The Ties That Bind

We have four dogs here at our house, which means that I have four different canine relationships.  If you read the blog much, you probably realize that the closest bond that I have is with Bunny.  I think one of the main reasons for that is that she is the only one of our current dogs that I have done formal training with. 

Lilac was older when we got her and we didn't take her through formal training, partly because we just didn't think she'd live long enough to really need it, and we spent time teaching her basic commands at home.  When Blueberry came along, it was at a time when Hawk was having some issues and it was a good time for Mr. Taleteller to begin doing work with her to make her a therapy dog partner.  They did formal obedience training together for a while and Blueberry is actually quite good at it.  Bunny came along just after Treat's death, and she was intended to be my therapy partner, so that meant that I had to do the formal training and work with her.  Now that Morgan has arrived, Mr. Taleteller has devoted his time to working on training with her.  I have to work with her some, too, but I'm not the one who takes her to class and does the practice with her.

That's not to say that I think that doing obedience training is the only way to bond with your dog.  A good Saturday morning sleep in session can  help, too!  Bunny had been here with us for several months before we started going to class and we'd already started doing some things together.  We didn't go to obedience class because we had dreams of a career in obedience, either.  I wanted her to learn to walk well on a leash and to know basic commands so that we could start thinking about getting certified as a therapy dog team and so that our neighbors realized I was walking a dog instead of a kangaroo or landed trout.  I think that taking class got us started on the path to knowing each other well, though.  It made me concentrate and think about what she was doing at that time and she had to learn to pay attention to me. 

Our bond has also deepened over time and our continuing work as a therapy team has strengthened that.  Spending time doing fun things that we enjoy has improved it, too.  Going out hiking has given us a chance to do things together like build trust while still being out away from all the distractions of home and concentrating on being together.

I think Bunny and I would have been close no matter what happened, but I do think that our bond has been enriched by the time we've spent training.  I feel like I'm getting to that point with her where I can really predict what she'll do, and I imagine she has a pretty good idea about what to expect from me.   That's not to say that surprises don't happen, like a rabbit in the bushes, but even when those things pop up, I can react based on how I know she will react.

If I have one of the other dogs along with us, I often see her checking to make sure that I know that she's there with me.  When I happen to be home sick, she's the one who will be curled up beside me.  She's the one doing the dance of joy when I get home from work and she's the one who sits by me on the couch and licks my feet or hands while we watch TV and catch up on blogs. 

One of the reasons I chose to share this is that January has been named National Train Your Dog Month by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  It really made me reflect on the benefits that training our dogs has given us.  It can make such a big difference in the relationship you have with your dog and it can be anything from taking formal classes to teaching basic manners or even to teaching fun tricks.  The important thing is to have fun with your dog and to get more in tune.  It can be one of the most valuable things you do with your dog.

We're participating in this Saturday's Pet Blog Hop, hosting by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.  If you'd like to participate, please follow the rules and follow your three hosts, add your blog to the Linky and copy and paste the html code into your html editor.  Thanks again to our hosts for putting on the hop!

A Tale of Two Saturdays

Saturday morning means different things to different members of our family.  For me, it's a chance to finally catch up on some much-needed rest.  For Mr. Taleteller and Morgan, it means off to obedience class.  The Greyhounds think it means a chance to enjoy the living room in peace and quiet.

It's pretty quiet and laid back here until Mr. Taleteller and Morgan return from their trip.  Lilac usually stays in her spot by the fan.  Blueberry runs into the kitchen, gets Morgan excited like she's going to play, then runs into the crate where Morgan can't get her.  Bunny cautiously approaches Morgan and they share a sniff fest.  I can just hear the two of them having their little catch up chat.

Bunny:  Where have you been?  What did you do?  Who's that dog I smell on you?

Morgan:  Dad and I went to class.  There were several other dogs there!

Bunny:  Oh, of course!  Trained monkey school!  How did it go?

Morgan:  What?  There weren't any monkeys.  It was just dogs and people.  I had to demonstrate the recall for all of them.

Bunny:  After you graduate from class, Dad makes jokes about you being a trained monkey.  My advice is to only be obedient for Mom.  I am glad that it went well, though!

Morgan:  Really?  No!  He wouldn't!  He even took me to the dog bakery after it was over.

Bunny:  You went SHOPPING?!  DAAAAAAD!

Mr. Taleteller:  I got treats for everyone!  Look, here are a couple of toys I got, too!

Bunny:  Okay, one for me, one for you!

Morgan:  Good deal!  Say, what did you do this morning?

Bunny:  Oh, Mom and I had a great session of "rub my belly" followed by a long snuggle on the couch!  It was a perfect morning!

Morgan:  Mine, too!

It seems that Saturday mornings are perfect for everybody, since you get to do what you love!  It's something to carry you through when Monday morning arrives way too early!

