Dog Projects

I participate in an on-line dog forum...a couple as a matter of fact...and find the information invaluable. One of the forums, My Smart Puppy, has a "project" that is periodically posted by the host—in this case, the wonderful Sarah Wilson. The projects often build off each other offering the owner some necessary skills in working/dealing with their dog.

For example, the first one covers the owner's ability to hold the dog's muzzle for 10 seconds without your dog moving. This might sound easy, but if your dog isn't used to it, you have a squirming dog on your hands! What I realized with Bella (assuming it would be a piece of cake with her), is that no matter how gentle I was, she preferred I didn't hold on. She wiggled like crazy trying to back out of the hold! I discovered the key was communication. Oh my! How easy is it to forget that! Initially I didn't say anything. Bad owner! By saying, "Wait," she was perfectly willing to obey because she already knew that command. She sat quietly until I released her and gave her a treat for being so good and brilliant.

I will work this step for several more days to assure that 10 second hold is second nature...then on to Project #2: opening the dog's mouth. Again, I assume this will be easy...but will it? Building off Project #1, this second one allows one to easily administer drugs if need be—or remove something lodged in the dog's mouth.

These seem so simple, but if you never have done them, you might find yourself in a situation where it's critical to do, but your dog is fighting you. It is much more fun to build your pup's trust and make a game of it when nothing is at stake!

Great Multi-State Vacation

...or perhaps, Bella's Big Adventure, would be a more appropriate title. This is the first major trip she's been on and it included seven states and miles of mountain biking over three weeks. Now that she is a year old, we felt comfortable taking her on rides longer than a couple of miles. She loved it! Running, swimming, snorting—she got to do it all!

Luckily this has been a rainy year, so there was an abundant water supply on nearly every trail. Although we always carried water for her, we rarely dipped into it. To top it off, because of our elevation—almost always above 7,000 feet and usually around 9,000—the wild flowers were extraordinary. I have never seen so many varieties blooming simultaneously.

We had a a couple close encounters with the wild life, but luckily they were benign. We had a female moose run across a trail in front of us. What a hair raiser! Bella either didn't see her, or didn't react, thank heavens! But the moose saw us and immediately turned back into the woods. Luckily she didn't have a calf with her or I think her reaction would have been different. Cattle were the other issue.

Many of the trails were cattle stomping grounds. We were constantly having to avoid them. This gave me the most concern as they were about as plentiful as the wild flowers. Initially Bella ignored them, but eventually became more curious and would run closer to them. This was compounded by the fact that when this happened, she also didn't respond when we said, "Come!" This could have been disastrous. Luckily, Bella was wary enough and we were able to bribe her with treats (glad I had them in my camelback!) to lure her back. You better believe reworking that command is on the top of my agenda!

The three of us in a van was a bit tight, but we all seemed to find our space and keep to it. Now that we're home, the luxury of space is fantastic. The van is cleaned out—a two day process—and is ready for the next trip...and so is Bella!