I was just looking at some photos this morning and came across a few of Holly from around Christmas, when she was still with her mom and Charlotte. What a little dumpling she was:
Amazing that just a couple of months later, she looks like this:
I know, weird shot. She doesn’t really look like that unless I say or do something really, really funny. Usually she looks like this:
We’ve been continuing with our daily hikes, Daphne, Holly and I (me?), despite the cold and snow and wind. It makes such a difference in her behavior, if she gets that morning hike, and in my behavior too. I like walking in the woods more than walking on a treadmill, no matter what the weather.
I have been studying Holly ever since we brought her home to live with us, when she was about 9 weeks old. It’s been a while since we had a young puppy and I was so amazed during our first weeks with her, at what a nine-week-old puppy already knows about the world. Because she had spent her first weeks with Charlotte’s pack, she had excellent social skills when it came to our other dogs. She knew to stay away from them when they were eating and that the best time to play with them is after a meal, when they are at their most jolly. She knew to flatten herself on her back when our big Lulu wanted to play too rough, exposing her belly and throat in an act of total submission which caused Lulu to sniff her gently and then back off. All this she learned from her mother and Charlotte’s other dogs. But she also seemed to be born with an innate instinct about humans. She immediately aligned herself with me when she moved into our home. How did she know that I was the dominant female? She seemed to know it instantly. She also registered all of our family members at once, committed us to memory, and immediately knew to bark at the sight or sound of a stranger. This barking we nipped in the bud. None of our dogs are barkers, even the chihuahua. We can’t stand it and shush them immediately. Of course, they’re allowed to bark at scary things like ghosts and wild animals, which they do.
She has learned to sit, lie down and stay. She can’t hold the stay for long. She’s too young. But, because I include her in my day – barn chores, hikes, etc, she has learned quite a few things herself. Yesterday she learned the phrase “watch out!” which all my dogs understand. They all freeze when I say that, or they run to my side. The big dogs learned this phrase when I had to train them to the invisible fence. That fence training was excruciatingly painful for all of us; any of you who have the underground fence knows how awful the initiation is.
First, for those who think the underground fence is cruel, the training part is not nice, but we’ve had dogs injured and one killed by a car. The fence is not cruel. It keeps our dogs from the main road, on which people drive very fast. But the training sucks. It required me to place an electric-pronged collar on my dear dogs, then to walk them, on a leash and allow them to wander forward across a an underground wire that I knew would give them an electric shock. I have never given my dogs a reason to mistrust me before this. I was shaking, and the first time one of them was zapped (it was our wolfhound, Clancy) I burst into tears, making it even more traumatic for him. The thing is, you never lead the dogs across the wire. You let them wander ahead, and then pull them back toward you when they’re shocked so their already ingrained understanding that you will protect them is reinforced, even though you are the one who set them up. It’s awful. But the collar gives the dog a warning beeping sound before they cross the line and they very rapidly learn that the noise means stop and turn around. As I walked them around the perimeter, I added my own warning, which was “WATCH OUT!”. They heard this, then the beep, and then would run to my side. I can’t tell you how useful this lesson has been. I have stopped our dogs from running in front of cars, underneath horses, running out doors, just by saying “watch out!”
Yesterday morning, Holly and the other dogs were in the barn with me. When I release the horses from their stalls, the older dogs all know to stay in the back of the barn, because I just let them out of their stalls and they clip-clop hastily down the aisle, not paying attention to what or whom is underfoot. I usually hold Holly when I do this but yesterday I just forgot that she was up there with me. So, I opened Gabriel’s stall door and as he stepped out, Holly ran into the barn and was right under his feet! ”WATCH OUT!” I yelled, and then I screamed (so not the right thing to do in a horse situation, ever). Fortunately Gabriel is old and knows me very well, and didn’t panic, but, rather, carefully stepped around the puppy and wandered outside.
Holly learned her lesson though. She rushed to my side and begged me to pick her up. Today, when I fed the horses, she did her usual sniffing around the aisle, but when I went to open the stall doors, I said, “Watch out!” All the dogs retreated to the back of the barn, Holly first. It might have been the stall door opening that reminded her, but I will repeat the “watch out” command until she makes the connection.
