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Life of Levon

Blue Played!

The big yellow dog played with me the first day I came, but the big brown one Mom calls "Blue" barked at me whenever I came near. Today, she decided I was ok and we played and played and played. She was gentle... I think it just took time for her to know how to deal with me. I don't think she ever saw a dog smaller than her before that she got to interact with LOL.

Fireworks, though, are scary. I did ok with them last night... but tonight was too much for me... so I've been hiding in the crate. Hope I don't have to go potty in the middle of the night :P

And mom tells me I am going to get neutered this week... I don't know what it means, but it must be good because she sounds happy about it!

Sit and Down are "clicking"

So capturing and shaping was the game. This little man was too wired to try luring. I had to even start with sit using a baby gate between us. I can now be in the same room and we can get sit and down on verbal. I just started with targeting my hand. I also get a pretty good "look at me" but he gets excited and wants to woof at me. It's not obnoxious though :) He gets very excited when he realizes it is training time This is definitely a dog that wants to work rather than jump wildly... it was just all he know how to do because it was how he got the attention. But wow he catches on quick.

I try to keep most of his interactions and outings structured right now to try to help him catch up to where he should be for a pup his age, but he's good for a quick zoomie run around the yard here and there to help him keep focus.

Still mouthy when he gets excited, bt ignoring him works. As for leashing him, I have been working on dropping some treats on the floor for him to eat while I clip him. Working out well... when he isn't all excited because he has to go out, I don't have to use them all the time. When he is super charged from a long rest... it seems to settle him back down and get his mind back. He could definitely develop some leash issues if you don't respect this right now. I don't think he is used to being confined by people or handled... he was very mouthy and could have turned into a biter. I think he will be ok, though. He is pretty happy go lucky over all... it's just the handling issue. Kind of a small dog thing I think.

Settling in

So I've been in my new home just short of a week. It's been quite an experience. I spent the fist 6.5 months of my life living in crates. I never saw the outside world, so it's been a bit overwhelming, but over all, it's also the greatest thing ever, to actually experience life!

So far, the lady has introduced me to this noisy little plastic toy called a clicker. When ever it makes a noise I get food. So far I found out if I sit and look at her, she will make it make that noise and I get a yummy piece of meatball, or hot dog. I wonder what else I can do to make that thing make noise?

She's also taken me to a lot of cool new places. She puts this icky thing on called a leash, which means I can't run like a loon and jump all over everyone and everything and chew on them, but I am getting to like this thing, because it means I get to go new places and check things out. So far this week I experiences a walk around the block where I saw millions of plants and grass, and other (big) dogs in yards just like mine, bugs, OMG, just so many things. Those noisy things called cars game me a jump a few times, but as long as I stay on the "sidewalk" they can't get to me.

The other day I experienced rain... it was kind of neat, but it made me wet... I don't know if I like to be wet all that much.

I have two sisters, but they don't always want to play. Mom seems to be the fun one around here, but every once in a while, they will play chase with me. I like that.

I wonder what other wonderful things I can hope for now. I never knew there was so much to hope for before! So glad this strange lady found me and took me out of that place. I didn't realize how much I was missing!