Tip-Toeing to the Top

Happy New Year from Rascal! Halfway into Rascal's training already and he is moving right along. A lot of what are known to be the tougher commands (sit, down, etc.), he's already doing. This has made training him easy, and it doesn't hurt that he's a smart boy! He loves to learn new things, especially if it results in food. 

Rascal and his inmate trainer worked on "jump" this week, and he was pretty reluctant to do, but he is learning. As big as he is, you'd think he could step up on most things. But his trainer wants him to be able to jump in the back of a truck or SUV in case he is going somewhere, like to the vet (or your home for the first time!). The more Rascal works on it, the more comfortable he will be - and eventually it'll be second nature. 

He has also been practicing "stay." He's getting there and starting to grasp that staying put is what gets him a treat. As far as the rest of his commands, it is really a matter of fine tuning them, or getting him to perform them quicker or stay in the position longer. 

Rascal is such a charming dog and one his trainer is sure you will love having in your home. He is very laid back and relaxed. One cute thing about him is a goofy little walk he does on concrete floors off the leash. He watches his steps and looks like he is tip-toeing across the floor. If you have hardwood or shiny floors, you might notice this when he comes home! He's not scared of them, just cautious. It's a little like playing "the floor is lava" when you're a kid. 

Watch out for some major tail wagging when he comes out of his kennel at first or at feeding time, and we'll see you next week with another episode of Rascal's adventures!