please ignore this post

Okay, so I'm too lazy to log back into email... this message is for this page's administrator "our boston terrier:" I was scrolling back and we don't have any recent pictures of the boy- I'm tapped out so do you have anything? -B.A.

On the eve of our third training class...

Ugh. For about a nanosecond I was proud of Tug tonight. He'd followed me into the kitchen when I got home so I scooped up some kibble from his bowl to feed as "treats." He looked at me, started to sit but- even as I went to say the word "stand"- he paused and waited for a moment to see what I wanted. When I said "stand" he straightened out his back legs and just stood. Eureka! Like I said- for a nanosecond. I've only been doing this in the kitchen when he's followed me in there and I suddenly realized he was only associating the word with the place. Ugh. It is cool that he understands that word has some significance but I need him to understand it's about his leg positions- not where he's standing...I'll end up a good trainer someday, but it may be too late for poor Tug. I have confused him horribly. (Of course he got his treats! He did do what I asked, after all.)

second training class

Poor Tug! For a whole year we've taught and reinforced "sit!" He's good at it and understands what's expected. Now, the training class is learning three commands: sit, lie down and stand. Yeah, "stand" is a command. He was already learning "lie down" and has it to the point he sometimes does it on his own to see if a treat is forthcoming. But "stand?"

For a whole year he's been told that his butt on the floor made him a "good boy." He doesn't actually just stand around- he's either in motion or sitting. We've taken to watching for moments when he's just arrived and his hind legs haven't bent to sit yet. We say "stand" as encouragingly as we can and try to get a treat to his mouth before his butt hits the floor. It's so sad- he sees the treat coming and tries to "sit" before it gets there...just like we've wanted him to do for a year.

I thought we could just skip the "stand" and let it go but the trainer had a good point. It's helpful for the vet's office for a check up and in the bath. Actually, he always stands in the tub because we're leaning over it to wash him and he's always looking for a good "sneak-a-kiss" moment. I still need to get one of those shirts that say "Bostons kiss on the lips."

Odds & Ends

Tug's breeder emailed to say he's got a bunch of new little brothers and sisters- one of whom is a lover, too.

His newest sign of maturity is that he lets us know when he's ready to go to bed for the night. He always gets 'lured' into the crate with a treat so now he takes one of us by the hand and just applies a little pressure. Then he sits and looks pitiful. It used to be he barked if put in before Mama was going to bed- now he doesn't care if she's ready or not. He seems to favor 10pm.

Tug's first training class was this week- or should I say our first class? It's really about training the owners to handle the dogs properly. We found out that we were doing several things right already! :)

Mama: the poet

Tug is such a boy (well, mostly "snip-snip") and loves to lie with his head between my legs, on his back, exposing himself (or what's left to expose, anyway). He was situated like that the other day and Mama said:

I see London,
I see France,
Tug ain't got
No underpants!

Boston meeting

Sorry, forgot to mention last week there was another meeting of lots of Bostons and this time I went. Tug really does try to play a bit now. I sat down on a bench and several Bostons "adopted" me. It means they'd come and jump in my lap as often as Tug! Good thing I know to wear grubby clothes to the paw parks!

Maturity level is rising

Mama and I were piecing together carpet scraps to make a rug for the living room and didn't need a four legged accomplice. So Tug got peanut butter (which he adores) and we put him in his crate in the room with us. It took us a long time with much discussion, trial and error, and flipping of carpet pieces but Tug was just an interested observer- no barking. We were so proud.

Then my sister comes over just after that- hysteria central! The funny thing is if you say her name he runs to the window to look for her- even if she's in the room! Obviously, he knows who she is because he'll go to her when told to but ask where she is and he goes to the window...

Mama had laid the carpet scraps out a few days ago to train them to lie flat (they'd been rolled up). Several were in layers in the hall and she walked in there to find him napping on top of them- the softest spot at floor level in the house! :)