The Monster Mutts

Obedience Classes?

2010-03-08T10:44:00.003-09:00

Haven't been updating much lately; I've been busy with my job and with school, and with Jake.

So I've been thinking. I want to start taking Jake to obedience classes at our local club. My only inhibition has been him and dogs.

I don't think he's DA. Every dog I've intentionally introduced him to he has done fine with; he pulls on the leash to get over to a dog, but once he meets them he pretty much ignores him. The one incident was with an off leash dog running over to us and trying to introduce himself without warning. I believe in that situation it was my mistake; I tensed up, Jake sensed that, and snapped at the dog whose owner called him back as I started to quickly walk away(Jake lost interest when we started walking again). I also believe that Jake has some barrier frustration/aggression issues due to Charlie running the fence with him.

My neighborhood has an un-contained dog problem.

The fact is, he needs to be worked around dogs, which isn't something I can just set up in my yard. I introduced him to Chelsey's dog Keeva(unspayed female) for the first time the other day and they had no problems. He displays excessive interest in running dogs, but again, I can't work on this without exposing him to it to an extent.

I would love to do agility with him someday, for fun. Or Rally. I don't think he's the right dog for competition level Obedience, but who knows? I just know he's smart as whip and loves to run. So keeping him away from situations that stress ME out is unfair. It's worth a try.

Thoughts? Advice?

To a Precious Memory

2010-02-01T14:24:00.001-09:00

Week 17

I still hear Your paw steps scrabble

Slip sliding down the hall,

And too clear I remember

Just how You loved that ball.

Obsessed You were and such great fun

As unto me, a quality that thrills

Only now,

As years have passed,

I realize such loyal love

Was too easily taken for granted.

I remember how I used to share,

My bed, at night, with You.

Your little brother laying there

Curled up with me too.

Your presence so cherished,

But not enough it would seem

Hindsight is 20/20 when I think of You,

My heartbeat at my feet.

I often think of You with grief, of that summer

You slipped from my side.

Today there is another,

He reminds me so of You,

To his presence near me I delight,

I still think, even so:

Of that Jewel who to me

Is still so very dear,

And when I cry I wonder

If my words maybe You can hear.

I love You,

Forgive me.

I think of her often, and wonder what could have been today, had circumstances been different.

My poor dog

2009-12-05T21:16:00.004-09:00

Is scared of balloons. I'd thought we'd gotten him over that, but nope. Little sister was playing with them this evening, blew one up then let it go flying across the room and Jake leaped into my lap on the couch(he knows better) in a violent shaking shivering fit. Sigh. Put him outside so hopefully he'll get over his fright, in the meantime she continues to play with her balloon.

On another note, apparently last weekend a lady at the local craft fair wanted to buy Jake! My Grandma was selling scrapbooking stuff, and for the frames she'd made I'd let her use a picture of him as an example in a pet themed one.

According to her:

A lady and her husband were walking by. They didn't seem particularly interested, just glancing over. Suddenly the woman stops, backing up and picking up the picture. My Grandma was telling her how it was an example of what you could do with it, and the lady said:

"I figured that... who's dog is this?"

"My Grandaughter's."

"Is she looking to get rid of it?"

A bit confused, my Grandma told her no...

"I'm not really into scrapbooking, but I'd sure like to have that dog."

At this point the husband had picked up the picture, and chimed in, "Yeah, that looks like a dog worth having."

So my Grandma told them "no, she loves her dog, I don't think she wants to get rid of him" and they left. The lady in the booth next to her told her she probably could have made a good sale if she'd let the dog go.

I was baffled when I heard that story, and kind of flattered too, that someone else would think that about him by just seeing one picture, lol! This was the picture:

Anyways, a Bella update: it appears that they're taking her in at night and at points during the day now that it's getting so cold. My Grandma doesn't see her coming out of the woods every morning now.

Apparently though when she sees the car she comes looking for me. She never used to run up to my Grandma's car, but since I've started befriending her she seems to have connected the car to my presence. It's interesting.

Anyways, that's pretty much it. Oh, I got hired! They said that they'd probably call me in to start training on Monday. I'll be working at the local movie theater, yay!

The Scary, Scary Car; Playdate; and Bella Again

2009-11-16T18:30:00.005-09:00

Well, now that I'm mobile, I intend to start taking Jake places. Whether it's just to Chels's to meet up with his buddy Kali, to the beach, or for a hike somewhere, I want to be able to travel with him.

