Leaping Ahead

You know that road to hell?  Yup, I made great progress on paving it this past month.  My good intentions fell by the wayside as I got both discouraged and lazy in the latter half of the month. 

Wanna know exactly how many training sessions I did with Maggie & Sadie after the last post on training roll over?  Zero. Zip. Nada.  (hangs head)

I don't wanna say that I gave up but that's sorta what happened.  Maggie got as far as I expected, which was to willingly lay on her side and lift a foot in the air.  For her, this is great progress.  A rolling over dog, she is not.

And then there's Sadie.  I love her to bits & pieces but totally don't understand how she can get something one day and look at me like I've never ever worked on it with her the next day.   The good news is that once we moved on to roll over, she seemed to start to understand January's training challenge Back Up.  So maybe once we start March's challenge, she might magically start offering a roll over?  A girl can wish. 

At least there's Hurley.  The genius makes me feel like I'm the World's Best Trainer.  It's a great ego boost!  He's a roll over god. 

So on this leap day, we leap forward to March, leaving roll over in the dust.  Good riddance, roll over! Hello, twirl!  Why twirl?  Because I truly believe this one should be easy for Maggie and after the last 2 months, girl needs a break.

2012 Training Challenge Standings

January "Back Up"
Hurley: Stellar
Sadie: Getting There
Maggie:  Oh you want me to hop?  I can do that!

February "Roll Over"
Hurley: I roll like nobody's business.
Sadie:  If there's carpet, a lure and a tent, you got a 1 in 10 shot at me doing that crazy roll over thing.
Maggie:  Good girls don't roll over.  It's uncouth!
 

Sometimes It Just Takes a Mom's Touch

Last night, I turned in early.  As in, "I'm going to read a bit" turns into me sound asleep by the time the Hubster joins me at our normal bed time.

The Hubster followed Hurley's bed time routine - let dogs out for a potty break, inside for a sip of water then all 3 settle on their beds and the door to our spare bedroom the dog's room is shut. 

Hurley started whining.  And whining.  And whining.  When Hurley whines, it usually is that he is thirsty, hungry or needs to go out.  Or wants attention.  Or misses his mom.  Or Maggie & Sadie aren't sleeping in the same room with him.  

Last night the Hubster got up to settle him down.  A "go lay down and be quiet" later, we got a 5 second reprieve from the whining.  After another 5 minutes of constant whining, I got up.  I performed the exact same routine as the Hubster - I let him outside and allowed him a quick sip of water.  He immediately settled down on his bed without a whine and I shut the door.  Silence, blessed silence.

I guess the little bugger just wanted his mom to tuck him in!

Does your dog have any bedtime routines?