Saturday, December 18, 2010
Puppies can Rally!
Today Zane was entered in an APDT Rally Trial Puppy Class! There were two trials today and he got a 210 in the first and a 209 in the second. First places in both and high scoring puppy ribbons! If he does it again tomorrow, he'll have a Rally Puppy Title! Silly, goofy, puppy boy!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Busy Morning for the Zaney Butt
We had a lot of fun playing and training this morning. For breakfast he worked on his contact board. Nothing special there - just continuing to add movement.
Then we headed to the training building. We worked the normal heel, sit, moving stand, and moving down. Then I pulled a piece of round wood and got him to target it with both front paws, then asked for downs - he has to keep his front feet on the target while doing a down. This will hopefully prevent creeping in the future.
We worked spins to the left and right (maybe, just maybe, I'll work directionals with him. I'm directionally challenged, so it will be hard for me.)
Then I pulled out a jump. I really haven't done anything with jumps with him. I put it at 8 inches and we just played with the jump - getting over it, front crosses, driving ahead to it. Then I put out two jumps and we played with those. Then I worked on directed jumping - sit-stay to the side of the jump (only about 8 feet away and 2 feet out if that much), I walk across from him and toss a toy in front of the jump while telling him over. Sometimes he went around, sometimes he went over. If he went over, I grabbed the toy. He loves to play with toys, so he thought this was fun.
Then we worked on self-control - sit while I toss the toy. If he broke the sit, I stopped him and started over. Quickly he was holding the sit until released to the tossed toy.
Then he was put away for class time. He did get to meet a sweet little Shih Tzu. No problems - he kind of ignored him.
After class, we headed to a friend's house for lunch. She has 5 Border Collies and invited Zane along. Overall it went very, very well. We brought them in one at a time so he could meet them one-on-one. There was only one he had an issue with, and she's a lot like him. They kind of grumbled at each other while maintaining distance. That was ok. A couple of the males tried to mount him - he let them know that wasn't acceptable, but wasn't nasty. We threw them all outside (except the grumbly bitch) and let him deal with them on his own. He did hide in the corner a bit, but if they took off running, he would follow them. Later, he fell asleep under the table. He had a busy morning and was worn out!
Oh, while at the building, I also pulled out the cavelettis for him. I need to video this. He does crab a bit - he's a little short in the body and needs more length for those long, angled legs. He was moving nicely through the cavalettis, so I need to work him more on those.
So, how's that for a busy puppy morning?
Then we headed to the training building. We worked the normal heel, sit, moving stand, and moving down. Then I pulled a piece of round wood and got him to target it with both front paws, then asked for downs - he has to keep his front feet on the target while doing a down. This will hopefully prevent creeping in the future.
We worked spins to the left and right (maybe, just maybe, I'll work directionals with him. I'm directionally challenged, so it will be hard for me.)
Then I pulled out a jump. I really haven't done anything with jumps with him. I put it at 8 inches and we just played with the jump - getting over it, front crosses, driving ahead to it. Then I put out two jumps and we played with those. Then I worked on directed jumping - sit-stay to the side of the jump (only about 8 feet away and 2 feet out if that much), I walk across from him and toss a toy in front of the jump while telling him over. Sometimes he went around, sometimes he went over. If he went over, I grabbed the toy. He loves to play with toys, so he thought this was fun.
Then we worked on self-control - sit while I toss the toy. If he broke the sit, I stopped him and started over. Quickly he was holding the sit until released to the tossed toy.
Then he was put away for class time. He did get to meet a sweet little Shih Tzu. No problems - he kind of ignored him.
After class, we headed to a friend's house for lunch. She has 5 Border Collies and invited Zane along. Overall it went very, very well. We brought them in one at a time so he could meet them one-on-one. There was only one he had an issue with, and she's a lot like him. They kind of grumbled at each other while maintaining distance. That was ok. A couple of the males tried to mount him - he let them know that wasn't acceptable, but wasn't nasty. We threw them all outside (except the grumbly bitch) and let him deal with them on his own. He did hide in the corner a bit, but if they took off running, he would follow them. Later, he fell asleep under the table. He had a busy morning and was worn out!
Oh, while at the building, I also pulled out the cavelettis for him. I need to video this. He does crab a bit - he's a little short in the body and needs more length for those long, angled legs. He was moving nicely through the cavalettis, so I need to work him more on those.
So, how's that for a busy puppy morning?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
I can't believe I did it
I just ordered Zane a vest from here: http://www.therapydogvest.com/
with "Genius in Training" embroidered on it. I can't believe I did it!
This morning I added a different container for "put it in". I had the camera on the tripod, set up, camera on. . . and I forgot to press the button to record. So he worked his metal article with put it in with the bowl and with a plastic flower pot. And I didn't get it in on video. I'm generalizing objects to pick up and objects to put into.
The farrier was out today so I made him come and watch her work. She was very scary. And he much preferred to eat the chicken poop and duck poop. Yeah. . . he has his priorities.
with "Genius in Training" embroidered on it. I can't believe I did it!
