Last week the occupational therapy department at work held a second-hand sale to raise funds. Part of the sale was many stuffed toys, and some were a little sad or old so not much attention was being given to them. But to the parent of a tween labrador, it was like a pile of gold! I bought two grocery bags FULL for less than the cost of a stuffed dog toy. I took them home, washed them, removed any hard bits like eyes or noses and put them in a box on the table. Yesterday, the box was moved to the bedroom and placed on the floor. So when Harley walked passed she noticed the box and brought me a random toy. As with anything she brings, she gets a thank you, drop it, good girl and a fuss and love. Later in the evening DH and I were watching TV and Harley would normally fetch a shoe or something to garner attention. And as before she gets a love and a fuss but it is our time and not play with Harley time. If we give in, it will be play with Harley time 24/7. Clearly Harley remembers the box of toys in the bedroom and disappears and reappears with a toy, which she then gifts me. I think this is a nice, quiet training opportunity so when she brings me the next one I have the clicker and treats ready and C & T. I take each toy from her and keep it on the couch with me so as the pile grows she thinks it is much easier to take from this pile so we get to train leave it too. Eventually, Harley comes through a with a knitted duck. And for those of you who are still reading and/or are still awake after the intro, this is the interesting part. Harley wanted to keep the duck for herself. She really liked something about this duck. But she also wanted the treat. And I could see her brain working through the puzzle. I ask her to bring me duck and she sits and stares. Then she puts duck on the floor, disappears and brings another stuffed toy and presents it to me. For a C & T and a love. She the clever pup got her duck and her treat. I just love the way that the training allows her to develop the skills to think through things for herself And then she settled and went to sleep with ducks bill in her mouth. So flipping adorable.
Ohhh Harley! I'd give in and it would be Harley play time all the time in my house - she's far too cute to say no to
Love the photo with Harley and her duck. She is a clever girl. I always enjoy watching our dogs problem solve, may not quite enjoy their idea of a solution mind....
Clever girl and so cute. At first I thought her tongue was out, but then realised it was part of the duck. Not so clever human But who could say no to her though, very similar behaviour as Vanilla apart from I give in eventually
Oh that is very cute! If it had been Indie and she wanted to keep the duck, she wouldn't have trusted me enough to leave the duck unattended to go get me an alternative - she would have said 'You want this duck? Sorry, my duckie now. Byeeee!', taken it to the garden and invariably the duck would be unstuffed and die an unfortunate death! It's very sweet that Harley still wanted to please you rather than just running off with her spoils
