Feeling bad for Diesel, since he can't run much on a leash. Porcupine county too dangerous for this boy. I've been running some ideas through my mind of how i could give him a chance to run. So far i have 2 options. a bike and some roller blades.
now, when considering the 2, roller blades, he could pull me but what if he decide to go off the road? and i haven't used them in so long that I really don't have any control with them. even when i used them the most, i wasn't very confident in my ability to stop when i want to and not quickly either. So I'd have to work on it solo first.
bike, well, it's easier to remember how to ride one so i decided to pull mine from the garage and see if the tires would hold air after over 5 years of being deflated. it did, so i tied the leash around the seat pole and gave it a shot. first try, he pulled me down with the bike, good thing i was on the lawn. so i got back on it and we made it to the road, and since it seemed to go well enough, we went on the road. but he started to brace himself and pull back. i had to stop and he started to show fear of the bike. i thought it was over. we had to turn around and go home.
so i walked between him and the bike. then i switched to the other side of the bike and he stayed a bit more confident so i did a few sprints and he seemed ok, so i tried on the bike again, very slowly, just walking while straddling it at first, then one foot on the pedal and propelling on the ground with the other, and eventually managed to pedal. had to keep an eye over my shoulder all the time and keep encouraging him.
then a dog started barking and comming out of his yard. so i stop because he was pulling to the side. and he allowed the other dog to smell him and it was going well. no aggressive confrontation is all good in my book. then the owner came to reclaim his dog and apologize. the dog kept smelling each other a bit, i had a short chat with the guy... his brother used to own the house where we now live. and we only get to meet after 2 years of living here hehe.
after that, i turned around to go back in the direction i usually take my walks and went probably close to 1 km that way. so if it can continue to go well, i think it will work out better for both of us. faster for him and easier for me.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Yet an Other Close Call
a few days ago, in mid afternoon, i left Diesel run around unleash, oh maybe for 20 minutes, and he managed to find a porcupine, do they ever sleep? it was so close, Andy was running after him, trying to prevent him from getting to it. when i saw the commotion i grabbed a long stick and ran to the wood to see if i could beat the porcupine. he was too high up a tree when I got there. at least Diesel didn't get close enough this time to get anything from it but i feel so bad for not being able to let him run loose at all. So i made sure i went for our 5 km/ 1 hour walk again today. he's getting better at walking. i can walk little stretches at a time without him pulling. and we're going to try to get rid of those prickly pests. Andy called the forest rangers and we're allowed to shoot them or club them.
am i repeating myself? i forgot if i mentioned that in the last post.
anyway, today we stopped at a farm with the kids, we've talked to them a few times before, they have a young son too so it's really nice to hang around with them. and we'll try to socialize Diesel with their dogs. i walk in front of their place each time i go for a walk so if they could get along it would be great.
am i repeating myself? i forgot if i mentioned that in the last post.
anyway, today we stopped at a farm with the kids, we've talked to them a few times before, they have a young son too so it's really nice to hang around with them. and we'll try to socialize Diesel with their dogs. i walk in front of their place each time i go for a walk so if they could get along it would be great.
Friday, May 9, 2008
What Lesson?
Yesterday i was quite tired after the episode from the day before, so i only tried to recap those events. so today i'm going to start with yesterday, again hehe
being so tired i didn't do much yesterday, except from going for a long walk whit Diesel along the road. i made it to the mail box, it's probably a little over 2 km to get there. and it was a test of what i had learned so far watching "The Dog Whisperer". there are quite a few places that have dogs. one of them being the farm where i used to turn around last summer, about 1.5 km from home. they have at least 3 dogs, and they bark when you get by their place. my goal was to keep Diesel focussed ahead. so as soon as he'd try to look in the other dog's direction, i give him a little tug and sometime a little nudge on the side to distract him from the distraction. knowing how he like to chase after other animals, he could have dragged me over to a potential dog fight but it kept him from getting in that excited state of mind and we made it all the way without incidents. although the last place we walked by, the dog was very persistent and it was harder for Diesel to stay focus.
they say that you can't hide your emotions from a dog and they can smell your fear and since it's a sign of weakness, they feel they should take over leadership and do what they think a leader should do. i must admit, when we walked by the farm with 3 dogs, i had some apprehension. my heart was beating harder and all but i focussed on how i was supposed to keep him focussed and stay confident in my body language. seeing how well it works gives me more confidence.
