New shaping

Shaping with the bowl.

Last night we decided to start being a little more diligent about practicing "shaping" with Hamlet. Shaping is where you have the clicker, some good treats, and Hamlet at attention. The goal is for him to figure out what you want him to do, by just trying different things. We're teaching him to put his paws on an upside-down bowl on the floor. We started by clicking and treating for when he looked at the bowl. Then, when he moved towards it, and then touched it, and then when he put his foot on it and looked up at us. He is already this far on the second night! (So fast!) Tomorrow, we'll try to get him to put both paws on it and look up at Daisy. Fun times. :)

In case you're wondering, "shaping" is the game the official trainers will play to teach new skills in advanced training. This could be anything from turning off the lights, to opening doors, to pulling off socks!

Sleepy time with the stick as a cuddle buddy!
(OK, so I did put his arm over the stick.)

In other news, when we're not trying to get Hamlet to do tricks, he is still often sleeping. Once we gave him the mostly empty peanut butter container. (He loved it!) And last week at puppy class/event we weighed him - 65 lbs. Our big boy. (Although he still doesn't seem that big to us.

Keeping Hamlet busy is easy with peanut butter.

He waits to eat until we say "OK!"

Chocoflan from our anniv. last week! Yum!!!
(We made it again already for friends.)