Weights:
Waldo~63
Chip~48
Star~46
Chesty~40
We're still trying to get the weekend puppy raiser orientation straightened out and hopefully will get it done for next week's outings.
I am hoping for new alternate handlers to start next week. I need at least three, but more are welcome.
Our Friday afternoon class was held outdoors today. The dogs are all doing fine in spite of the extreme heat and humidity.
Waldo~Paul is spending hours a day in the wheelchair, working on Waldo's awareness of where the chair is in relation to his feet :) and teaching us all about the things that we might need to be more aware of when training the younger dogs. Things such as emptying the dog while in a wheelchair, going through doors, heel and side commands without getting rolled over, and the turn command being close enough to the chair for it to be useful are all things that he wasn't aware needed work until he started using the chair. A wonderful learning experience for us all, thank you to Paul.
Chip~Mike continues to see improvements in Chip, but more slowly than he'd like. I told him to watch for signs that Chip's fears are becoming habit, and to take more of a lead with him in his training. He told me that he felt that because Chip is so fearful that he wanted to be the "safe zone" for the dog. I told him I believe that if Chip is fearful he doesn't need a savior, he needs a leader~someone who's strong and confident, and since he's the "lead dog" for Chip, he needs to be the leader. I did explain a bit more, asked him to try it this week.
Mike will work on "side" with Chip this week.
Chip will be in the facility this weekend.
Star~Her obedience is great, I asked Mark to work on greeting as many "outside people" as possible, and start working on "stays".
Mark said occasionally she shakes her left foot, but no pain on palpation of the entire left leg. I told him to try to document every time she did that and if it continued we would have it checked by the vet. Star is scheduled to be spayed in early September.
Star is in the facility this weekend.
Chesty~AJ is a little frustrated with Chesty, he is not used to having a puppy yet. I explained that all dogs learn in different ways at different rates. Chesty is no longer "nipping", is sitting and downing on command, and has a nice "watch me" command. AJ is reading and studying the MSP book, and I see him doing the exercises with Chesty. He will work on timed sits and downs and getting Chesty to stop pulling.
AJ told me that Chesty had a loose stool for days after he came back from the weekend with Dawn. Dawn is feeding the same diet, but I will ask if there was anything different that she may have given him.
Chesty is in the facility this weekend.
Alternate handler Jerry will be working with all of the pups this week, helping reinforce "no pull" and "watch me" commands.
