought processes I decided to change my dogs food. I am not expecting any major behavior changes but merely interested if there is any change at all. I have to do NO GRAIN with Riley and finding a Lamb formula that is NO GRAIN from a reputable dog food company is VERY difficult. Since taking him off grain, he has NO issues with his eyes and ears. I chose a fish (25% protein) food with no grain. The old food they were on is EVO large bites (42% protein) which is a chicken and Turkey formula. After a fairly short period of time I have noticed that Riley now sleeps through the night instead of pacing on and off from about 5am to 6:am when I get up to walk them. He has been sleeping through the night for about 1 week even when/if someone gets up around 3-4am to get water or go potty. It used to be if someone got up (Dylan) for any reason, the pacing would start and then would go on and off until I got up. He just couldn't settle down after he was woke up, if I got up and told him to lay down, he would. Now he seems to be able to settle himself. Yeh.
Stanley and Force are still 50/50 old food/new food. No real noticeable change in Stanley but I vow to pay closer attention to him after he is on the new food 100%. With Force, I have noticed very small declines in his demeanor. I don't really know how to explain this except to those who know him. His enthusiasm is still in full force but it is a bit more controlled. Maybe it is my imagination, we'll see, probably is since he is not on the food 100% yet. Over the six months I should be able to document the changes or lack there of.
I do have to say if I am able to prove this to be true, then I am going to feel pretty stupid as I fed them raw CHICKEN and TURKEY and a Chicken and Turkey protein based dog food for quite some time. I say this because any decline in activity or ability to settle with Riley would be a very nice change. He requires constant attention and direction which is fine, I have embraced that fully. He has become a very good dog but once reactive, always reactive so he is a bit more work on a day to day basis.
I intend to keep them on this food or a food similar for 6 months and am keeping notes on any behavior changes I see. For my own information. I am curious and I figure this can't hurt them and truly can benefit them. So far they LOVE the food and I can even use it as treats because the food smells so yummy. The other thing I changed is that they NEVER eat out of a bowl. If I don't have time to train with their meals then I put it in a ball, empty water bottle, other food dispensing item. Then they have to work for it even if I am unable to be directly involved. I do this in their crates (open door) so that they aren't all chasing someting all over the house. I do want to make sure they get their usual meals with out creating havoc. hehehe. The seem to do really well with this.
I realize that behavior issues are such a broad topic and MANY MANY different things can bring about good and poor behavior. There are NO quick fixes to these issues and nothing is a replacement for consistent training and exercise. My thoughts on food have more to do with sensitivity to ingredients vs no sensitivity or allergy. If you can find a food that doesn't cause itching, hot spots, tummy upset, dirty ears, any number of things that can make them uncomfortable then you have a dog that would possibly be less fidgety and therefore would be able to settle easier. This is not an experiment to find out if bad dog food CAUSES reactivity. It is an experiment to find out if allergies or sensitivities contribute to behavior that already exists.
So if you have any useful information or opinions on any of these subjects, bring it on.
- Mood:
curious
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sfragility- Pawsitive Performance
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