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Dances with Poodles

Oct 25th, 2010 by

My tail is still wagging! I so enjoyed APDT, and there’s much I want to talk to you about. But, not today.

My first day home from Atlanta was devoted to my Sadie girl. After about ten minutes or so of working on her wobbly board—we haven’t touched it in weeks, and a few other fun training exercises, we headed out to Boulder Reservoir for a long walk. The fall weather was crisp perfect. On the way we picked up Romeo, Sadie’s BFF, because it’s so much more fun to hike with a friend. I am so bummed. I forgot my camera.

Later this evening though, I did have my video camera at the ready.

Sadie and Romeo were enjoying each other so much this afternoon I couldn’t bear to separate them. Romeo’s moms agreed to let him spend the night at our house.

The poohs were snuggled in for a post prandial snooze when the most awesomest thing in entire universe that could happen did happen. Ira sat down on the floor! Sorry the video ends abruptly. I have yet to learn how to edit.

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Posted in APDT Conference 2010 | 16 Comments »

Dear Sadie: Love Letter #4 to My Dog from APDT

Oct 22nd, 2010 by

Hey Punky Poodle,

How’s my squirrel girl?

Dudley, Sadie, Moses

I talked with Mama Kitty today and she told me you’re a happy pooh and not missing me at all! Well, except for the first night, Tuesday, when you waited for me to pick you up like I usually do when you have dinner with Moses and Dudley. And you know what? I’m thrilled that you feel so comfortable and at home with Kitty and your ‘brothers.’ Honestly, I would be a train wreck if I thought for one moment you weren’t contented.

Well it was another intense day at APDT and I’m as tired as Kitty told me you were yesterday after an afternoon of fun and games with your BFF, Romeo. So I’m going to make this short.

Every day I think what am I learning today that could help my funky monkey be happier and more at ease in the world?

So after listening to John Rogerson, a very kind and funny Englishman (You would love him! Crazy as you are for men with beards!), I’m wondering, how would you like it if we learned to play together more?

Isn’t this sad? John said that of the 17 dogs in a dog training class he taught in Los Angeles, only 2 played with toys and retrieved!

Lucky for us you are crazy about fetching your tennis ball and frisbee and I’m tickled to throw them for you. But, I’d love it if we played more. Especially tug. (Ian Dunbar, you’d flip over him too, highly recommends it.) I’m thinking maybe it would bolster your confidence not to mention be lots of fun. If you learned to really love it, tug might even become a great reward for you too.

You already tug at my heart. So, how ’bout we give the eviscerated baby gorilla a go? Or, one of Ira’s old socks, all nice and smelly and knotted up?

Are you game? Dream on it and let me know.

I can see you all curled up in your special chair under the window in Mama Kitty’s bedroom. Sweet dreams pooky dooky.

I miss you and love you,

Mom

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Posted in APDT Conference 2010, Fetch, John Rogerson, Tug | 3 Comments »

Dear Sadie: Love Letter #3 to My Dog from APDT

Oct 21st, 2010 by

Hey there Sadie Girl,

Are your ears burning? ‘Cause I’ve been thinking about you kid!

First of all, nose work. Kelly Dunbar of Dog Star Daily, you’ve never met her but she knows about you, facilitated a luncheon talk about nose work. Basically, you would go sniffin’ after cool scents and I’d follow behind you. Sorta like follow-the-leader and your astonishing nose is the leader! Maybe you’d  like to try it? Think about it.

Did you know this?

If a skunk sprays your rose bush, you will be unable to smell the roses. If the assumption that the dog’s sense of smell is simply keener than ours is correct, certainly the odor of skunk would obliterate any other odor even more for him than it does for you. This is not true. Tests have been made with skunk odor and it has been proven that a dog trained in scent work is capable of correctly designating a particular article among a number of articles, all of which have been sprayed by a skunk. (reference)

Again today what I’m taking away from the speakers here at APDT is that I need to be intentional about seeing your world from your very unique point of view. Myrna Milani drove this message home to me over and over. You would have loved her!

Here are some of the things she said that I thought you’d especially appreciate:

  • “You live in a perceptual reality that compared to mine is paranormal!” Sadie, sweetie, I am in awe of you, and I vow to honor your awesomeness as best I can. I’m not sure yet what that means except to say that I want to more appreciate your dogginess and to not assume I know what your experience is or to project my experience onto you.
  • “Some people expect their dogs to be their emotional and physical protectors.” That is SO wrong! It’s MY job to protect YOU emotionally and physically. I know I failed you at times especially when you were a puppy and I was coming to grips with your fearfulness. I am so sorry. I will practice everyday to do better by you. At the very least you deserve my best effort.
  • “If I am calm and confident and expect the you to do well, then you are more likely to do well.” I know there have been times I’ve held my breath when I’ve seen something that I thought would scare you, like the man in the black cape. And, guess what? You reacted by barking! Duh. There have been other times when you and I were just fine and it was only after the scary thing was out of view that I ‘remembered’ we ‘should’ have been afraid. Beginning now, I’m visualizing us walking along and feeling safe and happy.
  • “Do the mirror test. Interact with the mirror same as you do with Sadie. Did the person in the mirror convery that she can deal calmly and confidently with whatever Sadie dishes out?” So, Sadie girl, I did this in my hotel room. You know what?  I think I looked and sounded reassuring in an upbeat, relaxed sort of way. Finally, though, you are the judge. I need to do what works for you, not just what looks good to me. I know you’ll let me know.

Okay cookie. That’s all for now. I am, well, dog tired. APDT is hard work–but it’s all for you funky monkey.

BTW, Gigi‘s here too. She told me you and she enjoyed visiting shops and meeting people in downtown Boulder last Tuesday when I was traveling to Atlanta. I know you feel safe and happy when you’re with her. I’m so glad for that.

I love you,

Mom

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Posted in APDT Conference 2010, Gigi Moss, Kelly Dunbar, Myrna Milani, Nose work | 5 Comments »

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