Archive for ‘April, 2018’

Week 3 with Emmett: moving toward a new normal

I think the best summation of week 3 with Emmett would be that we are all feeling more comfortable. And also PROGRESS – progress on everything!

More comfortable with each other and with new routines.

Emmett’s training in a nutshell: Sit, the beginnings of a sit-stay, hand target, drop (drop whatever you have in your mouth), recall, down. Down was the trickiest. We started working on that on Thursday and it was just yesterday (Saturday) that we got completely there. Sit actually came from work with the breeder. And prior to this week Emmett had learned “go to your bed/mat”, “into your crate”. Outside there is a click treat for focus on me.

This form of training, called many things: operant conditioning, clicker (marker) training, positive reinforcement. I am so enthusiastic about how this works. I am not yelling “no”, all training happens as play, the communication is fast and incredible. In addition to the above tasks, I used click-treat to shape Emmett’s and Auggie’s behavior to more calm, have fun together, tone down the wrestling. If you’ve looked at my Instagram feed and especially my stories … it is pretty incredible how they are doing.

And of note: this method of training is used for athletics, autistic children and many other forms of teaching. There is a site: Tag Teaching

On my Wednesday story, I threw caution to the wind and posted that we’d had success with a schedule (all times approximate) that got us all fed, played with, walked … and me to my desk to work (showered and dressed!!) by 9:00.

This has stuck. I don’t watch the clock, but generally, an approximation worked all week and we continued through the weekend. Color me thrilled!

The little couch. Well, the first days – Yes! But then Emmett got bolder and wigglier and we had some days where it was Auggie and me and some days where it was Emmett and me.

This week, while he is still a bit wiggly, we had several “all together” mornings:

The Auggie and Emmett scene:

We also started working on being together on the front porch:

Ok.

The big deal: house training, i.e. potty training.

It is mostly happening outside.

But …

… when it doesn’t, it happens on the piddle pads.

I’d just bought a LOT of the pads for Bear before he died … I kept them. Thankfully!

Emmett got them immediately. He goes outside when we go out and when he goes inside it is generally because I am distracted and don’t get him out. But he goes right to the pads so I know he is aware that there are appropriate places to go. Making the jump to “asking” to go out … I am confident it will happen and meantime, I am not fussed about the use of the pads.

Not getting fussed, is a freeing part of the positive training approach. I don’t reward inside potty like I do outside, but there is no punishment for inside. Similarly, other behaviors that I don’t reward, I redirect and/or remove whatever from the environment. Because all of the learning is happening with play and fun, the subtle redirect and soft “no” is understood. All of this adds up to a happy and calm learning environment. HOO-RAH!

And in the woods:

It has been another happy, love-filled week with Auggie and Emmett.

I think that Auggie agrees that the “kid” is a wonderful heart healer and great addition to the family Summers

The news from puppy central

So my plan … are you laughing ???

My plan was that week 1 with Emmett I would work 1/2 days and that’s what I told my client/programming team.

I managed about 1/4 time.

But after a little weekend reorganization, I thought: “ok, I’ve got this … normal time”.

I managed about 1/2 time. GAH! I will be eating beans next month!!

I hired some help for yard cleanup with the intent of working a bit this weekend. So far, the yard is beautiful and paid for. Work so far = 0 hours.

My workout routine has gone by the wayside as well but I figure that all of the puppy in and out and up and down and etc, etc makes up for it. I hope.

Seriously, though. The time these last two weeks working with Emmett and Auggie – priceless in happy love as well as a calm (mostly) puppy that is fitting into the family Summers. Auggie deserves a medal for how he is adjusting to Emmett and for what he is tolerating!

I consider training to be a lifelong thing … sometimes a regroup, sometimes a lightness, but always there. I am so pleased with how “clicker training” aka positive reinforcement is going with Emmett. And I have some affirmation from the couple who cleaned my yard and some woods area. Jason and Kay have much dog experience and clicker training experience and they were so impressed with how Emmett is doing. They spent time working with Emmett and me – so valuable to have this kind of experience: new BFF! (***Jason trained a Belgian Malinois for bomb work!)

So. Photos. Proceed!!

So funny. The play is kind of rough, but Auggie is all in.

Oh, boy!

This is the first time Emmett did the “air out the parts” thing. He has not liked being “upside down” in my arms. Is that a thing that they grow out of … don’t know.

Self explanatory.

I bought Auggie a new tower for the sunroom. My thought was to give him a spot to get away from “THE BABY”. I didn’t pay attention to the step configuration. But so far, so good and this is the first time that Auggie used the tower perch.

Sticks are the best chew things!!

Snow is great.

Sun is wonderful and all is good with Auggie, Emmett and me.

A week (almost) with Emmett

My heart … my heart is full!

Auggie and Emmett and memories of early days with Bear, Karl, Bob, Gus and Zack. It is a wonderful and also bittersweet time!

A week ago, as I write this, I was meeting Emmett for the first time and it was an incredible moment! He was placed in my arms and I looked in his eyes and said: “Oh, Emmett. Do you want to come to Montana and be my dog?”. And he kissed me.

I will never forget just as I will never forget the first words I’ve said to each of my dear pets.

So.

Snippets from this first week…

Clicker training: I cut the training treats in 1/4’s and used those with clicker to “mark” behaviors. This led to Emmett’s “go to bed “behavior”.

The play pen. I increased from 4 panels to 6. Emmett and his siblings were in a 6 panel enclosure. You can see Auggie to the right as a kind of blonde blur.

