Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog - Mannerly Mutts Certified NADOI Dog Trainer in York Maine

Shana Weeks 3 to 5 Training for Boston Vacation (Part 3 of Series)

6/22/2023

As I write this, the new training dogs coming in have been frequent now, and our business is heating back up for the summer. This is a really stressful time for Shana at home as always. Being a dog trainer's dog is not fun for all dogs. At the same time, we have been working regularly on Shana's impulse control and reactivity around other dogs. She has been doing really well, but today she has clearly had enough of this. We are currently in the Middle of Week 6 on a Thursday. I haven't taken many videos, so I am going to go over what we have been doing to date.

Shana's Boston Training Week 2 Ended (Part 2 of Series)

5/28/2023

Have I spoiled Shana? In some ways, I have definitely spoiled Shana. Shana is a hard worker and a good dog, but some of that spoiling is what holds her back now from being relaxed in a city like Boston. I had really never thought we would take a Boston trip in Shana's lifetime. The fall vacation is far enough away, that all I need to do is prepare her.

Shana's Family Boston Vacation and Training Plan (Part 1 of Series)

5/19/2023

On Sundays, I am going to try to blog and post (on our Facebook page) Shana's training progress. Normally I am training Shana because:

Shana comes from working lines, and her personality is that of a dog that wants to be busy.
Because it is fun.
To have Shana feel as comfortable as possible when there are strange dogs in the house. If you click on "training journal" in the blog categories on the right, you can see some history about Shana, who is now 10 years old and acts like a 5 year old!

This fall though, we are taking a trip to Boston, and staying in a very fun dog friendly hotel across from Fenway Park. Shana has only been to a city a few times in her life. City distractions are very different than the distractions she sees in a small town (and some of those still can scare her or put her on defense drive). So now I have a specific goal that I am training for.

Shana's Training Position Routine's

12/13/2022

Shana and I try to do positions and/or tricks a few times a week. These positions are using food, and some of the positions or tricks are still really in the beginning stages. What tricks are you trying with your dogs?

Ripping Off The Band-Aid or How Things Go Wrong Fast

9/15/2021

Shana has 40 stitches, four serious wounds, and 3 drains after surgery. She also has three types of antibiotics and one pain pill.

This is going to begin a series as best as I can. I don't know how many parts are going to be to it, but I am going to continue a Shana journal from now on. I have attempted this before, and it has not been consistent. This, however, is an topic most dog owners and dog trainers have not had the opportunity to cover. Although, I can later share some blogs that do go over interesting things in a dog/owner or dog/trainer relationship over time.

CLICK ON THIS FOR PAST SHANA POSTS

NOTE1: WE KEEP TRACK OF INCIDENTS HERE OF ALL SORTS. WE HAVE ONCE EVER HAD DOG SERIOUSLY HAVE AN INTENT TO KILL, AS I CONSIDER THIS. APPROPRIATE STEPS WERE PUT IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT PREVIOUS INTERACTION.

Now the band-Aid is ripping off. Trigger warnings may abound if you have ever been in a dire emergency situation.

NOTE2: THIS IS NOT HOW TO GO ABOUT A DIRE EMERGENCY DOG FIGHT SITUATION. DO NOT USE THIS AS A HOW TO. THIS IS NOT A HOW TOO, BUT A MOMENT IN TIME OF DESPERATION.

Wednesday September 8th 2021: The day started out (7:30 am) normal though there have been some things going on here as in everyday life. Nothing too abnormal though...

Shana Training Log March 1st to March 31st

3/31/2020

Sunday March 1st 2020:

DAY OFF

Monday March 2nd 2020 (hard day for Shana as her arch nemesis is here):

First long down until 10 minutes in a row Monday, March 2⋅9:00 – 9:15am---no equipment---in master bedroom while Shana knows Lucy is on the dog side (15 min)
Place no equipment until 30 minutes Monday, March 2⋅9:30 – 10:10am---in master bedroom (40 min)
Second long down until 10 minutes in a row Monday, March 2⋅11:00 – 11:15am---no equipment---in masterbedroom (15 min)
3rd long ten minute down in a row but in kitchen while Lucy is in the mudroom which she can both smell and hear---no equipment (20 minutes)
Short tug session Monday, March 2⋅11:35 – 11:50am---no equipment---in living room next to kitchen (15 minutes)
ACTIVITY NOT TRAINING PER SAY Robert brought out to play frisbee and ball games with her brothers (1 hour)
4th long 10 minute in a row down later in the evening (20 minutes)

Shana Training Log 1/20/2020 to 2/29/2020

3/1/2020

Shana training at the local High School one Spring.

I have a lot of updating to Shana's training log. Unfortunately, it is going to be both random and incomplete, as I have not bee so disciplined lately. However, I have been training at least six out of every seven days, even if I did not notate what they were. I am seeing a pattern that I want to employ, but I haven't really started adhering to it yet. I am going to try for a more focused plan in March 2020. In the meantime here is what has (incompletely) happened with Shana (I log onto my google calendar, and then transfer to here):

Shana Training Blog Week 2 in 2020

1/19/2020

Monday 1/13/2020:

(2 hours) Half hour place (30 minutes in a row) when Lucy came in other side for daycare. Did not have ecollar or leash on her. It is apparently more challenging for her when her nemesis is in the house. Next Monday, I am going to start her with 15 minute places while Lucy is on the other side in the dog room (and Shana always knows she is here when she comes).
(15 minutes) Tug used for letting out to the bathroom and training in living room while Lucy in mudroom. Comes came in a crooked or like a fuss, and sits did turn into downs sometimes. No real reaction to Lucy except at the end running up to confirm she was there (no barking et). Electronic collar on, no barking at Lucy when she went out but she was hesitant to do her business---I had to send her back out four or five times before she would go (Lucy safely in room behind sliding glass door of course)
(15 minutes) Tug toy used (to go past and ignore before playing) fuss, come, touch, place, and out before bed.

