The F Word
Two members of our pack have a working retrieve. That means they will pick up and carry whatever we ask them to if they are physically able. It makes for great photo ops. Mara fetched a lit string of Christmas lights for our holiday photos. Today I made it look like the dogs were pulling each other around on sleds.
When you have a dog with a working retrieve, you get spoiled. That is if you use it right.
Ky’s favorite task is to help carry in the groceries. Mara will pick up things I drop like pens or bottles of spices I drop in the kitchen, or even bring every one of our packs’ dog dishes to fill at meal time.
Tringa, the “puppy” just turned a year old. We’re finally getting around to starting her working retrieve. She has a pretty decent play retrieve which should help make it easier.
Right now we’re just starting to have her hold a bunch of different things in her mouth in lots of different places at all sorts of different times.
Yesterday I walked by her in the kitchen and decided she should hold a yogurt container lid in her mouth. The rest of the pack was sleeping in different places around the house.
I started saying the F word (fetch) as she was holding the lid. She’d hold it for a little bit and then try to spit it out. I’d not let her do that and ask her to fetch again.
I was paying attention to Tringa and the task at hand, not really focusing on anything else in the house. When Tringa took the lid again, I was letting her hold it for a little bit. I relaxed and looked around.
There was Mara sitting, holding a dog dish in her mouth, looking intently at me for the next step. Ky had miraculously appeared from the bedroom where he’d been sleeping, coming to fetch the lid I had given Tringa.
I got a big smile out of that.
Soon we’ll have three dogs appearing out of nowhere to see what they can help me carry!
F is for FUN!
Tringa practices fetch