Problem being, the car terrifies him. I understand his aversion to the back of the truck(it's enclosed, don't worry, no risk of jumping out); Buck gets overly excited because he LOVES going places. Half the time Jake won't get in by himself, he has to be lifted; rather than hopping in he'll hop up to put his paws on my back and just stay like that. It's quite odd.

But I went to see how he'd do in my car, which is what I'm posting about. Note: I WILL be buying him a seat belt harness before I take him on the highway, both for his safety and for mine. Anyways, the first time I tried to get him to in I had to crawl in back first, and he'd inch in after me, pressed as close to me as he could manage. He gets very clingy in the car. I sat with him a while, then went inside and got a clicker and some ham and cheese.

I clicked him for hopping in of his own volition, and he caught onto that quickly. No problem getting IN the car now. So I shut the door, get in front with the heat and radio on, start feeding him ham and cheese. First any time, then only when he's sitting, as I'd rather him be seated while riding in the car and I want to reinforce that.

He shakes and trembles and pants and sheds visibly MUCH more than usual, whines, and is obviously stressed out. He'll take food that's handed to him, so that's a good sign.

I want to get him used to riding, even if he never LOVES it, I just don't like seeing him so stressed out. Any suggestions? When I get him a car harness I think I'll take him through McD's a couple times and get him a hamburger. A lot of the coffee places and banks and such have dog cookies to hand out now too, so that will help once I can take him along.

__

Chels brought Kali over this weekend for an overdue playdate. Jake was jazzed. So was Buck, but I wasn't willing to let him run after her and wrestle her too much because he seemed to have hurt his paw on Saturday(we took them both to be in the family pictures we were having done) when he was getting out of the truck. He was favoring it a little bit(it seems to be fine now though, so no worries).

Jake is quite a bit shorter than her...

Kali apparently claimed Jake's hole to China, lol! That hole is really deep, like a foot and a half deep by 3 feet wide... but Kali was obsessed and kept standing in it and ducking into it , like so:

I just really like this shot.
____

Continuing to gain Bella's trust. Saturday when I went over to help make some cards she was out, so I hung out with her. She followed me to the sliding glass door, and Grandma took some pictures. That made Bella nervous at first, but she didn't run away. Instead she stuck by me, and relaxed when she realized that my grandma wasn't going to come closer or threaten her. Just gives a bit of a size comparison. I'm about 5'3, so here's Bella and I.

And this is how she reacted when my grandma first appeared in the door; a less severe form of that head thing that she did when first approaching me.

She ran to me when she saw me going to my car to leave today. I hung out with her a little bit. I would steal her in a heartbeat... honestly, I think somebody needs to just whisk her away or call animal control. It was -10 this morning, I don't know about this afternoon, and she was outside. She was shivering when I was with her. My Grandma's watching to see what they do with her this winter... I'm worried for the poor girl.

Bella Update

2009-11-08T12:27:00.002-09:00

Bella let me pet her yesterday! After walking around with her for a while and having her come up to sniff my hand once, I crouched down and she ran over to me and started wagging her tail. She's such a sweetheart, and rolled over to let me rub her belly and stuffed her nose in my face.

Pictures or it didn't happen, so here you go:
That's all I have to share, I'm just thrilled~ and that I got pictures. Isn't she beautiful? She's such a sweetheart.

New Toys!

2009-10-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

"This is just cruel..."

Not really much of an update, but the other day I got the Jaker some new toys! I know better than to buy him squeaker balls, because as soon as they lose their squeak(not long...) he rips them to shreds. He does, however, love squeakies... and the last stuffy I let him have lasted a few months- he babied it! So on an act of good faith, I bought him two stuffingless stuffies. Isn't that contradictory sounding, lol! Anyways, one is a pheasant, and one is one of those skineez squirrels. He loves them, especially the pheasant! I had him pose for the above picture... he was not impressed, obviously!

"Must... have... squirrel... oh come ON mom!"

"I gets the squirrel! RAWWWR!"
And humoring me... I love that cross paws trick, I think it's my favorite. he just looks so dignified... hard to do with him. Anyways, that's really all I've got. I was going to take some shots outside... but I had gotten the camera, got shoes and a coat, amped up the dog...

