tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36698997605263836302024-03-05T05:13:07.375-05:00Life With VivreAfter years of working with rescue dogs, I got bit by the sports bug. So I got a schutzhund puppy. I guess we'll see how it goes.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-46185436466645317342011-07-26T15:34:00.002-04:002011-07-26T15:45:22.874-04:00UpdateThere really hasn't been much going on lately. My aunt has been sick for almost seven weeks. While she is doing much better she still isn't up to par yet so I have been busy lately. <br />
<br />
I had to hold off on Vivre agility class when she went in to heat and I haven't gotten a reply from the people yet on new class dates. Actually I think they have forgotten me, but with Marti being so sick lately I couldn't have gone any way. I had to cancel on Brydon twice for bitework and it has been so hot I have worried about Vivre's total inability to pace herself on hikes.<br />
<br />
We did go for a short hike to Dog Slaughter falls one day when it wasn't too hot. I have some short video, but I haven't gotten it posted yet and it isn't anything but Vivre fetching her toy in the creek and some shots of Vivre at the little beach there. <br />
<br />
On the video I was throwing her toy in the shallow rocky area which usually isn't a problem, but she went over a rock, slipped and pulled a muscle. She was fine, but I didn't do too much with her there after that. <br />
<br />
Here are a couple of the photos. They aren't great shots, but they are of Vivre so that is enough. Um... okay it won't let me post the shots so I will try again later. Just had to restart firefox...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qPFBRSt9qJXGYF0dgq8pugBIDCs0X8u6BmCE36m9FPQTnn8u4wiymvypVlvu0sSsez-xnQOloU0DCGQjHz7G_kozDY1j9_6jCt_6JzLz6hVPXsr834C6Wg-YXSrwuxz4HKT-oOQ00A/s1600/_IGP5713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qPFBRSt9qJXGYF0dgq8pugBIDCs0X8u6BmCE36m9FPQTnn8u4wiymvypVlvu0sSsez-xnQOloU0DCGQjHz7G_kozDY1j9_6jCt_6JzLz6hVPXsr834C6Wg-YXSrwuxz4HKT-oOQ00A/s320/_IGP5713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoRtXPsU0xt0ntkunXcOr-dEA147OXkFgR1PDCOI1KT54j84GOT84AelqeTP_cxi80fHMUz-NyDvLehGynrtGsYVHIhKsCOy7NRcyTFzQJ6co99cH-wwhKzN2SPJEwW1NDtxQKdDzfw/s1600/_IGP5718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoRtXPsU0xt0ntkunXcOr-dEA147OXkFgR1PDCOI1KT54j84GOT84AelqeTP_cxi80fHMUz-NyDvLehGynrtGsYVHIhKsCOy7NRcyTFzQJ6co99cH-wwhKzN2SPJEwW1NDtxQKdDzfw/s320/_IGP5718.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-21199792880491150502011-04-20T00:58:00.000-04:002011-04-20T00:58:35.403-04:00Show VisitI need to stop writing this blog when I am tired or in a hurry. Every time I go back it seems choppy. Oh well.<br />
<br />
I was only able to make it to the last day of the show over the weekend because of rain. Our road has started to flood when we get a hard rain, feel my annoyance. I never really paid that much attention to agility before Vivre. I thought it looked cool, but my dogs were all too old or had old injuries that kept it from being an option so I just never really got in to it. So my real introduction to agility was through Sprite pups. Mostly seeing videos of Thrill and Tilt and a few of Pico. I didn't truly get how impressive these dogs were on an agility course until this weekend.<br />
<br />
It seemed to me to be a very small show. There were only two rings going one JWW and one Standard, and a lot of the people seemed to know each other. I went primarily because I wanted to get a feel for the environment. I have very high standards about how I expect people to behave around dogs and with groups of dogs and I was pleasantly surprised. I can only think of two instances that caused me to raise my eyebrows. Well one that caused eyebrow raising and one where I just thought WTF are you thinking!<br />
<br />
Basically though I had a good time, I got to see responsible dog owners, which is a rarity in my life at times, and I decided that it really did look like a lot of fun and something that Vivre and I would love to do.<br />
<br />
Oh I forgot I ordered <a href="http://www.agilityrightfromthestart.com/">Agility Right From The Star</a>t and while I just got it in yesterday it seems to be a well written and logical book. I'll review it when I get done, but so far I like it better than either of the other agility books I have.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-47587595065260623842011-04-11T23:22:00.000-04:002011-04-11T23:22:06.472-04:00AgilityI went to watch an agility lesson where I think I will be taking Vivre for training. My plan had been to start privates, but the private instructor was in tonight's class and suggested doing a class first so I don't waste private time with how-to's. There is a AKC agility show this weekend I might go to. I haven't been to see AKC agility. <br />
<br />
I think agility is something Vivre will enjoy and everybody in the class tonight kept talking about how much fun it is, so it will certainly be more fun than working on schutzhund obedience all the time. I found a neat Natural Pet Store (yes that is the name) that has high quality kibble and frozen pet food as well as toys and healthy training treats that is conveniently located next to a human health food store.<br />
<br />
