Sometimes it seems like days go by with nothing really done, but when I really think about it to blog it, there is more there than meets the eye.
Yesterday was the day that I go to my store with all the noisy traffic nearby (Wednesday). Gimme didn't even notice the big trucks on the freeway at first. As we were finishing our walk and she seemed to need to do some "business", I walked further back and that put us closer to the big trucks. She didn't act fearful, but from her ears, it was clear she was paying attention to them. Still its a huge improvement from the week before. She seems to be paying much less attention to traffic overall.
I planned my day to quit early-ish so I could make it to class, only to get home to a message that class had been cancelled. So packed the girl back up in the car and we headed to the ranges for an hour long walk. She did well trudging up some of those steep inclines and a little investigating here and there. There were lots of bird and small critter sounds in the trees that she would listen to. The funniest was the big frog croaking up a storm, she clearly thought that was a very odd sound. Not afraid, just intrigued.
I've noticed when we are out on our off-leash rambles, that she has a tendency to walk behind me, which means I am constantly turning around to see where she is, by which time she's now "in front", which is the new behind. I've tried click/treat for walking beside me, but it really wasn't changing her behavior. Also, I know I've done some click/treat for her coming in from behind on a recall to whichever hand I have extended. So I think she thought she was being rewarded for moving into place beside me and/or was hanging back waiting for the hand. What I did was to click her for being beside me and slightly ahead, then for treat delivery, tossed it further ahead. She very quickly figured that out... and we ended the walk with her in sight, just slightly ahead of me.
Today was a day I teach class and she got to come in and play. I would not really train jumping at this point, since she is still soooo young, but I did guide her over a couple jump bumps. She just immediately went right over them. We had another session on the Buja board - which she is certain will earn extra treats if you run at it and use it as a puppy springboard. Too funny. And she quickly learned that giant tunnels are every bit as fun as the kitty tunnel she played in with her litter mates.
I spent the afternoon helping entertain 5 year old quadruplets, to keep them out of the house while the movers pack up (while Gimme stayed crated). As always it was a lot of fun spending time with them and I'm sure going to miss them when they leave in a week for the move to D.C. Afterward we went to their house and they all had a great time giving her treats. She wasn't sure what to make of them the first time (about 10 days ago), but this time has decided they are great... I'd broken up 1 cheese stick into about 40 treats and each kid was given one at a time, so we ended up with this constant stream of treat-wielding kids. Gimme thinks that is a primo game.
She decided this time to play with their mini-poodle, Maggie, and within a few minutes was doing the whole paws on the shoulders approach. She and Maggie are very close to the same size now. Again she was not too keen on April, a very persistent butt sniffer. Last time she was rather concerned about April's intentions - this time she just made it clear she was being too too rude.
Although it isn't the kind of days I would plan, we did more than is immediately evident - chalking up some good new and/or continuing experiences.
Incidentally, she is growing steadily. I've been weighing her and she's putting on about half a pound a day. Though she didn't eat as much today, so she's probably regrouping for another growth spurt. Naturally, I'm still smitten.
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