I finished my allergy testing yesterday. I am officially allergic to mountain cedar, box elder, sage brush, rag weed, cats, and a type of mold that grows on decaying plant matter. Desensitization shots will help with everything except the cat allergy, so I start shots next week. I have to go in twice each week. Each time I will get a shot in both arms, wait 15 minutes, then get another shot in both arms. After six weeks I should only have to go in once every three months for a shot.
Shady is as adorable and naughty as ever. I have been really frustrated with some of her behavior. She pulls on the leash so hard that she is really hurting my joints, and the collar is cutting her neck. She also has barking fits now and then where she just can't seem to stop. Two different trainers told me that coonhounds are just bad and they can't be trained. They both recommended an electric collar, but I was hesitant to do that on my own. I don't want to just shock her, I want to know that I am doing it the right way in order to train her. Then I was in PetsMart a couple of weeks ago and I noticed a really well behaved boxer wearing an electric collar. I talked to the owner and she told me that they worked with a trainer in Salt Lake. The company is called Sit Means Sit. I contacted them and found out that the package with a collar, the remote, and lessons costs $600. I was very reluctant at first, but the more I thought about it I decided that if it gives me a well behaved dog for the next 10 or 12 years it will be worth it. The trainer will come to my house for hour long sessions as many times as I need him to for the life of my dog. If she trains up really well in the next month and then 3 years from now develops some really bad habit, he will come back and work with her for no charge. If he ends up not being able to train her he will refund all of the money. If I can refer people to him he will refund $50 for every person who signs up until my entire package has been refunded. She starts training tomorrow, so hopefully it will all be worth it.
