Guard dog (or lotto) wanted; Apply within

Learning to get dressed

I'm one of those people who believe what you think about you bring about. Lately I've been wondering about the soundness of Toad's protection gene. He's so much softer then any other dog I've lived with. He a super sensitive creature really.

About a three weeks age, we were snuggled in bed, all the lights off and it would be a daunting task for anyone to come to the door in the dark. Yet at 9:30 (yes I typically go to bed early and watch tv for a bit) I heard a distinct knocking at the door. Toad never budged. With the past boys, I always looked to them to see if I needed to worry about a noise. They alerted me. Yet with this knocking, Toad had zero reaction. ZERO! I was more then a little freaked out by the sudden visitor (I'm a by appointment only kinda gal), so when a friend texted me 10 minutes later and asked what I was doing, my reply was "coming to your house for the night"

Then... it dawned on me... he doesn't even get up when I get home. He doesn't look at who's coming through the door. He doesn't bark, he doesn't greet, he does nothing.

Dapper in Plaid

All of which got me to musing about his protective gene. He seemed to show it when I first brought him home. He barks to get back inside when he's done peeing/pooping. He will bark if he's outside and the neighbors are making noise or if he sees them. He will answer Opi's bark (or start it... Opi is the awesome dog next door). So I know he sees and hears just fine.

So there I've been, wondering what his reaction would actually be if something was amiss.

Last night, well the wee hours (or this morning)... my fish tank broke. Truly, more like cracked. The sound of water leaking/dripping/running woke Toad, who came awake growling and barking. The second I was awake, he stopped making any noise at all. I heard the water... went to investigate and Toad promptly went back to sleep.

Belly bands to curtail marking

Buffer would have led the charge, ready, willing and able to take on whatever demons dared enter unannounced. Bosun, I used to joke, would have to make sure they didn't smell prior to biting. Toad though.... nada. Apparently his job is merely to alert the human. He didn't even walk down the hall with me.

Other then to come out to pee about 15 minutes into working though the mess, he left me to my business of mopping up water, re-homing fish and sorting it all out.

45 minutes later he somewhat grudgingly allowed me back in bed.

Funny how he's gone from living in a shed to hogging the creature comforts of living in a home.

Mental Note to Self;  Instead of wondering how Toad would react to an intruder... perhaps I should be wondering how Toad would react to becoming wealthy.

Driving in my car.... got the radio on...

That car though!

Toad, as you can imagine needs work in the car. He's gotten to a point where he relaxes and sleeps when I drive, which is terrific! (one of his first drives he landed on my head in a leap that accentuated his lack of grace and load of ... well... endowment).

In no particular order he needs refining on marking his "territory" inside the vehicle. He needs training to stay put while I exit the car. He needs reinforcement on "not being in the drivers seat". And he needs to learn to stay calm while people walk or drive by.

We set out today to sit in the car parked in the parking lot of the local grocery store. Sunday is a slower day in a slow town (important to allow him to process not just burst). The goal was to stay long enough that he could self calm, respond to requests and get through his initial anxiety. 

Toad's time line went something like this; 

Arrival

10 minutes; whining

20 minutes; increased/louder

25 minutes; more frantic

30 minutes; whining slowed

35 minutes; able to lay down (self calm)

40 minutes; up and sniffing/exploring car

50 minutes; more active, no whining, able to do commands

60 minutes; good eye contact, panting from tired

Shake Hands

He was concerned about one couple (the man was carrying a fairly large.thick stick), interested in a skateboarder and keen to be with when he went around the corner and out of sight. Got more worked up at the 20 minute mark when a truck blocked his view and then the man proceeded to talk to him. He started to get bored with the outside world just past 1/2 hour mark. Was himself at about the hour mark.

We worked quickly on "get in back" with treat lures being thrown, and "sits". He is still sleeping 3 hours later. These things/training outings completely get rid of all mental energy leaving  him drained. I'll schedule him to go back mid to late week and see how quickly he goes through the paces.

I feel one hour was a quick turn around from no eye contact to being able to do his basic obedience (especially since we've not overly practiced his commands in the car, so they are technically new to him)

He's such a willing participant.... he's getting to go on more drives (my past bully went everywhere with me, so I'd love for Toad to get to that point). He gets excited when he realizes we're going in the car (his tip off is me getting my purse, which doesn't come with us for walks, smart booger). I'd like for him to be able to relax in the parking lots and that means spending some time rewarding calm behavior, modeling calm behavior and ignoring the rest! He'll get there... we'll get there. 

Core Strength

It's been a busy week at work, hopefully next week will be a little less so. Toad has rolled with the punches for the most part. He's hanging his head and giving me full on guilt over going to his crate, but I'm not ready to leave him out for extended periods of time.

He's gotten great at sleeping with me, yes, it was definitely a learning curve! In fact he's discovering the joys of blankets, and more specifically being underneath them! Mostly I forget that he hasn't been a house dog for a full year, he's come so far. I still use "stop" in my half sleep stupor to get him to cease bouncing all over me in the morning when he knows I'm awake, but trying to greet the world in a quiet and easy manner. He's training me to mumble "down" instead... I'm a slow learner it would seem.

