Welcome to Dawson’s Corner

Observations from the Dog Side

People say they wonder what their dogs are up to while they’re away and I’m no different. Granted, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it but just the other day I came across some information that surprised me.

Many of you know I train my dogs to compete in agility. Grady has been competing for a few years now and Dawson is continuing to learn stuff so he can eventually compete. Both of them love training and have a good work ethic. And both of them hate to miss out on any fun that the other one might be having. Dawson, in particular, really hates to miss anything.

How do I know this? Because there was a long, long, long period of time when Dawson would bark in his crate while I trained Grady (or some other dog). And not just your average, run-of-the-mill barking. Oh no. What good would that do? Dawson’s bark is L-O-U-D loud with a pitch that is as irritating as nails on a chalkboard. Insistent and impossible to ignore, Dawson’s bark could make a grown man cry. For the longest time nothing could silence him although I am pleased to report that lately he has been very good in his crate. Perhaps Dawson has accepted his fate, I thought.

I was wrong.

Apparently, Dawson has started a movement. It’s called Abolish the Crate Federation and it is very popular among our canine companions.

I knew Dawson wasn’t thrilled about being crated during agility training but I really had no idea how strongly he felt about it. I found organizational documents, personal correspondence, fund raising ideas, minutes from board meetings, and so forth. Since Dawson has such strong opinions, I’ve decided to give him his own blog to express himself.

Welcome to, “Dawson’s Corner, observations from the dog-side.”

Author Archives for bedoghappy

Cookie Jar Games Class: Choosing Non-food Hand

December 19, 2017

Cookie Jar Games

Week 1

My restless dogs. In September, Dawson ran into me while running in an Open Jumpers with Weaves course. I ended up with a broken bone in my right ankle; Dawson was fine. Approximately ten weeks of recovery followed (my dogs’ interpretation? Approximately ten weeks of BORING followed.). I’m still not back to running but I do miss working with my boys as much as they miss having something to do. One of my teachers suggested doing an online Julie Daniels’ course that teaches the dogs delayed gratification. The course is called, “Cookie Jar Games” and is six weeks long.

I’m going to document my journey through this course and it should be pretty interesting because currently Grady will focus on a treat until the end of time which can be a little annoying if you want him to focus on something else in order to get the treat. Dawson gets very impatient and very excited all at the same time (and very barky which sometimes makes me very barky too!).

This week we worked on several fun exercises. One of the exercises involved presenting both hands to the dog, a treat in one hand, the other hand treat-less. The goal? To have the dog consistently focus on the treat-less hand in order to get the treat. You’ll see that this was challenging for my dogs because they’ve been taught to simply leave the treat hand alone and that will get them the treat (a version of It’s Your Choice). I added the clicker after the first session which seemed to help. Here’s Grady doing the exercise and he’s still figuring out what to do.

Given that for the first five years of his life, he was trained to simply back off the food hand to get the treat, I think he’s doing okay. Now here’s Dawson who catches on a little faster but he’s also had fewer repetitions backing off to get the treat than Grady.

Dawson gets barky which tends to be the norm for him whenever he gets excited, impatient or frustrated. I like that he does his barking, then gets back to figuring out the game. Good boy!

Posted by bedoghappy on

January 4, 2018

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ARF Training

2018 New Year’s Resolutions by Grady and Dawson

I was decluttering my desk and came upon some notes made by both Dawson and Grady. I normally don’t pry into their affairs except when scheduling transportation but I couldn’t resist when I saw what appeared to be their New Year’s resolutions for 2018. Dawson, as expected, has big plans for his year while Grady includes me in many of his goals. I found their resolutions both inspiring and amusing so I thought I would share them with you.

Here’s wishing you a 2018 filled with the kind of fun and adventure that only Grady and Dawson can dream of!

My goals for 2018 (by Grady Buford Huntley)
Love Mom more than last year (if that’s even possible)
Increase walking time with Mom
Snuggle 5 hours a day with Mom
Earn bonus treats every day
Help Dawson stay focused (and realistic)
Continue with plans for agility world domination with Mom
Figure out a way to get into the box of tennis balls

Dawson Earnest Huntley’s Best Year Ever: My plans for 2018.
Increase Abolish the Crate Federation membership by 50%
Petition the AtCF board to adopt as our theme song Tom Petty’s 1989 hit, “I Won’t Back Down.”
Present monthly seminars for Freestyle Agility
Run fast every day
Play with Grady three times a day
Finish my dissertation (current working title, “How Social Media Sabotaged the Return of Polka Music: A Grand Conspiracy, Part 1.”)
Earn an AKC tracking title because Mom would like that
Get clearance from AtCF legal counsel to present my research, “Einstein Got It Right: Incontrovertible Proof that All Crate Time is Relative.”
Go an entire year without running into Mom

