Did a couple of short tracks this morning and Sasha did ok. She's getting it (finally) and I've been able to walk behind her instead of beside her.

It is now freezing rain outside so this evening we did some Nosework stuff and basic commands; sit, down, stand, touch working on increasing her speed. She's a Mastiff; I know she'll never be as fast as a Mal but I can dream.

I worked on basic carting commands with Hobbes, nothing new except for the fact he was neck lined with Calvin so they could learn to work as a team. Also came across a few strange dogs with no reactive outbursts, we keep getting a little closer each time.

Distractions in the feed stores, Tractor supply and the pet store after class. Still can't get her engaged enough to get more than a few focused heeling steps but it's better than it was last month.

Today I decided to use the opportunity Cody gives me after he eats his breakfast to teach him the "pick it up" command. Each morning when I feed cody, he picks up his dish and carefully carries it into the living room and lays it down on his mat to eat. on his own I have found when I go to get his dish, he runs and gets it and pick it up. I then ask for it "pick it up" (I say this when he picks it up) and "give" when he puts it in my hand. So now I am using this behavior to teach him "pick it up". He seems to get a big kick out of it.
I would like to train him to pick it up and use that for other tricks (playing basketball), him helping me pick things up, etc.)
Terra went to get her nails done. This is her first outing since she has been ill. We practiced sitting before we go through doors, and sitting next to me as she waits to be checked into the salon. She did well.
Tomorrow, or tonight (maybe) it will be Bindi's turn. I am still training her to bite the retrieving dumpbell.

So enjoying reading what you are doing with your dogs.

Cody went to the vet for a check up on his folate levels. Usually he goes every two weeks for a shot of b12. It has been two months and we wanted to see his levels and if he can stop the shots. So, it had been a long time since he went to the vet. He was extremely nervous, barking at everything. Still very friendly but just barking at movement. I realized I need to practice going to the vet. He was doing so well before the big gap in seeing the vet. SO, each monday we will be covering, going to the vet and getting treats. They said i can sit in the waiting room, so I plan to sit there for anywhere to 5-10 minutes. Somehow I have to get cody friendly with men. Since the hospital he does not like men. He definately does not like our new vet!
So that's the confidence building I will be doing for cody.
Sharon

 Quote: Charlotte Hince

Distractions in the feed stores, Tractor supply and the pet store after class. Still can't get her engaged enough to get more than a few focused heeling steps but it's better than it was last month.

I need to go there more often with Kenzi. Took her in the other day and she didn't have her prong collar on. She was, umm, a bit crazy.

Getting out and about around new people gets her very excited. So I know what I need to work on...

We continued working on our 'hands free' connections. I can now get Jethro to follow my pointed finger to go from A to B. We also had some high distraction to practice the whistle recall. That still needed leash tension - he was going for broke after a scent - huffing, puffing, hackles up, growling. I just stepped on the long line and he couldn't go any further. I gave him a whistle and he came in for treats. We did that a few times, and then he was able to move forward because he had come back down under threshold.

Also - four instances today of Jethro ignoring other dogs and coming with me without leash tension. In fact, one was the neighbour dog sitting on the other side of an open wire fence, barking at Jethro. Jethro was sitting with his back to Griffon, looking at me, and then coming to me. We walked past Sophie the St. Bernard, and even though she was barking at us from behind her wire fence, Jethro just looked at her and then continued past, sniffing the ground, completely unperturbed. We came up to a driveway and a collie mix came out on the run, barking at us (off leash, of course). I clicked my tongue and we turned back and Jethro followed me. We stopped a short distance away, and he was watching the other dog, and then turned to me! No barking, snarling, lunging or charging. Finally, we were out on the beach, and I saw a white dog approaching off leash with its owner. I just did a quick turn away and double quick headed back up the beach toward home. Jethro did not pay that dog any mind. He just trotted along with me.

Some of you know the great difficulty I have had, learning to provide Jethro with the right combination of perception and skill to help him get along in this world. Today's incidents feel like a miracle.

 Quote: Jenny Arntzen

Some of you know the great difficulty I have had, learning to provide Jethro with the right combination of perception and skill to help him get along in this world. Today's incidents feel like a miracle.

I know how you feel, every minute I spend on my dog is hours of rewards. Sounds like Jethro is much easier to walk

Congrats to you and Jethro. You both have worked so hard. What a way to begin new paths for a new year!

Today I worked on ignoring food distractions with both dogs and then the "roll up the rug" trick tonight. Everything went really well overall.

But the biggest success of the day was when the (bold? stupid? hungry?) barn cat jumped up on the deck to check out what I was doing with Kipp tonight. When I got Kipp he was cat obsessed to the point of if a cat would come within 30 ft of him his brain was gone and he couldn't think of anything else - no way I could do anything until he was kenneled for a whle for his brain to clear. For a while (2 years) he wouldn't play ball or anything if a cat was nearby.

Tonight Ferdinand jumped on the deck, walked past Kipp and stopped to sniff Kipp's tail on the way by and parked himslef 5 ft away. Kipp took one glance at him and went right back to trying to figure out what I wanted him to do with the rug

Success!