Willow - A deaf Chinese Crested

Rose Bush with new growth from the 70+ weather we had! When I left for work this morning at 5:30 am it was rain...when I got home later in the afternoon.... Froggy! Here are some pictures taken Feb. 17, 2011 View from my front porch when I got home from work.

I have been spending as much time as I can, outside with the dogs these past couple of weeks. Enjoying the spring like weather, which according to weather reports will not last for much longer. The bald dogs love the sun and Willow is no exception. Today after our play time, I called the dogs in (really don't have to call most of them...they are my shadows). They all came inside except Willow. She was busy playing in a sunny spot near the shed. Lots of bugs, twigs, leaves to taste. As I walked towards her (her back was to me) I sharply clapped two times. She jerked her head around and looked right at me, wagged her tail and looked into my eyes. I gave her name sign and she came running to me! Then she followed me into the house happily. She can 'hear' some sounds/vibrations maybe? or was is a coincidence which she suddenly realized she was alone and jerked her head to look for someone or did she hear my clap? I am leaning towards hearing the clapping. Now to figure out ...

 I caught this today! This is what a furry Bernese Mt Dog is good for according to Willow.... Later Disco decided that she was cold... So she got on the couch and guess who followed her!!??

I now know that Willow gets car sick! Ewwww... We packed up the bald dogs and one puff and headed to Grandpas house for Christmas in two cars. While there, I showed everyone how Willow responds to "yeah" (waving hands in the air). She goes nuts with happiness! Willow was very happy with everyone "yeahing" her. LOL it was a kick. But I had to make sure she was praised when she did something good!! Willow and her brother BB did pretty well with the trip. Poor Layah, she only has 3 good legs and had a hard time on the slick floors, so the humans were her hover crafts and transported her where she needed/wanted to be. I had two house/dog sitters. Thank you both! The dogs that stayed home were happy, healthy and the house still standing! On a sad note, my late Mothers 13 year old cat passed away on a rainy Christmas evening. The kids buried Smokey in the back yard. My Dad talked about "Mom" and her kitty in his broken speech. Smokey and Mom are together...

The puppies are now 10 weeks old! Simba their sire's 5th birthday - December 8! ttfn

What's that sign? It's the sign for sit! I had to get used to holding the little flash clicker in my right hand, hold the treat in my left and form the ASL sign for sit! Very, very awkward but doable! I also had Rachel assist with the lesson. Rachel worked the clicker flash while I gave the sit command (much easier this way). When Willow sat I gave the sign and Rachel flashed the light. After a few minutes I was able to wait for her to stand and then give the sit sign and she would sit, Rachel would flash. That went very well. Then Rachel gave the sign. After a few failed attempts, Willow figured out that Rachel can give a sign and a flash/treat happens. Ended on a positive then played "yeah" (the sign for clapping) and Willow went nuts! For the next lesson...will be recapping the sit command and then moving to another room. ttfn

Todays lesson: Recap on what the "flash" means. She has that down! Take it to the next level. The flash will work if Willow has 4 on the floor. (the video clip is on the recap and 4 on the floor..I will try to get the sit on video next) The Sit:  Willow tried so many ways to get the light to flash. She ran around, hit the flash with her nose, jumped and pawed, then sat! Yeah!! Flash and treat! Now she had to figure out what she did to make it work! After a bit she thought she had to sit in a certain spot on the dog bed! Then she sat near me and the flash worked! She tried the dog bed again and near me again...Then she got it! So she just sat and refused to move looking at the flash and waiting! She got a jackpot with that! We ended on a good note! Sorry for the dark video...And I did try to change the music but failed!  ttfn