Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings | Posted on 27-08-2010
Because we’ve had less than zero luck trying to use BAT (behavior adjustment training) in the real world with dogs (because the ones we run into have their own issues), I tried doing a little BAT work with Lilly and this one black-and-white horse who loves to run out and follow us (along the fence line) on our walks.
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Whether it’s because of the economy, reaching a certain age, or other even-less-pleasant circumstances, many people now seek some sort of reinvention in their lives. Yes, I’m talking to, you, (insert your name here).
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Once upon a time there was a writer girl with a fearful dog, she started a blog to lament their failures, celebrate their successes, and chronicle their daily lives in hopes of someday getting a book deal … I’m happy to report good news.
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When we’re teaching or shaping a new dog behavior, many of use the click/treat strategy that marks the behavior (click or verbal marker like YES!) just before we reward the behavior (with food or a toy). Dogs need to know every time they get it right … at first. Later, we introduce more intermittent reinforcements, where the dog doesn’t know which correct response will earn a reward. We’re told that a variable reinforcement pattern is the MOST motivating one out there.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Musings | Posted on 23-08-2010
Psychology experts call our sense that “dog people” are nicer a “fundamental attribution error.” That doesn’t mean we’re necessarily wrong in our assumptions. It simply means that we assign and potentially over-estimate the depth of someone’s character based on seeing them with a dog.
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In the midst of Ginko’s post-op infection worries from last week, he also began drinking and peeing excessively. And, I mean off … the … charts. He would literally stand next to the empty water bowl and cry. He also began waking us up early because he had to go so badly and because he desperately needed to drink more water.
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Last week, during one of our regular walks, Lilly and I got chased down by a couple of spaniels with whom we’ve had trouble (off and on) for years. Considering that Lilly is suddenly hiding again inside the house (behind the toilet, in the basement, etc.), I suspect the scare is having lasting effects.
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Do not faint. We actually have dog training news to report. For the FIRST time since February 3, Lilly and I went to our advanced pet dog training class (drop-in) last Sunday. It’s a miracle. I know.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings, Hot News | Posted on 05-08-2010
As you may recall, during Ginko’s recent knee surgery, the surgeon found icky fistulas (or channels through soft tissue, where infection had burrowed in). He decided to culture a couple of those spots, just in case the infection required some super-duper kind of antibiotic. Essentially, they swabbed a couple areas and grew them in petri dishes to see what sprouted.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Musings, Dog Whine | Posted on 03-08-2010
The quest to stay somewhat sane, more than healthy, and not to flabby includes eeking out time to take Lilly for our usual 3-mile walk as often as I can muster. Last week, while we stood roadside as two cars passed us (one each direction), Lilly up and killed a poor little ground squirrel. I felt terrible.
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