Dog Daze - Training, Day #2

Anyone who knows me knows that when I get a crazy idea in my head, I run with it... but like a kid with a paper bag over my head, I've been known to careen head-long into a wall on occasion.  Luckily, I'm hard-headed. So this time, instead of running about with a bag over my head, I actually ordered a book on training a service dog (called Teamwork II) on Amazon.

Of course it won't arrive until next week, so I went ahead and started on my own. *insert paper bag here*

I have to tell ya - I always had it in my head that service dog training was some intricate mystery left only for individuals who majored in dog training in grad school.  The elements of the unknown made it seem all the more intimidating. It takes time and patience and hard work...

Somewhat like training a horse...

Wait a minute...

I used to train horses.

It's true. Among the horses I've trained I count one young stallion and one big, ornery 4-year-old that had never had a saddle on his back. If I can train a horse, perhaps I CAN train a dog.

SO... Today I took Brandy to Petco. She heeled, she was polite around other animals, she didn't try to follow anyone else home, she didn't pee on the floor, she sat, she stayed... by the time we left, I was able to put her in a sit-stay and walk down the next aisle where she couldn't see me.

Sure - she made some mistakes, but for the most part I was quite amazed with how well she did.

Interestingly, I still need to work on getting her to sit immediately on command. She usually does, but sometimes she has ADD moments when birdies are more interesting than mommy. The other possibility is that she is getting a bit older and doesn't hear quite as well. Generally if I bump her hip or foot with my foot, she sits right down.

She's getting really good at stay, though I use the command "wait!" paired with a visual cue - - I hold up one finger. Yes... I can now put my dog on finger hold! She's better at "wait" than she is at "sit" currently.

She is already very good at heeling. I can thank Cesar Milan and the National Geographic Channel for that. (For any dog owners out there, if you've never watched The Dog Whisperer, you simply MUST make it a habit!)

Because Brandy is already good at heeling, I've already introduced "one step" which is my command to go up or down a single stair in a flight of steps. This way, when The Skink is going up or down steps, she can hold on to Brandy to balance herself. Eventually I want to get to the point where I can tether The Skink to The Dog, and it would sure be nice to know Brandy isn't going to leap down an entire set of steps with Skink bouncing along behind! Yes... "one step" will be a good thing.


I haven't worked on "down" yet, but I think we've got a good start. Our other hurdle is that Brandy seems to be a little out of shape. She was panting like crazy after our trip to Petco  - c'mon - the place is air conditioned! I also did a 2nd training session this afternoon when Iraq was available to provide a whole lot of distraction (this is good practice for the dog, and comes quite naturally to the kid). Again Brandy was huffing and puffing by the time we got back.

I'm thinking that just like a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle, it may just take Brandy a little bit to get into shape. I'll give her a few weeks before I decide she is physically unable to do be a service dog. She's limping a little on her right front - she has a shoulder that bugs her every now and then, but again, she needs to get in shape before I decide.

If bulldogs have a draw back, it's that they do tend to over heat faster than many other breeds. Olde Victorian Bulldogges are nowhere near as likely to over heat as their English Bulldog counterparts, yet still more likely than a Lab. I'd hate to go on a family outing to a summer festival only to have to carry the 80lb bulldog back to the car! That, and I don't want to threaten the well-being of my doggie!

So - here are some shots from this morning of The Skink wiping Brandy's nose, pulling her wrinkles and loving her :o)

Good Doggie!

Uh... good horsie??

Good night!

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