> CS> Yes, been noting a definate thing.  Cash will follow me to the
 > CS> kitchen but be happy totally just for a 'pet'.  Cash follows
 > CS> Charlotte, she feels she has to give him a noshe.  She's now backing
 > CS> down to what I do (mini sporadic noshe, just a smear on a finger for
 > CS> taste and no more).
 > 
 > 
 > That is best policy while you're trying to control his diet so carefully.

Yes.  We *do* 'table scrap' a bit but a controlled way.  Made a few minor
mistakes in the beginning with it (Cash got slightly out of control) but
corrected ourselves before any real harm was done.

 > 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

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

He's got one yellow tennis ball (the super tough type for dog use) which he
will chase in the yard sometimes, but only because *we* are playing with it.

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

 > one of my slippers that Schatze decimated a few months ago.  Barely
 > recognizable now but dog still plays with it. SHe'd go after my new pair if 
 > let her, but when not on my feet they're stowed up on the stepladder over in
 > the corner of my office. I have to watch her, she's grown quite an affinity 
 > my shoes.

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

 > CS> Cash is happy.  Pack leader is Daddy, pack mate to be appeased is
 > CS> me.  Charlotte is a senior packmate to him but not radically senior
 > CS> enough he cant play with her or whine softly for a treat .  Cat
 > CS> is alpha whenit comes to her food bowl, and most other times but
 > CS> will accept a friendly whole face slobber.
 > 
 > 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.

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

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

Using same tactic on the way home, he was even better behaved for Don.  Didnt
even react to the busses.  (He's scared of them but with Don in control, he
ignored them!).

I think he got the hint when *I* controlled when and where he was allowed to
sniff like crazy or had to stay with *me*.

A bit more of this, and Charlotte is ready to try walking 'Mr Johnny Cash'. 
She hasnt the same command level with him yet, but you can see it growing.

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


(on Katrina victims, many of whom were beloved pets).
 > CS> I can well imagine.
 > 
 > 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.

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

 > 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.

I am so lucky with Cash and the babygates!  

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

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

It's normal spot is at the corner of the livingroom leading to the hall and
he can see in our bedroom from there.  He can also see the front door and
picture window.

We do not always crate him at night.  If my shift has me up all night for
example, he's free to roam.  He's crated when we all have to be away though
in the day and accepts that just fine.  Most nights, in his den.

Hush now, it's their afternoon naptime.  Don is snoring and Cash is on the
floor at the foot of the bed .
            xxcarol
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32