Archives for December 2019

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

Indeed it was rainy and quite miserable here in South Central PA today but Miss Phoenix was anything but depressed!  She still enjoyed a walk in the rain with Trainer Zach followed by working on the “down” command.  As with everything else we’ve thrown at her she nailed it.

We had quite a weekend!  I hope you enjoyed following her on my Instagram, (@mia21972).  Sunday morning’s class was well-attended, she didn’t love that large of a crowd but she did a fantastic job minding her manners and her handler.  Only two weeks in and she is on track for graduation on December 22!

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I had originally committed to a two-week board and train with her.  I’m going to keep her here at my house a little longer as she is scheduled for her spay surgery on Thursday.  It is the least disruptive to allow her to convalesce here in the home she has come to know and is comfortable in.  It’s going to make it that much harder on me but for her, it’ll be worth it.

Tomorrow I am going to begin testing her house privileges.  Please send good vibes our way!

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

Leaps. And. Bounds.

That’s how she is improving every day.  When I picked her up 12 days ago there was a large sign on her cage, “NO SQUEAKY TOYS.”  We tested that theory the day after and discovered that, yep, she hated them.  They sent her right over the edge.  The other night on our shopping trip she didn’t seem to care as much. 

Today, not a care in the world!  (Please follow my Instagram to enjoy the videos, mia21972.)  She was spectacular this morning as she helped another student pass his temperament test and then absolutely joyful at an afternoon playdate with nine of her packmates. 

It almost feels as if she knows I’m not going to place her in a home with kids, as if that weight is off of her shoulders.  She’s been spunky and self-assured all day; greeting people gently and making new friends. 

I think I might take the weekend off from blogging unless something really spectacular happens but I’m sure I’ll update pics on insta.

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

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The day started strong.  Phoenix continues to improve and show so much promise.

Her nighttime privileges expanded last night to include the entire upstairs.  She proved to be trustworthy and housebroken.  That makes me so happy on multiple levels!  She’s eaten both breakfast and dinner at her “table” next to Pony and Gigi without any signs of the resource guarding she was showing at the beginning.  She even shared toys and empty kongs with the other four dogs in the house today!  (Everyone was separated when the kongs were full, no sense tempting fate!)

One of our students, Jack, needed to be temperament tested.  Phoenix joined Pony and Gigi to do just that.  He aced it!  He will be joining us at group classes, playdates and pack walks.  Finally, at the end of the day, we took her to meet my nephew at the bus stop to test her around unknown kids.

It wasn’t great.

She did not hurt anyone, she didn’t even scare anyone.  However, she did show me that she’s not ready to be around kids on a regular basis.  I have to respect that.  Her adoptive family must not have children under the age of 13.  Perhaps in 6-months or a year, with continued training, she may be ready but it would be irresponsible to put her in that position now.  A family with kids will only set her up for failure; I refuse to allow her to be failed again.

Phoenix, you are loved and I will find the perfect family for you.

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

Off-leash freedom!

Girlfriend is exhausted and snoring; she had two big playdates and a shopping trip today.  She is still struggling with “stay” but her recall and off-leash heel are spectacular.  I teach a command, “too far,” It’s just as it sounds.  When the dogs are enjoying off-leash freedom and they wander a little too far away, “too far,” brings them back closer.  It’s not “come” so they don’t have to return all the way and sit.  They just must be closer.  It allows them to continue to enjoy their freedom but also stay safe.  She aced it!

Squeeky toys have been a nasty trigger for her but she tolerated one at the hardware store today just fine, her nighttime privileges continue to be uneventful and she ate dinner next to her housemates instead of in her crate.  Brushing her teeth continues to be a battle but she was okay with having her ears cleaned.  In general, the only hurdle we have left to clear is her reactiveness around kids.  We plan to meet my nephew and his friends at the bus stop tomorrow and walk home.  Paws crossed!

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

To celebrate 8-months, Phoenix went shopping today! 

She and four of her packmates went to Lowe’s for some practice amid distractions.  They are so gracious and welcoming to dogs, I do my best to patronize them whenever possible.  She did well.  Phoenix and Zach have really bonded.  She seems to look at him and know it’s work time; she’s so eager to please.  She looks at me and sees nurturing and comfort.  I’m okay with that.

We tried to perfect her “stay” command today.  It can only be described as an utter failure.  She is now so eager to be with one of us that she’s unwilling to allow us to walk away.  It’s pretty typical of dogs her age and in her stage of training so we’re not too concerned.  Recall and off-leash are fantastic!  Tomorrow she has a playdate with another puppy at a venue that will allow them to practice their off-leash skills.

She also helped to temperament test a new pack member but it was so crazy cold I couldn’t get any pics!  Suffice it to say she is expertly stepping into the mentor role, as well.  Finally, she got a visit from her friend, Willow, this evening.  It wasn’t a playdate because we stayed in but they worked hard to practice the art of doing nothing.  So proud of these girls!

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.

I’m sorry it’s been two days since my last Phoenix update. 

Please forgive me!  I had a crazy, packed weekend planned before I made the commitment to her.  Believe me, she had a great weekend with my pack and with visits, walks and lessons with Zach.  Oh, my, how she’s changed!

She loves to place, is doing fairly decent with stay, more than decent recall, has earned off-leash potty privileges and last night she earned nighttime privileges.  I put a baby gate across my bedroom doorway so she would be contained but so that Pony would not feel too confined.  He likes to tuck me in and then sleep in the hallway- likes to keep watch.  Phoenix jumped up on the bed at first, not sure what she enjoyed more: snuggling with me or annoying Gigi. 

At some point during the night she got down.  I had planned ahead and put down a potty pad just in case she needed it overnight.  I found her sleeping on it in the morning!  (It was still clean.)  She’s been prancy and dancy and really being a puppy.  She’s getting toys on her own, chewing on things she should and avoiding things she shouldn’t- most of the time. I watched her pick up a paperback book from the end table, trot into her crate and settle down to “read” it.  The silver lining here is that she surrendered it when asked without a fuss.

I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.  Today I asked my 7-year-old nephew to join us at the park.  She was just delightful!  She not only respected him but obeyed him when he was her handler and gave her commands.  Admittedly, he is an above average handler.  He has a natural talent for training and is quite confident; dogs respect him.  I asked Jack if he thought I should find Phoenix a home with kids in it or a home with just adults.  He thought about it and said, yes, with kids as long as they, “don’t get in her face.”  I asked if he was frightened that she might bite him.  He said, “not really because she’s just a puppy and isn’t mean but she won’t do it anymore when she’s a dog.”  Finally, he offered that she should be the only dog in the house so she gets all the pets. 

I know, he’s seriously that awesome.  Be jealous. She’s got a full day of walks and lessons on her social calendar for tomorrow, I will do my best to update every day this week!  For now, it’s a super chilly, three-dog night here in south-central PA.  How lucky am I that I’ve got three of the best to snuggle with?

Please follow along on this blog as she completes the Good Dog Board and Train program.  Your kind financial support of Char-Wills in honor of this sweet girl is most appreciated.