Look at our Progress!

Now for those of you who don't know, the Back Pack has been an on going challenge to get a picture of all four of them together.  With Brut being such a bossy pack leader and major issues with food it has been a slow work in progress.  The three dogs, Fiona, Silver and Zappa are all cautious when food and Brut are together, but especially Zappa.  So getting him in close is pretty difficult.  I started by working with them in pairs in the house over the spring and summer for our yogurt breakfast, then gradually let them mesh at their own comfort levels all together.  We still practice this and the results are getting amazing!

So I decided to up the ante a bit and try it outside.  Here's the results of three different days at least 2-3 days apart.  The first two days I used dry kibble and the third day with yogurt.   

Day 1

First shot, everyone w-i-d-e spread.  So wide even Zappa (by lawn chair) was in shot.

Now were coming together.

Brut is so relaxed he decided to lay down.

Then so does Fiona and Silver 

and Zappa.  And this is the closest he will get for this day.

Final shot for this day:  all a little bit closer.

Day 2:

Zappa is still far out, but look, everyone else is closer to him!

Day 3

All four dogs lined up!!

It's been a pretty amazing journey so far and I really hoping to get some good shots for Christmas cards.  :)  We'll see!

Dedication Week-Blaze's Anxiety

This post is dedicated to our readers and the dog blogging community as part of our dedication week, because without you we could not be sharing this wonderful news. 

 Where's that Chance?

I’ve dying to tell you about the progress of Blaze and her separation anxiety with Chance.  She has went from having straight panic in her eyes that has turned in pure excitement.  It has been so much fun working with her.  Before I get too far ahead here’s a little background:

Chance and Blaze grew up with related families and their bond is one of the strongest I have ever witnessed. They were both abused and only had each other. So when one is gone the other is in a constant worry. Blaze's anxiety is stronger than Chance's and so when Chance leaves, say to go for a walk with Daddy, Blaze would fly into sheer panic.

  Separation Anxiety? 

Not us!

I had heard to try and let the dog work it out for themselves.  The anxiety only intensified, so I began with clicker training and had her sit, click and reward. I did this for some time, building on the commands. Eventually she began to come to me and sit on her own when Chance would leave. I was quite amazed at this progress. I added in talking in a soothing voice, brushing, and petting to give her the security she needed while also making it a game of waiting and watching for Chance to come back.

One day I was in the middle of a project that I could not stop and when Daddy and Chance left, Blaze wandered around a bit then laid at my feet. She wasn't whining or crying or pacing. I couldn't believe it. This was such great progress!!  She was alert but her body and eyes were calm. She was confident and secure, not the manic mess I was used to witnessing.  Something was working.

 Chance, Shamance...Where's my treat?

Then we even took it a step further:
Daddy and Chance left, I was in the basement. I came up when they left. We did our clicker training thing for a minute. I told her I believed in her and that she could do this, I left telling her I would be right back. I went back downstairs to finish stacking wood and when I heard her start whining a little I talked to her through the floor and told her "just a minute." (a trusting phrase the dogs know) So when it was quiet, I went to say hi, talk to her for a minute, then repeated everything again. I can't remember when I have even seen her so confident and secure with herself. She was truly beginning to believe in herself and her pride was showing.  It was awesome!

 Now when Chance leaves Blaze can barely contain all her excitement because of all the wonderful and great things that happen when he's gone.  And let’s not forget when he returns, Blaze gets the best reward ever.  A walk with Daddy. 

And it doesn’t get any better than that!   

Hey, What About My Progress??

I'm always sharing about the progress that the dogs have made which got me thinking, what about the progress I have made over the last couple of years with six dogs and unique circumstances?  So I thought I would take a minute and share some of profound ideas that have been developing over time that is making my life easier for me and the dogs.

I used to think that I had to have a set time and space in order to train.  I don't do well with schedules and deadlines and since the dogs are quite used my randomness, I have begun to use it to work for us.  I've been learning to weave our training through the day.  Like in this recent post.   

I also never could fully grasp how to utilize taught commands to bypass bad behavior.  For some reason it took a while for this one to sink in.  Like it just didn't occur to me when any of the dogs were getting out of hand to tell them to sit.  It was like a new awakening.

I have focus quite heavily on the Brut, Chance and Blaze for the last few years as they were the highest priority that I spent little time training Zappa, Fiona and Silver.  Man, does it show!  I have begun with small training exercises with them on some of our problem areas.

I began a list for each dog noting each of their issues that need to be addressed, making it easier for me to remember.  I never thought about writing it down until I read a post by Married with Dawgs.  (slaps forehead)  Since I'm usually in a constant shuffle with dogs, I can just take any opportunity as it presents itself. Eliminating X amount of pressure that I am notorious for putting myself under.

I refuse to have a time table in which to accomplish these goals, only that I keep working on them.  There are just too many animals in this home to tend to and I need to give all of us as much wiggle room as possible to help in the success.  I have their entire lives to work with them and if I have learned nothing else, time will take care of everything.

I will probably be doing all of things for some time without worrying about a finish line and I think that's awesome!  It has taken me quite some time to break my own chains of how our dogs should be trained and give myself the freedom to do what works best for them and myself.  And that my friends is a beautiful gift.  :)

So what work's for you?   What you have you changed in your thinking or style to accommodate you and dog's lifestyle?  I'd love to hear about it!