Morey and I have been to several weeks of Agility Class now so I thought I would provide an update on our new adventure. There have been about 10 dogs in the class and they are actually talking about splitting into two classes because it's so large. There are all types of dogs in the class including Welsh Corgis, an Airedale, poodles and several mixes. It's fun to watch the different sizes of dogs go through the same obstacles. The level of training of the dogs is varied but all of them are excited and enjoy the class. The instructors are insistent on setting the dogs up for success, rewarding the dogs with treats and verbal praise and making it fun which I really appreciate.
Each week we practice several different obstacles. Since we are in the Intermediate class we are starting to learn how to link obstacles together in a sequence. We run our dogs through the obstacles off leash one at a time and the rest of the dogs are crated in a long row of crates at the field. Morey hasn't been crated for a long time and he at first he looked confused when I told him "den". He has learned that the agility field is a very fun place and doesn't like having to wait his turn in a crate.
Morey tends to get a bit overexcited at class and it can be hard to get him to focus when it's his turn. He does respond well to the clicker and always goes through the obstacle with great enthusiasm which entertains the rest of the class. For example, when I tried to get him to go through the tunnel he decided to jump over it. I think I will start exercising him before class so he can be a little more focused!
In some cases, Morey's training is an asset to agility. He is great at staying at the starting line until he is released and he isn't hesitant about any of the obstacles. However, as I am learning, his training also can present difficulties. He is used to staying close to my chair and so we have to work on getting him to work from a distance rather than staying next to me. He also has a much larger repertoire of trained tasks and when he can't figure out what I want he starts going through all his trained tasks. For example, instead of going around the barrel, he first did an "up" on it and then started "touching" it. As he gets more practice he is starting to understand what he is actually supposed to do with each obstacle but in the meantime it makes for some interesting runs!
As I am learning, agility class is not only to teach the dog how to go through the course, it's also to teach the person. There are certain ways you're supposed to turn your body and use your hands to direct your dog through the course. An added challenge I am having to figure out is how to navigate the obstacles from an accessibility standpoint. The ground of the field is mulch and the only way I can even navigate it is with my free wheel. I am not able to move my chair/body like able-bodied people can and so I have to find my own unique way of going through the course. The instructors have been very helpful in making suggestions of how I can adapt the typical way of running the course and are helping me teach Morey how to run the course from a distance rather than needing me to direct him through each obstacle. As part of our club dues we can go to the field to practice on our own and I think Morey and I will be taking advantage of that in the weeks to come so we can figure out how to make things work for us.
Morey and I are both enjoying our classes and learning new things. We've also been practicing some of the obstacles at home which has been good motivation to get back in the habit of regular training. I'll have to see if I can have someone take some videos of us during class because words can't do it justice!
Morey
Morey, My 2nd Service Dog
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Morey to the Rescue
There is a feral cat colony at UT and many of the cats live around the building where I work. There are staff members who put out food and water near the building and so Morey and I often see the cats as we're coming or going. Morey always shows interest in the cats but he is good and never tries to chase them.
There is a storm drain near the building and many of the cats seem to live or hide inside of it. The other day as I was leaving work I saw that a board had been put down the drain to create a sort of ramp and I wondered why it was there. The next day there were people from UT's Environmental and Safety Department gathered around an open manhole with an animal trap sitting next to it. I asked if a cat was stuck inside and the people said yes. I wished them luck in their efforts and went on my way to work.
That afternoon as Morey and I were taking a walk outside I saw the staff had moved on to a different drain and were obviously still in pursuit of the cat. Morey and I continued on our walk when all of a sudden Morey stopped and perked up his ears. He stood very still and cocked his head from one side to another as he listened. I tried to figure out what he was hearing and then I heard a cat meowing very plaintively. We were right next to the manhole where the staff had been looking that morning and realized the poor lost cat must have come back to that location.
Morey was still standing and listening to the cat. The staff were across the street and I called out to them to let them know the cat was right beneath us. They came over and also heard the cat crying. They explained that when they had lifted the manhole cover before it had made such a loud noise that it scared the cat. They also told me it was a kitten and that it was obviously too scared to continue down the drain that would have led it to a creek bed where it would be free.
Both of the staff members were frustrated by their inability to help the cat and also disturbed by the kitten's sad plight. They had already tried several different things to rescue the kitten and were running out of ideas. It was a helpless situation and there was nothing I could offer to help so I reluctantly I went back to work. I was glad at least they were looking in the right place again, thanks to Morey.
When I left work for the day no one was behind the building and I am hoping they were successful in their rescue. I may have to follow up on Monday to find out what happened to the kitten!
