WWC SmackDown

I have a good 30+ pounds on Zoe, but she is a master wrestler, as evidenced in the photos below. We've dubbed said challenges as World Wrestling Canines.

Just when I think I've got her pinned - almost every time - she comes out on top with either a paw smack-down or a completely embarrassing domination. We're both great sports though, so we make it fun.

I love to wrestle with dogs of all sizes, so a companion in my forever home would be fabulous, but I could be a wonderful single dog, too!

Holding hands

Or should I say paws? Zoe and I remained paw to paw for quite a long time Sunday night. We didn't even move when Foster Mama went to retrieve her camera (I usually bolt when she reaches for that thing).

We spent most of Sunday night sparring. This photo was taken towards the end when we were confirming a ceasefire.

Tiny Zoe surely holds her own and I love to play with her!

Herding the Animal

The first several times Foster Mama used her Dyson Animal around me I was not all that interested in the big purple machine. I behaved more like I was intimidated than curious. That all changed last night.

Foster mama has a little experience with other herding breeds, so she wasn't completely shocked when I began herding the vacuum cleaner by nosing/nudging it around the room.

I never tried to mouth it like I do to Zoe when I'm herding her. That made Foster Mama happy because she thought I might hurt myself if I tried to bite the Animal.

Foster Mama also very much appreciates the fact that unlike some herding breeds, I do not bark while I herd. I tend to make more of a low growling noise. Sometimes people who don't know me might think I'm growling with aggression, but my ever-wagging nubbin tail is proof that I'm just exceptionally playful!

Pesky buses

Foster mama finds way too much humor in my behavioral tics. Her response to the few I can't help must mean that they are endearing or funny rather than problematic, but I'm fairly certain that last night's quirk took her by complete surprise. Rest assured, the incident ended with a hearty laugh from Foster mama.

We were walking back towards home and managed to pass by a city bus stop just as passengers were disembarking/boarding. As the bus pulled away from the stop and made it's familiar loud gas-releasing noise (P-shaAWW), I kinda lost control of myself momentarily.

I rocketed back towards Foster mama, my butt on a bit of a spin, landing squarely against her shin. I quickly tried to right myself only to skid across the sidewalk and back to landing at Foster mama's feet. If I had been prepared I bet I could've made her believe that was a purposeful trick!

It only took me seconds to pick myself up and continue on our walk, therefore I maintain that I'm not a real scaredy cat and gassy buses have nothing on me!

ACD seeks FH

ACD: Healthy natural redhead/blonde; amber eyes; 2.5 years old; adorable "nubbin" tail; excellent dental hygiene; athletic/svelte build; well-mannered; LOYAL.

Loving, genius Australian Cattle Dog seeks Forever Home. Searching for active, loving owners who will take me on long walks, rub my ears, challenge me, play and wrestle with me, and never let me down.

In return I promise you a faithful companion, a strong motivator for action, and a potentially large library of cute doggie photos among many other things.

Please reply by application to BFPA for me, Rusty!

Pedi Paws spokesdog!

Foster mama nearly died last night when she introduced me to the Pedi Paws nail trimmer.

She had it way before I ever came into her life, but Zoe isn't a huge fan. Zoe will let Foster mama use it on her, but not for long, and not without a bit of a fight.

That's why when she used it on me last night and I just laid there - calm as a cucumber - she could not believe it! She filed down every single one of my nails with no muss or fuss. I'll be sure to welcome my next Pedi Paws treatment if I can expect the same praise and crazy love to follow. Bring on the pawdicures!

Kong toss

Foster mama mentioned my humorous "kong behavior" in a previous post, and she managed to somewhat capture me carrying it out tonight.

I am particularly keen on the "Kong toss" when I can sense that there are still crunchy treats knocking around inside. When it seems I've managed to remove all of those, I spend most of my time frantically chewing at both ends instead.

Obviously in the pics below I am still in search of those delicious, crunchy treats held captive in my Kong!

Red Rover, Red Rover, roll Rusty right over

It's slow going, but Foster mama has me practicing sit>down>roll over. I've got sit and down, but I haven't yet quite figured out the rolling over. I kind of begin the movement of rolling over, but without enough effort. Foster mama describes my effort as "Meh."

She's also confused about whether to click at all if I only begin to roll over, so it's been a mixed bag. Rather than continue tonight in a bit of confusion, she decided to put off further encouragement until later.

Bragging rights: I'm learning to sit at the door and let Foster mama leave first - as well as letting her enter the house upon our return before me - very well.

We're contemplating working on getting me to shake with my right paw (we've mastered the Southpaw), but Foster mama thinks that should go on the back burner. I agree! Is being able to shake with both paws more important than learning better doggie manners? I think no.

I'm learning fast and would love to learn more from anyone who wants to make me theirs.

Don't you want me?

Horrible lyrics - but Foster Mama adapted The Human League's "Don't you want me baby?" to make a song about me...

You were living as a doggie in a foster home,
When I met you.
I picked you out, I shook you up, and turned you around
Made you a doggie new.
Now five weeks later on you've got the world at your feet,
Training has been easy for you.
But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now,
And I'd never let you down no.
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you can't love me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you can't love me.
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or you will so be sorry
Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh
Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh
I was living as a doggie in a foster home
That much is true.
I knew that I had landed in a much better place,
To forget past owners I must do...
Don't, don't you want me?

Click-tastic!

