Finally learning to sit/stay at a distance!

[Alexandria610]

So Alex is one of those dogs that doesn't like to be very far from her people - she's a pretty insecure dog for various reasons. Anyway, I've been trying to do some distance work with her lately, and although the 'sit' at a distance has yet to be good, the 'down' at a distance is almost perfect!

Since she already knew sit and down so close, I figured why not try to add some distance? I got my 30ft leash out and started to work on her sit at a distance - no go, so when I got frustrated I moved to another command so that I wouldn't get really frustrated with her and feel like just giving up on a low note. I moved instead to the 'down' at a distance, and I'm proud to say that she only messed up once! The second time, there was a click in her eye like 'oh....I get it!' and she laid down and watched me like it was nothing. After doing this about four or five times, I decided to finish on a good note (and since it had started to rain really cold rain, I didn't want to be out longer), so I had her down and then 'come' at a distance. She did perfectly!

I'm just so proud of her. I know it's not a great title or professional test or anything, but just getting her to do things I ask at a distance is yet another step in the direction of getting her to pay attention to me fully, regardless of distances and/or leashes. She's just learning and learning.

[Alexandria610]

I've been doing some off-leash training in the front yard (it's not fenced, so it's a bit of a challenge sometimes - especially for someone like myself that is paranoid that my dogs are going to bolt if given the chance), and I'm proud to say that Alex is really starting to understand it and not take advantage of that freedom off the leash.

Ok, so the real brag of the day!

I've been wanting to try and get Alex to potty somewhere besides our back yard - even the front yard would be a big improvement since she's NEVER gone there and practically refuses. I knew that first thing in the morning she'd HAVE to go, and wouldn't be able to hold her bladder - so I took advantage of this fact and let her off-leash in the front yard to do her business. I crossed my fingers.

After a few dirty looks from her, wondering why I was asking her to 'go potty' in a yard that wasn't 'hers', she went over to one of my trees, looked around, popped a squat (all the while, i'm acting like a fool telling her how good she is and what a 'good potty' she's done) and she's doing her 'i'm worried, im going to ignore my dripping nose' face. After she finished, I went over to her, all excited and loving on her, and she started wagging her tail like crazy. I think she's finally getting it!

Maybe.

And then she decided to take that happy moment and reverse it, like she seems to like to do - she found a scent trail of the cat that lives under a shed next door on the other side of my fence that borders one side of the yard. She followed it around the fence corner to his shed and wouldn't turn to listen to me....until I was right behind her and using my demanding voice. She turned, put her ears down, and tucked her tail - she knew I didn't like that. So I took her by the collar, led her back in the yard, and worked on some positive 'comes' before giving her some love and going back inside.

At least we're doing something right (good potty)!

[Dooney's Mom]

:congratulations :

Yay Alex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Yay Lauren!!