I think my old hound mix will be moving back in with us. This wouldn't be a problem except that the last two times she has been here Vivre has launched herself on her back and refused to let go. I don't get it as Aradia lived here up until four months ago. I did get her to lay next to Aradia the last time she was here, but it was an active "down," rather than a relaxed "Okay we have worked this all out." Luckily she doesn't hurt her and Aradia never even gets her teeth close to Vivre so it is something that hopefully can be fixed by simply getting their status worked out.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-68192211411761130702011-03-12T12:44:00.000-05:002011-03-12T12:44:58.870-05:00New Pictures.I let Vivre's second birthday go by with out a post. At least without a post here any way. But on flickr I posted several new shots taken on her birthday as well as some I took when we went hiking earlier this week. <br />
<br />
The last two nights I have let Vivre sleep with me. She is pretty good in the house, but I have been keeping her crated to provide some peace for the cats. The first night I forgot to take her Kong Wubba away. I lay in bed trying to sleep when I hear "Squeak, squeak, squeak." Great. I was too tired to put it up so I just took it and hid it from her under the blankets. That actually worked pretty well until I woke her up later trying to move my feet and she started digging for it again. Persistent little bugger. The crate is next to the bed so I could put her up with out getting out of bed. Last night she never moved until early this morning when she decided she had enough sleep and it was time to start herding the cats. She has always been an early riser. Hopefully she will stop that and start to sleep in.<br />
<br />
When coming back to my car after we went hiking I found a puppy abandoned in the woods to starve to death. I am having a hard time dealing. I need to find him a home and badly. And soon very soon.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-28951864847261506242011-01-30T21:43:00.001-05:002011-01-30T21:47:39.547-05:00New Pics UpThe new shots are up on flickr. Unfortunately I underestimated how fast Vivre was moving so I had to toss a lot of them for Motion blur, so most of the ones I have are where I used Vivre for scale in the landscape shots. But they are up and I plan on hitting that beach again once I have better hiking boots.<br />
<br />
P.S. Vivre is still sleeping. But she has perked up once or twice so I am not quite as concerned as I had been. Usually she is still aware and curious about whatever is going on around her, but tonight she has just slept through it all. I was relieved when she jumped up to do whatever it is she does when the cats so something strange.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-79633328960699526752011-01-30T18:07:00.001-05:002011-01-30T19:44:37.886-05:00I think I broke my dog.We went hiking on a new trail today. I really need to get a pedometer, because I have no idea how far we went. Since it was Sunday and in January I let her off leash several times.<br />
<br />
I let her off first to photograph a little waterfall. While I am composing the shot I hear a splash. Spinning away from the camera I look and Vivre has launched herself in to the creek. It is January. Granted it was a nice day, but still that water had to be frigid. I got more pictures of her today then of the scenery. Though there was motion blur in a lot of them.<br />
<br />
Finally we found this great little beach. Just a strip of sand, but with calm water and full sun. Once again she dove straight in to the water. Since I had a little floating frisbee in my bag we played with the frisbee. When I tossed the frisbee in the shallow area near where I was sitting she hit the water so hard going for the frisbee that she got water up her nose. She got back to land, dropped the toy and snuffed the water out. She did finally start to get cold, so I just tossed the frisbee on the little beach until she dried off. However I think all that running combined with the hiking up and down has actually worn her out. I didn't think it could be done. But once we got home she curled up in the chair next to mine and fell asleep. I'm actually a little worried. I am not sure I have ever seen her this tired before. If I have it doesn't happen often. I will have the pictures up soon.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-23048963307707584242011-01-17T18:28:00.000-05:002011-01-17T18:28:33.353-05:00Another Agility Video<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eCfYwrOW1YA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eCfYwrOW1YA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-62828452966868788622011-01-13T14:27:00.000-05:002011-01-13T14:27:02.114-05:00After a good night's sleep...she has completely recovered. And is running around totally revved once again.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-57333894598350317562011-01-12T19:56:00.001-05:002011-01-12T20:03:18.928-05:00Mental WorkWinter is killing me. I don't remember Vivre having this much excess energy last winter. So I have started trying to find mental work to wear her down a little. One of the things I have been putting out her tricky treat ball and letting her knock it all over the house. Other times I hide her tug and then send her to find and retrieve it for a quick play session.<br />
