It's Monday, Remus has been with me for 4 days. Tonight we worked on the "down" cue, taught by using the capture method: wait for the dog perform the behavior then- mark, praise and reward. I also started using "free" as his release cue. Capturing can be a preferred method to teach certain behaviors as it allows the dog to figure out what you want. I was hand feeding him his dinner, by the time his bowl was empty, he pretty consistently laying down when I showed him the hand signal. I also started teaching him to nose-touch my hand.
He is doing very well with sit. Since I don't want him jumping on the baby gate, he needs to sit before I come into the kitchen with him. Although, I'm not always very consistent in preventing him from jumping on me when he comes when I call him.
He is also retrieving toys for me. He will run to pick one up and runs back to me with it. So very cute!! One of Ryan's toys is a green and yellow ball with little balls on the inside that you can hear when the ball rolls around. Remus plays with that ball, running, jumping and barking at it.
Today I learned that Remus is nervous in new situations but, he recovers quickly. I need to make sure that I introduce something new every day. So far, Remus has met the girls at work, 3 men, my sister, and has been work, to the cranberry bogs, my sister's house, Katrin's house (and puppy class), her parents' house and he met Katrin's dog Tom.