This morning I added a different container for "put it in". I had the camera on the tripod, set up, camera on. . . and I forgot to press the button to record. So he worked his metal article with put it in with the bowl and with a plastic flower pot. And I didn't get it in on video. I'm generalizing objects to pick up and objects to put into.
The farrier was out today so I made him come and watch her work. She was very scary. And he much preferred to eat the chicken poop and duck poop. Yeah. . . he has his priorities.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Make Some Noise, Part 2
We are now turning "Put it in" into a noise-making activity. I put a metal article into the bowl and started doing "put it in" with that. When he drops it in, it makes a loud clatter. He's having no problem with that. Interestingly, when he gets something out of the bowl, he's quiet. But when he picks up something that's outside of the bowl and has to put it in, he moans while he does it. Silly boy.
Today Zane went to the vet. He weighed 32 pounds and got his official letter that he is bilaterally cryptorchid. Speaking of which. . . if Zane were going to tell the animal communicator that he is teased about something, it would be about that. He is called the "ball-less wonder" and all sorts of things related to his lack of testicles. And he is teased about it several times a week. But that never got mentioned. Hmmmmm.
Today Zane went to the vet. He weighed 32 pounds and got his official letter that he is bilaterally cryptorchid. Speaking of which. . . if Zane were going to tell the animal communicator that he is teased about something, it would be about that. He is called the "ball-less wonder" and all sorts of things related to his lack of testicles. And he is teased about it several times a week. But that never got mentioned. Hmmmmm.
Genius in Training
I've said before that Zane notices *differences* in things. On Friday night, my son put on a knit cap, and Zane barked at him and wouldn't go near him. He wasn't the same person with a hat on! Zane has also done that if he sees my husband in a place he isn't expected. He doesn't like change!
This weekend we were at an agility trial. Most of the things Zane goes to during the week have stopped for the holidays, so he hasn't been getting out as much. It showed! He was a little freaked out by people on Saturday morning. So we just walked around and I handed treats to people and had them feed him. Some he instantly liked; others he would take treats, then get away from them. I couldn't find any rhyme or reason for who he liked and who he didn't. Sunday he was much, much better with the people. "Oh yeah! They have cookies!" I still had as many people feed him as possible.
On Saturday I had two people take him and walk him around and play with him. The first one he didn't want to go with at first, but once he was a way from me, he was fine. The second one, in the afternoon, he did fine with. On Sunday, a friend (who Zane doesn't know) brought her puppy (two days older than Zane). Her pup has some issues too, so throughout the day, we'd just go to each other's set-up, grab the puppy, and take them out. It was kind of fun! Tori was such a delightful girl. She just floats. I love watching her move.
Oh, did I mention that Zane turned 6 months on Saturday?!? It was his half-birthday!
There was an animal communicator at the trial. I decided to take Zane to talk to her. I've known one communicator who was the real thing. She knew things she couldn't have known - no way, no how. This one? A flake. Here are some of the things she said Zane told her (or her dog who then told her).
1. The organizers of the agility trial are flakes. They spend too much time at meeting eating cookies and drinking coke and not enough time working.
2. He needs blue-green algae.
3. Jill (my daughter) is eating too many crackers and chips and too much sugar.
4. I have an irregular heart rhythm and need to spend more time biking, swimming, playing volleyball, and taking him running in the desert.
5. I need to get back to working with the horses. I have something to give them, and they have a lot they need to give me.
6. She said that Zane told her that "they" said his nose is too long and was he ok? What's funny is that Jill used to say his nose was too big! I laughed about that one.
7. He wanted to know where we were going next and what were we going to do. (Answer: APDT trial next weekend.) He wanted to know what would be expected of him. (Answer: Be a silly puppy.) He wanted the "other dog" to go with him, because they have a tight bond and she grounds him.
8. He wanted to know what was expected of him at the agility trial (meet people and dogs and eat cookies.)
9. There was a dog at the trial who was bigger than he is who is a bully. He doesn't like him. The bully's name is Buster, but that may not be what his person calls him.
10. He wants a vest to wear that says "Genius in Training".
11. He has parasites that the medicines aren't taking care of. He needs Black Walnut and Wormwood.
12. He needs herbs for flea and tick control - no chemicals. (We don't have fleas and ticks here.) A whole list of herbs was given.
13. He likes clicker training, but he's about to move beyond it. I will know when that time is.
Ok, that's all I can remember for now. Not a word about his fears or how he feels about other dogs. I asked why is he fearful and what can I do to help. The answer: you're doing everything right and he's ok. Ok, thanks.
