10Nov / 2013

Outsmarting Mom

I know that I have mentioned that our training is ongoing since Dash and I are service and therapy dogs. Well, this is a story about how Dash outsmarted Mom and made her giggle. Mom has been focused on “go place” with him. This means Mom puts a marker (mat or hand towel) somewhere and Dash must go and lay down on it until released. This is hard because we dogs don’t generalize well. Mom and Dash have it down at home, but class makes it hard with distractions.
Well, Saturday morning and off they went to class at Pawsibilities Unleashed. Dash did not like the mats in class and had difficulty with “go place” despite the yummy treats Mom offered him. So they had homework…
I got my turn to work and I did my requested tasks: sit, down, bang and roll over! Then it was Dash’s turn. Mom put out a hand towel for his “go place” and gave him the command. Dash walked over to it, lay down next to the hand towel, and then gently picked it up with his mouth and covered his front paws! Mom could not hold back the giggles. Silly Dash! He figured out a way to outsmart Mom on “go place”…for that day! I think we have lots more training sessions and practice coming!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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05Nov / 2013

I am Thankful for Training!

In November many humans are posting Thirty days of Thankfulness on Facebook. I wanted to be sure to post at least one day of thankfulness this November on my Blog although I am thankful for so many things in my life!

I am thankful for my training and the treats that I receive when I work hard and do it right! Dash is too. I am thankful for Pawsibilities Unleashed, Liz Norris and her staff that help Mom and me with our training. We go to class and come home with lots of homework that helps us to improve our everyday training.
A walk is not just a walk at our home! It is an opportunity to hone our skills. We practice turns, sits, waits, downs, touch, watch me and much more. During the day, at home, more work occurs as Mom blends go place, down and extended waits into our day as she does her chores. These things help our manners and obedience.
But there is a time or two each day that Mom takes each of us into the sunroom to work on specific skills. I practiced sit, down, bang and roll over today since the kids love watching those. And I got the special yummy treats. Then Dash had a turn working on skills. He has been working on go place while Mom leaves the room and/ or does distracting things! Today he finally got it right! He got lots of treats, too!
Because we have training, good training, we are able to do service and therapy dog work. We also get yummy treats. Today I am thankful for training and treats!
What are you thankful for?

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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21Oct / 2013

My Brother Did IT!

Today I have to brag about my brother, Dash the Labrador. Like me, he is a service dog. And he trains to keep his skills up to date. Recently Mom has had some new medical problems with her neck and back that limit the use of her arms. This affects her ability to do many things, including putting on shirts and jackets. Mom wants to remain independent so she began training Dash to assist her with her jacket and shirts.
Today was an awesome day! Dash took the sleeve when Mom gave the command, “take it” and he backed up and held it so she could put her arm in. After receiving treats, he took the cuff of the sleeve in his mouth and held it while Mom pulled her arm out. He got more treats. We are so proud of Dash!! He learned to do this in just two training sessions. My brother did it! He is awesome like me!!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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07Oct / 2013

Trained for Success!

Have you trained your human for success? Does s/he respond reliability to your cues? If so, you have done your job as a dog. This cartoon illustrates one hound’s successful training of his human!

In our house, the humans train the dogs LOL! We ring bells to go outside. Just sayin’. Guess that means the shoe is on the other foot or paw as the case may be!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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05Oct / 2013

Training Routine

One of the most important aspects about our training is that it is ongoing! We are lifelong learners! It keeps us mentally and physically healthy – so says Mom. And as she needs different skills from us as service and/or therapy dogs, we are able to perform them.
But how do we do this ongoing training? We drive from our home in Shephersville,KY to Frankfort, KY to meet with our master trainer, Liz Norris, of Pawsibilities Unleashed for class. There we review old skills and learn new ones. After class, several of us meet with her for a Q & A session to further improve our understanding of canine behavior and skills. Then the work begins!
At home these are the tools we use. Dash and I love them.

