Lesson 136: How to out stubborn a pug part II

We are still in the process of having a dog free bed. I have come to the conclusion that both Max and Ruby are fully aware the rules have changed... they just don't care. But we are staying strong :) Sometimes I miss my furry heated pillows, but then I remember how I can stretch out as much as I want and the feeling drifts away as I drift away into my full night sleep.

I did read a sentence describing pugs today that I thought was fitting.

They can be a bit will full if they sense they are stronger than the humans around them.

(The picture below is on the couch which is still ok for dogs. Ruby is sleeping on the back of the couch with one of the three musketeers.)

Lesson 135: 1 AM is not the best time to change up the rules

The dogs have shifted. Ruby and Max have been sleeping in the double size bed with Ty and myself. It has been fine. I even bragged that these pups were perfect bed dogs. Ruby slept up by our heads and was just like a bonus pillow. Max took the space down in between Tyler's legs. Maybe Tyler did not like this, I don't know, but since Tyler can sleep in virtually any position and does not move once he is out, this arrangement worked nicely.

In the past few nights the dogs have shifted to my side of the bed. They both sleep at the bottom where my legs go. Unlike Tyler I DO move around. If I can't move my legs I go crazy. And THAT is just what happened.

Last night at 1AM, completely incoherent and ready to flip the bed, I went downstairs and grabbed the large Costco dog cushion. I threw it on the floor of our bedroom along with both dogs. Thus began the endless night of keeping the dogs off the bed. Apparently, what I did not take into account was that NO ONE kicks Max and Ruby off the bed. They would jump up, I would throw them off. Max would jump up and at the exact moment I was tosses him to the dog bed below, Ruby would leap up. I must have fallen asleep at some point but only for short spurts. There would come the thud of a dog leaping onto the bed. Before I could snatch them up they would make a dive for under covers. NO SIR! Back to the dog bed you go! Poor Tyler. He just lie there as I waged war against my furry rivals. After hours he did take it upon himself to help in throwing the dogs off the bed.

And that was my night :)

Here is a funny picture. I was walking the dogs last night. Max stopped for a sniff and I looked up to see a cat trying to blend in with the dead grass. Can you find the cat?

Lesson 134: How to out-stubborn a pug

Ruby Kinkaroo is a ball of endless energy. Tyler and I have taken on the challenge of being more assertive with her wildness. She is always excited to go out to potty. When she sees you make your way to the door she begins jumping and dancing around. Then come the high pitched barks. Finally she will, for no apparent reason, attack Max. She also takes on this crazy attitude around dinner time.

In line with Cesar Millan's methods, we are becoming our own pack leaders. She is no longer allowed to go out or eat dinner until she has gone into a submissive state. This can take quite a while as we are attempting to out-stubborn a pug. Both Tyler and I can be stubborn people. I think we are up for the challenge. We are only on day two but I have noticed it is starting to help. Along with being assertive, it is important to be consistent. :)

Lesson 133: Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Our family understands the importance of a "day of rest" :)

Lesson 132: Exercise, Discipline, Affection

I have been on a Dog Whisperer kick lately.


The joy of Hulu is that when you find a show you love you can watch the entire series :) I used to watch Cesar Millan when I lived at home but our dogs were pug lumps so the show was much more for entertainment than anything else. Plus the show keeps warning not to try his techniques at home....

Now that I have Rubert and Maximus I have been using some of the skills with them. Things are going to change in the Opfar household! (That sounds like something I have said before...)

Some new rules being enforces are not playing rough, they can't jump up unless you encourage them too, and they can't come on the couch unless invited.

My big "awesome!" moment came last night while walking my pooches. They were doing great until we came upon the local french bulldog (who is adorable and goes on jogs). Ruby does not mind other dogs but Max needs work. He was doing alright with walking next to me, but he started in with his whining and antsyness.

Cesar suggests using your foot on the opposite side the dog is on to give them a little nudge kick. (kind of like when you kick someone in the bum while walking next to them). I gave Max a small boot. It snapped him out of his attitude and he was fine the rest of the time walking by the other dog. It is called redirecting. :)

Oh! And we saw the smallest bunny I have every seen!!! Our neighborhood has lots of bunnies which I love love love! This bunny was about the size of my fist. It ran two laps around us, driving Ruby crazy and then hopped into a bush.

Lesson 131: New Dog Toys

People who create dog toys just get more clever everyday! Tyler and my newest find came from Costco. They were selling a three pack of these toys that were stuffed animal covers over a sturdy bouncy ball. It is the joy or a ball and the pleasure of a stuffed animal all wrapped into one! Amazing! Our dogs love all toys so this combination is amazing. If you have a dog who does not enjoy balls then this probably would be a pass. My favorite thing to do is bounce the balls like a basketball and have the dogs chase me around.

Here are Max and Ruby with the pig and frog.

We made our trip to Cabelas and here is us on the ride home. We got free matching Cabelas hats, oh yes we did. And of course I am making a doofy face....

Lesson 130: Officially converted to the bow

The Opfars are a family of hunters. One of their specialties... BOW HUNTING. Which I admit I think it pretty dang cool :) Last week all the boys got their bows out for a little target practice. They all have compound bows which are the intense bows with all the wheels and wires. This is kind of what Tyler's bow looks like....


I realized I am REDICULOUSLY weak in the arms and too terrified to try the compound bow for fear of snapping my arm and incurring a massive bruise (this has happened in the past).

My bow to shoot was Tyler's bow he received as a childhood birthday present. Kind of like this....



The only draw back was that it is a right handed bow.... Having not used a bow since high school PE I needed tons of instruction. After snapping my arm a few times I was getting kind of frustrated.... especially since the guys were having a competition to hit a soda can stuck on a target. On my second turn around though I hit the can dead center booyah! And now I am officially in love with archery. My neice Ellis says she is Merida from Brave, I prefer to be Katniss. We even get to take a trip to Cabelas and look at bows :)