Update: I emailed the woman heading up the cat rescued and learned that they had been able to rescue the kitten by scooping it up with a net! She took it home and reported that it was doing well- eating, drinking and playing. I am glad it wasn't suffering any ill effects from his time "down under".
The woman said one of her co-workers might be interested in adopting it and she also shared that she had told her office about Morey's contribution to the rescue. What can I say, he is a talented guy who is always ready to help wherever he can!
There is a storm drain near the building and many of the cats seem to live or hide inside of it. The other day as I was leaving work I saw that a board had been put down the drain to create a sort of ramp and I wondered why it was there. The next day there were people from UT's Environmental and Safety Department gathered around an open manhole with an animal trap sitting next to it. I asked if a cat was stuck inside and the people said yes. I wished them luck in their efforts and went on my way to work.
That afternoon as Morey and I were taking a walk outside I saw the staff had moved on to a different drain and were obviously still in pursuit of the cat. Morey and I continued on our walk when all of a sudden Morey stopped and perked up his ears. He stood very still and cocked his head from one side to another as he listened. I tried to figure out what he was hearing and then I heard a cat meowing very plaintively. We were right next to the manhole where the staff had been looking that morning and realized the poor lost cat must have come back to that location.
Morey was still standing and listening to the cat. The staff were across the street and I called out to them to let them know the cat was right beneath us. They came over and also heard the cat crying. They explained that when they had lifted the manhole cover before it had made such a loud noise that it scared the cat. They also told me it was a kitten and that it was obviously too scared to continue down the drain that would have led it to a creek bed where it would be free.
Both of the staff members were frustrated by their inability to help the cat and also disturbed by the kitten's sad plight. They had already tried several different things to rescue the kitten and were running out of ideas. It was a helpless situation and there was nothing I could offer to help so I reluctantly I went back to work. I was glad at least they were looking in the right place again, thanks to Morey.
When I left work for the day no one was behind the building and I am hoping they were successful in their rescue. I may have to follow up on Monday to find out what happened to the kitten!
Update: I emailed the woman heading up the cat rescued and learned that they had been able to rescue the kitten by scooping it up with a net! She took it home and reported that it was doing well- eating, drinking and playing. I am glad it wasn't suffering any ill effects from his time "down under".
The woman said one of her co-workers might be interested in adopting it and she also shared that she had told her office about Morey's contribution to the rescue. What can I say, he is a talented guy who is always ready to help wherever he can!
The Kindness of a Stranger
As I think I've mentioned before in previous posts, one of the places where I park at UT is right next to a parking garage and a nice grassy area where I play ball with Morey several times a day. There are lots of students, faculty and staff who walk by as we're playing and many of them smile or comment on Morey's enthusiasm as he plays. A few months a woman walked by and made a detour to come talk to me. She told me that seeing Morey play always gets her day off to a good start and she always looks for us she's on her way to work. It's amazing that just looking at a dog can have such a positive impact on someone's day!
This week we were having our usual play session before heading into work and a woman came toward me with her hands full of tennis balls with small straps through each one (see picture below). She explained that her daughter had bought the balls on clearance at Goodwill and she wondered if I would like them for my dog. She had been planning to give them to her co-worker who had dogs but she didn't think her dogs really played with balls. "And I know your dog likes them because I see him playing here every day."
Morey came over and started sniffing the balls, confirming that he was indeed interested in them. There were seven balls and I tried only accepting a few of them but the woman was insistent on giving them all to Morey. After a few minutes of back and forth I accepted all the balls and immediately threw one for Morey who happily ran after it. The woman was happy her gift was already being enjoyed and I assured her that Morey would put the rest of them to good use as well.
This week we were having our usual play session before heading into work and a woman came toward me with her hands full of tennis balls with small straps through each one (see picture below). She explained that her daughter had bought the balls on clearance at Goodwill and she wondered if I would like them for my dog. She had been planning to give them to her co-worker who had dogs but she didn't think her dogs really played with balls. "And I know your dog likes them because I see him playing here every day."
Morey came over and started sniffing the balls, confirming that he was indeed interested in them. There were seven balls and I tried only accepting a few of them but the woman was insistent on giving them all to Morey. After a few minutes of back and forth I accepted all the balls and immediately threw one for Morey who happily ran after it. The woman was happy her gift was already being enjoyed and I assured her that Morey would put the rest of them to good use as well.
Only Morey could be popular enough to get showered with gifts from a stranger!
