Ferg's First Sleepover

It's been a long week. Ferguson has been on Fluoxetine for over a month now, yet still seems anxious...it's driving me crazy. But, I've been configuring a different set up that might make his improvement more noticeable. For one thing, we're going to set up an ex-pen in the family room after disposing some trash-quality furniture left by previous renters (so it's space no one was using anyway). I think part of the problem is the amount of negative associations Ferguson has had upstairs, so if we move him downstairs where he can see more going on, I can begin without flaw the step-by-step guide that is in the book, "I'll Be Home Soon."

Additionally, we are going to be babysitting another greyhound from the Greyhound Welfare group that lives just down the road to see is there is a significant difference in Ferguson when he is left with another hound. At work, as you all know, Ferg's dangerous anxious behaviors ceased completely when he has been placed with another dog and has had the same result with 3 different dogs, so it sounds like a very good hypothesis. While it would be just GREAT if Ferg could get over his moderate SA on his own, it's important for us to keep an open mind to know what works. Additionally, having him stay with another dog that has no anxiety at all about being left might help contribute to his conditioning of people coming and going.

So, Walter is coming to visit this weekend while his family goes out of town for business. From his owner's description, Walter sounds like a very well-behaved, well-adjusted guy that is the same age as Ferguson. I think they'll have a blast. The plan for now is to first try having them stay in the Ex-Pen together; his owner seemed to think this would be no problem at all for Walter, and he very much enjoys the company of other dogs. Ferguson also seems to have little concern over personal space, so I'm hoping this will work for them. Of course, muzzles will be worn, dogs will be extensively exercised, and many practice sessions will occur before we decide it to be feasible. If it doesn't seem plausible, we may have to try crating Ferguson next to Walter in the pen, etc. But I'm really crossing my fingers that it will work out just fine.

I will have to videotape all the practice sessions and have them to compare. But, in the least, I'm quite excited to have Walter stay, and I think Ferg will be too!

My Blue Angel

Only he has not much to be blue about these days ^_^.

CGC test a week from Monday...still practicing, but doing well.

Also, his coat is shiner than ever.

Today, I also essentially wrote a novella for the GEGR forum on how and why I got Ferguson, and because I put so much into it, I'll go ahead and post it here. If you already know the story, feel free to skip along.

Enjoy the weekend!

"Since I was 15, I raised and trained Labradors for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I would receive puppies at 8-9 weeks of age and socialize and train them extensively for the first year and a half of their lives before returning them to the guide dog school for even more training to become official service dogs. This worked out for me at the time, being in high school and unable to fully dedicate to having a permanent dog, and also got me much more involved in training with hands on experience and professional classes than I ever anticipated.

While I did bond deeply with my dogs (one of which I am still hoping to have back at the end of her guide dog career), there were many things about the labs, all being adolescents, that I found frustrating over time to deal with. For example, guide dogs must absolutely remain calm around other dogs, people, etc. for obvious reasons, but the number of repetitions it would take to simply get a doofy pup to calmly pass a stranger during class I found to be tiresome. Everything about life they take with such ridiculous enthusiasm, and just does not suit my own personality for my own personal pet. I also knew I'd want a dog that did not need 3 miles of walking every day to remain balanced and happy. Don't get me wrong, I loved many of the dogs I raised, but as a general rule, feel that the energy level and goofy temperament of the lab was not a perfect fit.

With my experience, I aided others with casual training and worked with terriers, shepherds, hounds, etc. What I found was that most people that had trouble with their dogs also had dogs that really were not a good match for their temperaments and energy levels...something I definitely didn't want to happen to me. So many people adopt dogs based on flashy or cute looks, but don't consider the dog's genetic background and what it takes to make that dog complete...until it is too late of course, and the dog and their owners often suffer as result.

When my graduation from college came nearer, I had decided I wanted a dog, but my own PERMANENT dog that I would never have to return. I also wanted a dog that would reflect my calmer personality, as well as being a prime example of what I wanted out of dogs I would train in the future, aiding me with their rehabilitation/redirection of behavior by simply being themselves and respecting my authority without question. For those of you who know Cesar Milan, I was searching for my own "Daddy" dog, if you will. Also, being a firm believer in adoption, I would only consider a dog in which I could rescue. However, with such demands, finding a low key, mellow, healthy, and fairly young dog was hardly an easy feat. I expressed my wishes to my boyfriend, and he immediately recommended the greyhound. His grandparents owned them in the past, and he always knew them for being docile, friendly, and, of course, lazy. I started my research, and was sold in no time. Here was a dog that was bred for thousands of years to be docile, healthy, and of course, a sprinter. I was pleased to learn I would have no trouble fulfilling a greyhound's needs as long as they had occasional opportunities to run and get a minimum of 30 minutes of walking each day. Once I decided, I became obsessed and enthusiastic about my eventual adoption (which, at this point, was more than 6 months away). Being a knitter, I even found a greyhound pattern and made my future dog a sweater...I priced out everything, made a budget, and started collecting dog things for my birthday and Christmas, so that when the time came, I would have everything I needed. (and yes, everyone else thought I was nuts ).

The hunt began with me looking for a small young female, a white one with patches of black or brown or brindle. The size of the female appealed to me more, but the main reason was the fear of marking; my parent's adopted westie rudely marks things all the time, particularly in new environments, which would just not suit me, as I planned to take the dog with me to visit friends and travel. I located several females that might potentially work for me, but I was regularly halted by the adoption groups and their policies; they all insisted that they would select a dog for me, bring it to my house, and that would be it. "Well, I'd much rather get to meet a few dogs, see them interact with other dogs to get a feel for their natural pecking order, and also have something to compare to," I'd try explain. The answer was the same for three adoption groups. "We ask you to trust our judgement in selecting dogs, as we are experts at identifying good candidates for you." For ME?! They don't even know me! How could they do that?! Being the dog-snob that I am, I refused this form of adoption with the belief that I have met many dogs that have been good dogs, but were not naturally on my wave-length; I wanted to find a dog that could do this without having to feel sorry for returning it to the rescue at no fault of the dog. I continued my hunt, and finally found GEGR. Yes, Prince Frederick was much farther away than many of the others, but the adoption policy allowed me to meet several dogs and choose one (!). I emailed the given address and heard back from Lisa:

[color=#400080]Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for contacting GEGR. Although there are groups that are closer to you we would be happy to work with you. We do ask that our first time adopters do travel to Lusby, MD to meet and adopt their dog. The application process does not take long - usually not more than a couple of weeks so if December is your time-line then you can wait a while before submitting your application. In the mean time you can visit some of our meet and greets and get to know our volunteers and ask questions about our group if you would like to do that.

