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...

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)

1. 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)
2. Activity frisbee a 10 minute session and then a five minute session (hot out).
3. 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.

1. 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)

1. 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)

1. 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)

1. 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)

1. 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)

1. 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)
2. Continuation of walk after couch to 5 k 1 hour 30 minutes
3. 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)
4. 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.

On Monday, Shana seemed to be feeling better than last week.   The day was cooler too, and her heat is wrapping up.  Week 13 both of these things seemed to be bothering her, so I kept her days easy activity wise.  She also seemed to have less stamina than normal (probably due to the things mentioned heat and heat LOL).

Week 14 Day 1 6/17/2019 Monday:
Shana's nemesis, Lucy, is here, which she can tell right away (sound and probably smell).  Stella (friend she is cautious of), Cujo (very good long time friend), Bandit (very good friend of a couple years), Brody (good buddy of a long time), and Boone (also good buddy) are all here today.   Shana did seem in a good mood, despite her anxiety (which was apparent) at Lucy being here.

1. Activity, allowed a bit of running after critters (she has never been able to catch them and can be called off) in the woods with her brother, Boris.   Probably one of Shana's favorite activities.  30 minutes
2. Four 10 minute downs (not in a row, but substantially better) in and out of sight (meaning I was moving around and getting things).  60 minutes
3. Relaxation walk with Ziggy in tow around neighborhood.   45 minutes

RESULT:  DOWNS WERE VERY GOOD.  I THINK THERE WAS A BREAK OR TWO IN THE BEGINNING.   JUST REMEMBER THEY WERE GOOD AS I HAD BORIS AND TOMMY OUT THE FRONT DOOR AND THEN LEFT THAT OPEN FOR HER TO DO THE FIRST ONE (DOWN STAY).   WALK WITH ZIGGY WAS GOOD.   SHANA WAS VERY HAPPY AND ENGAGED, NOT MUCH PULLING THOUGH STILL TELLING HER EASY WHEN I FEEL TENSION ON THE LEASH.  I THINK ONE OR TWO DARTS TO THE SIDE (MAKING THE LEASH TIGHT TO SMELL SOMETHING BEYOND WHAT THE LEASH WOULD ALLOW).  A PUPPY AT ONE POINT DARTED IN THE ROAD TOWARDS US, AND SHANA REMAINED UNINTERESTED AND RELAXED.

Week 14 Day 2 6/18/2019 Tuesday:

Greta (BRAND NEW PUPPY HERE) and Reggie were only ones here.  I probably did some training with Shana, but did not write it down.

1. Did not notate anything on this day
2. I am guessing based on Greta's day, that Shana did place until 30 minutes gotten in kitchen while I did sit on the dog with Greta.  No equipment on Shana and she was sometimes out of my sight, which will explain what comes next.  60 minutes    RESULT:  AT SOME POINT SHE GOT A COLLAR OFF THE COUNTER AND CHEWED IT UP.   I HAD THOUGHT I HAD CAUGHT HER AT EACH BREAK, BUT SHE MUST HAVE VERY CLEVERLY GOTTEN AWAY AND THEN SHE IS REALLY FAST AT DESTROYING THINGS.   THIS ALWAYS INDICATES THAT HER STRESS LEVEL IS PRETTY HIGH TOO (WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE WITH NEW PUPPY IN THE HOUSE EVEN THOUGH SHE LOOKED OKAY WITH IT)

Note:  when Shana was around Greta while Greta was in her crate and behind gate, she actually went over to do a polite sniff without any other comment.   Even though she was stressed, that is a marked improvement in behavior.   Just have to get beyond the stress of it someday, and it is getting better.

Week 14 Day 3 6/19/2019 Wednesday:
Only Greta in for training today (plus some private lessons).

