Some of you who are facebook members may have noticed that some females are posting colors as their statuses.
Most of you probably know by now that it was a kind of ridiculous ploy to spread breast cancer awareness. I say ridiculous because that's all it was, a color. No information. No "your wife should check herself once a month." No "here's where you can go to help fund research to find a cure for breast cancer."
I have decided that I kind of hate pink. It's everywhere. Those pink ribbons are on everything and fund research for a cancer that yes, many people die of, but is not the leading cause of cancer deaths. Check cervical or ovarian cancer in women and pancreatic cancer in men. Also, how far have we gotten in the latest technologies in funding this research?
I would like to remind you all that breast cancer is not the only illness in the world that needs research funding. Nor is AIDS, though finding a cure to HIV would help us with a lot of other autoimmune disorders.
What about Lupus? I see absolutely no advocacy for lupus research funding. No one wears purple ribbons. There's a lupus walk in the middle of the day (which stinks for the majority of lupus sufferers who are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet light), but most people don't even know what it is.
Breast cancer people, you relayers for life, you susan g comens, you pink ribbon wearers, you save the ta-tas girls, I support you. Go for it. But stop hogging the spotlight and let other illnesses get some support.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
In which Penny finally eats and I remember I have a life outside being a pet parent
While at my first day at work, Penny chewed up two shoes (thankfully the same pair, unthankfully one of my room mates' pairs...). The crate came together just fine, and she was willing to go in. We'll see if she stays there all night. AND she didn't eat this morning after bribing her to eat last night with tuna fish water. I was a bad pet parent and forgot to mix her old food in with her new food. I tried that today and she ate!
Woo hoo!
We are going to the vet tomorrow anyway to have her checked out and meet the vet, etc. I think her back legs are stiff, but I could just be being nervous. Also, her old owner has her shot records and the person who took her in to find her a home took off her rabies tag and I can't find it! So basically I have an illegal dog (state of Texas ordinance requires proof of rabies vaccination). I hope the vet can request the records. Tonight I travelled almost forty miles to meet with a storytelling guild. It was a nice small group, and I was the only one there under 40, but I shared a story and had a great time! They only meet once a month so I have to wait until February to go again! I am already figuring out the next story I will tell!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
In which Penny and I bond, buy supplies, and contemplate obedience classes
So, last night I got to the house at 11:30 PM. Needless to say, no pupply product shopping happened! She did spend the entire night in my room on the blanket I bought last time I was in Mexico. I think this will be her bed and I'll find another one sometime for my own personal use.
So today I got up, fashioned a makeshift leash out of ribbons, and we set off to Petco (it's where the pets go). There, we got Penny a new collar, a new leash, a new license, a crate, food, a seatbelt harness, pick-up bags, a Kong ball, and some treats.
So today I got up, fashioned a makeshift leash out of ribbons, and we set off to Petco (it's where the pets go). There, we got Penny a new collar, a new leash, a new license, a crate, food, a seatbelt harness, pick-up bags, a Kong ball, and some treats.
Here she is in the car and happy (I had just stopped her from trying to get my food and we were at a red light).
Then I figured it would be nice for her to stretch her legs, so we headed off to the dog park. Penny is not quite sure what to think about other dogs yet, especially ones that are really happy about showing off their frisbees and puppies who are almost her size. She stayed on her leash the entire time and we ended up leaving pretty quickly. I noticed, however, that she was VERY interested in this adorable dog's frisbee, so I thought it might be cool to see if she likes them.
I also realized we didn't have everything I wanted to get for her, so we went off to Petsmart. There we got a training treat and ball bag, some different treats (the first treats were freeze-dried chicken breast, and they feel like styrofoam and she lost interest really quickly), a frisbee, and a never-ending-treat-ball (which she LOVES!). I also talked to one of the dog trainers about classes, and I think we're going to do the beginner obedience class. Because I observed a lot of fear towards other dogs, I want her to socialize in a safe environment, and this program is perfect for that. I'm still working with her at home, though!