We do adopt to families with children. The dog that you describe is out there and will not be hard to find. GEGR works really hard to match dogs with adopters and we will be happy to help you find a good match.

We will look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Lisa

I was thrilled and sure this was the group for me. When the time finally came, I immediately submitted my application, got approved, and was ready to meet the dogs on January 8th. As I mentioned, up until this point, I'd been fairly set on a female; we had a name picked out and everything. But, as I more deeply researched and read the blogs of the available dogs, I found myself very drawn to a big red male...my Ferguson! I loved everything Chris had to say about him, and while he wasn't white with patches, the red color was mentioned on my application as one I liked. I knew I needed to keep an open mind, since meeting the dog in person would be the moment of truth, but Ferguson stayed in the back of my mind for the next few days...

When my parents, Eric and I arrived on that snowy, windy day in January, we went to the door and were asked what dog was on our list of potential good matches. I immediately asked for Ferguson, and out he and Chris came, all bundled up. The first thing I noticed about Ferguson was how HUGE he was...much taller than I expected. However, I also noted his sense of calm. There was so much chaos and activity around him, but he never lost his cool for one second. He sniffed my parent's Westie, and then completely ignored him. He walked with us willingly, calm and steady, though would look back occasionally at Chris, showing his sense of attachment towards those he loves. He also walked like a DREAM. Something that mattered a lot to me, a big promoter of walking dogs. Ferguson was definitely on my wave-length, but since I had met so few greyhounds, I took Chris's advice and met a few others to compare him to before making a final decision. We met "Nana" next, a gorgeous yet very shy girl who just came off the track, then Pal's Superdog (Now Finn, I believe ), and Dakota Jones, also right off the track. I got it down to Superdog, Ferg, and Dakota, but ultimately, there was just something special about Ferguson that I couldn't deny. As Eric put it, "He's just so mellow. In all this chaos, he keeps it together and doesn't give two $hI+$ about any of it. I think he's the best choice for us." He was my boy, and while I very much liked the other dogs, it seemed like they were waiting for someone else (and I was right!).

Ferguson came home with us that night, and we've never looked back since. He is everything I wanted in a dog and is my perfect angel. Up until a few weeks ago, his only flaw was the "Cry" in his racing name ("Cry Ferguson") that made leaving him alone difficult, but has since been resolved with no more issues . I will never be able to thank GEGR enough for bringing us together in such a perfect match. Even though it's only been six months, I can't imagine being with out him We were truly a match made in heaven "

Work Woes...

I'm afraid there may be a few problems at the office, which I dread because I love my receptionist job so much.

In short, a month ago, I asked off for the 20th and 21st of May from those up front at the receptionists desk. They gladly granted me my two days, and that was that. Up until this point, I have only been working one day a week in the lodging/kennel side, that being Sunday mornings. Apparently, when the kennel manager saw my schedule with that Friday and Saturday not scheduled, he decided to schedule me for these times, and failed to inform me of it. When I went back there randomly, I saw my name written there, on two extra days in addition to my Sunday (the Friday and Saturday I had asked off for). I immediately wrote him a note and said that I had asked off for those two days and was not available, and didn't think it would have impacted my kennel schedule, since I had never worked more than just Sundays before.

He responded by informing my receptionist manager that I could have off those two days, but he'd need me to work the following week on the same days that I am scheduled to work up front, in short, doing doubles for those days to "make up for it" like it was a punishment.

Um. Not so much.

My beef is that I am already working an average of 33+ hours all month, 4-5 days a week as it is with just Sundays. Already, the Practice Manager is planning on hiring 8 new employees to work in the back within the next week or so. And so, I see no reason for me to have to work any double shifts with more people coming in...if I do, I cost $4.00 more than the incoming employees per hour, and will indefinitely exceed my already borderline full-time schedule, which I KNOW the manager does not want. Furthermore, my receptionist manager is due in June and will be on maternity leave for two months. During this time, I will have to work full time to help cover her lack of being there, which has been pretty much decided upon, and would make me completely unavailable to work in the kennel at all.

Now I am just annoyed that I will have to go essentially complain to the practice manager about having to work when I don't want to, and I feel like a whiner and complainer for doing so. But, I absolutely refuse to be "punished" for doing nothing wrong, and have no intention of working an 11 hour day for unnecessary reasons.

URG.

In other happier Ferg-related news, it has been decided that Ferguson can successfully be left now when I work in the afternoons. I leave at 12:30, and my mom usually comes home between 3 and 4:30, and he is reportedly calm, content, and quiet.


Now he'll only need to go with me to work about half as much ^_^.

In the doghouse!

Today, Ferguson has decided, completely out of the blue, to try his luck at everything that isn't his.  In the past three hours, he's attempted/succeeded to steal/chew:

My Wii Carrying Case

A loaf of bread (he only had this one for about a second before he was corrected)

My dad's NICE leather shoes.

Unfortunately, the shoe is what he had the longest, and managed to chew off about an inch off the end of it.  >:( !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm not at all pleased.  When he took the Wii case, the correction was only minimal, because he took it into his kennel and it wasn't clear he was going to chew on it.  He got a firm correction for the bread, and didn't even lift it out of the bread box (it is within his reach) before I stopped him with a firm poke and "NO."  But the shoe?  He got quite a scolding.  He's now in his wire kennel (not as punishment, par-say...he had 10 seconds in-between the events so shouldn't associate it as such) so he can't get in to any more trouble.

