A sweet day at Surline Elementary

The second-graders in Mrs. Matthews' class thought that FLD Dutch had grown quite a bit since our last visit at the end of January. One little girl said, "It's scary!"

I can't say I disagree.

When Dutch and I attended puppy-training class at Leader Dogs for the Blind at the beginning of the year, he weighed in at 34 pounds. At class again this weekend, Dutch tipped the old-fashioned dial scale at 46.5 pounds. His growth rate is slowing down, but still...

Here is FLD Dutch at Surline Elementary on January 30. We practiced something I taught him at home--"under." The kids thought it was cute when he crawled under one of their tiny, low-to-the-ground chairs. 

And here is FLD Dutch at Surline on March 21. The kids were impressed that he remembered how to go "under" the big chair. He would have trouble getting under the tiny chairs now!

FLD Dutch and I came to Surline to accompany Mrs. Matthews' class on a field trip to the Colonial Village Bakery in downtown West Branch. It was a half-mile walk from the school.

What's that snow on the ground, you ask, on this second day of spring?  Dutch says, It's Michigan!

FLD Dutch and I paused at the curb. Keeping a good distance from the second-graders helped him keep focused on walking with a loose leash.

We piled into the small, delicious smelling bakery. I handed Dutch's leash to Lance so I could take a group photo. FLD Dutch did not cooperate.

With no customers to worry about, I secured Dutch's leash to a post by the front counter. I didn't want to take him in back with the bakery-action; I wanted to take some photos for the article I hoped to write for our local paper.

Baker Jim demonstrates rolling out dough.

I managed a few shots before I heard a resounding BARK!

FLD Dutch peers through the donut case, wondering why I left him out front.

While the class learned how to make almond danish, I went back out front to take photos of Dutch.

FLD Dutch was ready to be taken off his tether. (Can you see my reflection in the case?"

FLD Dutch holds a nice "sit" so I can take his picture.

Before we left to return to the school, the baker offered free donuts to all the kids. Unbelievably, he gave them a choice of plain or powdered sugar. What do you think all but one wanted?

Back in class, the second-graders ran to the mirror to check out their powdered sugar faces!

(And yes, I took some donuts home too...cinnamon and sugar.)

Fire Fighters Take 2

Enter a large room where 20-some Leader Dogs for the Blind puppy-raisers with puppies (that range from 8-weeks to 1-year) are gathering and it quickly becomes a traffic jam. You open the door and people in front of you are walking backwards with their puppies, because, like your own puppy, they have forgotten all the rules about heeling nicely on a loose leash.

You face a conundrum. You must squeeze your puppy through, but you risk the deterioration of your effort in getting your puppy to NOT pull. You shorten your leash, suck it up, and barge your way in.

This evening, "in" is the fire truck garage at the Bay City Central Fire Station. There are at least two vehicles parked inside; I can't remember exactly because I am focusing on FLD Scout. The puppy-energy in the cement-floored building ricochets off the cavernous ceiling. Through the umbilical cord that we call a "leash," I feel Scout ramping up.

Scout looks worried.

Scout, heel, I say, and walk to the far end of the garage. I notice a pile of firefighter gear next to one of the trucks and ease Scout over. She hesitates. I'm sure she remembers our debacle at the Clare outing 10 days ago. (Read about Scout's fear behavior with the firemen on my post from April 9.)

Scout, sit, I say and follow up with a "stay" command. I take a step away. She leans a bit, but holds position.

FLD Scout holds her "sit/stay" next to fire boots and clothes.

When Phyllis brings FLD Autumn over, Scout relaxes and turns to sniff the boots. Without prompting, she eases into a "down." I'm not too concerned about this (she should hold the sit until released or given another command) because sliding down is typical behavior for her--that's a good sign she's getting comfortable.

FLD Autumn gives her buddy Scout some confidence.

FLD Scout takes a sniff.

She thinks it's okay.

Yep! Definitely okay. FLD Scout lays calmly by the gear.

Eventually, all the puppies settle (for the most part) after we use tools we've learned, like name recognition, redirection with commands, finger pokes, and "leave its."

