What's wrong with people part, part 212

I feel like this is becoming the main theme of my life. Why oh why do people put their dogs in situations that could harm them and/or others.

Before I get started, none of this involves my dogs....this time.

Part 1. A dog I've walked for several years, 4 days a week got bit a few weeks ago, when he was with me, by a dog being walked by another dog walker. I've walked Guido since he was 4 months old. There's not a mean bone in his body, he's not an obnoxious or annoying dog. He has good dog sense, he's one of the dogs I use to help socialize large breed puppies. I wouldn't take him around very small dogs, not due to aggressive or roughness, just general goofiness.

He was bit from behind, just while he walking by, doing nothing. He wasn't even looking in the direction of this other dog. It turns out this dogs has a history of this. why oh why was he running loose in a dog park with several other dogs?

Part 2. Someone Bill knows was bit by an off leash dog in the park near our home. (Yes, the same park where an off leash dog attacked Indy. Yes, the same park I rarely take my dogs to even though it's walking distance and the main reason we live here). Bill's friend was riding his bike by, and the dog came running toward him, then chased him and bit him.

There's this attitude in Frick park that as long as your dog doesn't go around viciously mauling dogs and people for no reason, and comes back (meaning doesn't run away entirely) they should be allowed to run and play off leash in the park. No one seems to think there is anything wrong with rushing towards anyone and anything. I wish people could understand your dog has no business going anywhere near anyone, without being invited. Even a friendly lab, rushing over to say "hi" could scare my little dogs, if they jump on my dogs they could seriously injure them.

I'm a huge supporter of dogs having the privilege to be off leash, but it has to be earned and there needs to be common sense. Be honest about your dog! Don't ruin things for everyone because you haven't put the time into truly training your dog. Every time a dog chases a bike it increases tension between bikers and dog walkers. Things have changed so much there, that it already has been ruined for us. Prior to this past Spring, I walked my dogs there just about every day, rain or shine for almost 10 years and that's been taken away because of people with no sense or concern for anyone else.

My pack does still get out, we drive in the car about 20 minutes to another park, that so far still is safe and fun for my dogs to play.

Rare happy photo of Kittie

Kittie can be a really silly dog, though she can be quite serious about her work. She almost never looks silly and carefree in photos though. She looks like all my elementary school photos; uptight, panic stricken but trying to look happy.

Here's a rare photo that really shows Kittie for who she is! A happy little nerd, who loves to run more than nothing else.

Young Dogs & old Dogs

A group shot taken this Fall of, Kittie, Abby & Indy "the three young ladies" as they're called around here.More and more lately it feels like I have two separate packs in my house. The young dogs and the old dogs.....even though Kittie, a member of the young dog pack is only 7 months younger than Willy. This Winter, I've really seen the differences, Rudy & Willy don't want to go for walks now that it's cold out, while the young ladies would stay out all day if I let them. This wouldn't be so bad, but there's the guilt of not doing agility with the older ones, so when we go to train, or away to seminars or trials, guess who gets left behind??

I know it's a normal shift, but I hate to think of them being left behind all the time.....even if they don't seem to mind one bit.

Dreaming about the farm

We live basically in the city, it's a really nice neighborhood overall, I should be happy here. A huge park, movie theater, several restaurants and cafes all within walking distance. A short drive to down town.....or more rural areas, really I should be happy, but I'm just not, no matter how much I try to convince myself.

I want to live where my neighbors are a bit further away. I want some land so the dogs can have more room for agility and to just run around and be dogs, without worrying about what psycho dog we're going to meet around the next corner, I want to have a garden again.

Both of our jobs are centered around the city, we don't want to spend time commuting. I'm used to being able to go home and get my dogs in the mid afternoon, that wouldn't be able to happen, and then I still wouldn't be happy.....so it's a tough no win situation.

Until I can figure it out, I'll just dream about our farm.

http://www.wolflakefarm.com/index.html

That's Bill

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/dailyphotogallery/?d=2009-12-30

Scroll through if you don't see Bill on his bike.....who needs hands while riding through city traffic?

Indy A frame training

Just a quick video of Indy's A-frame progress. Almost at full height now. Interesting that the best ones I'm a bit ahead of her, which is great because that's where I want to be anyway!

Just to be clear I did not use Silvia's method for the A frame (I did for the dogwalk) Indy's A frame was just a very gradual process, moving it up to full height inch by inch since the summer. I use a manners minder to deliver a treat, and a clicker and treats or play directly from me. She naturally vaults over the top. In this video 100% are in, but 1 was a bit high. Overall I'm thrilled!!

More notes

Better late than never right!

Puppies:

-tug is good, but don't forget running

-put running on cue

-Whenever your puppy is playing with other dogs, try to put yourself in the picture, run around with them.

Restrained recalls, do them two different ways

-Go, take off running and throw toy ahead of you as puppy catches up

- Also keep puppy close to you and reward at your side when they catch up. Also work on front crosses and reward at your side.

spend the most time on whichever one is the weakest.

If the puppy gets distracted first try running away from them, if needed have *someone else* go and get the puppy, you shouldn't ever be the bad guy.

Running contacts

#1 Make your dog run fast on the ground to something, whatever the dog loves. Food, toy even an obstacle like a tunnel. You can start by throwing the toy, but progress to the dog really running to a stationary toy/food.

#2 Take a picture of dog really running- that is how the dog should look on the dogwalk; head in a neutral position, legs split.....think of the way your dog looks chasing a squirrel!

#3 Run over a plank (should be wide and flat on the ground, so the dog doesn't have to worry about falling off) click when your dog looks like that picture of them really running.

In the beginning, don't be too picky about coming all the way down, the dog running is the most important thing, jack pot the low hits.

Gradually raise the plank up, just inches at a time

Don't reward jumping or trotting across the plank, in the beginning it is okay to reward the dog striding over the contact when running, but not okay to reward jumping and making the contact.

You very gradually start to reward specific low hits and/or foot placement.

a dog that has done a lot of clicker work, for tricks using front feet is more likely to understand they are being clicked for the way their front feet are hitting the plank.

Tricks

Silvia teaches a ton of tricks, mainly free shaped using a clicker. She teaches a "puppy class" that all dogs, regardless of age must take before starting agility and doing many of these tricks is a requirement to take agility.

Sit up/sit pretty. this progresses to the dog moving their front paws while sitting up, as well as moving their back feet while sitting up (like a penguin)

2 on 2 off Free shape the dog to put their back feet on an object, this progresses to moving backwards to step up on the object. Gradually move to higher and higher objects until the dog is doing a handstand

Circle an object with front feet, this is how Silvia teaches heeling

Jump in lap

Jump over leg

hold front/rear foot in the air...hold right/left side legs up.....hold left/right diagonal legs up

sit up to a stand and back to sit up position

backwards figure 8 around your legs

walk with a limp (front and rear foot)

put all 4 feet in a bowl, move to a smaller and smaller bowl

All of these tricks teach body awareness, how to think, offer behaviors. After all this agility should seem easy!