Archives for 2007

Happy Girls: New toys and better behavior in the play pen!

You know these girls make me smile. They are so happy to know what the correct thing is to do and enjoy every aspect of training–even when they make mistakes or get in trouble.

Today was a pretty good day. I couldn’t get them into a home today due to repair work. Instead we started off with a good long walk and worked on yielding to the line. The did okay, not great but as usual they trigger off each other so it is always an uphill battle.

I believe they secretly transpire overnight on who will do well and who will give me a bad time the next day. They seem to switch off. Each knows the rules but one will always delay her responses while the other consistently complies. Just when I think one gets it, she will be a goof the next day.

Above: The fire gets bigger but moves away from Big Bear.

We have a pretty good view of the Slide Fire and Grass Valley Fire smoke from the camp. Where I live, you can’t even see any smoke and would never know anything is wrong except for the air attack planes and helicopters coming in for water.

Above: The remains of the chew toys. The U-bone right tip is severed and only hanging by a thread.

Last night I left each girl with a chew hoof and the U-bone treat for play this am. Almost nothing remained of each of the hooves and pretty good damage had been done to the other toy. I will bring some tougher chew items in the am.

They were really excited to be introduced to the new toys today. They played with all of them. Still, they got super happy when I gave them a new water bottle. Go figure.

It reminds me of cats. When you get them super fancy toys–their favorites are always the paper bag from the grocery store or the pull tab from the milk jug…and don’t forget the aluminum foil balls–always a winner.

Anyway, most of the work now is working on moving the better behaviors into solid patterns. Repeating everything, everyday, in different areas is part of that. I worked them both on “down” but only dog “A” wanted to comply. Dog “B” was BAD on that behavior but better on the others.

They were quiet enough that they got to have big hugs and I was brave enough to kneel down and interact with them. In the past, they have been too rough and too wild to do so. They are getting the idea that when they are calm, they get more attention.

I have not heard from the owners at all. They should be up in the area tomorrow and I hope to update them and get things squared away for their training. Many of my fellow animal professionals are worried that they won’t keep up the work.

The thought makes me sad but I believe they are interested in getting the girls into their home and better behaved. It is going to take work though. They will need someone to be responsible and to get them out on a daily basis.

Like it or not, there is no magic ingredient to better behavior. I believe you can maintain better behavior through the following:
-consistent rules
-daily exercise
-training practice regularly
-mental stimulation (toys, play, new behavioral assignments)
-proper diet

We had changed the dogs’ diet before they came to boot camp. I keep forgetting that they would not learn before. They simply could not focus and were bouncing off the walls and fence (literally).

Today they can focus, know that they have to remain stationary on entry and exits, and like to learn new things–still slow on that level but considering they couldn’t get anything for over two months outside of boot camp–they are doing well.

Above: The NEW toy!

Well, the deliquent duo managed to destroy their beds since I last saw them. They were also pretty crazy–but not as bad as I anticipated. They do need daily excercise and occupation and so today was spent fine tuning the duo.

They were good upon entry just not so hot on leashing up. I figured we should hit the play pen before heading out so they could blow some steam.

They were pretty good and actually ran to explore–alas, my hopes were dashed since that only lasted a minute BUT that was a good sign. Almost normal dog activity.

In a strange twist of activity, the duo really didn’t want to chase and bring back the kick ball. They would chase it, then turn around and wait for me to toss or throw something else. They did not want to bring back anything today.

THEN I gave them the new toy. You can see how much interest was in it in the pictures. This was short lived, but the main thing is to get them to pick up and chew other appropriate objects.

I brought two cow hooves to let them have something to chew instead of their beds and surroundings–but we shall see how that works when I arrive.

Above: Parading with the new toy

Since the duo likes to play with each other, I made sure the toy I picked up had at least three handles so they could grab it and torment each other with it. This worked well.

The gals were also too wound up to be their mannerly selves on the ball toss. They kept attempting to grab or mouth the balls in my hand. Geez, they got in a LOT of trouble–and we had massive delays in play and exiting the play pen just because they would not comply.

In fact, I had to leave dog “B” in the pen she was so awful. I left her leashed up without a problem. In the past, the dogs would destroy their leashes and collars. Basically, they are nudists.

I worked dog “A” solo in the compound and in their quarters. She did fabulous on her basic ‘sit” and “down” and on the gating and leash manners. I left her to try with dog “B” again.

No such luck with “B.” Dog “B” was NOT going to sit for me to come in the gate.

So, I left her again.

This time dog “A” and I exited the compound and went for a short walk. The good news is that dog “B” did not pitch a fit.

When we returned dog “A” and I attempted another time–and no go–dog “B” is a stubborn brat.

So, dog “A” got to go back to the quarters for a tummy rub–which dog “A” loved. She is almost a collapsable dog for that reward.

Dog “A” got a chew toy and I left to try with dog “B” again.

Did I mention that Dog “B” also pitches a fit with the remote spray collar? She doesn’t like being disciplined for bad behavior and trys to get at the collar after a spray. I don’t know that she actually realizes what she is after–she just pitches a fit when she doesn’t get to do what she wants.

If you try using a special collar device you need to habituate the dog to it before the actual use. That was the dog does not distinquish that the collar is also the reprimand device.

Anyway, back to dog “B.” Sometimes she is the best of the two but when she gets stubborn, well it is ugly. I think it took about forty minutes to finally get her to comply.

Mind you, I leave, come back to try again, leave, ignore her, try again, leave and work the other dog, try again, turn my back, try again, and finally she decided she should probably comply as her tactics were not working.

Again, most people would give up but not me, the doggie di is on a mission!

Once out after the long arduous process, dog “B” was pretty good. so, we all got to go for a nice hike and got a view of the most recent fire burning in this area. The last one provided a pretty good fire break but friends are in danger and and that is not good.

Above: Slide Fire

The gals were really happy to get their chews tonight. Both threw them in the air and played with them while I fixed “dinner.” I took away the nasty bottles and hope to give them a couple of new toys tomorrow, too.

Chewers, and other deliquents, need between 6 and 12 toys at all times. I like to have them rotated. If you have appropriate chew items, the dogs are less likely to chew your stuff AND you can redirect them to the proper chew item when they pick up something else.

Both gals also are coming along on their “downs.” They both remembered–although dog “B” wasn’t in the mood–the doggie di won out anyway.

So, depending on what goes on tomorrow we may get out on the long line and into a house!