We have a lot to accomplish in an hour and a half. Up and down stairs on a tour through the station, a chance to walk our puppies through an ambulance, loose leash heeling at a busy intersection, exposure to sirens and blasting horns, and (the coupe de grace for Scout), meeting fully-geared (with beeping, hissing air tanks) firemen.

All with the added distractions of the other puppies.

At the door of the ambulance, FLD Scout looks back as if saying, "What now?!"

FLD Scout jumps into the ambulance with no troubles, but is nervous about the long drop to the grated back step. After a few seconds of considering her plan of attack, she drops her front paws onto the bumper, decides it is okay, and pops the rest of the way down. Good girl, Scout!

Scout goes for the treat.

I'm pleased when FLD Scout is cautious, but curious, of the kneeling fireman. This time her tail is not tucked between her legs; she even manages a wag or two when I give him some treats to offer her. I let her hang around while other puppies get their loving from the men that look and sound like space invaders.

It's working! FLD Scout is getting over her fear!

Isn't this little pup adorable?

Winter Break - Take 1

On a crispy winter-break morning, Elaina said, "I'm going for a run. It's conditioning for soccer." Natalie wanted to run with her. I said, Why don't you take Rosie?

 

Sofia said, "I'll walk," and agreed to take Gus. He's a very good walker, I told her.

 

I came along with FLD Scout, who, on this particular morning, wasn't a very good walker.

 

I don't think she liked seeing Rosie leave us in the dust.

 

Sporting a white and black panda hat, Sofia and Gus wait for me and FLD Scout.

 

It is exactly one mile from our house on the top of the hill south to Wiltse Road. Elaina, Nat, and Rosie were a half-mile gone before I caught up to Sofia and Gus, who waited patiently for me to walk Scout backwards every time she put tension on the leash.

 

FLD Scout and I never made it all the way to Wiltse Road.

Elaina smiles, in spite of her hill effort coming back from Wiltse Road.

 

Elaina came charging up the first hill on her return mile. Natalie trudged behind with Rosie. There are no hills like these in their downstate suburban neighborhood.

 

My nieces lead the way...it's uphill home, from every direction!

 

FLD Scout and I turned homeward--I figured with all my backwards-walking I got the distance in.

Go on ahead, I said to Sofia and Natalie. We'll get there.

 

Eventually.

 

My three nieces (and Rosie) came north with Andy when he came home from downstate business one Sunday night in February. Their mom, my sister Anne, would be up later in the week to spend a couple of relaxing days and then drive them back in time for weekend soccer games. Get ready for some picture-tales of our fun-filled week!

Tuesday's Training TIP: Don't Wait for Stuff to Happen

Stuff happens. Sometimes stuff happens in a way that causes you to relive events in your mind, thinking, "if only...." Other times stuff happens that leave you wondering, "Wow, how did I do that?"

IF ONLY

A week and a half ago we were getting ready for a long weekend trip to the city. I fed the dogs and went outside to load our Hawken wood furnace before shutting it down. With the non-winter we've been having I thought the embers might smolder the whole time we were gone and then it would be a simple matter of flicking the switch when we returned.

I raked the coals to an even bed. With "poopsicle-picking-up" gloved hands I hoisted an 18 inch long, maybe 15" diameter log from the woodshed. Doesn't sound very big, but it was a heavy sucker. At the door of the Hawken, I heaved it.

WARNING: Those of you with squeamish stomachs might want to skip the next three paragraphs.

The word "exquisite" is often used to describe indescribable pain. Double that. And add sharp, severe, agonizing, piercing, excruciating, and just plain gut-wrenching to the word PAIN. In one fell moment, the log punched the interior roof of the Hawken and rebounded, cracking my left ring finger between it and the damning steel frame of the door.

I did not see the stars that suddenly blinked brightly back into the just-after-dawn sky. I did not see the brilliant embers that shot up like fireflies when the dastardly log flipped into the fire. I did not even see the darkness when my eyes grimaced shut as I jumped three feet back clutching my hand against my roiling stomach.

