Buddies

I got to play with Lilly (on left) and Spark (in middle) all week. Spark and Lilly are really cool! Monday Dianne gets home and we can go back to training. Dianne has found some new recipes for dog training cookies.

Long Week

I miss working with and loving Fly. We will start puppy class on Monday nights when I get home. Also Starbuck has a rally class to go to on Thursday nights.

Visiting

Fly is spend the next ten days with Spark and Ana while I am out of town. Fly went over to their house with training instructions. I hope they don't spoil her too much. I have been getting a really nice foundation on her training. Fly was very happy to go home with Ana. I don't think their dog Lilly was real happy to see the puppy get in the car. I miss fly and I hope they send pictures. I will have time to read and reread the training books and watch the videos again

Fun Evening

This evening it was raining. That is good we need it. So we played inside in the kitchen. We spent a lot of time targeting. I got this paw print for a target. It went really well for a long time and then we hit a problem. Fly stole the target. We worked a bit more and now the target stays put. We worked on attention with Starbuck laying down right net to us. It went well. Playing tug with the sit is going well. I have added the cue but I am not sure yet it is connected in Fly's mind. The tug has good shifting weight to her back end real well. During one play/training session I tried going limp in the tug and placing a food treat on her nose. She let go. I was able to do it again but I could tell we were getting to the end of useful training time.

Playing Hard!

Fly is doing very well on hand targeting. We were just doing outside in the yard but last night we did it inside in the kitchen and sitting in bed with lots of distractions. Fly loves Steve and gets so excited when he appears. Starbuck was roaming around too. Fly so bad wants him to play with her. He slowly is coming around. This morning he came in and laid down right up against Fly's kennel.

Tug is working great with the sit. I have started to add the cue "Sit" with it.

Going potty on a lead seems to be no problem.

Distractions are plenty, road noise, bees and bugs and butterflies, Steve, Starbuck, birds (lots of robins land in the yard), sticks, and other things in the grass. I am always worth chasing above all right now.

The puppy biting is mostly under control. I did have to hold her up a few times this morning to remind her we don't play if she bites.

Fly's New Dog Yard

The trees and brush are almost cleared in the new dog yard. Fly got to run across it tonight. What a change!

Just for Fly, Well Sort of

Here is the tree cutting for Fly's new dog yard! It is really a fire break that will be all dressed up! The forest fires have been bad already this year. The area we live in is just a tinder box. We finally did the clearing necessary around the house. At least 30' all around, we went for more. On the down hill slope side it is recommended 100 feet so we are doing more to get a nice working area. The plan is to have a 100' by 166' fenced in area when all is done.

They are doing a great job! TJ's Land Clearing

Target!

This morning Fly targeted on my hand so well. Just like a little push button game. Hand out, either one and a little puppy nose right into the palm with a little tap, click and treat! She took to putting on the head halter pretty easy again, I treated her to sniff it, click it, nose through the loop, hang on her nose and finally put it all on. Then we played some rough and tumble tug.

Today is a big day. The clearing people are coming to clear the trees for our new practice area. Next some dirt work, and then fence and we will have an awesome work area once we can get some grass to grow.

Head Halter

Tonight I brought out the head halter. It went real easy. Fly didn't object to as I click the clip, let her sniff it, take treats through the loop, place the loop on her nose, and then fasten it around her neck. We played tug and had more treats. She did object a bit as I tightened it up but not for long and we played tug. I then took it off and we played tug with the sit. I paused a little longer for Fly to sit till I let her have the tug rope. We also play come with a chase in it.

Inside a little earlier she was getting far to carried away with puppy biting. I just stopped and held her out and stayed still. I had to repeat it three times and now the biting me has stopped. Outside she went for my pant legs. I just stopped and grabbing my legs was no fun. After a few pauses I am bite free of the puppy on my pants.

Back to Work

Now that Fly had a "Junk Food" day we got back to focus in the evening and this morning. Fly has a solid sit when she she sees the tug toy. Tonight I will add the cue "Sit" and see how that goes. The hand targeting is going great too. I need to find a disc to now move from my hand to the ground. I have been very happy with the house breaking. She goes outside on command off lease right now. Fly has her place. I now need to add the lease and see if I can still get the "Go Potty" command to work. Well this is how it is going and the red stuff is what we need to focus on. This is along with playing in the rocky coaster and time to add some new obstacles to play on and get the whole dog involved.
Where we are in Training

1. Game #1 Attention - rapid fire now with treats. She look to me now a lot.
   
2. Game #2 Tug - solid - she loves it and will break from anything I have distracted her with to play tug. I need to add a "Tug" cue.
   
3. Game #3 Smoke Ya - Fly loves the chase and has picked up on the correct side, I need to confirm she is making the side decision and not me.
4. Game #4 Sit, Tug - Wow is this ever solid. As soon as the tug toy appears the butt hits the ground. I need to add the "Sit" cue to this now.
5. Game #5 - Smack da Baby - This only makes the tug game a whole lot more fun. Fly loves it!
6. Game #6 - The Out Release - I need to start this. I made one attempt and Fly didn't even notice the food or I had stopped and then there was another distraction I had to attend to. I need to get this started.
7. Game #7 - Come - This takes someone to play with us. I have been doing 5' - 10' stationary. I need to add the run into the game and do more. We may have 15 -20 tries at this and it has been real successful so far.
8. Game #8 - 1-2-3 Tug - Time to start this. Fly sits and waits now till the tug comes down to her so we can start to grow the waiting time now with a count to "Tug".
9. Game #9 - Hand Targets - We have had three great hand target sessions. I have used 100% food reward with clicks. I have had success with both hands. This is a fun game! I need to find a target and progress to a disc.

I am very happy for two weeks of progress. Since I am going to be gone a week I want a set of things for Spark and Ana to practice with Fly while I am gone. No bad habit s need to start.