Category Archives: The Canine Co-pilot Pack

All the other dogs in the Canine Copilot Pack

A little of this a little of that

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The weekend was busy and the girls didn’t get work everyday like they are used to. Snoopy had surgery on friday and came through it like a champ. He is recovering and doing well. This old man won’t have to worry about any more surgery for a LONG time to come.

Saturday kendal and I headed down to work with a few clients and to get her service dog “test” completed. She passed with flying colors and is just a true testament to what a rescue dog can turn into. She also spent the weekend as Life Long Tails donation dog raising money and raising awareness to what it is we do for helpless animals!!

YAY Kendal!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday the girls finally got there day. Kara and Mika jumped in the car and we headed down to the school for some work for the girls and some good dog teaching for the kids.   The kids had built a snow cave last week and we were able to get Mika and Eme on the first snow cave ever!  Eme did amazing, worked the scent out great, stayed committed, and crawled all the way into the cave to find her subject. We worked on her recall, indication and refind with the snow cave as it gave a different scent picture and environment which always challenges the puppies!

 

My butts sticking out of the cave!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She worked a total of almost an hour and still had to play ball all the way back to the truck with the boys.  We got our excercise in walking in snow shoes the whole time!!! It was better then falling 2 feet deep into the snow drifts though!

Off to work we go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course Raina needs her time too and she wow’d us all with how well she works!!! She knows her job and she knows when its about to start. I just introduced her vest in and she gets so excited to get dressed.

back talk to mom!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raina has been lucky enough to get the perfect flawless training method where mom makes no mistakes (yet) and she has yet to have a big hang up. I know its coming, shes only 4 months old, but her nose work is natural and amazing, and her refind and indication to me is phenomenal. Of course shes pretty crazy too!!

mom mom mom i know where he is!!! mom mom mom!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day was a good one. Mr felix blue the newest shepherd that we took in was introduced to cadaver and we did a few short runaways with him as well. He loves food, and loves to play ball, and loves to search!!!

Hello working world!!!

day to day fun

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My posts normally occur after my weekend of working dogs but while trying to kill time before training starts i figured i would give an update on the rest of the canine co pilot pack.

 

Everyone seems to be doing well, even with the cold temperatures lately and the crazy amount of snow and ice.  Our day to day training and fun includes obedience outside and inside, group downs and stays, and Simon says games. Kendal has been working on her obedience so that i can get her tested for her PAT (public access test) and then once she is my service dog move her into certification for therapy dog as well. While Kendal tries to just be a funny clown of the house she has a serious working side as well and knows when she is out with mom she needs to be in tune and responsible at all times.

hum the world seems different from this view!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a Life Long Tails rescue Kendal is the perfect picture of what a rescue dog can achieve if given the appropriate training, time, and owner.  Kendal is also Life Long Tails donation dog and canine mascot.

Shepherds playing in the snow in the backyard

Unlike so many trainers out there our dogs love training time. It is not a time when they get thrown on the ground, alpha rolled, beaten, yelled at, or dominated. It is a time when we get to have fun together, learn together, and communicate in a revolutionary  new way. This is what ensures the ultimate relationship, amazing obedience, and a bond that never dies.

Pack visiting hours

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Life Long Tails had a small meeting/get together sunday to go over some grant options and new programs we need to start. The pack was beyond thrilled to have an extra 8 laps to sit on. The advantage to being a dog behaviorist and owning a pack of 11 dogs most all from rescue situations is that i had the ability to mold and train them to enjoy the company of strangers in the house and still keep that calm air about them.  Its rare that you will find a pack of this many dogs in size and breed range of ours that can achieve the state of balance we have gotten.

We have just met you and WE LOVE YOU!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to say our guests were wonderful sports about the barrage of dogs that tackle you with kisses and barks when you walk in the door!! It can be very overwhelming if you do not have trust that I have a controlled pack.

 

Fugly!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The experience for both dogs and humans is great and from the feedback of the day i believe this will be at least a monthly occurrence. If interested in joining us and either helping with the rescue, hiding for the search dogs, or just gaining some confidence around a large pack of dogs this is your place!! Keep an eye on my blog and website http://www.eliteinstinctcanine.com for the schedule of events!

One cute cuddle session

A white Eme

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Sunday was a nice relaxing training day for Eme. She is adjusting well to her new sister and loves to play and show her how pack life works here at Elite Instinct Canine training. Some friends came over and with the new snow fall they wanted to go get some pictures out and about. I knew Eme could use a solo hike where all attention could just be on her. Of course we never miss an opportunity to train and we worked on her recall, her find it command, and her giblaut (speak in german) Eme is trained in both english in german though only german commands are used while working. The main reason for this is so while working in public she will not be distracted by other people issuing commands.

Jeff and Jessica took some amazing photos of my girl up in the snow. As an all black shepherd (and the first all black shepherd i have ever had) she stands out in the snow!!!!

Eme in the snow

At 9 months eme is doing a little “terrible two’s” challenging right now.  Her commands where re practiced in less distractions to re build them back up and then we added the distractions again. It seems to have worked well and we get a response on the first command even under high distractions for her basic obedience commands.

Briiiiing

My amazing eme surprises me everday with her talent in searching, her ability to read me and anticipate my moves and dedication to anything i ask of her. The last 7 months have been a learning experience for both of us.  We have achieved a great balance and working relationship and i know it gets stronger everyday.

Eme after her find

And so it Rainas or snowas at least

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Well last night Ms Raina Uptown Girl Vom Französisch Wald came home to stay.

She is well, perfect. The pack loves her and Snoopy only drooled for a few minutes haha.  She settled down for the night and we were up bright and early this morning. We had company all day in and out and she did great meeting everyone. No accidents and a great healthy appetite showed the transition was just fine by her. She spent the afternoon inside with her daddy watching football.