With time being at a premium lately we train when/where/what we can. I like to take advantage of quick/repetitive moments.... like his treats before bed. He always gets two (and yes I swear he can count them!) I've been teaching "place", meaning his bed on the floor... or the really cushy mat I walk across on the way to the shower. Place teaches body awareness, adds a word to our repertoire and will, hopefully, help me when it comes time to introduce him to people. Because of all the clicker training we've done, he knows that when I say a word, he's supposed to figure out what I want.

When clicker training new words, there is often a behavior burst. Meaning Toad offers everything he knows, and everything that's ever gotten him anything in the past. Sometimes, with surrendered dogs you can discover a trick they know, or see a behavior from their past. Toad's pretty limited to what I've taught/rewarded. He, after 5 days, sits his butt in a whirling/spinning/dizzy making speed on his bed once I've asked for "place". A little mental energy burn off before bed... win win!

Puppy sit ups is another one we've been working on. Getting a dog to do a sit then down, then sit/down... is trickier then it seems on the surface. Initially it took a lot of luring. Thankfully Toad's motivated to get the treat as productively as possible. Meaning, he cuts out as many steps as he can, as quickly as he can. We're getting there, but not anywhere close to "proofed"

The last one, is to build core strength. Sit Pretty. These chunky monkeys poop muscles, but not necessarily core muscles. Yes it's a thing  with dogs too. Yes, it's why some dogs can "sit pretty" and others cannot. It takes time and conditioning for those who cannot. Toad is on the cannot list. Slowly, a few quick times a day, I can see his balance/strength and focus getting better. In this case, he knows what I want, but simply cannot do it yet, he will with time, repetition and something to lean on.

Core Strength. It's what separates the winners from the whiners. Facing the tough things little bits at a time is how we all get through. We all work on core strength, we all get rewarded for our practice. A friend reminded me recently that no matter how much we do, or how well there will always be 10% who are not happy. I'd like to thank those 10%, they make me sit taller, longer and with more conviction. You keep pushing, I'll keep working, Even when I need to lean.

Sit Pretty, even when it isn't.

Rescue Remedy

He's a rescue. He had a rough start. He was beat.

Let's be clear, if your dog is misbehaving it's because you are not training him to do otherwise. Its not because he was tied, or left in a shed or starved. It's not because he doesn't know how to learn. It's not because he doesn't want to please. It's simply because he's never been consistently shown that it's not acceptable. (medical and temperament issues aside)

Dogs that pull on leash are allowed to pull (don't think I'm right? next walk, picture yourself in a white wedding gown holding a glass of red wine in your leash hand and see how much more consistent you become) Dogs that bark, are getting rewarded by you barking with them. Dogs that jump on people get rewarded by you handling/talking to them while pulling them off. Dogs do what gets rewarded. I see it every single day.

I detest, hate, abhor the phrase "he's a rescue". First because "rescue" is a verb, once the act is complete it becomes "rescued", PAST TENSE. And truly, it's a fire word, a word being used to trigger an emotional response. To make you feel something, to allow smoke and mirrors, to excuse lack of training. It's not accurate or productive.

Second because it seems to magically alleviate any responsibility from owners to correct behavior. It seems to be a catch all excuse for every bad behavior in the books. When the bad behavior that needs to be address is walking upright feeling big about this selfless act they have performed; they rescued a dog.

No, no they didn't.

I run a program called Oops! Puppies. I primarily take in litters of puppies that are unwanted or unplanned. They go to great homes, with great families. When time and space allow I take in adult dogs. Some dogs have sketchy pasts, most are mundane. Not a single one of them has been "rescued". None were falling through ice when I took them in. None were being beat to death. None were balancing on the side of a cliff. None.  I do not give past stories. I don't want the people who are looking to adopt a story to tell at barbecues. I want people who will step up and give the dog a great home.

I feel we get pompous about ourselves as humans. Look how great I am, look what I did... you know what? Dogs would fair much better in the wild then we would. Your dog would find food, shelter and water first, then share it and never refer to you as his rescue.

We say we don't want to see the sadness then buy into these words.


By all means adopt a dog. They are wonderful. Question your shelter about behavior modification, Question them about unwanted behaviors and what's being done/what works to correct it. Find a trainer that will work with you through specific issues. Do the time, train the dog. Do not stop at "he's a rescue." Insist on light not fire.

Toad is a lot of things. Strong willed, Brilliant, Loving, Manipulative. Handsome. Loyal. Bad. He's funny and sweet. He's easily offended. He's learning as fast as he can. He ate my belt this morning and stole my coffee.

He is a bull terrier, he is mine.

He is not "a rescue."

Clowns to the Left of Me

Toad has learned all his basics and some common phrases. It's hard to believe he's been here 6 months, and yet when I think about where we started he's a pretty darned amazing boy. He knows; Back up, Stay, Sit, down, Roll, spin, inside, outside, stop, wait, easy (on leash), off, shake, high five, go lay down, pick a hand, hug, go around, Momma help.

We are working on personal hygiene items now. No licking, let me see your teeth, open your mouth, and a personal favorite; hold still while I wipe your crazy large testicles where poop had smeared them/it. Someone posted this pig photo and asked if maybe I got the species wrong.... there is an uncanny resemblance. (for those who don't know, Toad experienced a trauma and cannot be operated on, you can read more here; Momma Help )

I read a week ago that bull terriers are not dogs at all (not news to anyone who has ever lived with one) but their explanation seems legit. The author went on to explain how they are actually aliens who tried to assimilate with humans in the form of a dog, and missed the mark. It would explain the triangle eyes, the egg/cement block head, and the antics! 

