As often as we can when the weather is nice, I like to get our Board &Train clients dogs out to the Lake. Many of them haven't had a chance to run around rurally and if they have proven their off leash reliability they are allowed some doggy run time with our guys. (If they aren't ready for that then we go with a 30-50' long line so they can still swim/run.
While we certainly want everyone to enjoy themselves, dogs included, it is important that they are still listening while there so we always reinforce good behavior - especially for the new dogs. Here Tracy has a rapt audience...to be able to break them off from swimming and playing to recall and sit politely is always good practice.
We always go to the very back of the inlet where it curves back on itself and we can give the dogs a little more freedom to roam. Here we can see them all a little too far out and do a quick recall...
And who was the first one back - CHARLIE!!!
After about 45 minutes of hard play, water retrieves and obedience practice - Charlie and Ayla are done.
Time to round up the crew and head back to the farm!
So Phoenix is definitely one smart cookie. Just this week she passed her Novice Trick Dog Title and became on of the youngest to have ever done this - at 7 weeks! To do this she needed to demonstrate she could do 15 tricks from the Easy list in front of a witness with no more than half needing to be lured still.
She did:
Sit
Down
Come
Stand
Touch (Hand)
Chase Lure
Puppy Push Ups
Follow Finger
Ramp
Thank You (Drop It)
Fetch
Head Tilt
Jump Over Bar
Kisses
Paws Up
Table (Pedestal)
Wobble Board
But she is also showing a more independent side now as well as a bit more of the Hound type personality comes through.
She is proving to be good with all sorts of dogs and people and training with her is a joy! Plus she LOVES to play!