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January 1, 2018

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Tales From The Dog House

Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

While I understand Grady’s desire for a “Holiday Feast for Dogs,” I think it is important to note there are some Thanksgiving foods that are potentially dangerous for dogs to consume. Here’s a list of ten foods to avoid. Read More

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November 18, 2017

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Training Tips

The Things You Love

The Things You Love
A Valentine’s Day Commentary by Grady Buford Huntley

Dear Readers,

Everyone says that Valentine’s is a day to express your love but I am compelled to say that I strongly disagree. As my fellow canines know, one day of the year just doesn’t give us enough time to express our love so we believe love should be shared every minute of every day with everyone and every creature we meet. In fact, it would simply go against our dog-nature to do otherwise. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!

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February 14, 2017

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Tales From The Dog House

The Bullet

He sat still, looking out over the field, quiet as a church mouse. The only thing I saw moving was the twitching of his nostrils.

I inhaled to calm myself since I was starting to feel very anxious. “Deep breaths.” I said to myself, “You can do this.” I was hoping this time would be different, easier, less painful than the other times. I secretly doubted I would be so lucky.

Meanwhile, he never moved a muscle. Was waiting for the signal.

Waiting.

I reached over and switched his leash from his collar to his harness. In response he whipped his head around to look at me as if to say, “Come on! I got this! What are we waiting for?!”

I paused and made sure I held the leash in such a way that my gloves would provide the most protection from the burning that was soon to occur. Then, against my better judgment, I said the words he was waiting for.

“Find it!”

Like a bullet Dawson took off and I tried very hard not to grip the leash while simultaneously holding on for dear life. “Just hold on to the leash but not too tight and let it slide through your other hand until he’s 20 feet away from you,” my tracking teacher said, “then you can move with him.”

R-i-ght.

Just so you know, it’s counterintuitive to stand still when you are all but certain that doing so will result in being pulled so suddenly that you never recover your balance. It is as if you can see the punch coming your way but you can’t move because you’re frozen with fear. So you surrender to the inevitable and hope to make it out alive.

This is tracking with Dawson. I call it, “Bullet Tracking.”

Sound a little dramatic? Well, by this point I had been through two sets of gloves that Dawson burned a hole through because he pulled so hard and fast on the leash that it simply ripped through the material. Did I mention the burning sensation that is produced as a result? Pain plus fear equals trauma.

On a brighter note, thanks to the kind and patient salesman at REI (You rock, Ryan!), I had finally found a pair of tracking footwear that was light enough to run in while providing extra ankle support in case I landed in a hole or was unable to move fast enough to keep up with Dawson. One of my fears is that he would pull me so fast that I would fall and break my ankle. This in spite of my teacher’s helpful suggestion, “Don’t let him pull you.” As if I have a choice?

So that’s where we are now, Dawson and I. A green team for sure with one of us enthusiastic beyond words and the other nursing a sore hand (but with a really cool pair of tracking shoes). It’s a good thing Dawson and I love each other like we do, since we are forever partners in our quest to, “Find it!” And I suspect we will be tracking for a long time because no matter how painful (or in Dawson’s view, slow moving), tracking can be, finding the glove at the end is a great feeling.

Even if I need a stiff drink afterward.

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January 30, 2017

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Tales From The Dog House

Humble Pie

Once, when one of my dogs behaved in such a manner that I didn’t recognize him (of course it was in front of a group of people), my teacher commented, “Dogs have a sense of humor.” I wasn’t sure if that explained my dog’s unexpected behavior or if he decided I needed to be humbled. Can you really control that which doesn’t want to be controlled? Apparently not. And what happens when you try? You get to eat humble pie. Not funny.

I’ve been taking agility lessons from a well respected teacher and I was thinking about the first time I took my dogs to work with her. It wasn’t one of my proudest moments. Let’s just say Grady and Dawson decided to display their mischievous side and double team me in the process. Which is strange because Grady is very close to perfect so his behavior surprised me. Dawson, well, Dawson still pays a visit to “Crazy Land” whenever he gets really excited about something. Some weeks he visits “Crazy Land” three or four times. It’s exhausting!

