Dog Biscuits

I have been reticent to buy dog treats due to the horrific stories of unsound and in some cases fatal ingredients.  While my dogs love the liver bits, I wanted to surf the internet to find out what might be available to make.  There's lots of 'tasty' recipes out there.  Most are not grain free, but it is only Angel that has grain issues.  I primarily am looking for training treats for Dexter.

I went to the Food Lion to get some baby food.  Though I bought a couple of jars, this ingredient did not see cost effective.  Beef dinner is $1.19.  I needed two jars, and there was no real 'volume' in those two jars. I bought the jars, but the worm was turning in the brain.  On to the meat aisle.  There!  Ground turkey, 1lb marked down to $1.95.  I can work with that. 

I plan to get this down to a science, but the gist of what I did was what I do with every recipe that I cook for my human friends:  I search about, find something foundational, look for other variations and then cook.  99% of the time the results are good.  But with that m.o. you are going to have some spectacular failures.  That is part of the fun of experimentation so long as it does not involve experimentations with rocket fuel or other things that might kill you.  For making dog biscuits, I felt that my experimentations were safe.

Here's what I did.  I'm winging it here, but you could use this as a structure for any concoction. I'll firm this up later when I do a more measured way of reporting what I did:

1. Preheat oven to 325.  I used the convection setting.
2. Prepare cookie sheets.  I used Silipat mats on aluminum 1/2 sheets.
3. In a large saucepan, combine ground meat with enough water to cover by at least an inch.   
4. Add some bouillon or beef/chicken base if you have it...I used about 1 tbl.
5. Bring to boil and continue cooking until meat is fully cooked.
6. Add enough grits to thicken and allow to cook in accordance with the type of grits you used.  (I used 5 minute grits.)
7. Transfer cooked mixture to food processor.  (You could be patient and let it cool first; I did not) 
8. Process until very smooth.  (No overprocessing worries here).
9. Here's the winging it part.....  Add enough whole wheat flour to thicken the mixture slightly. 
10. Add two eggs---with shell and process fully.  (This was by accident. The first egg slipped, whole,  out of my hand and into the hot mixture.  Rather than fish it out, I felt that the egg shell would be beneficial.  See an article about that here.) Cook's note, if your mixture is too hot, it will cook the egg.  Our you could temper the eggs with part of the mixture...but I did not do that.
11. Here's the second winging it part--add enough whole wheat flour to thicken the mixture to the point where you can feed it through a cookie press.  
12. Use a cookie press to press out the 'dough'.  If your press has a star tip, that works well.  This area is one to perfect.  (You could use a small scoop and make balls to freeze and put in kongs.)
13. Bake for 45 minutes. Turn off oven and leave in to dry out further.

Taste test.  Daisey, is my Mikey who does not like anything.  She was VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, and my other dogs same.

This was cost effective, but my process needs refinement. 

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Respite

An odd, title to be sure.  Yesterday, I had a moment that I truly wondered if I could survive Dexter.  I was providing him with is 'normal' a.m. exercise.  It involves first a walking with some trotting, then  playing ball and burlap chase and other things to burn PM puppy energy build up.  I will not lie to you:  he attacked me.  He basically started running like a mad man and then leaped into the air an hurdled himself toward me.  I deflected, but once on the ground, puppy mouth (with adult teeth) were on my ankles and calves.  I tied him out and walked away muttering, "Is this really our dog?"

I'm certain that this behavior is what landed him on the country road frantic to reconnect with a human.  I suspect his human "connection" (teeth on skin or teeth on precious things) was a bit more than his previously owners could bear.  I told Mark, "If we cannot get this under control we will have a problem.  But I'm committed to getting it under control."

Today, I had a dog that I could control. I had to go out, so he was confined to his puppy lair-that special place in my office where he stays when I have to go out for extended periods.  The 1/2 bath is not an option as he gets frantic when confined there.  The crate is too confining for an extended time away.  So he is on a 6 ft (vinyl wrapped metal) cable with water and his puppy 'things'.  He can see out the window and move around a bit. He doesn't feel confined. He can only get to the china cabinet in my office--an estate sale piece which should he put his teeth to it, I would not be heart broken.  So far, he has chosen to ignore it.

He was happy to see me when I got home.  He had no accidents.  It was too hot for any vigorous exercise.  But we did play. He found an unfortunate small snake's carcass--a victim of the lawnmower--and proceeded to grind his body on it.  He then dragged his 50 ft lead around; was a minor annoyance to each of his three sissies before settling between Angel and Ella on the front steps.  I drank my wine, enjoying the calmness of the late, summer afternoon a respite from the wild day previously.  I asked, "Is this really our dog?"

The tone of our asking that question book-ends two divergent behaviors that define puppy-young adulthood.  Cesar Milan has a nice distillation of the central themes of dog obedience:  exercise, discipline and affection.  And in that order.  Works for dogs and works for us.  

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Dexter Boot Camp or My Number 1 Tip for Losing Belly Fat

No, not boot camp for him; me!  It has been a month since this guy bounded into our lives.  Yesterday, I was able to introduce him to my sister who was visiting from Bedford.  She drove out from our parent's home where she stays while in town. It was a glorious day, which in Virginia means that it did not feel like August weather.  Rather, it felt like an early fall day:  sunshine, long shadows and no humidity.

Since Dexter's arrival, my physical activity has increased exponentially over my baseline.  Arms are stronger.  Legs are stronger (and bruised) and belly fat melting away.  So my Number 1 Tip for Losing Belly Fat is to get a young dog and play!  Years ago I used to trail run with my English Setters Lucy (my avatar) and Greta.  I did it rain or shine, to include very cold weather.  (Well, our VA winters are never but so bad!).  It was a wonderful way to be with nature, bond with my dogs, and do what I considered my 'running meditation'.  I was the fittest I have ever been in my life.

