As Instructed by this trainer I am taking a private seminar with I called him this week to secure a place of lodging. It was at this time he mentioned that the house I would be staying in the propriotor does not speak very much english. But that makes no difference for you he says as you can speak very good German? How does he know? The one time I tried to speak to him in German he told me to speak english(refer to one of  my past blogs about a blow to my ego). 

He informed me he recieved my E mail list of what I would like help with, but has not had a chnace to view the video I attached (Not of Hella but of the bring video I posted). He gave me a number of a man with private rooms to rent where I would be allowed to stay with Hella and Uly and has now further instructed me to call him next Sunday when I am getting near so we will meet face to face and he can show me around his town and guide me to where some good walking and bike riding places are.  

 It was at this time he also mentioned that perhaps we would do some practicing next Sunday but I quickly said "After a 6 or 7 hour drive that WE all would need a very long "out and about" session more then likely 2 to 3 hours", as anyone that travels with dogs know being cooped up in a car for that long can make your dogs hyperactive.

Am I nervous? Only for the fact that I am driving to an area that I have not driven before (I know most of central and south Germany Schweinfurt to Garmish and over to the Salzberg area) But north? They almost do not even speak the same language as every area has a different dialect!  Stay tuned for more!

I am not sure if I will beable to E mail or check the internet on a daily basis, but in the mean time I will be writting up something everyday about my training and holiday experiences while I am there and if I  cannot post them during that week I sure will when I get back home.

I first want to say I have been giving thought to the web site Adam posted about feeding raw diat to dogs but the only thing that has been keeping me from doing it is the fact I have 2 dogs and the connivance of feeding a kibble is fast and clean.

Saturday started as any other day.  Lot's of rain so group class was canceled. Off to do some shopping at my favorite dog training store, Schweikerts, then off to the boxer club at 2 P.M to work. Due to the rain turn out by the boxer club was also small so we were finished with practice quite early compared to a normal day.

This was not a bad thing as it then gave me a chance to cook a normal warm dinner instead of the usual cold German sandwiches we eat for dinner on a practice days. Saturday's dinner was supposed to be baked crispy chicken but alas I opened the package and the chicken to me smelled a little sour. Oh no I am not going to take any chances so into a paper bag for the bio (meaning veg matter and food stuffs) can.

 We eat dinner watch a bit of Tele (got to love the British shows), Normal habit for us is to snuggle down on the sofa and while watching the evening programming drift off to a peaceful sleep until about 1:00 A.M in the morning. At which point we awake and stumble up to bed for the rest of the morning (I know this is a bad habit).

This is where the evening or early morning went wrong. I tell the dogs' "come we go over to sleep" (this means up stairs to the bed room) Hella springs up and is ready to go to lie on her bed in the bedroom. Uly on the other hand does have a few bad habits of his own.  I know he hears me but being a lazy boxer butt, he sometimes does not even lift his head to acknowledge me. This is where I give him a poke with my finger in his flanks so I know he is awake and hears me. Off for one last potty myself which would give Uly the extra time needed to stretch and get off the sofa and wait for me next to the baby gate blocking the ferrets into the livingrooom.    I go back to the baby gate and look but there is no Uly waiting, I turn on the over head light but still Uly stays on the sofa (Bugger I know he is a wake). Fine, tough noogies, you are now going to stay in the living room to sleep alone while Hella and myself sleep upstairs. 

I think I heard a few times a low woof woof coming from down stairs but after all he did not come up to bed when I said so good stay your butt in the living room! Well at 4 O'clock in the morning I hear the tell tale boxer lips licking and the loose skin flapping as he shakes and somewhere in the back of my still sleeping mind I think I know I left Uly to sleep in the living room!  I spring out of bed as the next thoughts were of loose ferrets exploring forbidden rooms of the house.  Down the stairs (No dogs following which is also unusual) Sure enough the baby gate was lying flat on the floor, O.k. check to see where ferrets are both are sound asleep next to the sofa in the cat house which is their bed but all over the carpet is what resembles pieces of paper bag!   Oops check the counter! Sure enough Uly had by passed the open box of cookies I had left on the counter but the raw spoiled chicken did not make it through the morning. (My fault, as I did not secure the meat to a place that was out of reach)  So gone was a whole cut up spoiled chicken! Not a bone, or piece of skin was to be found anywhere on the floor.

This just gives credibility to the fact that a dogs' stomach can handle more bacteria then the human system, Uly had only a touch of softer poops the next day (of course thinking he had at some point in the morning gotten an extra portion of food (ie the chicken) that he only needed a small portion of dry food at his normal feeding.  

