Hey Leo fans! We have amazing, fantastic, bestest news ever!
Leo will be leaving ACCT on Monday. His Pen Pals, Megan and I, will be transporting him to Perfect Pooch Doggie Day Care in King of Prussia, PA, where he will receive 10 days of training, after which, he will go into foster care.
So, please keep in mind that Leo still needs a forever home! We will update when we can on Leo's progress.
Special thanks to Monica Buck, Portia Scott Palko, and Dina Hitchcock for making this possible!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Central Bark!
Leo spent another Sunday at Central Bark. This time, his buddy Carl was there! Check out some of the pictures that Carl's Pen Pal took of the two dogs at http://shelterdogbmod.blogspot.com.
Here are some pics that Leo's other Pen Pal, Megan, took:
Out in the yard:
Look out! Comin' through!
Going over the agility A-frame:
Enjoying a bully stick on the way home.
Here are some pics that Leo's other Pen Pal, Megan, took:
Out in the yard:
Look out! Comin' through!
Going over the agility A-frame:
Enjoying a bully stick on the way home.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Updates
With all the snow that we've gotten (TWO seasons' worth in FIVE days!!), it's been a little tough to get down to the shelter. Megan went on Friday night. She did a little crate training with Leo, practiced his commands, and just let him chill out with a bone for a while.
Today, Leo met with a potential foster mom and her dog, Fred. But unfortunately, young Leo had a bit too much energy for the older pit mix to tolerate. We heard a rumor that the woman took home a different dog to foster, but we won't name names until we're certain of the dog that went into foster care.
Looks like another day at Central Bark tomorrow for Leo!
Today, Leo met with a potential foster mom and her dog, Fred. But unfortunately, young Leo had a bit too much energy for the older pit mix to tolerate. We heard a rumor that the woman took home a different dog to foster, but we won't name names until we're certain of the dog that went into foster care.
Looks like another day at Central Bark tomorrow for Leo!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Crate Training
For some reason, many dog owners feel that crating a dog is cruel. They don't like the idea of confining a dog to a small space.
However, dogs (and their ancestors, wolves) are den animals. Wild dogs used to dig small holes -- just big enough to stand up and turn around. They felt safe there. That's how a dog, properly trained, should feel in his crate. It is a good place.
Also, a dog naturally will not eliminate (pee or poo) where it sleeps -- so crating aids in house-breaking.
A dog's crate, as I wrote above, should be just big enough for the dog to stand up and turn around. If you are getting a puppy, get the crate for the size you expect the dog to be, full-grown. Most crates nowadays come with an "insert" that you can use to partition the crate for the puppy's current size, and then move it (or remove it) as the puppy gets bigger. Training a dog to like his crate could take days or weeks, depending on the dog's past association with crates.
Assemble the crate, and bring your dog into the room. Reward any interest in the crate with treats. If your dog steps into the crate, toss some treats on the crate floor. Let the dog go at his own pace. Leave the door open so that the dog can go in and out as he pleases.
If the dog is not already housebroken, do not put any bedding in the crate. It will wick away the pee, so it may actually encourage (or at least, not deter) the dog from soiling its crate.
Feed your dog his meals in his crate. Feed extra-special treats (pigs' ears, bully sticks, stuffed kongs) in the crate. Reserve these treats, and ONLY give them in the crate.
As the dog gets more comfortable in the crate, close the door for a few minutes. Then gradually lengthen the time the door is closed. Don't open the door if the dog whines -- wait till he is quite (or else he will learn that whining = crate opening).
Finally, never use a crate as punishment. Doing that will cause the dog to fear the crate, avoid it, and refuse to enter it.
Read more about crate training here.
If you can't tell by now, this is what I worked on with Leo tonight. There is an empty crate in the behaviorist's office. After taking Leo for a walk (during which, he nearly wiggled out of his Easy Walk harness again), I took him into the office. After knocking over the trash can, I pulled the blanket away from the crate and opened the door.
Leo immediately stuck his head in, which was rewarded with tossing treats on the crate floor. Did the same thing when Leo put his whole self in the crate. We did this for about 20 minutes. In and out of the crate.
Then, I brought out the bully stick. I tried to point Leo into the crate, but he jumped up and stole the bully stick . . . and promptly took it into the crate to enjoy it.
I did manage to close the door for a few minutes. I could hear him start to lose interest in the bully stick, so I wanted to open the door before he started to panic. After that, I just let him enjoy the bully stick.
Here's a short video that I took of Leo playing with his bully stick.
However, dogs (and their ancestors, wolves) are den animals. Wild dogs used to dig small holes -- just big enough to stand up and turn around. They felt safe there. That's how a dog, properly trained, should feel in his crate. It is a good place.
