A Healthy Environment

I am a bit obsessed with Kodiak's environment being safe, clean and healthy. Whether it be indoors or out, I try to make sure that there's nothing within reach that could cause him harm. I was meticulous about 'puppy proofing' the house before bringing him home as a puppy and I made sure there was nothing in the yard that could pose a threat to his health.

I'm fanatical about keeping the solid waste out of the yard. I am on my fifth 'pooper scooper' as a result of how often I use them, I've worn them out, their hinges have broken or they've simply fallen apart.

When I walk Kodiak in the community, when we go out to run errands and I use my chair, I have a 'pooper scooper' strapped to my chair so I can clean up after him.

I was cleaning up in the yard, a while back, when a neighbor yelled, "if I 'went' in your yard would you pick mine up too?" I was appalled! He often made fun of the way I immediately took up the 'pooper scooper' and went into the yard once Kodiak had finished toileting.

I don't see the entertainment value in being a responsible pet owner and caring about the health of my dog, perhaps I'm missing something?

I know I'm very protective of Kodiak, as I never tie him out and leave him alone in the yard. When he's outside, I'm outside with him, interacting, throwing a toy, watching him, praising him for 'taking care of business', as he was nearly stolen once when he was less than a year old, while I was outside with him.

I realize other pet owners aren't as vigilant as I am, they are of the mind that their pet is 'street smart', 'can fend for themselves', etc.

I've had occasion lately, to observe Kodiak's friend "Molly", the puppy who lives next door on the other side of the fence. While she lives in a large fenced in yard and does go inside, she's often left outside for hours, sometimes all day and evening, without a water bowl, with no supervision or interaction. The only toy she has in the yard is the one Kodiak gave her.

Her yard is littered with piles and piles of waste, as she shares the home with another dog, as well as a kitty who goes out into the yard. We hear her crying and whining for hours on end, wanting to go inside, but has been relegated to the outdoors because the family isn't home to work on housebreaking.

Lately, she's discovered the garbage can, emptying it into the yard, where she plays with plastic milk jugs, tin cans, bottles, etc.

She spends hours chewing on tin cans, trying to dig out from under the fence, tossing garbage around the yard, chewing on fallen limbs and sticks. I'm terribly concerned that she'll injure her teeth, gums or tongue, especially since she's a puppy and losing her teeth.

I may be overly protective, but I think having a dog (or any pet) is a serious commitment, a serious responsibility that we shouldn't undertake if we're not prepared to do what needs to be done to care for our pets.

My elderly neighbor called me to complain that she's been threatened with a fine by the city for the dog feces in her yard. The water meter reader complained about the mess. The problem is, she doesn't have a dog, her son who lives next door does and the waste in her yard is his dog's. The meter reader counted 56 piles of mess in the small area between the two houses.

People don't realize that waste that isn't removed from the yard can cause infections and disease in your own dog. It draws insects to the yard which can become a serious problem for the home owner and the smell of waste attracts stray dogs, cats and wild animals to your yard where they deposit their own waste which can contain disease and parasites.

It goes without saying that people who don't practice waste control in their own yards also don't pick up after their dogs when walking in the neighborhood. Sometimes our walks are more like navigating a mine field.

Some food for thought, while you can take off your shoes, if you 'step in something', when you go inside, I can't exactly take off the wheels of my power chair, so whatever I roll through, ends up in the house, so cleanliness and waste control is of great importance to me.

A healthy environment is important to all of us. Keeping Kodiak healthy and happy is key to my own health and happiness.

Unexpected Breakthrough

As I shared in previous blogs, Kodiak has been a quick learner when it comes to performing assistance tasks for me inside the home. He picks up dropped items, things I can't reach, brings me my shoes, takes off my shoes and socks, takes the hair tie-back out of my hair, retrieves the phone, remote control, etc. His skills have helped me complete my weekly household chores and vastly reduced the stress I was experiencing doing things that had become challenging.

Kodiak has accompanied me into the local bank and pharmacy. Though he'd had a bit of trouble in the bank, a tight space with many people, he's done remarkably well, considering how much time we've actually been able to dedicate to attending in public.

Kodiak has had trouble translating what we learned indoors to the outdoors. I realized we trained inside, often without his vest, lead, etc. (as we began training before we had those items). He has been easily distracted when outside. He would often respond to 'pick it up' as if he'd never heard the command before, seeming confused.

I've been unable to take my power chair outside since early December, when the first snow and ice collected on the sidewalks and at the curb cuts. There have been few opportunities to practice.

Yesterday, when we went down the ramp to go out and potty, someone's Styrofoam plate had blown from their garbage can and was in our driveway. Kodiak took notice of it and sniffed it. I thought I would give it a shot, so I gave him the command, "pick it up" in a light, encouraging voice.

He tried to pick it up, but it scooted away from him, so he put his foot on it and pinched it, folding it in half, lifting it up and handing it to me. He had his leash on and there were distractions around us, but he did it!! As he handed it to me, I leaned down to praise him and he offered a kiss.

I put him on his airline cable and he ran out into the yard, enjoying the sunshine.

I had taken the advice of a service dog training organization previously, trying to force him to follow the command outside and it was horrible, for both of us. He just seemed so confused. It wasn't until I realized they didn't understand how we had trained prior to that, so though their advice was well-meaning, it was a bit misdirected.

I decided I would continue working with Kodiak by being loving and patient, rather than trying to force something, knowing that he's incredibly intelligent and intuitive, willing to please and was not just being difficult.

