<![CDATA[Worldly Dogs - Life with Loony Luna]]>

<![CDATA[Worldly Dogs - Life with Loony Luna]]>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:47:04 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Starky Malarky]]>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 23:00:09 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/starky-malarky

It’s funny how life can turn on a dime. One moment, one second can change your world. A few months ago I had one of those days and it once again threw everything (including this blog and WorldlyDogs) off course. I was at work when my phone rang; the number identified as my vets. In the past I have spent far too much time communicating with them, having a house full of elderly dogs. But these days it is rare to see them outside of an occasional check up. The call made little sense, no one was due for any vaccinations and I wasn’t waiting on any test results. Turns out it was the office manager reaching out on behalf of an Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) in need of a home. Sheer irony, since that exact day, within the same hour, I had posted on our other blog about the ACD and its cousin the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog (ASTCD).

Speck, a young 18 month old, had one too many runs in with the local animal shelter. His owner had passed away and his current “keeper” turned him loose on the neighborhood each day. They weren’t asking if I could take him, but rather if I knew anyone that may want to. I didn’t because most of my dog friends are up to their eyebrows in dogs of their own or don’t do rescues. But as she talked, he called out to me, a dog like so many needing a home, and, well, he’s a heeler.

You see, Luna is more ACD than pointer, always has been personality wise. While their backgrounds weren’t the same, it was clear they had both had a rough start. Just like her he needed someone that was willing to give him a second chance. So I told her I would come down and meet him. If I thought I could help I’d return with Luna and if all went well, I’d foster him. Foster him. Famous last words.

It turns out, Luna loved him. So we brought him home and have started on another one of my near infamous dog journeys. Speck transformed into Stark. I wasn’t a fan of him being named for his speckles and I liked a hard ‘K’ to get his attention. The poor guy had forgotten what it was like to interact and bond with his humans and it was hard to get him to focus on a handler. That being said, it’s clear his first owner trained him. He could heel, sit, and shake, down is still rusty. His stay is fantastic, better than any of my other dogs, even out of sight.

However, it hasn’t been the easiest of roads. He and Charlie have not bonded well, there were a few scuffles in the beginning. As an ACD he can be mouthy, and he has to learn that it’s not acceptable. Two months later and I’m still fighting to change that habit. We’ve lessened it, but when he’s over excited he starts to bark and more often or not, those barks are directed at Charlie’s face. Bless that big Husky mix for his patience. Most of the time he turns his head and walks away. Most of the time.

The biggest challenge has been getting his attention once the barking stops (or ideally right before they begin). Once they commence it’s near impossible to draw him away. I’ve learned a few tricks, most of which will get their own post. By far the most successful has been to expand our gather command to huddle. It comprises of me pacing our back yard (thank goodness it’s large) with the dogs around me. Most often Stark takes heel position, Charlie comes up on my right (switch), Ella brings up the rear and Luna plays wingman out to the side. Over time I’d like to tighten it up, maybe bring both of the girls in beside the boys, but for right now it’s all about Stark staying focused on me and not his new brother. Every few paces we stop, gather and start again.

It's a process, slow and steady, but we will get there. We had talked for a while about getting a fourth dog. I wanted a puppy, but was going to wait a few more years. It felt like it was time for me to have a chance to train one right, from the beginning - not to have to spend the energy fixing one someone else had broken. Because all of my dogs are. I love each and every one of them so much and I would never trade them for the world. But they also have little quirks that will always be there.

Life, destiny, whatever you want to call it had a different plan. A different soul that needed my help. Another dog to teach me more than I’d ever thought to learn. I’m excited for this next chapter, this boy will be an amazing at obedience and Trick Dog. Most of all, he’s now part of the family.

]]><![CDATA[Lost and Found]]>Sat, 12 Aug 2017 21:46:12 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/lost-and-found

A lost dog. It is every owner’s worst nightmare. Thankfully, as an adult I have only had this happen once and got lucky. Ari slipped under my dad’s fence while I was out town and I discovered her missing when I went to pick up the pack. In sheer panic I searched the neighborhood on foot, asking person after person if they had seen her. Those that had told me it had been hours before. During my search I ran into a group of kids riding their bikes and asked if she had crossed their path. She hadn’t, but sure enough an hour or two later one of them called me while I was still out searching. She came back in a trailer built for a toddler towed behind one of the bikes. I swear that dog was beaming. Tongue hanging out, panting from her grand adventure, she had no idea she’d almost killed me.

