Dog Germs™

This week we named the new dog “Hondo”. We wanted a macho-manly name. Hondo is a John Wayne movie and character as well as a Texas town and river. Hondo, Texas is where they have the sign that says, “This is God’s country. Don’t drive through like hell”. He looks like a Hondo to me and it’s easy to yell and growl. And he’s as big as one of John Wayne’s horses. So there you go. I dub thee Hondo.

Runner-ups:

• Quinn (ie. “Quinn the Eskimo/The Mighty Quinn”. Doesn’t every Bob Dylan fan name their sled dog Quinn?)
• Titus (ie. New Testament bishop. Common name for large dogs and, though it’s a biblical name, there have been some bad dudes named Titus)
• Quanah (ie. Comanche chief Quanah Parker. Too hard to yell and could be considered disrespectful.)
• Rocky (ie. Beatles’ “Rocky Raccoon”. Too common and Duck thought it was from the Stallone movie.)
• Hawk (“Raven” & “Hawk”? maybe too thematic)
• Primo (Spanish and Hawaiian Pigeon meanings. Duck not so enthused about it.)
• Tank (Too jock sounding but it does fit)
• Shotgun Willie (ie. Willie Nelson. People might think we’re crazy. But he is a Red Headed Stranger.)
• Flint (Hard to yell a “FL”)
• Marley (ie. Robert Nesta Marley. Hippie dog name, and isn’t there some movie about a dog named Marley?)
• Victor (ie. Smoke Signals, “Hey Victor, what about your dad?”. Too Latin).

One of his “pet names” is Mr. Bultitude (after the bear in C.S. Lewis’ novel That Hideous Strength. Our new Mal is a big as a bear. The name seems to fit.

Even though in my adult life I have successfully trained 3 great sled dogs, a Cocker Spaniel, and a cat, I bought a dog training book this week called Shelby Marlo’s New Art of Dog Training. It’s really an excellent balanced book. She focuses primarily on using food rewards to encourage good behaviors but she also uses correction when necessary. I think most of what is in the book, such as need for consistency and dominance advice, I have been practicing for many years. But I did pick up the “off” command which Marlo uses for keeping dogs off of objects they might want to pick up as well as keeping them off of people, furniture and other objects that they might want to jump on.

In the past we have used “down” and “drop it” but the “off” command is working very well for us and is less confusing to the dog I think. Marlo also suggests using human breath spray to reinforce the “off” command. One little spray in the mouth really does get a dog’s attention. I think this has made training go much faster and it’s much better than other types of physical discipline. Less than a week of using this method and I don;t need the spray any more. The off command is working with cats and couches and people etc.

Also this week Hondo learned the “here” (which is the command we use for “come”), “sit”, and “wait” commands. He sits very quickly. He will come quickly if you can get his attention. We’re working on “down” command occasionally.

He has to wear an e-collar at night. He sleeps in the kitchen at night and during the day he is locked in the room with me while I work until he had his first bath.

I gave him his first first bath this week. He was surprisingly cooperative. He wasn’t crazy about the idea but he was pretty patient and he ate treats while I scrubbed him with soap. Anyway, he smells and feels so much better now and we also let him into the rest of the house after his bath.He was ecstatic to have free range in the house. He found his place at the foot of the couch and laid on our feet all evening while we relaxed in front of the TV.

We’ve been letting Hondo meet Raven in the back yard and on walks. They have been playing with each other but the new dog is too rough with her and is dominating her relentlessly. They’ve had a minor argument or two but they are starting to like each other. Raven has been very submissive with him but what choice does she have. He’s a lot bigger.

He is also having dominance issues with us but he’s learning quickly. He was trying to mount us occasionally for the first week but he quickly learned that we don’t allow it. Raven did the same thing when we got her. It’s just a sled dog dominance thing. He tries to climb on top of you when you sit down or get too close to his level. The “off” command with a little breath spray squirt nipped that in the bud in about a week. He also puts his nose under your hand and flips it up demanding to be petted. That’s a dominance thing as well and so we are making him sit in order to earn petting and retain our dominant position. I really can’t tell that this dog has ever been trained in his two years on earth. But he’s in boot camp now. Here at the Rock we have a few rules…

He seems to be very needy and follows me from room to room. He sleeps at my feet everywhere. If I go to the bathroom he wants to go too. If I answer the phone he follows me. He’s very affectionate with all people. He gives great lean-hugs, head-burying hugs, and lots of kisses. He is acting happier and looking healthier every day. He’s starting to groom himself.

He wouldn’t eat vegetables the first week. He learned to like carrots after a few days of offering them to him. Wouldn’t eat chicken at first but he tried to scarf down a discarded tortilla while on a walk. He is eating 5 cups of dry food a day and he has a very healthy appetite.

Visit the Week One Gallery for more pics.

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