Today it rained in Bad Rap class! I guess there's just nothing I like about blacktop. I already knew I hate sitting on it when it's hot, and it turns out I also hate sitting on it when it's wet---plus it gets my pretty white feet all dirty. We did lots of spins and weaves today in Tim's class. As long as I didn't have to sit, I really enjoyed the exercises. On the way home I chewed a hole in my "indestructible ball". SCORE!!!
In Gilroy class on Wednesday night, we did an off-leash "sit and stay" exercise. Janet got very upset when I turned it into a personal romp through the entire building, running as fast as I could around the room until the teacher caught me. (Apparently I wasn't supposed to do that??) The next day, Bill installed a zip line that follows the sidewalk all the way across the back of the house. Janet clips my leash to the cable and makes me do "off-leash" lessons on it. I'm not happy about this. I put my ears back and hang my head down, so Janet must know I'm not happy about it, but she doesn't seem to care. Really? I have to be on a leash when doing "off-leash" lessons? That sucks. On the up-side, I am getting extra treats while I'm doing this stuff.
Janet found me, Bernie and Bosco a terrific new place to walk---the levee in Gilroy. It's wide enough for me and Bosco and our two people to walk in one "lane". In the other lane there are lots of friendly folks and dogs walking toward us. People ride bicycles and pull wagons with babies in them, too. It's never boring. One time we met some teenage boys who had found a little snake I thought it might be fun to play with. They were a little intimidated by me at first, but they warmed up after Janet introduced me. Bosco always enjoys the squirrels, but he says he likes me best.
By the way, Bosco knows our car and gets overly excited whenever he sees it. Bill took our car to Bosco's house the other day without me, and I was told that Bosco looked all around inside the car and then laid down next to it waiting for me to jump out. He's taking this "socialization" thing pretty seriously. And I have to admit that since he came into my life, I've become a WHOLE lot more comfortable with other dogs!!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Two-month Anniversary
I've been out of the shelter and living in Gilroy for two months!
Besides my Bad Rap Pit Ed classes in Berkeley, I've started going to school once a week in Gilroy. The rules are the same, but the dogs are very different. For instance, last week I met Abby. I didn't think she was a dog because in my experience, dogs have big shovel-heads and stocky bodies or they have lots of hair and tall pointy ears and bushy tails. Abby doesn't fit either of those descriptions; Janet says it's because she's a greyhound. We kept looking and looking and sniffing and sniffing each other----she was just as curious about me as I was about her. I guess she's never been around a dog that looked like me, either!
My friend Trudi who is going to walk me if Bill and Janet are gone was in our class with a black lab puppy who wanted very much to play with me and Janet. I don't like Janet talking to other dogs, so I have to jump on her if she pets someone else to make sure she keeps loving me best. But I think I will eventually learn to like other dogs besides my best friend Bosco. I even wagged my tail the whole time we were in class on Wednesday so everyone there would know how friendly I am!! A few of the people still didn't believe me, and they kept their dogs far, far away. Janet says I just have to be the most well-behaved dog in class so they'll respect me even if they never learn to like me.
Janet hasn't been lettng me play off-leash because I decided last week while we were working with the flirt-pole that I didn't have to come back to her when she called. So right now we're just going on walks and practicing all our walking lessons. I miss chasing my Squeaky Kong in the park, but since I chewed it up I can't play with it anyway. Janet has been spending a lot of time on the computer reseaching dog toys, and she got me a black Super-Kong. I like chewing it, but it doesn't squeak. I DO miss that squeak...
Speaking of squeaks, when we were out in the garden the other day, I saw a rat eating berries off the vine growing on the gazebo!!! I pulled my leash right out of Janet's hand and chased the rat, but it went through a tiny hole and under the fence. Ever since, whenever I'm in the garden I keep my eyes glued to the spot where I saw it, just in case I see it again. While she's brushing me in the morning under the gazebo, I sniff around and tell Janet about everywhere the rat's been the night before. It likes to sit in her chair and eat berries and climb up and down the vine's trunk and walk across the wall. Janet won't let me chase it because she says I do too much damage in the garden (remember my nickname, "Wrecking Ball"?) But do I REALLY look like I would do any damage??? Don't you think I just look like the mellowest pibble ever???
