I am starting to relax. Everyone has been saying it but it just didn’t make any sense to me. Probably the best way to sum it up is remembering you have to have failure to learn. I am starting to give Iggy a little more freedom that is very scary for me but then we go back to you have to have failure so we can learn, freedom opens up the potential for failure. Minor freedoms I have managed are today he was loose in the kitchen with Logan in the high chair and the other dogs outside, keep in mind the last time I tried this he fell through the railing when I had had him 3 days so I understand why I hadn’t tried it again. Iggy did great we worked on our drop it’s and responding to his name.

I worked very hard at staying relaxed and not pulling back on the leash as he approached Logan on our walk today and again Iggy did well. Okay maybe there was one take down but we did have a few seconds of being near the boy and not nipping or jumping. Keep saying little steps, little steps.

One problem area that we were having is coming into the garage from outside. The area is covered in wood chips so he is always picking something up. Today I walked in the garage he choose to play with the wood chips so I left and closed the door, waited about a minute opened the door and there he was, yippee it worked.

We did 1-2-3 Game outside today. It didn’t go as planned but that is OK. I think my requirements for the sit were too much and he started standing when I waited he just walked away and here was the hard part, I let him and then partied with the toy and he came back and we played. Of course I to realize if leaving me makes me play that is no good either but what if I lowered my criteria to just eye contact? We did have success a few times. We worked for about 5 minutes and he is back away in the crate. I realized when he didn’t get it how I started to put pressure on him.

Today I am grateful for such a lovely boy that has stuck with me through this.

Iggy is doing well there is a lot of skills he has learned and a lot I have learned. Frustration and my part and I am sure on his has been a huge issue and probably our biggest obstacle to overcome looking forward.

The walking is improving by leaps and bounds, we do still have moments where he pulls like a truck but on a whole those are becoming less and less. He can now walk through the kitchen with toys on the floor and ignore them. Of course being a puppy the more tired he gets the more he forgets and the more tired I get the more I forget .

Yes the odd time I have wanted to beat him but most of the frustration has been directed at myself, constantly putting both of us in situations where failure is so possible. I was thinking today that I have used the management tools but I think have been way too quick to dispense with them. Recall has definitely been our number one concern but when it comes to management I so want him to be off leash that I haven’t kept that leash on as much as I should have and that needs to change. My pledge to myself and Iggy is that he will always have a line on and it will be of such a length that I can always stop him for at least two weeks which will be Mar 10. Since I am a person that likes to fight at the inevitable before I give in my brain is saying but…. but I will overcome this and stick to my pledge.

I did walk away to a toy last night which I haven’t practiced in a couple of weeks and he pulled not a lot but he did so that is one of our skills to practice today and eye contact. It’s been so long since I have had a puppy that I don’t remember how quickly they start to default with Iggy it seems slow but I could be wrong. The environment is still a huge obstacle and will be for probably at least a year but if I don’t keep working it will be for his whole life.

Grooming is another area that I have been lax, he needs a bath and I want to get him used to it slowly. So far we are standing in the tub, today we will try running the water, I am tempted to put him in the laundry tub and give him a bath, that way there is no association with the tub and I end up with a clean puppy.

I have not added to my list of skills in at least two weeks because I want some of these skills a little further ahead before we add skills. I am constantly amazed at the number of things I am expecting to teach this puppy in the first year of life and that’s not even adding any real agility skills, ahhh for the days of Yukon where if he sat and walked on leash my life was perfect.

I can start jump training and strength training at 4 months so I am hoping to have the grooming and name game better under control so we can start jump grids which I am totally looking forward too. The sit is coming along, to do the jump grids I need a sit at about 30ft with a toy in front so we still have a way to go, so far I have done a lot of environment distractions but have not really worked on any distance from me since I am watching those feet for movement I don’t want to move away yet.

I kinda suck at shaping but I play with it almost every day, it really doesn’t require as much thought as other stuff so that is our easy work. I am hoping to do a private with Tiffany and that is definitely one of the things I want to work on.

Today I am grateful for the kisses Iggy gives me that seem to be as rewarding for him as for me.

Iggy is really starting to respond to me and we are having fun. Even when things go wrong I am having an easy time laughing, of course I think he has figured out when he doesn’t get it lie upside down and look and me and I will cuddle you because you are just so darn cute.

