Helping Out and Setting Goals

I finally have an 'almost day off' with just volunteering at the shelter this evening.

Griffin and I tackled the huge task of trimming the low-hanging branches in the yard. As usual, he was adorable. A few times I couldn't cut all the way through, resulting in me pulling on the branch, pleading for it to break off. Griffin grabbed the leaves and started tugging too! He was quite happy when I found a tug toy I'd put up there for safe keeping.

Goal setting is an important part of every day life, and essential with training. Whether you're working on teaching your dog better manners or preparing your dog for competition sports, it's always important to know where you are going and how you intend to get there. I'm not a good one for goal setting and the record keeping to get there. My friend Karin commented she had similar challenges...so we decided to do something about it and together have set goals and will keep each other on task.

What did I work on today? Griffin's stays and contact training. The other dogs will be involved more in these goals shortly (they had some big cuddly and grooming time!). Karin and I were using our 'good trainer' skills to make our criteria achievable.