Auggie.. so funny. He can be anywhere he pleases, but he chooses to walk by Emmett which initiates a follow/chase. I stay in the background. They have had some “boxing matches”. Auggie has raised paws but so far no contact. I am pleased with all behavior!

Workday!

Relax time.

Good Grief!!

More snow…

Well, love.

Subscribe by email option

I added a Subscribe by email option to the blog since I am not posting regularly here. If you are viewing on phone or tablet, the option is probably at the bottom after three blog posts. If you subscribe, you will automatically receive an email when I publish a new post.

I hope to document our training progress but time!! Photos and videos are a bit tricky – I want to take as many as I can and will share but my primary focus is going to be making sure both Emmett and Auggie are safe, happy, fed and that hopefully, I teach Emmett (and Auggie) what I would like them to learn. I put it that way as I know how easy it is to accidentally teach something I did not intend to!

It is so much fun and I am thrilled that I get to have Emmett and Auggie in my life. I will do my best for them!

Emmett comes home to Montana

The trip to bring Emmett home to Montana was exhausting for both of us!

I hadn’t flown in 10 years and although security was tight last time, nothing like this trip. And in the preparation, I had not looked at Portland Airport – my destination – I had no idea it was a large airport … relatively speaking. I was expecting something slightly larger than Kalispell Airport. And then, my rental car… My daily drive is a no frills 2002 Jeep Wrangler. I rented a 2017 Yukon XL. I got in the car, picked up what I thought was the key fob, but no key. I spent about 15 minutes sitting in the garage, reading the manual to make sure I knew how to turn on wipers and lights and AC/Heat. Then had to stop a bit down the road to figure out how to adjust mirrors. Sheesh!! I am always taken aback when technology beats me up!!

Despite all of that, I arrived at the home of the Peterschmidt’s about 45 minutes ahead of what I thought.

And I met Emmett. He had just had a bath and was handed to me in a towel. I snuggled him close, looked him in the eye and said “Oh Emmett. Do you want to come with me to Montana and be my dog?”. And then he kissed me. So much laughter and I was nearly in tears. Happy, happy moment.

The Peterschmidt’s fed me, gave me a bed for the overnight and I got to ease into their routine of puppies (2 others in addition to Emmett were waiting to go to their new homes) and their 5 grown up dogs. Plus, 4 of their 7 children still at home and “Grandma” was visiting. I had a wonderful time visiting, talking dogs and life and was mostly relaxed the next morning when Emmett and I left for the trip home.

The trip home involved the 2 hour drive to the airport with a stop at a UPS Store where I shipped home everything but Emmett and me so as to travel light.

The drive and rental return went fine. We checked in with no issues – special check in when travelling with an animal in the cabin. Then security… That went well, but it was busy, noisy – lots of commotion. Emmett did great. With an animal, you remove them from their carrier and go through a different line for the metal sweep and some other checks. Everything else: carrier, handbag, shoes, jacket, iPad went in the standard bins through the scanner. We all came out the other side and reunited. Emmett just snuggled in my arms and did not seem concerned despite the noise. We made our way to the gate and I took him out of his carrier to be in my arms until we boarded. We attracted a bit of attention but everyone was so respectful and asked before approaching. He did fine with that also as people moved slowly and let him make the first move toward them. I was so pleased with Emmett and all of the people!

On board, my carrier fit lengthwise so I was able to position it so that Emmett could see me well and vice versa. He put his head on his paws and relaxed. At the Peterschmidt’s, I allowed all of the puppies to mouth my boots and drag them around so there would be some of their scent on the boots, I hoped. I kept my boots at the side vents of the carrier. Emmett whined briefly as we got situated and then was quiet until our descent. There was a small cry and then he resettled. I’m guessing maybe ears as we started down.

On landing we went to a grassy area and had a bit of outside time before getting in the Jeep and heading home. At home, I left Emmett in the Jeep while I greeted Auggie, freshened his food and litter boxes and listened to his complaints about being left. I then brought Emmett into the sunroom and after a little exploring, put him in the play pen.

I left the sunroom doors closed – let Emmett and Auggie look at each other, sniff and I quietly went about getting situated. In a bit, I let Emmett out of the pen so they could get a better look and sniff. We’ve been slowly spending more time together and there have been nose touches. Emmett gave Auggie a kiss which Auggie responded to with a face that looked like it said “Yuck”!

This morning (Wednesday, 2nd morning) Emmett did a play bow and a little puppy bark to invite play but Auggie is not quite ready. Still, they both advance and retreat and I am very pleased that although Emmett badly wants to play, he resists (mostly) a chase and sits down with his tail wagging rapidly. They will get there!

Meanwhile a few (or more than a few) fun photos from these first days:

Emmett sleeps in the wire crate next to my bed. I put the shirt I’ve worn that day and his big fleecy bone plus a small container of water in with him. He is a good sleeper and the few times he whined in the night, I put my hand in the carrier so he knows I’m there and he goes right back to sleep.

Above is a screen capture from my phone showing the view when dropping in via my Amazon Echo Spot. I can also hear and Emmett can hear my voice if I speak.

Emmett is a joy. It is fun watching him and Auggie work out how to be brothers. Emmett follows me everywhere and lies down at my feet when I sit or am working in one spot. He is getting a bit bolder and exploring the house but does not go far from me. Outside he also follows, and is having a great time figuring out pinecones, sticks – a LOT of sticks! – and other treasures on the ground.

So much fun – happy days here!