It's been 19 days since I've updated you guys! I've been SO BUSY! Here's what I've been doing:

• Graduating puppy school :)
• Getting neutered :(
• Learning to pick up my leash (Okay, ALMOST. I lick it. Same thing, right?) :)
• Practicing my staying :)
• Going to the movies :)
• Learning that I don't like bears :(

Ummm that's all I remember. I play and I eat and I play with the kitty and I go outside and umm I eat bugs and play and I go in the car and I play with my friends. Oh and everytime I do the right thing I make this magic clicker click and I get a treat. Cool, right? I think so.

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Westin and I have been quite busy. I have worked a couple 40-hour weeks and been running around trying to fit everything into my schedule, and fell behind in the blogging. Westin just finished his second round of basic obedience last week, and I think we both learned a lot. I definitely feel like I benefitted from it, and there have been new things I'm learning every day when it comes to Westin and training him. 

Fathers Day weekend we went up to Clark's Trading Post. Westin did well on the train ride and walking around the place, and then Ayden wanted to see the bear show (YIKES) so we went and I sat in what I called an "escape seat" where I could quietly get up and take Westin to another part of the park very quickly if I needed to. Having a dog around a bear didn't seem like a good idea, and I wanted to make sure I could remove him from the situation. He went to sleep before the show started, so I wasn't too concerned anymore. As the show went on, Westin slept and slept. (YAY!) but then he woke up (uh-oh). He sat right up, looked at me, looked at the bear, turned back to me and pressed his body against mine in fear. So I got up, and walked him right out. I know we talked earlier about getting service dogs to face their fears, but bears are different. If Westin ever meets a bear, he needs to stay away from it, especially if it is a mama with babies. We want to keep the bear fear. 

In other news, he is close to picking up his leash. He now puts his mouth on it, which is close. We need to work and work at it, but I think once he realizes that it's okay to pick up something that isn't a toy, then he will be alright. He touches the easy button and the lightswitch box, but doesn't really make them do anything yet. That time will come, with practice. swe do both of these with clicker training.

We went to his first movie the other night! We saw the Avengers. He slept through most of it and only startled once.. and I'm not sure if it's because I jumped or the part in the movie was loud. 

Up for us this week: The 4th of July parade! Check back for an update on that later :) (I promise I'll get back into this!)

New Adventures!

Hi! I haven't been able to update in so long because I've been one very busy puppy! Last week was pretty uneventful, but we did a cool thing at puppy class that I think I like. I have this special word and Allie says it to me, and it means that I get these really delicious bacon treats and lots and lots of attention, and I get told how great I am. So no complaints there! I always win!

Saturday I went to STORY LAND!!!! And not just me! Almost all of the puppys in the program went, too! And we all walked around and showed off our vests and got to see lots of kids! There was food, which smelled good (not that I was smelling any of it... shhh! don't tell!) and there was so much to do! We went to a room that was full of balls flying around everywhere and we were supposed to watch! It was easy for me because I don't fetch but some of the other puppies wanted to play. We watched a show that had lots of music and dancing and clapping. The clapping got my attention for a second but then I remembered it wasn't for me, so I didn't care anymore. We went on a boat ride and a train ride, and a safari ride. Getting on the safari and the train were challenges for me, I was nervous about the steps. I had to get lifted up =/ but I didn't mind jumping off of them! It's way easier to get down then up! Story land was tiring. I ended up sleeping at lunch, and then I slept every chance I got for the rest of the day! Working is tough, I was running low on energy.

My Lunchtime Nap :)

Waiting patiently

And after Saturday, there was SUNDAY! And Sunday was a GREAT DAY. It was sunny again so we got to be outside, and this time I got to be at a lake house! Nice, right? Well I thought so. There was another dog there, Sidney. Sidney is 8 years old, and more playful than I am. I loved her energy because she played with me and I got to have fun. Once, Sidney ran into the water and I tried to follow her, but did you know that water gets deeper? All of a sudden I was about to not be able to reach the bottom anymore! I stopped. I didn't want anyone to know I was startled so I kinda just stood there. I drank a few sips of the water and just hung out. Sidney was way out in the water and I don't know how she did it! Did her legs just suddenly grow? Does she have water legs? I couldn't quite get it. Allie was at the shore calling me so I finally went to her after I realized that the water was more shallow over there. It was a relief! After that, I just played where I knew it was safe. That water is tricky stuff! I loved being at the lake, and we went out on a big boat and I got to be right in the wind. I eventually got tired and laid down, but what a good day I had! I hope I get to go back.

I had a great and tiring weekend, and I got in SO MUCH PLAYTIME. It was awesome!