Remember yesterday how i said, in the evening I'd keep Diesel on leash to make sure he doesn't dash for an other porcupine. well, this evening, it might have been 7:20 pm and i thought it wasn't very dark yet so it would be ok to clip him on once we get on the patio. I guess not. i saw him dart toward the end of the house and then toward the wood, and i spotted a porcupine at the edge. I called him back somewhat panicked, screaming NO, NO, Danger!!!, I was hoping he would've learned his lesson but i guess not. I'm very thankful that he turned around. only 36 hours after a run to the vet and running back for it? so from now on, in the evening, he must be clipped before to set foot outside, no ifs, ands of buts.
after i hooked the leash on him, we walked around the yard and did go see the porcupine. he was not a very nervous one. not even budging at first. then only turning his back to us. i remember seeing porcupines last year that would make it to the wood if we went his way. this one, we got as close as 10 feet away. so we got a good look at him. it look like that one had many animal try their luck at him. there was a fairly big patch on his back that was bare of quills. not long after, my husband arrived and i pointed him to the prickly pest that was now making his way back in the woods, when my husband got to him, he was about 4 feet up in a tree and so my husband had an even closer look at him. I wish i had my camera with me when we first got close to him, i could've had a good shot at him.
Just a few minutes ago, I could hear Diesel singing like a whale upstairs. was wondering what made him decide to try his singing talents. looked around and there was nothing so i concluded that he probably heard some other dog from the neighborhood.
earlier today, Misty decided to try her luck at a stroll upstairs. as soon as i saw her, i went to see Diesel, he was thinking of getting up from his corner and investigate the fluffiness but i told him to stay put and he did. i went to pet him to keep him in a very relaxed state and was able to send back Misty downstairs without a fuss. if i can keep the experiences positive, they should adjust to each other fairly quickly.
being so tired i didn't do much yesterday, except from going for a long walk whit Diesel along the road. i made it to the mail box, it's probably a little over 2 km to get there. and it was a test of what i had learned so far watching "The Dog Whisperer". there are quite a few places that have dogs. one of them being the farm where i used to turn around last summer, about 1.5 km from home. they have at least 3 dogs, and they bark when you get by their place. my goal was to keep Diesel focussed ahead. so as soon as he'd try to look in the other dog's direction, i give him a little tug and sometime a little nudge on the side to distract him from the distraction. knowing how he like to chase after other animals, he could have dragged me over to a potential dog fight but it kept him from getting in that excited state of mind and we made it all the way without incidents. although the last place we walked by, the dog was very persistent and it was harder for Diesel to stay focus.
they say that you can't hide your emotions from a dog and they can smell your fear and since it's a sign of weakness, they feel they should take over leadership and do what they think a leader should do. i must admit, when we walked by the farm with 3 dogs, i had some apprehension. my heart was beating harder and all but i focussed on how i was supposed to keep him focussed and stay confident in my body language. seeing how well it works gives me more confidence.
Remember yesterday how i said, in the evening I'd keep Diesel on leash to make sure he doesn't dash for an other porcupine. well, this evening, it might have been 7:20 pm and i thought it wasn't very dark yet so it would be ok to clip him on once we get on the patio. I guess not. i saw him dart toward the end of the house and then toward the wood, and i spotted a porcupine at the edge. I called him back somewhat panicked, screaming NO, NO, Danger!!!, I was hoping he would've learned his lesson but i guess not. I'm very thankful that he turned around. only 36 hours after a run to the vet and running back for it? so from now on, in the evening, he must be clipped before to set foot outside, no ifs, ands of buts.
after i hooked the leash on him, we walked around the yard and did go see the porcupine. he was not a very nervous one. not even budging at first. then only turning his back to us. i remember seeing porcupines last year that would make it to the wood if we went his way. this one, we got as close as 10 feet away. so we got a good look at him. it look like that one had many animal try their luck at him. there was a fairly big patch on his back that was bare of quills. not long after, my husband arrived and i pointed him to the prickly pest that was now making his way back in the woods, when my husband got to him, he was about 4 feet up in a tree and so my husband had an even closer look at him. I wish i had my camera with me when we first got close to him, i could've had a good shot at him.
