Thor, the canine advocate for oral hygeine
Posted 05-17-2009 at 11:03 PM by QuickSilver
Okay, maybe Thor is not as fanatical about tooth brushing as I am, but I think we can say that he is officially trained to tolerate it. 
He's even letting me do his gums!
Thor has been doing a much better job of keeping up with his New Year's Resolutions than I have ever been. I gave us a year for the tooth brush, and he is rocking it after just four months.
Here's his progress in black and white:
Thor's goals for July 15th:
1. Potty training. I was THIS CLOSE to declaring him trained, but seeing as how I stepped barefoot in a stray poop this week, I have to say we're still working on it. That was his first accident in 45 days, though.
2. "Stay" - he's got this one cold. We're going to try for a two minute stay one of these days.
3. At least one trip to doggy daycare - he goes once a week, and I'm told he has actually attempted to play with other dogs.
4. At least one real play session with another dog - we're still working on this one. I'm confident he'll be ready in a few months.
5. "Shake" hands - He's all over this. We're currently working on "Bang". I'm also working him up to an actual paw shake, rather than him just touching my hand. He's gotten much more comfortable with me handling his paws over the past few months.
6. "High Five" - He has this down pat, and while I don't want to exagerate, I'd say it's the cutest thing in the whole world, ever.
After a full year (January 15):
7. "Heel" on command - he's a decent walker, but he still gets rattled when he sees other dogs. I haven't introduced the formal "Heel" command word yet.
8. Some doggy friends - he's going to need a full year for this.
9. Lose fear of skate boards - I think we might do this one next! This will be a major desensitization effort, where I bring him to a skate boarder hangout daily, probably for several weeks, with intermittant "booster shots" thereafter.
10. No chasing bikers or skaters - will probably go with the Heel command and also reacting to skate boards less psychotically (see point 9).
11. Allow me to brush his teeth without acting like he's being skinned alive.
We did it!!!
12. "Drop It" / "Take It" / "Leave It" - he knows Drop It and Leave It, but not Take It. I think I'd also like to officially teach him "Fetch", where he goes to a toy and brings it to me.
So there you have it. All you wanted to know about Thor and much, much more!
He's even letting me do his gums! Thor has been doing a much better job of keeping up with his New Year's Resolutions than I have ever been. I gave us a year for the tooth brush, and he is rocking it after just four months.
Here's his progress in black and white:
Thor's goals for July 15th:
1. Potty training. I was THIS CLOSE to declaring him trained, but seeing as how I stepped barefoot in a stray poop this week, I have to say we're still working on it. That was his first accident in 45 days, though.
2. "Stay" - he's got this one cold. We're going to try for a two minute stay one of these days.
3. At least one trip to doggy daycare - he goes once a week, and I'm told he has actually attempted to play with other dogs.
4. At least one real play session with another dog - we're still working on this one. I'm confident he'll be ready in a few months.
5. "Shake" hands - He's all over this. We're currently working on "Bang". I'm also working him up to an actual paw shake, rather than him just touching my hand. He's gotten much more comfortable with me handling his paws over the past few months.
6. "High Five" - He has this down pat, and while I don't want to exagerate, I'd say it's the cutest thing in the whole world, ever.
After a full year (January 15):
7. "Heel" on command - he's a decent walker, but he still gets rattled when he sees other dogs. I haven't introduced the formal "Heel" command word yet.
8. Some doggy friends - he's going to need a full year for this.
9. Lose fear of skate boards - I think we might do this one next! This will be a major desensitization effort, where I bring him to a skate boarder hangout daily, probably for several weeks, with intermittant "booster shots" thereafter.
10. No chasing bikers or skaters - will probably go with the Heel command and also reacting to skate boards less psychotically (see point 9).
11. Allow me to brush his teeth without acting like he's being skinned alive.
We did it!!!
12. "Drop It" / "Take It" / "Leave It" - he knows Drop It and Leave It, but not Take It. I think I'd also like to officially teach him "Fetch", where he goes to a toy and brings it to me.
So there you have it. All you wanted to know about Thor and much, much more!
Comments 2
Total Comments 2
Comments
 |  lol Im glad youve cracked the teeth thing , its not easy but very important well done to you both |
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| |  brushingok you have to tell me what is your secret? I have tried everything she moves as if she was being skinned alive as you say lol. also how did you get her to do the tricks my Bella can stay,beg, and go to her kennel when told but I would like to teach her some other commands how did you do it? if you don't mind me asking  |
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