Damn Cat.

Luke had to be taken into the vet for a blockage earlier this week.  This is the third time he has had issues down there in the past year and he has now been diagnosed with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).  Basically it's a catch all term for cats with bladder issues and they don't really know the cause.  Luke's 1st incident involved a lot of bloody pee, his 2nd had him lying in a pool of his own urine, and this third time he was blocked and needed surgery.

Risk factors include
1. gender (male) being spayed/neutered:  Well we can't change this.

2. not drinking enough water:  Already have a pet fountain after the 2nd incident so I don't know how get him to drink anymore.  Will have to consider wet food although we really can't afford it.

3. obesity:  Never been free fed and is on a diet currently.  I don' think he's too fat at 10.9lbs although I will start feeding him even less.


4. stress:  He really never seems stressed with the other dogs and upstairs cats.  Really flaunts himself in front of the doggy visitors even.  But the 2nd vet trip happened a few weeks after we got Chuck, and now this latest one is 2 weeks after Java came home.  Maybe a feliway diffuser?

5. diet:  Currently he eats Felidae and I am very bummed that the vet now wants to put him on Hills C/D.  She agrees with me that the food is crap but doesn't know of any high quality foods that will have the nutrient level she thinks he needs.  Mainly high in fatty acids, and very low in phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.  She did mention Royal Canin veterinary foods and at least that doesn't have rice, corn, and byproducts as the first three ingredients (just the 2nd, and 3rd...).


Thank you kitty for continuing to add to our ever growing Care Credit bill.

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Java's Breakthrough???

Training Java has really had me stumped.  She obviously does not really care for food but certainly is starting to enjoy our training sessions.  I no longer have to pop her in the middle of my other dog's sessions for 30 seconds just to get her to do something.  As long as I don't spend too much time on any one behavior, I hold her attention most days for my entire training session (5-15minutes).

But training wise I have been really struggling on getting her to do a retrieve.  At the facility I had finally gotten her to mouth an object after weeks of struggling with glances, then lots of foot touches, noses, and finally open mouths.  At my house things have progressed much faster but I still could not get her to bring an object to me.  Actually all I had gotten was the opposite, pick up an object and back up!  I tried running backwards (she would drop it), leaning or taking 1 step backwards (she still move backed), shoving my hand under her (more backing), a large bucket underneath to maybe start with a "clean up" (backing up faster!), my trusty take from hand and turn game (drops immediately), starting with the item in front of me (flings it away from me), and the object in front of the bucket (stands in the bucket happily).  On the positive side I was getting more of a hold out of her in this process, albeit a mouthy one.

But the last two sessions she seems to have made a very tiny breathrough!  She let me put my hand under her mouth without backing up and even started to take a tiny step towards me with the item!  Fingers crossed that she has stopped toying with me and is going to play my game.  She certainly isn't stupid so I don't know why it's been so hard to  communicate with her!

Her other training is going ok.  Not great, but she is making faster progress.  Her favorite thing to do is pivoting on the bowl and we are currently doing very tiny pivots in heel.  We also have a very tiny tug that is just strong enough to open my light, very easy to open, cabinets.  And a light nudge to a target taped on a drawer.

Basic manners is something that is going much much faster with her!  Java is doing awesome at loose leash walking, even at the agility trial with dogs everywhere!  She was always a nut at the puppy raiser classes, but I think all our attention work and treats shoved down her throat every step of walking has been paying off!  I forgot treats for the dogs on Sunday at the trial, but Java still did awesome!

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A little too much fun for Vito- CPE weekend

This weekend was another CPE trial for the dogs!  It was Vito's third CPE trial but he acted way more like a baby dog then he ever did on his first one!  He has never run on dirt before Saturday so maybe that had something to do with it?  Either way he had a blast!

Saturday:
Fullhouse-NQ
I didn't think it was really possible to not qualify in this game, but we managed to do it!  Man was he reved up and totally not listening to me!  On the positive side he had a very lovely running aframe and he apparently felt very comfortable in layering obstacles, obstacles of his choosing :)

Jackpot- Q
I wanted to test Vito's dogwalk contacts in the opening section so I did it twice.  I was really happy with the results too!  Vito was a bit slower than normal on the DW but he had great striding and a good "go" to the jump.  His teeter was a nice 2o2o but then he doubted himself and for some reason stepped his front feet back onto the board.  The jackpot itself was a nice simple straight line of obstacles and he had no problems.

Colors- NQ
I lead out and had Vito set up heavily angled at the first jump.  It was very similar to the opening we did in jackpot so I didn't think he would have a problem with it, but Vito ran straight to me (and the off course tunnel!).  We also had issues with Vito taking another off course tunnel at what I thought would be a simple rounded turn of jumps.  He did start to turn with me but then changed his mind and shot off the other direction.

