Another hump day

                     
                   This photo was taken with my laptop camera.  Not great but it will do in a pinch.  They've come a long way with computer and phone cameras. 

Well I've officially been without my main computer for a week.  I pick it up today, so I'm hoping that they fixed the blue screen issue.  I feel very lost without it; even though just hours before the crash I got a new laptop.  My main PC is the hub of my life; it is where I write, upload photos and stay connected throughout the day.  I love my office as well, both Elsa and Luke love it too so it will be nice to put my computer back in its home and get back to work.  I really like this new laptop but it is not my computer.  For one thing it has Windows 8 on it which I'm trying to get a handle on.  It is pretty easy but getting use to it is something else.  But I'm getting there. 

This new laptop has no disc drive so that means no putting old software into it.  Hmmmmmmmm???  When I was looking at all the new ones without disc drives I sat staring and pondering; this was going to be some work to dig up codes for online software.  Either dig up the old or go with the flow and buy new.  For Photoshop I'm going to have to go with new; upgrading to the newest version.  That's fine, I was meaning to do it anyway.  This laptop is light weight, so it can be dragged along with me everywhere which will enable me to write on the fly.  Nice.

So I have a new phone, new laptop and hopefully repaired office computer.  I'll be all set as far as my technology needs go.  Now to make them work for me.  I'm nearing the end of my training book and will hopefully have it out before Christmas.  My second book about my trip from CA to CT and back again is also nearing completion.  That one is a tough write so it is taking much longer. 

My main website www.justdogswithsherri.com is getting a much needed facelift.  New and exciting additions are coming but it will be a while until everything is up and running smoothly.  I am working on a webinar as well.  The first one is well under way and ideas for future webinars are in the works.  So stay tuned for that. 

I have incorporated my consultation packages on my website now and am excited to hear from and help those of you out who need it. 

Lots of changes coming and only one direction to go, straight ahead.

Temperament testing

Temperament - Characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional response.

Test - the process of assessing.

Yesterday started out with a puppy temperament test.  Temperament testing is one of my absolute favorite canine related jobs.  Hanging out with a pile of puppies?  Not too many other things can top that.  But aside from the obvious joy of it; there is a great wealth of information that unfolds during the tests.  It is quite fascinating to see each puppy give up the information of what they are made of or who they are.

Just to clarify; temperament testing is not only for purebred dogs.  I have tested mixed litters as well from stray parents who were picked up off the street.  It is a test given to best place puppies.  

The temperament test is given as close to 49 days (7 weeks) as possible.  It is given in an area where the puppies have never been with someone who they have never met, me.  Each puppy is tested alone; you cannot test a litter together.  A litter gives each dog an altered temperament when they are as one.  Take them out and make them stand alone and you get a true read on that singular puppy.  The tests consists of putting each puppy through specific actions so that we can see how they react.  Scores are given in accordance to their initial reaction to each test.

What the test offers is some insight into an individual puppy.  This information lets you know where each puppy would best thrive.  Which family or home would be best suited to that specific puppy.  I am a big advocate of temperament testing.  It is surprising to see how different puppies can be in one litter.  There are litters made up of closely scoring puppies; but others may hold puppies ranging from one end range to the other.

Seeing each puppy as they are put through the stages of a temperament test is fascinating.  I love it and as each puppy is tested, the results from the puppy before and after will be compared.  The comparing is not as to which is the best but most appropriately suited to what home.  In all of my years of testing I have only had one very troubling litter result; and a handful of not so greats. Those who typically call someone out to temperament test are working very hard to have great temperaments.

As far as the test itself; I use the Volhard Puppy Test.  I have made my own modifications to it and work with each test a bit differently.  I give an initial reaction score of each puppy but then allow the puppy to be in the moment longer to see their recovery time.  Recovery time is huge and gives with it a ton of information.  I have also added a few extra tests that I like to see responses to.  One is the instinct to guard food.  Each puppy is given a piece of food too large to consume.  Dried chicken (local) jerky is good for this.  Responses are all over the charts with this test; everything from not wanting the food to running off and posturing over it on approach.

Puppy temperament testing is not the end result; it is merely a window into who that puppy is and where they might best be placed.  Environment, social stimulus and work can change things drastically.  Some puppy scores will offer insight for a dog who may have problems dealing in some way.   Others may be a bit of a handful; too confident for their own good.  Why not give all of the puppies and new homes the best chance to thrive?

My question to you as a breeder is; if you are not temperament testing, why?