Thank goodness she’s not old enough to train to the fence, I don’t think I can bear it.
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I read through every word of this and just had to tell you that you are an incredible mother/owner/trainer to your dogs. If only more people took such care.
Good call for Joe on the In and Out Burger idea. Tell him I love their Double Doubles! (In college the guys in my dorm used to get the In & Out Burger bumper stickers and cover up the B and the R in Burger. So mature. No wonder I never got married in college – ha!
Yes and we will sing in the sunshine and laugh everyday – then I’ll be on my way. lalalalalalalala
Joe’s bringing around the learjet – see ya in a few hours. Oh and he told me we have to go for an In/Out Burger?????
Mavericks Surf Weekend? – well – if I decide to do myself in – remind me of this event.
Kim, come on over! We’ll walk to the ocean and watch the surfers! It’s Mavericks Surf Weekend this weekend. HUGE waves! I’ll buy you a burger and you can teach my cats to wee in the toilet like KC’s.
http://www.maverickssurf.com/
No Catherine – I’LL be right over – I’m getting tired of all this snow. Could use some Cali sunshine.
Kim, you DO sound like an excellent trainer. My cats and I will be right over! (smile)
OMG! I hope they are not using the bark collar on the baby . . . I kid, I kid.
So do good bark collars make good neighbors?
I live in an apartment complex, and the apartment below was rented by a young couple with a baby who cried day and night. It was alright — babies cry — but I was relieved when they left.
The apartment was empty for a long time, then one day I saw a new couple move in. The motley tattooed crew of friends helping them really raised some flags for me. To top it off the father owns a Harley, they had a newborn baby, and they have two small yappy dogs.
Well, you can’t judge a book by the cover, because I never hear a peep from downstairs. No loud music, no domestic disturbances, the baby apparently never cries, and they have electric bark collars for the dogs.
I don’t really know (do I want to know?) how those collars work, but they do work.
And now I know the secret to the smiley face!
Arliss, I do agree with you that Temple Grandin has done amazing work, and I am all about less stress . . . the steer “smiley face” sort of set me off though, causing more stress for me!
Here’s a youtube link to “Stairway to Heaven” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QCWeMHU6y0
I don’t have HBO so I won’t see Claire Danes as Temple, until it is available on dvd.
We are so disconnected from our food sources, and our capitalist society rewards streamlined processing and manufacturing. You can slaughter more meat faster if the animals are not completely freaked out and protesting . . . the opening scene of “Stairway to Heaven” for me really says it all. Two words that should not go together – factory farming.
I really miss being able to put in a garden and grow food — what drives me nuts is not having livestock to feed my food scraps to. Everytime I peel a carrot or an apple, cut them up and throw the peelings, cores and ends in the trash, I think of what I could train a horse to do with these treats. Goats of course, having four chambered stomachs, can eat all sorts of things like stale bread — they will actually catch an old tortilla like a dog will catch a frisbee. And hogs — well, they will eat just about anything. I hate wasting food.
Happy Valentine Day to all of the people that write here and that read it.
I continue to enjoy the image of Holly. The one as a pup mostly. She is one hugable one!.
Despite my best efforts, I spent quite a long time saving photos of Leticia Ortiz, who is the Spanish princess, and for some reason (ask Freud) I am extremely envious of her shoes!!! She has the best taste (and a bit of Euros too), and then again she does not have to walk the public transport system in LA (bitchy here). She also got those veneers (I observed) and she is just a doll!. But the shoes… Maybe, and one more time, against my best judgement, will put them on Facebook, for the other shoe lovers. In the meantime I have three housing appointments.
Jealous for sure. I cannot believe me.
Sorry, didn’t finish my thought on the last post: … in other words, I think the “smiley face” on the cow in the diagram is simply meant to convey in a very simplistic way, to people not accustomed to concerning themselves with the emotional state of livestock, that this is an animal that is not stressed, but calm. I think there was no irony or intended disrespect for the animal in the diagram.
