Learning about the Manners Minder

Mom bought this for Kasey, but I really wanted to try it out.

The park and "Who's that?"

Years ago when I first started showing signs of being fearful toward people, Mom started playing "Who's That". She would say this and click and treat anytime I saw something or someone that was scary. Over time we play less and less. Every Spring we play because I forget about skateboards and bikes over the winter, but for the most part I don't come across too many things that I am afraid of anymore, but mom does a good job of managing my environment.

On Tuesday it was nice and sunny out. Mom was on Spring Break, so Mom, I and Meredith walked to the kid park. This was not that big of a deal because I have been taking walks with Meredith since she was born. Plus she was in the wagon so there was no need to fear her hugging me.

We got the park and Mom and I sat on a little hill to watch Meredith play. Meredith was hanging with some girls, while Mom and I started playing "Who's That". I thought it was pretty cool because like I said we hardly play anymore. Pretty soon Meredith and her new "best friends" came walking over to our blanket. Now in the past, I would have jumped up and growled (remember I am not a big fan of kids) and launched into a "Woo- woo- woo" bark, but not this Holly Berry. I looked at the kids and looked at mom to signal that I was ready for another round of "Who's That". Mom was so happy. Then Meredith started crying because she rubbed sunblock in her eyes, and her new friends stepped closer! They were about 2 feet from me. I looked at them; looked at mom and she grab an ENTIRE HANDFUL of treats and dropped them on the blanket. I just stayed in a down and ate. Boy was that fun.

For 6 years we have been playing "Who's That" and today was one of the days in which I think I saw mom the happiest. She was so proud of me and that made me happy too.

Agility practice with Bridget

Last night I got to go to agility practice with Sue and Mom. It has been a long time since I have been to Narnia, so naturally, I was scared to be in the building. That is the kind of girl I am... when in a new building... the only thought on my mind is... GETTING OUTSIDE!

Eventually after I sounded the alarm at Brian (duh... if you knew him you would too), Mom and Bridget convinced me to do some work. I warmed up on the jump which was cool. Then we played on the dog walk which I was unsure of at first, but then I warmed up nicely. We also played on the teeter which mom thought would scare me, but it didn't I ran back and forth like crazy. It was fun, but I got tired pretty quickly. After a couple more treats, I went to the car to take a nap.

When we got home, I curled up in the middle of bed (sorry Dad) and I slept like a rock. I think I was snoring.

Agility

Okay Mom clearly doing something wrong with the jumping. Neither of  Sue or I will take the jump across (I know that is not the right term) her body. Where she wants us to jump and turn the opposite way from where she is standing...we both just stop and stare at her. We also have been practicing the jump training at the neutral position and the recall to heel. Mom needs to put that to a verbal cue of "heel" because we  have been conditioned to "come front" when she recalls us. She also lowered the jump to 16" for Sue and 18" for Holly until she feels like we are getting this. I actually took to the neutral jump training faster than Sue. That's right... better than the "super dog" Sue. I enjoy being out there working on this stuff so much that I have to run around the yard at full speed for 5 minutes before we can get any work done. Mom doesn't seem to think this is as funny as I do.  We have done little contact training, and Mom think I will freak on the wobble board, so I guess we need to get started on practicing with that.