Really, really pleased with Keeper. I almost didn't take her with to writers' group Monday night, but she saw me gather my things and raced me to the door.
I could definitely see the spay had set her back a good solid way on her relaxation and comfort with being out, but I could also see where our work on heel paid off. I only needed one hand on the leash, and it never went tight. This was important as I had a plate of brownies in the hand holding the leash! Treats in the other for the entrance.
A retired service mutt, a Berner service dog, and Setters
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Duncan, trick work
I'm finally getting started on the chained behavior that I want to use for our Trick Dog Championship. In rewatching the whole collection, I'm realizing I need to write down the parts of the chain.
Starting with a refresher of closing the door with him in the room and me outside the room, and moving on to sending him into the room and asking him to shut the door. Was also trying to add the cue "zombies", but that looks to have been confusing things, and trying to fade the door close cue/have him wait for the "zombies" frustrated him, so he's slamming the door and throwing everything we've done with doors at me (though I really like where he grabs the outside tug to pull the door around and then pushes it shut- he's showing proof that he's beginning to understand what I wanted, though I wasn't very clear....)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFxeZfpfWpI
The chain I want:
1. Start outside the room, probably in a down on a dog bed.
2. I give the cue.
3. Duncan gets up.
4. Grabs a toy (he loves his Cuz, but I might go looking for something big and fluffy that's easier to see on camera).
5. Takes toy into the room. (possible 5a- set toy on something)
6. He turns.
7. Shuts door with authority.
Right now we're working on 6+7, and adding distance on the run to room, shut door. Once I figure out the toy thing, I'll work on picking it up and running into the room with it. Then start on a bed, picking up the toy and running, etc, etc.
While I started with using a Treat and Train, I gave up on that before we smoothed out enough for me to grab the iPod. He'd either hang up on the food dispenser, or hang up on the door waiting for me to provide the treat (I hadn't at that point, but he's very used to me being a vending machine). I decided to work with his assumptions, not against them. Put the T&T in front of Keeper on the long down setting to stop her fussing, filled my pocket with treats, and went back to working with Duncan. Started getting better results, but I think I can see where the "s" sound in "zombies" is conflicting the work I did to make "s" a "pay attention" sound because it starts sit, stand, and stay.
Starting with a refresher of closing the door with him in the room and me outside the room, and moving on to sending him into the room and asking him to shut the door. Was also trying to add the cue "zombies", but that looks to have been confusing things, and trying to fade the door close cue/have him wait for the "zombies" frustrated him, so he's slamming the door and throwing everything we've done with doors at me (though I really like where he grabs the outside tug to pull the door around and then pushes it shut- he's showing proof that he's beginning to understand what I wanted, though I wasn't very clear....)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFxeZfpfWpI
1. Start outside the room, probably in a down on a dog bed.
2. I give the cue.
3. Duncan gets up.
4. Grabs a toy (he loves his Cuz, but I might go looking for something big and fluffy that's easier to see on camera).
5. Takes toy into the room. (possible 5a- set toy on something)
6. He turns.
7. Shuts door with authority.
Right now we're working on 6+7, and adding distance on the run to room, shut door. Once I figure out the toy thing, I'll work on picking it up and running into the room with it. Then start on a bed, picking up the toy and running, etc, etc.
While I started with using a Treat and Train, I gave up on that before we smoothed out enough for me to grab the iPod. He'd either hang up on the food dispenser, or hang up on the door waiting for me to provide the treat (I hadn't at that point, but he's very used to me being a vending machine). I decided to work with his assumptions, not against them. Put the T&T in front of Keeper on the long down setting to stop her fussing, filled my pocket with treats, and went back to working with Duncan. Started getting better results, but I think I can see where the "s" sound in "zombies" is conflicting the work I did to make "s" a "pay attention" sound because it starts sit, stand, and stay.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
April, the month of vet bills
April 1st, Duncan had his top right P4 molar out. He'd broken it once, but it didn't seem to bother him. Then he broke it again, and the nerve was exposed. He's Mr. Stoic. I only went looking in his mouth when he stopped in the middle of chewing on a bully stick. I don't know how long it would have been causing him pain if I hadn't seen that slight hesitation before he switched sides and resumed chewing.
