McKenna Update - Meet Minnie?

So Ariel just said she found a pup on Craigslist that looks alot like McKenna - and that would be because it is her sister!!  I immediately called her owner and had a very interesting conversation.  

She says she saw an ad for Irish Wolfhound pups recently and was told by a lady, using the same name as was given to Peter, that she rescued 4 Wolfhound pups when the mom and 4 other pups were killed...that she made a midnight run to save them - real heartstring puller. The new owner takes one for $150 as a rescue.  She says based on what the lady said her pup should be 12 weeks old.

So we have McKenna sold for $1000 as purebred whose Mom was sold - Minnie [her sister] sold for $150 as a rescued/abandoned pup whose Mom was dead and no match up in age??

The story just keeps getting stranger and more convoluted.  This is Minnie:

McKenna Goes to Work

McKenna came to work with me today so I could gauge her social ability and give her a chance to meet some people in a positive manner.  She rides beautifully in the car - we live about 45 minutes from work so she caught some beauty rest before her big debut.

A few hours and several exciting people meetings later - she is tuckered out and curls up with Ayla to take a well deserved nap.  She was a little angel for the most part - we did have one growl at a dog who came behind the counter but a quick interruption and she was over it.

Later in the day I had her sit in on one of my Puppy Preschool classes.  She thought this was great - and even showed her potential therapy dog skills by imitating Ayla!

Very cute indeed!

She is neither aggressive or unmanageable   She is just being a pup - she jumps up, she gets the zoomies, she had NO manners at all, she isn't housebroken and she plays hard...but I can see how an inexperienced dog owner could have freaked out. She crates beautifully now but I think she was ripping his house to shreds...LOL

And boy does she love Ayla - they are BFF's!

Meet Mckenna - Our Newest Foster!

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a friend of mine (Peter) in Maryland that his friend [who I have never met] had just purchased an Irish Wolfhound pup for $1000 from a lady in NC but he had concerns.

(His friend knows nothing about dogs and when I heard he had bought a Wolfhound, I was really worried)

Below is my understanding of what happened:

Friend finds puppy on eBay. (I know, I know)

Lady says pups are 8 weeks old.

Wires $500 deposit via Western Union.

Makes arrangements to meet her a week and half later.

The lady met them in a parking lot of Petsmart.

She said he couldn't see the mother as she had already sold her.

Said this was the last pup and she was the runt.

She was accompanied by a large, intimidating man with tattoos that made Peter and friend uncomfortable to walk away from the sale and she said deposit was non refundable.

They take puppy and return to Maryland.

Peter comments puppy is very small and has a very small bark. They send me some really bad pictures and I said I couldn't really tell anything but that she looked like a  very small Wolfhound pup...maybe the lady got the age wrong.

Contacts lady - she tells them pups are now 8 weeks old - friend says but you said that 2 weeks ago?

Back and forth with me via texts - not happy, not convinced is Wolfhound.

Tries contacting "breeder" again - this time number is disconnected and email bounces.

After 2 1/2 weeks - Peter's friend says puppy is aggressive and unmanageable and he is going to have it put down!

Peter takes puppy and contacts me very unhappy and unsure what to do with her.

So yesterday we drive to meet them almost in Maryland and I pick her up. She should by this first account between 8-10 weeks old depending on which date you believe. She does look like a mini Wolfhound.

We stopped at Petsmart on the way home and weighed her - 13lbs.  I also noticed that her teeth are TINY...they are there but teeny squeeny incisors - I am thinking she is really young maybe? 

So now I have no idea what she is - obviously some type of schnauzer / terrier mix - Parsons Jack Russel maybe? 

Hmmmmmmm - strange but true....LOL...some Wolfhound!

Either way she is a sweetie and if you know of anyone wanting to adopt a truly adorable little girl - let me know!

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!