Practice, Toenails, and Cockroaches

So, we had practice today. Many people weren't there, but some were. Enough to run a couple of teams, anyway. The dogs did reasonably well. Spoiled One was going for the tug, and tugging very enthusiastically. I used a tennis ball as a crutch, but he's definately improved on that. Also, he did not create any passing issues. In fact, the littlest dog on the team, who is still refining her passes, whipped right by him, even when I released him way too early and they passed on the jump. His box turn wasn't, but I hadn't been working that like I should. I may have to just keep working that in homework.

Weasel was running fast, because she was running first and right before her Idol Dog, so she was in flying ferret heaven. With her running first and the Idol dog running second, they timed at 8.1 seconds, which I thought was cool. Of course you have to factor in things like the timer starts when the first dog breaks the beam, while in tournaments it starts and you have to hit it right to minimize the delay between the timer start and the dog crossing the start line, but hopefully, I'll do okay with that. Other factors weigh in the other direction: we're practicing on grass and an uneven surface, the Idol Dog was 10 - 15 feet late on her pass (because Weasel is such a spaz, she's hard to judge where to pass). It might be kind of fun to run them in pairs at the next U-FLI tournament we go to. Of course, I would also love to run Spoiled One and Weasel in pairs. There are a number of obsticals to that goal. Weasel usually runs with the team, so it might be too many heats for her to run pairs as well. I can't run two different dogs in the same race. However, someone offered to work Weasel at practice a bit, and seemed to have fun, so maybe I could sucker someone into running her and I could run Spoiled One? Hmmmm. . . .

On the way home, they each got a plain Lottaburger. As they sprawled in the living room, sated and tired, I lopped the tippy tips off of their toenails. Because I keep them in when I am at work, now, they don't get the exercise of running the fence and discussing politics with the neighbor dogs. This is probably the first time Spoiled One's nails have been long enough to trim. FWIW, the drimmel sucks, use chopper type clippers. Just my opinion.

Weasel is always bringing me little gifts to play with. She finds rubber bands and sets them on my knee and gives me the pleading, hopeful look, trying to entice me into a game of tug o war. Or she drops the unopened mail at my feet, checking to see if it's permissible to chew it up. Bottle caps and bits of scraps of things are always appearing around my feet as potential items to be tossed and caught for doggie amusement. Lately, she's been finding the cat's toy mice and offering them up. It's so cute. Well, this morning, I let her in from her morning constitutional in the yard, and she presented me with a cockroach. A LIVE cockroach.

New Training Webpages

Aren't they cute? Look at those toothies! That's what raw meaty bones will do for you! Anyway, just wanted to let you know about some dog training web pages that might be useful to you.

If you have just adopted a new dog, How to Housetrain Your New Dog might be timely. This method avoids papers, wee wee pads, and the like.

If you're one of those people that are wanting to improve your training techniques or if you are attempting to teach your dog something new, here is some information on operant theory and how it is used in dog training.

Recall Training Techniques

One thing you find out is essential in flyball is a good, strong recall. Your dog needs to come running, sprinting, flying back to you as fast as he can, through a sea of other dogs, other handlers, flying tugs and rolling tennis balls. Most dogs that show up the first time at our team practice don't even come when called.

But, that kind of recall doesn't come drifting in on the summer breeze, it has to be taught. I'm certainly not an expert, but I have come across several different tips and techniques that I thought I would try to share. Take them for what they are worth.

Things most people do wrong:

Over and over, I see people standing there, calling "fluffy fluffy fluffy come here now bad dog come here bad dog fluffy fluffy BAD DOG fluffy." There are a couple of problems with this.

1. The dog's name isn't "fluffy fluffy fluffy come here now bad dog come here bad dog fluffy fluffy BAD DOG fluffy." However, if you call it like that, if it ever does learn to respond, it learns to respond to how you call it. If the dog's name is Fluffy, call "Fluffy" or "Fluffy, here!" Don't confuse the issue.

2. Don't practice failure. One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over and expecting different results. If Fluffy blew you off the first time, calling its name over and over and over just teaches it to dismiss that as irrelevant noise.