More clicker training with Foster mama has proven that I am a super-quick learner. She's been exploring the different clicker methods and we've experimented with the "capture method."

Basically, for a 3-5 minute session she decides what she wants me to do (sit or down for example) and every time I do it on my own (no voice or hand signals) I get a click and treat. Last night's session got her giggling because I was basically going to my bed, laying down (click, treat) then moments later coming over towards her and laying down (click, treat), then repeat...over and over.

We've started implementing hand and verbal cues for sit successfully (I already kinda knew that trick) and we'll work on down verbal signals this week. She's also managed to teach me "shake" masterfully.

Foster mama recommends the clicker pictured above. It's the "StarMark Clicker Dog Training Aid." She picked up two at Petsmart (she has a bad habit of misplacing things) for about $10. She also checked out some books at the library. I'm grateful for her efforts and will be proving so by working hard to learn my way at warp speed. She thinks I'm quite capable!

Clicking with Foster Mama

Foster mama has been researching my breed and exploring methods of effective dog training. We've crossed some bridges, but she'd like to get my puppy behavior under wraps a little more.

Enter the clicker.

Perhaps a little soon to brag, but honestly, I think I've got this thing in the bag. I already recognize the clicker as a reinforcer of good behavior and have begun to overtly mimic desired behaviors in anticipation of that click.

: Click : I am at attention - no doubt.

Our next lesson will enforce name recognition and "stay" skills. Bring on the gold stars!

Lessons

Foster mama took me to a workshop at a park in Raleigh last night. There were six to seven dogs there with their foster parents, and there was a lead man there who gave lots of instructions and tips to the humans in attendance.

Foster mama was impressed with how well I walked on my leash with the lead man, especially since I wasn't wearing my prong collar. He could've been the dog whisperer!

I behaved pretty well overall, even though it was hotter than Hades out there. Foster mama learned tips to help strengthen my ability to heel; to train me to sit and stay; and to encourage me to not follow her absolutely everywhere she goes. She doesn't like it when I step on the backs of her flip flops when she's walking. I don't blame her and promise to work on it under her tutelage.

She and I are both confident that I will continue to be an excellent student with the right leadership. After all, I've already come a long way to becoming a well-mannered boy.

I'm still camera shy, so the pics below aren't the best. Foster mama took the second one through the rear window. We think it's kinda cool because you can see both of us via the reflection.

Haa-aay!

Foster mom and her good friend Jen have an ongoing joke about dog expressions. Many pics of dogs really do look like the dog is saying, "DAAAAAH!" or "HAAAAY!" and I am not immune. Case in point, captured below.

No matter - I will be on display at the Brier Creek Petsmart this Saturday from 10 am until 12 pm. Please come and see me!

Shreddin' it

Rawhide bones don't stand a chance against me! Foster mom gave me the one you see here early on Wednesday evening and I made my way half-way through it in a couple of hours.

The super-plus here is that, trust me, I only have eyes for that bone - you wanna keep me busy? Gimme a rawhide!

Secondary plus is that my teeth are in excellent shape - very white!

Another tough boot camp

Foster mom took these pics of me last night after a grueling boot camp. It was hot and she was surely Foster-mama-drill-sargeant. I think she was stir crazy as she had been on lockdown with a stomach flu since early Monday night, so once she felt better she was on a mission!

She wasn't up for a prolonged session, but she surely kicked my booty in no time. We ran some sprints, practiced "walk right," as well as a few other behavioral skills I haven't yet mastered completely.

I'm a smart puppy, but Foster mama is turning me into a genius no doubt. While the summer heat has put a slight damper on our training, she's managed to keep me on track.

Double whammy

July 4th proved to be a rather uncomfortable evening for me, but Foster mom assured me that I behaved quite well.

First, Foster mom's house was hit with a severe thunderstorm in the late afternoon - heavy rain and severe winds ensued. I spent a couple of hours in my crate waiting it out, but I never whimpered or became destructive. I just huddled silently.

Then the fireworks came! Those pop pop pops took both Zoe and I by surprise, but we still remained very calm, much to Foster mom's delighted surprise. We raised our heads and ears and then decided, "Ho-hum."

Since those pops came in several separate groupings, Zoe and I became increasingly agitated, but we remained exceptionally composed according to Foster mom.

The info to glean from this post: I'm a pretty mellow dude (comparably) when it comes to high-stress situations. ie. You won't need an Rx for doggie prozac if you take me home.

Shakin' my booty

Foster mom would love to capture my "dinner time dance" on video, but that would be pretty hard since the dance starts when she puts food in my bowl. Maybe if she had a third hand she could manage it, but alas she only has two.

She keeps the food in airtight containers in the kitchen and feeds me in my crate in the next room. So, when she grabs my bowl from the crate and carries it to the kitchen I know what's up and I get very excited!

I follow her to the kitchen and do my best to get my head in the container but she's crafty at keeping me out of there. Once the food is in the bowl and she turns to go to the next room I start my dance. I stand on my hind legs and spin. Then I do a few spins on all fours and then I pounce down low and eagerly wag my nubbin tail. I always do one or two final spins right in front of my crate before bounding in with such force that I usually slide to the end on the "non" non-slip crate pad and that's when Foster mom puts the bowl down for me to feast.

I have a similar dance I do when Foster mom gets a Kong out of the freezer, but that dance is only slightly less enthusiastic. Since she gives me one every day before she goes to work, I'm learning to anticipate it when I can tell she's on her way out the door. I am one smart dog you know!