A Plea for HELP!!

[Cincy'sMom]

Poor Bowsey...don't they know tricks are for kids? (or is that Trix that are for kids?)

Glad to hear things are still going well with the Boswer boy....the urge to hunt may still be there...but he sure knows where "home" is!

[Corinna]

Ya a new bowser story. Hey what happened to the other find. I was gone for a week ,did you find a home for him?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by zippy-kat

I tried to teach him to "say his prayers" ...

Out of 1000 tries, how many times did he do it unassisted?

ONCE!

I feel your pain!

1,001th Try ...

HE DID IT Again!!

I had JUST finished my Tongue-in-cheek reply to Candy when
I let The Gang in from the front porch.

Cinder: (silently) <SAT> - <BEG> - <SHAKE> - <Took It> (gently)

Smokey: (silently) <SAT> - <BEG> - <SHAKE> - <Took It> (gently)

BoZo : (silently) Shown the Bisquit: <Blank Stare> (STANDING) ...
Thinking of Candy's Instructions, I followed them to the LETTER:

(silently) <Showed the Bisquit> - eye/nose level, 6" away ...
(slowly) <Brought Bisquit UP, Over nose, Across bridge of nose,
UP between eyes, [thought his eyeballs were gonna *bump* into each other],
Between the ears ...

And IT Happened > <*BOINK*> and DOWN went his furry lil BUTT -
Perfikt <SIT> Number 4!!

WHUT da HECK!???
I gotta "Think Candy" every time I want him to <SIT> ??

WHUTever werks!
I lavished "GUD <SIT>, Bowz" with "pats onna head" so much
The Other Two came back to see what the FUSS was about.

We're Onna ROLL - let's do it again whilst he's "Inna Mood" ...

MORE BISQUITS - ALL Around!!

Cinder and SmokeMutt <won> theirs in the Blink of an Eye and wandered off;
You're UP, Bowz!!

"Thinkin Candy" - I repeated the Successful Method ...
(siently) <Show the Goods> <Approach the Nose> <UP & Over> (slowly) ...

And PRETZEL Boy did his best <Follow the Bisquit while STANDING>
routine he's done in a long time.

Here, TAKE the dang Bisquit!

----------------------------------------

Hey, 4 out of 1,002 is a LOT better than the old 3 out of 1,000!

Maybe I wasn't "Thinkin Candy" quite rite?

/s/ Phred
..

[Rachel]

Knowing that Bowser and I are in relatively the same age bracket, I'm thinking that the reluctance to *sit* may not be so much being obstinate as maybe a case of certain parts not bending as easily as they should any more. (Ahhem, seems like Dad would know a bit about that sort of thing too.) Maybe all those treats could be used to perfect *stay* and *come*.

[lbaker]

Excellent point Rachel. My good ol' boy Badger is getting up there as well and has a very hard time with "sit" even though he's always been the first to listen and please. He simply has problems getting the old bones and joints to listen to his ears these days

[gini]

What I don't understand is how you get around those soft brown eyes of his?

If it were me, I would end up just giving him the bisquit and forget doing any special tricks.

His eyes are heart melters!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Thanks for your thoughts, Hannah!
And yeah, "Dad" KNOWS!

Originally posted by Rachel

... may not be so much being obstinate as maybe a case of
certain parts not bending as easily as they should any more.

(Ahhem, seems like Dad would know a bit about
that sort of thing too.)

Maybe all those treats could be used
to perfect *stay* and *come*.

He Can and Does <SIT> whenever HE wants to!
It's a favorite position when he desires a "pat onna head" and I'm
at the puter - he'll walk up beside the chair and just <SIT>,
then give me an "elbow bump" to tell me he's arrived.

It appears a "MODIFIED 'Candy' Method" gives a good <SIT>!
The word <SIT> seems to have no meaning - he IS <focused> on
Cinder & Smoke getting Their Bisquits, and focuses his attention
upon the THIRD Bisquit quite intently!

As previously reported, passing the Bisquit up to and then over his
nose and head usually produces a neck-bending exercise where he
displays his neck & head FLEXIBILITY; the rear end remaining in the
UPright posture!

What DOES Work is to <pass> the Bisquit up & over ONE time, ~
then "CIRCLE & HOVER" the Bisquit OVER his head!

He seems to realize the sought-after treat IS "UP There" (somewhere)
and tries to flip-flop his head to focus in on it -
difficult with a fast-moving, circling target! ... His "solution" ??

