As I get older I become increasingly aware of the unmistakable fact that Life Isn't Fair. Everyday I see evidence of this from the simple things like the amount of food we (Americans) throw away in any given day compared to the countless people starving to death every day; to the people who die in accidents caused by drunk drivers when the drunk driver himself walks away. It often makes me wonder what our dogs think about fairness.
For those people with only one dog, this thought probably never comes up. Or, if it does, it is easily answered in some non-anthropomorphized way: "Dogs don't think about fairness. They think 'Me Me Me!'" But, as a person living with a (sometimes changing) pack, I see the look on one dog's face as another one gets something that he/she doesn't. This is especially obvious when treats are dolled out. I have a very specific way that I hand out treats so that no one gives me "the look". The one that screams "NO FAIR!" Even though I always hand out the same number of treats to each dog, if they aren't passed around quickly enough and one finishes chewing before another one even gets the treat, the look gets shot my direction. The thought process of "oh I got a treat" is forgotten quickly when the thought of "she got a treat" starts.
There are sometimes however when the dogs know that everyone got their designated allotment. Dinner time is one of these times. They all know that they are going to get dinner and (usually) wait patiently for their own bowl to be placed in front of them. Once their bowl is finished, they often exchange bowls to see if anyone left anything behind. But never once have I gotten the look "I didn't get my fair share." Another one of these instances is the bed time kiss routine. Every night before we go to bed, I kiss each kid on the top of the head. I'm not sure when this started, but it's been going on long enough to be part of that un-breakable bedtime routine. Each dog knows that they are going to get a kiss good night and will wait for their turn once I start. No one ever jumps up and pushes another out of the way. No one waits for an "extra" kiss either. Everyone gets one and everyone knows that.
So, the question is: why are somethings a matter of routine and some things become a matter of "fairness". Why haven't the dogs figured out that everyone gets ONE treat when they have figured out that everyone gets ONE bowl. Is there something that I could do as a trainer, handler, dog-mom could do to make it seem more "fair." I know that dog's brains are not as advanced as ours, but I do think that they are more advanced then many people give them credit for. If everyone has figured out that you get one bananna chip before bed, why can't they figure out that everyone gets ONE chewie? Why do they wander around trying to steal each other's? They are ALL THE SAME.
But maybe the dog's don't actually give me that look. Maybe it is just me trying to make everything seem fair. Maybe they don't want extra, maybe they just want more. . .
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Little Dogs
Sometimes it feels like I have a herd of chihuahuas - and sometimes I actually do have a herd! But I am not really a "small dog person". My dog before Mole was 110 lbs. My dog before that was 30 lbs. How I ended up with two dogs under 10 lbs still escapes me. How I ended up with Abby I will never know . . .
But despite my (mis)fortune of having small dogs, I have to say that I have become a much better trainer because of them. I have always had a knack for training the hard headed dogs because I knew how to be heavy handed without having it destroying our relationship or their psyche. But you can't do that with small dogs. Most small dogs start off fragile and a raised voice or a cross-eyed look can completely shatter them.
When you are training a small dog, you have to leave all of your own baggage at the gate. Your day's frustrations will travel down the leash and can severely impair a training session. You need to learn to have the right level of enthusiasm for praise without being too exuberant that you scare the dog. You also have to have a better relationship with your dog before you begin training. You have to have an unbreakable trust from your dog so that it will do what you ask despite the surroundings. You also need to have more voice control over your dog as a leash jerk could easily injure your friend. You also need to be more creative. Teaching a large dog to down on the floor is easy, but it can take many steps (and cushions) before a small dog will even consider it.
I learned something else about small dogs today too - MY small dog in particular: don't use a negative marker word in training. I have always yammered away at my dogs while training. I have many marker words - some "positive" and some "negative" or "no reward" markers. Today my trainer told me to stop using negative/no reward markers (NRM) with my dog. Even though my marker words have no other meaning then you did something wrong, she still thinks that it impedes training (in agility). Mole doesn't like to be "wrong" and becomes visibly stressed when I use that in training - I have never noticed this myself, but it was obvious when it was pointed out to me. When I used the NRM mole was less likely to do an object that he performed many times before. He was "afraid" of being wrong and instead reverted back to his "default" behavior, refusing to try anything else.