Looked outside...
It was pitch black at 7 o clock. lol! The joys of Alaska. You get used to nearly 24 hour sunlight, then BAM! You want to go outside to do something at an hour that would have been great for it all summer and you can't see at all.

Anyways, until next time.

PS: Thoughts on the new banner? Just finished it.

This just breaks my heart.

2009-10-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I decided to try to approach the dog belonging to my Grandma's neighbor today, after my interest was piqued by something she said.

Her neighbors have had this dog since... sometimes around July. She's a beautiful dog, definitely an ACD mix of some sort. Her name is Bella. They let her run(sigh...) and she's only let inside- into the garage- at night. You never see anyone out with her unless the kids there are on their snow machines or four wheelers. I hadn't approached her before now, but then my grandma mentioned that whenever anyone tried to pet her, she cowered and ran. It’s not as if they try to approach her to pet her, she’ll follow them around. My grandma said that it was as though someone had beaten her.

So, curious and concerned, I went outside just to see, since the dog was out in front of the house. I had expected her to cower and move away of course, but not quite to the extent of what I saw.

She spotted me and moved further away, sniffing at the pavement in the driveway across the street, walking parallel to me. I crouched for a while, and she watched me, then when she was about 40 feet away paused and just watched me. Seeing she wouldn’t come any closer the way I was, I stood and turned my back to her, walking down the street. When I moved away she sniffed where I had been standing. She wears tags so I was able to hear her get closer to me as I walked. Near the end of the street, when she was maybe 6 feet away from me, I crouched down again and shifted my hand out, careful not to look at her.

What astonishes me is the way she moved. She obviously WANTED to come closer to me; she moved forward on her own, but it was very slow, and she nearly bent in half as though to guard her side, head turned. Her tail was tucked tightly the entire time.This first round she stayed a fair distance away, so I got up. I moved too fast, and she startled and cowered. I quickly turned and started walking with my back to her again. I did this twice more, and she seemed to grow a little more confident each time. I stopped in the driveway and crouched down, and waited. This time she approached enough to sniff my hand, not touching it. She disengaged and moved a little ways to walk in an arc, sniffing the ground before coming back and sniffing again. She then sat a little ways away and peered at me. I talked to her for a moment, then stood up very carefully so as not to startle her, and stood still again. She walked over and sniffed my shoe and pants leg, then again moved a little ways away to watch me. I had to go inside then, but she followed me to the edge of the garage and watched me go.

I wish I could have taken a video of how she moved, but really watching it just broke my heart. I didn’t try to pet her, because I didn’t want to mess up what little trust she seemed to be placing in me. I think I might start doing this when I’m over at grandma’s(quite often) and see her out… I want to help her so badly.

Oi What a Week...

2009-09-27T23:36:00.000-08:00

Title says it all, really. I've had a very bad ear canal infection all this week. Woke up on Sunday with an ear that hurt to the touch. Got done with school Monday, went straight to bed with a hurting ear and just not feeling right. By that evening it was throbbing. Woke up at 3 AM and woke my mom up in tears, spent Tuesday moaning in pain or sleeping, woke up three times that night and vomited Wednesday morning, went to the doctor that afternoon and got a lovely shot of antibiotics. Like... a gram of something which the name of I can't remember. After they debated about sending me to the hospital for IV antibiotics. I just know they kept describing how my ear looked as 'very angry' lol. The nurses were very gentle but the doctor kept poking and tugging while he examined it.

Thankfully, because of the pills and ear drops they have me taking(as well as painkillers) I am feeling MUCH better. The swelling in and around my ear has gone WAY down, as has the redness. Yayy.

Unfortunately that means I haven't done much with Jake, and the poor guy is going kind of stir crazy. He however took advantage of my illness as I let him sneak up onto the couch with me once even though he's not allowed. It was a one time thing though, lol, and Buck looked at me like 'you traitor, he's not allowed!'.

I'm behind on my writing assignments now because of it, due to immense pain and therefore a lack of ability to concentrate; however I have a REALLY understanding teacher who told me when she was emailed about the situation not to worry about turning my things in a bit late, just to get better soon and turn them in as soon as possible.

Also I start drivers ed courses on Wednesday, and before too long I should be mobile and able to get a job. It was killing me when we drove past the theater(where I would REALLY like to work) and they were taking applications. Can't apply for anything until I'm able to transport myself to and from though. Soon!