We needed a break from formal training and I recently signed up for a trick training group. It was just what I needed. And as it turns out Toad's going to be a lot of fun not to mention a willing participant. 

Until today I'd just been reading other's posts. Refreshing my memory on training methods and thinking about what I'd like to train. What I think he'd naturally do.

Today I picked up the clicker, a tool he's so familiar with he almost starts drooling in anticipation of treats, just say the word Mom and it's a done deal! 

Today I just wanted to free shape, no pressure, no expectations. Basically what that means is I wait until he does something I like and I click/treat in the hopes of getting it repeated. You can lure a dog into a position, you can shape them or free shape them.  I never would have guessed what he offered, I was thinking we'd be doing more of a basketball backboard (with me being the backboard) type *trick*

Now I need to confess that I am a hopeless person when it comes to telling my left from my right. I've begged my nephew to reprogram my GPS to say "my way and your way" instead of left and right (and putting an end to her judgmental and angry voice telling me to make a legal U-turn when I get it wrong). So when Toad offered to look a particular way, I clicked/treated.

He offered and got rewarded enough times I felt it was pretty solid. The problem was having to halt the training session so I could figure out if he was looking left or right,,, and he was facing me, so I had to reverse it... and then remember it so I could google the lyrics to see if the jokers or the clowns were on the right... suffice to say, Toad had to perform the stunt numerous times for me. 

God love him...even with his bumbling Momma he now has mastered in a mere 3 short session looking to the right when I ask him "where are the jokers" Brilliant! 

I've always said the first step in training is to be smarter then the dog... not sure I accomplished that today, but he pulled me through. 

Should be a cute trick once complete!!!! 

That was Then

There are weird things happening around my house. Things like no warning barks coming from the bedroom when someone walks past the house. Things like my bed staying made all day. Fewer doors needing to be opened and closed. The food container doesn't need to filled as often. Bosun's painful to watch 6 rotations before finally laying down on the sofa isn't happening.

Normally I'd head to the woods to sort these things out. Normally I'd take Bosun and we'd go. I knew I could completely relax and not be concerned about my surroundings, that Bos would keep watch. That he'd check back regularly. That he would just be "there". Unconditionally, forever. And therein lies the problem. Bosun's "forever" got cut short. Much too short.

Last Saturday he became suddenly, seriously sick and needed me to allow him to pass. He went from 100% fine (we were headed to an off leash park for a party) to needing emergency vet care. He had a cyst burst on his spleen and there were no warning signs, trust me, his last 6 months are stuck on replay.

Toad, has suddenly had new expectations imposed. I need him to be free range while I shower. I want him to be able to sleep with me. I want to have him stop trying to bite the tears because it's the only thing he can see that may be causing me distress. It'd be great if I could trust him enough to head to the woods to work this out in my head. Or maybe it's my heart that needs catching up.

 He has taken up new habits like chasing his tail. Bullies tend to lean into this behavior, but it's new for him. Its a sign that his anxiety is getting high. He's jumping on me and nipping again. He's taken up chewing my shoes and hoarding things in his crate. Hes become vigilant and is reacting more to outside noises. Another sign that his adrenaline has been pushed.

We did a practice run with the sleeping in bed with me. My top concerns are bodily harm (he is very much a 55 pound puppy, so he gets excited), him marking the new to him room, me not getting sleep. He was pretty great for the nap, however once complete and he was aware I was awake, he bounced and bucked like something that should be entered in the Calgary Stampede. I was quite sure concern #1 was on it's way. I was trapped under the blankets, my timing was horrid, every time I tried to peel them back he was on his way to bouncing on that side.... it was comical and scary and oh so Toad.

Overall Toad is becoming predictable. He regresses with stress (don't we all?) He's becoming this cuddly, sweet companion. He is learning faster now, words like inside and outside are almost mastered. He's learning to be calm. He's doing really well with leash walking. He's my boy. He has big shoes to fill. He has a spirit big enough to tackle it.

We miss Bosun. We've spent a lot of time just being quiet, and maybe that's his super power, getting me to sit quietly when my body just wants to run away. For the millionth time since he landed with me I am grateful to share time and space with this little train wreck I call Toad.

Regression

I think that it's normal to circle back once in a while. To return to the comfort of our old ways. Old habits. Old friends. I think its normal to take a break in learning. To relax the expectations. To regress.

Toad went to a kennel for night last weekend. Now this particular kennel is great for dogs like Buffer and Toad. Buffer I wanted zero handling, he would bite, I was 100% sure. Toad is less of an issue, but not a dog I am ready to ask friends/family to watch. So off to the kennel he went.

I'm told he was great. Minimal barking/marking/crazy. Not a surprise for me. He's really come a long way. This was a test for him, and me, and the training. It was a test to show I'd come back. A test of his new habits. A test of his tolerances.

He came back exhausted, as I expected. He tried to crawl inside my body once we were tucked back in the car. He settled for half of his body on my lap as I drove. He's not left my side.



We have a regression of some habits, like marking. It's as if he needs to re-assert that this is his home.

