my date with the mango luv machine

hi bloggiepals,

you heard it right.. got myself a date!
with the one & only relentlessly huge MANGO!

Actually his momma arranged it ..
guess she thought he'd like my large muscle butt.
luckily my photo/videographer assistant, my Aunt Bee (norwood's mommie)
was available to record this major event. yeah!

there were a few other chaperones too.
like Paul the training dude from grad skool.

and both our mommas. geesh.. talk about baggage. no fun!

luv at first sight? or at first bite?

trainer dude thought we should start slow & far apart.

i was trying to luv eye him up. check him up & down.

nevah see anything quite like him before.

guess he's kinda cute.

(live-action version click here) 

training note: click & treated for looking at each other calmly

 but the boy only had luvie eyes for his momma.

 you could tell the paul trainerdude was trying to figure him out...

and i couldn't figure him out either.
what does a girl have to do to get noticed!

so onto plan b:
i'll tell him how i feel!

 there! i'll puff & crumble my lippers at him.
except this only means one thang.

watch out --starting to bubble ovah.
come on- stop looking at your momma~

then.. a few choice hbo words may have popped out.
on accident oops. (not lady-like)

but obviously bubbling ovah means somethang quite different for the Mango. 

i think he's excited.. i mean he shows it in a whole other way.
not sure i'm ready for that- yikes.

guess what? as we got closer..
out came the Mango Luv Song.


click on the photo 4 live action or here.
geepers he hams it up for the camera.

 everything was going good.
until this floof entered the picture.
who invited her?
really? a threesome on a first date-! as if!

all of sudden ..an encore performance took place.
not for me. nope. for miss floofie tail.
(4 live action- click here)

i mean i can look past the sudz,
and his crayon,
and being a momma's boy.

this was most upsetting.
i showed him all my tulaness.. what gives?

so we ended the date there.
i left him a couple more messages outside.
yep!

and then his momma said.. we'll cya in grad skool tula!
bye mango.

oh well..
Massachewsitz boys can't handle a girl from brooklyn.
there's other mangos in the tree.


Happy Memorial Day weekend!
put the hot doggies on the grill & eat'em up..

interested in a few more outtakes:

"i think he's interested" video- click here
"the slobbery waterbowl"- click here
"hey i'm trying to look at the beast"- click here

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10:19:00 AM

clicker training, firstdate, mango, reactive dog class, training blog

Training Blog #7: Real-life

Training in Real-Life- eesh...how scury.

Hey bloggiepals. you tagged along on my last walkie... but, i wasn't exactly finished. it's time to put my countless hours of training to the test.

A quick reminder- how does the saying go, you can take the girl out of brooklyn, but you can't take the brooklyn out of the girl.. well, this happens when a dog is near, or within a 5 mile radius. you'll see.

Here's where we left off.. i was taking a breather. drooling, scritching in the grassies.

feeling hunger pains so time to head home.

hold up! hold the phone! wait just one minute.. dog alert dog alert.

Here's your chance: get your superpowahful foodables ready, clicker & your bag of tricks! your job is to keep me under threshold.

can't see the dog? i know he's therah.. like all the way across the 5 mile parking lot. Time for the Look At That game (by Leslie McDevitt).

How to play:
I look at that DOG
i have to turn back to look at mom
*CLICK* & treat

we like to add the 'Find it' game to it too.
when i turn to look at you-- sprinkle the treats on the ground

(sniffing the ground is a calming signal to other dogs and to myself. see me relax a little bit more!)

Believe it or not, this is progress- i use to go into a frenzy, standing on my hinds legs, spinning around and other madnezz. (too embarrass to even say this)

now i can still keep my thinking brain or as Emma Parson says, 'my brain is still working' by being able to respond and take treats. she also recommends always working below threshold -even if it is a significant distance.

Hope i didn't scur anyone. .. yes you could say i'm rough around the edges but all cookies on the inside. of course training is not ovah for moi. i'm signed up for summer school-puggeash! one day i'll be able to have goofball fun like my cuzin, Norwood. sigh.

kiss kisses,


Interested in learning more about my reactive dog training
Read old my old Training Blogs

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10:26:00 AM

clicker training, reactive dog class, training blog, tula, walkies

Training Blog #4: Mind yer Bidnez

Yep, call me a 'lifer'--I'm signed up again for ANOTHER round of Reactive II Class with Emma. Ho hum.. isn't there a policy? or something- 3 times tops. I'm probably not doing myself a favor, whenever we run into Murphy coming out of his apartment... showtime-- grr, grr, lunge, etc. etc. Sometimes he starts it! Things I learned in class kinda go out the window at home.