So yeah, unfortunately not much dog related to report due to illness. Hopefully I'll have something to share soon.

Training Vid

2009-09-14T16:31:00.001-08:00

My little sister volunteered to get a video of me working with Jake a little bit. Nothing serious, I was just having him do some tricks and wanted to get a video of him heeling anyways.

His heeling certainly isn't the best, but it works for us XP And I didn't want to work hard this session. He offers eye contact all on his own so I just reward him for it. And he heels on the right because that's where I'm comfortable having him walk. This is a non-cued heel. Also at the end we're working on learning Rollover.

Freestyle

2009-09-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

So after looking into freestyle some more(Thanks Sam/Missmutt) I've gotten rather enthused about trying to put together a routine. I'd actually looked at it before, but I could never think of a song that fit the way Jake moves in any way... or that I would want to work with. I found two that I think we would have a lot of fun with, I would just need to cut them down...

Kryptonite by Three Doors Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg8gEIBs5CU

and Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsmRuRp4cM

I like the beats and lyrics of both, and they'd be easy to work with. I especially like the beat in Kryptonite... I'm torn.

I've also been thinking about tricks I could use for a routine. + means he knows it already.

Spin +
Sit +
Down +
Play Dead +
Pony +
Cross(?)+
Weave between Legs
Back Up
Beg +
Circle
Heel +

I know Spin will definitely be a key in any routine, he loves that trick. I haven't quite figured out how to easily teach that Weave between Legs... I've tried before, but he never seemed to get it. Sigh. We'll get there.

On a depressing note, my best friend's Cockatiel Snickers passed away last night. Fly free little guy...

Happy Birthday, Jake Boy. 5 Months to 2 years...

2009-09-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Petfinder; before February 24, 2008

Early Days

Summer 2008

Winter 2008-2009
Spring 2009

Summer 2009

Last Weekend Yesterday

Today

Where to start... I can't believe he's two already. It feels pretty crazy. The way I got him isn't as dramatic and heart wrenching as others, but I do often feel that it must have been fate... my dad and I were out looking for a puppy. First we checked bulletin boards, checking for 'mutt puppies free to good home' ads... I'd already bought the little collar and a set of bowls for what I had assumed would be the eight week old fluff ball I'd bring home. It wasn't to be the first dog in my life, but the first dog to be gotten specifically for ME. I was excited. To my dismay, we found no ads for puppies. I could have waited, but we decided to check the shelter... first one had no dogs. The second, and only other shelter in the area had three.

One was a small, yappy puppy, probably around 12 weeks. He was cute, but can you blame me for being put off by the barking? Aside from that, the two across the aisle from him had my interest more.

The first was a 5 months old husky mix. Incredibly handsome, and friendly; constantly licking my fingers through the bars.

The second with a 5 month old 'shepherd mix', with sad eyes, a nubby tail. He was called 'Peanut', and I was in love with him instantly, I'll admit. I'm embarrassed to admit now that I thought he was a girl at first, but the way he sat made it hard to tell, and it didn't say on his card. One of the workers came, and we asked about both dogs, about personalities etc. Both were good dogs, they said, but they really pushed the one called Peanut. One of the shelter workers had fostered him with his brother(whom the worker kept) until he was a little older, so he knew 'Peanut' quite well. That's also how I know Jake's birthdate; the worker knew the family who had the oops litter. So we took the nubby tailed dog into a different room to meet him, and he had my heart immediately. We signed the papers, went and bought a much larger collar and a crate(that he never slept in except for the first night), and went home. He was also promptly renamed. Like I said, not heart wrenching or eventful.

But he wormed his way quickly into the whole family's heart, especially Buck's. They've bonded so much, and they're just like brothers. Buck has a ritual of almost every evening washing Jake's ears, and they are best buds.

Jake is my boy; he's smart, and fun, and he makes me smile. I look forward to living with him through many more of his birthdays.

I'm bad at writing stuff like this... but that's his story.

Today, since it is his birthday, I attempted to do a retake of one of my favorite pictures of Jake of all time...

Late August, 2008

Picture taken today, September 4, 2009Happy Birthday, Jake boy. I love ya.

What the...

2009-09-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

...heck is going on with Jake's legs in this picture, lol! I was out in the yard with my little sis Sarah and Jake, and snapped this when she threw the OMGBALL. I am absolutely baffled.

