Topic: Take It
This morning we took a short walk b/c my back is in tatters. I heeled him in the beginning and he did very well at first, until he saw a squirrel. The critters are back out in full force *sigh*. I had the harness on him and it helped control Sir Spazzalot.

Back at home we went through a piece of string cheese and did some training. I tried to teach him take it based on this post from the bscrescue board:

"Another thing my mom did with her rescue border collie that didnt seem to have any idea of play was she taught her a forced retrieve. First she started with the frisbee teaching her to "take it", which meant to put it in her mouth, then she said drop it and clicked and treated. When she would do that well, the time in her mouth got a little longer, but dont hurry the process along, and I believe then she added the command "hold it" so when that was going really well, then the frisbee or toy or what ever was placed on teh floor and the "take it" command was given and she would pick it up, then slowly it moved further and further away. Anyway, it was a game with lots of praise and treats, making sure to keep it fun. So now my moms border collie with no play drive is a toy nut, loves to fetch and can even pick a credit card off the floor."

I tried it with Spiff and he wouldn't pick up a toy, but I took him outside and got him to pick up a stick a few times. I tried playing fetch with the ball too but he was more interested in just getting the treats. He also kept looking over at the neighbor's house to see if he could find the kitty. I had to step on the long leash quite a few times.

He had a lot of fun today though. He's in my office now, crashed out, day-dreaming of squirrels and bunnies.