Here’s what I recall about those few hours. (To best capture the spirit of the story, please imagine circus music playing in the background.)

It was a long drive to our lesson so the dogs were well rested by the time we arrived. Since the weather was unusually cool, each dog was left in the van while the other took his turn. I started with Dawson and left Grady in his seatbelt harness in the front seat. A few minutes into Dawson’s turn, the teacher says, “There’s a dog out there,” and there’s Grady standing at the closed door of the barn, whining. I’ve no idea how he got out of his harness. I took him back to the van and put him in Dawson’s crate. Grady wasn’t pleased with being crated but he left me no choice. I proceeded with Dawson’s lesson while giving Grady time to think about how unfair life is.

After Dawson’s turn, I switched dogs and put Dawson in his crate with a bully stick to chew. Mind you, Dawson’s mind is toast and he’s tired – he had worked hard. And he loves bully sticks. I take Grady to the barn and hear very little from Dawson which makes me believe the bully stick worked to keep him occupied (hooray for me!). There are even times I forget he’s out there he’s so quiet.

After Grady’s turn, the teacher walks out to the van with me and I put Grady in his harness and hook him in the seat. The teacher and I chat for a bit and then we walk into the barn for her to show me something. A few minutes later she says, “The dog’s out again,” and there’s Grady walking in the barn like he owns the place (are you kidding me?). I escort Grady to the van, tighten up his harness and hook him back in his seat. Afterward, I explain to the teacher why Dawson is crated and show her where Dawson chewed the seatbelt during the only time I used a dog approved seatbelt harness on him (chewed in less than 10 minutes). I say these words which quickly come back to haunt me, “Dawson’s a good boy, not much of a chewer now.” Then I notice on the van floor a bungee cord chewed in half that had been attached to Dawson’s crate. Was the bully stick chewed on? NOPE. Not even a tooth mark. How Dawson was able to get a hold of the bungee cord still eludes me.

“They’re not always like this.” I said weakly, apologetically. The teacher simply smiled.

I’ve never liked the taste of humble pie.

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January 22, 2017

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ARF Training

Grady Goes to Camp. Day 3.

Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 15, 2016

Dear Dawson,

I think this was the best day ever at camp! I was busy, busy, busy and I loved it, loved it, loved it!

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October 15, 2016

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Tales From The Dog House

Grady Goes to Camp! Day 2.

Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 14, 2016

Dear Dawson,

Wow, what a day!! More fun than a lively game of chase! I was not disappointed at all.

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October 14, 2016

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Tales From The Dog House

Grady Goes to Camp! Day 1.

Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 13, 2016

Dear Dawson,

I said I would write you about my big adventures at Dog’s Camp so here it goes. Try not be be too jealous because I got to do a bunch of cool dog stuff with Mom while you had to stay home. LOL!

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October 13, 2016

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Tales From The Dog House

NDTC Agility Trial – Standard run

I’m just not gonna think about it. Whatever Grady does on the course, I’ll remain positive but firm in my expectations. For the next minute, we both have our jobs to do so I’ll focus on mine and trust he will do his. The important thing is that Grady and I are here to have a good time.

But I so want to get that last Q for our Excellent Standard title!

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October 6, 2016

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ARF Training

How To Get Your Toy Back

Not giving it up! No way, no how!

So you have a dog that you’d love to play fetch with but they refuse to bring the ball or frisbee back to you. Or, you are training them and as a reward, you toss your dog a toy only to find that they proceed to fly by you with the toy without any intention of relinquishing it. Who came blame them, really? A toy, especially a squeaky one, is a marvelous thing and ownership of a toy is super fun. Who in their right mind would want to give all that up?

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June 28, 2016

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Training Tips

Joy to the Dog! Tips To Keep Your Pooch Happy and Safe During the Holidays.

It’s that time of the year! Time for joyous celebration, shopping, overeating, overdrinking, visiting relatives, crowds, traffic, the inability to decide what to buy for Aunt Betty, the sudden realization that what you bought for Aunt Betty won’t work at all, and, finally, the overwhelming need for a nap.

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November 3, 2015

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Training Tips

Tripod Dog

Tripod Dog

Every so often someone says something to you that makes you think. I mean really think. That stops you short and you remember the feeling of the words for a long time. It happen to me today and I thought I’d share it with you.

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July 25, 2015

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Tales From The Dog House

Tags : dogs, inspiration

Grady’s Journal Entry (not such a great day)

Grady’s Journal

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

7:50am is when it all began.

