Bubbie Goes Home

So Bubbie finished his first month here on the farm.  His momma was so glad to see him!   Awwwww - we love moments like these!  He still has a long way to go but he has come along in leaps and bounds.

When a dog comes we ask what issues are specifically problematic and sometimes new issues present themselves that the owner is either unaware of or didn't really think were a problem.  In Bubbie's case it was pretty much all up front...just behind those pearly canines.  V----V

When a dog is leaving us to return home, we shoot a support video demonstrating the techniques, cues and hand signals used during their time here, with helpful bits of advice to help the owner continue their training.  We do a two hour "hand over" where questions are asked, the dog demonstrates what they have learned and everyone gets a chance to talk about the experience and what expectations they have moving forward.

Since Ariel, my apprentice, did alot of the work with Bubbie's obedience, I let her shoot the support video.  As this was her first video, we had some interesting outtakes.  Here is a sample of the video we shot for Bubbie's owner.

Bubbie will be returning to us in November to continue his training - working specifically next time with his aggression using BAT, TTouch and LAT training techniques.  Stay tuned to see his progress.  

If you have a reactive or aggressive dog that is in need of help - check out some of these great resources:

Click to Calm

Behavior Adjustment Training

LAT - Look at That Training

Control Unleashed

TTouch for Dogs

Relaxation Protocols

3LostDogs Reactivity eBook

Field Trip - Archie & Bella at Tractor Supply

The dogs and I LOVE Tractor Supply.  It is one of the few places outside of a pet store that you can take the dogs to roadwork some of their training.

Our local TS is in Siler City.  Archie & Bella got dropped off last night around 6:30 and we jumped in the van to get some work in before they closed.

First they did a beautiful wait in the parking lot before getting out in the rain.

Then we headed inside for some Loose Leash, Wait, Stay, Recall & Polite People Greeting work.  We definitely have to work more on the people greeting as they LOVE people and are all over them.  Here is some shaky footage of them showing off!

They are with us for another week to polish up their skills.  Stay tuned for more progress...

UPDATE: Bubbie Week 2

Bubbie spent the day with Ariel today at her family's house.    This gave him a chance to meet new people and dogs and practice his social skills. Here is her report from the day.

"So not long after you left I packed up Bubbie and the girls and headed to my parents house. He was much calmer about being approached by new people, and though apprehensive, briefly sniffed Hannah, who he'd never met before. We did a training session in my bedroom where he had been sitting in his crate, so he was more comfortable. I was able to get him to lie down easily on the bed, and then moved to a pillow on the floor, which he quickly picked up, then downing on a pillowcase on the floor, and finally the floor itself. 

We then moved into the hallway after a dozen or so times doing down on the carpet. And although initially hesitant, he was soon downing with speed in order to get dehydrated liver, one of his new favorites.

Later he took a walk with all of my dogs, and my parents dogs and had stretches of loose leash, though I didn't focus on it because he was doing so well navigating between the other 5 dogs. He was a little nervous leading the pack and having other dogs walk behind him, so we walked behind everybody else and he did fabulously. We then let him inside with everybody and he sat with the pack to get a treat.

He and Scout immediately dropped into play bows, and after telling Shiloh off for pouncing on him in a Luka-ish way, Bubbie, Kismet, and Scout tore through the house and Bubbie and Scout took to diving over and under my parents bed. Silly boy! Glad he was having fun. I'll update again tomorrow. Have a great night."

After reviewing the video from the day, I can definitely say he is improving with his dog socialization skills.  He is still unsure and had a few warning snaps at Scout, but overall it is much better than it has been.  He even tolerated Scout licking him in the face, which in itself is a huge accomplishment.

 

UPDATE - Bubbie Week 2

Bubbie continues to make progress here at the farm.  Some of his biggest strides this week have been in handling everyday stresses and gaining confidence around the other dogs.

There was a time, not so long ago, that he would ferociously chase and go after any dog that came close.  He is developing relationships now not only with the small dogs he rooms with but just today he played with one of the big pups - Piper.  She is almost 30lbs and while unsure for most of it, he offered some play behavior that we hadn't seen before.  We are very proud of his progress.

Another step in his rehabilitation is his offleash work.  He has been very reliable around here, but today we ventured back to the lake to work with him offleash.  His owner came with us to spend some time with her boy and was very impressed with both his offleash behavior and his recall.  He even did a recall from the shore to her in the water!  Good boy Bubbie!

Attempted Rescue

As we were leaving Raven Rock when Tracy noticed 2 dogs wandering beside the road.  We pulled the van over and Tracy went to see if she could befriend and catch them.  They were young, probably 5-6 months old Chow mixes.  They were seemingly healthy, in good physical condition but one was limping a bit. We didn't have any slip leads or even a crate in the van but we didn't want to see them get hurt.

Armed with yummy treats, she patiently tried to coax them to her.  They were very skittish, grabbing a treat and then backing off.  She did get the bolder of the two to take a treat from her hand a few times though but as soon as she moved even so much as a toe, they were gone.

30min and many treats later, we decided we were just going to have to leave them.  We moved the van and then attempted one last effort by bringing out one of our dogs to see if they wanted to play.  They decided enough was enough and ran back into the woods - away from the road.
We can only hope they are okay.

Archie & Bella Field Trip

Today we headed out to Raven Rock State Park with 7 of the dogs for a hike.  Raven Rock is about an hour from the farm and looking at it online it looked like a nice hike along the Cape Fear River.  We got a map and planned to do the Campbell Creek Loop Trail and head out to the falls.