I remember the panic, and the relief of having her in my arms again. This was at least 10 years ago, and unfortunately, even with our advanced technologies too many dogs never make it home. Two recent losses come to mind, a member of our training club, and a family member’s dog. One has been gone over a year and the other about a month. Neither may ever come home, despite their owners continued outreach on social media.

Which is why I think it’s important you do everything you can to make sure your dog is found before they are lost.

Today most dogs are chipped, and it’s easy to feel like that is a protection, a shield. If your dog gets out, they will get scanned and come home. The problem is not every dog makes it to a scanner. It’s uncommon, but chips can stop working. Or you moved and didn’t update your information.

Hands down, the most important thing you can do to protect your dog is old fashioned. Get them a proper fitting collar and tags.

Right or wrong tags send out a signal when a dog is wandering the streets. I am loved. I have somewhere I am supposed to be. Someone out there is looking for me. An untagged dog, even a pampered one, can look like it has been on the street for months once it becomes ragged and dirty. If someone manages to ‘rescue’ them they tell themselves that this nice, adorable, dog wasn’t cared for. It’s easy to give it a home if no one ‘wanted’ it.

A tag with your number on it also cuts out any middleman or delays. If it’s the weekend, no one has to wait for a vet or shelter to open to look for a chip. I’ve found many dogs lose over the years and that is by far my preferred way to get them home again. So check your tags, make sure they are up to date and haven’t faded. See they are secure and that their collar is in good repair and still fits. Ella, being the monster, has lost two sets somewhere in our back yard. I don’t know how she manages it. So I replace them, again.

If you do find a lost dog, do not keep it. Take it to your local shelter, have it scanned. If you worry about it being euthanized adopt it after the hold stay. Dogs taken to the shelter are more likely to get reunited with their owners and it most places it is illegal to keep them.

Practice dog safety, always have them on a leash in an unfenced or unsecure area. Even the most well trained dog can get spooked or chase after a cat or wildlife. Master come and stay in case they slip their leash. Walk your yard often and check for escape routes, especially if your dog has access to the outdoors when you are not at home.

If your dog gets lost remember that they can travel far and fast, even if they are never picked up in a car. Contact your shelter and those in the surrounding areas. Visit them in person if you can and leave a flier. Same with vet clinics. If someone chooses to keep your dog the likelihood of a vet scanning a new patient just because is slim to none - unless they have seen your flier. Go door to door in your neighborhood, particularly in those first 24-48 hours. Utilize social media, there are many facebook pages for lost pets.

Hopefully you never have to live this nightmare. If you do, I hope these tips help you come out of it successful and back with your pup.

Have a suggestion on keeping your pet safe? Or have a story of being reunited with your own dog? Give us a bark back in the comments below.

]]><![CDATA[Foundation Tricks - Wait]]>Sat, 05 Aug 2017 23:30:14 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/foundation-tricks-wait

There are three things I have learned since getting Luna that I wish someone would have taught me in our early days. Place, touch, and wait. We've picked up each of them at different times and from several people. Now I consider them essential for a well-trained dog. I introduce them in puppy class and offer them as solutions to friends and coworkers. Because they are a foundation for Trick Dog I have a planned post for each of them, but wanted to start with wait.

Wait and stay are similar commands, yet vastly different. With stay you are asking your dog to remain in the exact place and position you have left them. Sit/stay, means to sit where you are until I come back. That doesn't mean down, and it doesn't mean moving forward to see how much ground you can steal before I turn around. This isn't baseball. Stay is serious business because it could save your dog’s life.

Stay also doesn't mean I am going to call you to me.

If you are an experienced dog owner, you may have just reread that sentence. Maybe you stared at it in disbelief. It comes off a little crazy, right? What do you mean, you can't call your dog to you from a stay? Remember, stay isn't voluntary or conditional. Stay means you remain exactly where you are until I come back. Which means if you are calling your dog to you you are breaking down the strength of the command.

Now, hopefully, you've accepted that the idea of not calling your dog from a stay isn’t crazy. Or at least are open minded enough to keep reading. Because this is where wait comes in.

Wait is simple in principle. It means wait for my next command. On a sit/wait I will leave Luna, walk out 5/10/15 feet and call her to me. Wait also means she will remain still while I balance a toy or treat on her nose. In essence, it is letting your dog know there is another command coming. And they should be attentive and ready for it. A good wait, especially during tricks, will leave them completely still.

And as a bonus it helps you take amazing, crisp photos.

