Happy Thought # 12

Happy Thought # 12: When dogs learn the trick

I was practicing with Bruce earlier on the lessons he learned yesterday. Unlike some people I know, dogs have far better retention skills than some humans. They listen and they follow. 

I was doing the Leave It - Take It exercise with him a while ago. I put a bacon in front of me and asked him to Leave it. He stopped, sat beside me and ignored the food, well at least he acted like he was ignoring the food. The important thing is he asked for my permission before he did anything to it. You'd think they won't listen, but they do and my heart just fluttered with pride and happiness.

Empress Orchid

Empress Orchid 
By Anchee Min
Powerbooks Greenbelt (Nov. 10) 3 copies left as of 4 pm that day.


I got a copy last Friday of Anchee Min's Empress Orchid in Powerbooks Greenbelt after months of searching. The mere fact that the book is always sold out that made me want to get it even more. It's a case of wanting what I can't have.

But in truth, I read an interesting and positive about this book in Guardian.co and I was intrigued ever since. I don't know anything about Empress Orchid nor read any works of Anchee Min, but I love medieval stories with rich characters acquiring, keeping and controlling power. Political and cultural drama set in the old ages mashed with good characters and plot are one of my favorite subjects. And I won't deny that the main character's unexpected rise as being this strong and bitchy last empress of Greater China was the prime selling point. It only takes one strong interest and challenge to get me hooked.

If I like it, the second book is already out and hopefully not sold out by the time I finish this.

Since I will be concluding the brilliant story of Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami today, hopefully I could get a few hours after lunch to finish it. Then you know what's next on my list.

Archie Comics

Without Archie comics, I wouldn't be the reader that I am now. It launched my desirable reading habits. I would remember as a child, I would put on a show in National Bookstore to extend my 80 pesos/week budget on books. I was not a charming child, but for books I'll do whatever it takes until I puke. But it wasn't so hard when my dad was around, he'd get me double digest and a single digest if my mom's preoccupied. Instead of medicine when I was sick, my dad once gave me a 1950's era Archie comics at the time when 300 pesos was considered quite pricey.

I associate my happy childhood with Archie until the fans graduated to novels at the same time that Archie comics' popularity died down. Archie's fans grew up and there was no follow through. But whoever decided in printing old copies, organized compilations and written follow through - a MASSIVE THANK YOU! Archie is back and I knew I had to get all. I had to get the Best Of, The Married Life and all the possible collector's editions out there.

That's why when these compilations started coming out, it was a bit of a challenge. It may not be entirely popular with the young readers now, but it's popular in my generation and the generation before me who already have the means to buy and hoard books for their collecting pleasure.

Last week, I flew to the Cebu and gave my cousins and aunt a complete set. I figured it was doubly hard to get those in Cebu and I couldn't just get it back because of their immense happiness. I know what it's like to reminisce and continue reading Archie's life beyond high school. Before Twilight, Archie was my fantasy.  So last Friday, I picked up a novel that I reserved in Power Books Greenbelt and found 2 remaining copies each of the same Archie Married books. I didn't pass up the chance of losing it again. Together with Book 2 of the Best of Archie Comics I went home with a spaced out smile, harboring the same excited feeling I had two decades back.

Skyfall

Skyfall is probably the first James Bond movie I saw on the big screen. I have to say that my knowledge about the popular British spy is very limited to sexy scenes, suave action scenes, ballad song for opening credits and a daring James Bond on tux. So I was pretty anxious to see Skyfall. I thought for a non fan, I wouldn't get the story what James Bond is all about.

After the movie, all I can say is that Daniel Craig was my James Bond of choice. He's got enough physical capacity, suave moves, intelligent features and intense appeal.

But unfortunately, the story was a bit of a linear drag. It didn't offer intricate conflicts as I had expected. Batman's was better, Mission Impossible, Charlie's Angels were better. Taken was better, shall I continue? The story is just about an old ex-M16 agent trying to get back at the elusive head of the department, M, played by the excellent Judi Dench because of her failed judgment call on a mission. It's case of an old agent with hurt feelings getting back at James Bond and company. The main villain, played by Javier Bardem, initiated a plot to expose identities of the M16 agents to put M in hot water, plant chaos in the department then eventually kill her. 

I know. I think Fox's series Homeland had a better premise. 

