Walking Jager

Attempted to walk "the black menace" (AKA: Jager) this week.  Wow! It's been awhile since he has been on a leash for a civilized walk.  When we went camping, he just roamed free with Roscoe and Lucy (his hunting companion who came along with her daddy); They had a great time and he was well mannered and minded when called.  However, put a leash on him and he turns into the Tasmanian Devil from Loony Toons.  He pulled and jerked and spun around like a mad dog.  He even growled at a sweet little old lady walking on the other side of the street!  (Quietly enough I don't think she heard him) What is up with that?

OK, to be fair, he was immediately intimidated by the standard poodle who lives across the street.  He (poodle-boy) was lounging in the sun (finally, sun in Idaho) while his owner was vacuuming out her car.  When we exited the house he immediately came across the street to investigate.  He had an "air" of superiority around him.  (He's French... what else need we say?) Jager was quite happy to see him... at first.  But after a few minutes you could feel the tension growing.  I heard a deep rumbling and the two were so close, I could not tell which dog was making the noise.  Better to exit before this got ugly.  Jager had him in sheer bulk (Poodle-boy was trimmed up so he looked pretty scrawny... but he was taller) and I had no doubt that Jager could hold his own, I just didn't want to be on the other end of that leash while it took place.  Besides, the neighbors are fairly new to the area.... not much of a welcome.

The poodle kept following as I tried to drag Jager down the sidewalk.  I didn't want to yell, "Go Home!" to him, it seemed so rude!  After all, he was a neighbor.  I kept politely asking him to "go" and after a few feet my cat, Rizzo, came along and took the poodle's attention.  Wonderful.  Again, no doubt that Rizz could hold his own.  He's about 12 years old and quite dog-savvy.  He lives outside and is suspicious of all canines, but afraid of none.  And, he can climb any tree with the speed of light.

By the time we ditched the poodle after the first block, Jager was a wired-up mess.  Every dog-bark, kid-laugh, car back-fire he was jumping.  It was a joke.  I would say "Sit" and he'd drop.  He would stay until I said "Come" at which point he would lunge ahead of me jerking my arm out of it's socket.  Followed by an expletive on my part and the command to "heel" (Which he ignored as I don't think he knows that one anymore) so I resorted to "Sit" again.  Then we would repeat this whole process for the next 20 feet.  After about 10 minutes of this go-halt-jerk gait, I said the final word.... "ENOUGH!" ... and we turned for home.  He did ever-so-slightly better on the 5 blocks home (probably from lack of oxygen pulling on his leash so hard) and even managed to walk by my side on his own a couple of times.  I made him sit and stay several times to slow him down, but again, may I say, WOW. 

The poodle was no longer outside and we made it into the house without incident where I unsnapped his leash, announced my need to continue my walk ALONE, and left.  And to think, I took him because he is better behaved than the bassets on leashes.  Actually, Roscoe gets tired so fast I don't get much exercise (I have to frequently stop as he just sits down in the middle of the road looking at me as if to say, "This is good; you can carry me if you'd like."). And Cooper barks and snarls at every dog or person we pass.  He also pulls and lunges and since he has to wear a harness (go ahead, try a standard collar and leash with a basset hound), he's frequently up on his hind legs as I'm pulling him back in his harness. 

All this sounds like I need a visit from the show, "It's me or the dog!", doesn't it?  I've noticed on that show, they have never had a basset hound.  I would sure love to hear from others who do and see if they have better luck "training" their hound dogs.  Jager is not hopeless; in fact, I have no doubt if I work with him regularly he will have leash etiquette down pat in a matter of a week to 10 days. I just hope my arm can hold out until then and that the neighbors and their children are wearing ear plugs.

Springtime!!!!

Spring is here (mixed with some leftover winter... but it's here.) and the dogs seem to know it.  They enjoy hanging around the back yard, terrorizing the neighbors out doing their cleanup chores.  Very helpful.  We have a wonderful new neighbor who is kind enough to say they don't bother her.  Not sure she means it, but it's awfully nice of her.  She has a beautiful big, fluffy dog as well, so perhaps kindred spirits??

Roscoe has done well to keep a few pounds off thru the winter, even though we switched him back to the UN-diet dog food. (pinching pennies)  He looks really "svelte" although my sons are constantly using the "f-word" (F-A-T...  What did you think I meant???)  I think he's quite handsome and you can tell he feels better too.  Frisky, bouncy; we've even caught him playing chase games with Jaeger!!

Cooper still has the short-man-syndrome and his hackles raise every time a stranger is near.  He sounds so ferocious for such a small guy.  I should not say "small".  He weighs over 50lbs and is every bit as long (or longer) than Jaeger is!  He's such a sweet boy, however; every morning he has to wait to go outside to get a hug from me.  It's been our "thing" since he was a puppy and I would sit and hug him before I left for work in the morning.  It was my time to pray over him.... "Lord, help Cooper not to pee on the floor today! Let him be a good dog and a responsible dog. Amen."  It worked-eventually.  He is a very nice young dog who does NOT pee on the floor.  He always comes to get someone and is very vocal about needing to go out. (not so much the case with Roscoe... "It's raining???  I'll just use the floor today, thank you!"...

Jaeger is a darling boy as well.  He is so well behaved and minds quite well.  I hope he will be a good hunter (hello... his name IS Jaeger.... "Hunter") for my husband this next winter.  I do not want him to go to the trainer for lessons on how retrievers are to be.  I know they make good hunting dogs, but Jaeger is pretty tender hearted and will cringe at a stern look.  Leave it to us to pick out the mama's boy of the litter!

Well, that's our update since Jaeger's Birthday!  Happy Spring Everyone!