Part III – working on getting her into the crate
We are working on the going to the crate on command. We are using the words “In your Box” as the command. The shorter the phrase the better they can relate to what it means. It has been a struggle. We can get her into the room and then she freezes right in front of the box. I then would have to move one foot at a time to get her to go in. Patience is necessary and you cannot get angry or she’ll think its punishment. Once in, she gets a treat, a biscuit. Food is a good motivator for just about any dog, but especially greys. She is no exception here. It took about 4 nights and she is now going into her box without me having to move her feet. In fact, one afternoon Fred and I were in the bedroom and we watched her walk in to the crate and out. This is a good thing. She has done this a couple of times over the past two days. There is no punishment associated with this. We are so glad. As of this Thursday she is going into the crate even when we do not have a treat in hand. But we do go and get one just to be sure to reward her. We soon will not even have to do this. One of the things that we do with Guinn, our cat, is when we say “bedtime” she runs down the hall to the bedroom. We are hoping that this will create the same reaction with Tari. Still do not have a picture of the two of them together. I think this is going to take time. Guinn has found a little nook upstairs to nap in.
Part IV - Cleaning her teeth
I started working on this almost as soon as we got her. You do this by examining the teeth, opening her month and touching her teeth. She was fine with this. Then I started to carfully pull the lips back. Not a problem in the front but she is resisting when I try to check her back teeth. I just might be better off waiting until she is lying down and try it then. It is important to keep after a grey’s dental hygiene. They have such long jaws that when they eat they do not get all of the food off their teeth in the very back and this causes bad breath. It also helps to stay on top of the teeth because dental work on dogs can be expensive. I started to use the rubber finger brush with beef flavored toothpaste. Yes, they make doggie tooth paste and I also have a doggie toothbrush, which I haven’t started to use yet - - I’ll need to build up to this. I’m also thinking of picking up one of those greenies which are supposed to be good for dog’s teeth. Maybe I can get out tomorrow and get this.
I did missed a milestone yesterday. Fred said he heard her bark for the first time. Fred believes that she did this to get his attention. Oh well, maybe the next time I'll hear it. There is always something to look forward to with a grey. We are having lots of fun with her.
We are working on the going to the crate on command. We are using the words “In your Box” as the command. The shorter the phrase the better they can relate to what it means. It has been a struggle. We can get her into the room and then she freezes right in front of the box. I then would have to move one foot at a time to get her to go in. Patience is necessary and you cannot get angry or she’ll think its punishment. Once in, she gets a treat, a biscuit. Food is a good motivator for just about any dog, but especially greys. She is no exception here. It took about 4 nights and she is now going into her box without me having to move her feet. In fact, one afternoon Fred and I were in the bedroom and we watched her walk in to the crate and out. This is a good thing. She has done this a couple of times over the past two days. There is no punishment associated with this. We are so glad. As of this Thursday she is going into the crate even when we do not have a treat in hand. But we do go and get one just to be sure to reward her. We soon will not even have to do this. One of the things that we do with Guinn, our cat, is when we say “bedtime” she runs down the hall to the bedroom. We are hoping that this will create the same reaction with Tari. Still do not have a picture of the two of them together. I think this is going to take time. Guinn has found a little nook upstairs to nap in.
Part IV - Cleaning her teeth
I started working on this almost as soon as we got her. You do this by examining the teeth, opening her month and touching her teeth. She was fine with this. Then I started to carfully pull the lips back. Not a problem in the front but she is resisting when I try to check her back teeth. I just might be better off waiting until she is lying down and try it then. It is important to keep after a grey’s dental hygiene. They have such long jaws that when they eat they do not get all of the food off their teeth in the very back and this causes bad breath. It also helps to stay on top of the teeth because dental work on dogs can be expensive. I started to use the rubber finger brush with beef flavored toothpaste. Yes, they make doggie tooth paste and I also have a doggie toothbrush, which I haven’t started to use yet - - I’ll need to build up to this. I’m also thinking of picking up one of those greenies which are supposed to be good for dog’s teeth. Maybe I can get out tomorrow and get this.
I did missed a milestone yesterday. Fred said he heard her bark for the first time. Fred believes that she did this to get his attention. Oh well, maybe the next time I'll hear it. There is always something to look forward to with a grey. We are having lots of fun with her.
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