Love this dog....

Indoor Training Photos

This is a really neat dog - had a bit of a slower start in life, however recently started being worked in schutzhund and seems to be coming along very nicely!

This is one of my favourite GSDs...he is beautiful, clever and a bit cheeky!

& my favourite red boy -

Heeling in Protection

Anthony working the grip...

Lesson One...

Tonight was our 1st "training" session. I use the word training loosely because really all it amounts to is behaviour shaping with a clicker. No words, no cues - just Vida exploring her behavioural repertoire to see what elicits a click.

For Vida, she has demonstrated that she already knows that click = yummy treat! Sometimes one, sometimes a whole bunch. This training concept is called classical conditioning-first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov and his dogs.

Anyways, armed with a hot dog cut into tiny pieces, a hungry puppy, a clicker and some patience we tested the waters tonight.

My criteria was fairly simple - eye contact with me while I am sitting....

Vida did well. Her food drive isn't quite as intense as my male's, but hopefully that will develop over time. Within 4 repeats, I had an unwavering puppy gaze in my eyes.

I attempted a photo of this eye contact - unfortunately, I was too slow and all I got was a puppy with a vice like grip on the camera cord.

Indoor Training Saturday

A group of us are informally meeting at a private indoor riding arena for some obedience and protection training over the winter. It is a nice time with lovely people, mild temperatures and the dogs love it. Recently a few people have started video taping and here is the resulting work. Anthony, who is one of the helpers, is also quite talented with video editing and has generously put his time towards making these little video compilations for us to enjoy!

We have been working on his obedience during protection with Dieter and setting up for escape bites...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pmRX-TUE6P8

Eight Weeks Old

Vida has settled in a lot since her arrival last Saturday. She is mouthy, been very easy to house train and showing moments of just what a little bitch she really is.....

We have started a puppy socialization class and our homework is to meet and greet (have positive interactions with) approximately 400 people before 12 weeks of age! We are working on it. We are also supposed to have positive interactions with 100 "safe" dogs (ie. those bomb proof, unfazed, even tempermented kinda dogs that will put up with normal puppy antics).

Vida is developing quite the people fan club (if they can get past the sharp teeth!) but even at her tender age she is a bit "strong willed" with other dogs. Even got to visit with her sister Saturday & it was a bit sad to see that they lacked a playful nature with each other after only a week of being apart. Rather they had a little scrap with some big attitudes and then for the most part ignored each other...crazy pups!

Tonight we had a visit with my parents and their 6 month old Golden Retriever puppy!

Vida said hello.....

When we let them outside to play if they wanted....all Vida wants to do it bite my clothing! Shirt sleeves, pants...anything! They say in puppy class at this age to make a high pitched sound like a yelp and then re-direct. Vida is unfazed - even at my loudest "yelp" lol ...

I have managed to remove most of my sweater from her mouth at this point, but unfortunately she has a grip like a vice and I can't open her trap all the way. At this point, I could likely lift her off the ground, but for her teeth's sake, I refrain...

This is why it is so hard to get a good puppy photo! :-D

Zoomies!

Plan B: Manual Restraint....Not appreciated by the princess

What nice teeth you have Bokeh! Just wait till my adult ones arrive!

Settling down for her post-game snack....Hopefully all this activity means an 8 hour sleep for me tonight!

Training Video of Dieter and I

Diet's & I on a balmy February morning in Southern Ontario. Loving the lack of snow, but finding it quite strange still that things are so mild.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bW-A3LD7z4&feature=youtu.be

She is Settling in Perfectly!

So temporarily a friend has been gracious to loan me her camera. So I am fully equipped to start documenting Vida's life here in Canada. However I now recall the difficulties of acquiring quality images of puppies unless they are sleeping...

Things are progressing fairly smoothly in all regards. Crate training may be a bit delayed, but we are being a bit lenient with her in this regard until she is 8-9 weeks and fully settled here. Or at least that is our excuse. :-D.

When she gives you this look - you can be sure she is going to pounce on you in a matter of seconds and usually bite the closest appendage. It is a matter of smooth timing to have seen "the look", quickly grab a puppy toy and substitute it into her mouth in lieu of your clothing, skin, hair, etc.

Clearly I was distracted - she got my sleeve and those teeth can still be felt through a wool sweater!

Adventures outside usually result in my legs and pants being chased & bitten. However in leaning over for photos - I couldn't resist taking this one of her with my hoodie's draw string.

Love her expression!

This one makes me laugh - I clearly was not fast enough with the photo. All I got was a photo of her tonsils!

We are certainly having a fun time with this new baby. Although nobody will miss her baby teeth once they have fallen out.