Oliver’s first down
Some dogs learn more quickly than others. Some learn some things faster than other things. I think that Oliver is going to be the dog that learns some things faster than others. He got loose leash walking fast, really fast, but he doesn’t quite understand what a down from a standing position is yet. He’s so gawky right now, all legs, maybe that’s the reason, maybe he doesn’t know how to control his own legs on cue yet. I like to give him an excuse for just a little bit, he’s a doll and he makes me laugh.
“Oliver, dowwnnn.” I lure him with a treat, my hand and treat right between his front legs and under his chest. Oliver’s nose goes for the treat, his body goes down into a perfect down. Click and treat.
“Oliver, dowwnnn.” I lure him with a treat. Oliver goes down into a perfect down. Click, treat.
“Oliver, dowwnnn.” I wait to see what happens. Oliver gives me this huge innocent dark eyed look. He leans toward me. His eyes continue to grow bigger and bigger and bigger and he’s leaning with his head more and more toward me like he’s saying, “Annddd whaat?” I’ve started to giggle.
“Oliver, dowwnn. Mummf.” My lips are pressed tight, my nose is crinkling up, I’m trying not to giggle. I lure him with a treat. Oliver goes down into a perfect down. Click, treat.
“Oliver, dowwnn.” I wait. The eye thing again. Oh, my God! It’s so funny. “Whaattt do you wannnnt?” as he leans toward me. He speaks with his eyes in the voice that we silly humans make as we pretend we know sign language but we’re really just moving our hands and fingers. I have almost lost all control of myself by now. I’m hiccuping and my eyes are tearing.
“Oliver, dowwnn.” I can’t help it, I’ve started to laugh. I can’t hold it in much longer. I wait to see what happens. Frankie, who is supposed to be being watched closely by Kent so she’s not a distraction, comes running by and throws herself onto the floor into a perfect down. A great big happy grin on her face and waits on her elbows for her treat. “I did it,” she beams. ” Can I have my cookie now?” I give her the treat that was waiting for Oliver.
Oliver looks over at Frankie in complete disbelief. He looks at the next treat in my hand. He looks at me. He tilts his little furry face to mine and I see the light go on in his eyes. A light bulb goes on over his head. He throws himself into a perfect down exactly like Frankie had. He grins happily first at me and then at Frankie then back at me. His tail is wagging furiously. Click and treat.
Then….this is all I’ve got left….both dogs stand up at the same time, lift their front legs like rearing horses, and throw themselves onto the floor into perfect downs. Click and treat, treat, treat.
I lose it. I am on the floor laughing out loud, rolling around, holding my sides. Both dogs stay in their downs for a split second, then they jump on me with kisses and hugs and more kisses and hugs.
I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow.
