Worked on some freestyle with Spencer tonight. It was 10:39PM and I had been watching some YouTube videos of disc dogs *coughbordercolliescough* and I got the itch to practice with him. We worked “around” where he runs behind my back (to the right) and comes to the front of me on the left side so I can throw for him. We did some long distance catches (as “long distance” as my living room can be considered). Also some short distance/height catches where he’s right in front of me but he has to really jump for the catch.
In general he’s really improving. We haven’t mastered leg weaves… or rather, we haven’t gotten leg weaves at all, ever. He’s really good at “spin” and all of his other tricks (sit up, shake, wave, roll-over, bark) in exchange for the disc which is good. What I would really like to get before our little demo in July is leg weaves and him jumping over my leg in preparation for a knee/leg vault. OMG and we’re going to start work on a back vault.
In less interesting news Dad got me a new nalgene when he was in California this past week and I LOVE it, but I left it in my car yesterday the whole time I was at work. So then today Mom made a big deal about me remembering to get it down at work, so I got it down at work… and forgot it there. And I’m off tomorrow and Thursday. 
Oh but Mackenzie did a really good Stand for Exam AND Stand in motion while at work.
Filed under: work
Or Dog-proofing your Child?
I was explaining to some people today that their male un-neutered Pit Bull was most likely escaping their enclosed kennel in the back yard because he was interested in mating with the dog next door (their female Pit is thankfully spayed). As I was talking I, of course, had Mackenzie with me. Normally when I am talking to people it involves talking about training so she had her eyes fixed on me and was in a sit position. So I go on talking to this couple and I notice their little girl is very interested in Mackenzie.
A few seconds later I see that she has taken Mackenzie by the neck with both hands and is restraining/attempting to choke her. I saw her out of the corner of my eye and was about to yell at her when she stopped. I thought maybe it was an accident (Mackenzie was surprisingly calm about it so I figured the little girl hadn’t been applying enough pressure to actually bother her). I continue talking to her parents and AGAIN the little girl does it. This time however she moves from just grasping Mackenzie’s neck to actually holding her muzzle closed with one hand while sticking her face in Mackenzie’s face.
Thank goodness Mackenzie is pretty child-proof, (she’s been accidentally kicked, dragged, poked, pulled, stepped on, choked, etc. by kids yet she still loves most of them). When I caught the little girl with her hand around Mackenzie’s mouth I said “Hey! What are you doing?” and the father also got mad at her later for doing that.
I can’t imagine it would make for a good headline if that little girl did something like that one too many times to either one of their pit bulls…
—
In unrelated news I’m currently planning Spencer’s 3rd birthday party…
Every week on one of my days off we go to this elementary school park (which becomes a public city park after school hours) and let the dogs run around off-leash (which is probably illegal but there is usually NO ONE there at that time anyway). I was thinking that since most of his birthday presents would relate to going to the park including but no limited to:
some new Chuck-it balls:
a new supercool Orka frisbee (no picture online since it’s a fairly new product I believe)
a Kong on a rope thingy:
that why shouldn’t we celebrate AT the park. Usually we just meet one of my clients and her Aussie Matilda, but I was thinking we could invite a few more people and their dogs and let them all run around and play and have doggie birthday cake and take pictures. Wow, I just got giddy thinking about it.
I think if Mackenzie were a real person she would be some kind of life counselor or a psychiatrist. She has this incredible ability to get through to not only people but she is simply amazing with other dogs.
As some of you may know, a few months ago Mackenzie was showing some real signs of dog aggression. Her label would be “dog-reactive” or “leash-reactive” but to the average dog owner she would be considered “aggressive”. In other words, she was (still is sometimes) a BITCH.
A “happy and playful” (in dog trainer terms: a RUDE, BADLY-TRAINED) puppy would run up “just to say HI” and Mackenzie would react. We got to the point that she was growling/snapping at nearly every dog who approached her unless they were well-trained and calm. So obviously, since my job is as a dog trainer, the majority of dogs she would meet were not well-trained (yet).
