We grow toads! Love the country.
Puppy Rex had his first encounter with the obstacle course at our WAG Open House on Saturday. I'd say he's a natural athlete and his family has a lovely feel for training.
It's summertime and the living is easy. Sign up for pool time for your pup. We just need our agreement signed and all 4 required vaccinations current, plus $5. Then make a splash!
Lukas likes to demand that his crate or kennel gate opens now particularly when I approach! Instead I've taught him to lie down and wait. Lying down will be his request for the gate to open and let him out.
In these first lessons I haven't built duration yet. For this video he's into the lie down game so I'm using cheese as well as opening the gate as the reward. Ultimately leaving the crate will be a sufficient reinforcer for (any) quiet behavior.
Bailey's lesson today was to work on getting her to return her toy to me, since she likes Run off with it. Unfortunately I didn't get the first session, where I just used my voice to encourage her back to me. Then asked her to get back on her feet from the upside down position she landed in at my feet so I didn't have to lean over. The second effort was much better and this video is the third.
Notice I never tried to pull the toy away from her; she had to release it to me when I held it still. Then I reinforced the release, immediately.
Here's a great example of the 2-toy game that Tom started with Jack to encourage him to bring back the toy. Next step can include a tug of war as a reward rather than throwing the second toy. BTW Jack is soon available for adoption.
Look who won a wiggly giggly ball at our WAG Open House. The pup's owner has already decided the ball is going to live on top of the fridge 23 hrs a day;)
Our WAG Open House was a success! This year Patterson Veterinary Hospital added a well attended vaccination and microchip clinic. And a big thank you to the officers of the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency who brought their expertise about all things pertaining to animal welfare services and local legal requirements for pet owners.
MJ was the first to try out our new dog park. He approved. A half dozen amateur volunteers strung fencing, pounded tposts, jury rigged gates all for the dogs. Now for some trees!
The park is open to our Resort guests. For now all you need is current vaccination record, our signed agreement and $5 per dog; the same for the pool. We'll refine the procedures as needed. We are open during lobby hours, 7 to noon and 4 to 6 daily.
Here's Pacino learning how to jump through a hula hoop at WAG yesterday. This pup will be a delightful addition to a family!
Yoli is teaching Harlem to skateboard. First she got him on the board then you can see here a few small steps.
It's not often I've seen and can share abnormal behavior. I happened to have been feeding at the time, but had not fed this dog. I don't know if that triggered this "foraging /appetitive" behavior or not. Seen in a hunting coyote, it's normal. In a GSD on concrete it's not. Has anyone had a dog like this?
Forget rope toys. Haven's imagination led her to finding her own.
45 seconds of Ella doing her thing. Not sure what it is. There were bird nests in the tree this summer but not now. She does this weird behavior almost daily. She also loves to lie on the dog house. Any suggestions?
Some super fun videos of the dogs at graduation working on the recall test. I have so much admiration for dogs and owners able to work through a problem like this. It's not easy, particularly for the piglets.
