Maybe You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks!

About 1am last night I was woken by the dog yard and Guardian Dogs on full alert. There is no mistaking that noise from an evening howl and anything similar. Once someone with multiple dogs with high prey drive has heard it, your feet are out of bed and moving before you have even properly woken up.

I flicked on the porch lights to a HORRIBLE sight - a porcupine walking in front of the house with 2 massive Guardian Dogs a half a step behind him. I hollered for Mark as I threw clothes on and grabbed a headlamp.

Five years ago Cricket had a run in with a porcupine. It ended badly for all - with a dead porcupine and an ugly quill removal from Cricket (which took 3 people). In my experience NO dog learns from a porcupine encounter - if fact it usually makes them MORE wild to get one (revenge perhaps).

I flew outside to find no porky and Cricket and Bear casually strolling around. What the.......??? I KNOW I did not imagine that. Mark was not as convinced.

I then noticed three cats in a semi circle staring under the porch. Getting down on my stomach I was able to find the fat prickly beast hiding under the house.

After some consulting it was decided to round up the cats, lock the Guardian Dogs in a pen for the night and see if Quilly Willy couldn't find his own way out of the yard before daylight.

Please, don't think too much of us. I have watched my dogs go through too much pain and spent way too much on vet bills in the past to have any warm and fuzzy feelings for porcupines. Even watching cute videos of them eating watermelon that you all post for me just makes my stomach churn. I don't hate much in life - but I HATE porcupines. The problem was that there was no clean shot on him.

We tucked Cricks and Bear in a pen with a bit of kibble as a reward, quickly rounded up KD, not so quickly caught Tic and chased Bait (who was thinking this was the most fun night of his life) around the yard for way too long.

At 4 am the dog yard hit full alert again. I went out but it appears our visitor had made his break. Good for him.

I suggest he keep moving, as he will be given no mercy should he show up again.

As for Cricket and Bear - I think they might be the SMARTEST Guard Dogs on the planet. I am in awe. I lay in bed last night thinking of the horror it would have been to pack 250 bleeding pounds of stressed, in pain dogs into my van for a 2 am rush to the vet. *shudder*

I'll have nightmares for weeks.

New Collar - Twig

Hey!

I continue to learn all sorts of new things here in my new home.

I'm getting along great with the guard dogs, they're fun to hang around and very patient.

I tried to show Bear some of my new Ninja skills that Bet taught me.  I could have sworn he was laughing at me.  I don't think I'll ever get as good as Bet.

For instance, the other day she taught me how to deflect a ferocious attack.  She told Bear to attack her... ferociously.

Honestly... I think I would have piddled myself if I saw that coming right for me!  I thought poor Bet was done for sure, but then...

Yep, she totally diffused the situation by asking Bear how many ounces in a cup.  It stopped him completely in his tracks!  I've never seen anything like it!  Cricket knew, but she just chuckled and wouldn't give him the answer.

Of course she told me that you should only use the question deflection tactic when all other avenues of escape were blocked... sometimes ferocious creatures actually know their measurement conversions, but it's a handy tool to have in your Ninja arsenal.

As you can see, Bear has been completely immobilized by the question, letting Bet escape easily.

I need to practice my diffusion questions, and also work on trying not to run, because sometime running makes things worse... but I do like to run.

One of the (as Bet calls it) "Biggie Big" things happening around here is that I'm outgrowing my collar.

I like my collar, I think it's very pretty, but it's sorta girlie, and I wanted something more FIERCE!  Bet was very happy to help me collar shop.  Apparently she has magazines, and bookmarked Websites and and color swatches for all of her ensemble shopping.

I can't get one of the really cool official herding collars, like hers, just yet because I'm still growing.  Those types of collars are very special and only for real herding dogs.  I haven't herded a single thing here yet, unless you count the cats.

Unbeknownst to me, KD actually called a meeting of CATS (Cats Against Twig Society) and was trying to have me removed from the house because I "bother" her too much.

Kick her out!

Frankly she's too fat and needs a little exercise anyway.  According to the Musher they really have no say in the regular household rules, although they seem to think they own the place.

