Day 8~ Tracking, behavior disruption...cool tricks & approved dog supplies & grooming.

Today we started the day off with a nice breakfast in the dining room @ our hotel. Zion was excellent with his restaurant manners, making for a very stress-free meal.

Trapper really enjoys the tethering, which is awesome....but also we can tell him to hold & he will hold on to the loop on Zion's harness & walk beside him. This isn't something he will do for a long time, but it is a start to holding on to his dog.

We practiced tracking again this morning, it's interesting to watch the dogs pick up the scent. Today Rob hid with Trapper and with some help from trainer Jeremy....Zion & I worked on tracking. After our tracking practice, I ran on the track behind "Torch" & his two darling twins. Then Rob ran after a track with Zion's sister "Kenai" & her little boy Braeden. Then we headed back to the training facility for training with Jennifer on behavior disruption & cool tricks our dogs are trained to do too. The cool tricks will help Trapper be able to socialize (eventually) he can show other kids all the cool things his dog knows. Like giving a high five and playing dead when we give the command "bang" with hands as a gun.

We discussed all issues we have seen with each dog with the trainers so we can work on correction needed in our homes & gear, grooming, safe dog toys & acceptable behaviors (meaning if the dog is not allowed on the furniture...never allow it, because dogs don't understand that something is allowed only sometimes). It is interesting to understand why our dogs do some of the things they do & don't do some of the things that "pet" dogs do.

We also practiced tracking after getting back to the hotel....well after Rob & Trapper went swimming...then after dinner...then Trapper & Rob went for a walk. Zion really dislikes his harness when tracking. He was slightly spent by the evening, but did do a great track when Trapper & I hid in the stairwell. Then we went back, Trapper was asleep in five minutes flat...so was Zion. Then we lost internet connection because we didn't know the new pass code for the hotel Wi-Fi...so this is late.;)

Written by Jami (Trapper's mommy)