Just a few minutes ago, I could hear Diesel singing like a whale upstairs. was wondering what made him decide to try his singing talents. looked around and there was nothing so i concluded that he probably heard some other dog from the neighborhood.
earlier today, Misty decided to try her luck at a stroll upstairs. as soon as i saw her, i went to see Diesel, he was thinking of getting up from his corner and investigate the fluffiness but i told him to stay put and he did. i went to pet him to keep him in a very relaxed state and was able to send back Misty downstairs without a fuss. if i can keep the experiences positive, they should adjust to each other fairly quickly.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Too Close for Comfort
Gillet say, "as close as a man can get" for their product that remove facial hair. but for our poor Diesel, "too close for comfort" meant that he earned himself a goatee.
I took him out for his last pee before i went to bed around midnight. he's done that before and there was no incident so i didn't expect this time would be different. I noticed he had fun chasing the kitty laser in the yard last time, so i was going to indulge him again, but right away, he was sniffing around the yard in pattern that wasn't following the red dot at all and then he darted for the back corner of the yard, into the woods. i called and called and demanded he come back. trying to listen to what was going on because it was too dark to see in that area. heard a crack, one bark. i ran inside to get the whistle hoping that would snap him out of his frenzy and i could call him back, but by that time he was coming back. I did not want to believe what i was seeing. the awful signature of a porkupine. outch! i called for Andy that was starting to drift in dreamland because he had to work the day after. but sleep was secondary at this point.
I'm going to do you a favor, if you are reading this and not quite prepared to take a look at this poor pup's extreme piercing, i'll post a link and you decide for yourself to click on it or not.
so we tried to pull some ourself but there were so many that i started calling around to find a place to bring him, at this time of the night. one vet said it was an option to try keep pulling them ourself but he was getting snappy about it and we really don't blame him. so off to the vet he went. took them 1 hour to remove everything under sedation. he was a little groggy and confused for a while. but he look like himself again.
this was taken right after he came back home, a little groggy and probably tired too because it was past 2:30 am. I think it is a very humbling experience for him and we consider keeping him on a leash when taking him out after dusk. And mostly, we hope he learned his lesson.
I took him out for his last pee before i went to bed around midnight. he's done that before and there was no incident so i didn't expect this time would be different. I noticed he had fun chasing the kitty laser in the yard last time, so i was going to indulge him again, but right away, he was sniffing around the yard in pattern that wasn't following the red dot at all and then he darted for the back corner of the yard, into the woods. i called and called and demanded he come back. trying to listen to what was going on because it was too dark to see in that area. heard a crack, one bark. i ran inside to get the whistle hoping that would snap him out of his frenzy and i could call him back, but by that time he was coming back. I did not want to believe what i was seeing. the awful signature of a porkupine. outch! i called for Andy that was starting to drift in dreamland because he had to work the day after. but sleep was secondary at this point.
I'm going to do you a favor, if you are reading this and not quite prepared to take a look at this poor pup's extreme piercing, i'll post a link and you decide for yourself to click on it or not.
so we tried to pull some ourself but there were so many that i started calling around to find a place to bring him, at this time of the night. one vet said it was an option to try keep pulling them ourself but he was getting snappy about it and we really don't blame him. so off to the vet he went. took them 1 hour to remove everything under sedation. he was a little groggy and confused for a while. but he look like himself again.
this was taken right after he came back home, a little groggy and probably tired too because it was past 2:30 am. I think it is a very humbling experience for him and we consider keeping him on a leash when taking him out after dusk. And mostly, we hope he learned his lesson.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Oh Poooh
yesterday, i think it was rainy in the morning, and although it had not been that long since Diesel had gone out, he was whining. but we thought it was mostly because we were in and out of rooms and he was showing some separation anxiety. because he does that sometimes. long and behold, he really needed to go, and couldn't contain himself any longer and unloaded a nice smelly one in the kitchen floor. Didn't seem like it smelled that stinky at first but as i was cleaning it, the smell was getting to me more and more. the rest of the day went pretty smoothly. although he had scared Misty as she was going out the door and for fear that he would drive her away if we let him out loose, we kept him on leash for the rest of the day when we went outside. was happy to learn that Misty came back this morning.
