Cassidy’s Journey has a new look and a new location:
http://www.mimirosen.com/teaching-cassidy-to-ring-the-bell/
Please check it out. I’m trying to make Cassidy’s Journey the best it could possibly be and would love your feedback.
Thanks so much for your support.
Yours truly,
Mimi Rosen
Doing her business outside
“Did Cassidy just ring the bell?” Mike asked, jumping up from his Lazyboy. He clipped the leash on her collar and she led him out into the side yard. It was the second time she had nose-bumped the got-to-go bell that day. I have a hard time believing that she made the connection 
after just a week. But she went outside and did her business immediately in both instances. Even that – the “going” as soon as we’d taken her out part – has been a big improvement over days one, two, and three, when we’d have to wait, and wait – in the dark, in the rain, in the creepy morning dim – for her to go to the bathroom. (I’ve never before had a dog that didn’t pee the minute I took her out.) That said, Cassidy has only had one accident during the past week, which is pretty good for a six-month-old pup who has never before lived in a house.
While outside Cassidy is learning the boundary of our electric fence. Eventually, she we will have access to a doggie door and be able to go out whenever she pleases. This will make our lives easier too, but we can’t allow her that freedom until we teach her how to avoid getting shocked. We are still a few weeks a way from that goal.
Learning the rules
The past week has been about Cassidy getting comfortable with us and the surroundings, and about her learning the house rules. She has been doing great with all of that. She seems to catch on quickly, and what she learns sticks. After her attempts to climb 
on the furniture were discouraged once or twice, she no longer jumps on the futon. On her first day with us she came up on the dinner table during our meal. Mike and I each had opportunity to nudge her off. She has since taken to staying on her dog bed while we’re eating. She responds consistently and immediately to verbal reproaches like, “leave it,” “no,” or “uh-uh.” She helps 
herself to toys and scatters them both upstairs and down, but this is a far better alternative to snatching socks, shoes, and gnawing on table legs. (Cassidy has been caught in each of these acts.) She did manage to eat through one of our rug. This happened while she was locked inside her crate and the rug was outside- if you can believe that. I also keep finding her with tissues and toilet paper rolls that she’s been pulling from the bathroom garbages. Note to self: keep bathroom doors closed.
Cassidy and the pack
She and Ripple have really hit it off. Cassidy snatches toys right out of the powerful dog’s mouth, and Ripple lets her. Cassidy follows her 
around the house, and Ripple seems to like leading her. Cassidy tries to chew on her jowls and…well Ripple is less tolerant of that one. On our walks the two of them bounce around so much
together that several times their leashes have gotten tangled (we’re using a 50 foot one for Ripple and a retractable for Cassidy) and I had the hardest time unravelling them.
Out of all of us, the cats have been the most put out by this first week with Cassidy. The pooch does listen when we tell her not to chase them, and seems to be chasing them less and less in the house, even without the cue. Still, the cats are curious, but wary of her. When she encroaches upon them, they puff up pretty big and come out with interesting noises ( hissing, growling, and this deep-to- high pitch rolling sound that reminds me of a background effect from old horror films.) But they are also allowing her to get close enough to sniff them. (Cassidy has 
received a bite on the nose from BamBam during at least one of these interactions.) In recent days the cats have been venturing out to spend time with us, and Pebbles (the braver of the two) has resumed his pre-Cassidy practice of curling up near the wood burning stove with his buddy, Ripple.
Mealtimes
Mealtimes are always a concern, because in the past we’ve had some heart-stopping dog fights surrounding food. So, we maintain a chow-time ritual with which Cassidy is becoming familiar. She has learned to sit. (Yes! She learned “sit” on the second day and now does it upon command. We have also been teaching her to sit as an alternative to jumping on us.) Then she and Ripple wait for their food bowls to be put down. This practice preempts fights brought on by the bouncy anticipation of being fed. Either Mike or I supervise mealtimes, and will do so
for a few weeks. On several occasions Cassidy has left her bowl and attempted to venture over to Ripple’s. We hang around in the room with them to discourage that kind of thing, which would result in a scuffle. Once they’re finished (or they move away from their food for a time) the bowls get put away. So, they’re not available for grazing throughout the day, and the possibility of altercations over the remaining morsels diminishes. That’s one way we keep peace.
Training Sessions
We devote ten minutes to training the dogs after dinner. It seems that Ripple looks forward to “work time.” It was during these session that she’s learned some fun tricks. She also gets to show off her basic skills. But training two dogs that are working 
on different levels can be challenging. So, we crate Cassidy while working with Ripple and put Ripple on a down-stay when teaching Cassidy. This works well, and Cassidy is doing great duringour sessions.
