sick puppies don't work for treats

Sick puppies don't work for treats, and sick puppies don't have too much fun!

We have not done too much of anything the last three days, except run for the back door and outside every half hour that is. Maizey has a sick belly. A very sick belly. So it has been sleeping, in between the back door running, for her.

I had a poodle, Little Man, for 16 years. He got bit through his nose and top palette when he was a few weeks old consequently he snorted when he breathed. I listened to him snort and snore from the time he was three months old until he died last year. I listened to him breath for more than half my life. I would wake up and listen to him in the night and I would know he was okay from the rhythm of his breath. After he died I spent nights listening for his breath. I couldn't sleep w/ out his sounds.

Maizey is a silent sleeper, I still listen for her. She is a sound sleeper, I should know I have been holding her for two days while she sleeps. And she settles down good back into her silent sleeping after she wakes me up in the night to make the mad dash outside. I, however, don't settle right back down. I listen for her. The same way I hear Meeka get up after about an hour in her crate and come sleep next to my bed. The same way I hear her make the move to the living room chair (how such a big girl curls up so small I'll never know:)). I hear them because they are mine. I hear them and it doesn't seem like it bothers my sleep.

Is there a four legged lesson?

I guess its a heavy one, but I think its that you aren't bothered by what you love most. Because it's yours. . .

 . . .so you love them, even when they stick out their tongue at you and give you the evil eye.:))

Early Morning Walks

If there is one good thing about not sleeping its that being awake does give you more time w/ the four legged ones. Whether its the little one snoozing on my lap, or taking my big girl for an early morning walk to the park, you're never alone with a four legged friend around!

That being said here are a couple pics from the stroll to the park Meeka and I took this morning.

 

So many good sniffs!

And lots of space to run-

makes chasing me when we are practicing recalls the best!

 This series represents my favorite thing about rotti's in general and one of my many favorite things about my Meeka:

Its called the, "don't worry I'm on the 'wait and see' lookout."

A very balanced and healthy Rottweiler is one who will keep a watchful eye out, while always waiting to react until given direction.

sit-stays are so hard when mom keeps moving out of your field of vision and you believe a sit-stay means don't even turn your head. 

What a good girl I have!

And finally:

Rotti rears are so cute!

Sometimes Real Life Gets In The Way

One thing I have noticed, but still need to learn, is that "real life" often gets in the way when it comes to dog training.

So a short rant:

Life is busy. That is not news to anyone alive. And so often in the times we live in life is busy with things we just don't want to be busy with. So was the case today.

But the 4 legged lesson?

Well on my list of training goals today we had:
L2 zen test
L1 come
Barking zen @ petco
L2 LLW
L2 Watch
L2 Mat--check on adding cue
L2 Sit, Down-"YEP" (My work)
L2 Sit-stay, Down-stay--check on adding cue


What was accomplished was. . .well not any where near that much. Thus at the end of day I am left feeling like I didn't do anywhere near good enough today. My girlies? Oh they are great! Snoozing away contentedly in their crates with the doors open. And why not? Maizey passed her L2 zen test, and while I had a hard time at Petco, and probably stressed her out, for the most part it was okay. Meeka got to go for a ride in the truck, and has learned to swing the bucket, so of course she's really happy. So again the 4 legged lesson?

Humans (i.e. ME) often expect too much of themselves and others. Our brilliant 4 legged friends on the other hand know to be content w/ what is, and sleep the sleep of the happy.

A Full 4 Legged Day

Today was a full day of training fun stuff!

Maizey tested her L1 target and passed. When a dog tests a behavior it must be tested "cold". Meaning w/ no practice on that day. Some behaviors must be tested w/ no treats and clicker in the room. The L1 target test is as follows, "The dog must deliberately Touch the handler’s hand with her nose on only one voice cue. The hand in position is, naturally, a second, allowable cue." So Maizey's voice cue for a nose touch is simply "touch". Today she gets an A+ on her L1 touch! Tomorrow: L2 here we come.

Today was also bath day, which we usually combine w/ swimming. The tub isn't deep enough to actually doggy paddle(no pun intended;)). But she can wade around and it is the best exercise for her knees. Today we started working on helping her put her face in the water. Turns out cheerios are perfect for this, as they float and gradually sink. I throw a handful in the water and from there it's a simple matter of capturing when she dunks her face to go after the cheerio w/ a click/treat.

