Obedience training begins

Every dog needs to have manners. EVERY DOG. The ones that don't have a very hard time with life. Always struggling with themselves whether to obey the human or be the humans leader... and humans don't like being led by the dog. Because of this power struggle, dogs need to have manners from a very early age. Some say that you can start training a pup at 6 weeks!

Using a SUPER tasty treat (his own kibble seems to work just fine) I set up in the kitchen to see how little Eeyore would do with his first day.

The below video is training 101. Day 1:

Socializing party!

Today was a huge day for Eeyore. A Chinook breeder friend of mine had a litter recently and decided to throw a socializing party tonight where she asked her guests to come meet the puppies in crazy costumes so they would be exposed to people looking differently. GREAT IDEA!!!

I called my nephew and his girlfriend earlier today and asked if they would like to come by for dinner and to socialize with Eeyore. He's met them before, but only briefly. This time it was for a longer visit. I wanted to see where his lines were with new people and how long it would take for him to come out of his shell.... if at all.

We started off slow with just my nephew. He's fantastic with dogs and has the most well behaved Pointer cross I have ever seen. (She's Snowy's sister actually. She's Autumn in the puppy photo in a previous post)

At first Eeyore was very shy. Ears back, and snuggled tight in his "safe zone", but my nephew is patient and gentle and soon Eeyore was comfortable enough where we introduced my nephew's girlfriend to come into the picture while still taking kibble from his hand. (10 minutes lapsed)

 With the two of them in there, I knew this would stress him out a little, but it was a test that he passed with flying colors!

 

About 20 more minutes passed with just feeding kibble and having casual conversations, Eeyore lets his guard down just a little and decides that he wants to sit and relax a little.... a little. There is still nervous panting, but no shaking, we now see happy eyes instead of frightened ones, and perky ears. (30 Minutes total thus far)

   

My nephew kept feeding him kibble, making him reach for it or find it under a paw or across the floor, all the while was coaxing him from his "safe zone" and building trust with him. I'm SO glad he's food motivated with his OWN food.


Then it happened. PLAY! Well.... mild play...

We took some video's but there's a bit of background talking with the rest of us so I chose not to include it. (Sorry)

But in the end, after about an hour and 15 minutes or so, Eeyore showed great potential to overcome his fear of strangers. This will be very helpful when it comes time to bring him into the open world.

Baby steps little Eeyore... your doing GREAT!

- Many thanks to Patrick and Savannah who came to visit on short notice. -

Eeyore becomes a PUPPY!

Thus far, Eeyore has been a fearful puppy. Completely unsure of the world around him. Today marks 2 weeks since Maverick Pet Transport pulled this frightened pup from a very scary shelter and allowed my husband and I to foster him. He is only 1 of 3 fosters the rescue has at the moment, since they, as their name implies, mostly assists in the transport of pups to their new homes or from shelter to waiting foster family. My husband and I are blessed that they have allowed us to save this pups life, for had he remained at the shelter.... well... lets not think of that shall we???

Lets think of the FUN stuff!!!!

Some of you readers are friends of mine on Facebook and although I do try to update my wall with photos, and information, I try to not FLOOD it like I see some peoples walls (how annoying). Most photos and videos will be here, but you may see some that are on FB also.

"Look at me. I'm a fearless guard dog!"

"WOAH!!! What was THAT?!?! I don't think I want to be a guard dog anymore"

Aaaand with that.... Eeyore is really starting to come around. He's still afraid of new things, but he's getting quicker; 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes, at overcoming the fear and realizing that he's OK.

Here is a photo of the first time I have seen him act like a puppy of his age....I was out in my garden harvesting some beans, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and lettuce for that nights dinner. I could hear him barking inside but thought he was just upset that I stopped playing with him... I returned to....sigh....

Apparently he thought his "room" needed redecorating, and, of course, not complete without the pile of goo on his pad.... puppies.

