Week 4

We've had Helper almost  four weeks.  She's a much calmer and more confident dog now, not to say that she's calm . . . but her good behavior has earned her some more freedom and she now spends her days under my desk with Ioda while I work.  Each day they seem to enjoy each other a bit more.  Helper has quit snapping near Ioda's head and has learned to back off when treats are handed out.  She's learned that if I'm giving Ioda a treat and she behaves too, she'll get one as well. 

For Helper the biggest distraction is still other dogs.  However, due some wonderful advice in the book Control Unleashed, she's made some big progress.  We now play the 'look at that' game with other dogs, people, traffic, anything that she wants.  It really does allow her to calm down.  We've also learned that if we give her enough squeeze cheese to gum up her mouth before she starts barking, she can't bark at the other dogs at obedience class . . . which means we can give her more squeeze cheese for not barking, and pretty soon we can play the 'look at that game'.  Last night at class, she was even focused enough to participate in some of the exercises.  The instructor also mentioned that we could stop by and practice attention and calm behaviors at two of the calmer, upper-level agility classes she teaches.  Since Helper already has great focus around the house and yard, our goals for the next few days are to start working on Crate Games and running through uprights.  Hopefully she'll be ready to start flyball training this fall.

Ioda's been going in for weekly acupuncture and Adequin injections.  These have been working wonderfully.  He's moving well and is more active than he was before over-doing it on the hike 5 weeks ago.  The vet says that he has more muscle in his hind legs and that we can start being moderately active again.  Additionally, we should eventually be able to participate in non-jumping agility classes, though she mentioned that he might really enjoy canine freestyle--I'm not so sure I could ever do that in public though.

Family and friends, here's all you really care about, pictures!
Here Tim and Helper are playing, but Tim has the toy.

Dogs just chilling under the desk.

 
And by the way, I seriously think that neon yellow-green toy is indestructible.