Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

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This 'N That Thursday

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Today I’m participating in This ‘N That Thursday sponsored/hosted/created by 2 Brown Dawgs blog.

You know sometimes you have little snippets, not quite enough for a full post.  Ah-hah yes, This ‘N That Thursday.

Training thoughts:

Forty-five minutes is not long enough for a dog training class. ( Or a therapist session for that matter.)  Tuesday night we worked on heeling and loose-leash walking.

Needless to say, I wasn’t really successful with either.

The class was held outside and I seemed to keep losing Delilah’s attention.  The instructor said, welcome to full moon.

Delilah wasn’t the only one, all the dogs were kind of edgy, one dog kept reacting to Delilah and I kept moving myself farther and farther from the class as clueless people who clearly have no understanding of reactive dogs, just lah-dee-dahed around.

We each took a turn heeling our dog and then with a loose leash, walking past a bowl of treats.  Since I was struggling with Delilah I fell back on heeling the way Sara taught me, by stepping back and using the leash to guide Delilah around my back.

Big No No.

The instructor then showed me how much extra work I was creating for myself by not luring Delilah with a treat, in front of the whole class. 🙁

Eventually we managed to walk past the bowl of treats.  Phew.

Out and About:

Saw this post on Something Wagging’s facebook page yesterday and it impressed me to no end.

My reply to a review product offer: “The lit collar is an interesting product. However, I see that DogTrainingCollars.com also sells collars that emit an electric shock to dogs.

The purpose of my blog is to encourage a positive, human/canine bond. I don’t believe that can happen if you shock your dog instead of using current scientific training methods.

Because of your client’s other products, I do not feel comfortable reviewing this item.”

Do you agree? Or disagree?

WOW, did I tell you I was impressed.  A woman who stands by her principles and cannot be bought.

I might have to write her name on the ballot in November. 🙂

How Do You Train Two Dogs?

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Part of the new training program Delilah and I are taking is to practice at home what we learned in class.

Here’s the problem I’m having.

Every time I pull out the treat bag, both dogs run over and sit in front of me.

I say, Delilah wait and walk about six feet away.

I look at Delilah and say front.

Both dogs run and sit in front of me.

You called?

I say yes and give the treat to Delilah.

I say Sampson wait and walk about six feet away.

I look at Sampson and say front.

Both dogs run and sit in front of me.

How do people with multiple dogs train?

I had this post all planned out and then….

I saw a video by Pamela at Something Wagging This Way Comes.  It seems Pamela is always helping me out with something!

Pamela was working with Honey while Cherie stood on the sidelines cheering them on.

Suddenly it all made sense!  Separate the dogs!

Why didn’t I think of this?

My house is fairly open, so I can’t gate one-off, but I can put one in the bedroom while I work the other or leave one in the house and work the other outside.

Thanks Pamela, once again you’re a lifesaver. 😉

Of course when we are out on the trail and both dogs respond you won’t hear me complaining. 🙂

Happy Birthday My Love

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Eight years ago today an amazing being was born.  Little did I know when I said, “I want a golden male” how my world would change.

You made me a better person, and I say that with gratitude.

You see before there was you, there we other dogs and I’m ashamed to say, I was one of those people who said, it’s just a dog.

I bought into all the archaic methods for training and raising dogs.  Sad how small my world was, huh?

I don’t know what it was about you that made me see the world so differently.

Maybe it’s those eyes, so deep and trusting.  They seem to look into my soul and dare me to be better, to give you the very best I can.

Or the way you get excited each and every time I come home.  Even if I’ve only been gone for 10 minutes.  Your smile says, I’m so happy to see you and so glad you are mine.

Honestly I could be having the worst day in the world, but I walk in the door and you smile at me and roooo roooo roooo and everything else just melts away.

You filled a part of my heart that was missing when your human sisters left home.  You gave me a reason to get up every morning and come home every night.  Suddenly I felt alive again and like I had a purpose.

I started writing this blog because of the amazing gift that is you.  And guess what I discovered?  There’s a name for dogs like you, they are called heart dogs.

A dog that grabs a hold of your heart and fills it with so much love it feels like it might burst.

That’s exactly what you’ve given to me.

Eight years ago you came into this world and shortly thereafter into my life.  I wish I could convey to you just how profoundly you have changed my life and how very much I love you.

Happy Birthday Big Guy, here’s to eight more. xoxo

Do you have to tell EVERYONE?

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