Things I learned at Camp Carole this weekend.

LESSON 1) Be patient. Give your puppy a chance to figure it out.

Carole showed me how to teach Batman a new command, “Get on your mat.” The goal is for Batman to lay down on the mat. Here he is, trying to figure it out.

Duh, I'm on the mat, people. What more do you want? Sheesh!

We waited for him offer us different variations of being “on the mat,” tossing treats and giving a verbal “yes” as he got closer to the goal. It took him two minutes to figure it out in his first attempt. By the third attempt, he nailed it. After we finished training, we did play time, and during breaks, he would go right to the mat without us saying a word. This is one smart puppy.

THIS is what you want? Well, why didn't you just say so! I can do this -- I am Batman!

That reminds me, we need to get him a bigger mat.

LESSON 2) Challenge your puppy with more than just “puppy stuff.”

Here is Carole teaching Batman the first stage of the send-out. Not too shabby for a 4-month-old puppy! I really wish I had taped Barb’s send-out of Syd, which happened just before this one. Syd did a perfect plotz on command mid-run! It was really cool.

Video Puppy Send-Out:

Lesson 3) Be aware that your puppy might outsmart you. 

Carole taught Batman to go to his crate using the command, “To the Batcave!” When I saw it, I thought it was so darn cute, I made Carole do it again so I could tape it. Well, Batman figured something was up if Carole was having him repeat the command. He thought maybe we wanted something different, so while we were expecting him to run back to his wire crate in the family room near Kayla, he dashed into his night-time crate in Carole’s bedroom instead! Dumb humans weren’t expecting that one!

Video To the Batcave!:

Thank you, Carole! You are the best.