Finally!

After the last week of snow and three days of a fever, Ellie and I got to do some serious training today. We reviewed all the basics, and then went outside without the leash. We have a wrap around driveway and only the street side of the yard is unfenced. I brought a handful bacon and cheese wraps, cut into 1" pieces. I used 'heel' when we started walking. Every three or four feet, if Ellie was still healing, she got a treat and a 'good Ellie'. If she wasn't, I told her to wait, ans when I caught up, I stopped and had her sit, then gave her a treat. Again, I used 'heel' as we started walking. By the second time around the house, I was just giving her a treat every three feet, along with a reminder to 'heel'. Then we played with her kong ball as a reward. I would throw it across the yard and Ellie would fetch it and bring it back. She needs a 'leave it' reminder and then she drops it at my feet and we did it all over again. I watched for her attention wavering, having saved one last treat. When she seemed to be losing interest, I said, "Ellie in" she ran up the steps and sat and waited for me. After I opened the door and went in,I said OK and Ellie came in. She sat right in front of me and waited for me to give her the last treat. I can't wait for spring. Ellie loves to be outside is it is not cold, icy, or wet.

A Fair Weather Dog

Ellie is feeling much better. It is a good thing. With the cold, wet, snow today, Ellie doesn't even want to go out to pee. She is truly a Georgia dog. Her winter coat and boots don't help, neither does her rain coat. Her and GB want/ need to go out and run. I hope winter ends really, really soon.

Poor Ellie!

Ellie is sick. She has made 5 piles so far today and has been sleeping at my side, except when she makes a mad dash to the front door. I am hoping she just got into the cat food and after it runs through her system, she'll be fine. Otherwise, there is a vet trip in the near future.

 

Sick Puppy

OOPS!

GB and Ellie went food shopping with me this afternoon. GB thought it was a spectacular success. Everyone we met told GB how beautiful Ellie was and asked to pet her. She made sure the world knew Ellie was HER working dog. From Ellie's point of view, it wasn't so successful. She was shaking most of the time we were in Hannaford. She wasn't heeling, had to be reminded to sit when I stopped, and a couple of times started to drag me. I guess I let the public access brush-ups go too long. Ellie and will have to get in the habit of going out in her working vest everyday. We got back and let Ellie run for a couple of minutes, do her business, and she was done. She wanted to go in, and as soon as she was in, she found her bed and went to sleep. GB has 2 playmates over, so I am blogging in the same room as they are playing and Ellie has been asleep the last hour. The noise and chaos isn't bothering her at all. One of the girls is GB's age and the other is 4. GB and the four year old are on about the same level socially and emotionally. Her friend, who is the same age (almost 7), is using a lot of self-control and trying to organize the other two into a coherent game. She is having very limited success. 

A Good Morning Training

Ellie and I had a good morning training after she walked GB to the bus. We worked on longer stays when I was out of sight, extended our wait time while there was a yummy treat in plain view, and reviewed all the old commands Ellie and I have down. Ellie and GB are getting really attached. I have taken to putting GB to bed first and Ellie sometime later, and each night when she goes to bed, first she checks to make sure  GB is in bed and sleeping, then Ellie jumps up on her blanket, turns three times and is in for the night. We are still working on making GB's commands more consistent.