But, because he doesn't understand me and I need to vent without being cruel: 

WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING FERGUSON?!  YOU HAVE NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER TAKEN ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU BEFORE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY STUFFED POLAR BEAR AND THAT WAS MONTHS AGO.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR HEAD?!!!!  YOU GOT NOT ONE BUT TWO 30 MINUTE LONG WALKS TODAY, SO YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE TO BEHAVE BRATTY AND/OR BORED.  SO CUT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel less bad now that I'm making him go to work with me tomorrow.  Perhaps he needs the outings, and that's why he's never acted out before...since had to go to work with me every day in the past. 

Oh, right, and I got the job I was hoping for ^_^  They said there is also a receptionist position available, so they are training me for both to see which I prefer.  I work tomorrow morning from 6:45am-1pm.    Hurray for employment! 

And hurray for Ferguson having a rather exciting outing.  I just hope he doesn't have a panic attack for being alone, but he will be next to other dogs he can at least hear and smell, and people come and go fairly frequently.  I do love him, but after tonight, I think he can live and could use the change in atmosphere >:(.

Pumpkin: A Gift From the Gods

(A happy, content greyhound who doesn't notice I'm gone)

The stuff has me fascinated.  After being left in the freezer for a day over night, Ferguson did our usual "practicing being alone" exercise (we're up to 15 minutes now!!!).  When I returned after 15 minutes, even driving around the block, he was still going at it, which really surprised me.  Normally, he finishes kongs with peanut butter or cheese after a few minutes and is often just sitting there until I get back.  This one, however, blew even me away.  When I took it back (as I always do when I return...kongs are only enjoyed when I'm not there to give him something novel to look forward to), it was STILL frozen and more than halfway full!  At the touch, it was like an Italian ice dessert...not at all sticky or pliable.  Does it always do that, or did I just get some mutant pumpkin? 

In any case, I LOVE it.  I was having a hard time creating kongs that last a long time, and I'm SO happy to have found the answer in a healthier snack than peanut butter, cream cheese, or cheese wiz.  Ferguson seems to like it too!  I just hope he doesn't get tired of it.  Perhaps we can try mixing in some honey too...the kong recipes will have to continue development, but for now, it is pure bliss <3

Improvement and Hope

I am not the best blogger, as things have been looking up for a little while now, but my readers, the few that I have, are still lead to believe my life is still in crisis.

While the end of Yarmouth and Chessie is still quite sad (there shall be a Yarmouth memorial post soon), my job prospects didn't stay down for long.

About three hours after I applied to a dog daycare/veterinary facility in Rockville, MD, I got a call back and interview time for Monday (tomorrow) at 11:30...AND Ferguson is allowed to come along with me for it. The job I think is just part time "with more hours picking up in the summer" and has a starting pay of $9, "but will compensate more for experience."  Rockville, for those of you who don't know, is about half the distance from driving to Sterling, VA, about 30 minutes from my current residence, and 30 minutes from where we are hoping to move to this summer...at least not including traffic.  Anyway, I am really hoping the interview goes well and that I like the job at least as much as the other one.

The place looks quite nice and has just about everything.

In other news, Ferguson got to run (yes RUN) yesterday.  We discovered a fenced-in baseball field that is probably at least an acre.  There were a two spots in the fence that were a little iffy, but my mom and I split up and "guarded" them to make sure he stayed safe.  While he ran all of three minutes, chasing a tennis ball, he was dead tired, and I think still tired today, or at least a little sore.  We did warm him up by walking him all on the perimeter of the fence first, and cooled him down by walking around on leash afterwards.  He seemed to have a great time...I'm hoping we can now take him once a week, and that his endurance improves over time.

I, of course, was a bad mom, and failed to take pictures. AGAIN.

In the meantime, today's icky rainy day made it quite obvious that Ferguson would appreciate a raincoat with a snood.  For now, he has a thick winter coat with fleece lining and the sweater that I knit him...neither of which are really water resistant or appropriate, as it tends to get fairly warm when it rains.  So, today will be spent shopping.  Hopefully we can find a coat that benefits GEGR in some way.

I don't know if I dig the fishy...and it looks a bit tight...Hmmm...

Anyway, happy Sunday to everyone!!!  And keep those greyhounds dry!!!

Turkey Necks, Training, and...Certification?

My lifelong habit of not wanting to load pictures from my digital camera until I have a full "roll" is impacting the amount of blogging I could have been doing...

Ferguson and I are off work again, this time until Thursday...that's quite a break!  I'm not complaining though.  I enjoy the down-time.  And, if the weather is nice enough, I'm hoping to visit my friends at campus for the first time since I moved out in December, bringing along the big red dog.  I do really miss having the Guiding Eyes "Pup in Training" jackets, but we'll have to visit the old fashioned way of staying mostly outdoors.  However, we CAN go visit sonic burger ^_^. 

Over the weekend, my parents were nice enough to visit the local turkey farm in Thurmont, and got Ferguson 10 full necks for $16...they were absolutely huge, and double the size of the duck neck he got after New Years:

Because they were so huge, we decided to cut them in half and then freeze them (they were still 6-8 inches long even after being cut) so we now have enough for the next FIVE MONTHS, if he gets one every week.  He very much enjoyed his first one he got on Saturday night, and it still took him at least five minutes to eat, even when not given a full portion.  I don't think he felt the need to complain. 

As for free time, I've divided it between working with Ferguson (with both alone training and regular training) and researching dog training certification programs.  Ferguson continues to do really well with being alone, as we're up to five minutes or longer, especially if I use the back door and then come around the front (he doesn't really know I'm gone if I cheat and leave via the backdoor).  As for other training, it's often challenging.  I've mentioned in previous posts how I'd like Ferguson to become a good canine citizen, but sitting, for many greyhounds, is not exactly an easy feat. 

