The Power of Treats

 Fortunately Yokohama has a sea breeze to offset the muggy heat clamping down on everything. Monday mornings is a busy time: collect the poopies and take out the trash, including garden clippings. After a late (and therefore rather hot) walkies, I popped out into the garden with some treats to take pictures. The weeds grow apace and mosquitoes love the shady damp, so we didn't last long! Nobunaga is not really into it, hot after the walk, but Claire particularly is used to things and will do a beautiful sit stay. 

 Sherlock only has a vague concept of sit stay, so I'm slowly backing away leaning slightly forward to indicate I want them to stay put, my finger out holding a small piece of dried cod for reward. With the other hand I'm juggling the camera with the long lens and somehow managing to snap that wonderful smile...a split second later, and Sherlock is jumping forward after me to get the fish...good boy!Good girl!

English Setter Lady Claire

Tune into your spiritual ambitions. Consider the end-game. Remind yourself of the legacy that you want to leave so that you don’t waste your energy trying to get 15 minutes of fame. 

 Fame falls flat unless it naturally arises out of a groundswell of inner-knowing. Accomplishments that validate our lived experience are always the most satiating. Words of wisdom from Chani Nicholas Full moon in Capricorn

 Gundog Rescue CACI is having a three week Facebook charity auction with original UK setter goods to raise funds for renewing the lease on the shelter property...Join the group, you bid by commenting how much you are willing to pay below the photo of the item you like...The first lot of bids ends today, setter and pointer mugs, stickers and magnets! Join in the fun!

CACI Facebook Charity auction mug 

Setter in The Heat

After the morning walkies we dream the day away in the cool of the air conditioning, waiting for evening and hoping it's not one of those tropical summer nights where things never cool off. Today's brekkie, kibble with chopped cabbage and fermented soy bean, otherwise known as natto. I'm hoping the European free trade deal will lead to some delicious cheese being more readily available here at reasonable prices, but in the interim, natto is a cheapo substitute, delish on toast option. English setters they may be, but they are Japanese gourmets too.

Tanabata Festival Slideshow

 A midsummer evening where lovers meet under the night sky to celebrate the star festival, boys with gauzy blue, grey and brown tie-dyed obi, girls with pink and orange bows...
 A night where dreams come true, and prayers are granted...

 May peace prevail on earth...

 May all abandoned English setters find a loving furever home...

 May peace prevail on earth...

 May blessings be upon all things big and small...

 May your dreams come true.

Social Setters

I enjoy the doggie meet and greets on our walkies just as much as my three English setters...nothing like lingering for a moment, enjoying banter and breathing in the morning air, warm sunshine on my back. So many new acquaintances have really brightened up my life, opening a whole new world of friends distinct from work, dance and family.

Nobunaga is a real poodle lover, and Jin loves him right back, no signs of fear at his large size, just a long savory hello sniff under his belly. When we pop by Jin's house, Nobu drops down on the stoop while I chat and refuses to budge, even when it's time to go home.

Always out for something to eat, Sherlock loves humans as much or more than other doggies, and is blissful when he gets rewarded for a sit. He's not so good at taking food gently though unless it's me: in his haste to secure his portion, he tends to use too much teeth for most people's liking. 
I've been looking at problems which develop in dogs from early separation from their mothers and siblings: according to a referenced article in The Nest, the ideal time seems to be 10-12 weeks with their families, to learn 

Life Lessons

When puppies stay with their mother and littermates for a minimum of between 8 and 10 weeks, they have sufficient time to develop a strong foundation of social skills. In regular playing with their siblings, puppies ...learn when too much is too much, whether with pouncing, biting or chasing. They fine-tune the technique of playing around without allowing it to hurt the other party. They gain an understanding of how to send messages to other dogs -- and how to decode them too. They develop patience and problem-solving skills...

At first I was wary of greeting shiba Gen in the park, because many shibas are fearful or even aggressive, sometimes biting...Gen's dad agreed, many were like that, but Gen was from a reputable breeder and spent his first three months with his Mum and family, so he's really balanced and good with other dogs. We spent quite a while chatting. Reading about an Italian study on dogs removed from canine families at or before 60 days, I was shocked to realize Sherlock's symptoms. He's just a wee frightened baby after all...good thing we're all about reassuring mothering, happy exercise, good food and relaxing...

Two behaviors were the most frequently reported among all dogs (those removed early from litters and those removed at 60 days) according to their owners:

• 68 percent of the dogs were attention seekers – they nuzzled, pawed or jumped up on family members looking for attention and physical contact
• 60 percent showed signs of fear when exposed to loud noises...

... absent the security of their mother and siblings, the early separated dogs were much more likely than the other group to exhibit avoidant and fearful behaviors. Specifically they were:

• 15 times more likely to be fearful on walks
• 7 times more likely to have attention-seeking behaviors and noise reactivity
• 6 times more likely to bark excessively

Shady

Muggy