Tag Archives: puppy in training

Hiking Up Yellow Fork Canyon

Posted on by
To celebrate the Labor Day holiday we decided to take our girls on a short hike and have a picnic lunch. Banta has been hiking a couple of times before but this was Casey’s first experience. They both had a great time in the outdoors and did pretty good at not trying to play with each other at every opportunity. When we stopped for lunch they had a little laps and Banta ended up rolling in the dusty trail. She came up looking more like a chocolate lab then her usual creamy color. Casey is amazing in her determination to keep up with Banta. When she is in that focused little walk trot of hers, I can just imagine her pulling her partner along in harness when she is all grow-up and trained as a guide dog. 
At the end of our lunch break I decided that it would be a good idea to give Casey a chance to relieve. She did so awesome. When I gave her the “do your business” command, her body language changed. It took her several seconds to find the right spot but she did. It was the first confirmation that she actually understands the command. She has only been relieving at home in our relieving area. She has that done very well but I wasn’t sure if she understood the command or just understood that when we went outside to this area that she should relieve there. This is a big milestone for her.
On the way back to the car on the hike there was a small stream to cross. Following Casey’s example the two of them tromped through the stream and then through the dusty dirt on the trail. If we thought Banta looked dirty before now she was almost as much black as she was yellow lab. Casey didn’t look as dirty but she was, especially her belly being so much closer to the ground. They both went into the bath as soon as possible when we got home. Thank goodness I had a quilt in the car to protect things from their more than just muddy paws.

Obedience Class

Posted on by

For the last couple of months Banta has been going on Wednesday nights to an intermediate obedience class put on by the Great Salt Lake Dog Training Club. She isn’t there because she needs more work on her obedience but to work on her dog distractions. Our CFR gave us permission to put her in this class and it has worked out great. It has been the perfect opportunity for her to be around other dogs (besides other puppies in training) in a controlled situation. More than any other thing we have done, using the food protocol during this class has helped her make huge strides in managing her dog distractions.

Busy Week for Banta & Casey

Posted on by
It has been a busy week with the girls. They have made progress on restraining from trying to constantly play with each other. This sure helps make life easier. They have a ways to go but if they continue at this rate it won’t be too long until they can hang out together most of the time.
Tuesday:
Casey did a first for our household on Tuesday. I was working on preparing our back deck for to be stained so I had Casey on the deck with me and Banta was hanging out in the backyard down below. Well, Casey decided that she wanted to play with Banta and I had the stairs blocked. This left the spaces between the railings and she is still small enough to fit though. The deck is about 5 1/2 feet off the ground and Casey jump down! I was a bit paniced but she landed fine and didn’t miss a beat in instigating play with Banta. What a brave girl. Banta was afraid to jump out of the car for a long time.
Wednesday:
Banta continued her class with the GSLDTC (Greater Salt Lake Dog Training Club) on Wednesday where she is practicing staying calm and paying attention around other dogs. She is doing really great. You can’t tell that she has a problem with dog distractions most of the time and she really enjoys the class. We get lots of practice healing and long sit and down stays. Stays use to be one of her weaker skills. Now she can do a 5 minute down stay with dogs all around her with no trouble at all.
Thursday:
We had a big regional puppy raiser meeting at Cabelas with 22 puppies in training there. We must have been quite a sight on the South side of Cabelas. Both girls behaved very well. Casey got to say high to two of her brothers. She certainly remember them. Banta got to show how she has improved with her dog distractions and Casey joined the other young pups by stopping for an unscheduled poop as all the dogs were healing around in a big circle. Casey also got her jacket that night for quick socializing trips into stores etc. So the four of us went inside Cabelas for a short excursion. Casey did good. I carried her part of the time. 
Friday:
Banta went with me for my last physical therapy treatment for the bursitis in my hip. It is hard to believe that the week Casey came I was having a hard time walking. Now my hip is totally back to normal. Banta was perfect at physical therapy. She knows just what she is suppose to do, just lie down and wait for me.
Saturday:
This was a busy day as Saturdays often our. Banta went with Bill to Lowes and Home Depot to buy a new weed wacker. We all went to the Library and Casey got some good opportunities to socialize with children. She did really really good. She sat nice and calm while they gave her attention. In the evening Banta went with Bill and I to Tooele to celebrate his mom’s birthday. Casey isn’t ready for this yet so she stayed home and my friend Lisa came by to play with her, feed her and take her for a walk.
Sunday:
Banta went to church with us and hung out with me in Primary. I was substituting on the piano. In a week or two Casey will be ready to come to part of church. This afternoon the four of us went for a walk around the block and Casey made it the whole way without needing to be carried. Banta is such a great mentor for her on walks. She helps Casey learn that barking dogs are not a big deal. Banta enjoys having her along too. At the start of the walk, Banta was done relieving first and she didn’t want to go with out Casey. They are both learning not to try to play with each other on walks but to just enjoy the outdoors together.
It has been a good week. The girls are getting use to each other and the routines. I’m starting to get a little bit done besides take care of puppies. They are so cute together.