So sorry, I don’t mean to go on about the subject, just wanted to clarify. Sometimes it’s so hard to say things in print, worrying that something might be taken the wrong way. : )
By the way, Mary Lynn, the movie touches on the same Grandin design shown in the diagram you sent the link to … in it she explained how the method was much kinder to the cattle, how with it they would be calm, and not afraid, as opposed to the much crueler system in use at the time.
Kim and Mary Lynn, very good points about Temple Grandin. I certainly didn’t mean to imply that the improvements she initiated in the treatment of livestock make eating meat “OK”; that question is for each person to really look at and make a decision about themselves. Mary Lynn, your advice about meat eaters having a responsibility to consider the matter with completely open eyes to the process is so important. At the minimum we owe that to the animals. My reason for bringing it up, and my positive reaction to the film, was simply along the lines of here is someone who has done much to increase awareness of the need for more humane treatment of those poor animals. While the situation exists, I believe it is essential and meaningful to work toward there being as much compassion and respect in the process as possible.
It is sobering, and so repellent, however, to think that some big meat-selling companies can take a virtuous pose in claiming a sort of “Temple Grandin seal of approval.” Thanks for the insights.
Ann, you are like the dog whisperer. You are very in tune to all your animals. It’s amazing how smart all animals are and how they learn to live in our world.
How was Sneakers when the dogs came up to the barn? Did she get along with them or did you have to shout a warning like, “Watch Out!”
Mary Lynn: “good fences make good neighbors” – I do like that and how true.
Jules – funny story about the Malinois – its a good thing I’m only dealing with dumbells and balls – my guy would have blown himself up a long time ago.
Kim and Mary Lynn, it’s been ages since I saw Gates of Heaven. Thanks for the clip, will be Netflixing that great documentary soon.
Oh yes I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be Samantha or Morticia when I grew up, also in the running was Glinda The Good Witch. But wait… Nathan Lane/Addams Family on Broadway?! I must find out more! The movies with Anjelica Huston were amazingly fun.
Kim, about your black shepherd and his not wanting to release on command, that reminded me of a K9 tale. When Dan and Axel were first training they worked alongside a woman who was training with a female malinois. Greta (the dog) had started her working life as a bomb sniffer, but she never really got the hang of the release, she liked to shake the target item. NOT a great trait in this kind of career. She retired early with Kris (the officer) and now lives a lovely life on a farm (seriously, not the made up kind) with three old beagles and some barn friends.
Kim,
Like I said before, Temple’s designs are probably a step in the right direction (and I do believe she means well) — they alleviate some of the stress . . . factory farming is historically a fairly new phenomenon . . . but yes, drawing smiley faces on cattle being slaughtered is exploitive. . . and just plain wrong.
I do have an uneasy feeling that McDonald’s and Swift are more than happy to justify their actions by flaunting their “Temple Grandin Humane Slaughtering Seal of Approval”.
I do urge everyone who eats meat to really think about the animal they are eating (that goes for eggs, dairy, and seafood). If you can raise your own farm animals, do so, and be involved with the whole process, this will give you incredible insight into your role on this earth and the food chain.
For pet owners — dogs, cats, etc. also think about their place. I wrote before about the strict leash laws in Sonoma County — where I grew up, good fences made good neighbors. When I moved to Nashville I was shocked at the lack of fencing, and the dogs roaming free around the neighborhoods.
You are completely responsible for the actions of your pet once it steps off your property. Too many people are selfish, and think the world should revolve around them, their possessions, and their pets. It does not.
Lisa & @ellies, Sorry for your loss….
Gotta check out this documentary, I’m not sure I want to, but…going to bed, just checkin’ in have to work from 8am to 10 pm. Check back in on Sunday. Stay safe.
That is quite macabre – I can’t even look at stuff like this – it makes me sick – I don’t care who she is. Don’t you think?
You can also watch parts of “Stairway to Heaven” on YouTube . . . and it is disturbing to me, but not due to Errol Morris’ treatment per se. . . Here is a link to a Temple Grandin design –http://grandin.com/gifs/headhld.side.jpg
Note the little smile drawn on the face of cow on the conveyor belt . . . more of an escalator to heaven . . . I just can’t believe this animal is happy.
Yes Mary Lynn – quite odd and amazing.