<br />
We have also been doing some shaping sessions. I have a much easier time shaping when I am not working on a behavior that is necessary for competition. I need to remember what Wayne would tell me about the horses. If I mess it up we can fix it. Oddly enough I have tried on several occasions to get started with sending Vivre out and around something it has never seemed like she really <i>got </i>it. At least until tonight. I started the session just clicking for a head movement with no idea of where I would go from there, but she made it very easy to click her for going behind the bookcase and by the end of the session she was going behind the bookcase and all the way around and back to the front.<br />
<br />
I have been so freaked about retrieves because I really didn't want to mess it up so I haven't started for fear of that. (Same with tracking.) But I found a place in Knoxville that does both obedience and agility. I was looking for a place for private agility lessons, but may throw some obedience lessons in there as well. They are supposed to use positive methods, and I will go observe them first. Even with my primary sessions being agility I will try and observe the obedience classes since I think it is easier to see if they will resort to compulsion in that setting than in agility. Unfortunately I can't get down there to meet them or have any lessons until everything defrosts and I can get off this freaking mountain. <br />
<br />
But for the first time in days I have finally gotten Vivre worn out and she is sleeping on the bed using a stuffed toy as a pillow. I had almost forgotten what peace was like around here.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-39616897686871793542011-01-07T19:24:00.000-05:002011-01-07T19:24:52.931-05:00More new PhotosI took Vivre out to play in the snow today. She of course had a blast. New photos on flickr. The snow was coming down pretty hard so it is kind of hard to see in some of them and it was difficult at times to get a good focus, but they show her running and jumping around so they accomplished my goals.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-80247380118554324292011-01-06T00:38:00.000-05:002011-01-06T00:38:55.940-05:00Outsmarted!With the near constant rain and snow we haven't done much work of any kind lately. Even on the days that the sky doesn't leak something it is dark and cold and dreary. I'm from Florida. I am a sun worshiper. Winter always puts me in a bad mood.<br />
<br />
I decided tonight that Vivre really needed to work on something. Between the weather and the holidays I wont' even tell you how long it has been since we have worked on anything new. Or really done much besides you "Down," or "Fuss," as anything other than an excuse to play.<br />
<br />
<br />
I decided to get Vivre's mind working I would start shaping something. As a puppy we worked on her running out and going around something which we will need for a blind search, but we only did a few sessions. Well Vivre doesn't particularly like to leave me any way (she will work at a distance if she is already there, but asking her to turn her back on me and leave is just too much) and combined with the lack of training lately that just wasn't happening.<br />
<br />
Okay, my bad. But she was practically in my lap and I wanted some distance. So we went to something familiar and I pulled out a piece of cardboard and had her run out and stand on it. She can do this because it is such a familiar exercise. Which I guess means I need to find something thinner for her to go around.<br />
<br />
I started with her already out there and treating her from a distance. Then started making her come in and run back out. Every time she would hit the cardboard it would slide a little further away. Cool self-increasing criteria. But Vivre apparently didn't like that. After about five minutes she picked up the cardboard and carried it to me dropping it at my feet. Then stood on it waiting for her treat. I should mention (if I haven't already) Vivre likes noise. And laughter counts. So when I started cracking up she thought that was the greatest thing in the world and picked the cardboard up and just carried it all over the room. Tickled with herself. It is a good thing I don't have a fragile ego or being outsmarted by my dog would be really hard for me.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-48546474651647894742010-12-31T16:28:00.002-05:002010-12-31T16:34:58.023-05:00Happy New Year!I actually have plans tonight. Shocking. But I did get a new camera lens yesterday so expect new pics of Vivre as I play with it. I loaded one of the new ones up on flickr, but I haven't tweaked any of them yet so the others will have to wait.<br /><br />We finally have had a break in the snow and cold weather so hopefully Vivre and I will get out and get some work done. Any way I just wanted to say...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Happy New Years!</span></span><br /></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-84971886708892359862010-12-29T14:16:00.003-05:002010-12-29T14:21:36.609-05:00Agility is Rocket Science!These are hilarious!<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LNvQAev1PCs?