Priorities
Been reading lots of interesting blog posts about all the focussed training people are doing with their puppies. I haven’t been, but I’m actually happy with that. I’ve been much more interested in getting Rio to explore the world and get as much exposure to different people, dogs, and environments, and teaching her how to react and recover. So far so good!
We do need to get out and do a bit more training elsewhere though, although it isn’t something I foresee being a problem. Rio is always ready to tug wherever we are, and will offer her tricks for treats if she thinks there’s half a chance of getting some food. I’ve never known a puppy so into both food and toys, it’s weird being able to switch so easily between them! Her favourite toy is a proper sheepskin or fleece tug, but I really want to keep that in it’s current status as Best Toy Ever, so we only use it once a week for restrained recalls. We tug with other toys in the meantime.
She’s teething at the moment and apparently this is not an issue, she spits them out and then carries on with whatever she was doing. Dylan had a tendency to bleed everywhere. It probably helps that she loves a frozen Kong or icecubes which is numbing her gums, Kim did too. Dylan didn’t, icecubes were far too cold (he was a summer puppy!). He likes them now though and hoovers up around Rio as she chews.
My big priority over the holidays was REA and waits, both looking pretty nice right now. She’s targeting a biscuit tin with either rear foot (I’m rewarding attempts to target too at the moment) and I’m really pleased with progress. Waits are also looking nice, she’ll hold in a sit for 15-20s whilst I move 5-6ft away. I’m sticking with my policy of not setting her up to fail, there’s no point in asking her for a 60s wait while I move to the other end of the room. Likewise if we’re on walks, I don’t recall her if she’s clearly not going to come back. Not in a “omg Rio is running in the opposite direction after a squirrel” kind of not coming back, but if she pauses to sniff at something, I’ll wait until she’s moved on before calling her. So far so good, she doesn’t argue about recalls.