What I did see when I peeled off my glove was a Niagra rush of red-hot lava from a jagged fissure crossing the length of my finger.

Oh man! wasn't quite what I exclaimed.

A trip to the emergency room and surgery five days later left me with pins in my distal phalanx (which was completely broken in two) and stitches to hold everything else together. 

Ouch. Bad log.

WOW

Five days after hand surgery, FLD Scout and I took a working stroll with Phyllis and FLD Autumn in downtown West Branch to practice loose-leash heeling near traffic. The Future Leader Dog pups did very well with street crossings, railroad tracks, steps, and passing strangers. As is typical during outings like this, we found unexpected training opportunities.

Phyllis coaxes FLD Autumn up a short flight of stairs.

The spring-like 50 degrees and sunshine brought out a motorcyclist, who was just leaving an auto parts store as we passed. Inches away when the engine roared to life, FLDs Scout and Autumn sniffed in curiosity and exhibited no fear. Of course, the machine was not a Harley.

FLD Scout is not alarmed at all by this motorcycle.

We knew it was time to head back to the van when a very tired FLD Autumn sat down and refused to continue. After some cajoling, we managed to move her along. Then FLD Scout started pulling toward the grass like she had to "park." I removed her working jacket, released her with an OK, and let her sniff out a spot. We were on the south side of the busy five-lane Houghton Ave.

That's when it happened, the one thing you never want to happen. 

Scout bolted.

I had hold of the leash with my mangled left hand; Scout had been sniffing to my right. Her whiplash departure north toward Houghton Ave. jerked my hand. I knew if I tried to hang on I would be reacquainted with that double dose of exquisite pain. I let loose the leash while simultaneously lunging for it with my right hand.

The leash slithered out of reach like a spooked garter snake.

SCOUT! I yelled with a megaphone voice. I never heard Phyllis, who shrieked "Scout!" in harmony.

Scout paused in the middle of the right lane and looked back. Luckily there was no traffic heading east, but out of the corner of my eye I spotted a red car motoring west. I dropped to my knee. I knew if I took another step forward it was all over--if Scout turned away from me and kept running, she wouldn't even see what hit her. 

The world disappeared. It was just Scout and me.

Scout! Come! I said in the cheeriest voice I could muster. A subtle shift in her shoulder. Yes, good girl! I leaned back onto my heel and slapped my thighs to encourage her to come to me. I could almost see a thought-balloon form above her head: "I wonder if she has a treat for me? Hmmmmmm, I'll bet she does. Maybe I'd better check it out, I don't know where I was racing off to anyway."

A full turn and Scout was bouncing my way. Before my heart beat again, Scout and I were reattached and celebrating on the sidewalk. OF COURSE I had a treat for her! Good girl, Scout!!!!!

HOW DID I DO THAT?

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.

• Name recognition. Practice everywhere and any time.

• On leash recall. Practice in public buildings, at puppy outings, outside in the yard, while on walks, etc.

• Off leash recall. Practice inside with my other dogs.

• Never, never, NEVER chase her. (Playing "chase ME", however, is always good.)

• And having the presence of mind to react in a manner that brought FLD Scout's attention back to me, instead of a reaction that would spur her on. (Calling her name ONCE, NOT chasing her, making myself interesting by getting down low, praising her at precisely the right moment, and rewarding her correct decision!)

WHEW. Disaster averted.

If only I had been that diligent in placing wood into the Hawken!

Sitting calmly on the north side of Houghton Ave. by the railroad tracks. (FLD Scout is safely tied to the bench. FLD Autumn is wearing a "Gentle Leader" to help her keep a loose leash.)

Tuesday's Training TIP: AROUND

The "around" command is specific to our Future Leader Dog puppies. When doors have hinges on our left side (where the puppy is heeling), it is safer to pass through the door with the puppy on our right. 

So, we teach them "around"--passing the leash from left hand to right behind our backs, guiding the puppy to our right side, then we proceed through the doorway. Once safely through, we pass the leash behind our back from right to left and "heel" our puppy forward.

This short video is of me and FLD Scout in our house, going through a left-hinged door into our bedroom. In a more open area I would have walked a bit further on before having Scout heel back to my left side.

