Behold! The Barbecue Tray!

Look! After taking forever to post again, it's a video! Of Momo! Ok, so it's really not that impressive. But I do have a certain little sister who I know wouldn't mind seeing the big furry dog again - So here ya go Leebee ;) These were two new toys she got - we did get a defective goldfish but it's still one of Mokeys favorite 'sucking' toys so the money wasn't exactly wasted.

Lately I've been at work a lot so Mokey's been hanging out with my parents in the evening - which is actually good for her in a way. We've also been practicing our everyday training and not barking at the neighbors while out in the yard (we've got a ways to go on that last one). We are making progress, although it's extremely slow. This week I was able to clasp her muzzle in back and leave it on for 5 seconds (which seems like something really small, but has actually taken us weeks to accomplish). I don't know if I've mentioned her muzzle before - it's something I tend to pass over just because of all the negative assumptions people make about muzzles and rabid, man eating dogs. But in reality Mokey is a fearful dog - a large fearful dog - and scared dogs are responsible for most bites that occur. When she does go to the vet and they're forced to get up in her face and do things that hit her crazy meter, I want to be sure that she won't injure anyone if she does lash out. Do I like putting a muzzle on her? No. In fact, I call it her 'mask' just so I don't cringe every time it comes up and subconsciously set her training back. But it doesn't hurt her to wear it, it's sized appropriately so that she can pant and get treats, and really, what is a little extra training going to hurt? So far I've taught her to willingly put her face inside and wait while I latch it in the back. Now we just have to work on length. I'm pretty sure it's going to take the vet more than 5 seconds to look her over. ;)

Mokey & Mom have a polite greeting at the door!

Recently, we've also found a solution for one of Mokey's other bad habits. Jumping. We've never encouraged her to jump on us, in fact we've always actively ignored it. But as Mokey has gotten more anxious she's also gotten crazier at the door. Her enthusiasm and anxious energy is overwhelming and often unintentionally painful. Trust me when I say having a 70lb dog give you a crazed love mauling isn't as fun as you'd think. So, since turning our backs and ignoring her hasn't worked, we've moved on. Now we have magical, plastic barbecue trays! They're wonderful. The best money we've spent all year. We have trays by the entrances and couch (because, if she comes down in the morning and low and behold a family member is already awake then of course, they must be greeted. with enthusiasm.). Everyone knows that they must grab a tray when they come in the door or when Mo gets overeager and silently use it as a shield. A few people in my family were skeptical. Why should a plastic tray and silence work when ignoring her wasn't working before? But victory is mine! The plastic trays have forced Mokey to use her brain. Jumping up is being blocked, not by a coveted human body part but by an infuriatingly unresponsive plastic object. She can't get to our faces and say hello simply by mauling us anymore, so she has to curtail a little of her excitement and figure out what will get our attention. Of course she's not perfect yet, she still makes attempts at jumping, but she is slowly getting the idea and we're no longer getting bruised. Now she wriggles around our legs and gives half jumps while whining. But I'll take that over a Mokey glomp any day of the week. :)