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LNvQAev1PCs?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o2MBo6GX8ro?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o2MBo6GX8ro?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-25825819626600223572010-11-25T01:30:00.003-05:002010-11-25T01:50:39.154-05:00Happy ThanksgivingThanksgiving is a day filled with both laughter and irritation (because really what family gatherings aren't?) We will meet at my parent's house reminisce and talk about all the turkey's my mom has attempted to make. Like the year the rubber sink mat stuck to the bottom of the frozen turkey, filling their apartment with the noxious smell of burning rubber and providing holiday cheer to the employees of 1-800-Butterball.<br /><br />Then we will watch the turkey episode of WKRP. For those of you who have never had the pleasure, the turkey episode is hilarious, warpy, but hilarious. So here is <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/322/wkrp-in-cincinnati-turkeys-away">Turkey's Away</a> Watch and enjoy, Happy Thanksgiving.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-68486658309804281382010-11-21T12:54:00.001-05:002010-11-21T12:58:01.887-05:00Hilarious!Funny and true.<br /><br />http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.htmlBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-83001890247080843292010-11-21T12:12:00.002-05:002010-11-21T12:44:39.958-05:00Vivre can't howlPoor Vivre, it really is so embarrassing. When the dogs are outside and the wolves start to howl the dogs will join in. Yoda is a GSD/Siberian cross. Thanks to his Sibe heritage he can howl beautifully. Even Apollo, the golden (?) cross can howl. Not a pretty howl, but he can howl. Vivre... not so much. Everyone is howling and Vivre is yipping. Over and over again. These little high pitched yips. Thankfully Vivre is blissfully unaware of how pathetic she sounds in contrast to the beautiful howls of the wolves. I am hoping that one day she learns to howl, preferably before she becomes aware of how sounds. <br /><br />On a totally different note she totally shocked me the other day. Cold weather has sparked Yoda's energy level. At twelve his activity level is usually confined to short burst. I think having Vivre has been good for him because it has kept him active and for a twelve year old GSD he is still very mobile. Lately he has started play fetch. Something quite hard to do with Vivre around as she is so much faster than he is and will always get the toy first. I have started putting Vivre outside or in the crate while we play. Typically this upsets Vivre quite a bit she wants to play. So when I let her out and throw the toy for her she grabs it and runs around the house squeaking it ceaselessly. I can practically hear her mentally going "Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine," in time with the squeaks. She lays on the bed and squeaks it some more then launches herself to the floor and starts the circling all over again. The shock came yesterday morning. Yoda brought me the toy and instead of putting Vivre up I just started tossing it in a way where Vivre couldn't get to it first due to position and the lay out of the furniture. However when I turned to throw it the other way she actually stood still and let Yoda get it. She never stays still in the face of thrown objects and certainly never lets another get the toy. <br /><br />I am sure she will return to her normal level of selfishness and I have no doubt that it will never happen again, but it does give me hope that she is growing up a little and I may actually be able to throw a dumbbell and have her wait until I send her to go get it.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-72896085739689945262010-11-08T20:39:00.005-05:002010-11-08T22:13:42.472-05:00Day 2Sunday was day two with Denise. It was just as good as day one. I liked that there were so many different dogs there, we got to see how Denise tailored the exercises for the specific dogs the she was working with. I love stuff like that. I am such a geek.<br /><br />Since I had that annoying front problem where Vivre wanted to stand at an angle instead of directly in front of me I decided we would work on that. I got up there and Vivre sits perfectly. Surely that was a mistake. I move and she's dead center again. We did this several times and while she did get a little crooked she never got that far off. What the Hell! Of course that turned out to be a good thing since we then switched to heeling where I discovered that <span style="font-style: italic;">I CAN"T WALK A STRAIGHT LINE!</span> How did that happen? Of course Vivre forges but that's my fault, it is easier to see her if she is forward and I have inadvertently trained that, but my walking in to her is the reason she gets wide on me. So I come home today and start to work and I still can't walk a straight line. I am walking along the tile lines on my floor and I get so busy walking along the lines I quit watching Vivre. I am going to have to figure this out. I also need to learn how to work with a leash. If I can handle 25 foot lunge lines I should be able to handle a 7ft leash, but apparently I can't. I picked up a thinner leash that Brydon made and I am hoping that will help. She had some very nice collars and leashes. I need to measure Vivre's neck for her collar.