Hannah, Fireflies, Puppy Jake Foundation

First off, I don't mean to go on and on about my dogs or my mules, but they are my immediate 'family' at this time.

My sons are hours away with busy lives and their families. My older grands are busy with working and figuring out their lives too. Most of them that have jobs and vehicles live 2 to 3 hours away. I have heard twice from the stepdaughter since her dad passed away 9 months ago.

I do have my friends, so don't get me wrong at all. I do have a life with humans involved.

Now I better understand people who wrap their lives around their pets. Pets are constant companions who don't have distractions. Their lives depend on you. They are toddlers that need constant affirmation of love and care. Who doesn't love that?

So, I will write about them and talk about them. They are the main focus of things happening in my life at the moment.

Years ago, I had Morris, a Jack Russell Terrier. He was not a typical terrier. He was not fearless and brave, but he was kind and sweet. But he was sure that Fireflies were insane little monsters that were going to eat him.

In 2007 Morris made me aware of the evil fireflies that surrounded our house and fields on summer nights. He knew he had to protect me from the conniving little flashing bugs. We laughed and laughed that such a mild mannered dog was so upset over flying insects. 
Night of the Fireflies is the original post. 

Each year after that, Morris would go out and watch for them with his hair on end and a soft constant growl. He'd even jump on the bed to look out the window and protect us.

Fast forward 19 years [has it been so long???]

Last night Hannah stood on the porch and when Fireflies lit up the yard and garden in front of her. She backed up and growled. Her hair was on end. I thought 'No way!' Charlie never even gives the little flashes of light a second glance.

But there it was. Hannah and the Killer Fireflies. I tried to tell her that they wouldn't harm her. No use. She has her mind set on the fact they are a threat.

Hannah will be 6 months old on the 24th and she'll visit the Vet for being neutered on the 25th. She still nags Charlie but not as bad as she did at first. She is maturing and learning to walk on a leash without distractions and sit when I stand still. Baby steps. 

During this last hot and humid week, I spent some time indoors bored. So I flipped on YouTube to browse things to watch. I ended up on a documentary about the Puppy Jake Foundation in Iowa that trains service dogs for Veterans.

What transpired next was fascinating.

She watched the whole documentary. When a commercial came on, she walked away and looked out the door, when the narrator came back on, she walked back to that spot and watched intently.

I thought it was a fluke or maybe she was interested in seeing the dogs in the program so I put on a dog training video featuring a dog and a person explaining how to use a leash.

Imagine my surprise when she growled and backed away from the TV as if it offended her. She barked and looked at me then at the TV. I doubt she made the connection that I was in charge of the programing, but I changed back to the same documentary we'd been watching.

She was enthralled once more.

I changed the video again to another dog video of sorts. She had the same reaction. 

She is the first dog I've had in all of my years on this earth that has 'watched' TV. Did she like the narrator's voice? Did she like what she was hearing and seeing?

I showed the video to some friends and their reply was 'She wants to be Trained to be a Service Dog!'

Hah.

She is my Emotional Support Dog, right? 

Years ago, I went through a dog obedience class with my first dog Missy. The class was 8 weeks long and by the end of the class Missy would walk off leash and ignore other dogs and distractions. She was insanely good at obedience. The instructor only docked her because she wouldn't take cues from him, but he did suggest that we go to the next level for a working dog and eventually train for Search and Rescue.

It was a path I wished to explore but couldn't as I had two young kids at home. 

Hannah is a quick learner. When she has her 'working line' on she is all business.

Here, she is learning the basics of 'heel' and sit when I stop. It has only taken her two sessions to figure this part out. 

She is 80% consistent with no distractions at this point.

Of course, she already understood sit. However she didn't get the concept of walking at my side with a loose line and sitting when I stopped walking until we started.

At the end of each session [no longer than 15 minutes] I give her a release word and unclip her. She immediately checks with me and then goes into Zoomies.

I wonder what I can accomplish with Hannah.

Charlie? 
He has always been an extremely smart dog. The one thing I had to teach him was to 'come' when called, his manners and leash walking have always been good without any extra work. His duty since puppyhood had been to be with Rich and other elders as a lap dog and petting dog. 

He's decided that it looks like Hannah is going to stick around.

He even allows this:

I've had dogs since I was a kid. It all started with Albert the female mutt we got from my uncle's farm. Some day I'll reminisce about her.

Whistling Dixie...

How do you teach a dog to come when called?

I really did know this answer when I'd gotten Charlie. I'd just forgotten that I did this. I mean, I'd been calling dogs with a whistle from my own lips for so many years I've never even thought about it.
The year I married my husband, he had hound puppies that he wanted me to train for handling. The pups didn't have names and I couldn't help but want to play with them.
I found that a whistle got their attention.

Years later with Morris and other hounds that I raised, I'd do the same.

Dixie excels at coming to a whistle. She has never ignored it. Not ever.

I left the cord at home, but took a rope anyway [in case I have to put one of the rascals on a leash].
I let Dixie loose and Charlie followed. The idea is to let the big dog help the little dog figure out how to come when I called or whistled. Unconsciously I used the whistle anyway. When Charlie isn't paying attention, a sharp whistle brings his head up to find the source.

