Day 29 of Dog

Walked to the front door again today, but I can't say it was easy. I had to wait until everyone was out of the house first.

Day 28 of Dog

I tried to do the 'heel' exercise in the house today, but the TV was on and both Hew and Egar were eating, so she refused to come out of the kitchen. When I carried her and set her down, she always ducked back. Rather than induce a major panic, I let her off. Maybe tomorrow there won't be anything on TV.

It's so blasted cold that I hate the idea of taking her on vacation almost as much as I hate the idea of boarding her. But I've got to do something. Now!

Day 27 of Dog

Obviously I can't do my training session in the afternoon anymore--no more vacation--and obviously I can't fill her up on cheese sticks before supper, so I'm going to try after supper. I got home at 6:20; fed her at 6:30; but she didn't start eating until 6:45. Change of routine, I guess.

On a personal note, I might as well move the entire collection of my shoes from the closet to the garage. One pair after another succumbs to dog doo. Of course I didn't think to change shoes before we started our training session--and now my black boots have joined my running shoes and my brown boots in exile--in the garage beside the washing machine. If I get home before dark tomorrow I'll take a hose to them in the front yard.

Other than the shoe incident, the training session went well. Today we practiced coming down off the top step. Three times. Without me carrrying her.

Yay.

Day 26 of Dog

Progress, I hope. The house was completely quiet when I finally got ready to work with her. Cranky has holed up in her room--she doesn't come out as much when Hew and Egar are here--some sort of conflict about TV channel selection and who gets to make the most noise.

So anyway, after a walk around the yard we came inside. The other dogs kept getting in the way but I think they made her a little bolder, somehow--especially the little one. We "walked" to the front door and back. I'm not saying I didn't have to pick her up for some of the steps, but it wasn't for all of the steps. Hurray!

Day 25 of Dog

I tried again to bring her in the house and it was a royal fail. I don't know how to get her out of that back yard. If I take her through the gate, her little pea brain might start to think it's okay to go through the gate. But when I try to take her through the house, she freaks and won't move.

Day 24 of Dog

Today during our leash training I tried to bring her inside for a change...but that didn't work. She was too scared to move. So we went back out and did a second round of "heel" around the yard. That went well, I think.

Day 22 of Dog

Same routine as yesterday; maybe a little longer. I tried to put the harness on her but couldn't figure out how. Not wanting to stress her out too much, I gave up and tried it on Zack later. I think I've got it figured out.

The only progress I saw was maybe just a little bit less pulling and backing away from me. Maybe she's starting to get it.