By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

What wonderful things have you been doing since this new year started? Nothing? Oh, that’s not good at all. 

How about doing everything you know backwards? Wouldn’t that be fun? Think about it. You could have your Very Important People going nuts trying to figure out what you’re up to! (And they think they are so clever! Ha!)             

Instead of waiting for someone to tell you what to do, you tell them. Here’s how it might work. Your L&M (Lord & Master) stands up, maybe to get a cup of coffee. You race over and do a perfect tail-wagging “Sit” in front of him. 

His puzzled look says you got him! Your FM (Favorite Mom) finishes doing the dishes, plops down in a chair, and you put your favorite toy in her lap. For further explanation of why you presented the toy, you could add a play-bow in the middle of the room, or a run to your go-out door. Or try this: every time a person goes into another room, you do a perfect “Down” across the doorway.                  

Dream up some other things you can do that will have your VI People completely bamboozled! Let me know how you make out.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

We’ve still got a long way to go in this memorable winter. If you haven’t taken the plunge and signed up for Obedience, Rally or Agility for you and Rufus, it’s not too late. Then when Spring finally arrives, you’ll be way ahead of all those procrastinators who are just starting their classes.              

In the meantime (since classes don’t always begin the day and hour you’re ready) try doing some different things with Rufus right now. Here’s one idea to get you started. Instead of just walking from say, the living room to the kitchen, have Rufus “Heel” beside you and then maneuver around every possible piece of furniture en route. Have him “Sit” a couple of times. Talk to him, telling him how clever he is.  Add a few obstacles before you begin by moving the odd chair or a footstool into your path to make it even better. If Rufus doesn’t “heel” all that well, use a short leash or even a bit of string for starters.  Make it a fun game (not rigid obedience) and before you know it, you’ll both be into Agility!               

Instead of just putting his dinner dish down on the floor, try this. Hold the dish up, have Rufus “Sit” and then teach him to say “thank you” by shaking hands before getting his dinner. Offer your hand just below his knee to teach him to raise his paw. If he doesn’t get it right away, a gentle tap with your finger will usually do it. Don’t try to grab his paw off the ground! This is a fun trick, not time for nail-clipping. Use “Thank you” (said as one word) instead of “Shake hands” and the routine can be stretched to when he is being given a toy or a treat, or just has his leash removed after a walk.                             

Another worthwhile signal is “Wait” combined with the hand signal. Have your arm at your side and move the palm of your hand toward the dog as you say it. When he catches onto the signal, you can give it as you move away; for example, to make him wait outside a room you are going into with or without the door closed. Dogs seem to like anticipation, and this signal leaves them trying to figure out what will come next. You don’t want to leave him waiting forever, so be sure to give Rufus the release signal (“Okay”) when the wait is over.  

Then there’s my old stand-by – the accompaniment to push-ups. When you are doing your push-ups (no matter what version), have Rufus next to you doing “Sit” then “Down” not rapidly, but over and over again until you figure he’s had enough. (Or, maybe you have!)

                                                               

Until next time – BE GOOD!

-  Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me! which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award last year.