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Yaoyao Ma Van As on Instagram

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Hmc while i watch this ball coming toward me

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Picky Puppy

Cyrus picks out the good kibble and doesn’t eat pill pockets even if there’s no pill inside.

He won’t catch a treat in his mouth and eat it, he walks somewhere safe, spits it out, and sniffs carefully first.

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As I’m hanging out in my room sick with a cold, I’m reminded how important Cyrus’s companionship is.

It’s hard to feel isolated when you can feel your dogs heartbeat and breathing because he’s laying on top of you.

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I don’t think I ever posted this video and that is a Crime

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Half an hour from clean shirt to completely covered in fur, but it’s been a good half hour.

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New beanbag! It makes a perfect cuddle spot.

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Binky baby

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Tired after a long day of sniff walks and playing with friends and turning 3.

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can someone please zoom in on henry’s face and attach it, thanks xx

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Cyrus has been very good. He’s not barking at other dogs so much and I took him to my job (which is practically the same as a class) a few times when it got especially hot.

We’re working on being calmer when people ignore him and picking up the leash when he wants to go outside.

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me: *doesn’t teach my dog anything*

my dog: *doesn’t know anything*

me:

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So I have my dog trained to sit when she wants pet (she used to be very wild and jumpy when we first got her, it’s been a long road) so now when she wants attention she just sits very still and stares VERY intently at you (she’s extremely non verbal and hardly makes sound in general)

So, today I let her out and didn’t realize the fence gate was wide open, and she just shoots right out at this older man and a small girl (bc she just LOVES PEOPLE. A lot) The girl kinda shrieks and the man pulls her behind him (which I get it, my dogs small but she’s still part Pitt, and she was running full throttle at them) and all of a sudden my dog just pulls up completely, full stop, and plants her ass on the ground in front of them, staring and wagging her tail.

And they just stand there, staring at each other. She’s like, vibrating with energy, waiting for pets, and these people are like “wtf” so I run up and explain and the old guy was just so thrilled honestly. The little girl starts petting her and the old dude was gushing about how trained and well behaved she is (I mean, ignoring the fact that she shot out of the gate LMAO) but like, that just made me so happy. I’ve put so much time and effort into training her and making her feel safe and comfortable after he (horrifying) past and I’m just so so proud of her.

TLDR; my dog is a good gorl and I luv her

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We’re Back

There was a very strange sequence of events finding someone to care for Cyrus over the gap between school and summer job, but now we’re back in my new dorm room together.

I was in Washington the last few weeks with Gloria and my family. Gloria is doing fantastic; she’s able to express her needs, has a routine, and is happy more than anxious now. She paws her bowl when she’s hungry, stands at the closet door when she’s bored and wants treats for tricks or to play with the bubbles or laser pointer inside, and most importantly, she brings over her leash when she wants to go outside.

She used to bop for help and then whine and then bark when she was ignored. Bopping could be anything from “I need to pee” to “I’m nervous about that noise” and sometimes we judged wrong about which it was. Cyrus pesters me the same way, but with sitting and staring and me, then nudging me and then whining and barking.

I want to teach Cyrus to bring the leash. He’s far less mouthy so it’s harder, but we’ve brushed up his bop today so I can at least get him to bop the leash. Touching with a nose is halfway to touching with teeth which is halfway to grabbing which is halfway to picking up which is a tiny fraction of the way to retrieving. He still prefers to attempt to wait me out.

He knows he’s cute enough that if he waits patiently for whatever he wants, chances are I’ll stop saying silly words and waving my hands around and just give it to him.

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I signed up my dog for a board and train and then got a bad feeling and couldn’t find their credentials. They had great reviews but when I read the bad ones, oh man.

A veterinary behaviorist who knows the theory but wanted someone else to help with the practice specifically told them not to use aversives and they used a correction collar anyway. There was more, being treated badly for asking for positive training and asking questions.

I’m glad I got skeeved out, I’d rather just have my dog boarded at PetSmart than “trained” by an unaccredited trainer who doesn’t respect my instructions.

Luckily, I got my trainer to recommend a place and they have last minute availability.

Of course I also have that feeling that I’m abandoning my dog but I feel way better leaving him here than anywhere else I contacted. He’ll get a chance to try socializing and have people paying plenty of attention to him, not trying to force him to stay in line.