Day 213 in 2019

Day 199 in 2019

Gimli is a smart, high-energy, working dog mix. Like many working dogs if he doesn't have a task or a job for at least part of the day he can become bored, which can lead to becoming destructive. To keep him busy we train several times a day, walk several times a day, and we give him several brain puzzles. We gave up feeding him in regular bowls when he was only a few months old, partly because he ate too fast, and partly because if he was kept busy by a meal for a while, he wouldn't be bugging us for more, more, and yet more play and attention! That first month we picked up just a few slow feeders, so bowls with obstacles they have to eat the food around. We also started feeding him in covered cupcake tins, the food hidden beneath re-usable cupcake wrappers, and we starting picking up a puzzle or two every month for variety. Some are harder than others and require multiple steps to open compartments to get at the food, but this was the first puzzle we used that simply confounded him. He knew where the food was, but he couldn't get drawers open, even though we hadn't get engaged the locking mechanism and were using it on the simplest, unlocked setting.

It turns out to be not his fault—he simply can't quite get his tongue, or his toe, in the drawer handles, they are too narrow.

You can see he is less than amused.

Day 142 in 2019

Time for a puppy/training update? Gimli is now 34 pounds of pure, opinionated energy. Thankfully, he's also smart, eager to please, and generally a good boy. We still train about three times a day, usually after each meal, and do our best to take turns so he'll listen to everyone. He graduated at the top of his intermediate obedience class at Pet Smart and he's got all the basics down pat. We are comfortable enough with his recall that we can now play fetch on the 30 foot check leash in our (unfenced) backyard without incident, even if the neighbors are out (even if their DOGS are out!), and that's been a game changer on the energy release front. In addition to the basics, he now knows how to roll over, "chill" (lay on his side, specifically for nail trims), shake with both paws, spin in both directions, weave through the handlers legs, give a high five, sit pretty, go to his "place", and "touch" (nose to palm, which will be invaluable if/when we start agility and high level trick training). He can heal on the left and "come by" on the right and does so very reliably, which was my best answer to our overly social dog on walks and has become a very good first line of defense in that area. Actually, he now walks with very good manners a majority of the time (no pulling, no rushing, even when rabbits suddenly and surprisingly dart out from under bushes right in front of him). And in the picture above you can see him working on "exile", the command we've used with all of dogs to keep them out of the kitchen/dining area when we wanted. He definitely looks like he feels exiled.

So we're coming along, if we could just get the jumping under control! But I've been reassured but numerous trainers and dog people that jumping is the hardest habit to break, and usually just takes time and maturity. We'll get there.

Day 125 in 2019

Intermediate class...

Day 72/365

Stellar long lead stay as a dog is walked by across the street! This is what we're really working on right now—being able to ignore distractions of the two and four legged variety, whether they are near or far. Of course, when those distractions are near I make sure he is on a short lead and I offer encouragement, in the form of treats and a reminding voice, but when those distractions are distant, say across the street, we can work on distance obedience as well, meaning asking him to listen to commands even while I am many feet away and he feels like he is off leash. It's going well.