I can see TV (and there are dogs in there )

God told Stephen that he needed to get one of these new 4K TVs.

How did Stephen know it was God?

Stephen was in Costco while I waited in the truck, saw one, thought it was awesome. Just then, a gentleman stopped, in Costco, said I just bought one, really researched it and spouted specs, why you should get this one, avoid that one.

Stephen came back to the truck all excited and told me about it. 

I listened, dogs are good listeners. OK OK Stephen, but how do you know God wanted you to buy one?

Ah, good question Yogi. When, I got home, wanted to watch a movie, put it in and my TV went snap, crackle, pop, spark, spark. I let it rest and it worked again, but this close to the beach, it will go up in smoke soon.

Alllllright, maybe I will spot you that God wants you to have a 4k TV, but what does that have to do with me?

Sure enough, Stephen came home with a TV and they unpacked it. Other than playing with the wrapping material I have never understood why humans sit in front of those glass boxes, I know they make noise, but ........

I could never see the TV.  I know other puppies would watch TV, not me. It looks like abstract art in the Neo-Plasticism style.

But we got the 4K TV, Stephen put in 5 Below Zero, because, who cares, Yogi doesn’t watch TV… well I do now. There are sled dogs inside of Stephen's new TV and they run right into the edge and disappear.

Every time the dogs show up, which is often in that movie, I would jump paws up to the table holding the TV and bark at the strange dogs. They are like ghosts, have no smell, but they are definitely dogs.

Stephen felt this was not good. For a number of reasons: claw scratches on his teak table, afraid I would knock over his screen, and he felt it was bad form . . .

The movie turned out to be the most intense dog/person training session ever,  For the entire movie Stephen and Kathy used treats, just commands, even physically controlling me by my collar, what's up with that?  They took turns, not good cop bad cop exactly, but I recognized the handoff training style.

Other dogs ask me are you “trained”? 

Heck no, they still have treats left. One movie was not enough, I will let you know when I talk Stephen into sharing his bowl of popcorn.

PeeMail from Becca, I'm getting a puppy

Becca wrote Stephen, but I answered the email. She is getting a puppy, lucky stiff. I want a puppy. I have had to teach Stephen and Kathy a lot, but here is what you have to teach the human to teach the puppy. I will pretend Stephen is writing, don't tell Becca .. ....

1) Crate training is critical. The first night Yogi was in his crate, (the first night he was home with us thanks to this nice lady that drove us), he howled and screamed, ONLY wolf howl he has ever made.  Now, when he is done with us, he checks into his crate. Funniest little routine in Washington is he wants to go to bed about 10 PM, we go to bed about 11:30, I have to tell him no, you have to go potty first and that is after the movie. Can’t stress this enough, crate is #1. Your dog will come to love the crate as their space. After an intense training session, after their first time at the dog park, let the animal go to the crate to process.

2) The leash. FORGET all the nonsense. Slip knot and nose noose is the bomb. Puppy will fight it a bit at first, then “OH all right” but it makes all the difference. With the lead done correctly HEEL or WALK CLOSE, (I prefer the latter)

3) Calm, Control, Consistent master this, life will be good.

4) There are only three commands that *really* matter: LOOK, COME and STAY. The dog should always look up at your face, near or far. Dogs will happily stare at their mistress, both of you need to be comfortable with that communication. Start these commands early, keep them going. NEVER ever punish you dog, no matter what evil he/she did, if he COMEs, if you lose that, you lose one of your safety commands.

5) SIT will probably be the easiest command, it is Yogi’s strongest. Use it to your advantage. EVERY time you go through a door, dog SITs when you open the door, stays till you are through it, moves only with COME or GO*.

6) EVERYTHING to a dog is a resource, food, water, sniffing while walking. You command all the resources, you are the source of all resources, you give permission to use a resource. The easiest is food. They will learn to SIT, LOOK, and not hoover their food until you give the OK. The hardest is sniffing while walking and that brings you back to your choice of leash, nose noose keeps the head high.

7) Distance and Distraction. COME, STAY, SIT should work even if you are 50 feet away, should also work if the phone rings, trashcan goes bang etc. 

8) I use GO for the times I command the dog to go first. Example, down stairs, or into the house first. Many trainers will disagree, but I figure why own a spirited breed if you can’t send them in first. Obviously if you don’t have a COME or STAY you must not use GO.

9) Puppy classes. The primary benefits are: a few commands and some socialization, (and it's fun). The local PetSmart or whatever by Marshals is good enough for that. BEWARE of individual trainers. I could not find a Caesar Milan certified person in our area, I tried. Interesting that if you do a Google search, individual trainers come up that are not certified. But the best, by far, the must fun ever, is the Sumner Parks and Recs with Jim Grasley if he is still doing it. He has a zen that is a wonder to behold.