End of Princes Street training

It was the final week of Southend training tonight. Her puppy classes are full with a waiting list, but her adult classes only have three dogs that regularly go. Although the only thing Val taught me was the ‘down’ (thank you thank you thank you), what she did teach me was the importance of bonding with your dog, that training sessions don’t all have to be about ‘sit’ and ‘down’ and ‘heel’. Keeping your dogs mind occupied on new tricks is just as important. Will not miss the weaving through the legs though! Here is a picture of the dogs that always went: - Honey, Tommy and Mickey (Its quite a dark one I'm afraid!). We clubbed together and framed this photo. We had tears as well. I don’t think I will find another ‘club’ nearby for a week night ‘play’.

Holidays

As b/f and I went to Dublin last week for St Patrick’s day (what a crack!), Tommy went to stay with Emma (of Waggy Walking fame) for a week.

He wasn’t bounding with joy, as such, when I went to pick him up, just indifferent. Emma said he’d been good all week (I doubt that!) and had slept on her bed ‘not in the bed, just on the bed’. He seems to have toned up a bit (or lost weight??) and has got a scratch on his belly (from jumping through thorns).

When we got home he was over b/f like a rash. Charming, I thought.

Clothes that Tommy has ruined in six months

One t-shirt – general excitement at thought of a walk, jumped up, got hold of, forgot to let go.
One work shirt – general excitement at me coming home from work, following me into the kitchen, jumped up, got hold of, forgot to let go.
Combat trousers – left on the bed. Tommy got into the bedroom and there were treats in the pocket. Obviously couldn’t find the opening to the pocket so ripped them instead.
B/f waterproof coat – Rainy walk, b/f was running around, Tommy jumped up at back of coat and forgot to let go. I told b/f not to run with Tommy without having something to throw!
One running top – Tommy’s first run off lead. He was very excited and jumped up, forgot to let go.
Bit of a pattern here don’t you think!

Tommy does a 'down'

Yes! I know! I can’t believe it either! After all this time the penny has dropped! I had been teaching him the ‘down’ in the normal way. Get the dog to sit and then place your hand on the floor with the treat and the dog follows the treat. He does that bit fine, but getting him to go down without my hand with a treat in it on the floor, just never happened. Until two nights ago…

I was at Southend training and Val said tie your dogs to the piano / table / chair so they are steady. Then, move towards the end of the lead and ask them to sit. Then down. The dogs were all doing well as we were no further from them than normal. Then we had to move away another step so the dogs were tied just a small way away. Getting them to sit and immediately reward. Try the same with down. Still move your hand towards the floor but too far away from the dog so they can get it. As soon as they are down, immediately reward. So that’s what I done. And that’s what Tommy done! I couldn’t believe it! We practised this a few times, stepping a bit further away, and then went on to some other practice.

When we practised ‘at home’ training the following night, I tied him to the cabinet in the hall and we done the exercise again. And he done downs again!

The following night, I didn’t tie him to anything and it worked! I couldn’t believe it! After four months of training I can finally get Tommy to ‘do a down’ without me having to touch the floor, bend over or anything! I can stand my height and just tell him ‘down’. I’m so impressed with him.