Little adventures and observations with our 3 "poochies"

Some adventures with our poochies

Well, after the initial being pulled to the ground, there has been an establishing of a different pack order around here :). That was quite an adjustment for all of us, including Jewel and myself, but especially Stormy.

In training, we found out that our big puppy girl is not easily seduced with food or toys  and training is a bit slow. For a while there she seemed to think: silly...and walk away watching the grounds whereas little Stormy voraciously wanted to learn the tricks and get the treats. However, she does learn - just seems to see the need and sense in doing something. For example - it was difficult to get her to jump through a hoop - she just stepped over it or walked away. However, when it came around the next time to jump into the car - voila, the "jump" command worked like a charm.

Waiting for the treat - take the picture already? hehe

Still, I did a bit more research and then started with marker training and also modified her feeding - and it seems to work. Don't forget, they are all outside dogs, and she was already a year old when she came to us. I think she does very well with dogs, meaning is socialized into normal dog behavior, but I am not sure
she was all that bonded with any human.

But when appeared the cows in the back of our property, on the other side of the fence -  boy oh boy, herding and guarding is in her blood and she comes to life. Chasing squirrels is also major fun, and she stalks around the corner of the house like a big cat trying to surprise them on the ground. If she could, she'd climb trees. Guarding guinea hens is part of the job too.

Dog training class: well, the general attitude seems something like "Must I really go there- and do stuff? Really...."
She is slightly growling when other dogs approach, something I'd rather not see. It will take a while for her to chill around other dogs.


Lately she's been coming when called, unless a major dig is going on, a squirrel hunt or our daily roaming big white dog visitor. Luckily the other 2 dogs don't viciously chase him any more, but it's still tricky to keep them on the property when she, the "big white dog", is coming by.

Today we came back from shopping and found the fresh innards of a bird on the walkway...and later some thrown up meat and bones. I wonder what happened - maybe the guinea hens came back?. Storm yesterday caught himself a rat and was starting to eat it. So I can see him going for a bird too...AND - he refused a cookie when we came back, something unheard of. I looked all over, found a few feathers but no other carcass...or bird-wings. Not sure we'll ever know what happened.

Meanwhile, I am on the 2nd dog pack for the big girl to carry wood. Not sure she finally understood that carrying wood gets her that favorite treat - a meaty bone, as the reward or she just got used to it, but she seems more willing now to carry it. Nice.
And after practicing jump, she now jumps into the car, whereas before we had to lift her into it....oh dear. We have only taken her on shorter trips, and she does not looks as if she were getting carsick as badly. She's even looking out of the window these days.

I am just writing this down so I don't forget. She like to keep her favorite puppy dog around. Today, a rainy day, she had placed it by the stairs. Claude came by and picked it up to put it by the barn, under cover...she went to him and gently took it...only to put it back on top of the stairs again :).

She definitely sleeps longer when it's rainy, and appreciated being rubbed dry these days before going to "bed" for the night.

I love the way she plays, she, our German Shepherd/Husky. It is delightful watching her invitations to the other dogs, the making herself small by laying down and on her back, the stopping when it seems to much for the little guy, her being able to outrun them and handle all situations with them...I love watching them all play. She is a beautiful being...and her playfullness is refreshing.

Shakti sure has enjoyed the play times and increased attention he's getting as a result of Skye being here. He is getting old, sometimes I wonder how long he'll last.

"In her bed"

In her bed - I tuck her in at night - this started because when it was raining for days, all the bedding got wet during the day, so now I take some of it away and make sure it dries and put it out at bedtime. Today she was ready early, took right to it. And that pink blanket that daddy E.J. got her - I think she really likes it. This spot btw is also guarding the barn door - she sure announces folks as they come in.