Running meditation was defined by focusing on my breath and my running cadence. Syncopating my breathing with my running created a rhythm that really had me tuned into each step and each breath.   It was a great mindfulness exercise--and it improved my running performance.  As I was never quite able to fit a meditation practice in with work and family demands, I used my running as 'meditation' time--a way to kill two birds with one stone.  Once I integrated my breathing mediation into my running, my relative performance increased.  (I say relative performance, as I was just running against myself--and I was never a performance runner).  It was a great way to stay mentally and physically balanced to deal with the stressful demands of career and family.

With Dexter, Mark and I are excited about the possibilities of integrating Dexter into a more active lifestyle.  Yesterday, we pulled our mountain bikes out.  (After Mark started the KTM (dirtbike) up and Dexter went wild).  We have some work to do on that.  The mountain bikes in motion offered an unwitting opportunity for him attack and bite the front tires.  I'm not surprised, as he did this on the small wheels of the trash can as I was rolling it back from the road.  Stopping the bike and turning the tire from side to side  was no lesson either nor was his occasional snout rolled over (no danger to him as there is very little weight on the front of the tire).  Fortunately, he was not interested in trying to bite our feet or our legs.

I suspect that this behavior is resurrected from his unknown past. One of the pit falls of having a pit bull or any bully breed is that 'lessons' that would be soon learned by another dog, are merely a rallying cry for these guys.  We figured (correctly is proved) we could simply out maneuver him. Mark is very skilled on the bike, and I'm moderately skilled.  We were NOT clipped into the pedals.    We used bait and switch to allow him to run and work off energy.  After a few minutes, he was running beside the bike in the middle without trying to stop the bike by facing head on and biting the tire.  (I suspect we will see that in our next session).

We concurred that he was running WITH the bike and us v. CHASING the bike--NOT a behavior that we want him to learn or reinforce.  Once both we and he settled into to comfortable maneuvering that involved no front wheel attacks we were able to give this guy about 10 minutes of vigorous exercise.  We were peddling in the safety of our front yard which is pretty large.  I got a good work out too!

Dexter was given an opportunity to get water and rest up. He was panting very hard at the end of our short session--and it was JUST the type or workout that he needed to burn off energy.   For us it is all about LEVERAGING our endurance against his.  The bike was just the type of leverage to allow for him to get some vigorous exercise without our being exhausted. 

Most importantly, it offered him a safe place to get appropriate exercise, at appropriate intensity and appropriate duration for his age.  He is still less than a year old, and he is not old enough for anything more than this brief exercise.  He was loping and then jogging, not running full out.  We were simply slowly peddling in circles.  My English Setters in their prime could easily sustain a run for quite a while.  However, NO DOG, regardless of physical conditioning, should be exercised heavily in high heat and humidity. They don't cool as efficiently as we do. I see this so often people over exerting dogs in high heat OR walking their pooches on pavement or blacktop heated up.  Here's a a great article on just how hot surfaces can get.  See also, The Dog Outdoors, Biking Tips.

We have much work to do to get him desensitized to the motorcycle.  We are confident that he is not afraid.  His tail is wagging hard, and he's very excited by it and vocalizes hard.  We want to help this guy keep his energy levels controlled, as escalation is not good for him or his behavior.  All of his unacceptable behavior is from escalated energy.  When he is calm and relaxed, he is a perfect companion.  Our ratio is 9:1 good behavior v. undesirable behavior.  The 1 is still too high, because the level of undesirable behavior during that slice of time is quite high. 

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T + 26

With Dexter fully healed from his testicular snipping surgery, we are now able to allow him some more vigorous exercise. Each day we surmise what Dexter's previously life must have been like.  Because he tires so easily from play, I don't think that he was well-exercised. Part of me thinks that he might have spent life on a chain, but because he has such good potty house manners (with only a couple of exceptions which was not his fault), I don't think that was the case. His other house manners are non-existent.  He snatches anything not nailed down and takes it to his puppy kingdom--a place in my office where he accumulates his stuff.

I have recently giving all of our dogs marrow bones---large bones in diameter and cut long.  I do see admonishments NOT to give your dogs marrow bones.  The admonishments concern:

1. Dog can choke
2. Bone fragments can pierce intestines etc

The marrow bones and knuckle bones that I am using are physically impossible for any of my dogs to swallow and are impossible to reduce to shards.  I don't worry about cracked teeth, because none of my dogs chews down on the marrow bones and the knuckle bones are soft. Rather, they pull and scrape sideways on them, removing all of the tartar buildup.

I just read an article that said that dog's teeth are just like human's.  They have to be brushed regularly and cleaned by a veterinarian. Well, that's good advice by those practitioners looking for an annuity payment of cleaning fees over the lifetime of the dog.  I have no plans to ever brush my dog's or cat's teeth.

I am also reading quite a bit about the 'debunking' of the dog pack behavior as a 'myth'.  We have always had multiple dogs, and we have always seen this hierarchical behavior among them.  I don't need Cesar Milan to tell me it exists any more than I need to see ABDT  say that it doesn't exist.  I've experienced it for decades not only in my household but in others.   What I am learning is this:

dog training, business leadership, child rearing etc all go through 'retooling' and 're-imagining' new ways to get the same thing accomplished.  Each comes about debunking the old way.  With any method, fair and balanced thinking and consistent application are critical to success. 

I also know this:  there is a vast difference between theory and practice, and often it is that netherworld between the two that there are failures which is why the mileage of many differs.

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Herman Sprenger Pressure Collar Humane Test

As I've mentioned previously, I find that the 'universe' of dog training writings (like any other 'thing' one researches on the internet) rife with all manner of opinions presented as facts (but lots of good stuff too).  There is a difference between a fact and an opinion--and this is true in all matters--and presenting opinion as if it were a fact is just plain not cool. I also see the same 'opinions' almost identically worded which strikes me that these opinions (paraded as facts) are not held with conviction but rather plagiarized and subsequently held with conviction.  In my personal and professional life, I try to avoid falling into the same trap.

