I've blogged before about Iris' reaction when we watch Dog Whisperer. She attacks the television any time she sees a dog, a horse, a chicken... well, pretty much any kind of animal. We have a plasma TV, so the idea of a dog attacking the screen is a little scary. She could ruin our television. I still watch Cesar Milan, but these days I put a leash on her. I let her growl, but if she gets up and lunges at the end of the leash, I make her lay back down. Hopefully she will learn to lie down beside my chair when Dog Whisperer is on. She is learning, as you can see in the following video. Oh, she isn't going to shut up, but at least she's not attacking the television. Toward the end of our session I removed the leash; she stayed right beside me.
This is how she looked when I decided to stop watching Cesar. No leash. She was still watching, but without a leash. Progress!
You can google yourself silly with "dogs watch TV" as the search words, and everybody tells you that dogs cannot make out either sounds or images on television. Iris proved this theory wrong the first week I had her; I was watching Dog Whisperer, and she attacked my television. Yes, she did. It scared me, and I reprimanded her. Tonight I put together several clips of her watching Cesar; you will see her watching closely, but she will no longer attack, because she knows she isn't supposed to do that. Instead, she takes out her aggression on her toys. I'm afraid I've given her some mental issues. I've noticed that not only does she recognize dogs on TV, she now recognizes Cesar as well. When he does that "SHHH...!" thing, she ducks. Of course you think I'm hallucinating. But my oldest grandson was here this evening, and he's my witness. Ask him. With no further ado, I give you the video of Iris watching The Dog Whisperer.
Sadie is one of the most hyperactive dogs I've ever seen, and one of the most disobedient. Lately, though, she's improved, and it's all because of something I happened to recall Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, saying.
I haven't watched Cesar for some time, since I dropped the package on Dish that includes The National Geographic Channel. But I remember a few things.
So one day as I was outside calling my dog in vain while she followed her nose after some wonderful scent on the ground, I recalled Cesar saying that when we speak to our dogs in high-pitched baby talk, not only do they not listen, but they become excited. I realized I'd been called Sadie with that high-pitched voice ever since I've owned her.
I thought hard, and seemed to recollect that in order to have a calm/submissive dog, I was supposed to stand tall, throw my shoulders back, and lower my voice.
I won't say it's worked perfectly, but Sadie comes to me almost every time I call her with my low voice. I should have been outside to make these videos, but it's only ten degrees; so I did it here in the house.
Here's the high-pitched voice... exaggerated somewhat, I'll admit.
You'll hear me trying to quiet her down, because Cliff was still in bed.
Next I'll illustrate my lowered voice. My oldest granddaughter, Amber, laughed the first time she heard me call Sadie this way, and said it's my "devil voice". In fact, Cliff still laughs at me when I call Sadie this way.
But it works!
I hope I didn't bend Cesar's rules too much; I'd hate to have him mad at me, since I consider him one of the hottest guys on television. I think it's the accent that gets me.
So, tell me the truth: Are you sitting there laughing at my "devil voice"?
Sorry about the video not working earlier; I had the settings on "private". I've fixed it now.
Last night I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, "The Dog Whisperer". Love that show, and I believe I have a small crush on Cesar Milan. Anyway. He ended up at the home of someone whose name really rung a bell for me: Michael Damian. When it was mentioned that he'd spent eighteen years with "The Young and the Restless", I realized who he was, and began a trip down memory lane.
I've never been much of a soap opera fan; but at certain periods of my life, I'd get lured into some story line or other, and watch one for a couple of years.
Some twenty years ago, my son and his family were in Germany, and they weren't prospering well there. So my then-daughter-in-law, my two-year-old grandson, and my infant granddaughter, were flown back to the USA and settled in with us.
From 11 AM until 3 PM every day, Kat had the TV turned on, watching soaps. I hated that constant noise, but since I wasn't watching anything during the day myself, I figured it best to leave her alone; after all, she wouldn't be living with me forever.
I took to lying down on the couch at 11 AM, every day, with my grandson, Arick, curled up beside me; and gradually I got to know the characters on Young and Restless, between my little catnaps. And when Kat and kids left a few months later for their own home, I kept watching. I even went so far as to tape episodes when I was working at the orchard. It took at least four years for me to eventually tire of Victor's constant divorces and re-marriages, and all the trumped-up drama of any soap opera.
Danny Romalotti was one of my favorites, back then, sometimes playing guitar and singing what I'd call "soft rock". I hadn't thought about him in years. Thanks for the memory jog, Cesar!
In the weather picture: it's spitting snow, and bitterly cold and windy right now; and tomorrow doesn't look much better. After that, they say it's going to warm up to 50's and 60's, and actually stay there awhile. Spring really is on its way!
If some miracle should happen with the weather, there's even a chance of a motorcycle trip to Branson on one of the last two weekends of this month. The granddaughters have arrangements made for their care, on days before or after those two weekends, that would allow us a three-day window of opportunity, both times. The miracle we need is decent weather, and a good, clear forecast for said times. Here's hoping!
