Ok, so it's been a LONG while since I've posted anything.....

Herkimer is still a big lummox and goofy as ever.  Due to personal circumstances, he hasn't been worked like he should, and has regressed a little in behavior and we need to step back and get back in shape.  That would apply to all of us!

However, I am happy to report that Herkimer is 2 1/2 years old and eager as ever to get started again... um, at least I'm pretty sure he's eager to start - he is eager for ANYTHING!

I ask for a tad bit of patience and I'll be starting my blog back up with new training and.... wait for it.... even some Doggy Day Care days!  He REALLY needs to work off lots of energy!  I so can't wait for that to start.

Unfortunately we have a couple months before we really start, but I'll try to keep up with some new pictures!

Thanks everyone!!

Oh the Irony!!!!

Mothers Day evening we were having a lovely dinner, cooked by my Hubby, at my Mother-in-Law's house.  We even brought out the birthday cake we got for my hubby earlier in the week for dessert.

There Herkimer was, laying down, minding his own business.  He was even off to the side, just like he was supposed to be... when what did I decide to do??  Walk over him to get to my seat and a piece of cake.

As I brought my second foot (the right one) over Herkimer, the toe of my sock got caught in the zipper of his vest pocket.  I lost my balance (which I don't have much of to begin with) and went down.  Herkimer didn't attempt to try to get up while I was stepping over him -- again, exactly what he was supposed to do.

So today, after a bunch of x-rays - I have an avulsion fracture of my right big toe!  No wonder it hurt!  And turned a lovely shade of purple!  AND I tore my favorite "Woof" socks!  Sheesh....

I'm just VERY glad Herkimer didn't try to stand up - I don't want to think how THAT would have ended...

Dog = 1; Klutzy Owner = 0

Despite the broken toe, our obedience class went extremely well tonight!  My son joined me and helped work with him -- he did okay (my son that is).  Herk on the other hand was wonderful.  I think he really understood the corrections that the trainer made last week, because we didn't have a single problem with the other dogs.  He would alert to them, but a "Leave it" brought him right back.  Herkimer breezed past the greeting a person with a dog and the loose leash activity.  We even walked out together (him and I), past the dogs from class and the ones waiting in the store front - without an incident!  Whoo Hoo!

By no means is this problem fixed.  But he knows what he is supposed to do, so that makes it easier to move up to stronger distractions and meeting dogs outside class.  And that is what I'm doing later in the week.  I'm taking Herk to the puppy class (by the same trainer) during the socialization part.  And I have a couple friends lined up to work on the meeting part with different dogs.

It really is amazing how much difference a structured obedience class makes!  The progress, not only Herkimer has made, but the other dogs as well!

Before the toe incident, we also started taking him out to public places (where dogs are not likely to be) and started practicing.  He was overly distracted but followed commands very well.  His biggest problem came when we stopped to talk to someone, look at merchandise or pay at the register.  He lost his focus and roamed around too much.  But what do they say??? Practice, practice, practice.  He will never relax in a new place if I don't keep taking him out.

Progress is a beautiful thing!

Oh -- and he didn't eat anything in the house today!  (granted, I was home by 12:30 because of my toe - but I'll take any progress in THAT department).

Ahhhh... separation anxiety

Is so much fun to deal with!  NOT!  We have to start all over with crate training... and we have renamed Herk to Herkimer Houdini!  I honestly don't know how he got out of the crate earlier in the week - the one space he created doesn't look even remotely close enough to big enough for him to squeeze through.

So, for safety sake (his) we've been letting him stay outside the crate during the day while we are at work.  However, his love for chewing things is getting costly!  I need to replace my 4th heating pad now.  My favorite bedspread (an antique quilt) is shredded - as is a set of sheets, bed ruffle and actually the bed, the door to the bedroom needs painting, our one window shade has got... ahem... a few marks in it and we've lost countless socks, underwear and shoes.  Whooo boy!  I know I'm missing things, but it's better to forget...

Good thing he is so darn cute and the fact that he loves me best, makes it easier.  Also, I love reminding my husband that part of the problem is HIS fault - because he didn't follow my directions regarding the crate while I was away at Scout Camp, and subsequently Herkimer got out a few times -- and as most doggie owners know that once they figure something out, they just try harder each time...

Anyway - he is doing GREAT on his obedience training!  He understands the "look" command, which is used to keep his attention on me -- and he improves daily on actually following it as I increase the distractions while training.  His sitz, plotz and hier (sit, down, come) are almost perfectly consistent and I'm getting a pretty good distance between us and he holds those positions.  WHOO HOO!