Along w/bath day we naturally worked on L2 handling since you should never bathe a dog w/ out brushing her out first. The handling test is, "Dog allows the handler to handle his ears, tail, and feet. This may be done on a table or on the floor. There must be minimal fussing." Maizey handles well, she should after 3 surgeries in a year! But this level builds a better association with being handled as a groomer, or vet would handle her. It also introduces grooming on a table, which we haven't done and is an interesting dynamic.

She also went for a ride w/ me so she worked on sitting nice in her seat, and being calm in the car otherwise known as "car zen." We also did our first barking/hush session at the dog park. But more to come on both "car zen" and "tell me/hush" later. 

Car zen:

"This "car seat zen" is no sweat!"

A tired puppy is a happy puppy!

Today I was reminded, again:), just how much happier the dogs are when we work for just a few minutes a day.

We always hear the vital importance of physical exercise for our 4 legged friends, but often neglected is the vital importance of mental exercise, or stimulation. Of course regular physical exercise can't be underestimated, but the truth is I see them just as tired from a few sessions of positive reenforcement training as from a good walk. Combine the two and they'll sack out for hours!LOL

That certainly showed tonight. Today we were in and out much of the day and the girlies entertained themselves (aka snoozed;)). They are fine to be left, never destructive or noisy. But when we got home in the afternoon they were full of energy. Normally this would be a great time for a walk, but that wasn't possible today. So with their dinner I did 3 ten minute sessions w/ Maizey, and basically a longer "play" session w/ Meeka.

Maizey did one session of L2 'down-stay'. She did excellent! Then a while later, as in after I put the dishes away, we worked one session of L2 'go to mat'. It was her first session working that and she really had to think, even though it is something she is familiar with. Then a few minutes later we did one session to practice for her L2 'zen' test. She has this down pat so its more like a fun game, less thinking.

It really just took about 30 minutes total, we both had fun and after that this is what we got:

 

Translation: A tired puppy is happy puppy!

Introduction

I thought it would be good to do a brief intro to the Training Levels program we are using for training. All detailed information can always be linked to at the Sue Ailsby's Training Levels link in the "Links Of Interest" sidebar.  There will be an index of terms that may be new or unfamiliar in the "Labels" sidebar under "Training Terms"

This is completely positive reenforcement training. I decided when we got Maizey to cross over from traditional training and am sold on this method. There are so many benefits, but one of the greatest to me is that this is FUN! And not just for me, but for the dogs too. Shaping, capturing, and luring with clicker training teach a dog to think. And it teaches the handler to think too. Trust me I have spent many hours scratching my head trying to figure it out!LOL

Another benefit of using positive reenforcement and the  Levels is how adaptable the skills are to each dog. Meeka, being the eminently teachable girl she is, certainly doesn't need to work the same skills, or the same order, as Maizey. But once you and the dogs have a good handle on the basic concepts you can customize the training to be exactly what each one needs.

Maizey is our main student, but Meeka's work is ongoing and will be peppered in here and there as I learn areas she needs work in. Maizey has tested and passed three of the five level 1 behaviors: sit, down, and zen. So she is working on level 2 behaviors except for target and come.

More later on what these behaviors are and what they involve for her, and for me!

maizey does punk rock

Today was toenail day for Maizey, so I thought we would work in some L2 Handling.

To pass the L2 Handling test the levels explain: "Dog allows the handler to handle his ears, tail, and feet. This may be done on a table or on the floor. There must be minimal fussing."

 

She really has no problem with having her toenails done. Generally I'm the one who is flinching and wimpy about it;)LOL But I usually trim her never ending feet hair, and her toenails wherever I am sitting down. Usually on the couch etc. So it was new to put her on the table. She did very well, although it is always interesting how adding one new element, such as the table, really changes the dynamic. 

One great thing about the  Training Levels is they expose holes in your training by adding in the details I would never think of. It is great (and greatly humbling) to see spots we need to work on in areas I thought we were pretty solid. There is always so much to learn.

Enter Maizey the punk rocker:

When Maizey was younger I used to despair that her ears would ever grow out and become real "Cavalier ears." Now that they have grown I find them continually in our way. So for toenail clipping we give her the 'punk rock' look. She doesn't mind too much since I always make sure its loose enough for her to shake out if she needs to. I certainly did get the evil eye today but it was more of the "Why are you STILL taking my picture?" variety.:)

 

Don't worry after a good role on the carpet the princess was back!