It's the little things -

[bendog]

Charlie has been with us for nearly 4 months now and actually we have done very little with him training wise beyond just silly tricks like high 5 and clicker 101 things game.

But it occurred to me lately that even if I haven't consciously taught him much, he has learnt a lot anyway.

Getting his lead on for example used to involve a lot of bouncing around, but now he will stand calmly and wait nicely.
I can get out of the car to nip into the post office or the petrol station without him diving for the door.
He parks his bum in record time if I, or anyone else, asks him to sit, and he has figured out that sitting will get him what he wants so often I don't even need to ask him to sit, he just does it.
He can still pull on lead but nowhere close to what he used to, and most of the time he will choose to walk nicely with you, especially if I work at keeping his focus on me.


Recall is good. He still jumps up if people encourage him but doesn't jump on random strangers so much

And most of all he has found his place and fitted in really nicely with the others, considering his exuberance for life and everything (I swear he is part Lab!) he can be polite to Sasha and shares toys with Bendog.

[ClareMarsh]

I think you underestimate your dog skills Some of it will have lain dormant and have been bought out by being with you but a lot you will have sub consciously trained or he will have learned from your other well behaved (mostly, no one wants a perfect dog) doggies

[JudyN]

What Clare said You probably do a whole lot of training without realising it, just by having certain expectations and being able to convey them to him. And, of course, he has three well-trained role models!

(You can't take all the credit though - he clearly is a very smart lad )

[bendog]

Haha, when a dog behaves well its down to good training, when they are bad it's just because they are being dogs!

He still has plenty to learn! Particularly annoying (but sweet in a weird way) is the fact that when you get out of the car for a walk, he gets over excited and barks. Plus he gets over excited and barky with other dogs too.

Here you go, video evidence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqysSWUeMk
Obviously it's slightly more manic when they are all milling about, but how chilled out!

[Ari_RR]

This is all brilliant.
It's the little things indeed!
Lucky are those who can see and enjoy the little things!
Good stuff, Bendog and Charlie and the entire crew!