Mary and Milo

Cute Logan

New Friends

Match Tomorrow/Training Schedule Today

Jack, Brie, and I are getting ready for a match tomorrow. This whole week has been basically firming up these basic skill sets. Devon is on vaca until we go to Trial basically (Feb 29th).

****Note to self, do a lot of food training (that is to refuse food, not to treat) with Jack tonight. Treating at these things is obnoxious, even though you can't bring them into the ring, and it will take an unprepared dog and make them a total spaz.

****Should also remember to see if husband can fix portable crate for Jack somehow.

Jack first half (a bit tired so I am going to do some more later on tonight or early am tomorrow):

Finish, did about 50 reps with e-collar instead of treats or chain collar. Didn't do bad, was sometimes crooked because he was staring at Brie and wanting to go play.

Worked a lot on myself walking with Jack and not walking into him when stopping for an autosit. Jack did pretty good sits at the end, now that he is beginning to believe that he doesn't have to worry about me flying into him. Also practiced off leash with hand on belly (left) and right hand swinging by my sid. He did really excellent as I practiced my T step for about turns. Left, he sometimes still crowds me a bit.

Brie's Schedule:

Still teaching finish, hopes she starts doing it today right from heel, so I don't need to make any movements (that would NQ me in the Trial).

Practice sit and down stay.

Practice heel on and off leash. See if it can feasible be done without any corrections or much coercion. No treats for practice today.

Jackie Aggression Log

Jack has been very good for about a month or so. I am going to have to look back in my logs. I have noticed that as the boarding count ramps up, so does Jack. It starts with him attempting to mark everything. I have noticed lately, that he does not so much redirect anymore over jealousy over me (that seems under control), but the most recent incident, yesterday, I think was over his female and Great Dane friend, Roxy.

So yesterday, everyone is playing in the Master Bedroom, and Jack starts going after Harley.   He stops when corrected, but whirls around and actually grabs Leon by the neck.   Now, I unfortunately freaked when he did that, as I think he is biting maybe tearing.  All sorts of thoughts are going through my head.   Primarily that I don't want my poor undeserving dog, Leon, hurt.   He's the sweetest and softest dog and he does not deserve Jack's angst.   Jack knows not to redirect towards me, and Leon is his punching bag if he can get away with it.   Otherwise, they are very good friends.

So I don't even know how I got Jack off of him.   Quick examination of Leon shows no marks, and so I heel Jack to the crate, where he spent most of yesterday.  I think Jack grabbed him near his ear, as that seemed sore but not punctured yesterday.   Probably mostly bruised.   So now I need to remember what I tell my clients about bite inhibition, "if you don't find yourself in the emergency room, you aren't doing horribly".   That doesn't mean I was pleased (by any means) with Jackie.

He's been doing good in the run thrus, and our trial is scheduled for February 29th.   Luckily this always happens in close proximity and interactive play where I am involved, and not in working situations.   It's the territorial thing that kicks in at home.   

With Jack, it's so aggravating because you find he makes so much progress, and then he will backslide like this big time.

Devon First Run Thru Stay-2/4/08

Here is Devon in his first run thru:

Devon Run Thru 2/4/2008

This was Devon's very first time at a run thru.

Bri Run Thru 2/4/2008

Here is Brie's run thru 2/4/2008. We have done a couple more since then, and she has improved greatly. Good girl, Brie.

Jackie Run Thru 2/4/2008

Grrrrr, had to find a new video hosting website, as gosh darned video egg is now only for corporate companies that want to pay per click for advertising.

Norton Virus Had Previously Interupted Our Scheduled Programming

Most dog trainers are not computer savvy. I pretty much am, but admin problems frustrate me, and I have no patience for those (as I do for dog training). My husband aka computer admin solved the problem, and hunted down free (well actually it's included in our Roadrunner package) virus software that we don't need to pay 50.00 for a year's subscription, while it misses most of the viruses and spyware that has made it's home on my computer.

Roadrunner's virus software hunted these suckers down and eliminated them, and now I am able to update my blogs, e-mail and such.

Here are some cuddle buddy pictures of Boomer and Leon (and the black Lab puppy female is Murphy the Terrible).

Versatile Hunting Dog Needs Rehome

The above pictures are Moose, my client's dog, boarding with me. He is the large grey Weimaraner. He needs to be rehomed, and here is a synopsis of the situation.

Breed: Weimaraner (Male neutered)

Born: around March 2006

Reason for Re-Homing: Wife now has three daughters under the age of two, and her husband is shipping for the Coast Guard. The issues and activity level of the dog will be too much on her plate.

Strengths: Active, healthy, and loyal and loving to his people and those he knows well.

Weaknesses: Protective, territorial, and not trustworthy around strangers. However, this would all be improved greatly with a structured life and boundary definition. The husband has been unwilling to set boundaries with this dog. A dog that should probably not live in a home with children.

Location: York, Maine

Please call Mannerly Mutts (207) 361-4395 if you have any interest. The dog is not free. Mannerly Mutts is willing to give qualified adopters free lessons. Potential adopters will be screened, questioned, and references checked. This dog should only go to someone experienced with dogs of a similar temperment, and is comfortable in training dogs. The owners of this dog have done basic training with him.

