Good Dog
Today, I have been focusing on Watson. He hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention, training and lovin’ over the past few weeks, and tomorrow is going to be a very rough day for him. The time has come for my guy to get neutered. That’s right- no more balls.
I went to the pet store and bought him a new toy, a schmancy, red Kong Wubba (which I threw for him approximately four times before I overshot my mark and got it stuck in our gutter- now I need a ladder or someone over six feet to help me out). I also bought treats and some new chewy stuff that I promise not to toss onto the roof.
I groomed Watson today, a major bath, ear cleaning and combing- all of which he loved. This boy likes to be groomed so after a gratifying scrub down, he was a big baby lolling on my lap, stretching into new positions so the comb could scratch him everywhere. We even put a little pomade on his curly ears just to give them some gloss. He is one hunka-hunka-burnin’-puppy love now! And he knows it.
We then worked on sit and stay, which is how I got these crummy camera phone photos for you- the grainy blurriness adds a certain charm, so we’re just going to say we were being all artistic. The real accomplishment here is that he sat still enough to be photographed in a fairly low light living room- and THAT, my friends, is some good obedience work! I am hoping my doctor clears me for walking all 45lbs of his pulling, straining, goofy self at my six week check up this week. If not, I have to wait another two weeks. Watson is a crazy boy on the least, walking on his hind legs in anticipation of what could possibly be half a foot in his future. We tried a choke collar at one point, and he still walked on his hind legs, only with gasping, snorting and choking until I finally asked Chris if we gauged when the walk was over based on him finally passing out. So. . .cute?
As challenging as this guy has been over the past four months, I sat down and really looked at the progress we have made in the past few months. We rarely have happy pee when he is in his kennel (a lot less laundry for me) and the submissive pee is dramatically reduced. He can both sit and stay, is a decent fetcher, has very few potty accidents, and he has met our neighbors and behaved decently. He is also pretty good with the kids. We have a long, long ways to go, but just stopping at looking at what has been accomplished is encouraging. Lately, being as incapacitated as I have been, everything feels very unproductive and like I’m getting no where, but that really isn’t true. We have progress here.
Watson, you are handsome. I’m sure you’ll be pretty mellow and laying about the next few days as things heal up in the nether region of doggymanhood (I know there’s no such word). Sounds like he’s coming along.
He’s a beauty. For the walking, here’s a training tip, don’t let him pull like that. When he starts to pull just stop, when he can’t move he’ll turn around and look at you like “come on, let’s go”, when you get some slack in the leash start again. Walks take a zillion times longer, but they eventually get the hint. Also, don’t go choke collar or pinch collar, they’re just mean. Get an Easy Walk harness. It works by leashing in the chest area, so when they start to pull it contracts their chest muscles in a way that they don’t like and can’t walk easily, it slows them down. It also curbed the lunging when one of them get really excited, a couple of backflips because of the harness and it stopped. I can walk both my dogs (two pittbull mixes, 140lbs of dog) without much issue using the easy walk. I love it. It’s one of the best tips given to me by Trainer Meagan. I highly recommend them.
Awww he is so adorable!
Good luck with the future training & walking. I hope Watson recuperates quickly from his little procedure <3