Finnegan and I have been working on a few issues that have popped up with his behaviour. Nothing overly serious, and nothing non-characteristic of herding dogs. -__- It can be slightly aggravating, but I just keep reminding myself "he's 4 months old, he's just a little kid, don't expect miracles" and just keep working with him.
Oh but hey, lookit this.
Finnegan gradiated puppy class! He got a diploma and a cookie, which he had a piece of in class, thus the missing bit.
Now, as most of you know, puppy class is not an overly formal class. Learn basics of dog training, play with other puppies, meet other puppy owners, and build socialisation/focus behaviours. Get a certificate at the end. No biggie.However, it -is- Finn and I's first "acheivement" together, and I found it important to take a few minutes to look back and reflect on what we've done together.
In the past two months and a bit, Finn has learned to potty outside, be quiet in his crate, "sit", "stand", "down", "stay", his name, "leave it", and "come". "Drop it" is proving tricky so we're still working on it, and we're slowly but surely working on loose-leash walking (he still cannot do it). He has extreme reactivity to spray bottles, which I'm working on, and we've made great headway in his focus and impulse control, which can only be controled so much at 4 months, anyway.
Overall, I think we're doing great. It's hard. It's really hard. Harder than I thought. He's a full-time job, and training is sometimes a nightmare. It's difficult being the only person caring for him, I'm used to having someone to help. But it's okay. My heart swells with the knowledge that I'm the reason he's happy and healthy. And he IS happy and healthy, which is the most important thing. He's a complete loon, and a clown atop that. He's a joy to have and I can only hope that things keep going up.
ANYWAYS. More photos.
I gave him part of his graduation cookie after making him to the sit-stay in the above pic.
His rock-solid "leave it" command. He watched the treat for a good 10-15 seconds before I finally said "Go ahead!" (his release word)
HAY LADIES. WANNA SQUEEK MAH BOWLIN PIN?
YOU KNOW YOU LUV MAH SPOTTY PAWS.
That's all for now! Puppy class or not, I'm proud of my little guy.
Oh but hey, lookit this.
Finnegan gradiated puppy class! He got a diploma and a cookie, which he had a piece of in class, thus the missing bit.
Now, as most of you know, puppy class is not an overly formal class. Learn basics of dog training, play with other puppies, meet other puppy owners, and build socialisation/focus behaviours. Get a certificate at the end. No biggie.However, it -is- Finn and I's first "acheivement" together, and I found it important to take a few minutes to look back and reflect on what we've done together.
In the past two months and a bit, Finn has learned to potty outside, be quiet in his crate, "sit", "stand", "down", "stay", his name, "leave it", and "come". "Drop it" is proving tricky so we're still working on it, and we're slowly but surely working on loose-leash walking (he still cannot do it). He has extreme reactivity to spray bottles, which I'm working on, and we've made great headway in his focus and impulse control, which can only be controled so much at 4 months, anyway.
Overall, I think we're doing great. It's hard. It's really hard. Harder than I thought. He's a full-time job, and training is sometimes a nightmare. It's difficult being the only person caring for him, I'm used to having someone to help. But it's okay. My heart swells with the knowledge that I'm the reason he's happy and healthy. And he IS happy and healthy, which is the most important thing. He's a complete loon, and a clown atop that. He's a joy to have and I can only hope that things keep going up.
ANYWAYS. More photos.
I gave him part of his graduation cookie after making him to the sit-stay in the above pic.
His rock-solid "leave it" command. He watched the treat for a good 10-15 seconds before I finally said "Go ahead!" (his release word)
HAY LADIES. WANNA SQUEEK MAH BOWLIN PIN?
YOU KNOW YOU LUV MAH SPOTTY PAWS.
That's all for now! Puppy class or not, I'm proud of my little guy.
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