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Morey's New Hobby
Morey and I have been together for almost three and a half years. We've pretty much figured each other out and have settled into many routines and habits where we both know what to expect from the other without needing any cues or prompts. While on one hand this makes life easy, it has also meant that our relationship has gotten a bit "stale". While we still interact with each other in a positive way I have created situations where Morey doesn't need to look to me for direction because he already knows what I want him to do.
A while back I took Morey to the Pet Expo and had the chance to run him through an agility course with the guidance of an agility trainer. I was amazed at how quickly Morey snapped into "training mode", giving the trainer great eye contact, wagging his tail and eagerly going through the various obstacles. As I saw Morey so engaged with the activity and the trainer I realized that element was missing in our relationship. Although we certainly still interact with each other, I wouldn't necessarily say we are engaged with each other and I immediately decided I wanted that to change.
After realizing what was missing in our relationship I made some deliberate changes to increase my level of engagement and interest with Morey. I started changing things up, like asking for a "sit" or "touch" when we approach the car, instead of always ask him to "jump". Now he doesn't only have to wait for the cue, he actually has to listen to what the cue is. I also started using treats to reward Morey and though I don't want to depend on treats to get him to work, it never hurts to give a random treat reward every now and then. These simple changes didn't take much work or time but did start to increase my connectedness with Morey.
Realizing how much Morey had enjoyed the agility course, I began to look for ways to engage him in that activity once my classes were over for the semester. After doing some online searching I came across the Austin K-9Xpress Agility Club. They have their own agility field and offer ongoing classes at various levels. The folks there were very responsive to my inquiry and within a week I had set up an evaluation for Morey with one of their trainers. The evaluation was very basic (being approached/petted by a stranger, doing a sit/stay with distraction, recall, etc) and Morey passed with flying colors. I appreciated that the club had the evaluation to ensure that all the dogs participating were friendly and ready to participate in a group class.
A while back I took Morey to the Pet Expo and had the chance to run him through an agility course with the guidance of an agility trainer. I was amazed at how quickly Morey snapped into "training mode", giving the trainer great eye contact, wagging his tail and eagerly going through the various obstacles. As I saw Morey so engaged with the activity and the trainer I realized that element was missing in our relationship. Although we certainly still interact with each other, I wouldn't necessarily say we are engaged with each other and I immediately decided I wanted that to change.
After realizing what was missing in our relationship I made some deliberate changes to increase my level of engagement and interest with Morey. I started changing things up, like asking for a "sit" or "touch" when we approach the car, instead of always ask him to "jump". Now he doesn't only have to wait for the cue, he actually has to listen to what the cue is. I also started using treats to reward Morey and though I don't want to depend on treats to get him to work, it never hurts to give a random treat reward every now and then. These simple changes didn't take much work or time but did start to increase my connectedness with Morey.
Realizing how much Morey had enjoyed the agility course, I began to look for ways to engage him in that activity once my classes were over for the semester. After doing some online searching I came across the Austin K-9Xpress Agility Club. They have their own agility field and offer ongoing classes at various levels. The folks there were very responsive to my inquiry and within a week I had set up an evaluation for Morey with one of their trainers. The evaluation was very basic (being approached/petted by a stranger, doing a sit/stay with distraction, recall, etc) and Morey passed with flying colors. I appreciated that the club had the evaluation to ensure that all the dogs participating were friendly and ready to participate in a group class.
Morey was exposed to most of the agility obstacles during his training but that was several years ago. We will be starting in the intermediate class and I am sure I will be doing as much, if not more, learning as Morey! Stay tuned for frequent updates about Morey's latest agility adventures!
Saturday, May 17, 2014
The Mighty Texas Dog Walk
The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is an annual event in Austin that is a major fundraiser for Service Dogs Inc. (formerly Texas Hearing and Service Dogs), an organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs. I volunteered for this organization for a few months before I got Morey and like to support them when I can. It has always sounded like fun and this year I was excited to be able to participate. The Walk started at 9am so I did have to give up some precious weekend sleeping in time, but it was definitely worth it!
Morey can get a little overexcited when he sees dogs in a non-working setting so I was a little concerned about how he would do around hundreds of other dogs. He's great with other dogs when he is working and he is great when he is off leash and able to run around with them, but managing him while he is "off duty" and on a leash can be a challenge. As we approached the start of the Walk and began to encounter other dogs Morey began to get a bit boisterous. He refocused on me when asked but did a lot of pulling and whining. When we walked past a chocolate lab Morey made a playful lunge for the other dog and I mistakenly didn't let go of the leash. Thankfully I stayed upright and Morey was sufficiently startled into paying more attention to me. When I saw some dogs playing off leash in the grassy area I decided to let Morey join them. From past experience I knew that if he could get his dog greetings out of the way he would be fine the rest of the event.