Shana Weekly Training to 1/12/2020

1/13/2020

Monday 1/6/2020:

(27 minutes) Down stays 3 minutes each and accomplished 4 in a row (inside ecollar on but not used daycare here after vacation.and Lucy part of that daycare)--'missed 4th on first of them when she was in upstairs foyer
(20 minutes)Fetching laundry----haven't done it in a couple of weeks so much barking in the beginning but doing well harder at the end and especially bringing Robert's into his room with Ziggy barking
(15 minutes) 10 minute down completed while we were eating dinner in the kitchen and also after Shana had barked at Ziggy for barking at her
(15 minutes) Tug toy training in bedroom fuss come out stay hold--- only a couple mistakes with the out and one time tried to leave the stay early to get the tug

Week 16 Shana Training Journal 7/1/2019-7/7/2019

7/8/2019

Week 16 Day 1 July 1 Monday:

Mudge (new) Bella (old friend not seen in awhile) Lucy (nemesis) Cujo (bff) Bandit (bff) and Brody (bff)

Down stay while eating lunch 30 minutes (notes: frisbee--shana's favorite---was near pen, she stuck the down stay but barked if anyone walked near the frisbee like bella or mudge)
Activity frisbee a 10 minute session and then a five minute session (hot out).
Down stay for 30 minutes again (not sure who was around)

RESULTS: WHO KNOWS TOOK NO NOTES. MAKES ME THINK THAT HER DOWN STAYS WERE PRETTY ON POINT THOUGH, OR I COULD HAVE MISSED SOME THINGS.

Week 16 Day 2 July 2 Tuesday:
Mudge (new) Bella (old friend not seen in awhile) Sadie 4 (newish) Reggie (bff) Mood: did not write down, but I believe she was in a good relaxed mood today, though most likely stressed about the new dogs at the same time.

Send between two places in yard a fair distance apart (pallet and picnic table) 10 minutes (NEW DOGGIES ON PORCH)

RESULTS: HER SEND TO PICNIC TABLE WAS BETTER THAN HER SEND TO PALLET. THE STAYS THERE WERE PERFECT THOUGH I DID NOT DO THEM FOR LONG.

Week 16 Day 3 July 3 Wednesday:
Mudge (new), Sadie the 4th (newish), Bella (old friend not seen in awhile), and Stella (friend gone for the winter getting reaquainted with)

Couch to 5k 25 minutes (made no notes)

Week 16 Day 4 July 4 Thursday:
Mudge (new) Sadie the 4th (newish) Bella (old friend not seen in awhile)

Day off for Shana, plus I think I was feeling a little under the weather or that may have been later on

Week 16 Day 5 July 5 Friday:
Mudge (new) Sadie the 4th (new), Bella (old friend not seen in awhile) Cujo (bff) Bandit (bff)

Day off for Shana, and I was still feeling sick

Week 16 Day 6 July 6 Saturday:
Mudge (new) Bella (old friend not seen in awhile last day)

Day off for Shana, and I was still feeling crappish

Week 16 Day 7 July 7 Sunday:
Mudge (new) and Gator (old friend not seen since last summer)

couch to 5 k 25 minutes (got startled by one dog along the way ----both of us Shana lunged---dog ran towards invisible fence boundary and took us both by surprise)
Continuation of walk after couch to 5 k 1 hour 30 minutes
Quiet in crate with Gator and Mudge in the room with me 1 hour (wasn't until 38 minutes that I got first 5 minutes in a row quiet then took the rest of the time to get the other three)
Other activity: got bath from Robert which she was none to pleased about

RESULTS: SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND DOGS TODAY. EXCEPT FOR THE ONE THAT STARTLED, SHANA MOSTLY IGNORED. THERE WAS ONE CHIHUAHUA ABOUT TO BARK AT SHANA THAT ALMOST GOT HER GOING BUT SHE LISTENED. WE GOT AN ICE CREAM IN THE MIDDLE AND SHARED. SHANA DID SEEM TIRED HALF WAY THROUGH THE WALK, AND WHILE SHE WAS ENJOYING IT, I KNOW SHE WAS STRESSED. EQUIPMENT: ECOLLAR, MUZZLE, LEATHER FLAT COLLAR, LEATHER CONVERTIBLE SIX FOOT LEASH, FOOD AND ICE CREAM WE ALSO MET FIVE OR SIX HUMANS THAT I HAD SHANA DO A TRICK FOR, THEN TREAT, SO THEY COULD THEN PET HER. QUIET IN THE CRATE LOOKS BAD, BUT WE WERE IN ANOTHER ROOM, CLOSE QUARTERS, AND SHE HAD NO EQUIPMENT ON. SHE WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED ABOUT GATOR, THOUGH THEY ALWAYS GO BACK TO BEING GOOD FRIENDS. SHE USUALLY DOES NOT WARM UP OR BECOME WELCOMING ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN SO MUCH TIME GOES BY. YOU CAN TELL SHE KNOWS HE IS FAMILIAR THOUGH. ALSO MUDGE STARTED BARKING AT SHANA, WHICH IS HER TRIGGER. WHEN NO ONE BARKS AT HER NOW OR CHARGES HER (I TRY TO CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT DOG YOU ARE GOING TO RUN INTO OFF LEASH IN PUBLIC) IS WHEN SHE GETS UPSET NOW. OTHERWISE, SHE DOES A GOOD JOB (AS COMPARED TO HER PAST) KEEPING IT TOGETHER AND TRUSTING ME TO KEEP THINGS SAFE.