Whew, I am definitely behind behind behind now. Time to play catch up, 🙂
Welcome to day 5 of the M&M team, May and Monte! This is the first full day of us working. Time to see what my boy is all about.
When I received Monte on Wednesday I was definitely thinking that for the first time I was going to have a puppy that was going to be a whiner, have serious separation anxeity at night due to the fact he is super attached to Stephanie. But after playing with him lots with his favorite thing, the kong and running with him around the room for a bit, Monte settled in just fine and we had a great night. No problems as far as keeping me awake goes.
However, my lovely guy here did managed to tie himself up in the tiedown. Like he was seriously twisted up. I decided right then that I was moving the crate up a few days. I was going to wait until at least Saturday before I brought the crate into the picture, you know, give him some time getting use to me and all, but oh no no no, that scared me so much on how tight it was wrapped around him that I wasn’t going to risk him getting hurt. So at morning parktime I told Stephanie that we needed the crate.
First walk with Monte off campus
For the morning session we all went downtown and worked the Walnut route which is one big rectangle. I’d tell you the street names, but I promptly forget them after we do them, lol. Actually, I forget the darn route even while doing it. I’m always forgetting when to cross and when we turn. I have a feeling I know what’s causing that, but won’t think about that now.
Anyways, on Wednesday that first walk on the practice route went great. He showed me how well he could do. Today, he decided, ok, today I’m going to let you see how attached I am to Stephanie. His work is still super, going where he needs to be and watching out for things in the way and being sneaky when he thinks he can get away with it, 🙂 however, this is if Stephanie is right there close to us.
The moment she steps back he is looking for her and this of course makes it a bit harder to tell if he’s taking me around something or checking in with her. Now sometimes I can tell that his focus is with Stephanie and not completely with me and can refocus him pretty quick. for example, can’t miss a 180 degree turn. Yeah, that’s definitely a Stephanie, where’s she go moment. So this will take a little bit of work getting through, but I know once we do I’ll have a super bonded pal.
With that being said, Monte has made some awesome progress in a short tjme on not always trying to kill me to get to Stephanie. I’m still on guard because when I think, whew, what an awesome boy, the very next time he may try and drag me down the hall to get to her.
The dining room is still the best showing of progress for him. Wednesday he nearly pulled my arm off trying to get to her whenever she entered the dining room. But by that night, I didn’t even realize she entered until I heard her talking to another client at their table. Still to this day, he does not move or jump or try to get to her in the building. This is super great due to the fact of how attached to her he is.
Now, if we can just figure out how to make this happen when we not on campus and out working!
Monte gets his revenge
For the afternoon route we went back to the downtown training center for another walk around Walnut, but this time with a little rain trhown into the mix.
Yay, I can see how this guy does with getting wet!
Erm, or maybe not. Ha, we didn’t end up going first, but my poor friend Virginia did and they got a nice shower.
Monte and I went second that round and even though it wasn’t raining any longer, short lived and all that, there was still lots of drips and fat cold drops to go down your shirt with some nice puddles to play in.
Monte, pauses before the curb
Stephanie, there’s a nice sized puddle right at the curb.
Me, bugger, do we have to step in that?
Stephanie, afraid so.
So I take a step forward and Monte takes a small step with me, yeah, not liking that bit at all, lol. We get to the nice wet curb and informed by Stephanie that we also have a great big puddle in the middle of the crossing. groans
Me, Monte forward and off we go
Monte does an awesome job of taking me completely around the huge puddle, yay Monte! No getting wet feet there. So he gets lots of praise for that after we cross the street.
A few moments later
Monte pulls a 180 to look for Stephanie.
Me, Oh no sir, this is not allowed. Straight, Stephanie does not exist!
Monte huffs at me and 2 steps later takes me straight through a huge and I do mean huge puddle of water!
Me, Monte! Now that was just mean!
monte proceeds along the route tale wagging and not a care in the world.
I have yet another dog that likes to take revenge!
cries
see you at the next entry!