He just leans back on his haunches and <*PLOPS*> back into a <SIT> -
which opens up more of the "sky" and brings the Circling Bisquit
back into view!

<COME> ??
He <COMES> when it's OK with HIM! - Meals, treats, attention, etc.

He <GOES> when he feels like it! ... Bisquit-in-hand or not; when
HE decides to explore or just go-the-other-way -
a Busquit isn't enough to turn him around!

<STAY> ??
Needs sum werk!
We're actually werkin on <WAIT> at doors ...
He tries to be FURST Out rather than in his assigned #3 position
behind #2, SmokeMutt.

He barges to the front of the line and jams his head out as soon as
the door is cracked.
A gentle closing of the door results in his head out, and shoulders
jammed up in the too-narrow opening.
After he quits <pushing> forward and has to stand trapped for a few
seconds, he's more than willing to <Back Up> and let Cinder go.

He HAS "caught on" to a LOT of the Howze Rules ...

He's #3 in the Chow Line; and DON'T stick yur head into #1 or #2's BOWLS!

DON'T LAY close behind da Bus Driver's puter chair - he backs up often
and there's NO Back-Up Alarm on the darn thing!

Fire Calls - Stay OUTTA da Way!!
Cinder & Smokey can recognise "OUR" Fire Alert Tones on the radios -
When they hear "OUR" tones, they both move away from shoes, clothes,
and the basement door; and KNOW they aren't "going"!
Bowsie can't tell the difference between "OUR" tones and the other
Departments' tones - but he HAS started to <move> when he hears
ANY tones on the fire radios!

DON'T *MESS* wiffa Black KAT!!
Probably comes from his years with MidNight, but he has NEVER
done anything to <bother> Boots! (Other than just BEING here!)
Bowz hardly <looks> at Boots if the pass in the house; and Boots now
"allows" him to enter the Baffroom without even a (silent) "Hisss!"

Nail Trimming ??
NOT a problem with Bowz!
The "other" members of The Gang should be half as good as he is!

His HEARING ??
I think it works just FINE! - Very "SELECTIVE" - but always "operational"!
He comes out of a SOUND sleep at the sounds of:
* The Bisquit storage cabinet opening
* The Krunchie Can storage closet opening
* A (whispered) "Wanna EAT?"
* Fire Tones over the radio

Maybe instead of <COME> I should try "<Wanna EAT>".

"Pecking Order" ??
Well, he's "Only #3" - but Cinder & Smokey NEVER <pull rank> on him!
Cinder "Rules Her Pack" with a Very Soft Paw ~
and allows both Smokey and the Bowz to do just about ANYthig they
want to, whenever they want to!
It's a pretty & *mellow* Gang of Three,
wiffa KAT tossed in for Variety!

Bowser Boy IS a Goof-Ball - but he slid in without much fuss!


..

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke


Maybe instead of <COME> I should try "<Wanna EAT>".

..

You may be on to something there!
I just yell, TUNA!!!! then stand back so I won't get trompled to death. Of course, they ARE cats!

Good luck! Sounds like Bowzie is gettin there in his own time!

[Rachel]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke


Thanks for your thoughts, Hannah!
And yeah, "Dad" KNOWS!

Actually it was Mom Rachel who did that post. Hannah, like Bowser, seems to be much more flexible in this *age bracket* than her mom is.

Good on Bowser for fitting in so well. Those *life style choices* may take a little while to change up some. Like Hannah, Bowser seems to be self directed. (Actually I wouldn't want her any other way.)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke
Bowser Boy IS a Goof-Ball - but he slid in without much fuss!

....ahem.....does this mean what I think it does?......

[gini]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom

....ahem.....does this mean what I think it does?......

shhh..........don't ask.....................

[Dixieland Dancer]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke

It appears a "MODIFIED 'Candy' Method" gives a good <SIT>!
The word <SIT> seems to have no meaning - he IS <focused> on
Cinder & Smoke getting Their Bisquits, and focuses his attention
upon the THIRD Bisquit quite intently!


What DOES Work is to <pass> the Bisquit up & over ONE time, ~
then "CIRCLE & HOVER" the Bisquit OVER his head!

He seems to realize the sought-after treat IS "UP There" (somewhere)
and tries to flip-flop his head to focus in on it -
difficult with a fast-moving, circling target! ... His "solution" ??