<br /><br />I also bought new toys. I was just tickled when I walked in and saw a table full of toys Denise brought. We got another <a href="http://www.thedogathlete.com/shop/french-linen-tug-with-handle-%E2%80%93-8%E2%80%9D-or-10%E2%80%9D-length/">French Linen</a> tug since Vivre really likes those and Denise suggested we stick with that and I picked up a <a href="http://www.thedogathlete.com/shop/gripper-jute-frisbee/">Gripper Flipper</a>. So Vivre now has a frisbee we can tug with too. She loves it!<br /><br />Denise also gave me a suggestion for teaching the blinds so that Vivre doesn't go too wide around the blinds and I don't have to fix it later. Which makes me glad that I have only done some basic work with going around object.<br /><br />Darren showed up Sunday afternoon so Denise could watch the dogs work. She had a lot of good suggestions for Darren with Vivre, but Vivre did pretty well considering it was only the second time Darren had worked with her.<br /><br />I'm feeling energized to get back to work. Just in time for winter :-) Vivre doesn't mind the cold near as much as I do. I will probably just have to suck it up and deal with it. I hope it isn't as bad as last winter. I couldn't handle that.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-78117423352925631342010-11-06T20:36:00.003-04:002010-11-06T21:07:22.746-04:00Day 1 with DeniseThis weekend is the seminar with Denise. Today was great. I have walked away with ideas for when I start working on the formal retrieve and some ideas for helping to get a closer heel. And after following Denise's suggestions for tug delivery on the down after only a handful of reps she has quit levitating her elbows. That is something I have been struggling to fix and had no idea how I was going to do it.<br /><br />Tomorrow we are going to do more work with the dogs and I have to decide what I want us to work on. I have so much I need to work on that it is hard to decide. I am thinking maybe fronts, I really need to get her straight. What she does now can barely be called a front, though I also got some great info on fixing that problem today too. I wish I had brought my hula hoop. If I had my ideal it would be to work on send outs. I can down Vivre and walk away either still or out of motion but she doesn't like moving away from me. I don't know about working on that at the seminar since I am not sure how I feel about working her off leash around strange dogs. Okay I know I am paranoid. <br /><br />On another note I have a new appreciation for Yoda. This is the first time I have been away with just Vivre. So far we have trained with food, trained with toys, I've tossed food around the room for her to eat, and we've trained some more, and trained some more. She finally has curled up on the bed and gone to sleep. She has also been very good about noises in the hotel. I was a little concerned and the first time she heard people she started to bark, but after I hushed her she has mostly ignored the noises. I am off to make my notes from today and veg before tomorrow.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-39238534940437886712010-11-03T17:47:00.002-04:002010-11-03T18:15:31.416-04:00Sick as a ...On my way back from Lexington I started to feel pretty bad, I made it home, fell in to bed and stayed there until Thursday. Even then I really wasn't up to par. It was two full weeks before I was better. Now I am having to deal with the things that didn't get done while I was sick, getting ready for this weekend and dealing with my post election funk, when I am faced with the depressing fact that I am surrounded by republicans. As a result none of the stuff I wanted to work on before the seminar got done. <br /><br />I haven't even taken Vivre out in public. We have worked quite a bit in strange places, once she realizes that I have a tug she will focus and work regardless of whether or not I have taken her out lately. Hopefully I will be able to make time tomorrow to get some work done before I leave on Saturday.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-67103551625710178372010-10-22T22:36:00.004-04:002010-10-22T23:04:03.097-04:00Pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZyTo_qD9vzdWAfie3rJIbXqTpAWeh6JDXD1bS3ly5lXD4q7TWetwgyP0SiTRpXxqp1O1_AWTEruZb9_AsHIkFbFZG-ZbluXfPeMkqcbkRy831Nx5pV8ayGIrDkXspQ1ZoVjv8gxbZw/s1600/vivre1010.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZyTo_qD9vzdWAfie3rJIbXqTpAWeh6JDXD1bS3ly5lXD4q7TWetwgyP0SiTRpXxqp1O1_AWTEruZb9_AsHIkFbFZG-ZbluXfPeMkqcbkRy831Nx5pV8ayGIrDkXspQ1ZoVjv8gxbZw/s200/vivre1010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531066757972752178" border="0" /></a>Here is a couple of new pictures of Vivre. I think she might actually look like a dog now.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SPPCH5pPxZ85_jRqDoYIfMcvbAD-YzX4oIcxz8usllOV0YA75jqqHphp5ce6iYgqiyg8MXLjnxiMIfbUbyYP5ix4mGY93Ok9BDYhzuz4pYZoLcbk_9aKHAYt-boiq0tP_whNFvMymQ/s1600/vivre1010head.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SPPCH5pPxZ85_jRqDoYIfMcvbAD-YzX4oIcxz8usllOV0YA75jqqHphp5ce6iYgqiyg8MXLjnxiMIfbUbyYP5ix4mGY93Ok9BDYhzuz4pYZoLcbk_9aKHAYt-boiq0tP_whNFvMymQ/s200/vivre1010head.