For crate training, I got a plastic crate (after a bit of research I decided it was best for us) that just BARELY fits in my trunk when it's disassembled. My next car will need to be bigger. Because I taught her to use the Mexico blanket for her bed, I put the bottom half out on its own with the blanket in it. I am periodically leading her onto it with a treat and rewarding her for being there. Her neverending treat ball is in the crate as well.
Well, a few hours later she hadn't gotten a treat in awhile and decided to get in there on her own! This of course was greeted with rousing choruses of "GOOD GIRL!" and a few treats (these treats by the way are tiny so I'm not going to make her humongous).
GOOD GIRL, Penny!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Preparation
I don't go back to my new home and Penny until Friday, so I have had a lot of time to think about how I am going to go about training this girl.
She already knows sit and shake, and is VERY good at taking cues from people. She looks where I point, instead of looking at my hand, which indicates to me that she can be trained to go where I point. If she had looked at my hand when I point at something (like my Dad's rat terrier mix) then I would probably focus more on target training (which I hope to do anyway because it's just fun). In target training, the dog is reinforced for touching the palm of the trainer's hand, which can be moved on to other tricks such as turning lights on and off, getting leashes, and cute parlor tricks. Penny could benefit from target training (and any dog who will sniff your hand when presented with it could learn quickly, as evidenced by our rat terrier mix who will now jump to shoulder height to touch the palm of my hand. I learned about target training from Underdog to Wonderdog, a show on Animal Planet) and it would be fun to teach her some silly tricks. That's not my first priority, though.
First, I plan to kennel train her. Especially since I will not always be able to work only four hours a day, she needs to have a den. I've researched into kennels and have decided on a plastic one other than a wire one. Plastic kennels are more den-like and I have heard some horror stories of puppies who strangle themselves while trying to get out of wire kennels. Considering how she acts now in her enclosure, I think a plastic kennel will be the best choice for her.
In addition to this, I hope to train her to heel very quickly. I'm hoping to keep up a steady habit of one walk a day in the mornings, followed by a morning meal for both of us. Cesar Milan (the dog whisperer) advocates for 30 minutes to 1 hour of walking in the morning followed by a bonding meal experience, and I like his logic behind it. This way, the dog earns his meal and eats with you in a calm submissive state (after a walk, theoretically, the dog's excess energy should be spent). I thought about getting a harness for her, but I think I will try walking her on a short leash with the collar high up on her neck like Cesar suggests first and see if I can control her that way. A harness redistributes pressure on a dog when walking, preventing choking or throat injury from a collar, but a well-trained dog will not pull enough on the leash to hurt himself.
Also, Penny is what I will call an enthusiastic door greeter. Victoria Stilwell (of It's Me or the Dog) is basically my role model for all these situations because she gives great one-word commands and shows everyone how to teach their dogs these commands through a reward system and making the dog think for himself. Dogs are more intelligent than we give them credit for, and Penny seems to know what's up and can read people pretty well. So, using simple one-word commands, I hope to make sure Penny is polite at the door when guests come. Perhaps I will send her to her bed (in the kennel with the door open) or onto the couch by the door where the other dog in the house sits for people to be let in. Good doggy manners are a top priority on my list, though she is a friendly dog and I don't foresee any aggressive manner problems, only "oh my gosh I'm so happy to see you!" manner problems. A wonderful command I learned from "It's Me or the Dog" is the "enough" command, which blocks off the stimulation for a dog to bark and conditions them to calm down when they hear the word. By steps, I was able to teach the dogs at my parents' house to respond simply to that name. They may be barking at the window, but as soon as they hear the command, their ears go down and they walk out of the room. The problem is it doesn't prevent them from starting to bark, which is why they tend to wake me up in the mornings.