Thanks Kim! Yes, that is it — “Stairway to Heaven”. I’m an Errol Morris fan, I LOVE “Gates of Heaven”. What a great film! If you haven’t seen it, here is a youtube clip, and possibly the best monologue ever filmed. Imagine all the writers that would give their eye teeth for the stuff that flows out of this woman’s mouth spontaneously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P1pTey4rpI
Mary Lynn: It might have been Errol Morris’ film “Stairway to Heaven”.
Arliss,
Years and years ago I saw Temple Grandin in a documentary talking about her work with making slaughtering beef animals more humane — it was fascinating, but totally creeped me out at the same time. I’ve mentioned before I am torn on eating meat. Unless you can sneak up behind the animals and kill them before they know they are in danger (it is possible(and the meat is DELICIOUS!), just maybe not so cost effective), I am against it.
For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the documentary, or find it on imdb.com . . . oh well, anyway, I’m not so sure about Temple . . . part of me thinks she totally sold out to agribusiness. A better cattle chute might be a step in the right direction, but I think her autism story has been exploited to benefit factory farming.
Linda S. – I don’t use treats unless its absolutely necessary. I use lots of praise. The tone of your voice is everything – they are extremely in tune to it. My shepherds were trained by an ex-canine cop who owns 2 interactive boarding facilities. I was absolutely pivotal in that training. His methodology is not to have them focus on treats but have them focus on you. To me, it make sense. Would you reward your child with a toy EVERY time they did something good? Not necessarily. Your child is looking for approval from you which is the best reward. So – when they do something I’ve asked I really whoop it up a step or two. If I have a treat in my hand, yes, they will do what I ask but they are not looking at me. They want the treat. Both of these methods work but I don’t want them expecting the treat. Not to say they don’t get treats but after some workout time – they get a marrow bone that lasts them for hours. My youngest shepherd (the black one with 3 legs) is very very lovable but he’s hard headed and a bit defiant (he’s in the teenage mode). I am intermittently using treats with him because he won’t drop a dumbell or a ball when I ask him. My others do. This is a prime example that certain training methods do not work as well with him so I will use treats or his favorite toy. That works but I will gradually wean him off that. Part of the point is if your dog is standing in front of the house with you while your gardening or doing whatever and say, he see’s a rabbit – is he going to bolt or when you say “stay” he has got to listen to you under ANY circumstances. Chances are – treats will do you no good when he’s halfway across the street and a vehicle is barreling down the road. Its a process not won overnight. But great respect is formed and gained ten fold but you must and I emphasize must have patience. Anything less than that will stress the dog out and you too.
Play it again, Charlie ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJZclaUKCQo&feature=related
Yes it was a spooky experience, that I learned by just observing and by chance. Just wanted to see the place. Well I saw it.
I am familiar with the type of folks too, from the state hospitals, the streets in San Francisco and working with them in facilities and other institutions.. pretty terrible that some do not stand a chance (if you ask me). As for me, yes I shall be vigilant. Thank you for the concern.
Kim – I’m impressed that you trained 3 Shepherds. You’re obviously very good at this. Do you use treats to motivate/reward? Thanks for the tip on the overuse of “NO.” It makes sense.
Lisa and Ellie – so sorry for your losses. It’s just so hard to let them go, isn’t it. I dread the day my Charley has to leave. One thing I know for sure – I will never be without a dog. And maybe even more than one when I retire.
Here’s to all our beloved animals and to those who are having fun in the big dog park in the sky!
Linda S.
Hi Barbara! I loved “The Addams Family” too.
Lisa, how exciting — let us know how the new puppy is doing!
Lupe, what an unsettling experience that must have been …
Adriana, I’ve not read her recent book yet, but hear it is wonderful.
Kim, what a terrific trainer you must be! So great that you are so in tune with your dogs.
@ellies58, so very sorry to hear of the loss of your Shorthair. Such a sad time to go through. So many of us have been there and deeply understand. Tonight dear friends of ours are going through what might be the last night for their beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, a sweet, noble girl that my family is very fond of as well. I’m glad that you have your Lab and kitty. It is so hard to say goodbye to our four-footed family members. It is so sad that their time is so short compared to ours.
