Good Dog! Bad Dog!

This is Jake waiting to be hand fed, all to be explained at the end of the post.

Actually Jake rarely has to be scolded, but he did do a no no in class the other day. We worked very hard all week on our homework, so when it came to class time, he was bored after we started reviewing everything we did all week long, and he just layed down and went to sleep!


Our instructor confuses us sometimes with mixed messages so we don't always follow her directions. Of course she doesn't like that. She was showing us a certain way to get the dog to lay down, it involved a lot of work, kneeling on the floor, holding them by the collar, and holding a treat in your hand and bringing it to the floor, and when he gets his whole body on the ground you say, "Good dog" and give them their treat. But to get Jake to lay down, I just say, "Lay down," and he does. She told me not to do that, to do it her way, so I did, and Jake did what he was told, only he decided that was way too much work, and just stayed laying on the floor. He didn't want to get back up, and I didn't blame him.

Then the crabby dog next to us began barking at another dog, which of course would set off a chain of barking dogs, except Jake of course, and Jake decided he didn't like that, and tried to exit the room through the door behind us. I tried to explain we couldn't leave but he kept getting up to leave everytime that cranky dog barked. The dog is just like it's owner, very unfriendly and I believe Jake had his fill of the whole lot of them.

Actually he is doing great, and most of the time we obey all our commands. Now we are supposed to hand feed Jake all week. She said, "one morsel at a time." Have you ever tried to give a drooling dog 2 1/2 cups of tiny food one morsel at a time? "Ain't gonna happen!" So I feed him 10 or 12 at a time until we get about half way through, and by then I have so much slobber in my hand it is gross, so I let him eat the rest from the dish.

There is a purpose to this, it is to make sure the dog does not get aggressive with their food, and to remind them you are the boss and the one feeding them. Somehow this sounds perverse to me, but I am thinking in human terms and not pack terms. Jake could care less, as long as he gets his food, he doesn't care how you feed it to him.

Hike up Boulder Hill with the Chix

There are a few things the Chix do well: hike, eat and we laugh a lot.

Some interesting boulders as we neared the top.

We had a great 6 - 7 mile hike on the Flume Trail on Thursday. First we hiked the 2 + miles to the top of Boulder Hill, then came down and went around one of the loops, another 4 miles. This picture taken part of the way up Boulder Hill is looking towards Mt. Rushmore, and you can see George Washington carved in the mountain on the left side of the hill in the distance. There is an old fire tower on Boulder Hill, here is some of what is left of it.

One of the views going around the scenic loop.

This is from the scenic loop, looking up towards Boulder Hill, if I had any idea I was going to end up on top of that, I probably would have stayed home! But I did it, and had a great time.

A view from Boulder Hill.

Update on Jake

I don't have any new pictures, but we are making progress! I took the big guy to 'obedience' school last night, so "I" could learn how to behave. I think I was the shortest human there, and he was the biggest dog. I must sure be smart because already today I was able to do all the things I needed so Jake didn't have to pull me along on his leash. He just gently walked next to me (after I practice a few of the moves I learned) and we had a very gentle two mile walk and kept the leash loose. I have NEVER had a dog that walked this easy on a leash, it is about time I learned this stuff!

When we returned home, we went down stairs in the nice cool basement so I could practice all the tricks I learned last night at school.

Jake is very good at cooperating with me, and I must have picked up something last night. He sat and waited while I did my 'stay' and went all over the place, and he only moved when I learned to say 'come' and follow up with a 'good boy' and a treat. I now know how to make him 'leave it', and 'get it' as well as a few more things.
I'm sort of a slow learner, so Jaker promised we could practice all my moves everyday. He likes the treats and the 'clicker' so he doesn't mind.

Last night he slept in his bed and I shut my door, and he did fine, except he got up and slept by the door when I got up during the night. I have been working with leaving him alone in the house while I go outside for short periods of time, since when we first got here, he wouldn't even close his eyes so he could follow me every where in the house. Today he fell asleep by my feet when I checked my e-mail, and when I got up to go shower, he lifted his head, looked at me as if to say, "don't think I'm going after you, I'm staying right here where I am cumfy." And there he stayed until I got him for our walk.

Hopefully I we can get this separation anxiety over with quickly so he won't tear things up. So far he hasn't chewed anything but his toys.

One bad habit he is trying to learn: Every time I get on the phone, he picks up a chew toy and starts to squeak it!!! So now, I pick up his toys, and he cannot get them until much later. He seems okay with that.

I'll keep you posted, but I think with practice, I am going to get all these classes down pat!

A great week with the "Fam Damily"

Dogs, dogs, dogs everywhere. Gidget and Brewer got to meet the latest member of the family, Jake, and break him in. Guiness, who arrived later in the week had his share of fun meeting Jake. Overall, they were exceptionally well behaved, especially once the 'fence' issue was resolved.

Steve, Chicky and I got to visit with Steve's great aunt and uncle. They were very enjoyable and his aunt sure has a fun spark in her!

The 'gang', before Steve and Guiness arrived, up on Mt. Helena.

Some pictures need no explanation, or they don't really have one.

We had a wonderful time at Chris and Sara's house.

STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY

One of the perks of living in the Black Hills is being able to experience this socio-cultural phenomenon. This was the 69th annual rally and we were in the midst of it. The constant roar of the motorcycles could be heard for miles as riders cruised through all the roads in the hills. The town of Sturgis completely transforms to accommodate the 500,000 people that typically descend on this town of 6,000 during these 2 weeks in August. Next year will be the 70th, which means attendance numbers may break all records.