I found this to be very interesting and put it into context of learning something new myself. When I was learning how to knit socks, the people helping me didn't say "wrong" every time I dropped a stitch. I said "oops" to myself and sometimes got frustrated, but it never came from an outside source. And, if it had, I probably would have completely given up and gone back to blankets and scarves. It makes sense that a more "sensitive" dog would also get frustrated if he was "wrong" all the time in training. And there are a lot of "wrongs" which is why we are in training to begin with.
And so, I vow to try to become a better trainer and handler and dog-mom and be more position and no negative.
But despite my (mis)fortune of having small dogs, I have to say that I have become a much better trainer because of them. I have always had a knack for training the hard headed dogs because I knew how to be heavy handed without having it destroying our relationship or their psyche. But you can't do that with small dogs. Most small dogs start off fragile and a raised voice or a cross-eyed look can completely shatter them.
When you are training a small dog, you have to leave all of your own baggage at the gate. Your day's frustrations will travel down the leash and can severely impair a training session. You need to learn to have the right level of enthusiasm for praise without being too exuberant that you scare the dog. You also have to have a better relationship with your dog before you begin training. You have to have an unbreakable trust from your dog so that it will do what you ask despite the surroundings. You also need to have more voice control over your dog as a leash jerk could easily injure your friend. You also need to be more creative. Teaching a large dog to down on the floor is easy, but it can take many steps (and cushions) before a small dog will even consider it.
I learned something else about small dogs today too - MY small dog in particular: don't use a negative marker word in training. I have always yammered away at my dogs while training. I have many marker words - some "positive" and some "negative" or "no reward" markers. Today my trainer told me to stop using negative/no reward markers (NRM) with my dog. Even though my marker words have no other meaning then you did something wrong, she still thinks that it impedes training (in agility). Mole doesn't like to be "wrong" and becomes visibly stressed when I use that in training - I have never noticed this myself, but it was obvious when it was pointed out to me. When I used the NRM mole was less likely to do an object that he performed many times before. He was "afraid" of being wrong and instead reverted back to his "default" behavior, refusing to try anything else.
I found this to be very interesting and put it into context of learning something new myself. When I was learning how to knit socks, the people helping me didn't say "wrong" every time I dropped a stitch. I said "oops" to myself and sometimes got frustrated, but it never came from an outside source. And, if it had, I probably would have completely given up and gone back to blankets and scarves. It makes sense that a more "sensitive" dog would also get frustrated if he was "wrong" all the time in training. And there are a lot of "wrongs" which is why we are in training to begin with.
And so, I vow to try to become a better trainer and handler and dog-mom and be more position and no negative.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Doga
as in YOGA for your dog. . .who will then become a dogi
Since the kids started agility, they have all been sleeping better - or at least it seems like that to me. They never actually tell me that they got a bad night's sleep, but sometimes I think I can see it in their eyes. Abby has taken to sleeping at the dog bed on the end of the bed - at least until I turn out the lights. . .then she is back to being on top of me. Pocket is actually sleeping closer to Abby - not sure what that is about - maybe it's closer to me and Abby just happens to also be close to me??? And Mole . . .well. . .mole has taken to sleeping in funny positions.
Yes, that is his back foot up against his nose.
I know that dogs sleep in weird positions - Abby, with her dropped hips sleeps in some of the weirdest that I have ever seen. But Mole has always been more dignified. His head goes on the pillow and his bottom is on the bed. Unless of course he is curled around my head, in which case his entire body is on the pillow. But Mole has never slept with his foot in his face! Maybe it is all the activity? It loosened his joints and allowed him to enjoy some new sleeping positions? But I would think that all the running and jumping would tighten his little body. We aren't doing Doga for goodness sakes! (Tangent: I can't believe people actually do that! I actually found a class on ehow.com teaching you how to do it with your dog. Some people are seriously weird!)
Since the kids started agility, they have all been sleeping better - or at least it seems like that to me. They never actually tell me that they got a bad night's sleep, but sometimes I think I can see it in their eyes. Abby has taken to sleeping at the dog bed on the end of the bed - at least until I turn out the lights. . .then she is back to being on top of me. Pocket is actually sleeping closer to Abby - not sure what that is about - maybe it's closer to me and Abby just happens to also be close to me??? And Mole . . .well. . .mole has taken to sleeping in funny positions.