3. Don't call the dog to you to scold it. Think about it from the dog's perspective: She called, I came (eventually) she told me I was a Bad Dog. Next time I won't come. If you have to scold a dog or put it out when it doesn't want to or trim its claws or some other form of doggie torment, go GET the dog and bring it to you, do NOT call it to you.

Things to do:

1. Make sure your dog knows its name and respond positively to it. Say "fluffy," and toss a treat six thousand times. Fluffy will learn to perk up at his name. Do this in different environments to set the behaviour. I also unexpectedly pop around a corner say my dog's name and shake a tug toy or squeak a toy. Drop something while cooking? Say the dog's name. They'll get it.

2. Hide and seek. Once the dog perks up and looks at you consistantly when you say fluffy, hide, say fluffy and treat him when he finds you.

3. Play chase. Call your dog, show the toy and run away from him. Make the dog work to get to you. Make sure to play/treat when he finds you and keep it exciting.

4. Use your "happy voice" You know that annoying squeaky tone? Yeah, that one.

5. Always reward recall. Always. ALWAYS.

Issues that will come up:

1. You will be working with the dog. Fluffy will escape and start bounding around the field, bouncing like a kitten, circling around you and haveing a great time. Don't chase him. Don't watch him. Make everyone ignore him and if you can just go inside and abandon him safely, go for it.

2. Don't allow the dog the opportunity to blow you off until you are pretty absolutely sure of his recall. Yes, this means working with awkward long lines. Don't give him a chance to blow off the recall until he seems to have decided that playing with you is more fun than playing you.

3. At some point, doggie will escape and refuse to recall. You won't be able to just ignore him because you have to get him. DO NOT stand there calling his name over and over. It won't work. Find a toy and a treat. Call the dog's name and run away from the dog. Have everyone leave with you. He is about a zillion times more likely to come to you if he thinks you are leaving or if you are running away, triggering his chase drive.

THING TO ALWAYS REMEMBER:

The dog comes because he thinks it's in his interest. It doesn't have to do with love, or devotion, or loyalty. Ooodles of devoted dogs don't come when called. Give him a reason to recall to you, a toy, a treat, a "good dog." something. Never give him a reason not to come by calling him to a scolding or some form of doggie torture like a bath or being put outside when you go to work.

The Truth About Doggie Doolies

Okay, I'm trying to be environmentalist. I hate packaging up doggie doody in eternal plastic and lobbing it in the trash to go to the landfill, preserved forever as a testament to our civilization. Ick. So, I finally got one of those "digester" type dog waste disposal. Pop it in the yard, dump the doody in there and it magically goes away. Cool.

However, once I got it home, I discovered that you have to dig a well 4 feet deep and 8 inches in diameter. Okaaaaaaay. I bought a post hole digger and went to work.

I had some help, of course.

The help made certain I knew the exact location of a certain spherical object. This was accomplished by replacing the spherical object back in the hole whenever I was so negligent as to remove it. Due to the dilligence of my assistant, there is a good chance the spherical object is still in the hole.

Eventually, the hole was accomplished, the Doggie Dooly installed, the ummmmm items tossed in and water and digestive powder added. We'll see. . .

Yet Another Flyball Practice

Yes, it was yet another flyball practice. There have been some practices inbetween entries.

Spoiled One is doing good - he is being passable and passing fine. I am trying to get him to come back for the wubba, but he wants a ball. However, he was tugging on it a bit and seeming to get into it. I am being terrible about warm up and cool down exercises. I guess it's more play time with the wubba and endurance work for this week. Next week, I may see if I can get someone else to try to run him.

Weasel thinks tugs are boring. I screech and squeal and spin it and let the puppies play with it and throw it and carry on. It bounces off her head as she runs by. There is just so much stimulation, at practice. She was sort of responding to it during box work, but not for recalls or runs. I suspect, though, that its a matter of screw my courage to the sticking place and keep at it. Maybe if I can squeeze in some dog park visits (without letting her run around and play, but working with her) it would help. She could get some more people exposure and new dog exposure and see if any of it looses the thrill.

She's actually doing extremely well. I just want her on the tug! She loves it at home.

Shedding Season and Weasel Ran Start in Practice

Ahhhh, Spring!

That wonderful season where everything is budding and erupting, waking from winter doldrums. The tulips burst from the ground, the buds burst from the trees, the songs burst from the birds.