Ferguson's Sit

If I CAN get him to do it, it looks like this ^

And usually when we're practicing, he only sits because he's trying to lay down and I happen to catch him before he does it.  When we work on specific behaviors, I use a clicker with soft treats, but he doesn't really seem to get it yet.  So far, he knows, "down," "place" (to go lay on his bed), "kennel up," and "stay," while we're also working on "lay over."  My main problem is that he gets too..."nervous?" about it, and when I ask him to do something, like "sit," he offers other behaviors he knows, and quickly shuts down if I say "no..." and start again.  Apparently he doesn't do well under pressure, as fun as I try to make it : /.  I suppose it will just take practice and lots of patience, but I do feel bad when he just doesn't WANT to do it and I feel like I'm making him.  *sighs*

As for acquiring certification, there are SO many different organizations/groups that offer some type of "certification," but in Maryland, there is no official title to be held.  So far, I've found it rather frustrating.  Some require extensive official hands on work, or in-depth descriptions of official classes you've led before you can apply and request to take the exam.  However, on the practice exam I took, I got every question right, and feel like I could pass the actual exam without much trouble.  It's said that doing 10,000 hours of any activity will make you almost a pro at what you do, and I'm sure I've done perhaps three times that when it comes to dogs.  So, I may have to start "teaching" classes somehow, beyond casual consultations I've done in the past to help out friends of friends.  Another thing I can do in the meantime is apply to be a Good Canine Citizen examiner, which you get a nifty badge and certificate for.  This requires an application, $50, and a written test as well, though if the application is accepted, the written test can be repeatedly taken until it is passed.  I guess I'll work on that in the meantime. 

Having some type of official recognition would be great if I wanted to start my own business involving dogs, so it's something I will indeed do my best to pursue.  Until then, we'll have to work on getting Ferguson "obedience" training up to par (can't he just lay down during the "sit" parts of the test?). 

Days Off

My First Mini Ferg...more to come soon as I perfect the pattern...the body section bothers me the most : /

Running...

Running some more...

Stopping for a photo opp ^_^

Something neat I learned about Ferguson: He retrieves!!!  Yes, he chases the toy and runs a few laps around with it in his mouth before brining it RIGHT back (granted, I haven't really asked him to) but he drops it at my feet when he wants me to throw it again!  I don't know if he's fully aware he's doing it, or if he's stopping just to say "hi" to me, but it's a behavior we will DEFINITELY reward!  Better than a lot of my Labradors were!

Ferguson also got to show off his moves downtown Frederick on Friday night.  I am, of course, a terrible mommy and didn't remember the camera, (or my phone, for that matter : / ), but he did much better than I expected him to do in a busy place.  He still REALLY doesn't like when things move under his feet (he practically jumped out of his skin when we walked over some metal sewer things that "clunked"), but people, traffic, other rude dogs, are all taken in stride.  He did well at the dog park too, but I don't really like having to explain why he has his muzzle on.  I think next time, I'll stick a paper on it that says, "I do not bite!  This is just so I don't play too rough and hurt myself!"  He kept wanting to play with the smaller dogs as well, but the ground shakes when he play bows and he obviously made some of them nervous at how animated he was at wanting to play (mostly with the littles, I might add) so I think it's important to keep his muzzle on while they're around...I wish the Frederick dog park separated their dog areas based on size : /.

Anyway, today's plans should be pretty low key.  The weather is much nicer than yesterday's (less windy) so perhaps we'll do something fun.  But, have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE having a dog that doesn't necessarily NEED to go do something super stimulating every day? ;)

Learning to Stand Alone

Ferguson on the deck, tired from chasing his toy :)

We're still working, but progress is being made :).  Ferguson is still fine in the house, in another room, and now, when I leave outside the door for a minute.  I've been following a step by step guide from the book, "I'll Be Home Soon" which has been very helpful.  Mostly, it's focus is changing Ferguson's entire attitude about being left on his own, where hopefully he can maintain a calm demeanor and optimistic and positive attitude while I'm gone.  So far, it's doing great.  Our exercises go like this:
-Give stuffed kong (frozen yogurt with kibble these days)
-Close crate
-Put on coat
-Put on shoes
-Walk to door, open door, walk outside, stand for 10 seconds.
-Come back inside, take off coat, take off shoes, open crate, take away kong.
Repeat.

We started even earlier, with just jingling keys, putting on my purse or shoes randomly, so as to get him used to these events as not always meaning anything.  Now that he's not had the chance to fail in his "oasis kennel," he's doing great.  It's a slow process, but if we do it right, he should be set for life (though I expect we may have to practice more if/when I move).  I know it seems like I've written a zillion of these blogs about separation training, but it will be nice to see what works and what doesn't: Citronella colar = good for teaching dogs to chill when you're still home, not so much for actual anxiety problems...ultimately, perfect practice makes perfect, and that is exactly what we're doing :). 

On another note, Ferguson is LOVING this nice weather, and gets a lot of enjoyment from running and frolicking in the yard.  If I move to an apartment, this will certainly be something he'll miss : /. 

Tomorrow is the last day I have to work for the week, but from 11:30-7:30, which will at least give me a day to sleep in.  Then I'm off for four whole days!!!  Hurray vacation!  Too bad I'm not going anywhere : /....Oh well.  Lazy days with Ferg have yet to get old ^_^

Traveling for the First Time

Ferguson and I went to visit Eric's parent's house Friday-Saturday, and I got to see how he did traveling with his collapsible oasis.  If you can gather anything from the picture above, Ferguson was great.  He even put up with Jasper/Rusty, the most annoying, thick, and aggressively friendly dog ever (though we did keep them apart during the day, they walked fine together on walks).

We then went to visit the house in College Park, where Ferguson and I may move to in the future (six months or so).  For Ferguson, it is probably the best option compared to apartments; the yard is decent sized and fenced in, he has a whole house to wander about in, and he has NO PET RENT to live there.  Financially, it's looking like a pretty good option...but we'll see what happens.  Nothing is set in stone.

Ferguson enjoyed being the center of attention to the current house-dwellers (Eric's friends), and did GREAT with their two cats (cats will be gone by the time we'd potentially move in, but still).  He went up and down the stairs and checked out every room.  I think he liked it.

This morning, I fed Ferguson and tried the calming spray for the first time.  I left him while I went to work, as I was only there for a four hour shift, and figured he'd sleep most of the time anyway.  It's difficult to tell how he'd do, however, because my dad was sleeping on the couch, so while Ferguson whined a tiny bit, he was instantly aware of the fact that he was not, in fact, alone.

