This week the Spring weather arrived; Booker has a great openspace we take him to, everyday. It’s called wildcat Creek. The part we walk at is close to the Bay, the park is fabulously well maintained- they mow the grasses down regularly and have a nicely paved walkway for us humans.
This an older pix, shows his cute markings and conveys how utterly happy our sweetie is after his romp. He rolls around on his back in delight / ? to show us how happy he is/ --and we have labeled this behavior “happy dog”; now he can do the rolling on command.
Speaking of commands or words he responds to, I have started a list:
Some of the words or commands he clearly understands: many have associated body/hand / eye contact signals as well:
LOOK
sit
down
stay ( 100% on target -wow)
come
off
wait ( a very short stay)
FREE DOG ( release words)
move ( as in out of the way)<--very important command or he ’would be tripping us up all the time back ( moves backwards)
wait ( a very short stay)
FREE DOG ( release words)
move ( as in out of the way)<--very important command or he ’would be tripping us up all the time back ( moves backwards)
fetch ( however- does not understand the :give it up part: unless we switch with another item)
give ( NOT willing all the time- definitely working on this and the above...)
take
find it!
Close
walk
find (... Kong, Bone) /or “:where’s your...:
treat
tug ( we have given up this activity/toys due to his i extreme zealotness that borders on dangerous)
leash
right
left
food
NO
YES!!
paw
brush
bath
happy dog ( rolls on back for belly rubs)
good boy
up (invitation to couch )
spot ( where he waits until released via hand signal to jump into suv)
bed / matt
crate
blankie
bark
go pee
outside
inside
dog
car
ride
Stop ( combo of sit and LOOK) i.e. at crosswalks
let’s go
forget about it
leave it!!
chill
find fennel ( in an open space where he can run free and tear up fennel that grows all over)
with me ( stay heeled during walks)
close
say hello ( LOOKs at the person nearby)
thankyou ( acknowlegding he has alerted us to a sound - so he will not continue)
upstairs
downstairs
I am sure he reads our body language, facial expressions and has his routines from :reading: us; knows our usual daily routines well enough, and sounds ( car keys, refrigerator, rustle of plastic ) which leads to a response from understanding what may happen next.
For example:
I believe he whines a little in the morning, when I open the closet to get dressed, knowing I am leaving soon...
He will attentively LOOK as soon as my husband gets near where we keep the training treats.
Every weekend, when the dremel goes on ( he knows treats and a tug session will follow)- looks intently at the spot the tug is stored...
He gratefully came to us knowing that when people are eating- he has to be on his mat or bed until we are done. Good boy. He understands we do not want him near. Never challenges this.
treat
tug ( we have given up this activity/toys due to his i extreme zealotness that borders on dangerous)
leash
right
left
food
NO
YES!!
paw
brush
bath
happy dog ( rolls on back for belly rubs)
good boy
up (invitation to couch )
spot ( where he waits until released via hand signal to jump into suv)
bed / matt
crate
blankie
bark
go pee
outside
inside
dog
car
ride
Stop ( combo of sit and LOOK) i.e. at crosswalks
let’s go
forget about it
leave it!!
chill
find fennel ( in an open space where he can run free and tear up fennel that grows all over)
with me ( stay heeled during walks)
close
say hello ( LOOKs at the person nearby)
thankyou ( acknowlegding he has alerted us to a sound - so he will not continue)
upstairs
downstairs
I am sure he reads our body language, facial expressions and has his routines from :reading: us; knows our usual daily routines well enough, and sounds ( car keys, refrigerator, rustle of plastic ) which leads to a response from understanding what may happen next.
For example:
I believe he whines a little in the morning, when I open the closet to get dressed, knowing I am leaving soon...
He will attentively LOOK as soon as my husband gets near where we keep the training treats.
Every weekend, when the dremel goes on ( he knows treats and a tug session will follow)- looks intently at the spot the tug is stored...
He gratefully came to us knowing that when people are eating- he has to be on his mat or bed until we are done. Good boy. He understands we do not want him near. Never challenges this.
We were blessed the day Booker came into our life!
