Mannerly Puppy Training for Nellie: Comments on attending group training sessions:a

Nellie and I have been involved in 1 on 1 Mannerly Puppy training with Roxanne Lee since Nellie was 14 weeks old. During this time, we have attended a few Sunday group dog training sessions where we sat in quiet time and observed. This has helped me get an idea of what to expect when Nellie and I start our group sessions training and the importance of consistency in training. 

I noticed that any dog handler can handle anyone's dog the same way and the dog will respond the same every time, with confidence, and expect the handler to respond the same way with the dog. I also learned that eventually, the dog won't need any verbal commands at all, and will develop all its cues from observing the situation and body language and footage of the handler, especially when off-leash. I was very impressed when handlers were using buildings and walls as tools to communicate to the dog as to what direction they wanted to turn and to go. I also learned that different dogs require different strides based on the size of the dogs as well as the dog will respond differently and more directly and more confidently depending upon if the handler is hunched looking down or walking erect and tall looking straight ahead in a natural fashion. The dog will pick up upon the clues of the feet and what direction the feet are going better and will keep the same pace, eventually learning the same off-leash as well. I was especially impressed when the dogs were facing each other and distractions were placed in front of them and they did not move, even when the leash was dropped. 

Another thing I noticed is that dogs that were worked with during the week were noticeably more obedient than the dogs who missed their times with their handlers or owners who didn't have the time that week to get their full training practices in before the next class. So, the more time spent with the dog doing the lessons learned each week the better the dog will build upon the new lessons and become more obedient and prepared for the following week. 

Just a cute pic of her in my chair with my son

Her first experience with a professional groomer

Just Nellie being cute in her little bed after gathering all her toys in it. 

First time learning quiet time, getting tangled up under the chair.

Going potty outside even in the snow, on her first experience with snow. 

This is Nellie's place in the Kitchen, she is not allowed

anywhere else in the kitchen so she won't get stepped on or get in the way. 

She is really good 

at joining us in the kitchen and staying on her place here. 

 

Daddy's doodle girls napping

Nellie's Mannerly Puppy Test

This is getting Nellie into a position of "stand". We practiced this during traveling to work on her strength and balance while in the car traveling using the center armrest between the seats for practice or a lap desk pad that one would use while sitting in a recliner for a laptop or in a car for a laptop or notebook computer, but I just would have Nellie sit on it on my lap or practice "Stand" exercises" while traveling.  

 I am the passenger of course.   

I Thad my son video on my new phone Nellie's testing, he didn't really take it seriously and was sort of goofing off with the camera making editing difficult. Also, I wasn't aware there was a limit to the video size of only a few seconds of video for downloading Google set for minimum time in seconds in video size, so I had to try to figure out how to cut up my videos without losing the content, then try to drag them over, so some words and such may be cut off.

 

Then I tried to go from a stand into a Sit position then into a Down position. I didn't notice until the video was shot that I probably had my hand on the lease too high and could have let go of the leash and the tail altogether, and probably should not have talked to Nellie so much it probably confused her what I was trying to do. When I said "Down" and placed her. She got the idea but she would have got the idea better If I would have just used one word and stayed quiet. 

Nellie and Big Sister Sophie They know when Mom isn't Feeling Well,

We got Nellie because Sophie, the 46pound sheepadoodle refused to bond with me and preferred to bond with my husband instead, despite all the affection, training, feeding, grooming, and attention I would pour into her the last 3 years we have had her, all my husband does is sit in his recliner or chair or get her a cookie and she is all about being "his lapdog" she won't sit on my lap, or sit or lay with me on her own without being forced or coerced or bribed unless it's time for dinner or she wants outside. Feeling unbonded to a dog and having lost my last therapy dog to a coyote and desiring and longing for a bonded therapy dog after 4 long years, my husband finally allowed me to get Nellie, of course, he had to select the breed and sex and all the particulars. So I searched the internet and all the markets looking for mixed hypoallergenic female dogs for the last 3 years, nearly obsessed in my searches, always being rejected when showing my husband all the puppies and texts messages of breeders, and how high the prices were going up up up over the COVID seasons, months and years. My longing and grieving over the loss of my "Ativan" a 12-pound cocker-yorkie mix which I called my alien dog with a crazy personality and invisible opposable thumbs, as she could do things like a monkey or human that required thumbs, so I called her my alien dog. I loved her so much and really grieved her, still do in fact that was a few years before COVID was even a thing. Finally, 3 months ago, my husband picks out this female cavapoo for me. She is an Fb2, in other words, 3/4 miniature poodle and 1/4 King Charles Cavelier. 

So, a week ago I have a procedure done at the hospital, I come home, plop my tired, post-anesthesia but in my recliner, and our sheepadoodle who almost never shows any interest in me, suddenly decided she wants to be my lap dog, without any coaxing, jumps in my lap, followed by my little Nellie, the Cavapoo puppy is not going to be outdone and now I have both my lapdogs on my lap, I suppose they sensed, I was not feeling well and were concerned for me. 

