We are working on fetch. Obviously. He went and got the squeaky duck but then he sat down and chewed on it. He is just starting to bring things back. 

Poor little Grizzley! Actually, he is getting his kennel training. He sleeps and naps in his kennel. I have not done kennel training prior to raising service dogs. I love it! When the dogs get a bone to chew on - they take it into their kennel. When they eat, they eat in their kennel. There are NEVER food issues between the dogs. They have their own space and they use it when they need it.

Kennel training is very easy. It should take about three days tops. If you start on a Friday night - by Sunday night it'll be just about over. The first night, Grizzley whined and would bark one bark every so often. This would last about 10 minutes. Then he'd start up again in the middle of the night for the same amount of time.

The second night - the time he whined was shorter and there was only one time he barked.
The third night - he started out whining for maybe 1 minute and then I never heard from him until 5:30am.

Most people don't like to kennel train. They hear the dog whining and crying and it upsets them. I know within three days it's over so I let the dog whine and bark. This is Grizzley's space. There isn't anywhere else in the house that is only his.

Our Training Director once told me that once a service dog is placed - they can easily be taught to sleep in the bed with the client if that's what the client wants. But to do it the other way around is not so fun for the client.

Plus, I already have a dog of my own and her place is on my bed. Two or three dogs sleeping with me is not going to happen.

Here is "down". We use the command "down" for laying down and the command "off" to get him off of things or people. The two commands have to be different but they can be any command you want. With enough practice, Grizzley will be able to go "down" on command. For now, he has to follow a treat in my hand.

Training First!

Here is Grizzley practicing sit. ALL FOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR will get you a treat! 

Peek-a-Boo

Here is Grizzley playing "Peek-a-Boo" with one of my kids. She hides in the sleeping bag and calls his name. Grizzley runs to her and digs on the sleeping bag until he gets a little corner of it up. He then dives inside to get her! It really cannot be stressed enough how important it is to treat the dogs as if they are your own. Raising a dog in a kennel setting is not going to create a well rounded and emotionally healthy dog. It does make it harder to give them up when they are done with their training but to see them with thier new owner makes it all worthwhile.

Playing?

Yes! Playing. Here is Grizzley playing with Bear. It looks fiercer than it really is. 

There is nothing better than a pile of leaves!

 

Love, Love, and More Love

My kids figured out that a bone filled with peanut butter makes a great "bottle" and they can hold him like a baby while he "drinks" it. 

Here is Grizzley with one of his toys wrapped around him. He's so much smaller than the other dogs in the house so he gets more of the goofy dress up stuff done to him. 

Grizzley, a bath, and cuddle time!

Here's Grizzley after his bath. The lens was steamed up too. The kids love him because he's only about 30 lbs. and they can cuddle him like a baby. 

Grizzley's trying! He is a bundle of energy and we tried to get him to sit for the picture. Good luck!