We had gotten to a place with his nail dremelling that I could just do it without any luring. He's now back to sound sensitive. We are back to peanut butter in a kong. It took me a bit to figure out why I was getting resistance and stink eye... back feet are fine, front feet not fine. I forgot how far we had come. How far away simply filing his nails seemed.

So, for now we back up, we keep the expectations set, and reward the behaviors we want repeated. He will bounce back once he's caught up on rest. It's tiring mentally and physically for them to go to the kennel. So many sounds and smells and restless moments.

I'll Be Your Man

Must love dogs, well, puppies to be exact. I'm in a totally committed relationship with Toad. I'm in love. I overlook some downfalls. I excuse some poor manners. I accept there are limitations just like every good relationship does. I focus on the good times and lean into the bad ones.

But, because there is a divide between my passions of puppies and my love of Toad, it gets hard. Because Buffer was so amazingly, unbelievably nurturing, the comparisons happen. Past relationship v/s new guy. I accept that Toad will never replace Buffer's work. But holy hannah heck.... you'd think he could at least not be bat crap crazy around the pups!

Toad started off poorly. 

Too enthusiastic. Too vocal. Too fast. 

No focus, no words, no control. 

Every relationship has priority items. With people it can be children, geography or goals. Toad being able to behave reasonably with the babies is a top priority. It's where we've been spending time. By moments, I feel like it will be a dead end in training. Yesterday, we finally had a break through.

With every relationship that's going through a tough time, you negotiate, you talk about it, you plead and yes, in this case, I've been making bargains with all the deities that exist. You know those arguments.... the mental state of "if we can just get through this" ... yeah, that's where Toad and I had been circling. You hope that you can work through it, you fear it will be an "agree to disagree" moment with no resolution, only avoidance.


He and I have been working diligently on baby steps. If you picture this training like a bulls eye target, it will make it easier. On the outside you'll find the "just be in the same room without losing your crap" The center target being, free range (under supervision) with the pups. All the rings in between being the baby steps toward the goal. Rewarding any minor indication of calm, ignoring anything deemed "not calm". Repeat, repeat, repeat. Add food as he became calm enough to eat, repeat repeat repeat. Increase expectations/step toward the bulls eye..... reward looking away... reward no barking, reward reward reward.

We achieved "calm" this week. We made it to being free range (pup in crate, safe). He is completely uninterested. He will approach, calmly and is offering a play bows. He is taking the pups paw in his mouth through the crate bars to the delight of the puppy. Ears in proper position, Tail wagging at a relaxed pace. No vocals.

We are not there yet, but I have renewed hope. 

I just may ask that boy to marry me ;) 

It was Broken

Something I try to keep in mind, at all times, is that dogs generally want to please. It is their nature, it is why they were domesticated in the first place. Dogs with unknown backgrounds are no different. Sometimes they don't have the typical foundation to build on. Hard to teach shake a paw when they don't know sit.

When I get to a road block in training, or become frustrated that a lesson is not sinking in, I literally walk away from the lesson. In Toad's case we get a time out. Bullies are more tenacious and fun loving then any other breed. You cannot go head to head with them and expect any long lasting positive behavior.

I'm learning Toad's signs. He mouths, he gives me stink eye, he becomes frustrated and needs to rip and run around the house bouncing off walls. He starts to challenge me and known commands. He accidentally hurts me.

Last week, he cracked my back and tried to dislocate my jaw. He almost took us out on the road while I was driving when he thought that sitting on my head was an appropriate spot. Taken as individual items, it looks like training is needed. (and it still is, but that's not what he was trying to convey). When he gets frustrated, his patience/focus and drive to please lower... he gets into trouble, increasing the stress/frustration on my part and we become part of a losing cycle.

I found my self saying "No" like a broken record. No licking. No biting. No peeing in the house. No jumping. No chewing shoes. No stealing stuff off the counter. No being mean to puppies. No.

He was spending more time in the crate. I was exhausted. We weren't working through anything. I ran scenarios through my head. New food; are the incidents centering around meals (possibly too many carbs/sugar causing bad behavior). I'm tired; ergo less patience. New puppies (14 in the house now). Need more exercise (hence the car ride of death). Nothing was making an impact.

I began to wonder if I was acting or reacting. Was Toad now doing things to get my attention (they are pretty darned amazing trainers!).

Years ago, when I managed hair salons I took part in a training seminar. It's stayed with me for many years and has been useful in a multitude of situations. The speaker, who I was trying to convince the importance of being in the trenches with the other stylists imparted the following wisdom. He casually sauntered over to me while I was defending my position and simply asked: "Where does an Olympic swimming coach stand while coaching?"
I answered "side of the pool"  He bent down, close to my ear and yelled "GET OUT OF THE POOL!!!!"

So, there I was, in the pool, drowning with the little man. Neither of us happy, both of us frustrated.

Turns out the word "NO" is broken. I suspect it was over used in his past life (and its an easy word to use with a bully). When a word is used with no follow through, it becomes an empty word with no value. Background noise. Meant less then nothing to him, so my frustration seemed random and inappropriate.

Yesterday we began using the word "Don't" instead. It's a good word, easily replaces "no" and has a nice sharp edge to it. (tone that is). He responded immediately with a break in the behavior, which gave me the opportunity to reward what I want to see. By supper, we were in a calm, easy place. He's pretty amazing company.

