Different outlooks in napping

Sorry it's been a while... Changed web hosts for gollygear.com (where you can see Booker and Tango modelling the latest in dog harness fashions, along with lots of other little dogs), so it's been a very stressful time. But, this afternoon I'm sitting here in the office and Booker is napping under my desk while Tango is snoozing but watching out the door. He never really shuts off here.

Let's Play!

Tango and Booker have different styles of play: Tango seems to be more self-conscious when he plays in places other than home, but Booker totally loses himself in the fun. (In this picture Booker is playing with his Skinneeez toy and Tango is just looking at me.) It could be that Booker is still a puppy, but I want him to keep that fun-loving, carefree aspect to his personality. So, I'll keep playing with him wherever we are! Last weekend we were at a dog Agility trial, where Tango did well, picking up his first qualifying leg in Open Jumpers With Weaves! I brought Booker along to continue his acclimation to new places, and I brought a couple of his toys. During slow times I brought Booker out to practice his walking nicely on lead, and to play. No hesitation! I was so happy that he wanted to tug right out of his crate. Tango won't tug anywhere other than home. I've tried many, many, many times to get him to play at trial settings. I've sat on the floor with him, enticing him to tug. I've made a fool of myself, practically standing on my head to get him to tug. I still try, but he looks at me like I'm insane. Maybe I am!

Boom!

We've all seen lots of posts by many dog trainers about how dogs and fireworks don't mix. Common sense, right? Compression shirts, drugs, natural calming remedies, distraction - all of these work for different dogs. None worked for my last Boston Terrier, Ceilidh, but then, she was "special," and a subject best discussed later. The point here is, do what works for you and your dog!

I know that Tango doesn't really care about fireworks or thunder. If something is particularly loud, he'll pick up his head and look at me. If I don't react, he won't react. But, believe me, sometimes it's hard for me not to react! I jump at thunder, at movie explosions. For my dogs, though, I try! It will certainly be interesting to see Booker's reaction to fireworks. This will be his first Fourth of July celebration. Hopefully he'll take a cue from his "brother" and sleep through it all!

Share your focus

Tango

I have two dogs. Each needs something different from me. I have to remember that, although he's older, Tango needs just as much attention (if not more) as Booker, but in different ways. Tango is still quite reactive in certain situations. I must work as much on that as on Booker walking at heel or on practicing Booker's "stay." It's tiring, putting my dog in a place where I know Tango is as likely to lunge after a person as to sit and look at me. So, I have to anticipate the worst. Maybe one day we'll be at the point where Tango is more likely to look at a distraction and then look back at me. Wishful thinking? I have to make sure it's not!

Do dogs get stiff necks?

We had to leave the dogs most of the day yesterday (not to worry, they were walked after a few hours) and so Booker did not get much exercise during the day. So last night was play time! And more play. So today, Booker is pretty tired. Tango is tired, too, but he sleeps in more conventional positions!

Tango does agility

This is Tango, doing one of the things he likes to do best - jump! These photos were taken a couple of years ago, way before Booker! We were in Louisville, Kentucky, at a huge four-day agility competition. You can see that the surface is dirt, which is great for traction and speed. What you can't see is the crowd and how absolutely intimidating the venue is. There were three rings, with enormous doors open on either end of the stadium. Crowds were walking in and out, and standing near the rings.

 

Unfortunately, Tango became very nervous and scared of the place sometime after this run. He shut down. Refused to come off the start line. And when he did come off the line, he stopped dead before jumps. I don't know why. And this transferred to other trials as well. We're finally at the point where he no longer stops dead before an obstacle in every run. He's not avoiding obstacles by visiting the ring crew. He's not qualifying consistently, or often, but he's better. Tango even gets faster during his runs!

How did we get to this point? Training. Constant, positive training with frequent reinforcement. Everywhere. On the street, in pet stores, in class, at fun matches and agility venues that have ring rentals. We'll continue training, of course. And Booker will come along so that he is accustomed to going to different places. And we'll keep entering trials.

How to get work done with a puppy around...