In this post, I wrote about my decision to use a prong collar.  I know that there is the "Gentle Leader" which purports to be humane and effective.  I used this successfully with my Am Bulldog mix, Macy. However, while the Gentle Leader was effective, Macy was uncomfortable (though compliant).  The strapping is across the nose and close to the eyes was not happily endured.  This sample size of one is not statistically valid, but it is a fact.  Others' mileage will vary.

With any endeavor having the right tool for the right situation is an imperative--whether you are a carpenter, electrician, accountant or cook.  The pressure/prong collar is the right tool for Dexter dog and Dexter's situation.  It is not the right tool for every dog and every situation. That modality would be akin to if the only tool you have is a hammer, then you perceive every problem as a nail. One needn't look far to see that these collars have been decried  by many as being inhumane. For my circumstance (Dexter!), I needed the right tool for the job at hand. Nevertheless, I wanted to ensure that I understood empirically what the 'other end of the leash' felt like.  Therefore, to ensure that I did not plagiarize the opinions of others and present it as a fact, I conducted my own empirical study as follows:  (Note:  Jeff Gellman did a video that I subsequently found after this post.  You can find it here.)

Hypothesis:  The Herman  Sprenger Prong Collar is a pressure/prong collar that applies even pressure to the dog's neck, and does not cut or scratch the dog's skin or cause pain.  With appropriate fit and proper introduction and combined with calm leadership techniques (work already undertaken), this collar is a humane training tool.  (And any training tool not subject to these qualifications could be considered inhumane).

Because I had already studied the fit, performed the introduction and have used it calmly, my test is centered on validating the mechanical aspects of the collar when in contact with the test subject matter. See Dog Training Page for links to Sean O'Sheas videos.

Materials Used:

• Herman Sprenger Prong Collar, 18" medium weight
• My personal body part--thigh area just over the knee--I had on shorts, so this area was uncovered.
• Lead attached to the collar swivel

In fairness, I might have had a beer or two.  My husband was there and can vouch for the strict application of these procedures and the results.  He also shared the conclusions--but he may have had more beers.

Method and Results:  

1. Attached the collar to my right thigh. No discomfort.
2. Pulled the lead so that the collar would tighten on my leg.  Pressure, no discomfort.
3. Pulled the lead yet again so that I was pulling as hard as possible --and held this position for more than 15 seconds.  (I should have timed this more accurately). Discomfort.  No pain. Indentation marks as one would expect when pressing metal against one's bare skin. These marks disappeared quickly.

Study error potential:  It is possible, though highly improbable that my thigh might be less delicate than the upper area of a dogs neck and that would render my conclusions suspect.  Perhaps if I were a roughneck on an oil rig.  I'm an accountant.  Accordingly, I rather suspect that this is not the case.  Further, and importantly, given the strength of a dog's neck and the protective covering of fur v. my thigh, I do not believe my conclusions invalidated or diluted in any way.
 
Conclusions (subject to error potential qualification noted above):

1. In non-corrective mode, the collar provides no discomfort to the dog. 
2. In corrective mode, a properly fitted, calmly used, metal prong collar on a dog's neck is no more uncomfortable than it would be on a human's bare-skinned thigh.

I would imagine that other inferiorly engineered/produced collars might scratch or puncture. (This is an opinion, not a fact--and side by side testing in the manner I described above would test that accurately).  My handling results in using this collar were immediate.  I believe (opinion) it to be (1) because the collar provides unambiguous, instant feedback to the dog regarding the handler's wishes and (2) clarity promotes a training session that is both focused and enjoyable for both the dog and the handler.

With dogs such as Dexter, who is powerful, acrobatic, willful, strong and with whom I have NO PRIOR FOUNDATION,  I have to make a choice among my experienced risks and highly likely to recur risks:

• my injury (shoulder dislocation; being pulled to the ground or back strain) and/or 
•  injury to my or another's person or animals due to this hurtling ball of exuberant (but happy intention. 

I've been hurdled into with bumps and bruises and back strain.  Daisey and Ella, my delicate female English Setters have been knocked to the ground for fun (with accompanying yelp) and possible long term relationship.  Dexter's excited and a big puppy who wants to play.  His play is like going to Thunderdome; unfortunately, he simply does not know any better. We are getting better at anticipating his jumping our girls, but to be fair, they purposefully put themselves within his long lead reach.  Go figure.  Nevertheless, we do have 'pack' time where everyone is well-behaved in proximity to each other. We try to cultivate that time as often as possible.

As parents and dog owners, we have to manage risks with our children and our pets.  The above are painful ¹ events due to a dog not controllable through use of stout martingale.  My job is to weigh pain that the dog can inflict against discomfort that the dog feels in failing to heed reasonable behavior requests that he can understand.  It is not a fair shake for those of us on the other end of Dexter's intentions to let this stand.

Accordingly, using a device that successfully gets his attention without harming him while preventing his harming others is a no-brainer.  I don't think that choice either unreasonable or inhumane.  Rather it is irresponsible for me to (1) not advocate on behalf of my other dogs/cats or the other people and their animals for their comfort/safety and (2) not offer clear choices for Dexter in his behavior.  As he is offered a loving home, security, food, rewarded good behavior, I'm also confident that he is getting balanced messages that will allow him to reach his full potential.

So judge me if you will for not allowing Dexter to charge my English Setter girls and knocking them to the ground and rolling them in an attempt at play and using a tool that allows me to effectively control him without injuring myself (or him).  It's his choice; and his consequences. He has been choosing well better.

 Please understand that I am carefully and accurately choosing my words of pain v. discomfort. And as I outlined above, the discomfort consequences are far less for him than the pain consequences for others in his line of sight or at the other end of his lead. If you are faced with such a dog and such choices as I am, feel free to conduct your own test and draw your own conclusions.

