Episode #23: All Fenced In

Bonnie

Clyde

ALL FENCED IN

I believe that we have some spoiled pups. They get new toys almost weekly, several humans to dote on them, they have Moxie and Penny to teach them (and play), they have an entire park to take walks in daily (at least 2 but usually 3), they have a near by dog park… and now they have a fenced backyard.

They dart the span of the backyard as fast as they can deterring only to start running laps. When Moxie and Penny are here, they join in too! They get numerous times a day to run, wrestle, and play at their leisure.

Clyde found the only corner that has shade.

And there was all kinds of dirt piles!!!

Oh, let’s not forget the doggie windows on each side of the house. We had rectangle window installed at their eye level so they could peer at the neighbors or to see which car pulls up. Extreme? Maybe. Adorable, absolutely!!!

All of these years, and we survived without a fence but throw two gangster pups in the mix and a fence appears with speed.

PEPE RETURNS

One morning, our old friend visited again. But this time he sprayed, and it was so strong, I could smell it in the house. We went out carefully, completed our morning routine, then went back in as quickly as possible. Thankfully, he wasn't close enough that we saw him! Phew!

MISS TOUGH STUFF

Bonnie must think she is the badest thing around. She uses her growl to keep Clyde in submission most of the time. She even has started trying it out on Moxie and Penny a little (usually doesn’t work).

Today she had a run in with a cicada. She got in pounce mode and was ready to face him. She leaped into action, invading his space. Instead of being intimidated by her size and perceived fierceness, the cicada latched onto her nose. Bonnie squalled an unrecognizable yelp, jumped like never before, then took off running to the house for safety. Talk about all bark and no bite.

Even though he no longer fits, Clyde still tries to fit under the couch. I guess he misses his younger days (like the rest of us).

I woke to a faint puppy whine. I was so tired, but I knew that if I didn’t get up, I would pay the price with a scrub pad and cleaner! I heard it again as I hurried downstairs. I turned the kitchen light on and heard the puppies stirring. When I got to the crate, they were both standing as tight to the door as they could get. (Opposite their normal lazy mornings) I opened the crate door and they both darted to the back door. I hooked them up and we went outside.

Proudly, they held everything in until they could get outside (and it was very loose). Poor puppies, but YAY puppies!

Heel

Because of my personal limitations, it is CRUTIAL that the pups learn how to walk without pulling. So, when I walk them through the neighborhood, they practice A LOT!

I walk them individually so that they do not distract each other, and my attention is not split. I keep them on a short leash and take a handful of treats. My personal goal is to control them with my voice, not the leash; so, I keep the leash loose (not taunt) as much as possible.

As we get to the sidewalk, I start with the pup beside me. I give the watch and sit commands so that they focus completely on me. When I can see that they are not distracted, I give them a treat, then say “walk.” They walk right beside me or just in front of me (so that I can see them). I repeat the word “walk” a couple of times a minute at first and give them a treat if they take a few controlled steps. If they start to pull, I stop and make them “sit” and “watch” again. After they have regained composure, we start again. When they’re doing it the way I want, I tell them their good and give a treat. They respond great to this (almost too well).

The most important thing is to know your dog’s signs. When Bonnie freezes and stares like a hawk, I know there is something that has her attention. I must respond immediately so that she doesn’t get out of control. Once she has gone full force into the distraction, it is hard to regain control. I must give her a quick tap on the back thigh to break them out of that mindset. This “love tap” needs to be sharp and quick (like an alpha dog would correct a pup). After she corrects the unwanted behavior, I can keep walking with a short, loose leash.

Clyde understood this concept almost immediately, but Bonnie took a little more time. They both know what I want but don’t always follow the directions just yet.

Now that the pups have gotten a little more comfortable with the fence, they sit at the back gate while looking back at us to take them for a walk. Rotten but adorable.

We are up to our eyeballs in wedding planning and designing décor. We were measuring rings, so we had several pencils that were wrapped in string and had thumbtacks stuck to the ends. Evidentially, I was moving things around and knocked them onto the floor. Clyde, excitedly, snuck in a took them to the living room. I heard a loud crunch as he snapped the mechanical pencil to shreds. By the time I got to him, he had destroyed all of our homemade tools (except one, which he found later and destroyed). He also found the cloth measuring tape and the remote control (again).