The dog musing/vent thread

[Slick]

Leo understands the phrase "Are you hungry?" to mean food, because I always ask him before feeding him, which prompts him to run to his food spot.

Anyways...

I fed him like 10 minutes ago...

Then, I said to myself "I'm hungry"...

Leo is now in his food spot and whining pitifully to be fed a second breakfast, and won't give up on it either :rofl1: He appears extremely convinced that a second breakfast IS coming, if he just whines enough. The "hungry" word was uttered after all. :rofl1:

 

[pinkspore]

First class with Tucker today. It went okay. He did not react aggressively at all but was clearly nervous and had a lot of trouble focusing on me, he had to keep looking at everyone else, which is alright, I figured he'd need to get used to it all. He was able to follow his commands most of the time, he just wasn't into it, you know? He begged to sit in my lap or be picked up a lot which clearly indicates he's nervous as he's not a super cuddly guy. It didn't help that I was fairly nervous too, especially since there were a couple of kids there. At the end of class we waited until everyone left and I spoke to the instructor. Once the dogs left he immediately perked up, tail went up, he got a spring in his step. I mentioned how I wished we could hang out in the room ourselves for a while so at least he's not scared of the place and she said we're welcome to come by any time there is no class and play/train/hang out. So I think we'll do that a few times this week so he's feeling good about the place. I think he'll get better each week with the group.

Go Tucker!

Sisci is also nervous about other dogs and people in class, so I end up bringing a million treats and marking/rewarding looking at stuff the whole time. I'm pleased that she ends class totally focused on me and relaxed enough to lay down.

Control Unleashed calls it the Look at That game, the idea is to make scary things a cue for attention rather than asking them to look away from the scary thing on cue.

 

[Maxy24]

Things went MUCH better tonight, I was so glad! He had moments of nervousness but for the most part he was able to focus and learn. He was even able to free shape a "go to mat" behavior which I didn't think we'd be able to do going into class, I didn't think he'd be interested enough in playing the game. He was interested in the other dogs but in a less terrified, more curious way. So I'm really happy, can't wait until next week!

 

[lancerandrara]

It only just struck me to post about this, but... Lancer is not reactive towards other dogs sitting in cars at all, while he is sitting in a car. Whether I am there or not there (though I can't say a for sure, just can observe him from far away when I'm walking back)! He doesn't really show signs of reactivity or fear or anything like that. I believe it's because he feels there are enough barriers between them, or somehow feels very secure in my car. But it still very much surprises me, because the car is parked right next to my car. So in reality, the two dogs are only some 5 feet away from each other.

This situation only pops up every nosework class when someone else in the class happens to park right next to mine. I used to try to avoid it, but I realized that Lancer is totally fine? To the extent that he still acts fine even when the other dog in the car is wailing? Which totally weirds me out? I don't know what to think.

I will continue to dream that Lancer may one day be willing to make new friends with nice dogs. ;__; lololol

 

[CrystalGSD]

Things went MUCH better tonight, I was so glad! He had moments of nervousness but for the most part he was able to focus and learn. He was even able to free shape a "go to mat" behavior which I didn't think we'd be able to do going into class, I didn't think he'd be interested enough in playing the game. He was interested in the other dogs but in a less terrified, more curious way. So I'm really happy, can't wait until next week!

Yay! Go Tucker!

It only just struck me to post about this, but... Lancer is not reactive towards other dogs sitting in cars at all, while he is sitting in a car. Whether I am there or not there (though I can't say a for sure, just can observe him from far away when I'm walking back)! He doesn't really show signs of reactivity or fear or anything like that. I believe it's because he feels there are enough barriers between them, or somehow feels very secure in my car. But it still very much surprises me, because the car is parked right next to my car. So in reality, the two dogs are only some 5 feet away from each other.

This situation only pops up every nosework class when someone else in the class happens to park right next to mine. I used to try to avoid it, but I realized that Lancer is totally fine? To the extent that he still acts fine even when the other dog in the car is wailing? Which totally weirds me out? I don't know what to think.

I will continue to dream that Lancer may one day be willing to make new friends with nice dogs. ;__; lololol

That's actually pretty weird but then again, dogs are weird, lol. I have the same hope for Crystal, she doesn't really want dog friends either :c She only really enjoys puppies and smaller dogs, and even then she doesn't play, she just kind of sniffs and leaves.

 

[lancerandrara]

That's actually pretty weird but then again, dogs are weird, lol. I have the same hope for Crystal, she doesn't really want dog friends either :c She only really enjoys puppies and smaller dogs, and even then she doesn't play, she just kind of sniffs and leaves.

Right?? Totally weirded out. It would be nice if Lancer were just aloof/relative dislike of dogs like Crystal though (or I'm assuming here)! It's great that she apparently welcomed Hero as a puppy.

 

[CrystalGSD]

Right?? Totally weirded out. It would be nice if Lancer were just aloof/relative dislike of dogs like Crystal though (or I'm assuming here)! It's great that she apparently welcomed Hero as a puppy.

Yes, I was totally nervous when we got Hero that she wouldn't accept him but so far she has. She's kinda nippy towards him because he's still an impulsive puppy that doesn't understand what "leave me alone" means in dog language, but she definitely is at least tolerant of him. I caught them laying together once. As soon as I walked in I saw them laying there and Crystal immediately stood up and left as if she didn't want a witness to her friendliness :lol-sign:

But yeah, I got kind of lucky that she's kinda just like "I'd rather not be here" when around other dogs rather than outright aggressive behavior.

 

[lancerandrara]

Apparently Lancer peed in the backyard for my mom twice today, which is the first time he's done so in his life. If he can keep peeing in the backyard, this is a lot easier on both my mom and Lancer, because Lancer is terrified of going out the front door with her to potty on the sidewalk grass.. and she has a tough time controlling him when he's scared.

Here's to Lancer eventually forgetting in a few years that the sidewalk with my mom is bad news? <__<

 

[lancerandrara]

Lancer is so cute that it makes me sad. He's just so cute and needing security that I feel sorry for him for no apparent reason. I feel sorry that he's with me, because he's too cute to be with me. What. I don't even know.

I am sad. I think I might be just missing him actually. It is hard to identify emotions. WHY DO I WORK AWAY FROM HOME.

I feel like he is so needy and dependent on me that I feel sad for leaving him every weekday? Maybe that's it. I feel sad when I think of him for every moment I'm not there to train and take care of him.

Maybe I won't get a puppy until my dad can be at home more for Lancer. He also depends on my dad very much, but the problem is that my dad doesn't understand his issues or training as a whole- he knows how to play ball with Lancer. Technically, playing ball is enough for Lancer as well. But when I work with him on the simple random things in even just a couple training sessions, I can see the immediate difference in his confidence and dependence on me, a further boost even from playing ball or anything my dad can do with him.

I love Lancer so much that life is sad. I am not sure what to do about that. Lancer is so cute that it makes life sad. Do you understand when cute things just make you sad? Or you love something so much that it just becomes sad?

Okay, I will stop spamming the vent thread now.