Our first teaching moments were devoted to early recall (the most important command, in my opinion.) Recall is simply having Cassidy come when she’s called. For the early training, we say, “Cassidy” and then immediately give her a treat. This pairs her name with good things.
We are also trying not to use her name when during reproach – a hard habit to break. This bad habit of ours has given Ripple problems with recall. While it feels natural to blurt out, “Cassidy, leave it!” this could create a punishing association with her name. Cassidy responds just as well if we say, “Leave it,” without using her name. And if we use her name only in conjunction with treats and praise, it increases the likelihood that she’ll come when we call her.
We also introduced her to clicker training, which is a tool we use for teaching our dogs. I’ll write more about clicker training in two weeks, but I think Cassidy is going to do well with it.
Sunday: How we are teaching Cassidy to ring the bell.
Cassidy’s Journey has a new look and a new location:
http://www.mimirosen.com/teaching-cassidy-to-ring-the-bell/
Please check it out. I’m trying to make Cassidy’s Journey the best it could possibly be and would love your feedback.
Thanks so much for your support.
Yours truly,
Mimi Rosen
Cassidy’s Crates
Cassidy has two different crates to choose from: a portable, canvas one that we keep upstairs 
in the bedroom, and a wire crate the we keep in the family room. The porta- crate was 
formally Ripple’s. She ate a hole in the mesh flap when she was a puppy, which Mike repaired with duct tape.
She also flipped it onto its side on several occasions and upside down at least once while inside it. The crate works pretty well as long as 
we’re home to discourage Cassidy from sticking her head through the little hole that she’s been making bigger. (Note to Mike, get more duct tape.) It’s where Cassidy sleeps at night. This is also the crate we used when we brought her home from PA.
Of the two Cassidy appears to settle in best within the wire crate.
A crate can become a place of safety and security
In an article that appeared in the Evening Sun, Abbie Tamber, dog trainer, author, and owner of Dogs on the Run, LLC. said that, “A crate trained dog doesn’t simply “cooperate” by going into his crate — he seeks out his crate as a place of rest and comfort.”
So far, this has proven true for Cassidy. When roughhousing with Ripple got o be too much, she sought calm within the wire crate. When the monstrous vacuum cleaner was turned on, the canvas one was her safe haven. We leave the doors opened on both, so she can go into to them anytime she wants. And she does.
Here’s how we got her into the crates in the first place:
Bam Bam looking peeved. Courtesy of Lee Ingraham, Ingraham’s Stonehouse Photography
Crate training: Our cats think it’s great!
Aside for being a place where Cassidy can go to feel safe, the crate will be used to house train her, and will keep her (and our home) safe when she can’t be supervised. One problem that has surfaced, is that Cassidy has attempted to chase our cats, which has put her on their bad side, and made them leery of walking around the house. (Pebbles is a little bolder and has ventured out of the bedroom. He hisses when Cassidy gets too close. BamBam it seems, would rather starve than face the enthusiastic pup. So Mike and I have taken to carrying him from the bedroom to his food and water dishes in the laundry room.) We want to nip any form of cat-tormentation in the bud. Cassidy seems to respond to verbal reproach. A simple “Uh-uh,” has her stopping in the tracks of wrongdoing and redirecting on her own. So, if we watch her, and are aware of her body language when one of the cats comes into the room, then we can tell her to “leave them,” and praise her when she does.
How we are using the crate to house train Cassidy
Cassidy has had one accident since we brought her home. Luckily, it was on a rug that we immediately threw in the washing machine. If this happens too often, it can become more difficult to keep her from going in the house. The scent of her urine will serve as a reminder for her to pee in that same spot, and as dog’s noses are acute, it can be difficult to get rid of that effect. Needless to say, we are trying to prevent accidents, and crate training has been an important tool to that end.
In this instance, we’re not using the crate as punishment (the crate should be a positive experience.) We’re using it to prevent her from going to the bathroom in the house. If she comes to understand the cause and effect of it (If I “do my business,” when I go out, then I can play,”) that would fine. But more than likely she is just going to get into the habit of peeing and pooping outdoors, and the crating ritual will no longer be necessary in that circumstance.
I think for us, the most encouraging part about the crate training Cassidy, is that she does not seem to mind being in the crate whatsoever.
Question for discussion: Would you (or have you) crate train(ed) your dog(s)? Why? or Why not?