I should add that since Saturday Uly now gets up and waits by the baby gate any time I get up and leave the living room even if I am just to take a quick pee. I guess he had learned his lesson for the moment and when I say I am going over to sleep this means get your saggy boxer butt off the sofa and come with us.    

Not that I am giving it, but more so that I am taking one with a very well known German police K-9 trainer. 1 week of private instruction of 2 hours each day and also he invited me to work my dogs at his dog club (To be truth full it is the thought of having to work my dogs at a strange dog club that makes me VERY WORRIED and NERVOUS).  

This trainer I am booking with travels the world just to teach police department squads how to work and train their dogs. When I first contacted him I got the feeling of maybe I was a little over my head as far as MY skill level and what this trainer is use to working with. Not to mention I tried to speak to him in German and he asked me to please speak English (Wow this was not good for my EGO or better wording would be confidence level. As most Germans are amazed that I taught myself to almost speak fluently) But different dialect being he is in north Germany so they speak with a harder sound Like ICK compared to ISH.

Anyway I took the second step today and called him back as instructed the first week of September so I could book a week for the end of the month. Today's conversation went much better and he really gave me the feeling that despite 2 different dog clubs saying she (Hella) is not good material because she is too nervous (And the boxer club loving her) that Hella's faults will be an easy fix.

He of course asked me about Uly, and the only thing I could come up with to work on Uly with his was Uly's blind search. "O.k. I will have a look when you come here he says"

That was not the only big blind leap I made today. I had a call form a lady wanting to get her dog bathed.

"Where did you hear about me?" I ask.

"From the Internet" she says

 "Really how?

She says, "I typed in dog grooming Mannheim and up came your web site." Ah KOOL I thought as I have had a few people write me E-mails and call concerning dog boarding and training and they said they found me on the Internet. But this was not the big blind leap.

On the same page as mine was another web site one that I have known about for quite some time he has been in business for some time. I took notice of his terrier grooming years ago and thought today what harm to call and see if I could maybe take a learning day with him to learn some tips for better styling.

Unfortunately he said he does not give any seminars, and this is the confusing part, he took my number and said, "I will call you next week, I will call you next week", not for something (this is what I did not understand) but for something (This I did not understand also). Am I in trouble? Did I just sell myself into some illegal activities? Gosh I hope not as that will not go over too good with the German police trainer!

So of course to be continued as I get more information

It started with Uly throwing up only 1 time on Friday but in 4 different places and only this one time during the day. I wrote it off as being from playing too hard and drinking too much water after with out  enough of a pause to catch breath and not be panting so hard.

Six P.M rolled around and my friend was calling, as her boxer (Uly's by rights Girlfriend) had thrown up some blood so my friend was calling to ask what could cause this and to tell me she had made the emergency appointment at the 24 hour clinic (Expensive and in Euros to boot). I did not think anything else about Uly throwing up or the fact that the last poop of the evening was taking a bit longer then normal.  As bella does like to try to eat things forbidden like cat poop.

I did not think anything else about it until I awoke this morning to come down stairs to find a bit of a dark brown mess before my normal coffee time. Not the first thing you want to do is clean when you awake.  

O.k. no big deal, that is, if you have gone through something like this in the past. A few years ago between 2 military communities a dog stomach virus so bad traveled around afflicting about 90% of the dogs in these 2 communities. This was a 2 "weaker" with bloody poops. The vet at the time told me concerning Hexen to save my money give Pepto- bismal (the pink stuff) and nothing but chicken noodle soup at her normal meal times until such time as the dog can keep it in both ends. Strange at the tim is my first boxer Shamrock being epileptic I would have swore would pick something up like this first but not the ever healthy Hexen. Nope I went to a grooming customers house, that smell was the tell tail sign! I asked is your dog sick? Or has your dog been sick? Ah nope.

Then your dog is sick now as it is having the water poops all over my grooming table! I followed what I thought were extra safe precautions! I stripped down to my underwear in the hallway of the appartment building (Including socks and shoes) went directly inside and washed my hands, showered, and new fresh clothes! What else could I do?

I then took care of the clothes in the hallway by bring them 3 flights down to be washed as quick as possible, but the case was it was too late and with in a few days she was throwing up and diarrhea for 2 weeks.

Poor Uly on the other hand knows he is sick, has not eaten but is drinking water like no tomorrow, He has bubble and foam around his lips when an episode is about to hit and he is trying to go outdoors into the garden however when I forget to leave the door open he is just letting it come. I can't blame him the "Armee sow" Pronounced (AHma) or poor pig! No dog club, no walking for a few days as I want to keep this as contained as I can, Thankfully Hella is not sick but  she does not understand why Uly does not take any advances from her to try to play.  

