Oh My Dog!

Currently, Lucas is one tired dog:

And so is Emmett:

I love when the boys are this tired because I can get so much work done, but this level of exhaustion is nearly impossible to achieve with two fun-loving, energetic dogs. But since Thursday, we’ve kept them incredibly busy. So here are my fool-proof 10 ways to tire out your dog! (Click on the images to enlarge.)

1. Have a friend over! Scout came over to play with the boys on Thursday. Just adding a new playmate into the mix keeps them busy all day.

2. On a nice day, break out the hose. It’s sort of like a brand-new toy.

3. Of course, if your dog isn’t fond of water, there’s always rolling around in the dirt.

4. Once the backyard loses its luster, head out for a hike. All the sights and smells keep them captivated and busy!

5. Long days playing outside are perfect for doggy ice cream, too.

6. Invite some more friends over like Cady and Bella.

7. Start a game of tug-o-war! It’s not easy to get three dogs into the game, but someone can serve as the ref.

8. Or just keep wrestling.

9. It’s important to stay hydrated! And drinking water as a group seems like a fun activity.

10. But sometimes it’s just nice to sit with a friend and watch the birds.

And that is how you get two very tired pups!

What did you do this weekend?

Whew! What a whirlwind few days! It started out on Friday with Emmett and I visiting three kindergarten classes. That means lots and lots and lots of 5- and 6-year-olds! Emmett did spectacularly, patiently sitting while 75 grubby hands patted him, giving the occasional high five, and demonstrating how easy it is for boys and girls to read to their pets. The only hiccup was when, in the first classroom, the bell rang… Emmett started barking, which frightened a handful of the children, though I explained to them that he thought their classroom had a doorbell. They thought that was funny (“Classrooms don’t have doorbells, Emmett!!”), so we were able to move past it.

On Saturday, the boys had a puppy play date with Cady, Lucas’ best friend in the whole world. It was unbelievably gorgeous outside. Dare I say, spring has sprung! Then on Sunday we all went on a hike together for about an hour around Griffy Lake. The weather was perfect, and the dogs had a blast! I think the boys are a little bit out of shape from less exercise over the winter because at the end of the hike, they were wiped.

And, lastly, we’re now into the second week of March. I fully intended on setting some training goals for the boys at the beginning of the month, but last week just flew by. So now, so that I am fully accountable to you, my goal for the month of March is to solidify our door training. That means: when the doorbell rings, they can bark a little bit, but then when I give them the “place” command, they run to the place we’ve established (the tile in front of the fireplace) and maintain a “wait” until the visitor is inside of our house.

This plan is the exact opposite of the train wreck situation we currently have whenever someone rings the bell. I’m so glad to finally start implementing this training, and our fabulous neighbors have agreed to help out by ringing the bell when they get their mail in the evening. I’m excited! I’ll keep you posted on our progress!

Do you set training goals? What are your plans for March training?