Cassidy’s first day
Although, my intention today is to write a very nice blog about Cassidy’s arrival, I am apparently too enamored with this beautiful dog to form a thought. As such, I have written the following sentence three times; Cassidy has just discovered Ripple’s toy box, and Mike and I have been watching her transfer its contents to one of the dog beds.
Yes, she is adorable! And yes, Ripple does mind sharing her toys (and the attention of her people) with this interloper. But she’s a good dog, Ripple is, and her low growls and raised back-hairs are instantly calmed with the simple reminder to, “be nice.”
Even our cats, who we feared would become victims of a newly introduced predator, are presenting as the bullies instead of the beaten. This leaves Cassidy with a clear place at the bottom of the pecking-order, at least for now – a fact to which she appears oblivious.
Lee Ingraham, Mike and Cassidy
It’s all new to her, from being in a house, to being on a leash, to managing a set of stairs. But this intelligent creature appears responsive and intuitive. A gentle nudge from the dinner table is enough information to prompt her return to the dog bed from which she had come, and for her to dutifully wait for us to finish our meal before seeking attention. She’s learned to climb up and down stairs and to walk on a leash in an afternoon.
One would think that she would be exhausted following a day-long ride from Alabama in box truck, but not this tireless pooch. Now that she has mastered the stairs, she has been up and down them at least seventeen times, which means that I have been up and down them. 
That said, I have no doubt that she will be housebroken in no time, and that she and Ripple will become great playmates. Cassidy will also be a blast to train, which will be the topic for Wednesdays blog.
Wednesday: Crate training Cassidy.
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Heather Sharit is a 42 year old homeschool-mom with 3 girls: ages 16,12 and 9. She and her husband David have been transporting dogs and puppies for Crossing Paths for about a year. “It is hard work but well worth the effort,” Heather said. “When you see families meeting their pups for the first time. Priceless. I have always loved animals and am so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to do something with that love.”
Do you have any info about the history of this practice? (This is the third rescue that Mike and I have adopted from the South. The first was ten years ago. All were trucked in.) I know that you guys [people who reside in the Northeast] don’t have an overabundance of puppies there like we do here. So adopting up north only seems logical . Unfortunately, dogs and cats here in the South are sooooo overpopulated that our shelters are full all the time. Most only get 14 days [before they are euthanized.] That goes for old, young, even moms with days old puppies. It is very sad.
Is there anything else that you would like to add? I just want to thank everyone who has adopted from the South. I have yet to meet an adopter that does not absolutely love their new family member, and family members are how they are treated. I am so glad to be a part of the solution for helping spare the lives of all these innocent little creatures. Not only through adoption but also educating the public. Crossing Paths has started a low cost/no cost spay neuter program called “FIX YOUR MAMA” . Funded completely by donations. ( Don’t you love the name.) It is only for our small county, but it is making a difference in the number of dogs and puppies killed every year.
About the name Cassidy…
Believe it or not, we named Cassidy after a Grateful Dead song. Mike came up with the name. He’s been a fan of the band since his teenaged years. He’s seen over 200 concerts, can name a song after hearing the first few notes, and knows almost everything about The Dead’s history.
“I guess one of the biggest draws,” he said,
when asked why he likes the group. “Aside from liking the music, was they [Grateful Dead concerts] were where people could be themselves without having to worry about being judged.”
Our dog, “Ripple” was a named after a Dead song too. Can you guess which one? If you guessed “Ripple,” you were right. Mike and I consider that Grateful Dead tune to be “our song.” People often comment about how Ripple’s name is fitting because of her brindle coat, which resembles fudge ripple ice cream, but to us it’s more than that.
“Cassidy”
Old dogs, Young Dogs
(We’ve adopted both)
Part 1: The old guys (and gals)
Zach was the oldest dog that we’ve adoption, and I’ll admit that I felt nervous about bringing home a dog with baggage. When we were looking on Petfinder for adoptable dogs, Mike said that he really wanted one that needed rescuing. 
Then, as if the cosmos had heard him, Zach’s photo popped up.
The rescue group that we had gotten Zach from put him at five or six years of age. We were his second adopters within the year that he had been at the group’s facility. The first family returned him after a week because he didn’t get along with their other dog, and would not come when they called him. Mike and I also experienced those issues with Zach, but were able to work through them. Like most of our dogs, Zach had been pulled from a kill-shelter down South – an eleventh-hour pardon. It seemed like he’d been through a lot. Mike and I were prepared for a challenge. We figured that Zach would need time. And we were in for the commitment.