I do know it couldn't have been broken long because we'd just been in for a recent wellness check (also known as "I point out all the small bumps I've noticed, and my vet says to wait and see what they do." paranoia-quelling.)
When the vet went to work on it, the tooth shattered. The vet spent an hour and forty five minutes working on it. There were 14 pieces in the baggie they sent home, and she only got one tooth root. So we'll keep an eye on him and hope the remaining two don't become infected or abscess. He seems much happier with it out, and has been playing more. The vet also showed me the other P4 she'd removed that day- split neatly down the middle, with all three roots still attached. April Fool's on me, Dunc, and Dr. Green.
April 9th, I noticed some discharge from Keeper's vulva just before bedtime. Her temperature was still normal, so I didn't race for the ER, though my mind did skip almost directly to pyometra. Saw the vet the next day, and after a anxiety-inducing high temperature and a wait on bloodwork, it turns out she had vaginitis and a couple small abscesses on her vulva. Antibiotics for that didn't quite kill it off first round, so we added another. She got an overlap on that second round with her meds from the spay and stomach tack I had them do on April 21st. The infection does look to be cleared up.
She's off her meds, and doing great. She is itchy (more over the shaved area than the line of 52 staples), so the ComfyCone stays on or she starts licking. Her nickname is the Bulldozer of Love. I went with the soft collar and call it "refusing to get her a shovel attachment. I was worried she'd hurt Ocho with a hard plastic cone. She had one time after one meal where she looked back at her side. I can only assume the stomach tack was pulling. She also threw one tantrum about the cone, but otherwise she's been bright and happy.
She's outgrown the size range for heartworm medication, which is a first. I'd have to buy her two sizes to get proper coverage. Never had this problem before.
Really hoping that aside from OFA x-rays, I can get a few months without a vet bill.
I do know it couldn't have been broken long because we'd just been in for a recent wellness check (also known as "I point out all the small bumps I've noticed, and my vet says to wait and see what they do." paranoia-quelling.)
When the vet went to work on it, the tooth shattered. The vet spent an hour and forty five minutes working on it. There were 14 pieces in the baggie they sent home, and she only got one tooth root. So we'll keep an eye on him and hope the remaining two don't become infected or abscess. He seems much happier with it out, and has been playing more. The vet also showed me the other P4 she'd removed that day- split neatly down the middle, with all three roots still attached. April Fool's on me, Dunc, and Dr. Green.
April 9th, I noticed some discharge from Keeper's vulva just before bedtime. Her temperature was still normal, so I didn't race for the ER, though my mind did skip almost directly to pyometra. Saw the vet the next day, and after a anxiety-inducing high temperature and a wait on bloodwork, it turns out she had vaginitis and a couple small abscesses on her vulva. Antibiotics for that didn't quite kill it off first round, so we added another. She got an overlap on that second round with her meds from the spay and stomach tack I had them do on April 21st. The infection does look to be cleared up.
She's off her meds, and doing great. She is itchy (more over the shaved area than the line of 52 staples), so the ComfyCone stays on or she starts licking. Her nickname is the Bulldozer of Love. I went with the soft collar and call it "refusing to get her a shovel attachment. I was worried she'd hurt Ocho with a hard plastic cone. She had one time after one meal where she looked back at her side. I can only assume the stomach tack was pulling. She also threw one tantrum about the cone, but otherwise she's been bright and happy.
She's outgrown the size range for heartworm medication, which is a first. I'd have to buy her two sizes to get proper coverage. Never had this problem before.
Really hoping that aside from OFA x-rays, I can get a few months without a vet bill.
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