Week 1- Eli the Service Dog

(Note-for those new to my blog- Eli is a black English lab puppy I am training for Freedom Dogs  . Eli is 11 weeks old and has been in my home for 10 days as of this post. I will be writing of his progress, along with my usual ramblings ;)

I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about introducing Eli to Dexter. Don't get me wrong; Dexter is very sweet natured, as hounds usually are.

But...Dexter is so BIG. Lean and pure muscle, Dexter can leap straight up off all four legs to a height of six feet. How do I know this? I have seen him do it. With my own eyes. I am convinced the dog was part of a genetic experiment in which grasshopper genes were involved. Or perhaps, like Spiderman, he was exposed to a radioactive insect at some point in his development.


In any case, Eli and Dexter have turned out to be very compatible playmates. Dexter is gentle and Eli respectful-a perfect combination. Take a look at this lovely play session. Notice the following:


Dexter self handicaps by:

• coming down to Eli's level (at the 29 second mark)
  
• adjusting his strength (many times in the video)
  
• stops immediately when Eli signals distress (1.34 minute mark)
  

Eli communicates his intentions by:

• pawing
• rolling onto his back

Notice also that this play is mutual. They  take turns being the "victim" and the "aggressor". When one breaks away the other pauses before resuming their play. This is a very nice example of good play.


Other news:

Eli, this week, developed some selective hearing. Apparently, the great outdoors is way more fun than going back inside the boring old house.

So, I chopped some turkey breast into chunks and we began to practice recalls. I filled my pockets with the high value treats and randomly would say (in a conversational tone) "Eli, come". As he turned and /or took a step toward me (because that is the behavior I WANT) I then *click* and treat in front of me (the position I wish him to be in).

I then turn around and continue what I was doing, as Eli is free to do as well. In other words, "La-la-la-no-pressure-here-come to me if you wish and good things happen and your fun will not stop because you did" is our mantra, and it works.



We have been doing this for 48 hours now and I am very pleased with his response. He comes to me, indoors or out-at least until adolescence hits!



Proofing "sits" is the other behavior we are working on. I will ask for a sit under all sorts of circumstances:


Indoors
Outdoors
Facing me
Behind me
Away from me
Close to me
When we are alone
When we are with others


We are also working on beginner zen, downs, touch (nose target), and foot targeting. 


Happy Training!
Chris

Goats!

Because we have six and a half acres of  uncultivated land, this means we have 6.5 acres of weeds. Goats love weeds.

Humfleet Goats Bend, Oregon

After fencing an acre of land, off we went to find a goat. We had driven past Humfleets Goats in Bend many times on our way to the Big R Ranch Store. Fat happy goats grazing on the lush greenery had caught our eye, so we made it our first stop.


On the way up the walk were signs that read "A house without a goat is not a home" and "Goat Crossing Ahead". Who knew there were crazy goat people?

We knocked on the door of the small, compact home and were welcomed by Noah, the owner of the home and of Humfleet Goats (who did not seem crazy at all, despite his obvious affection for goats). As we walked to the goat yard,  he gave us a crash course in his breed of choice. "Nubians are considered one of the friendliest of goat breeds" he explained, "And the most vocal".

This was evidenced in the greeting we received by the does that surrounded us as we entered the gated yard. They were so polite! No jumping or butting. As soon as we stopped walking, they would stop, too, and lean against us, happily accepting rubs.

"Do they ever bite? I asked (secretly I was afraid of getting a nip-these goats were not small!")

Noah seemed to suppress a grin as he pulled back the lips of the goat who had been nuzzling him and showed us a lack of upper incisors. "It would be kind of hard for them to bite without upper teeth", he said, kindly.

That was enough for me. Besides, the goats all seemed well cared for, happy, and healthy and Noah had shown great patience for all of my city-girl questions.

Since we were novice goat people, and also cheap, we chose two wethers . They were still nursing, so arrangements were made to pick them up three weeks later. This should give us plenty of time to prepare.

Oh, a word on "bucks". We met the resident bucks (males who had not been castrated). I am not sure why...but somehow I was instantly repulsed, bemused, and irritated, and...well...if they were transformed into a human right before my eyes, I have no doubt they would look something like this: 

Yeah, baby, YEAH!

Goat shelter

Back at home, we began to build the shelter for the goats. Three sides with a feeder seemed just about right. Now all we had to do was wait.

Goat Day!

Finally, July seventh arrived and off we went to collect our boys. We chose names for them prior to their arrival; Donatello for the black one and Valentino for the tan.

Noah had lured them into the barn ahead of time and we loaded them into dog crates in the back of my truck. On the drive home we were struck by the uncanny resemblance of their cries to Kenny of South Park calling out 'Mom!' ("Meeeeeeem!!!")

We had been emphatically warned not to turn the boys out into the field until they adjusted to their new home. The first night they slept inside our sunroom, curled together in a large dog crate. The dogs were very excited about the new additions, too. They welcomed the goats with cries of their own from the dog yard, which I am sure added to the goats sense of bewilderment ("Where are we?!")

Valentino (left) and Donatello

Day 2

The boys are still wary but now allow our approach and touch. My daughter and I moved them into a large kennel outdoors just off the kitchen. Yesterday we both took a blanket and books and various lettuce greens into the pen where we settled in for three hours, alternately reading our books and hand feeding the boys.

Our plan is to clicker train these guys as soon as they are settled in, so be sure to come back for updates!

Happy Training,
Chris


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