Tuesday

We took Toby for his freebie training class at Petsmart after lunch. There were only three dogs, including Toby. The other dogs struggled today, but Toby did really well. (We’re beginning to figure out why we were asked to join this class.) The trainer gave him an especially difficult task as a result. Toby had to be in a “sit/wait” while on the 15-foot leash out in the store. He had to wait for 30 seconds and then “come” and “sit.” She added a biscuit treat half way and I had to get him to “leave it” and come to me. He walked right by it only glancing at it.

The trainer also had me get Toby in a “sit/stay” on the long leash and wait 30 seconds and then walk back to him and assume the “heel” position before releasing him. We did it twice, not perfectly, but close. Once, I reached for my treat bag and he broke before the release word. That was my fault.

In advanced training next year, we have to wean him off of treats. John said that I’ll be an empty canon without my treats! The trainer laughed. Seriously though, I was using a few bits of the neighbor’s smoked chicken. Toby was crazy for that. We had it today for a sandwich.

John got him this weeble wobble toy that you put his dinner in. The hole in the side lets kibble out when he tilts it the right way.

He had to really think hard how to make it work.

He wanted to just rip it open like a cereal box, but this required more nuance and less brute force. His teeth were of no use.

John is working on a “down/wait” at the front on the store where there are lots of distractions.

Toby did great. He loves the beagle in the photo above. They exchange kisses every chance they get.

We enjoyed a beautiful day. The high was 72 degrees. It was 68 on our causeway walk this morning. The breeze was blowing about 7 mph.

Toby is very tired, as are we.

I forgot to mention yesterday how difficult the time change is for Toby. He doesn’t understand why he has to wait an extra hour for dinner. Today, the new toy John bought has helped because it takes him a long time to get his kibble out.

We have a new favorite dinner from our Chinese takeout restaurant: Thai Basil Chicken. We’ve had it twice now. We had some egg drop soup with it. It is so good—and healthy.

Miles walked: 12.7

Miles biked: 0