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531069583138599970" border="0" /></a>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-68162846745612653362010-10-20T22:09:00.003-04:002010-10-20T23:40:15.141-04:00Vivre meets DarrenLast night Vivre and I headed up to Lexington to work with Brydon and her helper, Darren. I am very grateful that Brydon set this up since my club basically shut down when the T.D started a new job. As a result Vivre hasn't done any bitework in about a year. I like Darren, he talked to her the whole time he was working with her and he has a very playful manner with the dogs. Vivre definitely enjoyed herself and I love being around dog people. Around here when I start talking about dog stuff people get this glazed over look in their eyes. <br /><br />I also got to see Brydon's boys while I was there. You can tell that Vivre and Wicked are related, they share a lot of traits especially behaviorally. Wicked is surprisingly not that much bigger than Vivre though he has a lot more fur than she does and of course has filled out more.<br /><br />I had to swing by petsmart and pick up some crickets for my aunt's frog, so Vivre also had her first trip to a pet store. She has gone to the feed store with me in the past, but last night made it clear that I haven't take Vivre out to work in new places lately. That last couple of weeks it was because she was in heat, but even before that we had been mostly working around the mountain. I couldn't even get her to heel from the car to the door of the pet store. Pathetic.<br /><br />The seminar with Denise is in a couple of weeks. So I need to get her out working in new places again or she will be totally worthless at the seminar. I am also going to try and pretend to be an organized individual and make a list of things I have to work on, train, or fix. Off the top of my head...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Front</span> - I accidentally trained a wonky orientation. She doesn't want to sit directly in front of me but canted to the side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Impulse Control- </span>I have done a fair amount of impulse control with the tug and am usually glad that I live alone when I do. I would hate to have to explain to somebody why I am bouncing on the bed, singing (badly) and swinging the tug around my head like a lasso. What I haven't worked on is impulse control when I throw things (like a dumbbell)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Duration and Distance-</span> I need more duration on the down, if it is apparent that we are actively working she holds the down, but I haven't built the duration that I need, especially if I am not looking at her. I also need more distance than the down and sit out of motion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracking-</span> I really, really need to start tracking. We have done only a handful of tracks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Revier-</span> We have had a couple of shaping sessions teaching her to go around buckets, but I haven't gotten it solid and we will need that behavior for the blind search.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stand-</span> This is just stupid on my part. I totally forget about stand. I am putting this on a fairly high priority because I don't want to get a lot of reps of sits and downs out of motion then try to add stand later.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Retrieve- </span>I have started back chaining the retrieves but the retrieves make up a lot of points in a schutzhund trial that I am a little paranoid about messing it up. <br /><br /> I need to fine tune my heeling, especially right about turns where she gets a little wide or occasionally forward. Now I remember why I don't like to make lists. I start thinking about everything I need to get done and think... well I won't use that kind of language here. Of course if I made lists then I might be more organized and more likely to get things done. Stands, Fronts, and added distance and duration on downs are the top three things on the list. I also need to get a jump so I can start training that as well. I might take a shot at building it. I will need to build the a frame so the jump might be good practice for me. Of course watching me attempt to hammer anything is amusing, but I figure that is why they invented drills.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-28885259580322278142010-09-24T23:03:00.004-04:002010-09-24T23:48:30.726-04:00Still GrowingI had all kinds of great plans for this month. I am trying to get training sessions scheduled with Brydon and Wicked. I had planned to take Vivre to the beach and get some lovely fall photo hikes in. I also just got bought some floating rope as well as a floating frisbee and a bumper. And now she has gone in to her second heat cycle and blown all my plans. Now I remember why I tend toward males.<br /><br />I might have to break down and order her little heat panties, but I am holding out until I can find some that aren't humiliating. All of them are either pink or have little ruffles. Or, brace yourself for the horror, are pink polka dotted with ruffles. Vivre would bite me and with good reason. (Note: I hate the color pink. For most people the regular pink might not be too bad, but I just can't look at pink.)