Learning not to bark at dogs on a walk

I've been testing Mom just to see if she's a bit tired of being boss. So far, she doesn't seem ready to give up the role. I keep her on her toes though. For instance, when we go on a walk and I see another dog, I wait for her reaction. When she stands there watching the dog I know one of us has to act, so I step in and start barking.

Mom tells me, "Quiet."

But I keep barking because by the time she says anything I'm so focused on the other dog I think maybe the dog will come over to play. After all, I'm barking as loud as I can. I drop into my play stance. Mom took a Control Unleashed class. She will watch and say, "See that?"

Well, duh. Of course I see that, why else would I be barking like a mad dog? She tries to walk away, but I'm so sure I can get this other dog's attention if only I growl so I plant my paws on the sidewalk and put all my strength into holding my position in case the other dog comes over to play.

Okay, let me tell you, growling is not a good idea. People stare. The owner of the dog I'm barking at runs off and Mom takes me to the car and the walk is over.

Now that is not my idea of fun. Apparently Mom feels the same way. The last few weeks she takes me on walks, but as soon as I see something exciting she changes direction! She talks to me and has me start working. You know the routine. Sit. Stand. Down. Stay. Touch. That sort of thing.

All the time I just know the dog behind me is probably leaving the scene. I try to look back to make sure the other dog isn't coming my way for a friendly sniff, but Mom gives me something else to do and distracts me. It is getting to the point where I don't much see the point of barking at all. Mom is just not interested in these other dogs.

Mom seems happy that I'm more focused these days on her than the other dogs, but it doesn't take an Australian Sheepdog brain to realize not one dog has ever given me a treat for barking and Mom clicks and treats with CHEESE when I sit quietly and watch the other dogs go by.

Mom says I'm developing discipline, but I think I've found a new way to get cheese snacks.

Flu Shots for Dogs

Today Mom took me to the vet to get my nails clipped. My blood doesn't clot easily so Mom is nervous about clipping my nails. We arrived at the vets and we get the word that the vet recommends I get a shot for Canine Influenza. (Haven't heard of Canine Influenza? You can learn more at CBS about this illness.) And by the way, the vet has a cancellation and give me the shot right then! Oh, joy. I think I felt the shot but the whole affair happened so quickly I didn't have time to get upset. And I did get an all natural cookie for my trouble. Not a bad deal. I go back in 3 weeks for a booster shot and then I'm protected for a year.

I am around a lot of dogs. Every week I go to obedience class and Control Unleashed class (where Mom is trying to get me to not get so excited when I see other dogs. Doesn't she understand how much fun it is to meet and play with new breeds?) And then there is the weekly play group. Of course it is dominated by yellow labs and golden retrievers but there is one Doberman that I see sometimes. We dogs share a lot of things like toys and water dishes, so if one of us gets the virus, chances are it will spread.

Have a dog in your life? Check out the canine influeza shot if you haven't already talked to your vet about the dog flu.

Car Safety for Dogs

In order to socialize me, Mom takes me around town with her. She never leaves me alone in the car - one of the leading causes of death among young dogs is being left in a car on a hot day. If Mom can't take me out of the car with her I stay home in the air-conditioned house. Not a bad deal for me with my fur coat! But even on the coldest day of the year I wasn't safe in the car until Mom figured out how to protect me in case of an accident.

At first I used to ride around in the car sitting on someone's lap. Every stop they held on tight so I wouldn't fall. But then I grew much bigger than a lap. At 75 pounds if I get thrown through the car I endanger not only myself, but everyone else too! So Mom put me in a crate in the rear of our station wagon, but that wasn't safe for me either.

The problem with a crate in the rear of the car is that is the area most likely to be hit if you are rear ended. If my crate is there I'm liable to get crushed, so the safest area for me is the middle seat, but that puts me back where I was before, so what is the answer?

Mom got me a Comfort Ride Traveling dog Car Harness:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755199&lmdn=Dog

She was afraid I would resist having the harness put on me but I didn't mind at all. I can move around enough to see out the window or lay down but I can't be thrown around the car. That makes both me and mom happy.

We've had the harness for a couple of months now and it is Doberman safe. Mainly because I can't get to it to chew it when the harness is on me and if it isn't on me I'm not in the car!

Alma

Puppy Pinata

Mom bought a Puppy Pinata for me to test. According to what Mom read it is more fun to hide the pinata first. She made me sit and stay while she dragged the toy around the floor and hid it.

Some hiding. With my Doberman nose I found the toy in about 2 minutes. The beef jerky smelled really good and the scent was so strong no way I could miss the trail.

The pinata cloth was fun to chew. I mouthed it a bit before really going after the treat. It was great entertainment for about twenty minutes before I tore the cloth to shreds and ate all the treats.

Apparently the idea is I'm supposed to open up the velcro and get the treat out. I found it much more fun to tear open the cloth to get the treat. That velcro sticks way too much. I didn't damage the velcro at all! After getting the treat, I shreded the material to pieces and pulled out the stuffing inside the pinata head. At $14.99 plus tax a pop, Mom says no more puppy pinatas for me.