Dante, Jump!

I had  introduced the "jump" command to Dante a few weeks ago, but we haven't had too many opportunities to practice it.  So, today's outing was focused on going somewhere where Dante could do lots of "jumps!"  So we ended up at - you guessed it - the mall.  The closest mall to us is an outdoor one, so there are lots of benches and low walls that Dante can practice on.  

Ahh, Dante you don't know what your in for! :-)

 I only had to lure him onto the first one, before he remembered what to do, and he did all the rest himself.  I loved this row of benches because I could ask Dante to do something different at each one - at one an "under," the next a "jump," etc.  It is important that I change the command often, so that Dante learns to listen to what I say instead of guess.

Dante was a little uncomfortable on the little kid benches at first, because they were so narrow, but he still "jumped" and settled onto them after a few times.  

Have I mentioned lately what a cuddle bug Dante is? ;-)  As soon as I sat down, he laid down with his paws in my lap. 

And the only thing I can think of when I see this picture is How can someone look at this puppy with his mouth wide open, than ask me why he's wearing a muzzle!  Sheesh!  I don't mind educating people about Gentle Leaders, but when they say it like they think I'm abusing him or don't know how to train him correctly, I get a little annoyed!

But I digress...

After 30 minutes of jumping up and down in 95 degree weather, Dante was tired out and ready for some AC!  We headed to Barnes and Noble since we had some time to kill before my mom came back for us.  Usually I never would feed or give anything (even kibble rewards) to Dante in a restaurant-type setting (because I don't want him to expect or beg for anything when we go out to eat), but I had forgotten to grab his water bowl from the car when my mom dropped us off, so I had no other choice.

I got an ice tea for myself and cup of ice for Dante, but than realized my predicament.  I'm sure the gentleman behind us was wondering the same thing - how am I going to get this to the table?  An (almost healed :) broken ankle = one crutch + Dante's leash = no extra hands.  


A quick scan of the room revealed that one side was completely empty, I decided to take Dante to the table in the corner and leave him there in a "down."  Now before you say "you left an unattended 7 month old puppy at a table!" - I must tell you that  it was only 15 ft. and Dante was hot.  Very hot and tired.  Hot puppy + cold floor = 99.9% chance that he will not move, and knowing this pup, if he does decide to move, he only wants to know what I'm doing.  As I walked away, the afore mentioned gentleman remarked, "Wow, he very well behaved!"  I smiled.  I guess he didn't do the math!  Haha!

I enjoyed my tea.  Dante enjoyed his ice.  And everyone who walked by laughed at the way he crunched it!

Blurry crunching!

Busy Weekend

 Dante and I have had an especially busy weekend these last two days.  


Yesterday, we went to a park where a "field day" was taking place for the elementary-aged kids, and my jump rope team was going to help and show the kids some stuff.  Dante came too, and did extremely well.  It lasted longer then intended, so Dante's lunch was about an-hour-and-a-half late, but he was a trooper.  He was tired, but he never got cranky.  I guess it's a good thing that he gets used to his schedule getting changed up. 


Dante is such an easy puppy to take out.  He loves to explore with you, but he also settles really well.  He spent a lot of time hanging out under a picnic table, and didn't even pay attention to spilled food.  He is also getting really good with his people-greeting, although he still tries to lick, he is great about checking in with me when he's getting pet.

Dante under a table ignoring some dropped cheese a foot from his head.

 
This morning Dante had puppy class.  I don't know why this is the first post about class, but I guess I forgot.  Dante has been doing really well, but when I got him up this morning I knew there was something off.  I think after such an exhausting day yesterday, he was just having an "off" day. 

Puppy class has been really good, and our trainer is great about understanding what we do differently.  But not being in a CCI specific class has been a little challenging.  Just trying to filter the information we're getting, and substituting the commands we use through what is different in how we are teaching Dante has been pretty mentally draining. 



My mom worked him for the first time during class today, and I was planning on getting some good pictures, but ended up getting some not-so-good pictures between the bad lighting, and helping "deal" with Dante. 

We start with play time.  Dante is always intrigued with this little puppy, and she stands her ground:

Dante, Scout and Max

Dante and Scout

After this, Dante spent some "quality time" trying to rub off his gentle leader:

Then it was on to working through the tunnel.  My mom lured him in.  He was not afraid, but he didn't know what he was supposed to do, so he turned around.  Then I got on the other end and called him through, and he was fine with that.

This was his fourth time through, and he did it like a pro!

After this, he did some good "sits" and "downs" even with temper tantrums thrown in throughout.

When we got home, Dante (and I) took a much-needed nap, then spent most of the afternoon outside with the family, playing fetch, practicing "here," running, and getting out his wiggles.  

Dante looking rather grown up and regal.  Taken by Rebecca.

Spring Time

 Dante and I took advantage of a beautiful spring day today, and got some pictures in-cape.  Enjoy!

The tongue...

Smelling the flowers...

...Eating the flowers

Goofball :-)

Look at how small his cape is getting.  He weighed in at 29.6 lb. at the vet yesterday!

How can this NOT make you smile?

Dante Working

This video is not the greatest, but it shows some of what Dante knows.

