I'm starting to see a slight change

Lab_adore

Lab_adore

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Sydney, Australia
Maxx was 19 months old yesterday. I sat back and observed him a lot and realised that some really good behaviour (and removal of bad behaviour) had snuck up on us so slowly we didn't realise or appreciate it. Examples

1. We have a gate blocking the kitchen. I've started leaving it open to show Maxx we can trust him. Yesterday, twice, he went in and sniffed the t-towels hanging on the oven door but left them. Not sure if he would do the same if I wasn't watching, but not so long ago he would have grabbed one (or more) straight away and taken off
2. I couldn't find him and ended up Anyway, he was standing there with my slipper in his mouth, tail wagging madly just waiting to be found. BUT he didn't chew the slipper
3. He wandered around our bedroom while I was getting ready to go for our walk. There were shoes on the bed and thongs (flip flops) on the floor. He sniffed them all but left them without me having to say 'leave it'
4. He picked up OH's slipper and started off with it and I said 'drop it Maxx' and he did.

Nothing breathtaking but it is giving us lots of hope. You should see him doing his heel work; his little face is so serious and concentrating and he checks in a lot (unlike when we are out walking outside the house)

We will get there :clap:
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
I love those quiet moments of ‘goodness, he hasn’t done that for a while...?’ :unsure: And realizing that actually, it’s part of a more fundamental shift. Our boys are growing up! This is lovely to read Robyn, I particularly love to hear his studied concentration during heel work :giggle: What a good boy - and three cheers to you (and recent converts!) for your patient care and persistence. Onwards and upwards!
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Such a good read Robyn, he's a super boy and is becoming a lovely dog.
Lab_adore said:
You should see him doing his heel work; his little face is so serious and concentrating and he checks in a lot (unlike when we are out walking outside the house)
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It's amazing how they thrive on and appreciate the "working with us" aspect of training, I find.
Lab_adore said:
he was standing there with my slipper in his mouth, tail wagging
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I can't see Cassie ever stopping doing this! She does it every single day, more than once! The thing is, she needs to improve her delivery to hand, little does she know that her slipper pinching gives me the perfect training opportunity, I've just realised.!
 
Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
That's fantastic progress @Lab_adore!

I still remember when we were able to put the little cushions back on the couches. These steps are huge :nod:


Lab_adore said:
Anyway, he was standing there with my slipper in his mouth, tail wagging madly just waiting to be found
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Ella will still parade around the lounge room with a pair of socks, given the chance. We actually find it quite funny now :giggl:
 
edzbird

edzbird

Location
Isle of Man
It's really difficult to see the changes when you're in the thick of it, but it is so beneficial to sit back and really count those improvements. Maxx has come on leaps and bounds, he really has.
 
Shaz82

Shaz82

Location
Essex, U.K.
It's great when these changes are noticed, and quite satisfying - you can let out a large breath - phew, I don't have to watch the t-towels now etc. We can put our rubbish bins on the floor again now, although when Maisy is in a cheeky mood she might pinch something out of them.
Well done Maxx.
 
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