Being patient and allowing him to initiate the act, then praising him for doing the task, certainly had a bigger impact than forcing him to submit to me when he clearly didn't understand and was confused.

We've also had another breakthrough recently.

I've tried in the past to take Kodiak out in the yard off leash, as I was able to do with Echo, but he's bolted three times and run into a neighbor's yard. I know that huskies are, by nature, roamers and it is highly recommended that you don't take them out off leash because they can get hurt, particularly if their prey drive is strong and they encounter a cat, small dog, squirrel, etc.

I've taken him out to potty several times recently and allowed him to be off leash. He obeyed me and stayed in his yard, even going to visit Molly at the neighbor's fence and retrieving a thrown toy. When I told him "come" he's come running to and past me, right up the ramp to the deck.

I'm working on showing him that I trust him outdoors, so that he will trust me outdoors, not to ask anything of him that would hurt him or be unsafe. I don't want him to hesitate when we're outside.

We are a work in progress. As long as we are making progress, I'm happy.

I've had people ask me how long he's been training and express that they think we should be further along than we are, but I believe every dog is different and every team is different. I'm satisfied with the progress we're making and as long as Kodiak is comfortable with the methods we're using, that's what matters to me.

The "Rules" Don't Apply to Friends?

Kodi and I have been working really hard on diminishing the 'puppy' behavior we still struggle with, rushing to greet people at the door, putting his feet up on people in an effort to try to kiss them, barking inside the door, etc.

He's been doing wonderfully. We've established 'Kodi's spot', which, when escorted to his spot, he's able to stay there until released to 'greet' company. He learns so quickly, when we are consistent.

My husband's Uncle has been visiting for Sunday dinners every other weekend, which gives us a great opportunity to practice our manners.

I have a friend who comes to visit about once every week or so. She is of the mind that the 'rules' don't apply to her. In fact, she's said as much. She allows/encourages him to put his feet up on her, to kiss her, to hold her down on the sofa and put his face in her cup, his nose near her food, etc. When I correct him, she always says, "It's okay, he knows I don't mind."

We don't allow him to do those things with us, or anyone else. We correct him, even though she's telling him it's okay. She doesn't understand that she's undermining his training and our efforts to have a well mannered dog.

She seems to think that it should be okay depending on the individual person's preference and somehow Kodi should know which people are 'okay' with being mauled by him and which people aren't.

When we encounter her in public, he gets excited. She coaxes him to put his paws up on her chest, to give kisses, etc. When I correct him she says, "You better not, you have your vest on, you're getting in trouble."

It's hard to expect strangers, who may or may not know better, to respect the vest when friends who do know better don't/can't/won't.

Leave My Dog Alone!

I've been working with Kodi when we're outside, allowing him to be off leash in the yard for brief periods, proofing him on "come". He's been doing fabulously!

Today, I took him out on his 30' leash and my neighbor was out in his yard, with both his dogs (Maggie and Molly) and his oldest daughter.

When Kodi saw Molly in the yard and she was bouncing back and forth along the fence, he wanted to go visit her.

I called out to the neighbor, saying "She's really getting big! She's almost as tall as Kodi!" He called back, "She's 14 weeks old and weighs 34 lbs."

Kodi was really intent on Molly and clearly wanted to go visit her, so I asked him, do you want to go say hi? as I was contemplating whether or not I wanted to take the leash off or drop it behind him. Suddenly, my neighbor called out, "Kodi! Come here Kodi!" and he's off like a shot! I had to drop the leash as there was no opportunity to take it off him.

He bounced up and down the fence with Molly, then my neighbor called him to him and reached over the fence, as Kodi stood up momentarily. He grabbed his leash and as I'm standing there, in shock, he's pulling the leash up in the air, trying to get Kodi to stand up against the fence. I can see his chain collar (which is the one he wears inside - as opposed to his nylon collar with tags when he's outside) pulling up above his head, more and more of it showing!

This guy is pulling Kodi up against the fence by pulling his collar tight!!!!

I called Kodi back, he dropped the leash as Kodi looked back at me and ran toward the corner of the fence, as Molly and Maggie were excited and the little girl was calling to him. I called again, repeatedly. He stopped and looked at me, but was so excited and distracted he didn't respond.

I started up the ramp calling him, but my neighbor was still talking to him. Finally, as I came back down the ramp calling out, "Kodi, you've been doing so good, don't spoil it now, Kodi come!" he finally took hold of Molly and his daughter, moving away from the fence.

Kodi saw me again and as I called, "Kodi come!" and started up the ramp he came running across the yard and up the ramp.

This man has no idea how to show the least little bit of respect to me, Kodi or my relationship with him.

Once again, I can't imagine taking a hold of another person's dog (pet) and interfering when they are giving commands. This man does this every single time he's able to have contact with Kodi. He takes him by his collar, pushes him down to the ground, gives him commands, etc., regardless of what I'm saying to Kodi, regardless that I'm there.

I always find that I'm so taken aback, that I draw a blank as to what to say. I know that my husband and he are friendly, so I try not to do anything that will have an impact on their relationship and peace in the neighborhood. I almost feel held hostage.

I was so upset, that I felt tears welling up, seeing someone manhandle Kodi like that, knowing that his collar was tightening around his neck and throat as this man tried to force interaction with him. He was so far away from me that I couldn't have walked that far quickly enough and without endangering myself, to help Kodi.

I've asked my husband to speak to him about handling Kodi. I could just scream!!