Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday Supplement- How to panic your dog. And, the deer have wire cutters???

Husband came out with me to feed, he opened the gates, and doors, while I hauled the feed in, and poured.  I wasn't paying much attention to him, or Rudee, and Rudee kept trying to sneak into the hen yard with me.  Husband was having none of that, and so we finished feeding, and I walked out to go exercise, poles in hand. 

Husband made Rudee stay with him.

Rudee made it clear he DID NOT LIKE THIS.  He whined, dug at the gate, ran the gate and part of the fence.  Husband made him sit.  Rudee liked this even less.  When he was released, he bolted for me, Husband calling him back.  (We aren't doing this to tease him, we want him to go to whomever calls him, to avoid having him in a dangerous situation, or if WE were in a dangerous situation.)

Rudee didn't make any effort to go back.  I, with my best "bad dog drill Sargent" voice, told him to go back.  Exceptionally begrudgingly, he did.  Then Husband told him to go back to me. 

I swear I heard a sonic boom...

We really need to work on him paying attention to Husband.  (Aside, guess that makes ME the alpha???)  So, the 'training' will continue.  When Rudee is with Husband, not a problem.  When he is with me, not a problem.  When we are together, Husband is almost nonexistent.  (Gee, I wonder who Rudee is with 99% of the time...)

Eh. 

Went walking up the hill, and when we finished, Rudee spotted a deer.  The deer managed to out run him, and  I watched where it went.  I saw the deer run, then go through, not OVER the fence. 

What???

I walked to the spot I had seen the deer perform what should have been an impossible task, only to find out something has torn the fence to absolute shreds in that spot.  My none-too-tiny rear could fit through the hole in the fence.  I was extremely surprised that Rudee didn't continue chasing the deer into the neighbor's trees! 

So, I need to go and fix fence.   I really don't think this is the work of a deer.  Unless it was a really big deer, moving very fast. 

Or, it had a set of Leatherman's and wanted a quick way through the fence. 

(I really am curious what would have made that large of a hole... L*rd help me, no bears, please...)

In other news, Naomi's wee one is a budding photographer, I think she is quite promising.  Now if we can work juuuusst a smidgen on centering...  (I guess I should give her a break, she is around two, I think she took better pics than I have, on occasion.)

14 comments:

Sharon said...

Training a dog to go with the Master or the Mistress is totally lost on our two. If we even talk in a firm voice, they turn into quivering masses. Neither has been abused and we got them "from scratch". Well anyway, it's stop, drop, and quake. Good that Rudee is learning somewhat.

Don't even think bear.................

Theres just life said...

Hi Cat, Stopped by to see you from Grandpa's blog. I have got quite a few dogs and when we need to call them, I do it. I don't know if its because they listen to me better, or because I have a big mouth. I hope its the former, but I think it might be the latter.

Terry said...

Could it be poachers that made the hole? I hope not.

messymimi said...

Agreeing with you -- no bears. They are nice enough, when you can watch them from far away.

Rudee needs to learn he has an alpha female and an alpha male in his pack.

Chai Chai said...

"We really need to work on him paying attention to Husband." Can't expect the dog to do what the Alpha refuses to do.

John Going Gently said...

lol
maintaining alpha leader is always a difficult job!

Inger said...

With my diabetes and blood sugars going up and down, I am often not calm and the dogs know this. The Dog Whisperer says a dog will not follow a leader that is not calm. They are with me 99% of the time and love me, no doubt, but when my calm and kind hubby arrives, I do not exist. Only Angel feels torn, but that's b/c she feels she has to protect me. At least that's my take on who they listen to and why.--Inger

Dawn said...

Yikes, that's scary about the fence! Hope it wasn't a bear for sure!

Cat said...

Sharon:
The only reason I can think of, dogs, like people can be 'nervous personalities', perhaps they just are jumpy.

And no, I certainly hope it's not a bear...

Cat

Cat said...

There's just life:

I will take the fifth on the big mouth, but I think in this case, I just am with Rudee more often than Husband, so he just figures I am the one to pay attention to, I guess...

Cat

Cat said...

Terry:

Hmm. I doubt it, but not impossible. A (big) animal would be more likely. I think I would prefer the idea of a bear... :(

Cat

Cat said...

messymimi:

That could be said for quite a few animals around this area, including a few of the domesticated ones! And Rudee is just Rudee, he figures someone will let him know what's what, we just have to make it more obvious, I guess...

Cat

Cat said...

Chai Chai:

Click... {Large grin}

LOL

Cat

Cat said...

John Gray:

Hmm. Maintaing isn't the problem, convincing the DOG we know what we are doing is the problem!

:D

Cat