04-12-2009

I'm getting behind blogging Duece's training. A couple of days ago we did some hides in the snow and other places around the yard. Since Duece forgets to sit as an indication and wants to dig up the hide, we were advised to put Duece on a long lead. I found a small nylon rope about 35 feet long and put a snap on one end and we hooked Duece up. He doesn't like the lead but adapted pretty well other than some tangling problems that were probably caused by the opposite end of the lead. The long lead worked as with gentle reminders, Duece was more apt to sit than dig.

Friday, we went to town. Duece on the front passenger seat and playmate, Ziva, the corgi, in a crate diectly behind the front seats. We stopped at Helen's work and both dogs had an exercise in socialization. Ziva growled at someone, and Duece wanted to jump up on everyone. Duece thought it was some kind of fun and even rolled over for a treat which he usually only does outside. Ziva loves to ride, though not so much in the crate. Duece doesn't like it when I leave him in the vehicle while I go into a store, but that's just as important as the ride to get there. All in all the day went well except it ran on into about 4 hours and about 10 miles from home, he showed me what he had eaten that day, all over the console and seat. I guess we'll have to take more shorter trips and build up to the longer ones.

We set up the pigeon hole board this afternoon. Duece remembered to check the higher holes in the board. Even though he's supposed to sit, his indication on the high holes is a 'spread-eagle' against the board with his nose straight at the correct hole. We'll have to build on it. Afterwards, I set the scent container in different places in the garage,just to get Duece used to finding the scent other places than the board. When given the search command, he would head over and check out the board and then work his way to where it was hid. We still have to work on the sit indication but it comes easier. Then to finish off the day we went for another ride. This time I had the 'cheese in a can' ready for a reward. He got some when we loaded, at a stop sign and finally when we got back home. Now, if we could just get him to wipe his feet before coming in the house . . . . . . .