Hope you had a ‘wagnificent’ weekend. Sam here. The weather was amazingly gorgeous. We love this time of year…the bright blue Colorado sky with the amazing light of autumn is just beyond gorgeous. Both of us pups are extra frisky on the morning walks. But not too high spirited to engage in some pup training with Ms. Elsa to build up her confidence and to get her used to commands. We’re hoping she’ll end up becoming a zen master like this soon.
Stay, sit, roll-over. Elsa is getting better with the “leave it” command when it comes to squirrels though she just lost it yesterday morning when a raccoon ran out of the alley and across the street. She seems to have a high prey drive so it’s back to square one on critters. What IS it about squirrels that make dogs nuts? Sisters…ugh!
Live, love, bark! <3
Ducky has never grown out of the squirrel obsession; but unless she learns how to climb trees, I’m not gonna worry about it.
Elsa tried climbing up one especially large maple the other day and I thought she was going end up doing a back flip she got so far up! I’m afraid squirrels will always captivate my girl. Sam could care less. ღ
That “leave it” is a hard one to learn for dogs with a prey drive. Tippy and I are still working on that one.
She’s been remarkably responsive to it. As long as I give it early on and before she’s actually seen the offender. We’re working slowly with her since she has all sorts of issues but she’s been impressive for just being with us for 3 weeks. 😉
Raccoons are so cool she just wanted to say hiya!
The ones around here are kinda cheeky but so cool to watch. I have to keep them out of the compost bins-they spread stuff all over the place.
Elsa will grow out of the squirrel obsession. I used to bark and try chasing squirrels, but I don’t do it anymore. When I see one, I look at Mom and she gives me a treat and says I am a good girl.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
We’re still working on taking a treat from my hand. She’ll (maybe) take one if it’s on the floor, but from a hand, no dice, Cupcake. 🙁
Good work Elsa! The weather here is really nice too!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
You’re a good brother, Sam. Just be patient – Elsa will get the hang of it. Those squirrels are a little bit evil sometimes…they like to tease and taunt and get dogs into trouble. But they sure are fun to chase, aren’t they? Sometimes its worth getting in trouble over. ~ Wags and woofs, Kona
Sounds like you are doing a great job getting Elsa trained, Sam!! Keep up the good work :-)!
Lexi enjoyed chasing squirrels. but when they quit running, and said something like “wanna play poker?” she and they lived peacefully in the back yard where we used to live. I think they might have won a few nuts off of her, LOL!
No doubt they were picking up on her tell…that wiggling little tail of hers! BOL
Could be. She was also quite young then and easily influenced. Perhaps she saw them as new playmates. 🙂
No doubt they just picked up on her tell…the wiggling little tail! BOL
One more thing, our dog teacher told us the most important command was to learn “COME”.
Yup, I agree and it can be a life saver. Another beautiful Rocky Mountain autumn day. Are we blessed or what? <3
Great to see you’re enjoying a beautiful fall. We are also enjoying those beautiful blue skies you see at higher altitudes.
Bear, our youngest is actually preparing to do what a Golden Retriever is bread to do, hunt pheasants. Sorry if hunting offends you. I could never do it, but if you want to stay married 45 years, you make peace with one week of it. I did grow up with a father who hunted.
Bear did have to go to 2 beginners dog training and one for the next level to become a good dog. We don’t have squirrels near us, but we do have rabbits. Why they are stupid enough to come into a fenced yard with dogs I’ll never know?
How is Elsa feeling after her seizure?
Namaste 🙏🏼
Nah, hunting doesn’t bother me (even though a vegetarian, I’m totally cool with the whole circle of life phenomena). Where hunting dogs are concerned, it’s hard to deny their genes. Makes you wonder about all kinds of little critters that come into a yard when the dog is around.
Elsa seems to be doing well and has no more episodes. She seems to be feeling quite comfortable with her surroundings. See tomorrow’s post to better understand that. 😉
So glad to hear about Elsa. 💙
Did all the Broncos have the flu? Hope their better before Thursday.
That was pathetic. Seemed like everyone was a sleep at the wheel.
Agreed. Did they all have the flu? Kubiak was taken to the hospital right after the game.
That’s what I heard. Hopefully it wasn’t another mini-stroke like before. Fingers crossed.
Forgot about the stroke. . .
Mee-you Sam mee goess crazy fur squirrless an chipmunks all so! An mee a KAT!! Gof igure!
Wee LUV thee Namaste, Namasit an NamaRollover doggie!!! Berry kewl mee furend!!!! 😉
**paw patsss** Siddhartha Henry xxxx
Thanks, Purrince! I figured you especially would love that graphic. Happy Monday.
Maybe it’s the tail – so pesky and fluffy!
That light fur gives her away. Every time. 😉
Better squirrels than parrots.
We are irresistible!
Well, that’s one way of putting it. 😉
It’s not her fault. The squirrels are known to stick their paws in the ears and wiggle them at any dog. They also yell “You can’t catch me. Na na na na na!” What’s a dog to do?
The dictionary definition for squirrel says ‘furry unabashed teaser.’
Snorts with piggy laughter. Elsa sweetie – you got this! Happy Monday ya’ll. XOXO – Bacon
Cole had it too. I used to say he’d do well hunting in the wild. DH said, he couldn’t live in the wild because there would be no one to do his hair.
LOL!
great that “leave it” goes better&better :o) specially when we keep in our minds that poodles are a hunting breed :O) we work on this front for 7 years and we still hope that it works once :o)
It will probably always be a ‘challenge’ but hopefully she’ll be able to remember this the most of all commands. 😉
To answer your question, Sam, I don’t know. We don’t have Squirrels in this little corner of the universe. I am glad that you are well and I am so glad that Elsa is recovering and is much better.
Benji is lucky not to have these torturing creatures to make life miserable.
One of our Jack Russell’s is Australian, he was imported by a breeder in Florida from Sydney when he was six months old. He has no hunting desires whatsoever, quite unlike his little French companion here! Instead if he sees something that moves he just walks straight past. However, there is one exception, squirrels, for the first four years in Florida he lived outdoors in a kennel, he was the stud dog and the squirrels lived in the pine trees right above his tin roofed kennel, making a dreadful din when they dropped things. We bought him when he was 4 when he had outlived his usefulness. He of course now lives in the house with us, but if he sees a squirrel to this day it is the only thing he will chase!
Isn’t is interesting how dogs together can be sooo different?!