And the hair bursts from the dog. Great masses of hair. Everywhere.

Ordinarily, I love the Spoiled One's coat. It's that nice teflony, glossy, straight coat of a german shepherd dog. He can be coated with muck, but a shake or two and it's gone. Until the seasons change. Then, I pay my dues.

You see, he sheds. Molts. Sloughs undercoat in huge cloudlike masses. I strip great wads of dead hair from him on an hourly basis. He finds the process a bit annoying. Weasel is overwhelmed with jealousy at the attention Spoiled One receives, and her head keeps getting in the way, wind from her tail whipping back and forth sending the cloudy mounds of stripped undercoat flying. Of couse, when she's being brushed, Weasel's head gets horribly jealous of whatever other part of her is being brushed and tries to get in the way. Jealousy is sort of her thing. . .

Anyway, we did practice this weekend. It went well. The puppies and new dogs are coming along nicely. We need some little height dogs, but there is a promising cattle dog/sheltie cross. One of our main team members with three dogs is moving to Texas, so were having to refigure out team line-ups. Weasel did well passing and did not cause as much trouble as I was anticipating with her idol dog. She had a bit of a problem veering off the first jump when running second, but did fine running first. Spoiled One still intimidates the dog running after him, so that it veers off or slows down rather than meeting him nose to nose at the start line. At this point, though, it really isn't his fault. He isn't doing anything naughty, he just gives off an "air". What can I say, he's a redneck dog.

Now the dogs are resting peacefully. Spoiled One has one eye open, watching me in case I decide to pull more tufts of hair. Happy Shedding Season!

Lucky Flyball Shirt

Yes, it's a new design for my store

This one was inspired by the way our team uniform shirts seem to not last through a tournament - or even a single racing day. The early morning run though the McDonalds drive through, the lunch scarfed down between races, the trip over the jumps running back to call the dog for a recall, and the hyper little dogs themselves all leave a mark.

The answer key for the various stains and tears is on the reverse side of the shirt. If you notice, the morning's mocha vente from Starbucks turns into luke warm convenience store coffee over the course of the day.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the design, which is protected by copyright, and have fun at practice and tournaments.

Your dog wants a goodie. He also wants you to throw the ^&^?%^$$&**(( ball already. Ooops, you just spilled something on your shirt. . .

Poor Weasel

Thunderphobia

I don't know why my Spoiled One has thunderphobia. Weasel usually has the market cornered on neurotic. Anyway, last night, Weasel, the cat, and I were all curled up on the bed peacefully sleeping. Suddenly, Spoiled One leaps up on the bed. He landed on Weasel, and dodged over to stomp on the cat, then slunk over to huddle against me, trembling in terror. I hadn't even heard the thunderclap, but that's about the only thing that sets him off like that.

I can remember playing with him in the midst of hailstorms when he was younger. I don't know what changed his opinion. I hear rumors that it can be a vaccine reaction. It seemed to develop when we moved to New Mexico, with the wonderful thunderstorms we have here - especially after he was left out in it once. I suspect he was tramatized and I must have unconsciously encouraged his fear after that.

Poor puppy. I didn't mean to give him a phobia.

Ball Shagger Design and Saturday Practice

Yep, a new design for my shop. This one is in honor of all those brave ball shaggers. It gets scary in the run back area sometimes - all the flying dogs and screaming handlers and tennis balls everywhere!

Anyway, practice went well. The Spoiled One again successfully let another dog pass him. This time it was a border collie, the same one he had bullied into leaping a line judge at a recent tournament. (Yeah, it's funny. . .now. Pain in the neck dog.)

My Weasel did not do as well. I experimented with running her while using the team member she especially loves as boxloader. Alas, it was too much for her. Overcome with joy, she ran randomly about the field, so I caught her and stuffed the little ditz back in her crate. One of the newbie people had been playing with her dog when Weasel ran off in that direction, and felt bad that she had distracted her, but, honestly, Weasel needs those kinds of distractions. Besides, I suspect her beloved one boxloading for her was the more overwhelming factor. Silly dog.

Anyway, I'll give Weasel another chance shot next week.

Weasel Puppy Seems To Be Getting It!

