It is important to practice obedience with Jingle every day. She is so smart and she really does try to push it to see what she can get away with. If we put her in a “down,” down it is. Whether it is five minutes or three hours. This may sound cruel, but if we plan on sending her to school with Riley it is very important. If she gets up, it is imperative we correct her and put her back in the exact same place she started. If we just put her in another “down,” say she walked ten feet away, then she’s ten feet closer to whatever it is she was aiming for, and she’ll keep doing it, breaking her “down,” getting closer and closer to that cat, or that bit of food, or whatever.
So, the picture above shows Jingle in a “down.” I am walking around her dropping treats on the floor and she is not allowed to go for them unless and until I say “free!” She just turned one year old, but look how patiently she waits.
“Jingle free!”
“Good dog!”
Jingle’s too cool for school! I have a feeling no matter how hard you work she’ll find a way round you. She’s just such a smart cookie!
I was out playing with Meg the other day and I wondered if you had thought about using favourite toys with Jingle for the squirrel issue. Meg is totally OCD about tennis balls and I would say a bomb could go off right next to her and she would be none the wiser if I have a ball in my hand!!
Jingle’s already doing really well with the squirrels. She sees one and looks to us for a treat, and that is that. She doesn’t even tug after them anymore. Still barking at other dogs, but not as much. She really just wants to socialize and say hello. She missed her doggie friends.
Good service dog owner. Give yourself a treat. Organic.
Yep, smart cookie indeed! (Dogs take after their owners don’t ya know!!) So, do you do doggie play dates?
Good dog, Jingle. Good dog.
Is it wrong, in the face of all this tender sharing about the wisdom of the puppy, to just mention how plush and calm and inviting our living room looks?
-e-
Thanks -e-! If you only knew how trashed my house is at this very moment.