@ellies: I am so sorry. I can imagine what your feeling – been there. So so difficult. You almost feel like a limb is lost. Its hard to find comfort at these times. You truly have to know that he/she is definitely in a better place. If only we didn’t miss them so. Sending lots of prayers and thoughts your way.
Training is easier with some than others. I am fortunate to not have had to use an instrument like the fencing. I don’t know if I could actually do it, (tho I do recognize the need for it in some situations). I love my pets and would do anything to keep them safe! I actually have just suffered the pain of loss. We put our German Shorthaired Pointer down 2 days ago! It’s a hard thing to do…..we grow to love them like children!! I still have the Chocolate Lab and the old Tabby to help me grieve tho….that helps
Training is not easy. Exhausting your dog is key. Long walks and going to different places helps. 3 of my shepherds I trained verbally and with hand signals. If I do not speak they will respond to the hand commands. The verbal ones are fairly typical, “Quit, Hup, Leave It, Off, Sit, Down, Wait, Slow, around, heel, speak, left, right”. Almost forgot my favorite one “PLACE”. Thats usually used for, I’ve had enough of your shenanigans so please go to your bed and take a time out”. If your going to use “No” you’ve got to connect it to something because how many times do we use no. So – “no bite, no bark, no jump” – to that effect. I really loved learning from a variety of trainers because some training tools worked better than others. You have to find out what that niche is to motivate them. I have one shepherd that would sell our house beneath us for one kernel of corn. The other two are more like “don’t even think about getting near this house”. Different personalities as with people have to be managed accordingly. My one shep is a very “soft” boy while the other two males are more hard nosed and in your face. Its just funny – they are truly like children.
Ann – This blog was so interesting, and the photos great. “Dumpling” is the perfect word for baby Holly, but my favorite is the laughing photo – hilarious! She really is adorable and smart, too. It’s amazing how much a puppy learns when brought into a pack early on. What did you figure is her breed mix? (That sentence sounds grammatically odd,but you know what I mean).
I’ve wondered if your property was fenced. You are so adept at training. I like the “watch it” command and am going to try it w/ Charley. I wish I were better and more knowledgeable at training. Because Charley is only my second dog, I’m still learning. I have a tendency to be a bit too “soft.” I sometimes buy into the “poor dog” mentality, which I know is so wrong – especially when dealing with a terrier. I have to keep reminding Charley that I’m the alpha in the household.
Sorry to hear that Lulu can’t be part of the hikes. Does she get upset when you leave without her? I just love that dog.
What is Mark’s fancy name???
Have a great long holiday weekend everyone.
Linda S.
Ann: Love the photos of Holly. She’s just adorable. Almost makes me want to get a puppy. Yay for Gabriel being such a smart horse.
Arliss: I so want to see that movie! She has Asperger’s, which my son has. Actually I want to read her book first.
Barbara my husband and I saw Addams Family in December when it was in Chicago getting “tweeked”, loved Nathan Lane.
Speaking of animal behavior, and trying to treat animals humanely, and a lot of other topics that have come up on this wonderful blog recently, I want to quickly mention and recommend the “Temple Grandin” movie that’s on HBO right now. Grandin is an animal scientist who has caused more humane treatment of commercially farmed cattle. She happens to be autistic, and her autism helped her to observe the animals extremely closely and note very subtle patterns in their behavior. I’ve read of her before, but I caught the last half of the movie on HBO last night, and had tears streaming down my face almost the entire time because what she has been through, and what she has accomplished — and the incredible performance by Claire Danes — is all so moving. It’s not exactly easy to watch; there are some heartbreaking animal issues involved. But ultimately it’s so uplifting to see the changes made. I really wanted to mention it to this group. For me it’s one of those times where something is so good, or so affecting, you’re dying to tell people about it.
Julie–The Addams Family is coming to Broadway this spring !! Both my husband and I can’t wait to see it…..even if it gets awful reviews, I’ll bet we love it !!And yes, The Munsters too. I just love how they all think they’re normal and the rest of the world is strange! And I guess I’m dating myself again, but I couldn’t wait to get home from school for Dark Shadows; the kids think they’ve invented something new with Twilight, I loved the first and best !!