One of Penny's little quirks is that she really likes ice. Not chasing it or playing with it, but actually chewing ice cubes. It might be fun to find a trick that has to do with that, but I don't know what it would be.
And then, of course, once winter is over I plan on taking her to the river to learn to swim and fetch in the water. I am very excited about having a ready source of water and a dog, especially one who looks to be some sort of lab mix (they love the water). Tubing the river is very popular there, so if I can get her a life vest and float her along with me! I know what you're thinking, a life vest, for a dog? But most places I've read recommend getting one to teach dogs to swim so they aren't as scared and don't have to work as hard at staying afloat. Swimming is not quite as instinctive in dogs as we would like to think. In addition, there are a few parts of the river where egress is not quite possible, so if she were to get tired to the point where she couldn't paddle while floating down the river, I would not be able to do much to help her. Hopefully we can be intentional about going down once a week or so (maybe more) during the summer and taking a nice cool-down walk or something until she's dry.
I'm sure all of this is mostly interesting only to me, but if any of you would like to learn more about Cesar or Victoria's methods, here are some beneficial websites:It's Me or the Dog, and Cesar's Way, and Victoria Stilwell.
*Edit* Since writing this post, I have come across some articles which seriously criticize Cesar Millan's work. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released a statement citing the suspect science behind dominance-related behavior repression, and frankly from what I've seen in the five dogs I've trained in my family growing up, I have to agree. Dogs and wolves are completely different animals, and basing what we see on a wild animal who has not been related to the domesticated form for thousands of years is a dangerous thing. I feel it is important to note that understanding dog behavior from many sources, especially those who study animal behavior for a living, is the first step in correcting problems with dogs. Many things I read suggest that alpha rolls, a common treatment of Cesar's, is too aggressive a move to modify behavior. In fact, I have been more successful with positive conditioning than any fear tactics when training my dogs. Without anthropomorphizing dogs too much, think about being a small human living as the pet of a giant. Would you respond better to a kind master who rewards you for doing something good or one who dominates you through body posture and cowls you into obedience? And honestly, is it too hard to say a "good boy" every now and then?
So, everyone, let's keep our Pavlov in mind
and I will continue to post my progress with Penny as it comes along (hopefully with video if I can figure it out). Don't expect anything until Friday, when I finally go back to the house for the semester!
She already knows sit and shake, and is VERY good at taking cues from people. She looks where I point, instead of looking at my hand, which indicates to me that she can be trained to go where I point. If she had looked at my hand when I point at something (like my Dad's rat terrier mix) then I would probably focus more on target training (which I hope to do anyway because it's just fun). In target training, the dog is reinforced for touching the palm of the trainer's hand, which can be moved on to other tricks such as turning lights on and off, getting leashes, and cute parlor tricks. Penny could benefit from target training (and any dog who will sniff your hand when presented with it could learn quickly, as evidenced by our rat terrier mix who will now jump to shoulder height to touch the palm of my hand. I learned about target training from Underdog to Wonderdog, a show on Animal Planet) and it would be fun to teach her some silly tricks. That's not my first priority, though.
First, I plan to kennel train her. Especially since I will not always be able to work only four hours a day, she needs to have a den. I've researched into kennels and have decided on a plastic one other than a wire one. Plastic kennels are more den-like and I have heard some horror stories of puppies who strangle themselves while trying to get out of wire kennels. Considering how she acts now in her enclosure, I think a plastic kennel will be the best choice for her.
In addition to this, I hope to train her to heel very quickly. I'm hoping to keep up a steady habit of one walk a day in the mornings, followed by a morning meal for both of us. Cesar Milan (the dog whisperer) advocates for 30 minutes to 1 hour of walking in the morning followed by a bonding meal experience, and I like his logic behind it. This way, the dog earns his meal and eats with you in a calm submissive state (after a walk, theoretically, the dog's excess energy should be spent). I thought about getting a harness for her, but I think I will try walking her on a short leash with the collar high up on her neck like Cesar suggests first and see if I can control her that way. A harness redistributes pressure on a dog when walking, preventing choking or throat injury from a collar, but a well-trained dog will not pull enough on the leash to hurt himself.
