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Nima

Nima: A Tribute

June 4, 2018Jen Sotolongo7 min read11 comments

Some of you may already know, but I know that many don’t, that we have two cats, Nima and Ollie, that we left under the care of our neighbor Nick, before departing on this journey. A few months ago, we received an email from Nick. In the email, he mentioned a strong limp in Nima’s[...]

These two aren't what I would call friends, but they are a pack. . Riia sticks to herself most of the time and doesn't show interest in other dogs. She avoids them if she can, but if they persist, she's reactive. . She and Laila have gotten into a couple of fights in the beginning, but they seem to have figured out their relationship. . Laila just wants to play with her, so so badly. Sometimes, they'll seem like they're going to engage in play, and then, one backs down for some reason. . They don't cuddle or play or even interact much, but they sure want to be together. . For those with multiple pets, are they friends? Or do they just tolerate one another?
I've said it many, many times, and I'll say it again. . She's lucky she's so stinking cute. . . . #sponsored by @zukespets #LiveLifeOffLeash #ZukesPack #LetsGoZukes
Any guesses how much Riia weighs? . Go ahead and swipe left. ⬅️ I'll let you guess again. . Anyone else's dog look like starved creatures when they get wet?EDITED: Riia will send a postcard to the person who guesses the closest. Kg or lb is a-ok! . . . Muck Collar by @kurgo use LHT4KURGO for 20% off.
I'd like to teach Riia some fun new tricks, but I'm not sure how! She's not particularly food motivated, but loves toys, as you know. I've never had a toy-only motivated dog, so I don't know how to go about training. . What tips do you have for me?
A few years ago, @youdidwhatwithyourwiener and I road tripped to visit some friends in AZ. . It was November, so the weather was still warm and the perfect time to escape the Seattle rain for a few days. . Everyone there kept talking about how their dogs still had some of the summer weight. . Summer weight? That's a thing? . I didn't really get it then, but I get it now. . I've never really lived somewhere I want to just stay inside all day and avoid the weather. The PNW rain and short winter days rarely even got to me because I would still get outside. But the heat? Nope. Nope. Nope. 🚫 . (Also, I am very well aware that I frequently complain about the heat and that most of you are experiencing the same temperatures, if not worse. It's because I am a heat wimp and I am impatiently awaiting the fall, which is the very best season.)
I have officially decided that I am not a hot weather person. However, I will continue to battle your cat for the heating vent in the winter. . What about you? Hot or cold weather? I prefer cold. You can almost always dress warmer, but you can only take off so many clothes.
I'm really grateful for all the support and encouragement related to my post the other day about switching to the prong collar with Laila. . For the most part, the conversation was civil, even for those of you who are not in favor of the tools. . I want to make sure to clarify a few things: . • We are using this collar under the guidance of our trainer. It is not a quick fix for a dog that pulls or who is reactive. It requires knowledge of its use and fit. Used incorrectly can be detrimental for the dog. You can't just go buy one and think it'll magically make your dog behave. . • I am not against positive reinforcement. I think parts of it are great and work wonders. Laila has one of the best "place" commands in our class because I have worked with her day in and day out for months and months. . • There is no one right way to train a dog...or raise a kid...or tie a shoe. If we all did things the same way, we would be robots. Let's be supportive of and learn from one another, even if we disagree with the method. It's ok to have your own opinion, as long as you are kind. It's important to remember that we are ALL trying to do what is best for our dogs and for our lives with them. . • I invite you to ask questions. Be curious and open-minded. When I did not understand these tools, I was not in favor of their usage. But then I saw more and more people talking about them here. Suggesting that they might make a difference for Laila. So I read. And I asked questions. I did research. I talked to trainers. I found the right trainer. I educated myself and decided that balanced training was the right choice for La Loca.
I took Laila on an adventure trail run this morning. Just her and me. . I haven't done this since we've had her. Mainly because I can't stand running with her. I let Dave deal with her because she pulls and throws tantrums and and doesn't listen. She screams if she smells goats and veers suddenly off the trail if she sees something fun, putting the person attached in danger of falling. She bites her leash to shreds and jumps all over people if we pass by. She made running miserable. . Last weekend, however, we started using a prong collar. As I made my way to our training class, the one that takes us 2.5 hours to get to, I was in tears. Laila becomes so over stimulated when we arrive that I lost it, too. I didn't know what to do with her. She was shrieking and jumping around like a fish out of water, pulling so hard my arm was sore the next day. Our trainer had to take her from me because I was so distraught. . After class, our trainer, @packinstinctdogtraining fitted her with her new prong collar and the change in my ability to communicate with her was instantaneous. . Where we previously could only walk up and down, back and forth the three streets nearest our house, now we can go on proper walks. We can pass dogs and people. I don't have to constantly stuff treats in her face. . And today, we ran along the trails behind the Alhambra, watched the sun rise, and navigated some sketchy terrain together. I had so much fun with Laila, for the first time in a very long time. *** I can't express my gratitude enough to @5280coloradodogs for speaking up about her training with @flashdogtraining and the tools she uses. Had she hidden behind the fear of what others might say to her, I never would have gone down this path with Laila. It's slow progress, but I have seen remarkable change in just a few sessions, and more importantly, I'm starting to finally bond with this crazy beast.
I haven't been running much with the dogs lately, mainly because of the heat. The other reason is because I can't drive a stick shift yet. At least nott well enough that I trust myself! . Dave (understandably) prefers to sleep in rather than wake up before dawn to take us all to the trails before the heat hits, so I'm on my own, mostly doing speed work on city paths, which is not my preference. . I miss their company, but it's also nice to just run and not worry about running into other dogs or people or where they are. ... Since I can't drive yet and because Spain doesn't recognize US drivers licenses, I have to take driving lessons. And they are HARD. Head to my stories to see some sample questions.
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