Catching up!

Wow...So sorry I haven't written on here in such a very long time! Lots happened... but first my mom got really sick, and had to go stay a few times in some place that wasn't here at home where she belonged. She came home smelling all sorts of medicine-y, and it took her time to be able to walk, and then run.

But then we spent LOTS of time working on various things, and planning, and doing a bunch of other things I don't understand...but in the end, we all went away for over a WEEK! It was so much fun, 'cause I got so MUCH attention! I showed off in harness, and played on some agility stuff, and went in a show ring and we left with those pretty ribbons my mom likes so much..best part though was that I got groomed at least once a day- and you all know how much I love grooming......I wish every week was all about me....it was just as it should be.

And now we've been working really hard on our agility training. Even though I had fun when we went away, I guess mom needs me to be better at some things...I think she needs to find a way to be more clear when she tells me what she wants. I admit though, sometimes I just don't pay attention...so maybe we both need to communicate better with each other.

Mom is also trying to teach me to chase and bring back a toy...now, I'll do most anything for food, and I like to play with toys..well, when I feel like it. But why would I go get and bring back something a human threw?? I think if she wanted it, she shouldn't have thrown it away. Duh.
But I'll think about it. What she's doing right now, is she's using click and treat methods..I love getting her to click, and she's clicking me for touching these two special toys with my nose. Yesterday I actually DID bring her the red firehose toy, and then she played tug with me for a minute, before she gave me a piece of chicken and put the toy away. I don't usually like playing tug with people, only with my uncle Ash...but it was kind of fun! I might do it again. Maybe. The other special toy is a bright green ball, she calls it a "tennis" ball. It's sort of fun how it bounces, and I like to watch it, and then grab it after it stops bouncing. So we'll see....I might be willing to give it a try. I'll let you know how that goes!

Click!

Tonight was school night! We did some shaping and clicker stuff tonight- I love being the "demo dog", it's my chance to show my smarts! I was working toward putting my feet in a laundry basket, and I was doing fine until the basket jumped out at me and scared me! Aaaahhhhh! It moved all on it's own, right at me- I swear I'd just barely set my foot on the edge of it..so scary! But I showed I was brave again! Once I was sure it was sitting still, I worked up the courage to come right back and start touching it again. Mom gave me a yummy "jackpot" of treats when I put my chin on the basket, and then we called it quits. It's kind of funny, making her wait for me to do something that she'll click for..sometimes I can REALLY make her wait, too! Hee hee wooo!
It was actually kind of neat: see, the other dogs in my class haven't worked with clicker training before, so I'm glad they got a chance to see that I can do it, and I hope they can too! So now this week we have "homework"- my mom has to teach me a new trick before class next week... I know I can learn whatever she comes up with, but I think her imagination might be a little limited... I already know how to shake paws, and of course sit and down and stand, and I know to "touch" my nose to her hand or a target, and to "look".... so now, what else??? Oh, and I almost know how to bow already, so we can't use that... any suggestions, anyone?

Going to School

OK, so last night we got to go to Agility class! I LOVE agility class- I like doing pretty much anything, but going to school is great! We have so much fun...
Last night, I made mom really happy- I started getting the idea to drive ahead to the next obstacle without needing to turn back to mom to make sure she was coming along. It's easy, I'm not sure why this was a problem- I think she just wasn't telling me that's what she wanted.
And then I REALLY made her happy: I took the Aframe hard and fast, but remembered (well, she might've reminded me, but I could'a done it on my own) to get into a 2 on -2 off contact position..and then I STAYED there while she got a short lead-out to the next jump! Mom was so proud - if she's this happy when I do something so simple, I don't know what I'm going to do with her when I show her how to do something harder...
Mom did say something about needing to remember that I'm still learning, and she needs to give me clearer direction...she's used to running my dog-mom, Rhya, and Rhya likes it best when mom is quiet and understated. I bet I'll get there too someday, but I think she needs to work a little harder for a while!
Mom's training me differently, she says, than she's trained dogs before- she's always very positive, but I guess she's letting me make choices to learn without always just telling me or showing me what she wants...whatever it is that's different, it sure is FUN! I love figuring out what I can do to make her click the clicky-thing.