We got there around 1:30pm after a very good van ride from the dogs.  Archie & Bella rode very well and waited beautifully when I opened the back of the van.

We hit the trail heading out to the falls in much warmer, humid weather than we anticipated.  Needless to say we were sweating bullets!

The dogs were all very well behaved.  Archie and Bella started the trail in typical Lab pup excitement.  I put Bella in a waist loop and Archie was on umbilical.  Once we got going they really settled into stride and by a few miles in were walking beautifully.

Overall they did a fantastic job!  

Pawtential Profiles: Archie & Bella

Names:  Archie & Bella
Breed:  Lab x
Sex:  Male & Female
Age: 7 months

Duration: On trial week then possibly 4 week Board & Train

Reason for B&T:  Recall, Loose Leash Walking & General House Manners

Archie and Bella are with us until the 11th on a trial Boarding basis.  Like any young large pups, they are full of enthusiasm and manners like not door dashing and keeping all paws on the ground are a bit lost on them.  But that is what we are here for!

Initially a little shy around the Pawtential Pack - they have warmed up nicely and their favorite is Luka, a rescued Giant Schnauzer x and the newest additions - the now 4 month old Australian Shepherd x Border Collie pups.

Boarding at the Pawtential farm can be quite exciting with all the farm animals next door.  Archie especially is interested in the guinea fowl making a ruckus this morning while we were out on the porch.

Bella meantime was finding out that the glider seat was not such a stable bench after all...

And then it was a case of Monkey See, Monkey Do as Luka and Piper decided to give it a try...

Archie was not too sure about Piper who has a bit to learn about doggie communication...

In the end, everyone had a good play session but were more than happy to get in out of the wet and settle down with some breakfast and a good bone.

Cooooooookies...

Finding which treats work to really motivate your dogs can be a bit hit and miss...something that seems really good to us may be only mildly interesting for them.  

Take for example Gourmet Tails:

I thought for sure these would be a winner with my guys so when they went on sale I bought several containers.  During our nightly crate games - I rewarded with these new delicious treats and was met with blank stares.

"Really?  This is it?  Come on...where is the good stuff?"

*sniff, sniff*

*eye contact*

*Sit*

"Maybe if we look cute enough she will give us the REAL treat!"

Pretty to humans does NOT equal loved by dogs!  At least not my guys.

Over the years I have found several types of store bought treats that they DO like however:

HANDS DOWN FAVORITE:  

Natural Balance Roll

Coming in closely behind:

Marinades by Sergeants - hard to find and expensive but they love them!

Processed meat products - Hot Dogs, Vienna Sausages, SPAM - cheap, easy to find, great choice in moderation

Pet Greens Chicken & Beef Jerky by Bell Rock Growers

Moderately priced and can be hard to find - best ordered online.  

You notice there isn't any dry crunchy treats in there - that's because most dogs want something smelly - the stinkier the better.  This isn't to say my guys wouldn't eat a Milkbone - they certainly would...but would they work for it the same as a piece of hot dog?  No way.  

That would be like someone giving you 25¢ to wash their car vs $25.  If you saw 25¢ you would probably pick it up but spend time doing something that was important to someone else when you could be doing something you enjoyed for it - not going to happen.

The same applies to training treats - don't be stingy with the good stuff - especially for difficult behaviors for them.  You won't always carry hot dogs, but if it keeps your reactive dog focused, your barker quiet or your arm in it's socket - does it matter?

Bubbie Update

Bubbie's mom came for a visit today to check on how things were progressing and say Hi. She was very happy with his progress and couldn't believe he was as far along in some things, like being offleash, as he is.

Pet owners are always welcome to come a visit their pets while in our care.  We welcome the chance to show you how they're doing.  

Here is where he is up to:

An Ounce of Prevention...

We just had a scare.  I let the dogs out to potty and for the first time in the entire 2 year period I have had her - AYLA took off.  I am not sure if she was chasing something or what happened but when I called the dogs in a few minutes later - both she and Knoxx were not responding.  A few more calls and Knoxx was back but no Ayla.

I was about to get in the van and go look for her when my phone rang.  She was across the paddock at the neighbors house maybe 1/2 mile away.  She was just sitting on their porch with their dog pretty as you please.  And in a direction I would not have looked - not like finding a black dog in the dark would have been easy in the first place.

So this brings me to my point - if she had not been wearing her ID tag - who knows what would have happened.  I had just ordered tags for everyone else as well that arrived yesterday.  Knoxx had some damage on his, Luka lost the collar his were on and the J's didn't have any yet.  

Guess who'll be getting new tags tonight!  They are part of a discounted line from Lucky Pet.

So where do you get tags?  Obviously most pet shops and even some Walmarts can engrave tags, vets offices can do them and don't forget online.  Some of my favorites are:

DOG TAG ART

ISLAND TOP DESIGNS

LUCKY PET

BIRDIE ROAD CREATIONS

So if your information has changed, the engraving has worn off, or you just don't have a tag for your pet - get one - it can save their life!

New Board & Train pups

We have new guests with us over this week who will be joining us again in a few more weeks for Board & Train.  Archie & Bella, 7 month old sibling Lab mixes are here for a trial run.  I will get pictures soon.

They are coming back to work on recall, loose leash walking, jumping and general obedience.