Another picture that made me giggle. Sarah was playing with him with a piece of driftwood... I just like the look on his face.
That's all. Nothing new or exciting to share today, I'll have a better post tomorrow in honor of Jake's b-day. I'm going to go look at dog safe muffin recipes or something now.

Just a thought...

2009-08-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Well I found out today that the cyst that's had me in chronic pain for anearly a year has finally resolved itself, and the pain I have now is probably psychological. So whooo- I can go back to Karate! I miss it SO bad.

Karate got me thinking. I'm always trying to think up ways to challenge and exercise Jake since I honestly can't walk him in our neighborhood(which upsets me to no end, I WANT to walk this dog but I can't thanks to... neighbors thinking everyone else should deal with their dogs running about)... the flirt pole didn't work out too well in the long run, as he kept going after the stick once he realized that's what made the toy go round and round. I'd like to retry it at some point...

Currently we:

Play fetch with numerous objects
Play frisbee(my throw sucks though)
Walk in focused heel around the yard with numerous tricks thrown in randomly as well as stops
Play controlled tug; grab when I say get it, release when I say drop it
Play chase
Practice tricks, distance work, and anything that involves targeting a specific object
Are working on makeshift agility things

So the idea of Karate*YAY* got me thinking. I wonder if I could teach Jake to heel through a Kata... like, instead of punching, kicking, etc, he could do a trick... maybe I could even teach him speak for a kiai! It'd be similar to my focused heel thing, but a lot more uniform and tight as far as pattern. Sharper turns.

I think of the stupidest things. But it sounds like fun, I just might try it. But yeah... stupid tricks lol. I still have an idea for a 'fish on a line' imitation.

Just wanted to share, and record my thoughts.

I am so sick of it.

2009-08-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am so, SO sick of freaking neighbors who let their dogs run loose throughout the neighborhood. I'm sick of dealing with them. I'm sick of not being able to have my dog out in the yard without having a dog come to our fence and take his attention away. And it's not even as if it has a normal time frame, so I could go out prepared for it and work on the issue. I'm sick of fence fights, and I'm sick of not being able to walk my dog because they can't put their dogs out on a line if they want them out of the house.

I appreciate that those kids at least TRIED to call their dogs away from the fence this time, but let's face it, none of those kids really have control over the dogs. Not really their fault, I have to go out and get Jake's attention before he'll go inside with me anyways. But he always follows that command as soon as he realizes I'm there. That's the only way the fence fighting stops.

Sorry for the rant, but I needed the vent.

On a lighter note, I remembered earlier today that Jake turns 2 in September. I'll have to figure out a song for a slideshow.

Have a comparison.

Then:

Now:

Sigh... I love this dog.

2009-08-15T19:00:00.000-08:00

Wow it's been a while. I've had a busy month, with camping and such.

So I'll just bring you up to date with the most interesting. Jake chased after a bear while we were camping last weekend... and came back with his tail between his legs after being roared at. He's perfectly fine, just hopefully he won't be doing that again.

He also fell into a creek, and I wish I had a video of me coaxing him across the log after that. Again, he's fine, it just terrified him, and now we have the crossing MUCH safer and easier to get across... I was scared when he fell in though, and mom was about to reach out and grab him when he finally climbed up onto the bank.

Can't think of much else... I've just been perfecting his focused heel. I should get someone to video that for me. I also started my writing class for school yesterday, and will be starting the rest of my work on the 24th.

That's all I can think of at the moment, without going off on a neighborhood dogs rant.

Tiberius+Camping

2009-07-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

So after getting paid for helping out making all those t-shirts and buttons, I did some research and decided to buy a Betta. I brought him home last Monday. His name is Tiberius, he's a crown tail, and I love him to pieces!

Performed the first 100% water change today. Here he is checking out his little igloo...
A nice body shot of him, showing his fins. I think I'm addicted... I've already decided what I want to name the next one, have picked out a future upgrade for his tank...

Anyways, onto the dogs. We went camping this weekend with some friends of the family and their two dogs. Jake did wonderfully, and I had no worries about Buck. I'm feeling more and more at ease with the dog situation with Jake... I saw nothing to worry about in his interactions with Rex and Prince. I still don't understand his step back and bark routine though. Ah well, as long as he isn't picking fights!

