Puppy walking

An adventure in looking after a puppy until it is old enough to be properly trained as a guide dog for the blind.

Monday, March 27, 2006

We have been casually working on this one for some time. It was something Uma used to do - and, I am sure, many other dogs. I say “where’s your toy?” and he just looks at me. Last week, I saw a flash cross his face and he made some sort of connexion. Just now, I asked him very quietly, “go get your toy” and he turned and ran for both his kongs! He tried to get both of them in his mouth (as in the photo from last time) but when he finally just grasped the small kong, he came and laid it in my lap. Man.

10 Comments:

At 4:45 p.m., March 28, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, Rockwell!!
Double Yeah, Julia and Peter!

 
At 5:29 p.m., March 28, 2006, Blogger JuliaR said...

Oh he's getting some things! That's why I said, by Summer, he should be behaving better and better. Of course, this is all negated by the wrestle-fest we just had with our neighbour Robert.

 
At 10:10 p.m., March 28, 2006, Blogger Unknown said...

I know exactly what look you are describing and in traininig it is the best and most relieving look ever!!!!

 
At 11:18 p.m., March 28, 2006, Blogger HanktheDog said...

It's a grand concept, that of the toy. I adore the word and know exactly the nature of my toy box. The next step, of course, is to name the toys and have him bring the ones you name.

This doesn't always work, of course. I sometimes prefer to bring the toys that I want rather than what was asked for. I can, of course, always plead ignorance (hey, I'm just a dog) and then get to play with my favorite of the moment. I like to think of it as negotiation rather than training.

 
At 10:30 a.m., March 29, 2006, Blogger JuliaR said...

Thanks SDDWinston!

Hank, poor old Rockwell only has two toys - the Kong and the Bone. He has two of each but that's all he gets around here. I was told he could have a soft toy and I keep planning to get him one for quiet times like when he has to sit under the table in a restaurant, but I haven't yet. He also really likes the cuffs on whatever I am wearing - shirt, sweater - it doesn't matter.

 
At 3:28 p.m., March 29, 2006, Blogger M-Fax said...

Bosco some how knows the difference between his snake, a ball and his bone because he will get whatever one you tell him to get. The snake we can hide anywhere in the house and he will seek it out and then come back and drop it in your lap. They are quite the smarties.

 
At 7:26 p.m., March 29, 2006, Blogger 8675309 said...

Lomax's sister (Kandy) will do that, too, m-fax! She'll fetch "the octopus" or "the man"...hilarious. Keeps the humans occupied for hours, in amazement.

Lomax knows "the bone," but his favorite thing is when I ask him, "Where's your Amy?" He immediately goes to my roommate's bedroom door and waits expectantly for her to come out and shower him with kisses.

 
At 10:03 a.m., March 30, 2006, Blogger JuliaR said...

Jenny and MFax, they are smarties, that's for sure. Uma used to know "where's ... " followed by several items, including Peter and "Momma". It's funny how I was Momma but he was always Peter.

 
At 6:04 p.m., March 30, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

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If your blog is one of them, which I am sure it will be, a link to your blog will also be made available on AOL.

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At 6:05 p.m., March 30, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sorry, yoiur name is Julia... for some reason I thought it was Kim :-)... my bad...

 

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