Cabelas

Posted on by
Tonight our CFR (Community Field Rep) was in town and had a meeting with three puppy clubs together at Cabelas. Casey got to see two of her brothers. She thought that it should be play time.We did some obedience stuff and while we were practicing “lets go” all the young puppies, including Casey, had to poop. We also worked on food protocol stuff and Banta got to be the center of attention for part of that. Casey got her jacket after the meeting so we took a quick trip into Cabelas. I carried her most of the way just to make sure she didn’t have an accident.

Puppy Cuddling

Posted on by

Banta and Casey are just sooo cute together. When I see them together I can’t help but think back to almost a year ago when we first got Banta and the couple of days she overlapped with Apex. There is so much that is similar in their interactions except that the big dog is yellow and the little dog is black. Casey has gained a lot of confidence in the 12 days that we have had her. Banta has done a great job of mentoring her.

Casey 3 Months Old & Banta Back Home

Posted on by
Casey is three months old today. It is hard to believe that she has been here for more than 10 days already. She is climbing up and down stair like a pro now and hasn’t had an accident for more than 3 days. She is a funny, sweet girl. When Casey is playing with her toys she makes the oddest noises. It sounds like she is unhappy but when you look at her she is happily chewing on a toy. Her favorite toys are a half chewed dental dino and a small piece of nylabone that Apex sculpted from a much larger bone. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs spread wide. I’m guessing this is at least partly do to it being summer and still warm.
It is good to have Banta home from her puppy swap. Sounds like she was a good girl other than setting up a racket in her kennel. She is quiet at home other than when I take Casey out for a walk without her. I wonder if she thought she was missing out on something fun and thought she out to let everyone know how she felt. Banta definitely has opinions about things and isn’t afraid to share them. We better get her on another swap before she goes back to GDB and to a household that she hasn’t been to before. Banta went with me to physical therapy today and she was so good. She took a nap while I was treated and did my exercises.

Casey’s First Outing

Posted on by

Today we had an extended family photo for my family so of course our two girl pups were included. We did it at my sisters house so Casey had her first car ride since she got home from the puppy truck. She was not happy about riding in the car. We put her in her kennel in the back and she was fine until we started moving. She didn’t complain the whole way there and on the way home she quieted down sooner. I’m sure that a few more trips in the car and she will be doing just fine. 

Casey enjoyed exploring my sister’s yard and Banta was excited to see the family faces of my family. She especially likes my dad as he usually plays tug with her. We also did a few photos with just Bill and I and our two girls. I’m looking forward to seeing the photos and I’ll post at least one here after we get to see them.

Casey was ready for a nap after we were and she curled up in Bill’s lap. In the afternoon we drove to Provo to help my niece move. We use to live in the same house so it was fun to see old neighbors and introduce Casey to them. We brought two kennels for the girls to relax in while we were busy and they were both little angels. It has been a busy day for her but she handled everything just fine.

Relieving Challenges

Posted on by

We had a bit of a breakthrough with relieving today. Yesterday afternoon through this morning Casey did almost half of her relieving in the house. Most of the time I took her outside to our traditional relieving area on the drive way she showed no interest in relieving. She didn’t have any accidents on the carpet so the clean-up was easy. Today it occurred to me what the problem might be. Yesterday on one of her first trips to the relieving area a big souped up pick-up truck roared by and scared Casey. She didn’t seem to be over-reacting to cars going by now but my Dad commented that she seemed a little nervous out there and she never really relaxed. The clincher was when I finally took her inside and put her in the x-pen she promptly squatted and peed! So after discussing it with Bill we decided to move Casey’s relieving area to the backyard. It has worked wonders. She has relieved every time we have taken her out now and only had one accident. That was when she paused for a moment while playing tug with my Dad. Yahoo! It is a relief to have that back on track.

Casey Arrives on the Puppy Truck

Posted on by
Today we met our precious little Casey. We thought she was going to be a yellow lab until she got off the truck. You just never know for sure until they hand you that little bundle of fur. She was born on May 23rd so she will turn 12 weeks this weekend. Her parents are Jay (donated to GDB by AGBN) and Noleta. She is part of a litter of 6 puppies with 3 males and 3 females. Two of Casey siblings are being raised just South of here. Casey also joins two half brothers in our puppy club, Joe & Joshua. I’ve been so proud of Banta. She has been so good with Casey, being gentle with her. Casey doesn’t have Banta’s natural confidence.