Good Girl Lucie.

Lucie my big, red dog and I were out on our morning walk today. I was letting her nose around the open area in front of my house. She loves to do this and I swear there is some bloodhound mixed in her genes. All of a sudden I hear a woman calling, “Maggie, Maggie come back.” I looked to see a large white Lab heading our way. I stopped and did what I learned during dog training. I made Lucie sit and stood still.

Maggie kept her distance and soon turned around and headed back towards her human. We finished our walk and started to return to the house. Just as we made the driveway, Maggie decided to bound down the sidewalk towards us. I stopped, sat Lucie and told Maggie to stay. I also held out my hand signal that denotes stay. It worked until I put my hand down. All the while Maggie’s human was yelling for her to come.

Next, Maggie approached Lucie. Maggie’s human asked me if Lucie was gentle. Um, yea. Lucie is a reactive dog and tends to ignore other dogs that she comes in contact with. The only problem is she is very protective over me. At this point I was a bit worried. Maggie urinated on the drive way and her haunches were up as well as her tail. Not good signs.

Maggie walked up to Lucie and my dog stood between us. Lucie put her front paws around Maggie’s shoulders. I knew she was in protective mode and I tried my best to keep calm. I did not want to be in the middle of a dog fight with two huge dogs. I was prepared to leave the situation if a fight ensued.

Fortunately, after Maggie’s human spent a few minutes chasing Maggie around the driveway, she was able to catch the dog. She seemed a bit miffed with me.

I only have one thing to say.

PUT YOUR DOG ON A LEASH LADY!

P.S. I know a good trainer.

Good Girl Lucie

Another Update on the Dog Training.

My big, red dog Lucie is a star pupil. She consistently performs well despite the fact that the temperatures are soaring here. Last Saturday was low key because it was too much for the dogs. They did the confidence course again. Lucie jumped through hoops, over bars and ran over the ladders.

She made some new advances by getting into a tub of balls, climbing stairs and TA DA!!! She went on the teeter-totter. Of course once it went down on the other side she jumped off. I did not get her on it again but, hey, she tried it. As far as Buddy, he has learned “leave it” and “stay”, although he does not stay as well as Lucie, but it is a work in progress.

Overall, I am very pleased with the progress. I still keep a good eye on them because given the chance Lucie will try to dominate both me and Buddy. Before I go to work Buddy will every morning stand in the back yard. I think that he thinks if he stays out there I will not leave. Sorry dude, if I do not go to work, you do not eat. Me either. Lucie knows I have to go get him every morning. This morning she bolted towards him like to maybe try and herd him. I ended that real quick. Dogs will be dogs.

At least at this point they know they are the dogs and me, I am the pack leader at my house.

I Took the Power Back

Yes I did. I finally started to seriously train Lucie, my big red dog. I got really sick of her literally walking all over me! From jumping on me to not listening and just generally being a bad dog.

So a couple of days ago I changed my whole demeanor. I started apply tactics like not letting her walk in the house before me and making her stay when told. I have not let up and surprise, she is obeying me! It is not taking her long to catch on either. The dog is very smart. I knew that when I adopted her.

So, I am going to run with this. Corvette was very impressed when I showed him how I can handle her now. We still have lots of stuff to work on, but I will not give up.

Yes  Lucie, I am the pack leader now!

Predeployment Training: Making Warriors

This is my newest post to Parent’s Zone.

LCpl Honda is currently training for an upcoming deployment. Since I am always interested in what he is doing, I decided to ask him some questions and get his take on the training he is receiving.

Predeployment training is very intense and designed to teach the Marines what conditions could arise on a combat deployment. Marines train in realistic towns with actual Iraqi people playing citizens and terrorists alike. These “actors” prepare the Marines to react a certain way when they are deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. It is vital that the Marines learn how to interact and in turn to watch reactions of the people playing these parts in order to ensure the most utmost safety conditions.

Marines learn how to conduct raids under live fire-like conditions. They learn the safest ways of securing a town or building. One technique is using buddy rushing by running and covering each other while advancing on a target. A squad may start out together but end split up into two “buddies.”

Jumping out of helicopters is another vital training exercise because that might be the only means of getting the Marines to a location. Marines are trained to slide down a fast rope and be able to land without injuring themselves on the ground. They are instructed on how to deal with the rotor wash air coming down from the rotors and the brown out dirt that is kicked up from the ground. LCpl Honda says that the instructors are very good at helping the Marines to jump successfully.

LCpl Honda says that the most important thing about the training is working together. This has been emphasized since the Marines were recruits in Boot Camp. “You have to look out for the guy next to you and he has the do the same.” said LCpl Honda. The training is really a dress rehearsal for the actual theater.

The Marines have no idea what will happen during training. There could be a riot, a sniper on a roof or terrorist hold up in a building. The element of surprise prepares them to expect anything during deployment. Better to make a mistake during training than during actual combat situations.

I asked LCpl Honda if he felt he was ready for deployment. “Well,” he said, “I am not through with training yet so not quite.” but he continued, “I will be.” He also said that most of the Marines feel the same way as him.

He closed with, “We get the best training possible.” and more importantly, he added, “Our leaders and instructors prepare all of us to come home.”

I found pictures of LCpl Honda’s unit in training here. I don’t know if he is in any but it illustrates a lot of the training.

Marines in Training

LCpl Honda is doing some serious month-long training. His unit recently went to 29 Palms to train for their upcoming deployment. He said it is very intense but he is having fun doing it.

He called last weekend to say they were on their way to a base near Oakland to jump out of helicopters. HE was overjoyed! Makes me a little bit queasy. I am just glad he is happy and enjoying his training.

So I was browsing around Marines.mil and I came across this article about his unit and their training. I thought it was interesting. There are a few pictures too and I wondered if LCpl was in any of them. Hard to tell because they all look alike in their camo and gear.

Apparently the training is pretty grueling and challenges both the Marines’ abilities to work in unison as squads and their individual physical endurance. Also,the scenario mirrors combat situations in Afghanistan, where they may be deploying.

“The course is physically exhausting,” said Staff Sgt. Shawn M. Skaggs, 26, from Pilot Grove, Mo. “In combat, you have adrenaline and the will to survive to keep you going. In training, you don’t have that; you have to have that physical will to drive yourself.”

You can read the full article here.

Please say a prayer for my son and his unit. I know they get the best training possible but a little divine intervention can not hurt.