My knuckle headed, forgiving little beast of a boy.

Darkest Before the Dawn

I believe this. In life, In potty training. In child rearing. In general.

Just about the time you're ready to wave the white flag and surrender, you get a break. The tides turn and you get a chance to catch your breath. I realize this was my fault. I left him unsupervised and ultimately that is my job. I also understand that sometimes you need to do laundry and that at some point, Toad needs to learn to behave in my absence.

Families of my adopted puppies often write when they are frustrated with teaching potty training, when the mouthing is pushing their buttons, or the puppy conveniently has forgotten how to "sit". My advise is always "stay the course". I promise them that it will soon be over, to just be patient for a little more. Typically within a few days they contact me again, crisis has past.

Toad and I were getting to that point. I hadn't realized how close to the edge I was until this "explosion" of stuffing and the chunks of foam from his crate pad "just happened".  My legs were tired from being in unnatural positions trying to block his pumpkin head from getting in and around me. My hands were signalling instructions that my mouth was just too tired to say anymore. My body was a beacon of information that Toad was learning to read without my conscious effort.

Somehow in the falling apart, it comes together. I think we become more focused on the end goal. We firm up with the Universe what we want. We change the energy that surrounds the goal. And magically, with this new untapped zest, it comes together.

While I was cleaning this mess, I thought about the need for him to learn "back up" and "wait". I realized he was asking for some good old chewing/destruction. He got new tartar buster bones and cow hoofs. I re-started the training for wait and back up. And.... it clicked. He was backing up and looking at me as if to say "well why didn't you just ask?" Getting in and out of cupboards or the fridge is a breeze. He's learned a bunch of new words, like go around and roll over. He can pick a hand and is getting pretty darned good at waiting. Leave it is now in there, and we need to proof it.

In life, the same thing happens. Something happens that pushes you to the brink, and while you're standing there on the edge, the view becomes so clear. Your intent solidifies and you energize. You find the support and the ways to get through the challenge. All you have to do is "Stay the Course"

I have no Plan

This is where we begin. This barking, lunging, can't hear, can't focus, can't process mess. I take in litters of pups and sometimes adult dogs. Today is Toad's first experience with puppies. He was like a wild child trying to get to them (they were, of course tucked safely in a crate).

Buffer playing with a Pup

Deep Breath. I'm used to Buffer. Buffer weened puppies, taught them body language, play and manners. He adored the pups. They literally walked all over him. I'd find him with his front feet up on a baby gate watching them play. He'd physically roll my chair away from my desk when it was time to feed the pups. He knew what day/time to teach them to not jump on people and would walk through them like they were bowling pins. That lesson stuck for life (I never could see what sign he saw). So I was kinda hoping that Toad would be similar.

The pups are 2 1/2 weeks old and I'll have them for about 6 more... I'm hoping that by the end of their time here, Toad will have come around. That's the time frame. Currently he's marking new spaces, like he's drawing a line around me... the coffee table, the sofa, the side table, non of which were ever marked before. I'm hoping to find the balance between ignoring the bad behavior, rewarding the calm and quiet behavior.

Toad is very pack oriented. When a new dog comes it he finds it upsetting. When a dog goes home, he reacts as well. Any disturbance to the pack. One would have thought adding puppies to a pack would be well received. I understand that there will not be another Buffer with the pups, but I was hoping for less "enthusiasm"... yeah we'll call it enthusiasm~!



Toad gets crated while I have Bosun modelling the behavior I'd like, which is calm, no big deal.

The pups got moved from a bathroom off my bedroom to their room. Toad can hear them more clearly. When I leave their door open for training session he watches and is super interested in the smells I carry on my clothes after working with the puppies. He is already up to 4 minutes of calm behavior and not reacting to their cries.

I do suspect he will get used to the pups... perhaps it was all that puppy goodness smells that over excited him. As he gets used to the smells and sounds he should naturally calm down.

In the meantime, he's getting rewarded for good/calm behavior and loses privileges (like watching them) for too excited! He's a smart boy... he's already starting to catch onto the system. I like that he's interested in them (Bosun wants little to do with them until they are more stable/older).

Always an adventure!

Nature versus Nurture

It's all in the way you raise them. No such thing as a bad dog. She/he must have been beat. He doesn't like men.

I have long relied on temperament. I do not personally believe you can take a truly submissive dog and make it bold, nor a truly aggressive dog calm. I think you can manage those things, I think you can subdue them somewhat, and make them comfortable in home environments. I do not think you can change the nature of the dog and once removed from the home environment, they revert back to who they fundamentally are.

I've had dogs that have never had a harsh word spoken to them yet they are trembling messes due to lack of structure and temperament. I have Toad who should hate all people from abuse and neglect and yet is loving and learning.

Toad is doing so well, that I am mistaking him for Buffer on occasion. He sets me straight. Buffer would wear anything I asked him to. Toad stopped chewing the fireman's hat long enough for a photo. Buffer was brought up being dressed and getting rewarded for it, Toad has never been exposed to it.

It's interesting to me how much the same yet different these two are. Remember they have the same sire/dam just 2 years apart, so true brothers. We understand no two children are the same, yet, don't allow the same logic to follow through to dogs. Where Buffer was bold, Toad is cautious. Buffer needed to be taught to let me have a bone/high value reward, I have taken favored treats from Toad without thinking about it.