The good thing about new classes is the new doggies! Let's see.. me & daisy are the only repeaters, ohh and max the rottie is back. He keeps sending his lucky charms my way! We'll get to that latah.

Remember in my previous training blogs, I showed you my usual spot in the back corner of the room. Those spots are left to the more sensitive/ reactive doggies. Well I'm moving on up, to the east side.. no no, I've gotten somewhat of a promotion to the middle of the room now. The pressure is on! Got to keep it together while my doggie-mates are practicing their agility tricks a few feet by me.

I do sneak some peeks, chat a little.. and i am thinking my doggie-mates are trying to tell me something.

Oh Max. He's working on being able to look at another dog for a very short time. When it's his turn, here comes the question, "who do you want to be exposed to?" Max has been picking me! (Hmm, I really didn't know it was that kind of class. I am trying to be a lady!) I have to parade in front of him (at a distance:) ). He gets to watch me. This class he watched me weave-- got him a little riled up. (who wouldn't??! hubba hubba)


Next time -- lipstick, wear the lipstick! That will really get him going.

Oh My DOG! Do you think Daisy was upset with me? I caught her sticking her tongue out. Nola did it in the class before, now Daisy. What did I do?

Meet the new kids.... Zeus the german shepard who is a protester or shall we say, stubborn
and Boris the ? (His daddy thought he was a sharpei/lab mix.

However, the DNA results turned out differently) were both mumbling something to me.

Then there's Duffy the greyhound, who looks lovely in her cape. I thought they were talking about cheese... guess she has a problem with me staring too.

Petey the pitbull was the only one who didn't have too much of a problem avec moi. Although, he was probably too busy finding all the goodies on the floor. Do I really need to be hit over the head with this! I'll try, I'll try to mind my bidnez. ok!

Two more classes to go before I advance to the Controlled Unleashed Class. gulp... we're talking no barriers, learning how to stay on a mat while doggies are working, and being calm. Ummmm. can we talk about this first?!!

HAPPY WEEKEND,

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10:48:00 AM

click to calm, clicker training, reactive dog class, training blog

Training Blog #3: Tails of Thursday Night

Reactive Class II: Third & Fourth Session by tula
Sorry, the last time I blogged about my training class was over two weeks ago (oops). Time slips by too easily. Let me begin with another apology... in my previous entry, I talked about Callie, the yellow lab and how she gives a great circus trick performance. Well, I also said she was a girl. After having a closer look, I noticed this kind of furry hanging handle on her... which probably means, she's actually a he. Sorry Callie.. wonder if you spell your name differently too. (A girl doesn't get out much.. can you tell!)

Anyways, this should catch you up on our class activities.
Click on the photos to enlarge.

I maybe the star of this show.. obviously no one could care if I walked
into the room. Where's the love?!

Barks to Daisy...even though her parents make the trip from Vermont, she sometimes needs a little coaxing to participate. (if you know what I mean and, I think you do).

Good to see Max back in action. His mom says he has bionic knees.. and hips? Or you can call it a replacement, he prefers bionic. Poor guy.. but I'll tell you another thing about him, put a piece of cheese in front of him.. No worries.

Emma wants us to do this thing called a buddy walk. The room was arranged with several jumps running parallel to another set. Of course, a dividing gate was put in between. Everyone took a turn practicing first, before the actual event-- walking next to another "buddy" that was moving alongside of you. The second time was the true challenge, GULP--walking towards your buddy!

Emma partnered me & Callie together. Her g-ma thought Callie would do better if she ran the course. For my sake, that just gets me going--the prey drive kicks in from quick movements. Mom had to speed up her chicken feeding to focus my attention on her.

You know what, I did it! Short lived success though.. it was all preparation for this past Thursday, when THREE of us were out on the floor performing over hoops, tunnels, jumps AT THE SAME TIME!

HARD GULP.. so when it was my turn, Nola was nearby peforming her tasks..before you know it, that overwhelming urge came over me -- grr & I stood up on my hind legs (it gives off the 'don't mess with me' vibe; well, and makes me taller than my mom).Before I could blink, Mom body blocked me, told me to go into a down position, refocus and finish the task.

