Well here we go again - another exciting installment of TMT with Laura !!
#1. What five things can't you live without?
The Lord and my family.
Morning Cup of Coffee with "quiet time" - in other words DO NOT talk to me until I've had my cup of
coffee (usually it is really about 1/2 pot) - and then still tread carefully!
Chocolate - got to have my daily dose of Chocolate - any kind but prefer it in brownies, cake, candy,
pudding (homemade), ice cream, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered
raisins, chocolate chips straight out the bag - Yum Yum!!!
Living in the country - only lived in town when I went to college and for four months in 1982 - people
say that I'm pretty much a hick!
My dogs - they keep me focused and sane.
#2. How do you transport your dogs? This question posed by several peeps, including Mara.
In Big Red
#3. What role does obedience play in your training or the running of your dogs?
I'm a stickler for instant obedience when I give a command, but I want a dog to obey because he wants to please not because "I made him". When working stock, I'm learning to relax and let me knowledge of working stock not make me "over talk" my dog. I want him to feel free to read the stock and move them accordingly. When I give a flank or a lie down, I want them to respond in kind, but use their own judgment about the intensity of the command. I have found I'm a little lax at times with Liesl, because she and I haven't always been on the same page and I've had to work to make our relationship a good working one. I was WAY TOO hard on her at first, so I do let some things slip if she seems to be working well and thinking for herself. Right now with Bess, she has her play time and her work time, so during work time she has to mind.
#4. At what point do you start putting commands on your dogs?
Day one, but in just in every day interaction with the pup. I'm talking about the lie down, get off, general obedience commands. As far as working commands, as I put them on stock and they are showing a particular action (i.e. away to me) I'll reward them and say the command every time they go that way and I try to only introduce one command at a time. I don't over use the command word because I want them to recognize that the command is associated with an action. So it isn't just general conversation, but specific. But when Tate or Skeeter (when I worked her) don't obey a command, I'll wait a little to see if they are reading their stock, I've given the "wrong" command (I know you guys have never given the wrong flanking command in the rush of a fetch!! Right!! LOL) or if they are just "sky bugging" it and need correction.
#5. Do you talk to strangers in elevators?
NOPE!!! I'm the one that just smiles and hopes that Laura doesn't ask me anything!!!!!
Happy Trails to You!!!!!
3 comments:
I don't know that I've ever heard the term "sky bugging" but that is pretty funny/cool!
I am very much like you on the coffee thing. It's best to give me a wide berth until I'm almost finished.
PS - I lol'ed at the comment about the elevator. You would SO be talking to me. Like it or not. hehehe
Doniene, I am standing in the back with you, checking out my shoes! If it looks like Laura is getting on the elevator, I might get off and walk. :)
Post a Comment