Fran and Booker playing tug

Booker is a very happy puppy and wants to play ALL THE TIME! I'm lucky enough to be able to bring him to work with me. I bring Tango to work as well, but this morning Tango was at the groomer. Booker didn't have his brother to torture play with and I did have work to do. I don't want to entertain the puppy - he should be able to entertain himself! Booker doesn't have the emotional control to settle on his own yet, hopefully one day he will. I could have crated him but that didn't seem right. So I played with him for a few minutes. Vigorously. Tugging the toy. And then he got his bone for a while and left me alone! And when he came over and jumped on me, I told him to go to his bed. And we'll do that again in an hour. Because it's good to get up from my desk periodically anyway!

And here's Tango, looking spiffy after his haircut!

Booker loves everyone

Booker at about 12 weeks and Tango

Tango - not so much. Interestingly, since Booker has come into our lives, Tango seems to be lightening up. He's coming over for scritches more, he's playing with me and the other dogs more, he seems to be happier. And I was worried that Tango would try to kill the puppy. Dogs are always surprising.

A simple walk ...

Tango before a walk - alone with me and paying attention!

Is not so simple when one dog is a jerk, the other tries to kiss everyone. Collars, leashes, treat pouch and poop bag. Ready? OK - let's go! Booker wants to jump on the lady across the way and give her kisses, and Tango is twirling in circles and wants to run over to her for a totally different reason.

So - how do I do that differently? Get their attention before we start our walk! I'll say, "Tango, Booker, are you ready?" in a very upbeat voice, standing up straight with leashes the way they're supposed to be held - my right thumb through the handles and some of the excess looped in my left hand. When both are looking at me, they get a cookie. A yummy cookie, not boring kibble. Then I say, "Let's go!" also in a very excited manner, so that the dogs are looking forward to being with me. We set off at a brisk pace, and if I see that there's no one in the immediate vicinity, I'll let Booker sniff a bush and Tango sniff the air. I don't want them to "heel" in the obedience way, since this is just a walk, but I do want the dogs paying attention to me. And we continue in this fashion. Every once in a while, I'll give the boys a cookie just for being near me, and not at the end of their leash slack. And when I do see other people getting closer, I'll talk to the dogs even more, and step up the cookie volume!

Naturally, it's easier to walk one dog at a time, but sometimes it's just not practical. So I'm learning to walk two.

Training is life... life is training

You get out of both what you put into both. Approach each day in an upbeat, positive manner and good things will come. Or, you'll just feel better. It doesn't matter if you're just going to work, or doing the laundry, or going on vacation. Smile, and the world smiles back. Appreciate nature on your way to work, admire your snowy white unmentionables, or anticipate all the great stuff that you'll be doing on your days off. Everything will be brighter. By the same token, frown at the world and you'll be cranky all day.

I don't want to seem like a Pollyanna. Some days are just hard. There have been lots of days when absolutely nothing goes right. Cranky customers call, one after another. Loads of returned orders in the mail. I've come to the conclusion, though, that the day is better if you can focus on the positive, even if it's just that the sun is shining. Or that it's warmer today than yesterday (or cooler, depending on the time of year).

I'm also trying to apply this lesson in dog training. No matter that Tango is cranky and tries to lunge at another dog on our walk. When we walk, I'll be upbeat and watch for those other dogs. I'll talk to Tango in a very excited voice and have him focus on me. When he does, it's praise and reward! Yummy treats for looking at me and not the yappy Maltese thing. And before we know it, we're past that other dog and walking with purpose down the block! That's certainly better than trying to drag a lunging. shrieking Griff down the street.

Training Booker in a positive manner is somewhat easier since he's a more positive dog. It's still hard sometimes to sustain the energy. On days when I'm feeling lackadaisical, I just keep the sessions shorter!

Different as night and day

Tango

Booker

Tango and Booker are my dogs. Tango's a 4-year-old, 14-pound Brussels Griffon, black with a rough coat. Booker is a Boston Terrier, almost 7 months old now, and about the same size as Tango. But size and pushed-in noses are about the only things they have in common.

Tango is grumpy, wary and suspicious of others. Booker is happy, outgoing and eager for anything! What makes them tick?

Why are some dogs, and people, for that matter, cranky and crotchety? How do their personalities affect training, home life, and relationships with others?