So the alone training continues, and now we're moving forward in this fashion:  The "oasis" soft crate that he adores shall be moved upstairs into my room where we currently sleep at night.  We will continue practicing alone training from here, increasing the challenge.  As of now, he can stay in the oasis crate happily  for 45 minutes without making a sound, and it is more secluded than the other crate right in the family room.  If we move it upstairs to be even more secluded, he will no longer be able to see or hear things that trigger his anxiety (or at least not as well), so "slipping out the back door" will be much easier (I hope).  This way, he truly will be alone, and won't be reminded as much of the people that are around.  It is a gradual process.

I am doing this because a) he has been doing so well with the oasis crate and loves being in there, and b) he will be kenneled in my bedroom should I move, and needs to get used to it.  Additionally, he is used to my bedroom as a place where we relax and sleep...not a room of activity.  So today, I will take him on a two mile walk to make him dead tired, will spray on some calming spray to his soft crate (we have yet to do this), and then will practice leaving him alone several times.

Ready...set...break!!!

Curbing Ferg's Addiction: The Action Plan

Poor Ferguson.  We've hit another bumpy road (actually, it's the only road that has been really bumpy since I got him...he really is a super easy fantastic dog).  As you saw in the video three entries ago, I had purchased a citronella collar to aid Ferguson in his alone training (learning to not bark).  It actually helped a fair amount...at least while he thought someone was still in the house.  Thanks to the collar, Ferguson is now totally okay if he thinks someone is home and can hear them upstairs (so I can take my showers in peace).  I practiced with him every day in short sessions, and he is fine.  However, apparently people actually leaving the house is a totally different matter.  Yesterday when I went to apartment shop, my dad and brother also left to go out.  My mom stayed home to take a nap, but Ferguson did not know this, and apparently panicked once my dad and brother left, convinced he was home alone.  My mom said he barked for about 20 minutes, trying to see if he'd calm down, but to no avail.  She said he sounded increasingly hysterical, not just a "woof woof....woof.....oh fine, I guess no one is home," and that when she flushed the toilet from upstairs, he was suddenly quiet ("OH MY GOSH SOMEONE ACTUALLY *IS* HOME!!!").  She said she waited another few minutes, but then went downstairs, ignored him, but laid on the couch to finish her nap, to which he then settled and went to sleep until I came home a few hours later.

So, now that we know the citronella collar does not work when he goes into a full-on "oh my gosh I'm totally alone" panic (I came back and of course all 25 puffs were gone), we shall start from square one, as if he has no skills.  Luckily, I believe I have the tools to do so. The main problem up until now, I think, is that while I have practiced alone training with Ferguson, the amount of time he is actually alone is not enough.  He sleeps in the same room as me, he goes to work with me, he lounges with me.  Unfortunately, my social activity level has been pretty limited, and when I have gotten to do things, it's been in the evening when my parents are home.  So, starting today, we are going to start to play the "stay-quiet" game.  For this activity, I am going to be working as much with "mother nature" as I can, utilizing the fact that dogs are bad at generalizing, create memories with their nose, and are willing to move on in a new given situation and not dwell on the past.  I have set up Ferguson's travel crate in the other room, which is quiet and somewhat more secluded than the family room, where people always are, and intend to practice every day, several times a day, in that kennel only, very slowly increasing the amount of time he is in there alone.  We started "the quiet-alone" game last night, where I introduced him VERY positively to the crate by giving him the duck neck in it and closing the door.  I told him to "stay" and proceeded to move about the house, coming and going every 10-25 seconds.  I went upstairs, downstairs, outside, and everywhere else that was not in that room, while he finished his neck, fully intending on NEVER leaving him long enough in that kennel to bark or whine.  So starting today, any time I do anything for a quick moment, whether it's using the bathroom, running upstairs to get something, etc. he will go in the "quiet" kennel, and will receive a treat when I come back for being quiet with a "good stay!" praise.  I will watch the clock, and will put on my coat randomly, go out side for 20 seconds randomly, come in, walk all over the house, all while he is in there on a down-stay.  While all goes well, I will SLOWLY increase the time he is there, always coming back before he gets upset.  If he does get upset, we'll start again at the marker previous that I know he can do, and will try to work up again with repetition.  It is in this way that I intend to wean Ferguson off of me and eliminate his separation problem, him learning that it is a game, that he gets a cookie for waiting patiently and quietly, AND THAT I WILL ALWAYS COME BACK no matter what!

Cozy, right?

So far, I'll admit, I'm really happy with what we've done even just thus far with it.  Ferguson LOVES the new kennel and goes into it every time we pass it.  We will practice an "alone session" (even 20 seconds of one) at least every hour of today and not give him the opportunity to fail.  It may take weeks, but I'm still confident he can do it.

However, in the rare event that Ferguson is unable to progress, still has horrible anxiety in 6 months or so, it should be known that I would sooner adopt another greyhound than send him back, even though adopting another dog would not be ideal for me right now.  I believe it is because of the other dogs at work that Ferguson is totally okay about being without me, but apparently little dogs, like Niles, don't really count as dogs, as he still gets upset regardless of whether he's next to him or not.  Of course, I would foster a temporary greyhound first to determine if that really was a solution to his problem...but all of this is mostly irrelevant, because I am quite confident other dogs are unnecessary, and I can solve Ferguson's problem all on my own with slow positive training.  It may be slow, but I am 99% sure it will work.  I am just sorry I wasn't as diligent about his problem a little earlier...but lucky for me, dogs live in the moment :).

Oop. Almost eleven.  Time for another session....

A Peaceful Sunday

Totally enjoying his day off from work ^_^

I finally figured out how to get pictures off from both my ipod and phone, which I tend to have on me more to catch the "awwwww" moments of Ferguson.  So, we'll celebrate with lots of pictures!

Not sure why Ferguson is so sleepy on our days off...it's not like he works too hard when we do go to work:

Ferguson next to his greyhound buddy, Maverick!

However, I won't pretend for a minute that I don't love how much Ferg sleeps.  It is such a relief to know that all he needs is one or two long walks a day to keep him more than satisfied.  I don't miss the three hour long walks that were absolutely necessary to keep most of the Labradors sane.  Needless to say, Ferguson totally matches my energy level ^_^. 