Subplot was more interesting though, it's the idea of conflict within the protagonists' characters in terms of touching the subjects of retirement and letting go. The movie shows how physical limitations and the safer judgement calls brought by experience and sentimentality tend to be liabilities in the spy job. It's how we are reminded that James Bond is vulnerable. And how M tries to hold of retirement until the job is done. That for me is more interesting than putting wasting Javier Bardem's pittance of a character. I was not even terrified. 

And there was this minor thing about the setting. James Bond used the streets and rooftops of Istanbul in their main action scenes. If you've seen the movie Taken, you'll be seeing the same rooftops with a better chase scene. I don't know what's with Istanbul nowadays that makes it so popular in Hollywood action movies.  The country is beautiful, but same rooftops in the chase scene makes me cringe. They also used Shanghai, which comes off as a short imitation to Mission Impossible. Seeing Skyfall using exact locations with less than spectacular scenes just force people to compare. At least in the Bourne was more original, they risked using Manila.

But in totality, I liked the dialogues and the actors are brilliant. Since this is not a drama movie, their exhibits are bit limited, but put the same set of characters in an English piece, I think they would pull it off brilliantly. Some parts in the movie, I imagine them in a different movie. What really disappointed me though was Javier Bardem's character. I didn't like the villain, no sort of impact. At the end, you don't know what the fuss was about. Javier Bardem's character in Skyfall is NOTHING compared to his villain character in No Country for Old Men. There was nothing left to develop. All actors in this movie are brilliant, but I guess unless you're  M or James Bond, it wouldn't have much impact. 

I've been a fan of Sam Mendes as a director, but I think Skyfall is not his best. For a non-fan, it was a bit of a drag and I just loved the movie because of the dialogues and the actors imagined in a different movie. At the end, James Bond is still James Bond, but there's no added stellar value in terms of action scenes, plots and settings. It's something we have definitely seen before and the worst part is that we saw something already better. 

Wreck it Ralph

I watched 2 movies this weekend one of which is Wreck-It-Ralph. I enjoyed it more.

Wreck It Ralph is a story that glimpses the"lives" of arcade heroes and villains particularly that of Ralph, who is the villain of the long running game Fix-It-Felix. Ralph's role in the game just like any arcade villain is to make some character's life miserable. He does it by wrecking the condo building of the tenant characters while the player, who takes on the Felix character, repairs it. And just like any arcade game, there are levels and power-ups. What humans don't know is what goes on after the arcade closes for the night.

As the arcade closes down, the characters of these games resume their lives so different from their real roles in the game. The villains are not so bad anymore, characters travel to the game central and get drinks, they mingle with each other and somehow have the same emotions, aspirations and dreams like humans. This is where Ralph's conflict comes in. Ralph, being the primary villain of his game, wants to be accepted as a good guy. He doesn't like the life he leads and he wants other characters to go past his villain looks and role and see him for what he really is, a good guy. He wants to be accepted.

But it was not that easy. Nobody wanted to accept him as good because he is programmed to be bad and they do not mess with their programs and alter their roles in the fear of having the human gamers figure out something's wrong in the game. Imagine the villain started to help the hero in the arcade, it won't be that fun to play anymore. So Ralph embarked on a journey to get a hero's medal to prove to his group that he could be a hero and he is in fact a good guy. That journey led to the cross of other characters in other games and his strong friendship with Venellope Von Sweets in the game Sugar Rush.

Wreck-it-Ralph has more depth to it than what normal good-evil cartoons offer. I find the premise very creative and interesting in trying to balance the role that was given to you, what society sees of you and what you envision for yourself. It's an inner conflict of trying to accept what we are and what is really important in our lives. The movie has a series of funny moments excellently done and the fact of emulating the arcade characters that we love into life makes it all funny watching it in the big screen. You realize for yourself that you cannot please everybody and society may judge you for your looks, but at the end of the day, it's what you think that really matters.

It's one of those cartoons that adults would enjoy and definitely kids would love and learn from. It's not all eye candy. It's something that I would definitely watch again. Disney did a great job in picking out a good story.

Training Day 1

Success!!

Bruce's first training day was such a success that we can't wait for next Saturday. On his second lesson, we were so eager to go and practice the rest at home that the trainer had to remind us to relax. We were the ones more anxious and excited!!

But I love Better Dog.

They now transferred to their new office and training center just a yards away from Karrivin Plaza in Pasong Tamo Makati. They have a more modern, sophisticated and spacious facility. The main lobby has a huge area for training assessments, a well equipped grooming center and a posh reception area. Not to mention, their office is located near ATMS that you can't help but look around and purchase some of their customized toys and training tools.

