A while back I delivered a full-on rant about the (insert strongly-worded editorial comment here) FedEx guy. So, what’s a girl to do when one of many UPS guys feeds barking dogs treats?
Once upon a time, I got Lilly to put down a baby bunny. She grabbed it on the hill to the west. The only sound I heard? A sort of muffled scream, almost like a bird. From the middle pasture, I hollered DROP IT. And, Lilly did. It remains our best-ever long-distance DROP IT.
BlogPaws West begins today, and I have a million and one things I need to get done, so just a quick post about this TIME magazine article about the minds of animals. Did you see it? It. Is. Fascinating!
You’ve surely heard the tale of James and the Giant Peach. Well, today let me tell the the story of Ginko and the Giant Pile of Peach Pits.
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.
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).
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.
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 reinforecments, 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.
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.
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.
