Well our young friend Abby goes home tomorrow. She is still is chalk full of puppy but I am proud of how far she has come in the past 10 days. She now has an understanding of Heel, Sit, Down, Implied Stay, Place, and Come. She is better about going into a kennel (though is much happier to do it for a peanut butter kong) and she is a charming house dog. She no longer tries to get onto the furniture, even though she will try to ooze onto a lap that does not firmly claim its personal space. She will sniff and pout over food left within her reach but she won't take it (her hot collar is a HUGE incentive to leave food alone). She is still a stinker about getting collars and leashes put on so it is important that her family not play with her when she tries to silly her way out of it. It is working time when it is time to put on her collar or leash and so any shenanigans must not be tolerated.
It is her family's job to get on the same page about what her rules are. They must agree to be consistent with her at all times and to have patience, it was not too long ago that she was a little poof ball in my puppy preschool class.
She likes to default into a Down and so her owners will need to be strict that Sit means Sit and that she not get away with melting.
She has been an absolute delight to have here. Interestingly enough, it is Kylie who will miss her most. Kylie is usually far to busy and important (in her own opinion) to make close friendships with the young dogs who come through here, but she has really taken little Abby under her wing. Kylie even taught Abby how to grab a flake of hay and "kill" it by shaking it until it falls apart.
Abby will make her owners very proud if boundaries are set at home, exercise is not forgotten, and her obedience becomes a way of life.
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