Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Photo | Posted on 30-08-2010
Typically, Lilly can tell from my morning routine whether or NOT I have time for a long walk. Sure, I’ve accidentally fooled her before, as told in Signs Point to Yes, but usually she knows or at least waits (somewhat) patiently until she has enough information. This process, including how she can guilt me into walking even when I’m short on time, inspired this story told in photos from Saturday morning.
Things aren't looking good. Mom looks busy. Maybe if I act really pathetic she'll change her mind.
Sigh. It sure is a nice day out. I wonder if Mom has noticed.
Wait? What do you mean ... Wait? You're moving too slow, woman! I want to walk. I am Lilly. Hear me roar ... or at least yawn in total frustration.
Now, this is my happy face. We squeezed in a short walk with Jo, that new puppy next door, before Mom & Dad had to race off.
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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Lilly and I began our much-overdue 100% togetherness day on Sunday with a visit to Mom’s place (the assisted living facility). Lilly showed improvement in some areas, but … alas … one pretty “scary” thing happened.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings, Dog Training | Posted on 07-04-2010
In an effort to avoid creating travel-related fear/worry triggers for Lilly, I’m being beyond careful in my BlogPaws planning and packing this week. I do not want Lilly to associate things like suitcases or certain changes in my behavior with me leaving. We know, already, her abilities at pattern recognition.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings | Posted on 06-04-2010
Our doorbell never rings. Pretty much … never. That’s the beauty of living on a fully fenced hunk o’ land with a locking gate. Other than the few times it came up in the Relaxation Protocol (detailed, tedious dog behavior modification), Lilly and Ginko haven’t heard our doorbell ring. So, imagine my adrenalin rush and their curiosity when it went off Friday in the middle of a quiet working morning.
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One of my dog magazine editors challenged me to teach Lilly to vacuum, after seeing Lilly CLEAN UP her toys. That would be a major dog trick and feat, for a couple reasons. A) Lilly is afraid of the vacuum. B) It’s really heavy. So, instead, I decided to teach her to dust mop the tile floors.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Video, Puppy Porn | Posted on 30-03-2010
Don’t get too excited. We are NOT getting a puppy. Really. We’re not. But, I wanted to share a little more puppy porn with you, including video that may include a new candidate for the still-open position as Lilly’s best, best dog friend. It’s a job (and I do mean “job”) that’s been open since her dear friend Katie, the borzoi, moved away.
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Last Sunday, Lilly did the Tour du Grandmas, vising first my mom who now lives in an assisted living facility and then Tom’s mom who is home after more than two months away. I ran out the door without my camera. So, sadly, I have no photos or video to show.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings, Dog Photo | Posted on 25-03-2010
Sometimes Lilly is so intent on playing fetch in a way that doesn’t get Ginko riled up to the point that he ruins the game. The ONLY way to accomplish that is by using a stick rather than a toy. For some reason, Ginko could not care less about sticks. Lilly’s stick strategy worked fine until she became friends with Katie, the borzoi, because Katie had no qualms about stealing sticks.
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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Training Video, Dog Video | Posted on 19-03-2010
Rather than our usual weekly training update, we’re instead sharing a video we made this week showing (as best we can) the “whiplash” recall. Trying to train and film at the same time affects Lilly’s overall performance (slows her down), but I think you’ll get the idea. The goal is to get her to turn on a dime and return when called.
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