Now that Boston has the basics pretty well we are starting to challenge her house manners. This includes Placemat with other dogs, food, and people who are coming and going from the room. She did very well today with all of those challenges. We kept her leash on but simply dropped it on the floor next to her. The room was lively and she did get up twice to try to join the fun but eventually she understood that she had to stay on her mat like the other dogs were doing.
Tomorrow we are going to challenge her further. Boston will be joining us for a picnic in the living room. She won't get any of the food though we will be eating it right at her level. Then we are going to purposely leave a morsel on the conveniently chin level coffee table which she will be expected to respect.
We may be using a shock collar for this workout so as to enable us to correct her clearly and quickly should she go for the bait. Don't worry, praise will be lavish when she gets it right.
Her obedience is going fine. Down is still a bit slow but she knows what she is supposed to do. She still is quite a puppy and will need to do a bit of growing up and her people will also need to commit to making these new skills part of her lifestyle, and not just party tricks.
Boston reminds me more and more of my first retriever, Nikki. Nikki was a gentle natured Golden Retriever who was not stupid or defiant but in her youth she was convinced that everything was a game and everyone was a friend. She grew into a beautifully balanced and polite adult dog and this is what I predict for Boston. She certainly knows how cute she is and those big brown eyes certainly get utilized, much in the way Nikki would try to affectionately gaze her way out of trouble.
Tomorrow we are going to challenge her further. Boston will be joining us for a picnic in the living room. She won't get any of the food though we will be eating it right at her level. Then we are going to purposely leave a morsel on the conveniently chin level coffee table which she will be expected to respect.
We may be using a shock collar for this workout so as to enable us to correct her clearly and quickly should she go for the bait. Don't worry, praise will be lavish when she gets it right.
Her obedience is going fine. Down is still a bit slow but she knows what she is supposed to do. She still is quite a puppy and will need to do a bit of growing up and her people will also need to commit to making these new skills part of her lifestyle, and not just party tricks.
Boston reminds me more and more of my first retriever, Nikki. Nikki was a gentle natured Golden Retriever who was not stupid or defiant but in her youth she was convinced that everything was a game and everyone was a friend. She grew into a beautifully balanced and polite adult dog and this is what I predict for Boston. She certainly knows how cute she is and those big brown eyes certainly get utilized, much in the way Nikki would try to affectionately gaze her way out of trouble.
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