The Captain In Boot Camp

Yesterday was our first lesson with Ms. Malone, the dog trainer, hereafter to be referred to as "Cookie Lady" in deference to the Captain's perceptions. They clicked immediately and he spent the entire session parked at her feet looking up at her with attentive subservience whenever she wasn't demonstrating commands.

She taught us several useful commands, including the "take it, leave it" game. I hadn't taught him "take it" before, and it really adds to the training. To play the game, you put a kibble on his paw and say "Leave it." Then another on the other paw and say "leave it." Then you put a kibble wherever and tell him to "take it."

Repeat as needed until he ignores whatever you put on him until told to do otherwise.

She had her method so down pat that several times he obeyed commands he didn't even know yet--on the first try. I think it was mostly how confident and brisk she was and how casually she corrected his mistakes with simple businesslike taps on the nose or back of the neck. It was really awesome to watch, although he still tends to flinch and run away when I try her tricks. Practice makes perfect, I reckon:



We also put lots of energy and time into "stay" training. By the time she was done with him, he would be solid as a rock even as I tugged at his leash because he hadn't been told "All done." With practice, he's going to be a hell of a good companion animal.

Getting a professional trainer was SUCH a good idea. Next session is the 29th and we're going to focus on door manners and a few tricks involving a footstool, as well as leash manners. That's his worst area by far--he has begun trying to pull again, even with his gentle leader on. Not like it was, but I want a dog who will not need a leash to heel and who will come back immediately when called if he gets loose.

In the space between now and then, we'll be practicing the stuff we covered in this first lesson on a daily basis. I'm happy to note that several of the things she wanted us to do were things I've been doing since we got him, like putting him through all his commands in random order, rapid-fire.

I photographed the Captain during this morning's training session. Call this an exercise in both "leave it" and "stay." Or call it rampant sadism; I'll gladly cop to it.









Then when I had finished laying out the kibbles, I told him "All done!" and let him eat every single one as a reward.