Besides my Bad Rap Pit Ed classes in Berkeley, I've started going to school once a week in Gilroy. The rules are the same, but the dogs are very different. For instance, last week I met Abby. I didn't think she was a dog because in my experience, dogs have big shovel-heads and stocky bodies or they have lots of hair and tall pointy ears and bushy tails. Abby doesn't fit either of those descriptions; Janet says it's because she's a greyhound. We kept looking and looking and sniffing and sniffing each other----she was just as curious about me as I was about her. I guess she's never been around a dog that looked like me, either!
My friend Trudi who is going to walk me if Bill and Janet are gone was in our class with a black lab puppy who wanted very much to play with me and Janet. I don't like Janet talking to other dogs, so I have to jump on her if she pets someone else to make sure she keeps loving me best. But I think I will eventually learn to like other dogs besides my best friend Bosco. I even wagged my tail the whole time we were in class on Wednesday so everyone there would know how friendly I am!! A few of the people still didn't believe me, and they kept their dogs far, far away. Janet says I just have to be the most well-behaved dog in class so they'll respect me even if they never learn to like me.
Janet hasn't been lettng me play off-leash because I decided last week while we were working with the flirt-pole that I didn't have to come back to her when she called. So right now we're just going on walks and practicing all our walking lessons. I miss chasing my Squeaky Kong in the park, but since I chewed it up I can't play with it anyway. Janet has been spending a lot of time on the computer reseaching dog toys, and she got me a black Super-Kong. I like chewing it, but it doesn't squeak. I DO miss that squeak...
Speaking of squeaks, when we were out in the garden the other day, I saw a rat eating berries off the vine growing on the gazebo!!! I pulled my leash right out of Janet's hand and chased the rat, but it went through a tiny hole and under the fence. Ever since, whenever I'm in the garden I keep my eyes glued to the spot where I saw it, just in case I see it again. While she's brushing me in the morning under the gazebo, I sniff around and tell Janet about everywhere the rat's been the night before. It likes to sit in her chair and eat berries and climb up and down the vine's trunk and walk across the wall. Janet won't let me chase it because she says I do too much damage in the garden (remember my nickname, "Wrecking Ball"?) But do I REALLY look like I would do any damage??? Don't you think I just look like the mellowest pibble ever???
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Seriously...
I've had a couple of experiences this week that reminded me just how lucky I am.
Bosco and I were out on a walk through my neighborhood when a couple of Golden Retrievers bounced out of their open garage and started jumping all over us. They just wanted to play, but you know what blondes Goldens are----and they won't take "no" for an answer. Janet kept trying to get them to back off while they sniffed us and jumped on us and crawled under us and got tangled in our feet and leashes. These idiot dogs were relentless. And they kept following us down the street. Finally Bernie asked a boy to knock on the door and ask if the humans could please get their dogs under control. I was getting close to giving them a piece of my mind. But I knew I had to keep my cool---otherwise I could just visualise the headlines, "Pet Golden Retrievers attacked by Pit Bull". Janet kept reassuring me that I was doing all the right things. After it was over at least I got lots of praise and treats....
Next I experienced bully prejudice first-hand when I went to check out a local trainer's class. All the dogs in this drop in session obviously already knew each other. There wasn't another bully-type in the group. When I walked in quietly on my leash and we sat down at a reasonable distance from the other dogs to give everyone plenty of space, one of the human handlers said, "That animal's just a biting machine". I thought that was totally uncalled for. I managed to ignore the Boston Terrier that kept barking and trying to get me in trouble. I already knew how to do almost all the training exercises, and I never made a sound. But I was pretty much glued to some part of Janet's body the entire session. It was really stressful.
So I'm looking forward to a quiet walk in the country tonight with Bosco, and my class in Berkeley on Sunday where I'll be with people and dogs who appreciate me for who I am. I can't thank Bad Rap enough for giving me & Janet the tools to deal with these situations, or thank BACS and its amazing volunteers enough for all the love and support they gave (and continue to give) me. I'm a VERY LUCKY DOG!!