Yes, that is his back foot up against his nose.
I know that dogs sleep in weird positions - Abby, with her dropped hips sleeps in some of the weirdest that I have ever seen. But Mole has always been more dignified. His head goes on the pillow and his bottom is on the bed. Unless of course he is curled around my head, in which case his entire body is on the pillow. But Mole has never slept with his foot in his face! Maybe it is all the activity? It loosened his joints and allowed him to enjoy some new sleeping positions? But I would think that all the running and jumping would tighten his little body. We aren't doing Doga for goodness sakes! (Tangent: I can't believe people actually do that! I actually found a class on ehow.com teaching you how to do it with your dog. Some people are seriously weird!)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Chomp...chomp...chomp
My free time is also being eaten away as well as my blog posts. Let's review the past week:
Tuesday: agility class "try out"
Thursday: agility class
Saturday: agility trial
Sunday: agility practice
Monday: tunnel practice?????
That is a lot of agility! But the dogs seem to enjoy it and it really only cost me ga$. Everyday we seem to get better - ok, everyday the dogs get better...everyday I drop treats all over the field and almost trip over a piece of equiptment. Let's use today as an example:
Mole did 3 jumps, a standard dog walk, and a curved tunnel (all in sequence)
Pocket did a curved tunnel (after I finally covinced her to get off the dog walk)
Abby actually went on the dog walk a number of times (in a strange yard, no less!)
I dropped huge chunks of treats no less then three times. I got hung up on at least five jumps. I tripped over the tunnel too many times to count. I am an obvious mess. But I hear that's normal when you are just starting out...
Tuesday: agility class "try out"
Thursday: agility class
Saturday: agility trial
Sunday: agility practice
Monday: tunnel practice?????
That is a lot of agility! But the dogs seem to enjoy it and it really only cost me ga$. Everyday we seem to get better - ok, everyday the dogs get better...everyday I drop treats all over the field and almost trip over a piece of equiptment. Let's use today as an example:
Mole did 3 jumps, a standard dog walk, and a curved tunnel (all in sequence)
Pocket did a curved tunnel (after I finally covinced her to get off the dog walk)
Abby actually went on the dog walk a number of times (in a strange yard, no less!)
I dropped huge chunks of treats no less then three times. I got hung up on at least five jumps. I tripped over the tunnel too many times to count. I am an obvious mess. But I hear that's normal when you are just starting out...
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Agility Ate My Life
Or maybe just my blog...???
It seems that my dog blog has been taken over by agility dogs - MY agility dogS -yes, that is plural.
Along time ago, in a land far, far away. . .who I am kidding, this isn't a fairy tale! This is the tale of how my three tails sucked all my money and time away. Yes, THREE!
Last night, while training my TWO, my friend had the bright idea of bringing out sweet, adorable, previously innocent pocket and trying her on some jumps. The little bitch(!) had more energy and fun then mole - and probably more fun then even topper! She loved it and was willing to do it again and again and again. She didn't tire of the repetition like mole, and she seemed to get it faster than Abby. She was almost perfect.
So, tonight when I went to try mole out at a facility I decided to bring pocket along and try her too. She was scared of the barking dogs (who can really blame her) and she didn't like the teeter - too much noise. But she wasn't afraid of the wobble board (I swear on my great-grandmother's grave) and she wasn't afraid of the standard size dog walk. It was almost embarrassing that she could walk the "walk" and I could barely walk without tripping on solid ground right next to her.
Somehow the training of one dog in agility, became the training of two. Somewhere along the line the training of two became the training of three. I'm still not always sure how I even ended up with three dogs to begin with, let alone training all three in agility! Nothing but good things have come out of it, though
Abby had a new found confidence and is interested in meeting new people earlier on.
Pocket seems to be having fun for the first time since her attack.
Mole. . .well, Mole gets food . . .and mom. . .so he is just happy.
And mom gets three tired dogs and can finally read HP4 in peace!
