Practice Makes Perfect (Eventually)

The month of December was pretty low-key and quiet for Moray.  There were lots of errands and places to go that were not the best venues to accomplish positive training, thus, we were doing well if Moray got an outing in once or twice per week.  

"Jump" at Tractor Supply

At church, watching game time during Awana

being loved on by a sweet little girl

The last few weeks of getting back into our normal schedule and routine have been very good for Moray.  Like most puppies, Moray needs a lot of repetition and consistency in his training.  His public manners are overall pretty well, but he is still having some issues that only regular and precise outings and exposure can help.  

Chilling at the bookstore

I love that every Starbucks we have been to is welcoming of my pups.  Moray thought he should have gotten some of my smoothie since his name was on it!

Studying and staying small

A few of the most important things Moray has been working on include keeping focused and not letting strangers' baby talk and outstretched hands distract him, calm greetings, practicing his new, more advanced commands in different settings, and just making outings fun and enjoyable for him.   

T, one of Moray's biggest admirers and a very special guy, who practices calm greeting every time we go to the grocery store.

A BIG stretch, but a good "Up," Moray!

Sometimes, progress seems to crawl so slowly I have to squint and really search for things he is getting better at, but I have no doubt that with lots and lots of practice, we'll reach perfection.

People watching from a "lap" command.

Good boy laying the right way next to my chair.

On an outing with fellow CCI pups Hardy and Young

Wordless Wednesday: No Paparazzi Please

Not a catch-up update

I have never been a fan of catch ups.  They mostly just turn out to be backlogged photos anyways.  I have also come to terms that life right now leaves little time for blogging.  I most definitely want to keep my little corner of the inter-web updated on all things Raising Moray, but for now this may look like just hitting the highlights for my own memories, and a glimpse into his puppy-hood for his future Person.  And I am okay with that.  

Moray has been on many mini adventures to socialize and work on improving his public manners.  One of the highlights over our Christmas break was his very first trip to the skating house.

We walked around some, but mostly sat and watched the skating, as well as take in the smells and overall bustle.  

Moray tries so hard to be a good boy while we are out!  I love his willingness to please and the way he delights in people watching.  The hardest thing for him during outings is to keep his nose to himself and not solicit attention from others.  With this face, though, it it also hard for people to ignore him while he learns to ignore them!

I do not like to eliminate petting completely while on outings because it is still good for him work on keeping still and sitting for the occasional admirer, and also because educating about Canine Companions and service dogs comes more naturally when they can stroke his velvety ears.

There was one sweet girl who was maybe nine years old who came over and asked ever so politely to pet Moray.  She sat and stroked him, shook his paw, and talked to me about Moray, Canine Companions, and her own dogs for twenty minutes.  

Moray still has a ways to go to perfect his public manners, but he is more and more consistently showing patience and maturity while we are out.