Drop. And Fetch.

We may be approaching a breakthrough in Russ-ville.

"Drop" seems to, quite suddenly, have taken hold. After weeks - nay months - of fruitless commands of "Drop!" when we play fetch, yesterday he suddenly figured it out. Of course it took treats, but in short order he would even do it with no treat. The trick now is to work on it daily to reinforce the command.

The other task Russ has figured out is "Fetch". Not fetch like I throw it and bring it back to you, but fetch like when he is tired of fetching a ball, and moves off to something more interesting, like a stick or something smelly that is vaguely edible, I can tell Rusty to "Bring it to me!" and he'll go get the discarded item and bring it back. That was a phenomenal breakthrough! I've gotten it to work at the park this past weekend, and in both the front and back yards, so I know it is not a fluke. Again, daily repetition is the recipe for reinforcement.

What a good dog. Now, if only he weren't such a gas-bag...