We are now going to start taking him into places, like stores, since his response to commands are so good.  I have to avoid anyplace that may have dogs because that is still a problem for him.  We have been working on that really hard, and during class he is getting much better -- but I just don't have the strength to make a proper correction when he spontaneously lunges at another dog.  Aja, the trainer, has taken him a few times and worked with him in class and then he responds better for me -- but since I can't take Aja with me everywhere I go... we need to find another way.

So, instead of buying the flash for my camera that I was going to get - I'm getting a professional E-Collar for Herkimer.  That way my correction along with a proper E-Collar correction will get the same results and should hopefully get us through this issue.  Aja will work with me on it once it comes in.  We only have a few weeks before the class is over and we need to test for the Canine Good Citizen test -- the one thing I'm worried about is meeting dogs without reacting.  Keep your fingers, and paws crossed that we can work this one out....

Once we cross that HUGE barrier (the being friendly with other doggie issue), we won't have to worry as much about leaving him alone at home - because then he can start coming with me every time we go out.  Work is the only issue -- until the medical group that shares our office space moves, there is no place for Herkimer to be in the office.  He can't be in the way of patients and that's exactly where he would be --- BUT, they are working on moving and then I'll have an office!

Progress is a beautiful thing....

Excuses...

as to why I haven't posted!  I was sick and then I got BUSY with Scouts... we have had two obedience classes since last post, and we are making progress.

He did great tonight even without actually working with Herkimer this week, since I was up at camp for a Scout Leader training.  (WOW, was that fun - exhausting! but FUN).

When I get myself caught up a tad - and I can actually find my dining room table... I'll post more!

Cheers

Cat Training...

No I don't mean training the cats -- boy do I wish... I'm working with Herkimer on leaving the cats alone.

This is going to be harder than it sounds because he is really gets all worked up, especially when a cat enters this side of the house.  That would be on this side of the gate, which is Herkimer's side vs. the other side which is the cat's side.  Of course anyone with any experience with cat's knows that they not only ignore all sense of boundaries - they relish the chance to push or just ignore them completely!!!

Dexter is our big challenge - but he actually is working out to be our opportunity for training.  Dexter adopted us the previous winter when he got stuck on our porch in-between the 2 big snowstorms we got.  The deep snow coupled with the snow from the roof blocked off any exit from the porch - so we fed him, kept him warm and naturally grew attached to him.  Being an outside cat, he decided to stay around - so we eventually had him neutered (hubby calls it 'Brain Removal Surgery) and let him move in.  Dexter still likes being outside, and every day (once or twice) he comes to the kitchen door to be let out.  He used to come to the same door to be let back in, but with the dogs (we've been fostering at least one dog since December) he now goes to the front door and knocks.... yes knocks on the door.  Quite insistently, I must add.

This is Dexter:

Despite the fact that Dexter is not real amused at being a doggie chase toy, he still insists on being let out from the kitchen door (which is on Herkimer's side).  And as soon as Herkimer here's the telltale ka-thunk of Dexter jumping the gate, Herk runs to find him and Dexter runs to find a hiding spot.  Either Dexter is better at blending in than I can tell or Herkimer isn't that great at locating him...  but if/when Herk spots Dexter it's chaos!  Poor Herkimer's nose has been beaten up so many times, you'd think he would have gotten the idea -- but NOOOOOO...

So Dexter makes it to either the dining room table or the cat-tree, where he may or may not be found -- then to the table and frog tank next to the door - where is almost definitely seen.

With the help of Aja, my trainer and a borrowed E-Collar, this pattern has made it helpful to set up a training action.  It does go a bit off if I don't quite move fast enough when Dexter jumps the gate and Herk finds him right away.  But mostly (so far) we have it down.  As soon as Herkimer moves to look or go toward Dexter I call "HEIR" (come) and unless he immediately turns toward me, I give him a zap (it is not set high - don't worry, just enough for him to feel it, not cause a shriek or yelp).  So far, we are pretty successful at getting him to follow the command and he comes to me right away.   I've also used the 'nick' button (a nano-second of zap) with the "Leave it" command if he alerts to the cats either through the gate or he has just seen Dexter in the kitchen.  He has that one almost down.  His attention to "Leave it" at all times has now improved ten-fold.  (I only use the E-collar when working/dealing with the cats).

There has been one time, so far, that I was able to get Herkimer into a Sitz(sit) and he stayed focused on me (or at least didn't budge from his sit) while Dexter walked by and went outside.  That only happened once, but we always have good days and bad days during training and I've only been at it formally with the E-Collar for less than a week.  I did also get Herkimer to follow me back and forth in front of the dining room table, with Dexter on it, while using the Heir command.  That was impressive.

