CREATIVE TRAINING

11 kids, a bucket of quarters, and an Old English Sheepdog

Maddie and I are working hard on door greetings and boundaries.  I've hired the neighborhood kids to participate and everyone is having blast.  Here is how it works:

Kid one knocks on the door. I take Maddie to a blue rug and put her in a sit. Kid one introduces himself to me like a traveling anvil salesman and ignores everything while I work with Maddie on staying on the spot. If Maddie remains seated she is told to Come Front, where she must sit to be greeted by Kid One (ignored if she hesitates). If Maddie jumps on Kid one she is put back on the rug and Kid One knocks again. Each kid has to have a different story when they knock so we are encouraging imagination here. We keep going with Kid One until Maddie (and Kid One) are successful, at which time Maddie gets a treat and some love and Kid One gets a quarter. I currently have 11 kids on my porch waiting to knock. There is a box of props available so they have glasses, hats, tools, boxes to carry, etc.  Every entry is different.

Later this afternoon all of the kids will earn nickels by entering my yard through one gate, making a raucous, and exiting through another gate while Maddie is asked to ignore them in a Down position. Same deal only nickels.  Walking takes less imagination and noise comes naturally to kids.

I guess I AM the crazy dog lady in the neighborhood.

The most exciting thing ever is that this afternoon the trash truck comes. We are going to follow it  everywhere it goes and lay down wherever it stops.

What a life I have??? I LOVE it.  Kids, dogs, trash, props, mud, poop….all in a day's work. 

Adriane