On a good note:
Zach came to us completely house broken. He never destroyed our furniture, although he would try to steal a sock or two, and he knew to go outside to do his business. He also loved walks, and did great on a leash. He would become very cute and animated whenever he came upon a puddle. Often, this meant that he would later require bathing.
On the down side:
Zach needed time to learn the rules, and came to us with challenging behaviors. Our greatest concern was his inclination to growl when someone came into the room. He had 
snapped at a guest who had attempted to greet him on more than one occasion, before we suggested that visitors not to say “hi” to Zach until after they’d been in the house a while. We also invited them to frequently give the dog treats. Zach was treat motivated, and as this practice continued, instead to avoidance when arrived, he would become happy-excited. Eventually, after we had orchestrated many successful experiences between people and Zach, the growling and snapping to keep people away disappeared, and Zach became more tolerant and trusting. He had even begun to nudge people for affection.
Why adopt an older pet?
Somethings to consider:
Still, an older dog can be a great choice when choosing a pet
My answer to dog challenges has always been training, but Zach required more than that. He needed rehabilitation. But we knew who he was when we adopted. This, in my opinion, tips the scale in favor of older dogs, when comparing them to puppies, because puppies change; when adopting a healthy older dog, you generally know what your getting. Not all older dogs are as troubled as was Zach. I’ve had many friends who have adopted healthy, well socialized senior dogs that blended smoothly with their families. These dogs often become the most wonderful family pets.
As had Zach, he just needed a little time.
Cassidy’s Journey has a new look and a new location:
http://www.mimirosen.com/teaching-cassidy-to-ring-the-bell/
Please check it out. I’m trying to make Cassidy’s Journey the best it could possibly be and would love your feedback.
Thanks so much for your support.
Yours truly,
Mimi Rosen
Planning for a smooth homecoming.
We received an email yesterday from the person in
charge of transporting the dogs up from Alabama. In short, they have bumped up the date for Cassidy’s homecoming. She will now be joining our family on December 8.
So, here are some things we’re going to do to get ready.
Things we’ll need.
When she joins us.
Bring Cassidy and Ripple together in a neutral area
We are planning to bring Ripple out to Stroudsburg with us. This way she and Cassidy can first come together in a neutral area. There are also places along the way home where we can stop for walks. 
Whenever we’ve had dogs visit us in the past, the first thing we’ve done was to walk them all together. Pack-walks release nervous-energy, while helping the dogs get a sense of each other. This creates a more relaxed feeling when they come into the house.
Introduce Cassidy to her new home slowly, keep up with routines
The first few days could go really well, or be really scary, so Mike and I are preparing for all possibilities and taking steps to guard against future cautionary tales by,
I did learn from Robin Solitro, Cassidy’s foster mom, that Cassidy has not been crate-trained, or housebroken. During the initial week or so we will help Cassidy to become more comfortable with the crate. The American Humane Society has some good guidelines to help with this. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html
Another challenge will be training her to do her business outside, which will mean that, in addition to constantly watching her in the house, we will have to take her out on scheduled intervals. Before we put a doggie door in, Ripple had learned to ring a bell when she had to go out. She is now very independent with the doggie door and can go in and out as she pleases during day, but she still rings the bell when we close the door for the night.
Mike had set up an electric fence around our sideyard, and Ripple does well staying within the perimeter. Cassidy will have to learn the boundaries too. This means we will have to leash walk her around the perimeter whenever she has to go out and it may be several weeks before we will be able to let her out there on her own.
Help Cassidy to feel at home
Cassidy will be scared when she first arrives. Everything will feel uncertain. To make her more comfortable, we’ll follow her lead the first few days and give her lots of treats and affection each time she comes to one of us, while making very few demands.
When something she does requires correction, like if she were to jump on the furniture, we’ll be gentle, but consistent. Whenever possible we’ll try to avoid having to consequence behaviors by blocking and diverting Cassidy from engaging in unwanted ones. In time, we’ll use clicker-training (which will be demonstrated once we begin training Cassidy) to help her learn skills like ringing the got-to-go bell.
Supervise Feeding, don’t keep food left out
We’ll also supervise feeding times, and not leave food for the dogs to graze on throughout the day. In my experience, when a fight does occur, it’s often around food.
Look for another post on Sunday. Next week, guest blogger Robin Solitra will give us some insights from a foster mom’s perspective.
Cassidy’s Journey has a new look and a new location:
http://www.mimirosen.com/teaching-cassidy-to-ring-the-bell/
Please check it out. I’m trying to make Cassidy’s Journey the best it could possibly be and would love your feedback.
Thanks so much for your support.
Yours truly,
Mimi Rosen
Cassidy's Journey 