A little "Wave!" practice for Maudie. I think she knows she's cute!
These two are just the picture of innocence 😂
Miss Maudie 💚
Training sessions don't have to be intense (don't even have to be standing!), don't have to be "correct" (I messed up about halfway through this video and confused her, so we had to reset), don't have to be quiet (spouse was getting home as we were in the session, and the cause of the barking in the background; Maude did fantastic in refocusing and trusting me enough to continue and work through it, barking dogs are not her favorite thing), and don't have to be long, or any one set skill. This one was pretty dynamic, as we made a big shift in the middle when she offered an 'incorrect' answer (Wave motion), it was jumped on to shape into a 'correct' answer, I just had to ask a different question.
Maudie seemed a bit bored this afternoon, wandering around while everyone else was sound asleep, so we grabbed some chicken and worked for less than 7 minutes. In that time frame, she was introduced to, and learned 2 new tricks. We will obviously have to reinforce and retrain to make sure she has them down pat, but the speed in which she learns things, and the way she thinks things through continues to amaze me.
She was able to add both "Shake" and "Wave" to her list of tricks today. 💚
Harbinger Of All Things Wise And Wonderful
Maudie, 5 months, fawn.
Happy 4th!
We can't see the fireworks from here, but can hear them outside, so we took 15 minutes tonight to reinforce the desensitization and socialization that the girls received as younger puppies. Both girls rocked it, although Taco briefly succumbed to her lightning-bug obsession during a long sit 😂 She did come back, and refocus for a minute, and then both girls played outside in all the noise before bedtime.
Pupdate!
Half siblings Dudley (Casiri X Briggs, Spring Things litter, 02/2021), and Sophie (Casiri x Crews, Kickin' It Classic litter, 02/2024).
Sophie has been home for a week now. When she got home she walked in, checked everything out, began stealing Dudley's toys and made herself right at home.
These two are peas in a pod! We love when our pups transition so quickly and easily.
This puppy ❤️ The more you say her name, the faster her tail wags, just like her momma
PA system/Loudspeaker can be checked off the desensitization checklist ✔️
Good job, Puppies! ❤️
PA system /Loudspeaker can get a ✔️ on the desensitization checklists!
Good job, Puppies! ❤️
Miss Maudie (and the other pups, she was just the first to try it out) got a new toy. Irma is concerned about it, because it 'barks' at them, Otto has already tried to chew it in half, amd Maude likes it well enough to take it outside to play with 😂
Apparently this needs an edit! We do not allow them to lick toads. 🤦♀️
We are well aware of the dangers of toads, and the risks were mitigated appropriately. This was not a Marine Toad. Or a Colorado River Toad. Or a Cane Toad. (3 varieties that are the most toxic). And while yes, all toads are toxic, this was an Eastern American toad. The Eastern American toad is the most common in our area, this species has glands on their heads that secrete a toxin that has a bitter taste. They are not deadly, but they can cause drooling/ hypersalivation, vomiting and sometimes pawing at the face or eyes IF a dog or cat licks OR picks up a toad in his mouth.
Not one of them contacted the toad, and my hands were washed after I handled it and before I touched them or any of their things. They were allowed to sniff it, the underside only, where there are no secreting glands, and then they were taught to leave it and walk away.
Teaching them to ignore a toad when one is found actually reduces the risk of them interacting with one on their own. I would rather them ignore it than paw at it, as Sabi was doing when I found him, (his feet were actually washed before the toad was caught) and then potentially lick their feet or try to pick up the toad.
Toads here are a part of life, and they are going to encounter them. We do not relocate or unalive them when we find them, as they are beneficial to the ecosystem. So having dogs ignore and not interact is of greater priority, because they are going to encounter them. We are also very aware of first aid measures needed and signs and symptoms in case one does attempt to eat one.
-end edit.
Oh Wasabi! It's kind of funny what we don't realize is scary for these big goobers. Things we don't recognize what can be scary because we, ourselves, have been desensitized to it.
Wasabi found a way that I had failed him (and Sushi) last night when he found, and was terrified of a toad on the patio. I realized that he and Shoosh had n