Also, Penny is what I will call an enthusiastic door greeter. Victoria Stilwell (of It's Me or the Dog) is basically my role model for all these situations because she gives great one-word commands and shows everyone how to teach their dogs these commands through a reward system and making the dog think for himself. Dogs are more intelligent than we give them credit for, and Penny seems to know what's up and can read people pretty well. So, using simple one-word commands, I hope to make sure Penny is polite at the door when guests come. Perhaps I will send her to her bed (in the kennel with the door open) or onto the couch by the door where the other dog in the house sits for people to be let in. Good doggy manners are a top priority on my list, though she is a friendly dog and I don't foresee any aggressive manner problems, only "oh my gosh I'm so happy to see you!" manner problems. A wonderful command I learned from "It's Me or the Dog" is the "enough" command, which blocks off the stimulation for a dog to bark and conditions them to calm down when they hear the word. By steps, I was able to teach the dogs at my parents' house to respond simply to that name. They may be barking at the window, but as soon as they hear the command, their ears go down and they walk out of the room. The problem is it doesn't prevent them from starting to bark, which is why they tend to wake me up in the mornings.
One of Penny's little quirks is that she really likes ice. Not chasing it or playing with it, but actually chewing ice cubes. It might be fun to find a trick that has to do with that, but I don't know what it would be.
And then, of course, once winter is over I plan on taking her to the river to learn to swim and fetch in the water. I am very excited about having a ready source of water and a dog, especially one who looks to be some sort of lab mix (they love the water). Tubing the river is very popular there, so if I can get her a life vest and float her along with me! I know what you're thinking, a life vest, for a dog? But most places I've read recommend getting one to teach dogs to swim so they aren't as scared and don't have to work as hard at staying afloat. Swimming is not quite as instinctive in dogs as we would like to think. In addition, there are a few parts of the river where egress is not quite possible, so if she were to get tired to the point where she couldn't paddle while floating down the river, I would not be able to do much to help her. Hopefully we can be intentional about going down once a week or so (maybe more) during the summer and taking a nice cool-down walk or something until she's dry.
I'm sure all of this is mostly interesting only to me, but if any of you would like to learn more about Cesar or Victoria's methods, here are some beneficial websites:It's Me or the Dog, and Cesar's Way, and Victoria Stilwell.
*Edit* Since writing this post, I have come across some articles which seriously criticize Cesar Millan's work. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released a statement citing the suspect science behind dominance-related behavior repression, and frankly from what I've seen in the five dogs I've trained in my family growing up, I have to agree. Dogs and wolves are completely different animals, and basing what we see on a wild animal who has not been related to the domesticated form for thousands of years is a dangerous thing. I feel it is important to note that understanding dog behavior from many sources, especially those who study animal behavior for a living, is the first step in correcting problems with dogs. Many things I read suggest that alpha rolls, a common treatment of Cesar's, is too aggressive a move to modify behavior. In fact, I have been more successful with positive conditioning than any fear tactics when training my dogs. Without anthropomorphizing dogs too much, think about being a small human living as the pet of a giant. Would you respond better to a kind master who rewards you for doing something good or one who dominates you through body posture and cowls you into obedience? And honestly, is it too hard to say a "good boy" every now and then?
So, everyone, let's keep our Pavlov in mind
and I will continue to post my progress with Penny as it comes along (hopefully with video if I can figure it out). Don't expect anything until Friday, when I finally go back to the house for the semester!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Hello, 2010
So many people are talking about how horrible 2009 was and how glad they are to see 2010. I don't really know that I've ever hated a year. I mean, truth be told, not a lot happened in 2009. Of course, other than moving away, renting my first apartment, starting grad school, and moving to a house, not a lot happened. And getting a dog. And changing my career goal. Twice. So yes, a lot happened in 2009. For the last half. First half was pretty average.