We like the Zuke’s treats because they are soft and crumbly and small. Mom loves to take the Nutro treats to school because they smell like blueberries and she smells yummy! The small yellow thing in the picture is a “clicker”. Mom uses it to make a noise and let us know to take a “visual snapshot” in our heads that we accomplished the right behavior… Then we get a treat!
So every day Mom insists that we heel, sit, wait, down, come front and many other things as we move around the house or go for walks. If she is doing the dishes, she puts us in a down/ stay and works us. Then we are released and we heel while walking to another room. We do get treats for following
directions which is really cool. Sometimes we play 5 minute games where Mom gives a variety of commands to Dash and me and we each get treats- if we listen and follow directions. We like those games!
Mom does not expect to train us for 15 minutes a day and have us learn the skill. We learn the skill by using it all day long and reinforcing it in real life. By training ALL DAY EVERYDAY our skills our reinforced and rock solid. We think think this is an awesome way to train. What do you think?

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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27Jun / 2013

Choices and Changes

There comes a time for change in a person’s life. Mom has recognized that I do need some changes as I mature and reach my golden years! Mom knows that I can do both my jobs (service dog and therapy dog) for a number of years but she is preparing Dash to take over for me. It is hard for both of us when she and Dash do Public Access work for his Service Dog in Training hours. I have to stay home alone. Even though Dash is a huge comfort to Mom, (and I am not named Timmy), this cartoon really reminds me of how hard it is on Mom to leave me…

Did I mention I don’t make it easy on Mom? We really love each other! But is it a change that forces this choice.

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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06Apr / 2013

Home Alone?!?!?!

I should have guessed something was up. Mom brought gave me the special toy- the one I get only when I am being left…home alone!

Dash has been working on his public access skills as a service dog, so I should have expected it, but I did not. Mom put his vest on, gave me the special toy and kissed me – and I was all alone! It was morning and Mom and Dad had not had breakfast so I know they went to a restaurant. I imagined that it looked like this.

Before they left, I made sure to give Dash some tips, which Mom called my goodbye barks. Hopefully he was listening. Then I thought about what I could do to stop Mom from leaving me in the future. And here is my idea!

Do you think it will work? Let me know!
Woofs and wags,
Bella

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25Feb / 2013

The Fuss about Socks!

Yesterday Mom and Dad were working on our skills with us. Just as they are lifelong learners as teachers must be, service and therapy dogs must constantly review and learn new skills. We are always”training”! So after practicing things we knew, Dad asked Dash to “go get” a sock. He went directly to the hamper, opened it and nosed around until he brought back a mate for the sock Dad showed him. He dropped it into Dad’s palm. Mom and Dad were really excited! They tried it three more times with other socks. Then they tried keys. Dash brought back the keys. He went and found them in another room. Since Mom loses things, this may be very helpful. It will also be useful when she needs medicine or juice. Dash already had some training in this area but it is up to Mom and Dad to refine it. They were excited to see how much he remembered! What a smart boy my brother is! It worth the fuss about socks!!

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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21Feb / 2013

Yellow on Dog Leads!!

Public Service Announcement Day! I saw this and wanted to share! There is a growing movement out there of DINOS (Dogs In Need Of Space) for a number of reasons. They may be in training, or fearful, or even reactive. Their owners as a group have started identifying them with yellow to alert others to give these dogs space and to NOT interact with them. Here is a neat poster to help the public!

Please be aware of yellow dogs and respect their needs! Thank you.

Woofs and wags,
Bella

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13Jan / 2013

Truth About Training Us Dogs

Most humans train their dogs to some degree. They want us to do our business outside, walk nicely on a leash and respect the human’s property. What they do not realize is just how quickly we learn and that we can train them. This cartoon hits the mark! LOL

Did you ever consider that this might be happening….tee hee!

Woofs and wags,

Bella

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Bella, My BFF

Tag Archives: training

Outsmarting Mom

I am Thankful for Training!

My Brother Did IT!

Trained for Success!

Training Routine

Choices and Changes

Home Alone?!?!?!

The Fuss about Socks!

Yellow on Dog Leads!!

Truth About Training Us Dogs

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