New toys for the pups: Spring Poles!
I ordered 2 Spring Poles for the dogs, specifically for Blue but, come to find out, the Shika love them too!
We got one for up to 75lb dogs and one for up to 150lb dogs.
Here are some videos of their "introduction" to them:
*As you can see, Masha is being kinda "bitchy" this week. I think her adolescents is in high-gear right now. AND... She is a guardian, so she guards - everything.
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Also, just for fun, here are 2 other videos I uploaded today...
The dogs visit me in the office:
Running in the yard:
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We got one for up to 75lb dogs and one for up to 150lb dogs.
Here are some videos of their "introduction" to them:
*As you can see, Masha is being kinda "bitchy" this week. I think her adolescents is in high-gear right now. AND... She is a guardian, so she guards - everything.
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Also, just for fun, here are 2 other videos I uploaded today...
The dogs visit me in the office:
Running in the yard:
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Comments
Looks like a lot of fun for the dogs.
>> 63lb at 6 months (2 days ago).
...do all your dogs get along or do you need to keep certain ones away from others?
>> It depends on the day. Sometimes they all love each other, sometimes it seems like none of them get a long. That is why we have a big yard with lots of gated areas.
Oh and do they all sleep on your bed at night?
>> NO! LOL... We only have 1 or 2 up at a time and we rotate them. Last night it was Lani and Blue. Blue wiggles a lot tho.
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Ahi and Loa going crazy on it is hilarious, lol!
And it's very impressive to see Masha not only taking an Ahi stare with poise, but making her give up. Ballsy girl!
Are you going to keep them out there permanently, or only when you are there to supervise? Just wondering if they will cause any conflicts if you aren't around.
We needed something that would shape Masha's behaviors that wasn't violent or cruel, but was also corrective. Times-outs work great, I have a video example of our CGC training with her where she is snapping and lunging at dogs during "walk-bys", 2 timeouts and the behavior completely stopped. It's impressive. I would have never thought they would be as effective as they are.
With COs you are always working to keep them from slipping to their "default", which is an extreme bark-and-lunge display. It's a lot of work, but they are so smart you can really tell they "get it". It's hard tho, because you always know their default is there and they will use it if they don't feel you are in control of the situation. That's what they are designed to do, when gaurding their flock, they had to be able to take over the security role 100% and make choices (on their own) to protect the flock... If you are training them, and you are just sitting their waiting for them to act, they will take over the situation and it will always go to their default.
The timeouts work great because it takes away the most important thing to them: their flock/family and their control. A timeout removes them from the situation completely and that works as a correction w/o the need of violent acts like leash jerks and alpha rolls. You jerk the leash of a CO when they are in their default (aka defensive drive) and it will be the last leash you jerk with that arm.
They really tests you as a trainer and an owner.
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And it's very impressive to see Masha not only taking an Ahi stare with poise, but making her give up. Ballsy girl!
>> Yea, I don't think that will ever go bad (tho it could go real bad) as both dogs are very confident and smart enough not to fight over silly things, but if either were not as smart I would see the Ahi/Masha relationship as very dangerous. For example, if it was Kahuna and Masha challenging each other like that, we would need to separate them permanently as Kahuna shows little-to-no self control.
He (Blue) is going to be a dog that will not get messed with.
>> Yea, that is why our training and CAT work is in full gear while he is young. With him, I wanted a dog like that, but we need to teach him to control the drive and use good judgment. Hopefully the Spring Poles will help get some of that (prey) drive out of him too.
how big will Blue get when he's fully grown?
>> He should top out between 120lb and 140lb and 28". My guess is closer to 120lb, but there are CCs as large as 160lb. Blue's dad is "dryer" in type and build, so I expect Blue to grow the same way - Blue's dad, Mojo, is only just now starting to fill out at age 9. Kinda crazy!
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Actually, I think I inadvertently used that method in getting Rakka used to Melvin. The more psycho she was, the further away from him she had to be. The calmer she was, the closer she got to him, so eventually, her curiosity overpowered her desire to go psycho, and now she gets to lick his face and stand on him while he rolls in the dirt.
I love how these videos give that "I'm video taping the kids" feel, with the 'kids' being like a hundred-million dogs.
Those toys are so cool (Tom's all like "we should make that"). I love the way the Loa pulls reminds me of Tetsu and Masha's "I'm not doing anything" face when you called time out reminds me of Tikaani.
Perfectly explained!!
and true of all others (breeds or individuals) with independent default settings.
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I do wish we had more Kai owners on here!!
Ofcourse if I was a Kai on the dog farm with all that cool stuff and other dogs to hang around, I wouldn't climb out either.
The Spring poles look like tons of fun. I like the time out idea too.
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