He just leans back on his haunches and <*PLOPS*> back into a <SIT> -
which opens up more of the "sky" and brings the Circling Bisquit
back into view!

The modified Candy method! I've never had an official method named after me before.

Ya know what I say, Phred.... If it works, use it! Fortunately, in dog training, there is no one way fits all. It's the INTELLIGENT owner who can modify a basic method and make it work for their dog! Sounds like you did that flawlessly.

The main reason I don't put a verbal command to a behavior until a hand motion is taught is for the reason you stated... The word <SIT> seems to have no meaning. Repetition is the key! After the behavior is shaped, then a word is associated with it. A few <THOUSAND> more "modified Candy methods" and I'd say Bowser Boy will have it down <PAT>!

I melt for Bowser eyes too! More pictures of the Dynamic Trio, please, Phred!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Dad sez he'z created a Treet-Monstur!

Wunst upon a Tyme ya couldn'd <FORCE> a tree into Bowzie's mouff ...

NOW Dad hazta <watch> his Finnerz when he's lettin us inna frunt door -
Iffin he Dillie-Dalliez a sekond too long ... da Bowz iz <JUMPIN> up
nibblin at da treetz inna hand-paw!

An now he'z decided KARRUTZ are A-OK fur nibblin on!!
Dad like ta <munch> on Babee Karrutz (dipped in UnYin Dip!)
Whenebber he breaks out da Karrutz an Dip, da KAT bout breaks a leg
jumping ober da tabilz an chairs to sit onna Kliner Chair Arm an <beg>
fur UnYin Dip! Iffin he duzint get ta <LICK> da Dip offa karrut every
two or three *dipz* - he <dunkz> a furrie Paw inna Dip Buckit
an haz a fine tyme <lickin> da Paw!

Us Dawgs sit at Dad'z feetz and <beg> fur da Karrut Tailz aftur Dad
<munches> off the long end wiffa Dip onnit ...

Uzed to go like diss:

<Dip> <Munch>; "Tail" to Cinder ...
<Dip> <Munch>; "Tail" to Smokey ...
<Dip> ... "Tap onna Arm" by da KAT; <LICK> by da Kat;
<RE-Dip> <Munch>; "Tail" to Bowz ... *pa-TooWee* anna
karrut tail gotz <spit> out onna floor ...
<GRAB & Munch> da reject by wunna us
Bowz usuall lay down an <ignored> us after da sekond <spit> out.

Dunno iffin sumbuddie wuz feedin da Bowz "Veggiez" at Findlay;
but tuday it wuz Karrut Tyme inna ole Kliner Chair durrin da newz ...

Tail #1 to Cinder ...
Tail #2 to Smokey ...
Dip #3 to da Kat onna Kliner Arm (DROOLING) ...
RE-Dip & <Munch> to Dad ...
Tail #3 to Bowz ... <MUNCH> - <CHOMP><CHOMP><CHOMP> -
<GULP> ... <WAGGITY-Wag-WAGG>!!

OMG! He <*ATE*> IT!!
Now there'z THREE Dawgz an Wun Kat inna Karrut Line!
We gotta buy more Karrutz!

Az fur da <SIT> fur yur Treet - da Bowz iz gettin dat routine down
purty well of late...
Ebery so oftin he akshully <SITz> affore Dad getz ta him
(he'z nummer THREE inna Treet Line) ...
purdy soon he'll be <wavin> a Paw fur his treet like da rest of us!

He hadda **PHINE** Tyme at da Findlay *BASH* on Sunday ...
Gotz along wiff ALLUA udder Dawgz ...
Took Treetz whenEBBER dey wuz offered ...
and seemed ta *enjoy* rompin all ober da Bark Park.

He wuz a lil Luv-Sponge wiff allua Hoominz - walkin rite up an
takin <rubz> an {{Hugz}} frum ebberbuddie!

Mayor Karen doin da Honorz here >>>



Wunder whut'z NEXT!??

[lbaker]

Oh Zip, no matter what woe's may be happening, may the thought of Bowsers happy, happy days right now bring you joy. Oh Phred, thank you.. I think we all needed this

[Rachel]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke



Dip #3 to da Kat onna Kliner Arm (DROOLING) ...
RE-Dip & <Munch> to Dad ...

Oh, Cinders, stuff like this goes on in my house too but if ya don't mind, I might pass on the onion dip if'n I ever come to visit.