Since wait is all around and used at different times, there are multiple ways to introduce it to your dog. I’ve outlined a few below to get you started.

Prerequisite: Release

Before teaching wait select a release word such as okay. This will “free” them even if you haven't given them the next command. Again, think of the treat on her nose, she has to know when it can be eaten.

Treat Wait

Get a handful of treats ready and find a quiet place without distractions. I recommend using something they enjoy, but nothing they go crazy for.

Sit on the floor with your dog facing you and put a treat in your palm, face up.
Say wait.
If your dog moves for the treat use a correction noise. I make a buzzer-like sound, ‘eh, eh’ and repeat the command, moving your hand away from them. If you have a lunger close your palm.
Once your dog waits a few seconds say take it, offer the reward and praise.

Over time progress to longer intervals and move the treat to a different area. Your knee, foot, the floor, and your dog’s paw. Replace it with a favorite toy or ball. This will take multiple training sessions, but is something you can quickly do once or twice a day.

I use the command take it when offering the treat/toy from my palm and okay at all other times. This is because later tricks require your dog to take an item from you and hold it. I had to retrain my dogs to take items and found this was the easiest exercise to do so.

Toy Wait

Have your dog sit next to you, holding their collar. Roll a ball or toss a toy a few feet in front of them, saying wait as you release the object. Wait a few seconds and say okay before letting them go. Your goal is for them to sit on their own without having you hold them.

Day to Day Activities

I use wait when going through doorways and feeding my dogs (they are also expected to sit). Anytime I need their attention but am not ready for a responding action wait works wonders.

Replacing Stay

Now as mentioned above this only applies if you are not returning to your dog, but calling them to you. You can begin using this principle no matter how far along you are in training stay. For dogs that already know the command it is easiest to transition them if you are using a hand signal. I use a flat palm facing my dog's’ nose for both wait and stay, with a different verbal queue. Some trainers I know have chosen to use two signals. They hold their hands at a different angle. But I only use a hand signal during this scenario of wait and have kept it the same.

Place your dog in the sit, give the hand signal for stay but the verbal command for sit.
Step out in front of your dog, hold for a few seconds, return to your dog and praise/reward. Praise and reward only for a wait, just as you would for a stay. If they get up and or switch positions, return to step one.
Once your dog consistently remains waiting increase your distance.
Introduce the come command and call your dog to you.

Once you have solidified wait you can practice by switching your routine up. Walk briskly away from your dog, come back and circle your dog, or leave them at an angle. The possibilities are endless, but make sure you advance to using both wait and stay when appropriate.

Have a unique way you taught wait or tips to share with others? Give us a bark back in the comments below.

]]><![CDATA[Gather 'Round]]>Sat, 29 Jul 2017 23:57:16 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/gather-round

One of the most difficult thing about living in a multiple dog household and working full time is finding enough time for one-on-one training. Individual is ideal, but in day-to-day life it isn’t practical. I’m a firm believer in training every day, even if it is only for a few minutes. My personal goal is a few exercises before and after work, but due to time restraints it’s often in a group setting. On the positive side, the group forces your dogs to focus on you and not each other. This can be difficult for them to master, particularly when you are just starting out or when they are puppies.

A normal quick session for my dogs are obedience drills, sit, down, wait, and stay. During some sessions we will deviate and practice tricks instead. On the weekends or days with more time I often do combination.

We started these drills because we have a busy household. At the time our oldest was living at home and she did most of Ella’s original training. This was great, but it also meant that her commands were not as strong as Luna’s. I hadn’t spent as much time with her as I should have, and Ella’s a terrier. She is notorious for choosing when she does and doesn’t want to do something. And she knew just when to pick at Luna and destroy a session. Still does some days. Looking back it's kind of amazing she passed her Canine Good Citizenship on her first try.

This was before Charlie came to live with us, and by then we were up to four. It was time to get the whole pack to focus, even when the distractions were each other. When we started it was all I could do to get everyone to do sit and down in unison. Hell, half the time Ella still wouldn't sit on her own. And forget down. If you didn't have a treat for a lure, it wasn't happening.

It all came down to patience and the little things, both in a group and outside of it. Making everyone sit for their food. They learned that a treat meant work. Now, whether it's their morning dental bone or something small when I come home the sit is automatic 99% of the time. We progressed to downs until all the dogs were firm on the basics, even the monster.

Here's a list of our favorite drills. Feel free to leave your own in the comments, we are always looking for new ones to try!

