FINISH

Yesterday was my birthday and My idea of a wonderful evening was spending it with my doberboy.

As soon as I got home from work we headed out for a nice long walk. Lexx was a huge ball of walking anxiety, squeaking, walking sideways, shaking... he was a terrible mess.

finally i resolved that I would walk back and forth along the street until 1) he calmed down 2) he stopped pulling and darting in front of my feet, inevitably leading to his paws being squished under my feet and 3) i felt like i'd accomplished something.

So, like idiots, back and forth walk walk walk turn walk walk walk turn down the street we go. I'm sure my neighbours think that i should likely be committed.

amazingly... it worked. he started to relax, stopped panting, stopping pulling and started LOOKING at me. I started mixing up the style of turns, normal U turns, left hand U turns and about turns with the same calm consistent walk in between. He's still very sketchy on his left U turns and forgets to move his bum and just sort of stares at me then jumps back at my side, but atleast he was doing it.

given m new found calm, minorly focused dog, i started mixing up the commands, fronts, downs, sits. and our newest accomplishment, "get in" or left hand finish. He was doing all of these so well that i decided to attempt to teach a right hand finish, around behind me and sit at the left.

this is the dog that doesn't sit. and he did it!
TWICE!
With a nice straight sit looking up at his mommy for the next command.

Movement in a forward direction... things are progressing