Day at the Creek

2009-07-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

So on Sunday morning my Dad loaded us all into truck as close to the crack of dawn as he could get us all ready, and we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's to meet up with them. They were still working out the GPS coordinates for claim stakes on the computer, so we had to wait a while. Finally we were on our way, and arrived probably around 10 AM.

The dogs of course knew right where we were, if Jake's happy face said anything.

It was a beautiful day... I love the scenery there now that everything is alive and green rather than brown as it was earlier this year. This is a shot of the creek, which you can get to either by walking through the woods or either way along the old creek bed our main 'camp' was set up by. Technically this is one side of it...

And if you follow the other side:I like this side best, because it's at a beaver dam, and rocks have built up to one side to where it became stiller and the dogs were able to wade. Buck loved that... Jake gave it a try, following Buck, but he really doesn't care for water.

A few pictures I took in the woods and on the dry creek bed near that side of the creek.

Woods...

Creekbed...
And later on that day Jake watched Dad and Grandpa cross the creek... he was very concerned and wanted to follow them, even trying to follow them across despite the fact that he dislikes water.
Later when they came back, he watched them play with their gold pans in the dirt and sand around the creek.I love this picture of him and my dad...I'll cut off with a final few from camp... I let my sister talk me into a picture with Jake(I hate getting my picture taken)
Mom and Buck... all smiles.
Sleepy dogs...And just a nice picture of Jake.I'll stop there. It was a great day, the dogs had a lot of fun running loose, and the only problem we had was Jake trying to follow the Truck onto the highway when Dad and Grandpa had to go somewhere. Which just means we know we have to restrain him and keep him busy until they are safely gone on future trips to the Creek.

More pictures can be found here:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f130/Shintakeru/Buck%20and%20Jake/Camping%202/

Tomorrow

2009-06-27T19:55:00.000-08:00

We're going up to some land near a creek that my Grandparents own about an hour and half's drive from home for a bbq with them. I'm very excited; the dogs LOVE it, as they can run off leash. We hike, play fetch, and in general they have a blast without having to worry about strangers or other dogs.

Hopefully we'll be able to keep Buck out of the creek! It's a bit fast moving for him to go wading in, but it's a bit of an effort to keep him out of the water.

Picture from last time...
I love that picture of Buck. Him in his natural element, I think. He looks so happy. That was a slower moving area near a beaver dam, so we decided to let him indulge.

Anyways, I hope to take lots of pictures!

A Bit Shaken

2009-06-23T21:09:00.001-08:00

My hands are still shaking enough that I can hardly type and I have no idea what just happened.

Charlie is the neighbor's dog that they allow to run loose, and he comes to our fence and races up and down it with our dogs. I HATE it, and all the neighbors think it's a game. I don't know. Maybe it is. I'd introduce them but I'm not about to do so without both dogs under control. It's gotten to the point where both our dogs will sit at the corner of the fence- the corner facing the direction that Charlie comes from. Of course Jake and Buck both easily recall when he's not there, and Jake will recall when Charlie is across the street.

When they race the fence there's no hackles or anything. I do my best to prevent it and bring them in when I hear them/see them.

It's not too difficult until the neighbor boy comes to play with my little bro and the dog follows him and sits right outside our gate. THAT I hate. Well anyways one of the kids was idiotic enough to open the gate- when I've told them time and time again not to- when Jake was RIGHT there and Charlie was RIGHT there.

Jake got out, and I wouldn't really call it a fight. No one was hurt, the dogs were easily split up when I moved in, and Jake didn't struggle to get back towards Charlie or anything when I directed him inside. What I saw- it's kind of a blur- was basically Jake nipping at Charlie's butt. Similar to the way he does to Buck when he wants to play. I don't know. At that point Charlie would turn around and nip at him. It was almost like Jake was trying to run him off our driveway, not hurt him.

I stepped in at that point and Jake ran to the other side of the truck. Charlie had gone to see where he was and I caught Jake and easily propelled him indoors. End story, he didn't even seem to remember and was wagging his tail and being 'happy happy pet me pet me'.

I was the only one bothered, apparently, as the little boy was standing right there and just went back to talking with his friends. My parents- both dog lovers- didn't seem too concerned.

To detail some of Jake's other meetings with dogs... his typical response is to sniff a moment, then step back and bark at them. He once slipped his collar, ran over to a black lab(male), sniffed, then stepped back and barked, tail wagging. I then grabbed him and put him back on collar and leash.