I will admit, it was really nice for a change to have my doodle dogs actually show interest in me instead of my husband for a change without coaxing them to come to me. and having them fall asleep in my lap at the same time and even give eachother kisses. I think they both know when something is just not right when their masters are not feeling good. They sense these things and know when we neede them

 

Nellie At the Frontier Restaurant being Mannerly "quiet time" No One even Noticed her, what a nice Birthday I had

Nov. 2 was my birthday so we celebrated with the family and brought Nellie with us for my birthday breakfast bash at the Frontier Restaurant. We have brought Nellie there every time since we have had her and they never really seem to mind since she is so small and she seems to go relatively unnoticed. As you may notice, her leash is under my thigh, tight with just enough to give her lax to lay down under the chair at my left side. That white shoe is my husband's sitting next to me. She is very relaxed and cozy. We were there for over an hour, enjoying our big breakfast and Nellie did not make a sound nor did she wiggle around or move, she eventually fell asleep. We did carry her in and out of the restaurant out of consideration for other patrons. She wasn't even noticed by the patrons. 

 

Nellie Mannerly Puppy Test post 2 "Nellie Place, Wait, and Come"

This is just a simple and easy place board for a small dog I made from two woodcraft boards from Walmart that were about $3 each, probably more now from inflation. But I glued scrap material over both of them, making a double layer for extra padding and forming a jointed material hinge, they fold in half, are lightweight easy to carry and store. I think I need two-place boards for the obedience training class. But Nellie seems to really like them. 

 

The first video posted is a cut from a long video that I could not get to post because it was too big and would not download of  Nellie and her "Place Board" where she approaches her place board from all 4 sides and stays on her place board until I command her to come to me. She can sit, lay down relax, chew toys, lick her paws or do whatever she wants as long as she stays on her place board, which is elevated, is a different texture and feel than the rest of the environment surrounding her, so she knows that is the only place that is hers and is for her alone. I made this board out of craft wall hanging wood boards I got at Walmart for about $3 each and glued a soft fabric over them. They came with the string attached and already painted white, they are 12x12, and together are 12x24x1" perfect size for Nellie who is about 

12 pounds now and 19 weeks old. She learned fast to "place" on her "place board" which will come in handy during obedience training, especially around other dogs. I tried to show how well Nellie was doing with other distractions while she was on her place board, and how she was showing off, laying down and rolling on her back while I walked around her, but she never got off the place board until I said "Nellie Come" and we then walked around again to make another approach from another angle. When she did get off her place board, which she snuck off one front leg to see if she could get away with it. I had to go back and pick her up and reposition her back on the place board without saying anything.  She didn't move after that. 

 

Like I said My goofy son was having fun messing with me so I didn't get a very good video of Nellie and me

She has been doing really well learning to "Wait" Which is not "Stay" it is to keep her from darting out the door when someone opens the door or the gate and keep her from running down the street or jumping in the car or out of the car or charging into the street. "Stay" is a command that means you don't want her to change her position no matter what. She will learn that command in Obedience training when she is older. 

So far she is getting the hang of this "Wait" command. Once in a while she still will escape and charge out the door to greet a guest or Dad at the gate. But Nellie is doing better every day, especially when on a lead

on the lounge line running around trying to get her to go out on her own then I step on her line and say "Nellie come" and she comes to me. She has gotten so used to coming to me when going out without a leash or line on our half-acre lot playing with our other two big dogs that she comes running the majority of the time. She does have her stubborn streaks though and will not come the first time called and that longe line will come in handy to pull on for those kinds of moments. 

Whimsy's Mannerly Puppy Test

 https://youtu.be/guhpUS-RLNo

Whimzy's Mannerly Puppy Test

 

Wishing you all...

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HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

 

Daphne & Whimsy

 Just a pup date on our training today, we went for a walk and worked on our stop and sit. She's getting it ... kinda. she sat by herself once and there were several distractions. I have found that learning the slide replace and repeat make me very fast at efficient when moving her into position. my husband followed with Kalena and tried to follow the instructions that I, as a novice, gave him. he was very impressed with Whimsy, how she watched me and kept checking in to be sure she was in the right place. the difference in her compared to our other heathens is profound. Thanks so much, Roxanne.

Yesterday i managed to get in some training with Whimsy

 

Welcome Kim and Richard!

Almost time to fly to Ohio and get your new puppy!

More about Nellie Bell the Cavapoo

Roxanne Lee suggested we had safe places for Nellie to go where ever I go. She knows almost by instinct that when I'm in the kitchen she lays down and occupies herself on this blanket so she is not underfoot. She is not allowed on the black antifatigue mats around the sink and stove where we are working, we are afraid she will get stepped on and injured. She learned the first week not to go on those mats and always lay on her blanket. Just by us constantly picking her up and putting her on her blanket every time she would try to step across that black mat. No treats, we just encouraged her with touches and good girl sweet talk. 