Today started out pretty much like every other day. Everyone woke up to Dawson’s barking, as usual. I went outside with Dawson to do my business, came back in and had breakfast. Mom worked on the computer for awhile and then Dawson and I followed her to the basement to watch her get a roll of paper towels (you never know when Mom will need help with these sorts of things so I like to be available).

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May 7, 2015

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Tales From The Dog House

A Day in the Life: Dawson’s Diary, April 7th

April 7, 2015

Dear Diary,

Today was an excellent day! As usual, I woke at first daylight and barked a couple of times to wake my Mom. It’s a good thing I’m around to wake her otherwise I think she would miss the beautiful early morning. I LOVE mornings!!!

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April 25, 2015

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Tales From The Dog House

Nothing Can Come Between Grady and his Bone

Few things will occupy a dog’s time like the chewing of a bone. In fact, it is my go-to solution when I need them to be safely occupied and out of “dog-trouble” while I’m working (that’s a big deal with a 10 month old puppy). The comforting sounds of gnawing, chewing, picking up and dropping the bone while trying to angle it just right for a really good chew, these are the sounds that remind me of my dogs’ total focus on the job at hand. Chew, chew, chew until there’s nothing left.

I wonder why that is?

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March 14, 2015

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Tales From The Dog House

Bad weather + 2 dogs.
What to do?

January 26th, 2015

It’s gonna be a long, long winter’s day is all I kept thinking as Dawson’s energy level grew. For a week (or six months, I don’t know. I’ve lost track of time), the weather has been either bitterly cold or rainy so there is little opportunity to do some serious dog walking. And 9 month old Dawson needs his walks. They help calm him and if he has a long walk, he doesn’t harass Grady as much. Grady, being the gentleman-dog that he is, refuses to tell Dawson when he’s had enough. Instead Grady leaves the room or hides behind a piece of furniture hoping that the, “out of sight, out of mind” theory works with Dawson (it doesn’t). Poor Grady.

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January 27, 2015

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Training Tips

Top 5 things to look for when you’re checking out Doggy Day Care

Number of dogs per day. The more dogs there are, the more chances of something happening. Find out the staff to dog ratio.
Read More

Posted by bedoghappy on

August 1, 2014

· 1 Comment

Training Tips

My dog’s a genius! Top 5 Dog Training Tips

Which do you like better? A dog that is trained to have good manners or one that hasn’t a clue that tackling you like a NFL linebacker is a bad thing? Certainly you’d agree that it’s great fun to be dazzled by a pooch that displays a variety of tricks simply for your entertainment. And, we’ve all been mesmerized by those agility dogs effortlessly running the course – they make it look so easy!

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August 30, 2012

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Training Tips

Come, dog, come!

Having a dog that comes immediately when called is a marvelous thing. When I was training Grady to come promptly when called (dog trainers often refer to this as a recall) I had one goal. I wanted Grady to find the sound of my voice irresistible.

Posted by bedoghappy on

August 1, 2012

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Training Tips

Dog Days of Summer – Signs of Dog Overheating

This summer has had record breaking temperatures so it is good to be reminded of how the heat can affect our canine friends. In fact, it really doesn’t take much for a dog to get overheated in hot temperatures since their body temperature is higher than humans’ (average temperature range for dogs is 100 F to 102 F and higher than 104 F warrants an immediate trip to the veterinarian because dogs can die from overheating). You cannot accurately determine by touch if your dog is overheated so you need to know the signs.

1. Pay attention to your dog’s breathing. Their panting will be noisy, fast and profuse.
2. Check your dog’s tongue. The hotter the dog is, the longer their tongue hangs out of their mouth. It gets wider too. A bright red tongue can also indicate overheating.
3. Gums can be either bright red or blue.
4. Dogs can also be clumsy, disoriented or suddenly fall down.
5. Vomiting and or diarrhea can occur.
6. Seizure

Ways to cool your dog:
1. Keep your dog’s tongue wet with cool, not cold, water.
2. Get in air condition or shade. Make sure it’s a well ventilated area so the heat will evaporate.
3. Run cool, not cold, water over the dog.
4. Once you know your dog’s temperature has started to go down, stop the cooling process. The dog’s body will continue to cool on its own.

The information above was gathered from the websites below. Please check out these websites for more detailed information. You never know when you’ll need to know this information so be informed!

www.gshepherd.com/heat_stroke.htm

www.vetlive.com/2011/05/28/overheating-in-dogs/

www.petplace.com/dogs/be-a-cool-owner-don-t-let-your-dog-overheat/page1.aspx

www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2009/05/dog-overheating

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July 26, 2012

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Training Tips

Why Take Your Dog to Doggy Day Care?

