As the summer draws to its end and the fall season is only weeks away according to the calendar, not by the latest temperatures we have had near 100 degrees, the dogs are really ready for their fall season of birthdays and winter coats.
Interestingly for Nicoya, who has slowed considerably in his walk and movements, has begun to pick up a need for speed. He has gone so far as to jog 20-50 feet on his walks. It is me typically slowing him down to a stroll anticipating the pain he will feel in his joints once we return home. This past weekend and after many attempts in the week to get me to jog (his jog is still a run for me) with him, I went along with his request to let him stretch his legs to their fullest. At almost 14 years of age and with arthritis in his joints, it is still hard for me to keep up with him. I filmed his run and I had to slow him down since we still had half the walk to home.
Keena and I are in week 4 of 6 classes of her Basic Obedience II course. It is basically a repeat of the previous dog II course we took. We both needed more practice and this particular school was the only one operating during the summer months due to having plenty of sign ups. Keena has done well so far. She is the smallest dog in the class but she might be the oldest. I am not sure as due what appears to be the more common protocol for these classes now is to not have any introductions of dogs or humans! This was not the standard behavior in Bear’s and Nicoya’s obedience classes. Every human introduced themselves but more importantly their dog and its name. This teacher just keeps saying “this dog or that dog” and once in awhile he will mention a dog’s name–who knows if he is correct. He has asked me three times what Keena’s name is and he keeps calling her a him. Nonetheless, Keena seems to understand when it is time for her to “perform” and does so very well. By the second class, the teacher was borrowing her to demonstrate new training tasks, by the third class she was winning a prize frisbee for winning the task against the other dogs and by today’s fourth class, she barked and talked throughout the class until it was her turn to show-off, I mean complete her task. Now the teacher just assumes she is already accomplished in each week’s new task because she learns so quickly. Keena has learned or attempted most of these basic commands, but this teacher does have a slightly different way he wants the dog to perform it thus making it new to Keena. I am still hoping to find the next class for Keena to use her never-break-my -focus-on-the-other-dog skills in a different direction, like in Rally Obedience or Agility Obedience.
Keena and Winnie have struck up their morning wrestling. Keena initiated it again a few weeks ago. I believe she recognized she has some weight on her and wanted to try it out on Winnie. In the video, Keena tries spinning around and moving backwards with her butt towards Winnie before she goes in for an open mouthed attempt at Winnie’s neck area. Winnie is still in charge in this game. That is until Nicoya realizes the two girls are up to no good and gives his own warning snarl of enough. Nicoya’s presence still has its effect on the girls. No matter how brave Winnie may get with him, she still follows his requests.
Seconds later after Nicoya’s snarl is understood by his female charges they show their understanding of his command. “Good girls, Winnie and Keena. Immediately after this Nicoya went outside to rest without all their commotion disturbing his peace, I’m sure.
Image may be NSFW.
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From the earlier posts mentioning some walk changes in who gets paired up with whom, more compromises and adaptations have occurred. Nicoya has clearly enjoyed his solo walks. Winnie just recently has shown a preference in walking with Keena. This pairing has been successful for Keena to learn from one of her own within “the Nation” on the calm, easy going, let’s-just-cruise-the-‘hood because Winnie has got to be the best dog walking on a leash out there. And eventually, these changes led to a few walks with all three of them together successfully—in other words, Keena behaved and didn’t bother one or the other. Yeah! More astonishing is Nicoya was ok being sandwiched between the girls!
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Alpha Nicoya in the lead at the start. Then…
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Then the girls, Winnie and Keena, take charge as Nicoya slows down towards the end.
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