Well, Weasel seems to be getting it! She's done really well (for her) in practice last weekend, Wednesday, and then this weekend. Weasel is running down the lane to the box, getting the ball with a swimmers turn, and running back to me. She's doing very well at staying in her lane. Only a couple episodes of wiggle and lick the boxloader.

What has me really excited, though, is she is starting to compete with the dog in the other lane. Granted, it's currently manifesting by her clinging to the box, waiting for the other dog to get it's ball, then racing it back, but still! I was worried that she wouldn't get the thrill of the game. I'm glad that she's developing her competitive spirit. Though, it probably will be real annoying when she is the third dog on our team hanging out at the box waiting for the fourth dog from the opposing team. . .

http://www.cafepress.com/weaselpuppy

The Search for Shoes

There is a strange phenomena that occurs at my house. I can never find two matching shoes.

Several years ago, I taught The Spoiled One to bring me my shoes when he wanted to go for a walk. Unfortunately, he learned. I failed to take into account that he always wants to go for a walk. So, now, wherever I go, piles of shoes appear. I go in the bathroom, there's a pile waiting when I come out. I sit down a read a book, and a collection gathers. Shoes everywhere, and never where I last put them!

Of course, The Spoiled One can only carry one shoe at a time. When the first shoe offering doesn't receive recognition, he goes and gets another shoe. Each shoe selection has no relation to the prior shoe - he doesn't bring matched sets. So, one tennis shoe is in the living room, another in the kitchen, or stuffed under the desk, or in the garage, or buried in the clothes hamper. He is quite creative.

The photograph above shows the arrangement he created for me this morning, as I drank a cup of coffee. There are three white tennis shoes he has lined up in a row, and a random brown shoe he threw in for variety. None of those tennis shoes matches any of the others. I saw the other half of one pair earlier in the bathroom. Another is in the shoe storage unit where he found them all. I have no idea where the third match is. I haven't seen it for days. Which sort of explains why I have three pairs of white tennis shoes.

http://www.cafepress.com/weaselpuppy

Santa is Dead

<--Official Crime Scene Photo

Sad news to report. Santa is dead. Weasel Puppy ate him.

In her defense, there were squeakies involved. The Spoiled One is listed as a co-defendent. A witness reported hearing ferocious growling noises and frantic squeaking. Upon investigating the disturbance, the witness discovered the grisely scene.

Wishing you what joy you can find in this holiday season, despite this unfortunate incident.

http://www.cafepress.com/weaselpuppy

Saturday Practice

So, we finally got in a team practice yesterday. The dogs did surprisingly well, considering. My Weasel still has a bad case of puppy lick the boxloaderitis, and general ditziness, but she was able to focus on what she was doing when there was a dog in the other lane, whether that dog was ahead of or behind her. I'm still quite nervous. The eight team practices I was counting on before the next tournament have been reduced to three, if we're lucky.

She doesn't latch onto the tug at practice, though. It's very frustrating, because at home she loves it and comes crashing into it full bore. At team practice, she's completely blind to it. I tried a little bit with her when she wasn't in the lane at practice, and got some interest, but it was too distracting to the dog we were actually working to continue. I think I am just going to have to keep sneaking that in where I can. She was very intrigued with another dog's tug toy, though. The secret might be in rotating the tug toys so she thinks she's getting something new and novel.

One of my teammates likes to practice recalls by having the handler send the dog up the lane to this person, and then this person sends the dog back down the lane to this person. I didn't want Weasel to associate the person at the boxloader end of the lane with attention and praise, though. She already has problems in that area and so I insisted on having the person at the box end of the lane release her to run to me, then walking Weasel back up and handing her off to them and running back to the other end for a recall.

Spoiled One was a good boy. I think he was just so glad to be doing flyball that he was on his best behaviour. Also, we ran him last in the line up, rather than as the start dog, so he couldn't pull the inflato dog trick. Hopefully, after Wags in Arizona, we can work more on him as a start dog. I would really like to push him in that role. I believe, once we get the monster past his little passing issue, he could be a real asset that way.

Anyway, the dogs were very happy to be having team practice. I didn't get any pictures this time. Sorry.

http://www.cafepress.com/weaselpuppy