Grab The Pole Part 2

This trick is a continuation of the Grab The Pole Part 1 trick that I posted last week. For the second part of the trick, you're doing a more "practical" application of the trick by having the dog hold a toy or other object. Here's our attempt:




I tried a few different items to see what would work best for the dogs to hold, but I couldn't find anything that really fit the bill. The behavior that I had built up with the pole also started to break down when I added in the random objects. It also became almost impossible to use the clicker, hold the object, and give the treat all at the same time. So I stopped using the clicker.

After a few different attempt with a few different objects I had the grand idea to take the trick outside. I had the dogs grabbing the support beam on our back patio area. They caught on pretty quick and had some pretty cute grabs. All I need now is some sexy stripper music and some nipple tassels and these dogs will finally start making me some money!!LOL

I do have to admit that I toyed with the idea of continuing to work on the trick and try to get them to do some sort of "dance" routine around the support beam (Bess started throwing in some cute paw moves), but it's a slippery slope once you start down that path.;0)

I was able to take the afternoon off from work today and I freaking loved it!! I seriously wish I could do that every single day, still get paid the same (or more!!), and not have ANY work get back logged and be waiting for me in the morning. Now THAT'S my kind of job!;0)

I wasn't entirely lazy once I got home. I loaded up the dogs and we went out to our obedience instructor's building for a lesson. We had a really good lesson! Heffner had some of the most fabulous heeling! I'm talking multiple minutes of fabulous attention, lovely movement, and super fabulous figure eights with distractions. It was awesome! We played a little bit with his dumbbell and he was happy doing some play retrieves on the flat and had LOTS of fun going over the jump with it. And he didn't drop it once! I still need to write a little post about what I'm doing with each dog for their dumbbells and I promise to eventually get to that!

Bess' heeling was a little less than what I was expecting. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't super either. She does work fabulously with distractions though! The figure eight distractions she didn't even glance at. While we were doing recalls, our instructor actually laid down on the ground in between Bess and I. I had to give a second command to get Bess to move from her sit, but she veered nicely around Jill, didn't even sniff her, and came right to me.:0) She also got to practice her stays with the malinois having a lesson after us. Those were spot on! She played her dumbbell as well and for the first time she went over the jump at almost full height and kept it in her mouth the whole time! I do have to admit that she's a lot happier working the dumbbell in our lessons than she is at home.

I hope everyone's Monday was terribly painful!