There are several benefits of Doggy Day Care. Here’s what I consider to be the most important benefits for your dog.

Posted by bedoghappy on

July 20, 2012

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Training Tips

Grady the Rock Hound

Grady the Golden is turning out to be a super dog. He’s a quick learner, generally obedient, likes hanging out with me and treats my other golden, 12 year old Tucker, kindly. I think that’s pretty good for an 11 month old pooch.

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July 17, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

Teach your dog to come when you clap in 4 steps.

I used a clicker to train Grady but you don’t have to – just be consistent with treating your dog for the behavior you want.

Here are some general suggestions to help you be successful:

Posted by bedoghappy on

June 18, 2012

· 1 Comment

Training Tips

12 Things We Can Learn From A Dog

A friend of mine sent me this in an email. I liked it so much I thought I’d share it.

Things We Can Learn From a Dog

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May 22, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

Does your dog laugh?

Does your dog laugh? I thought about that question in regard to my pooches. The Puppy Grady flashes a toothy grin from time to time but does he laugh? I didn’t think so until I read what Alexandra Horowitz wrote in her book, Inside of a Dog.

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April 4, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

Kind Classmates

Socializing The Puppy Grady is no easy task and that’s because he suffers from what I call “excitement induced psychosis.” Instantly overwhelmed with feelings of exhilaration, my calm pup is transformed into a creature I no longer recognize. Once the excitement hits, The Puppy Grady lunges on his leash, rears up on his back legs, pants loudly and begins choking on his collar. His ability to listen disappears and no amount of treats will entice him back to reality. During these episodes The Puppy Grady is explosive and loud. Bystanders give us a wide berth and their expression makes me think they believe they are witnessing a dog possessed. Few will look me in the eye.

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February 28, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

My Top 5 Suggestions for Giving a Pill to a Pill Resistant Dog

If you’re dealing with a dog who refuses to cooperate and take his pill, I feel your pain. For 14 days I had to give an antibiotic to my pill resistant dog, Tucker. It about drove me crazy. He was quite a challenge during this time and I had to get pretty creative. I decided to make a list of what worked for me in case there were other dog owners dealing with a similar situation. I’ve also included food suggestions.

Posted by bedoghappy on

February 24, 2012

· 1 Comment

Training Tips

The Puppy Grady and The Park Kids

A cross between a charming politician and an over eager used car salesman is how I would describe The Puppy Grady’s greeting. Sometimes I worry that people might find him to be overwhelming but so far everyone seems to forgive his enthusiasm. In return, The Puppy Grady rewards them with snuggle love and the promise of a life long friendship.

Posted by bedoghappy on

February 17, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

Pretty Cool

Day 14 of 14

The final day!!

Wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible, I decided to use the peanut butter maneuver again. Although messy, it is highly effective.

Posted by bedoghappy on

February 3, 2012

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Tales From The Dog House

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Welcome to Dawson’s Corner

Observations from the Dog Side

Author Archives for bedoghappy

Cookie Jar Games Class: Choosing Non-food Hand

2018 New Year’s Resolutions by Grady and Dawson

Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

The Things You Love

The Bullet

Humble Pie

Grady Goes to Camp. Day 3.

Grady Goes to Camp! Day 2.

Grady Goes to Camp! Day 1.

NDTC Agility Trial – Standard run

How To Get Your Toy Back

Joy to the Dog! Tips To Keep Your Pooch Happy and Safe During the Holidays.

Tripod Dog

Grady’s Journal Entry (not such a great day)

A Day in the Life: Dawson’s Diary, April 7th

Nothing Can Come Between Grady and his Bone

Bad weather + 2 dogs.
What to do?

Top 5 things to look for when you’re checking out Doggy Day Care

My dog’s a genius! Top 5 Dog Training Tips

Come, dog, come!

Dog Days of Summer – Signs of Dog Overheating

Why Take Your Dog to Doggy Day Care?

Grady the Rock Hound

Teach your dog to come when you clap in 4 steps.

12 Things We Can Learn From A Dog

Does your dog laugh?

Kind Classmates

My Top 5 Suggestions for Giving a Pill to a Pill Resistant Dog

The Puppy Grady and The Park Kids

Pretty Cool

The AtCF Board

The AtCF Manifesto