1. Long Place until we got 30 minutes in a row Equipment:  she had on muzzle and electronic collar as the door to the mudroom and kitchen were open so I could see her clearly (although there was a gate across the door) 1 and a half hours  RESULT:  She obviously had a hard time with this exercise on this day.  Although she was not intent in coming over to harass the puppy at all.  She was probably trying to look for something to chew and soothe herself as she does (and it's not something appropriate).  Broke at 29 minutes, 15 minutes, and five minutes.   Last successful one, I did treats at each 5 minute interval...
2. Activity Find it game with her brothers and sturdy rubber toy 30 minutes  (also lots of inside but supervised free time, it was raining this day)

Additional Wednesday Note:  We left the dogs on the mudroom side when we went to dinner.   Shana found a small dog long line up there and chewed it up.   So we should still crate her when we go out, especially now because she is stressed with new dogs in house, again.
Week 14 Day 4 6/20/2019 Thursday:
Greta (brand new puppy), Reggie (Shana BFF), Sadie (Shana BFF), Louie (Shana friend), and Stella (Shana friend).  Two private lessons later in the day (1 with Greta and 2 with Beau who is a brand new dog to here)

1. Shana place for 30 minutes in a row as I handled dogs through mudroom door 30 minutes Equipment: ecollar muzzle because door open even though gate there RESULT:  EXCELLENT SHE STUCK IT FOR THE WHOLE THIRTY MINUTES
2. Brought her out to play with her friends, but she was more interested in taking it easy.   She was fairly grumpy, so I just let her take it easy.  Probably stress.

Week 14 Day 5 6/21/2019 Friday:
Cujo and Bandit here (very good friends of Shana).  It was very rainy, and I let Shana take the day off after a pretty stressful week for her.

Week 14 Day 6 6/22/2019 Saturday:
I started having a super stressful weekend.   Shana still not feeling like her spry self.   I gave us both the day off.
Week 14 Day 7 6/23/2019 Sunday:

NOTE1:  WEEKS 7-9 WE TOOK OFF.  SO THIS IS WEEK 13 POSTING TRAINING ACTIVITY BUT ACTUALLY WEEK 10 OF TRAINING.  I MIGHT HAVE DONE SOME TRAINING THOSE WEEKS, BUT MY HEAD WAS NOT CLEARLY IN THE GAME AFTER RECOVERING FROM A PARTICULARLY HEAVY WORK LOAD THE MONTHS BEFORE.

NOTE2:  SHANA IS STILL IN HEAT, AND THE END OF HER CYCLE IS COMING.  COULD BE WHY SHE HAS HAD HER GRUMPY MOMENTS THIS WEEK.  SHE DOES BECOME MOODY AT THE END OF THE CYCLE AFTER THE HYPER PERIOD OF TRYING TO TEASE THE BOYS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

NOTE3:  DAYS ARE CYCLING BETWEEN COOL AND HOT/MUGGY THIS WEEK.   REDUCED SHANA ENERGY COULD JUST BE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY ACTIVE.   AS ALWAYS I FEEL CONFLICTED ABOUT THIS, AS I NEVER LIKE TO SEE SIGNS OF MY DOGS GETTING OLDER (WHETHER THEY ARE OR NOT).  ALSO COULD JUST BE A SIGN THAT SHE IS FEELING MORE RELAXED AND FULFILLED.   THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE OUR DOGS (EVEN OUR THREE OLD MALES) ARE KEPT BUSY DURING THE DAY.  SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL ARE ALWAYS MORE ACTIVITY.  IF SHE IS CRAZY AGAIN THIS WINTER, I WILL KNOW WHY LOL. (THOUGH I STILL TRY TO KEEP HER ACTIVE BUT IT IS STILL QUITE THE CHALLENGE)


Week 13 Day 1 6/10/2019 Monday:
Lucy, Shana's nemesis is here today.  Stella who Shana is friendly with, but doesn't like her to be overly playful is here.   Brody, everyone's favorite is also here today, and Shana is good buddies with him.  Also new lesson at 6 pm today (we will be outside, but Shana will know strange dog is outside, which she is getting used to).

1. Put Shana in place in bedroom (door closed) no equipment on Shana.  She could hear Lucy and others through the baby monitor and open windows.   I am typing blogs and such up, while Robert is playing with daycare (Stella, Lucy, and Brody). 1 hour and a 35 minutes  RESULTS:  SHANA BROKE FIRST TIME AT 5 MINUTES, NEXT TIME AT 25 MINUTES, NEXT TIME AT 15 MINUTES THEN AT 5 MINUTES AGAIN AND THEN AT 15 MINUTES (USUALLY WHEN SHE HEARD LUCY BEING LET IN OUR OUT)  AND FINAL ONE WAS FOR 30 MINUTES
2. Activities for the rest of the day to be more informal and relaxing for Shana.

