March 1st Dog Walk At NorthCross Mall

ON MARCH 1 AT 10:00 AM, 1,000 DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS WILL GO FOR A WALK TOGETHER
Leash up the pups and let's show those Fat Cats at Wal-Mart and Lincoln that we're still doggone mad about their Supercenter at Northcross Mall, and we¹re not lying down!
Remember how we called on thousands of you to join us for Arms Around Northcross? Remember how we formed a one mile wide human circle around Northcross Mall? We did it! And it ignited -- and united -- a neighborhood spirit throughout Austin to stop the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Let's stand together again! RG4N is calling on 1,000 dogs and their owners to come take a walk around Northcross Mall. Join your friends and neighbors and once again send a powerful message to Lincoln Property Co. Wal-Mart and the Austin City Council that we will never back down.
The Austin Chronicle called Arms Around Northcross the Feistiest Neighborhood Rebellion in 2007.
Let's really make the fur fly on March 1.
CAN COLLECTION DAY - BRING YOUR CANS FOR RECYCLING TO EITHER INFORMATION TENT DURING PAWS AROUND NORTHCROSS.

http://www.rg4n.org/

Most Improved!

Lee told the class, "that black dog is the most improved this week". Wahoooo! Of course, that could be because last week, she started barking at the beginning of class and the sporadically through out the rest of class.

This week, Cricket only barked a few times and it was mostly when Lee was showing us how to act really pissed off when our dogs don't appropriatly demonstrate "sit to stay".

We are still working on our "sits" and "downs" but last week we learned "The Magic Hand" and "Swing". These are hard to explain but here goes-

The Magic Hand is just you showing your pooch a treat, you turn your hand over so they can't see the treat then move your hand away from their nose. They follow and when they touch your hand you flip it around to give them the treat. To them, it is like magic. Cricket has that no problem but if I try to use the magic hand to get her to walk around my body, I look like I'm demonstrating some sort of weird yoga move. She doesn't get it if the treat goes from one hand to the other then it must just be disappearing which has got to be black magic.

"Swing" she gets. We got to demonstrate our almost perfect example of swing to the class. We were the only dog who could do it! You simply take the treat, stick it in front of their nose and take a step back, leaving the other foot where it is. You look like you are about to throw a ball underhanded. The treat goes back, the dog follows, the treat comes fwd and the dog and treat are suppose to stop by your side. Dog sits...gets treat and you have completed "Swing".

We also showed off our "heel" talents which we practiced all of twice. Cricket gets heel when she only has to do it for 20ft back and forth. That is all that Lee wants us to do, for now.

So, this week, we will be practicing our "sit - stay". Cricket must be in a sit and I keep feeding her food as long as she remains seated. I'm suppposed to do this in 5 sec intervals for one minute then two minute break and back again for 10 sec intervals up to 20 secs. Cricket couldn't even do 5 secs. Her little butt would bounce right off the ground after about 6 treats. This lesson is going to be hard to learn.

Kent came with me, this time and took pics.

Lee works with a student on "down".

Kent works with Cricket on "Swing".

I put on Cricket's work bandana.

Eddie Is One Ball Playing “SHUT YO MOUTH” Dog

If you are looking for a fun loving, ball chasing, energetic companion, then Eddie is the dog for you. He will play all day but, if you tell him to “Place” will go to his crate/pillow (whatever you have designated as his “place”) until you are ready to play again.

He gets along great with other dogs and is always up for a game of Romp. He is great around kids, never jumping on them, just always waiting for the next game of ball. He does ok with cats as long as they don’t run from him.

He knows basic commands like “sit”, “down”, “place” and “out” (to drop the ball). He will walk, at heel, on the leash if you tell him to but we don’t work on that very often.
Eddie is close to 2 years old and a Red Heeler/Aussie X. He is up to date on shots and has been neutered.