(As we approach the door, FLD Scout veers toward the open door on our left--Gus was there in his crate! Scout did a pretty good job refocusing on task. And notice the nice loose leash?)

HINTS FOR TEACHING AROUND

• Repetition! Always, always, always, guide your puppy to your right side this way at EVERY left-hinged door you pass through.

• Feel for the door. A blind or visually impaired handler will reach out to see where the door knob is...do the same thing with your puppy as a "cue" and soon your puppy will watch for your command if the "around" is necessary.

• If your puppy rushes through, stop, shut the door, and wait until the leash is loose. Try again.

• Stop after going through, keep your puppy standing at your right side, and then shut the door. (I didn't do this in the video.)

• Praise your puppy!

Tuesday's Training TIP: Stand

Try as I might, I could not get all these videos processed in time to publish this post yesterday. So, here's a "Tuesday's Training TIP" on Wednesday!

STAND is a helpful command to teach a Future Leader Dog puppy. A standing puppy is easier to groom, and later she'll need to stand for her handler to put on the harness.

I video-taped a training session to demonstrate how I'm teaching FLD Scout to "stand"on command. This particular session lasted just over seven minutes. In the video, FLD Scout is wearing her working bandana and leash.

Step One. WARM UP.

Before any training session it is a good idea to "warm up" your puppy with some things she already knows. (Okay, "might" already know!)

I start working FLD Scout with a heel, sit, stay, and down. As I pass my dog Gypsy I tell Scout to "leave it" when she makes a move toward her, and praise her when she ignores Gypsy.

(I really missed an opportunity to let Scout make up her own mind before telling her what to do.)

Scout needs work on her "sit in a heel position" because she tends to wander out in front of me before sitting. I merely slide her back into the heel position, but to work on correcting this I will practice heeling close to a wall with no room for her to swing out.

At the end of this video, Scout is on her way to a "sit" when I give her the "down" command. Scout came home to us with such a good "sit" that I've had to work on her NOT sitting whenever we stop during a walk on leash! (While puppies are still in the breeder homes they learn to "sit" before getting picked up or eating.)

Step two.  First attempt with the STAND command.

FLD Scout likes to swing out with her "down" too. Notice that I just slide her right back into the heel position.

When I give her the "stand" command, you can see that she moves a little--a sign that she's thinking about what I want her to do. This is not the very first time she's heard this command. Normally, I would have waited a second or two to see what she would have done, but I wanted to demonstrate the little step forward that will encourage her to get up. 

When I "fake" the first step, Scout sits, so I fake a second step forward to get her to stand. I immediately step back, which causes her to take her more familiar position--the sit!

(I should not have said "nope" under my breath when Scout sits, but putting her into the "stand" is the right thing to do.)

I rub her belly a bit to keep her in the stand position. I think she would have held it after I stand back up myself, but to ensure that she doesn't drop into a sit, I immediately take her into a heel.

 

  

Step three.  STAND from a "sit" and demonstration of leash technique.

FLD Scout's "sit" this time was a little better. (See, repetition helps!) You can see that I wait a moment this time after giving the "stand" command to see if Scout would make a move.

The whining you hear in the background is cc'd Gus from his crate in the other room. This creates enough of a distraction that I have to add a verbal cue to get Scout's attention back to me. She stands with my fake step forward, but sits back down when I praise her (and Andy finally notices that I am working with her).

Again, I merely stand Scout back up. This time I loop her leash around her belly--a technique that can help keep her standing while I straighten back up myself.

 

Step four.  STAND, almost!

I treat FLD Scout for looking at me when I say her name because she still needs work with "name recognition." 

This third try at the "stand" command is the first time Scout stands without sitting first! You can see that she started moving and if I had just kept still she probably would have stood without me taking that step. (See where patience comes into play?)

Then, I praise her a bit too enthusiastically and she anticipates me reaching into my pocket to treat her. I place her back into position with a belly rub and immediately have her "stay" to try to reinforce her "stand."