Sleeping upside on her back in daddy's arms

The temperature makes it hard for us to take any hikes so we just did a few outside potty trips and a little tug. Then after dinner was over i taught her to fetch in well about 2 minutes. Smart huh?

i'm gonna get you you damn ball!

While raising another puppy is a lot of work, especially when you have 10 at home to care for and provide to its totally worth it. Raina is a once and a lifetime dog and she is going to be an amazing search dog.  It will be a different experience raising a working dog in the winter as i’ve always done it in the spring or summer months. I think we will have to wait a few more weeks till she gets bigger to hit the hills and woods but may  hit the local stores and work on obedience, desensitization, and socialization.

A face to die for

First snow fall walk

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Its wednesday, and nothing like a night walk in the woods after the first snow fall. Now we only had a dusting but up on our elevation it was enough to cover the ground. After a 12 hour shift at work my favorite thing to do is come home and walk the dogs and spend the evening in front of the fire on the couch reading a good book surrounded by soft fur and light panting of the dogs.

Walking my english bulldog Valentine is necessary daily to help build the muscle in her leg. The end of june brought her cruciate surgery and its been a long road to recovery from there. We try to do 1 to 3 miles a day and lately we have been taking Emeline with us. Its great for Val to get some canine interaction (shes leashed of course can’t have her stress her leg to much) and as usual my working shepherd is always ready for a hike in the woods.

Tonight was peaceful. The moon was hidden by clouds, the light from my flashlight reflected off the snow and emeline pranced around exploring the newly fallen snow. I took notice to the many trees that had fallen during the last two days wind storms and watched Valentine jump over them fairly easily. Its been a long 5 months.

I love my life, i wouldn’t have it any other way. All day i get to meet new owners and new dogs, learn new stories, rejoice at healing animals and cry when others must pass. Then i get to come home to the comfort of my pack, 10 dogs in all who love me, and I them. Sure its tough and a lot of work as each needs  his or her own time, plus our pack training time but i really couldn’t imagine life without them all. We each have a special relationship, a special connection and understanding.

As i type this each is in their most predictable spot in the house awaiting my next movement or command. Theirs eyes filled with love and hope and nothing but living in the moment. I am inspired everyday and vow to be just like my canines and live in the moment. Thank you

I’m a tractor girl!!!

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SO with  the addition of the kabota tractor to our “expensive toys” last year i have finally decided to make it work for me and my dogs!!! We are clearing and brush hogging the top of the land (which is about as level as our land gets in one area) for my agility course. Its a good hike up the path to get to it but its nice to not have it in the backyard where all t he other dogs bark and freak out. I was up yesterday with k learning to drive and pull stumps out with the tractor.

I must admit you never would have known i was a city girl a few short years ago!!!

yeeeeee hawwwww

Behind and to the left is the main area of t he agility, we will also have up another path a huge debris pile for working and hopefully down the road a bit in time a pond at the bottom of our property for swimming.  And of course we have camping and a range for the human counterparts 🙂 Look forward to a nice camping k9 party!!

The good the bad and the fugly

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Many people ask about my dogs, all the different stories on how we got them why we have them and what role they play in my life. Mr Fugly is our pug he is a fawn boy a bit over a year old. He was turned over to the rescue as a puppy and fit in so well to our pack we couldn’t let him go. When children ask what his name is its frank (men in black people men in black come on its a wonderful move!)    but in reality my husband named him Fugly. Now he is a cute boy but fugly non the less. His main role is to keep us all laughing, he also participates on all off leash hiking and comes back normally when called! Once he has matured a bit more we hope to have him therapy certified to join our ever growing team of therapy dogs. Fugly has a great toy drive and will play ball or tug all day long. He loves everyone he meets canine, feline, feathered or human!!

Valentine’s Day post surgery

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Today will be day 3 that valentine has been home with us. It’s already been a rough road. Val thinks she is FINE and doesn’t understand why mom and dad have her crated 24 hours a day, why she has to walk with the sling under her ass end and a tight 2 foot leash. She pulls like a bull outside when walking and you have to stress your back to keep her next to you and walking slow. She FINALLY pooped this morning, that was 2 days with no pooping because she couldn’t stand going on the leash and sling!!!!! Wow she is just as stubborn as her father.  Carrying her outside 4 times a day is a little rough too. I’m just happy shes ok though. I stocked up on some anti lick strips that smell horrid which she licks over and over again just to shake her head and snort……..they didn’t give bulldogs a lot of brains huh?

Post surgery 3 days

So while i’m happy she is recovering from the surgery this is going to be a long sucky summer. Val just wants to go out  and run and hike with her siblings and she can’t.  I’m a paranoid crazy mom trying to keep her quite, keep her stiches in (which come out next week thank god) do her PT and hot packs and keep her away from the other dogs (cuz thats easy when we have anywhere from 11 to 15 in the house) The $4000 vet bill isn’t great either my poor bank account is always empty now!!!!! Well pictures to come once i get the energy to upload the camera, maybe tonight after night training.

The Scar

To swim or not to swim

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Saturday brought about a nice day, warm, no rain, and my hubby home with me! So we pack up a few dogs (kendal the boxer and eme the GSD to be exact) to check out a swimming location i had spotted. The girls did great of course, the water was moving pretty swift so we kept leashes on them which i needed to drag eme out of the current once!!!! They took turns swimming in the water with us and up on the rocks sniffing around. It was pretty slippery but fun in the hot weather.

Kendal and Emeline

After a romp in the water and some drive building with Emeline in the water and on shore we hit up creature comforts and socialized both pups a bit, of course EVERYONE couldn’t believe how sweet, friendly, and well behaved they were. Little angles they can play can’t they!!!