The Merlin thread

[Fran101]

Thanks guys! and PM, I didn't even see that/get notifications lol continue to facebook from the phone!

[PlottMom]

Originally Posted by Fran101

Thanks guys! and PM, I didn't even see that/get notifications lol continue to facebook from the phone!

oh thank god. i was horribly embarrassed!

[Fran101]

Originally Posted by PlottMom

oh thank god. i was horribly embarrassed!

Lol you shouldn't be! Facebook mobile has betrayed us all at one point or another

[milos_mommy]

I love him!

[Fran101]

I really didn't expect to love shaping with Merlin as much as I do lol it's so much fun! He is already standing with both his feet on top of a book, with only two sessions
I also shaped his down, which he is getting so much faster with! lol even starting to lower his front instead of sitting and SLIDING his butt back

So far we have
- Sit
- Down
- Touch (nose touch objects)
- Release cue
- Leave it in hand (Ignore treats in my hand/no mugging the treat bag)

and we are working on his standing on a book

next in line is mat work!

Love this little guy

[Dizzy]

Puppies are so much fun! I want another 5!!!!

I'm sooooooo looking forward to starting some classes with Fred. Will you see a trainer for the SD work?

[Fran101]

Originally Posted by Dizzy

Puppies are so much fun! I want another 5!!!!

I'm sooooooo looking forward to starting some classes with Fred. Will you see a trainer for the SD work?

Aren't they fun!? lol

We already have begun private sessions/training class. But at this stage, it's very basic and HEAVILY HEAVILY HEAVILY focussed on socialization. So it's a lot of just..trips. Markets, malls, stores, trains, farms, schools etc.. basically anywhere we can get permission to bring him lol we even got a chance to go to the science museum
It's also much more luring/basic manners. So he has his basics of sit, down, stand with a lure/hand signal and he works everyday on just, manners (no jumping on people, walking by my side etc..)

All his shaping work is just me because he seems to enjoy it there is a lot more wiggle room and sillyness with me shaping than his cut/dry "classes"..so it's a great supplement/fun thing.

[Dizzy]

Originally Posted by Fran101

Aren't they fun!? lol

We already have begun private sessions/training class. But at this stage, it's very basic and HEAVILY HEAVILY HEAVILY focussed on socialization. So it's a lot of just..trips. Markets, malls, stores, trains, farms, schools etc.. basically anywhere we can get permission to bring him lol we even got a chance to go to the science museum
It's also much more luring/basic manners. So he has his basics of sit, down, stand with a lure/hand signal and he works everyday on just, manners (no jumping on people, walking by my side etc..)

All his shaping work is just me because he seems to enjoy it there is a lot more wiggle room and sillyness with me shaping than his cut/dry "classes"..so it's a great supplement/fun thing.

Our work has almost exclusively been stuck on standing and trotting round in circles the last month or so!! He has all the basics down now, but I'm soon ready to learn more.


The shaping is great, but I sometimes get stuck on what to do next! Need to be more creative. Once tomorrow is out the way we will work on some more fun things... Need a check list!

[Toller_08]

That head tilt!! He is so adorable. And it sounds like you're having a lot of fun with him. That's so great that you get to take him to all those different kinds of places, too!

[SaraB]

Told you shaping was fun!!!