¹ To provide some contrast between pain v. discomfort I offer these examples:

• Pain:  kidney stone, nail in foot, childbirth, broken bones or sprains. 
• Discomfort is bodily restraint of any kind that causes pressure (too tight pants bra, belt seat belt), full bladder, stone in shoe, sand in sensitive parts.

Further, my English Setters have a far different threshold than my Am. Bulldog or pitbull.  Know the dog.  Know the appropriate method.  Wrong methods on wrong dogs (either overcorrection of undercorrection) will cause undesireable results.  I will write later about how someone ruined my Daisey with overcorrection.

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Training | Day 2

I have been enjoying my Koehler Method book.  I am particularly taken with the subtlety of the long line exercise.  It is a method that I used with both of my rescued Setters upon bringing them home--but in name only. It wasn't an exercise so much as a physical tether to me.  Using a long line ensured that they could get some freedom and exercise along with getting acclimated.  These dogs can cover alot of ground, and when there is no 'relationship' with a rescued dog, there is no emotional tether.  Accordingly, physical tethering is a necessity and must suffice in absence of secure fencing.

I started with a 50 ft lead which I've been using to give him an "offline" feel but under my control.  For our exercise, I shortened that up by 1/2.  But I will shorten it yet again to 15 ft recommended in the book. The subtlety is that, with the dog on the line, the dog is never sure of where the end of the line is.  (As Koehler puts it:  "Even Einstein could not calculate where the end of the line is.")

The 'end of the line' is never pleasant ¹; and after a few experiences with the end of the line, the dog learns that the center of his/her universal comfort is you--not the temptation(s) at the end of the line or what might be beyond it (or through the gate, over the river or through the dell.) As the objective is 100% certainty of obedience (focus on master and following master's commands) among a wide array of distractions, distractions, then, of all manner are a welcomed and necessary part of the training (kudos to my feline assistant, Wyatt).

In fact, these distractions give the dog confidence that s/he merely needs to look to you for needed guidance in such situations.  Koehler challenges the trainer to continually look for all manner of distractions even when it appears that the dog is steady amid currently offered distractions. For me, it is an imperative to have this level of confidence for Dexter as well as for myself.  Just our two days of 'training' have already imprinted on him. Even when not asked, he follows me, and I'm gaining confidence that his tether (both real during training and perceived during off-training dragging) will help him learn efficiently and humanely that he is connected to us, and we are committed to his emotional and physical care and wellbeing. (In addition to valuing our hands, legs and feet and keeping them free from his puppy assaults).

I am also mindful that I'm not an experienced trainer by any means.  I want to avoid over-correcting as much as under-correcting.  Our Daisey was 'ruined' by some rough handler  English Setters can be permanently broken by rough training.  She was such a dog, and it likely resulted her being tossed and found at the Melfa dump in the Eastern Shore.  Dexter is no soft dog. Nor was Macy (Am Bulldog mix).  And if anything Macy suffered from under correction--and that was not a benefit to either her nor us in some of the behaviors she indulged in and that we did not appropriately train or correct.    We were not experienced with such a dog as she.  Though we ensured that she was well socialized and she possessed a friendly, gentle disposition, she was home centered, and she charged the door, etc.  The fault is entirely ours.  A fault that I don't plan to repeat.

We will remain low-key post surgery.  The only reason that we have been able to 'get away' (and I say that loosely) in the past with being non-trainers is that we had a strong, natural bond forged which each of our dogs--and the need for being able to walk a dog on a lead etc (other than to the vet, and that was never a problem), sit, stay down etc, never seemed to be a 'necessity' when it fact it was.  I know empirically the strength of that bond, and I don't require any training for that.  But with that bond, I must impose some structured behavioral 'asks'.

 I want to nurture that bond with Dexter over the next month now that he is settled, and he seems to be over the constant stress of being abandoned.  We will continue our line work each day and invest in developing that bond and setting forth our understandings clearly and fairly. And when I'm about to (or gasp have) lost my cool, I'm walking away.

I found some great articles at DogPACT.  I have a link to each article under the "pages" sections.  I hope to add to these articles and links in the menu as I find stuff that helps me. What was helpful in the articles was the "simple but not easy" aspect of what I wanted to do and learn. 





¹ Dexter's 'unpleasantness' is far less uncomfortable with the Sprenger collar than gasping at the end of his normal collar-his worst reaction?  a shake of his head.

 

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Training - Day 1

With Dexter's neuter behind him, we can begin our training in earnest.  For novices like me, the number of dog training methods are enough to make your head spin around and pop off into orbit.  My Koehler Method book arrived.  It is old school, but there are many things in there that I think that I can use.

For this week, my goals are simple.

1. focus on me in the yard.  
2. getting used to hearing his name and the call command

 My  tools are

1. H. Sprenger collar,  
2. 50 ft lead line made of silky nylon webbing that doesn't burn me or him.  
3. Sturdy waist pack and an attached carbiner to attach the lead to me while keeping my hands free
4. tasty treats

I had the help of two assistants:  a feline (unplanned but welcomed), Wyatt, and a canine, Ella.  Both provided distractions to Dexter that helped with the lesson.

I used the prong collar, because Dexter pulls like a mule.  I am unable to control him, and I'm no wimp.  Remember, this is a dog that came to our home without the benefit of any shaping behavior insofar as I can tell.  He also has a stain on his white fur under his neck, mostly likely from his continual pulling in former life. Further his behavior of determined, pulling on lead, jumping and 'play biting'  is likely the catalyst for his being tossed. I want to give us both the benefit of effective communication and control without constant correction.  The collar gives a self-correction.  I put it on my thigh and tested it.  It was on my bare skin and I was pulling tightly.  I was not injured; the prongs did not pierce my skin, but I did feel pressure.  I'm sure there are competent dog trainers out there that do not need such an accoutrement.  I am not a competent dog trainer, but I plan to master the basics with Dexter without any harm coming to either of us physically or emotionally.

