today's walk was a bit eventful

We crossed a regular dog reactive GSD, the owner does a good job at managing him but later we meet a great dane puppy, who is very dog reactive.

Now that was not fun. First the dog has a bell on his collar so my dogs were curious at the sound. Then that huge pup leap at us. I just had time to nail him with my knee before the chick started yell crap at me. On the way back when the bell sound came back Harley went total nut, hackles up, growl, bark, so not like him.

He got a good smarten up correction and as soon as his attention came back to me the tug came out for a quick play . After that Harley stayed on his guard and more alert then usual to every thing for some times before being his normal chill self.

Hope next time he will be back to normal.

How stupid, a bell??? Yeah that's a beacon for BS.

Sadie's tags act like a bell, and I use them to alert me to her movements. I know where's she's at in the house or yard, and I can hear them if she breaks a down when I'm not looking, etc, etc.

Today's tracking was a tale of two halves. The first half was marred by ants, confusion, and missed articles. I let her stop and roll to shake the ants. I helped her with the ants and scratched her muzzle to ease the sting, and then "such"ed again.
The second half was model tracking, with no ants on that part of the track. Nose deep, steady, thorough, and perfect indications on the remainder of the articles.
Awesome to have a good finish after a rough start.

MIRACLE!!! Dexter got off the sent pad and on the track all 30 feet with baits every 4-6 inches

Harley was wild on his track. 10 small baits over the 1km track, so more baits then the last few track. He was pouncing on the baits, digging them with his paws.

Guess the cooler temperature of today got my boys in high gear.

Today we did some public training downtown. I did a full OB routine with Ryuk who was very sedate (no heat tolerance) but did the whole thing perfectly, even the stand for examination by a helpful guy sitting in the courtyard.

Tried to do one with Gambit who replaced his feet with springs today did very well until the ever challenging stand for examination where he melted into a puddle of happy wagging and kisses when our helpful guy pet him....still need to work on that...he also had some problems with the sit stay today. His downstays are very good, but he doesn't like to sit and has a tendency to lay down or in the case of today scoot around "sitting" to sniff interesting things on side of the building I put him next to. We also worked on heeling around skateboarders which is a BIG distraction for him (he loves skateboarders...he associates the sounds of the skateboards with people who come up and cuddle with him after we did an extensive "skateboards and their riders do not eat dogs" session when I first got him home)

Ryuk I gave the challenge of doing a 2 minute sit-stay in the sun since i knew we would have no problems with our stays in the shade. He did okay, tried to "accidentally" fall into the fountain at the 1.5 minute mark but finished well. He also got an unplanned food refusal lesson when a woman attempted to feed him most of her lunch during his downstay (in shade).

A few days ago when it was 103 the Pinker and I and the hired man and his dog went to the big muddy Mississippi and went swimming. Just a few weeks ago the Pinker learned to actually swim in our creek. It's taken 2 years for him to build up his confidence.
He can do it, no splashing with the front paws, he moves right along ---I just about trashed my only bathing suit in the foul water. Our day ended with a bath using detergent.
Our most fun ever outing, no job, no treats offered, just swimming.

Betty, I would have to say this outting was worth trashing a bathing suit! Order a new one on-line... sounds like you may need one. Or three.

That sounds great! Good for Pinker!!!!

Ariane and Jamie, great work!




I always like this thread. Not always logged in, but sure do read it every day.

Today I only got to work with my dog cody. Cody's biggest problem is fear since he spent a week at the hospital about a year ago. We have been walking daily where there are many noises. It will take some time to work on his fear in regards to men. Anyway, today we went over what he knows. I have been teaching him to touch a ball really hard with his noise and move it all around the room. (for the life of me I can't remember the name of that new sport where you heard a large ball around. sorry) That is what we are working toward. Even if we only do it at home. Tonight he did very well. He really punched it with his nose all over the living room. right now the command is touch. It is about 100 degrees at 7:00 at night, so we didn't work on much today especially since I had my granddaughter all day. I just love working with my dogs, they are so fun and they love to learn.
Loving to hear all you are doing as well. love sharon

So it had been super muggy and hot lately...I ended up sitting in Logan's kiddie pool with him wait a bag of frozen hotdog chunks. I was marking everytime he sat down and waiting for him to lay down. He would start to plop down and then realize he'd get his elbows and chest wet....God forbid. So as retarded as it looked, I waited and finally he did it! YES....then he got right back up. I took me a while to get him to do it again and then I said goood...and extended it for 10 seconds. I want him to feel comfortable laying in the shallow water to cool off. He loves to play in it but reluctant to lay down.