Off To School

It seems that three of us here are off to school this week.  Today I go back to work after my five week break, and I go back hopeful that this will be a wonderful and exciting year.  The past two years have been very challenging for me, personally, but I am going back positive, excited about the new students who will be in my class and happy to see the seven who are returning students, as well.  There is a lot of turmoil in my school district right now, and I recently heard that our state just passed California as the worst off financially, so the future could very well be a roller coaster, but for now, I'm putting those worries in a box and going in ready to fall in love with a new class and see what fate has brought to us this year.

I'm not the only one returning to school this year, though!  Mr. Taleteller and Morgan have also started class together.  They are attending obedience class.  Saturday was the first day of school ever for Miss Morgan.  I have a feeling that she may turn out to be a star pupil, but she certainly will have to do her homework.  Already she has learned to sit and wait at the door for me to release her.  That took only a few attempts to learn.  Mr. Taleteller has been less successful in teaching her not to jump on him when he gets home from work, though.  Plus, she still has some leash manners to learn. 

I'm also hopeful that taking class together will help cement the bond that Mr. Taleteller really wants to have with Morgan.  She seems drawn to me, and I love her already, but I know that he really wants her to be his dog.  I think there's a chance that she may always be deeply attached to both of us, and that's fine with me.  I've resisted playing with obedience with her because I know how much he wants to do it.  She's such a quick study that she gets things really quickly.  She also has a serious case of the "disease to please" that the Greyhounds consider themselves immune to.  Certainly, the girls like having us be happy with them, but if we ask something of them that they don't want to do, pointy little noses go up in the air and those beautiful eyes look away.  Morgan will do anything to make you happy and she will work for praise, treats or toys.  Going to class will hopefully be an enriching experience for them both!

On this Monday morning, as I drag myself out of bed early, I'm happy to have a job and to be going back to it, but I think I'd rather be going to the other class!  Please be patient with us while we get used to the swing of a new school year and try to keep up visits to our friends' blogs.  We may be late, but we'll get there eventually!

I Just Can't Believe It!

Bunny here, finally getting a chance to use the computer.  Hello to everyone out there!

I never thought I'd be writing this, but it turns out that my mom has been (gasp) petting other dogs!  Monday she got up and went back to work.  She got home and I thought to myself, finally, it's Bunny time!  Well, she fussed over me, of course, and then Dad came home and they had dinner.  I was content because I knew that they'd soon be taking me for my evening walk and sharing the couch with me and petting me and all would be right in the universe. 

Of course that's not what happened!  They got done with dinner, we snuggled for a little bit and then Dad went to change clothes.  It was his dog walking clothes and I did my little happy dance.  Blueberry did her head bobble-tail waggle routine.  Then they went to the back door -- and left without us! 

Hours later they came home, with the stink of other dogs on them!  THE HORROR!  Other dogs were touching my mom while I was stuck here at home!  I was outraged.  I sat down on the couch with her to have a little talk.

Me:  I know what you've been up to!

Mom:  I told you we had to go teach class.

Me:  Class means the little human puppies that you work with!  I've been to class!  I wasn't whelped yesterday, you know.

Mom:  This was dog obedience class.  Remember the other Saturday when you went with me to teach the kids about how dog obedience works?  We're teaching those kids how to train their dogs.

Me:  Well, that's all well and good, but you have their stink all over you!  How do you explain that?

Mom:  Do I still smell like skunk?  Darn it!  We have to touch the dogs sometimes to help the kids learn how to train them.

Me:  Skunk?!  You saw a skunk?  Where?  I always miss all the fun! 

Mom:  One of the dogs got sprayed by a skunk.  Trust me -- I did NOT want to touch him!  I'd much rather have been home with you.  One of these days, I might start taking you with me.

Me:  Really?  Maybe I can get that dog to teach me how to catch a skunk...

Mom:  Yes, really, and you will not be catching any skunks!

I have to tell you all, I am not thrilled with this arrangement.  However, the skunk does smell divine!  That is a true treat for the olfactory nerve, let me tell you.  I suppose I can overlook this, but I hope she decides to take me with her soon!  Meanwhile, I'm glad that she comes home to me every night.

Going Through The Paces

A couple of years ago, Mr. Taleteller and Blueberry went through beginning obedience class -- twice.  They failed graduation night both times because of errors on my husband's part.  Still, Blueberry really enjoys the "game" of obedience.  They don't practice all the time, but on occasion they go through the paces to keep her refreshed.

It gets even more entertaining when Bunny decides that she has to join in.  She loves obedience, loves treats and loves attention.  She just can't help herself!  She has to join in. 

The other night, Mr. Taleteller got out some treats that Blueberry finds irresistible for some reason.  It was a good break from the winter doldroms for my husband and for the girls.  It was also a good giggle for me.  Blueberry always starts out serious and then gets sillier and sillier.  Even my husband can't stay serious with her once she gets going.



