Sagan was 6 months old on September 2nd. The week started out with a pretty dramatic case of diarrhea. I can’t be sure what triggered it because there were quite a few variables, one being I gave him commercial food instead of his usual raw, and the other being that there just happened to be a pint of cherry tomatoes just in reach of his curiosity. I was up all night with him. Fortunately, with a bland diet, it passed the next day. He did seem to enjoy the tomatoes. I was not worried because he only ate a few and they are not toxic for dogs. They are actually good for dogs but I suspect he ate one too many.
The Picture above shows Sagan sitting at Mel's side near a park bench. He is looking at something off in the distance.
I had a Lime vaccine scheduled for him on Wednesday but I canceled it partly because he had been sick and mostly because my gut said, “No.” I do not take vaccines lightly and since Lime is not a core vaccine, I just need to do some more research and sit with the decision. We do live in an area where Lime is prevalent but lifestyle is also a consideration. I may rethink when we move to the Rachel Carson EcoVillage next summer.
The highlight of the week was when Susie, the trainer came. She took him on a long training walk into town where they worked stairs and whatever else presented itself. My husband went along so he can learn the methods. This way he can increase Sagan’s walks per week. We are still refining our command list and getting everything defined so we are all on the same page. I am putting the current list below in case you are interested. It is an evolving list. If you have any ideas or comments on this list, I am open to suggestions.
Here is an updated list of Sagan’s commands -
Sagan’s Commands with Explanations, IN & OUT OF HARNESS
- Sit dog’s bum to the floor/ground in heel position or any location
- Down dog’s body to the floor/ground at any location, legs in any position, head up or down
- Up Sit dog’s body moves from down position to sit position, this is mainly an obedience exercise for “puppy push-ups”
- Stay dog does not move from last command given until release word or another command given, in Sit, Down or Stand position
- Come dog recalls from any location directly to handler and remains close enough that handler is able to touch dog
- Let’s Go to move forward motion with handler, more casual walking with loose leash
- Heel dog moves to left side of handler, head in line with handler’s left leg, forward motion with a loose lea
- Stand dog stands securely on all four legs
- Back dog backs up a few inches to a few feet, dog can back up and stand, sit or lay
- Wait to stop forward motion, pause, dog can stand, sit or lay, dog should hold position until release word or another command is given
- Free dog’s release word to break out of command
- Get It to move after and pick up a toy during play
- Bring It to bring toy or object back to handler
- Leave It to leave food item or object on floor or ground, no attempt to sniff, explore or pick up
- Drop It to drop food item or object directly to floor or ground
- Thank you to release object into hand
- Ready? indication that handler and dog are ready to begin activity together
- Touch to touch hand or indicated object with nose
- Get Busy to go potty - release bladder and/or bowels
- Go to Bed/Place send to designated bed or any “place” indicated
- Down & Under dog lays and tucks body behind or next to handler
- Off to remove paws off of someone or something
- Yes indication of correct behavior or response, dog will be reward
- Head In to move head into harness
- Forward to move forward with handler
- Halt to stop forward motion, pause, dog can stand, sit or lay, dog should hold position until release word or another command is given
- About to make a 180 degree right turn, turn away from dog, turn opposite direction
- Hup Up to increase speed, speed up
- Steady to decrease speed, slow down
- Left turn left, quarter turn to left
- Right turn right, quarter turn to right
- Over Left to move further left on straight path
- Over Right to mover further right on straight path
- Find the Curb locate and move handler to closest curb
- Find a Seat locate and move handler to closest seat
- Find a Trash Can locate and move handler to closest trash can
- Find the Button locate and move handler to closest button
- Watch be alert and move handler straight avoiding obstacles
- Follow follow trusted companion following all normal training rules
- Find the Way find the most logical path to move handler in straight line
- Straight move handler in straight line
- Straight to the Curb move handler in straight line directly to closest curb
- Find downstairs
- Find upstairs
- Find the elevator
- Find the counter
- Find the door outside
- Find the door inside
Some of these will get phased out as we become more habituated to each other as a working team. It sounds like a lot but dogs like Sagan are super smart. He won’t go into a real working harness for several months yet and several of these commands will wait until we get there. So far, he is doing great. My husband and I are a little more conscious of how far those curious paws can reach. My counters are getting cleaner and cleaner.
The Picture above shows Sagan outside on a walk. He is standing on all fours and looking up at the camera. He looks like he is laughing.
The below link is the eco-village that we are moving to next year. It is in development. There are a few more units available. I invite you to check it out.