Today was the first real work day for young Teddy. He had 3 workouts today and 2 walks and I am very happy with the progress he has made already. The first 100 yards of the first workout of the day was nothing but argument. He tried EVERYTHING to avoid walking in a nice Heel. He pulled forward, he put the breaks on and refused to move, he pretended he was dying, he even spent 20 seconds bouncing up and down next to me while we walked along. When none of this worked he settled into a nice Heel and walked like a gentleman for the rest of the workout (around 10 minutes remained in the workout). By the end of the workout he also had a rudimentary Auto-sit. Now, at the end of the day, I would say he has Heel/Auto-sit pretty well though it needs to be cleaned up. He still wants to turn his butt and face me instead of sitting at my side. During his last workout of the day he was already getting better with this.
We started his Down command during the second workout of the day. He hated it. Whenever I would start lowering him into a Down he would squirm to the side or behind me trying to avoid it. By the end of the workout (around 15 minutes) he was laying down with a soft touch on his head but he was pretty pouty about it. The third workout he was laying down on command but, like the Heel/Auto-sit, it needs cleaning up.
His Implied Stay is coming along nicely. I can walk all the way around him if I walk slowly. If I walk at a normal pace he will still get up and try to come with. He only needs a verbal reminder to stay put, however, and he then lets me finish my circle.
All in all, not bad for his first day of work! He is eating well and sleeping well. He is getting along fine with Kylie and Ted though he does try Kylie's last nerve when he thinks it is time to play and she wants to nap. Twice today I saw him tease her into playing with him. Ted (my Ted) has taken to Teddy surprisingly well. We don't call Ted "Mr. Grumbles" for nothing. He is usually quite the grumpy grandpa with the boarders but for some reason (maybe it's the name) he seems to really enjoy Teddy's company. Teddy is also getting along famously with Angela, the barn cat, who would run up and rub on his face and neck whenever Teddy would lay down in the training room.
Tomorrow we are going to continue with today's new skills but we are also going to start the Recall command and we will see if we can get to Down from the Front but it all depends on how his Down at the Side looks in the morning. We are also going to start working on Heeling with a stroller either tomorrow or Wednesday. Busy busy busy!
We started his Down command during the second workout of the day. He hated it. Whenever I would start lowering him into a Down he would squirm to the side or behind me trying to avoid it. By the end of the workout (around 15 minutes) he was laying down with a soft touch on his head but he was pretty pouty about it. The third workout he was laying down on command but, like the Heel/Auto-sit, it needs cleaning up.
His Implied Stay is coming along nicely. I can walk all the way around him if I walk slowly. If I walk at a normal pace he will still get up and try to come with. He only needs a verbal reminder to stay put, however, and he then lets me finish my circle.
All in all, not bad for his first day of work! He is eating well and sleeping well. He is getting along fine with Kylie and Ted though he does try Kylie's last nerve when he thinks it is time to play and she wants to nap. Twice today I saw him tease her into playing with him. Ted (my Ted) has taken to Teddy surprisingly well. We don't call Ted "Mr. Grumbles" for nothing. He is usually quite the grumpy grandpa with the boarders but for some reason (maybe it's the name) he seems to really enjoy Teddy's company. Teddy is also getting along famously with Angela, the barn cat, who would run up and rub on his face and neck whenever Teddy would lay down in the training room.
Tomorrow we are going to continue with today's new skills but we are also going to start the Recall command and we will see if we can get to Down from the Front but it all depends on how his Down at the Side looks in the morning. We are also going to start working on Heeling with a stroller either tomorrow or Wednesday. Busy busy busy!
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