cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/09/2012 1:43 PM |
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Woo hoo back to a tolerable temperature here in Colorado. We spent all of last week in 100+ degree weather every day but it was worth it. Turns out Havoc loves water. We went swimming in the lake at least twice a day, every day. Found out that we really need to work on Havoc's obedience outside of the house It was like we haven't trained him at all. We'll be doing more on his walks and the dog park now.
I took a ton of pictures and I'm still wading through them. Here are a few of my favorites so far.
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/09/2012 1:46 PM |
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| Darn I still didn't get the size right on those. Sorry they're so large. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/09/2012 1:55 PM |
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A couple more....
What do you mean I'm not a lap dog????
One of the many gorgeous sunsets
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1187
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| 07/09/2012 2:06 PM |
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Been wondering how your camping trip went! Glad you had a great time. With that heat, I think we'd be in the water all day. Havoc is such a good looking boy. He's so big...how old is
he again? Looks like a great time. I could handle a sunset like that everyday 
Don't fret about the manners outdoors. I mix train and play with Bella at the beach as a way of adding training with distraction. Sometimes it goes phenomenally...other times I have to keep it
minimal and my main expectations become simply just her beach manners (no running to strangers or other dogs without "go meet" command...stay off the towel or blanket (grr still working on that one)..etc.) It will come with time and even still at times not be flawless. I have also noticed her not to focus or listen as well when she is overly tired. Last week we swam and beached it everyday and by Friday she would blatantly stare at me for a second and then do the command and I swear that girl rolled her eyes. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/09/2012 2:15 PM |
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| Havoc just turned 5 months. We weighed him yesterday and he's 48lbs. We also visited a dog park for the first time yesterday and we'll be doing that at least weekly to help with socializing and so we can train with distractions. His recall is what I am most concerned with right now. I can yell for him anywhere inside the house and he comes to me no matter what, but at the beach and the dog park it's like I didn't exist. Thank goodness Mike is still fast enough to catch his little butt. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1187
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| 07/09/2012 2:49 PM |
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LOL I thought he was a youngster yet, but yup...he weighs as much as Bells. Well...she teters between 48 and 49 He's gonna be a big boy alright.
Are you working with recall at home outside? Once he is 100% inside, move out into your own yard. Start outdoor distractions small, especially with recall. One important thing with recall
is to attempt to never use your recall word unless you are sure your dog will follow it (easier said than done of course). But, if he is super into a smell or playing hardcore with a dog, you're better
off going and getting him rather than attempting to have him recall at this point. With Bella, at the dog park after she met and played - if it wasn't someone interested in walking with me and allowing them play (we don't have a sit and let loose kind of park, its a walking path) then I would say "Ok, Let's go" and I would start walking. If she didn't come immediately, she would soon realize I was moving on without her and catch up. this kept me from having to use recall but she got the point. Don't be afraid to keep a pocket full of the good wet stinky treats (or cheese, Bella would shoot the moon for cheese) when adding training in distractions. I still at times keep treats on me in the woods so she doesn't think she'll get nothing out of me for obeying. I must admit, I allowed the dog park to be a fun place. I would however, park a ways away and train outside of the dog park so she earned her fun. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/09/2012 3:56 PM |
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| Well we use the "grandparents" yard, but probably not as much as we should. He does fairly well there. I think we really just need to do it more often. We tried beef hot dogs while at the beach (something he hadn't had before) and he Loved them, but not enough to listen. I did take treats along to the dog park and boy was I a popular lady LOL, just not with Havoc. But that was his first time around that many dogs so I cut him a little slack and let him play. I havent tried cheese yet... maybe I'll do that as another training specific treat. I assume just small pieces of cheddar? Our dog park is pretty big. It's a 70 acre off leash park, including two ponds (which he loved). We had him on leash most of the time just because he won't come when called, but did let him off to play in the water with some other pups. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1187
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| 07/09/2012 4:04 PM |
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| 70 acres? Nice! Yes, just little bits of cheese. What I have on hand usually are Kraft single slices. I will take about half and make a ball I keep in my hand. Ok this part sounds gross, but oh well lol, I use my fingernail to get a little chunk and then she just gently bite/licks to get it. I think it helped her bite get a little gentler, though it was never bad. |
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weerubbertummy
Ayrshire, Scotland
MH
Posts:726
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| 07/10/2012 12:40 AM |
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 golly gosh! It seems like it was just yesterday that you first posted on here about your baby Havoc, and the question of whether he was going to live up to his name or not 
He's looking brilliant - looks like you guys had a blast. Dont you get the feeling after a holiday like that your dog always seems a little more content than usual for a few days after you return? As if the change of routine and different environments does them good too as if they've picked up on you chilling out?