Don't let anybody tell you that greyhounds can't do obedience!  Just know that they'll do it when they want, how they want, and in their own sweet time!

The Obedient Greyhound

Well, today was a big day for Bunny. My husband and I help teach 4H dog obedience every year. It's strictly a volunteer endeavor, but one that we enjoy. Today was the orientation meeting. Usually we go and help and our friend who also teaches the class brings along her German Shepard, Steppen. This year, after taking Bunny through obdience class in the fall in preparation for taking a therapy dog test, I decided to take her to orientation as well. Blueberry has been through beginning obedience twice with my husband, but so far has not passed graduation night. Bunny tied for first place on our graduation night, a fact that she wanted me to pass along. She'd also like everyone to know that she's really not a trained monkey, however, and that she only works for food and attention. As we gathered things together, both girls got very excited about the prospect of going somewhere. However, Bunny was the only one who got to go. I imagine their conversation at the back door went something like this...

Bunny: We're going somewhere! Where could it be? I'll bet there will be people there who want to pet me!

Blueberry: It's going to be great! It will be some sort of grand adventure!

Me: Blue, not this time. You're staying home.

Blueberry: What the ...? Are you kidding me? This is an outrage!

Bunny: I get to go! I get to go! Everybody get ready to pet me!

So, we take the little puppy to the orientation and she's busy working her cuteness. I wasn't sure how it would go, because, well, she's a greyhound. So, basically she's a cat in a dog suit, and they aren't known for letting other people know that they've been trained to do anything. For another, she loves kids and that was who this orientation was for. When there is attention to be had, Bunny can get a little distracted in her quest for pets and being fawned over. It has also been several months since our class and I was hoping that she hadn't forgotten it all.

When we arrived at the Extension Building, Bunny pranced inside, ready to see what the new adventure was going to be. I was a little worried that she wouldn't cooperate about going up the rather lengthy flight of stairs, but she took them like a little pro. We entered the room and she was all smiles and tail wags. I got out her training collar and leash and she was thrilled. She supervised me while I filled the bait bag with her training treats, making sure I didn't skimp any there. Then she followed me over to the snack table and offered a taste test of the cookies that were there for the 4Hers as I put them on plates and got it set up. Steppen came up and she gave him a polite tail wag. Then she began to see the kids and parents coming in. She was one happy girl. After most of them were in and seated, she made the rounds, giving everyone a little sniff and a graceful tail wag, batting her golden eyes at them.

Then it was time for things to begin. Steppen went out with Kathy to begin showing the basic things the kids will have to work on with their dogs. Bunny tried to wait patiently, but when she saw the treat bag, she just knew it was time for her to shine. Steppen went through his paces. He covered the sits, downs and the stand. He was slightly off his game, though. After a few minutes of work, he headed for his buddy, my husband, and began to play with him. Things went along for a bit, and then finally it was Bunny's turn to show off.

You can see here that Bunny was not so impressed by Steppen's skills in obedience. After he walked off for the third time and went into his crate, I think I heard her sigh in disgust. She really was watching them closely, but I don't think she was taking any notes. More like she was biding her time to show off for the masses. I suspect she was also somewhat shocked by his lack of enthusiasm for working the crowd. After about twenty minutes or so, though, she couldn't take anymore watching. She got to her feet and waited to use her greyhound stealth and speed to make her entrance and charm the crowd. No doubt petting would ensue after she made her impression.

Before long, she finally got her chance. Steppen went into his crate and refused to come back when called, even with the promise of cookies. Bunny wagged her tail gracefully as she stood and pranced out in front of everyone. To my amazement, she went through all her paces beautifully. She did her dainty little trot, demonstrated about turns, sits, downs and the figure eight. I have to admit she charmed the crowd. I was proud of her as she did her thing. She worked for me and also filled in for the slacking Steppen.

When it was all over, people couldn't wait to pet Bunny. She didn't mind one bit. She spent her time leaning against them and enjoying all the scratches. After everyone had left, she helped my by cleaning up a few left over cookies as well. I suspect her favorite part of the whole thing was when we got home.

She was taken to the turn out pen and then we brought out the other three greyhounds. She playbowed at them and wagged her tail. Of course she also let them smell her breath to let them know she'd had cookies. I'm sure there was a brief conversation out there.

Blueberry: Bunny, where have you been?

Bunny: It was so great! Steppen was there and...

Lilac: That big hairy dog? What was he doing?

Bunny: We were showing kids dog obedience moves and...

Hawk: Was there any food? Did you go through any magic window places?

Bunny: They gave me cookies and treats! And there were people there! They all wanted to pet me and they did! They petted me for a long, long time, until I thought all my fur would fall off! It was just the best thing ever and I got to go and you didn't! Better luck next time guys!