Indy being trained by an 8 year old

This week I was baby sitting my great nieces and nephew. A 3 year old, an 8 year old and a 5 year old. My great niece, Mackenzie, who is really into the dogs, decided to try her hand at training Indy in obedience. This was their first time working together and her first venture into obedience training. All in all, the training session went well. Indy did very good for listening to a child and Mackezie learned a little about his lessons. Thought it was a little funny because she wanted to do it like in a dog show, so that is why I was telling her "praise your dog lady" kind of like I was the judge . Click on the video to see Indy doing his healing, down and stay for an 8 year old child.

The reason that I decided to let Mackenzie have a try with him is because if he enters into a home with children he needs to respect the children as much as he does the adults in the family. Even if he does not go to a home with children, he will come into contact with them during his daily walks and his life and he must be mannerly and behave with them. He is very good with the kids and a very smart dog. I am hoping that his adoptive family will continue on with his obedience and maybe get a rally or CD title on him. I know he is definitely up to the job with a little work.

Here is another pic of Indy with 3 year old Keiran.

Indy passes his CGC

It has been a while since I have posted on Indy's progress. Indy has been neutered and has continued on his journey into obedience. I am proud to announce that Indy has completed the requirements for his AKC Canine Good Citizen Award. The CGC test consists of the following 10 items which the dog must pass to demonstrate that he/she is a dog that will be a good citizen.

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog's position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.

Test 7: Coming when called

This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.

Test 9: Reaction to distraction

This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.

Test 10: Supervised separation

This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, "there, there, it's alright").

Training Day

Working on the Down Stay


Sit & Stay with a very BIG distraction


Going through the tire


Just taking a break

Indy has gotten over his kennel cough and has started to attend training class to help him in staying well socialized with both people, and other animals. He is attending training in Lake Village, IN at Tatum Kennels & Training.

Lori Tatum raises German Shepherd Dogs and also does rescue for German Shepherds. She teaches an obedience class each week, and she is kind enough to let me take my rescue dog to join in the fun.

Today Indy did very good with his training, working on his sit/stay, down/stay and some healing on lead. We also did a little play time on the agility equipment doing the tire and the dog walk.

I hope you enjoy the photos of Indy's training day as much as he had while he was there.

Just a few close ups of Indy

Indy playing around

Indy has now been with me for about a 12 days now. He is over his kennel cough and now will be able to start meeting the other dogs in our family and will be able to start working on some obedience training and socialization. Up to this time he has seen my other dogs from a distance only. Indy is now well enough that he will be able to interact with the others and will start going with me to my training class. Once Indy is able to get around the other dogs and do more things socially I will be able to assess his personality better. Right now, he seems to be a typical puppy and does not seem to be bothered by the other dogs and does not show any untoward behaviour. He will also be going in to be neutered in the next week. Here is a short video of him playing with his new stuffed animal yesterday.

Meet Indy

This is my newest rescue dog, Indy. He is a very handsome fawn brindle Bullmastiff who is appox. 11 mos old. Indy will be available for adoption from the American Bullmastiff Assoc. rescue soon. I have named him Indy because that is where he came from, Indianapolis, IN. I was calling him Tim when I first picked him up from the other rescue volunteer but that name did not really fit him so I changed it. The reason I called him Tim was because when Crystal picked him up at the animal shelter he had kennel cough and she had him in the back of her van in a dog kennel to drive him to me. She had the kennel wrapped and he reminded me of a Christmas present coming out of a wrapped box. He was smaller than I had expected, I did not know he was going to be such a young dog, and I thought of Tiny Tim from a Christmas Carol. Hence the name Tim in the beginning.

The first stop on the journey to my home was at our Veterinarian. I have found a wonderful vet, Dr. Rick Davis of Davis Veterinary Service who is in the Renssellear, IN area who works with my own personal dogs and the rescue dogs. Dr. Rick verified that Indy had kennel cough and started him on antibiotics to cure his cough. (Just in case you do not know what kennel cough is, the easiest way to explain is that it is similar to our colds. It gives the dog a cough, runny nose and a fever and, like our cold can be spread. Fortunately, like our colds, once it runs its course and the dog is over kennel cough it is no problem. ) Dr. Rick decided to hold off on the neutering of Indy until after he recovered from his cough and felt a little better. This is a photo of Indy when he first came to my house.

To find out more iformation and to fill out an adoption form for Indy or another of our rescue dogs please click on the link for ABA rescue. http://www.bullmastiff.us/rescue/index.html

You can also donate to ABA rescue via paypal. All money received goes directly to taking care of the dogs and their medical needs. You can now donate via PayPal!!!!! Go to http://www.paypal.com/ and send donations to email address: aba_rescue@yahoo.com