Sunday, April 30, 2006
Officer Novak with Monty
Rochester Police DepartmentOfficer Novak did such a great job with the dogs. He let them sniff everything and he was very attentive. This is one of those fun trainings that we get to do when we work with other people. Our dogs get so much out of a training like this.
Training held in Rochester
It was our first training in Rochester. We went to the downtown mall (The Galleria) on a weekend because it is very quiet. The local police department helped us out. An officer showed up and let the dogs sniff and touch everything - handcuffs, billy stick, taser, etc.
The idea behind this training is to see how the dogs react to the new sounds and smells. If they have any issues then it's a training issue we've uncovered and we work to desensitize them.
Absolutely none of our dogs had any problems at all. Bear was completely unfazed. He sniffed the officer and all of his stuff and then looked up at me like, "So?". Perfect!
The idea behind this training is to see how the dogs react to the new sounds and smells. If they have any issues then it's a training issue we've uncovered and we work to desensitize them.
Absolutely none of our dogs had any problems at all. Bear was completely unfazed. He sniffed the officer and all of his stuff and then looked up at me like, "So?". Perfect!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
We have a barking problem!
Bear has always barked across the back part of my yard. I finally figured out what he is barking at. I thought it was my icky neighbor but it turns out it's these HUGE crows that have a nest in one of the giant trees.
When I let Bear out in the morning, he goes straight up the hill and barks as he's running back and forth across the yard.
The other day, my icky neighbor was outside working in his yard. Both of my dogs hate him. In fact, a couple of years ago, I was in the hospital having my appendix out and I left my dogs out for one night. My Golden was stolen from an area in my fence between our lots. My other dog Kiya, who was there that night, was not stolen but would not go outside for any length of time for weeks. When that man is out, she barks and snarls, and foams at the mouth. Hates him.
Bear will continue barking but he comes to the house which is nice. Anyway, I needed to deal with the barking issue. I finally got a bark collar that sprays out citronella spray when the dog barks. WONDERFUL!!! It worked like a charm. Now when he wants to bark, he whines so it won't spray him.
The drawback is that while he has the collar on, Kiya won't go near him. She hates the smell of it. So he's shunned when he has it on. Plus, if he forgets and barks, Kiya comes running in the house.
The other day, Kiya did figure out how to manipulate that collar. She was eating her bone and Bear wanted it after finishing his. So he kept coming around her. She'd growl and he'd still pester her. Finally, she barked and he got sprayed! He left her alone after that.
When I let Bear out in the morning, he goes straight up the hill and barks as he's running back and forth across the yard.
The other day, my icky neighbor was outside working in his yard. Both of my dogs hate him. In fact, a couple of years ago, I was in the hospital having my appendix out and I left my dogs out for one night. My Golden was stolen from an area in my fence between our lots. My other dog Kiya, who was there that night, was not stolen but would not go outside for any length of time for weeks. When that man is out, she barks and snarls, and foams at the mouth. Hates him.
Bear will continue barking but he comes to the house which is nice. Anyway, I needed to deal with the barking issue. I finally got a bark collar that sprays out citronella spray when the dog barks. WONDERFUL!!! It worked like a charm. Now when he wants to bark, he whines so it won't spray him.
The drawback is that while he has the collar on, Kiya won't go near him. She hates the smell of it. So he's shunned when he has it on. Plus, if he forgets and barks, Kiya comes running in the house.
The other day, Kiya did figure out how to manipulate that collar. She was eating her bone and Bear wanted it after finishing his. So he kept coming around her. She'd growl and he'd still pester her. Finally, she barked and he got sprayed! He left her alone after that.
Bear's Training Continues
Since Bear passed his eye exam, we have continued with our training. We usually get together once a month with other puppy raisers as a group (like we did at the Mall of America). We have a new one scheduled in our hometown which is nice. We have a mall here that is four stories, stairs (both regular and spiral), elevator, tile and carpet floors, inclined floors, glass railings on all upper floors, and it's attached to a skyway system. The dogs will get a really good training there. I will do an update after that training.
It has really been very uneventful. Bear seems to be perfecting what he knows. I was able to teach him to turn off the lights and to take my socks off. Once the dogs know the basic commands - anything can be taught. He knows tug - so I pulled my sock off a little (to protect my toes) and then I stuck it in his face and said tug - he did! Too smart.
He also knows rise and touch and so to get him to rise to the lighswitch and touch was easy. He also gets a visual reward when the light goes off or on. That helps too. I am at a little disadvantage with the light switches. I only have one that Bear can do head on. He is so big, it is difficult for him to learn on the lights in my hallway where he'd actually have to get to it sideways.
We've had a couple of possible leads of clients for Bear. One is in Minnesota which would be great! I am learning a little more about this person (from a third party) and trying to perfect the skills that this client needs so Bear could be ready fairly soon.
The person's main need is fetching. OH! Can Bear handle that or what? I've had to close off my child's room (which is a disaster) because Bear can't stand anything on the floor. He brings me everything. He's very clean. :) I was afraid that if I let him tackle my childs room, he'd have an anxiety attack. :)
The first of May he will be going to work with me everyday. He does a great job. It's very boring for him because I have a desk job. He just sleeps under my desk. I figure if he was at home, he'd be sleeping in his kennel. So it's just a tradeoff of location.
It has really been very uneventful. Bear seems to be perfecting what he knows. I was able to teach him to turn off the lights and to take my socks off. Once the dogs know the basic commands - anything can be taught. He knows tug - so I pulled my sock off a little (to protect my toes) and then I stuck it in his face and said tug - he did! Too smart.
He also knows rise and touch and so to get him to rise to the lighswitch and touch was easy. He also gets a visual reward when the light goes off or on. That helps too. I am at a little disadvantage with the light switches. I only have one that Bear can do head on. He is so big, it is difficult for him to learn on the lights in my hallway where he'd actually have to get to it sideways.
We've had a couple of possible leads of clients for Bear. One is in Minnesota which would be great! I am learning a little more about this person (from a third party) and trying to perfect the skills that this client needs so Bear could be ready fairly soon.
The person's main need is fetching. OH! Can Bear handle that or what? I've had to close off my child's room (which is a disaster) because Bear can't stand anything on the floor. He brings me everything. He's very clean. :) I was afraid that if I let him tackle my childs room, he'd have an anxiety attack. :)
The first of May he will be going to work with me everyday. He does a great job. It's very boring for him because I have a desk job. He just sleeps under my desk. I figure if he was at home, he'd be sleeping in his kennel. So it's just a tradeoff of location.
Monday, April 10, 2006
We love these dogs!
Here's Nancy getting up close and personal with Isaac. All of these dogs are in such loving homes.
A day just for fun!
We had an outing at our friend Deb's house. Most of these dogs are her pets. You can see Bear and his brother Joey (the two collies). Don't ask me who is who.
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