They both do what gets rewarded. They snuggle the same. They like being under blankets. Toad uses his nose and feet to open cupboards and drawers, Buffer would have chewed through.

Buffer had a life of being rewarded with treats, and love and laughter. Toad is starting to trust that  those things are permanent.

By conventional wisdom Toad, stuffed in a shed and kicked should be a cowering, savage beast. Buffer should have been the most loving, gentle creature ever to walk the earth. He wasn't, he was highly managed and definitely human aggressive. Toad more reasonable.

Judging by temperament and not nature/nurture, you get exactly what is presented. Toad being sight/sound sensitive (Buffer not). Neither being overly social with people or dogs, both highly trainable, Toad a little touch sensitive, Buffer not, both tolerant of elevation. Both mid line on submissive/assertive.

And that... in my opinion, is what makes a dog. It's why some get past abusive history's and others find homes that make history's up. (we've all heard about a dog being abused by a man in a hat with a broom). A puppy that isn't interested in training, will take a lot to over ride. An adult that was submissive as a pup will typically always be fearful.

Trust the temperament. A dog will show you who they are, its our job to listen.

After the Glitter Fades

Toad is changing. He's trusting enough to show me his true self. The changes were subtle at first, like he's testing to see if it's really safe. He reverts back to old habits, tests newly acquired commands. He demands more and sleeps deeper.

Getting his nails to a point where he no longer corners like Cramer entering a room on an episode of Seinfeld has also allowed him to more confidently jump. Jump off the sofa or on, traction playing a big part.  He jumps on the patio door. There are failed attempts to jump onto the counter. Jumping on/at me. Jump.

He's more sure footed, so he's climbing. Onto anything he can. Like into the toy box (which rolled over onto him) or onto the stool next to the crate (which slid out from under him) and up on the stand next to the sofa (which granted him some coffee goodness).

 Most adult dogs that are re-homed go through a honeymoon phase. Ours appears to be ending.  Just like a a husband leaving his dirty socks on the floor, Toad is more willing to push his luck,To explore, to adventure and to figure things out. He's pushing that nose into the crock that holds the kibble. He's ignoring known commands. He tests to see if I'll follow through on every-single-request, of course I do, I know part of why he is feeling comfortable is because of the boundaries and expectations I've set. Dogs thrive knowing they can relax and be a dog, while someone else will look after the details. VERY few dogs are actually meant  to be an alpha in the true sense of the word. Most thrive being beta. Alpha has a lot of responsibilities that most crumble under, and eventually act out.

We have gone through 4 collars... the spike one he came with, a flashy red leather one, a great martingale and he's currently using a training collar (choke chain for the older readers).  He's acting out much in the same way a child does prior to new skills being acquired. He's frustrated, he's exhausted from so many new words/rules/training sessions. He is chewing through toys at a fast pace in an effort to work out his frustration. He wants to let go of "looking after himself" and enjoy being a dog, cocoon to butterfly stage, and it's hard. He's looking at leaving everything  that has gotten him through life so far.

 He's falling into deep sleeps, and that was my final piece of the puzzle. He's dreaming, and making the little dream movements and squeaks. He trusts enough to let his guard down. If woken abruptly now, he comes awake fast and disoriented. This is where some dogs will bite, they are so confused for a few moments. The feral fosters I worked with in Calgary would take 6 months to get to this point. Worried me the first time it happened! I work with big dogs that can do a lot of damage in a hurry. So for now, I calmly call his name and allow him to wake up. I can see he is still a little confused for a moment, but there is no scared factor.


He is also comfortable enough to relax, to sleep, to snuggle, to trust... and this minor blip will pass soon enough. For now, training is left to known commands and not stressing new ones. It's a good sign that he is so settled. It's telling that he's been here for almost 10 weeks now, and only truly starting to trust that this is forever. Most dogs fall into this to some extent within the first 2-3 weeks, the feral dogs 6 months... Toad, who wasn't truly a pet nor feral falls in the middle.

Sometimes I'm the Student

I think there comes a time in every teacher/student relationship when the roles reverse. Students that push the teacher to be better, think different, and take a step back and re-examine a situation are often the drivers for this. Toad is one of those students.

He and I are slowly finding a common ground. We are building communication often through miscommunication just like any great relationship does. We are mostly having fun and definitely both growing. There is a peace that is starting to settle in along with the trust.

Toad teaches me to trust the process. So often I know where I want to be and rush for the goal. Toad makes me break stuff down and celebrate the little victories that get me there. Life is a bunch of little things that add up to big things. I was happier with him trying to figure out what "down" meant then the actual behavior.

I am learning to slow down. I eat meals at the kitchen table now. I've lived alone for two years and developed poor eating habits. I try to stay in the moment and be present. Meals were something that got blurred with life. I'd have lunch while returning emails or eat breakfast standing at the sink. Not any more. Toad learns in a very specific way/place, so eating anywhere other then the table means starting at square one with training.

He makes me be clear on my intentions. No vague-well-you-get-my-meaning stuff works. Coffee is safe on the stand beside the sofa, (Brought to you by the Letter C)  not on the coffee table. The dremel is okay in the kitchen, not in the living room. So often we are unclear in our communications. He is making me take his point of view into consideration and to be clear about mine.  Just because its all mapped out in my head doesn't mean the world is in the same place. He makes me remember to meet people "where they are" not where I am.

