Boone-My Anatolian Unicorn

peteyfoozer

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My new waist belt and leash arrived so I can use the carabiner dealybop with Boone again so we can try cruising the ranch one of these days when weather is nice and my pain levels are low enough. At least I will use the belt Monday for the long Dr appt. It might be easier than my hands free leash as I won’t have to unhook and rehook when I sit down or he lays down. One of my appts is going to be 4 hours long and I pray he handles it well!
We are working with his Service mat on a placeboard all weekend, hoping it helps. Although tonight he went bonkers after having such a good afternoon. He gets anxious if Fen and Randy aren’t home by 6:30. He starts pacing and complaining around 5 every night. I try to entertain him with some action games, puzzles and training games but he is only temporarily distracted and becomes more anxious the later it gets.
He did really well discerning my phone, kindle and tv thing and bringing them to me. However, he decided to tease me with my med bag as he was in crunch mode tonight. It seems to be a symptom of his frustration with the boys.
When I asked for help with laundry this morning, he blew me off because he wanted to take a nap. That is the LGD genetics working against me. But in spite of that, the things he has achieved when he WANTS to are remarkable. My Maremmas were really special and had unusually good recall and obedience for their class, but if anyone had told me an LGD breed would perform the tasks Boone already does at a year old, I wouldn’t believe it.

I made ham&potato soup and 2 baguettes of French bread for dinner so Nathan came for dinner again. Boone went nuts because 1. He loves company 2. He likes Nathan 3. Nathan’s Dutch Shepherd is in season so Boone thinks he smelled delightful tonight. He was way over thresholds and couldn’t hold himself down at the, table so he spent dinner outside again. Although I need to train him to lay next to me when we go to eat, I might do better to put his placeboard away from the dining area until he has better impulse control, except there’s no room in this little house, and it’s easiest for me if he lays at the end of the table while I work in the kitchen…so maybe I will just make sure I have some frozen Topls and crate him when company comes. Idk…thoughts? Give him to chance to settle on his mat then crate him if he can’t?
If my hands are ok tomorrow, I’ll try to harvest a drake after I get the sourdough baked…and work Boone. 😁

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peteyfoozer

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Boone has slowed way down on his growth and suddenly all the energy that went to getting bigger, is now trapped in a 135# body, wanting out!! 😳
Games aren’t getting it done for him anymore and he has let me know in no uncertain terms, that he expects ME to solve the problem for him. He has been mouthing my pant leg, sleeves, hands, taking my stuff and literally THROWING it at me, yes, he can do this…
So today, in spite of pretty serious pain, I put on the belt, hooked the bungee leash to his flat collar and hooked the belay to a hermspringer with a 6’ leash and we attempted walking the ranch road. He did amazing. He passed by the ranch dogs with just a cursory glance.(partly because they were not packing up and rushing at him, but instead, we happen upon each of them individually) He almost never tightened the leash on me. He walked quietly did a little sniffing a little looking and seem really satisfied.
Once at home I unhooked him. He had a cookie, went outside and he has been out there entertaining himself ever since.❤️
Didn’t make it all the way to the ranch dump, which is about a mile, but we made it 3/4 of the way, which is a really long way for me. Be nice if I don’t wind up in horrendous pain from this tomorrow and we can start doing this more regularly. It’ll be good for both of us, I was pretty exhausted on the way back, but he happily helped me like he does when we go to town. I’m actually thinking about getting a pulling harness for him and maybe a cart if I can ever afford it.. It might be a lot of fun!
 

SageHill

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Boone has slowed way down on his growth and suddenly all the energy that went to getting bigger, is now trapped in a 135# body, wanting out!! 😳
Games aren’t getting it done for him anymore and he has let me know in no uncertain terms, that he expects ME to solve the problem for him. He has been mouthing my pant leg, sleeves, hands, taking my stuff and literally THROWING it at me, yes, he can do this…

Ya' know, it seems sort of obvious to me that he is TRYING HIS ALL OUT BEST for you to get more exercise. Yeah we'd all rather sit for whatever our current reason is, sleep, pain, etc. But movement is a good thing. I do believe that is what he is trying to tell you. I've though this before as well.
Gotta love that Boone!
Oh and my Zo, he throws tennis balls to me.
 

peteyfoozer

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I Ordered Boone a pulling harness. Ii’m going to let him pull a tire out front. I think this way he can visit a bit with the ranch pack, but we’ll be able to catch him. There was a benefit to them tangling with him the other night when my belt broke and his collar came off. The 2 dogs that jumped him seem afraid of him now as he whooped ‘em pretty good. I don’t think he hurt them, as he always pulls punches with Fen , but their 50 lb just doesn’t stand a chance against his 125+ I need to weigh him again as I had to let out the buckles on his vest after he hit 125.

He’s becoming very affectionate. I’m sure not gonna complain, as I have missed the devotion Heath had for me. Boone’s a gud boi. We’ve been working on his down stay. The platform bed helps a LOT as it’s clear to him where to stay, whereas I have him stay on the floor and he rolls and wiggles on his side all over the room 🤪 It should be an interesting 4 hr Monday
 
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