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Westin is doing well with his trainig. Since he hasn't been a great listener, I have started reinforcing some things around mealtimes and I have him do things in order to get his food (like "down") - it's been working, so that's good!

StoryLand was good, he pulled a lot which we need to work on, but overall I was happy. He got really tired later in the day and we put his gentle leader on without it being attached to anything, so he would get used to wearing it in public and not just for a meal. He mellowed out when he wore it, but he still pulled since there wasn't too much of a consequence for it. He didn't eat anything that he wasn't supposed to (as far as I know!) which was very good, and he didn't reach much to the performance besides the clapping, which was only once and didn't last longer than a few seconds. On the rides he was calm and just laid down, and the hardest part was getting him to get on the train!

One topic of conversation when we were on the swan boat at story land was swimming. Friday (another dog) LOVES the water and Dot mentioned Westin probably hadn't been swimming. On Sunday, we brought Westin to the lake with us and he was playing with the other dog who really liked to swim and he couldn't figure out how. It was amusing to watch, you would think it comes naturally but it definitely didn't! I want to take him again and see if we can get him to figure it out, but at least he liked the water. It probably helped cool him off. The one thing I didn't like about the lake was the amount of sand he got in his fur from rolling around. It felt like I was brushing it out for hours! :)

The "special word" we are working on is called The Really Reliable Recall. It is the most genius thing I have ever heard of. You choose a signal that is a word you know you won't use any other time, because you don't want the dog to hear it unless you're using it. You always say it like this: "[Dog's name], [special word]!!!" and when they get to you, you praise them and give them a super special treat for an entire 30 seconds, or even more. You never repeat the command in the same time trial and the point is to teach them so that they will come to you every single time you use this, no matter what. If you need to call your dog away from an emergency situation (if he runs into traffic, etc.) and will be able to save your dogs life if every necessary. I have never heard of this before and I think it is one of the best ideas, and definitely an essential part of training.

Let's talk about fear.

I've encountered a few things that are new to me while living at this new house. I don't particularly like them. I back away from them and try to hide from them. Sometimes they make loud noises and sometimes they look strange. I don't trust them. They might hurt me.

1. The garage door

What the heck is that thing? It rolls up and down and makes a terrible noise as it does so. Ugh. Why would anyone have such a horrifying thing on their property? Keep me away from it, thanks.

2. The rolling laundry bin

I've seen laundry baskets. Humans carry them and they are usually full of things I like to chew, like socks! I love them and I love socks! But there's a few here that I DON'T like. There are a few that are on wheels. They have a handle and they make a loud noise when they are rolled on the hard floors, and I don't like it. The worst part? There's a cover so I neve get a chance to catch any loose socks! AWFUL.

3. The Umbrella

It's been raining a lot lately, and Allie is using this stupid thing to keep her somewhat dry when we go out. UGH it is horrendous. It POPS open and gets swung up in the air over her head and it makes weird noises and it goes form skinny to this awful huge weird shape and WOW I do not like this thing. Can we please come up with an alternative?

4. The bags of pellets for the pellet stove

There is this pellet stove that makes things warm, and it hasnt been used a lot but the rain makes it cold so we've been using it more. It gets filled with these giant bags and when they pour into it, I hear a big noise and when it stops there is this big crinkly bag and I don't like it because it's big and might make a bad noise or it might eat me. I really am not sure.

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Westin has had an eventful day. Those last two fears were discovered today. The umbrella was this morning, and the bag of pellets was this evening. The garage door and rolling laundry bin were the first weekend he came to my house. He's gotten better with those, and I just keep using them with him there so he realizes they are part of daily life. They were pretty easy fears to overcome, I just stood next to the laundry bin and had him come over to me and we walked around it and then I moved it and stopped it again, and had him come back over to me... and we kept doing this and we still do it every time I do laundry. The garage door was an easy fix, I think it just startled him the first couple times. He's almost immune to it now. 

The umbrella caught me off guard as much as it did to him, I didn't realize he would be scared of it. I tried putting it on the ground and sitting next to it with treats and he really wasn't having any of it. It's going to take a lot of convincing. (Any hints for us?) 

The bag of pellets was worse. He was trying to hide behind me! I tried bribing him with treats and sitting on it and next to it but he just wouldn't go near it! I hope we overcome this one, too.

Puppies naturally go through fear stages, and the second one is during adolescence. This is HORRIBLY timed with his defiant/testing-me behavior, and is hard to overcome. It is important to get through this, though, so he doesn't develop life-long fears. It's going to be a challenge, but I think Westin and I can work together to get through these and overcome his fears. He might be hesitant in new situations but if I keep calm and act like it's not a big deal, he is likely to follow my lead.

