Baron's Birthday

Hi All,
It is hard to believe, but Baron's birthday is on November 8. He will be 3 years old!!! I know many of you are wondering what to get Baron for this momentous occasion. I have several ideas:
1) A ladder. "A ladder?" you might ask. Yes, a ladder. Baron is always trying to catch those sneaky squirrels. They dash up a tree and he is left behind, tail wagging uselessly. With a ladder, Baron could chase those little critters and maybe even catch one.
2) An acorn costume. Baron thinks if he dressed up as an acorn, he wouldn't have to deal with a possible fear of heights and could simply lie on the ground and wait for the squirrels to come to him. Pretty clever, isn't it?
All for now. Don't worry I will keep you posted on more gift ideas.
Botswain

Happy Halloween

Hi All,
Is everyone having a happy Halloween? Baron is very excited about the Big Day. He wants to dress up as a cat and go trick or treating with his friends. Our village does not allow unattended dogs to trick or treat. As a result, he is whining to get me to take him house to house for duck and/or potato dog treats. He doesn't understand that most homes don't have ducks just quacking around the front yard, and most ducks don't want to sign up to become dog treats. Potatoes may be more compliant.

I may let Baron help answer the door as children come to our home. Imagine their surprise when they are greeted by a large (70 pound) curly haired cat with a bushy tail!
All for now. Happy Halloween everybody!
Botswain

Good Better Best

Hi All,
Baron is doing better; but, there is "good, better, and best". He has only achieved "better". Baron received numerous compliments from the farmers at the Farmer's Market who noticed the improvement in his behavior. However, that was last week. This week he was doing great until he tried to pounce on (growl and all) a lovely(and easily intimidated) golden doodle. The two dogs had already met at the fruit stand. Unfortunately by the time we arrived at the vegetable stand, Baron had forgotten his "new friend" and needed a refresher course. He not only intimidated the dog, but also his owner.
The dog's owner expressed her displeasure despite my explanation that Baron has undergone intense training at Barklee's School for Barking Boys.
Botswain

Sleep Distress

Hi All,

Sorry about the lack of updates, but Baron has a "hot spot" on his hind paw and keeping him from making it hotter has preoccupied me. Despite the "cone" collar and an additional inflated collar, Baron has managed, as usual, to do his best to make a bad situation worse. The good news is that we (meaning myself and Master) have thwarted his best efforts.

Yes, dear reader, we have managed (so far) to save Baron from himself! I assure you this is no easy task! It involves continuing to allow Baron to sleep in our bed (don't go there) cone collar and all. It is very uncomfortable to attempt to sleep with a 69 pound dog (he lost 2 pounds) and his hard, plastic, cone collar lying either next to or on top of me. As usual, not unlike human children, Baron goes to "Mom" 1st.

All for now - I want to beat Baron to bed!!!
Botswain

Secret Mission Aborted

Hi All,
I have good news and bad news. I went to the Assisted Living Facility today to visit with Jane and train Tanya. Tanya was gone and already replaced by an older rescue dog. A family of one of the residents saw Tanya and fell in love with her - she has that effect on people. The family adopted her! This is good news for Tanya who did not belong in an Assisted Living Facility. I will miss her but I am stoic.

To recap: above is a picture of Tanya before my best training efforts:

This is a picture of Tanya after a brief session of training. My training worked - she was adopted! Frankly, I was hoping to adopt her despite Master's misgivings, but at least I prepared her for a new family. I hope they like food fights - or at least "bowl" fights!

All for now,

Botswain

Tanya's Training continued

Hi All,

I had a lovely visit at the Assisted Living Facility with Jane (family friend) and Tanya (canine friend-in-need-of-training). The staff at the facility was almost as happy to see me as Jane was. They enthusiastically gave me Tanya's leash and directed me (and Jane) outside where Tanya was playing in an enclosed yard. She wasn't exactly playing, she was trying to get back inside.

In this picture, she had given up on re-entering the facility and was happily tossing her water bowl around.
In the last blog entry you saw a lovely picture of Tanya before I started working with her. Here is a picture of her after I worked with her.

Let me remind you that I am experienced in dog training. I worked with 6 trainers re: Baron (well really only 5 as the 1st one didn't count). I was able to get Tanya to come, sit and stay. Unfortunately when I was hiding in a corner prior to calling Tanya, Jane let her inside the Facility. She eagerly ran around (Tanya, not Jane), found the dining room (not difficult) and was happily eating table scraps when I entered the facility. I was told to demonstrate my training by asking Tanya to come. I asked very nicely, but she was busy.

All for now,

Botswain

PS

I referred to myself as an experienced dog trainer, I didn't say I was a successful one.

Secret Project

Hi All,

I know I promised part 2 of Baron's Special Day, in celebration of his graduation from Barklee's School for Barking Boys and Girls, but an emergency project has intervened. Not all dogs are as lucky as Baron was to be able to attend such an excellent prep school (note: in this regard, Baron doesn't consider himself lucky). I recently encountered one lovely bitch (and I mean that in the gentlest manner possible) who is not as fortunate as Baron.

This is a photo of Tanya, a lovely American Bulldog mix, who resides at an assisted living facility in our community. Tanya is 6 months old and was donated a month ago, after the last dog, a very old collie was put down.

"What does this have to do with Baron and me?" you might ask. Well, dear reader, Baron and I are advocates for dogs whose bark isn't strong enough to be heard. Unfortunately, Tanya, while adorable, as you can see, has had little training as no one is in charge of her. I found out about her when I went to visit a family friend, Jane, who lives in the facility. It was immediately apparent that Tanya, who was chained to the desk, is clueless about training basics, let alone etiquette. She didn't respond to her name, did not sit on command and, well, you get the picture. In her defense, she had just been spayed, and was chained to the desk to keep her quiet.

As my visit with Jane ended, vowed to return soon to help Tanya. The receptionist was very enthusiastic about my return visit, as everyone is clueless as to how to train Tanya. As you might recall, dear reader, Baron has had numerous trainers prior to Barklee's School for Barking Boys and Girls, and, I felt I had developed a particular expertise which might prove helpful to Tanya.

I will keep you updated.

Botswain

PS

Why is this a secret? Obviously Master, a major poodle fan (not a bulldog fan) would not approve. Tanya sheds!