<br /><br />So she has just started her second heat, and now I am really having to get in to the spay or not to spay mode. I really have no intention of breeding her since I can't imagine trying to find homes for a whole litter of little Vivres. Just the thought causes me to be in awe of Denise. But I don't want to spay her until she is finished growing, plus there are the new studies that show spaying to increase various health problems.<br /><br />I am at least going to wait until November. I'll let Denise look at her and see if she thinks she is finally finished growing. Vivre has actually grown about 1/2 inch since July. Putting her at 20.5 inches in height. She is still so small and delicate looking.<br /><br />I'm trying to fix my wonky fronts. I goofed up badly when training heel. I started by having her place her front feet on a target and then clicked for hip movement. However I focused on hip movement and didn't notice that she had decided that she had to be at an angle to me when in front of me. Her heel is fine, but she wants to front at an angle. I have gone back to basics and back to the foot target and started clicking hip movement that only moves her toward straight. But if anybody has any other ideas I would be glad to hear them. I have to get up early tomorrow. I hate getting up early.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-2913377444575335382010-09-05T01:13:00.004-04:002010-09-05T01:41:50.016-04:00More HikingSo went hiked back out to dog slaughter yesterday. It was a beautiful day and since it had rained the first part of the day I figured that nobody would be on the trail. Thankfully I got an earlier start than last time so I wasn't racing the sunset. I didn't really get to notice how pretty the trail was before. Which I suppose became really obvious when about 3/4 of the way down the trail I looked around and realized I didn't recognize anything. I actually thought I was lost and turned around before I finally realized I hadn't been lost at all.<br /><br />Once we got to the to falls I turned her loose and she had a blast running around and playing. I also discovered that Vivre isn't a great swimmer. So that is something to work on. I may head out to the lake and let her get some swim practice in. I don't want to take the hike back from dog slaughter completely soaked if I get in to help her. I didn't get any great shots of her, so I ordered a new lens this morning. It is an old manual prime, so even though it won't auto focus it is faster than what I am using now and should let me shoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyR5ASSGEU6aHDqSALmjumPIJo6maXK0SXrxLUyULPOEqoF1a1W1bWCDrVB8yJe630D3_j8BDnoy8ZeRD0oTFZtS5-LA2WaDo6UxYRyNFSColzZk_Fe05599EVF4mw_opleFj4pqR8w/s1600/vivreswim2.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyR5ASSGEU6aHDqSALmjumPIJo6maXK0SXrxLUyULPOEqoF1a1W1bWCDrVB8yJe630D3_j8BDnoy8ZeRD0oTFZtS5-LA2WaDo6UxYRyNFSColzZk_Fe05599EVF4mw_opleFj4pqR8w/s200/vivreswim2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513300049015639682" border="0" /></a>t some distance shots in low light.<br /><br />Here is a couple of the shots of Vivre "swimming," I doubt you will see much more than the water, but it will give you an idea.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHIARypJoWIc0vCVZBsDaKZZhp2mpoiznYf0yHPgXnWTOYW0zpNE9UmKi22zOrnG0W4gkNWcagTkRHhAVgXKOjhT0H5Fs98FfIqFkO7aP2FyhC81GOdjnvXux5m0OABCV3PNJEG6K0w/s1600/vivreswim.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHIARypJoWIc0vCVZBsDaKZZhp2mpoiznYf0yHPgXnWTOYW0zpNE9UmKi22zOrnG0W4gkNWcagTkRHhAVgXKOjhT0H5Fs98FfIqFkO7aP2FyhC81GOdjnvXux5m0OABCV3PNJEG6K0w/s200/vivreswim.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513300053834395250" border="0" /></a>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-69446924093687976982010-08-27T15:51:00.003-04:002010-08-27T16:10:20.273-04:00Offering BehaviorsI haven't posted much about what Vivre and I have been doing. There have been a couple of times I was thinking "Oh I have to blog about this," only to get busy and forget. The last week or so I have started working on having her either lay calmly on her side. I want to work her through the relaxation protocol and start the mat work from CU. We have done several of the other games in CU, but not the mat work. I opted against using her regular down because it has such a strong reinforcement history I don't think she will relax in that position. Instead she will be ready to keep working. So now she knows that if she lays on her side she will get petting and puppy massage. (Rubbing circles on her jaw just knocks her right out.) And a position that I hope to condition to mean "this is calm time."<br /><br />Since it is so easy to let her roll all the way over on her back from that position I have also rewarded her rolling over with all four feet in the air. What she usually does is roll over first and bat at me with one of her paws then when I start petting her she rolls back and lays on her side. So it has become a way to solicited calm petting time. (She either nose bumps me or drops a ball at my feet if she wants to work)<br /><br />I absolutely cracked up last night. Apollo, my golden mix, doesn't really care for Vivre and will mostly completely ignore her. After calling her away from him after repeated pestering attempts I watched her go right over to Apollo, look at him for a second and then lay right down in front of him and roll over then start batting at his face with her paw. The exact same behavior she uses to solicit attention from me. <br /><br />I don't really do puppies. The house training and the teething and the complete lack of a decent night's sleep (and this is just a few weeks, I can't imagine parenthood.) But having a dog that has learned from the start how to trade behavior to get what she wants is just great. She is such a hoot.