Happy Birthday Godzilla!

Sisci Godzilla is two years old today! Every year I bake the dogs a cake on their birthdays, put a number candle in it, and take a picture. That's a bacon applesauce cake topped with cream cheese and bacon sprinkles.

I'm surprised at how much more grown up Godzilla looks at two, she has a far more mature-looking face. She's also significantly more muscular, basically the canine version of a body builder. People put their hands on her and go "wow!"

I had hoped to start competing in agility by now, but we've taken a few weeks off while our instructor is competing around the country. In the meantime, we've gotten Godzilla's first lure coursing title, and a leg towards her first AKC herding title as well!

I think our biggest achievement is working together on the sheep ranch, though. Sisci Godzilla is happy to demonstrate that ranch work isn't just for border collies. She is my superdog, and the decision to keep her is largely the cause of our move and current work situation. Every time I look at her, I think "Wow, I made the right choice!"

The Naming of Dogs

Naming one dog is pretty easy. I like to use names with easily recognizable two-syllable calls, and one-syllable attention-getters. Vowel sounds are very important, dogs aren't great at telling consonants apart. Neither am I, sometimes I can see a person's mouth making one sound while I still here a different one. For me, it's called an auditory processing disorder. For the dogs, it's perfectly normal.

Photo by Erin Koski

Brisbane's name is pronounced 'briz-BAIN', because I am an uncultured American. Also because it's a really easy sound to shout very loudly. I call him Brizzy or Mr. Bane for fun, and just Briz when I need to get his attention to give him a command. He is very tuned into that 'short i' sound.

Ru is pronounced 'roo' like 'kangaroo', but I decided to spell it weird because I didn't want a stupid little Winnie the Pooh dog. Turns out spelling had nothing to do with it, and he was a stupid little Winnie the Pooh dog all along. I call Ru with repeating vowel sounds, "Rurururururururururu!" He actually comes to any repetitive sound though, "bababababa!" "kikikikikikiki!"

Sisci came with her name, and it's a good one. Names that end with an -ee sound are great for shouting over long distances, and easy for dogs to recognize. The only problem is that I end up calling her 'Sis' for short. This is a great attention-getting sound. "Sis, come!" "Sis, up!"

What's wrong with "Sis"? It uses the same 'short i' sound as "Briz". Now my cattledogs have no idea who I'm talking to unless I say their entire name. Brisbane knows he's "short i, long a", Sisci knows she's "short i, long e", neither of them can tell the difference when I use their abbreviated names.

The solution for this is clearly to rename Sisci. I've always planned on calling her Godzilla, I just need to work on making it stick. She already recognizes this as a name, so it's really just a matter of habit for me.

Herding Capability Tested

Brisbane, Sisci and I participated in an American Herding Breed Association trial this weekend, and the dogs each earned their Herding Capability Test title. These are our first herding titles ever! I also helped set up and run the trial, which was a wonderful and also exhausting experience. Our venue had horseback riding arenas, which required some modification in order to use them for sheep. The biggest project was tying snow fencing along the rails, and shoveling dirt onto the bottom of the new fence to hold it securely in place. We had a wonderful crew comprised of many of the handlers in the trial, but it still took several hours to get everything set up the day before the trial.

Photo by Candy Lidstrom

In order to earn the Herding Capability Test title, a dog must pass the test twice under two different judges. This is a pass/fail test that basically differentiates between herding the sheep and just chasing them around. The test is done in a small pen so the dog and stock can't go very far if things get out of hand.

The requirement for the first leg of the test is to move the sheep around in a controlled fashion, which is something I've been able to do with Brisbane, Sisci, Ranger, Annie, and even Ru occasionally.

Photo by Candy Listrom

The second leg of the test requires a bit more control. The dog must be able to stay still from the time the leash comes off until the judge gives the ok, which is not very long. Then the dog and handler need to move the sheep back and forth between two cones a couple of times. It is not necessary to go around the cones, they just give a nice point of reference to move between. Finally, the dog must have some sort of stop, usually 'down' or 'sit', and recall to the handler on command. These are fairly loose requirements, even a step towards the handler counts as a recall as long as you aren't making a flying tackle as you dog blows past you toward the sheep.

