New Family Member, Lots More Pics 8/27/07

[Lonewolfblue]

lol, Wasn't my neighbors house, lol. It was a friend up the canyon, lol.. And it turned out to be a prank that her boyfriend and landlord pulled on her, lol. They found the pic online and put it on her camera, lol. It was really funny.

[Lonewolfblue]

Well, Betty did great in class today. Did another Rally course, then started working more on her Stays. We are working on a more reliable stay, even though they are pretty good now. We are also working on more reliable, and faster downs as well. She's doing very well.

With the Rally courses, where she really excels is in the left turns. She's got a great left turn heel back, as well as 90 degree left pivots. It's really come along, and today she really impressed us. Now where she needs more work is in her heeling. Sometimes she tends to try and get ahead of me, then kicks her butt out. We'll get it sooner or later, lol. But all is going very well.

I've now downloaded the paperwork online from AKC to fill out to get her an ILP. Will be getting it filled out and then send it in with the pictures and money, and will see if they will accept her. We were looking at mixed breed competition, but if we can get in on some of the AKC events as well, it will open more doors for her. So I'm crossing my fingers, lol.

[Lonewolfblue]

Well, I have an almost new kennel being delivered tonight. Betty's going to like it. And she'll have room to run while I'm at work. It's a 6'x12'x6'. Just need to make some kind of top for it so she can't get out, as she's been known to jump that high with no problems, lol. I'm also getting horse stall matting to put down under it so she can't dig out. A friend uses it and said it's much better on the dogs joints than putting the kennel on concrete. It's a kennel that uses the panels, and not the long stretch of chain-link fencing. Can't wait, should be here by 7:30.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by Lonewolfblue

Well, I have an almost new kennel being delivered tonight. Betty's going to like it. And she'll have room to run while I'm at work. It's a 6'x12'x6'. Just need to make some kind of top for it so she can't get out, as she's been known to jump that high with no problems, lol. I'm also getting horse stall matting to put down under it so she can't dig out. A friend uses it and said it's much better on the dogs joints than putting the kennel on concrete. It's a kennel that uses the panels, and not the long stretch of chain-link fencing. Can't wait, should be here by 7:30.

Just curious about the cost of the kennel. I called around to get just a 12 foot piece of chain link fence with a gate to section off part of my yard and they wanted almost $500.00 thought it was a bit ridiculous.

[Lonewolfblue]

I paid $200.00 for it. They bought it new for about $350.00 or $375.00.

[Lonewolfblue]

Betty's been doing pretty well lately. Her trainer has also given her a travel kennel as well. That way I can put her in it when we go places and she's safe. She would always have free roam of the car, which was not the best idea, and my other kennel was too big to fit in the back seat of the car. Now we have something. Got it free. So we've started crate training with the new crate. At first she didn't even want to go in, but I kept telling Betty, 'In the house'. As soon as she went in, I started being really happy and she'd come out to be petted and scratched on the belly. I would do it over and over. Then 2 days later, she started going in on her own, and as soon as I saw her go in, I would act very happy and she'd come out and run happily to me for petting and belly rubs. Within 4 days, she absolutely loves the new crate. Took no food, just being really, really happy and giving her pets and belly rubs. I see people trying hard to crate train their dogs, trying to force them in and feeding in them, and then end up not liking them at all. I highly recommend at least trying this method, getting the dog really excited when they go in. It really works. I also had a friend here locally do it because he had his dog where he absolutely hated the crate. Within a week, the dog was beginning to actually like it. So I know it works, and usually works fast from what I've experienced.

As for our walks, Betty's doing pretty well. She still lunges at other dogs if they get too close, but we've been working on it. The other day, we saw 2 sets of dogs walking the trail, and we were down by the river. I decided to get Betty in the middle. So we let the first ones walk by, then got up on the trail. She was more interested in the pups behind us than the one in front of us. We walked a couple miles this way until we were back at the parking area. While walking, Betty would stop, and I would let out the long line, and as soon as I neared the end of the line, I would say 'Betty, Come', and she would come running up to me and I would treat her and say, 'You see those nice puppies?', and we would walk a little farther and she'd stop again and I would repeat. Occasionally she would run ahead, looking at the dog ahead, then stop, and as soon as I got to her, would praise her and tell her she's being a good dog, giving treats. She did really well, and never lunged either direction. And it was really fun too. I wish I could have setups like this more often.

Then there was another day where we got in front of another dog, and Betty did the same. The only difference this time is they were walking faster than we were, and were slowly gaining. And I saw Betty's arrousal level increasing, but she kept coming. Then, before they got too close, I found a place where I could take her off the trail and let them pass by with no issues. Thought I'd rather end it on a positive note than lunging. She did really well. So things are slowly getting better. She just needs more work, and lots of praises.

[happygirl65]

That is so wonderful! Keep up the good work.

[Lonewolfblue]

Here's some more pics of Betty......

[Lonewolfblue]

[Lonewolfblue]

And here's Betty's new kennel.....