The past two weeks have been full of new and exciting adventures for Spaz. We took a road trip to Calgary for a Training Troop agility trial. Spaz was excellent in the car, hotel room and being crated at the trial site - not a peep from him (despite the kids in the hotel hallway whistling to get the dogs going at 3:30am). I was really proud of him - he was excited when let out to take a walk for a toilet break but settled quickly.
We also started flyball classes and he was interested in the other dogs at the very beginning but settled in quickly and focussed very well on me. We worked on some clicker training and playing with toys. We then did work with recalls to me and a tug toy - he seems to respond to a really high pitched 'Spaz-ziiiii"!! Based on those few short recalls, I think he is going to be fast! I am excited to go to our second class tonight.
Last night we started agility groundwork. We reviewed clicker training, playing with toys, worked on waits and stays and reinforcement for fast downs. We then worked a little on the table and getting a fast down. He was excellent and focussed well.
He loves food and seems to lap up the training.
Yesterday at daycare he also meet two young children (Paul, 10 and Hannah, 7) - he was awesome with them and they were very taken by him - in fact they wanted to take him home :)
Why this super guy doesn't have a forever home yet is beyond me! He may have a few quirks but doesn't everyone? I am still working on his rawhide guarding issue and can call him off chewing one - he'll leave it and come to me to be rewarded or do an exchange for another treat. I have also found that the path of least resistence for me to trim his toe nails is to do it while he is eating his dinner - once he starts eating, I can pick up a foot and quickly clip the nails.
Check back for an update on his flyball and agility classes!
We also started flyball classes and he was interested in the other dogs at the very beginning but settled in quickly and focussed very well on me. We worked on some clicker training and playing with toys. We then did work with recalls to me and a tug toy - he seems to respond to a really high pitched 'Spaz-ziiiii"!! Based on those few short recalls, I think he is going to be fast! I am excited to go to our second class tonight.
Last night we started agility groundwork. We reviewed clicker training, playing with toys, worked on waits and stays and reinforcement for fast downs. We then worked a little on the table and getting a fast down. He was excellent and focussed well.
He loves food and seems to lap up the training.
Yesterday at daycare he also meet two young children (Paul, 10 and Hannah, 7) - he was awesome with them and they were very taken by him - in fact they wanted to take him home :)
Why this super guy doesn't have a forever home yet is beyond me! He may have a few quirks but doesn't everyone? I am still working on his rawhide guarding issue and can call him off chewing one - he'll leave it and come to me to be rewarded or do an exchange for another treat. I have also found that the path of least resistence for me to trim his toe nails is to do it while he is eating his dinner - once he starts eating, I can pick up a foot and quickly clip the nails.
Check back for an update on his flyball and agility classes!
