Lilly the Rat

They say once you name it you get attached to it. Well for training benefit I got my hands on a live feeder rat. Then I went and named her Lilly. Well Miss Lilly is a very mellow hooded rat a little scared out of her mind now of dogs but that will pass. When working game with a terrier the "bait" is left in a protective double cage. Rats are smart and will learn that the dog cannot do harm and that barking and cage rattling is just what happens. That and she gets peanut butter :)
Doodles reaction was less then expected very minimal growling or barking I do dare say I think he is scared of rats after his first encounter. But with Mr. Gibs being 6 years old my significant other thought he would have a worse reaction but a terrier is a terrier no matter how old. His first reaction was to ignore it but after Doodles let out a little growl and the rat a little squeak it was game on. Holding a 100lb dog back from its prey is hard. There was spit and drool and fur everywhere, I do think that he will be coming when I take Doodles out. He enjoyed working the game thoroughly after I showed him all I wanted was the barking which he did very enthusiastically.
Although I thought all hope was lost, we went to the pet store and lo and behold Doodles is barking and scratching at the guinea pigs he before ignored. I do think he is maturing into a good dog. 

~Happy Tails~

New Dog on the Block

Yeah once again there is another dog in my midst this one I manged to pawn off on my roommate ;) In any case his name is Gibs, he is a 6 year old intact male Airedale Terrier. I didn't want another dog in the house especially another male especially another terrier intact male... Two same sex terriers is a big no no and usually they can be at each others throats. 95% of the time they will be fine but... one day they wont agree... In any case he is also toy possessive and his first night he tried to get Doodles (cant blame him Doodles upsets me most of the time). First thing first when ever introducing a new dog take them both on a walk it helps establish cooperation. Dogs are hardwired for it so getting them to want to get along isn't hard at all. After a 30 min walk we entered the house on leash and went about our own business in a calm manner. Gibs was very nervous sense this was his first time away from his old owners. He was a bit jumpy and that always sets Kaz off. He likes to take advantage of dogs and poke and see if he really is on the bottom of the pack... Yes Kaz you really are on the bottom... Let me say this real fast if you want your dogs to be equal you are in for a horrible surprise, they are not. Dogs always always have a pecking order. You don't need to enforce it necessarily just realize it and don't try to make dogs play fair. If you don't you are asking for the dominant dog to try to fight the submissive dog back or to let the submissive dog think he needs to fight for a higher position. I have seen it before over and over... dont do this to your dogs usually they pick a position with little or no tussle involved. Remember they are creatures of cooperation. So far Gibs has done a good job of fitting in and finding his place, on top, as the oldest, calmest, most dominant male. Now we work on his other problems...
Till then
~Happy Tails~