Blue continues to mature and learn new cues. She is a willing learner and picks things up quickly. This month, we added ‘back’, ‘go in’ and ‘roll’. We have focused on the pedicure portion of grooming & kenneling durations.
We were working carefully on her separation anxiety. During one duration, she panicked quite badly. We’ve gone back to the beginning and have moved forward a little slower with good success.
LLW is coming along very well. She rarely pulls and responds readily to a slight collar tug or a verbal reminder heel or leave it. She loves to sniff when given the opportunity. Foraging is minimal and generally responds to leave it or drop.
Dog distraction continues to be a WIP. Distance sightings are no longer an issue and can be managed verbally if needed. The other side of the road sighting can be managed verbally. Passing on the sidewalk with no engagement still needs kibble luring.
In class, Blue is so excited to see everybody and thinks it’s party/play time. She is calming a little quicker each time, though; she can still have a breakout session that can catch us unaware.
Blue settles in public very well for a 7-month-old. She is learning to go in under my legs in situations where she can’t be put in under a chair or table.
Blue is well-behaved in public settings and has demonstrated her ability to settle. During the month of March, she accompanied me to many events, such as errands and shopping, the doctor’s office, Rugby games, hotel stays, restaurants, osteopath, dentist, chiropractor, family get-togethers, hairdressers, live theatre (twice), and the cancer clinic (4 hrs). Many of these events required long time periods of settling.
Blue was a very ‘shut down’ pup when she came to our home at 4 months old. She continued to be very guarded emotionally, and though she loved to snuggle, her personality lacked the Labrador ‘spark’. Since having a 5-week sit of 12-week-old Trooper during March and his moving on to his raiser, her ‘sparkle’ has shown up. Releasing her from her kennel in the morning, she has become ‘Miss Wiggle Butt’, her entire body wiggling with delight from nose to butt, bouncy but not jumpy, engaging, weaving in and out of my legs with a ‘I’m so happy to see you’ excitement and ready to work.
Blue is a lovely girl whom I feel very privileged to raise.
Submitted by: Heather DeVries
