
Week of
September 21, 2020
26 weeks old
Daisy continues her foundation skills:
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Sit
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Down
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Wait
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Heel
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Look at me
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Doorbell
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Shake
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Leave it
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Nice walk
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Off
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Come
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Kennel
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Stay
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Backup
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Open & Close Door
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Confidence
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Home
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Off leash
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NOW!
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Ramp walking
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Distractions
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Walker
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Bring it
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Give it
This week we continued review of skills with particular focus on coordinating Daisy's interaction with the walker. Ideally, we want Daisy to walk in "Heel" position directly next the walker no further back than my knee. She is doing well!
Also this week, because the weather was beautiful, we spent a great deal of time outdoors. We spend most of our training time in the real world so Daisy had plenty of practice time.
When I do take Daisy for real-world training, I try to use all of the above skills and behaviors in multiple environments.

Week of
September 21, 2020
What a week! Daisy worked from Cayucus, 4 miles north of Morro Bay, to the pool in San Luis Obispo. In Cayucos, we walked around visiting people and shops for about an hour. We stopped for lunch at Ocean Front Pizza where people stopped and interacted with Daisy. In SLO, Daisy spent time with Madi at the pool in addition to practicing with the walker.
Again, each store we visit Daisy seems to attract attention and with her interaction puts smiles on lots of faces.
These experiences are valuable in Daisy's overall training. The more we can expose her to, people, buildings, noises, motions, etc. the more focused she will be when working with her client. We will continue to expose Daisy in various environments to help her become so accustomed to distractions that they simply don't bother her.
Next week I have two major trips planned for Daisy. First, back to Cayucos to walk the pier alongside me using the walker. This will be a pretty good test as she will experience a unique surface, wood planks, as well as people, seagulls, people including children.
The second trip will be to the SLO airport to experience an elevator, ramps, the baggage carrousel, people and noises. We'll not only visit inside, we will find a place and watch planes take-off and land.
It looks like next month Daisy and I will be flying to Utah so she can visit her client. This will be pretty exciting for all of us!

Read
Daisy's Thoughts
Daisy's Digs
A Puppies' Point of View
By Daisy D.
I learned something about human Ray. He has been holding out on me. You know I have been leading human Ray around places, the pool, downtown, music store, beach, you know wherever he wanted to go. I never barked at people. I never ran from trucks, even though I wanted to run. I helped human Ray go places and find his way back home again. I like home, I sometimes run when I see my house! My point is that human Ray never shared the really good stuff with me. Yes, he has provided some tasty treats, each day he gives me two meals that taste pretty good, even though he sprinkles pumpkin on it. That is until this day!
Human Stacy called me to where the water comes out of the wall. I thought she was going to give me a frozen water. But her face did not look like frozen water face. Human Stacy said, "Do you want a lick?", well I know what a lick is, it's like a kiss. So I said "yes" with my happy face. With one lick my life changed! WOW! BARK! What was this? Human Stacy asked, "Do you like the ice cream?" I did! I did so much I started dancing on my toes!
Human Ray then said, "Let me give her some ice cream", this was the same human that never did share ice cream until Human Stacy asked my if I wanted a lick. So I let human Ray give me some... and I danced again on my toes!
Maybe human Ray didn't remember we had ice cream where the frozen water lives. It's possible, he is getting old.
Sometimes it's a real challenge being a growing puppy!
Daisy