Practical Applications

I mentioned working on moving Harriet around by pointing and having
her go to the spot I pointed to? I really recommend it as both a
game and for its practical aspects.

Last week, Harriet learned to unwind her tie-out cable when it gets
wrapped around one of the supports for the upstairs deck. This, we
were able to accomplish without me taking my sick, barefoot self
outdoors in the 0F cold, because Harriet understands what it means
to go where I point. It took a few repetitions before she had it
down pat, but now she can unwrap herself without help.

And, boy, you should've seen her when the light bulb went off. She
was well pleased with her smartypants self.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

"Shelly" <shelly.TakeThisOut@cat-sidh.net> wrote in message:

> And, boy, you should've seen her when the light bulb went off. She
> was well pleased with her smartypants self.

As well she should. It's a very handy skill to have.

Khan is naturally averse to getting tangled, and does his best to untangle
himself. One of the most practical commands he's been taught is to 'come
around' (whatever obstacle is between him and the person at the other end of
the leash). He got it with very little repetition. Pan took longer, and
even now, gets confused if there is more than one obstacle involved.

For all that, Khan on his tie-out routinely manages to get himself tangled
up. The tie goes around the sticky-uppy part of the septic tank (some kind
of genius put it right smack in front of the house, and there are two of
them), and he always manages to walk around it sufficiently as to find
himself on the end of a wrapped up, short tie after a while. And, it almost
always happens when it is either wet outside, or cold outside, or both.
And, I'm dumb enough to think that I can run out and untangle him in my
socks without getting too wet, and end up with soggy socks. Ick!

Suja