As the saying goes.. No Pain No Gain (maybe)
It's the not the size of the dog in the fight (nope)
A good dog is a tired dog. (true)
Must try new things.
How about ...I can do it if I put my mind to it!

That's my story & I'm sticking with it.

Session 3 Grade: A Lots of looks at the other dogs but stayed Cool as a Cucumber.
Session 4 Grade: B Challenging class, keep all paws on the floor next time, pullease.

Reactive Dog Classes are held at MasterPeace Dog Training, Franklin MA
Emma Parsons, author of Click to Calm & instructor
Julie Robitaille, CAMT is the owner of Animal Wellness Massage Therapy

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10:03:00 AM

click to calm, clicker training, reactive dog class, training blog

Training Log #2: Confessions of a Reactive Dog

Reactive Class II: Second Session by tula
Back from our week off and ready to get started! I was too excited to take my usual nap on the drive there. Can't wait to get rowdy.. I mean, to be calm when I see everyone again.

Meet My Class

This is the classroom. (Not how you pictured it??)

Emma Parsons, author of Click to Calm is our instructor.

Woohoo, over here! Look way in the back! You can't see me.. but, that's on purpose. Everyone is in their spot behind the tall wooden barriers. The front spots are for those dogs who can handle more exposure during our activities.

Confession/Slight Embarassment:

uhmmmm, I'm just not ready for all that yet. (maybe someday)

Lesson: Circus Tricks! (aka The OBSTACLE COURSE)

Well, it seems like circus tricks-- all the weaving, jumping, this way then that way, and you want me to go through what?! Emma was trying to convince us that these exercises create a "thinking dog" versus reacting.

Oh, I was thinking alright, I was thinking about:

Hey, who's that over there?
What are they doing?
You can't do that!
I can't see!

Callie was up first.

Pretty good work. No Problems.
Just between you & me.. this wasn't her first time.


Let's see what Daisy can do..



Where'd she go?

Then... here it comes: Does tula want a turn? Of course - at least, I'll go through the hoops as long as I get to sneak some peeks at everyone.

Circus Trick 1: Over the first pole. good good.
Over the second pole- a little sloppy. Accidently knocked the pole down.

Another Confession:

I'm not actually jumping and you could say, not really paying too much attention to the pole either.

Circus Trick 3: THE TUNNEL
Notice it's not as long as daisy's! There is no way I'm going through-- I'll stick my head in there and that's it!

Circus Trick 4, 5, 6:
After weaving in & out of the poles, sitting on a platform AND
going over 2 more jumps.

Wait. What was Nola doing?.... Yah, well, it's back to my spot.

Click & Chicken time.

Nola's up.
Uh oh, she's headed my way- I want to look but I want that piece of chicken too. The urge to GRRR & lunge are coming over me. What to do? what to do?
My mom keeps saying 'Good Looking Tula!'
Then there's the whiff of chicken in front of my nose.
Click & Chicken.
Exhale.

**Somehow I can be distracted from my distractions--interesting.

Superstar Circus Status! Bravo!

That was only the first half hour of class. Next, Emma wanted us to practice certain exercises when we're not 'working' or you know, just sitting there. She says reactive dogs have a harder time if they're not focusing on something.


Exercises: Doggie Zen is like the LEAVE IT command.
My mom showed me the treat in her hand.
Closed her hand and held it out to the side.
So, I stared at her hand. Nothing. Kept staring & staring.
Then it finally happened. Once I looked at her eyes, to say, What's the deal?
Click & Chicken
Oh course!


Sit/Down- Stays
Now I had to move out in front of my barrier and sit.
Hey Callie's over there. Why, wait, why is Daisy jumping around?
(slight distractions)
Then my mom walked to stand in front of me for a minute or 2 mins.
Repeat.
This time she turned her whole back to me. How rude!

Confession: She didn't even know I was too busy watching Nola the whole time.

Before class ended, Julie visited me in my cell, I mean spot. She called me Miss America! and even sang it. Julie usually teaches us about massage to help with relaxation each class. She thinks I'm doing very well- let's be honest, the words were Superstar since the first time I came to class.

Exhausting, time to go home.


Grade: B+ Kept it together through the entire class!


Reactive Dog Classes are held at MasterPeace Dog Training, Franklin MA
Julie Robitaille, CAMT is the owner of Animal Wellness Massage Therapy

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6:57:00 PM

click to calm, clicker training, reactive dog class, training blog