Training started on time and we were led to a spacious, air-conditioned room complete with water dispenser and chairs for companions. Since I've enrolled Bruce in a private session module, we have the room all to ourselves. And the best part is that the trainer is focused only on him. I could ask as many questions as I want.

The training method relied heavily on food as a reward as we slowly embark on the "clicker" mode of training. Better dog gave me a sort of whistle that you press and makes this distinct clicker sound that the dog would recognize for a reward. It's not just your typical clicker, timing is key. As for the trainer, teacher Elsie is well versed, very articulate and has this positive vibe around her.

For his first day, he learned the name-call game, the walk with me and the Leave it then Take it lessons. For the first two lessons, it was sort of easy. Bruce did an excellent job of going to us and recognizing calling his name for a reward. For the Leave it - take it, it was a bit of a challenge. We had to leave something in front of us, his treat, then we would ask him to leave it until he asks permission from me by looking at me and ignoring the food. Bruce is extremely fast and food driven, so you could just imagine how I'd try to get to the food first. I thought we wouldn't pull through.

But we did!! After a few tries, I left the cheese in front of me and asked him to LEAVE IT. He immediately stopped in his tracks and went to me. At that moment, I was so happy I felt I wanted to cry. My sister and aunt couldn't help it. They screamed for joy.

I learned that with proper guidance, tools and approach, the dog will listen and learn. Eventually, he will know the commands and the next time he won't be doing it for the reward, but for the positive experience of your pleasure in him. The training will enhance your dog's trust in you and your belief in his capabilities.

After an hour's session, the trainer gave us a week to practice the lessons taught to prepare him for next week. We have to repeat the three lessons during breakfast, lunch and dinner time. It would be a piece of cake. Bruce was already doing sit, stays in front of us trainers and looks at us without commands. He impressed all of us.

There are important things that I've learned about myself and my dog.

For dogs:

• Never underestimate what they can do. At home you'd think they won't follow and just do whatever they want, but with proper tools, methods and repetition, you'll be surprised that dogs do recognize patterns, tone and they do follow!
• Dogs need time to relax before the lesson starts. They are naturally anxious and stressed in new environments. They should be allowed to walk around the premises first. One signal that they're okay is that they eat, play with you and roam around in a new territory. 
• Dogs need access to water in between lessons.
• Dogs need to be do their business before going indoors.
• Do not overfeed your dog when you're about to train him. They'll ignore you unless your dog is as food crazy as mine that he will eat anything, anytime, anywhere.

For Humans

• Load up with patience. Dogs are special but very different creatures. It's not like teaching a kid. Do not expect them to learn the trick fast. Repetition is key.
• It's not a walk in the park. You have to be aware of how exactly you train your dog. The tone of your voice, your position and your timing. Dog training is as technical as it gets! 
• Load up on treats. If your dog is as big and food driven as mine, you'd need like a whole jar of goodies
• Contain your emotions. Laugh and clap if you must but don't over-celebrate to the point of distracting the dog. 
• The dog needs a stern and reasonable owner. Do not be the passive one. They would defer to someone who has a controlled power.

Training is an added factor for your dog's welfare and development. It's not a must, but it's good to have. It does have its results and it does have its joys

Pre-Training Day 1

Pre Training Day 1: Nov. 12.

This is it!

• My car anti-dog shedding cloth (huge katya I specifically bought for road trips with dogs) = CHECK
• Bruce's outdoor bag (Toy, Poop bags, water dish, water, towel and treats = CHECK
• Bottle of water for me and Bruce = CHECK
• Notebook and pen = CHECK
• Camera = CHECK
• Driver (Karla) = CHECK

Unfortunately, we won't be able to bring Harvey. I know it's kind of sad and unfair, but the trainer assured me that Harvey doesn't need extensive work. He is a generally smart and sociable dog who picks up things easily. Bruce needs more work because of his fearfulness. If I bring Harvey along, Bruce's self esteem would gravitate on Harvey and he might get a bit distracted. This training module will not only teach him behavioral skills and tricks, but this is also a way for him to build his self confidence and do things on his own without Harvey's help.

We love you Harvey and Chivas, but Bruce has to be trained because he will eventually be our protector and all protectors have a keen sense of self confidence. He has to do this alone. 

We will have your friend back in 2 hours. 

Bruce's first day at school

He will be back by Lunch time, Harvey. No need to worry.