Wordless Wednesday, February 1 2012

Something Waggin' Train Your Dog Month Challenge

So, on January 3, Pamela at Something Wagging posted the Something Waggin' Train Your Dog Month Challenge. I immediately jumped on the bandwagon (could you imagine me not?) and stated

Oh, this is a great idea!
I’d like to teach Elka how to close a door. I’d also like to teach her the every so cute “say your prayers”. We’ll see if I make headway on both, or either!

See, January is what the Association of Pet Dog Trainers has designated as Train Your Dog month. On that site, they state "We selected January as the perfect month because so many dogs and puppies are adopted or purchased from breeders and brought home during the winter holidays. Our desire is to help these new pet parents start off the new year right with their newest family member", which I think is great, and I definitely support!

Elka tends to be a big fan of training sessions, because she loves treats! When she hears the clicker rattle as I get it out, she comes running, and watches treat preparation with enthusiastic interest.

Tasty Tuesday: Happiness is a Monster Mouth

Teaching Elka "Where's your Kong?" and "Where's your Monster?" have been pretty easy, all things considered. You know why?  When she brings me her Monster Mouth, or her Kong, we get excited, and then we go to the kitchen, and then we stuff it!

Rawr, a Dinosaur

I occasionally will get Elka a squeaky toy. In the past, she's been somewhat leery of them, perhaps because of how we taught her bite inhibition. In short, when we felt those puppy teeth, we would yelp like she was killing us and stop play. Immediately. She learned very quickly (but we all know what a smart girl she is!)

Cue her first squeaky toy. It made its first squeak, and Elka leapt away from it, and stared at it from a remove, "muppet mouthing", with a concerned wrinkle on the top of her head. Was she hurting it? But it was a toy! But she didn't want to hurt it. Cognitive dissonance in action. She's gotten a little..."braver"? More cavalier? And will now play with a squeak toy, occasionally squeaking it, but for the most part gentle enough on the toy itself that it doesn't squeak., but while jumping around and talking to it. So I got a squeak toy dinosaur at the Dollar Tree.

Conversation with the Pizza Delivery Guy

So, we ordered pizza and a sub the other night. It arrived quickly, which was a pleasing surprise in itself. The guy knocked on the door, shave and a haircut, and I went to open it. He told me the total, and as I got my cash ready, he looked past me at Elka, who was by her bed, head down a little, looking towards the door. I hadn't said anything to her when I opened the door, and she didn't make any noise, she was just watching at a good remove and waiting (what a good girl!)

Delivery Guy: Wow, that's a big Doberman.

Me: Yes, she is. *silence* She's just excited that pizza is here.

Delivery Guy: Oh, does she eat Sal's?

Me: Yup! She'll eat a tomato off the sub, or some of the pizza. She loves it.

Delivery Guy: *going through his change* Here, I'll give you five dollars off. You guys order from us a lot. Have a good night!

Me: You too!

Wordless Wednesday, January 25

Elka was apparently pretending her foot was a monster. And then the pillow fell on her head. And then she went to sleep because it was dark. She poked her head up when I took the picture, but it's fairly representative.

Monday Mischief January 23

Elka has a game that she plays.

When she gets to the top of the stairs, she dances around on the landing, "defending" it. She spins, she bows, she paws, she shakes her head around. It's a good deal of fun! I've tried to capture accurate photos of it, but the camera makes her a little shy. Still, there are some, and you might get the gist. Enjoy!