After this segment, I could tell that FLD Scout was getting a bit overwhelmed. She acted like she forgot how to walk next to me and she flopped onto her side when I asked for a "down." I knew that we needed to end the session on a positive, so I picked up the pace on our walking, had her sit and stay, and threw in a "come," which she readily did, so I gave her the "OK" that released her from working. Lots of praise and fun (while keeping her four feet on the floor) and we were done.

LATER THAT DAY....

I did another session with FLD Scout. We "warmed up" and tried the STAND again. Success!!! It wasn't perfect, but I was more patient and she stood on her own with no cues.

That's what I call PROGRESS.

HINTS

• be patient

• repetition is important

• work a new command without distractions

• add distractions as your puppy masters the command

Don't be afraid to try this for yourself. Have fun and you can easily see that even if the trainer isn't "perfect" the puppy can still learn!

Tuesday's Training TIP: LEAVE IT (again)

The LEAVE IT command can be extremely useful as we negotiate our way through stores and restaurants with our Future Leader Dog puppies.  But ideally, we want our puppies to learn to make their own decision to "leave" something.  When they eventually work with their handler, they need to be able to walk anywhere without being tempted away from their job.  After all, their blind handler won't be able to see that wayward bit of French-fry on the sidewalk in front of McDonalds and tell their guide dog to "leave it."

But how do we help our puppies learn to make the decision on their own?

• First they need to learn the LEAVE IT command.

• Then we need to help them "generalize" it in all settings (For more information about generalization, check out this website article: Generalization. What it is and Why it Must be Taken into Account for Training Success).

• Finally we need the patience to give them the opportunity to figure it out for themselves.

LETS GET STARTED

The following video demonstrates how easily you can start teaching this to a puppy.  FLD Scout was less than eight weeks old in this video; in fact, we only had her five days and we worked on the LEAVE IT command twice before filming this session.

The first time I worked with Scout, I held some food in one hand so she could see it.  When she attacked my hand I closed it so she couldn't get at the food.  Eventually she lost interest.  AT THAT EXACT MOMENT I praised her and gave her a treat from my other hand.  I showed her the food again, but again kept her from getting it.  When she lost interest, I praised her and treated her from my other hand.  We repeated this for four or five minutes.

At the second session, Scout started to look at me after she couldn't get the food.  I REALLY praised her and again, treated her from my other hand.  And repeated the process for a few minutes, not very long at all.

You can see from the video that by the third session with Scout, I started to introduce the command LEAVE IT.  Subsequently, I use the command with other things (like a dropped napkin in the kitchen) and in other settings (like walking down the sidewalk or in a restaurant).  Because Scout is still young and learning to "generalize," I've been treating her generously.  As time goes on I will wean here off the treats and just use praise.

For more details and hints for teaching LEAVE IT, check out my previous blog posts "LEAVE IT" (June 22, 2010) and "ADVANCED LEAVE IT" (September 7, 2010).

Don't be afraid to try this with your puppy.  You should be able to notice in my video that I sometimes "missed" an opportunity to reward Scout when she looked at me.  That's when she added her "sit"--evidence that this little puppy is starting to think on her own!  "If looking at her doesn't get me a treat, what else can I do? Oh, yea, I can SIT!"

HELP YOUR PUPPY "LEAVE IT" ON HER OWN

Take a walk with your puppy.  When you spot a temptation ahead, keep the leash snug enough so your puppy can't reach whatever it is, and WAIT to see what your puppy will do before saying "leave it."  Chances are, once your puppy has a few "leave its" under her collar, she'll give up trying to get it and will look to you for reinforcement.

THAT'S when you need to push the praise volto-meter off the charts!  Your puppy just left it along without being told!

YIPPEE!

(FLD Scout and I took a short walk while the video was loading. From the other room she whined because she had to "park." Yay, progress on that front!  Anyway, we worked on loose-leash walking, standing when we stop, sits and downs.  And yes, there were lots of acorns, sticks, and stones on our country-road that she oh-so-wanted to snatch!  Some she left on her own when I held her leash so she couldn't reach it (and then she was praised and treated), others I said "leave it," and yet sometimes she still managed to grab this or that.  Time to sweep my finger and clean out her baby mouth! Training doesn't happen overnight, you need patience and persistence.)