I knew something had to be done so I did all kinds of research, asked other trainers, bought books, and got my ass in gear. Today, almost a year after the peak of her aggression (she drew blood from the nose of a Golden puppy) she helped me with a dog/leash-reactive Lab. I let her in the training area (off-leash), she sniffed around, stretched and yawned several times (calming signals) and kept her eyes on me the whole time. The Lab didn’t react at all. In fact, both of them acted, for the most part, like the other dog wasn’t there. Mackenzie was amazing as was the Lab, who also seems to only react when the other dog approaching him is rude and ill-trained.
We’re at the point now that Group sits and stays in the Novice ring are a real possibility. A year ago I might have said her dog show career was impossible. A year ago she stopped coming to work with me and I was thinking that maybe it was hopeless to even try to work with her around other dogs. I was wrong. We’ve worked through it and we continue to work on her reactivity every single day. She has made tremendous progress and now greets other dogs with enthusiasm. She really is incredible to watch.
Today I do believe I met my match. A tiny girl was struggling with bringing her huge Lab into the store. So of course, me being the tough guy that I am, volunteered to help her. And in the process nearly got completely knocked off my feet, scratched the hell up, tripped, dragged, and pretty much had my arm ripped out of its socket.
This coming from someone who prides themselves on being able to handle ANY dog no matter how big, crazy, vicious, out of control, or aggressive. But this guy (Buddy was his name – incidentally my favorite dog name) was the most horribly untrained dog I’ve EVER met in my life. If he didn’t like the direction you were walking him he would balk, stop, back up, take a running start, and then tackle the shit out of you and dig his claws into your body and your arms. He would be following and walking nicely and then all of a sudden he would try to rip the leash out of my hands by running in the opposite direction.
It was an awful experience and once we finally had him in the salon, I was sweaty, ripped up, and so upset with him that I told him he was the worst dog in the world.
Now several hours later I’m still so injured I can hardly move my left arm without being in serious pain.
of my job.
#1: A man was looking for a collar for his puppy. Trying to understand how big the puppy is and how big he would be as an adult, I asked what breed of dog he has. The man answered: “Suburban Husky”.
#2: A young girl and her boyfriend came by to admire Mackenzie. We talked about her dachshund and her other dog. The dachshund is 2yo and the lab mix is 8mo. They were having issues with potty training. The dogs were peeing and pooping all over the house. So I asked, “How often do you take them outside to use the bathroom?” She answered, “Two or three times a week.”
#3: I will probably get Ringworm within the next few days from repeated contact with two infected puppies.
Filed under: work
My internet has been out for the past couple days. After waiting for 45mins to talk to someone from Time Warner/RoadRunner, I unplugged our wireless box, restarted a few times, and here I am now.
I am Associate of the Month at work. Mackenzie and I had our picture taken (which I will scan later) and I get to go out to lunch with whichever manager I choose on the company credit card. It only took me a year to get recognized for doing a good job and only after I complained that I had never been Associate of the month.
Speaking of work, I could have gotten Halloween off, but I didn’t know that so I showed up anyway. Lucky for me, I met the Goalie/Assistant Coach of the Killer Bees Hockey team. We talked for a really long time (I had him hooked when I said I graduated from Cornell – and he used to live in Elmira) and he was so awesome. His name is David Lemanowicz (for those of you who want to stalk him/his stats) and he is originally from Vancouver. Meeting him was definitely the highlight of my night. Especially since for the 2nd year in a row, I haven’t done anything for Halloween. Matt and I dressed up (I just wore Dad’s “Mad Scientist” outfit from earlier that day and Matt wore a scaryass mask) and sat in the front yard with April and gave candy to little kids. Well, I gave candy to little kids. Matt just put on his mask, held a bloody machete, and played scary music while all the kids freaked out.
April got called a “pit bull” “little pit bull” “pit bull puppy” and “bulldog” with the majority of people calling her a “little pit bull”. All the kids were very excited by her, especially since she was a “nice little pit bull”. She was great. And as you may have noticed, she was the only dog nice and polite enough to be allowed outside. Spencer barked and lunged at some kids and Mackenzie would have just barked her little head off that whole time. I’m so proud of my little pit bull.
I’m so looking forward to the next few weeks. This time of year always makes me giddy. I love love love the Holidays. You should come visit.