Where was I... oh yes, the collar.

Bet looked up the meaning of colors for me and found that yellow is very fierce... but she told me that I can't wear a yellow collar and gave me a sad look.  Apparently that color is retired, and only worn by the beloved Kara, who was very fierce herself.

Bet also found that orange is also very very fierce, and since that's the color of a particularly annoying cat, I knew that was a good color... just to make KD mad.

I had to undergo a test to make sure that orange would go with my furs.

I think it's a go.  We told the Musher, so I hope my new collar gets here soon so I can be FIERCE!

- Twig

North Wapiti Knowledge Nugget - Bet

Well Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

We've been ultra-mega busy here at North Wapiti Kennels lately and there have been questions about the new dog and stuffs and things, so here's an update and a nugget of knowledge (there will be a quiz, so pay attention).

So, we all got together for the big Canada Day celebration picnic.  Good friends, good food, and everyone showed up.

Yogi arrived and was immediately upset that I took the comfy chair... he also wasn't sporting any fashionable ensembles because I told him it wasn't a fashionable ensemble type of party so he pretty much pouted the entire time.

Bait showed up when he found out there were boxes.  He insisted we all call him Lord Cuddly Boots... yeah, that didn't happen, so he pouted most of the day.

KD was busy watching the Tour De France bike riding thingamabob.

She keeps trying to trip up the riders because she thinks its funny when they fall... I have no idea what's become of her lately.

She decided to join the party later in the day and then complained when we were out of bacon.

Cricket found some time from her guard duties to make an appearance.

She guarded the plates.

I had my comfy chair, had some snacks, and I may have had a beer... or two...

I must have been a bit dehydrated because it went right to my head and after eating I needed a nap.

The Musher called me a lightweight and attempted to dip my paw in some warm water, but I wasn't that "exhausted".

So, that was all very exciting.

During the hot summer months, there's not a whole lot of training to do, and now that the Molly Toddles are bigger, my Nanny duty is pretty much over.  They're in their own pen now, the biggest thing that will happen (when they are ready) is that they'll get introduced to the main dog yard, so that leaves my days for very important things (and stuffs).

Now while it may seem like I'm napping, I'm actually doing my Yoga moves to keep limber and stretchy.

I also have to keep an eye out on KD, who tends to get into things she shouldn't be getting into... like easily accessible foodables.

MUSHER!!!!  KD is attacking your nuts and apple slices!!!!

I hate you.

After everything I've done for you, that's how you talk to me?

Leave the plate alone!!!!  MUSHER!!!!!

Shut up, I'm trying to capture the trees

It's a design on the plate... seriously, what is wrong with you?

See... it's exhausting.

Anyhoooo, a bunch of you have asked about Bear... he's still in training and learning stuffs and things.

You've also asked what breed he is.  He's a Sarplaninac... which is pronounced Sarp... Sarplana.... big goofy dog.

We've kinda bonded since we have a lot in common:
I flunked out of baa baa sheepy thing school.
He flunked out of guarding baa baa sheepy things.

um... ok, so that's about it actually, but we're both not too crazy about the baa baa sheepy things.

He doesn't like thunder, so when it stormed he would hightail it to shelter and leave the baa baa sheepy things to fend for themselves (and frankly I don't see a problem with that).  Cricket doesn't like thunder, so the only problem we have now is both he and Cricket trying to squeeze through the cat door whenever it storms.

Other than that, I'm training him to realize that he's the "outdoor" help.

While I'm the privileged "indoor" supervisor that requires vigilant guarding against stompy things, and things with beady eyes and poky poky beak things.

And these are his "sheepy things"

Except Cindy Lou Who is making it a bit harder teaching him what his responsibilities are.

I'm a model... you know that right?  So I expect my cappuccino first thing in the morning, not too hot, not too cold, and have my model booking appointments in my calendar, and I also want my kibble with a little soup, not just during training season, but ALL the time... you can handle that, right? 

It'll take some time to get him up to speed.

No Bear!  Cappuccino has more froth than latte... duck, she's gonna throw it!!!