Week 13 Day 2 6/11/2019 Tuesday:
Sage is here for Pack Learning today.  Reggie, Shana's BFF, is also here today.   Also

1. Had Shana take the day off today.   She seemed tired after keeping it together yesterday and having to exercise so much impulse control, and being worked until she got it.   
2. Activities today without much planned training included her favorite pink bubble gum jolly (which is almost destroyed), Frisbee, and chuck it with Boris.

NOTE:  I WOULD SAY SHANA'S MOOD WAS GRUMPY LATER ON IN THE BED, AND SHE WAS VISIBLY VERY TIRED.  I DID NOT WRITE IT DOWN SPECIFICALLY BUT I HAVE NOTED THE TREND.   MUCH GRUMBLING AT TOMMY WHEN HE CAME INTO THE BEDROOM FOR INSTANCE.

Week 13 Day 3 6/12/2019 Wednesday:
Just Sage here for Pack Learning today.  Good for Shana as she is curious and there are other dogs here to make her unduly nervous.   Also Sage is a nice calm presence for a puppy of her age and breed LOL.

1. Did my modified exercise that I am trying to come up with a name for with Shana.   It comes from desensitization and calming plus a bastardized version of Margo's sit on the dog.  I am calling it (as a trial balloon) Leash Assisted Behavioral Enhancement.   We should probably be doing this everyday as being confined close on leash around friends and foes is where Shana is probably the most bossy and/or stressed.   She goes down right away, now it is just a matter of can she keep herself from barking on going down (where she feels most vulnerable) and can she get to where she can really relax and not boss for the full thirty minutes.   Today we got four our of six (really seven if you count the beginning) salmon treats.  There was no need to correct because she just barked the one time in two of the five minute intervals not any kind of lengthy tantrum or lung attempt.   I did have her on the muzzle, electronic collar (not using) and prong collar (just because we had finished up our release exercise which required that on her for optimal effect and I hadn't changed it).  30 minutes   RESULTS:  SHE HAS GOTTEN FOUR OUT OF SIX TREATS BEFORE.   SHE HAS DONE BETTER:)  STILL NOT A BAD DAY FOR THIS EXERCISE.
2. Prong collar light pressure and release modeled after Mike Ellis video.   We don't do this often enough, and I did this outside with Sage on tie out playing with Shana today (which is distracting in itself).   15 minutes  RESULTS:  SHE DID WELL CONSIDERING WE DO NOT DO THIS OFTEN ENOUGH.   SOMETIMES REFUSED BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A TREAT FOR THE ONE BEFORE LOL, SO SHE DID NOT MOVE FAST WITH LEASH AS WE WERE TRAINING FOR (MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES)  VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAGE WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS.   SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME AND FEELING LITTLE STRESS (KNOWING HER I AM SURE THERE WAS SOME IN THERE BUT SHANA WAS LOOKING GOOD)  AS FOR ME, I FORGOT ABOUT THE JUMP BACK AND RELEASE.  MY BAD, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO NOT PRACTICE.   PLUS I HAVE TO KEEP GOING OVER THOSE TAPES TO BE SURE I AM DOING IT RIGHT.

MOOD LATER ON THAT NIGHT:  GRUMPING AT ZIGGY WHEN HE GOT IN THE BED WITH US.  I NEED TO WORK THESE AROUND HER SMALLER BROTHER, ZIGGY, AS WELL.   SHE DEFINITELY GETS JEALOUS OF HIM (AND TOMMY SOMETIMES, BUT ZIGGY IS 5 POUNDS AND VERY OLD)

Week 13 Day 4 6/13/2019 Thursday:
We got Sage (last week of Pack learning), Stella (friend who Shana is getting accustomed to having back here----sometimes Stella's play antics make Shana concerned), and Shana's BFF, Reggie with the silly hair cut is here today.  So sort of mid level stress and distractions today on the lower end of the spectrum, but still affecting her.

1. Robert took over with Shana today, while I was busy with Sage.    Informal teaser ball leave it, out, lets go, down, spin, and over.   Also stay when it was Boris's turn.   15 minutes
2. Activity:  woodsy walk with brothers 30 minutes (also many let's go).
3. Lots of quiet time with brothers hanging out at tenants house.

Robert observed no bad behaviors then.   At night again though, grumpy if anyone was coming over into the bedroom.   Watching to see if this stops once the heat is over, might deal with it by denying her access to the bed earlier though.   She has not been that bad though.  May regret waiting later.  No notes taken on how many times Shana performed correctly in the informal session with Robert.