He did meet several dogs this weekend, and overall did very well. Saturday morning we sat by the entrance and played Look at That with all the dogs going by. Later, as I was checking the schedule, a small dog came and got right in his face. He didn't react. The next day he met the Terv puppy and a German Pinscher with no problems. He walked through and past and around tons of dogs all weekend with no problem. But Sunday afternoon while I was working in a ring, Jill had him out and was sitting on the ground watching the dogs run. Somebody was letting their dog walk at the very end of the leash, and he got right on Zane and growled and snarled at him. Zane reacted back, of course. I don't blame him for that one, but I hope it doesn't set us back in our training. On a good note, the BAT training is helping. The goal is to teach him alternatives to reacting to other dogs. So we were sitting at our set-up, and somebody brought their Aussie say hi. Zane met the Aussie, no problem. But when he started to feel the pressure, he went to his crate instead of growling at her. When he was comfortable, he came back out. He did this several times. He also gave himself a couple of breaks when playing with the Terv puppy. So he is getting it!
Zane had one issue with getting on the metal bleachers. He didn't like the noise! So we worked on that until he would run back and forth across them.
This weekend we were at an agility trial. Most of the things Zane goes to during the week have stopped for the holidays, so he hasn't been getting out as much. It showed! He was a little freaked out by people on Saturday morning. So we just walked around and I handed treats to people and had them feed him. Some he instantly liked; others he would take treats, then get away from them. I couldn't find any rhyme or reason for who he liked and who he didn't. Sunday he was much, much better with the people. "Oh yeah! They have cookies!" I still had as many people feed him as possible.
On Saturday I had two people take him and walk him around and play with him. The first one he didn't want to go with at first, but once he was a way from me, he was fine. The second one, in the afternoon, he did fine with. On Sunday, a friend (who Zane doesn't know) brought her puppy (two days older than Zane). Her pup has some issues too, so throughout the day, we'd just go to each other's set-up, grab the puppy, and take them out. It was kind of fun! Tori was such a delightful girl. She just floats. I love watching her move.
Oh, did I mention that Zane turned 6 months on Saturday?!? It was his half-birthday!
There was an animal communicator at the trial. I decided to take Zane to talk to her. I've known one communicator who was the real thing. She knew things she couldn't have known - no way, no how. This one? A flake. Here are some of the things she said Zane told her (or her dog who then told her).
1. The organizers of the agility trial are flakes. They spend too much time at meeting eating cookies and drinking coke and not enough time working.
2. He needs blue-green algae.
3. Jill (my daughter) is eating too many crackers and chips and too much sugar.
4. I have an irregular heart rhythm and need to spend more time biking, swimming, playing volleyball, and taking him running in the desert.
5. I need to get back to working with the horses. I have something to give them, and they have a lot they need to give me.
6. She said that Zane told her that "they" said his nose is too long and was he ok? What's funny is that Jill used to say his nose was too big! I laughed about that one.
7. He wanted to know where we were going next and what were we going to do. (Answer: APDT trial next weekend.) He wanted to know what would be expected of him. (Answer: Be a silly puppy.) He wanted the "other dog" to go with him, because they have a tight bond and she grounds him.
8. He wanted to know what was expected of him at the agility trial (meet people and dogs and eat cookies.)
9. There was a dog at the trial who was bigger than he is who is a bully. He doesn't like him. The bully's name is Buster, but that may not be what his person calls him.
10. He wants a vest to wear that says "Genius in Training".
11. He has parasites that the medicines aren't taking care of. He needs Black Walnut and Wormwood.
12. He needs herbs for flea and tick control - no chemicals. (We don't have fleas and ticks here.) A whole list of herbs was given.
13. He likes clicker training, but he's about to move beyond it. I will know when that time is.
Ok, that's all I can remember for now. Not a word about his fears or how he feels about other dogs. I asked why is he fearful and what can I do to help. The answer: you're doing everything right and he's ok. Ok, thanks.
He did meet several dogs this weekend, and overall did very well. Saturday morning we sat by the entrance and played Look at That with all the dogs going by. Later, as I was checking the schedule, a small dog came and got right in his face. He didn't react. The next day he met the Terv puppy and a German Pinscher with no problems. He walked through and past and around tons of dogs all weekend with no problem. But Sunday afternoon while I was working in a ring, Jill had him out and was sitting on the ground watching the dogs run. Somebody was letting their dog walk at the very end of the leash, and he got right on Zane and growled and snarled at him. Zane reacted back, of course. I don't blame him for that one, but I hope it doesn't set us back in our training. On a good note, the BAT training is helping. The goal is to teach him alternatives to reacting to other dogs. So we were sitting at our set-up, and somebody brought their Aussie say hi. Zane met the Aussie, no problem. But when he started to feel the pressure, he went to his crate instead of growling at her. When he was comfortable, he came back out. He did this several times. He also gave himself a couple of breaks when playing with the Terv puppy. So he is getting it!
Zane had one issue with getting on the metal bleachers. He didn't like the noise! So we worked on that until he would run back and forth across them.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
What a great start to the day!
For breakfast, I pulled out the bowl and the toy to work on "put it in". I can now put the toy on the floor, he will pick it up and carry it to the bowl and put it in! Woohoo!
I'll try to tape it later today. But I was too excited not to share!
I'll try to tape it later today. But I was too excited not to share!
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