The Adventures of Mookie the Mudi

COOPERATIVE CARE  involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but also to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. This is a sentence from a great article in the Whole Dog Journal that can be read by clicking this link !  I can't say that any of my German Shepherds actually cooperated in their care and, for sure, they were often not a willing participant!  I thought this is going to change with Mookie..  Time will tell, it's a LONG process and I'll update here.  2023 April  We made some progress this month!! Muzzle  - THIS is great!  Got a muzzle that fits and he accepts it well.  It's the best slow feeder I've had!!  I wrote a post about it here.  Nails  - it is really working!  Mookie is now giving me his paw to grind the nails.  We're at 1-2 at a session per paw followed by a piece of dehydrated salmon!!   Bath tub  - This is a work in progress.  I bought him a tub which he sat in when it was on the floo

   Titles and awards earned this month....    AKC Virtual Scent Work Intermediate  4 Best of Breed (4 First Place, 4 Best Male), Group 3 (UKC Conformation) Link to Mookie's titles   What is a title, really?  (...a must read!)  February photos are in this album!  February videos are added to this album! Lots of training and adventures this month but only one show and no competition trials!  I know I'll be glad when winter and snow are gone but I'm not sure about Mookie!  As he has all winter, he delights in chasing his ball around the yard and running and jumping in the snow!  Because he has dog door access to the yard, he is in and out when we're home.  I used to worry when it was quiet and go looking for him but now I just look outside and there he is running or hanging on the ball on a rope on a tree!   As always, we spend a lot of time at the Winnegamie Dog Club!  Two mornings each week training early and helping with rally classes.  This month was a "Senior Dog