Pupdate

We resumed our doggie training classes after a week off for the holidays. While our little treasures are a joy at home, they resumed their same behavior that the trainer was taken aback by the last 2 classes. At home, we're working on sit, stay, lay, come, kennel, etcetera. There is even a stand and relax command to be worked on. Stand is simply to get them to come up on all fours from a lay or sit position. I'm not sure when it will prove helpful but I still get excited every time they do it when told (and baited with a treat and praised immediately afterward). The relax command tries to get them to lay on their side and is supposed to be used for calming. We're still working it as they do need some calming from time to time.

Tucker is great with people. He jumps to say hello (as you can see) which can be a bit much for a toddler and that will be a hard habit to break. He wants to greet everyone and every dog he meets making this his hardest habit to break. At class, he's not allowed to greet the other dogs because he's gotten so aggressive in trying to do so that it looks more like an attack in the works. Quite a change from the snuggly kisses I'm used to. Tucker not only kisses, he hugs so that makes any growl from him even more surprising. While we've never had an issue outside of class, I hope we can get to a point where he's great even in class so I can feel better that he'll never cross that line.

Lily does really well and is probably even better at class than at home. . . until Tucker freaks out at class and then she barks and gets shaky even though she doesn't seem to know what she's reacting to. They certainly feed off each other. Lily's biggest issue right now revolves around her insecurity. Apparently, it's an issue for both of them (and most other dogs) causing anxiety and reaction to any unfamiliar circumstances. Lily also has a perch that we need to take out from under her. The only times I've ever seen her get growly and snippy are when she's perched in one of her two favorite places: our empty bed and the back of our couch. Most of her pictures are in such spots! So, off the furniture and off the bed.

These new rules are coming from the pack mentality. We have to do certain things that will show them that we are pack leader in the same ways one would in the wild. Eat first. Ignore upon entry. Only play or pet when we want versus when they want. Own all toys and only allow them to have them when we choose. Make them obey a command before any positive interaction: to be petted, let outside, given a dirty plate (not sure that's completely  by the rules). The pack mentality also says that leaders sit & sleep higher and more comfortably than their followers. Thus, we have to get these dogs back down the totem pole so they know who the leaders truly are.

  

For those of you who know us well-this is not an easy feat. What a difficult process this has become. We adore our dogs like they are our kids and that has apparently caused issues we didn't even know we had before  training! So, we continue to work with them and they're likely to pack on some pounds in the process as we use hot dogs and cheese for treats at class!