I've introduced him to all three of Chels_Girl's dogs. With Kali they went face to face he'd step back and bark- almost like he was afraid- but on the second try they sniffed butts and were fine. He seemed to get the hang of it after that, and was introduced just fine to Sydney and Mylee. We had no fights or issues whatsoever during the time he was around them.

Same about the step back and bark thing with Dozah, the dog who lives across the street, and my cousin's black lab/malamute pup, as well as another puppy across the street.

We were walking to the beach once and there was a loose BC. He did fine until the dog started to approach us, then he looked at it and seemed alert. Another situation where I just wasn't going to see what would happen.

If it matters, I've been working on focus games when Charlie is outside and Jake's 'zone' for alertness when Charlie is involved has been shrinking. Um, he got loose on Charlie once before and chased him home. Charlie is the only dog he has a problem with on our walks... which suffer because Charlie is ALWAYS loose.

Sorry this is kind of blabbering on and probably doesn't make of lot of sense, but as I said I'm kind of shook up and not sure what to think.

Dandelions

2009-06-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

We worked more on picking Dandelions today... and he's doing great with the part where he has to pluck them. I'm not sure, however, how I'll get him to put the flowers into a bucket. He picks, them, and then spit them out! I got a video:

That's about all we did today, training wise, aside from more long distance sits/downs during fetch.

I spent most of the afternoon helping my Grandma make t-shirts for a big order she got. Printing out the transfer sheets, putting them on the t-shirts through the press... we still have loads more to do by the end of next week, but we made 33 today!

Sam

Rainy Day

2009-06-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

Jake and I worked some more on picking dandelions. We didn't stay out long, though, because it's wet and trying to rain. I did tell my younger brother and sister 'watch, it's going to rain all four days you're at camp...' looks like I might be right. Hopefully it's nicer where they are.

Anyways, since he was already going after Dandelions specifically and not trying to graze on grass as well like before, I clicked and treated for nibbles a bit then moved on to holding out for him plucking the flowers. It didn't take long for him to figure it out, so I had him do that a few times before I broke off the session.

We then played ball, and practiced long distance sits/downs/play deads/cross paws... sort of. He's too used to my routine! Most of the time before I'd always fake him out so he ran out a ways and turned back to me. Then I would tell him to lay down, and then I'd throw the ball. He's got that down pat. Ask for a sit? He downs instead. To be expected. I got him to offer Cross Paws from a distance a few times, so I was pleased with that.

Play dead though... he doesn't like doing that when there's a tennis ball involved! He either yelps like he's just been shot(would be fun to add to the trick if I could rofl) and flails his head, or rolls half onto his side then springs back into a poised down position, or rolls onto his side yelping then right back up into the poised down.

I noticed dad coming down the street, so I had him practice Wait at the gate while Dad pulled into the driveway and got out of the truck.

I wanted to do more work on ignoring Charlie but, other than one incident with him antagonizing our dogs at the back fence, I guess they kept him home today.

Charlie is a dog that lives on our street. His owners just allow him to run loose, and he instigates Buck and Jake by running up and down our fence line, barking, and it's just... gah. But things have gotten a bit better at least... Jake's recall away from those situations is getting better, and his threshold for Charlie is getting a bit better. He can be across the street without Jake zoning in now. It's better if Charlie holds still, I've noticed. If he's moving it makes things worse.

Overall it's been a dull day. Buck and Jake have been asleep most of it, and you can't expect much activity from the cats, except for Ruby and Little Girl's sisterly spats.

This is Ruby, to the left, and Little Girl is below.

Most of their fights stem from Ruby trying to bathe her sister, and Little Girl getting fed up with it... they go through spurts of this. Sometimes they get on wonderfully, othertimes Little Girl seems to decide Ruby is an enemy lol.

Sam

2009-06-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Cross paws is the trick we've been working on for the Trick of the Month club over on Dog Forums! He's got it down, and the cue has been transferred from a hand signal to me crossing my feet. I'm so excited for next month's tricks. Until then, we'll work on crossing the other way... and...

Picking Dandelions! Wish me luck!

Sam

Welcome!

2009-06-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome!

I decided to start this blog in order to record my thoughts, progress, and works in any and all of my interests... more specifically art and my dogs; my dogs will probably be the main focus.

So to introduce them...

This is Buck...

And Jake!

The cats will probably pop up now and then as well, so I'll introduce them as I come to it!