Gather

My husband teases me because I really do use the command gather. He says I should just call ‘gather children’ to the dogs. I use this on a daily basis, pretty much anytime treats are coming out. Gather calls everyone to me. It’s similar to a front, but since there are three of them they sit in a half circle. We practice sits and downs in a group, no treats are given until everyone completes the command.

Wait Recalls

I normally work this drill from a gather, but sometimes with them spaced apart. The dogs will wait as I call the others to me one at a time. If one breaks before they are called everyone returns. This one took the longest to master.

Serpentine Stay

Place your dogs in a sit or down a few feet apart from each other. Then weave through and around them. I release them one at a time after I return to them in heel position.

Taking Turns

This one is trickier for Ella. Only one dog is ‘active’ and working on tricks while the others wait in their place. For my dogs this is their bed in our living room. Start this in slow intervals, doing only do a few tricks at a time before switching out. My eventual goal is to remove the place and be able to do this outside on a stay. Luna and Charlie are there, but Ella is still working on it.

]]><![CDATA[Foundation Tricks - Paw]]>Sat, 22 Jul 2017 23:18:57 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/foundation-tricks-pawCall it shake, paw, or pick your own command, teaching your dog to lift their paw for you is a trick staple. It's the one that strangers on the street will ask your dog, “Can you shake?” And wait for your dog’s non-verbal answer. Maybe it’s because we associate shaking hands as etiquette. But whatever the reason, shake is a crowd pleaser. It also leads to dozens of other tricks: wave, high five (or ten), to name the easier ones.

Ironically, shake is one of the few tricks that Luna didn’t seem to ‘get’ for the longest time. I assumed it would be easiest to pick up her paw for her, ‘shake’ it while repeating the command. I figured she would either recognize the word or the hand signal, but she always just looked at me confused. After a while I gave up and moved on to tricks she was more naturally inclined to do.

Turned out I was doing it wrong. Or at least wrong for her. Since then I have found that whenever possible you need to lure your dog into doing whatever it is you are asking of them. While I was attempting to teach her shake I was in fact doing the motion for her. In her mind we were doing the trick as designed, and I guess she’s right.

Ready to give it a try?

Paw is best taught on the ground with your dog in a sitting position in front of you. Take a tasty treat (the tastier the better) and let them watch you put it in a closed fist. Place your hand on the ground just in front of their paws. Your dog will probably sniff at the treat, they may lie down, or even lick your hand. As soon as their paw leaves the ground mark the behavior (such as using the word ‘yes’!), followed by the command (good paw), and then reward them with the treat.

Continue to praise and reward for raising the paw. Transition to holding your hand open, palm up, and shaking before raising your arm to a greater height. Your goal should be chest high for the dog.

Every dog learns this trick at a different pace. Once Luna understood I wanted her paw to touch my hand she was shaking after just a few sessions. Ella still paws at me half the time, and for Charlie it’s one of his favorite tricks.

Already have it mastered?

Try taking shake to a new level. Teach your dog to switch paws. Like humans they have a preference between right and left. Or move your hand away to teach wave, hand forward and towards them for high five.

When teaching additional tricks it is often helpful to use both the new and old command at first. For example, with wave I would call it ‘shake wave’ to encourage the paw lift.

Now for a real challenge explore your own tricks involving paw. Think buttons and switches - even musical instruments.

Have a unique way of using the paw command? Let us know in the comments below.

]]><![CDATA[Trick Dog For Beginners]]>Tue, 11 Jul 2017 05:05:57 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/trick-dog-for-beginners

Luna practicing 'On" and "Hold".

I promised a few posts ago that we would post more on Trick Dog. Last week Luna and I set out to sign off her Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced titles. To some, it may sound like a rush, but I wanted to get hers finished and off the table so I could move onto Ella and Charlie. Not that it means we’re done, because constant training keeps Luna happy and strengthens our bond.

She completed 20 tricks last Saturday to obtain all three titles. Her wave was a little sketchy...but she had also only learned it that same week. There is still one more title she can earn, Performer, but we have to do a video for that. If I’m going that far with it I want to put a whole sketch together. I’m thinking something musically inclined, as we are working on ‘keys’ with Dad’s keyboard.

As I mentioned before, I want to share the Trick Dog journey with you. But to be honest Luna's is towards the end of that path, so we’ll be focusing more on Charlie and Ella. Not that she won’t still make an appearance now and then, because, well, it’s Luna.

