If your pooch isn’t at the table begging for scraps, your guests are less likely to sneak it harmful foods. However, our pups are an extension of our family, so we don’t want to exclude them from the merriment by locking them away. Instead, keep your dog a safe distance from the table by teaching it the “place” command. Don’t Let Your Dog Beg 2. Introduce your dog to the location, and once they’re there, reward them with a treat. This teaches them to wait patiently until you bring the treat to them. Don’t scold if they don’t listen; just reset and repeat. 3. Practice having them stay at the location. Gradually increase your distance from them and lengthen the time intervals between rewarding them. Once they stay reliably, start pairing a cue word with the action. 4. Point to the area and call it “place.” Start close and gradually increase your distance. They’ll associate the cue with the practice of setting up and staying, so you can send them there with a single word once you start cooking or serving food. Remember that this will take time, so be patient. We know you want your pets to indulge in the holidays as much as you do, but we also know you want to keep them healthy. Using the proper commands and the right rewards is a great way to do both. THE SEASON 1. Set up your dog’s bed or rug in the desired location. This should be at least a few feet away from the kitchen and the dining table.
The Legend of Sergeant Reckless THE GREATEST AMERICAN WAR HORSE Animals have acted as companions to humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the Korean War. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the “recoilless” rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment in more ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,” “Because horses are ‘herd’ animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.” Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle for Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle.
Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
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