Separation Anxiety and Confidence Issues

One of Sport's "issues" and reasons why he was returned to our shelter was his separation anxiety. When I first got him, he would whine if I was ever out of sight and if I left him uncrated, he would sit at the door and CRY until I returned home or destroy and pee on things if unsupervised. He used to be whiney in his crate too, but fairly soon after I got him, he stopped. He never makes a peep in his crate anymore (unless he is at the shelter!).

Earlier this week, when I left for class I put Sport in his crate and closed the door. When I returned, I found Sport in his crate and the crate door closed but not latched. I guess I just forgot to lock it. But he just fell asleep.

For a dog that used to HATE his crate, he is doing well. I wouldn't say that he LOVES it yet, but he tolerates it well enough. Especially to not even realized that it wasn't locked. I think it is harder to crate train a dog that hates a crate than one that has no experience with one. You have to get rid of the previous association and build a new one. But we are doing okay.

The next day, we went on a walk with some friends and their dogs. I was so proud of how outgoing and confident he was on the trail. I used to let him off lead all the time because he wouldn't go further than a couple feet from me. He would freak out if I was out of sight for even a second and he wouldn't leave the trail for anything.

He was running around like a fool, following one of the dogs out of sight and then racing back to me with a huge smile on his face like, "Hey Mom! I just smelled the coolest thing, you have to check it out!!!" Towards the end, he was even leading the group every once in a while and taking paths away from the people and dogs. It was so great. He approached people, even a child, and played with some dogs that we met along the way too!

Lastly, this morning, just as I was about to leave for class, Kenya (the dog we are dogsitting) had a seizure. It was over very quickly and I ushered her into my room and closed the door. In her post-ictal phase, she doesn't recognize people and since she is fear aggressive, she isn't fun to be around during that time. I was at a loss as to what to do as Sport's crate is in my bedroom and so was the crazy barking dog.

So I took a chance.

I took all the food stuff off the kitchen table and left Sport uncrated for the longest time yet. I was gone from 7:30 to 1:00 and when I returned, he was sleeping on the couch. Nothing was out of place except for his toys and he was not at all overly excited to see me (a big difference from six months ago when I would leave for a minute and upon my return he would scream and jump into my lap and lick lick lick.).

Anyway, again I am very proud of my boy. It seems like I have been testing him lately and he has passed with flying colors! I am constantly amazed by his resilience and eagerness to please me.

But Mom, you already knew I was perfect!

Photos!

The day started out fairly mellow. I grabbed Kenya and Sport and snapped a few photos of them. They aren't really interacting that much, so this is the best "together" picture I could get:

Mom, I think there is a dog behind me...

Then, my coworker Kim called me and asked if I wanted to take Sport on a hike! It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun. Kim brought her new dog, Sidney, and our friend, Lee, brought her two dogs, Willow and Monkey. All three girls are beautiful and full of attitude. Sport fell in love with Willow and followed her around all day. It was really cute.

Kim and Sidney, the cattle dog

We stopped every so often for water breaks and cookies. This was everyone's favorite time.

From left to right: Monkey, Willow, Sport and Sidney


Sidney gets a cookie!


Sport loves Willow

We went a long ways and everyone was pretty tired by the end of the hike. They all positioned themselves in the car for a lovely photo... poor Sport was feeling left out as he wasn't a big red dog.

Sport, Willow, Monkey, and Sidney

Everyone was exhausted on the car ride home. They all fell fast asleep.

Sidney was sleepy!


Monkey settles in for the ride


Willow is down for the count!!

Sport can Fetch!

Ever since we started looking into Flyball, I have been working on teaching Sport to fetch. Before, he would run at the ball, sniff it and high tail it back to me.

So I started clicker training him to fetch. First, I would click for any time he put his mouth on the ball. Then I would click for him picking the ball. Then I would roll the ball away from me and click when he would pick it up. Eventually I would only click when the ball made it within a foot of my lap. And then I would roll it further and further away.

I wasn't being very proactive about it but we would do it every once in a while. Last night my friend came over and grabbed a tennis ball and started waving it in front of Sport. I told her, "Oh he doesn't play fetch that well." But then she threw it and he went and got it and brought it back and dropped it in her lap! All day he has been playing fetch with me!

I was so happy. I know this is silly for those of you with retrieving dogs, but for a dog that would not fetch anything at all... I am very glad.

Speaking of flyball, we went to the tourney this friday. It was so much fun, but unfortunately, I was so busy the whole day that I couldn't work with Sport that much. But it was educational and it gave me more insight into how the sport works. I can't wait to start competeing with him!!!

Little Leo found a home!!

Leo went home today!!!!! He did wonderfully with his new pit bull sister and cat siblings... well, the cat hissed and growled at him and swiped at him so then he left her alone. I think that they will get along fine because he is pretty smart and respectful.

Oh, I am so happy for him. As we were saying goodbye he sat down on his new mom's feet and just looked up at us like, "I'm home! Thanks, bye!"

But then, as we were walking to the car I turned back to look at the house and I see him in the window his whole body wagging, but concern on his face. Then he turned to look over his shoulder and got out of the window. He was home. Finally and forever.

