Go to TWiT.tv this holiday week as Leo and gang take a week off.  It's a great way to see if you like what TWiT has to offer.  I love it.

Happy Holidays to all.

I have 2 dogs.  The first is a Siberian Husky.  The second is a Black Lab mix.  I never asked for either dog, they just needed a home.  They both came to live here, like when I was a kid and wanted to take care of any stray in the neighborhood.

Kita is a Husky and is prone to ear infections.  He is about 7 years old.  Juliet is a Black Lab mix, and as close as I can tell, she is 15 years old.

Kita howls at every train that comes by our little town.  Juliet is losing control of her hind legs.  She goes to the bathroom in the house if you aren't right there to let her out.

It's like raising kids, which I've only raised one.  I used the English language with my son, and it certainly could have been better.

You can't teach dogs anything with the English language if you are mean.  But you can communicate with sign language.  Practice the sign language.  Practice.  Practice.  Practice.

I love playing darts.  I hated it when I was a kid, but once somebody showed me how to hit the Bull's Eye, it gets a lot more fun.  Seems to me that dogs are the same way.  If you expect them to learn sign language, they'll just give you a big Huh?  They probably don't even know what a Bull's Eye is.

Spend some time, relax, and be consistent.  You'll be much happier, and so will your dogs.

The main thing to teach your dog is "good" and "bad".  I use basic language for that.  Palm up or palm down.  Palm up is "good".  Palm down is "bad".  Depending upon your dog, the things you can sign are limitless.

Juliet is hard of hearing, has catartics, and follows me from room to room.  She is use to me motioning to her for just about anything.  But it works.  I don't scream at her for making an "accident in the house" and I don't let her dictate how we all live here at Casa SovBo.

Kita acts like Juliet's seeing eye dog.  He would be the Iditerod sled dog leader.  But, he always waits for Juliet on the back porch when it's time for them to go out.  He's awesome, sometimes...gotcha' Kita..  Kita is also the enforcer around the house.

Kita keeps all varmits at bay.  I have pictures of some of his conquests, but it would be better for this post if I don't show them.  He is also half of my security system.  I sleep good at night knowing Kita is about 3 feet away while I'm sleeping.

To teach your animals sign language, be mellow, connect with your mind, and reward good behavior.  (Whipping them won't teach them what you're after.)  My dogs will do most anything for me without me saying a word...and yours can too.

*Disclaimer:  Kita was bred to run.  When he gets out of the yard (ie, loose) you can not catch him.  He is way too fast.

Juliet is a caring dog.  She looks like she could hang on for years, even though she is not in good health.

I love both dogs and even my son, too.  :)

Butt Nuggets...$2.69

God bless Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.  Here is what Fred Foy sounded like in 1949.

And if you like the Willian Tell Overature, here is the close from the first television episode "Enter The Lone Ranger" (brought to you by General Mills!)