So how do you get started in Trick Dog? A good starting place would be to find a local AKC obedience club. If you don’t have one available or you want to go it alone start by picking up Kyra Sundance’s 101 Dog Tricks. I recommend everyone, whether or not you are interested in Trick Dog, to complete a basic training program. This should include getting your Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Depending on the program you choose and how much training you have done on your own this may take more than one complete class.

Any training improves your dog's relationship with you and the people they come in contact with. However, a group setting helps them learn how to ‘work’ with other dogs and people. There are distractions, unforeseen circumstances, and teaches you how to anticipate your dog’s reaction during those events. A program that incorporates the CGC will help you lay the foundation for an excellent dog and handler bond.

Once you have obtained your CGC completing the Novice Trick Dog title should be a breeze. For Novice your dog needs to complete ten tricks total, and a CGC counts as five. During each level you can also do two handler’s choice tricks, which are any trick you have taught your dog that is not listed. However, as these cannot be repeated I do not recommend using them during Novice.

You can review the full list of Novice tricks here. Most handlers find their dogs can complete five for an evaluator with little effort. I’ll outline a few of the easiest, along with tricks taught in several classes.

If you are interested in tricks at all, your dog may already know these five:

Speak
Fetch and Give
Spin in Circle
Kiss (on cheek)
Shake

Obedience Tricks, for dogs that have completed their CGC. These should have been taught in your classes:

Hand Signals (Down, Sit, Come) - If your dog knows any one of these three hand signals they need to perform it twice for a sign off.
Push Ups - Common in puppy classes, this trick is a repetition of sit, down, sit, down, sit, down.

Agility Tricks, for those dogs in the sport, or interested in getting involved:

Tunnel - Must go through the tunnel twice.
Balance Beam - This is a low beam off the ground. Many agility classes begin with this before advancing to the dog walk.
Jump - Can be an agility jump, or a hula-hoop.

Lastly, these three are tricks I think are super easy to learn. All three of my dogs have, or will perform them during their Novice titles:

Paws Up - In our house we call this ‘Perch’. Luna likes to perch on just about anything, the bathtub in particular. I use a small step stool for actual training, make sure it’s stable!
Get In (a box) - For Luna we used a laundry basket. She jumped in the first time I asked her to. You can also use a large Rubbermaid/Tupperware bin or a box lid for a smaller dog.
Get On (low platform or step) - This can be any item, even an agility pause table. Luna and Ella both like to use the same step stool for Paws Up. For Charlie it’ll be the table.

And that’s how easy Novice can be! Even if you don’t have a CGC your dog can probably complete ten of those tricks. Now the real challenge is if they can do all 20 on the Novice list!

]]><![CDATA[Time Warp]]>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 23:26:06 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/time-warp

Sometimes a song or artist can transport you to another time and place. Tim McGraw holds that power over me. My once favorite musician throughout junior high and high school; the first CD I bought his Not a Moment Too Soon. And I aged myself with the CD comment…

I can still hear his voice blasting through warn speakers of my first car, a ‘74 burnt orange Chevy Vega. And if I try hard enough and close my eyes I can feel my passenger, Miley.

A wiry, brown mutt Mi was my first real dog. I had others growing up, but she was the first one that was truly mine. That I owned. Or she owned me. She'd sit nestled in my console, cruising the streets of St. George. If I wasn't at school or at work that dog was always with me.

I'd belt whatever song was playing and try to get her to howl along with the words. Sometimes it worked. God, I wish i I had recorded her howl/yowl/whine combo because it was something to behold.

Our song was Something Like That, or as I always called it, The Barbecue Song. It may sound like a weird choice if you’ve ever heard it, but I worked so hard to win that little timid dog over. I swear she recognized the beat, even years later. No matter how long it had been that song would come on the radio and she would get all excited.

I played it for her one last time the day I let her go.

It's been almost three years and my heart still aches. But it's dulled and now I find I can cherish her memories. As with my other dogs, a piece of her is always with me, will always be with me.

So today I'll turn up my phone just a little louder and let her come back to me again. Because they never really leave us. Not when they take a piece of our hearts with them.

]]><![CDATA[Trick Dog!]]>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:02:08 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/trick-dogLuna and I have been excited for the new Trick Dog titles ever since the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced the program in May. The AKC partnered with Kyra Sundance’s Do More With Your Dog and is designed for all dogs to participate.