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She was non stop woo woo woo woo just not bark bark bark. But what did work hella is body blocking as in the case of my husband. He enters and every time she tries to come into my zone I walk into her and block her. This seems to quiet her an awful lot as this is me taking ownership over him.

My friend Christa did something weird with her dane Yankee years ago ( 7 to be exact),  he was acting an ass while out walking one day and she stood in front of him, put him in a sit and asked him for his paw he gave it and tantrum and excited energy were gone.  And I said why? And she said because he has to focus on me directly and if he tries to move I have his leg so he has to look at me. ( tried this with Uly didn't work)

If you know however your dog is a snapper (This part adopted from "The T.V show") or defensive with hands on corrections then I turn into them and start first body blocking or calmly walking into them to break their focus on the other dog or what ever.

If you watch a pack of dogs play weather 2,3,4,5 they use body bumps and blocks to contol the actions and movments of the other dog.

I have just really really been pushing with not fighting at all with dogs in these situations  and I had the opertunity to experiment with a customers dog. She called me to come and dremel toenails,2 dogs female pretty normal, male border collie mix afraid of strangers and also  possissive aggressive over the pregant owner.
The toenails we got it done took a bit, but as I was getting ready to leave, the owner behind me in the hallway, I stepped to her to shake her hand goodbye and he got a little pushy with me snapping at my legs.
Oh no this is not going to happen!

I took my shopping bag(Filled with stuff) and dropped it down low below my knee level and started to walk into him backing him off from her( In other words I took possission of his owner) The next thing I know I look over and the female is comming into the male and bumping him and bitting him in the neck (Little witch was working with me).  

Just remember not all things work with all dogs or animals but a good dog trainer is one that can modify methods to come up with something that will work.

And concerning Uly I have had to really re think and rearrange some methods and techniques.

 I was at Mac Dill AF base in Tampa to get Health cert. done so I could fly over here. I go inside with both dogs to check in and wait for my appointment. In the beginning it was no trouble while the waiting room was empty but as the afternoon appointments started showing up, Uly started to get caught up in the excited energy of these dogs entering.

One dog walks in pulling on the leash Uly stands up, Platz I tell him, Nope! squared body posture legs locked. I then try to put him in a platz and step on the leash to keep him down. Nope!  Head down butt in the air there was no helping him down. Well I am going to win this no matter what! Nope! I was every minuet standing up and pulling his legs out from under him in order too get him down and keep him down.  Step on the leash once more (Of course he had a prong on) Nope not going to happen! Butt in the air head down on the floor as my foot is stepping on the leash next to the snap hook.

I decided then and there that I am not going to tire and frustrate myself by fighting in this manner with my dogs ever again. Of course Uly has insecurities! After all he was bullied by our neighbor's loose large lab in Virginia for 11 months& strike 1.

This dog would bark growl and charge the wood line crossing into our yard every time it was loose and we were outside playing or working at least 3 times a day.

He was attacked by 2 loose Dachshund's in Florida&.. strike 2

He was attacked by 2 loose mini poodles while we were out taking a walk in Florida&& strike 3

He was attacked by a jack Russell terrier here in Germany&. strike 4

So what has he learned He needs to stay guarded and at the ready and to be in a submissive down position is Vulnerable!   

And by forcing him down is not going to make him comfortable or make it a positive experience going down. I tried once here in Germany also to use the power of the E collar to get him down. He was blowing off level 100 as a dog was passing by and he was not going down. It was after this I decided I want to keep him willing to go down and keep down a positive command and I was no longer going to force it and make it a negative command.  Sit is different as it is not a vulnerable position and this he willingly does as strange dogs pass by. 

So trust me I tried everything!

And 25 + years of training Uly does not follow the norm.

Just yesterday I was walking them both for a cool off period after working them on the field and a guy ( just so happened  it was the Master trainer's brother)  with his little something hairy dog was walking towards us on the path. I made uly sit and Hella down to wait as they were going to pass and all was good until this dog was exactly passing us, it was pulling on the leash and whining and growling of course Uly tensed up went to stand up and started to feed into the bad energy. I stepped in front of him, grabbed his lips plopped his butt down into a sit and got right into his face. A growly Phooey was all that he needed to snap him back into a calm reality.  

I have started last week on some similar techniques ( just not as forced as with Uly) in 2 of my group classes to get the dogs passed the excited energy that comes from other dogs that pass by or show this behavior. So far so good and it is working like a charm. 

I can relate when people say but I correct and correct and correct with the prong collar and it does not phase my dog.   

Sometimes the level of distraction is too great for the dog to come out of the zone alone with just a prong collar.  I can attest that even my Boxer Uly no matter how many or how fast my change of directions were he would do everything in his power to keep his focus towards the distraction. My corrections, trust me, are quick, clean, firm and timed properly, my change of directions were fast and many.