Method:  Koehler's long line training.  You can also watch a video of using a long line method here.  This method involves a relatively unstructured training session that teaches the dog one decptively simple thing: to keep his/her eyes on you lest there is an unpleasant experience at an "end of line" event.  (Unpleasant, not painful).  I simply attached the lead to my waist pack's carbiner and went about the business of  'inspecting' trees in various places in the yard.  I moved purposefully from one tree to another.  I didn't look at Dexter; I didn't call Dexter when I changed direction.  I just walked.  If he was not paying attention, he soon did and moved toward me. Sometimes beyond me, but that was not a problem.  He was free to operate withing the confines of the length of line.

While I was stationary, and he was distracted I did some recall commands: " Dexter, come."  In every instance, he bounded quickly toward me and sat without being commanded to and received a yummy treat.  He's scary smart.  A reminder of why timing of commands and rewards are so important: Given some previous work that we did, he sits as soon as he hears me fumbling for treats. I made sure that I had my treats in hand before issuing commands. 

I mentioned that my feline assistant, Wyatt, was unplanned helped.  I was quite glad to see him sneaking about outside.  He's non-plussed when it comes to dogs, so I knew that I could count on him not to bolt (and he knew he could count on me for not putting him in harm's way).  DExter hasn't chased a cat--but he has high interest in the cats. Given his interest and his lightening fast moves, I continue to distrust Dexter as he has not been proven to not chase a cat. (And for all I know, Dexter landed on the backroad because he killed a cat, bit a child or some other unsavory behavior).  My cats are dog savy--and so far they have merely sauntered away, not scampered.  I still have visions of Mylo (cat) in a dead run against a newly acquired Daisey, and since cured of this chase. 

With Ella and Wyatt at different places along our training perimeter, it was only after a trio of "end of the line" events that snapped Dexter into watchfulness.  He was not at my side, and that was not the point.  He was not at the end of the line either when we went passed feline and canine distractions, and that was the point.  Mark was also a potential distraction as he had to return home to get his phone.  We did have an end of the line tension that Dexter immediately self-corrected.


It was an enjoyable training session for both Dexter and I.  We did stealth training; relationship building and enjoyed the great outdoors without any overt corrections.

And when I feel like I'm ready to throw in the towel on any of this, I want to list Dexter's excellent qualities that give me hope that the other 'qualities' can be overcome long term and are 'bearable; in the short term:

1. whip smart
2. eager to please
3. quick to learn (some things)
4. not food aggressive
5. not dog aggressive (but he plays too rough and is not mindful of cues from other dogs)
6. has not attacked my cats
7. is friendly to every person (but jumps and puppy bites with a not-so-puppy mouth/teeth)

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T Minus 2

Well, that's Dexter's manhood post-mortem.  He is minus two "t's"  He'll be the better for it.  The three girls are very interested in his vet smell and have their nose in his netherparts that have departed to the netherworld.

While the focus of our training is on Dexter, all of us will get on this training bandwagon.  My "Liver Bits" came today.  I was interested in a wholesome treat, and this fit the bill. (With the disaster with Angel reacting with a hive outbreak to the hot dogs!).  I have already treated them to it, and 3 out of 3 dogs trying it loved it.  Daisey is our "Mikey" (from the Life cereal commercials of way back when.)  We'll see if she likes them.  (Update 1:  Mikey/Daisey DOESN'T like them, but she doesn't like anything). (Update 2:  Mikey/Daisey loves them once she ate one (v. turning her nose up).

These liver bits are large, but they cut easily. No mess as they are freeze dried.  Seems to be an excellent value at $19.99 for 19.5 oz.

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Two Weeks

We have now had Dexter 2 weeks.  His paws are fully healed, and he is integrating well with our family.  After much deliberation, I elected to get a prong collar for him.

Herman Sprenger Pressure Collar

It looks terrible, but I can vouch for its efficacy.  Rather than having my Allipython pulling like a mule--choking, coughing and dislocating my arm, I simply decided in favor of a training aid.

I certainly cannot give any credible advice, but I can have a travelogue on my journey.  added some links for dog training.  So, I'll elect to share the resources that I've found.

As with any 'discipline' there are a number of strong advocates/critics of 'this' v. 'that' method.  My goal is simply to have a training aid that will allow me to get and keep my dog's attention so that we are both safe.

I was very impressed with both Jeff Gellman's Solid K-9 training and Sean O'Shea's work.  They are contemporaries and have similar methods.   I watched several videos, and then carefully fitted Dexter with his collar.  The H. Sprenger collar is very well made, and I purchased mine from Amazon.  I also ordered extra links as my guy is going to get bigger.

I worked with Dexter on the deck with no distractions.  We then went for a walk.  It was easy.  No pulling.  If he got ahead, a simple flick of the risk brought him back.  99% of our FIRST WALK with this collar was with a slack lead.  He was happy and calm--a stark difference from where we started with a martingale only which had NO effect.

Anyway, I suppose that dog training is like raising children or spiritual disciplines.  Everyone has their own 'method'.  I did not beat my children, but I did ensure that they were contained when needed.  Accordingly, I'm not inclined to approach disciplining Dexter or any other of my dogs with beating.  However, there have been a couple of instances where the consequences were great running after people, cars, killing chickens, where harsher methods were used. (On dogs, not children!)  I don't believe that there is anything wrong with creating a great deal of discomfort and solidly linking it to an event (e.g. killing a chicken).  Tim, my neighbor, has meted out that lesson to both Lucy and Ella.  One dead chicken each.  One 'chicken man lesson'.  I'm fine with that.

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Spice Girl Moves or Pas de deux, Angel and Dexter

My old girl, Angel Marie, a/k/a "Spice Girl" is showing off her moves with Dexter.  Since bringing Dexter home, she has been acting like a flirty girl.  He is enjoying this play with her.  Daisey and Ella will have nothing to do with him.She is definitely reinvigorated, and she is doing so much better in the last month now that her allergies are under control.