Also, a dog naturally will not eliminate (pee or poo) where it sleeps -- so crating aids in house-breaking.
A dog's crate, as I wrote above, should be just big enough for the dog to stand up and turn around. If you are getting a puppy, get the crate for the size you expect the dog to be, full-grown. Most crates nowadays come with an "insert" that you can use to partition the crate for the puppy's current size, and then move it (or remove it) as the puppy gets bigger. Training a dog to like his crate could take days or weeks, depending on the dog's past association with crates.
Assemble the crate, and bring your dog into the room. Reward any interest in the crate with treats. If your dog steps into the crate, toss some treats on the crate floor. Let the dog go at his own pace. Leave the door open so that the dog can go in and out as he pleases.
If the dog is not already housebroken, do not put any bedding in the crate. It will wick away the pee, so it may actually encourage (or at least, not deter) the dog from soiling its crate.
Feed your dog his meals in his crate. Feed extra-special treats (pigs' ears, bully sticks, stuffed kongs) in the crate. Reserve these treats, and ONLY give them in the crate.
As the dog gets more comfortable in the crate, close the door for a few minutes. Then gradually lengthen the time the door is closed. Don't open the door if the dog whines -- wait till he is quite (or else he will learn that whining = crate opening).
Finally, never use a crate as punishment. Doing that will cause the dog to fear the crate, avoid it, and refuse to enter it.
Read more about crate training here.
If you can't tell by now, this is what I worked on with Leo tonight. There is an empty crate in the behaviorist's office. After taking Leo for a walk (during which, he nearly wiggled out of his Easy Walk harness again), I took him into the office. After knocking over the trash can, I pulled the blanket away from the crate and opened the door.
Leo immediately stuck his head in, which was rewarded with tossing treats on the crate floor. Did the same thing when Leo put his whole self in the crate. We did this for about 20 minutes. In and out of the crate.
Then, I brought out the bully stick. I tried to point Leo into the crate, but he jumped up and stole the bully stick . . . and promptly took it into the crate to enjoy it.
I did manage to close the door for a few minutes. I could hear him start to lose interest in the bully stick, so I wanted to open the door before he started to panic. After that, I just let him enjoy the bully stick.
Here's a short video that I took of Leo playing with his bully stick.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
2 More Made it Out!
Congrats to Mario and Val, who are leaving ACCT for rescue!
Good luck, guys! Be good!
Mario:
Val:
Good luck, guys! Be good!
Mario:
Val:
Monday, February 1, 2010
Leo's Best Day EVER!
Yesterday, Leo had what was probably the best day EVER in his short life. Megan and I picked him and took him to Central Bark Doggie Day Care.
Central Bark has 3 enclosed play areas, as well as an enclosed training area. Christina brought along Mario, and Erin brought along Val.
As soon as we got into our "area" (the training room), Leo was itching to get out of his Easy Walk harness. As soon as he was out, he TOOK OFF RUNNING. And ran. And ran. And ran. And took a break. And ran. And ran.
(Sorry for the blurry pictures. Leo is really FAST! Did I mention he'd probably make a great flyball dog?)
He ran for nearly two straight hours.
He also discovered the agility tunnel, and went through it on his own. Then, we tossed some treats through the tire, and he jumped right through — no confidence issues with this boy! It did take a bit of coaxing to get him over the A-frame—after all, it is a big, scary piece of equipment!
He and Mario raced up and down the fence, and for what I think was the first time, I heard Leo bark. I'm not even sure he knew he was doing it!
Leo's video #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FJp5H5dxlw
Leo's video #2: >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMyR0CjajyA
Central Bark has 3 enclosed play areas, as well as an enclosed training area. Christina brought along Mario, and Erin brought along Val.
As soon as we got into our "area" (the training room), Leo was itching to get out of his Easy Walk harness. As soon as he was out, he TOOK OFF RUNNING. And ran. And ran. And ran. And took a break. And ran. And ran.
(Sorry for the blurry pictures. Leo is really FAST! Did I mention he'd probably make a great flyball dog?)
He ran for nearly two straight hours.
He also discovered the agility tunnel, and went through it on his own. Then, we tossed some treats through the tire, and he jumped right through — no confidence issues with this boy! It did take a bit of coaxing to get him over the A-frame—after all, it is a big, scary piece of equipment!
He and Mario raced up and down the fence, and for what I think was the first time, I heard Leo bark. I'm not even sure he knew he was doing it!
Leo's video #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FJp5H5dxlw
Leo's video #2: >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMyR0CjajyA
YAY FOR CASSANOVA!
Yay for a Pen Pal dog, Cassanova (aka Miz) who got ADOPTED yesterday!
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Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next. Please let Leo be next!
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