Kali's Training Successes

1. solid "sit" on command
2. lure to a "down"
3. "load up" for getting in her crate
4. "wait", although not quite solid
5. made 3 new human friends in the last week (and one new dog friend)
6. can differentiate "ok" from other words

current focus:
- "come"
- improving "wait", "down" and leash walking
- continued desensitization to new people and people pulling her by the collar

Tonight she starts the "advanced" class with Tina at Sit Happens. (The basic class continues for a few more weeks so she'll continue with that as well.)

Where's Kali?

Today's training outing was an early lunch at Barberitos (downtown). Kali wore her new headcollar - while she's not yet a fan of it, she's very tolerant, just rubbing her face with her front paws occasionally.

BBQ

Yesterday Kali and I did a training session at White Tiger. She did great! She was curious about the many people present but not intrusive and, while I think she would have preferred BBQ as reward for her sits and downs, she was polite and didn't help herself to any from the nearby tables.

Field Trip

Kali enjoyed hiking from Sandy Creek Park to Sandy Creek Nature Center yesterday. It was quite an outing - 4 dogs and 3 people - but everyone did great. The older dogs got tired out, but Kali seemed to be unfazed by the 2-hour hike (and the very full car ride!).

This Weekend

Kali will be spending this weekend at Pawtropolis, so she'll be available to watch on their "Fiesty Fidos" camera until Tuesday afternoon. (She'll also be available to meet in person at Pawtropolis - drop by if you've been considering making her acquaintance!)

Kali's Metamorphosis

 These were Kali's shelter photos. I took them the second day I met her, and she was very stressed. She was sweet, but wary. She's changed a lot since these photos - her chest has broadened quite a bit and she's far more muscular. As a result, she looks far more terrier than she did originally. Her coat is also sleeker and softer and she no longer has talons for front nails.

Breed Guessing

Kali's breed is a mystery. She's clearly a mix, but of what?

Last night her trainer suggested Kali might be a Decker strain giant rat terrier mix. I'd never heard of the breed, but apparently they're rat terriers that were bred to be larger than 25 pounds. After looking at some photos and reading descriptions on line, there might be something to this. I've thought she has some hunting dog in her, both because she's very stimulated by quick movement and because she constantly "tracks" what's happened on the ground, just like my hound mix. While rat terrier ears usually stand upright, in some cases they flop over. In fact, I think she looks a lot like a brindle version of these giant rat terriers.

Wikipedia's description of the typical rat terrier personality also fits Kali - smart, socially sensitive, has an "off switch", easily trainable, and very easy to live with. Unfortunately I don't think she got the exposure to new things that's recommended at an early age, but she's a total experience sponge - the first time she encounters something new she's uncomfortable, but the second time she experiences it, she's a pro.