What commonly feared item ISN'T Westin afraid of? The vacuum cleaner!

What the HECK is a ball?

What a weekend!

Friday was my alone day. I was heartbroken and lonely all day, and it should be illegal to do that to a dog all day. I hated it. I just wanted someone to love me and play with me, all I had was a bat and a stuffed bone. Who can I call to report this? I need to report this.

Saturday. We went to the mall again! And wanna know what I saw again? Those balls with tails that roll around on the floor in the middle of the mall! I want one. I am asking for one for my birthday. Who is gonna buy me one? I need one, I need it! (But I left them alone at the mall because I was working.)

Today. TODAY WAS A GREAT DAY! I GOT A NEW TOY! Wanna know what I got? I got a ball! I don't know what a ball is but I got one! It rolls and moves by itself I think. I barely touch it and off it goes! I'm also supposed to "fetch" it when a human throws it. Don't they know I don't "fetch?" If they want the ball they can go get it themselves. I want the ball. I don't want you to throw it 30 feet for me to have to run after it, just give it to me already, jeeeeze. Ugh these humans just DON'T GET IT. 

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Westin was SO EXCITED to see me when I got home on Friday, you would have thought I'd have left him for a week or more! He's doing alright with his training, he is still defiant and just doesn't do things that I know he knows how to do (like "down," for example) but he goes into his crate with a push and will let me put on his gentle leader if it means he gets cheese. He behaved well at the mall, no issues there.

So where IS our issue? Fetch. He just doesn't get it. We broke out the tennis ball today. He honestly didn't have any idea what to do with it at first! He just batted it around and I had to throw it a couple times before he picked it up. But eventually, he did fetch with the ball today, maybe 6 times for treats, then eventually walked right past me because he was bored. He did it again later and stopped after 3 times.... oy. We really have our work cut out for us, here! Anyone have any tips to help teach a retriever to retrieve? Also looking for hints that might help me to teach him to pick up his leash and his dish... or pick up any item on command, really.

But I don't want to!

Yesterday I took 15 minutes getting into the car when it was time to leave in the morning. Why? Because I didn't want to.
I don't like my gentle leader so even when bribed with cheese I take as long as I possibly can to get it put on, even if it means I drool over cheese and food for ten minutes. Why? Because I don't want to wear it.
I also drool over cheese for a minimum of ten minutes every time I am told "kennel" and have to go into my crate. Why? Because I don't want to get locked up.
I will chase a toy but not bring it back. Why? Because I don't want to.
I don't perform basic commands that I already know. Why? Because I don't want to (This includes: "down," "sit [from both a standing position and down position]," and "stand [from a sitting position.]")

There are just a lot of things I don't want to do lately. Why? Because I just don't want to!
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Westin is officially a teenager. Don't get me wrong, he's still lovable and he listens fairly well, and he really is a great dog, but we are struggling when it comes to training. I know he knows how to do many of these things and he just looks at me like I am crazy for asking him to do something. It takes a lot of coaxing and patience, and he eventually does what I'm trying to get him to do, but it takes a lot longer than it should. Hopefully this phase passes and I just need to remember that I control the situation and he has to listen to me. Most of it is funny to look back on but in the moment it's like, "Really, Westin? You're going to do this right now?" and he's like "Yep. Yes I am."...he's an adolescent and he's developed an attitude. He's a little defiant and is just trying to see what he can get away with. I am not too concerned with it, and he eventually caves in to treats/cheese, I just have to wait patiently. He's still a puppy and can't control that aspect of things haha :)

Shopping!

I am SO glad to be here. Why? Because I am NOT in a car. We drove ALL THE WAY to Manchester today. We took two cars but there is only one of me so I only got to ride in one of them. But on the way home, we were all in the same car! I wonder where the other one went.

It wasn't a whole day in the car though. We went to a bookstore and I walked in the aisles and sat down and had a nice relaxing trip to the bookstore. We also went to the mall! I was mostly good. Did you know that the middle of the mall has toys? They play by themselves on the floor and I REALLY REALLY wanted one. There is one with a furry tail and I wish I could have it. I started to pull toward them and when I was told "leave it" I stopped pulling but I also just stopped moving. I couldn't take my eyes off of them. I heard a faint "Westin, let's go" in the background but I couldn't turn my ears on because my eyes were too busy. Then I heard it again and started moving slowly but man, I wanted that toy.

