Just because I am biased about Barney does not mean he is not the greatest most enjoyable pup on the planet. He is so smart, listens well and has a personality that remains unmatched in both non-humans & humans.

The photo above is when he was very young and of a training session. Barney like most dogs gets very excited over food although unlike most dogs food is not number one on his priority list. In his mind his priority lists goes something like this: 1.) Playing with a squeaky 2.) Playing with a ball 3.) Running  4.) Getting his butt kicked (will be explained later) 5.) Eating 6.) Going outside 7.) Getting petted 8.)Sleeping — he loves visiting people, especially a great friend of his Toni but even then his first goal is priority number 1 and so on.

The goal of this lesson was simply to get him to listen well. I would throw treats on the ground and allow him to chase & eat it, other times I would throw a treat on the ground while saying “No”, “Wait” and “Stay”… even after he learned those words I had to repeat them many times because if I did not he would go get it the second I stopped talking. Eventually he learned to only get his treat when he is told “Okay” or “Go get it”… it is so cute.

Today

The lesson has stayed with him. If I throw a treat to him he will chase & eat it should he get to it before it stops rolling. Should it stop rolling he will stop next to it, lay down and look back at me waiting for me to give him an okay of go get it. In a later article I will include a video of this.