The Retrieve

It's been forever since I have written anything really of substance, don't get too excited - this post is about something, but I'm not sure how substance filled it will be :) I've been trying to teach Seppel to retrieve a dumbbell. We've been working on this for quite some time now. I had a very hard time wrapping my brain around how to teach it to him. The issue was not getting his interest in it, he will grab it no problem. The issue for me was how to teach him to carry it, hold it without dropping it, and eventually sit with it in his mouth. This is a proper retrieve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JFnMZFDvrk I started trying to just get Seppel to hold the dumbbell for longer than he normally would. Many, many times he would bring it back and drop it. I had to repeatedly ask him to pick it up. Eventually something clicked and he started to understand he needed to hold it until I grabbed it. We are still working on duration because he won't hold it forever, and he still can't sit with it in his mouth. I'm hoping he will catch on sooner or later, we'll just keep working on asking him to hold it. Here is a video from March: Here is a video of the jump: Trying it with the dumbbell: And finally, here we are today: This has been the primary focus at home, besides training regular OB. I am talking to the people I train with about joining their IPO club, if we can join we will be trying for the BH in october which is kind of exciting if it all works out. Next month will have been 1 year since Seppel's FHO surgery. I'm working on compiling a video but I feel like he's come a long, long way. His leg seems more stable than ever and I hardly even notice a difference these days. I'm excited to share the after sx to now photos and video :)

My Senior Dog

My dog LiLo will be 9 years old in July. Although she is an old lady with terrible hips - she doesn't let that slow her down. As of late I've been teaching her to target my hand with her nose and we have also been working on pivoting on a box. I use a clicker and in a few short sessions she has been learning to move her hind end while standing on the box.

Today I took Seppel and then Seth outside to play ball and play with the flirt pole. LiLo was going nuts in the house - super excited and jazzed up. When I brought her outside to throw the ball she was barking and running around and was super excited. She was even more thrilled when I brought out the flirt pole for her.

Somedays I worry about her slowing down, but then she acts like she did tonight and it just makes me really happy that she takes so much joy in these kinds of things. Age is only a number and I hope she keep her in good physical condition so she can continue to do the things she enjoys.