The longer he's here, the more settled he gets.  He did great when I went to go babysit last night, and behaved himself perfectly while my parents were with him (yay progress).  I did actually order a citronella collar, but more so for piece of mind during travel than anything else, or for future dogs I have to crate train (which may be many over the course of my lifetime) so I figured it was a reasonable purchase.  For the most part, I think Ferguson will be just fine and doesn't really need it. 

Since it's Sunday, and the third week I've had Ferguson, I shall make a list of things I love/have noticed/appreciate about my greyt greyhound:

1. Ferguson is not a chow hound.  Lately, he doesn't even finish breakfast/dinner (he does about 3/4 of it, and then walks away).  This means, however, that he is not a food thief, even when things are right by his nose.  He likes to sniff, but won't even do that if asked to back off. 

2. Ferguson doesn't typically destroy toys, and has no desire to "chew until it's dead" like most of my other dogs have done.  This is so appreciated, as they last much longer.  If they are even moderately tough, they have no trouble surviving his 3 minute sessions of silliness.  Speaking of silliness....

3. Ferguson is mostly a serious kind of guy, but has his moments of silliness, which reflects my own personality in a lot of ways.  At work, he almost has a gentle old man mentality, keeping to himself, but not acting timid by any means.  However, while he doesn't mind other dogs being silly with each other (some dogs do, BELIEVE ME..."police dogs" we call them), he doesn't tolerate anyone being silly with him against his will.  And that is totally okay with me :). 

4. Ferguson really likes his crate.  He goes in there all the time on his own.  This is great, as you can't forcibly make a dog naturally like their crate, even if you can get them to tolerate it.  I'm glad you like it, buddy...it will be your special place to have for your whole life :). 

5. His attitude is totally "go with the flow."  When walking, rude dogs will bark and pull at us, and never more do I need to worry about controlling my dog or moving to the other side of the street (GEB has very special rules about people/canine greetings that I'd often just rather not deal with, as Labs are just ridiculously excitable).  Ferguson merely gives them a glance, and keeps right on with me, ignoring their rude behavior.  It is now always the other dogs that must move, as I have total trust in Ferguson's behavior as calm, cool, and collected.  In other instances, even when he is startled or frightened, Ferg can be coaxed to face his fears or do something he obviously does not want to do.  This says a lot about his character, as I was anticipating a greyhound to be unwilling to move and shutdown in such situations.  I was pleasantly surprised ^_^

6. Anything I want to do to him is pretty much okay, be it nails, coat, or teeth.  He even willingly sports the sweater I knitted starting back in May when I first decided on a greyhound:

7. He's affectionate, and totally on my wave-length.  I can make a face at him, and he knows what I mean.  When I'm at work, he follows me with his eyes, and always gives me a happy tail wag when I go into his pen, even if it's just to mop up pee.  This makes work much more fun. 

8. He has cute white spots on him.  His back toes look as if they're dipped in white, and he has a white "t" on his chest.

9. Ferguson has an odd sort of intelligence about him.  I don't think I've had an instance where I've thought he was thick, and while he gets a little overly excited with training, offering me every behavior he knows to get a reward he really wants, he is willing to try to figure out new things.  Right now, we're working on "sit" which he'll do for stuffy squeaky toys.  He definitely has "down" down, and also knows "stay."  Even if he never got "sit" completely, this would be good enough for me.  However, I'd like him to become a good canine citizen, so "sit" will have to happen eventually. 

10. Ultimately, Ferguson is just about everything I'd hoped for in my own personal dog.  He is easy, not making me plan my entire day around his needs, and easy to enjoy.  His needs are minimal, and he seems glad to just be my pal.  No matter where I go, I feel confident that he'll be able to go along with me, his home being with me for the rest of his days. 

Happy three weeks, buddy...and here's to many more <3

I got some snow days afterall :D

It took me almost four hours to get home on Wednesday, when I was let home at 3:30.  The roads were horrific.  Because of this, I didn't have to come in the next day either (yesterday) and enjoyed a snow day of doing not that much.  In the evening, however, Eric and I went to Ski Liberty for some tubing fun, and it was :). 

Ferguson, however, was not at his best while my mom offered to "babysit."  He was kenneled the whole time, but decided to throw a barking riot after we left, ignoring her corrections or the fact that she was still there in the room with him.  She said she had to stand over the kennel assertively to get him to take her seriously and finally calm down.  Because of these things, I understand why Ferguson needed to not go to a novice; he has potential to be a jerk, and if you don't know how to stop him, I could see how he could be come unruly.  However, he's a fantastic guy if you know how to halt his problems at the get go, and admittedly, I've not experienced him doing a single "bad" thing, with the exception of him crying while I'm gone (which I still believe is workable and has gotten better with practice).  Hopefully this means he knows and respects me as his alpha (though I also wouldn't tolerate him thinking I was anything less). 

We leave for work at 4:15am...let's see how this new shift thing goes.  I asked Kathy to schedule me regularly for this time, and even perhaps full time....at least I'll be making bank.  Hopefully the work is easier as I thought it might be...I'll be sure to write about it tomorrow.

On a final note, Ferguson slept upstairs with me for the first time on a dog bed, and did really well :).  I was quite proud of him. 

Then his kennel time will be cut considerably.  Also, his travel kennel came in a few days ago, but I've yet to set it up, as I read in the reviews that the fabric stinks and needs to air out...which will have to wait for a less snowy few days. 

It's weird being busy, yet not busy, all at the same time.

"I'm NOT a babysitter."

Ferguson had a semi-rough day today at daycare.  He was good and fine for the first while, doing his usual following me with his eyes, but keeping to himself, getting occasional drinks and hanging around with the other low key dogs in the low key dog section.  Then came Apollo, the 6 month old Great Dane puppy.  Apollo was first put in with the more active playful dogs, where he found a few others to satisfy his boisterous, silly, un-socialized play.  Then the time of day came when the mellow dog pen is moved to the active dog pen.  Usually, this is not much of a problem, as the active dogs tend to stick with the active dogs.  However, today we had to pull most of the active dogs, as they were there for boarding and had been for days, so Apollo decides to stick like glue to the dog closest to his size....guess who he picked?

He looked a lot like this.  Same expression, too. 