We'll miss you, Buddy!

With good news... there must come bad...

I got my rejection letter from CSU vet school today.

I don't know if it has hit me yet. Actually I am sure it hasn't as the tears have threatened but not come. I was expecting it, but at the same time, hoping against it with all my might.

I am lost and heavy hearted. I'll look on the bright side tomorrow. For now, I am content to wallow in misery.

My foster puppy may be going to his forever home!

LEO MIGHT GET ADOPTED SOON!!!!!

A woman from WY came with her husband and dog to meet Leo on Saturday. Leo loved the dog, Lola, and the people. Lola was pretty stressed out to be around a shelter so she wasn't wanting to interact a lot. But the people still loved him and put an application down on him.

My manager and I are going to do the home check this week. It is about a hour drive, and it just snowed here... so hopefully the roads are okay. We are thinking that we don't want to have them or us make another trip so we are going to bring Leo with us, and if everything goes well, we will finish the adoption there and leave him with them. My manager also wants to bring along Rhino, another pitty of ours so that if for some reason Leo doesn't work out, we can try Rhino at the same time and if they want they can adopt him instead. They liked Rhino a lot, but are concerned about him with the cats. Leo is better around cats but higher energy than Rhino.

The home check is going to be either Wednesday or Friday. I am really excited and hopeful that everything works out. Leo deserves this.

I am going to miss this little bugger. My manager is totally in love with him as well so we are surely going to cry when he we hand him over. We also told them that we would be willing to dogsit him ALWAYS.

So keep your fingers crossed for Leo. He is about to start his new life pretty soon, and I can only hope that I have prepared him enough.

Adorable!

I forgot to post this video of Sport playing with my friend's kitten, Sim. I think it is adorable even if it is short. They had lots of fun together and it made me wish that Tira and Sport got along better.

Enjoy!

First Flyball Practice!

I am so unbelievably happy with how Sport and I did today at our very first flyball practice/lesson.

I'll start with Sport: He was a champ. He was very nervous at first but didn't bark at all!!! He woofed under his breath when someone got locked out and had to knock on the door, but that is excused... because he only did it once and it wasn't directed at anyone. He approached a bunch of people, though he did back away when they tried to pet him. But with a few treats, he was practically in their laps. We practiced jumps and some dead ball retrieves. He focused beautifully and within an hour he was WAGGING HIS TAIL! I am still beaming from ear to ear.

And not to be arrogant, but I am pretty pleased with how I was doing too. I brought Sport's crate and crated him if I ever felt like he was getting too nervous or stressed. As soon as we got there, I did some focus exercises before we entered the building. Then we went in and socialized a bit and worked on some jumps while it was still relatively quiet. He got a little concerned about the barking once more people showed up and I crated him for a half an hour. Then whenever everyone was busy, I would pull him out and work on focus exercises and "look at that!" I was shoving treats down his throat at first, but by the second time, he only had eyes for me. We were working on jumps again when the head of our club showed up. She said she was surprised that it was our very first practice because he was doing so well and he was so focused on me.

It was kinda an unusual practice as there were three or four clubs there and around twentyish dogs. Three lanes and pretty chaotic and loud. But the club that we are joining were all so nice to us and even let me run a couple dogs! They all seem much more relaxed and nicer than the other couple clubs that were there so I am very glad. Sport seems to really like them as well (even though he did snap at a pap when she stuck her head into his treat bag...)

He did shake, tuck his tail, and yawn a bit at first, but by the end he was all wiggle butt and very relaxed. I honestly just wanted to expose him to the noise and work on desensitization.... I didn't expect him to have that much fun, but he blew me away and actually enjoyed it! I am so proud of my boy!!!

The innocence of dogs

As I sit watching Sport blow bubbles in his water bowl for no apparent reason, the thought hits me: Dogs will be dogs, and to expect more than that would be unfair.

Sometimes I catch myself expecting so much out of my dogs that I lose sight of their very doggyness. Leo is a baby. He just doesn't know better and I shouldn't expect him to. Sport has only been here for six months, he's not perfect nor will he ever be. We have a lot to overcome and change doesn't happen overnight.

All I want is for my guys to be happy and that is all I should be worried about. I don't want my dogs to only do what I tell them to; I want them to enjoy life and explore and be mischievous. I don't want robots, I want dogs. And my two are extremely doggy.

So I throw Leo and Sport some ice cubes and marvel in their doggy innocence. Who needs a reason to blow bubbles in the water bowl?

Flyball update

So apparently the flyball club sent an email out to everyone saying that practice was cancelled, but it wasn't sent to me! But I talked to a member and she said that she felt badly about, though it really was no big deal.

This Saturday is the first practice that we are going to. It has been pretty wet here and this weekend is the first time that they could get the indoor facilities to practice in. Normally they do outdoor practices, I guess.

So I am going to go and help them set up and just get Sport acclimatized to the noise and activity of it all. I don't think that he will be ready for any sort of lesson yet, but hopefully I can do some desensitization training and focus exercises.

I am really nervous and excited at the same time. I hope Sport isn't too freaked out by all the noise and activity. I just need to remember to stay focused on him and know when to say enough is enough.