Bosco and I were out on a walk through my neighborhood when a couple of Golden Retrievers bounced out of their open garage and started jumping all over us. They just wanted to play, but you know what blondes Goldens are----and they won't take "no" for an answer. Janet kept trying to get them to back off while they sniffed us and jumped on us and crawled under us and got tangled in our feet and leashes. These idiot dogs were relentless. And they kept following us down the street. Finally Bernie asked a boy to knock on the door and ask if the humans could please get their dogs under control. I was getting close to giving them a piece of my mind. But I knew I had to keep my cool---otherwise I could just visualise the headlines, "Pet Golden Retrievers attacked by Pit Bull". Janet kept reassuring me that I was doing all the right things. After it was over at least I got lots of praise and treats....
Next I experienced bully prejudice first-hand when I went to check out a local trainer's class. All the dogs in this drop in session obviously already knew each other. There wasn't another bully-type in the group. When I walked in quietly on my leash and we sat down at a reasonable distance from the other dogs to give everyone plenty of space, one of the human handlers said, "That animal's just a biting machine". I thought that was totally uncalled for. I managed to ignore the Boston Terrier that kept barking and trying to get me in trouble. I already knew how to do almost all the training exercises, and I never made a sound. But I was pretty much glued to some part of Janet's body the entire session. It was really stressful.
So I'm looking forward to a quiet walk in the country tonight with Bosco, and my class in Berkeley on Sunday where I'll be with people and dogs who appreciate me for who I am. I can't thank Bad Rap enough for giving me & Janet the tools to deal with these situations, or thank BACS and its amazing volunteers enough for all the love and support they gave (and continue to give) me. I'm a VERY LUCKY DOG!!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Called Up!
When we lined up for Bad Rap class today, Donyale told us to go to the advanced class!! She warned me that I might get sent back down to the minors, unless Tim (Racer, not my Uncle Tim from the shelter) approved. So I really had to step up my game! I got into a lovely down-stay for Janet, and let her walk all around me and even step over me. Then we went to the center of the area in two lines and greeted other handlers and dogs and I was PERFECT the whole class. OK, almost. When I was in a down-stay and Tim came over to distract me, I popped up two out of three times. But was this test fair to me? I think not. The man keeps HOT DOGS in his pockets!! What kind of sadistic dog-trainer would do that??? I thought I had the rest of the exercises nailed, but on the last greeting, the other dog got snarky so I got snarky back. I won't even tell you what she said, 'cuz Janet will probably say "that's no excuse". But---other than those two ever-so-tiny infractions---I was PERFECT. And I do get to come back to Tim's class next week!
Bosco and I have had two more dates out in the country. We now walk so close together that we can touch each others' sides with our noses. At the end of the second walk, Janet and Bernie kept us on our leashes, but they let us have some private time. We kissed---it was so romantic! I think I could fall for him---he really knows how to treat a girl. Sigh....... Here we are watching turkeys together. Or maybe deer. At this point I don't know which is which. But isn't this guy a HUNK???
Bill cut me a nice piece of carpet that covers the space where I'm supposed stay when we're traveling. I quietly amused myself all the way to Berkeley today by chewing my Squeaky Kong into little pieces. Janet says the back of her car has become "The Place Toys Go to Die."
I have to admit it would be nice not to have to spend 90 minutes on the road before I have to do all that hard work in class. So we went to watch a dog-training session this week at a school close to home. We're doing a "drop-in" this week, so we'll see how that goes. Of course we'll keep going to Bad Rap, but Janet seems to think I need more training. I don't know why.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Ya Gotta Have Friends!
Click here to listen to the Divine Miss M Singing this week's title theme!
