To compensate for concentration gaps lately, I really should keep notes on what I want to report each Friday. So often, the good ideas get lost in the hubbub of the week. What on earth did I want to share? Hmmm … This is all I can remember.
Off-Leash Work
On a particularly warm and traffic-free day last week, I unclipped Lilly on our usual walk, and she did a spectacular job for two of the three miles we typically walk. The half-mile closest to home is much more likely to include cars driving too fast (we have no sidewalks) and/or loose or barking dogs, so I won’t test her that much in tough situations.
BUT, on a rural road with only the birds (and wind) as company, Lilly does a lovely job staying right with me (not necessarily at heel). She even resisted the invitation (or challenge) from one of our neighbors horses, who often runs toward us like a puppy who has been home alone. This horse really wanted Lilly to run along the fence, but I tossed out a LEAVE IT and upped the ante on treats so that Lilly found greater rewards staying with me. Small victory, I think.
Relaxation Protocol on the Road
We continue to work on SIT-EAT-RELAX at various locations around town. And, yes, most times I have Lilly hop out of the car off leash because she is getting so good. We amused a man waiting in the lot at the pharmacy the other day. It wasn’t so much how cute Lilly was sitting and eating as it was her attempt to jump back into the Mini. Even though it’s much lower than the 4Runner, she still doubts herself because the crate sits farther back and the landing surface isn’t as level or solid.
So, she stood on her hind legs, front feet on the bumper, and jumped straight up several times. It really was funny. I finally had to ask her to backup and try again with more of a running start before she managed to leap all the way into the car and crate.
Silly!
Here are a couple shots from this week and earlier ones.
Lilly at the small, local hardware store, where she soon took a treat from one of the men who work there. You can tell by the pulled-back ear position that she’s feeling a bit amped up, but she is smiling, so she is doing relatively OK here.
{Please forgive the photo glitch. All the photos for this blog post (and many others) got lost in a techno mixup.}
Here, she is resting on a bench, keeping an eye on some kids at a local park near the creek path. I tried to get her to look at me, but she needed to see and track the shrieking. Everything else about her looks pretty good to me.
The Predator at Dusk
I took Lilly out with me Wednesday evening to get the mail up on the road. It was dusk, which is coming earlier and earlier these days, and Lilly got to be a natural born predator … when a rabbit took off like a shot as we walked out the front door … and … when a herd of deer I had not noticed in time, took off running as we walked back.
My LEAVE ITs were worthless in the face of such temptations. (We’re nowhere as accomplished at the wildlife challenge as KB and her pups.)
So, rather than pitch a fit, I trusted the rabbit and deer to outrun Lilly, then called her too me. Once the rabbit went under and the deer over the fence, Lilly returned.
Another Playdate With LuLu
Stay tuned next week for a LuLu update. We’re heading up the canyon to their house Sunday for a visit with our new Australian Shepherd / agility friend. This should be interesting since LuLu is now 4 months old and about 20 pounds. (LuLu’s photo gallery on the Fuzzy Bullet site)
Betsy says that LuLu is learning to read other dogs’ discomfort, so we’ll see how the two girls do. I’ll bring some super-high-value treats with me.
I would love if they could be friends, but I’m also well aware that LuLu is in that critical period, so I don’t want Lilly to scare her.
Maybe Thunder Too
We hope to see new borzoi pal, Thunder, soon too.
Tom got to meet him recently. Thunder is really good off-leash, I hear. BUT, he took off up the mountain at one point to chase some deer. The difference between Thunder and Katie (our first borzoi friend who we still desperately miss) is that Thunder has a strong recall, so once he was done chasing he came right back.
Yes, the stray dogs and passing through wildlife are always a challenge. At high nature traffic times, I put a training collar on Java. I haven’t had to actually use it lately as Java has gotten much better at coming right away when called, but it’s comforting to me to know I can beep her if I can’t see her and don’t know if she’s heard me or not. The beeping noise makes her look for me.
Have you driven your Mini in the snow there yet? I’m playing with the idea of driving to California in the winter. I drove all winter in MN without any problems but that’s with plowed roads. I’ve heard they can be like a snowplow (since they sit so low) if there’s any snow depth. I have a truck I could drive, but the Mini is a lot more fun.
I love your updates too. My dogs take off every morning before breakfast as that is when Mr. Squirrel usually comes to visit!
I learn a lot from your updates. It takes such discipline on our (human) part to follow through. Thanks so much.
It will be interesting to see how Lilly does with the now, much bigger, Lulu.
Funny about the jumping in the car. Our R does exactly the same thing sometimes. We have to remind him to back up and get a running start! Silly pups.
Personally, I can’t wait to hear about Lilly’s visits with LuLu and Thunder. Your dog-dog interaction work with her is really fascinating, especially since Lilly tends to clearly show how she’s feeling about a particular situation.
I enjoy your updates. We have 2 goldens, one of whom is badly behaved around only one person. A wonderful gal comes to clean here once a week and is not a dog person. She lets him jump on her. Today I got out the leash and the treats and we’re working on learning to sit and be patted nicely with no jumping. It’s hard work.