I Ain’t no Heel

I sure had a busy day today. I had to visit my friend Jan at the vets today to get a couple of shots, I visited my favorite store (PetSmarts), and had another training session with my new friend Tony.

Dad and I went to the Vets and I got to weigh myself. I’m now 22.5 pounds! Jan took me in the back without my Dad, but I was a brave puppy and Jan said I was really good. I have my last puppy visit in a couple weeks, and I won’t have to go back for a year!

So after the visit to the vets, we stopped at PetSmart. I love seeing everyone there, some of the girls who work there even remember my name. I got to meet a couple new puppy friends and say hi to the birds.

Now let me tell you about my walks. Dad and I have been walking a lot! Every morning we just leave the house and walk somewhere new. It isn’t just wandering either, Dad makes me walk right beside him and I’m not allowed to chase leaves or squirrels or nothin’. Every once in a while he tells me I can go sniff, and that is fun too. Today I learned about heeling. It just seemed like walking to me, only I can’t stick my nose out front…

Well, it is bedtime…. Talk to you again soon!

Big Changes

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven’t been blogging, but I’ve been learning to walk, sit, and stay. Well, and growing… It is a lot harder than it seems, not the growing part. I hardly notice that at all, until I see myself in the mirror, dishwasher reflection, or try to fit in Dad’s lap to take a nap.

So much has happened I hardly know where to start. I have been to the Vet’s twice and I like them a lot. I think I heard Dad on the phone talking about us going there again this week for a booster shot.

I have really been enjoying the walks I take with Dad. I wasn’t a big fan when we started them, but I was just a pup then. Now we take 2 walks a day around 2 miles each. They make me tired both mentally and physically. Thinking is harder than it looks…

Mom and Dad introduced me to a man who is really working me hard. His name is Tony Filippone and he is a professional dog trainer. He is training all three of us, but Mom and Dad don’t have to wear a collar. I don’t see to be able to get him to do what I want like I can Mom and Dad… He says stuff, and MEANS it… 

Well, time for a nap so I can be ready for my afternoon walk! I think Dad wants to say something too.

Ben is right. I do want to say what a great decision it was to hire Tony. Both Janet and I have had dogs, and I have taken dogs through group obedience classes before. I watch Cesar. I knew the basics. I thought. I may have been able to take Ben to 50% of what he could be, but I doubt he would have been that responsive to everyone, even me all the time. Ben deserves better than 50%. Don’t all dogs? I mean we brought them into our homes out of their natural order, we should at least make their lives with their human pack as “natural” as possible. That means we need to be strong leaders and 50% isn’t good enough. Tony has been training dogs and their owners for over 30 years and knows how to train both. If you have a dog, no matter how young or old, that has “issues”, he can help.