Long-Dangerous Tails

What I did on Summer vacation and this Fall…

Sorry I have sent any updates, we got home from Alaska and then school started-time has flown by again! Kodiak is doing very well, with his socialization and obedience training. He is scheduled to return to Leader Dog on November 22nd to start his formal training in harness. He was a great traveler this summer when we flew to Alaska. While we were there he went with us on the Alaskan Railroad to Denali National Park and took a bus tour to see the park. We went to a museum at the University of Alaska where Kodiak saw a huge Grizzly Bear. He also took a ride on a Riverboat tour, and went with us to Valdez to see some of countryside. We also stopped at a park and botanical garden in Fairbanks that shows how many of the pioneers lived 100 years ago. It was a great trip!

Since we got home we had a couple of training days up in Peoria, IL in September we rode another Riverboat and then had a great dinner at a restaurant on the river. Then this month was at the Pekin Fire Station which I think is one of the most important training days for our puppies. The fire men help us by crawling on the floor and playing with the puppies-they start out without any of their gear on. Then they put on their boots, and fire suit and let the puppies sniff the leather and smell their gloves. Next they put on the respirator and talk to the pups, so they hear the “Darth Vader” voice and the loud beep from the alarm on the tanks when the fireman doesn’t move around. Finally they put on the helmets-by this stage the puppies are all very relaxed and happy to play some more! We have a puppy that is now a Leader Dog that saved his partner, by leading the firemen to his partner, which is why we feel this is so important.

One of the firemen fell in love with Kodiak, he lost his 12 year old Shepherd this past Spring. After playing  with Kodi for about an hour, he asked me what will happen if he doesn’t graduate. I told him the chances of that happening are slim to none-he has incredible stamina, and learns very quickly. He has a such and easy going, friendly temperament, and plays so well with other dogs that I know he won’t fight. Even with our Springer who is the queen of the Bedard Yard-he always let’s her have her way. But, if something strange should happen, and Kodiak comes back to me-I promised to call the Pekin Firehouse and arrange for Kodiak to live with him. You can see him hugging Kodiak in the picture in front of the fire truck.

Karen’s Ben with his feet in a water bucket wishing it was a lake:

Ben with his best buddy Riggs.

Riggs just turned 15 years old.

So Bailey started her first week of puppy class and she did really well. This week Brittany and I have been working on our puppy class “homework”, trying to dodge Bailey’s teeth, and have a good time in the fall weather.

Working on recall…..Bad Cuz helped with this fun game…..

Working the “sit”…. Notice the combination of green ear and rabid, food motivated look in her eyes…..

First time working the stack….her tail would not cooperate….(any suggestions on improvement welcome)

Time for some organic pumpkin fun…..she loved the “built in stick”….

OK…..so she reached the end of the “stick”….what does she do with it now….??

…she becomes a professional pumpkin carver, flips it over, and attacks it’s weak spot!!!!

“Look what a good job I did Mom!”

After such an eventful knawing afternoon we spent the late afternoon learning about…..SNOW. Here is what Bailey thought about SNOW….maybe she will be impressed when we get more for her to play in….

Here is her Dad…..whom she hasn’t met yet…..can’t wait til June……

Charlene Wiglesworth sent this to me:

Nikon had his first class yestderday!  We really want to do Julie and Nick’s puppy class but it’s so far and we are so busy, maybe the next round.  But I wanted him in a puppy class ASAP so we joined the one at the club where I train in Lowell.  There’s a 6 month GSD that is mainly there to learn some manners and work on reactivity, he and Nikon had some words (ie, barks) back and forth for a while.  Other than that, Nikon is the best puppy, and I’m not saying that just b/c he’s mine!  First we started working on not being grabby with the treats, by holding the treat in a closed hand and as soon as the pup leans back and stops trying to bite at the hand we mark and give the treat.  He figured it out after about 3 tries.  He was great at the recall game.  Then when we did the restraint (their version of Rub-A-Dog), he was calm.  It was obvious I’d been doing that and no one else had tried it before, all the other pups were howling and flailing around.  Then we practiced walking around and getting treats at our knee and Nikon was superb.  He was so focused he almost knocked into another pup without seeing him.  Then during Coke’s class, I put Nikon in a crate and practiced rewarding him for “quiet” while I moved farther and farther away.  He was calm in the crate watching the other dogs, only whined a few times. Our class assignment was to meet three new people.  Well last night we went to the pet shop for a new crate and Nikon literally bolted through the door and into the arms of three cashiers, then today I took him to my grandpas and he met over 10 relatives so I guess we are covered.

Here are some pics, I didn’t get any of the puppies b/c I was too busy with Nikon

Riggs - rescued GSD

Justin (Malagolds)

My friend Liz and Justin - obviously no problems with the touch/restraint exercises!

Daisy

In other news, I’ve figured out why Nikon was looking a little tubby lately…

So, the new setup is a 42″ crate, 42″ crate and 36″ crate (whereas in the pic there’s a 42″, 36″, and 26″).  Oh and I moved the food!

Tanner is sound asleep. He’s had a busy day. Up early, tracking, meatballs for lunch, running with his 2 best girlfriends and then on to work at our tracking test. Here are some pix from his day. He’s an awesome meatball catcher! Thought you might like to see what he’s up to these days.
Take care - Betsy

Hey, someone is playing soccer on my track:

Tanner’s birthday meatballs:

Catching a meatball

Watching a helicopter