Today was our first time leaving Diesel alone at home for any amount of time. in this case, from 7 am to 1:30pm. it was nice to hear him bark when i put my key in the keyhole. it made me feel like if someone tried to break in, that kind of greeting could make them think twice.
This morning Diesel was playfull, so i tossed the ball for him a few times, and Owen wanted to do the same. until today Diesel didn't listen to Owen's directions. but today, he did great and Owen was so excited. i think it made his day, or at least part of it. It made me very happy too.
Today was our first time leaving Diesel alone at home for any amount of time. in this case, from 7 am to 1:30pm. it was nice to hear him bark when i put my key in the keyhole. it made me feel like if someone tried to break in, that kind of greeting could make them think twice.
This morning Diesel was playfull, so i tossed the ball for him a few times, and Owen wanted to do the same. until today Diesel didn't listen to Owen's directions. but today, he did great and Owen was so excited. i think it made his day, or at least part of it. It made me very happy too.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Kitties are fun to run after
Although we had let Diesel have a pee early in the morning, it was around 11 am by the time i was ready to go out with the kids to let Diesel play. There was also Misty that had gone out earlier and wouldn't answer the call to come in before we went out. so after about 3 throws, Diesel spotted Misty coming back out of the woods. I had nothing to hold him back and he just ran like mad after her. He was pretty much barking at a tree by the time my own barking convinced him to let go and come back. end of game back in house. For Diesel at least. I went back out and found Misty some 15-20 feet up in a tree meowing each time i called her. but wouldn't come down. Then the phone, that i took out with me, rang. i ran to the house to get better reception. It was Andy getting the tire changed and letting me know he'd be back soon. I couldn't find Misty after that and we went back in to have lunch. Diesel finally decided to have breakfast just before we went in town for some appointment, and took him with us. We got him a new collar, a double thickness, so hopefully it will last him. the first one we got was way too big, the second one too small, so this time i made sure it was gonna fit.
One lady that gives pet tips on radio every weeks has a kennel, is a professional dog trainer and also a website where you can find tips and even some free download on basic training. and she recommend a slip chain collar. for training purpose. but at one of the pet food store we were told they might work but there was some other kind of collar that worked better and didn't press on their windpipe but we had to get him fitted for it. it just pinch when they pull, they don't like it and quickly learn to stop pulling. they asked me to take him out for a walk around the driveway before to buy it and it was like walking with a totally different dog. much different then the collar that wrapped around the snout and although the slip chain worked, it still not as effective as the pincher. hopefully it will only be needed for a short time. I'm trying to learn at the dog psychology level, so all of this become unnecessary. I've started to watch The Dog Whisperer, and it seem that training is not even the issue, it's how to be the pack leader for your canine friend.
i've started to apply some of what i've heard from peoples who watched it and told me about it and some stuff it reminded me of, that i've heard in the past. like:
I also noticed once, that he started running like crazy after his frenzy in the snow and it was in circle around me. then he stopped at me and started barking in a way i found intimidating. so i figured that circling had something to do with assertion and i started doing that to him. it seem to work. will have to learn more about it, see if my instinct are correct on that.
so with all that, i find he's a little more calm and start listening to me when i ask him to sit in different situations. one thing i noticed from the get go, is that he would only listen to me if i am standing. if i sit, it goes in deaf years.