Week 13 Day 5 6/14/2019 Friday:
How the day is:  All Shana's very best buds over (except Reggie, Brody, and Stella---not quite best bud status but they are friends).  So Sadie, Louie, Cujo, Bandit, and Boone are all here for daycare today.   Shana very much likes all those dogs.

1. Shana is so just grumpy and flat today, that I am having her take the day off from training.   She ran like crazy in the woods yesterday, and though it's hard to think Shana would have overdone it, maybe she did.  
2. Other explanation is plain moody at the end of her heat, and they don't make Midol for dogs that I know of.

​OBSERVATIONS:  POOR SHANA!

​Week 13 Day 6 6/15/2019 Saturday:

Shana still looking a bit off.  She was a bit too cooperative when I cut her nails today, and then went right back to sleep.   So going to see what the day brings us today.  I would like go out and train, but I need my girl to be feeling well and happy.  Hopefully it is nothing more than end of the heat angst.   Need to remember this for November, when her next one should arrive.

Week 13 Day 7 6/16/2019 Sunday:

Sunday, Shana looking better.  Doing some of the "naughty things" I expect of her (always the double edged sword LOL).  Her friend (who she is cautious of), Stella, is here.

NOTE:  ABOUT WALKS WITH SHANA IN PUBLIC.  SHE DOES PRETTY GOOD WITH ME ALONE, AND EVEN ME WITH A STRANGE OR LITTLE KNOWN OR WELL KNOWN DOG ALSO WALKING ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHE GETS MORE ANXIOUS WHEN ROBERT IS WITH US FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON (ESPECIALLY IF HE IS WALKING IN FRONT OF US WITH OR WITHOUT ANY DOG).   POSSIBILITIES 1)  SHE IS WORRIED FOR ROBERT ON THESE WALKS 2) SHE BELIEVES HER JOB IS TO BE IN THE FRONT OF THE PACK AND 3) I HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THREE YET.   

1. (Equipment, metal chain training collar---just because her leather collar is at the doctors, muzzle that came off and on as known loose dog houses passed, and salmon treats used to reward calmer behavior) As close to a relaxation walk as I could get for Shana.   I do have to put her in command sometimes if she is 1) pulling or trying to dart off towards prey or item of concern (which is not too often but happens still though not as hard as it used to) or 2) car is coming so I want her on the inside position.   45 minutes   ​RESULTS:  8 MINUTES OF VOCALIZATION ON AND OFF IN THE BEGINNING A LITTLE PAST THE POWER LINES, AND THEN STOPPED ONCE I GOT AHEAD OF ROBERT TO MAKE THE WALK A BIT LESS "EXTRA".  LATER ON WHEN WE GOT TO NELLIE'S PLACE, I PUT HER IN THE MUZZLE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO PASS SOME HOUSES THAT SOMETIMES HAVE SMALL DOGS RUNNING LOOSE.   SHE WAS STRESSED BUT ALSO CURIOUS AND ENJOYING (OR THINKING ABOUT KILLING) THE MANY BIRDS THAT WERE OUT AND SMELLS.  SHE POKED STELLA IN THE BUT IN A FRIENDLY I AM HAVING FUN GESTURE, WHICH WAS NICE.   WHILE IT MADE HER A LITTLE STRESSED, SHE SEEMED VERY MUCH TO BE ENJOYING STELLA'S COMPANY ON THE WALK.  WE DID PASS A FEW DOGS, INCLUDING BEAGLE DAISY, WHO WAS STOPPED.   SHANA DID NOT FOCUS ON BEAGLE DAISY AT ALL, AS ROBERT WAS DISAPPEARING TOWARDS THE POWER LINES, AND THAT WAS HER MAIN FOCUS OF STRESS AT THAT POINT.   LET HER RUN A LITTLE AFTER CRITTERS WHEN WE GOT HOME, BUT SHE WANTED TO SEE HER BROTHER'S INSIDE MORE.  PRETTY QUIET FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

PERSONAL NOTE:  I AM GETTING MORE CONFIDENT HANDLING SHANA IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.   HELPED THAT I HAD FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS SMILE AND NOT LOOK 'JUDGY' DURING THE PROCESS LATELY (COULD ALSO BE BECAUSE SHANA IS LOOKING MUCH BETTER THAN SHE DID).