Tuesday's Training TIP: WALK YOUR PUPPY!

BEFORE

Up early.  FLD Gus stands still only long enough for me to snap on his collar and tags as he exits his crate.  OK, I say to release him.

Black-Lab-freight-train leaves the station!

Da-thump-de-da-dump, la-thump-de-da-lump...  He heads for the back door and somehow Gypsy and I get outside with him, unscathed. 

Monster paws thunder like a herd of buffalo.  Get out of the way!  Good thing Andy was right about our square-foot-garden posing an obstacle; Gus leans into a turn between them (instead of through them), spewing wet sandy soil in a rooster-tail behind him.

Something must be done.  FLD Gus was a very patient puppy yesterday as I waited for our driveway contractors to show up.  He isn't going to be content to lay around today!

MY MISSION:  TIRE OUT THE PUPPY!

We head north down the big hill on Brady Road, veer right onto Shady Shores Drive and follow south along the cottages that ring Rifle Lake, turn left at the corner of Wiltse Road, and turn left again on Brady Road--a mile-long grade back UP to our house.  All-in-all, three miles.

Along the way I change pace, stop, and give SIT, DOWN, and STAND commands to FLD Gus to divert his attention from deer-track scent and assorted country sundries.

Halfway to Wiltse Road we meet another walker, Noreeta, who is vacationing for the week at her family cabin on Rifle Lake.  Just then I spot a bald eagle circling overhead, almost brushing the treetops.

"The other day we saw a small fawn curled up by a tree stump near the lake.  It lay there all day in the sun," Noreeta tells me.  "You should have seen all the cottagers taking its picture!"

FLD Gus isn't interested in chatting, but Noreeta and I share our walk for awhile on this beautiful morning.  We part ways at the corner where the Cedar Bar still hasn't reopened after their kitchen fire the night before New Year's Eve.

AFTER

FLD Gus slurps from his water bowl like he barely survived a trek across the Sahara.  He flops down as I sit to write this and briefly looks up when I grab my camera.

Mission accomplished.

FLD Gus resting on soft, green carpet, too tired to even chew his Nylabone.

To tame a dashing, zealous morning Lab, try a long walk!

FLD Gus Survives Soccer Game Silliness

Saturday, May 21, 2011

STILL MORE WORK TO DO

Natalie dashed off from the car, kicking her soccer ball up and over the grass berm that surrounds the Warren Community Center soccer fields.  FLD Gus and I attempted to follow at a more controlled pace.  

As we topped the rise, Gus saw the neon-orange jerseys of the Cheeto-Crushers warming up in the far field and let me know that, in spite of taking time to taste-test the long, damp grass (and occasional dandelion), he was eager to reach the U10 (under 10-years-old) team.

I wasn't having any of that.  We had plenty of time before the start-whistle to work on loose-leash-heeling; we backwards-walked almost all the way.

Coach Corey

"Is that a new dog?" Coach Corey asked as we finally circled behind the near goal.  He was running drills with the Crushers, his orange-tinted hair glowing in the unexpectedly warm Saturday morning sun.

N-n-n-no, I stammered, startled.  I had already responded to the "Oh my gosh is that Gus? He has really grown!" comments at Nat's Monday night game over two weeks ago.  (The Cheeto-Crushers first met FLD Gus last fall when he was just a tiny pup.)

Nat and a much-younger FLD Gus at a game last fall.

"I just wondered," he said.  "That one is pulling more than usual." 

I was embarrassed.  Yep.  Gotta love adolescence!  (Sound familiar?)

Once situated on the sideline, FLD Gus settled nicely at my side.  The Cheeto-Crushers did a good job adoring him without petting him--this is one group of kids (and parents) who will know what to do when they encounter a handler with his or her Leader Dog.

FLD Gus, ready to watch the game.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

The brilliant sun continued to warm things up as orange and blue jerseys matched up and took the field.  At the opening kick, Coach Corey called all parents into a huddle.