Mostly, Toad is teaching me to believe. Believe that little steps lead to big progress. Believe that people and dogs come into our lives for a reason. Believe that I am exactly where I need to be.  Believe that blessings are often wrapped up in lessons. And just when I get too deep, he makes me believe I need a new chew toy.

The Good, The Bad and The Evil?

It's been quite a week! Words are starting to have meaning to Toad. We are finding peace and our rhythm. He is more able to settle down, the pacing is slowing. He continues to learn and make progress in his training. We've made progress with the dremel. He's behaving nicely with Delilah and Cocoa.

The Good; 
He's learned sit/down/shake hands and is working on roll over.

Making a bowl of oatmeal is no longer an Olympic event. A short week ago it was a pushing match and patience finisher. Open the cupboard to take out the oatmeal (and then put it away), the drawer with the measuring cups, the other cupboard with the pot (open/close), the fridge for the milk (and then to put away) ... then the actual eating. He is catching onto "back up" and  can "sit" while I open/close a door. He no longer accosts me at the table, and offers sits and downs. We've come a long way!

The Bad:
Mid week, mid breakdown, I didn't think I was ever going to get the "no marking in the house" point across. I even resorted to keeping score, as a way to monitor my patience, and progress. Suffice to say I had neither. We truly were making zero progress. I was getting frustrated, he was getting hurt feelings. I had exhausted all my normal methods. I was taking the clicker and treats outside. It wasn't changing anything. Marking and peeing are not the same thing, the drivers to the behavior are different. When you literally have 10 opportunities to correct/reward in an hour, you'd think the sheer repetition would start to sink in.

It wasn't.

The Evil?
Remembering that if the dog isn't learning, I need to adjust my teaching, I sat down (Toad crated) and worked out a plan. First, using the crate when I couldn't watch him. It not only gives me a break, but him too. Second, I decided to get out my shock collar. Gasp! I know. Let me go on record with a few things to consider. One, I do not condone the shock collar to be used in frustration or to teach a "lesson". Two; if you cannot consistently use it, do not use it at all. Three; invest in a great collar, mine has 127 adjustment levels to ensure the dog get's the lowest shock possible.

I start at level 2 and work my way up to the point that I get a minimal reaction from the dog. A simple "what was that" is all the reaction I am looking for. Bosun works extremely well on vibrate only. A husky pup with a bad habit of jumping needed 12. Toad takes a level 35. I have tried four times to dial it down and have zero reaction/no training benefit.

So, Toad, a shock collar, with a "Hey!" every time he lifts his leg and presto; his marking significantly reduced. Throwing the party/attention outside is increasing his desire to go out. You cannot take away a behavior without replacing it. So it's not enough to stop the behavior, you must teach what you want in place of it, in this case; I want it outside. Tomorrow I start adding the verbal cues "no peeing" (so we can ween off the collar)

There is a time and place for every training tool. While I never thought I'd be using it for male marking, here I am. It's clear, consistent and humane. I use the collar situation-ally. I don't start with it, but in the same breath, I don't hesitate to use it. Would I put it on myself and hit level 35 correction? Nope! Why? Because I'd work the collar the exact same way on myself, start at level 2 and work up... the moment I felt something, that would be my number.

These collars get a bad rap. Perhaps because they are used wrong, fitted wrong, or the people operating the button don't understand the theory. I had a person ask if they could borrow my collar, when I asked the purpose, I understood they wanted to "really create an aversion to the road". They wanted to turn it up, zap the crap out of their dog and thereby "train" it to not go on the road. It doesn't work that way. He was leaving the other half of the training out; what do you want them to do instead. Where's the training? The poor dog would have been left to read the owners mind. The line wouldn't have been clear, one time a zap for being 2' from the road another time the dog would be on the road and getting a "correction".

At the end of the day, Toad is more trusting and more relaxed. The boundaries are set and clear, and dogs do well in structure. He's got 2.5 years of marking and other habits that need adjusting.

He is willing to learn, it's my job to teach.

Clinical Signs Caused by E-Collars

The Down Low

This guy now knows; Sit, shake(hands), hug, off (still when he chooses) and this week is dedicated to the "down" ... and getting control of his marking, oh my goodness the marking!

This week a new boy dog came in and he's upset the balance a bit. Toad's marking has increased 10 fold. Sorry buddy, but your Momma runs a shelter, new dogs are what your life is now about!. He's doing pretty good at meeting (none are face to face until he has more training) Toad needs words like Off or No or Leave It, in order for me to be more comfortable... without the words he simply cannot understand my expectations and that will be frustrating for both of us. I do not want him to equate new dogs with frustration.

Back to "Down". Toad now understand the clicker and he is engaged in figuring out how to make it "click". Dogs when learning a new command/trick will offer behaviors. Slowly with the help of the click/marker they eliminate some steps. So when I was luring him into a down position, he would offer his "sit" which had worked in the past, then shake then head butt then hugs (which knocked me from my crouched position to flat on my butt more then once). He is definitely learning to learn. He now understands that I'm trying to communicate with him and that certain sounds indicate a request for him to do certain tasks.