I re-read Ruff Love yesterday and damn I am just not doing enough control. The biggest thing is I am giving him off leash freedom and he is constantly telling me he is not ready but since he doesn’t leave I am still doing it. Going to have to get a longer line because I don’t want to totally eliminate the off leash but at the same time I can’t have him practicing not coming or what’s happening now I just don’t call him because that’s not getting us anywhere.

Everything else is going well, a couple of burps but moving along.

Today I am grateful for the awesome winter weather we have had that has let me take the puppy out 8 times a day and really not freeze that often.

Another thought that is constantly being brought home is planning. Don’t put myself and/or Iggy in situations that are not going to turn out how I would like them too and even more important if you do get yourself out of there and re-think and replan and retry. Don’t keep trying, don’t panic and don’t beat yourself up about it. Set up the situation again under more controlled circumstances and work it until the result is what you want.

Iggy is starting to get the “break” command out of his crate. The crate games is going well. I can throw a toy, wiggle a toy, drop food and walk about 10ft away and Iggy can hold his stay in the crate.

Sitting needs some rethinking. We tried some sitting yesterday, I was sitting on the couch. So got Iggy into a sit, and he is staying so I put my hand of food out and Iggy scooches back and sits. Hmmm very cute but not a sit/stay. It comes from the two repetitions (wow these BC’s learn fast) of it’s your choice game, I would guess. If Tiffany hadn’t pointed out that I rewarded move back and sit 3 times I wouldn’t have figured that out. Regardless why is not the issue how to explain to Iggy what I want is the issue. I have let my brain percolate and these are the options; don’t worry about it he is getting the not moving towards the food which is the most important concept and you can work on the scooching later or every time he scooches say “break” back up and re cue the sit. Still haven’t decided which way I will go but will try again standing up and see what I get.

Walk away game is going well and I am working stage 2 walking towards the distraction and it is also going well. I am concerned about all the times he ends up pulling in real life. I am working very hard on not letting it happen but it does. Solutions more practice without such a level of distraction and be ready (this is where that planning takes effect). Walking was always something I wondered if I had fully understood. Max is very good but honestly I just don’t think he has it in him since he really doesn’t pull in harness either. Splash I did OK but I had to go back and use the gentle leader to explain it better to her that pressure on the leash meant turn away from the distraction. I am definitely getting a better understanding with Iggy. I always taught eye contact and sit and got around to walk away later, this time Iggy was doing walk away right from the beginning. Thank god, since he loves people and other dogs so pulling could be a big deal.

Today I am grateful that we seem to be getting over that food refusal thing.

I just looked back and realized that I haven’t written since Tuesday. I think I was too depressed . Every day last week had good points and then some really frustrating point that made me question my ability to train this dog. I am proud of myself that I persevered and by today am feeling much better about my abilities.

We will start with Friday. By then I had severely started limited the Ig Man’s (yes the nicknames have begun) freedom. I say started because you have to screw up a few times before you really commit to it and stop screwing around, not saying there won’t be a relapse but this is the goal.

I went to help set up the the trial this weekend and took Iggy with me. He loved everyone he met and I didn’t exist. We even tested him refusing food from me and then someone else trying the same food and him taking it. By the time I left the building I was discouraged to say the least.

Saturday morning I seriously debated taking him to the trial but knew there were going to be people there who wanted to see him and I didn’t want to leave him with Bill, he has enough to do with Logan. So off we went, I took his dinner with me and didn’t feed him breakfast. I had 2 wonderful runs with Max so was in a very good mood so around 11am I took Iggy out of his X-pen where he had had a lot of people visit with him and 2 litter mates in and out all morning. We where in the middle of the room with people all around but no one withing about 10ft of us. I sat in a chair and fed him some meat. This went well so I called him name a few times and that went well so I put him away. Around 1pm out Iggy came again. We started the same and then some people came to say hello so they petted for a while and then I did name game away and collar pressure away. Both went very well then all of a sudden he stopped taking the food. I instantly stood on his leash and stopped all interaction with me and the environment. I waited (much easier to do when there is people around) and offered the food again, he took it we did one or two more reps and away he went. Very good day.

Sunday was much quieter day at the trial. I took about half Iggy’s breakfast (grains) and some dinner (meat). He only got about half his rations on Saturday. He worked for both his breakfast and his dinner he may have refused food once or twice but I waited and he reengaged . We also played some tug in the crating room and in the trial area with great success.

