The week in review: Emmett, Auggie and Springtime in Montana

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I thought about titling this post: What I learned this week.

Boy, I have a LOT to learn.

Earlier in the week on Instagram I wrote that Emmett was in the puppy equivalent of the terrible twos. In retrospect, I got lazy in my observations and training and so allowed the natural progression of boldness to take over rather than me working with it. It took a timeout (for me!) and some rehashing in my mind of what I was doing to shake this out, regroup and move forward.

Oh, and one overreaction to Emmett chasing some deer … not far and right back to me but it surprised me. I made the rookie mistake of repeating his name which only serves to teach him that he can ignore his name. *sigh*

So … future moments of “oh this looks far more interesting than you”, result in me turning, running and sing-songing happy sounds. Emmett follows. Yea – I AM the most fun!!

Still working on toning down the intensity of the Emmett-Auggie wrestling matches but it gets better every day – particularly inside. Emmett KNOWS he is not supposed to be too rough but sometimes puppy-brain gets the upper hand. But as I move to intervene, Emmett backs off and sits.

Leave it: I can now put a treat on the ground or in my open hand with the words leave it and Emmett leaves it, looks at me: click he gets the treat. We’ll work at this level with the treat closer and closer.

Down: so happy with down. Emmett does it when I ask to calm for Auggie interaction and has done it with public distraction.

Sit is solid.

We’ve practiced the leash lightly. Tomorrow a new harness arrives. Emmett grew out of the first, also out of his first collar!

For the record, Emmett was just under 8 pounds when I picked him up 8 weeks ago. Today he is 24 pounds.

Yes – Emmett has been part of the family Summers for 8 weeks! 8 weeks of fun and games and learning and joy.

Meanwhile: Operation Fuschia for the front porch

On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon

Emmett LOVES to help with the watering…

And we stop and smell the Lupins!!

A beautiful Sunday!

See you later!

4 Responses to “The week in review: Emmett, Auggie and Springtime in Montana”

  1. Steph

    Its hard to believe it has been 8 weeks already!

    It must be difficult to work around the emotions when training. The urge to want to keep everyone safe, the automatic reactions that are sometimes opposite of what you are trying to train. Puppy training is a great way to stay in the moment.

    You are doing a great job, Liz. So are Emmett and Auggie :)

    • Liz

      You hit the nail(s) on the head, Steph! For me, it has been so helpful to just stop, step back and review so that in the next “heat of the moment”, I have a more helpful reaction. And, I’m not trying to teach everything … baby steps with a baby dog :) – good for all of us.

      Thanks for the great comment and support!

  2. Margaret

    Wonderful to see Emmett and Auggie and your beautiful fuschias. You are doing a great job with Emmett – he is learning fast for a puppy and some slight hiccups are to be expected. He is a joy in our lives! And so is Auggie!

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