Changes since last post

It's been almost a month since my last post and so much has changed.

Jackson, the guard dog

The day we adopted Jackson from Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, he has gone from a near emotionless little guy to a very affectionate best friend to all of us. When any of us come home for the day, Jackson goes crazy with excitement. It's like he's attached to a pogo stick! If we head towards the front, he'll get there before us and sit down like he's preventing us from leaving. When he comes in from being outside, it's as if he were shot out of a cannon. So we have work on those things. 

We started our training classes 3 weeks ago. His trainer thinks he's really smart. I'm not totally sure what she thinks of me. I hope she thinks I can be trained too. We started with "sit" and "down", progressed on "come", but having some trouble with "leave it", not jumping on people and walking on a leash without pulling. It's all based on giving him a treat and praise when he does what is asked. He anticipates the treat and pretty much sits whenever he thinks he's going to get a treat. 

The classes are about an hour. A couple of weeks ago, she had a puppy she recently adopted with her. As soon as I turned my back to see what the puppy was up to, Jack turned the hose on. How embarrassing. The trainer was prepared. As she was cleaning up Jack's mess, the puppy took the opportunity to relieve herself. I guess you just have to expect these things. That's why we go to training classes

I'll post after our next session and let you know if I've progressed. Jackson, he's teacher's pet- but only for an hour a week.