On the way to Berkeley today, Janet told me I'd be seeing a special friend again. Since I already knew I'd be seeing my buddies from Bad Rap, plus Amelia and my Uncle Tim from the shelter, I knew it had to be someone I hadn't seen since I got adopted. While Janet was sitting on the bench and telling me to stop trying to pull her down the sidewalk cuz' I was bored, an SUV pulled up. My nose told me before anyone even opened a door that it was my very own Auntie Ferne! And she thought I wouldn't remember her----silly girl! We had a wonderful scritching and jumping and wiggling and treating session before class started (I got ALL the treats, of course, which is as it should be). I was so excited to see her! I finally got to thank her for my Squeaky Kong, which remains my favorite toy. I always look in Janet's bag for it when we go to the park if she gives me something else. She doesn't seem to get that there's just NOTHING I like as much as that Squeaky Kong!
Because I spent time with Auntie Ferne, I wasn't the first one past the classroom gates like I usually am. So my favorite spot under the tree had already been taken by that darn Reggie. While Janet was talking to his handler, I laid down on the grass and stretched out like I was just relaxing and v e r y v e r y s l o w l y scooched closer and closer to him. I thought I might be able to intimidate him and make him leave. And it worked! He barked and lunged at me, so of course I had to bark and lunge back. After we both got scolded, Reggie's handler offered to move (YESSSS!!!) I could not believe it when Janet said, "No thanks, our Miss Clover needs to learn that life is full of little disappointments." Really????? He gets my grassy spot in the shade and I get a lecture??? Whenever he was behind me in class today, he'd brag about it, too. AND I overhead today that Amelia wrote on my shelter evaluation form that I was "bossy"....seriously---where does she get this stuff???
The new friends I made this week are Trudi and Alicia from All 4 Seasons Pet Services who will be walking and feeding me if Janet and Bill go out of town again. They took me for a walk and said how well-behaved and how pretty I am. So we already know they have great taste. They had never seen a Squeaky Kong, and I was delighted to demonstrate it for them!
Bosco and I had two more walk-dates this week. He's not used to all the cats and cars and people in my neighborhood, but I'm not used to the turkeys and deer in his. So we both have to make some adjustments if this relationship is going anywhere. I've always hung around with the bad boys---I'll admit that I'm a little out of my element. Frankly, I'm not sure how to act around a real gentleman, but I'd like to learn!
On the way to Berkeley today, Janet told me I'd be seeing a special friend again. Since I already knew I'd be seeing my buddies from Bad Rap, plus Amelia and my Uncle Tim from the shelter, I knew it had to be someone I hadn't seen since I got adopted. While Janet was sitting on the bench and telling me to stop trying to pull her down the sidewalk cuz' I was bored, an SUV pulled up. My nose told me before anyone even opened a door that it was my very own Auntie Ferne! And she thought I wouldn't remember her----silly girl! We had a wonderful scritching and jumping and wiggling and treating session before class started (I got ALL the treats, of course, which is as it should be). I was so excited to see her! I finally got to thank her for my Squeaky Kong, which remains my favorite toy. I always look in Janet's bag for it when we go to the park if she gives me something else. She doesn't seem to get that there's just NOTHING I like as much as that Squeaky Kong!
Because I spent time with Auntie Ferne, I wasn't the first one past the classroom gates like I usually am. So my favorite spot under the tree had already been taken by that darn Reggie. While Janet was talking to his handler, I laid down on the grass and stretched out like I was just relaxing and v e r y v e r y s l o w l y scooched closer and closer to him. I thought I might be able to intimidate him and make him leave. And it worked! He barked and lunged at me, so of course I had to bark and lunge back. After we both got scolded, Reggie's handler offered to move (YESSSS!!!) I could not believe it when Janet said, "No thanks, our Miss Clover needs to learn that life is full of little disappointments." Really????? He gets my grassy spot in the shade and I get a lecture??? Whenever he was behind me in class today, he'd brag about it, too. AND I overhead today that Amelia wrote on my shelter evaluation form that I was "bossy"....seriously---where does she get this stuff???
The new friends I made this week are Trudi and Alicia from All 4 Seasons Pet Services who will be walking and feeding me if Janet and Bill go out of town again. They took me for a walk and said how well-behaved and how pretty I am. So we already know they have great taste. They had never seen a Squeaky Kong, and I was delighted to demonstrate it for them!