So the normal method was not working in the real world situations, on the practice field he was perfect and not a problem but while awaiting our turn to go on the field and also being "out and about" in public he was a nightmare!    As I said the conventional methods did not work, nor did knee bumping into his side stop him from zoning out, no this made him protest and usually try to take a little snap at me.

Most of the time it is during this phase ( the first little snap) that the mistakes are made and the situation escalate into a tantrum with both dog and owner struggling against one another to see which is going to win and give in first. I was not about to do this with uly as boxers do have a tendency to become defensive aggressive when over corrected.

So I had to figure something else to do to stop him from entering that excited energy zone when seeing other dogs and such and something that would not end up with both of us struggling against each other.  I did notice that dogs passing by that were  quiet and scared and showed very soft body posture would not excite him to the level of a dog passing by with the bad excited energy. So it really is true that excited energy from one dog does bring excited energy from another.

We were out walking one day when we were staying by mom's house in her senior leisure community, one of the grandma neighbors  were passing by with their little yippy, barky dogs (which of course was triggering his energy) I had hit the end of my leash (so to speak) I was so tired of nothing working, I was so tired of this display, that I reached down and grabbed him by both side of his face ( including those overly large lips he has) and hung on forcing him to stare me in the eyes. Oh I was just so angry!

But I did not go any further! I just held him still by the cheeks as I slowly raised him up to a standing position so I did not have to be so uncomfortable bent over while waiting for him to calm and relax while the dog passed by. Now mind you this happened all with in one smooth motion. O.k. I thought this was good no fighting no struggling no escalating and it got him to stay calm and be controllable at least. Good I thought I can now try this! ( I should also add I tried the whole "poking in the neck" with a noise as the way one trainer tells people to do this did not work for uly as the distraction was too strong and the poke not consequential enough.

So here we are out walking on another day, here comes one of the grandma neighbors with another yappy dog, I pull hella and uly and hexen off to the side Hexen and hella automatically sit and wait calmly, Uly starts in with growly and whining I said his name and gave him and invite to come up and I once again took him by the cheeks in both hands. This worked he stayed calmer yet he still did try to keep his gaze on the dog while it passed and I had to force his attention on to me. This habit of  coming up on me when we would see another dog because so conditioned and very fast. And it worked to keep him from zoning on other dogs, and both sides displaying that excited energy which was becoming less and less the more we went to the boxer club to work. The first 2 moths however I did get some weird looks! They would hear uly start to growl and zone I would say nine then all of a sudden up him would come and stand on me.

But over the past year Uly has come around and advanced allot and only needing to be reminded through at first the use of the prong and now through the normal collar not to zone even if the other dog does. That was until yesterday!

So what to do when the tables finally get turned? Yesterday I was out walking and up ahead on the path was an elderly man (Late 60's) walking a young what too resemble a  hound of some sort dragging a long line. I saw him recalled uly and proceeded to continue to walk a little further. As we neared each other he did what I do and pulled his dog off the path into the grass and made him sit and wait for me to pass!

Hey wait a minuet that is my habit to see someone and pull up off the side and wait for the other to pass! I was not quite sure what to do at this point and had to do some pretty quick thinking's to figure out how to pass calmly by when this dog was showing the excited energy and of course so was Uly. I was walking and nicking uly with the e collar and at a distance of 10 meters this worked well. But as we neared and the dog was not very far into the field (less then 5 meters) the e collar was making him protest more and become defensive so I stopped. Of course I did not have a prong collar on him as I had to trade his collar to the owner of the other boxer Bella and I did not get her collar in return yet to have one in the house for our walks.

So anyway we are trying to walk by this dog, I am touching Uly by giving tugs on his ear, Nope no reaction, no looking at me, I reached my limit again and just as he was pushing himself to the top of the zone and no corrections were working, I quickly took him up short on the leash and matter of fatly stuck him into a sit and stepped in front of him took hold of his cheeks/lips and this time got into his face ( and close) and gave him NINE! Uly looks up at me then his eye balls stretched all around (like a dog possessed) to look where this other dog is I once more say Nine and then he looks at me and relaxes. At this point I slowly release my grip on his cheeks and he stays calm but his eyes once more started to drift to the other dog ( which is still showing excited energy) and this time a  tap on the snout with look at me and he did. It was at this point that I told hella to move on passed and I walked Uly slowly passed the other dog, I gave a waive to the man and thanked him and off I went praising the heck out of my dogs for that very calm ending ( As my back was turned I could hear for about 30 seconds behind me nine, nine, nine coming the gentleman.