Stair Master!

Every weekend the trainers introduce all the dogs to stairs and try to get them used to going up and down them. Phoebe goes up and down them like she has been doing it every day for her whole life and she shows no problems performing the stair climb. It is not a lot of steps, but it helps when she gets to the top to give her something tasty. It also helps when she comes back down!  Maybe even before she goes up or down. This way, she has food and not steps on her mind. She does love her treats and she is not picky at all about them. She's been working on her stay from a standing position - she does great with down and stay, but needs to learn a standing stay, since all kinds of stays are useful. Plus, it teaches her patience.

She is doing great on her commands and not just for her trainer. She's doing great with other trainers as well! This week, her trainer is going to let her secondary trainer do testing with her and see how she does with him in front of a crowd. She still loves to play. After commands, he lets her play and brings out a toy so that she will sit, down, or bed, trying to do something to get the toy. She is so smart! She will play with the toys for a little while on her own, but she loves for you to get the toy, tease her with it, and toss it for her to run after and get. Then she's going to go for her bed to chew on it until you get it again and toss it for her. Anything with a bushy tail and anything that squeaks, she really likes! Not pig toys though. She doesn't really care for them. Well, this is all for this week. Stay tuned next week to see what shenanigans she gets into!