Brisbane did awesome on both legs of his test. He is no longer having foot issues, but he often gets tired easily and doesn't normally like going all the way around the sheep if he can avoid it. At the trial he was in good spirits and happily ran circles around the sheep for as long as I let him. He has always had a nice stop and recall, and waits impatiently for me to let him work as soon as we get into the pen with the sheep.

Photo by Candy Lidstrom

Sisci is still pretty sure that herding is all about biting the sheep, and training her is basically a process of stretching out the time she behaves herself in between taking cheap shots. The judge for our first leg on Saturday said I could stand to relax a bit because my dog does good work. He has border collies.

She was much better behaved for the second leg of our test, but decided to scream at me the whole time because she knew I wouldn't let her bite the sheep. That judge said I knew what I needed to do to keep my dog from hurting the stock. She has Belgian sheepdogs.

Photo by Candy Lidstrom

On Sunday we also got a much-needed California rainstorm, complete with high wind and occasional hail. The trial went on as planned, and everyone got completely soaked because there's just no staying dry when it's raining upside down and sideways no matter what kind of rain gear you've got. My dogs got to do their tests during a short break in the rain, but nearly everything else happened during the downpour. Everyone did surprisingly well, including the dogs that did their tests in the hail.

As soon as the last dog finished their run, the sheep were whisked back to their nice warm barn. The dogs all rested snug in cars and RVs. The utterly sodden people went to work rolling up snow fencing, loading posts and panels into trailers, and returning the site to the condition in which we found it. The sun came out just as we finished loading up, and shone on our very drippy handing out of ribbons and awards. At that point it had been raining almost nonstop for six hours. It was beautiful, and wet.

Happy Birthday Sisci Godzilla!

Sisci Godzilla is one year old today! Look what a good puppy she is! I had to hold Brisbane still for his first birthday picture.

The Dog Biscuit Cake

I finally got around to trying out the dog treat maker my mother gave me last summer. It bakes four bones at a time, in about ten minutes. It's basically a dog-biscuit-waffle maker, and mine really, really came out waffley.

These are made with tapioca flour, beef-and-vegetable baby food, canned parmesan cheese, and plain yogurt. They came out kind of cheesy with a slightly crunchy outside and chewy inside. My friend Liz who hangs around on my couch, brings the dogs french fries, and suggests we taste dog treats, tried a couple and found them quite tasty. She likes to bite fingers and says these have a similarly satisfying feel. Make of that what you will.

After baking, the bones cooled down in about 20 minutes and I was able to frost them. This is just plain whipped cream cheese with a few drops of food coloring. I was going to add sprinkles but someone has eaten all my dessert-decorating supplies. I think the resulting tower of bones came out pretty cute, and the dogs really loved them. Even Ru ate a whole one.

Why I'm Not Spaying My Dog and Why That's Ok

Sisci is almost a year old and she still isn't spayed. This has come as a shock to a number of coworkers and acquaintances, as common practice around here is to spay or neuter puppies at six months. All the reputable shelters and rescues fix puppies and kittens before adopting them out, which often means pediatric spays and neuters. The general rule for "old enough and big enough" is two months and two pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Case for Spaying

The current practice is a very good thing, as early and extensive spaying and neutering helps prevent unwanted puppies and kittens. I am absolutely on board with the general public thinking that altering their pet before it is capable of breeding is just "the right thing to do". I think 'oops!' litters and poorly-planned breedings may be the primary source of unwanted pets.

Spaying female dogs is particularly important because they tend to go into heat for the first time before they hit one year old. Heats are weird. A girl puppy in season for the first time doesn't really know quite what's going on, so she feels weird. The hormones fly, and any other dogs in the household also act weird. Even the spayed and neutered dogs act weird. Also, dogs in heat dribble discharge which is gross. The easiest way to avoid all the weirdness is to spay the dog before she goes into heat.