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669899760526383630.post-83628362096730768772010-08-22T15:33:00.004-04:002010-08-22T16:57:08.792-04:00What We Can Learn From This....There has been a lot of news around town about Bugsy's death. I have heard several comments and reports blasting animal control. The fault in this situation lies not with Wayne, who tried for four days to catch that dog, and finally had to make a hard decision, but with the dog's owner. Bugsy's owner failed his dog in many ways. The most obvious by not keeping him confined safely in his yard and then by not coming to get Bugsy when he broke his chain. But his irresponsibility goes much further than that.<br /><br />Before I go any further I would like to say that while I personally have no problem blasting this individual that isn't the purpose of this post. I want people to look at the mistakes made in this situation and learn from them.<br /><br />The owner (who hasn't yet been named) picked a breed with a tendency to roam even though he didn't have any way to properly confine the dog. Please do your research when choosing a dog breed. (If you go to the shelter to pick mix it can be difficult to narrow down breeds, but these dogs are usually full grown and hopefully the shelter staff can give you an idea of the dogs personality and temperament.)<br /><br />Puppy Socialization is very important. Dog's have a finite period of socialization during that time they need to be properly introduced to a number of different people, places, and situations. Dog's with protective tendencies (such as Great Pyrs) require extensive socialization and that shouldn't be forgotten. Puppy socialization is an important and extensive subject beyond the scope of this post. However because it is so important Dr. Ian Dunbar has made his books <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BEFORE%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf">Before You Get Your Puppy</a> </span>and <a href="http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/AFTER%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf"><span style="font-style: italic;">After You Get Your Puppy</span></a> available for free online. Socialization is a big thing for me, it needs to be done and it needs to be done well. As a vet Dr. Dunbar is concerned with balancing the socialization needs with the need to keep the dog safe from disease. Personally I would avoid public dog parks and similar places, but consider lack of socialization a far more dangerous disease than parvo since it kills so many more dogs.<br /><br />Socializations isn't all there is, genetics and temperament also play a huge role in personality and can limit how friendly the dog will be with strangers. As live stock guardian breed he was never going to be an outgoing loves everybody kind of dog. According to the AKC the Great Pry should be "strong willed, independent, and somewhat reserved, yet attentive, fearless, and loyal to his charges -- both human and animal." From the descriptions this didn't describe Bugsy. As time went on I heard more about how it took time before he would come to the people trying to feed him and his timid personality. This was likely a combination of poor socialization and genetics.<br /><br />Picking a breeder and a puppy is a very important part of getting a puppy. A dog with good genetics can over come a lack of socialization. It is important to note that a good temperament genetically can come from a crappy breeder. My aunt has a puppy mill poodle who spent the first several years of his life in a small crate full of his own filth and now is very friendly with strangers. (Though he has still bitten in fear.)<br /><br />If you don't have the time or the experience to put in to a dog that will require more training and/or socialization then either pick a breed and a breeder who will give you a dog that is naturally more inclined to be friendly or go to a rescue and get an adult dog that will fit your needs.<br /><br />The "Come Game" is a wonderful tool for teaching both puppies and adult dogs to come to people. Directions can be found <a href="http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20dogs/levels/bylevel/1level.html">here</a>. If you have a puppy or adult dog that seems to be reactive to strangers the best resource I can suggest is <a href="http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=dtb943">Control Unleashed</a> by Leslie McDevitt. The book is worth at least twice its weight in gold.<br /><br />Please learn from this tragedy and do what you can to make sure that your dogs and Wayne never have to go through anything like this again.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03766533501802272448noreply@blogger.com1