Charlie was learning two things. Come on the whistle and pay attention to where Dixie was and what she was doing.

Charlie could learn by example. After all, Dixie learned by following my jack russell, Morris.

Rich had a huge concern about Charlie being so small and Dixie being so huge.
Dixie has a very gentle temperament. She is also good with commands and will 'leave it be' if I ask her to.

Here Dixie is with Charlie after he tumbled. He squeaked and she came over to investigate. Finding nothing wrong with the wee one, she trotted off and Charlie followed.

I spent most of my time letting the dogs explore. When they got so far away, I'd simply whistle.

Dixie would turn around and trot to me then sit. Charlie would come on the run. Dixie's 'treat' for this simple command is lots of petting and cooing about how good she is. Charlie got his 'loving up' too. He wagged and wiggled and tried to avoid getting stepped on by Dixie.

Charlie learned a bit more about the creek. He seems to be saying to Dixie, "It is so unfair for you to have such long legs! That water would be up to my chest!"

Here is an example of calling the dogs with a whistle. Both dogs had been sniffing the interesting leaves and rocks when I whistled.

Charlie has to run while Dixie only ambles. But it is a fine sight to see. Both dogs coming without hesitation.

We will have many more short hikes where Dixie teaches Charlie to come and follow. Charlie's confidence is growing like he is.

He is adventurous and has a huge heart.

The whistle really does work. It works so much better than shouting a name at a dog all of the time.
And Dixie is a good training tool to have. She enjoys the outings too. No one loses this way.

Big Dog
Little Dog

And Dixie passes it on...

When Morris was a puppy he was shown 'the ropes' by Queen a black and tan hound.
This photo was taken in 2004. Queen shows puppy Morris how to play. They rough and tumble and Morris learns his first lessons by following Queen. Always, always follow Val and keep an eye on her....

Morris goes on to teach hound dog puppies for years. Thelma and Louise.

Dottie

...and then Dixie in 2012

I see a pattern here...of dog butts...


Dixie had no idea that she would be part of the tradition.

Dixie's kind temperament and laid back attitude absolutely shined through today as she was patient with that tiny black and tan pup that kept leaping on her and chasing her.

But somehow I think, dogs love playtime with their own kind no matter the size.

And in the end you can become best Mud Buddies.

Two beautiful black and tan dogs.
Playing together.

I am actually thinking of introducing Charlie to a puppy class, then obedience, and then Therapy Dog Class.
His disposition is excellent for a tiny dog. I think after visiting hospital rooms this week and the nursing home, that he could do a lot of good.
Maybe he isn't a 'working' dog, but he sure is a calm little guy and he makes both my husband and I feel good just petting him.

Sorry Charlie!

I've always wanted to use that phrase on a pet. My father coined that phrase many years ago when he created Charlie The Tuna.

Charlie came into our lives on the first of March. It was not planned. On the 3rd we had Steph, Steve, and the grand kids come for the weekend. Charlie got to play with their beagle, Angel.

I mean really, is this not cute? They really did so well together. I even thought of titling this photo as "Charlie's Angel". Oh how retro TV!

Charlie explored the great outdoors. I could not resist laughing at the size of him next to Rich's truck.

Little Puppy, Big Dreams.

How on earth will Charlie ever pee on that tire???

When we got the call that my MIL had fallen and 'can't get up',  the tone of everything changed. After a stay in the hospital and several evaluations, my MIL has been taken to a nursing home for rehab and further evaluations.
It has been a very stressful week with family.

But Charlie has been the source of laughter and amusement along with distraction.

Charlie discovered snow during the little blizzard we had. He got stuck in the deep snow and figured out how to make his way around in tracks and footsteps of humans.

Yesterday was nice in the afternoon.
When we got back from the VA. Charlie spent time with me outside exploring.

His potty training has gone very well considering all of the disruptions we've had this week.
He has excelled at crate training too.

He is learning ... or teaching me some Charlie communication. One or two whirls near the rugs at either door mean poop time. Sometimes a paw on my foot with a whine means pee time or nap time.
No problem, we are figuring it out.

He has developed a ravenous appetite.

I don't have any action shots of him tearing about with his toys but he spends a lot of time running around with them.
Sometimes he gets the zoomies. When he hits the slippery kitchen floor he simply drops onto his tummy and does a four paw drift as he slides and in a wink he is up and running the length of the kitchen.

He has begun leash and 'area' training. I wish I had a lighter rope to use. I think I will have to go see if I can find something at the hardware store.

What I mean by 'area' training is letting Charlie understand that he can only go about 20 feet from me and stay in that 'area'. He needs to keep an eye on me and pay attention.
He is too young for much, but he can learn to come when called and to stay close. He is doing that fairly well except when he is in the yard pouncing on pine cones and maiming them.

During this week, Charlie has acted like a therapy dog. He makes people laugh with his antics and without thinking, Rich scoops him up and carries him while petting him.
We know how well petting an animal can sooth the soul.

We've needed some soul soothing this week.

He is little. His heart is big.

And yesterday morning when he got under foot I must have stepped on his toes. He squeaked and I said a big laugh, "Sorry Charlie!"