Learning New Tricks

We've been teaching Blarney to "HEEL" on the opposite side to the command "SIDE". He's quick to learn. Last night out walking, I had him SIDE at a jog for about half a block then stop abruptly and SIT. Flawless. He's also very good at "WAIT" when we are out walking off leash. He'll wait at a street crossing and then "GO" with me when the traffic is clear.

BACK is cute. He can't seem to move backwards without small barks or growls. It's as if it offends his masculinity to back away. Who knew? Must be a dominance thing. Joan suggests it's just Blarn unwinding his motor.

GOPHER continues to be his favourite position. He's very solid in this begging pose and uses it whenever he thinks there might be an advantage like a ball, a toy or a treat.

JUMP is the most recent addition to his repertoire of fun moves. We stick out a foot and he jumps over it on command. Very cute and goes nicely with THROUGH and TURN. He's also turning during a heel. HEEL a bit then TURN while he's along side. We'll soon have him ballroom dancing!

We've begun breaking his dinner into treat-sized bits and taking him into the garden for a quick training session. It slows down his eating which is good because he's definitely the fastest eater on the cul de sac... maybe on the planet. One night a few days ago he burped up his entire dinner which emerged in the shape of his esophagus. It sat in three piles on the deck for an hour or so then he happily ate it over again. Yuck!