06-30-2009

We made our trip into town this afternoon. I scratched / petted him all of the way there. We stopped at DQ and ordered 3 small cones. Ziva got her's first and then Duece and me, of course. Duece's was in a water dish and he took one lick and looked out the windows. He basically ignored it all the way home, even after we stopped, thinking he would eat it when we weren't moving. When we got home it was time for all of the dogs to get fed so Duece got a couple big scoops of ice cream from his cone on his food and the rest of the cone was split up between the other dogs. Duece stood over his dish and stared at the ice cream and even though I knew he had ice cream before, it looked like he wasn't going to eat. Finally he ate it and then cleaned out his bowl.
We really need to get him traveling as we need to do training away from home. I can take him in the Ranger but we're limited.
Later this evening we went around the yard doing the 'Get up' on various things and after awhile Duece was just wild! I made a ramp with steps on it and for once he was the first one to run up it. It is made of 2x10s about 18" wide and 6' long. It's set up on against the deck and is fairly steep and it didn't seem to bother him as long as there was a treat available. We moved around the corner of the house and when we headed back to the deck he jumped like he was going to jump into the 'kiddy pool' and make a big splash but he completely cleared the whole pool. Like I said he was just wild this evening.

06-29-2009

Duece has been going for rides in the Suburban, not far, but we're making some headway. I try to get him and Ziva to at least ride from in front of the garage into the garage at the end of the day. I wish Duece would climb in on his own like Ziva does but at least he doesn't take off so I have to chase him. Sometimes he'll come when called to the door, just won't jump in. We've also been taking some rides around the section or a couple of sections. Sometimes he sits up and watches and other times he just lays down on the front seat. I'm thinking about taking him for a ride into town - about 12 miles - and going through the DQ drive-through and getting him a cone. The DQ is on the edge of town and wouldn't take too long. Hardest part would be keeping Ziva in the back seat and away from Duece's cone. Maybe get Ziva a bigger cone to keep her busy longer?

06-24-2009

I was gone for a long weekend and haven't worked with Duece for over a week. Today we hid some scent and let him work awhile. There were a lot of distractions with the neighbors dogs and the rest of our dogs barking. I didn't do the hide very smart and the wind carried the scent into the fenced back yard making the hide too close to the fence with Duece's buddy Ziva barking right by the fence. It was awfully distracting for Duece. He found it once, but didn't sit so he follwed me as I walked on by it. Later I circled back around and he found it and sat down and got his treats and praise.

06-16-2009

Okay, okay, I"m almost two weeks behind. This will have to do until I make time.

06-05-2009

I'm behind again. On Monday, June 1, We put some scent out by the barn and I put the lid on top of a door leaning against the barn and about 5 feet away from the scent source. Again Duece took off to the PVC garden and worked his way around the yard. He was distracted a couple of times by the other dogs barking inside the fence, mainly Ziva, and he had to be reminded to get back to work. He's starting to sort of develop a search pattern surrounding the area where I walk. I try to not influence him and even walk with my hands in my pockets. We came around the corner of the barn and Duece went to the door leaning up against the barn, scratched at the bottom of it and then sat. When I went to check on what he was doing, the lid from the scent source had fallen down and the wind had blown it partly under the corner of the door. Very good find for Duece and he got a lot of praise and a treat before I moved on and gave him a "check" command and walked on. Duece then found the scent source and he didn't need a reminder to sit at the source at either find. We're progressing!
Later all three dogs went for a ride in the Ranger again. Someone threw up and I figured it was Duece but when it was washed out, a couple of Joker's pills were found in it. All we have to do is drive up to the gate with the Ranger and when it's opened, three dogs race to get inside for their ride. It seems like they all climb through the roll cage at one time.