Looking to train your dog near York County Maine? Call or e-mail Mannerly Mutts today!!

Mannerly Mutts

PO Box 441

York Beach Maine 03910

(207) 361-4395

http://www.blogger.com/%3Cahttp://www.mannerlymutts.com/">http://www.mannerlymutts.com>>

Cuddle Buddies

Kate is the Springer girl.

Harley is the Great Dane boy.

Don't they look very content?

The Boys in The Family

Dog sitting is Jackie. Jackie came from Doberman Rescue at 2, and was intended to only foster here before adoption. However, I fell in love, and so Jack has had to suffer with staying here. He is my demo and competition dog, and our loved companion. He helps very much with teaching other dogs obedience, participating in play when dogs board, and working with me towards his Companion Dog for AKC.

Human male is my husband, Robert. He also helps out as the "friendly stranger" and frequently demos for me what my clients will do wrong without instruction LOL. I call him the great dog "untrainer".

Dog lying next to husband, is our Leon. We got Leon as a puppy from Pamelot in Georgia. He was training for competion, but two bum knees have made competition not possible for him. However, he is still a valuable asset as a demo dog of a kinder and gentler nature than Jack, and is of course our much beloved companion. He is the definate baby of the family.

Thursday Thirteen (13) Monday Run Thru Notes

Using this Thursday Thirteen to document some run thru notes:

1. Jackie boy, need to stop turning into him.   



2. Jackie got swayed by the smell of treats, during certain exercises, on Evelyn's hands.   Need to stop him from breaking from obvious food.



3. Jackie broke when unexpected military man came in the room.   However, Jackie did stay in place in sit (broke in down) when between two very cute female dogs (one Italian grey hound, and one Chihuaua named Sassy).



4. Jackie, we need to work on our finish now without luring.



5. Jackie, need to stop him from trying to covertly sniff the ground for fallen treats.



6. Jackie, attention could be better when in the stays.  He does it well, until something unexpected comes along (military man, or he's between two cute girls).



7. Jackie, stopped sticking his stand due to cookie smell on Evelyn.   Need to make sure he sticks this, and stays even if judges have been touching cookies:)



8. Devon, work on Stand AND Finish.



9. Devon concerned about judge following or others working with their dogs.  Some of this will be worked out in run thrus, but need to get him out more in public "dealing".



10. Brie, work on circles to get her turned in and closer, as Evelyn showed.



11. Brie, did her first off leash heel that went okay.   We had done one before, when I thought she wasn't ready but instructor insisted.  Hadn't gone that bad, but two instances where Brie was pretty sure it was play time.



12. Brie, her front is perfect.   Need to not screw it up.



13. Brie, need to work on finish, and stand walking behind and examine.

****Me 1)  No stepping into dogs 2)  work on about turns still---better with Jackie and horrible with other two 3)  move out with Jackie during fast heel, so judge can tell pace has changed even though Jack just lengthens his stride .......

Excellent start to the year. And in that vein, I am playing around with a Valentine's mailing:

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Winter training will help me have

More fun with you

Valentine's Day Promo 1

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Train me now

And we will have new and fun things to do.

Jackie Jackie Jackie....

My dog, Jack, is gross.   He's smart, sweet, loyal, loving, but most of all he's gross.   He finds dead things and presents them to us.   We always need to make sure he doesn't gulp down said dead thing.   This sometimes requires me to reach in mouth after dead thing.   

Well this time it was a glove.   Well not glove, but gloves.   My husband left these leather gloves out, and Jack managed to swallow them down, like a python, whole.   I just managed to see the fingers go down last out of the corner of my eye.

Now as one might imagine, we have become old hat at this.   He's probably done something like this six or seven times in the 1 year and nine months that we have had him.   So getting the brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide is pretty automatic now.   Next the tablespoons spaced every 10 minutes.   From 8 am to 12 pm, nothing comes out.   I now have to pick up my client's dogs.   

So I would normally bring Jack with me, as he can't be trusted not to swallow it back down, but these are two GREAT DANES!!!   So space is sort of tight in the dog mobile.   That means no room for Jack.   So I am thinking, okay what are the odds he's going to puke it out in the 15 minutes I am gone.   Okay, I am betting they are pretty high, but there is little I can do.

So I go grab Roxy and Harley.   We head back.   Sure enough, funky smell in the front hall, but no sign of anything.   Yeah right.   For the rest of the day (and this is a first after they hydrogen is administered) Jackie pukes no more.   Very worried owners go to bed for the night.   By the way, Jackie is comfortable and sleeps like a log.

By 12 pm the next day, A glove comes out with vomit.   I pounce on Jackie and the glove.   I verify that it is just one glove.   Later on that evening, I spot the other glove, but too late and Jackie is swallowing it back down.   I pounce on him, open up his mouth, and stick my hand in.   Nothing,  too late, but ewww what a smell.   I go downstairs to wash my hands, and come accross a pile of poop in the mudroom.   And in a poop is a glove finger.   THEN I realize where the glove came from, and what that particular smell was!!!

Okay, think about it.   Just let's say,pieces of a certain glove are going for theirsecond roller coaster ride in Jack's digestive track.

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