I released Morey after asking him to sit and give me eye contact. He looked like he had been shot from a cannon as he launched himself toward the other dogs, barking and running and looking like a goofball. Most of the dogs just tolerated him but when a probably six month old lab puppy joined the mix Morey got a taste of his own medicine and found that being jumped on and barked at isn't all that fun. After Morey made several huge laps, sniffed some dogs and peed on several trees he was ready to be civilized again and we made our way to the start of the Walk.
The course was different this year because of some construction in the park area. The "Walk" was a half mile course and people were encouraged to take multiple laps. Morey and I did two laps and enjoyed seeing dogs of every shape, size and color. There were some people who had dressed their dogs up or even dyed their fur so there literally were dogs of every color.
Although the weather was beautiful, there was the potential for it to be very hot and so there were lots of bowls of water and wading pools set up around the course. Morey was pretty excited to see so much water and he took advantage of both the pools and the bowls of water!
After the Walk there was an expo of sorts with lots of sponsor booths and events going on. This was all inside the Palmer Events Center and so there were crowds of people and dogs in fairly close quarters. Luckily, a lot of dogs had worn themselves out already and everyone was pretty well behaved. Morey and I wandered past a few booths and collected some freebies.
A tradition at the Mighty Texas Dog Walk is to try to set or break a world record. Past records have included most dogs wearing the same bandana, most dogs sitting at the same time and biggest ball of dog hair. That record was set two years ago with a ball of dog hair weighing more than 200 lbs! That's a lot of dog hair! They were trying to beat that record this year and so they had the giant ball, along with brushes that you could use to brush your dog and contribute the hair to the ball. Morey participated in this but despite the amount of fur that he sheds, he didn't actually contribute that much to this cause. I guess he wanted to save it all for our floors at home!
They had an animal actor "talent scout" at the event and so Morey had his picture taken and registered to be "discovered". Since he already has a full time job he could only do a side gig here or there, but since he is cute/handsome and smart I figure he might have a chance of making it big. There were several dogs there who had recently appeared in movies or commercials and Morey was a little starstruck.
When we got home, I went through all of the freebies that we had collected over the course of the morning. Morey is pretty much set with dog bowls, poop bags and treats for the next several months!
Morey can get a little overexcited when he sees dogs in a non-working setting so I was a little concerned about how he would do around hundreds of other dogs. He's great with other dogs when he is working and he is great when he is off leash and able to run around with them, but managing him while he is "off duty" and on a leash can be a challenge. As we approached the start of the Walk and began to encounter other dogs Morey began to get a bit boisterous. He refocused on me when asked but did a lot of pulling and whining. When we walked past a chocolate lab Morey made a playful lunge for the other dog and I mistakenly didn't let go of the leash. Thankfully I stayed upright and Morey was sufficiently startled into paying more attention to me. When I saw some dogs playing off leash in the grassy area I decided to let Morey join them. From past experience I knew that if he could get his dog greetings out of the way he would be fine the rest of the event.
I released Morey after asking him to sit and give me eye contact. He looked like he had been shot from a cannon as he launched himself toward the other dogs, barking and running and looking like a goofball. Most of the dogs just tolerated him but when a probably six month old lab puppy joined the mix Morey got a taste of his own medicine and found that being jumped on and barked at isn't all that fun. After Morey made several huge laps, sniffed some dogs and peed on several trees he was ready to be civilized again and we made our way to the start of the Walk.
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We made it to the finish line (twice actually!)  |
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| Morey carrying our "bib" for the Walk |
Although the weather was beautiful, there was the potential for it to be very hot and so there were lots of bowls of water and wading pools set up around the course. Morey was pretty excited to see so much water and he took advantage of both the pools and the bowls of water!After the Walk there was an expo of sorts with lots of sponsor booths and events going on. This was all inside the Palmer Events Center and so there were crowds of people and dogs in fairly close quarters. Luckily, a lot of dogs had worn themselves out already and everyone was pretty well behaved. Morey and I wandered past a few booths and collected some freebies.
They had an animal actor "talent scout" at the event and so Morey had his picture taken and registered to be "discovered". Since he already has a full time job he could only do a side gig here or there, but since he is cute/handsome and smart I figure he might have a chance of making it big. There were several dogs there who had recently appeared in movies or commercials and Morey was a little starstruck.
When we got home, I went through all of the freebies that we had collected over the course of the morning. Morey is pretty much set with dog bowls, poop bags and treats for the next several months!
After all the excitement of the morning, my "mighty dog" was all worn out and had to recover with an afternoon nap!
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