So when we decided to move, my greatest fear was loosing her.  What if she was wandering in our very large yard and never came back, would she really come when I called her even if I could not see her, would she just bark and bark to the dogs that wander next door, or would she chase and kill the cats that are around and on and on were my concerns.

The first week that she was there, it was during a week that I was going up by myself to paint and unpack some boxes, etc. Mike has raised many dogs but Jasmine is my first one that I have raised since a pup.  I was not so confident in how things were going to go and not at all confident in her instincts and in our relationship with each other–I did not trust her and I was wondering if she trusted me.

By the end of the week, we BOTH had grown so much in our relationship, in our trust, in our enjoyment and in our sheer joy of living in the country.  Jasmine, as you may have guessed, has enormous instinct that guides her around the property, back home, and also guides her relationships with the neighboring dogs.  She runs, plays, wanders, and checks in frequently with me (which is rewarded with a Waggin’ Delights treat of course!).  She has lost weight, she looks incredible and she is so social with others (people and animals).  I have beamed with pride as she comes when I call, plays nicely with Macy (the dog) next door and goes outside, explores and comes back.  She has even figured out how to open the back door on her own so if I am a little slow, she can still get back in if she would like.  I feel like she is a happier dog. AND I have become so aware and appreciative of the instincts and behaviors of dogs when they are allowed to be dogs.  Jasmine wants to please me and given the fact that I feed her she returns and comes time and time again.

When Mike came back the following weekend he could not believe how Jasmine and I were interacting with each other, how calm I was about giving up some control over her, and how she was simply thriving in her new found “dogness.”  She loves to hang out with me even more now that she did before.  Maybe it is because now she has more choices and so often she chooses me.  When I am unboxing and running up and down the stairs a hundred times in a day, she is too.  When I painted she hung out and watched but listened so well when I told her to not cross a certain point (didn’t need painted doggie paws!). While at the same time she runs and plays outside as if she cannot get enough–but comes back when called.

Do you have an experience to share on city vs. country or in giving up some control over your dog and how that turned out?

Next time I will share on her newfound dog friendships…

Thanks!

Mike

Hi Mike,

You do have to be consistent with teaching not to jump on people, because if the dog is allowed to jump on you it will not understand why it can’t jump on everyone.  I would suggest you teach the dog to not jump “at all”, unless given the command to jump.

Jumping is the number one complaint I get from doggie moms and dads.  I like to teach a dog to “sit” whenever the dog is greeting anyone.  One you accomplish a reliable “sit, then, and only then, teach a separate “jump” command when you want the dog to jump on you.  If it does not get the “jump” command, then jumping is not permitted.

Tina
MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center

Sprayberry Square Shopping Center
2550 Sandy Plains Road NE, Suite 365
Marietta, GA 30066

Phone: 770-579-3865

Tag Along

Hi Tag Along (I love your name),

I am about to deal with a cat myself.  My mom and dad are moving and next door is a cat that roams around and really seems to like our new house.  In my house now, I just lay at the door and pounce on the door and bark when I see a cat–you know to tell it to “scat!”  But when we visited the new house and we were outside (there’s lots and lots of grass there) and I saw my new neighbor.  There was no door between us though.  I started to jump and bark but she kinda looked at me funny and I thought she might actually come after me, so I just froze and stared at her.  She was able to stare longer than me so I finally gave up and turned around and found something to sniff.

I think I am going to just try to ignore her.  She looks at me like she thinks she is smarter or something; like I am a “dumb dog.”  Little does she know how brilliant I am… that is another story.

So just try to ignore her and find better things to do–sniff, scratch, sleep, chew.  There is also this funny article that someone can read to you about cats and dogs if you want to.

Good Luck!

Jasmine

Enjoy watching!

This was Jasmine’s first experience at the dog park.  She has been to many parks and has been out and about, but always on a leash.  I was not sure how she would react in this situation.  She loved meeting Yesenia’s pups first outside of the doggie area.  They had a little meet and greet and then we were on our way.  When we entered the area for less than 50 pound friends and unleashed her you could tell that her wheels were turning in her little head. She wandered and sniffed and then laid down to catch some rays.

After much observing and a lot of thought, she suddenly realized that there were DOGS there and she was FREE of the leash!  She popped up, did her downward facing dog stretch (always a prerequisite to fun) and started romping and running and having a blast.  It was truly so fun to watch her absorb the info and then respond so jubilantly to what she had conquered!

She fit in well with all the dogs, greeted the new ones with sniff’s and a “come on in” attitude.  She took breaks to just lay and watch and just like a toddler at the park, she would frequently come back to me as if to touch base and say “ok, you are still here; I will be back again in a bit”.

Jasmine gives Waggy World 4 wags on a scale of 1 -5.  They had a drinking faucet for her and her friends, lots of room to run in the sun or shade, benches for the doggie parents and just a great look with the wooden fence and a red fire hydrant for decor. She liked that the really big dogs were on the other side of the fence.  And although she liked watching them through the fence to see what they were up to, she was glad to be with pups her size.

What I love even more though is the little things that are our routine that I know have a different take on them when I am gone.  She and I have developed great communication and ways that she tells me things.  One of my favorites is when she wants a treat she comes up to me, sits and then taps her foot–as if she is spelling out treat with SOS. If you ignore this it will get more pronounced.  Eye contact with her at this point brings a lick to the chops and then when I actually say “do you need a treat?”… she hops and does a little 1/2 circle kind of dance as she moves towards the treat jar.

There are a lot of our little routines that she kicks right into the first day that I am back and I love it.  Those things are our dogspeak that we both miss when I am gone.

How about you?  What do you notice when you return after begin away from your dog?

What makes Kiba wag the most??? Offering to go on a walk gets that tail waggin’!

Shawn,

Simply – No! It is never too late to do training!

Obviously young puppies greatly benefit from training. It provides rules, boundaries and discipline whereby a puppy can grow up into a confident, well adjusted dog. Training teaches dogs how to be dogs in a human world.

Sometimes a training class teaches the humans stewards more than the dog! Training teaches how to consistently communicate with your dog. Training teaches people leadership. I find that too many people do not take the role of leader in the house as seriously as they should, and then the dog flounders. Dogs look for and need leaders of the pack. If they cannot find good leadership, the dog will take over the house and then you can run into behavioral problems. As humans we should be their leader first and a friend second.

I ran a rescue group for eight years and I always have recommended that a re-homed dog, regardless of age, should go through a basic training class. Whether or not the dog had training in their previous life, having the new family go through training with the new dog will help enhance good leadership relationships in the new home. It will also reinforce those consistent communication skills and provide structure in the new environment.

A group training class will also provide a safe place for your dog to socialize; and, the other dogs and people in the class will be good distractions for training.

We all like spending time with our dogs. That is usually one reason we have one or more. Training should be fun and is a great family project!

So go have some fun. It is a very worthwhile investment!

Tina

MerryMac Dog Training & Nutrition Center
Sprayberry Square Shopping Center
2550 Sandy Plains Road NE, Suite 365
Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: 770-579-3865