It seems that my dog blog has been taken over by agility dogs - MY agility dogS -yes, that is plural.
Along time ago, in a land far, far away. . .who I am kidding, this isn't a fairy tale! This is the tale of how my three tails sucked all my money and time away. Yes, THREE!
Last night, while training my TWO, my friend had the bright idea of bringing out sweet, adorable, previously innocent pocket and trying her on some jumps. The little bitch(!) had more energy and fun then mole - and probably more fun then even topper! She loved it and was willing to do it again and again and again. She didn't tire of the repetition like mole, and she seemed to get it faster than Abby. She was almost perfect.
So, tonight when I went to try mole out at a facility I decided to bring pocket along and try her too. She was scared of the barking dogs (who can really blame her) and she didn't like the teeter - too much noise. But she wasn't afraid of the wobble board (I swear on my great-grandmother's grave) and she wasn't afraid of the standard size dog walk. It was almost embarrassing that she could walk the "walk" and I could barely walk without tripping on solid ground right next to her.
Somehow the training of one dog in agility, became the training of two. Somewhere along the line the training of two became the training of three. I'm still not always sure how I even ended up with three dogs to begin with, let alone training all three in agility! Nothing but good things have come out of it, though
Abby had a new found confidence and is interested in meeting new people earlier on.
Pocket seems to be having fun for the first time since her attack.
Mole. . .well, Mole gets food . . .and mom. . .so he is just happy.
And mom gets three tired dogs and can finally read HP4 in peace!
Thursday, June 04, 2009
I am Humbled
Mole and I went to a training facility this evening for an agility evaluation. There were a few parts to this evaluation: the first part was "obedience" the second part was "team work" and the third part was "equipment introduction". Mole and I have been together for 5 years now, I figured that we would have all this down pat. And, to be honest without sounding like a brag, we did. We had no issues with the evaluation whatsoever.
But I was still completely humbled. And not by another dog/handler team. . .by mole himself.
I have been super busy and don't always have a lot of time to think, but I found myself thinking about how amazing my dogs were - and not in the trite -mushy-i love my dog sense. My dogs have always been "just dogs" nothing more, nothing less. They are my companions, friends, hiking partners, cuddle buddies, plate cleaners, etc. But recently they have become something entirely different. I don't want to use the term "working" because my dogs are not "working dogs" but they have begun to do things that I ask of them without a second thought and while putting their own fears/confusions aside.
Today I asked mole to walk into a room that he had never been in, be in a ring with (annoying) dogs that he didn't know, perform behaviors that I ask, and take obstacles that he has never seen. And you know what? He did it all - and wagged his little tail through it. And he did it all because I asked him to - and because he is a little brown-nosing mama's boy! I felt honored and humbled, both at the same time. It reminded me of this quote:
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion" - Unknown
I'm not entirely sure that I will ever be worthy of a dog like mole. . .but I have Abby to balance it out, so it's ok. But even there, Abby has come so far and continues to make huge improvements. Why? Because I ask her to. It's a very humbling experience to have that kind of devotion.
But I was still completely humbled. And not by another dog/handler team. . .by mole himself.
I have been super busy and don't always have a lot of time to think, but I found myself thinking about how amazing my dogs were - and not in the trite -mushy-i love my dog sense. My dogs have always been "just dogs" nothing more, nothing less. They are my companions, friends, hiking partners, cuddle buddies, plate cleaners, etc. But recently they have become something entirely different. I don't want to use the term "working" because my dogs are not "working dogs" but they have begun to do things that I ask of them without a second thought and while putting their own fears/confusions aside.
Today I asked mole to walk into a room that he had never been in, be in a ring with (annoying) dogs that he didn't know, perform behaviors that I ask, and take obstacles that he has never seen. And you know what? He did it all - and wagged his little tail through it. And he did it all because I asked him to - and because he is a little brown-nosing mama's boy! I felt honored and humbled, both at the same time. It reminded me of this quote:
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion" - Unknown
I'm not entirely sure that I will ever be worthy of a dog like mole. . .but I have Abby to balance it out, so it's ok. But even there, Abby has come so far and continues to make huge improvements. Why? Because I ask her to. It's a very humbling experience to have that kind of devotion.
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