Dumbbell retrieve with Ironhide - we have a trial the first weekend in March and rather than working on AKC Rally and Obedience, I focused on something needed for my June trial....

I need to get refocused ASAP

Ryuk got to show off some tricks to my Grandmother's sister (great aunt? is that what she would be? And general OB work, I'm trying to rebuild up his muscle for prance as he's lost some of the stamina and can only do 5-10 steps before he has to stop. I also scaled his teeth for the first time in a while (since Gambit arrived). He also got some "practice" getting back feet handled which I rarely do because his back claws wear naturally (goofball stepped in dog poop...)

Gambit went out on his own into the "yard" of the house I'm watching with is FAR from escape proof (picture a 5 X 6 area with a rotting picket fence and a 2 ft retaining wall on the other side. First time I trusted him to do it...He was able to go out and pee and poop off leash and came right back even with the distraction of the ducks mocking him on the other side of the wall he did great We also did some desensitization with the prong collar. I'm trying to encouarge him to relax with the prong on and let me put it on without having to wrestle him. I haven't been using it for training but I want the option when it comes time I will need to again. We also worked on holding paws and ear cleaning (someone rolled in sap -_-) I also did an intro to tooth scaling because Gambit has FOUL breath that smells like it's from urine licking which we're trying to curb....

Oh yuck, Logan does that too...so nasty and I tell him so if I catch him.

"the rubber feed tub method for place/touch/spin"

What is this?

And this: tooth scaling ?

 Quote: Elizabeth Anderson

"the rubber feed tub method for place/touch/spin"

What is this?

It was late when I wrote that, I meant to say 'touch pads' but I use them for teaching the position in heeling and moving her back end independently aside from 'place' and the send away.

Teaching touch pads link

I introduced Lash to the prong collar today ( just so he gets used to wearing one for future training )....he thought that it "itches"....

Will, I think you still need to post pictures of Lash >_> there is a lack of cute ACD puppy pictures from you....


Elizabeth
tooth scaling is cleaning the plaque off of a dog's teeth with dental tools.

Jethro has developed a new reactive trigger - single human beings walking toward us from any direction. I think it is because the foreman working on our renovation is afraid of dogs and has jumped a couple of times when Jethro moved toward him. Now Jethro considers him a threat and that seems to have generalized to people out on the sidewalk. Soooo.... a new training focus for our walks! Yay. I don't think this dog will ever be safe off leash.

I'm working on Skipper's separation anxiety from two directions. First, when he tries to follow me, I say, "Go Lay Down" in a very stern voice and point to his bed in an emphatic way. He is getting better at slinking off and going and laying down without additional prompting. Then, when I come back and find him laying there peacefully, I give him ear scratches, pets, and a treat. This problem is needing attention because I need to be able to work outside on our renovation and not have him freaking out in the house.

Yesterday I had him tied up outside with a warm jacket to curl up in. I was going back and forth past him, jockeying wheelbarrows of gravel to dump and then return. Skipper was positioned at the end of the loop by the gravel pile, so he would have to cope with me leaving with a full wheelbarrow of gravel. I would disappear out of sight, and then return after dumping the wheelbarrow to get another load. When he would stay wrapped up, warm in my jacket, I would stop and give him pets and praise. So my returning signified good things. The stress of me going out of sight was not enough to trigger him to stand up and bark. It was cold this morning! So he got used to letting me leave, knowing I was going to come back and give him nice ear scratches. He did really, really well.

yesterday was cold, today blowing winds and snow. So Harley had some cabin fever. I could not get any really good ob from him.

He could sit but prance with his front feet and leap if I moved any bit. So we played some fast pace game to get the egde off. Out got some good practice the fast you drop that tug the faster the chase starts again

Dexter was almost animated in heel. Cabin fever does him good. He also was in the mood to play. His out needs some work but to get him to pick up stuff is hard. Still a very good boy.

Now they are both sleeping.

Well, darn, it looks like the mild January weather is gone. Temps weren't bad today but it rained off an on, and the snow and cold is supposed to start back up. So I guess we're back to training in the house.

I taught Natasha to back up (while facing me) just from a hand signal. She's pretty much got it down pat after only two very brief sessions. She picks up new things faster than any dog I've owned. I'm also working with her on straightening her sits. She tends to want to wrap around me or lean into me. Endearing, but points off in the obedience and rally rings!