Sports can build confidence and teach youngsters a lot about fair play, teamwork, and the pure joy of physical activity, but if you've ever attended an organized sporting event for kids, you might have been dismayed at the obnoxious behavior of some sideline parents.  Organized sports can also damage a young person's self-esteem. 

Not so for the Cheeto-Crunchers, thanks to Coach Corey.

"I've got enough Silly String for each of you," Corey said.  "Be ready to squirt them at the end of the game."  Everyone grabbed a can and started back to their chairs, but he wasn't through with us yet. 

"I think it is important that the girls know YOU are paying attention to them, not just me.  So.  You will also give a can to your daughter, AFTER you tell her one fantastic thing you saw her do on the field."

"Alright!" someone exclaimed.  During the game I heard parents (and Coach Corey) applauding any outstanding move, even if completed by the opposing players.  Nice.

MEANWHILE 

By the first water break, FLD Gus had scooched his way around behind my chair to find a spot of shade.  Smart puppy.

It is hard to be a black Lab on a hot, sunny Saturday morning.  FLD Gus finds some shade.

The Cheeto-Crushers kept their opponents scoreless, and after six or seven of their own goals, Coach Corey instructed his forwards to stay behind the mid-field line to give the other team a break. 

When the ref blew the end-of-game whistle, parents jumped up to form a congratulatory tunnel.  The two teams slapped hands at mid-field and charged through, Cheeto-Crushers met with blasts of Silly String.

Natalie and fellow Cheeto-Chrushers getting blasted with Silly String.

 FLD Gus remained calm during the flurry.

FLD Gus isn't sure what to think about being covered in Silly String, but, he is still relaxed and calm.

WHAT I TOLD NATALIE

Watching these young girls over the years develop into coordinated athletes is thrilling. 

I whispered, You were the only player on the field waving your arms to let your teammates know when you were open.  You have a great sense of the flow of the game and fantastic anticipation--like when their goalie threw the ball out, you got it more often than they did.  When you take off with the ball, WOW, it's like you have afterburners!

Natalie, in control of the ball and directing play.

I had a hard time keeping to just one thing.

Oh...and great goals!  It was so cool when you were on defense and took the ball from your goal all the way down the field and scored!  (She scored twice.)

With a grin to melt your heart, Natalie snatched her can of Silly String and joined her teammates in the fracas.

WHAT I TOLD FLD GUS

Good boy, Gus!  And brushed off Silly String residue.

FLD Gus covered in Silly String and putting up with the fun!

 

Tuesday's Training TIP: MANIAC PULLER!

WAIT

Gypsy starts whining when we turn into Jen and Jeff’s subdivision off 17 Mile Road.  FLD Gus sits up so fast from where he was laying at my feet I’m surprised he doesn’t bonk his head on the dashboard.  The excitement begins.

Jen and Jeff have two German Shorthair Pointers, Gauge and Odo although Jen is the reason Gypsy goes berserk-o when we visit.  Gus keys in to Gypsy, but he is also remembers Gauge and Odo’s game “see-if-you-can-catch-me-racing-around-the-big-fat-tree.”

Gus.  OFF, I command as Gus stands up with his front paws on my lap, panting and whipping his head to see out the windshield when we pull into their driveway.

He slides back down and then lurches forward when I clip on his leash.  Gus, wait.

I get out of the van first and make him sit for a few moments, even when Andy lets Gypsy rocket out of the sliding side door.

Ok, let’s go, I say and Gus tries to rocket after her.  I yell after Andy, I’ll be about 10 or 15 minutes, and turn to take try to take control of the 55+ pound bundle of maniac-adolescent Lab writhing at the end of the leash.

Gus, heel.  Gus digs his paws into the spring turf and almost takes me off my feet.  GUS!  NO!

Gypsy stands barking at the gate.  Gauge and Odo erupt out the patio door and leap off the back deck.  Name recognition, finger-pokes, even leash corrections don’t get through Gus’s thick skull during this impossible-to-ignore frenzy.  I woman-handle him to the sidewalk (Gus, heel!) and start try to walk east toward the corner at the end of the block.  I’ll pull out all the tricks in the book and if Gus thinks he’s going to “win” this one, he’s wrong.