Ferguson was not at all happy about this.  He allowed himself to be sniffed, but did NOT like being followed, shoved, barked at, or beckoned to be played with, especially with mouthing.  Ferguson showed his teeth and growled a few times, quickly corrected by either me or a staff member, to which he would submissively stop and try to move away to the other side of the pen....but Apollo did not dwindle his focus.  We tried to sway Apollo to no avail (he didn't even understand where the water squirting was coming from, let alone that it was a correction) and before long, Ferguson had had enough and lunged a foot or two towards him, teeth barred, and barked a few times, looking fairly intimidating.  STILL, the puppy was not swayed and thought it was a game. I decided I'd save Ferguson his sanity, skin, and ability to be allowed in the pen at all by removing him  and having him be kenneled for a few hours until the pens were separate again.  As soon as Ferguson was gone, Apollo simply selected a new victim, and the cycle continued for the rest of the day of dogs barking and growling and snapping at him, the puppy failing on all levels of picking up dog social cues that meant, "LEAVE ME ALONE."  When he didn't have his way, Apollo would simply bark at his intended victim...I mean...playmate...demanding they acknowledge him.  It was quite a frustrating day.

I think my co-worker was pretty startled by Ferguson's actions, but I was not, especially when it kept happening with different dogs.  She still seemed a little wary of him when I brought him back in the pen after the Dane was removed, but Ferguson did just fine, as expected (most dogs just leave him be after sniffing, or understand subtle body language cues that say he's not interested in playing).  Let's just hope the Dane does not come back, and that Fergus's actions remain excluded incidents.

Cry Ferguson Lives Up To His Name...

Oh Ferg.

He was great in the kennels at work, surrounded by other dogs and noise and bustle.  But still, not so much at home.  Today, Eric and I went to breakfast, and thinking it might help, I left his muzzle on him while we left, still with the TV on, and still with Niles in sight (though I didn't move him right next to him, as I perhaps should have...this will be the next try).  Sadly, we still returned to a barking, crying, unhappy greyhound.  Ferguson also is always panting when we return...is he really that stressed?

Will this phase itself out in time?  I'm starting to worry a little.

If it isn't better by spring, I may consider buying a no-bark citronella spray collar (I don't like the shock ones).

Eric also suggested having someone else kennel him, since it's me he's mostly glued to.  But this doesn't help all that much, because he STILL has to learn to be on his own.

I guess we'll just keep practicing.  Come on, Ferg!  You can do it!!!

Ferguson's First Day at Daycare :)

Today went much better.

Ferguson actually got to go into the daycare!  He did absolutely perfectly�and the best part?  There was even another greyhound there for him to hang out with!  The other grey�s name was Maverick, and when they met, it was totally adorable:

Ferg: �Hi�.Hi�K�yeah�Hi�.WHA�WHAT?!  OH MY GOSH!  YOU LOOK LIKE MEEEEE!!!!�

Both dogs got really happy and wiggly for about 5 seconds and wagged their tails while they sniffed each other�and then they relaxed and stopped caring.  LOL.  I really wish I could have gotten a picture :(

 Ferguson was totally perfect behavior wise, even amongst total chaos in the pen.  He stayed extremely calm, wasn�t stressed, and avoided all scuffles, since they are fairly frequent amongst the active dogs.  He even cuddled with a Weimaraner and German Shepherd and napped.  It was so cute ^_^.  He also wasn�t overly clingy to me, even though I was coming in and out here and there all over the place.  He also really liked my co-worker/supervisor, Nicole, and would wag his tail every time she pet him.  The only thing I wished I could have done for him would be for him to have something comfy to lay on, but he looked okay, at least while he laid on his side.  I do think he appreciated his comfy bed once he was home though.  

The way home was probably more stressful than anything else; about half way there, the dog barrier in the back fell in, I think because Ferg was leaning against it, and made it pop out.  Poor Ferg jumped, but dealt with it astoundingly well.  He moved so the barrier fell flat where he�d been laying, and then he climbed over the opening (which first made me very nervous, especially while driving at 55mph) but then simply laid down in the backseat like he knew exactly what to do, and like he�d been doing it his whole life.  I couldn�t help but laugh at his cleverness ^_^.  

My day overall was that much better knowing that Ferguson was okay and in good company so I didn�t have to worry about him potentially stressing to death in a kennel.  It also went by pretty fast, as usual, as there is always stuff to do.  

I think I�ll be able to keep this up pretty well, if all days are like today was :). 

First Official Day of Work

I am soooooo tired, and it's not even 10pm.

Today I:
1. Walked tons of dogs.
2. Picked up lots of poop.
3. Gave a Great Dane a bath (it was actually pretty fun lol)
4. Cleaned off dog rugs.
5. Washed about 100 dog bowls and toys.
6. Mopped up pee.
7. Scrubbed floors.

And so much more.  Poor Ferg got to come with me, but was in a kennel for the day, as the daycare was at full capacity.  He laid down in the kennel, and I gave him a bed, but I couldn't tell how okay he was.  I left his muzzle on for comfort (and to make sure the bed didn't get torn up) and he looked pretty okay when I'd pass him throughout the day.  He also got a bowl of water, but he dumped it and got the bed all wet.  Then, when I took him out to go home, he was shaking slightly, and the bed was still wet.  I'm not sure if he went and peed in it or not...it didn't really smell.  : / but he otherwise seemed fine (and he himself was not wet).  He is also just fine now, and came inside and seemed very happy...so it must not have been all THAT traumatizing.  I don't think I'll give him free access to water tomorrow to see what happens to the bed then (he should survive seven hours if he's not really moving around much except for the walk I get to give him half way through, and I can give him water then).  I put the bed right into the wash once we got home, so it will be all ready to go tomorrow.  I do hope he'll be okay...but he was definitely quiet, if nothing else.

I kind of wish I didn't have to work two days in a row.  I feel like I just got home and it's time for bed, and then I'll wake up and have to do it all over again.  *sighs*  At least I know I'm off Friday.

Here's wishing the best for tomorrow, and that Ferg can hold up.  It will be okay, buddy...it's only temporary.