THANK YOU LYNNE!!! You got to have a sense if humor…If you don’t you can get very depressed…very quickly. Plus I’m a little “twisted” in the first place….LOL
Ann, I’ll listen to the story about the abusive dog trainer, but only if you’ll publish his or her name…so that I can train him or her to beg…for his or her life.
Julie-I loved “Bewitched”, too!(But no Addams Family on the tube where I lived, so it was “The Munsters instead!) Remember cousin Serena?
Lupe-Be safe!
And have a good weekend, all!
Julie–I loved Bewitched and always wanted to be Samantha, oh what I could do to people just for my own entertainment!!!!
Lupe, I don’t think you were being paranoid. That sounds like a scary place.
I met with a few dog rescue people yesterday and heard such a sad story about an abusive dog trainer.
Ann, wonderful pictures. We love the updates. You do such a good job with your daily hikes and overall training. When the officers train K9s they often use “e-collars” at the beginning, much like the collars you train with for the underground fencing. These guys (and gals) love their dogs, they are partners for life. It can be difficult to go through the first part of that training process but dogs really are so smart, it doesn’t take them long to figure out how NOT to get a quick zap. It would be too hard on me, but then I am not alpha anything around here. Simply the mom, and person in charge of snacks. Sometimes for the greater good in the long run unpleasantness must be endured briefly.
Oh and about the previous post on TV shows, I can’t believe no one mentioned The Addams Family and Bewitched, my personal favorites. (Okay maybe not everyone wanted to grow up and be a witch.)
Love the blog today, Ann, and the photos. Your “watch out” command is great. I use “wait” at every street crossing (we live downtown), and it has come in handy when our alpha male bolts through an open gate. I’ve never done electric fence training and it sounds difficult on all concerned; however, it can save their lives. You have to remember that. A good friend of mine had her 8 month Aussie run over yesterday by the postwoman who was speeding down the little dead end street where her horse farm is located. Rex was loose & went to “herd” the USPS. It’s hard to believe for those of us who value our dogs/cats/horses/whatever, but some people are careless and don’t like animals. The postwoman did not even stop after Rex was hit and she could have easily avoided him.. BEECH! Now my friend has to explain to her 4 young grandchildren why Rex is no longer there. So, keep training.
Lisa – congrats on your new puppy! Hope you will post pics to Ann’s Facebook page.
Well… while most of you are nicely tucked away in your homes…. I was walking some 8 blocks from the train station to my hotel. I tell myself I am not adventurous enough, and been planning to look for permanent housing here in Long Beach. I had looked on line, nothing looked better or had better rates, as Net advertising lacks the ‘look and the feel” (Bill Gates). And I needed some more days.
Now, this is a thrusday evening, and people are glad it is not raining. Most of the population in the train, are chatty little things, some kind of boisterous and I definitely have a sign that I am not from around here. Backpack is a tell all, and the rest of the attire (for some other time).
So I am walking on this long street, and observe the lights (which apparently is NOT done in this hood), and find this other hotel, so I walk in. It is nice from the outside, and it is shaped like a plaza, to mean, that the units are around a large square, where the parking spots are. So the front desk lady tells me that indeed they have rooms and I ask to see one. As I step out I happen to notice SIX police cars, and some dogs…and some are the policemen, and some are the residents and they have cute pitbulls… and I ask “what are so many of them doing here?”. Please note that I did not say what ‘them’ referred to. The kid (who looks familiar, probably also attending the University) tells me that :”they are looking for somebody”, and he sounds stressed. So he shows me the room. It is much smaller than this one, and that, EVERYBODY is outside. And it smells. And there are NO windows – which would be safe to leave open -, and there is no sound ’shelter’. And the kid tries to talk me into staying there for the seven days, asks me where am I at now, comes down with the price… and I am not scared or anything, I would ‘do it if I had to’, but I DO NOT have to.
Got their card. Wonder why they do not advertise on the Internet in the local pages… but better to say nothing.
So. I mean, all I need is trouble. Or to end up with gun injuries because there is a scuffle, or to have no peace of mind because people are arguing outside, and everyone has rights but me. Something like that.