And now, 2010, here you are.A new year. A new decade. A new decade in which I will spend the remainder of my 20s and the earliest part of my 30s (scary). A decade in which, theoretically, I will find out what I'm going to start out doing for the rest of my life. Where I'm going to actually start doing what I think I want to do for the rest of my life. And not just careers. Just life in general. Which is pretty amazing. The teens have no idea what I was like as a teenager. They will never see me as a child or an adolescent. All of that is neatly encapsulated in the years 1986-2009.
Okay, 2010, you have quite a first impression to give. Let's be a bit exciting, okay?
Edit: Also, meet Penny!
Having my very own dog whose care is my sole responsibility will be one of those adult experiences. I've unofficially raised and trained all our dogs and taken over vet costs of late, so it won't be too crazy.
And now, 2010, here you are.A new year. A new decade. A new decade in which I will spend the remainder of my 20s and the earliest part of my 30s (scary). A decade in which, theoretically, I will find out what I'm going to start out doing for the rest of my life. Where I'm going to actually start doing what I think I want to do for the rest of my life. And not just careers. Just life in general. Which is pretty amazing. The teens have no idea what I was like as a teenager. They will never see me as a child or an adolescent. All of that is neatly encapsulated in the years 1986-2009.
Okay, 2010, you have quite a first impression to give. Let's be a bit exciting, okay?
Edit: Also, meet Penny!
Having my very own dog whose care is my sole responsibility will be one of those adult experiences. I've unofficially raised and trained all our dogs and taken over vet costs of late, so it won't be too crazy.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Software is expensive.
I had a problem with the computer. It would not access wireless.
My programmer friend said he'd take a look at it. Only fix we could find was re-installing vista. I hate vista, so why not buy Windows 7?
That's what I did.
Except I first tried to buy it online and THOUGHT I cancelled the order, but when I got my computer back and checked my email I found out that the order went through! Loverly, and their return policy is very complex. I don't yet know if they'll let me return it, so there's $150 down the drain.
He took everything I wanted off the computer, wiped it, and then put my desired items back on.
Well, except for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point, Photoshop, and any other software I had to install beforehand. Crap, didn't think about that.
Thankfully, I know a website that allows students and educators to get a VERY good deal on software. Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook, and Publisher for $99. With their warranty program and rush shipping (I have to proof read a paper by Jan 4), it came out to $139, the same cost as the Windows 7 software I DIDN'T but did order. I hope they accept a screen shot of my class schedule as proof of enrollment. Now to find our Photoshop disk.
At least I have my photos and documents. I just can't see the documents yet.
My programmer friend said he'd take a look at it. Only fix we could find was re-installing vista. I hate vista, so why not buy Windows 7?
That's what I did.
Except I first tried to buy it online and THOUGHT I cancelled the order, but when I got my computer back and checked my email I found out that the order went through! Loverly, and their return policy is very complex. I don't yet know if they'll let me return it, so there's $150 down the drain.
He took everything I wanted off the computer, wiped it, and then put my desired items back on.
Well, except for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point, Photoshop, and any other software I had to install beforehand. Crap, didn't think about that.
Thankfully, I know a website that allows students and educators to get a VERY good deal on software. Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook, and Publisher for $99. With their warranty program and rush shipping (I have to proof read a paper by Jan 4), it came out to $139, the same cost as the Windows 7 software I DIDN'T but did order. I hope they accept a screen shot of my class schedule as proof of enrollment. Now to find our Photoshop disk.
At least I have my photos and documents. I just can't see the documents yet.
Monday, December 28, 2009
I must be insane
I am breaking one of my personal school-time rules and getting a dog.
You will all meet Penny shortly.
You will all meet Penny shortly.
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