A Snow Day

Last night we got about three inches of snow that was followed by an evening of sleet and rain, so we woke up to icy crusted white stuff that Ferguson absolutely stuck his nose up at.  While trying to eliminate, his paws shook unsteadily as he tried to walk on the surface...so until they plow the sidewalk, there shall be no walk; this is a first since I've had Ferg.  However, I'm hoping it clears by later tonight so we can get at least one long walk in.  For now, he's entertaining himself with a compressed rawhide, the last one we have.  I'm glad I saved it for a rainy day. 

In other news, I went to the pet store yesterday to use the remaining $18 of my gift cards to buy something cool for Ferg, and settled on this:

I've hard mixed things about the tuffies toys, but figured that it would probably be great for Ferguson, despite its fairly expensive price.  They don't stand up well to dogs who chew until it's completely destroyed (cough cough LABRADORS! cough cough) but the way Ferg plays (for three minutes of crazy toss and play maybe twice a day) it seemed like it would work for him, as other toys not as sturdy have even been able to survive.  So far so good, and he loves that it squeaks.  When he gets in a goofy mood, it's the first toy he grabs :).  I will start collecting them, I think, whenever I get gift cards. 

I also actually finished my greyhound sweater that I'd been working on since May (!) and it actually fits Ferguson!  I took a picture with him in it, but I'm having technical difficulties getting it from my ipod to the computer (I've tried emailing it like ten times, never having it show up in any of the accounts).  So, when I figure it out, I'll have to post the picture.  It's not the best color for him, but it's still cute.  Now I'm just working on a band to wrap underneath to help keep it on, but it looks really adorable as it is :).  I'll have to find the pattern again and keep making them (hopefully at a faster rate than I have). 

Updates to come...

Close? Closer?

I went up to shower and did the now-standard of moving Niles next to Ferguson whilst leaving the TV on and giving him a stuffed kong.  While it took longer, he did start barking again about halfway through my shower.  The barking was not as frequent and panicked as usual though...more like a "Woof!...Woof woof woof woof!.................Woof..........."  I wonder if this would not have happened if:

a) He didn't know I was home.
b) If he'd gotten a walk first.
c) If I'd put his muzzle on him before putting him in the kennel

As always, as soon as he hears me come downstairs, regardless of whether he can see me or not, he stays quiet. I also ignore him for a few minutes before letting him out, making sure he is always calm and silent. 

We'll see.  Being frustrated and wanting to really work on this, I waited an hour, and then put him back in again.  He is always glad to go in his kennel, and regularly lays in their on his own accord even if I'm just sitting in the room with him.  I then practiced going into the basement, and returning for increasing amounts of time, catching him before he made a sound, and returning and giving him a treat for staying quiet.  This worked pretty well, and the time did get increased, and Niles was not even immediately next to him.  This counts as progress, right?

Jennifer had some great suggestions, as has Ferguson's booklet and foster, all of which I've been following as best I can, so hopefully it's just a matter of time before it takes care of itself.  It is my main goal to ensure that Ferguson can be left on his own for (reasonable) periods of time and happily sleep while he does it.  We can do it, Ferg!

On another note, the Pedi-paws dremel is awesome.  Ferguson has been awesome about so many things (never taking food that isn't his, not jumping on people, sleeping through the night, sleeping for most of the day, being extremely mellow with people and other animals, being easily redirected, etc.) but another thing to add to the list is how great he is at grooming.  He lays on the floor when I ask him to, and I roll him on his side and start to rub his belly.  Usually it is in this position that I'll brush him, or his teeth, or clip his nails, but today I decided to use the dremel tool we have, and it (and Ferg) were amazing!  He didn't move a muscle while I did a paw (why should he? He got treats for holding still ;) ), and his nails were all round and smooth afterwords...neato!  I'd recommend it to anyone will a calmer dog who doesn't mind the humming noise.

He's also great with his teeth getting brushed (he just licks the toothpaste while I brush), so he'll have sparkling white teeth and super smooth nails...while he stays home and cries like a baby for me.  ;)  Just kidding, Ferg.  We'll fix ya!

Improvement! I think...

We have continued practicing Ferguson's alone training, beginning this morning when Eric and I left him for 30 minutes while we went to McDonald's for breakfast.  When we returned, we returned to a very upset barking, panting, Fergus : /...I don't even know if he finished his peanut butter kong treat.  I decided to be diligent for the rest of the day.  We continued practice, while we would come and go. 

Later in the day, Eric's sister Meaghan came over to hang out with us, and we all took him for the mile walk before leaving him again to go to dinner (being gone for about an hour this time).  I gave him his usual peanut butter kong (which he usually seems enthusiastic about), but also dragged Nile's kennel with Niles in it next to him and left the TV on.  When we returned, I didn't hear any barking like we had in the morning (!), though he was panting somewhat...hopefully just a lesser stress reaction.  So!  Niles makes him feel less alone, it sounds like.  Hopefully as he gets to be more comfortable, he won't need Niles anymore, or can find the same comfort in a cat staying in the same room with him (or of course, eventually, another dog or two). 

Nile's active, animated nature makes him a great conversationalist to the other dogs around him...or rather, he bores them to death into actually sleeping until we get back. 

In any case, I'm proud of the progress that he's made for something he's been having such a hard time with :).  As I said before, I think he'll get it even more once we start going to work with all that mental stimulation to wear him out. 

In other news, Ferg still has no interest in running in his newly fenced backyard....only getting back inside.  This morning, it went sort of like this:

Me: "Okay, Ferg!  Go potty!"
Ferg: "Okay okay...." (walks to other end of the yard, does #2 before sprinting back in front of me). "I'm done!"
Me: "What?  You haven't peed."
Ferg: "Um...I don't have to."
Me: "Ferg. It's been eight hours.  You have to pee."
Ferg: "I can hold it."
Me: "You don't need to hold it.  We're right here."
Ferg: "No, I'm fine.  It's cold.  Let's go inside."
Me: *sighs* "No, Ferg." (puts on his leash and walks him to other side of yard)
Ferg: "Okay, OKAY..." (proceeds to pee for like three minutes straight).
Me: "Jesus!  I told you you had to pee!"
Ferg: "Yeah yeah yeah...I still coulda held it..."