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Service Dog Training

My New Red Tag and a Bath

Today, I got my license. Yep, here in CA, they say service dogs like me have to wear a tag saying so. Sheesh. People can be so stupid. I don't need a tag to know who I am. But, since they do and our county didn't have them, Mom took on "city hall" so-to-speak. It was actually the county she took on. They didn't want to issue the tags--too much work, too expensive, blah, blah, blah... WELL, they have them now. And I got the very first one. It's red and tells everybody I'm a working girl. I think it's way cool.

When we got home today, Mom took my collar off, I thought to put the tag on, but NO, she said I needed a bath. She says we're going to the dentist tomorrow. She wants me to smell sweet. You should see me. After I wash my hair, I can't do a thing with it. Mom says I'm "poofy" and laughs at me. It feels weird and makes me goofy. Poofy and goofy with a new red tag.

Tag

I've been tagged by my friend Jolanda and I guess what I do is say 14 things about me, then tag someone else. My mom doesn't usually do things like this, so she said we'll play along, but not put 14 things (she needs to get going today, has been putting off taking her shower).

1. I love to play agility. It's like the best thing ever.

2. Just to get her going, I push a toy into my sister Belle's face and if that doesn't do it, I start backing into her. Sometimes she isn't interested. She's old, so I let her lie down when she doesn't want to play.

3. I'm going lots of places--restaurants and coffee houses. I know I'm not supposed to sniff or lick the floor, but if Mom isn't paying attention, I try to stretch my nose out for just a little sniff. Mom usually catches me.

4. We go play ball every day. It's raining today and I don't want to go outside, so we'll see. When we play, I can't think of anything else, well, except to "focus" when Mom asks me to, but that's because I don't want to miss where she's throwing my ball.

5. I follow Mom around the house which is really small anyway. I go where ever she is. She seems to like that. When she comes out of the bathroom I'm lying in the doorway and she rubs my tummy.

6. I play catch with myself. Three of my toys work great. I rotate them so I don't get bored. Sometimes they go under things and I have to flatten myself out like a soldier and crawl in to get them. Even then I can't always reach them, so Mom gets them for me.

7. There's a bird in my house that talks just like my mom. Whew is that weird.

8. Sometimes I watch TV, especially if there are dogs on it. I can only watch a couple of minutes though, then it's boring.

9. Mom takes me to training classes all the time. I lie on my mat and watch while she takes pictures and video. Sometimes I get to demonstrate how to do things. The Boss (my trainer) always tells people I'm a service dog in training because she is proud of how well I'm doing.

10. Everybody says I'm "so smart" whatever that means. I love to play and to work so I do what Mom asks me to do...she loves that.

Mom says she has to get going. I'm going to tag someone...don't know who yet.

Another Job for Me

I like to work, it's in my nature, so why not take on another job? The Boss is so impressed with how I'm doing that she's asked Mom to assist with training. You know what THAT means! I get to be Demo Dog. I have to act like I'm doing this stuff at a more basic level even though Mom now uses mostly hand signals. After my Demo Dog act, I'll watch Mom help The Boss in getting the other people to do that with their dogs. I think being an example is pretty hot stuff. Mom is stoked about assisting The Boss with training other dogs. She says she's so proud of me. When I see her work with other dogs, I'm proud of her, too.

Today, I did the whole agility course several times off leash. The Boss told Mom that since I'm having so much fun with it and tend to grab at my leash, that Mom should use a "tug", take me off leash and have me grab the tug every once in awhile. I get excited and run and bark and grab because, well, it's just a blast. At first I got to grab the tug after only 2 or 3 pieces of equipment. After the second time through, though, I only got to grab it after the "table" countdown. It's much more fun without a leash and with something to growl at and shake when I'm done.