However...I used hot dogs as training treats for Dexter.  Naturally I passed them around for the other dogs.  After about the second consumption of these treats, she came up to me, and I looked at her.  Something that she had lain on made her coat all ruffly.  I quickly realized that the 'roping' was hives.  Upon closer inspection her belly entire underside had thick red whelping -- really monstrously large patches--larger and worse under her throat and also visible underneath her smooth coat. 

Every home should be well-stocked with Benadryl. I  quickly found online the Benadryl dosing (1ml per lb).  I had 25 ml pills, and she got three.  I also put cold compresses on her.  The hives soon went away.  Poor girl.  We have to be so vigilant with her. 

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Adventures with Dexter: Day 10

Here is also my first experiment with uploading a video.  This is from my phone.  No editing.  Sorry.


I put a timer widget on the blog to mark time with Dexter.  I cannot format it, so it is in somewhat truncated form but conveys the information.  This morning was more settled.  I let him out and with a dragging lead with Ella to do his a.m. business.  He came in.  I gave him a bone (and the others).  Even Daisey decided that she would enjoy a bone 'carcass'.  She will not take a loaded bone.

It was the most relaxing morning we've had since Dexter's arrival.  Mark left for work.  Dexter was inside.  He tried to bother Angel while she was enjoying her bone.  Angel would have none of that.  (This girl is really showing her stuff.  She's not aggressive at all with us, but her canine friends get no leeway).

I figured it was time to play some ball.  I let Dexter out with a trailing lead to play ball.  He put nose to ground.  Down sidewalk. Into paved drive, and down paved drive to road. He was in search of Mark.  Into the the car I bounded, as there was no outrunning him!  Luckily there were special scents at my neighbor's mailbox.  Dexter came right up to my car and jumped in.  (We live on a residential street).

Lesson learned: This poor boy is still concerned about being left behind, and though he was at home, his sissies were not outside--he tends to be very focused on them.  Apparently I'm not as interesting as Mark or his sissies! 

We are watchful of his triggers to 'don't leave me'  or 'determined to follow' behaviors.  The trigger to these patterns involves a male and pickup truck. This time, with Mark and his truck. I'm confident that we can overcome this as he gets more acclimated, and we work with him.  We had this same problem with Ella.  She would take off after me (long after I was gone).  Fortunately a neighbor reported it to Mark immediately.  I went back and put her inside.  She does not like harsh words, and these worked with her.  She knew that going outside the gate gave her a scolding.

Being able to tie him out outside where he has a 50 ft lead, can sit on the front steps and have his toys is a sanity preserver.  He cannot be trusted for 1 minute to be wandering in the house.  Even with chew toys, there are too many other distractions.  I would never leave him there while we were not home.  I put him in the 1/2 bath downstairs with a comforter, water and toys.  I had to barricade the plastic water line to the toilet.  It's like having a toddler--imagine the worst thing s/he would do and it is a real possibility.  I hate to see the flood from a plastic water pipe cum puppy plaything.

Shudder to think.  

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Knick knack paddy whack, give a dog a bone

This old woman came rolling home with a bag full of bones from Belmont Butchery.  Yes, I am awaiting my smoked bones from Northstar farms, but my household items cannot wait (nor can my arms) for their arrival.

I placed a call.  "Do you have dog bones?"   The man's voice at the end of the line says, "We have marrow bones that are fit for human consumption, but most people use them for dog bones."  I'm five minutes away--and I'm gonna get me summa that.  Tick tock! 5 minutes pass,  and I scored 5lbs of bones and 2 beautiful bone-in pork chops.

I break out the bone booty when I get home.

Daisey will not eat anything raw.  They found her at the Melfa dump on the Eastern Shore.  I have no idea what she was eating outside of garbage.  She turns her nose up at the bone.  Ella takes her bone and sequesters herself where no one will bother her.  Dexter, calmly takes the bone and is entertained while Mark and I enjoy a beer together and sit outside.  Angel also gets a bone.  I'm not quite sure of what her interest will be.  She engages it with defend with your life (if a canine choses to take it from her). She is not possessive to us.  Dog roommates--that's another story.  The bones cost $2.99/lb.  I can see amongst my four (Daisy this a.m. has acquired a taste for discarded bones).

I can see why Ask The Meatman sells a bones like adult diapers and diabetic supplies---delivered straight to your door.  The consumption rate is high.  Three bones are history after this evening.   I'm particularly happy to see how Angel is enjoying hers.  Bone meth.

I like that this butchery sells humanely raised and slaughtered animals.  While this is a bias that I have long held, I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't willing to pay a multiple per lb to do that.  Yes, I understand the difference between and opinion (or bias) v. a real conviction that I was going to pay for.  Guilty as charged.

 Dexter also went to the vet for a visit.  He was excited to see new faces.  He behaved within uber-exuber, older puppy boundaries (which is not saying much), but did his puppy mouthing.  He weighs 47 lbs, not the 35 lbs I estimated.  That explains why I feel like I'm in Navy Seal training each time I do something with him.  He gets his vaccinations, and scheduled for neutering next week. It cannot come soon enough.

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Adventures with Dexter: Day 8

There are as many opinions about dog training as there are breeds of dogs.  Like any human endeavor, we are always looking for the Holy Grail of (insert your interest here) when the simple fact of the matter, there are no Holy Grails:   Not in dog training,parenting, managing, lawyering, cooking accounting, doctoring or Indian Chiefing.  However, there are always some fundamental precepts that are important to know and follow in whatever it is that we chose to undertake. I'll have more to say about this later.

June was such a benign month.  I was merely learning Sequel, Databases and Crystal reports. In August, I'm immersed in how to train a dog that someone else gave up on. We are in Day 8 of our Adventures with Dexter.

