The trainer has come 6 out of the scheduled 15 home training sessions. He is working VERY slowly and diligently with Cooper and Max and every method he uses is extremely calculated.
Each morning he comes in, says hello and allows the dogs to bark wildly and jump all over him. He hasn't trained them yet on how to greet a visitor, as this is not step 1. He is working on teaching them first what it means to be obedient. He brings them outside independently in my fenced backyard and walks them for 1/2 hour each, teaching them how to walk and heel appropriately. Max is being trained to walk on his right and Cooper on his left. Heel, means come to his side. When he stops, they stop and sit. When he goes they don't move unless he says "let's go".
My task for the past week is to make them sit while I open the back door. They MUST sit and not get up until I say "let's go". As soon as put my hand on the door or open the door slightly if one of them lifts their tushy up, then the door gets closed. It is working. Cooper now sits after he rings the bell. They are also learning to sit to come back inside as well.
Yesterday we started saying "NO!" and push them down when they jump on the living room couch and we are sitting there. They cannot come unless invited. If they are in there playing they can jump on the couch, but not when we are sitting there. So far so good.
They are now automatically sitting and waiting when I put their dishes down. I didn't even train this. I say "ok, eat" and they get up and eat. I'm even noticing that when Ryan is getting ready to put Cooper's harness on he's trying to sit. They are learning that sit is a respectful act. I say trying because it's sooo hard for Cooper to calm down his excitement.
Today Ryan took Max to walk in the front of the house. He invited me to watch after he realized Max did so well. He looked like a show dog on the driveway!! He looked at him the entire time, waiting for commands. He heeled and if he walked up to far ahead, Ryan said "heel" and Max would come back around and sit at his right side. I couldn't believe it.
Cooper did not walk well in the front of the yard. He pulled the entire time. Ryan says Cooper will take a little longer because he's a little more stubborn and has a shorter attention span.
Ryan emailed me a 5 week training protocol for me to start working on. It's 15 pages long. We will start immediately.
I know this is long winded. I'm just so elated that after 2 years of looking I finally found a trainer. I can see changes in my boys. I can see that they are starting to learn what obedience means and they are starting to mind their manners. I can't even imagine what 10 more sessions will bring us. Ryan is going to start walking them both together in front of the house next week
