Fran on Friday
Booker
It occurred to me that I should start training Booker some higher-level behaviors. If we can conquer the group exercises in AKC Novice Obedience (long sit and long down), then we’ll need some new skills. So I started training him to hold the dumbbell. Booker already likes to fetch things, so perhaps it won’t take long for him to bring me the dumbbell. The AKC Open level requires the dog to retrieve the dumbbell a couple of times and to hold it in his mouth until told to drop it.
The hard thing will definitely be for Booker to hold the dumbbell for any length of time. He did hold it for half a second or so today, but he’ll have to do better than that! I’ll start by having him hold it while heeling, perhaps. Then it won’t be as big a stretch for him to hold it when I’m stationary. Hopefully! That’s the plan, anyway. And in dog training, plans always have a way of changing. As dog trainers, we have to be flexible. Something is always changing, or not working right. And if something isn’t working, we have to find a new way of training.