Part of Dexter's 'problem' is that he's 'going through a phase"--adolescence.  Here's a great explanation of the stages of a dog and how it differs from one dog to another.   http://dogtime.com/article/ages-stages.html

On average, smaller dogs mature faster and live longer than larger breeds; bigger dogs mature later and generally know shorter spans of adulthood and senior citizenship. That said, every dog develops and ages at her own rate. The following is a rough breakdown of the stages of canine life:

• Puppyhood ends between six and 18 months of age.
• Adolescence starts between six and 18 months of age.
• Adulthood starts between 12 months and three years of age.
• The senior years begin between six and 10 years of age.

Source: http://dogtime.com

I know this from parenting:  part of success is avoiding failure!  You would have better results finding a unicorn than looking for a teachable moment in taking a tired, hungry child shopping with you and expecting to reinforce good behavior. Did you know?  A great many of the dogs that end up in shelters are in this stage.  If there were human shelters, no doubt, a great many parents would turn their teenagers in.  The idea is for all parties to 'survive' this stage without harming themselves or each other--either physically or emotionally.  Well, that's all I'm hoping for at this point.

I have three senior dogs.  One adolescent allipython.  He's interested in chewing everything, not just the chewing toys that I have purchased--which frankly have not held his interest long.  (Nylabones, etc).  He gnawed the cord off of my paper shredder.  I think that he was fortunate that (1) it was not plugged in  Or (2) he managed to unplug it before.  Geez...that could have been a problem.

Time to pull in the big guns.  This a.m. (between paragraphs) I visited Northstar Farms on line. They have a smoked bone bundle for $118 that is shipped for free.  I'll write a review upon receiving it.  Here's what it includes--and that includes free shipping.  Frankly it is a bit hard to comparison shop with other places, but it appears that the Ask the Meatman  also has offerings.  While there is a range of what the sizes are for the products, I'm not quite clear how many pounds the total offer is there.  Nevertheless, Here's what Northstar Farms offers--and I liked the variety.  From their website:

21 lbs of Smoked Bones for your 4 legged friend!

• 4 Beef Whole Knuckles
• 8 Beef Shanks, 3-4 inches
• 8 Bison Lower Shanks, 3-4 inches
• 8 Bison 1/2 Knuckles
• 2 Elk Lower Shanks, 2-3 inches
• 2 Elk Whole Knuckles

I think that I can get alot of chewing hours out of these, AND save some valued household and personal items.  Not that the price is cheap...but it's cheaper than eye glasses, furniture and other beloved things/

There's lots of information on the web about making your own dog toys.  (Best to re-purpose items to make them unrecognizable.  No need to give your dog a sock or t-shirt without accoutrements.   A sock with a sponge in it is a fun toy).

While I await my Kong super bouncy ball to arrive in the mail today, I am desperate this a.m.  (post the shredder's unscheduled "cordectomy") to find something that Dexter will find interesting--and I can use to wear him out PRIOR to my being worn out.  I remembered that I had some old burlap coffee sacks that we used in my daughter's wedding that I bought for $1 at the salvage store.  Into the garage for materials to go 'dog fishing'.

To be sure, it needs some finessing, but within just a short while of foraging I 

"Dog Fishing Burlap Lure"

• located burlap.  Cut it into a 8" wide band with Fiskars.  (Broke the Fiskars, but job was done.)
• Searched for a suitable handle.  Found an old mop left by owners at one of the rehab projects.
• Searched for 'whip' material.  Found some flexible green vinyl covered wire that was both strong and easy to work with.

I tied the wire around the burlap in the middle to have a floppy, but dog-safe end.  (My first attempt was not well thought out and came loose.  My second attempt scored.)  Fastened it to my pole (some more engineering is needed here).  Out to dog test.

Well, this contraption was quite the hit.  With but a flick of the arm, burlap could be tossed hither and yon.  The ratio of my energy spent v. his energy spent was about 1:300 -- those are good odds when it is but 8 a.m. in the morning. No high work....I just kept it down on the ground.

I let him catch it a few times.  He gave it a good shake (which is why I keep him on a lead at home around my cats).  He then pulled hard.  I had quite a bit of leverage and the wire was wrapped around a sturdy pole.  Once we topped playing tug of war, he then promptly started biting and pulling back hard; hence the 'shredding'.  Hey, I don't care, this was about 1/6th of one bag, and I have 15 of these. 

The green, vinyl covered wire cannot hurt his teeth, or poke his eye, and I have to believe that it is unbreakable.  I hope that he does not tire of this too quickly.

I understand that I have as much to learn as he does. First and foremost, I need to learn to be patient, keep his escalating behavior in check by keeping my own escalating emotions under control. A bit of reprogramming for both of us. 

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Time/Space Intersects in the Universe and My Adventures with the Allipython

Dexter

I try to keep my belief systems simple.   I don't care about what someone believes, but how someone acts.  You can believe that the universe is but what a dung beetle rolls, and I'll not judge that so long as right action is what you choose.

The simple choice of going to Home Depot v. Lowes yielded a time space intersect that propelled Dexter into our lives.  We chose to give this frantic pup with bloodied feet from running on pavement a home.  Every day that his feet healed, his energy escalated.   I understand the importance of being alpha and all of that. But, I cannot say that I've done much in the 'training' area with our dogs over the years.  The universe is sending a message through the vessel of Dexter that it is time to step up our game. Our right action, then, is to give this guy a chance to be a trusted and valued part of our family.

"Stepping up our game" means that we need need to give this guy clear guidelines.  Enter my cousins who my sister and I are reunited with.  (See my post about that here.)  Both of them grew up training both dogs and horses.  They are very experienced and accomplished in their ability to handle dogs (and horses).  We had a 'play date' on Friday evening where they generously provided their time (and Chinese food!) to give me an opportunity to learn some strategies for working with Dexter. I'm pretty confident that he will not be claimed.  I'm pretty confident I understand why.

V has experience with all types of dogs, in most recent years, pit bulls--a breed that she is devoted to rescuing.  Our first 'bully' girl was an American Bulldog mix, Macy. Though she was well socialized with dogs and people, we could have had a better level of control over her. V tells me that Dexter will need  exercise, discipline and affection--in that order. With my English Setters, I know very well the need for intensive exercise.  A tired dog is a happy dog.  The same goes for us. (And I should be just deliriously happy given my last two days.)

