More training

We've just been plugging along in Bear's training this last month. We took a few trips to Target and he's come to work with me once. I did work a little on some skills I haven't worked on in awhile and he picked them back up instantly. That has been great!

We are now on a schedule. He gets once a week at my job and once a week on an outing. Our outing for this week is today and we are planning on going to our local mall to eat in the food court and then work the doors. That's his biggest hurdle - doing the skills he does at home out in public.

I really think the key to that is me - my enthusiasm. I am a very private person emotionally so it's hard for me to go crazy wild in public when he does something right. I do it at home - just not in public.

So I guess I need to step outside my comfort level and go hog wild nuts when he opens the door. :) I'll probably scare the poor boy to death. LOL

More of the same

We haven't been doing much training these last few weeks. Bear is still a pet dog from time to time. He's been playing in the yard with some dog friends and his dog sister. He's also just been a dog. We've been getting ready for school and trying to get everything done around the house before winter sets in. That's around the corner for Minnesota. Nice huh?

So Bear has been a dog these last few weeks. Maybe September will bring more training and more visits to schools.

Bear did try to sleep with me last night. That was funny. He's used to sleeping in a kennel and I've decided to try to introduce the bed. He walked all over me until I growled at him from under the covers. He was driving me nuts and wouldn't leave me alone. So I growled at him and he stopped, got on the floor, and eventually settled down for the night. Sometime around 4am - he stuck his pointy nose in my face staring at me from the floor. He's eye level with me when he's standing by my bed. I just pulled up the covers, heaved a big sigh, and he laid down on the floor and went back to sleep.

He's so funny. He doesn't have a clue what to do in a bedroom and not in a kennel. I guess we'll try again tonight. :)

Time flies!

Wow. I didn't realize how much time has gone by since my last entry. The last two weeks were pretty usual. We have had my niece staying with me so Bear taught her some commands. :) He's really great to work with for people because he responds so well.

We did try a couple of new commands. He knows how to take off socks, he's learning how to take off shoes, pants, and jackets. He got the jackets thing right away. He's struggling with the amount of tugging it takes to get the pants off but he's working at it. I also have to check with our training director for a way to get the shoes off. Bear has to grab from the bottom by my heel and then tug. I just need more direction on that one.

We took Bear to see a movie "Monster House". I have no reservations about him in public anymore. He did great! He sniffed around a little looking for popcorn and then laid down for the entire movie. The noise didn't bother him at all. I can't wait for a dog movie to come out - we are so going!

Bear's going to have a couple of visiting dogs this weekend. We are dog sitting for a friend of mine. He does so well with new dogs. He's at a great age where he can play if they want to - and for hours, or he can just sit around if they don't. It's amazing how calm this breed of dog is compared with some others I've worked with.

Bear's been out to eat a couple of times these past two weeks too. Again he does great. Now I have to work on skills with him in public.

He really has then down great at home. He looks at me with a blank stare in public. The main problem I think is my quiet reaction to him in public. I don't want to draw attention to him and so there isn't any excitement in my voice. I'll work on that. :)

Barking Update

We have had very few episodes of barking from Bear. He's not wearing his bark collar around the clock. He is not barking at birds anymore since we got a bird as a pet. He's only barking when he plays and when he sees people walk by the house. Neither are excessive. He has also not run the fence line barking for quite awhile. It may be because it's 90 degrees with 90% humidity. Whew! It's hot!

A trip to the mall

Last night Bear, my niece Megan, and I went to Applebees at the mall to eat. Bear did pretty good. He was a little ansy.

I never know if I should feed him prior to outings or not. If we are going to be driving for an extended period of time - I don't feed him because he gets car sick. If we are going to work on skills - I don't feed him because he works better for food. If we are going to a restaurant in town - I need to feed him.

He was too hungry and wanted to clean the floor for the wait staff. He's so helpful. He had a difficult time settling down and the booths were such that I couldn't step on his leash very well. I ended up putting his gentle leader back on him and holding it firmly so he couldn't get out from under the booth.

The staff at Applebees were awesome. They asked if I'd prefer a booth (which I did). They warned me before they filled balloons for kids. Bear really perked up when they did that. The helium tank made a very high pitched sound. He did great. He just jumped up to watch but didn't whine or bark.