This is the living room. When we have guests, this is where she goes, right now my father is visiting, and she is out like a light. The sofa my father is on is just at the top and to the right of the screen. all that stuff to the left is part of my art studio setup. 

Lapdogs are important part of the family and our Sophie was not going to allow Nellie to hog Dad up to herself. As far as Sophie is concerned Nellie has to share Daddy's lap. Luckily there is plenty of room on his chest.

Here, Nellie is sporting a pink sweater with faux pearl trim she pulled out of her drawer her self. She is becoming quite fond of wardrobe of sweaters in this cold weather, underneith is cotton/poly harness with metal brass plated hardware, absolutely no plastic hardware or velcro anywhere on this harness that buckles and adjusts, it comes together between the shoulder blades. I have a DOT  tested restraint that hooks into a child restraint system latch or car seat buckle and then bolt latches to Nellie's harness under her sweater. She is safely restrained for travel before we. start the car and she likes to sit on the center console for our trips or my lap. 

She has traveled to California and Tucson AZ, and several trips up to SLC so far. Now she thinks every time we leave she needs to go with us

Sitting in the back seat with my son and daughter-in-law in Tucson. 

Going through a drive-through in California

She is sound asleep in my lap on the ride, a screen shot from a video cam

So yesterday was my birthday and Nellie again at the Frontier restaurant for breakfast,  sound asleep the servers didn't even notice her.

last night we had people over for dinner for my birthday, and Nellie wasn't even restrained on a leash and she took a quiet time position at my feet next to my chair while everyone ate and had a good time enjoying my birthday dinner. 

 

Catching up Blogging about Nellie

Nellie is an F1b Cavapoo: 3/4 miniature poodle and 1/4 King Charles Cavalier. Her mother was an F1 50/50 Cavapoo who was bred to an AKC miniature poodle. This designer mix can run between $1200 and $4000.  Typical breeders will release their pups at 8 weeks to get their money as quick as possible. I believe from previous dog experience and research that it is best for the neuro and social development of the dog that they stay with their littermates until 10-12 weeks, so they learn social skills and their place with their pack and how to socialize better, they are more secure with their environment and adjust to new environments and new people transitions better, are more developed and not as anxious or timid and more eager to learn and interact with new things.  So we brought Nellie home right at 12 weeks old, and we were pleased that the breeder held on to all the littermates until the 12th week. 

Cavapoos like Nellie, are known to be hypoallergenic and grow fluffy soft hair that needs daily brushing, and occasional grooming or she will develop mats and are like velcro dogs, they attract all the loose grass and broken leaves and weeds they roll around in outside. So I purchased a soft leather rounded collar and matching 6'leash and 8'training lead. It was pricey but will last her whole life and is not listed as a requirement for any of the training for Mannerly Puppy training, but I use it often when we go out to eat in restaurants or on long trips. 

Nellie was named after Nellie Zebell Whithite, the first female pilot in S Dakota, she was totally deaf from age 2, flew US AIRMAIL, became a commercial pilot, was a barnstormer, and founded the Ninety-Nines an organization for female pilots. I have a soft spot for pilots as my dad is a pilot and I recently became partially deaf from a stroke and hope to train Nellie to be my little helper as I have chronic vertigo and other issues as well as bond with me as an emotional support companion. 

Little baby doggies need their sleep time too. I am so glad that she was so relaxed she just fell fast asleep in my arms. 

Nellie is getting acquainted with my son

 

So within a few 

 days, she decides she loves her new home and is getting very playful with the big dogs, Sophie a sheepadoodle 3years old, and Nala a very fat boader collie, on the very day their mobile groomer is in our driveway. Nellie is running so fast she underestimates her speed doesn't stop in time and slides her furry body about 3 feet into and through a small table knocking over hot chocolate with melted marshmallows all over her and the cat and the other dog.... Well, she got her first professional grooming. 

Time for Puppy School

Learning Quite time

figuring out how to get of a tight rope during quiet time, momma ain't budging

We took a friend to an appointment and practiced

quiet time in the parking lot. I have a fishing stool in my car with my fishing pole of course, which does a great job as a stand-in for impromptu Nellie training.  

Quiet time reinforced for manners in patio restaurants, like this one in SLC

Nellie did great here, was very relaxed, complimented and even offered her own water dish by her server. 

After lunch, we went to the park while we waited for daddy to finish his meeting and we did some loose leash using a long 12' lead dragging for come-touch lets go exercises and more quiet time on the concrete benches not allowing anyone to come and pet her. It was really fun with the long lead on her as she was chasing the ducks and the blowing falling leaves and butterflies in the fall weather. 

                                    Nellie's First Snow Experience Always so Cute