HI Carol,

Carol Shenkenberger wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

 > Picked up a couple little ropey ball type things in the pet toys and chewie
 > bones section at the discount store just recently.  Kathy doesn't have enoug

CS> Cash oddly is not into toys.  We got several but he almost
CS> completely ignores them.  It may be he takes to the sort that is a
CS> bit like a stuffed animal but due to Charlotte's large collection, I
CS> resist adding in anything that looks like a stuffed animal.  I have
CS> a feeling he'd get confused and go after her toys once trained 'soft
CS> pluffy cloth things are toys'.

Schatze got a stuffed fake bone with a dog bed we bought her and she chewed
it up. She's gotten pretty used to the ball, she'll get it when I tell her
"go get your ball" and then she'll bring it. AS it's made of rope
she'll hold onto it and fight me for it, but then once I get it away from
her
she'll retrieve it and bring it back.

Half past eleven at night as I write this, (late supper after a busy day)
and Schatze's wound up like an eight day clock.  Wants to play. SItting her
knocking my hands from keyboard every now and then. Had to stop while
writing this to play and wrestle a moment, then a rather hefty rawhide chew
got her attention. SHe'll go chew it for awhile and bury it.

CS> One command he has no clue about is 'fetch' ;-)  He will run after
CS> it then run to us to throw it again.

Schatze figured out fetch with a frisbee when still quite small.  I'm sure
there's a room at a motel six in Houston Tx. that probably has some nice
nicks in the paint in the steel door from me sitting back by the lavatory
tossing that frisbee. ON nice days I'd go outside with her and a 25 ft.
cable, throw the frisbee, when she brought it back she'd get a treat.

 > one of my slippers that Schatze decimated a few months ago.  Barely
 > recognizable now but dog still plays with it.

CS> Hehe she likes you . You probably have sweaty feet too.  Cash
CS> fortunately is not a shoe nipper.  He will sniff them, but not try
CS> to chew them. 

SHe's figured out that my other shoes are off limits after some terrible
go-rounds about them, but slippers she could grab ahold of and carry off
silently. My other shoes would cause too much noise and old blind man would
notice.  Hence she leaves them alone. SLippers are stowed out of reach when
not on my feet though.  take away the temptation.

 > dogs are as they were in the wild, very much pack animal.  Their place in th
 > pack has to be reinforced. OUr little pack of three is much the same.

CS> I'm learning more about this and some web pages that speak from this
CS> angle are working really well for us.  I noted almost immediate
CS> better handling on walking Cash yesterday for example once I saw a
CS> page that said 'the leader of the pack goes first, do not allow the
CS> dog to lead'.  For the first time, held him close and tight and
CS> didnt let him get his head more than 6 inches in front of me and
CS> 'wow'. In 2 mins training, he was almost perfect (til we got to the
CS> area with the scarey dogs he faced down that you see in the thread I
CS> moved over here).  At that point in the walk, took him across the
CS> street. 

I'm having to modify that some as I'm training her to work in harness as
guide for me when required.  MOstly I prefer the cane, but every now and
then it's handy. ESpecially when we must travel with our audio production
truck, I want dog to guard it.  IN case we can't stay at motel six which is
dog friendly I get less arguments if she behaves properly as dog guide when
in the traditional harness.

CS> He seemed actually happy to have me take control of the situation. 
CS> Took him all the way to the corner and let the kids all boil out
CS> while he sat politely at my feet til Charlotte came out.

DO push the issue on that place near your home where he gets nervous about
other dogs. Let him know that you're not always going to cross the street,
just keep control and let him know you're still in charge of the situation.
HE'll gladly accept your leadership.

CS> What confuses me still, is he's a bit better behaved with Don, but
CS> he's totally turning out fast to be a 'mommy dog'.  For example, Don
CS> cant get a new training into Cash's head but once I do it, he does
CS> it better for Don .

DIfference in your attitudes.  Don probably doesn't stay calm assertive
with him as well.  Though DOn is nominal pack leader in his eyes if DOn
grows impatient or loses that calm assertive demeanor then he'll become
hard headed. DOn't know what Don does but I gather your training is as a
Navy officer.  You're used to projecting "calm assertive." IN
fact I've adapted that phrase of Caesar Millan's to teaching people how to
be in control of radio circuits and networks.  People react to it as well.
WHen net control is calm assertive participants don't transmit when they
shouldn't and otherwise behave better.  LEt net control get a bit flummoxed
however and participants start trying to take control of the circuit from
him/her.

 > YEs we heard plenty of sad animal stories.  Between all the Katrina stories 
 > the news and the American REd Cross appeals for money I got to the point whe
 > first in SAn Antone I didn't even want to turn on the *{at}{at}{at} tube. I just want
 > to get home and see my ROxy, start the arduous task of cutting up the oak tr
 > and retrieving my stuff out of my collapsed house.

CS> Totally understandable.  I'm so happy you got her back!

WE were too, and though we have this one and she's gone we still miss her. 
SHe was very special to us.

 > Schatze is to the point now where we can close her out of my office and leav
 > other harmfuls up where she can't get to them and she can do what she's
 > supposed to do and that's greet any possible intruders at front or rear door
 > and do her guard dog stuff. SHe could if she only realized it shoulder her w
 > into my office/radio room as well.  IN fact has, but I've got most wiring we
 > enough hidden away she can't get to it.

CS> I am so lucky with Cash and the babygates!  

WOuldn't work with Schatze.  SHe could leap over them .

CS> I can now leave them just propped with a side gap so the cat can
CS> walk out, and he still will not nudge them aside!  This is good
CS> because after Daisy jumped on one once it fell over so now she wont
CS> cross a gate either except the one to Charlotte's room (always tight
CS> to the door).

HE'll discover it by accident and bump one aside, then ...

CS> On Den's we made one mistake last night.  We tried to move Cash's
CS> crate to our bedroom but he was uncomfortable all night so we have
CS> to move it back. 

Schatze is accustomed now to her bed at the foot of our bed. IF I do the
insomniac thing and get up to play on the radio or something though she'll
end up in my place on the bed and we'll have to have a little discussion
about that when I come back to bed.  sHe's used to bedroom being den.

 WHen Kathy was so sick around CHristmastime Schatze
would come in from outdoors and run right to the bed and lie down with
mommy. she was so weak and sick that she'd often wet herself or have other
problems, and Schatze would come to radio room and get me. I'd know then to
come in, put mommy in dry bedclothes etc.  MOst sick folks have a little
call bell or something, wife had a rottweiler .

CS> Hush now, it's their afternoon naptime.  Don is snoring and Cash is
CS> on the floor at the foot of the bed .
IF Kathy takes afternoon nap Schatze sleeps on the bed with her.

MOre in another message, but your Sheraton waterside hotel there in Va.
beach is very dog friendly.
Bell hops were always glad to see her when out for walks.  THey've a nice
grassy area on one end of the building for doggie relief.

Regards,
           Richard
... Time is the best teacher; unfortunately, it kills all its students.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+