Sunday
Wildcard-Q
I was really happy with this run!  Vito was running fast but also listening!  He did kinda enter the weaves after the 2nd "wildcard" and ended up retaking the jump he had just went over so we got an off course.  He also spun between two tunnels but I was pretty far behind him so can't blame him.

Snooker-NQ
Short :)  I didn't feel like there was any nice flowing course I could have done for Vito so I decided to just do the 3 7's I had planned for Lance.  Shouldn't have been too hard, just some wraps.  I was happy with Vito's lead out, another sliced one and call to heel that he did in jackpot but not in colors yesterday, but apparently he couldn't wrap at all.  We make it through 2 7's and the third red but then he took another red.  Vito just didn't want to turn tight at all.

Jumpers- Q
A tired puppy!  Vito did not tackle the course with the enthusiasm he had been over the weekend and this enabled us to qualify!  I wasn't too happy with my handling of the course but as an excuse I was expecting a crazy red dog :)

Overall
Well Vito is no longer bouncing around on the field, he's actually running and running pretty fast!  But he also isn't listening as well.  Vito is usually very responsive to my handing in class and is actually pretty easy to pull off jumps because of how sensitive he is to my shoulder pulls, but clearly I don't yet have access to that dog in a trial!  I need to remember to stand up straight when calling him and to talk to him more. I am pretty happy with how he did this weekend though, especially excited about his dog walk and aframe running contacts !

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Lance CPE trial

Lance did some agility this weekend at the CPE trial.  He finished up his level 2 standard title and now is in level 3 or higher in everything running with the big boys. 

Saturday:
Full house- Q
I thought he leaped off the aframe, although at least he didn't land like a thud into his down.  Looking around a lot on the down too; man he hates it!  Missed the aframe/tunnel discrimination the first time around, and used the table as a platform to launch off.  I gave him a look and he did down on the dirt right away upon landing.

Jackpot- Q
Apparently Lance can't do the weaves if they are the 2nd obstacle.  This isn't the first time he has blown past the entrance.  I gave a much stricter "floor" command on the aframe and Lance went slowly down but didn't jump.  The gamble itself was an easy straight line of obstacles and Lance didn't have any issues with his "go."

Colors-Q
Nice easy run with no issues.

Standard-Q
Much better aframe and dogwalk in terms of not leaping, but slow to down again.  Really no issues with the course, but knocked the last bar.

Sunday
Standard-Q
I was very happy with this run.  Slower coming down the aframe again but downed nicely.  I almost sent him off course after the dogwalk but recovered immediately.

Wildcard-Q
My favorite run of the weekend!  Lance was fast and had some really nice pull ins.

Snooker-Q
We went for the 3 7's in the opening as it looked pretty simple.  Lance did it just fine but knocked a bar on the last jump of #5 in the closing.  We qualified by one point though!

Really late "floors," especially on his aframe.

Overall
Lance is handling very well but we have some major issues we need to work on.  Besides his hating the 4 on the floor, he has a real problem with jumping.  Lance has started to stutter more and more and it clearly needs to be resolved.  He has been seeing a chiropractor regularly and is doing great so it is clearly a training problem.  I know I need to set up jump chutes, I just don't know what specifically to set up.  His new agility instructor has been gone the last couple of weeks so I haven't been able to ask her.  I will probably need to invest in a susan salo dvd pretty soon.

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Java Boot Camp

So far Java's little boot camp is having mixed results.  On the negative side she isn't eating all of her food and she's already underweight (and I like dogs thin!).  She doesn't seem to care at all if I grab some of her kibble and give it to my boys although Lance and Vito are loving this failed plan!  

But on the positive side she is getting more excited about working for her dinner and I'm able to stretch our little sessions longer and longer.  Instead of completely training one dog and then moving on, I am doing about 1min with dog 1, then 5-30 seconds of Java, repeat until dog 1 is done, and then move to dog 2 and Java.  At first she could care less if the other dogs were eating but now she is hanging around and barging in.  My poor dogs think it sucks to have my attention divided and a dog in their face, but I'm letting her be rude and pushy for now.  Java is actually starting to eat most of the kibble I'm giving her during a training session now, as long as I keep each little section with her extremely short.  Currently I'm working on her retrieve, tugging a drawer, nosing a target, and  pivoting on a stool.

During the day I'm trying to play a lot of tug with Java.  I am a firm believer in tug of war really strengthening the play retrieve.  I think there are a ton of benefits, but the most important one to me is that it's a very easy way to teach the dog to put the object directly into your hand instead of just chucking it on the ground or running off with an item.  Of course there are many dogs who retrieve brilliantly when they are playing but have no clue how to retrieve anything other than a toy.  Java currently has only a half play retrieve and zero formal retrieve.  She is enjoying the tug sessions though as long as I keep them short :)

And on the ferret front things are starting to calm down.  We still have barriers up surrounding their cage so she can't just sit and stare.  When one happens to make a sound she is up in a heartbeat to pace and do a bit of whining.  But Java has actually been great when the ferrets are out playing!  She was extremely excited at first, and well still is obsessed, but mainly she just runs around our little basement going from ferret to ferret.  It's as if she's constantly keeping track of where they are and since we have 5 of them she is very busy!  Java has done a little bit of playing with them, but mainly it's the counting thing.

