I'm continuing to try for a pre-breakfast obedience class with each dog in the morning. Bern is working on moving downs and dumbbell retrieves. He has learned to hold the dumbbell but only if I'm staring at him and he isn't moving. We are trying a new game... he picks up the dumbbell and gives it to me. He then gets a treat. He picks it up and drops it or tosses it... no treat. We jump around and get excited and then I lay the dumbbell between us. Since he is moving anyway, his picking it up and handing it to me seems more fluid. I'll try and shape the behavior into a retrieve.
Grace is a retrieving fool...just don't try and walk around her while she is in a sit, down, or stand. Today we practiced me walking around with her in a sit... she managed to sit still a couple of times but it is really hard for her. Forget having a stranger do this. The rest of her obedience work is improving. She is getting the hang of the right and left finish... the swing to the left is really sloppy and she never ends up in a proper heel position but she jumps up and spins really fast.
No obedience last night for Bern.. LCCOC monthly meeting. I'm taking them both tonight. Bern needs to practice his weaves at speed before we go do USDAA standard courses this weekend.
