Bammie Training: Day 7

Hi, everyone! I'm still at it. Like every training program, we had to make a few changes. Mom was sick this week, so I missed a couple of days. I started learning how to go to my spot on command, and this one was definitely hard for me! I hated staying on my spot. I can do a great sit-stay while Mom walks away, but she had to keep blocking me on my spot and even had to go get a leash. I typically listen well enough that she doesn't have to break out the leash for training, but not this time. I kept trying to run off my spot. This is definitely not my favorite command! So Mom has changed things around to practice that a little more.

Why stay on spot? Well, I need to learn a little bit of impulse control. Sometimes, I need a place to go when I am told to get off the bed at night. Sometimes I need to calm down around people and need a place to go instead of their laps. Ultimately, this command will be used to send me away from the door. This is obviously a skill that could keep me from doing some of my favorite misbehaviors. Obviously, I'm going to hold out on this!

The rest of my training is going well. I am able to heel outside now while on walks, which is the natural progression from doing heels in the house. I can do a couple of steps with a treat lure and no distractions. I will slowly be expected to do it without treats and with greater distraction (though there will be treats for that).

I was doing well with looking at Mom on command, so she started adding in distractions. When there are distractions, I don't respond as well to my name, but I do respond to "look" with a hand signal. So Mom started using that command.

We went off the script mid-week when an outdoor soccer game offered me the opportunity for some social training. I'm bad at this, so Mom was going to spend more time training before throwing me in the deep end, but she decided to brave my hyperactivity and start practicing. While I did make some mistakes, I did really well sitting for pets from some people I really really wanted to greet. I only dove at three faces. Not bad for me!

While the game was going on, I also had to learn to settle down. For awhile I was running, but then my parents wanted me to lie down with them. They sat and shortened my leash, but I wouldn't lie down. Finally, my mom realized that I might not know that I could lie down in this context to relax since I am always so wound up. She gave me a down command. I happily did it and was able to relax. I just didn't know that I could! So remember that with your dogs: in a new context, they might not understand that you want them to behave like you do in the house. Tell them what to do and reward for it. I got treats just for staying in a down and getting pets. It was nice to know what to do. And get treats!

I'm having a lot of fun with my training, and I think I'm getting better. I hope you are enjoying your training as well. Love, Bammie!