Iggy is now on leash always except on the way home from the off leash walks, since he likes to pull towards the house and we definitely need help on the leash work. If he pulls anything I will start putting him on a longer line.

Today I am grateful for all the great dog trainers who have taught me the dog is not being stubborn or spiteful and to persevere.

Morning was pretty good with a couple of pees in the hmmm maybe just one. Then we were playing in the kitchen with Logan doing Name Game and Iggy was doing wonderful getting wound up but still responding. Then he ran between the big crates that are in front of my railing and just kept going right through the railing. Couldn’t find him finally figured out he was in the basement. Luckily he was fine just a little shook up.

The weather was horrendous with a lot of rain so Tiffany suggested a puppy play at the barn. Iggy had a great time and we did some restrained recalls, he did OK. Would recall but only from pretty close. Tiffany showed me how to get him tugging and we did some of that and then I would run away with the toy. Still from close.

On the way home I thought about it and decided to start feeding him by hand. Took out his dinner and did that. Bill and I did restrained recalls in the hall he shied away from going into the laundry ????? and once we go outside I saw he has lost his ability to go down stairs, up still works fine and I am wondering if this is all due to the fall.

I have also started taking him into the back yard and not worrying about where he is going to the bathroom. We head for the back but we don’t usually make it anywhere close. The backyard is working great, he follows me and with the meat the Name Game started working really well. His food drive disappears if I do anything that makes him the least uncomfortable. That list last night seemed to include touching him so collar and picking him up which is a problem not doing stairs.

Today we have just gone into the backyard and walked around. He follows pretty good. I also just walk away when I am ready to go in and he comes well, I figured part of our problem is trying to make him do something not him wanting to. Usually he follows pretty quick. I left him alone at the top and he ended up at the bottom so stairs are improving.

We went to the basement and put him on the grooming table. The whole down the stairs caused him to stop taking treats but after a few minutes of petting him on the grooming table he started taking them again.

We played some tug and got him to chase me that went really well.

Cheese seems to be the treat that makes him happiest right now. I hadn’t really tried eye contact up to now because I new I didn’t have anything he wanted bad enough (we have been working it coming out of the crate and sit contextually) for the cheese he did and and figured it out right away. Yippee.

The best news is last night he got me up only once and was dry and clean. He has a number of times today made noise in his X-pen and I take him out right away and he pees so that is also going real well.

Tonight I am taking him to my obedience class I am putting a raw bone in his crate to keep him quiet during class. I have decided not to take him for a long walk today I think I was getting him too tired and that was part of our problem.

Today I am grateful that things are starting to work for Iggy and I.

In the ideal of finding something positive in every post, Iggy and I had a wonderful two hours watching a movie while he sat pretty quietly beside me. Most of that time was spent on his back with his parts all exposed which is just the cutest.

I woke up this morning and looked at the time and realized it was morning and Iggy had not woken me up all night. Yaaaaa, and then I took him out of his crate and realized that he had peed at least one huge one. We went outside he right away had a pee and a poo and inside we go for breakfast. I swear I turned around for 2 minutes and there was poop on the floor. I gave him breakfast and we went out for another pee and a walk around the back yard, came inside and another pee within a few minutes.

Solution (and this is the point of this of writing this stuff down) longer walks in the morning.

We then actually had a very nice day took Logan out skating and sledding and Iggy behaved wonderfully mostly sitting at my feet quietly. I let him drag his leash the whole time.

After Iggy’s lunch we went for a walk we were at leash 2/3 down the driveway I had to come back to the house pick Iggy up and carry him to the end of the driveway. He then walked very nicely for the rest of the walk.

That is when the day started to go downhill. In hindsight I think Iggy was extremely tired and my expectations where unrealistic. On one outing all he did was pick up poop and run away if I even looked at him. I have now cleaned up all the poop. He eventually came over so I put him on leash, he bucked like a bronko. I wanted to do walk away from the poop he bucked and now refused food. I tried walking down the driveway and basically he bucked all the way so I picked him up and brough him in.

Solution – Iggy was overtired let him sleep. After meals he goes out on leash goes to the bathroom and back in the X-pen. All training to be done before meals, you know that sounds pretty obvious when I am writing it down.