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Seeing Double

Can you tell who's who?

 

Having Java around really makes me want another toller!!!  Java and Vito have very different personalities but I am just in love with the tollerness.

Java is very calm compared to Vito.  I can get Vito into a wriggly, talking, intense mess in less then two seconds.  Java just stares at me.

Java loves tennis balls and other toys (doesn't have a great play retrieve though) but has no interest in working for them.  Vito will do anything in order to get a toy, but looses his brain in the process so can't actually do a thing.

Vito screams when he's super super excited and talks anytime he's a little excited.  Java has yet to make a sound besides some barking at the door or whining at the ferret cage.

Both are pretty indifferent with new people (well unless Vito sees that you have a toy!) but very cuddly once they get to know you.  Both seem to have the same bouncy joy for life.  

 I won't be getting another dog anytime soon but when that time comes I really want another toller!

Oh, and Vito is pictured left, Java right.

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Trade!

Meet the new Chuck!

Ok her name is Java.  She is the only toller in the program and came in for her final training a month ago.

Java is going to be staying with us for a few weeks.  She doesn't seem to know much besides sit and down and progress has been painfully slow this last month at the facility.  It's hard to motivate her when she spits out half of the treats and doesn't want to play tug of war or fetch.  So she has come home with me for a little bootcamp!  My plan is for a lot of attention work and hopefully to get at least a retrieve and tug on her.  I am hoping that being in a home environment and "competing" with Lance and Vito for training time will help motivate her.

Goodbye Chuck!  Since 4 dogs, 5 ferrets, and a cat don't fit in the rented basement Chuck had to go.  No worries, he'll be back!  He is with a short term foster family right now and fingers crossed he is being a good boy :) 

Back to Java.

The introduction has been so smooth with my 2 boys and the cat!  It's amazing how calm and relaxing their intro has been.  No pouting at all and barely any angry faces!  Vito seems to just get her and the two are content to lay down and have a good chew a few feet away from each other.

No one has played with each other yet but Lance has tried!  What has not gone smooth is the introduction of Java to the ferrets.  So far she hasn't been here when the ferrets have had their playtime and has only seen them through the cage or in our hand.  She sniffs nicely and doesn't act like she wants to hurt them, but man is she obsessed!  We had to make a barricade shutting her out from the ferret cage as she just is toller crazy!  Whining, pacing, and dancing around their cage constantly if we let her!  It's her 2nd night and she's finally starting to calm down and not check at the barrier every 10minutes.  Fingers crossed that she learns to chill and is good with the little guys, otherwise this plan is going to have to be aborted.

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October Goals

September Progress:

1. Get Vito ready for the obedience ring- I did have several people practice his stand for exam and that went great during his debut at Toller Nationals!  I also wanted to work on his recall and while he didn't actually step on my feet at the trial, he came pretty near close and definitely did a hop stop!

2.  Running Contacts- I wanted to recommit myself to practicing his turns of the dogwalk and I would say this was only a little success.  I didn't practice as much as I wanted to and I didn't get rid of the stick in the ground at the bottom to help him turn.  But his running contacts are looking gorgeous without any turns, and really good if he has a stick to go around for the turns.  Without the stick we're still hit and miss. 

3. Scent Articles- A win!!! I have been working the almost every day again and Lance is doing great! We're starting with the leather first now and that has made a world of difference in his confidence for the first article.  We rarely have any mistakes or any staring at me anymore!

4. Chuck- I wanted to do tricks.  Well I still didn't do a whole lot with him, but he did get his CGC yesterday!!!!  On the trick department, he is getting pretty good at crossing his paws with a target and is starting to do a backward circle.

5.  Bonuses- It wasn't a goal, but I started doing a lot more work with Vito and the frisbee this past month!  He is starting to understand the back stall and I am just starting to get off the floor when using treats as the reward.  Vito is also learning to do the stall when I have a disc out, but I am still kneeling.

I also am starting to teach him the reverse chest vault.  Right now we are using an exercise ball and having him jump on and reverse off to get a thrown treat.

October Goals:
1. Heeling-  Work on Lance's forging with the new treat position as mentioned in the last post.  With Vito I want to work on fast time (stay with me buddy!) and turns as that apparently is where we had issues at the trial!

2. Disc- I want to progress to a nice back stall even when the frisbee is out.  I want to start doing the reverse chest vault on me!

3. Scent Articles- sigh. yeah I still want to do these several times a week.

4. Retrieve-  I want to work on Vito coming in for a straight and close front with his dumbbell.  Currently he tends to sit a little far away for my liking and not always so straight.

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