Ronan is just awesome. And sometimes a terrifying gremlin. I can't believe how much he's grown in the last two weeks, and not just in size. Ronan has been coming to work with me everyday. I got a baby gate for my new office door so he is trapped, and, much like kids, if you exercise him enough he doesn't have enough energy to be that bad. He's managed not to get fired or to completely disrupt business. He's got the hang of walking on a leash (from watching the big dogs do it), and free-feeding. And potty training has been unbelievable - he asks to go out (even at night), and we're at about 3 accidents a week. That's right...not a day, a WEEK. That's my boy. Now we just really need to work on the biting.
Ronan also started his search and rescue training this week. I thought he was too young (9 weeks), but I went to the regular training (for some dogs that are between 1 and 2 years old), but the lady in charge said he could start that day. He did great. There are some pictures below of him and of one of the other dogs we're training - a malamute named Louie. At this point it's pretty basic: Ro meets someone, sees that they have the treats (he is highly motivated by food), they run away and at the last minute hide behind a tree while he is watching, he'll smell a scent article belonging to that person, and then he goes and finds them and we all get VERY excited, and he gets a lot of treats. It's all a big game. And then the last time he might not get to watch, and has to follow his nose. This is all over a very short distance to start.
We've also been hanging out with my coworker Mandy and her 3 dogs some more. We've been going up to Snowy Range, the mountains west of Laramie, and letting the dogs romp. Ronan experienced his first snow up there this last weekend. He loved it. And he watches Mandy's dogs very closely to see what you're supposed to do. He also eats a lot of elk poop up there. There are pictures and videos of all this stuff below.
And as for me - aside from my life being entirely taken over by the tiny terror - work is going well. I'm working on some interesting analyses, and we're hiring some new help which will lighten the load. It's been nice having Clistie and her friends around. And I've signed up for an outdoor emergency care class with ski patrol, so my Thursday evenings and one day a weekend will be busy through the end of November. I'm really excited for it, and the skills will carry over to search and rescue and my job. Well anyway, enjoy the pictures and videos!
Ronan also started his search and rescue training this week. I thought he was too young (9 weeks), but I went to the regular training (for some dogs that are between 1 and 2 years old), but the lady in charge said he could start that day. He did great. There are some pictures below of him and of one of the other dogs we're training - a malamute named Louie. At this point it's pretty basic: Ro meets someone, sees that they have the treats (he is highly motivated by food), they run away and at the last minute hide behind a tree while he is watching, he'll smell a scent article belonging to that person, and then he goes and finds them and we all get VERY excited, and he gets a lot of treats. It's all a big game. And then the last time he might not get to watch, and has to follow his nose. This is all over a very short distance to start.
We've also been hanging out with my coworker Mandy and her 3 dogs some more. We've been going up to Snowy Range, the mountains west of Laramie, and letting the dogs romp. Ronan experienced his first snow up there this last weekend. He loved it. And he watches Mandy's dogs very closely to see what you're supposed to do. He also eats a lot of elk poop up there. There are pictures and videos of all this stuff below.
And as for me - aside from my life being entirely taken over by the tiny terror - work is going well. I'm working on some interesting analyses, and we're hiring some new help which will lighten the load. It's been nice having Clistie and her friends around. And I've signed up for an outdoor emergency care class with ski patrol, so my Thursday evenings and one day a weekend will be busy through the end of November. I'm really excited for it, and the skills will carry over to search and rescue and my job. Well anyway, enjoy the pictures and videos!
Some Search and Rescue training photos:
Ronan's first snow....and playing with the big dogs up at Snowy Range.
Ronan vs. The Stick
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