I think that since he used to live with an other dog, that pack instinct is stronger and there lye the need to learn how to be the Alpha.
any other tips? anyone has good result changing dog behaviors?
on our way back from the city, i asked that Diesel not be let out of the vehicle yet so i could try to call Misty back in. didn't' see her then, so took Diesel back in the house on a leash just in case, so he wouldn't scare her away again. not long after, Misty showed up and i was able to bring her back in. our brave little trooper.
after supper i was surprised to see Daphne come halfway up the stairs while Diesel was at the gait. she didn't stay long but it's definitely an improvement from hiding 24/7 at the furthest back of the basement.
after the kids were in bed, i took him out to play Frisbee and he start to bring it more directly in my hand this evening as opposed to drop it in front of me or somewhere on the way. but i also decided that when he start to drop it before he get to me, that he's done playing and it's time to go back in. he starts to get better at catching in flight too.
One lady that gives pet tips on radio every weeks has a kennel, is a professional dog trainer and also a website where you can find tips and even some free download on basic training. and she recommend a slip chain collar. for training purpose. but at one of the pet food store we were told they might work but there was some other kind of collar that worked better and didn't press on their windpipe but we had to get him fitted for it. it just pinch when they pull, they don't like it and quickly learn to stop pulling. they asked me to take him out for a walk around the driveway before to buy it and it was like walking with a totally different dog. much different then the collar that wrapped around the snout and although the slip chain worked, it still not as effective as the pincher. hopefully it will only be needed for a short time. I'm trying to learn at the dog psychology level, so all of this become unnecessary. I've started to watch The Dog Whisperer, and it seem that training is not even the issue, it's how to be the pack leader for your canine friend.
i've started to apply some of what i've heard from peoples who watched it and told me about it and some stuff it reminded me of, that i've heard in the past. like:
- never let your dog come in the house before you, you go, then invite him in.
- when the dog stays home, don't go greet him when you come in. ignore him and when he's calm and you're ready, then invite him to see you.
- mix his food with your hands, so he get your sent in his food
I also noticed once, that he started running like crazy after his frenzy in the snow and it was in circle around me. then he stopped at me and started barking in a way i found intimidating. so i figured that circling had something to do with assertion and i started doing that to him. it seem to work. will have to learn more about it, see if my instinct are correct on that.
so with all that, i find he's a little more calm and start listening to me when i ask him to sit in different situations. one thing i noticed from the get go, is that he would only listen to me if i am standing. if i sit, it goes in deaf years.
I think that since he used to live with an other dog, that pack instinct is stronger and there lye the need to learn how to be the Alpha.
any other tips? anyone has good result changing dog behaviors?
on our way back from the city, i asked that Diesel not be let out of the vehicle yet so i could try to call Misty back in. didn't' see her then, so took Diesel back in the house on a leash just in case, so he wouldn't scare her away again. not long after, Misty showed up and i was able to bring her back in. our brave little trooper.
after supper i was surprised to see Daphne come halfway up the stairs while Diesel was at the gait. she didn't stay long but it's definitely an improvement from hiding 24/7 at the furthest back of the basement.
after the kids were in bed, i took him out to play Frisbee and he start to bring it more directly in my hand this evening as opposed to drop it in front of me or somewhere on the way. but i also decided that when he start to drop it before he get to me, that he's done playing and it's time to go back in. he starts to get better at catching in flight too.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Say Hello Neighbors!
Diesel likes to wake up early, and go for a pee around 5:30 am, then i go back to bed, trying to get a bit more sleep, around 7 am, he wanted to play so there was no hope to sleep till 8. i put my sneakers on and my old winter jacket... oh it was cold this may morning. it was frosty. but Diesel doesn't mind, he likes to play Frisbee. so we did for about 20 minutes i think. i had made the kids breakfast before to head out and just had to point the kids to it so they could help them self. i didn't expect them to get up that early though, like what is it with kids? all week, i had to wake em up because they were sleeping so soundly and would've slept past 8 when at least Owen had to get up. but on a day when they could've slept late... nop, they're up early. it never fail hehe
then i got ready to go to church. my mother come look after the kids while i go and then she goes at the later one. and when i came back she said that when i left he cried and barked. Since i'm almost always home, i guess he's getting attached. after lunch, Andy and Owen took Diesel for a walk to the river. after 2 hours gone, i was beginning to wonder. and also felt guilty for staying inside with Vivian when it's so nice out. so we got dressed and went to meet them on their way back.
