Sunday, July 4, 2010

Training Challenge Week 4

Happy 4th of July everyone! Today is also my grandma's birthday so Happy Birthday Grandma! We'll be going to visit her later and Cousin Wilson will be there!

We didn't do agility for our training challenge this week so no glitzy video (LOL!). On Wednesday we went to the park and practiced my emergency whistle recall - we have been really neglecting that lately! I did well though. And mom says it's hard to practice with me because I check in with her all the time when I am off-leash so she finds it impossible to surprise me with a whistle! Sounds like a good problem to have!

Then this morning we did a real challenge - we went walking in the neighborhood that is across a busy street from our neighborhood. You know I have a thing for cars. Well in our own neighborhood, mom has been working very hard with me that if I see a car coming, I am supposed to sit quietly and wait for it to pass and then look up at her. If I am quiet (that's the most important part of the criteria), I get a treat. Mom is crossing her fingers right now and knocking on wood, but she thinks I am starting to get it. We've been having more successes than failures, so she thought it was time to try me out in a new neighborhood. (We had tried walking there over a year ago and it was a disaster - I pulled and acted like a crazy dog the entire time). This morning I did much better! I was very good when we crossed the street, I walked right next to mom the whole time we were over there, I sat and was quiet when cars passed by - until we were on our way back to my neighborhood and I knew we were closer to home and two cars passed by at the same time - and well, I lost it for a second! BUT after we crossed the street, I recovered my composure and we walked the rest of the way home. So mom thinks it was a huge success (and believe me, it took a lot for her to get up the courage to give the whole thing a try this morning!).

I am beginning to wonder who these weekly training challenges are for - me or mom? LOL!

Next week we don't have our class so we hope to get out to at least two other places to practice agility. It's going to be very hot here again so training might depend on the weather. This week we had a wonderful break from the heat and humidity. Too bad it didn't last!

Gotta zoom!

Ricky

9 comments:

Sara said...

That was a great idea your mom had! Good job Ricky for sitting while cars pass.

Happy 4th and happy birthday to your grandma!

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

Good job!!! It is so cool when things start coming together and the walking really sounds like a huge success!!!
Happy Fourth!!!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Khongrats on not being a khrakhkerdog!

It is nasty nasty nasty outside - my walks will be sooooo khompromised this week -

Happy Birthday to your grandma!

I hope woo and Khousin Wilson got to have some khake!

Happy FoURth of WOO-ly!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Diana said...

Yea for you both. I know the car chasing thing can make walks so unpleasent. Happy birthday to your mom ( grandma)!! Diana

Marie said...

Those are both great outings for training! Sounds like you're getting to be a pro at whatever your mom decides to try at a new location. I think it really is more of a challenge for the people than the dogs. :-)

Sagira said...

Great job Ricky! I am kind of scared of motorcycles and trucks.

You could come to run throughs on Friday at CATC. :)

Sagira said...

Also forgot to say...Happy Birthday to your Grandma! :)

Dawn said...

You look very alert and seem to be waiting patiently in your picture Ricky!

GOOD JOB with the walk in the other neighborhood! Oh my goodness, that was excellent!!!

And I'm so glad you're practicing that recall, I had been wondering...
Katie does the same thing when we're doing recall...she starts looking back at me like "are you going to call me back now Mom? Now? Maybe NOW?" It sure is hard to catch you guys unaware, when you're so aware all the time!

:)

Dawn said...

Hey Ricky!

I showed your suitcase videos (both of them!) to all my siblings (three) and they all laughed. They think you are SOOOOO cute! ..Um...HANDSOME!