After we finished the potty training clinic, I offered her guardians a few tips on how to disagree with her jumping up on them. Because of her small stature and the tendency of Italian Greyhound bones to break, I wanted to adopt a less invasive method of correcting or disagreeing with this action.
The audio cue I use is similar to the hissing sound (sssssss) a cat would use to warn a person or animal to back off. I explained that I use this sound any time I want to disagree with a unwanted action or behavior. I use this sound for two reasons; first the dog knows that humans are talking to it rather than to one another. The second reason is dogs are predisposed to recognize a hissing sound as a warning because so many animals use this sound.
To provide an alternate option, I showed the family members how to condition Ginger to go to the dog bed at the far side of the room. I did this in three ways; tossing a high-value treat into the bed while the dog was watching, tossing a treat into the bed while the dog was not watching and leading the dog over to the bed by offering a treat so the dog would follow.
By repeating the command word each time the dog gobbled up a treat while standing or sitting in the bed, Ginger started to develop an even deeper positive association with the bed. After a half dozen treats in the bed this way, Ginger started to come over to investigate the bed every few minutes, even when there was no treat inside. It will take another couple of days of tossing, leaving or leading Ginger to get treats in the bed before the dog goes over to this location on command, but once she does it will make it much easier for her family members to redirect unwanted actions or behaviors.
I suggested that her family practice this exercise once or more times a day over the next week or two. Because this is a simple exercises that uses positive reinforcement to reward wanted behaviors, it will really help the members of the family and the dog connect on a deeper level.
The family did have a workaround for their lack of fencing; a freestanding gated pen that they kept on their back porch. The father informed me that he placed the dog into this fenced in area each morning before getting the kids ready for school.
After tossing in a few treats I tossed in another one and this time followed silently behind the dog so that I was standing at the gate to the enclosure. Once the dog was inside the pen I closed the door and waited for the dog to recognize that was the situation.
Once Ginger realized the gate was closed, she started pacing around the enclosure as well as pawing at the gate in attempt to get free. Dogs often feel confined when a gate is closed in the kennel or pen area so I opened the door to alleviate this concern.
As soon as ginger saw the gate was open she attempted to exit the pen. Because of her size, I only opened the gate about 12 inches wide and stood in position right outside the opening. As soon as Ginger started moving towards the opening, I took a sudden and deliberate step forward to communicate that I disagreed with her movement and attempt to leave the enclosure.
I waited for Ginger to stop moving completely then immediately took a deliberate step backwards away from the gate. I stopped and observed the dog waiting for her to make the next move. A few seconds after I took my step backwards Ginger started to move towards the exit again. As soon as she did, I took another sudden step towards the gated area to communicate that I still disagreed with her attempt to leave. We kept at it for a few more moments until I was able to walk a few feet away from the enclosed area while Ginger remained inside on her own.
It took a few minutes, but eventually Ginger sat down. As soon as she moved into a sitting position I crouched down and extended my arm towards her holding a high-value meat treat in the palm of my hand. I gave her a recall command which got her to stand up, but she paused when she got to the open gate. This pause was a result of the dog remembering that I had asked her to stay inside the pen. I gave Ginger another recall command and this time she slowly and cautiously stepped outside of the pen. I held the treat out in front of her to make sure that she was properly rewarded for following my command.
After completing the exercise, I coached one of the families young daughters through it a second time. It took her a little bit longer than it did for me to get Ginger to stop trying to exit the pen. However Ginger did not pace as much inside the enclosure and was noticeably calmer during the exercise.
Melt two tablespoons of butter and pour it into the pan on top of the parchment paper. Sprinkle the light brown sugar evenly over the butter and then arrange the halved and pitted Italian plums, cut side down on top of the brown sugar. Ensure that you tightly pack the plum halves in as they will shrink during baking.
In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter and the granulated sugar until light. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time until well incorporated and then add in the vanilla extract. Add half of the flour mixture and beat until well combined. Add in the sour cream and then add in the remaining flour mixture.
Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any juices and transfer to the preheated oven baking approximately 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean after inserting it into the middle of the tart.
This afternoon, implementing the principle of self-defense, the Italian Navy destroyer Caio Duilio shot down a drone in the Red Sea. The drone, with similar characteristics to those already used in previous attacks, was about 6 kilometers from the Italian ship, heading towards it.
Currently in the area to ensure freedom of navigation and the security of trade routes, D554 Caio Duilio replaced Italian frigate Federico Martinengo in the context of Italian maritime surveillance operations in the Red Sea. The effort began at the end of December, following attacks by Houthi militiamen against traffic sailing in the Strait of Bab-el Mandeb.
No details have been released about the engagement of the Italian Navy destroyer, except for the distance. Caio Duilio is fitted with three 76/62 mm Super Rapido guns designed for close range air defence (CIWS). The radar-guided Strales-configuration of the guns featuring the DART guided ammunition makes the system the weapon of choice used for the engagement. However, the drone was engaged by the Super Rapido with conventional rounds according to an interview given to an Italian TV station by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, yesterday.
These are very Italian cupcakes. The list of the ingredients speaks for this well. There are fresh ricotta cheese and cornmeal, ground pine nuts and Italian prune-plums. The upside-down idea is not an exclusive American invention either. Italians have been flipping their cakes for a long time (crostata invertina (for example, with rhubarb and anise) is a wonderful and well known Italian treat).
The cupcakes are incredibly tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth. Ricotta and ground pine nuts contribute to their richness and added cornmeal adds a light crunch. The cupcakes are not too sweet with just a hint of honey, and pleasant tartness from fresh Italian plums. I blogged before about my forever love to everything upside-down. I love the moistness and gooey caramel topping, as well as the using of fresh fruit. In this recipe I substitute commonly used light brown sugar for more flavorful Muscovado. It does improve already nice taste. The cupcakes are terrific warm from the oven, served with a generous dollop of mascarpone cheese. But even when completely cooled they are very, very good.
In a large bowl combine the sugar and lemon zest together, rub with your fingertips to release the lemon oil. Add the stick of butter and beat with electric beaters on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the honey and beat for a minute to blend well. Beat in the ricotta cheese. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the lemon juice, and extracts. With the mixer on low speed add the dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Finish mixing with a rubber spatula to avoid an overbeating.
Divide the butter between the muffin molds. The batter should be just a little below the rim of the molds. Place the muffin pan onto a baking sheet and slide into the preheated oven. Bake for about 23-25 minutes, until light golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool on a cooling rack for no more than 5 minutes. Cover with another rack and flip the muffin pan over. Carefully lift the pan. Cool the cupcakes slightly and serve warm with the mascarpone cheese.
Have been making the Burros recipe from a clipping (freezer story and all) for a long time do not even know where I got it. I make them in bulk and freeze them in disposable pans, while making one in a springform pan to eat right away. I have not been able to find Italian prune plums this year, so I guess I better break down and make it with regular plums. Which means the next day I will find the prune plums. Anyway, my tip is, if you are making a lot of these, is to use the food processor. I double the recipe, and then split the batter between two pans. I make four at a time, bake them in two ovens, and just before they come out of the oven, start making the next four. The recipe uses 12 plums per cake. My notes say 3 pounds makes four cakes. My Oma added grated lemon rind to her torte, so if I have it, I will sometimes add it as well. If I am using prune plums, I halve them but if using bigger purple plums, I quarter or slice them. The skin is the best part it seems to be where the sour is.
Amazon has achieved a significant victory in its battle against fake reviews in Italy, following a ruling issued by the Court of Milan against a bad actor who attempted to facilitate the posting of 5-star ratings on the Amazon.it store. The ruling, the first decision handed down by a civil court in Italy, led to the immediate closure of the fake review website, Realreviews.it, and prohibited its operator from conducting similar activities in the future.
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