What Makes Them Want?

This is a little video of Dhali and Tibby 'training'.  Dhali just playing and throwing in a tunnel or jump wrap.

Tibby?  Still trying to find out what makes her tick.  A couple days ago I was playing with Dhali out in the yard and Tibby acted like she wanted to play too, so I sent her to a jump and she ran over, wrapped it and ran back to me.  I was about 20 feet away and very surprised that she #1 knew how to do that and #2 WOULD do that.   So I tried a tunnel and directed her to different ends of the tunnel and different sides of the jump to wrap.  All without me moving at all.  She likes that.

Strange dog, huh!?  She doesn't want me to move OR to touch her.  A couple times in the video I'll reach down to pet her and she's like, "Eww!  Keep your hands to yourself!"

So I wanted to see if it was just a one time thing that she felt like doing the other day and we tried it again last night.  First I got Dhali out and played with him and when Tibby started to bark and act like she wanted to play too I got her out.  And she did it again!  Not quite as well as she did the other night, but still I was impressed that she wanted to do ANYTHING at all.  It's been a long, long time since she acted interested in anything agility related.

So what can I do now?  At least I know that she #1 knows how to do agility - wrap jumps, send, take directional directions (?), ect.  (So I guess I'm not THAT bad of a trainer LOL!)  #2 she has at least a tiny desire to do agility.  Now I try to build on that tiny desire without smothering it.
This is going to be interesting.  I wonder if I just stood in the middle of the yard and directed her to do stuff.....how would that go?  Guess I'll just have to find out!

In other news - Dhali is loosing his teeth!  And he hasn't lost his love of tugging!  Yay!  Or biting me in the leg, arm, butt.... I now have exactly ONE pair of pants without Dhali bites in them.  ONE.  And I have a lot of pants.  He reminds me of an aussie.  Jump, jump, jump!

Pic-me

I forgot to post the pictures from our picnic last week.  My aunt and uncle were visiting and we had a picnic with them and my parents.

Tibby was a good girl.

However, she really doesn't like men - except my Dad.  My uncle tried to give her treats and she wouldn't even look at him.  My Dad gave her the treats and she ate them up.  My aunt gave her a treat she ate it.  My uncle tried again and she gave him a dirty look and then ignored him.

She does that for all men - except my Dad.  Funny pup.

It was a beautiful day. 

One or Two?

I took this picture a while back and forgot to post it.

I thought it was kind of neat - in a strange way.

Tibby's in the car and I'm outside looking at her.

Strange Day

Today was just off somehow.
 Tibby and I went hiking again, but it wasn't very much fun.  We set off on our regular path.  We were making pretty good time - even with the slushy snow.  We crossed the final ski path, which always makes me feel better, because I don't have to worry about holding on to Tibby's leash (she just drags it).  Tibby stopped after we crossed the ski path and she wouldn't move.  She growled and barked at something that I couldn't see in the trees.  Freaked me out!!  Tibby NEVER growls.  Ever.  I can count on one hand the number of times she has barked at something.  We turned around and went back up the path toward the car again.  Tibby kept turning around and looking behind us.  This isn't normal behavior for her.

 I was disappointed that Tibby wasn't going to get very much exercise, so I took a side path and we hiked on that for a while.  The path goes through a big open field.  Tibby was frolicking along through the snow.  I was sinking in the snow!  Yuck!  We got to the tree edge and Tibby went alert again.  Barking, growling, running away and then back to me.  Generally telling me,  "Let's get out of here!"

We slogged our way back to the first path and went back to the car.  She kept looking behind us the whole time we were in the forest on the path.  When we got to the road and started walking back to the car she was fine.  Very scary.  I figure she can see, hear and smell more things than I can. 

Maybe it was coyotes?   There were some very near us last Fall.  Super scary.  When you are alone (with Tibby) and they are howling and barking all around you.  Not fun. 
My friend (Zoe's Mom) always carries a knife and a gun when she goes hiking.  And now you know not to sneak up on her when she's hiking!  LOL!

We went home and took a nap with Catty.  Best part of the day!  Tibby is so funny.  She gets underneath the covers and sleeps with her head on the pillow. 

We trained a couple times today.  It wasn't great.  Tibby didn't want to work with any props - steps, skateboard.  She did heeling, weaving between my legs and some other tricks.  Before our hike we worked on the box.  Finally got 4 feet into the little box!  Twice!  Then she went back to only 2 feet.  We did have fun tugging/ chasing.  I bought Tibby a new purple tug toy.  She loves it!  OK I guess it was a good training day.  Just a little strange.