cardboard stastics ----
for anyone counting... today i used 12 pieces of cereal boxes so far--- and that was just for the 3 indoor dogs-- i have not yet tackled the deck
but i watched as i made the coffee and those 5 pups have to be the cleanest yet.. there may be 15 little piles randomly placed on the deck--- and as they chase each other with the drag the washrag game-- they did not step in one-- nor did the dragging rag go thru any. it was amazing to watch.
such talent
i started the leash training yesterday- and will continue today - i don't know if i can exactly sequence it-- but it is critical
with soft rope /ring i gave them a piece of freeze dried liver while i put the rope around their necks then back around their front legs - keepingg them entertained so there was no backwards pulling til i had it around their legs too. this means that any freaking out yanking- will distribute the pressure to their girth area not just their neck -- they all do this---- as they almost have to do in order to give in to the rope--- but rather then a i will drag you and go for a walk til you learn - i sit and use the rope to explain to them that they must go forward or back and give in to the pressure
when they do-- a piece of liver...
after about 3 minutes-- they are at least thinking-- and we go for a walk around the fireplace -- whoa--- piece of liver as i remove the rope and give them a little push away-
two or three more of those and they are on their way..
i do the same thing i will later do with two tugs to indicate the direction we are going to go-- then relax the leash and they should figure out ---walk up to my side and get the liver treat-- otherwise more tugging..
not yank-- just tug
yank--- is for when they weigh over 100 pounds and are not paying attention
5 laps around the fireplace and i was exercised for the day.
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the other training--- really an observagtion--- we took didi frankie-- barney to the fairgrounds to est the run loose bit--- we = megan anne and i
since we have a huge container of the liver treats-- now was the time.
after a short walk around -- i let frankie loose with a what the hell attitude-- he ran-- i called-- maybe twice before he came to me for a treat- and i did not "catch " him- just let him run-- eventually i talked him into the ambu without a leash-- so he was listening-- ( and looking for the liver treats)
megan then did the same with barney-- and finally didi..
all did fine
this process should continue until we can yell and scream come here and they do. reason being---- if they get loose in a bad situation no one can keep their voice to a sweet loving please come here
your voice would be in panic mode--- and a properly trained dog should ignore that panic...
later that afternoon i went back with fred who is thinking of taking on frankie as a companion--- on a supervised schedule-
he works at the audibon society in topsfield-- and i have suggested he take frankie and bring him to us when he has something else to do.
that will give us a chance to observe how frankie is doing...
at the moment frankie runs to fred very willingly-- as long as fred does not adopt any heavy domination-- frankie would love the company...
which brings up the topic of rhea--- we really need to have her wear jockey shorts ad see if she is still incontinent -- i have not seen any-
anyone want to take her home and see if they can tell-?
she is a bit wild as she has not had much-- or any training. she is the one the vet in nh spayed twice--last time--- according to the path report....removing a kidney--- long story-- nice dog.....she is fido's sister.
megan is going to take out rhea once a day and see if we can get a conversation going with her... she is a nice dog/.
other than that......
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hillary is on duty while megan is away getting her sister married. Sunday Monday tues wed
how we became blessed with 2 extremely competent helpers i do not know but i have full confidence in both of them.
it is like being blessed with a lic plumber ( paul) and lic electrician ( bud) as drivers for tom
and they replaced the solenoid in the white golf cart
solenoid is a big word around here
funny little lump of metal it seems it is the reason a lot of things break.