Some things to note:

• In the very beginning when I ask Dante to "dress," he start scratching.  he always itches when I first put on his collar/gentle leader/cape.  It usually takes him a good half hour to completely ignore them.  ;)
• When I tell him "release" from his kennel, he hesitates.  Dante LOVES his crate and sometimes is reluctant to leave it.
• Dante will sometimes try to read my mind and will go from a "sit" to a "down" over and over again just to see if he'll get praised.  We are still working on this one ;-)
• He just learned "shake" this week and loves to do it.  He will try to get everyone to do it with him, and now we're working on doing "shake" only on cue.  I guess that's not totally a bad thing!
• Dante got up from his "down" before I asked him to.  If I walk away too quickly he will do this, but I think he is still doing really well for his age!
• If I drop the leash before I tell him "here," Dante will always pick up the handle of the leash before coming.  I'm still not sure what to do about this. 

Dante also knows "drop" (whats in his mouth), and will do it with pretty much anything except socks ;-) he know to "wait" for his food until given "okay."  We are up to about 45 seconds for this. 

Overall, I think Dante is doing really well with his commands.  We still have a lot of "fine-tuning" and "cementing" to do that will come with age and practicing everywhere.  

The Gentle Leader

In this post I mentioned how much Dante hates his gentle leader.  Well.  On Saturday afternoon, Dante and I had just come in from playing in the yard, he was pretty worked up, and I was trying to get him to "Hurry" before I crated him.   I put him in his X-pen in the living room and went to the kitchen to a get a cup of water.  I came back about 3/4 of a minute later and Dante had pawed off his gentle leader and was chewing on the nose strap.  Now, I have been leaving it on him all the time except when he is crated so that he would get used to it, and he hadn't tried to get it off in a couple days.  When I took it out of his mouth he had chewed all the way through it.

I couldn't put it back on him that way, and it is the only small one I have, so I just took the rest of it off.  I wish I didn't have to, because he was sooooo proud of himself for getting it off, and to top that, I took it off for him!  He went ballistic.  he was running around in circles and growling.  needless to say, Dante took some much needed crate time for the next hour-and-a-half.

I then had to drag out all my (mom's) sewing stuff and try to fix the thing in a "I-don't-care-how-this-thing-looks-because-it's-not-going-on-my-face" kind of mood.

 Dante is one lucky dog that I didn't have to use some hot pink thread, and found the exact color I needed. 

It really didn't turn out that bad, and you can hardly notice it.  I just wonder what CCI is going to think when I send it back.  ;)

(not a very good picture, but you get the idea)

Walking

When I take Dante for walks, I never know what to expect from him.  Sometimes he'll walk great, and sometimes he won't even leave our driveway for anything: praise, treats, toys; nothing.  Most of the time he will walk towards our house, but not away.  Other times we'll get down half our street, and he will refuse to budge in any direction. 

He has to stop to play in the leaves...

to check out the drains...

to lay down...

to watch the birds...

to try to paw off his gentle leader...

but 99% of the time, just for the sake of not wanting to go any further.

I have been watching him to see if he's afraid of anything, but he doesn't act like there's anything the matter.  He just doesn't want to move!

After taking him to a few places to walk, he does great in different settings, but he won't even come out of the driveway at home.

We have been playing a lot of "follow me," but as soon as we step on the sidewalk, he stops dead.  I was at a loss of what to do with him.  But today I was determined to take him on a walk.  I took Dante on the his 15 ft. leash (and Becca for back-up), and we started calling his name really excitedly, we had his favorite squeaky toy, and started jogging (and squeaking ferociously) down the sidewalk.  I'm sure the whole neighborhood thought we were maniacs, but he finally followed us!  We ran all the way down our street and then turned around, and he walked with us all the way back!

Now to see if he can do it tomorrow...

Settling In

Well, we have hit the one-week mark with Dante!  He is settling in really well for the most part.  He is such a sweetie, but is very independent and does not like to be told what to do or where to go.  Dante is not food motivated at all, so that has been challenging trying to get him excited and wanting to learn.  He loves his toys and lives for praise, so that is pretty much what I have been doing with him.  He is doing a lot of wonderful things:

He is responding very well to his name, and looks at me (almost) every time I call him.

He does a stellar "Sit" and will sit everywhere I ask him to.  He will even sit for my mom and sister.

I have been working with him on "Wait" at doors, for his meals, and in his kennel, and I think he has almost gotten that.  

He loves to go in the upstairs hallway and practice his "Here" and "Drop":

I have been so surprised with Dante.  He is not afraid of anything.  On the first day we had him he went up about six steps, and today he went up AND down the entire staircase FOUR times! 

Another thing I have been working with him on is accepting the gentle leader.  A gentle leader is kind of similar to a horse's halter.  It goes over the nose and behind the ears, so that you can have more control over the dog. It touches the same "pressure points" - behind his ears and on his nose - that the mother dog would touch when correcting or directing her pups.  It also prevents them from choking and pulling too hard on a flat collar.  This is all good, but...

Dante hates the gentle leader.  I have been putting it on him when he eats his meals.  But for a dog that is not very interested in his food already, that has not helped at all (he wouldn't even finish a quarter of his food).  

So, today he has worn it all day and is making great progress with it.  He still does not like to walk in it or "Hurry" with it on, but he did eat all of his food, at all three meals, with it on today.  With lots of praise and playing with toys (and knowing it is not coming off), he is learning.

Dante giving me his saddest puppy eyes and looking extremely pitiful.  (I know it looks really tight here, but he is just pushing his nose into the carpet as hard as he can.)

Dante out on a walk (actually, more like "refusing" to walk) with his gentle leader on

 I absolutely love teaching him and watching him learn!  When you give him a command and look into his eyes, you can see his mind working and processing it.  He is so much fun to work with!