The rain was coming down softly but steadily.  We were undeterred. V had her rednosed pitty girl, Abbey, out there under the canopy of a large oak tree.  Dexter is wild wanting to go 'see and play'.  Out of sight, he's good on his lead.  In view of Abbey, he is keen on visiting.   V observes both him and me.  The verdict?  I need a martingale.  Uh, I'm using one, (not not that green one in the picture).  I think that a metal pinch collar is in order to give more effective corrections.

My cousin D now joins us.  He's inside and tied off.  She pulls up a chair and talks to him quietly.  He's happy to have a new friend, and he gets excited.   He begins his mouthing. (I think that he does this because he is still a puppy (they believe 8-10 mos old) and it is instinctive behavior that was never corrected.) V says it is a dominance thing, and I'll take her word for it.

Neither D nor V were impressed with this antic, and showed me how to get him down and hold him down gently but firmly to allow him to reflect on his failure to respond to a clear verbal and physical command regarding no biting, and to reinforce his place in the world.  No theatrics, just confidently holding him down.  No words.  No praise.  No stroking. 

Dexter in Repose--or my very own Allipython.

Now time for Leisa to do it.  At one point, I felt that I might as well have been wrestling a mythical beast with the head of an alligator and a body of a python.¹ (I have a name for that:  The Allipython, (ah-lip-i-thon or ay-lip-i-thon if you are from the South!which came to me this morning).   My natural instinct was to say "Good Boy".  V snapped. "Don't say that.  He has not been good which is why we are doing this."   I see that I have demonstrated one of the many ways that we unwitting dog owners sabotage what we think is 'training' but is really reinforces poor behavior.

It worked effectively.   But his Saturday a.m. the lesson had to be administered 3 times.  I'm not having to push him down.  He is going is going down on his own--he's on his back and he is trying to play--but we cannot play this way.  I'm merely rolling him over and reinforcing "no bite" for him, and ensuring that he brings his energy down.   He is learning that rough play with his mouth is not an option, and he is understanding "no bite" and how to check his energy.

The 4th time the correction was administered on Saturday, I failed. The Allipython showed his power.   Because I had a lead and a slip collar on him, I pulled him up. The move was so quick and unexpected by him it got his attention, and it snapped him out of his frenzy, and he immediately laid down.[I'm really ashamed that I did this--but I really felt that it was my only options at that moment. ] After he lay quietly, he received treat and affection. That was the last next to last lesson he needed yesterday. He had one more. Each time he receives the lesson, he settles more quickly. Today is Sunday, and I've only had to do this once this a.m. (v. a succession yesterday). 

He is too rambunctious to 'play' with my dogs. They are old--and they really don't play anymore.  He is young and uber-exuber.  Ella ignores him.  She is very submissive and does a dive and roll.  Daisey thinks that she is dominant--and she probably has the best chance to play with him as she and Macy were 'ball buddies'.  But Dexter wants to play one on one, not chase the ball.  Daisey's not interested in that type of play, and resorts to growling, barking and snarling.  Dexter just wants to play, and the escalation is not what we need now.  I don't want to provoke any aggressive behavior in Dexter.  Accordingly, I'm not allowing this interaction until we have a fuller understanding of each other.

Angel Marie (Spice Girl)

Now we come to Angel Marie.  Angel KNOWS that she is dominant.  She's acting like a "spice girl" and is enjoying taking every opportunity to show him 'her stuff'.  She's got the goods given that she is built like a Sherman tank, and she has the constitution to match..  There is NO fear in that girl.  (Though 99.9% of the time, we don't even know that we have her.  She sleeps, and for small slices of time goes outside to sunbathe and 'do business'. )  Being a super-sized offering on the 'bully' menu, she's not intimidated by this new interloper.  In fact, she's intent on taking every opportunity to make sport with him. She has what I call "Spice Girl" moves that basically are her doing block and tackle with a cute little bunny hop.  I try to limit her incursions into his space. The funny thing, this old girl is clearly reclaiming some of her former vim and verve. This behavior is new. 


Yesterday we played ball.  He enjoyed it. I let him drag a 6' lead, but afterwards, I made him a 50' lead.  I tied the other end to a truck tire (sans rim).  He will not hurt himself, nor can he get away from me. Further, we can work on recall with no chance of failure.  After further ball play and practice on recall he came in tired.  He showed no foot tenderness.  He took a long nap. He does look sweet in repose. Afterwards he ate his dinner,  and then helped me dig some potatoes out of the garden. He was overjoyed to have this job.

While he is a handful due to his being intact (and soon to be detached) he is innately sweet, smart as a whip and very eager to please.  Thankfully, he sleeps well in his crate--and he does so all night without soiling.  Potty accidents are rare during the day.

Overall, I am keeping Dexter in 'lock down' mode.  He has a lead inside.  I generally have to tie him out because he wants to jump on the other girls and make other boisterous advances (launching himself into your lap).  Once he settles, then I untie him and he can trail his lead.   I want to pick my battles with him--meaning I don't want to provide him with too many opportunities requiring correction. Keeping his environment controlled and focusing on our interaction (no bite play) is my priority.   The last two days have been intense, but I can see the results.

Today, I put on a sturdy canvas belt and hooked his lead to it.  My only objective was to have him 'with' me, while I did some 'chores' outside.  We emptied and cleaned the catbox.   It gave him a chance to relax and be a dog in a controlled way.  Daisey was doing some cruise by's (she's a devious girl!).  He tried to give chase but he's on a short lead, and he cannot go far.  I simply changed direction.  Though I was frustrated with Daisey, it did provide a training opportunity for him.  He soon ignored her.  That is progress. 





¹ Truthfully, this alligator head on a python body is not original concept (though Allipython is!), but rather how an American Bulldog was described somewhere on the web.

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