Go For It! Day One

Mom and I drove to the training building this morning (well, after our stop at Panera!) We had to be there at 8:00 to set up our space since we were a working dog. The seminar is a very controlled environment and we each got our own "room" of ring gates and we had our own parking place and door to go in. I think Mom made about 10 trips taking all our stuff inside, when is it MY turn?? I want to go in!

After it was all carried in and arranged, here is my great spot:

We had a great area and we could open the gates to watch everyone else, or close the gates and work off leash in our area.

We did a lot of basics today, lots of mat work, warm up type exercises (hand target, eye contact, doggie zen) a lot of thinking type games. We each got a turn in the big ring and got to "be a dog" so that Meghan and Helix could see our default behaviors. I was a good boy and stayed with mom most of the time. I did scan a time or two, but kept my attention on her and ran back when she tossed cookies for me. I also demonstrated my "default behavior" which is to sit and look at mom's eyes! I know that gets me cookies!!

After our big day, we went back to the hotel for dinner and a walk. And then I crashed! It was a long day with a lot of "brain" work!