The Case for Not Spaying

So why wait? I am planning to do dog sports with Sisci, and the case for spaying versus not spaying is a little different when it comes to canine athletes. Altering a dog changes their hormones, specifically it delays the closure of the growth plates in their long bones. This is a very interesting phenomenon, as the result of the extended growth period is longer and more slender bones. Dogs that are fixed before they finish growing end up taller and lankier. This makes me wonder just how short and thick Brisbane, neutered at three months, would have been had I waited. 

I'd like to let Sisci finish growing and maturing before spaying her in order to reduce her risk of injury. Australian cattle dogs are particularly well-known for injuring the anterior cruciate ligaments in their knees, and Sisci's mother was recovering from a knee repair when she became pregnant. There is some evidence that spayed and neutered dogs are more prone to ACL injuries. It's not as big an issue for the average pet dog, but for a high-level canine athlete it may be worth it to delay spaying. 

Handling Heats

We've already been through Sisci's first heat cycle and it wasn't too hard on any of us except for Ru who was determined to sire some cattlehuahuas despite having been neutered five years ago. I am not concerned about an unplanned litter because I am careful to the point of maybe being a little crazy about keeping Sisci away from potential suitors. I do not own an intact male dog, so I can't have an accident with an unlatched crate or baby gate. I usually walk my dogs on leashes, and always kept Sisci leashed when she was in heat. I do not leave my dogs unattended outside, so I am not worried about a roaming male digging under or jumping over my fence. 

It feels a bit weird to not be doing "the right thing" and getting her spayed right away, but this is a choice I'm comfortable with. I still think that pretty much everyone should get their dogs fixed to help avoid accidental litters, and I'll willingly state that most people including Sisci's breeder aren't prepared to handle the challenge of owning intact dogs of opposite sexes. I'll be looking into spaying Sis when she's closer to two years old.

Sisci Stays

Sisci, my foster puppy, is too perfect. She is perfect with Brisbane. She is perfect with Ru. She is perfect with the cats. She is perfect with the tortoise. She learns new tricks right away and absolutely loves training time. She is amazing at herding sheep, and shows an amazing amount of talent in agility class. She is very interested in dock jumping, lure coursing, disc, flyball...

Obvious I have to keep her. She is the dog I wanted when I got Brisbane ten years ago. The dog who can do all the dog sports. I couldn't have handled her back then though. Brisbane was the dog I needed at the time, the dog who wouldn't tolerate any mistakes and forced me to become a better trainer in order to meet his needs. His physical limitations have taught me to listen to my dog and put his health and welfare over my own desires to compete.

Wish Granted

Like many dog sports people, I have had a wishlist for my next dog for the last several years. According to my hopes and dreams, my next dog would be:

1. Structurally sound, athletic, and built to handle high-impact activity with minimal chance of injury.

2. Full of unstoppable drive. I wanted a dog just as intense as Briz.

3. Smaller than Brisbane. Not Ru-tiny, but after carrying 60-lb Josie off the trail I knew I wanted a

dog I could comfortably haul around.

4. Bouncy. I wanted a dog that could jump high enough for me to catch. Several of the dogs at work do that, and I think it is the most endearing behavior on the planet.

5. Female, because I felt Brisbane would be more likely to get along nicely with a girl and it's important to me that he not just tolerate his housemate.

6. A blue cattledog. I always wanted a blue heeler. I wanted a blue when I got Brisbane, but fell in love with him instead. This time around I was totally going to get a blue.

Sisci fits everything on that list except for color, which is obviously the least important. At 11 months old she is a brilliant, high-energy, super-drivey, super-bouncy dog that jumps onto a 3' platform as easily as she hops over a 6" jump. She picks up new skills and tricks almost as fast as Brisbane, and is entirely too much fun to train. Best of all, having someone to take turns with makes training way more exciting for Brisbane. She's not that great with people yet, but I already have a decade of experience working with a reactive working-lines cattledog.

