Good for you, Karen.

Last evening, we revisited our parlor routine, which hasn't been very routine lately. Sadie was excited to do some basic fronts, finishes, position changes, au pieds, focused heeling, and touch pads. We also worked on her newest tricks; "roll over" and extending the distance she backs up on command.

I am not able to post vids, so I couldn't enter the contest, but I have trained her to roll over in the past couple of weeks. Last night, we worked on the finished product, by not marking until she rolled completely over and was getting to her feet. We have faded the lure, and she understands the command, but she still gets a little too excited and sometimes forgets. We are very close to a finished behavior.

Thanks guys! As some of you remember, it took a little work to find the right fit, but I'm glad we kept at it.

Congrats on the rolling over, Duane! I didn't enter the contest, either. I felt like everything we're working on right now is very basic and not too exciting, plus it's been a crazy month!

Tonight, I'm all on my own with dh and kids all out of town, so I'm planning a fun night of training starting with a good long walk and more of the same work I was doing last night. I'm hoping to also add in some tug in the backyard after. Sam has finished losing his baby teeth and we actually got him to play with a ball...for the first time! I've been working for months to try to get him to chase a ball...with no success. He'd just stare at me like I was an idiot each time I threw one. If it wasn't a tug, he wasn't interested. Our training coordinator teased him with a ball on a string for a while and once he figured out that if he got ahold of it, he could tug...that was it! Now he loves the ball and I got one for him to play with at home as an alternative to the growing tug collection.

It's been raining all week, so I've been combining my training sessions with our walks, which has actually been working out really great since I get lots of distractions to work with. I even laid a mini-track in the overgrown easement of a neighbor's front yard today. Lol! A few of the neighbors have gotten curious and watch us from a distance. I can't help but wonder what they think I'm training him to do!

I've moved from rewarding just eye contact to rewarding him when he comes and sits with eye contact. I've also added having him stay in a sit while I walk around to have him on my left side, in the right position to eventually start a foss. I was SO proud of him today when he stayed in position, eyes on me, while a noisy car went by us on the street! (I think he got 3 treats for that awesomeness!)

Leash pulling has gotten a lot better this week. Our biggest outstanding challenge? Getting Mr. Antsy pants to settle next to me on the couch or bed when I invite him up to cuddle for a bit. Dh has been out of town this week and I'd appreciate the company, but Sam is so incredibly excited just to be there that he can't stay still and soon loses the special privilege. I think that's just puppy brain, though. . I hold out hope that one day, he'll be a cuddler!

OB in the back yard this morning with the bite wedge as a reward - fun and exercise for us both.

Right now just getting a few minutes a day to spend with him is a real accomplishment, I miss the days when I could arse off with him for a couple of hours for a hike or training.

Dh is back in town and Sam is very glad to have his buddy back. Unfortunately, we missed tracking practice this weekend because I was on call. I had the poor guy all packed up and he was so excited and then I remembered that there is no cell signal where we track and I have to be able to respond to work calls. We took him out for a hike instead and he saw his first moose, a mother and twin calves. We're going to have to work with him regarding moose because he became very excited and started barking and pulling. I think he was just very excited to see them and I can't blame him, but for safety, we'll need to get him to be less reactive with them. We even have moose wander the neighborhood and lay down in our front yard in winter.

He does better and better redirecting to me when other distractions come along, though and will actually sit when he sees a biker or runner or strange dog coming and look at me, expecting his treat.

Tonight we have obedience and protection, but I'm thinking he may not get as much work since we have a trial this upcoming weekend and several dogs feverishly preparing for it. I'm excited to get to see my first trial as well as help out as a "group member" for it.

Today Bindi and I worked on Rally training. She is learning the excellent signs. (some of them) I am hoping in October to put her in her first competition.
Cody and I are working on relaxation techniques for his mat.
Terra and I are working on CGC things. RIght now Terra needs work on her wait. She knows what it means but just can't see the value in staying put it she needs say a drink of water. She leaves her spot, gets a drink and then returns to her spot !ha! So we are working on that.
Been really hot here so haven't had much time to work outdoors.
Sounds like all of you are making some good progress with your dogs.
love sharon and her pups bindi, cody and terra

OB in the kitchen - learning to climb up and sit nicely on a dining room chair along with the other behaviors we've been working on.

My friend just asked me why I would teach my dog to sit on a chair.. I am at a loss on how to explain. It was there.

 Quote: Kristin Muntz

My friend just asked me why I would teach my dog to sit on a chair.. I am at a loss on how to explain. It was there.

Don't worry, I bet most people here get it. Besides, imagine all the photo opportunities in the chair!

Last night we had obedience and protection. Given that we have a trial this weekend (yay, my first trial and I get to be a group member for the obedience portions! ), I figured Sam and I would not have much time on the field and we'd be focusing on the dogs preparing for trial.

Oddly enough, only a few dogs showed up, so Sam got some great time and I got some great advice as well as some encouragement. He's really doing much better calming down in the environment and starting to develop better focus. In protection, he played with the helper and eventually really got into it and the helper told me to just keep at it and not to worry. I'd been concerned that he simply wouldn't have the drive for protection, but the helper thinks it's there and I'm just going to need to coax it out a bit more and not compare him to some of the other pups.

So, a great night overall. He even barked at "the bad man!"

Tonight, a long walk with working on focus with distractions and then some romping in the backyard.