when we got close enough that i could see them, i called Diesel and he bolted running for a stretch, then wait till i called again, then ran for and other stretch like that 3 times. after that Andy tried to call him back and even whit me telling him to go he had a hard time to be convinced to run back to him. look like he had quite some fun because he was so dirty. on our way back he decided to take a bath in the trench that run along the access road that lead to the river. there's no one traveling that road really, it's just for us and it's so rugged we're not equipped to drive on it. so finally he came out of the trail cleaner.
we stayed around the yard for some time after so he was running around the yard. there's once that we couldn't see him and called him a few times before he showed back up from outside our yard. we're gonna have to keep a watch on him. then i heard the neighbors. so i decided to take him over to introduce him. the rule is and will be that he doesn't leave the yard without a leash. he was ok with it till we got there but there was so much new stuff to see there and the bird singing all around that he wish he wasn't held close to us. he still pulls hard at time but i find it's not as much. Then again, he seems not as eager to pull after having spent a fair bit of his energy running around.
when we decided to go back in the house. the cats had figured it was safe to roam the upstairs again. had been since 1 hour after they had left for the river. so i held a firm hold of Diesel's collar when i opened the door. and sure enough misty was just around the corner. as soon as she realized he was back, she ran back through the gait and down to the basement. Daphne on decided to retreat to our bedroom window and was shaking in her pants. i directed Diesel to Owen's room just for the time it took to pick up Daphne and send her back downstairs. Poor girl. she needs a lot of time to adjust.
I'll have to see if Andy would blog too, because i don't know much about how the trek to the river went, aside from Owen trying to walk with 2 walking stick and Diesel steeling one of them on him.
tomorrow, we're going in town and probably take him with us.
then i got ready to go to church. my mother come look after the kids while i go and then she goes at the later one. and when i came back she said that when i left he cried and barked. Since i'm almost always home, i guess he's getting attached. after lunch, Andy and Owen took Diesel for a walk to the river. after 2 hours gone, i was beginning to wonder. and also felt guilty for staying inside with Vivian when it's so nice out. so we got dressed and went to meet them on their way back.
when we got close enough that i could see them, i called Diesel and he bolted running for a stretch, then wait till i called again, then ran for and other stretch like that 3 times. after that Andy tried to call him back and even whit me telling him to go he had a hard time to be convinced to run back to him. look like he had quite some fun because he was so dirty. on our way back he decided to take a bath in the trench that run along the access road that lead to the river. there's no one traveling that road really, it's just for us and it's so rugged we're not equipped to drive on it. so finally he came out of the trail cleaner.
we stayed around the yard for some time after so he was running around the yard. there's once that we couldn't see him and called him a few times before he showed back up from outside our yard. we're gonna have to keep a watch on him. then i heard the neighbors. so i decided to take him over to introduce him. the rule is and will be that he doesn't leave the yard without a leash. he was ok with it till we got there but there was so much new stuff to see there and the bird singing all around that he wish he wasn't held close to us. he still pulls hard at time but i find it's not as much. Then again, he seems not as eager to pull after having spent a fair bit of his energy running around.
when we decided to go back in the house. the cats had figured it was safe to roam the upstairs again. had been since 1 hour after they had left for the river. so i held a firm hold of Diesel's collar when i opened the door. and sure enough misty was just around the corner. as soon as she realized he was back, she ran back through the gait and down to the basement. Daphne on decided to retreat to our bedroom window and was shaking in her pants. i directed Diesel to Owen's room just for the time it took to pick up Daphne and send her back downstairs. Poor girl. she needs a lot of time to adjust.
I'll have to see if Andy would blog too, because i don't know much about how the trek to the river went, aside from Owen trying to walk with 2 walking stick and Diesel steeling one of them on him.
tomorrow, we're going in town and probably take him with us.
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