Last evening Eeyore received another bath. Not because he had fleas, which he still does not. YAY! But because he has this wonderful habit of sitting while he's peeing. Yes, he is the ULTIMATE lazy pee'r, and it gets everywhere!

See for yourself.... I wasn't trying to video him peeing, I thought he was going to come to me  for the first time..... I was wrong.

But the best part of these past 24 hours has been serious playtime!!!

 (link will open in new window)

... Lexi does what most mother dogs do when chastising their young, so dont be alarmed if you here her growl at him once or twice. She's just telling him in dog language that he needs to calm down...

Click here: Eeyore's playtime with Miss Lexi

Night all! I'll write again soon with more fun updates!

Treat? Sit? OK!

Eeyore and his teacher Miss Lexi

Now that Miss Lexi and Eeyore have met and hit it off really well, she's taken it upon herself to teach him a few things. (It's ok to have 2 foster mom's right?) She's trying to teach him how to play IN the house, but the house is a strange place. Its much bigger than his "Safe Zone" in the kitchen, but now that he comes to me in the morning with a wagging tail it's time he sees the rest of the house and gets used to it.

After a stressful, but positive exploration experience he wandered back into the kitchen. To reinforce the positive experience a treat is in order. Miss Lexi thought she should have one as well and sat for her morsel. From his corner Eeyore sees what she's doing and that she received a tasty treat.... he apparently didn't want to be left out and came over and sat for one as well.

yes, he is doing QUITE well. completely different pup from the one I picked up 2 weeks ago. We still have a long way to go as outside is still a SUPER SCARY place, so we are going to keep our time outdoors limited to sitting on the front porch for a little every day until we can move to the walkway and then into the grass. Before you know it he'll be here for 6 months and will be walking on a leash!

I love you too Eeyore.... Thank you for cleaning my eye.

BREAKTHROUGH!!!

When it happens, it HAPPENS!!!

3 am I hear whining... and smell the scent of fresh goo... so I get up and he has walked through it all over the floor... ugh... time to clean the floor. As I'm drying a hear the pad...pad...pad of soft feet... right behind me! I look over and there is is... just standing there wagging his tail. Kinda creepy actually. So I took advantage of the opportunity and we played! I just wish I weren't at 3 am. LOL 

Sleepy eyes today was WELL worth the fun last night.

Learning to play

Its funny how a dog progresses. Some feral dogs never get to be a dog; a pet. Some people may say that it's for the best. Perhaps it is with some of the ones that have a strong fight or flight instinct where "fight" is dominant. They are dangerous to themselves and to the people that try to catch them. But Eeyore's fight or flight was clearly a "flight" instinct. I'm sure the RMSF didn't help either. He was hungry, had worms, was lethargic, and covered in fleas and ticks and drank his own urine to satisfy this thirst.

Now, in a home where food and water is plentiful and even though things are scary, Eeyore requires more than the "time and love" most stable minded rescue dogs require. Eeyore requires consistency and a schedule. With consistent calm actions and words, he has learned that I'm not a threat to him. I may still be scary sometimes, but he is learning there is no need to run and hide based on my every move. It's nice to see his mental state is improving not degrading.

He can now begin to learn what it is like to be a dog; a pet.

Enter stage right... Miss Lexi

This will be a short blog for today... I have decided to allow Miss Lexi, My Golden/German Shepherd cross into Eeyore's "Safe Zone". He has shown a lot of interest in her when she's at the gate with total body language. Ears quickly moving back with a low head, quick wagging tip of his tail, a submissive hunch and muzzle licking.  Kind of like these African Wild Dogs when greeting the alpha.

 - With the dog, It's all about hierarchy and respect. -

I am well aware the need for him to bond with his humans first, but Lexi is SO loyal to me, I think him seeing how she reacts to me when she gets pet, or receives a treat, or even when I enter the room will allow him to mimic the reaction and understand I'm the alpha. Kind of like Monkey-see-Monkey-do.

Puppies are very impressionable and will follow the lead of the mother. Since he has no mother and he's on the verge of trusting me, and Lexi is so gentle, I felt it was time...