DIVERT HIS ATTENTION

One house away I command, Gus, SIT.  He is straining to turn back to Jen’s house; I physically put him into a SIT.  I say his name; after an insistent poke to the side of his neck, Gus whips his head in my direction but I only see the whites of his eyes as he strains to look back.  I immediately command, Gus, HEEL, and start walking.  Gus feels like a strutting stallion with a passion for a corral full of mares, but I am determined to get his attention.

I stop twice in front of each house to work different commands.  SIT.  DOWN.  SIT.  STAND.  By the time I reach the corner four houses away, Gus sits but is agitated and won’t focus on me.  I turn west and say, Gus, heel.  He blasts off.  I am ready and immediately take a few steps backwards; Gus corrects himself with his intensity and twirls back to my side.

WALK BACKWARDS

I walk backwards one sidewalk square for every two squares I walk forwards.  Progress.  I work Gus like this back to Jen’s, pausing as before to interject commands.  Gus starts to feign attention on me as we get closer.  He is in for a surprise.  I don’t turn up Jen’s driveway, where Gauge, Odo, and Gypsy are stirred up at the fence.  Nope.  I walk right on by.

Gus wants none of this!  He leaps in front of me with a whine.  I push him back into heel position and keep going.  Two houses later he starts to figure out that I am serious and sort of settles into an “Okay, I’m trying to control myself” heel.  Good boy, Gus!  He glances at me and I pick up the pace and pat my left leg.  What a good boy you are to heel with me away from the other dogs!  At the third house I stop.  Gus sits on command.  I slip him a treat.  Good boy!

Gus, heel.  We turn east.  Gus prances forward.  I step backwards.  Again.  One sidewalk square backwards to two sidewalk squares forwards.  We eventually reach Jen’s driveway; I prevent Gus from lunging and we continue in the same manner as before.  Heel.  Stop and SIT.  Heel.  Stop and DOWN…at this command Gus cannot contain himself any longer.  He lets out a yip and launches.  I restrain him with the leash but then he’s on his hind legs, scratching my side with his front paws, whining in frustration.  NO!  I place him into the down position, step on the leash to prevent another launch, and take a few moments to settle myself.  Oh how I love teen-age puppies!  Gus is DEFINITELY not going to win THIS battle!

STAY CALM

When I’m calm, we begin anew.  Gus, heel.  He looks at me as if he’s thinking, “Boy, she IS serious,” and we manage to reach the corner without any more drastic reactions.  When I turn west, we are still on the one-sidewalk-square-backwards-to-two-sidewalk-squares-forwards pace, but now Gus looks at me when I say his name (treat) and sits on command (treat).  His “down” is slow (I count out three seconds), but I think the battle has turned.

I heel Gus past Jen’s house again, with less argument.  We take another full lap west and east back to the corner.  I don’t worry about what Jen’s neighbor’s think, I’m finally making headway.

On our return, Gus’s attention on me is so much better he holds a DOWN-STAY while I walk completely around him.  His head spins to follow me like Linda Blair’s in the movie the Exorcist!  I feel like I’ve finally exorcized his adolescent-demon and NOW I am inclined to allow him to join the other dogs in play.

REINFORCE

It takes us a few more minutes to heel to the gate, with a moderate amount of backwards walking.  Gus, sit.  Gus holds his sit while I open the gate.  I am glad that Andy brought the other dogs inside so the distraction level is not as difficult as it was before.

OK!  I release Gus and at last he gets to rocket into the yard.  Andy lets the other dogs out and the mayhem ensues.

Before we leave I let the pups inside.  The play continues.  Gus, I call loudly, and am pleased when Gus disengages with the mass of dogs in the hall leading to the bedrooms.  Gus, sit, I say and give him a treat when he complies.  Good boy, Gus!  I clip on his leash.  Gus, settle.  He slides into a down and holds position while we say our good-byes.  As we exit, Gus heels nicely at my side and does not rocket to the van.

FLD Gus is a tired puppy and—you know, don’t you?—a good puppy!