Nico is slowly starting to learn how to play fetch. He's good for 5-10 short throws before his attention span wears out. We've also been practicing spending time outside off-leash. Last night Shelly and I did an intense ricochet recall drill with him, calling him back-and-forth between us across the yard. My number one wish is that he can be an off-leash dog. Khyber was great off-leash, he could hang out in the yard with us for hours without wandering anywhere. My number two wish is he gets along with other dogs, something Khyber wasn't always great at. My approach to off-leash is to make sure being off-leash isn't more exciting than being on-leash, and not giving up because he goes wandering off into the woods or chasing a bird down the road. And never use a recall when scolding, punishing, or doing anything he doesn't want to do. "Come" always has to be the most exciting and rewarding thing possible. Finally, no chasing to get him back. If he doesn't respond to the recall I slowly close the gap with him and only bend down to pick him up when it's clear he isn't going to back up or run away. Patience, trust, and positive energy are most important, that goes both ways.
Nico: I think I smell my big brother on this stump. Me: Yeah, bud, I bet you do. He peed on that stump a couple hundred times over the past few years. Khyber had been gone for about 7 months before Nico came into our lives. Nico inherited a bunch of things from Khyber: beds, blankets, toys, bowls. I'm sure he smells him in the house and I often wonder how much his scent can be detected in our yard and woods behind our house. I brought Nico to a section of the woods behind our house that Khyber and I walked a few hours before we said goodbye. The very last picture I have of Khyber was taken next to this old rotten stump. Nico spent a considerable amount of time sniffing it today.
Shelly got a big package in the mail today and Nico thought it was the coolest thing ever. He jumped right up on top to check it out. He's been developing springs in his legs over the last few days. Earlier today, from a standing position he jumped onto the couch, on top of me, and then continued up to the back of the couch to lay down across the top. We have a rule in our house that dogs don't get on furniture unless they are invited. Nico hasn't entirely figured that out yet and at times has a hard time containing his new abilities. We give him a little leeway, but not too much.
