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It was a busy, busy week for a wee Waffles — one filled with firsts and with some slightly more stressful adventures. He’s been growing like a weed! This week, he started Puppy Kindergarten at Cloud Nine and enjoyed his first class. He also went to the vet for a quick visit and some boosters,… Read more
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This week, we double down on bite inhibition work, and start working really hard on the difference between “neutral socialization” and “active socialization”. We also work really hard on our on-off switch, using our nose and paws for good rather than evil, and basic manners: ACTIVE CUES Get Busy Settle Sit Waffles! (name recognition and… Read more
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What a busy busy busy week it has been! Waffles was visited by the Leg Fairy this week. He now looks like a dog on stilts. He is a solid 15.5 pounds or so, and growing like a weed. We’ve been working a ton on meeting new people of all ages and Waffles thinks that’s… Read more
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This week, skills start picking up speed, and building blocks of future tasks start being introduced: ACTIVE CUES Get Busy Settle Sit Waffles! (name recognition and recall) Yes! Uh-uh Trade You Touch Come Down Kennel up That’ll Do Get Dressed Leave it Watch Drop Get it! Wait PASSIVE CUES Push Pull Step up Step down… Read more
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It was a busy week for Mr. Waffles, with a lot of daily training, meeting new people, and working on some basic skills. He had house guests for the first time, which was an absolute joy! He’s learning to sleep through the night, loves his crate, naps like a champ, and is full of chaos… Read more
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This week, Basics continue and new skills are added: ACTIVE CUES Get Busy Settle Sit Waffles! (name recognition and recall) Yes! (marker word) Uh-uh Trade You Touch Come Down Kennel up That’ll Do PASSIVE CUES Get Dressed Wait Focus / Look At Me / Check In Fetch / “Get it!” Drop Leave it BUTTON CUES… Read more
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Waffles has had a busy week! He has met over 50 new people, visited his vet Dr. Jeff Krull and all the staff at Flying Cloud Animal Hospital, visited a local seniors apartment complex, the grocery store, and our city’s main firehouse. Thanks to Assistant Fire Chief Dom Guzman and his crew for welcoming the… Read more
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This week’s Basics continue: ACTIVE CUES Get Busy Settle Sit Waffles! (name recognition and recall) Yes! (marker word) Uh-uh Trade You Touch PASSIVE CUES Kennel up Get Dressed Come Wait Down BUTTON CUES (PASSIVE) Outside OTHER BITS AND BOBS Leash 101 Tether training Crate training Housebreaking People-neutral behavior in public Self-soothing and self-entertainment in a… Read more
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Waffles has had a stellar first week at home. Here are the notes from my logbook! New people met: 23 active encounters (including house visitors, neighbors, and “training assistant strangers” at the grocery store), plus 34 more as passive interactions outdoors. Building people-neutral skills, where strangers invited to pet him are ignored while he focusses… Read more
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Service Dog training starts where all dog training starts — The Basics. Here is the list of cues I start teaching on Week 1: ACTIVE CUES Get Busy Settle Sit Waffles! (name recognition and recall) Marker Word loading (“Yes!” or “Nice!”) Uh-uh PASSIVE CUES Kennel up Get Dressed Trade You Come Touch BUTTON CUES (PASSIVE)… Read more
The Training Log of a Breakfast Menu Item
