Archive for January 2009
Clicker Expo Austin
I had a companion with me – Bailey, the weather pup. Bailey is all kinds of a terrier, and she was out of her comfort zone being in a hotel environment. She is called Bailey the weather pup because she alerts us to storms. She goes very quiet and tries to hide under something when a storm is on its way or when there are high winds. On one occasion, not long after she came to live with me, I found her hiding in the pantry as a storm approached. I got down on hands and knees to call her out, and she ran out and hid under me!
During the Expo, she lay down under my chair for the sessions (which were typically an hour and a half long), and she was extremely well-behaved. When we came out of a session, she focused straight in on the glass doors and windows. The message was clear – I’m a dog, I need to be outdoors having fun! At lunch breaks, we drove to a Starbucks and I sat outside with a coffee while Bailey and I practiced clicker exercises.
My friend Gail was kind enough to put Bailey and me up while we were at the Expo. Gail has 2 dogs and 3 cats, so it was a very simpatico household. Once again, Bailey was a credit – she didn’t try to steal any food or make trouble with the dogs or the cats. Of course, she is a terrier – so she did manage to take possession of the most comfortable dog bed several times.
Bailey needs frequent reminders of her place in the household. Even on a 4 day trip away from home, she realized some of the rules had changed, and tried to rewrite her personal bill of rights. We had to do a few exercises to remind her that she is not the leader of the pack! A reminder – any time you travel or make changes in the household (moving house, gaining or losing a pet or human household member), dogs will investigate to see how this changes their status. You need to enforce the same rules, and increase regular brief training sessions. In Bailey’s case, that meant reminding her that she is allowed up on furniture only when invited up by a human, and then she has to get down again as soon as she is told to. And lots of work on Down and Down-Stay, as well as the fun targeting and tricks.
Gone Clickin’
No posts for a couple of days – I’ve gone to Clicker Expo in Austin. I’ll write about it when I get back.
Till then, Happy T(r)ails !!!
Jake
Yesterday, Jan was taking the dogs to go for a walk, when she saw a dog st the side of the road, staggering and falling down. After our dogs were safely home, Jan went back to the home and spoke with the owners of the dog. From what she had seen, he was in significant pain and disoriented, having difficulty walking. The owners did not seem sure what was going on, and did not seem interested in getting him help, so Jan called the vet office at 380 West in McKinney. They offered to look at the dog if she could bring him in.
So, Jan talked with the owners and got their consent to take the dog to the vet and take any necessary action. They were fine with that, as long as it would not cost them anything, and they fetched the dog. The dog did not have a name, so Jan called him Jake. She put him in her van and went to the vet. By that time, she was pretty sure he was in the later stages of distemper, and after discussion with Dr. Shelton, the decision was to put him out of his considerable pain.
Jake was only 8 months old, and did not have a chance. He had not had vaccinations, and distemper is a horrible disease, which could have been prevented. If you have a chance to help educate your neighbors, please do so – we can all help save lives.
Many thanks to the good folks (especially Dr. Shelton and Elizabeth) at 380 West http://380westanimalhospital.com/ . Jake couldn’t thank them, but we can. Not only did they do the right thing for Jake, they also helped Jan by providing powerful disinfectant so she did not bring home the disease on herself or in the van.
New Year’s Resolutions
I resolve to work with each of my dogs every day. Just a few minutes a day on simple commands or fun tricks helps build the bond, and solidifies the household hierarchy.
I resolve to make sure that my dogs get enough exercise every day. Most dogs don’t spend their free time making sure they get enough aerobic exercise: they do that when they have exciting company – us. A well-exercised dog is a well-behaved dog.
I resolve to make sure my dogs get out and socialize with other dogs and people. The more they encounter social situations, the better they behave. Most Starbucks have outside seating – I like to just sit there and drink a coffee while my dog gets to be with me and learns about the world I inhabit. Letting a dog play in a dog park for half an hour allows him to let off steam, but doesn’t teach the same social skills.
For ideas on other ways to improve your relationship with your dog, check our our website www.eurekapaws.com or email us at eurekapaws@yahoo.com .