Then later, we had to walk by them AGAIN. NOT FAIR. That is just torture to my little puppy brain. But I knew better this time and I kept walking and only glanced at them out of the corner of my eye. I tried to be a good pup.

Here I am being on my best behavior in a clothing store!

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Westin had a long day, but he was very good. He was moving in the car a lot, from sitting to laying down to sitting next to one window then moving to the other. At one point, about an hour in, he poked his head into the front seat as if to say, "Are we there yet? I want to be OUT!" He pretty much told you about his whole day, he wanted to walk quickly today and not stay at the pace I was at, but other than that we didn't have any issues. :)

Party Time!

I have EXCITING NEWS!
Yesterday morning, we went downtown for some errands and you'll NEVER GUESS who I saw! I'll tell you! I SAW CAMDEN! You know, my friend Camden that lives at Dot's and I play with almost every day? YEAH! HIM! He was outside of my favorite store (WinniPaw) selling raffle tickets to benefit A.C.T.S.! If you enter, you have a chance to win Red Sox Tickets! Oh Boy! That was a great day. I want to go back and see if Camden is still there. He's great.

We also had a party yesterday! There were lots of people and lots of kids and lots of food! I was really hot and tired from our trip in town so I took a nap while people were here, and then I went outside and visited them and I knew better than to try to eat their food or jump on them. I practiced all of my manners and let them compliment me on my looks all day. It was a good time.

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Westin was a good boy downtown. It was outrageously hot outside, and all of the stores had their doors open so it was hot inside, too. He laid down every chance he got which wasn't a problem because most of our shopping was in Hallmark looking for cards, which took a while - especially since I got approached by a few curious people who asked about puppy raising, ACTS, and what service dogs do. He was pretty well-behaved. We ran into a few struggles outside of WinniPaw. Camden was there, which got them both excited but not out of control. I just told him "easy" and tugged on his leash, and he was alright. The second time after we left Hallmark, there were multiple dogs outside and it was a little busy. Westin wanted to play with them all. I had to tell him to "leave it" (particularly a dog smaller than my cat), offended its owner because she goes "oh so now he's an 'it'.."and continue on down the sidewalk. (Hey, I can't please everyone, sometimes you just need to focus on the goal). Well, we got to the car and Westin didn't want to leave because his friends were all back at WinniPaw. So I bribed him with a treat to get in the car/forget that he just saw about 6 other dogs, and go on our merry way to Harvest Market for milk, bread, and his all-time favorite, cheese. There were not any further arguments and we had a great time.

The party was a good learning experience for Westin. He only tried to sniff the food table once and was told "leave it" and listened. He practiced his "under" for going under the table and laying down at my feet- it was the perfect opportunity/set up for what we would experience in a restaurant, with other tables of people eating and other busy things going on. He did well and just fell asleep. Since we were home, I didn't have him in a harness or vest, but because we were outside in my non-fenced in backyard, I felt like it was safest to have a leash on him just in case he saw something he wanted to chase, or I needed to give him a slight tug away from a dropped hamburger.

We have either made progress or fell backwards as far as the gentle leader goes. He doesn't try to take it off anymore, but he turns his head or backs away from me when I try to put it on him, which is not the desired response.

I am NOT a happy puppy today. I was left alone ALL DAY. All I wanted was to play with my toys and the other puppies and I would have even worked nicely on commands if I had some company. I probably slept all day but I would have been happier with someone else around. Luckily Allie is home now and can take me outside to play and practice with me.

I got a new NylaBone! That was a GREAT surprise! It might have been because I was going to be alone all day but I was VERY HAPPY. I also got cheese today, I LOVE CHEESE!

Likes: Outside, NylaBones, Cheese
Dislikes: Being alone, my crate, my gentle leader

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Westin has been wearing his gentle leader at mealtime to get used to it. He is getting better with it but he definitely doesn't like it. Since I've had him, he's gotten it off twice. He leaves it alone better now, I still have to tell him to "leave it" but definitely not as often. I leave it on for as long as possible, trying to get him to play or focus on other things while it's on. I take it off when I have to tell him to "leave it" as often as it feels constant. When it is all he can focus on, I take it off because he is still a learning puppy and doesn't have the patience yet.

He is still not willingly going into his crate. I bribe him with cheese (his favorite treat!) and even that is dwindling... I toss it in and say "kennel" and he stands at the door and drools, takes a step in then backs up, and repeats. I try to encourage him and it takes probably 5 minutes of tossing the cheese back in before he makes any serious movements.