The Mechanics of it; From  the dog in a sit position and you crouched in front, with food in your hand, slowly move the food from the dog's chin to chest to floor. Too close to you and the dog will stand up, too far back and the dog will back up... find the sweet spot and repeat!

I think I should mention that I don't work on one thing at a time, currently I'm teaching him the dremel, paw handling, catch, back up, leave it etc.... as he hangs with me, and phrases get repeated/rewarded, he continues to learn. Remember he is at the same stage as puppy. Words like sit or down are very specific and taught

There is a momentum that grows when you train a dog, Toad is gaining that now. Last week he got the clicker and sit came so fast that I added "shake" This week he's caught onto "down" already and I'm at the proofing stage where we are working it into his day (he's actually offering this behavior at the breakfast table as well, so he knows it's reward worthy ).  I ask both verbally and with hand signals, or either... mix it up. I ask him for a down when we are on the sofa, when I'm sitting, crouching, standing. He is doing it so consistently that we have added  "roll (over)" He is performing it successfully, but certainly doesn't have it mastered yet! We may have one that takes him a few days.

In the meantime, he's mouthing (from frustration), sitting, downing, shaking and hugging me trying to work out what this new sound means. Roll Over, I am confident is not a command anyone attempted to teach him, It's interesting to see him with a completely new situation.

We are having training moments for sure. He knows, specifically, not to touch the coffee if it's on the stand beside the sofa, but if I have it on the coffee table, it's a new day! Tea on the stand is fair game... he's detail oriented, and rarely wrong once he knows/understand the situation. Sometimes I'm catching up to him, sometimes he follows my lead.... okay rarely.

Off Leash and in the Woods!

Taking the leash off your dog for the first time tends to be a heart stopping, borderline panic moment for most people. I routinely explain which pups naturally will be great at off leash and which ones will need work on recall first. It's gets trickier when they are adults.

Assuming that Toad had neither been in the woods or off leash we set off. There has been leg work going on here at home leading up to this.

First we have been working on his recall (and his name). One of the way's he works for his food is to chase a single kibble down a 20 something foot hall way. When he's about to turn and run back I say "Toad Come!" and he gets another kibble on his return. Repeat about 40 times once a day.

The second game we've been playing, and yes.... training needs to be a "game" for a bull terrier, this is really not a breed to go head to head with. We play hide and seek! Any chance I get to hide from him I take. Behind counters, outside on the gate closed deck, the bath tub behind the shower curtain or behind furniture. When he "finds" me we have a little party.

So, starting to program him to "come" and to watch me (or I disappear, and bullies are attached to their people) works in my favor outside and off leash. I routinely play hide and seek in the woods with my other guy Bosun. I've even climbed trees. A little panic time on the dogs behalf when they think they've lost you goes a long way in them staying focused and not taking off.

Toad was pretty great in the woods on leash. He's used to city walking and telephone pole etiquette so the trees were "normal" for him. What wasn't normal were all the new smells and textures under his feet and things to maneuver over. This new mental stimulation had him panting in no time, which is the goal. Tired minds equal better behaved dogs!

I expect some ya-ya's to happen when I take the leash off any dog, the sudden freedom is exhilarating. I chose a spot that was offered a clear view and let him go. He went about 20' and spent the next 3 minutes smelling, then tucked his front leg, dropped and rolled. Of all the things he could have done, rolling in poop is what he chose. I called him back about 10 times, had a little party in the woods upon his arrival and released him.

He continued to recall  and watch me extremely well for as distracting as the area was. He started to take some cautious jumps, and even drank from a little brook. He stayed impressively close. He had the biggest smile and was just so happy about the whole situation.

We came across a little camp fire. He found that super interesting, the people smells and past food. He stayed with it, giving me an opportunity to "find" me. A game, it turns out, he is extremely good at and pretty proud of himself. It is interesting to note that this guy still mouths, a lot, yet even when he was excited for finding me, he never did so. Stimulated dogs are less frustrated.

When his circle started getting too far and he wasn't as quick to realize I had hid, he got put back on leash. That was after about 20 minutes. An excellent first day off leash!

I will add that I was quite confident in Toad's desire to stay around me before we left. This guy is near as often as possible. He pretty much "claimed" me on the first day he was here and I had friends come to meet him (with the option of adopting). He wanted little to do with them, growled at Greg and sat leaning into me. He follows me and hangs with me. Had he been distracted and not interested in me at all, today wouldn't have happened.

Car rides, of course are on the "list", today's was a short one. On the way he got his leash tangled and almost chewed it in half trying to escape. On the way back, a much more relaxed and happy boy.

Toad continues to be endearing. He's truly learning really quickly, considering the expectations. We have gone this week from me sitting and having breakfast being something out of WWF to me being able to quietly say "off" and him do so. He's got "sit" inside and shakes hands like a pro. He's catching onto back up and drop it. He can relax and hang with me on the sofa. Initially all we could do (my patience and his focus) was about 45 minutes at a time. He's worked up to hours, which gives him more opportunity to learn, and more opportunities for me to teach. The learning will come faster and easier, now that he knows I'm asking something of him. He responds to rewards really well and is eager to figure out what I want.

This face, this happy, sweet face makes it all worth while. All the battles, all the stand offs, all the teaching moments. Life is about the happy face.