Friday, September 19, 2008

I love your blog award!!!

The Army of Four tagged us with this award! Thanks you all are the bestest so we are tagging you right back!!!
Here are the Dog Blogs we Tag:
Army of Four
Five Happy Hounds
For the love of Shibas
Got Chocolate?
Joe Stains & Tanner
Lorenza
Sitka and Tia's BLAWG
Squirrels are Evil

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Toy Retrieval Training

Hi everybody, Madie and I (China) practiced some Toy Retrieval Training...Madie as you can see isn't very experienced in the art of getting what you want out of a tricky situation! I on the other hand can provide years of experience!
Watch closely as I take you through the common mistakes and important lessons in the Art of Toy Retrieval.
Exhibit A


  • Mistake #1 She grabbed the toy through the basket.
  • Mistake #2 Even though the basket tipped she still grabbed the toy through the basket.
  • Mistake #3 Though the basket lay on it's side she still did not go through the opening to grab the toy until the very end.
  • Lesson #1 Don't be so focused on the toy that you forget other methods of toy retrieval!
Now onto our next exhibit...

Exhibit B


  • Mistake #4 Again she grabbed the toy through the basket failing to try another technique.
  • Mistake #5 After the basket is on it's side she attempts to get to the toy through the basket...in the process bonking herself on the head with the basket.
  • Mistake #6 She never tries to go around the basket and grab the toy the easy way!
  • Mistake #7 She gives up and sits there...waiting...
  • Lesson #2 When attempting to "free" your toy...do try other things.
  • Lesson #3 Use the easy way...because it's easy.
  • Lesson #4 The obvious isn't "wrong"
  • Lesson #5 Never give up!

Next we will see the proper technique demonstrated by moi...

Demonstration A



  • Step #1 Scratch at the restraining object, if that doesn't succeed to tip it...
  • Step #2 Push the restraining object with your nose successfully moving it to a place where part of the toy is protruding from beneath the restraining object.
  • Step #3 Grab the protruding toy from beneath the restraining object with your teeth and pull.
Mission Accomplished! Now onto the next demonstration...

Demonstration B


  • Step #1 Repeat steps #1-2 of Demonstration A skipping any steps that are unnecessary. If that remains unsuccessful...
  • Step #2 Grab part of the restraining object with your teeth and move it so that the toy then protrudes from beneath the restraining object.
  • Step #3 Grab the protruding toy from beneath the restraining object with your teeth and pull.
Success!!! Now lets see if our trainee has learned her lessons...

Result of Training


Now what have we learned from this result...
  • Lesson #6 Skip steps as needed, moving to the method proven most successful.
  • Lesson #7 It is a wise pup who listens to wise counsel.
Perfection!!! Madie indeed was as good a student but what is a good student without a skilled teacher?

Class is Dismissed!!!

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