I think he did alright being alone today. I came home for lunch and took him outside to run and potty and play. My dad came in around 2:30 really quickly and he said Westin didn't whine when he was going through the house. I was happy to hear that! I left him in his crate today, because we have not finished clearing out the mudroom, but I think after this weekend he will be able to have the room to himself. We don't quite trust him around small items yet, he has proven to be a "chewer" and I don't know what he would/wouldn't get into!

Westin has been doing great with his training. He did "watch me" very well today. He did, however, bring me the remote today. I dropped it and he picked it up off of the floor! I told him "give" in a very happy voice and praised him when he gave it it me, but then he picked it up off of the table all by himself again! and again, I told him to "give" in a very happy voice. This was not something he was supposed to or prompted to do, but it definitely can't be discouraged because he is going to have to do this more often. I tried to get him to pick up other things but he wasn't having any of it!

Finally, time to catch up!

Hi!

I have SO MUCH to tell you. Yesterday, we went to Wal-Mart! FOR ME! I got a new chewing bone and a new brush and um, oh well thats all but YAY! I may have overheard something about another trip to WinniPaw this weekend but I am trying to avoid getting my hopes up.

I was a good boy in Wal Mart. I really really was. As we went through the aisles, I minded my manners and walked right along Allie and the shopping cart. I got looks from people and kept hearing how good-looking I am (as if I didn't know already!) and that I'm being good. Well what did they expect? This one time though, Allie did NOT know what she was doing. We were in an aisle then I hear "stop" and she made me sit. Then she's looking around and putting things in the cart and I am sitting there, bored. And then I hear her say "let's go." but you know what? I didn't want to go anymore. I had finally gotten comfortable and I was practicing my stops. She should really just make up her mind. Did she want to stop, or go? I don't like this mind game thing.

Tonight, we had our family dinner at Allie's Grandparents' house. There was Bonnie, the dog I met earlier this week, and Timmy, the 3-legged toy poodle. I was told to leave him alone. It made me sad. I wanted to play with him! But we had fun and I like Bonnie and she shares her toys with me! She even shared a bone with me. Isn't that nice? 

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Our wal-mart trip went very well. Westin did not want to move that one time, but other than that he was great. He followed when told, he turned right/left and waited patiently in line, and he walked nicely even when I changed pace. 

Westin isn't having any major issues at the moment. He is happy and playful, and when we practice his commands he does very well. He waits patiently for his food and plays the give/take/fetch game decently. He gets bored of it quickly, but he does it well for the time that it lasts. Heel is the command we need to practice the most right now. He does it okay on a leash, but forgets that he needs to walk at my pace. He is AMAZING at it in his vest, but without it he doesn't pay as much attention to me. 

Tomorrow is Westin's first day alone. I am nervous, but it will be good for him and I am glad I get to see how he will handle it. It will be followed by a 3-day weekend, which I'm looking forward to having  so I can spend time working with him.

Puppy Class!

I didn't post yesterday but you didn't miss much! From Monday through Thursday I go back over to my old house and play with Phoenix, Callie, and Camden! ALL DAY LONG! We play and play and have so much fun and then I come home and I am tired. And we play more and I chew my bone and I eat dinner and we go outside.

Tuesdays are great! Do you know why? I figured it out today. I get picked up from playing with the other pups and I go to my new house and we go outside more and I maybe I try to play with a kitty or a toy and then we get back in the car and we go back to my old house! But when we get back there are LOTS of puppies! We are in Basic Obedience class. And we all sit in the barn, sometimes quietly and nicely and sometimes not, and then we practice lots of commands and get LOTS OF TREATS! I really wanted to meet all the other puppies today, though. I wish they would have let me play. I've been through this class already so I don't think I need it again. I like the puppies though, I have so many friends.

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I am going through basic obedience with Westin because I have never done it before, and I have a lot to learn. The practice is good for him, and it helps him get used to listening to me. I learn a lot of exercises to do with him at home. Some of them are especially important for Westin as a future service dog, such as "stand" and "watch me." We have a lot of homework to do! Westin is having a hard time right now with "stay" - not because he doesn't stay in one spot, but if I leave him in a sitting position and tell him to "stay," he lays down! He isn't supposed to do that... He is also having a hard time with his crate. He never had at issues over at Dot's house, but Dot and I think that this might be his way of testing me. We don't want him to dislike it, so we have been coaxing him into it with treats. Good thing Westin is motivated by food! His favorite is cheese :)

Westin met Nana and Grampa's dog, Bonnie, last night. They got along great! Aunt Julia was also there with her 3-legged toy poodle, but Westin didn't really realize that he was alive. Westin also took one of Bonnie's toys and held it in his mouth the entire time we were there! Good thing he gives when he is asked, or that could have been a real struggle.