November 15 2014
Woke up early but didn't get out of bed until it started getting light. Milton was much more perky this morning than he was yesterday. We had a lovely frigid walk. At one point something startled him and he moved quickly sideways. There was no one there, so it was something he saw out of the corner of his eye, maybe - falling leaf? This was a different response - normally he would start growling, barking... but we just kept walking. I had the hood of my down coat up and couldn't see much, and a little later there was a woman with a dog and by the time I saw them it was too late for a u-turn - we were already passing each other on opposite sides of the street - but it didn't seem to faze Milton a bit. Passed a neighbor's house on the way back and there was a noise from the driveway - once again, a bit of a startle but no growl or bark. There was also a loud rumbly pickemuptruck going by on the cross street, and normally there would be some response to that, but none. I do believe the Prozac might be kicking in!
An unfortunate incident later in the day. We were training and I was trying to teach "down". I got clickers yesterday and was trying to juggle treats, verbal command, hand signal, clicker... I was trying to teach "down" the usual way by bringing the treat down and sliding it forward. He put up with this for awhile and then got impatient, and snatched a treat right out of my fingers. That took talent - he was able to grab the tiny piece of salmon treat right out of my fingers without actually touching my fingers! So he was trying to get the treat, but not bite me. Still, it wasn't desired behavior. I was kind of at a loss and didn't know what to do, so I just stood up and walked away - training over!
I find working with the clicker to be extremely difficult so far. You need three hands! One for the treat, one for the hand signal, and one for the clicker. I don't get it, unless you hold the clicker in the hand that does the hand signal - but that means he sees the clicker! Then again, I can't dance either. Anything that involves choreography, forget it. I don't know if this method will work for me.
Went for a long and uneventful walk, but he wouldn't poop. I find this really frustrating. I gave up and we came back home, but I put him in the crate because I didn't want him pooping in the house. So that meant he spent the whole evening in the crate.
So the day ended with both of us being less than happy.