“Tricks” are something Luna has done almost naturally since the day she came into our house. Whether it was something she picked up during a quick training session (balancing a treat) or she just did (perch - front paws on an item like a stool). A natural worker and eager to please, grab a handful of treats and give her some one-on-one time and Luna’s ready to go!

There are so many things I love about this program’s design. First, it’s simple to get involved in. You can find a list of all the tricks for each title (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Performer) on the AKC’s website. This makes it easy for you to practice at home at your own pace if you can’t find classes near you. Kyra Sundance even released a book called 101 Dog Tricks that contains many of the tricks with step-by-step instructions. Once you’re ready to title you don’t have to wait for a dog show or compete dozens of times. All Trick Dog titles just have to be passed off by an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator.

Trick Dog also allows you to dip your toes into the world of several AKC sports. There are obedience tricks involving the basics of sit and down alongside agility equipment like the weave poles and tunnel. And if these are commands your dog is familiar with you can challenge yourself with tricks such as pulling a toy with a rope or balancing on a barrel. Trick Dog is designed to be fun and I think it meets that goal.

Over the next few weeks we’ll have more updates on our Trick Dog journey. I hope it will inspire you to do more with your own dog, even if you never decide to title.

]]><![CDATA[Blog, What Blog?]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:02:54 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/blog-what-blog

Luna hanging out after Agility!

I think it's safe to say I'm terrible at this blogging thing. Well over a year since the last time Luna and I have caught up with things here. Charlie had just come home to us!

It's also been over a year since we said goodbye to Boots and while I don't want to rehash her loss again I will add this insert from the post I shared on Facebook the day we let her go:

“She was a wonderful dog, had one of the best temperaments I have ever seen, was sweet, and so smart. Although she only lived in our home for several years many of you know she was part of my family for her entire life (all 15 years). She was one of the last parts of my dad that was still with me.”

For the first time in a long while I am not operating the Doggy Old Folks Home. Even now that feels weird. But at least we aren't at the vet's every month!

Not that we never see Dr. Taylor over at Brookside, because that would make life too easy. Just last week I found a tumor next to Luna's little tail nub that had to be removed. It looks like it's benign and Luna is taking it in stride so I'm doing my best to emulate her and not worry. Hard when you know all the things that might go wrong.

But we have had a lot of good things happen in the last year, too. Both Charlie and Ella passed their Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) on their first attempt. I had someone make the mistake of asking me if that meant they were smarter than Luna - No, they have less issues from their past to work through. Luna can run circles around both of them when it comes to obedience.

Lots of changes on the training front. I’ve been assisting and training puppy classes, making it harder for me to fit in training with my own dogs. At long last we’ve started dipping our toes into rally - I’m sure I have a post around here somewhere talking about how agility was a goal for Luna. We’ve dropped Rally and are getting ready to start a trick dog class in a couple weeks.

Right now life is good… now if I can just find time to write more!

]]><![CDATA[Charlie!!]]>Sat, 06 Feb 2016 01:00:02 GMThttps://www.worldlydogs.com/life-with-loony-luna/charlie

Often, when people ask how many dogs I have they think I’m a little crazy when I tell them three – now they think I’m nuts. Last week we chose to take in a fourth pack member, a husky mix named Charlie.

Charlie lived in a home where he was well loved, but there wasn’t enough time available for his care. He is a high energy dog and without an outlet was over excited and difficult to manage. However, he is also extremely intelligent, quick to learn, and has a wonderful temperament. Recognizing his potential I offered to give him a spot in our home, as long as he and Luna got along.

Luna, being the wild card she is, had me a little nervous about the introduction. However, as it went with Ella, I had little to worry about. The two (and then three of them once Ella joined in) were chasing and playing with each other happily about 15 minutes after Charlie arrived.

Charlie is adapting quickly to life at our house, he acts as if he’s always been part of the pack. He and Ella love to wear each other out, which actually gives Luna and I more of the one on one time she craves. Luckily, he gives Boots the space she needs and has not been overbearing on her at all. The only one having trouble adapting to the extra four paws is the cat.

Back to the craziness of four dogs – it honestly doesn’t feel that much different than three, in some ways it feels even easier. Walking them all at once can be a bit of a challenge, but that’s what having a good strong heel and walk are for. While he is still learning, Luna and Ella on the other hand can be walked together with ease.

As soon as classes start up again this spring Charlie will be heading in with me, his toughest hurdle is going to be learning to focus on his handler rather than all the other dogs he wants to play with. Once we get past that one I doubt there is going to be much this guy can’t do.

]]>