So Iggy basically hung out in the X-pen for the rest of the day and was really good, one pee because the phone rang while he was finishing dinner and I answered it instead of paying attention to the dog.

After out lovely evening I took him out to pee. Which he did and then he was wandering around which I let him in case there was more to come. He pooped and then would not come near me, I went around behind him and herded him into the door. You know how that whole keep away thing makes my blood boil.

Solution – HE NEVER GOES OUT WITHOUT A LEASH. Duh, I did it some of the time but got lazy other times.

Today I am grateful that I have slowly (obviously very slowly) learnt not to get frustrated but figure problems out unemotionally and calmly .

We put on a leash for the first time today and he has some opposition reflex but after a few minutes was moving along nicely with me. We started our walk away game and he did well but definitely gave a good effort towards the distraction so will have to make walk away game a priority which in the past I have not.

Another discovery was he piddles when people say hello usually not a big deal but I was holding him at the time .

We did some restrained recalls to my sides and front and Iggy was a pro. Ran right to me even from 40ft away. I have to remember to be more animated and not let my obedience history kick in.

His name game is starting to kick in, we played it with Logan walking around. Iggy is very interested in Logan and wanted to jump at him but still responded well to his name, also responded well with Logan’s toys in his mouth.

I am grateful the day is over and it’s sleepy time, this puppy stuff is exhausting and can’t wait to get up tomorrow and start again.

The introductions went well. Splash initially lost her mind barking and very excited. I had to put her outside a couple of times and even after she settled herself down you could tell the puppy was really freaking her out. We did complete separation yesterday where she would be in a crate when I walking through with Iggy. During the night when Iggy got up I just left her loose on the bed and she watched but didn’t bother raising her head. This morning I got up with the puppy and she came to the kitchen and was lying on the couch pretty well ignoring even though Iggy was in my arms. So after Iggy ate I took him out to the backyard and brought both Max and Splash with me. Splash ignored him completely and just found a ball and Max tried to get him to play very nicely but Iggy was a little freaked out by his noises. It was -20 so we didn’t really stay outside really long.

Iggy doesn’t like walking away from home he keeps stopping and looking at me like why we leaving this is comfy but once we get out to the trails he did great. So far what I am doing is I call him and when he gets to me I give him a big cuddle put him down and keep going. I tried just to keep walking and he starting walking back to the house. I need to reassess and see if this is working, I know it’s a puppy thing and he will outgrow it.

Iggy was really good in his pen all day and ate like a little porker everything I put in front of him. Bill was thinking he would never eat it all and he did.

Now back to TB, we went to bed early and Iggy settled down quickly in his crate and then proceeded to wake me up every two hours to pee. I really can’t complain (but I will) you would take him out and he would pee in under 30 seconds and in we would go but it was -20 and I really like to sleep so I little complaining has to happen. Of course Max (Sibe) who is an insomniac and always has been was thrilled that someone else was getting up in the middle of the night and this morning at 6:20 which was pushing the 2 hour window went and stood in front of the puppy crate until Iggy woke up so Max could say good morning. I will get pictures out soon.

I decided our first outing should be somewhere I was familiar so we went to Ferguson Forest. It was a beautiful day about -5 and the sun even graced us. The temperature was cold enough for the snow to stay hard but neither of us got too cold.

We did some walking. He is so cute, he would watch me walk away in this very cute sit. When I was aways away I would say come on and he would run as fast as he could to my feet. Then we would hug and cuddle for a few minutes and we would do it all over again. We did some Name Game and he was starting to respond. I am very happy with the name Iggy it comes out of my mouth really comfortably. We played tug with my long fleece braid and he engaged well. I have asked Kandy for a smaller brain because it was a little big for him. I even did a little of tug, calm, tug. He was great and calmed down right away.

I put a collar on him, probably his first time and he didn’t really bother with it until we go to Paula’s so he isn’t too touch sensitive.

After our walk at Ferguson we went to Paula’s. We introduced him to BB. It didn’t go as well as hoped but I am sure they will grow to love each other. Right now I am looking for very positive encounters with other dogs and BB was a little too much for him. We will have to try again maybe on a walk. On a good note he was totally happy walking around the house and loved Dave who made a huge fuss over him.

Today I am grateful for this wonderful puppy who will soon be mine with all his potential.