To enable our guide-dog-in-training puppies to experience different situations, our leaders coordinate a puppy swap. R___ is off next week to a lovely couple, and their puppy is going elsewhere.
They also have a “career change” dog who decided not to be a service dog and let them know it. He is now their pet. When he got career changed, they took a photo of him sitting on the sofa (verboten) with a plate of people food in front of him (the horrors…) and a giant sh!t eating grin on his face.
R___ desperately wants on the sofa, the bed, everything else. Nope. They’re trained not to get on furniture in case their future handler doesn’t want animals on there.
So as part of the swap, we’re getting O___. We’ve actually never met him.
“HIM?!!!” Screeched the cat. “This is a female household!”
Me: oh, my god. He’s just an adolescent male puppy. Nothing to worry about.
MaeMae (cat): adolescent?? You mean… he… hasn’t… he’s not…
R: Not what?
Me: Never mind. And no.
MaeMae: Freakin’ hell. You know what they do?
R: Of course we go on walks we train on the paw pads
Me: He’s a well-behaved puppy, I’m certain.
MaeMae shot me a withering glance. “Have you met this one over here?” pointing with her paw.
I gave her side eye. “Don’t be rude.”
MaeMae: I do not want an intact male in our midst. Particularly not a canine one.
Me: I don’t want a bitchy cat, but here we are.
I’m not sure what she thinks about The Boy (our 27 year old son) but I am NOT going down that path.
They’ve got us using something called a paw pad. It’s awesome. We started using it when the dogs were in Puppy-K, but fell into disuse. It’s been resurrected.
It’s all about rewards & good behavior. It’s a brick of wood covered in felt, with a rubber bottom. You put it on the floor next to your left foot and the dog knows to put her front paws on it.
Instant calm, instant focus, she knows she’s going to get commands and rewards. She stands looking at you, waiting to hear what she needs to do. She ignores other stimuli.
In our monthly meeting last week, we had a dozen dogs working in close proximity to each other. They were hysterical when we walked in, and those paw pads enabled the dogs to focus enough that they were right next to each other. Wowza.
We started using it with Granny – when Granny comes into the penned off area, R___ would get happy-hyper. My mom, who won’t admit to anything less than 4’10” and if you recall broke her hip and femur by falling over in December, is no match for a strong lab who wants to express her joy in greetings.
She’s now not requiring the paw pad… she just watches Granny come in. Holy cow.
However, for all this paw pad is magical, it is not all-powerful.
Me: Good girl! Paws on the pad, nice! (treat)
R____: (nom, nom, nom)
Me: Sit. Nice! (treat)
MaeMae softly: you’re an a$$hole.
The dog’s eyes, half closed, shot open, but she held her position.
You have to understand, this cat does not meow. Ever. She scratches, she bites, she hisses, she growls, but she’s doesn’t meow.
I have never heard that jerk so vocal.
Meow, meow, meow, meeeeee-OOOOWWW!
The dog started to tremble.
Me: Good girl R___. Sit.
The dog shifted position but rumpy did not descend.
Me-yow!!
Dog: Shut up MaeMae I’m practicing
MaeMae: You’d never catch me on one of those ridiculous little blocks.
Dog: I get treats you don’t
MaeMae: I’m allowed outside unsupervised and I get my own treats, thank you. Baby gophers, yummy.
Me: MaeMae, shut up!
Dog, shaking: I get good treats
The cat walked over to the rug at the foot of the stairs, grinned widely and started clawing it.
Me: MAEMAE!! Dog: IWILLEATYOU
So much for the paw pad. R___ threw herself against the gate separating them, which mercifully held. Like I said, the paw pad is great but there are some challenges that outweigh the dog’s abilities.
Examining Misadventures 