Snow

Good night

Why lie in the bed when you can use it as a pillow?

Alive

Yes, we are alive.

It has happened too much to write, but here are some pictures.

Wrapped

House dog

I think he likes staying in a house. Sure he's nutty now and then but he's much more relaxed than i could imagine. He finds his place everywhere.

Colorful sky

On the way home from the last weekend of the ethology education. It gave me and Fajsty very many tools to work with.

Upside down

Someone here is very tired after having had a day of learning.

Also

Also on öland the new bed is approved.

Fall

Autumn in the streets. Snow in halmstad.

Premiere

First time in the new bed. It seems it is not so scary anymore. There is still hope. His allergies prevent a soft bed on the floor but he has not touched the new harder one until today. . But now he sleeps there. Mourning his blue bed.

Update on...

... Training
We did train a lot before the Rally-competition and it seems it paid off, we got a good (well, decent) score even though it was raining constantly and was very windy.

We have started training scent discrimination. It went ok when we trained by ourselves in a basement here, but then when we train at home it just wont click.

We also started training some hunter style training, stop on the sound of a whistle and "fetch". To actually fetch is no problem, but holding it until I say let go is a big problem. He can take it in the correct place, but sometimes he drops it immediately, and sometimes he just wants it for himself. We have a bit to work on there....

...Sickness
The veterinary called and said his values of mite-allergies were 3000 normal value is 150... So he's most likely allergic to mites, these buggers are everywhere. First I threw out his old bed, bought a new one which he hasnt really accepted yet. It's cool so I'm sure I'll get it sold if he never does accept it.

When we move I will throw away the other soft bed too and introduce a BIA-bed (soft and made of plastic/leather that is easy to wipe off and wont generate cloth-mites.

Another step is to call the vet and ask what she thinks of BRAVO-food. Its minced meat with additives that has much less mites than dry foods. And then give him marrow-bones as toothbrushes. And also brush his teeth every day. (hard foods=better teeth).

...Hairdo
I have cut away all the fur on the belly to be able to see and treat the itches caused by the allergy.
I also got a real dog-trimmer from my father that works really well. Fajsty hates it of course, but it works better than the other one so I can keep track of his ears and front hair, make sure it doesnt get too long.

Wrapped

Newly showered and wrapped in a blanket.

Course

Rallycourse today. Tricky.

301

Post number 301.

Today its shitty weather. Grey and rainy. Average fall day really.
It would have been ok hadnt it been rallylydnad today.

I have not trained in the rain. So it will be interesting to see if he can ignore the rain and focus or if he will revert to a sniffosaur or what will happen.
Perhaps he will focus once there.

Here I tried walking him but when he had peed enough he just turned around and walked home. Not looking good in other words.

But I am hoping he will recognize the situation and at least try to focus.

I'm wearing thick pants and rain pants over those, thick sweater with thick rain jacket over that, and if it gets warmer I'll bring a thinner rain jacket.
I'll put in contacts so I see the signs properly.

Training

The training of the 2 year old Fajsty is progressing fast.

We were on a meeting this morning with the hunting dogs in his breed group-and their trainers. We got a LOT of homework;

1. Grab and HOLD the dummy for at least 5 seconds (my time goal) or until told.
2. Sit and stay on whistle signal
3. Recalls

And on top of that there is the Rally-obedience but I think its really good to mix them.


So number 1 we train with clicker, first I clicked general interest and now I click when he makes a move to grab it, but ony if he chooses the middle.
He chose the middle 2 times then I gave him jackbot and stopped for the day.

Now evening walk.

Autumn

Leaves are turning red and Fajsty shows he's 2 years old and not a feisty youth anymore. He's calmer and relaxes slightly easier in new situations.

I am training with external praise, also called doggie-zen. This because he is on a strict diet from next monday and for 8 weeks and there is another rally-obedience competition in 3 weeks. External praise is a toy, so he can't possibly be allergic to that. I started today with easy demands before i let him have the toy. I tried doing harder but then he cheated so i better progress slowly.

Old video

Long time no blog...

We're practicing Rally-lydnad every day.
Tomorrow I'll make a video if the weather allows it.

On a sadder note his bacteria infection is back, accompanied by a fungal infection.
Also a beginning ear-infection in one ear (the other one looked perfect).

So tomorrow starts the penicillin treatment for the bacteria and the schampooing for the fungus and the drops for the ear infection.

Next monday he will be on a strict diet of anti-allergen food, for 8 weeks.
After that  I guess we can try his normal food if he hasnt reacted to something again...

It's expensive to have a pure-bred dog...

Still alive