To tug or not to tug?  That is the question. 

Well, for me, it was always a yes!  With rules, but yes. 

I taught Spark Plug when he was a puppy to wait until I said, "GIT IT!" for him to grab whatever tug toy I was dangling in his face, and then to "drop it" on command, and not resume until given permission to GIT IT again!  Even novice handlers can play tug safely, and when played properly, tug-o-war has huge advantages.

1) You really can teach some patience, respect, manners and control of the mouth with these rules.

2) Tug is a GREAT energy-burner.  It is interactive, fun, a huge tension release, and excellent exercise for your dog... and certainly for you, if your dog is a pit bull.

3) Tug can be great for building confidence in your dog.

Although, as previously stated, Spark learned to play tug with manners, we have vehemently played tug all his life.  With our recent delve into training for Protection Sports, I am so glad this game wasn't something I discouraged.  When he was younger (Spark will be four in August), you couldn't lift him off the floor by a tug toy for long, and you certainly couldn't swing him in circles by his toy, not that that was ever the goal, especially then.

I inadvertently "trained" him to hold on for longer by picking him up off the ground just a little bit, then quickly putting him back down, maybe even letting him win the toy, and praising him like he was the bravest dog in the world.  Spark's reaction to that was to bounce off throwing his toy around, and then come back with it to resume the game: ideal.

Now, I am only five feet tall, and weigh accordingly... Spark Plug weighs 55 pounds on a good day.  I am physically incapable (at this point...) of swinging him around too much.  This is what I mean... I can't do this:

So... Today was my first 4th of July in twelve years without a drink.  I struggled a little but with the idea of it (a drink) today, but seeing as it's 10:27p, I think I made it over another milestone!  Holiday without drinking?  Check.

Instead, I went ahead and watched several hours of the Dog Whisperer marathon by myself, which I actually really enjoyed.  I know that it is a somewhat controversial show, and I admit, there are some aspects of it I am not crazy about - how "commercial" everything associated with it has become not being the least of it - but there are many underlying concepts I completely and totally agree with.  "Exercise, discipline, affection" in that order... love it.  And most of all, the concept of using leadership skills and your energy in influencing dog behavior. 

What that really means to me is peace.  Staying in a relaxed, and most of all, peaceful state of mind when (or when NOT, for that matter) working with dogs.  That can sometimes be a real challenge, whether or not you are a professional dog trainer.  I think this is something most all of us could improve upon in our everyday lives.  I know that holds true for me, and not just regarding dogs.

The further and further I get away from a drink, the more I feel myself becoming "balanced," and more and more I am craving those challenges that dare you to stay positive and stay peaceful, starting at home with my own pack.  I know everybody doesn't LOVE the Dog Whisperer, but I really needed the theme of working toward a consistently healthy mindset today, and that's definitely what I have taken away from my 6th consecutive hour of the Dog Whisperer marathon this Independence Day.

Stay safe tonight, everybody!

 

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

This is the first day of my new (first, and only!) blog, and I've accompanied it with a picture of the boys earlier last night after a nice run through the bug-infested woods followed by a romp in the swamp... it may be the last time for a while we run 'em at this *undisclosed* location in Hopkinton.

The location is *undisclosed* even though it is public, because, despite the publicly-accepted opinion among pit bull aficionados, I run the boys off-leash several times a week.  It is legal at said *undisclosed* locale, as well as at the ever-popular and also local Ashland reservoir.  The problem with the Ashland "res" in my opinion is this: it is a well-known and heavily traveled trail where people, including residents, dog-walkers, and well-intentioned owners who have absolutely no control over their dogs, like to bring their pets and detach the leash, whether or not they have gained the relationship, control or obedience to make such an undertaking smart, responsible or even safe.  There are simply too many dog-owners that frequent the Ashland res that fall under the latter category, and as many of us bully breed owners know, whether or not my "pit bull" does the attacking or is on the receiving end of an attack, guess who's getting blamed?  Spark Plug is very reliable off-leash, has fantastic recall, and excellent social skills... All of those things combine to keep him trustworthy and out of trouble in any situation I can think of.  Patches still has a little ways to go.  He is my rescue adopted about 2.5 months ago.  He has come a long way in that time, being a 14-month old male pit bull who came to us overly defensive, fear-aggressive toward strangers and very reactive toward other dogs.  Patch has since earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizen), and is excelling with his obedience and trick-training (I LOVE tricks!).  He is great with the dogs I have introduced him to, and they do great off-leash in small groups, but I wouldn't subject him to the madness that is sometimes the Ashland-res-crowd.  If another dog challenges him, he is not the type to back down.

More to come on his progress!

Everybody, please be so careful with the fireworks and your dogs this week... More dogs are lost on the 4th of July than on any other holiday.  Keep yours safe, and take precautions like shutting the windows so dogs like Patches don't attempt to jump through the screen... (NO body-awareness, this one.. lol).  Happy 4th!  Thanks for reading!