Just kidding.... I stepped on a tooth he lost.
Today we went to Home Depot. It was Journey's first time and he was on overload. He is exhausted tonight. He got to meet so many people and see so many new things. He was on his best behavior. He must have a sore neck from tipping his head so much as he went up and down every aisle spreading cuteness.
Once someone was pushing a large cart toward us, that was stacked with new kitchen cabinets in boxes. Journey looked for a minute like he thought we should run. I had him step aside and sit down while it passed us. He was so cool, he watched - so serious, but with my hand on him, he just calmed down immediately. Needless to say he got so much attention! He behaved very well and I am so proud of him.
He loved when the doors opened as we approached them. A nice woman doing a demonstration gave him a treat. He got to meet some children and even the people at the check-out stands had little dog treats for him. He sniffed everythng as we explored the store.
He is coming along just fine in his obedience classes. Last week we brought one of his blankets with us and he learned to go to his bed. It was very cute. We simply stood next to the blanket after calling attention to it and placing it on the floor. Then we stood still, just looking at the blanket, without telling our dogs anything. If he looked at the blanket or stepped on it he got a treat. If he sat on it he got a treat. He got treated for anything he did that involved the blanket. Eventually he layed down on the blanket. When that happened he got tons of praise and 5 of his favorite treats, one at a time. Then I gave him his release command so he could leave the blanket. I picked up the blanket and we started again. Eventually when he realized he got the best treats for going to the bed and laying down, we then named the action and gradually moved away from the blanket so we could send them to it from further and further distance. We don't say down, or stay. They only learn that on their own. The command is "go to bed" or "go to your place". He automatically downs and stays, as he has learned that on his own. I thought it was very interesting that we don't train and name each action - only sending them to their place - they do the rest, down and stay. They learn so fast and they enjoy the learning so much. It makes for such a solid bonding and a secure dog.
We are also learning what is called "A Really Reliable Recall". We have our regular recall that we practice all the time. Then we have the "Really Reliable Recall" (RRR), which is trained with Super Treats and Praise and is for urgent or emergency recalls. This recall would be used if your dog suddenly takes off after another dog; across a street; jumps out of the car uninvited or in case of some other emergency. The reward for this recall must be better than rewards normally used, and the celebration must be memorable above all other celebrations. What you want to accomplish, in a normal recall is to see your dog turn and run happily to you. He might glance at other things, but he is steadily returning to you. I use his name and "come". For the RRR I use "Journey, come NOW". That tells him it is urgent and special. He should be fairly flying to me when I call him with that phrase. We will never stop practicing that recall, for safety we will keep it fresh in his mind. It could save his life. All of my dogs know and respond to this. I do not use it for normal recalls the goal is to keep it very special.
Well, those are two of the most important things Journey is learning right now. He has learned many other things and he is very easy to train. He is a little more easily distracted than Pirate was, but then I have not been able to practice him quite as much due to my back problems and the wet weather. The instructor said I will learn more from Journey than I did from Pirate.
Our new thing to practice (homework) is to "Leave it". That is also a very important command. It could make the difference in whether he eats something he shouldn't, that might make him sick.
