2-28-2022 Mary and her puppy, Molly's, 3rd puppy lesson

Monday, February 28, 2022

2-28-2022 Mary and her puppy, Molly's, 3rd puppy lesson

Today, Molly got to run with my entire Lee Pack. In the snow! Quite the adventure indeed.

Then, it was time for more puppy training. Molly has learned to "Sit", "Wait", "Let's Go" and "Come-Here". Last puppy class I taught Mike and Mary how to teach Molly the Stack Stand (always a challenge with a wiggly puppy).

Today, Molly learned to "Place" on command today. My students two FAVORITE exercises are Quiet Time and Place as they are just so practical in everyday real life.

Of course, this LOOKS easy to teach, but as Mary discovered, teaching "Place" isn't easy at all-:) One has to remember you are ACTUALLY teaching a directional (used for field training for retriever breeds), but it works for all dogs. Critical that the handler's left hand be parallel and forward of the puppy's RIGHT eye so the puppy can 'see the invisible line' it is being trained to follow forward.

Dog CAN'T see this hand signal when it is ABOVE their head.

LOOK CLOSELY as my left hand is parallel and forward of the handler's right eye. THAT IS THE CORRECT PLACE POSITION to use when you send a dog to "Place"

Then we worked on the Stack Stand. Molly is a mixed breed, I did her PATT (Puppy Aptitude Temperament Testing), and most mixed breeds have marginal structure. Molly is no exception as her rear end conformation is not strong. So, I have Molly's owners working hard to build her muscles that support her rear structure. The proper Tuck Sit is one way to strengthen muscles and build muscle memory as is the Stack Stand. Consistently, Molly will always reposition her left rear leg forward, so she is compensating. So, by working the proper Tuck Sit and the Stack Stand consistently we at least strengthen her muscles. And Mary said when she runs, she runs crooked, another indicator she is compensating for weak or a poor rear conformation structure.

Leash on dog = working mode.

AND I was working a student's dog and another student/her dog joined us, so we had Molly 'work' alongside the dogs being trained in my FOUNDATION Course. These two young dogs are graduates of My Mannerly Puppy Course and now in Week 6 of my FOUNDATION Course.