All Writing

My life continues to knock me down. First sidelined by having to put old Stitch down. Even when you’re expecting it, it hurts. Then my dad had a little heart episode. I’ve had enough adventure for this year, thanks.

It’s now May, and the last five months have been the worst EVER. Moved my 90+ parents out of their house and into a senior’s apartment, got a bad flu for Christmas, then the concussion, and then the new shoulder.

Went to a pet store today, limited slip collar, no tugging, met several people and didn’t lift his feet off the ground, kept his leash loose (one moment of forgetfulness as we got to the rawhides), kept his mouth to himself.

The bad news – I can’t possibly do anything but warehouse and screech at a 90-pound 10-month-old Giant puppy while trying desperately not to move my arm and guarding it to be sure it doesn’t go in a naughty direction (because if it dislocates we have to start all over again).

This morning we tried some nosework. He was thrilled to smell the tea and started bopping the container (yes, I used a container) immediately. Got a couple of treats for that, then I shut him in the bathroom and started hiding it.

Wow, almost a month since we trained. I slipped on ice and got a really bad concussion. Lost several hours and couldn’t turn my head for two weeks without taking a moment for the world to stop spinning.

Thinking about incidental training today. Things I can teach him without putting any effort into it.

Very short session – watching mama Rumba practising nosework, so we tried another round. The boy has a nose. He needs a little confidence/stick-to-it-ivness (if he can’t find it right away he thinks maybe it would be easier to come and offer me a sit) but he nailed every one – hidden on the floor, up on a table, inside a wicker stool.

Things we have successfully worked on without concentrating on working on them: - not barking when he doesn't get his way - for instance, when Syn has a toy that he wants. Mostly now he just lies nearby, stares at her, and sighs heavily every once in a while. -...

So much for good intentions. All the bones are out in the snow somewhere in the dog yard. Glutton for punishment, I got a new tea bag (strawberry this time). It was in my hand so he was eager to touch it.

Kamal’s heeling class is lots of fun. I’m sorry I’ll be missing a lot of it – but at least I’ll have it in my library so I can keep working.

And the very next day I went to an appointment in town, slipped on frozen rain, and arrived at emergency 90 minutes later with no idea how I got there.

Yesterday we went to the pet store again with his halter. He was grand. I only had to back up two or three times, and those were just getting ahead, not pulling.

OWIEEE! My 1st semi-major injury from him. May it be the worst of many to come. He was chasing a wildly bouncing ball around my legs and jammed a canine into my knee.

Excellent day. We went first to the pet store to get him a pulling harness for the kicksled we can’t use because it’s above zero and all the snow has melted.