Mummy is on this awesome forum alot. It’s called the Sheltie Forums. And someone from the forums came up with this brilliant idea of doing monthly trick challenges! And of course Mummy was psyched!

Yes, so much so that she was so happy to have been working from home the day she read about it because she could start training us IMMEDIATELY. *rolls eyes* But as usual, I caught on quickly and knew exactly what Mother wanted. Unlike somebody….

I just thought she was doing something like the walking-on-her-feet trick that’s why I kept putting both my paws on her foot!

[This is not the end result yet. The final behaviour should be the dog raising each leg following my cue with my raised legs, but the dog should be doing it independently at a short distance away from me.

Romeo picked it up fast. He pawed my foot immediately when I offered it to him. Juliet took a bit longer. She didn't quite understand what I wanted. I do think she was abit confused - she wanted to put both her front paws and her weight on my raised foot. So I tried to get the behaviour by putting my hand on my foot (like shaking hands) and also wiggling my foot around. A combination of that worked!

I also started off training them with a blister. Now it's a painful wound, no thanks to the kids and them digging in their nails!]

[20 April 2012]

I cannot understand Mother sometimes. What the heck is she making us do now?

She is teaching us to walk on her feet! Wheee! So much FUN!

Sometimes I think you’re high on something…

[1 May 2012]

Whee! I’ve gotten much better! We are doing more steps now! Mummy is pleased!

It’s Labour Day. A day to rest. ZZzzzzz……

Today Mumsy managed to get out of work early and took me and Romeo to the dog run! Yay!

We played abit of ball, did abit of obedience training and also worked on my weave entries. Mumsy has been doing abit at home, but decided to make use of the space (and lack of dogs) at the dog run to train weave entries too. Romeo did some training too but he’s abit slow. Ssshhh! Don’t tell him I told you so! Hee!

Mumsy decided to use only 4 poles so as not to overdo things, then when I got the right entry, she clicked, waited for me to reach the end then pressed the Button which opens the Treat Box.

Mumsy calls the Treat Box a “remote controlled treat dispenser” and says it allows her to stand at one end at let me do my thing and encourage me to run fast out of the weaves.

Well I did a short compilation of some of my weaves training progression! I think I’m doing real well! Mumsy is so proud of my weave entries and was amazed I would wrap the first pole after doing only 2 short sessions of weave entry training before today! HAH! I showed her! I’m smart beneath all this cuteness!

You can see a video of today’s work at the end of the clip!

I’m not sure what the purpose was for this trick…

So we can stop Mummy from travelling! Or so we can go along! Wheeee!

Umm ya ok.

[This trick was trained using shaping. Took 2 sessions to train - the first session I got both to get in with 4 legs, that was easy, and also got to the point where they could get in themselves with the cover closed though Juliet was a bit more wary of the cover over her. Romeo didn't offer to lie down until the 2nd training session. Juliet got over her fear of the cover during the 2nd session but I cued the down behaviour. Videos were taken at the end of the 2nd session. I'm going to try and get them both to squeeze into the luggage next! While training Romeo, Juliet climbed in with him at the same time and it looked hilarious!]

It’s about time. Mother finally sent in our Trick Dog certification application. I’ve been training tricks for years!

Yay! I’m an Advanced Trick Dog! Almost at your level and I’m 2 years younger!

I’m Expert Trick Dog and Mother says she’s going to look into getting me certified  as Trick Dog Champion. *sticks out chest*

…… Yay! I’m an Advanced Trick Dog! Almost at your level and I’m 2 years younger!

I learnt how to roll over back in June 2011 and Mumsy didn’t put up the video! So I’m doing it now. Mumsy taught me using this thing called “shaping” with her clicker.

I learnt to help Mother get tissue when she sneezes and throw it away for her when she’s done wiping her nose!

[Video clip from 14 June 2011]

Here’s a video of me Mummy dug up learning to put things away in a box! It was only my 2nd training session! I was taught using the clicker in April 2011!

Ya, notice how close the toy is to the box, to make it so easy for you! And you still didn’t get it! Hah!

I was lazy and wanted Mummy to put it in the box for me. But Mumsy ignored my laziness, so I had no choice. I got yummy treats for doing it though! And Mumsy could throw the toy further away towards the end of the video!

I think Mother started by holding the box directly below your mouth when you were holding the toy right? Until you got the idea that the goal was to put the toy in the box.

Yup and I learnt it fast!

Before I forget. I wanted to pen down some thoughts on Romeo and Juliet’s performance at the January 2012 agility and jumpers SKC trial. Will try to get the courses for that day so I can post them.

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Romeo and Juliet do tricks for treats! (Videos are at various stages of training)

1. Spinning

2. Need a tissue?

3. Rollover

4. Put away your toys!

5. Circling backwards

6. Basketball star

7. Are you shy?

8. Close the door

9. Moving leg weaves

10. Static weaves

11. Treat in the hand

12. Get in the bag!

13. Digging in the sand

14. Under the Romeo bridge

15. Circus dog – walk the ball

16. Playing the piano

17. Bow

18. Kiss each other!

19. Walking on feet

20. Marching to the beat