And this is after doing a review on a book, where it seemed to be the professor was splitting hairs trying to analyze or critique the story. Are we all gone paranoid?. I am afraid that is the case. But learning is important, and if that ends up being my conclusion, so be it.
Enjoy your snow…
And that little Holly bundle is lovely indeed. From where I am at, that is.
Ann: these are the “best” photos!!!! Holly almost looks like a little piglet in the top pix. I know lots of people with the electric fence and a few have Goldens that keep bolting through – of course – they won’t come back through. For the most part – it just works.
Lisa: huge congrats – how exciting is a new puppy? You must send photos.
Aislinn: all I am going to say to you is – hehehehehehehehehe. Geez – I yak way way too much.
Love all the Holly pics, but the laughing Holly is the funniest. Was that taken right after the precocious pup read your hilarious “Pro Wrestling, Terrier Style” blog?
Lisa – Congrats on your new puppy!
That little Holly is one cute girly. I don’t know if I could endure the training for the electric fence, Ann, I think I would be boohooing, too. I guess you just have to keep reminding yourself that this is what you have to do to keep your dogs safe. I have a 6-foot cinder block wall all around my backyard, and one of my dogs hopped that. Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate that. One of his sisters did the same thing, I heard later. Fortunately, he landed in the yard behind me, and they don’t have a dog, so he was safe. Needless to say, I have to keep my eye on my athletic boy. He can easily jump straight up 5 feet, boing, boing, boing.
Lisa, I am sorry to hear that you lost your Wheaten to cancer. I have two Wheatens. Is your new puppy a Wheatie? I love just about anything terrier. Whatever you get, enjoy the puppy days. They seem to grow so fast. Look at the big girl Holly is already!
Lisa, how fun to get a puppy, good luck. And how on earth did we miss Dragnet yesterday, there is only one Joe Friday!
Dear Ann, CUUUUTE! And good for you for doing the hard stuff for the doggies’ greater good!
Rose-I am just “catching up now” and I read your post that mentioned your job as one of the “essential services”. I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but I admire you so much and I am glad that your residents have someone like you in their lives. I have a younger cousin who suffered from a freak injury in high school and after some years of independent living, he lives in a nursing home. Fortunately for him, he lives in his (very small) hometown and has lots of loving family living nearby. However, we are all so thankful for the wonderful people who are his day-to-day caregivers.From what I’ve read here, you seem to
have a sparky AND sparkling personality (as well as a fine sense of humour!) and my guess is that you must add so much to their lives beyond all the physical care you give them.Keep on driving safely through the snow!
Ann, Cesar Millan would be so proud! Sounds like you’re quite the dog trainer. We have an electronic fence for our dog and are in the training process for the new dog we adopted 6 weeks ago. We are in the very beginning, with the flags up and the contact covered on the collar so that it just makes the sound but not the buzz. I believe it is not cruel or inhumane, it’s a lot better than having your dog lost or out in the street. We have a neighbor who did not follow the training program (which you must stick to and take no shortcuts) but just put the collar on their dog and let it out. Needless to say it got zapped and traumatized. After that the dog would not go outside and started peeing in the house. They had to pick up their (very large) dog and carry it outside. Now the dog is over it but roams the neighborhood which annoys us all. We take the collar off our dog at night and sometimes forget to put it back on in the morning but our dog that is trained always stops at the line and knows she shouldn’t go any farther even without it.
Wonderful photos! The one of her “laughing” is just fantastic. She seems to be quite a sharp cookie, and catches on quickly. Isn’t it funny how we beam with pride when our dogs are smart, even though we really didn’t have too much to do with it? (The genetics part of it, anyway.)
I admit, my family has never trained our dogs on an invisible fence, but the property is entirely fenced and the dogs also have their own play space outside (so double fencing). That didn’t stop them from thinking the horses were just big furry tables – our latest pack of Shelties completely lack the herding instinct.
Ann, question for you: do your dogs still wear the collar when outside, or are they trained enough they they won’t creep across the fence line?
Lisa, congratulations! You must send us pictures. How exciting!
PS – It sounds like I missed out on a myriad of good television, since I’m a child of the ’80s. I’m sure I can find some on Netflix somewhere to see what I was missing.
