Well, really she has learned two things this week. But the big excitement is that she learned to poke a toy with her nose this week. I have been using the clicker on and off since December, pulling it out every now and then to see where she's at. Up until now the click has made her run off with her ears pinned back. I've been working on teaching some of the other dogs tricks near her crate to get her used to the sound and let her see that they are getting treats and she isn't. I've also been charging the clicker while she is locked in the crate, click treat click treat click treat. There is no where for her to run. It took a while before she would eat the treat. Recently she was starting to anticipate the treat in her crate so I figured now was as good a time as any! I put her on leash so she couldn't escape and took her downstairs to the "training" room in the house with her supper. I put a sheepskin toy on the ground and waited. She looked at it... click! I throw the cookie near the toy (she panics at the end of the leash). Soon she realizes I threw a kibble and she tentatively approaches...and eats the cookie...success! After ten pieces of food she was purposefully poking the toy with her nose and only retreating a few steps after the sound of the click. A work in progress for sure, but what an exciting step! She has figured out that her actions = food.
Her other big excitement this week is that she has figured out the joys of sleeping on a bed. :) I put her on leash the other night, picked her up, and put her on the bed next to me when I went to sleep. I kept her on leash for about half the night before I let her off. She stayed with me (I think because she was afraid to jump off but whatever). You could see the little wheels in her head going..ohhh...this is pretty comfy! So the last three nights I have been leashing her (this is the only way I can get her to pick her up still) and putting her on the bed. Already it has made a big difference in her comfort level around me. She is coming up to sniff my face (as long as I don't move an inch!) and is sleeping near me. As of last night she has figured out how to get up there by herself, now she won't get off! Ha! But whatever, I want to work up towards me being able to pet her and give her a little massage while she's there. She seems more comfortable with me at eye level (which makes sense).
Nepsa the aussie puppy is officially up for adoption. Please spread the word! This little cutie is looking for a home to love her and she will return it tenfold! She is a very nice moderately active dog who doesn't chew things, settles in the house nicely, walks well on leash, is crate trained, house trained, vaccinated, etc. She is deaf, and was undersocialized with adult dogs and the world in general so she needs to learn how to be comfortable in new situations. All around she is a lovely and pretty easy puppy. She also loves children so would be happy in a home with kids 10 and up.
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