Saturday, March 21, 2009

Phoebe learns a trick

Well, really she has learned two things this week. But the big excitement is that she learned to poke a toy with her nose this week. I have been using the clicker on and off since December, pulling it out every now and then to see where she's at. Up until now the click has made her run off with her ears pinned back. I've been working on teaching some of the other dogs tricks near her crate to get her used to the sound and let her see that they are getting treats and she isn't. I've also been charging the clicker while she is locked in the crate, click treat click treat click treat. There is no where for her to run. It took a while before she would eat the treat. Recently she was starting to anticipate the treat in her crate so I figured now was as good a time as any! I put her on leash so she couldn't escape and took her downstairs to the "training" room in the house with her supper. I put a sheepskin toy on the ground and waited. She looked at it... click! I throw the cookie near the toy (she panics at the end of the leash). Soon she realizes I threw a kibble and she tentatively approaches...and eats the cookie...success! After ten pieces of food she was purposefully poking the toy with her nose and only retreating a few steps after the sound of the click. A work in progress for sure, but what an exciting step! She has figured out that her actions = food.
Her other big excitement this week is that she has figured out the joys of sleeping on a bed. :) I put her on leash the other night, picked her up, and put her on the bed next to me when I went to sleep. I kept her on leash for about half the night before I let her off. She stayed with me (I think because she was afraid to jump off but whatever). You could see the little wheels in her head going..ohhh...this is pretty comfy! So the last three nights I have been leashing her (this is the only way I can get her to pick her up still) and putting her on the bed. Already it has made a big difference in her comfort level around me. She is coming up to sniff my face (as long as I don't move an inch!) and is sleeping near me. As of last night she has figured out how to get up there by herself, now she won't get off! Ha! But whatever, I want to work up towards me being able to pet her and give her a little massage while she's there. She seems more comfortable with me at eye level (which makes sense).
Nepsa the aussie puppy is officially up for adoption. Please spread the word! This little cutie is looking for a home to love her and she will return it tenfold! She is a very nice moderately active dog who doesn't chew things, settles in the house nicely, walks well on leash, is crate trained, house trained, vaccinated, etc. She is deaf, and was undersocialized with adult dogs and the world in general so she needs to learn how to be comfortable in new situations. All around she is a lovely and pretty easy puppy. She also loves children so would be happy in a home with kids 10 and up.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

A fun weekend for all

So it was a trial weekend. Those are the best kind, despite the sore muscles and overall fatigue I just love running the dogs in agility. I also took the opportunity this weekend to work on socializing the fosters, Nepsa and Phoebe. Nepsa worked on being comfortable in the barn, doing her "tricks" in a strange environment, learning to wear a gentle leader and learning to not react to strange dogs (still a work in progress but much improved over the weekend). She had a great time socializing with all the people, she sure loves kids. She wiggles right out of her skin when she sees them! She has not learned the art of peeing on leash however, so that will be something I need to work on. Here she is showing off for all of you to see. Special thanks to our friend Joy for taking the photos!



Phoebe spent the weekend just getting used to all the noises and sights. She did sit in my lap for a bit and was able to take treats while up there but she was not especially happy about it. However, one thing at a time!



And a picture of Heidi and Sobe just because they are cute (Joy and her fantastic photography skills again!)



Thursday, March 5, 2009

Phoebe figured out the couch!

She did it! Phoebe has learned how to jump up on the couch! Yippee! I have picked her up a total of three times this week just to put her on the couch on leash to spend time watching t.v. She has been getting very special popcorn treats and tonight her supper hand fed to her while up there. About half way through I take off the leash so she has the choice to leave or stay. Usually she stays until the treats are gone and then she is off and back into her kennel sanctuary. Today I locked the door to her kennel about twenty minutes before we started, put the leash on her to pet her and then pick her up, put her on the couch and took the leash off right away. I hand fed her her dinner and she crawled right up on my lap to try and get her face in the bowl (she was mad since I fed all the others first and she had to watch!). Then when I got up to answer the phone she jumped off the couch as I expected but jumped right back up again. Yippee! So of course I rewarded that with some more treats. We'll see if she does it again. But now she knows she can do it I think sh'll be up there more often. I am hoping this will lead to her coming closer and lying near me, which will hopefully lead up to the dreaded "petting."

Gin the SPCA foster dog is doing really well. She has worked out the majority of her issues around resource gaurding and is doing fabulous with all the dogs in the house. She is crate trained nicely now and is showing me who she really is. She is a very soft little dog, if you raise your voice at all (Like Sobe get OFF the counter!) she hides in a corner. She is a very loyal little thing and likes to lie next to me wherever I am. With some confidence building she is going to be a fantastic little dog.