Update

We are holding our own around the 24 Paws of Love since Angel's passing.  And even though she didn't live with us, she was still and always will be our baby.  Waves of sadness, shock, disbelief and happiness that she is free to run now without any fears passes through and around me.  There is also some anger at life in general and why this young girl was taken much too early according to my records.  I used to hate that saying, "Everything happens for a reason," but I trust the man upstairs must have needed her for some great feat that only our little Angel could do and it brings me peace.

I watched a fantastic video by Fearfuldogs' Blog  a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to point out (I'm so far behind!) an excellent example of getting a dog used to something.  The owner was working on the building blocks of getting her dog used to doggie toothpaste in order someday to brush her teeth.  Watch it HERE.  It's 13 minutes long, but worth every minute.  These were the beginning steps of what she wanted to accomplish with her dog.  It was a good reminder of how patience and working slowly with your dog can make it a great environment to learn just about anything.  In my attempts to get Chance and Blaze use to their sledding harnesses, I tend to rush through the steps to fast as I want to push to make things happen.  I can be so impatient.  I mean I go from the beginning point to putting it on them in one session!  Talk about pushing it!  So this was a great reminder to slow down and literally take it piece by piece.  Also it shows in the video how progress isn't linear and that sometimes you have to step back to the beginning for a minute then you can catch up where you left off.

And now I'm having great results with Chance and Blaze touching the harness, coming to it, putting their head through it and letting me bring it to them.  Man, does it take the pressure off!!  And it is so much more fun and both dogs are having a blast.  I've been using canned food for their reward because this is a BIG deal they are doing for me and I appreciate it!

And my last update is for "A Brut Moment" challenge.  You can click HERE or on Brut's pic on top right side bar for more info.  All of us have come to a point with our dogs where there was a misunderstanding on both of our parts.  When did you feel the change of the understanding?  What is that one moment that stands out in your mind when there was that 180 degree turn in your relationship and you saw it start to take a different road?  While there may be plenty of these times, what is the one you always see every time you look in your dogs eyes and know that was the moment that changed it all.  When did that change occur when you and your dog knew you were headed made headway with each other and began to see a little more eye to eye?  How did that moment change your relationship, the way you viewed your dog and why?

I invite you to write a post on your blog and link it back to 24 Paws of Love for a blog hop with others who are sharing their same experience on Thursday and Friday Nov. 1 and 2 (I've extended it for an extra day) to show us Your Brut Moment.  Hope you can join us!