Being Nosy is FUN!!!

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all enjoyed the first week end back to football season!  I know we were watching the Packer vs. San Fran game!

This morning I went running outside by myself, which I haven't done in a VERY long time.  Usually Lewis accompanies me.  But, I wanted to try something with him for his walk.  Today we worked on nose work.  For those of you who aren't familiar with nose work, I will explain.  

You will need a good smelling treat.  I used dehydrated turkey livers, but you can use a smelly "cookie" type treat, or some boiled chicken, whatever you want.  Some dogs will need to be kept away while "hiding" the treat, others that have a good sit/stay can probably watch.  As you see in the first picture, Lewis watched while in a sit/stay.

Next, you will drop the piece of treat in the grass and step your foot over the top of it.

The treat is in the grass next to where my big toe would be. (no, that's not a "deposit")

By stepping on it, you will get the scent on the bottom of your shoe.  This may seem, like not a big deal, but you will see how it can lead your dog away from the trail.  Keep doing this until your treats are gone, but don't do too many on the first try.  Once your dog gets the hang of it, you can make it harder.  

When you are ready to release your dog, tell him to "find it".  To get Lewis accustom to what "find it" means, I showed him the treat, let him smell it, then tossed it in the grass, telling him to find it.  We did this until he got the hang of it.  As he smelled for the treat, he would keep his nose to the ground and sniff the trail until he found it.  Sometimes he would start to walk away from the treat, but then he would come right back to the stronger smell.  It really was amazing to watch.  Watching him have to think about what he's doing was really pretty cool.

Where could that treat be?

Is it in here?  No those are tomatoes.

Here it is!

Finally he found all of the treats.  We did this a few times in the effort to work Lewis' mind.  Mental exercise can be just as tiring as physical exercise, or so they say.  Now I wanted to test this theory, so we went for a walk.  Just to be clear, Lewis was SUPER energetic before we started this game.  So, how was this going to work?

I did not put his backpack on due to the high humidity, I didn't want to over heat him.  So off we went.  During this walk, I concentrated on mind work, not physical exercise.  So I made him walk next to me, slowly.  No fast walking today.  I also didn't use many words.  Him and I have a pretty good set of non verbal cues, and I wanted him to use them.  

The walk was GREAT!  He was calm, walked slow, and even stayed calm and slow past a house with a very loud barking dog.  Mental exercise worked.  We only walked about 4 total blocks, but he was pretty tired.  Nose work will go into our rotation, for sure.

Weight pulling is still on the agenda, I'm just not done researching it.  The very last thing I want is for Lewis to get hurt.  So, we'll update about that as it happens.

In the meantime...

GET OUT THERE AND PLAY WITH YOUR DOG!!!!!!!!

~Tracy & Lewis ♥

I got my back pack on...

I got my backpack on.

Today is the first day of school for lots of kids.  Lewis and I are excited to get back to our usual walk/running schedule now that life goes back to, what feels like, normal.  He has his back pack on and is ready to go!

A few years ago I bought him this back pack and put some sand bags on each side so he would tire out faster on his walks.  It also seems to give him a sense of purpose, or a job when he wears it.  In the beginning, though, I didn't think it would work.  As he gets a little older, it seems to work beautifully.  He even carries his own poop "deposits".  Bonus for me :)

On our walk today we had to walk past the elementary school that my daughter went to, it's across the street from our house, so really, we have to walk past it every time we walk.  Lewis laughed smiled laughed (he definitely laughed) that the kids have to sit inside, and that his school is the whole outside world.  

Naughty Lewis to laugh like that!

As we walked we saw lots of fun stuff.  Not your every day ordinary stuff.  We went over some railroad tracks that we don't always go over.  There was a new face on the tracks today.  Usually it's just the usual squirrel, and even though that is SOOOOOO exciting for Lewis, today brought a new friend.

It was a little black and white cat.  Unfortunately I didn't get the picture fast enough.  But Lewis saw it, and squealed at it.  He wanted so badly to play with it.  But we had to keep walking.  So he smelled and smelled for it...

Are you here little kitty?

He searched and searched for it.  But eventually he gave up, learning that he can't always play with everyone.  We practiced sitting at all the corners today, and how to be the better guy when a dog lunges and barks at you from their yard.  This happened twice today, and both times he did great.  This is such a HUGE thing for him.  He used to just lose it at the sight or sound of another dog.  Now, after much practice and school, he can control himself much better.  Lots and lots of treats help too.  See, school is fun, not something to laugh at, Lewis!

After about an hour, we went back home so I could walk the other 2 dogs.  And Lewis was happy to let them walk...

Have a great day everyone.  And GO PLAY WITH YOUR DOG!

~Tracy & Lewis ♥