 

Consequences

Like I always say, I just need to head out with the dogs to get blog ideas.  So, yesterday I decided to take Elsa out alone.  It is good for her and I to visit the parks without Luke.  We got to the park and there was no one else there; I love when that happens.  Out comes the chuck it and I fire away.  I thought it would be good to work the entire park so we head down to the other end.  After returning with the ball in her mouth; Elsa looked past me as her ears went up.  This was the first piece of information in the sequence of events.  I turned quickly to see what she had seen and it was a rabbit.  She thought about it for just a split second; dropped the ball and charged full speed.  I called her name in vain.  There is always a point when you realize that your attempts to stop what is happening are futile.  This was one of those moments.  She was gone and she was not coming back until she caught the rabbit; or at least that was what she thought.

I put the Chuck it in my belt and got a hustle on.  Elsa looked up at me for an instant and I called out "hey!"  I didn't want to use "come;" I knew she wouldn't come.  She thought about coming when I yelled "hey," but went back to her rabbit pursuit.  I was mad now, not as mad as I needed to be though so I put on my mad face.  I knew full well that this was a great training moment.  So I put on my best serious posture along with the face and made a b-line to my rabbit crazed girl.

She was at the other end of the park so I had plenty of 'think' time.  Often you don't have 'think' time so things just play out as hey unfold.  I was walking fast, there was the chance that she might try to get under the fence after the rabbit.  As I approached Elsa I yelled out a loud "NO;" I wanted a clear association to the word and what was about to play out.  (More on NO in another blog.)  With all of my time to think on the way to Elsa I knew that I had to grab a hold of her; at least for the initial point of getting her off of the rabbit.  If I just tried to shoosh her away like I would on a typical non compliance recall she would just skirt around me after the critter.  So with my posture upright and rigid, I donned my mad face and grabbed a hold of her harness.  I turned on a dime and head back towards the xterra.

I said nothing else and let my body do the speaking.  She knew, she knew that I was mad.  Now, if she had had a collar on I would have only grabbed for an instant and then had to work on shooshing or hooked her leash up immediately.   I do not like collar grabs as they can really create a negative effect.  I walked abruptly; with serious definition in every foot step.  I soon hooked up her leash as we continued onto the xterra.  Every bit of me wanted to head to the other end and continue our chuck it fun; but a lesson was being taught, right then and there.  I had to leave, she had to have consequences.  I didn't want to end the fun but it had to end.  Elsa had crossed a line that needed consequences.

Was I shocked that she went after a rabbit?  My ever so picture perfect girl?  No, I was actually happy.  This was very important information that I needed.  We've been around rabbits before that have only drawn her attention for a second.   Perhaps because they are usually at the end of a bush and dive under out of reach. This one was out in the open and running a good distance.  It was more than she could handle and she caved.  So we had a lesson before us which was perfectly timed.  She was not in danger of being run over; there were no other people around so this was the perfect place and time to have this lesson.

Once we got to the car I utterly only "get in."  My tone still stern along with my body.  That is when it ended, lesson over.  Typically a lesson is played out with feedback.  Instant, a reaction following an action.  This lesson carried on longer as the final statement was the vehicle.  Game over, fun over.  Knowing my girl as I do; the event will have a lasting impact.  This is exactly what I need.  There will always be something to chase; things that are very hard to ignore but a dog with drive must learn to ignore somethings.  Elsa's drive is nothing compared to what Tilley's was; this is a walk in the park.

Tone it down

This is Ruby, my sister's Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.  She's an amazing dog, she could literally retrieve all day long.  Hmmm, reminds me of someone else.  :)  But Ruby needs to slow down; she is 10 and she gets very sore if she doesn't tone it down a bit.  She loves nothing more than diving off the dock, retrieving her ball and then doing it over and over and over.  But the dock diving has ceased.

Ruby is only allowed to go after her ball from the beach, no more dock diving.   This ramp is a great help for her to get over the rocks.  

It is tough for everyone as our dogs age.  The whole family takes great joy watching Ruby and it is hard to see her have to give up a few of her favorite things.  It is for Ruby's own good and the toning down is done out of love for this wonderful girl.  

How happy is this face?

Ruby has a water retrieving ritual like many dogs.  She retrieves her ball from the water; shakes when she gets out and then throws herself on the sand/grass and rolls around.  Then she's ready to go again. 

Taking time out to clean her paws and take a fleeting break.  

She's no slouch at 10.

A special moment caught in time, priceless. 

I love shooting Ruby in action.  As hard as she charges into the water she always manages to keep her head up.

I remember the day we retired Tilley from Frisbee.  It was very hard, emotional and traumatic for the humans.  Tilley adjusted to low thrown balls until that was banned as well.  As much as we love to offer our dogs what they love; sometimes we are required to use our heads and make unpopular decisions.   As our dogs age we need to monitor their health and comfort regularly.  They too can be injured more easily as they get into their senior years.  So toning it down is a must. 

This above photo was taken years ago of a much younger Ruby.