Happy Labor Day Everyone!
To celebrate this long weekend, I took a day off from writing.  (because I'm allowed, that's why!)
So this weeks Sunday Funnies come to you on  Monday
  • After a LONG week plus of hot, humid days, it seems relief is in sight.  The dog days are upon us.  Hopefully with September now here, fall will be in the air!  One thing is for certain, if the muggy days and nights aren't enough to tell the story, then the singing cicada's definitely are.  For whatever reason, they like one specific tree here.  It happens to be the one I sit under when watching the dogs play.  They can get awfully loud, and leave behind an abundance of shells!
  • As I was getting the dogs out, Akira, Nadia, and Chance were already out and I started with the boys.  Demon was first, followed by Denali, then Kallen.  Five of them were out, and I was walking Kallen out as the final of the 6.  Suddenly I realized Demon had popped the gate open and all 5 were out running.  In the past I would have panicked and chased them around.  Today, I calmly walked up to the gate held it open and said "c'mon guys!"  Akira, Nadia, Chance, and Denali all came back and ran back in!  I was actually quite surprised!  Since Kallen was still on the leash, I put him in, and Demon was running around inside the barn.  It didn't take long for him to come to me either.
  • It got me to thinking about a recent post about call-back training.  It is certainly a good thing for training for emergencies, but I just don't think it's possible for us.  It would have been difficult for me to give advice on the question that was asked.  (Thanks to Megan M for the good advice on Facebook to the question)  Our version of call back training is different than most.  For the most part, what I mentioned before is what happens.  I only have to calmly say let's go, and they will run to the gate and go into the fenced area.  On a rare occasion one might take off, but not very often.
  • I guess the main thing on any training, is that they see you as alpha.  If they see any weakness, they will take advantage.  Example:  They know that if they take off running and don't immediately come back when called, they don't get to play that day.  They have to watch from the barn.  If they get out, but come back immediately when called, they get to stay out and have fun.  The worst punishment for me as a kid was being grounded.  Apparently, this works well for them too.  The key though I think is they have to watch the others play from the barn window.  Then they know what they are missing.
  • As an overall callback training, I am working on using a whistle to get them all to come.  The whistle is always "high value treat" oriented. 
  • There was a specific reason for their escape.  Normally, Demon isn't the one to lead that charge.  But we have 3 of them in heat now and the boys have a one track mind.  At this point, the plan is to skip all of them, but that decision is only at about 80%.  For now, they are kept separate.  Demon was disappointed that he couldn't get to them!
  • Speaking of the heat cycles, that of course makes the night time very interesting.  Demon and Denali normally howl and groan through the night, but this time it's Kallen.  He doesn't howl, he yaps all night!  Needless to say, the neighbors don't like it! 
  • Kallen...meet Vick's Vapor Rub!  Our vet taught us the trick to put a little on the male's nose overnight, and then he can't smell the female.  It works very well.  They really don't care for it, but now Demon and Denali don't need it. (knock on wood)  It's Kallen's turn to learn.
  • The other tell-tale sign of the girls in heat is the urine streams.  No stationary object is safe from the boys and their desire to leave their scent.  The girls do it too, but not to the same degree. 
  • Yesterday, Heather walked by Kallen's window and he shot a stream out the window.  Gross? Yes!...Funny?  YES!!
  • It's liver cooking time again.  Everyone is back in, and I cook it as I listen to the Reds game and the dogs stare and drool.  Especially Holly...
  • There once was a Taj from Belair...
  • And at the grill she did stare...
  • It was truly her wish...
  • That liver was the dish...
  • And it would float to her straight through the air!