dig by dog

Both my husband and I occasionally work Saturdays.
It’s not the norm for us, but happens usually once every month and a half or so.
This weekend, we both worked Saturday. Which, by the way, made it feel like there was no weekend at all. We went from working on Saturday to sleeping to cooking on Sunday to eating with family and back to sleeping again.
Anyhow, I’ve always wondered what dogs know about our schedule.
From what I’ve learned, dogs live in the moment. They don’t think ahead, they don’t analyze. They are simply focused in the present.
Going off that theory, dogs should have only a minimal understanding of our schedules.
When I get up in the morning and the sky is gray and I rush around, are those signals to my dog that I’ll be leaving soon?
And when I sleep in until the sun is centered high in the sky, are those signals that I’ll be hanging out at the house?
Based on how dogs live in the moment, I would think that would be about their greatest understanding of a schedule.
Which means they have no concept that we work five days a week, then are home for two days, then back to work for five.
Sometimes, though, I’m not sure ...
As a calm old dog, there’s not much that gets Sensi riled up anymore. When we get home, he wags his tail and stands at our feet, smiling and licking our hands. He might grab a toy or ask for dinner, but generally speaking, he welcomes us quietly and then goes back to his business of finding the most comfortable and available spot in the house to sleep.
On Saturday, Brent was gone until about 6:30 p.m. and I, having a little Easter grocery shopping to do on my way home, didn’t walk in the door until about 8:30 p.m.
Brent had fed Sensi and let him out and was finishing up his paperwork when I got home. Sensi was sitting beside Brent on the couch, leaning on his shoulder.
And then I sat down. Sensi moved over, practically sitting on top of me and giving me what we call the, “Sensi hug.”
This is where he sits in front of us, scooting as close as possible to us, and resting his head on our shoulder. And he didn’t want to move. I must’ve hugged him for ten minutes.
For the rest of the evening, he stuck to us like glue.
He was so needy for attention, and it’s not as if he acts this way every day that we’re gone for hours at work.
So it made me wonder, did he realize it was a Saturday and we were supposed to be home all day with him?
Probably not. But maybe.

There are six standard commands: Heel, Come, Sit, Stand, Stay, and Down. With a new puppy, it does not matter too much where you begin. The important thing is to practice any old time everyday and never to be in any hurry to go to the next lesson. You do not set the pace for learning, you puppy does.

Training sessions should last only two to five minutes, which is approximately the length of your pup's attention span. If you push him longer than that, he will stop paying attention to you. This is FUN stuff! (You may also need to repeat that ten times to remind yourself occasionally.) End every session with a near-perfect performance. That could be one two-second sit, or three little "heeling" steps next to you. Tell him how "perfect" it was. Lay it on him! Really let him know how pleased you are he got it right.

Do not start a training session immediately after the pup has eaten because he'll be sleepy and those treat rewards won't be as enticing. However, you can practice at any odd time throughout the day, even if it is a three-second "stay." Your pup will love the attention.

Motivation for a puppy to do anything at all lies first in his desire to please you. Realistically,
treats run a close second. Dog biscuits do not make good training treats because they take too long to chew. Tiny bits of plain cheese are the perfect taste-treat. A thin slice of hot dog will perk up the interest of almost any dog that's not concentrating.

Rewards come in three forms: treats, pats and verbal praise. To grade your "student's" qualification for a reward, consider a treat the equivalent of an "A," a pat a "B," and verbal praise a "C." Any two together equal an A+, so be very careful not to go overboard or you'll run out of appropriate compensation and the pup will quit.

Verbal praise has a range from ecstatic (for the first few correct responses from a very young pup) to a calm "good dog" as Sparky grows up and becomes more expert. Don't overuse cheese or hot dog treats when practicing. As each word command is fully learned, gradually cut back on the treats and substitute "good dog" or just a big smile.

What you say to a puppy and how you say it can determine how quickly he learns. All conversation is perceived by the dog as meaningless sound. Try this: In the midst of some long-winded chit-chat, say his name emphatically and watch him take notice. When using the one-word training commands, remember that lesson. His name gives you his attention; one word tells him what to do. It is "Sparky, SIT" - loud and clear. Never, "Sparky, Sit. Sit. Sit. �Sparky, you're not listening - I said Sit. SIT, Sparky! "That is called nagging, and Sparky will tune you out. The puppy is not being disobedient or stubborn. He's just confused - totally! And avoid sounding like a drill sergeant! Smile, speak clearly and let the dog do the barking!