Bosco and I had two more walk-dates this week. He's not used to all the cats and cars and people in my neighborhood, but I'm not used to the turkeys and deer in his. So we both have to make some adjustments if this relationship is going anywhere. I've always hung around with the bad boys---I'll admit that I'm a little out of my element. Frankly, I'm not sure how to act around a real gentleman, but I'd like to learn!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Week Three Musings
Bad Rap class on Saturday was with Donna, who put treats on both sides of the wedding-march cones and made us walk past them without eating or even sniffing the treats. Then she picked up the treats (without sharing!) and we dogs had to walk around the cones really close to each other without talking or being sharky---even me and Joey. It seemed like all I heard for a whole hour was "Leave it!"
Twice last week Janet and I went for walks with her friend Bernie. Bernie's dog is a big, handsome German Shepherd named Bosco. Our first walk was in my neighborhood and through the park, which was a new experience for Bosco. Our second walk was in his territory, out in the country with lots of interesting smells and birds and deer and a neighbor who walked out of the bushes and had to be barked at a little, because Janet might have needed my protection. (After we were all properly introduced he turned out to be OK.) Bosco seemed really pleased to see me on our second date, but I've learned not to jump into a relationship so fast. I've been burned before, and this time I'm playing hard-to-get.
At home, I have assigned myself a job. When Janet and I first started walking around the garden on my leash, I noticed she would find snails on the ground and pick them up. Then she'd throw them in the fish pond for the koi to eat. Now I find them for her and point them out---then Janet tells me how wonderful I am. I'm HELPING!
This video is me with my Squeaky Kong. I LOVE doing zoomies with it and chewing on it. I hate letting go of it, even though letting go means I get to chase it again. It's a dilemma......
Saturday, July 30, 2011
I'm a STAR!
Janet found a spot in the park this week where it's fenced on three sides, so she feels pretty comfortable letting me off-leash. When we're there she throws my Squeaky Kong or my green ball for me to fetch, or we play with the flirt-pole Bill made for me. Hopefully someone will be able to take video of me playing soon, because I'm a fantastic acrobat----especially for such a "substantial" girl!
Today was my first day back in Bad Rap class since I got adopted. I was a little nervous at first because I haven't been around this many dogs recently. But I guess all those walks and micro-lessons with Janet during the last two weeks must paid off, cuz Donyale said I was MOST IMPROVED in the whole class!! I did a beeeeyoooteeeful wedding march (as long as Janet had a treat in her hand, even if I didn't get to eat it right away); sat nicely (ditto); made eye contact (ditto); and did a down-stay that lasted for over five minutes! Donyale's my new BFF, because first she told me I did amazingly well, and then she told Janet I needed to have more treats when we were working on stay. YESSSSSS!
I stopped by the shelter to visit Amelia for hugs. Tim came out to see me too, and I climbed right up on his shoulders and hugged him and licked him all over----I was so glad to see them both! Then I stopped kissing Tim and made it clear that he and Janet needed to stop talking because it was time for me to get in the car. I really didn't want to stay at the shelter any longer....it was nice to visit everyone, but I was ready to go HOME!
Today was my first day back in Bad Rap class since I got adopted. I was a little nervous at first because I haven't been around this many dogs recently. But I guess all those walks and micro-lessons with Janet during the last two weeks must paid off, cuz Donyale said I was MOST IMPROVED in the whole class!! I did a beeeeyoooteeeful wedding march (as long as Janet had a treat in her hand, even if I didn't get to eat it right away); sat nicely (ditto); made eye contact (ditto); and did a down-stay that lasted for over five minutes! Donyale's my new BFF, because first she told me I did amazingly well, and then she told Janet I needed to have more treats when we were working on stay. YESSSSSS!
I stopped by the shelter to visit Amelia for hugs. Tim came out to see me too, and I climbed right up on his shoulders and hugged him and licked him all over----I was so glad to see them both! Then I stopped kissing Tim and made it clear that he and Janet needed to stop talking because it was time for me to get in the car. I really didn't want to stay at the shelter any longer....it was nice to visit everyone, but I was ready to go HOME!
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