Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog - Mannerly Mutts Certified #1157 CEC NADOI Dog Trainer in York Maine

Week 7 LaLa Training Log and Critter Obsession

6/22/2024

LaLa trying to get at critters under our penned in area deck.

LaLa and I have just about completed our 7th week training. She is remarkably well behaved on leash.

Off leash, she is more than just a little critter obsessed as you can see by the photo to your left. After that photo, I had to work on getting her back into the house by luring with food and having her work for a bit on obedience. LaLa clearly has the terrier gene hard wired in her. I know where critters are in the walls of my house (or were maybe). The critters under the deck clearly don't have the good sense to move their home. Our previous girl, Shana, was prey driven too, but not as much as LaLa, but then again she had at least 9 years of training under her belt and being diverted to other activities.

I am working with LaLa on making other activities as interesting as hunting critters. I am also trying to find a way to make that a motivating factor. We got 5 minute games of interactive play this week with poor Lamby toy (the only toy she will play a little tug with me with some prolonged enthusiasm.

Week 6 LaLa Training Blog:

6/14/2024

Mannerly Mutts Certified Maine Dog Trainer

Lala and I have been working on what I am calling Week 6 of our training. (technically, it is week 7, but I wasn't feeling too well on Week 6, so that was sub par in my efforts.

We have done some out and about light training (as you can see per the picture). LaLa loves to be out and about and on adventure. Dogs charging at us make us both uneasy, but LaLa does well anyway. I do wish people would obey the after 6 pm leash laws on the beach (and on the roads to the beach) so it could be more enjoyable for everyone. A friendly dog rushing up to your dog, is still a dog you and your dog don't know. I really wish people would be more considerate.

Anyway, LaLa and I have been working, and here are some videos that show some of our progress below:

Week 3 LaLa (Laurel) Training Blog

5/18/2024

New things we learned about LaLa this week:

She would like to chase cars (and most likely motorcycles and bikes..
Motorcycles and bikes set off barking.
How to start interactive play (for future training) with LaLa.
LaLa does not like when her dog friends leave.
LaLa likes to think about chasing seagulls as well.
Pretty easy to handle on the beach and in public, generally speaking for a dog in training.
Reacts to small critters but not other dogs when out and about.

This is another reason why training is important. You want to know your dog and not be surprised by their reaction when you are not prepared.

LaLa Training Blog NOT Week 3 Yet

5/15/2024

LaLa Training Update: Last week should have been a full week of LaLa training with me. However, I was not feeling up to snuff, so we did not get that much training in. So I am going to count this next week as a continuation of Week 3. LaLa has been doing well in her training.

Play training is still a no-go as I try to figure out if I can get LaLa into some interactive play. I try to get her involved every day, but playing with a toy with some specifically does not seem to be something she is useful. She does want to hunt critters and fast movements, so I am not giving up.

One success we had was getting her to start to follow a treat in the hand. I suspect she was rewarded with treats for sitting mostly, so she was reverting to that (probably thinking that was why the treat was out). It took me a full two weeks plus to start her body in a spin. Following the hand can be a valuable training tool.

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)