First off I have to BRAG again, and I am not embarrassed to brag because I have really been working hard to LOSE A TOTAL OF TWENTY FIVE POUNDS!!!! Yippie, skippie. I am feeling great and considering having to run with the dogs in this heat I am not missing that huge chunk of extra weight. My body sure is not as good at losing weight as it is at gaining it and this time around it is holding on tight. It is hard to not get discouraged but reaching this first goal really gives me some more fuel to go on.
Ok Ricky's mom has issued a challenge and it is open to anyone.....how much fun is that? So go to Ricky's blog and say you want to play with us if you do... http://rickyitsadogslife.blogspot.com/2010/08/hiking-in-hocking-hills-and-training.html The challenge is to just do something to challenge your comfort zone in training each week. You can post about it on your blog, or video it, or what ever you want to do.
We decided to get working and took the dogs to a park they had never been to and did restrained recalls, IN THE 103 degree heat. I think I should get extra points, and I am giving myself extra points for training in the heat, LOL.
Cricket did fantastic, as did Breeze. Breeze does have a little issue in that I use a ball to train with and get her excited...she is not a tugger. The problem is that I throw the ball and it gets her really excited, but it does make her focus more on running past me and not concentrating on GETTING TO ME. This is not a huge problem because Breeze just has a really nice, natural strong recall with no training. But since we are training recalls I did find one toy she will tug with and figure, I will work on it.
Lizzie, Lizzie is always special. On the video my daughter is definitely luring her to come to her which I would rather she didn't....but I am so grateful to my daughter for helping so...luring is good enough. This was a new place, and Liz tends to do stress zoomies, so I left her on leash and did just some back and forth recalls to start. I would step on the leash to make sure she could not zoom off. She did GREAT, so I progressed to some shorter restrained recalls, again...she did great. FANTASTIC, I am celebrating that. Of course right as we finish, I go to grab Liz to leave and she takes off. A MAJOR zoomie. I was so scared because the bad girl was seriously looking for holes under the fence and staying way away from me. She would not even look at me. Ughghghghg. I know there are a lot of holes and there is so much land out there I was so scared she would get out. I guess she has earned herself more shaping sessions at that park, more little recall work and a LONG LINE.
BREEZE
Just a quick update. Breeze seems to feel a lot better after I figured out her back was hurting. Her eyes look great like she feels ok, I get the feeling she is ok, but she has a really roachy back, and her shoulders are all hunched up. Everyone notices she does not look right, even just standing. My husband who has never noticed anything with gaits or behavior or anything said she looks like a little old lady. That is something if he notices. I am not sure what is up but I have not really worked her and she has not done any weaves. She is off to the vet again to see if she just needs another little adjustment or is there something else going on? So keep your fingers crossed for us that her back is just still a little out of alignment and that is causing the shoulders to go out of alignment??? I am just seriously a little tired of the physical issues to tell you the truth, Poor Breeze.
19 comments:
Woohoo! Congratulations on the weight loss!
Looks like you have a great place to practice recalls. This is what I've been working on with the puppy but I should go back and do these with Sage and Summit since both dog LOVE this game.
I have a training challenge that I just started yesterday. It's really stretching my knowledge and patience. Indy has decided, in the last 2 weeks, that he wants to focus on our other dog much more than focus on me...no matter what toy I have. So we working on increasing his drive for tugs, balls, and food so that he will get more excited to be with me. This is really pushing me outside the training box...and teaching me not to get discourage or take it personal when he suddenly decides that other things are more important than playing with me.
Wow, thats awesome on the weight loss!!!!!
All the dogs look great. Sorry about Breeze. I wonder if Merle dogs have more injuries than other dogs?? Diana
Congratulations on the weight loss! That is absolutely fantastic!!!!!
Awesome job on the training challenge for this week! You definitely get more points for doing recalls when it was 103!! That alone would be a huge challenge for me! The dogs did so well and we're really proud of you for getting out there to try it in a new location!
Hope Breeze continues to feel better - poor girl. I too hope there is an end to all of her physical issues. It's just not fair!
Yay for the weight loss and for sticking with it!! My goodness, it looks like you got your workout running back and forth to practice all those recalls! Nothing like our pups to keep us moving!
I like Ricky's challenge. I already named August as recall month for me and Kona, so your video and post are good motivation!
25 lbs is awesome Kathy! You are doing fantastic!
Looks like you've got a great start on the training challenge. All the dogs did a really nice job at the new place. 103 degrees! Good grief!
As for Breeze, I hope you figure out what is going on soon. I hope you and Diana are wrong about the blue dogs. I don't want to even think about worrying that Dare might be prone to health issues.
Congratulations on losing 25 pounds! That's awesome!
Leave it to you to take the training challenge so seriously and show the rest of us up! I mean seriously, 103 degrees? I guess, oreo and I will be doing our challenge in our oven. LOL.
Great job on the recalls.
Poor Breeze. I hope she just needs a bit more tweaking from the vet. I know when Oreo hurt his knee, his entire body, even his TAIL, was all out of whack, and it took a few weeks of adjustments to get it right, because he was using the rest of his body to compensate.
Congratulations on the weight loss! Twenty five pounds - that's awesome!
I read a little bit about Ricky's training challenge. That's one thing I need to learn to do more - step out of my comfort zone.
Looks like you did a good job with the girl and their recalls! Even it WAS oppressively hot!
Big congrats on losing those 25 pounds!
Love how you're working on the recalls. They really love their tugs, don't they!
THANKS so much for the congrats!!! I really do feel good about working on my weight and sticking to things, because it really is a pain and I resisted it for a long time not wanting to have to go down that road and not wanting to risk feeling even worse about myself if I did not do well.
LOL, thanks Nat, the funny thing is Breeze is a ball obsessed girl and I have never been able to get her to tug but I am SOOOOOO HAPPY after three years I have her tugging, not all the time, only certain times and certain toys but we are working on it, but she hides that pretty well I think and looks like she always tugged!
Danielle Hey, I would not worry about Indy...I think at his age that focusing on other dogs is a hard one, but seems pretty age appropriate and along with the work you are doing....he will be FINE. Cricket went through that too..
Thanks, Cathy.
You and your blogs are always very encouraging. Your blog is my favorite to read because you are always so open and honest about your success and failures and it makes me feel not alone in the things I'm struggling with.
And congratulations on losing weight!
oops..sorry for spellling your name wrong. I meant to spell it with a "K" but my finger typed a "C."
Well first of all, CONGRATULATIONS on sticking to it and getting rid of that 25 pounds!! It sure is hard to do and I admire you for getting it done!
Second, great job getting the dogs out to a new place. That always makes my Katiie-girl a bit nervous! We went to a scary place today, I'll write about it on Sunday! :)
Congrats on the weight loss. Don't you wish it came off as easy as it goes on? I sure do. :)
Great job on the training challenge as well. You wasted no time getting that one done. :)
Way congrats on the weight loss! :) And way fun challenges. :)
what a great challenge! Recalls are such a critical part of a pups education, and something I could really work on. Love to see the eagerness you dogs show.
And congrats on the weight loss!! 25 lbs is no small feat!!
Fantastic, 25lbs of weight loss!!! Recalls are challenging, look forward to watching your progress.
Hi Kathy, I *think* the turning cues article series in Clean Run started in January this year. Around that time. It's been a monthly article since then. I'd really encourage anyone to try out the exercises, they've been a huge help for Mika and me!!
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