I see improvements everyday (and a few back steps) - but there is no doubt this is the path to correcting the "Cat Issue".  Since it also seems to strengthen the Leave It command, and seems to make the Heir command better too - that's a nice plus during our other training.  Time will tell.

I just know that it will be SOOO nice to be able to (one day) remove that gate and let Herkimer have access to the living room.  He gets so upset when we sit in there to watch TV, sit in the massage chair or read, and he can't!  But I do need to give the cats some chance of having time with us as well.  The two other cats (who grew up with dogs) are totally peeved at this new dog thing and won't even show their faces anymore on the Herkimer side.  They used to sneak down at night, when Herk is in his kennel and snuggle with me on the bed, but they don't anymore... (pout).

Here is a picture of Herkimer sporting his new borrowed E-Collar:

And here is a picture of Herkimer being... well a puppy!

And We Have Progress... sorta!

Welllll, Mr. Sir Herkimer escaped his kennel today and pooped on the bed... AGAIN, today! Argh!

He did however, almost make up for it in obedience class tonight -- it would have taken him walking on water to actually make up for the poop on the bed ;).  We've been practicing the heel (foos) all week and making splendid progress, so tonight Aja showed me the next step which instead of leading Herk into the proper position with a treat, you get him to sit(sitz) directly in front of you and step into him, making him move around into Foos position.  Good Ol' Herk got it right away!  I even got him to do the little butt flip thing that Aja's dog does -- a few times... I was sooooo excited.  He excelled at the extended stay during a sitz and down (plotz).  And did really well while I greeted a person (Aja of course), while Herkimer remained in the Foos position.  The second round she pet him and the third she touched his ears and feet - all the while him maintaining the Foos position.  WOO HOO!!  I was so proud.

There was even a smidgeon of progress on his, ahem... doggie eating behavior... when we arrived, I verbally warned the other couple to gather their dog and as soon as Herkimer put his head into the room he started to alert and bark.  I immediately put him in a Plotz and rolled him over into a neutral, submissive side position - held him for a second or two and then we were able to make a large loop around the other dog with Herkimer focusing on me (most of the time!).  And during the class loose leash work, he was simply in a Plotz or I had him with his back to the crowd and looking at me the whole time.  That was pretty impressive.  Aja still had to walk him out after class, but it was easier for her to get him under control this time.  I really can NOT believe how much progress we have made in 2 group lessons.  Amazing!!

All of the dogs have made amazing progress - Herkimer is not the only smart one~  just the most handsome (in my opinion).

Herkimer and the cats are still having issues... I borrowed an E-Collar from a friend and Aja gave me some instructions, Herkimer picked up the process very quickly - we are not anywhere near corrected yet, but every bit helps.  Although I think I'd prefer to put the E-Collar on the one cat as he really is instigating the trouble.  He sashays his butt across the front yard, just out of Herkimer's reach and I then can't get Herk to focus on the potty business.  UGH!  Dexter (the cat) will also jump over the gate and then back over the gate -- like a ping-pong ball.  Bleepidy, Bleeping Cats!  Grrrrrrrrrr...

Okay, dinner is on the table... so gotta go! :)

First Obedience Class

Wellll.... Sir Herkimer, was more like a poo-poo head Herkimer when greeting the other dogs tonight.  He growled and lunged and just made a situation!  ACK!  What happened to that sweet pup that Greta played with and happily met a few friends dogs????  Apparently, he has settled in and decided he is not sure about other dogs anymore.  Good Grief!

BUT, that is okey dokey - isn't that what lessons are for???  Other then walking in and passing the other dogs, Herkimer worked beautifully.  We practiced our sit (sitz), down (plotz), come (heir), look - and he did wonderfully, even with the distraction of the other dogs!  But during the walking on loose leashes, Aja had Herkimer in a plotz/stay and I held his leash with my foot and grabbed his scruff whenever he tried to alert to the other dogs when they came near.  Practice and patience...  We are learning heel (foos), which is actually more of a getting into position command first -- unfortunately it also takes.. um... coordination.  Something I'm not sure I ever had...  But despite the obstacles Herkimer had to overcome with my lack of grace, he did pretty good.  His worst command is look, and you need that one for Foos - so that will occupy most of our homework practice this week.

I had borrowed a ramp to get Herkimer into my truck, as he doesn't like getting into the car - and he is FAR to heavy to pick-up.  But he will climb the ramp just fine, which my back appreciates!  After class he went outside and jumped right on in the back.  Not one ounce of hesitation -- hmmm... was he done with obedience class??  I'm thinking so!

He is currently laying under the table near my feet, snoring away.  I think we wore him out!  YEAH

Oh, and here is a picture of Sir Herkimer - with his ears UP...

Such a handsome devil... and yes he will grow into those ears! :)