Tricks of the trade

Yesterday, Mila received her very first piece of personalised mail. It was her Beginner's Obedience Class Certificate which now sits proudly on our fridge for the world to see (I had to keep the envelope too - because having something come in mail for "Mila" at our address was just too cute to throw away!) 

We finished obedience classes just over a month ago - before the Christmas break. There, we interacted with heaps of different dog breeds - from other Greyhounds (Senso and Zaha) to a couple of small fluffy things and everything in between. For that reason alone, we found the classes to be a big help and it was good to see Mila socialise with other dogs in a pretty relaxed setting. 

Dog School also taught us a few things that have stuck with us ever since. Mila learnt all the basics: Sit (Sue is right - Greyhounds CAN Sit!! Although our one does it reluctantly - and doesn't seem to like to do it on hard ground...), Down (easy!), Stay (less easy - but we have been working on it and we are getting very good!), Wait, and the good old-fashioned meet & greet. 

Of course, our absolute favourites are the "fun" tricks - the ones that serve no better purpose than to exercise the mind and body - and show the world what a good girl we are because we can follow instructions. 

In no particular order, we have: 

BANG/Play Dead - the hand signal being a finger gun accompanied by the command "Bang". We do this one from Down and it is meant to be a dramatic fall sideways with legs sticking out - a real Play Dead. With Mila, it's more of a slow slump to the side (or sometimes a 6-point "get up, reposition yourself, lie down on your side, stick your legs out, put your head your head on the ground and don't move") - but we know that we've got it when her head touches the ground - and she'll do it every time. She might be a B-Grade actor when it comes to "dying" - but she seems to enjoy it - and it really helps with our Stay. Mike is particularly proud of this trick because - in his words "I taught her that one..."

Practicing BANG! at the park while friend Rupert judges our form.

Stretch - front legs out in front, head bowed and bum in the air. This one is EASY - and usually the default trick if she is trying to get away with not doing what she is told (nice try...). On the odd occasion we have to remind her what a stretch is by doing the actions ourselves (our Downward Facing Dogs are getting good practice) - and then she will stretch along with us. I'm starting to think that she just wants to see me practice my Yoga moves in the middle of the lounge!! 

Roll Over - this is our latest trick - and one we have devised to follow on from Bang. We can now roll both ways - although rolling right usually involves pushing off a wall/person/stationary object. I am amazed that we even got her to do this at all... with her legs up in the air and using what looks like her tail and her neck (or the stationary object) to give her some momentum in the direction she needs, it really is a sight to behold!

We are also great fans of Fetch (although the Return part is not always spot on - particularly if there is a bed within sight) and are currently perfecting our 'Come Here' (Thank God for high-value treats and squeaky toys is all I can say...) Any other ideas for tricks/tips for obedience? We are always looking to extend our repertoire.

Christmas with Mila

Mila sleeping off the effects of a big Christmas Day

Mila Grey's first Christmas with us has been a very successful and very busy one - full of new experiences, new toys, new friends, and a brand new crate to call her own.

In the past week, we have met and made friends with a very enthusiastic Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Maltese dog named Rupert, spent time splashing about in a paddling pool, been back to the farm to play with our Waimaraner buddies, gone to the beach, hung out with some young kids, learnt some new tricks, and discovered a whole new world of squeaky toys, treats, and things that jingle. I have attached some photos of the various things we have been up to over the last little while. As I type, Mila is certainly showing the effects of her big Christmas adventures, sleeping on her couch in the dining room (a new favourite position being to sleep upside down with her legs resting against the back of the couch) - getting up occasionally to find a squeaky toy and have a play. Despite the tiredness, Mila has coped really well with all of the different things that have been thrown at her (and with the break in routine) and now feel a lot more confident about taking her out and about with us whenever we can.

Over the Christmas break, we have definitely learnt a couple of lessons about the way that Mila operates, the biggest one being that a box of treats wrapped up under the Christmas tree, will be found and demolished (along with the wrapping paper on every other present under the tree) if the opportunity presents itself. Of course, this is probably a very obvious lesson for a dog owner to learn (Greyhounds might be sight hounds but that doesn't mean that they can't smell!!) - and I really have no justification for thinking it was a good idea to put a doggie present under the tree, but hindsight is 20/20 and we had been having such success with the "human gifts" staying untouched under the tree that a week or so out from Christmas, I got a little bit cocky and thought that Mila's present might also survive. Quite the opposite. 

Cooling off in the pool on Christmas Eve

We arrived home after work one night to the usual excited waggy tail at the doorway and went about taking off bags and jackets and starting to think about what we might have for dinner. Then, walking into the lounge, we saw the damage. Thankfully, the Christmas tree remained in tact (and upright) - but there was wrapping paper everywhere, and presents strewn randomly across the floor. The presents were largely unharmed (although I did have to explain the bite marks in a few things on Christmas morning) and it seems that it was the wrapping paper and the boxes that were the main attraction there. However, in the corner sat an open and destroyed box of choc drops (empty of its contents) and a squeaker toy which had obviously provided some entertainment already. Unfortunately, it didn't end there. Our flatmate had just been donated a whole lot of herbal tea from a friend of hers which was sitting nicely in colourful boxes on the bench waiting to be put away. The boxes came off the bench, the tea bags came out and Mila proceeded to take seemed like every single one around the lounge to her mat, ripping holes in the bags and leaving a trail of tea leaves behind her. As you can imagine, it took a while to clean up - but I knew straight away that I had really been asking for it the whole time.

My theory is that Mila sniffed out something interesting under the tree and decided to investigate further. The present would have also squeaked when she chewed at it - and it was all over from there! Being so successful with one present, I can only think that we opened the remaining presents in an attempt to recreate the magic. Luckily, there wasn't anything else edible under the tree (so we didn't have a rehash of vet visit on our hands). Of course, now no Christmas tree and/or Christmas present goes uninvestigated. We don't go so far as ripping any wrapping paper - but a good wander around the tree and a sniff of all the presents under it is a must before Mila will settle down.

So, no more dog treats under the tree before Christmas day - got it. Something best left as a gift for Santa to bring down the chimney with him next year I suppose :)

Mila helps out with the Christmas baking