Ann I am so happy to know you have a fence underground or not.Reading your blog and your wandering animals I thought how does she get them to stay home. I felt so inferior thinking your animals just naturally stayed near you. My goober would run off in a shot if not for our 6 foot wooden fence.
I love Holly!
She is a smart little thing. And she is a lucky little thing too!. Thank you for sharing those lovely stories…. I love to read them.
Lisa, how exciting for you. Congratulations! Cigars all around, everybody.
Send photos when the “bundle” arrives.
I love the puppy stories! I am going to pick up our new puppy tomorrow. We lost our beloved wheaten terrier after 9 1/2 wonderful years back in November. He died of cancer. I stayed home with him when he died which was excrutiating for me, but I have to believe was best for him. I found out that I just could not make the decision to have him put to sleep. Perhaps if he had lingered in a terrible state longer, I would have found the resolve to do that. Mercifully, he wasn’t in terrible shape for long. What we learned about ourselves as a family after he died was that we are a family that really needs a dog. My husband hestitantly suggested that maybe with our boys grown and about to all be out of the house, perhaps we didn’t want the responsibility of a dog, so we’d be freer to travel. My eyes bugged out in horror, and I told him I thought it was clear that we needed a dog. He quickly retreated. Then I pointed out that it probably only 5% of the people who ever say they can’t have a pet because they want to be free to travel ever really go anywhere. At most, we take one vacation a year plus a few soccer trips. Seriously? We can’t handle a puppy? Come on.
Anyway, I can’t wait! Although I am not eager to relive the middle-of-the-night potty wake up calls. I swear our old dog did that for a year. Any tips?
I just love the puppy pictures and stories. And just like with our children, some lessons are difficult to teach, painful to learn, but completely necessary to life. We, and they, all survive it. Darling pictures today !!
Ann, Holly looks SO much like Daphne,I’m glad she follows Daphne’s lead. LULU could teach her how to guard the trash. The electric fence is a great idea. Better to have a little shock, than to be permanently injured or worse.
Too bad you had no history on LULU’s past, but thank the Man Upstairs that DL rescued her, her destiny could have been alot worse.
I think Holly is part human. She is so damn funny! Now, the story about the training, and the horses, and the fence, really fascinated me. Having never grown up with dogs, this is all so new to me. Very, very interesting.
Ann, from the first blog I read I knew you were the dominant female in your household. Chew toy please.
Also, I loved this blog today. I can’t wait for your animal book!
Candy, we don’t bring Lulu for two reasons. 1) car rides tend to make her hip sore. She always limps around after being in the car and we drive to the places we hike. 2) Denis and I tried to take her for a walk in the woods once and the sound of the river FREAKED HER OUT. SHe was flipping around on the end of her leash and if she was loose, I know she would have bolted. She was 9 months old when we adopted her so we have no way of knowing what triggered her fear, but I’m afraid to take her on a hike for those reasons. Daphne sticks by my side, fears nothing, and now Holly is the same. She has learned from Daphne that my whistle means come fast. I’m afraid of what she might learn from our less than genius, Lulu.
Ann, such cute pics of Holly….She is so adorable…
Electric fence training is a great tool and can save their lives….
Just like children, some consequences are painful but they learn…..
Holly is adorable. What breed, mix of puppy is she?
Sounds like you just may be able to train that little tiger. How come Lulu does not go on the hikes too? I would think she is your warrior in case of peril. Just wondering. How is little Oliver doing now, bet he has grown too.
A big “Awwwwwwwwww”! Beautiful pics of Holly. What a little dumpling she was, and a cute little scamp she is now!
The “watch out” command is genius! What a lifesaver. Every dog should learn it. That’s a great explanation of it, and it’s neat how you found you could teach something so positive amidst the awfulness of electric-fence training (have done that too, hate it!). So glad Gabriel is such a wise old soul too!
The electric fence training is awful but is really one of the best methods. Seriously though, that puppy face is just too cute!
Ann, interesting info on training the dogs, and a big awwww on the Holly pics.
: )
I LOVE the laughing picture of Holly!!!! I am so glad she is safe, she sounds such a sweetheart!!!!