Looks like a great place to holiday - wish we had some trustworthy lakes nearby for swimming - closest is Loch Lomond but it's too suddenly deep, dark and cold 
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Miss you forever Kintra baby xxx |
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singltrak
Las Cruces, NM
MH
Posts:1149
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| 07/10/2012 7:19 AM |
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Pretty boy ! And yes, he looks like he'll be a good sized fellow...but Mr. Enthusiasm for sure, huh?
I'll let Bev tackle the recall question, but for me, I don't think you are gonna get much attention with the harness or whatever he has on. Having to rely on the leash at the dog park can be dangerous to both your dog and to any other dogs that may come to visit and socialize. Try some yardwork and get a good heel, here and whoa (stop) before you head out there again and do get a flat buckle collar on him (pinch or choke collar for training only).
Enjoying the cooler stuff right along with ya in S. NM! (and a bit of rain too!)
Phyllis and the Singltrak Furtribe |
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Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/10/2012 9:50 AM |
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We use the harness for walking rather than attaching directly to the collar. We actually learned a trick from a fellow GSP owner regarding walking with the harness and it is working quite well to correct Havoc's pulling and jumping issue. We've also been told by a lot of people that we should just invest in an e-collar to aid with training. We're looking into that.
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1187
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| 07/10/2012 10:03 AM |
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| I'm Leary of ecollars just because they can actually counteract training if used incorrectly. Make sure you are getting solid responses from Havoc without it and introduce it to reinforce something already trained. And from I have seen on here from others wait a few months. 5 months is quite young yet. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/10/2012 10:07 AM |
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| Oh definitely. I'm not wanting to get one and use it right now, we're researching them a bit. I'm leary of it all together, but everyone keeps saying its their most valuable training tool. I think everyone we have met so far has it on dogs over a year old. I don't like the idea of having to shock my dog; although several people have told me they only shocked their dog once and now they just have the collar set on a tone and the dog responds. I still have a lot of reading to do on this topic. |
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cynthiarose
COLORADO
MH
Posts:133
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| 07/13/2012 12:32 PM |
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Found a few more pics to share
Havocs first encounter with a frog. He did well with the "leave it" command
Did you say COOKIE?????
His first time on a dock. He was a bit shaky lol.
I don't think he looks like a puppy in this one.
One happy puppy
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weerubbertummy
Ayrshire, Scotland
MH
Posts:726
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| 07/13/2012 12:44 PM |
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He really is such a wee cracker. I can see what you mean in the 2nd last photo - he still looks like a baby but you can maybe tell how he is going to turn out - what a handsome boy  |
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Miss you forever Kintra baby xxx |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1187
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| 07/13/2012 3:41 PM |
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| Cute cute and more cute. I remember getting a pic of Bella around his age that made her look SO grown up it made me sad lol. Love his "cookie" face pic |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:992
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| 07/13/2012 6:22 PM |
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Oh my he is adorable!!!!!! Keep working on recall in confined places, but various places. 5 months is very young still, he'll get it. So many new and interesting things
Btw Bugsy was just the same first time in a dock lol still makes me laugh to remember him hunkering down on it |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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