Sisci is the dog of my dreams, and she has come along at exactly the right time. At ten years old, Brisbane has a few years to teach her how to be the best dog ever. I know his time will come eventually, and I'm glad to have his help training his successor. Sisci just fits.

We're on YouTube!

Brisbane, Sisci and I are working on their novice Trick Dog titles. These are titles and certificates awarded for doing a variety of tricks and behaviors. These are a lot of fun, and something that can be earned even by dogs with serious health issues and behavioral problems. Brisbane has had back issues since he was a baby, so he won't be able to do every single trick on the list. That's ok though, he doesn't have to do all of them to get his title.

The lower-level titles are earned on the honor system, you perform them for a witness who provides their information to the organization. I'm told that when the form is submitted, they usually contact the witness to verify that your dog can do everything you claimed. Do More With Your Dog also has support groups or teams that can be joined via Facebook. Rather than performing tricks in front of a witness, you can upload videos for your team to watch and have them sign off on your titles. I have friends who would happily sit and watch my dogs do silly tricks, but I like the feedback I am getting from the Facebook Spark Team.

I uploaded a few videos to YouTube and wanted to share them here as well. We're not as impressive as some of the really amazing trick dog teams out there, but I'm having fun with the challenge of performing with two dogs at a time. Here's our first video:



The trick is "Paws Up", I'm asking them to put their front feet on something. We started with the little stools because those are slip-proof and stable. From there, they had to learn that "paws up" means to put their feet on whatever I am pointing at, even if it is small, unstable, or weird. In this video we used a small balance disc and a jaguar skull aquarium ornament. When I take the dogs on outings, I often ask them to put their paws up on fences, rocks, tree branches, and whatever else we find.

What tricks do your dogs know?

This is Sisci

After taking Xena back to her original foster mom, I brought home one of the Australian Cattledog puppies I have been working with since they were wee babies. In the litter of nine puppies there were a huge range of temperaments, from super-friendly personalities to spooky shy types. Most of the pups seem like they will top out around 40-50 pounds, except one.

3 weeks

This is Sisci. She started out as The Good Puppy. She was the puppy that sat all the time. By the age of three weeks she had already figured out that sitting made people happy.

As the litter gradually figured out how legs worked, Sisci began to lead the pack in coordination. Once she was fully mobile she became The Evil Puppy. Sisci was the first of her siblings to start chasing down other puppies to bite their legs.

5 weeks

By four weeks we were well-aware that this one puppy was turbo-charged and different from the others. She was definitely the Self-Appointed Fun Police, charging over to boss around any puppies who dared play too rambunctiously.

Sisci was also very focused on toys as soon as she discovered them. What could be better than carrying a ball or stuffed animal around?

The mother of these puppies is has a short tail. ACDs are sometimes docked by misguided and poorly-educated breeders, but some dogs are just born with naturally short tails. Sisci has a Natural Bob Tail, a tiny little nub. The rest of the pups either had full labby tails or short 4" tails.

12 weeks

Five of the nine puppies have now found homes of their own. Three of the four remaining puppies get along very well and love to play together. Sisci does not love the chaos of puppies at play. She had to be separated from the group regularly so the rest of the puppies could play.

18 weeks

I brought Sisci home as a new foster puppy to help work on her skills with cats. As a high-energy, high-drive, bitey 8-month-old puppy she could potentially become dangerous to small furry animals. So far, she's doing very well. Sisci has figured out which cat to avoid, and which cats she can try to entice into play. She plays very well with both Brisbane and Ru, and respects their space more than any foster dog I've had in the last two years.

Sisci is also going to be amazing at dog sports. Right now we're taking things easy on her growing body, but she is already crazy for frisbees and loves jumping into the pool.

8 months

She's going to be amazing at agility, right now we're working on the very beginnings of 2x2 weave poles. I already know that she likes lure coursing, but she won't be able to do the AKC Coursing Ability Test until she's at least 12 months old.

She's very physically sensitive and a whole lot like Brisbane. She has had an incredibly good foundation of experiences, especially as a tiny baby puppy. It will be a lot of fun to see what she can do!