Macy’s learned to do both her Bang and Roll Over commands from a down and sit position.

I’m pretty sure this is what she’s thinking. 🙂

Say hello to Syer, my new partner in crime training.

Syer! Your eyes are closed!😆

Syer is a fun training challenge. He tends to “demand bark” so we’re working on his patience and teaching him that barking is not the way to get what you want in life.

When you come to his kennel, he’s quick to say “Hey, you (bark!), break me out of here already!”

So we take a step back and even leave the kennel area if he keeps barking. Slowly, he’s realizing that barking makes people go away who otherwise could use their hands to unlock his kennel.

Same thing when you hold a treat in your hands. “Hey (bark!), give me that tasty treat already!”

Nope! Tasty treats go back into the magic-treat-dispensing pouch when you bark Syer; you know that!

It’s really great to see his progress.

Keep up the good work, Syer!

Macy had her first camping trip at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness National Forest this weekend. She was off-leash most of time and did pretty good with her recall. She had a permanent sand mustache the entire time 🙂 🐕

Macy went to her first “Bark In The Park” at the Lansing Lugnuts last week. ⚾️ 🐕

Here she is with her new friend Leo:

Charlie returned from foster a few weeks ago and came back to the shelter. Yesterday was his lucky day though and he got adopted!

Good job Charlie! May you find many grass fields to romp through!

And look at this Macy Look-A-Like who was in the shelter today (but got adopted super quick before I could even entertain the idea of a doggy sibling for Macy):

Meet Jersey, my new brindley buddy.

I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be up on the window, Jersey Girl.

Looks like we’ve got some work cut out for us 😬 🐕

Charlie made it into a foster home. This is one of those bittersweet moments of dog training.

Charlie came in as a raw dog. He mouthed uncontrollably and nearly went on a bite hold after lunging at a staff member’s stomach.

For me, our introduction was some mouthing in his kennel followed by him breaking out under my legs and fence fighting with other dogs in the shelter before me and staff could get a slip leash around his neck.

That all seems like ancient history now. Charlie turned into an A+ student.

First known for the talent of thunking his head against any door frame he came across, Charlie quickly acquired commands and calmed down.

At one point, I tried to convince the shelter to rename him “Charlie Will Hunting” (after the movie “Good Will Hunting”) for his surprising and unsuspecting smarts.

Charlie is going to be so happy and comfy in a foster home until he finds his forever family. He’ll become an even better canine citizen.

On Tuesday, a staff member tipped me off that he was going to foster. I’ve never had a heads up that a dog I was training was about to leave the shelter for foster. As I trained him that evening, I couldn’t help knowing that our time was limited and each thing we did together might be our last. I didn’t want to leave; I wanted to stretch our time as much as I could.

I put Charlie in his kennel and said goodbye. He looked back with his goofy grin and dangling tongue. I washed my hands and then snuck one last look at him on my way out making sure he wouldn’t notice me.

Goodbye Charlie Brown! I’ll miss you! Great job buddy!